As a way to help the incredibly busy counselors efficiently respond to as many parents' questions as possible, your Listserver Administrator Martha Gegan, DHSclassof08@gmail.com, will assist them by facilitating Q&A through your Class Listserver. Martha will organize the questions, eliminate repetitions, then e-mail the counselors' responses to all subscribers via the listserver. The listserver is an appropriate forum to address general questions, not questions that involve your student's privacy. Please contact the counselors directly to address those. HOW TO SEARCH FOR INFORMATION ON THIS PAGE: While you're on a long web page, use your browser's "Find" feature. For example, for Firefox® and Internet Explorer®, you can use "Control-F" to pop up the "Find" box. The one for Firefox will appear as a bar near the bottom. HOW TO SEARCH FOR INFORMATION ON THIS WEBSITE: Use the search box (located at the top right corner of every web page) if you want a listing of the relevant webpages on this website.

Q.80 [May 8, 2008] Letter from Principal Mike Cawley - On how parents/guardians can help ensure a safe event for Senior Ball  (see details).


Q.79 [Received on May 5. 2008 and amended on May 8, 2008] Letter from Principal Mike Cawley regarding graduation:
Dear Parents/Guardians of Senior Students:

Congratulations! Your sons and daughters will be part of the Davis Senior High School Commencement Ceremony of 2008. Information about graduation practice, other senior responsibilities, permanent address card, diplomas and Grad Night follow:

Graduation

Date:  Friday, June 13, 2008

Location: The New Aggie Stadium, located at the corner of Hutchison Drive and LaRue Dr.

Time:

• Graduates must arrive by 6:15 p.m. and report to the northwest corner of the Aggie Stadium to assemble in alphabetical order for the processional.
• Gates will open at 6:30 p.m. for early seating.
• The processional will begin at 7:15 p.m.
• The ceremony begins at 7:30 p.m.

Parking:

• Parking will be in Lots 53, Lot 54, Lot 56, and the parking structure located off LaRue, behind the ARC Pavilion. Please note that parking services will be enforced in all areas of the UC Davis Campus.  See map at:  http://www.taps.ucdavis.edu/parking/info/cpark.pdf
  
  
• Parking permits are $6.00 per vehicle and can be purchased at the DHS finance office beginning on May 26th. Parents may purchase between the hours of 8 a.m. and 2 p.m. and students may purchase parking permits at lunch only.  If you already have a UCD parking permit decal, you will not need to purchase one for the event.
• Handicapped parking is available.
• Maps of the stadium and parking lots are available in the DHS finance office.

Tickets:

• The school will have 6500 tickets to hand out this year so this equates to approximately 11 tickets per family.
• If you need fewer than 11 tickets, please ask your student to give the extra tickets to DHS staff at practice.  This will allow families who need more tickets to have them. A limited number of extra tickets will be available ONLY at graduation practice.  In the past graduations, we have always been able to accommodate everyone.  You must have a ticket to be admitted into the stadium.  All students must attend graduation practice in order to participate in the graduation ceremony.

Seating:

• Graduates will be seated on the field, facing west. The ceremony will also be broadcast on the large screen on the south end of the stadium.
• Family and friends can sit on the West (not East as previously stated) side of the stadium or on either of the grassy, sloped end zones.  It is suggested that you bring a blanket.  Seating is on a first come, first served basis.
• Wheelchair accessible seating is available.  If other special accommadations are required, please contact Davis High School.
• Sign Language Interprepters will be available.

DCTV: 

• Our local cable channel will air the video recording of the commencement on Channel 17. (Times to be announced later.)  If you do not want your student to be included in the video, please contact us.

Behavior Expectations for graduates:

• Each year Davis Senior High and the Davis School District spend over $10,000 and many hours working with UCD, the high school staff, and students to present a dignified and meaningful ceremony. 
• Students invite teachers from earlier years to be honored guests, and high school faculty devote their valuable workday to be involved with our students in this final farewell. 
• Teachers will be wearing robes to add to the solemnity and beauty of the evening.
• In the past, some students have engaged in behavior that they may regard as "celebrating" but which substantially detracts from the occasion.  Please help your student understand that each and every family wants to enjoy what is offered, to hear their child's name read, and to witness that moment of joy when tassels are moved and hats fly.  Please help your student understand the importance of the evening to everyone involved. 
• Again, students will sit in alphabetical order.  This helps parents know when their child will receive their diploma. 
• We have also discussed behavioral and dress expectations at the graduation ceremony.  Possession or use of squirt guns, inflatable toys, distracting signs, firecrackers or any other disruptive objects is not permissible.  Behaviors such as yelling or leaving assigned seats during the ceremony are not appropriate, and absolutely no drug or alcohol use before or during the practice or the ceremony will be tolerated.  Should your graduating senior's behavior be deemed inappropriate, she/he may be removed from the ceremony.
• Graduates are expected to dress appropriately and follow normal dress policies.
• It is our sincere hope that this year's commencement will be remembered as an enjoyable occasion for everyone.
• We thank you for your help and hope that our students will be participating in the Grad Night activities afterward.

Members of the audience are asked to observe the following courtesies:

• Picture taking will be restricted to the grandstands and a designated area outside of the northwestern corner of the stadium.   Look for the signs.  There will be professional photographers taking pictures as each graduate receives his/her diploma.  (Order forms available at practice that morning.)
• We ask all guests to adhere to the same standards for behavior that we expect from our graduates.
• Please be respectful of the UCD staff that is graciously accommodating the DSHS grads.  We will be the first event hosted at the new Stadium.
• If there is a chance of rain, please bring protective clothing, as there is no rescheduling option.
• Remain in the grandstands until the ceremony is completed.  No member of the audience will be allowed on the field at ANY time.  
• Immediately after the last diploma has been presented, the senior song performance will begin.  At its completion, the Principal will instruct the seniors to move their tassels, formally signifying their graduation.  Graduates may be greeted outside the stadium on the Northwest side. Picture taking of the graduates by friends and families can occur at that time.

Mandatory Graduation Practice

• Practice begins Friday, June 13 at 8:30 a.m. sharp in order to finish rehearsal before the extreme heat. 
• Dress for intense heat and sun.  Wear sunscreen and/or hats, but do not bring drinks.  We will supply water.
• Park in lots 53, 54, 56 or the parking structure on LaRue.  Citations will be given for unauthorized parking and are at least $30.00.
• Rehearsal will last as long as necessary so please be prepared to stay focused on the task at hand.

Senior Awards Night, Grad Night, and Permanent Address Card

• Senior Awards Night info, Grad Night info,  and permanent address cards are enclosed.

