May 27, 2011

Donors Resource Interns Message:

The Riverdale Interns of DonorsResource.org have started transitioning into the new website! It would be great if all you could check out the progress they've made at www.donorsresource.org. If you want to test out the new site, you can donate something that a nonprofit will come and pick up.  Hopefully you have a great time checking out the site and have a great day.  Please check out their work at www.donorsresource.org.

Message from the Principal:

Greetings!

During New Student Forecasting Night some questions came up and others have been posed since.  I am writing to clarify some of them and highlight some changes in our schedule.

Students will remain in their current Advisory Groups, and freshmen will be added to the existing groups.  Advisory and community meeting will continue for conducting school business, bonding and work that does not “fit’ elsewhere in our schedule via an assembly schedule as needed. 

Wednesday’s 50 minute session is changed to provide a .25 elective credit (1 credit over four years) for students.  We’ve named this “The Oldani Period”; teachers will be preparing course descriptions for these elective credits.  You will receive sign-up sheets for your son or daughter in the electronic registration packet in August.

Students will have access to World language level one and two all year.  Math for most students will be all year long.  History 12B will allow students to choose from a menu of three options and English 12B will be from a menu of four selections.

Freshman Seminar has been eliminated and Health will be offered as a single course.  Senior Seminar has been changed from three trimesters to one.  Senior Exhibition will be provided during third trimester.  The projects and skills of the seminar classes will be embedded in other courses throughout the school.

We are excited about the new schedule and eager to implement it in the fall. 

Grading for next year:

Weighted GPA has been eliminated for all graduates after the 2011 class.  

HONORS:

Honors coursework is available to qualified students in all core classes (English, Art, Science, History, Math, World Language) and some electives. It is not a separate class, but an extension of the regular course. Honors encourage deeper thinking and provide greater challenge for students who are interested in and capable of such work. Students who wish to take Honors must be self-directed, able to meet deadlines and work independently. Honors work might include research, reading and writing, leadership and presentation, problem solving, scientific experimentation and investigation, community service, or independent projects.  

Successful completion of Honors will be noted on student transcripts with an H next to the course grade. Honors students must earn a grade of no lower than B (the H will be dropped if the course grade falls below B). An H on the school transcript is valuable in college admissions, as it indicates that a student has taken the most rigorous route for that course. Also, the number of H’s on transcripts may be used to determine Valedictorian and Salutatorian.  

To be enrolled in Honors, a student must submit an Honors contract no later than two weeks into a course. Before that date, teachers will post their Honors Curricula on their Classroom Central sites and explain expectations. Counselors and teachers will encourage qualified students to sign up for Honors. Parents, teachers, and students must sign the Honors contract.

Students who continue to take Honors after parent conferences are expected to complete the Honors commitment. Given the natural period of adjustment to high school, ninth graders may elect Honors in no more than two courses in their first term.

Below is the grade point scale which will be implemented fall 2011:

A+ = 4.0

A = 4.0

A- = 3.7

B+ = 3.3

B = 3.0

B- = 2.7

C+ = 2.3

C = 2.0

C- = 1.7

D+ = 1.3

D = 1.0

D- = 0.7

F = 0.0