Tips for Helping High School Students Prepare for College

A U.S. News & World Report: Nation & World...

What Parents Should Ask High School Counselors
Tips for helping high school students get ready for college

Between baseball practices and play rehearsals, it can be hard to find time to talk to your kids about college much less chat with their high school counselor. But with the number of applications to college setting records every year, it's more important than ever. So we asked a few counselors from different types of schools across the country some of the questions they get asked most often. And because they also are parents of kids that have gone off to college, our three counselors have an extra-sharp focus on what you should be discussing in your next appointment in the guidance office.

Read entire story and more here: http://www.usnews.com/sections/education/student-center/

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A U.S. News & World Report: Education

America's Best Colleges 2008

National Universities

To rank colleges and universities, U.S. News first assigns schools to a group of their peers, based on the basic categories developed by the Carnegie Foundation for the Advancement of Teaching in 2006. Those in the National Universities group are the 262 American universities (164 public and 98 private) that offer a wide range of undergraduate majors as well as master's and doctoral degrees; many strongly emphasize research.

Read entire story here: http://colleges.usnews.rankingsandreviews.com/usnews/edu/college/rankings/ranknatudoc_brief.php

Interdependence | Synergy

in·ter·de·pend·ent (adjective) mutually dependent; depending on each other.

(Excerpt from Stephen Covey's The Seven Habits of Highly Effective People.)

Interdependence: Rather than being dependent upon other people, or trying to be totally independent, we learn how to be more effective by effectively working with others.

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syn·er·gy (noun) 1. The interaction of two or more agents or forces so that their combined effect is greater than the sum of their individual effects. 2. Cooperative interaction among groups, especially among the acquired subsidiaries or merged parts of a corporation, that creates an enhanced combined effect.

Covey writes: "What is synergy? Simply defined, it means that the whole is greater than the sum of its parts."

To be successful you should learn to leverage the strengths of others.

LA Mayor & LAUSD Announce Historic Partnership: August 29

Mayor Villaraigosa, LAUSD to Announce 'Historic' Partnership

Nation's 2nd Largest School District
(Source: ABC7.com)

LOS ANGELES, Aug. 29, 2007 (CNS) - Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa and the Los Angeles Unified School District will announce a "historic" partnership Wednesday that would give him control over two clusters of schools.

The plan, which is subject to approval by the LAUSD Board of Education and the parents and teachers of the selected schools, would allow the mayor oversight of two low-performing high schools and the middle and elementary schools that feed into them.

The two high schools will be among the 20 lowest-performing schools in the city. LAUSD Superintendent David Brewer indicated the high schools will be chosen in the coming months.

"We'll be announcing a historic agreement, creating a partnership for L.A. schools, which we think will change the culture and conditions of our schools, both in the family of schools that we'll be focusing on but also the whole school district," Villaraigosa said on the eve of today's announcement.

"I used the word `family' of schools because essentially what we're creating is a network of community support around schools, much akin to a family."

Since taking office two years ago, Villaraigosa has attempted to take control of the nation's second-largest school district. Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger signed legislation last year that would have shifted some of the decision-making authority from the seven-member school board to the mayor.

The law, however, was unanimously rejected this spring by a state appellate court panel, which questioned its impact on voters' rights.

Three days after the mayor's two chosen candidates won seats on the LAUSD Board of Education, giving his allies a 4-3 majority on the panel, Villaraigosa said he would not appeal the ruling.

Read the entire story here: http://abclocal.go.com/kabc/story?section=local&id=5614912

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Deal would give L.A. mayor say on some schools
A partnership is expected to be announced today. The deal would take effect in 2008...
(Source: LA Times)

Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa and his former adversaries from the Los Angeles Unified School District are expected to announce a partnership today that will provide the mayor with a scaled-back version of the authority he has sought over city schools.

Villaraigosa and his senior education aides will play a major role in overseeing two of the city's lowest-achieving high schools and the middle and elementary schools that feed them under an agreement with the Board of Education and schools Supt. David L. Brewer.

"I think you'll see a change in the culture of our schools almost immediately," the mayor said Tuesday of the partnership that would begin to exert its influence over schools in the fall of 2008.

Read entire story here: http://www.latimes.com/news/printedition/california/la-me-schools29aug29,1,5912416.story?coll=la-headlines-pe-california

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Mayor-LAUSD partnership detailed
Villaraigosa has 5 years to get results at troubled schools
(Source: Los Angeles Daily News)

Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa and L.A. Unified will unveil a partnership today that calls for the mayor to oversee two families of schools under a five-year contract that will not be renewed if the schools don't meet goals for test scores and graduation and dropout rates, according to documents obtained by the Daily News.

The partnership - which if successful can be expanded to include more low-performing schools - appears to model charter schools, giving each campus greater control over budget, hiring and curriculum.

The schools in the partnership will report to a nonprofit created by the mayor - the Partnership for Los Angeles Schools - rather than the local districts, but the LAUSD board and the superintendent will maintain ultimate control.