Sincerely, 
Michael Cawley, Principal
Davis Senior High School 

Q.78. [March 20, 2008] What is the website that parents can go to to order a DHS Yearbook?
A. [Year Book Advisor's response via the counselor:] Parents can go to http://jostens.com/. We do not sell books or distribute forms during the beginning of the year. I have an FAQ on our school website. http://www.djusd.k12.ca.us/davishigh/tfontaine/index.htm

Q. 77. [Feb. 14, 2008] From the DHS Counseling Office:
The Culinary Arts and Hospitality Management Program of the City College of San Francisco is currently accepting applications for Fall 2008. For information please visit: www.ccsf.edu/cahs. The deadline is April 7, 2008.

Q. 76. [Nov. 15, 2007] What if my son already sent in his application, with the junior high separated out (there is an "other" junior high section, even though you cannot name the school)? Will this be a problem and, if so, can I correct it in some way now that it's sent? Thanks!
[Counselor's Response:] Please assure this parent that if the application was already submitted this way it is okay. It's just easier and more straightforward the other way.

Q. 75. [Nov. 13, 2007] How do I complete the information for grade 9 on the UC application?

[Counselor's Response:] When students are completing the UC application, they're asked to list all their schools attended since grade 9 -- all their high schools, in other words. Davis is unusual because we have junior high schools. However, "students do not need to list the junior high school, just Davis Senior High", because all the 9th grade classes are on our UC list. Emerson, Harper, and Holmes are not high schools -- they do not graduate students, so the students at all 3 junior highs are considered part of DSHS for grade 9 on college apps.

Another UC tip: only put the classes on the application which have a "P" on them. Those are the only ones UCs want to see. On your student's transcript the "P" will be in front of the course name and in the title. You should check our DSHS UC a-g class list online.

Q. 74. [Nov. 6, 2007] From Counselor McNeil: on private college/univeristy applications:
Seniors: if you are applying to private colleges or universities, you must see your counselor as soon as possible if you haven't already arranged for completion of the secondary school reports. If you don't know what this is, please make a counseling appointment.

Counselors would be glad to discuss college applications with all seniors, so if you haven't seen your counselor lately, it's a good time to come on in. If you have questions about sending ACT or SAT scores or when is the time to apply to community colleges or anything else, don't hesitate.

Q. 73. [Oct. 11, 2007] My daughter is applying to 4 CSU's and so she is going on CollegeBoard.com to get her SAT scores sent to those 4 schools. My understanding is that she only has to send the SAT scores one time to CSU Mentor (code 3594). But when researching individual CSU's, I saw that each one had their own SAT code. I want to make sure that the CSU Mentor code 3594 will reach the 4 CSU's that she wants to apply to. Can you confirm that the one code is all that is needed.
[Counselor's Response:] If a student sends their scores to CSU Mentor all of the CSU campuses will receive the scores. Each campus has an individual code as well in case students only want scores seen by that campus.

Q. 72. [Sep. 24, 2007] Message from the DHS Counseling Office:
This week the DHS counselors are holding two lunch time workshops for seniors to help them prepare for college applications. The workshops will be at lunch, in the old gym, September 26 and 27. It is the same workshop so students only need to attend once. Also this Wednesday at 7pm a college admission representative will be presenting in the Performing Arts Building on the CSU campuses.

Q. 71. [Sep. 24, 2007] I have a question regarding my senior son's new assigned counselor. I understand that the counselors send a personal recommendation form to private colleges. My concern is that my son was assigned a new counselor this year who was just hired to DHS, who obviously has never met my son. How does that work? Does the new counselor speak to the other counselors in writing up the form? It is difficult to write a personal summary of someone you've never met or never witnessed evolve through the DHS years.
[Counselor's Response:] Counselors will consult with past counselors concerning new seniors that request letters of recommendation. Counselors also gather information from a variety of sources and do an extensive interview with each student prior to writing a letter of recommendation. The counselors will have more time, because they have fewer students, to spend on each individual letter of recommendation than they have in the past. We think that all counselors will be able to write an excellent letter for their students.

Q. 70. [Sep. 22, 2007] My daughter is starting her college application process and is not sure which of the science classes she has taken at DHS qualify as "lab science". She has taken: Biology, Chemistry, Zoology & Botany. Are all 3 of these classes considered lab science?
[Counselor's Response:] All three of these courses are lab sciences, meaning they qualify for the "d" subject area. For a full list of which DHS courses meet which a-g requirements please refer to page 16 in the course catalog.

Q. 69. [Sep. 20, 2007] My daughter took a summer course at Sac City college. Are college courses given any extra "weight" to her overall GPA? Is an A a 4.0 or 5.0? Since the transcript for this class will be sent separately from her courses at Davis High School *does she *adjust her GPA accordingly to include this college course?
[Counselor's Response:] For the UC and CSU on-line applications, students self report all coursework, including community college courses. The UC and CSU typically do not want official transcripts until after an admission decision has been made, although some CSUs may request one. The UC and CSU admissions officials will calculate the student's GPA for themselves, adding weight to coursework taken outside of the school, per their individual campus policy. There is no place for students to adjust or recalculate their own GPA on UC or CSU applications.

College courses are only put on the high school transcript if required for graduation or to meet the minimum UC/CSU eligibility. Students should submit an official transcript to the high school registrar so we can add any college courses that fall under either or both of those two categories. An example would be a student who has taken US History at Sac City College. This course is required to graduate from high school and used for minimum eligibility. College classes added to the DHS transcript in academic subjects are given an extra grade point as are Honors and AP classes.

When students apply to private colleges, they need to request official copies of high school AND community college transcripts sent to the colleges or universities to which they apply. This is different from applying to California public universities.

Q. 68. [May 25, 2007] Help with students' employment and education goals:
[From the Counseling Office:] The Yolo County Work Force Investment Act (WIA) may be able to help students with their employment and education goals. It is for low income students and students with disabilities (including learning disabilities). WIA can offer assistance with employment, vocational training, paid work experience and/or financial assistance for school and work expenses. Please contact your counselor for more information.

Q. 67. [May 23, 2007] Is there only one company taking senior portraits for inclusion in the yearbook? Which one? Is it necessary to travel outside of Davis to have the portraits taken?
A. [Ted Fontaine, faculty yearbook advisor:] We only accept portraits from Lifetouch/Prestige. Notices will be sent during the summer. We will be having a photo shoot for seniors on campus around early October. We prefer that students have their photos taken at the studio however we understand this is not always convenient or possible.

