INCOMING 9TH GRADE INFORMATION NIGHT

January 13, 2016

Welcome toFoothill High

School Class of 2020

GO FALCONS!!

Incoming 9th Grade Information Night January 13, 2016

AGENDA1. Principal Welcome2. Student Welcome - Why Foothill? (7:

10-7:15)3. Booster President's Messages (7:20-7:

24)4. Principal’s Message (7:15-7:20)5. Department Information (7:30-8:30)

What Students Have to Say About Foothill

Rachel Sanchez - 10thAbhishek Bhatt - 10th

Erin Schafer - 10thNishanth Shetty - 9th

Erika Ozeki - 9thLiam Betts - 10th

How Parents Can Be Involved

• Check “Q”• Sign up for Talon Talk• TWITTER - Falcon Principal

@MrK_FHS• Offer Homework support - TUTORING• Friday Forums• Booster Groups

– PTSA– Band Boosters– FAB (Athletic Boosters)

• Attend sports events and activities

FHS Booster Groups

Parent Teacher Student Organization:Kelly Errigo, kelly@errigo.com

Band Boosters:Mark Banda, Foothillmarchingband@gmail.com

Foothill Athletic Boosters (FAB):Katey Dallosto, Katey@coachkatey.com

We are your primary link between home and school, providing:• electronic communications;

• parent representation on school site and district councils, and

• volunteer support (for Registration, Hospitality, Ball, Grad Night, and much more)

MEETING DATESSeptember 23October 21January 20March 16April 20May 18

•We meet in room C6, near the library, at 7pm.

•All community members are encouraged to attend. Only members can vote on agenda items.

•Membership is $20 per adult and $10 per student.

Your gift to the Foothill Enrichment Fund is simply that – a gift to your child and his/her education and future.

Your tax deductible donation will help our students, teachers and staff prepare for the new Common Core standards and ensure that we can continue to help fund many other critical needs at Foothill.

Naviance • Technology • Counseling Support • Scholarships • Arts SupportTeacher & Staff Grants • Tutoring Lab • Professional Development

FOOTHILL ATHLETIC BOOSTERS

The Foothill Athletic Boosters (FAB) is a nonprofit organization dedicated to supporting and promoting all Foothill High School athletic teams.

FAB offers several means of supporting Foothill High School athletics:

To learn more about our fundraising efforts, see our website: foothillfundraisers.com

If you have questions, or want to get involved, contact FAB

president Katey Dallosto at Katey@coachkatey.com

Booster Pass eScrip & Scrip

Sponsorship Sports Programs

Falcon Royale Falcon Fund

FHS BAND BOOSTERS

Who we are:Parent organization that provides operational support and fundraising for the music program. ● 12 instrumental music classes with over 400 students● After school Marching Band program has 205 members● We currently borrow 30 instruments● Costs to purchase these instruments would be over $60k

FHS BAND BOOSTERS

Fundraiser events:• Foothill Band Review • Crab Feed - TBA• Foothill Winter Guard and Percussion Show - March 19, 2016

We are a 501(c)(3) non-profit. All contributions and donations are tax deductible

Questions to:• Foothillmarchingband@gmail.com• www.foothillmusic.org

About Foothill• 2050 students, 100 teachers, 70 staff• Nearly 350 students achieved a GPA of

4.0+ first semester• More than 500 achieved a GPA of 3.5 -

3.99• Strong, respected Athletic department• Large, award-winning band and

musical program

The mission of Foothill High School is to support and guide students to their immediate and future success through equitable learning opportunities and rigorous academic engagement.

Foothill High SchoolMission Statement

WASC• Western Association of Schools and Colleges

• Mid-Cycle Revisit - April 20-21, 2015• Granted Extension of 6 Year Accreditation• Next Visit, 2017-18 School Year• 16 Commendations, 5 Recommendations

• The ACS WASC accreditation process fosters excellence in elementary, secondary, and adult education by encouraging school improvement. WASC accreditation recognizes schools that meet an acceptable level of quality, in accordance with established, research-based WASC criteria.

Top 3 PrioritiesPriority #1: Common grading scales and assignments. Develop site-based common assessments.

Priority #2: Continue to develop research-based best practices for instruction for the under-achieving targeted students, including increasing the number of GLAD-trained teachers.

