Bowman High School

Bulldog News September, 2016

Robin Geissler, Principal Carrie Covell, Editor Eran Zeevi, Assistant Principal

We see the brightness of a new page, where everything yet can happen.

---Rainer Maria Rilke

He conquers who endures.

---Perseus

From the Desk of Mrs. Geissler…

The start of a brand-new school year at Bowman paints a

vibrant picture, a collage of hope with the promise of

achievement. I am proud to report that Bowman’s CAASPP

test average, scale scores increased by 23 points in English

and 19 points in math, which represents tremendous growth.

Our students and teachers worked hard to reach this

impressive goal.

As I visit classrooms and talk to students, I hear the refrain of voices that are making the best of their

new beginnings. Students are actively engaged in rigorous academic pursuits in all subjects. I have

observed students in spirited discussions, speaking their minds, researching opinions and basing their

arguments on facts. Essential questions, anchor standards, and critical thinking guide instruction.

Since we are preparing students to graduate from high school with the necessary skills to thrive in

careers and colleges, we continue to focus on the four C’s: Critical thinking; collaboration;

communication, and creativity. Memorizing content in isolation is meaningless. Students must learn to

think critically, problem solve, and work as a team. The business models for Google, Facebook, or Gen

Tech follow this paradigm. Our goal is to engage students in academic dialogue at every opportunity,

ensuring that the intellectual energy on campus is driving their achievement.

We have some exciting events happening this year. For the fourth year, Bowman received a grant to

implement the Roadtrip Nation curriculum in several elective classes. Check out the program on

RoadtripNation.org to find out more about this nonprofit educational tool that “helps students explore

career pathways.” Also, we continue to strengthen our relationship with our neighbors through Habitat

for Heroes Youth Build days, scheduled for September 23rd and December 9th.

Bowman ASB students are participating in the Box City event on September 24th to raise funds and

awareness regarding homelessness. This school year I encourage students to face and overcome the

obstacles blocking their success. If you need help, ask for it. The discipline of showing up every day,

maintaining a good attitude, and trying your best is a winning combination for school and for life. Last

year 280 Bowman graduates earned a diploma and enrolled in college or technical school. I challenge

you to be an active participant in the amazing winning streak that is Bowman High School!

Assistant Principal Eran Zeevi

DATA Report

California Assessment of Student Performance and Progress (CAASPP) data results were shared this

summer from our Spring 2016 testing administration. In general, Bowman has shown significant growth

in most areas. The preliminary data for 2015-16 shows the percentage of students who meet or exceed

standards increased by 10% in ELA with a gain of 23 points on the average scale, and by 2% in math

with a gain of 19 points on the average scale.

The CAASPP English results show that 76% of students were At/Near Standard in Research/Inquiry

strand, 62% were at the same level in Listening, and 70% were at the same level in Writing and Reading.

The CAASPP math results show that 63% of Bowman students were At/Near Standard or Above

Standard in Communicating Reasoning, while 47% were At/Near Standard, or Above Standard in

Problem Solving. Bowman’s math department is adopting proven Common Core strategies to address

the Concepts and Procedures strand where 22% of the students scored At/Near Standard or Above

Standard.

Bowman is continuously working on Professional Development for our teachers to support best

practices in teaching and provide optimal learning opportunities for our students. We are proud of our

gains and would like to continue progressing our students’ educational experiences. Teachers will

continue to be working diligently to provide a rigorous, structured, and nurturing environment for all

students to be successful this year.

“Have more humility. Remember you don't know the limits of your own abilities. Successful or not, if

you keep pushing beyond yourself, you will enrich your own life – and maybe even please a few

strangers.”

― A.L. Kennedy

New Counselor at Bowman

Hello Bulldogs! My name is Rocio Benavides, I am the new counselor at

Bowman. I am very excited to be part of this dynamic school. Over the past

twelve years, I have been a school counselor in the L.A. area and most

recently in my home town in Ventura County. Throughout my years as a

counselor I’ve developed a passion for helping students strive to achieve

their full potential. I believe all students can be successful by exposing them to high expectations and

giving them support along their journey to success. I am here to support our students in their academic

and personal growth. I am also dedicated to working with the families we serve because I believe it

takes a team to achieve excellence and success. I look forward to working with our students, families

and staff.

Welcome to Sandy’s Classes in Room 3! The past few weeks represent a great new

beginning to the 2016-17 school year! Students have been working together to get

to know one another and actively setting SMART goals. I am looking forward to

student engagement in project-based lessons to develop 21st Century skills, including

digital literacy, critical thinking and problem solving. Additionally, communication,

collaboration, creativity and innovation are encouraged!

All classes started the year with students learning time management skills and setting SMART goals (Specific,

Measurable, Attainable, Realistic, and Timely). The interactive lessons helped students learn to effectively manage

their time, set SMART goals for a successful school year. Student goals are posted in the classroom so drop by during

Back to School Night and see what students aspire to accomplish! Additionally, students worked collaboratively to

develop a Social Contract or an agreement of behavior for each class. It is telling that one of the first words students

wrote down on the Social Contract was “Respect.” The Social Contract reinforces the principle that all people want to

be treated with respect and have their voice heard. When visiting Room 3 during Back to School night, be sure to

check out the Social Contracts posted for every class.

Currently in Computer Applications in Business, students are learning the basics of Excel: inputting data, entering

formulas, formatting spreadsheets using cell styles, and more. Students can earn extra credit points by participating

in Excel BLAST where students demonstrate their knowledge to the class; Excel BLAST emphasizes skills learned before

moving on to the next skills set.