Q. 66. [Apr. 27, 2007] In the past UCD hosted a college fair with many different college reps from all over U.S. Will UCD or anywhere nearby be hosting a college fair this Spring or Fall? Might the DHS counselors know this?
A. [McNeil:] Next spring (2008) the Western Associ ation for College Admission Counseling (WACAC) college fair will be at UC Davis. The "Capital and Central Valley" fair comes to Davis every other year. This year it is at CSU Stanislaus on April 30. There are other fairs in the bay area. Here is the link to the calendar on the WACAC website: http://www.wacac.org/college_sched.php

Q. 65. [Mar 10, 2007] I have a question on US Gov. and practical arts for seniors. Can students take both courses from OnLine/community college/summer school? I didn't find the topic from the archives, but have heard kids doing so.
A. [McNeil:] Students may take US Government and Economics during summer school at DHS. A practical arts course is not offered during the summer at DHS. Students may take community college courses with Sac City, if they meet the prerequisites of the course and are 16 years old/ finished the 10th grade and have a minimum GPA of 2.7. Forms/directions to enroll are available at the counseling office or on-line at www.losrios.edu.

We will post courses taken from community college or an accredited on-line program if the credit is needed to graduate from high schooland/or to meet minimum a-g requirements.

However, we do not recommend on-line courses. On-line courses are not currently being accepted by UC. They are developing a policy and tell us it may be finished in a year or so. If a student chooses to take an on-line course for high school graduation credits, please be sure the program is accredited to grant/issue high school credits and atranscript. Students should research to be sure the course meets the same requirements as the course at DHS.

Q. 64. [Mar 5, 2007] The GPA at the college application time is only as of the end of a student's junior year, right? I suppose the colleges will look at the courses a student take in his/her senior year, but won't be able to get the grades for admission purposes, am I right?
A. [McNeil:] Yes, the "College GPA" used by UC/CSU is from college prep coursework taken in grades 10 and 11. Cal Poly SLO is one school that will also include grades from the 9th grade. Students report which classes they will be taking senior year on the on-line UC/CSU application. UC and CSU do not usually ask for a mid year report (senior semester grades) unless they want to verify information.

Most private colleges and universities, however, will ask for a mid year report. It is really important that students maintain similar academic performance senior year and ask permission from the universities they are applying to if their senior year course list changes (particularly if they want to drop a class). Changes to the planned courses can impact admission decisions and colleges have been known to rescind an offer of admission for this reason.

Q. 63. [Mar 2, 2007] Important change to information in the course catalog: change in Floral Design course.
A. [Counseling Office:] The new class for 2007-08 called Floral Design will be offered as a class for Practical Art or for elective credit. The course list and course catalog indicate that it would be either Fine or Practical Art, but the school board decided on March 1 that it could not be a Fine Art class but would receive Practical Art or Elective credit. This is a change from the information presented during program planning.

Q. 62. [Dec 14, 2006] Portfolio requirements for AP Art Studio
A. [McNeil] We would like to encourage highly motivated students who want to continue to improve their artwork to apply for the AP Art Studio Class. This is a class in which you work with a teacher willing to supervise your development of the AP Studio portfolio. Students and teachers will also meet regularly at lunch to have a group critique.

- You will be expected to work about 8 hours a week outside of school to receive an A grade. We encourage you to submit this work to the College Board to receive college credit, but you are not required to do so in order to receive credit for the class.

- To be considered for the AP Art Studio class, you must submit a portfolio of your work for the art department to evaluate by March 1st along with a cover letter that highlights art courses taken, relevant experiences and which choice of portfolio you would like to pursue.

- A high school level course is required for the portfolio area you have selected; students who have taken an off-campus class must submit a letter of reference from their teacher.

- There are three portfolio choices: Drawing/Painting, 2-Dimensional work, 3-Dimensional work. For each of the portfolios you must submit a total of twenty works that show breadth as well as your interest in a particular area. We suggest that they should include the following:

• DRAWING/PAINTING PORTFOLIO. If you are doing drawing or painting this *must* include three pencil drawings 16 by 20 inches, including a single point perspective landscape from nature, a realistic still life and a portrait
  
• TWO-DIMENSIONAL PORTFOLIO. In this portfolio, you should include digital and /or non-digital work. All digital work must be submitted in hardcopy format. Please include a sketchbook of your ideas and personal drawings, a collage, and a portrait (in the medium of your choice). For a photography portfolio, please submit a minimum of 5 photographs demonstrating your knowledge of good composition and at least 3 (8 x 10 inch) exhibition quality photos.
  
• THREE-DIMENSIONAL PORTFOLIO. Submit one functional slab/coil piece at least 12" tall and a sculptural figure/face at least 10" tall. Other 3D work may be included. In addition, please submit drawings, or a sketchbook of ideas.

We urge you to apply if you are a good student who wants to work hard and become a more proficient artist!

Q. 61. [Nov 8, 2006] About reprints of the photographs taken at registration
A. [McNeil] If a parent would like to re-order photos they can call Lifetouch directly @ 1-877-457-7799. A Lifetouch representative will take the request then mail the pictures directly to their home.

Q. 60. [Nov 8, 2006] When and where can I order a yearbook?
A. [McNeil] Yearbooks are on sale now at www.jostens.com for $63.00. The price will go up in March.

Q. 59. [Sep 23, 2006] Alternate PSAT date and fee waiver.
A. [Tessler] ALTERNATE PSAT DATE: St. Francis High School contacted us and requested that parents not call them regarding the PSAT. If a junior student cannot take the PSAT when it is given at DSHS on Saturday, October 21, due to a school activity conflict or religious reasons, the student may go to Patricia Smith, Testing Coordinator at DSHS, and request a form for alternate PSAT testing. Patty is located in the administration building near the office of Mrs. Smith, Vice Principal. The completed form will be reviewed and approved or disapproved by Mrs. Smith. St. Francis is holding a limited number of tests for our students who need an alternate date.
FEE WAIVER FOR PSAT: If a junior is on the free/reduced lunch program, he/she may request a fee waiver for the PSAT. The student should meet with his/her counselor to request the fee waiver.
[Sep 26, 2006] PSAT UPDATE: This notice is to parents looking for alternate sites for the PSAT. St. Francis has notified us that all their spaces are full. Parents who are still looking an alternate site will need to contact other high schools on their own.

Q. 58. [Sep 14, 2006] PSAT information from the DHS Counseling Office.
A. [Tessler] Dear Junior parents,

You will be receiving the attached information about the PSAT in the mail soon. Please note that this year sign-ups will occur in the Career Center, not at the Counseling Office.

Some parents have already notified me that their student will not be available on Saturday, October 21, when we give the PSAT at DSHS. If the student has a commitment they cannot change, you would have to find an alternate school site where the PSAT is administered on Wednesday. Dixon High School has asked me to convey they do not want you to contact them. In previous years, St. Francis has been able to accommodate a few of our students. Each high school gives first preference to their own students. If spaces are available, then some schools will allow outside students to take the PSAT at their site.