Priority #3: Gather, analyze and use current benchmark data to drive instruction. OARS-trained teachers need to continue to work with their departments on standards-based common assessments and use of assessment data to adjust instruction.

Support for Students• Educator Effectiveness Program• Counselors• Social Worker• Parent Liaison• Teacher appointments• Check Q• After school and evening

tutoring• Free chromebook and wifi

Ms. Leslie Heller (A-G)English, Special Education, Science

Ms. Jennifer Friesen (H-O)Counseling, Math, P.E.

Mr. Ryan Templeman (P-Z)Social Studies, VAPA, WorldLanguage

Vice Principals

Department Chairs

➢ Valerie Rossman, VAPA

➢ Mary Crawbuck, English

➢ Jason Wescott, Physical Education (Dusty Collins)

➢ James Clark, Social Studies

➢ Kerry Stroud & Adrianna Raefield, Counseling

➢ Patti Stein, Library

➢ Mary Charuhas, Special Education

➢ Josh Hill, CTE/Health

➢ Karen Maurice, World Language

➢ Chris Jones, Science

➢ Burt Dixon, Math

COUNSELING

Counseling Department Goals

• Align our services with the Common Core Standards

• Monitor progress toward graduation

• Provide guidance to prepare students for 4-year or community colleges, careers, etc.

• Incorporate data driven practices

Counseling Program

• Individual meetings with students

• Several evening events for students and parents each year

• Incoming Freshman Scheduling Night Wednesday, January 27th

• Classroom presentations

• Naviance

• Referrals to community resources

• Alternative options (Middle College, online classes, Village, Community College classes, etc.)

PHYSICAL EDUCATION

Freshman P.E.

P.E. is a two year requirement to graduate. The majority of students take P.E. their freshman and sophomore years. All freshmen take Freshman P.E.

Freshman P.E (PE Course 1).

3-week units with mile runs on Wednesdays and Fitness Activities on Fridays.

After freshman year, you have P.E. electives and can pick the class that is the best fit for you.

Locker Room and Lockers

The P.E. department takes the first 3 days of the year to get you all situated with your lock and locker. We offer Foothill P.E. clothes and combination locks for purchase (or you can bring your own during the first 3 days of school).

Common Core in P.E.

The P.E. department is working on two Common Core activities.Every week, students record their mile time as a Common Core Activity. Every three weeks, students will have a Common Core assignment based on their unit.

9th Grade Programs

• Hockey, Volleyball, Badminton, Football, Tennis, Ultimate Frisbee, Ping-Pong, Golf, Basketball, Track, Softball, Swimming, Bocce Ball, Mile Wednesday, Fitness Friday

• Fitness Testing• Common Core in PE

10th-12th Grade Programs

• Weight Lifting

• Lifetime Fitness

• Team Sports

• Athletic P.E.

ATHLETICS

Athletic Director Dusty Collins

ATHLETICS

ATHLETIC DIRECTOR: DUSTY COLLINS dcollins@pleasantonusd.net

Partially funded

24 ATHLETIC TEAMS

WE OFFER CHARACTER AND SKILL DEVELOPMENT WITHIN A COMPETITIVE ENVIRONMENT

Foothill offers a rich athletic program steeped in tradition.

• Fall: Football, Cross Country, G. Golf, G. Tennis, G. Volleyball, Water Polo (B & G)

• Winter: Basketball (B & G), Soccer (B & G), Wrestling

• Spring: Baseball, Softball, B. Golf, B. Tennis, Lacrosse (B & G), Swimming/Diving, Track & Field, B. Tennis, B. Volleyball

• Year-round: Cheerleading

• All participants complete an Athletic Packet (available online)

• Donations requested

• Final grading period in 8th grade will determine eligibility for Fall Sports

• Any questions, contact Dusty Collins or Jason Krolikowski

SCIENCE

Science Department Advice

• Plan backwards from “What will Ann need as an incoming freshman in . . .” for the most demanding of your child’s likely college majors

• Avoid three (?!?) or six week “replaces a whole year!” courses offered by local private schools or affiliated with grand institutions. Sound too good to be true? It is.

