Students are valuable members of the California State PTA Board of Managers. As full voting members, they share their perspectives on current issues, voice their concerns and provide insights during the meetings they attend. Volunteer service as a member on the board provides students with an opportunity to further develop leadership skills within the framework and organizational structure of the California State PTA.
California State PTA is now accepting applications for students to serve on our state board. Student board members must be at least 16 years of age and no more than 19 years of age by July 1, 2016. Selected students would serve on the California State PTA Board of Managers from July 1, 2016, through June 30, 2017.
Please share with your student communities as soon as possible.
Links to download the guidelines and application forms are below:
As winter Break is fast approaching, we want to remind our Mustang Families that this year, semester finals will take place on December 16th, 17th, and 18th. Students are required to complete their semester by taking their semester final on these dates. Students who miss their semester final will not be given the opportunity to make-up their finals on a different date due to trips, family vacations, or personal leaves except in emergency situations.
Semester grades are official grades that are reported out on a student's official high school transcript. Students who miss semester finals will likely see an impact on the overall semester transcript grade that is reported by the teacher. Families should not plan on leaving school prior to the dates of semester finals.
It is our goal to prepare our students for the expectations of college and career readiness. Part of this preparation is helping students and families understand the importance of their student's participation in semester finals.
It is also important to note that semester finals also happen at the end of our school year on May 24th, 25th, and 26th. Students and families should also plan to be present on these days for the same reason.
If you have any questions about the semester finals, please contact your student's counselor.
The College Board has just notified us that students who took the PSAT during the October administration will be able to access their scores on January 7th. Students will be able to access their scores and AP Potential information at studentscores.collegeboard.org Creating an account on the College Board site will also allow students to access your SAT Suite of Assessment scores with personalized feedback, practice, college planning and career exploration resources.
See all your scores and if you are on track for college readiness
View detailed explanations of skills required to be college ready
Send your scores to Khan Academy® for personalized practice recommendations
Please come to The Winter Concert featuring the award winning MHHS Band, Orchestra and Choir. Performance is TODAY (12/11/15) at 7:00 P.M. in the small gym at MHHS. We will be raffling some AWESOME prizes and you can enjoy some great treats at our bake sale as well. Cash, Credit and Debit accepted for tickets, raffles and snacks.
MHHS is looking for some folks who can become mentors for our students involved in our Computer Science and Computer Networking academies. If you or someone you know works in the tech industry (Like Cisco, Networking, App Development, etc). Email us at mhmustangs@lammersvilleusd.net and let us at know if you are interested. It would involve speaking as a guest in our Networking and Computer Science Classes, possible site visits, and/or future contacts for interning opportunities.
With Winter Sports in Full Swing, we are in need of adult volunteers for our concessions stand during the games. MHHS Athletics Boosters manages the volunteers for Concessions, and has set up an online sign up here: CLICK HERE FOR CONCESSION SIGN-UP Boosters is also looking for a representative to coordinate the concessions for the remainder of the school year. If you are interested in becoming the Concessions Coordinator, or learning more about what that position entails, please contact the boosters by emailing them at MHHSBoosterclub@gmail.com
All Juniors who are interested in applying for 4 year colleges or universities next year should plan on coming to College info night on December 8th at 7pm in the Multi-Use Room. Students and parents will hear information about:
4 year college application process and planning
Timelines for remainder of Junior and all of Senior Year
Have your questions answered about how your counselor will be able to help.
Become a Peer Tutor Get High School Credit OR Community Service Hours Did you know if you got a "B" or above, in any of your classes, you could become a Peer Tutor? Peer tutors can earn up to a full year of elective credit for tutoring students during flex period, during SUCCESS!, and after school. Training will be provided. Sign up to become a peer tutor today! Visit our Peer Tutoring website by CLICKING HERE or just sign up today by filling out our online form here:http://tinyurl.com/mhhspeertutor
One of our Sophomore students, Veronica Paul, entered a photo of Dr. Scott Forrest into the Clearasil Teacher Truths Contest. She was selected as one of the 10 winners and won a scholarship for $5,000! The contest asked students to take a photo of a teacher and to finish this sentence: "Teen acne ends. You know what doesn't? ________________." Then, students were to post the photo on Clearasil's Twitter. The photos were judged for Creativity, Relevance to the Theme, and Brand Appeal. Veronica won the contest with the following picture:
Lammersville Unified School District Wins Prestigious Award from California School Boards Association (CSBA)
Congratulations to our Board, Sites, Teachers, Staff, Administrators, Community Members, and Students who participated in the development of our strategic plan that led to this important acknowledgement of the work being done by all in our great district.