Q. 57. [Sep 7, 2006] Does her student need to continue with calculus as a Junior or if there were other math options.
A. [McNeil] When a student completes Trig or higher, as in her case with Intro, the UC/CSU sees that as doing 4 years (the recommended amount) of college prep math. Statistics would also count as another year of college prep math. This is similar to the rules governing foreign language requirements. Her grades in Alg 2/Trig and Intro validate that she knows and has completed Alg 1 and Geometry.
However there are two recommendations I would make: 1. if she is interested in a career or major related to math, she should absolutely continue as far as she can in our courses. Statistics does count as a college prep math. 2. the more semesters of college prep course work in a subject area the more "points" students earn towards admission.
Most private colleges will expect her to be in math all 4 years, so you will need to check with each one.
I would encourage her to take one of the two this year (Calc AB or Stats).
The last day to add a new class is Monday.

Q. 56. [Apr 23, 2006] I would like to know if the History 310 or 311 course at the Davis Center of Sac City College fulfills the Davis High graduation requirement for US History?
A. [Elmore] Only if students take both History 310 and History 311 through SCC they meet the high school graduation requirement for US History.

Q. 55. [Apr 6, 2006] Can a student take Pre-cal course at an accredited online high school program (Brigham Young University-Independent Study) during the summer to meet the Prerequisites of Calculus AP?
A. [Elmore] Our math department does not recommend taking an online high school course as a prerequisite for one of our math courses. The best preparation for Calculus AB AP is our Intro to Analysis course. However, a student may take an online course from an accredited high school program and meet the prerequisite if they earn a C grade or higher. The coursework from on-line accredited high school programs will not be added to the DSHS transcript unless it is required for graduation.

Q. 54. [Apr 6, 2006] Can a student take Pre-cal & Statistics AP during the same school year (junior year) if she /he met prerequisites of Statistics AP?
A. [Elmore] If a student meets the prerequisites of Statistics AP (Alg 2/Trig or Alg 2 with a C grade or higher) and Intro to Analysis (Alg 2/Trig or Trig Apps and Functions with a C grade or higher) they may be taken during the same year.

Q. 53. [Mar 31, 2006] Are there any prep materials available for 10th grade STAR test?
A. [Elmore] The testing coordinator is not familiar with any prep materials for the STAR test. However, parents may go to the California Department of Education web site, http://www.cde.ca.gov/, and explore under "Testing and Accountability" information on STAR. Under "Program Resources" they will find reference sheets, California Standards Tests blueprints, writing guides, released test questions, information and assistance packets, and technical reports.

Q. 52. [Mar 9, 2006] Are practice exams available for the kids?
A. [Testing Coordinator Cindy Espinoza] There are practice questions in the English and Math study guides which were distributed in each 10th grade class. If a student did not receive one, copies are available in the office on the counter near my desk.

Q. 51. [Mar 9, 2006] We were planning to be out of town on March 22. Will a make-up exam be scheduled?
A. [Elmore] Make-ups are May 9 and 10.

Q. 50. [Mar 1, 2006] My daughter will be a junior next year and is planning out the classes she'll need to take. She has had Biology and Chemistry and will need a third year of Science. Looking at the planner provided by the High School it looks like her only choices are Physics, Biology AP or ROP Biotechnology. She would rather take Zoology & Botany or Anatomy & Physiology but it doesn't look like those would fulfill the CSU/UC recommendations.
A. [Elmore] The UC/CSU requirements for science are very similar, although there are a few differences.

The UC requires two years of laboratory science with three recommended from the following core disciplines: biology, chemistry, and physics. If a student has taken biology and chemistry they have met the minimum requirement. The third year recommended amount can be from any of the lab sciences on the “d” list, which includes Zoology & Botany, Anatomy & Physiology, etc., listed on page 16 of the catalog.

The CSU requires two years of science, one from the "life" sciences and one from the "physical" sciences. One of these must be from the "d" subject area with the other from either "d" or "g." Again, courses are listed on page 16 under each subject area. For example, a student with ROP Environmental Science and Biology meets the CSU requirement but not the UC requirement because the ROP course is not a "d" subject science.

Q. 49. [Feb 24, 2006] My student is currently taking Intro to Analysis (Pre Calc) as a sophomore. The UC recommends at least 3 years of high school math. Since she has been taking high school level math since seventh grade, can she stop now? If she can't what would you recommend if she is not interested in calculus?
A. [Elmore] The UC actually recommends 4 years of high school math, with the minimum being three years (Alg 1, Geometry, and Alg 2 or Alg 2/Trig). If she doesn't want to take Calculus AB she may consider taking Statistics AP. We encourage students to continue math each year. In her case she may stop taking math and will meet the requirements for high school graduation (20 credits in 9-12 grades) and the UC/CSU recommended amount. Another thought to consider is that when students get to college they do placement tests to decide which level of math not the last course completed in high school. If she has "been away" from math for two years, it may be difficult for her.

Q. 48. [Feb 24, 2006] Secondly, she is thinking about taking the class that allows her to work on the Hub. The prerequisite is a journalism class listed under the senior class English courses or with permission of the instructor. Can a junior take the journalism class? Do juniors work on the Hub?
A. [Elmore] Juniors may sign up for Journalism 1. Some juniors do work on the HUB. She needs to get permission from Kelly Wilkerson if she wants to take ROP Journalism 2/Desktop Publishing with out meeting the prerequisite.

Q. 47. [Feb 15, 2006] Hi, I had a question on the semester of Health that our students are required to take. Can that be taken during summer school or is there an online class that will satisfy this requirement? Thanks for your help.
A. [Elmore] Health is offered through the district?s secondary summer school program. The summer school course is the same as the course offered during the school year. Some students have pursued on-line health courses. Courses must be given through an accredited high school program and the curriculum must match our course content. Students can bring in a course description from an on-line program to their counselor to determine if it is comparable.

Q. 46. [Feb 9, 2006] If you take more than 2 different SAT II tests, such as 2 tests at the end of Sophomore year and 2 more different tests at the end of Junior year, can you pick and choose which 2 test scores are sent to UC (as long as they are in the different subject matters as required) or does the college board report all of the SAT II test scores you took?
A. [Elmore] Good question. College Board only sends scores to schools that the student designates, either at the time of registration, on the test day, or later. Every time College Board sends scores, it sends all of them, including previous tests. There is no way to withhold certain scores.

UCs will choose the top two scores from all of the SAT Subject tests submitted as long as they are from different subject areas. For example, UC does not want a French language test and a Spanish language test because they are both foreign language.