Students in Web Design are currently learning HTML coding basics. Throughout the course of the class, students will

learn through hands-on practice the elements of Web design using HTML coding and also Adobe CS6 Dreamweaver

software, an industry standard Web site creating and management software. Adobe CS6 Photoshop is incorporated

into the Web Design curriculum.

The Introduction to Computer Science A/B class is new to Bowman this school year. The course is designed to

introduce students to the breadth of the field of computer science and to develop in students the computational

practices of algorithm development, problem solving and programming within the context of problems that are

relevant to the lives of today’s students. Students will also be introduced to topics such as interface design, limits of

computers, and societal and ethical issues. Currently, students are working on a “Computer Buying Project,” in which

students research computer hardware components and choose appropriate components for a personal computer.

After completing research and coming to conclusions students will present their information to the class in various

formats such as PowerPoint or Prezi presentations, debates, skits, or other approved formats.

I extend kudos to all of my students for their great attitudes and for doing their best work when working

independently or when working as a team. It has been a great start to what I hope is a productive and fun school

year A Shout-Out to:

1st period: Brian Garcia for perfect attendance!

2nd period: Brittany Johnson for her outstanding write-up about the “Teens Talk Drugs” Symposium!

4th period: Paola Sanchez and Daniel De La Paz for their winning attitudes and for being on-task every

day!

6th period: Alexander Baumgarten for his enthusiasm for Excel (and Scrabble) and Cody Burns

for his determination and participation in class!

7th period: Samuel Diuguid for the way in which he adds interest to the conversation

and Ramon Vega for his great attitude!

Please call or contact me by e-mail at sgeyer@hartdistrict.org if there are questions about the class or to discuss a

student’s progress Also check out my Web page at sandysclass.com where you can access my Syllabus, Class

Rubric, Student Gallery as well as Resources used in the class. I hope to see you at Back to School night!

Welcome back! I am so excited to be teaching English 11 & 12 again this year! With every new school

year comes the opportunity to add new resources to use in the classroom, including new textbooks and

technology. This year I am very excited to be piloting the My Perspectives textbook series with my

students. Along with the Chrome laptop computers, these resources will help us further implement the

Common Core State Standards. Our four anchor standards to focus on this year are: Reading, Writing,

Speaking & Listening, and Math. Every lesson my students will encounter this school year will

encompass standards-based instruction that prepares them for the California Assessment of Student

Performance and Progress (CASPP) state-wide testing, as well as prepare them for college.

Our first quarter theme is: Journeys of Transformation. All of our reading, writing, speaking, listening,

vocabulary, and grammar lessons will connect with this theme. We are currently working on first-person

narrative. In addition to writing narratives, students will also practice other structures to include

argumentative writing and explanatory essays. This intense writing practice will prepare students for

the district-wide performance task assessments administered on a quarterly basis. The Google Docs

program is where students will write and store their essays and projects for the entire school year.

As we analyze and evaluate a variety of texts, students are learning how to identify evidence to support

their claims. Rich discussions have taken place as students interpret what they read. Students are

practicing and applying critical vocabulary terms, as well as analyzing and relating famous quotations,

to their lives.

As we kick off this school year, students have created their own, self-managed

classroom. Each class period has devised their own social contract whereby everyone

in the class has shared how he/she would like to be treated by others in that class. I

am very proud of my students in this task. We have all agreed to help each other

make good choices towards success. So far, I am pleased to see my new, and

returning, students highly motivated to earn their credits.

One of my favorite quotes is by Winston Churchill: “Never, never, never quit.”

Remember, when you put your mind to it, you can do anything; let’s do whatever it takes to earn those

credits, Bulldogs! A special shout out to the following students for their exceptional ability to start out

so strong these last few weeks: Andrew Aguilera, Christian Flores, Roberto Martinez, Luz Mata,

Paola Sanchez, Pedro Espinal, Christopher Juarez, Maria Rivera, Naiely Saucedo, Sergio Sillas,

Karina Hernandez, and Pedro Ruiz.

Often we learn more by looking for the answer to a question and not finding it than we do from learning the answer itself.

---Lloyd Alexander

Mark’s Classes

My first year teaching at Bowman has been a very positive experience with all of my classes! Students

in all classes are building relationships and making progress academically.

Modern Civilization

Mod Civ students have been enjoying the material through the various activities we’ve conducted in class.

Students have been learning about the rise of democracy through the influence of Enlightenment thinkers

and the spread of revolutions throughout the world. These classes have applied the concepts learned from our

class’s social contract to learning about the ways that whole nations applied “social contract theory” when

forming democracies. Some of our simulations in this grading period have included one activity where groups

of students pretend to form their own government, another game where groups competed like merchants in

French society, and another activity where students created informative protest posters that reflect the mindset

of the discontent Third Estate before the French Revolution. All of these activities help students learn the

mindset of those in the past when we debrief the concepts as a class. In addition, students have also completed

independent work analyzing texts and have been improving upon their ability to use critical thinking in their

writing. I want to congratulate all of my students for all of their hard work and for bringing a positive attitude

in all of our class participation. Keep up the excellent work! The class gets even more fun as times goes by.