The CSBA Golden Bell Awards, now in its 36th year, promotes excellence in education and School Board Governance by recognizing outstanding programs and governance practices of school boards in school districts and county offices of education throughout California. Golden Bell Awards reflect the depth and breadth of education programs and governance decisions supporting these programs that are necessary to address students’ changing needs. This awards program highlights best practices in education in all areas of operations, instruction and support services by:
Seeking out and recognizing key governance practicesthat support, sustain and inspire the creation and continuance of exemplary education programs
Seeking out and recognizing sustainable, innovative or exemplary programs which have been developed and successfully implemented by California teachers and administrators
Recognizing and supporting educators who invest extra energy and time to make a demonstrated difference for students
Promoting models with positive student outcomes
Focusing on the commitment to ensure that the needs of all students are met
Identifying exemplary programs serves as a way to share information about effective educational strategies. The Golden Bell Awards program also serves to boost confidence in public education by focusing attention on success in our schools. Finally, it enables the California School Boards Association, on behalf of School Governing Boards throughout the State, to express appreciation to dedicated educators who strive to provide a high-quality education that challenges all students to succeed.
Lammersville USD’s award came after a thorough vetting process which included analysis of applications by a panel of education experts and a district verification visit by a representative of the California School Boards Association. The award is in the category of Strategic Planning in the Common Core Era.
In addition to receiving the CSBA Golden Bell Award, Lammersville USD will also receive a $1,000 sponsorship award for the exemplary Common Core program, sponsored by the Associate Business Affiliates.
We couldn’t have achieved this recognition without the wonderful support of all the members of the Lammersville Unified family and community.
To see more about this award program, please see CSBA's website on the Golden Bell Award.
Anchors aweigh all Juniors and Seniors, this year’s prom theme is Evening on the Bay! Sail away with us to the waters of San Francisco on the Fume Blanc! If you would like to bring a guest from another school, please make sure to fill out the correct
forms. We hope you can join us! Tickets are able to be paid monthly or all at once. They are being sold at the office and the ticket booth during lunch.
On Saturday November 14th, the MHHS High School Marching Band, the Mustang Brigade, attended the Annual Central California Band Review held at Golden Valley High School in Merced. This year the Band review featured 44 bands from schools in the Central Valley and Bay Area. The Mustang Brigade competed in parade and field show competitions. This is the first year that the Mustang Brigade has attempted to compete in the field show competition, and students have worked hard from August to November to perfect their show. We are proud to announce that the Mustang Brigade won 1st place in their division for the field show competition. Take a look at their full performance here!
The Lammersville Unified School District is excited to announce the first of 3 "webisodes" on our District's Curriculum Processes. Below is an overview of the process. Our hope is that as we go forward, these webisodes will you to understand the processes and procedures being put in to place as we continue to refine our educational processes in the district.
Did you know that MHHS has a Biomedical Science Program. We do! Ms. Olson leads the Project Lead the Way Biomedical Sciences Program, and has partnered the program with the Health Occupations Students of America (HOSA) club to help students get some experience in the health sciences field. Many of the students in these classes are interested in entering the medical and biomedical science fields upon graduation from high school. On January 21st from 4:30pm to 8:00pm, our Biomedical Science and HOSA students will be hosting a Health Science night where students will be showcasing their work. This is a great opportunity for all of our students here at MHHS, and for students in the 7th and 8th grade who will be coming to MHHS to learn more about the program. Plan on coming down!
The Mustang Brigade Band traveled to Santa Cruz and competed in the Santa Cruz Band Review. This is the largest Band Review in California with over 50 bands competing. Your Mustang Brigade Band placed 4th out of 7 in our classification. Last year we were in a lower classification and did not place at all. The drumline competed for the first time in school history and placed 1st out of 7 drumlines in our classification. please help me in congratulating the entire band on representing our school and community with pride and excellence. Congratulations to the Mustang Brigade!
We are looking for a few good juniors and seniors to serve as cabin leaders for a science outdoor camp next week. High school cabin leaders are an integral part of the program and will be leaders and role models for the 5th and 6th graders who attend the camp. Cabin leaders are with students 23 hours a day, sleeping in cabins with 7-12 boys or girls. The high school students are responsible for getting the students to meals and activities, and to bed on time.