UC will also choose the SAT reasoning test with the highest cumulative score--not the highest individual scores of reading, writing, and math--from one sitting.

CSU will choose the highest scores from different test dates for reading and math. This last year they did not include the writing score, but that may change for the class of 2008. CSU does not require SAT subject tests.

Q. 45. [Feb 1, 2006] Information about registration for 2006-07.
A. [Elmore] The presentations to 10th grade students will occur February 22 and 23rd. March 6-9th we will be collecting planners from students. On our [DHS] web site under the "Courses" section parents and students can find information on high school graduation requirements, UC/CSU and community college requirements, as well as 4 year planners, suggested sequences, and planner suggestions/directions. The link is: http://dhs.djusd.k12.ca.us/xhtml/courses/index.html. New courses and some course description updates have yet to be added to the website. They will be updated when students receive the planners.

Q. 44. [Oct 25, 2005] Is a student academic counselor and college admission counselor a same person?
A. [Elmore] Yes, your student's counselor at DHS covers academic, career/college, and social/emotional counseling and acts as the case manager at the school, sharing information with those appropriate.

Q. 43. [Oct 25, 2005] Does DHS have IB program?
A. [Elmore] No, DHS does not have an IB program.

Q. 42. [Oct 25, 2005] Does DHS offer SAT prep class during school year or summer?
A. [Elmore] SAT prep classes are offered through Davis Adult School, on-line via UC, and there are prep books available for loan in our Career Center (room L-10).

Q. 41. [Oct 25, 2005] Are there any summer programs offered by DHS?
A. [Elmore] Summer school classes are available for DHS students.

Q. 40. [Oct 25, 2005] If the student travels outside country during summer & help teaching English there, can she take money by teaching? Is teaching outside country considered as community services?
A. [Elmore] I am not aware of the rules about working outside of the US. I would contact the country's embassy or consulate office for clarification. DHS does not have a community service requirement for graduation. However, it would be considered volunteer time and the student may choose to share this information with colleges at admission time.

Q. 39. [Oct 12, 2005] May student take fine arts course through community college and get credit and transfer to high school to meet the requirement?
A. [Elmore] A student may take fine art at the community college for high school credit. One semester of community college coursework counts for one semester of high school credit and two semesters/ 10 credits are required for high school graduation. As with on-line coursework, we only post credits to the transcript if it is required for high school graduation. For the Los Rios district, of which Sac City is a part, a student must be 16 or have finished the 10th grade, have a minimum GPA of 2.7, and take a course which is not offered at the high school, in order to become an advanced education student. There is an application available at the counseling office that outlines these rules and others.

Q. 38. [Oct 12, 2005] Can student take correspondence course through Brigham Young University for math and get credit and 1-1 transfer to high school to meet prerequisites?
A. [Elmore] Correspondence courses may be taken for credit toward high school graduation requirements from any institution (including BYU) if the school is accredited for high school coursework. On-line course work is given semester for semester credit. We will put coursework on the high school transcript if is required for graduation or via individual determination from a meeting with the student's counselor. On-line classes can be used to meet prerequisites for DHS classes. In the case of math, two years/ 20 credits are required with the minimum of Algebra 1.

Q. 37. [Oct 3, 2005] Can you refresh my memory? Must the students complete a certain number of hours of community service as a condition of graduation? What are the # of hours? Can they be completed any year? Thanks so much.
A. [Elmore] DHS does not have a community service requirement for graduation. However, we do have a class supervised by administration that gives credit for community service. Students make a contract at the beginning of the semester with the administrator. To earn the credit students must volunteer a minimum of 5 hours per week and have an on-site supervisor who will verify service. For more information, students should meet with their counselor.

Q. 36. [Sept 27, 2005] My 10th grader daughter already got a very busy schedule including various activities and sports. She wants to join the National Honor Society, because she thinks that will help for colleage application. But the National Honor Society requires certain hours of community service per semester. I am afraid she is too busy to join this society, or she is stretching herself too thin. My question is, does joining the National Honor Society really help for colleage application? Is it worth to put a lot of time for this society?
A. [Elmore] Membership in the National Honor Society will probably not influence college admissions decisions. However, leadership and volunteer work in this and other organizations could influence admission to college. We encourage students to choose their activities wisely, focusing on areas of greatest interest while maintaining balance.

[Oct 03, 2005, Elmore:] Hopefully I can clarify my earlier response. The critical issue is leadership, whether part of NHS or another organization, not membership. NHS itself does not influence college admissions decisions.

Q. 35. [Sept 2, 2005] I was told that the 9th grade grades can count for one semester of CSF. CSF stands for California Scholarship Federation (or Foundation). Students who have a GPA of 3.5 or higher (I can't remember) can apply. Students who qualify for 4 semester can become "lifetime" members and these students also get to wear a gold "rope" around their necks at graduation. The program is known nationally and all high schools should be familiar with it. I am having a difficult time locating the person in charge of distributing the forms. Please help.
A. [Elmore] Parents, here's info I have on CSF from Jean Meyer last year. I'll look into who is the club advisor so the parent can contact them tomorrow.

CSF is the College Scholarship Federation. Students qualify by having grades that are determined eligible by the state organization. The application has a point system with certain classes that are examined. If a student is a member by qualifying, submitting the application on time, and paying the required dues for 4 of the semesters of high school, including one in the senior year, that student is deemed a Life Member of CSF. Life Members are noted in the Graduation Program and are given a special tassel to wear on their mortarboards.

There is no automatic scholarship money given to members, but there is a scholarship for which they can apply. Membership in itself does not denote anything to competitive colleges, because virtually every student who qualifies for a UC is eligible for CSF.

The club meets regularly at the high school and their activities include many hours of volunteering and community service. It is a great leadership opportunity for those students who are in the top positions; a presidency of this organization would be something that colleges would consider in examining a student's leadership experience. Students may become life members by qualifying and paying dues but are not required to be active members in the club.

We also have the National Honor Society which is similar to CSF. Students must do outside volunteering to be a member of this organization; there are no inactive members.

Neither organization has special classes or workshops that are not available to the general student body.

[Sept 3, 2005, Elmore] The advisor at DHS for CSF (College Scholarship Federation) is Mrs. Pearcy. She can be reached at cpearcy@djusd.k12.ca.us.

Q. 34. [Sept 2, 2005] What is the SAT Reasoning test?
A. [Elmore] The SAT Reasoning test is the new (as of last year) name of the SATI. We now have the SAT Reasoning Test and the SAT Subject Tests--formerly known as SAT I and SAT II.