Economics

Econ students have been doing an outstanding job staying on task during the class period and participating

in all of our class discussions. Our course material allows for students to bring their own insights and

perceptions from what they already know about the economy they live in. We spent a lot of time discussing

what components make up economics, the factors of production, and the work of entrepreneurs in shaping

industries. In addition to their own independent course work, students have also shown enthusiasm for our

class projects. One example is when students worked in groups to act as though they were entrepreneurs

thinking of a product that could benefit society and they created detailed brochures outlining the factors of

production involved. This project alone impressed me because it showed both the creativity and the skills of

the students. In many of our class discussions, I relate much of it to the economic decisions that they make

in their lives and they have enjoyed expressing their critical thoughts when we debate certain topics. Overall,

this class is proving to be more than just academic, but very practical for them as they think about applying

the concepts in our economy. Excellent job to all of my students who have done the hard work and who

continue to make the class fun!

English

Our English class began as a small number of students, but has grown as students have been added. This has

been good because it has created a much more personal working environment for students. Students have

been practicing numerous skills in such a short amount of time and have been getting to know each other in

the process. We began the grading period with team-building exercises that are relevant to the skills they will

be using in the class. For example, students did a great job learning about the multiple intelligences and

incorporating their strengths into their writing. We’ve practiced the core skills of reading, writing, listening,

and speaking through a variety of activities so far in the course. Examples have included practicing how to

organize a personal narrative, thesis statements, argumentations, and even things as practical to life as

forming a personal résumé. I’ve enjoyed working with all of these students and enjoy it when they engage

with the lesson with their unique personal insights and life experiences. We will delve into many more fun

topics as we practice more skills. Keep up the excellent work!

English 9/Reading

We started this school year working on Passion Projects. It was fascinating learning about what drives and

motivates my students this year. Students’ passions included cooking, photography, sports, writing, music,

animals and many more. I hope this project drives them to reach their goals. We have since moved to

building foundational skills to ensure their success in this class and beyond. We have focused on creating

responses to text. To further these skills, we have implemented the Article of the Week assignment which

is an extra credit opportunity given out each week. This assignment works on their reading comprehension

and analysis skills and strengthens their writing. Up next will be our unit on Environmental Responsibility

where we will practice the skills necessary to be successful on the district performance task in October.

Super stars in English include: Katy Clow, Rayanne Munoz, Oliver Acosta, Alondra Tadeo, Sean Miller,

Sarahy Monroy, Jaqueline Herrera, Alexis Cabrera, and David Lopez.

United States History

We opened the year discussing the essential question: Why study history? After some thoughtful reading

and analysis, the students agreed that history plays a vital role in our education. We are looking forward to

learning about the Roots of Democracy and the influence of the Enlightenment on the founding of American

principles. In this unit, we will examine the question: Do we still see evidence of American founding

principles around us today? Students in United States History have brought to the classroom a great

understanding for American history and have shown enthusiasm about learning more! We are off to a great

start on our journey through America’s past!

Shining historians include: Brittany Johnson, Cerena Sanchez, Luz Mata, and Juan Castillo.

ASB

The goal in ASB is to learn about and practice leadership skills which include communication, problem

solving techniques, brainstorming, parliamentary procedure, group dynamics, time management, goal

setting, organizational skills, project planning, community outreach, delegation and public speaking. The

objectives also include enhancing individual self-esteem and self-confidence, developing positive attitudes,

coping with stress and becoming aware of leadership roles. We will be focusing this year on community

outreach.

ASB News:

We look forward to seeing you at the Back to School Night Americana BBQ on Sept. 13th from 7-8:15 pm.

It will be getting cold soon, so purchase your Bowman spirit wear sweatshirt with our updated design.

Constitution Day activities will be held on campus at both breaks on Sept. 16th. Remember to wear red, white, and blue to enter the raffle!

We will be holding our first Habitat for Humanity Youth Build Day on Sept. 23rd. Encourage your student to participate!

The ASB students impress me daily with their commitment to Bowman!

Marlette’s Math Classes

“The universe stands continually open to our gaze, but it cannot be understood unless one first learns

to comprehend the language and interpret the characters in which it is written. It is written in the

language of mathematics, and its characters are triangles, circles, and other geometric figures, without

which it is humanly impossible to understand a single word of it; without these, one is wandering about

in a dark labyrinth.” - Galileo

“A budget is telling your money where to go instead of wondering where it went.” ― Dave Ramsey

“You must gain control over your money or the lack of it will forever control you.” ― Dave Ramsey

Welcome back to a new school year! As you might guess from the above

quotes, this year I am teaching Geometry Prep, Geometry 1A/1B, and

Foundations in Personal Finance. In conjunction with the Common Core state

content standards for mathematics, which can be found at the following

website: http://www.corestandards.org/Math/ there are Eight Standards for

Mathematical Practice (http://www.corestandards.org/Math/Practice) that

guide mathematics instruction in order to help students develop the

mathematical mindset to be college/career ready when they graduate from high

school. The eight practices are:

1. Make sense of problems and persevere in solving them.

2. Reason abstractly and quantitatively.

3. Construct viable arguments and critique the reasoning of others.

4. Model with mathematics. (District focus for fall semester 2016)

5. Use appropriate tools strategically.

6. Attend to precision.

7. Look for and make use of structure.

8. Look for and express regularity in repeated reasoning.

I want to thank Felipe Dorado for contributing to the Financial Literacy course with engaging

questions and observations. I want to thank Katy Clow for her diligence and attention to detail in her

written work. Kudos also go out to Landon Ditoro and Austin Carpenter for their great mathematical

discussions and for using class time so wisely that they often ask for more enriching work. I also

appreciate the cooperation and collaboration I am seeing in my Geometry 1A class. Thank you Liliana

Hernandez, Karina Hernandez, Anais Bolton, and Veronica Hernandez for being especially helpful

and on task.

