Welcome to Vista Ridge Home of the Wolves

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Welcome to Vista Ridge!Home of the Wolves

• 8th Grade Orientation MeetingFebruary 25th, 2008

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Why are We Here? The Writers Strike is Over
Agenda

• General information about our school,
  programs, and schedules
• Course registration information
• Meet and Greet/Other Questions

Dedicated to Excellence Committed to
Learning Focused on Results Built on
relationships
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Do you have a Question?
Go Stick-It
Dedicated to Excellence Committed to
Learning Focused on Results Built on
relationships
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We Are FamilyBuilding Positive
Relationshipsand Behaviors
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Dedicated to Excellence Committed to
Learning Focused on Results Built on
relationships
Capturing Kids Hearts/PBS

• Develop self-managing classrooms
• Decrease discipline problems and increase
  attendance
• Learn how to decrease behavioral and disrespect
  issues
• Build productive relationships with all students
  and colleagues

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The SPIRIT of the Wolf
Service Pride Integrity Respect Initiative Teamwor
k
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Promising StructuresInnovation to
IncreaseAcademic Achievement
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Building the Philosophy

• Comprehensive high school
• STEM focus
• Engineering Academy
• Information Technology Academy (2009-10)
• Biomedical Sciences Academy (Pilot program)
• Strong Advanced Placement Program
• Early College Program (CTU)
• 21st Century Skills

Dedicated to Excellence Committed to
Learning Focused on Results Built on
relationships
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Dedicated to Excellence Committed to
Learning Focused on Results Built on
relationships
21st Century Skills

• Core subjects
• 21st century content
• Learning and thinking skills
• Information Communication literacy
• Life skills
• 21st century assessment

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Dedicated to Excellence Committed to
Learning Focused on Results Built on
relationships
Early College Program

• Partnership with Colorado Technical University
  (CTU)
• Dual creditHS diploma as well as AA
• Engineering Academy 2008-2009
• IT Academy 2009-2010

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Dedicated to Excellence Committed to
Learning Focused on Results Built on
relationships
Advisories

• Small groups of 15 to 20 students
• Same advisor for all four years of HS
• 30 minutes every Thursday morning
• Build relationships and teamwork
• Explore variety of topics related to grade
• Grade checks every 3 weeks

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Dedicated to Excellence Committed to
Learning Focused on Results Built on
relationships
Pack Exploration Period (PEP)

• Elective course meeting 60 min a week
• Earn additional 0.5 credit per year
• Incorporate 21st Century Skills
• Global awareness
• Financial, economic, entrepreneurial literacy
• Civic literacy/service learning
• Health and wellness awareness
• Students choose classes each semester

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Dedicated to Excellence Committed to
Learning Focused on Results Built on
relationships
Houses 9th/10th Grades

• Help with transition to high school
• Build positive relationships
• Small learning communities

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Dedicated to Excellence Committed to
Learning Focused on Results Built on
relationships
Structure 7 Period Day
TUE Meet all 7 Classes 48 min
WED Periods 1,3,5,7 88 min
THR Periods 2,4,6 88 min Advisory30 min Pack
Time 60 min
FRI Meet all 7 Classes 48 min
MON Meet all 7 Classes 48 min
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Dedicated to Excellence Committed to
Learning Focused on Results Built on
relationships
The One Hour Power Lunch

• Access to teachers
• Intramural Activities
• Study hall
• Positive Social Interactions
• Systems to assist struggling students
• Access to Counselors and administrators

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Dedicated to Excellence Committed to
Learning Focused on Results Built on
relationships
But wait, theres more!

• Classroom Technologies
• Virtual Media Center
• Student Safety
• Effective and adequate traffic flow patterns
• Single entrance for all visitors to main office
• All doors lock automatically, securing the
  building
• Campus contains more than 30 security cameras
• Full time security personnel

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Athletics Activities

• Building Character through Competition

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www.highschoolsports.net
Who says Vista Ridge wont Have Sports?
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Dedicated to Excellence Committed to
Learning Focused on Results Built on
relationships
If you build it, they will come!

• Creation of the Pioneer League
• Program offerings
• Emphasis on Character Education
• Program Development in small community
• Academic Accountability combined with Athletic
  Success
• Strong Coaches with histories of success

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Dedicated to Excellence Committed to
Learning Focused on Results Built on
relationships
Whos fault is it that I am ineligible?

• Participation in Extra-curricular Activities is
  a Privilege
• All activities will have a minimum standard for
  expectation to participate
• Emphasis will be on support for struggling
  students not punishment
• Students have 3 opportunities in a season to
  maintain their grades
• Academic Assistance will be mandated through
  Lunch and 8th hour

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Parent Involvement

• It takes a village to raise a child

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Dedicated to Excellence Committed to
Learning Focused on Results Built on
relationships
Ask not what your school can do for you, but
what you can do for your school!