Q. 33. [Sept 2, 2005] Does DHS offer a program/class/opportunity that would teach students how to develop the skill base and habits that would result in being able to do better during major class tests?
A. [Elmore] Although we do not offer a particular class that addresses study habits and test taking skills for all of our students, often this topic is covered by teachers in their regular academic subjects. For our students who qualify for special education services, a course is available that helps them with academic subjects, including test taking, study habits, and other success increasing traits.

The counseling department offers a night time program, called Increasing Student Success, one evening after the first quarter grades are reported. At this workshop students and parents are invited to attend seminars on a variety of success producing topics. This year we also introduced AVID for 10th grade students, which is a course designed to help students develop study skills needed for college. The class was announced and made available last spring with an interview process and is currently full. A new AVID class is anticipated for next year's incoming 10th grade students. The counselors also have a list of library resources about study skills and all students may meet with us (after the second week) to get more study skill information.

Q. 32. [Sept 1, 2005] In what grade do the kids normally take the PSAT? How many times per year is it offered? Do most kids only take it once?
A. [Elmore] The PSAT is only offered once per year, usually in the fall. This year the PSAT will be given at DHS on Saturday, October 15. Most students do only take the PSAT once and priority for registration is given to Junior students. Junior students will receive a postcard in early October giving them instructions on how to register.

Q. 31. [Sept 1, 2005] My daughter is a sophomore and is interested in taking the PSAT test. If the test is on a Saturday in October however she would not be available, is there another date that this test will be offered this year? Do you know all of the dates & test sites for this year for the PSAT test? Thanks for your assistance.
A. [Elmore] The PSAT is only offered once per year and priority is given to Junior students. The DHS test will be October 15, 2005. Juniors will receive notification in the mail about how and where to register. When a Junior student is unable to take the PSAT due to a conflict such as religious or sporting event, arrangements have been made to take the test at another site on a space available basis. Sophomore students can sign up for the SAT Reasoning Test and use this as practice.

Q. 30. [Aug 31, 2005] My son took 2 semesters of computer classes last year in 9th grade, Intro to Computers and Multi-Media. Does this satisfy the DHS practical arts requirement of 1 semester to graduate?
A. [Elmore] Yes the 5 credit practical art requirement has been satisfied.

Q. 29. [May 31, 2005] My child is bi-racial and although she checks both Black/Hispanic she has only been contacted by the Black organizations from the high school. Why is that? She would like to participate in both the Hispanic and Black organizations on campus. What should she do? Who should she talk to regarding this matter?
A. [Tessler] Members of the Black Student Union went to the junior high schools to meet with interested students. We also have a Los Latinos Unidos club at DSHS. In September, all of the clubs have booths on the quad for Club Faire Day. This gives students a chance to learn about all of the clubs at DSHS. Students may join as many clubs as they have an interest in. I would suggest that she attend a BSU meeting and Los Latinos Unidos meeting in the fall. She can then decide if she wants to join both, one, and/or another club. BSU is open to all students interested in learning about black history/culture.

Q. 28. [May 10, 2005] When can a student change his/her fall schedule?
A. [Tessler] Change forms are available at the counseling office of each junior high. The student may submit a form, which is then mailed to DSHS. At this time, there is no guarantee that changes will be made. It is based on availability in the classes. Due to the complexity of the schedule this year, it is doubtful we will be able to get the schedules out at the end of this school year. When the student receives his/her schedule in August, they will have one opportunity to meet with a counselor to see if any revisions can be made. Again, I want to emphasize that it will be based on available openings in the classes.

Q. 27. [Apr 21, 2005] Can my 9th grader take the SAT subject test (Spanish) this June since she will be finishing Spanish V and not continuing in Spanish?
A. [Tessler] Yes, in fact this would be the best time for your student to take it since the current Spanish 5 class will be the best preparation for this test.

Q. 26. [Mar 25, 2005] SCC Summer School
A. [Tessler] Students interested in taking courses at Sacramento City College (SCC) Summer School in Davis: Schedules are available online at www.losrios.edu, go to Davis Center. See your counselor for an advanced education application. Students must be 16 years old by the time classes start and have at least an overall 2.7 GPA.
[From Counselor Carol Curinga] Students planning to take US History at SCC over the summer need to be aware that they must take BOTH semesters of US History to fulfill the DHS US History requirement. These courses would be HIST 310 & HIST 311. Students planning to take Economics at SCC must take BOTH semesters Econ 302 and Econ 304 covering both macro and microeconomics to fulfill the DHS requirement. After the application is filled out and approved by the student's counselor, the student will make an appointment with a Sac City College counselor. The SCC fall schedule should be available online in mid-April. Fall classes to start August 29th.

Q. 25. [Mar 17, 2005] More about fall registration:
A. [Tessler] For those of you who are trying to plan an August vacation, we have arrived at the dates for fall registration at DHS:
- August 23, 2005 - Juniors and Seniors will turn in forms & pick up schedules
- August 24, 2005 - Sophomores will turn in forms & pick up schedules.
- August 29 - School starts
If a student is unable to attend Fall DHS registration on August 23/24, then the student would go to school at 7:00 AM on the first day of school, August 29. There are usually about 200 students in this position. The line moves fast because they are well organized to accommodate these students. The students will be turning in forms, picking up their schedule, getting photos taken for student ID, etc.


Q. 24. [Mar 16, 2005] Would it be possible to ask DHS if they know the date for picking up schedules etc? It would make help in making summer plans. I know it makes the first day of school a lot easier (especially for sophomores) to attend that day. I noticed school starts on a Monday this year, so even if they aren't sure of the date, if they know for sure what week (I'm guessing the week of August 22), that would be helpful.
A. [Tessler] School starts on August 29. Juniors and Seniors will register on August 23. Sophomores will register on August 24.

Q. 23. [Mar 2, 2005] My child's high school schedule for the next three years is so full due to music, foreign language, AP science classes, etc. that even with summer school this year he won't be able to fit in the health requirement unless he does summer school again next year. That means he won't be able to do the COSMOS program or state summer school for the arts, which are both valuable programs. Is there any way he can meet the health requirement another way, such as a class at Sacramento City College or independent study? Thanks
A. [Tessler] There is an on-line health class at Sacramento City College. You may go to their website or contact the Davis office for further information.

Q. 22. [Mar 2, 2005] Is there a way to take a look at the course syllabus for World Civ to find out what textbook will be used, also, English 10?
A. [Tessler] Please do not worry about this now. When you go to your student's classes at Back to School Night in September, the individual teacher will explain what will be covered in the classes. We do not have enough books for every English class, so the teachers rotate the books.

Q. 21. [Mar 2, 2005] What do we do if we need to change a class in our student's schedule that they already turned in with the planner? Thank you.
A. [Tessler] Change forms are available at your junior high school. Contact your 9th grade counselor regarding this. Please turn in the change form to your 9th grade counselor and she will then send it to our office.

