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As a parent, what can I do if my child is not doing well?
Check to see if your student is keeping a monthly calendar of homework and class assignments (forms are available from any teacher at WRHS). The class assignment sheet should be in your student’s 3 ring binder.
Make sure your student is keeping their backpack organized. There should be pen/pencil(s), an eraser, binder paper, homework assignments and class work neatly placed in their backpack, along with their school books.
Attendance and work not completed are the usual reasons for poor grades. In high school, extra credit is usually not an option to make up for assignments not completed or not turned in on time.
Make sure your student is reading at least 30 minutes on a daily basis at home.
Have your student take a WEEKLY GRADE CHECK FORM to each teacher--hand it to the teacher before the class begins and remember to pick it up at the end of the class period. You can download the form and make as many copies as needed or have your student pick one up in the Counseling Department.
Call Weston Ranch High School at (209) 938-6245 and ask to speak with someone in the Counseling Department. The Counseling secretary can arrange contact between your student’s counselor and you in order to notify each teacher(s) to call you or you can contact each teacher directly. Please be sure to give your name, your phone number(s), times you are available, what your student's name is, and your concerns. Ask specific information on how to proceed or get other questions answered.
HELPFUL HINT: Your voice mail message should be specific and detailed. Tell the teacher that you wish to know what your child’s attitude and behavior are; is class work and homework being turned in, what is the quality of the work, and what accounts for the current grade? By leaving your concerns on voice mail, the teacher is able to respond to specific questions even when he/she can only reach your answering machine or voice mail.
Once there has been teacher contact, if you are unhappy with the result please request a Parent/Teacher Conference by contacting your student’s counselor. Conferences are scheduled after school, and every effort is made to have each teacher in attendance. Do I need to pass the CAHSEE (California High School Exit Exam) in order to graduate?
In the state of California, high school students must pass the CAHSEE in order to receive a diploma.
· There are 2 parts to the CAHSEE (Mathematics and English Language Arts); once 1 section has been passed, it does not have to be repeated.
· Students who do not pass must take a CAHSEE prep class.
Mathematics Portion includes:
· Probability and Statistics
· Number Sense
· Algebra and Functions
· Measurement and Geometry
English Language Arts Portion includes:
· Reading Comprehension
· Word Analysis
· Literary Response and Analysis
· Writing Applications-Essay
Why should I take the PSAT?
The PSAT is a practice SAT that gives students personalized feedback on academic skills to aid in preparing for college. Eleventh grade student have the opportunity to enter competitions for National Merit Scholarship and other recognition programs just by taking the exam. The PSAT also gives the students an opportunity to participate in Student Search Service, a secure, monitored service that connects students to colleges, universities and scholarship programs. The PSAT is administered only 1 time per year generally in October.
If I want to attend a four year college what classes do I need to take?
The California State University and University of California require the following college preparatory classes (referred to as the “A-G” courses):
· English: 4 years
· Math: 3 years (including Algebra, Geometry and Advanced Algebra); 4 years recommended
· History and Social Science: 2 years
· Laboratory Science: 2 years; 3 years recommended
· Foreign Language: 2 years; 3 years recommended
· Visual and Performing Arts: 1 year
· College Prep Elective: 1 year
For private or out of state colleges please refer to each college’s website for admission and testing requirements.
What are the testing requirements to apply to CSU or UC schools?
Should I take the ACT or the SAT?
· If your strengths are in Math, English and Writing, then you may score better in the SAT Reasoning Test.
· If you are more ‘rounded’ and also good in reading and science, then you may score better on the ACT plus writing.
The ACT measures: (www.actstudent.org)
· English
· Mathematics
· Reading
· Science
· Writing (optional)-required for UC’s
The SAT measures: (www.collegeboard.com)
· Critical reading, including sentence completion and passage-based questions.
· Math
· Writing, including multiple choice questions and a written essay.
The ACT and the SAT test your knowledge of the fundamentals of a high school education. The two tests are guided by different philosophies, and the two exams have different formats and test different subject matter. These differences are significant enough that you might feel much more comfortable taking one test rather than the other. The differences are described below:
You should consider your strengths in comparison with the subjects tested by both tests. The ACT may appear more difficult than the SAT because it tests a broader range of subjects, but keep in mind that a weakness in one subject may not be as damaging on the ACT as on the SAT. You should also keep in mind that although the SAT may deal with simpler topics than the ACT, the SAT questions are often deliberately worded to confuse the test taker. In addition, you can study actual subject matter to improve your ACT score, while improving your SAT score requires you to understand test-taking tricks.
How important are grades when applying for college?
· Remember freshman grades will be on your transcript and will be figured into your GPA.
· CSU requires a minimum GPA of 2.0
· Some CSU campuses require higher GPAs due to increased enrollment OR choice of study.
· UC requires a minimum GPA of 3.0.
· Any “A-G” courses in which you earn a D or F must be repeated with a grade of C or better in order to count towards the requirements.
For private or out of state colleges please refer to each college’s website GPA requirements.
I plan to play sports in college; what do I need to do?
There are 2 different athletic governing bodies, NCAA and NAIA. Check with your college to see which body governs their athletic program.
In order to play Division 1 or 2 Collegiate Athletics, you must be cleared through the NCAA Clearinghouse. This includes 16 required core courses, GPA minimum and SAT or ACT score minimums.
The NAIA requires a student to graduate in the top half of their class, has a minimum GPA and SAT/ACT score requirement.
How do I apply for financial aid?
· Fill out the FASFA (Free Application for Federal Student Aid) on-line at www.fafsa.ed.gov DO NOT go to fafsa.com—they will charge you to complete the application.
· Apply for outside funding or scholarships.
· Visit the WRHS career center and search the scholarships. Make sure you apply for as many as possible especially local scholarships.
Why should 11th graders participate in the EAP?
The Early Assessment Program (EAP) is an academic preparation program that aligns the CSU placement standards with the K-12 standards in English language arts and math. In eleventh grade, students can elect to take the assessment during the STAR test. Through this assessment students can:
· Earn exemptions from CSU-required English and math placement tests.
· Identify the need for additional preparation for college-level courses.
· Adjust senior year coursework to prepare for college-level courses.
· Avoid investing time and money in college remediation courses that do not count toward a degree.
Why should I take the ASVAB?
The ASVAB (Armed Services Vocational Aptitude Battery) is a Career Exploration Program that is FREE for 11th and 12th grade students. This program provides students with career exploration along with aptitude skill scores. Every student who takes the ASVAB receives a copy of ASVAB Career Exploration Guide that will aid discovering careers that are a match for you.
How do I have transcripts sent to my college?
Fill out a Transcript Release Form; they are available in the counseling office. Please allow three weeks for delivery.
What is our school/CEEB code?
Our school code is 053839.
Helpful websites:
San Joaquin Delta College www.deltacollege.edu
California Community Colleges www.cccco.edu
CSU mentor www.csumentor.edu
University of California www.ucop.edu/pathways
Scholarships www.fastweb.com, www.schoolsoup.com, www.latinocollegedollars.org/
Financial Aid www.fafsa.edu.gov
Career Exploration www.educationplanner.com
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