Hope to see everyone on September 13 at Back to School Night!

Many of life’s failures are people who did not realize how close they were to success when they gave up.

---Thomas Edison

Bulldog News Article

Algebra 1A and B

My name is Erika Hallen and I am currently teaching Algebra 1A and B. I am really enjoying teaching at

Bowman and am looking forward to helping students have the success they deserve in Algebra.

This term Algebra students will engage in hands on activities to help reinforce topics and keep students

interested and working together to solve real world problems using their own experiences. Please stop by

Room A to see what we have already accomplished!

For class information, homework and classwork please visit my website at www.hallenmath.weebly.com.

You will find links to our class YouTube Channel and Google Classroom.

I am available to help students before school, during Period 1 and Period 7. My door is always open to

students.

“When educating the minds of our youth, we must not forget to educate their hearts”

Dalai Lama

Kevin’s Classes What a wonderful start to the year. I’m back with my Bowman family and couldn’t be more pleased to see

old faces in the students who will graduate this year, as well as the new class who has, so far, shown to be

extremely promising.

In Modern Civilization and Economics, we are taking a journey through the first major empires, where

Greek and Rome produced influential philosophers who assisted the development of the first forms of

democracy. Our mission is to take the ideas and events from ancient times and relate them back to the world

we live in today, attempting to identify the logic behind our systems based on reasoning.

In United States History A/B and American Government, we strive to understand the historical events that

led to the discovery of America, its Independence, and its unity regulated by the systems of government that

we currently live under today.

In my Physical Education course, the purpose is to develop the correlation between a healthy mind and a

healthy body. Utilizing the basic principles of physical fitness, muscular strength, endurance, flexibility, and

cardiovascular development, a student can begin to develop a positive attitude towards healthy living. Fitness

activities are performed four days a week and the course includes one full day of literacy. The development

of skills, an understanding of the strategies, and the tactics and techniques employed in various activities,

allows a student to become more competent in that sport, or hopefully become a better educated spectator.

Students participate in a combination of team sports and lifetime or individual activities each day during

school. Our program also helps to develop important social skills. The extensive variety of skill levels dictates

a recreational setting, allowing students to learn and play in a relaxed atmosphere.

I would like to recognize Nate Johnson and Savannah Bauer for their performance in the first month of

school. Both have shown great work ethic, care, attention to detail, and the willingness to do what it takes to

be great. Thank you for being such a joy to have in class.

The start of this new year has been great. All of my students in science are excited about learning

science. There is a new focus on collaboration in science because of the emphasis placed on team work by

employers, the Common Core State Standards (CCSS), and the New Generation Science Standards. In order to

encourage students to collaborate and discuss more often in science we are implementing new strategies such

as peer review of writing assignments as well as collaboratively completed assignments like a Wiki presentation.

To further facilitate collaboration and to help students stay organized, my science classes will be utilizing Google

Classroom. Google classroom allows me to post materials and assignments we complete in class on the cloud

so students can complete them in class or at home. A student that is not present in the classroom can still access

these assignments and contribute to a class project if they so choose.

There are three classes of Earth Science this year, and we have begun with the discussion of the role of

Science in the development of new knowledge and technology. All students collaborated on creating a Wiki-

Slides presentation on the nature of science. Students then presented these presentations to the class and were

peer reviewed to improve their presentations. Then all the students used the collaborated developed

presentation to summarize their learning in an informative paper for a new student which was also peer

reviewed to ensure proper spelling, grammar, and content. We will continue to help all the students work more

collaboratively to develop projects throughout this year. It has been a great start of the year as all the students

seem to be genuinely engaged in the classwork. Some of the especially great performances have been delivered

by Beatris Galvan and Karen Nikolof in Period 1, Paul Papa and Jordan Groth in Period 6, Jacob Hernandez and

Philip Rowe in Period 7.

In addition to Earth Science, I am also teaching a new class this year called Astronomy. I just love the

enthusiasm of all the students in Astronomy as they are excited to learn about the universe around them. There

have been some lively discussions and great group-work as these students collaboratively developed a Wiki-

Slides presentation on the “Scale of the Cosmos.” Students have been open to helping each other as well as

asking for help. Especially important is their willingness to take risks and take a chance at answering incorrectly.

I have been impressed by the level of dialogue in the class because students in this class have some really good

background knowledge that they are bringing to the discussions. Some of the students that have been

instrumental in initiating these discussions are Ireland Moon-Hartz, Christian Robinson, Katy Clow and Oscar

Bustios. I love the enthusiasm, keep it up guys.

The final class that I teach is Physics, which has also been a great class as students have accepted the

challenge of a rigorous curriculum in Physics. We have been discussing the differences that are observed from

various points of reference, motion, speed, velocity and acceleration. Our students have been considering the

various types of acceleration and velocity scenarios and showing what will happen. I am proud of the effort of

all my Physics students because there are some really difficult concepts in Physics. Pamela Burns Carbonel,

Gisselle Garcia, and Brooke Kitterman have displayed excellent effort so far this year.

I want to say thank you to all of my students who have made the start of this year especially great. Thank

you and keep it up.