Q. 20. [Feb 18, 2005] My daughter changed her plan yesterday to take English 10 Honors instead of English 10 GATE, because the Honors class is more competitive. Is this true? Is the Honors English more challenging than English GATE?
A. [Tessler] The English 10 and English 10 GATE curriculum are the same. There is more depth and breadth of discussion in the GATE class. The English honors class also covers the same curriculum but the students read 2 additional books and have additional writing.

Q. 19. [Feb 17, 2005] My son has submitted his planner with a fairly ambitious 10th grade year, including Chemistry, Introduction to Analysis, Honors English, and World Civ. He's since heard through the student grapevine that the Honors English instead of English 10 may be an unnecessary burden; that colleges will look at grade point averages for 10th grade only and not specific classes taken. Is this so? Thanks.
A. [Tessler] For the UC/CSU system, any English 10 course taken carries the same weight in grading. The honors class does not receive an added point because it is a sophomore class. If the student is planning on applying to private colleges, then the situation is different. The more competitive private colleges prefer that the student has been in the most rigorous course offered, which would be either English 10 GATE or English 10 Honors. If English is not the student's strength and he/she is taking, for example, higher level math classes, science classes, foreign language or Art History AP, then whether or not he/she took English 10 Honors or English 10 GATE in 10th grade may not be an obstacle in the college decision process. We recommend that the student take the classes he/she enjoys and feels is challenging him/her at a level he/she can handle. The GPA for college is over 50% of the acceptance decision for most colleges. We have seen parents make the mistake of forcing their student to take an AP class because they think this will enhance his/her chances of college acceptance. If the student cannot handle this and gets a low grade, the overall GPA is lowered and this would not help the student. We have seen students admitted to UC's and private colleges who never took an AP class and maintained high GPA's. As always, there is no right or wrong to this decision. There are many variables. Always consider what is best for the individual student. Remember the word "balance," which we continue to emphasize. If students are spending all their time doing homework then they do not have time for extra-curricular activities, which are also important in the college application process.

Q. 18. [Feb 16, 2005] Does the ceramics year long course taken in 9th grade class count for the fine arts requirement?
A. [Tessler] Yes.

Q. 17. [Feb 16, 2005] My son is getting an F in English 9. What summer school class would he take to make this course up?
A. [Tessler] High School English Review.

Q. 16. [Feb 13, 2005] Is there more than one teacher for Zoology/Botany? my son really loved the teacher that came to Holmes to speak to his biology class and he wants to know the chances of getting that teacher.
A. [Tessler] We will not know how many teachers are needed for Zoology/Botany until we know how many students are requesting this course. I am glad to hear your son loved the teacher who spoke in his biology class. I hope he will have the opportunity to have that teacher at some point in his high school career. Students may not request a specific teacher, only a specific course.

Q. 15. [Feb 11, 2005] Do colleges see the entire 9th grade transcript, including citizenship grades?
A. [Tessler] The 9th grade courses and grades are put on the DSHS transcript... so yes, colleges see the 9th grade year. We do not have citizenship grades on the DSHS transcript.

Q. 14. [Feb 10, 2005] My 9th grader is not GATE identified. However, she has been very successful in Lit Around the World, American Studies and Humanities. Her Humanities teacher believes that she is a good candidate for English 10 Honors. I would like to see my daughter in a class between English 10 and English Honors -- specifically English 10 - GATE. Is this possible since she is not GATE identified?
A. [Tessler] Only GATE identified students may sign up for English 10 GATE. Students may sign up for English 10 honors if they had an A grade in English 9 (includes English 9/Humanities). There is no class between English 10 and English 10 honors.

Q. 13. [Feb 10, 2005] I am trying to decide if my son takes Integrated Ag Biology instead of standard Biology in 9th grade, will he still be eligible to take all other higher level Biologies like AP Biology.
A. [Tessler] Yes. Integrated Agricultural Biology is on the "d" requirement (page 16).

Q. 12. [Feb 10, 2005] Are college admissions teams going to be looking at the entire transcript from ninth grade including electives and citizenship grades, or just high school level courses like Biology and Algebra?
A. [Tessler] UC/CSU's look at the college GPA which included the a-g college prep classes taken in 10th and 11th grade. They do look at the 9th grade college prep courses and grades. A student needs a C or above in these classes in order to be minimally eligible. Private colleges often include 9th grade courses in their decision-making. They may or may not look at non-college prep classes. We do not give citizenship grades in high school.

Q. 11. [Feb 10, 2005] My son is in the 9th grade GATE program and got an F in the first semester of Geography/I-Search. He is planning to sign up for summer school Geography and meeting with his teacher for the second semester. What grade must he get in the second semester of Geography/I-Search course? If he retakes the Geography in summer school, will that replace his F grade? Will all courses count in his GPA?
Someone has told us he must get at least a C in both his second semester of Geo/I-Search and take his summer school Geography course. Is this to count for UC/CSU admission. Must these grades both be achieved (C's in both) for his DHS graduation?
A. [Tessler] I-Search is second semester. It is not a college prep class. Geography is not a requirement for UC or CSU if the student has enough of the "a" requirements listed on page 16 and explained on page 17. Geography is a one semester high school graduation requirement but the student may replace this with a social studies elective in the 11th or 12th grade (ex. international relations, psychology). If Geography is taken at summer school, it will replace the F grade. If he replaces the F, the new grade will be calculated in his GPA.

Q. 10. [Feb 10, 2005] Will Lab Science I and II being counted for 2 years of UC credit? And from which science class area must the student choose for the 3rd science class?
(This is Martha writing), as I understand it the 2008 class is the last year that the lab science program will be counted for 2 years of science under the UC admissions guidelines.
A. [Tessler] The student needs to select the 3rd year of science from the "d" list on page 16.

Q. 9. [Feb 10, 2005] If a student auditions for Jazz Band, is not picked for Jazz Band, can they be placed in the Symphonic Band, or is that a separate audition? If it is a separate audition, is it advised/possible to do dual auditions?
If a student has a serious interest in music and has already many years of study on several instruments, is the Essentials of Music class a good fit, or is that a music appreciation class for nonmusicians? My son is interested in taking the Music Theory AP in either Junior or Senior year, but is curious about Essentials of Music in 10th grade.
A. [Tessler] Jazz Band and Symphonic Band are separate auditions. Students must audition for both. Essentials of Music is similar to a music appreciation class for students who do not have extensive musical background.