During the day, they remain with the students as they go on hikes and participate in activities with a naturalist. Cabin leaders will lead outdoor activities with a positive attitude. Additionally, one full day is spent at the beach, which is about twenty minutes from camp. The conditions and groups at camp can be challenging. Cabin leaders need to be flexible and maintain a positive attitude at all times. As role models for the fifth and sixth graders, cabin leaders set the tone for the week with their attitude and response to problems that arise. They are not alone in this though; the attending teachers, naturalists, and camp principal are all there to aid whenever necessary.
The San Joaquin Outdoor School is run through the San Joaquin Office of Education and is located in the Santa Cruz Mountains south of San Jose. Their website with more information is here: http://outdooreducation.sjcoe.org/home1.aspx
This is a great opportunity if you are interested in science or education. This is also a position that would look great for service on college applications.
Please email Mr. Schum by Friday 10/30 if you think that you would be interested in serving in this position.
The MHHS PTSA is doing a Membership Drive until Thursday 10/22. The Advisory class with the most new membership sign ups gets lunch provided by the PTSA.
Why be a Member?
Your membership helps fund school events and school supplies.
PTSA helps students get their volunteer hours. 40 hours are needed to graduate.
This year PTSA is offering two Senior College Scholarships. Two MHHS PTSA Senior members will be eligible for a PTSA Scholarship. One $500.00 and one $1000.00.
Parent Teacher conferences will be taking place on Tuesday, October 20th between 1:00 P.M. and 8:00 P.M. You must sign up for a time slot, and spaces are limited each half-hour during the conference time. Follow the link below to sign up for your conference time:
Students will be released early on Friday, October 16th at 1:30 P.M. and Monday, October 19th and 20th at 12:00 P.M. so that teachers can finalize grades, and prepare for conferences on the 20th. from 1:00 P.M. to 8:00 P.M.
During Parent-Teacher conferences, parents will pick up their student's quarter report card, and teachers will be available in the main gym to discuss student grades and progress. Parent-Teacher conferences at the High School are different from the Elementary grades in that parents do not need to conference with teachers where the student is performing well. Parents are welcome to conference with all of their student's teachers, but are strongly encouraged to conference with teachers in the subjects where the student struggles.
Parents who cannot make it to parent teacher conferences, or are unable to sign up for their desired time slot are encouraged to contact their student's teacher directly if there are any questions or concerns.
Again, Please remember to sign up for your time slot by visiting http://tinyurl.com/mhhsconferences. Spaces are limited during each time slot, so sign up soon. Please also note that teachers will be taking a dinner break between 4:00 P.M. and 4:30 P.M.
If you have any questions about the bell schedules for Friday the 16th, Monday the 19th or Tuesday the 20th, please refer to the bell schedules posted on our homepage.
We look forward to seeing you here during Parent-Teacher Conferences on Tuesday October 20th between 1:00 P.M. and 8:00 P.M.
This week's Advisory lesson started our focus on helping students to build a "growth mindset." This lesson uses the research done by Dr. David Yeager and Dr. Carol Dweck at Stanford University. Dr. Dweck's groundbreaking book "Mindset" is a great source for parents to look at when researching this topic.
The lesson that was taught this week was called "Why the Brain is Like A Muscle" and compares the brain to a muscle that grows and changes through effort, strategies, and seeking help. The lesson focused on teaching students the science behind how the brain works and learns. Take a look at our lesson, paying special attention to the discussion questions at the end of the presentation.
Did you know that Freshmen students have the opportunity to enroll at Delta College at the same time that they are taking classes at MHHS? Students who enroll in this program can earn college credit and high school credit concurrently, and can even work to get an AA or AS at the same time that they graduate from High School. Come down to the application and information night on Thursday October 8 at 7:00 P.M. in the Multi-Use room to learn more about the Mustang Early College Pathway, and how your student could qualify for this unique and exciting program. This program is for all kinds of students, so please remember to come to get more information!
Congrats to the winners of the 9th grade Spelling Bee! The following students will be moving on to the school wide competition on October 8th immediately after school. Way to go Mustangs!