• Site Council (a.k.a. BAAC)
• PTSA
• Athletic Booster Club
• Performing Arts Booster Club

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Dedicated to Excellence Committed to
Learning Focused on Results Built on
relationships
Make a Difference Volunteer!
Why Volunteer at Vista Ridge? Volunteering
enables parents to contribute to the school
community. Parent volunteers are positive role
models for our children. Volunteers help Vista
Ridge in a meaningful way. The involvement of
each individual has a huge impact on the whole.
Being a volunteer is a wonderful way to meet
other parents. If you are interested in
volunteering, please email Cla Weishaar at
cweishaar_at_d49.org to sign up for our volunteer
opportunities mailing list.
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Dedicated to Excellence Committed to
Learning Focused on Results Built on
relationships
Your 1st Assignment!
Visit our website
Students Visit the website and fill out the
Student Interest Survey
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Dedicated to Excellence Committed to
Learning Focused on Results Built on
relationships
We Are . . . VR!!
Visit our website
http//www.d49.org/schools/vrhs
Go Wolves ! !
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Counselors Role

• Student Advocate
• Registration
• Progress toward Graduation
• Academic/Personal/Social
• Post-Secondary Planning

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Why Registration?

• Discover Needs and Wants of Students
• Create a Master Schedule

We AreVR!!!
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What Do You Need to Know?

• What are credits?
• How are credits earned?
• What are graduation requirements?
• What courses are required of freshmen?
• What are electives?

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What are CREDITS?
CREDITS
Credits your students ticket out of high school
NO CREDITS
In high school, your students ability to
graduate depends on credits earned!
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How are Credits Earned?

• Students earn credits by passing classes
• Students earn .5 credit for each semester class
• Students earn 1 credit for each year-long class
• Students may earn up to 1 elective credit for
  scoring Advanced on each of the CSAP tests or .5
  elective credit for scoring any combination of
  Advanced or Proficient on each of the CSAP tests.
• Students may earn up to 1 PE or elective credit
  for participating in a sport, marching band, or
  drill team

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What are Graduation Requirements?

• There are 2 elements involved with meeting
  graduation requirements
• Meeting the total number of required credits
  27.5
• Meeting requirements in specific content areas

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VRHS Graduation Requirements

• 4 English credits
• 3 Math credits
• (Algebra 1 or higher)
• 3.5 Social Studies credits
• 3 Science credits
• .5 Health credit
• 1 Physical Education credit
• 1 Fine Art credit
• 2 Practical Art/Foreign Language credit
• 9.5 Elective credits

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What Classes are Required of Freshmen?

• English I or Honors English I
• American Society
• Biology or Honors Biology
• Math
• Health and Intro to PE
• Pack Exploration Period

• Honors English
• Request application and/or recommendation from LA
  teacher
• Honors Biology
• District Test Required (date TBD)
• Why Honors?
• More challenging
• More competitive for college
• Higher GPA

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What are Electives?

• Electives choices!
• Electives are classes chosen based on what a
  student prefers.
• Electives can help students develop their
  academic interests and hobbies!

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Other Considerations

• Prerequisites
• Course Length
• Graduation Requirements
• Choosing Alternate Classes
• Commitment to Course Selections

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Academic Programs

• College Preparatory
• HEAR
• NCAA Qualifications
• Area Vocational Program (PPCC)
• Engineering Academy

• The classes students choose are about much more
  than meeting graduation requirements. A major
  consideration should be whether their choices
  align with postsecondary plans!

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Vista Ridge vs. HEAR

• Vista Ridge High School
• Graduation Requirements
• English 4 year
• Math 3 years
• Science 3 years
• Social Studies 3.5 years
• Foreign Language
• (not required but can be used toward
  requirements)
• Academic Electives
• (not required some are met through other
  requirements)

• HEAR
• Higher Education Admissions Requirements
• English 4 years
• Math 4 years
• Science 3 years
• (2 years lab-based)
• Social Studies 3 years
• Foreign Language 2 years
• (same language)
• Academic Electives 2 years

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What Can You Do?

• To ease the anxiety of transitioning to high
  school?
• To facilitate a successful
• high school experience?

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Stay Involved
Theres no place like home..
for emphasizing the importance of high school.
It will take a brain, heart, and courage for your
student to successfully transition and complete
high school.
Dont let flying monkeys snatch you from this
pivotal time in your students life.
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How to Stay Involved

• Be Available and Involved
• Be Interested and Enthusiastic
• Be Encouraging
• Be Informed about your Students Education
• Be an Example Youve Been There.Done That
• Be a Listener

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Encourage Your Student Get In the Game
Research indicates that students involved in
school-related athletics, activities, clubs, or
organizations perform better in school.
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Important Dates
Presentations in 8th Grade Classrooms February
27th Skyview Middle School February 28th Horizon
Middle School February 29th Banning Lewis Ranch
REGISTRATION FORMS DUE FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 29TH
WE ARE.VR!!!