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 VIKING VOICE
A Publication of Valencia High School www.valenciavikings.com Vol. 16, #3 Feb/Mar 2015 In this Issue:
Counselor’s Corner
Open House Info
State Testing Spring 2015
Principal’s Honor Roll
School Calendar
From the Viking Leader John M. Costanzo
The district has provided Valencia High School students with a
new program called Naviance that will help students make
college and career choices. Naviance is the premiere program
available for career and college searching. There are several
college, career, and personality assessments that will help you
make the decisions important to you.
There are five major features available on Naviance:
1. Career Planning – Students can discover interests,
research careers, and link careers to post-secondary
requirements.
2. College Planning – Students can research colleges and
manage the college application process.
3. Success Planning – Students can keep track of the tasks
they need to compete in order to accomplish their goals.
4. Course Planning – Students can build multi-ear course
plans that meet high school graduation requirements
using an online course catalog.
5. Naviance eDocs – Students can submit application
materials to colleges electronically.
Students and parents have access to this program now on the
Valencia High School web site (ValenciaVikings.com). Students
have now been trained on the use of Naviance. If you have any
questions pertaining to Naviance, please contact your son’s or
daughter’s counselor.
I am available as well for questions or comments at
[email protected] or 294-1188, ext. 401.
Spring 2015 State Testing
Jamie Timmins, Assistant Principal
Valencia High School will participate in State testing during the weeks of April 20-24.
All students will have a regular day during the week with testing for the 11th grade
students taking place through English blocks and testing for the 10th grade through
their science course.
Our school API (Academic Performance Index) will be
determined, as in the past from student scores obtained from State testing. We are
required to have a minimum of 95% student participation.
11th Grade
This year, 11th grade students will test using an online assessment system. It will
incorporate the UC and CSU Early Admissions Program (EAP) utilized by the
California University systems and other post-secondary schools to determine the
degree of college readiness of students. The test will include math and English for all
students.
The benefits of the online assessment are many:

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The assessment is designed to be intuitive and will determine students’ actual
achievement levels and will move a student to more or less difficult questions
depending upon responses.
The assessments are untimed and students are given breaks to allow them to
do their best work.
Accessibility resources are built into the system for all students.
Embedded and Non-embedded accommodations for students are available and
preloaded into the system.
The assessment is designed to measure critical thinking skills with questions
that ask students to demonstrate their research, writing, and problem solving
skills.
The assessment requires students to demonstrate their ability to think, make
connections and present ideas in a variety of formats an create thoughtful
responses rather than simply choosing between multiple choices.
Students are highly engaged in the online assessment process.
Opportunities for practice will be provided by content teachers.
How parents can learn more about the testing and help their students prepare:


Visit the Smart Balanced website: http://www.smarterbalanced.org
Take a practice test at home to gain familiarity with the test software platform
and sample test questions: http://smarterbalanced.org/practice-test/
IMPORTANT: Students must bring their ID card each day for testing and are
encouraged to bring their personal ear buds or headphones for the listening portion of
the online assessment. Ear buds or headphones will be available for students who do
not have them. The use of all cell phones and personal electronic devices will be
forbidden during testing.
10th Grade
The 10th grade students will take a paper and pencil assessment in the area of science
during their regularly scheduled science class.
9th Grade and 12th Grade
Students in 9th and 12th grades will not test and will follow their regular school
schedule.
Counselor
Valencia High School
Counseling and Guidance
Counselors 2014-2015
Extension
Student Breakdown
Ms. Jeannie White
Ms. Rhonda Carr
Mr. Justin Thomas
Mrs. Kathy Ferry
Mrs. Theresa Long
Ms. Kathy Stroh
421
440
340
424
425
426
Mr. Kellen Atkins
422
(A-Chi)
(Cho-Gi)
(Gi-Lag)
(Lah-N)
(O-Se)
(Sh-Sili)
+ Special Education
students
(Si-Z)
OPEN HOUSE
Thursday, March 26, 2015
See page 7 for more
information
COUNSELORS’ CORNER
2015/2016 Course Selection
The VHS counselors have conducted a group meeting with all current 9th, 10th and
11th grade students to discuss and prepare course requests for the 2015/2016 school
year. These students were given a copy of the registration paper were asked to bring it
home and discuss and fill it out with their parents/guardians. We have/will be
meeting individually with each of our student by the end of March to review the details
of each student’s course choices and future plans.
SAT Workshop
Valencia High School and The Princeton Review are offering an SAT Workshop on
Saturday and Sunday, March 7th and 8th at VHS. Designed as a basic introduction to
the major principles tested on the SAT, this two-day program is ideal for those
students who want to do a quick overview of the SAT before the March 14th SAT
administration. In this workshop, students will learn valuable information about the
SAT as well as some of the Princeton Review’s famous strategic test-taking tips. In
addition, students will take a practice SAT and receive The Princeton Review’s famous
Cracking the SAT book, complete with practice problems and test-taking strategies.
Flyers with more information are available in the counseling office, and students must
sign up before Monday, March 2nd. This is an especially great workshop for junior
students, as the March SAT exam date is the most popular date for junior students to
begin their official SAT testing.
College Transcript Requests
Seniors must remember that all colleges, with the exception of the UC campuses, want
students to send an updated transcript that includes first semester senior grades. To
request these, seniors need to follow the format that they were taught last semester to
request transcripts using Naviance. For questions, students should see their
counselor right away.
CSU Placement Tests
If your student is planning to attend any of the Cal State Universities in the fall,
he/she may be required to take the English and math placements tests (EPT, ELM).
