Welcome Class of 2012

1. Eleventh Grade Spring Parent Meeting Tuesday March 1, 2011 Welcome Class of 2012

2. Manhattan Beach Athletic Foundation Summer School June 27th – August 5th Schedules and registration available March 1st www.mbathleticfoundation.org

3. Thank you for giving. As a result of your generous contributions, we are able to maintain critical programs such as: guidance counselors college and career counselors teachers for smaller class sizes the librarian science lab assistant Every contribution helps!

4. MCHS PTSA Thank you for your support! Tami Brothers mchsptsa@gmail.com

5. GRAD NITE Laurel Wright – Chairperson www.mchsgradnite.com laurel.wright@verizon.net

6. A.P. Environmental Science The goal of the A.P. Environmental Science course is to provide students with the scientific principles, concepts, and methodologies required to understand the interrelationships of the natural world, to identify and analyze environmental problems, both natural and human-made, to evaluate the relative risks associated with these problems, and to examine alternative solutions for resolving and/or preventing them. Environmental Science is interdisciplinary; it embraces a wide variety of topics from different areas of study: Biology, Chemistry and Earth Science.

7. A.P. Environmental Science • This is a new course offering open to 11th & 12th graders only. • Prerequisites: • 2 years of science (Adv. Earth Space recommended) • Geometry with a B or better or concurrent enrollment • Academic GPA of 3.0 or above

8. A.P. & Honors CourseCommitment / Waiver Forms Updated Commitment & Waiver Forms will be available next week on our website Commitment / Waiver Week will be April 11th – April 15th. Please turn in your Commitment Forms @ the student store during lunch. Waiver Forms will also be collected during lunch in a separate line. If a Waiver Form is accepted, you have one week from the time of notice to turn in your Commitment Form!

9. A.P. & Honors CourseCommitment / Waiver Forms For students, who at the time of scheduling, meet the prerequisites for an A.P. or Honors course yet in the second semester earn a grade that makes them no longer eligible, they will have until August 11th to turn in a Waiver Form or they will lose this class. August 11th will be the last day to opt-out of any Commitment &/or Waiver Form.

10. Counseling Team Jennifer Woodie A-Da Corrine Lee-Iwai Db-Hi Brittney BeauchaineHj-Mh David Beck Mi-Sa Sue Bertran Sb-Z Cindy Shortt – Student Academic Support Counselor Gail Currey - College Counselor Katherine Folkman – College Counselor

11. The scheduling presentation is now available online for you and your student to view. At the end of the presentation, your student will be able to print out the required scheduling forms. Please review this form with them carefully. • Students will meet with their Counselor during the week of March the 7th. They must submit their signed Course Offering Planning sheet at this time. Students will need your signature on their Course Offering Planning Sheet. If they are selecting an Honors or AP class, they will be required to meet the prerequisites, so please check the Course Description Handbook found on our website www.miracostahigh.org .

12. Master Schedule Concern • Please help your students make their selections carefully. Schedule changes may be difficult to accommodate in the Fall due to class size and course availability • The master schedule is built to meet student requests. When students alter their class choices it has a drastic effect on class size and course availability.

13. Class Selection Procedure • Students will remain in a year long class until the end of the semester. At that time, if recommended, any student with a grade of a “D” or “F” may request a program change. • Honors and A.P. courses will have a separate Commitment Form that will require students to abide by the guidelines set forth.

14. Senior Requirements • Must be enrolled in a minimum of 5 classes • Work Experience and classes at a Community College do not count as one of the 5 required classes • SoCalROCmay count as 1 or 2 of the 5 required classes depending on units. • Seniors may be a T.A. This counts as one of the 5 required classes (2.5 GPA required)

15. Graduation Requirements • English - 4 years • Math - 2 years (must include algebra) • Science - 2 years (life and physical) • P.E. - 2 years • Social Studies - 3 years • Health (1 semester) • Visual/Performing Art or Foreign Language – 1 year • Electives (85 credits) note: after completion of core classes to satisfy graduation requirements, any additional courses in these areas count toward the Elective requirement for graduation.

16. Graduation RequirementsContinued • The graduation requirements for the class of 2012 are to earn 230 credits. They must include the Board adopted subject field courses and a first-year Algebra course or higher. There is also a requirement to pass the CAHSEE. • All requirements must be completed in order to participate in Mira Costa’s graduation ceremony.

17. Senior YearCourse Requirements • English 7-8 or equivelant • American Government/Economics • Math or Elective • Foreign Language or Elective • Science or Elective • Health or Elective • Visual/Performing Art or Elective • Athletics • Associated Student Body

18. English • English 7-8 Basic • English 7-8 CP • English 7-8 CP Senior Seminars: Select 2 The Dark Side: Noir Literature of Los Angeles The Evolution of Humor as a Literary Genre Thanatology Literature and Composition Themes in American Literature and Film Women’s Literature The Bible as Literature American Fiction in the Reagan Era • English 7-8 Advanced Placement, check AP requirements

19. American Government/ Economics • American Government/Economics - Basic • American Government/Economics - CP • American Government/Economics –AP students must enroll in both classes and meet prerequisites