We may encounter many defeats, but we must not be defeated. ---Maya Angelou

Sylvia’s English Class…

Welcome back! I am so excited to be teaching

English students again this year! We are off to a

challenging start as students jump into the pool of

rhetorical argumentation and terminology. Students

will be working with the Chrome laptop computers;

these resources will help us further implement the

Common Core State Standards. Our four anchor

standards to focus on this year are: Reading, Writing,

Speaking & Listening, and Math. Every lesson my students will encounter this school year will

encompass standards-based instruction that prepares them for the California Assessment of

Student Performance and Progress (CASPP) state-wide testing as well as for college.

As we begin the school year, students have created their own, self-managed classroom. Each

class period has devised their own social contract whereby everyone in the class has shared

how he/she would like to be treated by others in that class. We have all agreed to help each

other make good choices towards success. So far, I am pleased to see my new, and returning,

students highly motivated to earn their credits.

Sylvia’s Workforce Prep…

Sylvia’s Work Force Prep class is currently working on career exploration, Interest Inventory,

and completing a Power Point presentation on their career of choice. They are also working on

effective communication, group process, collaborative problem

solving as well as goal setting. Students are continuing to develop

their writing fluency, reading comprehension, and math calculation

skills. We are integrating vocabulary and developing strategies in

our career exploration.

As we begin the school year, students have created their own, self-

managed classroom. Each class period has devised their own social

contract whereby everyone in the class has shared how he/she would like to be treated by

others in that class. We have all agreed to help each other make good choices towards

success. So far, I am pleased to see my new, and returning, students highly motivated to earn

their credits.

Non-violence is the greatest force at the disposal of mankind. It is mightier than the

mightiest weapon of destruction devised by the ingenuity of man.

----Mahatma Gandhi

Stacey’s Government Classes

Another year for a fresh start and I am looking forward to making it a great year! Government is a senior

class that focuses on current events in America, including but not limited to Presidential Races, current

laws, and changes from Congress to the Supreme Court. This is an exciting time to be taking a

Government Class due to all the current changes with Common Core Curriculum. We are focusing on

reading, writing, math, speaking and listening and applying all the Government State Standards to ensure

we are addressing the educational needs and skills of the students.

Students have already discovered different faucets of the American Political System—foundations,

political parties, and division of powers. They are taking those fundamentals and applying them to

Create-A-Country. Students are busy looking at our true American Values, deciding how they feel and

designing a country that they would like to live in. I am looking forward to seeing the creativity

following—I could see the light bulbs and excitement as I assigned the project.

Stacey’s US History

I am excited to start the year with a group of new to students to Bowman and to myself. I look forward

to share some of my favorite times of US History and teach students new skills. United States History

focuses on overall themes of:

Foundations of America

The Progressive Era

World War I

The Twenties and the Jazz Age

The Great Depression and the New Deal

World War II

The Cold War

Civil Rights Movement

Vietnam War Era

America into a New Century

We will be using a variety of skills to make sure that all the State Standards are incorporated. We will

also be focusing on the Common Core Standards—reading, writing, math, speaking and listening. I have

and will continue to encourage students to read history as a story. I am looking forward to teach the

students that history is not always boring, but can be a very exciting subject to learn and why it matters.

I am excited to share move love for learning with them!

There is no such thing as defeat in non-violence.

---Cesar Chavez

Sheryl’s Modern Civilization Class

This year has started off great! The students are very eager to learn and earn credits. In Modern

Civilization, the students have been learning about “first man” and the universal desire for community.

For example, the students have explored what basic needs of human beings, and how communities can

be beneficial. In the upcoming months, we will begin studying “the roots of democracy.” Specifically,

they will learn about how religion, the Greeks, and the Romans have influenced the democratic society

of today. They will compare and contrast the rights and responsibilities of “then” and “now.” Students

are always surprised to discover just how similar sixth-century BC is to present-day.

Outstanding Student

Angelina Rodriguez

Nathan Vance

Olivia Garcia

Gillette Ortiz

Sheryl’s Reading Class

In Reading, the students have been reading about current events such as the Ryan Lochte incident. The

students compared two articles in which they evaluated how the articles were written and if any bias was

present. Similarly, the students also examined and critiqued two interviews with Ryan Lochte. The students

compared the information and tone of each interview. In the upcoming weeks, the students will begin

studying earthquakes. This will help students to be informed and prepared for “the big one.”

Outstanding Students

Kameron Rodgers

Melvy Hernandez

Veronica Orellana

Jocelyn Guadron

Sarah Greenen

Diane Turcios

Jasmine Acajabon

Freddy Martinez Diaz

Cera Pech

Michael Stolba

Derek Rodino

Jamie’s US History and Government

For all of my new students I would like to say, welcome to Bowman and room 8. My hope is that you and

your family will fall in love with our school the way I have. For returning students, welcome back for another

great year! It was so nice to see your smiling faces again.

To my US History classes, this grading period we will be covering early US history, including topics that

range from the Columbian Exchange, to the Foundations of America, and the Civil War.

My Government students have been learning about the basic ideas and structure of our American

Government. Students have been given the opportunity to create their own country. I am excited to see

the outcome of the Create a Country project.

I’m looking forward to this year and getting to know my new students. Good Luck to all of you.

Richard’s Classes

Expository Reading and Writing Class

The school year has barely begun and already students are asking questions in classroom “D” such as….

who killed Arthur? and what happened to the California Dream? The answers to these questions were

found through the thought processes of old school CSI work (follow the evidence, as Horatio Caine

would say) and the process of analyzing cause and effect. Students are learning how to make

connections between their own world and the world of the text. They are also learning how to make

predictions and find the evidence in the text to support those predictions. There have been some lively

discussions going on in the class as students present their findings.