Baani Minhos
Arun Pannala
Reona Islam
Angelina Trinh
Jonah Linsangan
Vishakha Kanaki
Avery Teele
Hussain Chharawalla
Surabhi Hareendranath
Nashrah Dobhqwala
Anthony Mori
Jennlyn Patague
Cassidy Paterson
Mustafa Afzal
Arya Roashan
Richard Prince
Anahita Fathhali
Damain Ramirez
Michael Swarte
Homecoming 2015 was such a great success! We were so excited to welcome our students home again this year with our Pixar themed parade, our Football Games, and our Rally. For those of you who missed the festivities, please enjoy our Homecoming Highlight reel found here. Go Mustangs!
The San Joaquin County office of Education and the San Joaquin Board of Supervisors is providing an opportunity for youth to experience what it is like to work for San Joaquin County!
Youth in Government day is an annual activity where students have an opportunity to shadow leaders in our county in the areas of law enforcement, agriculture, community development, and many more areas of public service within our county. For a list of County Departments and the descriptions for the positions available CLICK HERE.
Space in Youth in Government day is limited to 80 possible job shadowing slots, so space is limited. Students will be assigned on a "first-come first-served" basis. Youth in Government Day this year is on November 5, 2015, starting at 7:15 AM and ending at 2:00 PM. Students who participate should be in good academic standing, must receive a recommendation from at least one of their teachers, and must provide their own transportation to and from the San Joaquin Administration Building in downtown Stockton.
Students who are interested should fill out the following form if they are interested. CLICK HERE FOR APPLICATION Verified student names will be provided to the county office of education who will make the final decision about who will get to participate. ACT FAST as there are only 80 spots COUNTY WIDE! Application deadline is Wednesday- October 21, 2015.
After submitting your application, you will receive a letter in the mail from the clerk of the San Joaquin County Board of Supervisors.
On November 5, 2015, report promptly to the San Joaquin Administration Building at 44 N. San Joaquin St, Stockton (corner of San Joaquin & Weber) at 7:15 AM for breakfast and welcome. You will be returned to the San Joaquin Administration Building by the person you are job shadowing and are to be picked up at 2:00 PM.
Please contact Jill Hatanaka at: jhatanaka@sjcoe.net if you have questions or concerns.
The MHHS Mock Trial team kicked off the year at the Mock Trial Academy in Stockton this past Saturday. Students had an opportunity to hear from the Stanislaus County District Attorney who talked about what inspired her to pursue a career in law. She shared many stories and gave some helpful advice to a room full of aspiring attorneys. Students also got a chance to get to know the others from around the county who they will be competing against by playing several games and breaking into teams to develop a timeline of the case. They participated in workshops on delivering pretrial motions, making objections, and dealing with nervousness when speaking in public.
This year’s case is a murder trial involving a 5th Amendment issue about a statement that may have be coerced. Students will play the role of attorneys, witnesses, and other courtroom positions. They will be developing their own motions and examination questions to present in court. Competitions take place in real courtrooms and student performance is evaluated by actual attorneys and judges.
Participating in Mock Trial is a great way to make new friends and develop skills in critical thinking, public speaking, and leadership. The team practices twice a week on Tuesdays and Saturdays until the first county invitational event in December. After that, they will practice more as they get ready for the San Joaquin County competition in February. The top team from the county competition will go on to the state finals in March with a chance to make it to the national competition which is in Boise, Idaho this year.
The MHHS Mock Trial team is currently on the hunt for attorney coaches who would be willing to help prepare the team for competition. They are also looking for more students who would like to get involved on the team.
For more information on serving as an attorney coach or joining the team, please contact Brian Schum bschum@lammersvilleusd.net.
SPELLING BEE IS OPEN TO FRESHMAN STUDENTS
This year, Mountain House High School will be holding a spelling bee competition for all ninth grade students. Here are some important facts for you and your child.
1. September 30: A written spelling test will be administered in each ninth grade English classroom. Words will be selected from this list: CLICK HERE FOR THE LIST
2. From each English section, there will be one winner. Each winner will go to the site competition, which will be held October 8th at MHHS. From there, the winner will go to the district spelling bee, which will be held November 9th at MHHS.