Q. 8. [Feb 10, 2005] I have two questions regarding the UC elective requirement as it relates to my son's schedule.
1) He will be taking drafting in 10th grade then engineering drafting in 11th grade, which are not electives recognized by UC. Will a third or fourth year of Japanese count as an elective for UC? What about a fourth year of lab science (AP Physics)? What would be the best way to approach this issue given that he wants to go to a UC?
2) He is currently enrolled in Lab Science 1, so he will need to take Lab Science 2 next year. However, it says in the catalog that UC will only recognize one year of this two year course as credit towards their lab science requirement. His science teacher said, however, that he will get credit for both years. Is that correct?
A. [Tessler] A 4th year of language counts as an elective since UC recommends 3 years. A 4th year of lab science would also count as an elective. World Geography, economics and US Government counts as electives since they need to complete a year of World Civilization and US History for DSHS high school graduation requirements. Generally, any college prep class over the minimum, except first year language and art classes, are considered electives.
The teacher is correct. UC will accept Lab Science I & II for the d requirement. UC does recommend a 3rd year of science.

Q. 7. [Feb 10, 2005] My 9th grader would like to take both biology AP and Chemistry AP in the sophomore year, but there is only one place (period) for the Science class on the pink sheet. Is it true that only one Science class, either life science or physical science, can be taken in the sophomore year? Thanks
A. [Tessler] There is no limit to the number of science classes a student can request. However, a student should meet the prerequisites. The prerequisite for biology AP recommends that a student complete biology and chemistry or Lab Science II with a grade of B or better. (page 37) The prerequisites for chemistry AP are written on page 38. If a student is taking 2 science classes, put one under Science and the additional course in the open space after health.

Q. 6. [Feb 10, 2005] Are we already applying for summer school? Does the summer school program have a separate email address? Thank you.
A. [Tessler] Yes -- students are applying for summer school now. They turn in the summer school applications when they turn in the program planners. You may leave a message at 757-5400 X280 or email your question to: summerschool7-12@djusd.k12.ca.us

Q. 5. [Feb 8, 2005] I emailed the summer school address and never got a reply to this question. If a student is attending summer school, are they required to attend for the whole morning (two periods?) Or can they take just one 5 unit class and attend 1/2 the morning? I don't really see that clarified anywhere on the registration materials.
A. [Tessler] They can sign up for one class (5 credits). But there would be no guarantee that the student could go in the early morning. It would depend on when the class is offered.

Q. 4. [Feb 8, 2005] My 9th grade student completed the semester Drama class at Holmes, Fall semester. Can he enroll in Advanced Drama (rahter than Drama)?
A. [Tessler] Yes, he may sign up for Drama /Adv (1 semester) -- code # 246100

Q. 3. [Feb 8, 2005] My 9th grader has taken 1/2 year of Spanish. Will she need to take the whole 1st year of Spanish over again, or can she perhaps take a test to see if she could take only the 2nd 1/2?
A. [Tessler] You would need to speak with the Spanish teacher at your junior high school. The teacher would recommend either the student take the entire year of Spanish I or is ready to proceed with Spanish 2. Please refer to page 31 in the DSHS catalogue.

Q. 2. [Feb 8, 2005] My child got a D in second semester Lab Science I and in second semester Lab Science 2. Can the 2nd semester of Lab Science be taken next (Senior) year to bring up her GPA and will any of the Lab Science count for a lab science? At this point a lab scinec (Zoo/Bot) was taken Jr. year and 2 more lab sciences (Chem and Physics) will be taken Sr year. Is there any relief from that plan?
A. [Tessler] Lab Science I & II only count for the CSU/UC systems if grades of "C" and above are received each semester. She could repeat Lab Science II, but we no longer offer Lab Science I so this could not be repeated. Since she completed zoology & botany (life science) and will be taking chemistry and physics (physical science), she will meet her requirements for college and high school graduation. Please ask her to schedule a meeting with her counselor after Feb. 18 (we continue to being doing program planning through this date) to discuss her college GPA and receive guidance on which colleges she would be eligible to apply to.

Q. 1. [Feb 8, 2005] What is the schedule for the ninth graders in terms of release dates and submission dates for planners?
A. [Tessler] Feb. 15th -- Emerson in PE classes & Harper in English classes
Feb. 16th -- Holmes in English classes
REMIND EVERYONE THAT WE NEED PARENT SIGNATURES ON THE PROGRAM PLANNERS.


Excerpt from Jan 2005 DHS newsletter:

"Counselors are planning for February when we do program planning for the 2005-2006 school year. This is the time to start discussing class choices with your student for next year. We thought you might be interested in the program planning process:

February: During the first few weeks of February, the counselors do a power point presentation explaining course selection to all 9th, 10th and 11th grade students. We present to 9th grade parents two evenings. It takes us 2 weeks to present to all the students, collect program planners and tabulate course requests. Many people do not understand that the courses we offer are based on the requests made by students. That is why it is so important to really think through your decisions. Once the program planners are returned to us, we tabulate how many students want geometry, US History, American Literature honors, etc. The number of students requesting each course determines how many sections of each course we offer. Once the number of sections are determined, then teachers are assigned and hired. When students change their minds in the fall, changes can only be made if there is space available. It is getting more and more difficult each year to make changes in the fall based on the limited number of openings in each class. This is why it is so important to consider the courses written on the program planner as a student's permanent choice. It is important to consider how many honors or AP courses are stressful for a student. Please evaluate this carefully along with the many extra curriculur activities."

[Jan 7, 2005] Message from Counselor Courtenay Tessler :

The Davis Senior High School counselors will be presenting information on program planning for the sophomore year of high school on the following dates:

Monday, January 31st at 7:00 PM (last name A-N)
Tuesday, February 1st at 7:00 PM (last name M-Z)

Location: The new Visual and Performing Arts Building, located next to the Veteran's Memorial parking lot on 14th St.

The counselors will present information on 10th grade course selections, high school graduation requirements, college entrance requirements, career pathways and other topics. If you cannot attend the session designated for you, feel free to attend the other evening. These sessions are for parents only as students will get this same information at their current schools on February 4th and 7th.

Many questions will be answered at the parent sessions. Please wait until after you have attended the parent session prior to asking questions in the listserver. We will begin answering questions with the listserver beginning February 2. We have been pleased with the response we have received by utilizing the listserver. Many parents have the same questions, so the listserver enables us to get the same answers out to hundreds of parents. We do not have time to meet individually with 9th grade parents because during February we are presenting to 1850+ students, returning to all the schools to collect the program planners and then compiling all the requests. The listserver process enables us to respond quickly to your questions and concerns prior to your student completing the program planner. Many of your questions will also be answered by reading the course catalogue, which will be distributed to your student. Your 9th grade counselor will also be available to answer your questions.

Thank you for understanding our time constraints and communicating with us via the listserver process.

Courtenay Tessler, M.S.
Counselor, Davis Senior High School