Theatre Arts

Drama students are being asked to step out of their comfort zones in a variety of ways. Students are

learning to develop their self-awareness by observing themselves from the outside. We have worked on

breathing techniques, body posture and voice warm-ups. Do-ray-me-fa-so-la-ti do. In addition, students

have been exposed to pantomime and improvisation. Even the most reluctant students were able to

perform. We continue to develop our imaginations and our confidence. Students have enjoyed being

exposed to some of theatres timeless classics.

Mary’s Artistic Corner

Welcome to another Artistic School year at Bowman.

My name is Mary or better known as “The Art Teacher.”

It is my pledge and my promise to share all the

knowledge I am capable of within the school year to

every student enrolled in my Art classes.

We have begun this year with the Artistic Theme, “Process of Observation.” The students are discovering

the differences between the right and the left brain answering the Essential question; Can you be taught to

see and draw?

My classes are full and well in the pre-assessment stage of observing lines, value scales, and textures.

Practicing the drawing techniques of contour drawing, blind contour drawings, up-side down drawings,

gesture drawing, and still life observation using a variety of media. This unit highlights, Leonardo DiVinci

and Pablo Picasso. Come to open house to see the budding artists who are displaying a keen sense of

observation.

2016-2017 Yearbook is off to a great start. Lots of students

have joined the team bringing past prior knowledge of

technological skills, knowledge and creativity. We are

working on brainstorming ideas on the theme, color, layout

and page ideas. A SHOUT OUT to: Florencio Ortiz,

Angelina Esquivel, Jonathan Flores, Bryan Garcia,

Gerardo Ramirez, Jordon Haley, Mark Lima, Oscar

Lopez, Gavin Morgan, Dafne Celis and Crystal Theroux.

DFY IT is looking for few leaders!

This is our 3rd year at Bowman and most of

our leadership graduated last year so this is

a great opportunity for you to try something

new! We have had so many fun activities

both at Bowman and in the community; I can’t

wait to see what the new team dreams up.

We meet once a month during 5th period (and yes, you can miss part of class that period- but you still have

to make up your work). At meetings, we plan the Bowman school events as well as plan for the district

wide challenges, like Dodgeball and community service projects, like Socktober. Last year we collected

over 100 pair of socks for the local homeless population!

The leadership conference is an all-day event held at the Sports Complex. It’s coming up on

Tuesday, October 11th. During the conference, student leaders will help plan the High School Summit,

which involves members from every school in the Hart District on Tuesday, November 15th. Students will

team build and learn more about DFY IT. There is a lot of work involved but it’s a lot of fun too. The city

even provides lunch and snacks for us.

Stop by Ami’s office to pick up or drop off membership forms. Our first meeting is going to be

Wednesday, September 21st where we will prepare for the annual Socktober Drive. The first community

fun event is the Mountasia night on Friday October 21st. More details will be available as we get closer.

Yearbook

It’s not whether you get knocked down; it’s whether you get up.

---Vince Lombardi

Work permits for this year:

If you are under 18 years old, you need a Work Permit. See Lisa in the Work Experience Office for

the paperwork. If you had a Work Permit from your former school then you will need to get a new one

issued from Bowman. All work permits issued last school year or over the summer are now invalid. Get

your new paperwork NOW!

Work Experience:

Work Experience is an elective class that combines paid

employment with classroom instruction on how to get a job, keep a job,

leave a job, and promote career/economic awareness. Get paid and

receive elective credits at the same time (you can’t beat that deal!).

During the week you attend your workplace and also have one class

session on Friday’s. Class meets during 3rd period for both “Morning”

and “Afternoon” students. Turning in thirty hours of pay stubs and three

assignments are equal to one credit. You can earn up to 10 credits per

semester and develop positive work habits, self-confidence, and job

skills that can prepare you for full-time employment and adult

responsibilities.

ROP/CCR:

The ROP program is now called CCR, Career & College Readiness. CCR benefits include courses

in a variety of occupations, college and A-G credits for most classes and Certificate of Completion

documenting competencies.

There are a wide variety of classes to choose from that can spark a passion in you too, which can

also open an exciting new career path to your future. Fall classes are filled up and are now in action. Soon,

the spring classes will be available- so get a head start, and inquire with Lisa in Rm. 4.

Upcoming Events: One of our biggest events is almost here at Bowman High School; our career day on Oct. 21st. This

day is inspirational, and life changing, by bringing new career options and dreams.

In addition, we will be having the district Connecting to Success trip on November 10th. The

Connecting to Success trip allows a student to learn about money management, building a business image,

ethics, and introductions to local SCV businesses.

Work Experience/CCR

Are seeds in a seed packet or pond water alive? My period 2, 5 & 8 scientist classes could tell you all about

prokaryotes and eukaryotes. We soon will be using microscopes to explore cell organelles, and compare

the cell to a city or school.

Super Scientists: Chad Britton, Cody Burns, Sebastian Decker, Braydon Elgin, Beatris Galvan,

Anthony Nunez, Gillette Ortiz, and Cera Pech .

Teen Leadership is a new class on campus, and it has captured my heart. Students are learning active

listening, the power of validation, and decision making. We will soon be talking about peer relationships in

school, decision making, and values.