We look forward to seeing the results of our competition! Get ready to spell, Mustangs! If you have any further questions about the spelling bee, please contact Shelby Scoffield at sscoffield@lammersvilleusd.net
Our AP English teacher learned of Stanford University's "Resilience Project". This project is a resource that uses personal narratives, programming, and coaching to motivate students as they experience the normal academic setbacks that are a part of a rigorous education. One of the products from the Resilience Project is a video that university students and professors created called The students watched this video produced by Stanford's Resilience Project:
Our MHHS Students wanted to create a Resilience project video of their own to show others how it is OK to not be the best at something right from the beginning, and to highlight that things get better as they learn. They titled their video "I stink, and it's OK" and it focuses on their writing habits in their AP English class. Here it is:
On Tuesday, September 29th at 7:00 P.M. in the Multi-Use room, counselors will be conducting a College information night for SENIORS ONLY. Counselors will discuss college application deadlines, how to find scholarships, and what students need to do as they prepare to apply for, and attend college after they graduate this year. ALL SENIORS and their parents should plan on attending this meeting.
The PSAT (Preliminary Scholastic Aptitude Test) is a test designed for two main purposes. It is a practice test for students who are preparing to take the SAT test that is required for entrance into many colleges and universities. It is also required for Junior students who would like a chance to qualify for the National Merit Scholarship program.
Mountain House High School will be offering the PSAT on campus on Wednesday October 14th. The cost for this test is $20.
Students have until Friday October 2nd to purchase the test either online at our webstore by CLICKING HERE or in person at the front desk in the administration building.
It is highly encouraged that students use the online test guide to prepare for the test. The online test guide, including sample questions, and an explanation of the format of the test is available by CLICKING HERE.
Khan Academy also offers free test preparation for the PSAT and the SAT through a partnership with College Board. You can access this free help through the website by CLICKING HERE.
Remember, to purchase your tickets before the October 2nd deadline.
Has your student dreamed of being a collegiate athlete, but thought that it would never be possible? Well, you might be wrong. There are lots of options for students to participate in collegiate sports all over the country. Come learn how to make the college sports experience happen for your student by attending our recruiting information night Wednesday 09/23 at 7pm in the Large Gym.
This week (09/21 through 09/25) is HOMECOMING WEEK! MHHS is so proud to be hosting homecoming week activities. This year's Homecoming Week is themed after Pixar Movies. We are proud to be welcoming all of our K-8 schools this year to our homecoming parade. Each class will have a float, and so will each of our K-8 schools. Our homecoming parade will step-off at 3pm from Central Park, and will end in front of the stadium at MHHS. We hope to see our community come out to cheer on our students during our 2nd annual Homecoming parade!
Along with our Homecoming parade there are a few other events that will be taking place this week. Students will be dressing up all week long during homecoming. Here's our dress-up schedule:
Monday--PJ Day
Tuesday--Beach Day
Wednesday--Safari Day
Thursday--College Day
Friday--Extreme Blue and Silver Day
We encourage all of our students to get into the spirit of Homecoming and come dressed to impress on these days.
Friday will be another early release day, but students will also participate in our 2nd annual homecoming rally. Parents are invited to attend if they would like, and need only to sign in at the main office when they come to campus. Our cheer team, dance team, and band will be performing at the rally. If you want to come get into the spirit of things, come on down to our rally on Friday the 25th starting at 12:45 P.M.
Also...please plan on joining us for the homecoming game Friday night with the JV game starting at 4:30 P.M. and the Varsity Game starting at 7:00 P.M.
Students should plan on attending our 2nd annual Homecoming Dance immediately following the Varsity Game starting at 9:00 P.M. and ending at 12:00 P.M.
This week's Advisory period focused on Digital Citizenship, and we focused specifically on the consequences of "over-sharing" online. Students were introduced to the benefits of sharing information online and the potential risks of sharing inappropriate information. Students viewd one of two student vignette videos.:
After watching these videos, students used discussion guides to talk about appropriate information sharing, how to minimize oversharing, and how to create a positive digital footprint. We look forward to bringing this information to our parents in an informational meeting very soon.
As a reminder, MHHS no longer has Friday release days this school year. Our collaboration schedule was integrated into our school day this year to provide ongoing opportunities for teachers to collaborate on a daily basis. Our philosophy is that if we provide opportunities for teachers to collaborate on a more regular basis, we will have opportunities for faster feedback loops in our educational system. Because we also want opportunities for school-wide, and district-wide collaboration, MHHS has planned 12 early release days throughout the school year. On these 12 days, students will be released from school at 1:30 P.M. These dates can be found on the Lammersville Unified School District Calendar (CLICK HERE), and are also detailed in our Bell Schedule Document (CLICK HERE).