20. Science/Elective • Adv.Earth/Space CP • Biology (Basic, CPor AP) • Chemistry (CP, H or AP) • Physics (CP, H or AP) • Physiology CP • Marine Science CP • AP Environmental Science Please check Course Description Handbook for prerequisites

21. Math/Elective • Algebra 1-2 • Geometry • Algebra 3-4 or Algebra 3-4 w/Trig • Trig/Prob/Stats • AP Statistics • Pre-Calculus • AP Calculus (A/B or B/C) Please check Course Description Handbook for prerequisites

22. Electives ASB Student SupportBroadcast Journalism Athletics Drama TA Model UN Yearbook Creative Writing Journalism A.S.B. Wood Psychology (semester) Fashion in the Arts Photo Video Production Spanish, French, Latin Music (Choral, Band, Strings)

23. Visual and Performing Arts UC/CSU Courses • All students must complete one full consecutive year of a visual or performing art. VPA courses are selected from any one of the VPA areas (dance, drama/theater, music, or visual arts)

24. Approved VPA Courses Music Theory Media Design Dance Symphonic Band Chorus/Chorale Concert/Jazz Band Music Appreciation Multi-Cultural Choir String Orchestra AP Music Theory Drama Art Ceramics Wind Ensemble Appreciating the Arts AP Art History AP Studio Art Fashion in the Arts Photography Video Production 1-2 Vocal Ensemble Broadcast Journalism 1-2

25. SummerSchool • Dates and Times Monday through Thursday 8am – 1:30pm Semester 1: Mon June 27th–Thurs July 14th Semester 2: Mon July 18th–Thurs Aug 4th • Registration – online only and opens March 1 www.mbathleticfoundation.org • Fee based through MB Athletic Foundation • Classes held at Mira Costa High School Reminder for all 4-year college bound students, all D’s and F’s need to be made up, as colleges will not accept them!

26. SoCalROC • Fall, Spring and Saturday classes available for elective credit. • Pick up registration forms in the Guidance Office. A parent and Counselor signature is required.

27. College and Career CenterResources • College Counselors • Gail Currey x 5187 • Katherine Folkman x 5252 • CCC Resources: • www.miracostaccc.com • Naviance – http://connection.naviance.com/mchs • CCC Catalogues, books, flyers, etc. • Visiting College Representatives • Individual Counseling Sessions

28. Post Secondary Options • Four year colleges and universities • Public • Private • Two year colleges • Trade/vocational/career schools • Gap year • Military/work force

29. College Search and Selection • Self analysis • Strengths and goals • Learning style • Factors to consider • Internet search engines • College Board • Naviance • Information provided to juniors • Every students is in a different place at a different time

30. College List Apply broadly • Reach • Target • Safety

31. Sources of Information • Our website • Individual college websites • Visiting college reps • College visits • Weekly eblasts • Junior English class meetings • Fall presentation – College Night • UC and CSU • Private colleges • Testing

32. Testing • SAT/ACT • www.collegeboard.com • www.actstudent.org • SAT Subject Tests • New UC Policy • Private colleges • Test Prep • www.fairtest.org

33. College Application Process • Start early in the fall • CSU Mentor now • Master list of dates and deadlines • As juniors: • Look at college applications • Visit colleges • Start essays • Keep up activities/interests/grades

34. University of California • 9 campuses • Requirements • SAT/ACT • SAT Subject Tests • Application • Personal Statement • Send test scores • Pay fee • No letters of recommendation • Application period Nov. 1 - 30

35. Cal State University • 23 Campuses • Requirements • Application • Test Scores • Fee • No letters of recommendation • No essay • Application period Oct. 1 – Nov. 30

36. Private Colleges and Universities • Check each college for requirements • Common Application • Test scores • Fee • Letters of recommendation • Secondary School Report • Deadline – usually end of Dec.

37. Community CollegeTrade and Technical Schools • Over 110 CA Community Colleges • www.cccco.edu • Excellent value • Transfer programs • Trade/Technical Schools • So Cal ROC

38. Financial Aid • Financial Aid is money to pay for college • Grants • Scholarships • Loans • Work study • Includes federal aid, Cal Grants, institutional aid • Apply during the fall of senior year

39. Senior Schedule • Colleges are looking for a strong senior schedule • Important to keep grades up • Acceptances are provisional

40. NCAA • Student athletes need to: • Register with the NCAA junior year at www.eligibilitycenter.org. • Report test scores to the eligibility center (9999) • Verify classes are on MCHS approved course list • Create a contact data base, including college, division, conference, coaches name and contact info • Create college recruiting packets • Send official transcript • Follow NCAA recruiting guidelines (www.ncaa.org)

41. Parent Do’s • Support student by diminishing stress • Utilize Naviance • Visit colleges • Attend College Night in the fall • Help student stay organized • Check out the FAFSA4Caster to see about financial aid • Check out merit scholarships www.MeritAid.com

42. Parent Don’ts • Don’t let the college application process take over your entire life • Don’t discuss college issues at home every day • Don’t believe everything you hear about college admissions • Don’t forget your student is still a teenager

43. Thank you for your attendance! If you have any questions feel free to call your student’s Counselor or the College and Career Center.