"Nowhere in the country will we have this kind of partnership," Villaraigosa said Tuesday, adding that he expects to see improvements by the end of the first year. "We're excited about this effort. It's a long time coming.

LAUSD Superintendent David Brewer said the schools he eventually will propose for the partnership will go to the school board for approval in the coming months.
Read the entire story here: http://www.dailynews.com/news/ci_6745104

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Villaraigosa-LAUSD Partnership
(Source: KNX 1070 News)

LOS ANGELES (AP) -- Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa and the Los Angeles Unified School District are expected to announce today a partnership that will give the mayor control over two clusters of schools.

The mayor would take over two low performing high schools and the grade schools that feed into them. The exact school will be picked over the next few months.

The Board of Education, the parents, and teachers of the selected schools have to approve the plan. The head of the teachers union (Duffy) has expressed hesitation on how the plan will be implemented.

http://www.knx1070.com/pages/875896.php?contentType=4&contentId=855508

The Argonaut: Green Dot Public Charter School Founder...

Green Dot Public Charter School founder to speak at Neighborhood Council about education reform
by Gary Walker

Westchester academic reform advocates will have the opportunity to hear another alternative to improving their schools and increasing local control at 7 p.m Tuesday, August 28th, when Steven Barr, the founder and chief executive officer of Green Dot Public Charter Schools, is scheduled to speak before the Westchester Playa del Rey Neighborhood CouncilEducation Committee.

Green Dot bills itself as "the only organization with a proven track record of successfully serving secondary students, the highest-need student population of Los Angeles."

In May, the charter school company became embroiled in a highly publicized clash with the Los Angeles Unified School District board over its entry into Locke High School in South Los Angeles, which had been underperforming for years. Green Dot hopes to set up ten smaller reform-oriented schools at Locke by next fall.

The move was heralded by many teachers and parents at the high school, who are desperate for a new method that will increase their children's chances of improved graduation rates and improved academic performance.

Locally, parental education advocates, including the Westchester-Playa del Rey Education Foundation, have also been lobbying with community groups to change the way that children are being taught in Westchester schools. While the elementary schools have performed quite well, Orville Wright Middle School and Westchester High in recent years have not.

"It's another option to consider," said Kelly Kane, the education foundation's president, who has been at the forefront of the push for autonomy at Westchester schools. "We're not saying that [Green Dot] is necessarily the kind of reform that we want, but we all recognize that there needs to be a change in the way that the district has been functioning, and [the district] has been very close-minded about changing its ways."

Barr, in a recent interview, stated that the purpose of his discussion at the Westchester council meeting will not be to advocate for his charter school, and he says Green Dot enters schools that are willing to work with them.

"We only go where we're wanted," he said.

He said that both Kane's organization and the Westchester Neighborhood Council invited him to address the education committee. "I think that they are getting restless, and they want to hear another approach," Barr surmised.

On another front, Los Angeles Unified School District teachers have selected a charter-like reform model that they believe will fit their goals of having more localized control while maintaining teacher benefits.

The new model "encompasses the entire [union] contract," said A.J. Duffy, the president of United Teachers of Los Angeles (UTLA).

While Green Dot teachers are union educators, teachers at Locke, for example, would need to re-apply for their jobs to principals hired by the charter school. The current UTLA contract would become invalid.

Read entire story here: http://www.argonautnewspaper.com/articles/2007/08/23/news_-_features/westchester/w1.txt

NCWPDR Education Committee Meeting: Tomorrow, Tuesday, August 28 @ 6.30PM

http://www.ncwpdr.org/index.php?page=committees/Education/display.php

Location: Community Room, 7166 W. Manchester Ave., Westchester, CA (Lincoln and Manchester)

The public is requested to fill out a 'Speaker Card' to address the Board on any item of the agenda prior to the Board taking action on an item. Comments from the public on Agenda items will be heard only when the respective item is being considered. Comments from the public on other matters not appearing on the Agenda that is within the Board's subject matter jurisdiction will be heard during the Public Comment period. Public comment is limited to 2 minutes per speaker, unless waived by the presiding officer of the Board. As a covered entity under Title II of the Americans with Disabilities Act, the City of Los Angeles does not discriminate on the basis of disability and upon request, will provide reasonable accommodation to ensure equal access to its programs, services and activities. Sign language interpreters, assistive listening devices, or other auxiliary aids and/or services may be provided upon request. To ensure availability of services, please make your request at least 3 business days (72 hours) prior to the meeting you wish to attend by contacting the

Neighborhood Council Project Coordinator (323) 224-2314

SUMMER READING ASSIGNMENT 2007: DUE 1ST DAY OF SCHOOL, SEPT 5

REMINDER! REMINDER!! REMINDER!!!

ALL Parents...

All WHS returning students (10th -12th graders) are REQUIRED to read (using criteria below) and submit a book report on the 1ST DAY OF SCHOOL, 9/5/2007.