For your convenience, here are the dates that students will be released early this school year:
September 9
September 18
September 25
October 16
November 4
November 20
January 13
March 11
March 16
March 25
May 11
May 20
In addition to these early release days, students will also be released early on finals days. Students are required to attend class on finals days, and families should NOT plan family trips, or start holidays earlier as students will miss essential assessments during final exams. Students are released on the Wednesday of Finals days at 2:05 P.M. and are released on Thursday and Friday at 12:35 P.M. Here are those dates:
December 16th-18th
May 24th-26th
If you have any questions about these dates, please call our main office at 209.836.7460.
Did you know that if your student is involved in a sport, or in Marching Band that these school activities are looking for your contribution. Each year the Lammersville Unified School District generously supports sporting and music programs, but running these programs is extremely expensive. Each sport, and the Band organization is asking for your contribution ASAP to help pay for transportation, uniform re-conditioning, tournaments, and much more.
Now is the time to make your Fall Sports contribution by clicking on one of the links below, or by visiting our Webstore HERE:
Science Olympiad is school team competition in which students compete in 'events' pertaining to various scientific disciplines, including earth science, biology, chemistry, physics, and engineering. Over 7,300 teams from 50 U.S. states compete each year, and Lammersville Unified School District has a strong tradition of performing well in this yearly competition. MHHS had its first Science Olympiad team last school year, and we are excited to start working with this year's team. All parents are invited to attend this year's District Wide Science Olympiad Information meeting.
What: Informational Science Olympiad Meeting When: Thursday, September 10, 2015 at 6:30pm Where: Wicklund Elementary MPR
The purpose of the District Science Olympiad meeting is to talk about strategies to build the success of Science Olympiad at Mountain House. Topics of discussion will center on team selection, Science Olympiad events, parent volunteers as coaches, invitational competitions and available resources. The goal of this program is to improve on the success of each school’s program from last year.
We look forward to seeing you there!
If you have any questions, please contact our Science Olympiad coach, Mrs. Donna Earle at dearle@lammersvilleusd.net
Did you know that over 80% of our students at MHHS are involved either in an extra-curricular sporting activity, an academic club, or a co-curricular music activity? The participation in these activities that take place outside of the school day are sometimes as important to our students and families as school itself. At MHHS there are three main non-profit organizations connected to the school that have been founded by volunteers to support our extra curricular activities. If you have a student at MHHS, we highly encourage your participation in these organizations according to the activities that your student is involved in. Here is a list of these organizations, their contact information, and links on how to join:
Mountain House High School Parent Teacher Student Association (PTSA)
MHHS PTSA is a registered 501(c)(3) nonprofit association that prides itself on being a powerful voice for all children, a relevant resource for families and communities, and a strong advocate for public education. Membership in PTSA is open to anyone who wants to be involved and make a difference for the education, health, and welfare of children and youth. Each member of the family can be a member of this association. PTSA is involved in fundraising efforts and advocacy within our school to sponsor parent education nights, communicate about scholarship opportunities, sponsor writing and arts contests, and support teachers in their classrooms.
Mountain House High School Visual Performing Arts (VAPA) Boosters
MHHS VAPA Boosters is a registered 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization that supports and promotes the activities of all students involved in Band, Choir, Orchestra, and Drama. This organization is a volunteer and fundraising organization that helps pay for additional personnel, equipment, props, uniforms, and much more. All parents who have students involved in any of the VAPA programs are highly encouraged to join this organization to support their activities. There are tons of opportunities to volunteer in the VAPA boosters, especially for parents of students in the marching band program.
You can learn more about the VAPA booster program by visiting their facebook page here: https://www.facebook.com/mhhsvapaboosters Additionally, parents interested in joining the boosters club can do so online by visiting their online store here: https://squareup.com/market/mhhs-vapa-boosters
Mountain House High School Athletics Boosters
MHHS Athletics Boosters is a registered 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization that supports and promotes all of the sports teams at Mountain House High School. This group organizes all of the concessions at all sporting events, coordinates volunteer parent liaisons for each team, and coordinates fundraising to purchase athletic equipment, sports programs, and much more. All parents who have a student in an athletic program should consider joining the boosters organization. The boosters organization will also coordinate volunteers to work at concessions stands, and during other sports related activities. Visit the boosters website for more information about this club, including how to join by clicking here: http://mhhsboosters.org/
Have you ever wondered what "Blended Learning" looks like in real life? The following is an article written by Shelby Scoffield, AP and Honors English teacher at MHHS. The "Station Rotation Model" is ONE strategy that is used in the Blended Learning Toolbox.