Basics

REQUIREMENT

• 1 year life science, and one year physical science

Recommended Minimum

• Conceptual Physics in 9th

• Biology in 10th

• (frees up elective space in junior and senior years, and meets CSU minimum requirements)

What most kids do (Who don’t want to be science geeks)General College Prep Path

• Biology, Chemistry, Physics

Top Tier College Path – not science major

• Bio in 9th

• Chem in 10th

• Physics in 11th

• Either AP Bio, Anatomy and Physiology, or Zoology

CALCULUS

What aspiring science majors do• Bio as freshman

• Chem or both Chem and Physics as a sophomore

• AP Bio or Physics and _________ as a Junior

• AP chemistry as a senior, and/or AP physics

CALC

ULU

S!

How do I help my child?

Help them plan, but don’t plan for them.

Make them sleep. Girls need 10 to 8 hours depending on their age - Boys need more because they are growing more.

Let them take hard classes, but do not let them over extend themselves.

Encourage them to get involved with SOMETHING here at Foothill. Engaged kids do better and are happier.

Closing

• Don’t forget the PLTW courses when making science course choices

• Don’t forget everyone looks good in blue . . .

But purple is tough to pull off . . .

CAREER and TECHNICAL EDUCATION

- Career-centered hands-on learning

- Align with Foothill Academies- Earning Academy recognition adds to

college applications

Biomedical SciencesCourses:Principles of Biomedical Sciences (PBS)

Human Body Systems (HBS)

Medical Interventions (MI)

EngineeringCourses:Introduction to Engineering Design

Principles of Engineering

Aerospace Engineering

CulinaryCourses:Culinary Skills

Culinary Arts

BusinessCourses:Economics of Business

Marketing

*DECA

Other CTE CoursesCourses:Child Growth & Development

Fabrics & Fashion

ENGLISH

Freshman English

A successful freshman learner will…• listen

• take risks and participate

• persist through challenge

• ask for help

• read for recreation

• focus on learning not just on grades

Freshman English

• Developmental progression from concrete to abstract thinking

• Reading and writing tasks focus on original, critical thought

• Change from reflective,concrete, summary writing to analytical essays that require more critical thinking

• Core works by authors including Steinbeck, Shakespeare, and Homer

• Both College Prep and Honors English

English Courses9th 10th 11th 12th

College Prep

College Prep

College Prep

Expository Reading/Writing

Honors Honors HonorsLit and Social

Justice

AP English Lang/Comp

British Lit

World Lit

AP English Lit/Comp

English Elective ClassesThese are open to interested students in all grades.

Journalismcreates the FHS newspaper,

InFlight

Yearbookcreates Foothill’s yearbook,

Halcyon

AVID ADVANCEMENT

VIA INDIVIDUAL

DETERMINATION

AVID is a college preparatory system that targets students

in the academic middle who

•want to go to college

•are willing to work hard

•are capable of completing rigorous curriculum

but

•tend to fall short of their potential

AVID's mission is to close the achievement gap by preparing all students for college readiness and

success in a global society.

AVID Student Eligibility

Mid-range test scores for 7th grade

English Language Arts and Math

and

GPA between 2.0 and 3.5

If you would like more information, please attend the AVID Information Session

on Freshman Scheduling Night on

Wednesday, January 276:15-7:00 PM

Room C-6

(around the corner from the Library)

SOCIAL STUDIES

Road Map to Social StudiesCore Courses

• 9th – Global Studies, ½ Year– Regular or Honors

• 10th – World History– Regular, Honors, or AP

• 11th – US History– Regular or AP

• 12th – Civics & Economics, Each ½ Year– Regular, AP, or We The People competitive

team

Road Map, Cont…Electives

• AP Psychology, Full Year

• AP Human Geography, Full Year

• International Relations, Full Year

Citizenship and Public Service Academy

● Goal○ To help Foothill’s

students develop the tools for active citizenship

● Pathways○ Constitution (focus on

American law)○ Global Citizen (focus

on international relations)

○ Public Service (focus on finding ways to serve your community)

Guest Speakers● Tuskegee Airman● Pearl Harbor Survivor● Vietnam Veterans● 1930s Jewish Immigrant● Members of Congress● Superior Court Judge● and many more...