Awesome Leaders: Oscar Bustios, Chris Cox, Braydon Elgin, Jose Galindo, Elizabeth Hernandez,

Maimuna Khan, Leslie Leon, Chris Melendez, Frankie Montenegro, Gavin Morgan, Rayanne

Munoz, Gillette Ortiz, Abigail Palacios, Jose Trujillo, and Destiny Wolfe.

Jose’s Algebra class

Welcome back all returning and new “bulldogs”. In class,

students are problem solving using the rules of exponents

(multiplying, dividing). This year we are focusing on critical

thinking by using the eight mathematical practices to problem

solve. Students are debating with one another to prove who

has the right answer. Keep it up!

I would like to command the following students for a great

start: Benjamin Mutz, Bryan Gowin, Giovanni Hernandez and

Riley Witt.

Creative people are curious, flexible, persistent, and independent with a tremendous spirit of adventure and a love of play.

---Henri Matisse

Lisa’s Classes

Jose’s Life Management Class

“Fake it till you make it” –Amy Cuddy

Welcome back all returning and new “bulldogs”. I am glad to be back at Bowman to

teach and discuss with my students: goals, time management, financial literacy,

turning 18 and of course Roadtrip Nation. So far, we have discussed and worked on

job applications, job interviews, verbal and nonverbal communication, and methods to increase your chances of

getting hired. A big thank you for all the student participation and input in class. Students will have an opportunity

to practice their interview skills through a mock interview. Great job Class!

I would like to acknowledge several students that have done an outstanding job: Kaitlin Flores, Michael Stolba,

Jonathan Medrano and Michael Orozco III. Keep it up!

Creative Writing at Bowman High School

In our creative writing class, we have been learning about all the different forms that poetry can take and

that anything we put on paper with passion can be poetry. What’s next for us? We’re going back to our

roots as poets and reading works from the great American Poet Walt Whitman, as well as delve into the

European poets of the age of Modernism. This will be a great semester for us! How exciting! The students

of our 2016-2017 poetry program have been producing some amazing work. You can see some of it online

on our website at www.BowmanPoetry.com or just read below!

I’m Getting Better

By Robert Hong

I used to be shy

And go into isolation

I used to think no-one cared

I used to keep my mouth shut

But now I know why

I wanted acceptance not humiliation

I’m getting better

I used to think I was hated

I used to be humiliated

But now I know to be confident

I want acceptance but

I will not be afraid

I’m getting better

It’s been so nice to see returning students and to meet all

those who are new to Bowman. I am looking forward to

a fun and productive school year, and students are ready

to work hard and earn those credits. In English 11, we

have started the year with an introduction to rhetoric,

the art of speaking effectively; students are learning how

to analyze and make effective arguments for the purpose

of persuading. In English 10, we have started the year

with exploring the essential questions, “What does it

mean to be an individual in society?” and “How do our

actions impact others?” As we work to answer these

questions, we will be reading, analyzing, and responding

to various sources including: articles, short stories,

advertisements, political cartoons, etc. Finally, students

will be asked to write an informative essay in which they

analyze and compare the various viewpoints of the

essential questions discussed throughout the unit.

Mike Mansfield’s English 11 Class

What an incredible start to a fantastic year! I’m always amazed by the level

of intelligence and creativity that my students have in the class and I’m so

grateful to have the opportunity to witness it’s manifestation in my classroom!

English 11 is such a unique course that teaches us what reading, writing and

general English skills look like outside of the classroom. It’s basically the

answer to that age old question of “Yeah, but when will I ever need that

outside of school?” The first two weeks we learned about BIAS and how

easily it can affect our writing. We learned that there were three ways to spot

someone’s bias when they talk and what to do when we see that. The next few upcoming weeks we begin

to learn about how individuals and crowds can be influenced and persuaded by the right words. We’ll be

learning about the “Triforce” of English as well as a few “Harry Potter Spells” along the way. It’s going to

be a great year!

The following students have been doing incredibly in their English 11 class!

Period 1:

Savannah Bauer

Albert Gamboa

Carlos Gamez

Olivia Garcia

Jordan Haley

Lizenia Jaimes

Jay Johns

Elijah Ledezma

Luz Mata

Dafne Olarte

Maria Trujillo

Azucena Favela

Christian Flores

Jocelynn Galvan

Jocelynn Martinez

Amber Sniderman

Fernando Vela

Mason Welling

Period 2

Jerry Alonzo

Melissa Barrera

Lorenzo Garcia

Tanner Lynch

Chad McKee

Christopher Melendez

Francisco Montenegro

Lidia Montoya

Karen Nikolof

Eduardo Ramirez-Martinez

Carlos Rangel

Geovanny Bautista

Jeremy Bautista

Oscar Bustios

Juan Castillo

Tieler Janek

Brooke Kitterman

Payton Mjelde

Derek Rodino

Lindsey McAlister

Period 7

Anahit Abajian

Alex Baumgarten

Oscar Carrillo

Emilio Castillo

Chadi Diba

Melissa Espinoza

Neia Redd

Rachel Severson

Chris Smith

Hayden Tuitt

Richard Valencia

Skyler Wall

Jose Nunez

Gabriel Venegas

Nurture your mind with great thoughts; to believe in the heroic makes heroes. ---Benjamin Disraeli

Mike’s Econ Minute

The G20 just met in China, the refugee crisis has the European Union in a tail spin.

This is a day in Mike’s Econ class, where students are paying close attention to economic indicators like

the Down Jones Industrial Average, the Standards and Poor’s 500, oil prices, and current news regarding

the state of our country’s economy. We just finished a unit on supply and demand and how they work to

produce equilibrium in the market and we are now examining real life situations of shortages and

surpluses and how the market will correct itself in order for exchanges to occur. This year we are including

a number of great economics lessons provided by John Stossel that will dive even deeper into current

issues our students are already facing in the market place.