Station Rotation Model in an English Classroom
by Shelby Scoffield
When I began reading about Blended Learning, I kept seeing a the phrase “organized chaos” pop up in various journal articles and blogs. The more I read-- the more I realized how I had an iron grip hold on my English classes.
I eventually came to the conclusion that my classroom was much too structured, neat, and orderly. If I was to really cater to 35 different learning styles, I really needed to loosen up. If I was to really teach a student, I needed to stop dictating the day to day activities, and really start listening to what they needed to learn.
“Organized Chaos” really began to make since to me when I read an article about “Station Rotation,” a model of Blended Learning. I loved the idea of going back to elementary school and creating learning centers. As I continued to read, I stumbled on this video:
It was then that “Ms. Scoffield’s Station Rotation Theory for the English classroom” was born. Modeling after Intrinsic schools, I created the following learning centers for my classroom.
Basic rules:
Students have the option of what assignment they will complete for that class period. (Assignments are always listed on the board)
They are told every day to complete the hardest assignments in class and the easy ones at home.
Students are allowed to visit each center only once during the week.
Students are required to visit station 1 throughout the week.
Students are required to mix it up. That is, they have to sit next to new people every day.
Station 1-- Direct one on one instruction with teacher. This station is set up as a long conference table and the teacher is always sitting up in the front. The teacher sets up the assignment, the students complete a short assignment together on the interactive whiteboard, and then they complete the graded assignment on their own.
Station 2-- Individual or Partner work. This station is geared towards getting the students to work together as a group. They usually have to do things like a Google presentation, a podcast, or a film clip.
Station 3-- Socratic Seminar Station. This station is geared towards getting the students to talk to each other about a certain idea or concept. They usually have a news article to read and discussion board prompt to respond to. When they are done, the teacher comes to this table and briefly discusses what they learned.
Station 4--Technology Station. This station is geared towards getting the students to learn using various technology and apps. Assignments can include getting onto Twitter, Pinterest, DIIGO, Screen--castify, Instagram, Spreed, etc.
Station 5-- Independent Work. This allows the student to work on whatever they need to in that unit. Students work ahead and even begin looking at the unit projects.
Station 6-- Teach each other a skill or concept. This station allows students to teach another person a skill or an idea that they need to master.
Station 7-- Test taking station. Here, students study for or complete the unit exam.
Station 8-- Silent reading and Movie Watching. This is for students who are confident in their abilities to do the assignments and would like to spend the time reading the book or watching an approved movie version of the book.
Ms. Scoffield's Station rotation model give students a mix of direct instruction, individual work and practice, group and partner work, socratic seminar, and student control over path, pace, and place where their work is done. Stay tuned for more articles about instructional strategies being used at MHHS and what those strategies look like in the classroom.
Attention all Juniors and Sophomores! The PSAT test is coming to Mountain House High School for the very first time on October 14th 2015! The PSAT is an awesome opportunity for you to practice taking a test that is similar to the SAT. The PSAT is a test developed by The College Board, and the test is NEW this year. The new test closely mirrors the NEW SAT tests that have been in place for a year already. The new test has been redesigned to assess a student's ability to solve problems, communicate clearly, and understand complex relationships. The test is designed to do the following:
Measure the essential ingredients for college and career readiness and success, as shown by research.
Have a stronger connection to classroom learning
Inspire productive practice
The test will be offered this year Juniors, and any Sophomores who are interested in taking the test. Juniors who take the test will have their scores reported to the National Merit program for recognition as a National Merit Scholar. (Sophomores are not eligible for this designation, and must take the PSAT again in their Junior year to receive this designation). After students receive their results from the PSAT, College Board has partnered with Khan Academy to offer more personalized study recommendations that are completely free of charge.
Because this exam is voluntary, this year's test will cost $20 for each student wishing to take the exam. We encourage ALL Juniors to participate in this exam, and want to encourage anyone who is interested, and may need assistance paying for the exam to contact their counselor.
More information about the exam, the content in the exam, scoring, and the benefits of taking the exam are available on the College Board PSAT website. CLICK HERE to access the website.
Stay tuned for more information about when and how to purchase your exam!