Close Up

● Social Studies Dept. sponsored field trip to Washington DC

● Hands-On Civics Education● Meet Our Members of Congress

SPECIAL EDUCATION

Placements and SchedulesDetermined by IEP Team

• RSP w/ all General Education CORE Classes – can be 4-year college bound

• RSP w/ RSP English– can attend Community College, some out of state,

some private 4-year colleges• SDC w/ self-contained CORE classes

– Can attend Community College w/ diploma or Certificate of Completion

• SDC w/ self-contained goal curriculum - Can obtain Certificate of Completion

Special Education Courses

RSP• English 9-12 • Algebra • Lab (Academic Support) • Workability - Career Interest, College Aptitude

SDC • All CORE subjects, including Pre-Algebra • Life skills electives• Workability - Career Interest, College Aptitude,

Job Skills

Opportunities for Students to Become Involved With Special Needs Peers

★ Join Falcon Friends

★ Eat Lunch with a Special Needs Student

★ Be a Falcon Friend to Special Needs Students on

Campus

★ Become a Special Education Tutor

★ Become a TA in a Special Needs class

★ Work with Special Ed students in Student Store

MATH

VISUAL & PERFORMING

ARTS

Visual and Performing Arts Programs

• Art, Concert Band, Jazz Band, Marching Band, Color Guard, Ceramics, Choir, Drama, Orchestra, Photography, Video Production

• Most universities require a year of Visual or Performing Art. In addition, they are looking for well-rounded students.

• Art is an integral part of our academy programs at Foothill.

• American Sign Language (levels 1-4 non-AP)

• French • German• Japanese (levels 1 to AP4)• Latin

• Spanish (levels 1 to 4(non-AP), AP4 & AP5 Literature

Studying a World Language...• Benefits higher order, abstract & creative thinking.

~Common Core~

• Enriches and enhances cognitive development

• Promotes cultural awareness and competency

• Improves chances of college acceptance

• Enhances career opportunities •• Benefits understanding/security when traveling

World Language and College

~ UC and CSU require 2 years language (UC recommends 3+ years)

~Possible college credit (with passage of AP Exam)

~Passing AP makes it easy to get a minor in college / study abroad programs

~Passing AP can exempt WL requirement in college

Advantages of Taking a World Language at FHS

ClubsTravel -GAPP (German American Partnership Program) Exchange -Japan Trip -Colombian home stay

-Tulancingo summer exchange programFriendshipsBi-literacy seal for diplomas for graduates that meet the requirements Senior year

LIBRARY SERVICES

Library Mission:• Support students in becoming independent and

effective users of all variety of information: “Information Literacy”

• Support teachers and curriculum through collaboration

• Nurture a lifelong love of reading and learning.

Patti Stein, Librarian

A Center of Knowledge, Wisdom, and Information

•The Hub of our campus•Open before and after school and very popular at lunch•Access to 22,000 print volumes, always adding more•24/7 access to catalog and databases from Library website and home•Professional Librarian and Library Assistants

AFTER SCHOOL TUTORINGMonday – Thursday 3:00 - 4:00

Teachers are available for tutoring inMath, Social Studies, English and Science

Become a Friend of the Library

With your donation of $25.00 or more: 1 GB FLASH DRIVES with the

Foothill Falcon logo!*(While supply lasts)

STUDENT ACTIVITIES/LEADERSHIP

Leadership Teacher:Brian Howard

Mission Statement

“Our mission statement at Foothill High School is to strengthen our school as a whole, to be united and unique, to lead others to become more involved and to leave a legacy behind for future falcons to follow.”

-FHS Leadership

* School Spirit - Put on all rallies, spirit dress up days (see attached pics), Blue Crew

* Activities - Dances, Prom and Ball, Movie Night, Class Skits, Freshmen Orientation, Class competitions, and Homecoming.

* Promote Positivity - lead by example, random acts of kindness, fundraising for charities, and giving the gift of service.

* Falcon Family - Welcome all new students and provide opportunities for them to get involved.

Website: FalconNation.org

STUDENT ACTIVITIES/LEADERSHIP

Accepting Applications for Freshmen Now

Interested? Apply At:

goo.gl/miFcCbFor more info

Contact: Brian Howard bhoward@pleasantonusd.net

How Parents Can Be Involved

• Check “Q”• Sign up for Talon Talk• TWITTER - Falcon Principal

@MrK_FHS• Offer Homework support - TUTORING• Booster Groups

– PTSA– Band Boosters– FAB (Athletic Boosters)

• Attend sports events and activities