Mike C’s U.S. History

11th grade history is centered on the 20th century, we start with a fast review up to 1900 then dive in.

Coming up this turn:

Roosevelt, Dust Bowl, Bank Failures, New Deals, Depression, Alphabet Soup? What does it all mean? That

is what we are unpacking in US History as we close out the semester. Students will have the opportunity

to demonstrate their keen knowledge of the Great Depression and the current U.S. recession. Notable in

the areas of finance, banking, employment, and the role of the federal government in crises situations.

Having something to relate history to can make leaning so much easier for a student. Many students are

seeing firsthand what happens when an industry like housing fails and what the ramifications are.

Sometimes current events can be a very helpful to history teachers!

Mike’s Guitar Class

Everyone at some point in their lives attempts to learn a musical instrument, and for

many of those guitar is their first choice. Here at Bowman that is no different as many

of my students are new to the instrument. Many are learning the basics of music and

the guitar and others are challenging themselves to become better artists. This year it

is Layla, Derric and the Dominos epic from the early 70s is one of the most commonly

heard strains coming out of the door of room 9. Guitar students many times find out

how challenging it really is to master a musical instrument, however I like to celebrate

the small but important milestones of the learning process. The second a student hears

themselves playing a melody or chord progression that they recognize there is a spark,

recognition, magic, you name it, regardless of the adjective, it is very, very, cool!

Tell me and I forget. Teach me and I remember. Involve me and I learn. ---Benjamin Franklin

PE with Aaron

Welcome to the Physical Education Department at Bowman

High School. We make every effort to improve the

individual fitness level if each student. It is our belief that

the mind and body are interdependent; the body must be fit

if the mind is going to function at its maximum potential.

We believe that good fitness habits, started at a young age,

have a better chance of carrying over into adulthood,

improving overall health and quality of life. Students should

be aware that lifetime fitness activities are a critical component of the Physical Education Curriculum.

Students will be exposed to a variety of activities that will enable them to gain knowledge of movement

and skills. Through exercise, students will develop muscular endurance and strength, increase

cardiovascular endurance, and improve flexibility. This process will enable the students to learn and value

what physical fitness and good nutrition can do for them in their lives now and as they pursue lifelong

Fitness and Health as adults.

The kids have been enjoying various activities and we are seeing more participation as the weather starts to

cool down a bit. We have been playing softball, basketball, speedminton, soccer, lacrosse and many other

fun activities. The kids have been very active with a lot of great performances & effort. As the school year

rolls into fall, we are all looking forward to the cooler weather and being able to participate without the

100-degree heat!

Physical Education Department!!

Lori’s College Info

District College Day

All Bowman students should plan to attend the College & Career Fair at Golden Valley High School on

Thursday, September 22 from 6:00 to 8:30 pm. Admission is free. Students can meet with representatives

from colleges and universities from across the nation. In addition, workshops are available on a variety of

topics including:

Exploring the UC and CSU systems

The Community College: Programs and Transfer

Private Colleges- The Admission Process

Understanding Financial Aid

SAT & ACT Test Secrets

It’s time for Juniors to get ready to apply to college next year. If you are interested in applying directly to

a 4-year university, there are some steps in the process that need to be handled by this spring. In order to

apply directly to a university students need the proper coursework, a college entrance exam (the SAT and/or

ACT) and an online application. Before you apply next October you will need to take the SAT and/or the

ACT. Colleges accept both the SAT and the ACT. Both tests are given several times a year. Colleges will

use the highest score a student receives on either test. Information, test dates, fees and registration are

available online at www.collegeboard.com for the SAT and at www.actstudent.org for the ACT.

Students who still need to complete their college prep coursework can take classes at COC this spring and

throughout their senior year. Students can come see Lori, Rocio or Ami to have their transcripts evaluated

in order to determine which classes are still needed to be ready to apply next fall. Seniors, it’s time to start

thinking about

Seniors, it’s time to start thinking about

College Next Year It is time to starting thinking about what you plan to do after high school. The counseling staff at Bowman

would like to help you get a jump-start on attending college. We would like you to consider several options,

not just College of the Canyons. If you would like to apply to colleges other than COC, there are several

steps you need to take this fall. The following are some helpful hints to get you ready to attend college.

Please feel free to come in and talk to Lori, Rocio or Ami about attending college or other post-secondary

options.

Step One: Taking the SAT or ACT

Colleges accept both the SAT and the ACT. Both tests are given several times a year. Colleges will use

the highest score a student receives on either test.

The SAT: For information on the SAT go to www.collegeboard.com

The ACT: For information on the ACT go to www.actstudent.org

Step Two: Apply to College

If you would like to apply to a California State University (CSU), you will need to:

1. Make an appointment with counselor to review your coursework.

2. Take the SAT or ACT by December

Have your scores sent to the CSU of your choice

Pick up a copy of your transcript from Colette, the Registrar.

3. Fill out the online application at www.csumentor.edu

Application period runs from October 1st to November 30th

Application period for the spring semester starts August 1st

4. Complete the FAFSA application starting in January in order to secure financial aid. Apply

online at www.fafsa.ed.gov

5. Information on the CSU system can be found online at www.calstate.edu

Applying to other colleges follows the above format. Check the college’s website for specific application

information.