Please make sure your senior is checking his/her admissions portal online to see if
anything is still required for fall admissions. To learn more about the placements
tests, visit: https://ept-elm.ets.org/CSU/
College Financial Aid
Seniors and their families are encouraged to apply for federal financial aid for the
2015-2016 college school year. To set up an account, create a pin number, and fill out
the application (FAFSA), visit: http://www.fafsa.ed.gov as soon as possible.
Applications become available on January 1st, 2015 and are due no later than March
2nd.
California Grant (Cal Grant)
After your student’s FAFSA has been submitted, he/she can be considered for a
California Grant (Cal Grant) if attending a California college. ALL seniors have been
submitted for a Cal Grant electronically, so students do not need to apply
individually or fill out any paperwork. Information regarding the Cal Grants are found
at http://www.csac.ca.gov/doc.asp?id=105. To find out the status of your Cal Grant,
AFTER you have filed a Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA), you can go
online and check the status of your Cal Grant application by logging onto
https://mygrantinfo.csac.ca.gov and creating an account. This secure site will let you
view the status of your Cal Grant application, update your address, view payment
history or tell us you're changing your school.
CSS Profile
In addition to the FAFSA, some private colleges require a CSS/Profile application as
part of the financial aid application process. The CSS/Profile is a supplemental
financial aid application used by many private colleges across the country. More
information on the CSS Profile application and a list of all nationwide colleges that
require
the
profile
can
be
found
at:
https://profileonline.collegeboard.com/prf/index.jsp
Grades and College Eligibility
Colleges do not accept any grades below a “C” for required classes. If your student
receives a “D” or an “F” in any required class, he/she MUST retake that class to be
eligible to apply to college during his/her senior year.
NCAA Clearinghouse
If you have a junior or senior student who plans on being an athlete at the college
level, he/she must register with the NCAA Clearinghouse. The registration website can
be found at: www.ncaaclearinghouse.com. Students/Parents should be very careful
when reviewing this website, as there are many details that the students must adhere
to in order to be eligible. If your student needs additional help with eligibility issues,
he/she can contact Mrs. Stroh in the counseling office or by email at
[email protected].
COLLEGE ADMISSIONS TESTING
Current juniors planning to apply to any four-year college or university next year are
highly encouraged to take the May and/or the June administration of the SAT/ACT.
For those taking the ACT instead of, or in addition to, the SAT, students should sign
up for the ACT with the optional writing portion. The University of California System
and many independent colleges may further require/recommend the SAT Subject
Tests, as well. For test requirements of particular colleges and universities, please
check the college website online, or contact the college or university directly.
Applications for the SAT Reasoning Test, the SAT Subject Tests, and ACT are available
online.
TEST
SAT Exams
http://www.collegeboard.org
ACT
www.actstudent.org
PRE-COLLEGE CHECKLIST
Seniors:
 Submit Federal Student Aid Application (FAFSA) by mail or online at
www.fafsa.ed.gov.
 Apply for outside funding or scholarships. (Keep checking the
“Scholarship” section of the VHS website on the counseling pages).
 Send a thank you note to all those individuals who wrote a
recommendation letter for you.
Juniors:
 Start planning to take the SAT, ACT, and/or SAT Subject Tests, if
necessary. (Check with all colleges you will be applying to and find out
their specific testing requirements).
 Begin browsing college websites .
Sophomores:
 Consider taking some of the SAT Subject Tests during June of this year.
Since you may already be studying for finals in subjects like chemistry
and world history, this is an excellent opportunity to try the SAT Subject
Tests in the same subjects.
Valencia High School
Presents
OPEN HOUSE
&
FAMILY NIGHT!
Thursday, March 26, 2015
The entire family is invited to attend Valencia High School’s Open House and Family
Night. Join us for a fun-filled evening during which you may, at your leisure, view and
admire all of the hard work of the Valencia High School’s students.
6:00 – 7:00 pm – 8th grade orientation in the gym
7:00 – 9:00 pm – Open House
Classroom visitations
Cheerleading & Dance Team Competition performances
Choir and ROTC performances
ASB, Yearbook and Journalism representatives
Athletic coaches
Intramurals
Math department activities
Science department demos
Art Exhibit
College representatives
SCV Summer employers
VHS Clubs
Job Shadowing
Carnival games
Hot dogs, hamburgers, snow cones, bake sale and more! VALENCIA HIGH SCHOOL CALENDAR
Spring 2015
MARCH
5
16
20
26
NEW MIN. DAY - STAFF DEVELOPMENT
FROM 3/16 (3/16 CANCELED)
P.A.C. Meeting
7:00 PM
Library
3rd Quarter Ends
MINIMUM DAY - OPEN HOUSE
APRIL
1
3
6-10
16
18
21-24
27
Blood Drive
Sprolic Rally
SPRING BREAK – NO SCHOOL
MINIMUM DAY – STAFF DEVELOPMENT
PROM
7:00 PM
Spring Theater Performance
P.A.C. Meeting
7:00 PM
Library
MAY
1
4th Quarter Progress Report
14, 15 Choir Spring Concert
11
Viking Valor Awards (Tentative)
7:00 PM Gym
14
MINIMUM DAY – SENIOR PROJECTS
18
Senior Awards (Tentative)
7:00 PM
25
MEMORIAL DAY – NO SCHOOL
29
GRADUATION
7:00 PM C.O.C.
JUNE
2
3
4
4
5
FINALS Per. 3, 5 & 1 MINIMUM DAY
FINALS Per. 4, 6, & 8 MINIMUM DAY
FINALS Per. 2 & 7 MINIMUM DAY
END OF SEMESTER 2
TEACHER WORK DAY