This assignment was previously emailed to parents several weeks ago.

This homework assignment is critical, and given the new 4x4 schedule – where the school year is broken into four quarters rather than two semesters – it is IMPERATIVE that your student-child gets off to the right start on DAY ONE!


If your student hasn’t started this report, he/she has a little better than one week to read, comprehend and synthesize the data for his/her report as outlined below! GET THEM MOVING IMMEDIATELY! PASS ON TO ANOTHER PARENT!


View information on WHS' website at: http://www.westchesterhs.org/apps/news/show_news.jsp?REC_ID=38121&id=0&rn=6686742


Summer Reading Assignment 2007 (6/1)
“The more that you read, the more you will know. The more that you learn, the more places you'll go.”—Dr. Seuss

Since research shows that those who read more, know more and read and write better, Westchester High School encourages students with its annual summer reading assignment. All students must select one book from the list below for their incoming grade and class and then complete one of the attached assignments; those in an Honors class must select any two books for their grade and complete one assignment for one book and the other assignment for the other book, and those in an Advanced Placement class must select both books and contact their teacher at www.westchesterhs.org for their assignments. Books may be borrowed or purchased; assignments must be typed and are due on the first day of school, September 5, 2007, in English class—work that is late or plagiarized or without a name will receive a Fail. All students should expect a quiz or test on this assignment. For examples of student work or more information, visit http://www.westchesterhs.org/.

Assignment #1: Readers/Writers Notebook

A Readers/Writers Notebook is a personalized journal of a student’s own comments, opinions, or questions about a work that helps him or her to remember, think about, and understand the text. Entries are frequent—every chapter or section—and at least one 5-7 sentence long paragraph with meaningful and relevant notes. The assignment is neatly typed and double-spaced in 12 point Times New Roman font in black ink with 1 inch margins on clean printer paper; no coversheet or folder is required. The assignment is due on the first day of school, September 5, 2007, in English class.—work without a name or that is late or plagiarized will receive a Fail. For examples of student work or more information, visit http://www.westchesterhs.org.

Assignment #2: Literary Notebook

A literary notebook is a study guide that summarizes and analyzes a work’s various elements and helps review that work in preparation for any assignments, quizzes, or tests. Each element consists of at least one 5-7 sentence long paragraph with a detailed and thorough explanation of that element. The assignment is neatly typed and double-spaced in 12 point Times New Roman font in black ink with 1 inch margins on clean printer paper; no coversheet or folder is required. The assignment is due on the first day of school, September 5, 2007, in English class.—work without a name or that is late or plagiarized will receive a Fail. For examples of student work or more information, visit http://www.westchesterhs.org/.

1. Title: What is the title of the book? How and why do you think it received its title?

2. Author: Who is the author? Describe his/her persona. What was his/her purpose or reason for writing this book? Who do you think is his/ her audience?

3. Summary: What is the book about? Briefly summarize the content or main plot and identify its exposition, rising action, climax, falling action, and resolution.

4. Setting: When and where does the book take place? Describe the setting in terms of the time period, and emotional, mental, and/or physical environment.

5. Motif/Symbol/Theme: What is an important motif, symbol, or theme in this book? Explain its significance with relevant concrete details or examples from the book.

6. Protagonist: Who is the main character? Describe his/her emotional, mental, and/or physical persona. What is his/her conflict or relationship to the antagonist? Explain with relevant concrete details or examples from the book.

7. Antagonist: Who is the individual in opposition to the main character? Describe his/her emotional, mental, and/or physical persona. What is his/her conflict or relationship to the protagonist? Explain with relevant concrete details or examples from the book.

8. Other: Select another character. Describe his/her emotional, mental, and/or physical persona. What is his/her function or place? Explain with relevant concrete details or examples from the book.

9. Style: What is your opinion of the author’s writing style? Analyze his/her words, sentences, and other details. Explain with relevant concrete details or examples from the book.

10. Quote: Select a brief passage that means something to you, and then comment on or discuss its importance. What does it say? What does it mean? Why does it matter?

Parent/Teacher Workshop: Saturday, 8/25 @ OWM School

We strongly encourage all Administrators, Teachers, Parents, Community and other Stakeholders to attend the informative workshop below this Saturday, 8/25.
Eliminating The Excellence Gap Parent/Teacher Workshop

Americans are among some the lowest achievers world wide. Why is this? Why do some students excel while others do not?

Come out and learn how YOU can become part of the solution!

Saturday August 25th
8:30-11:00am

Orville Wright Middle School -- Auditorium
6550 W. 80th Street
Los Angeles, CA 90045

You can win a $100.00 Gasoline Gift Card!

As our high school implements two very significant reforms (4X4 and Small Learning Communities), come out and learn how administrators, teachers and parents can work together to eliminate excellence gaps.

Meet us in the auditorium of Orville Wright Middle School on Saturday for a power packed workshop exploring this subject!

Let us work together in improving our schools and increasing student proficiency.