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The Belmont Zone of Choice is identified as the geographic area that includes the following three campuses:

WHAT IS THE BELMONT ZONE OF CHOICE?

WHAT IS THE BELMONT ZONE OF CHOICE?

Miguel Contreras LC

Vista Hermosa High School

Belmont High School

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All students entering 9th grade in September 2008, who live in the Zone of Choice, have the option to attend a small school that meets their academic interest.

Small schools include:

• New Technology HS (NTHS) • Pilot Schools (PS) • Small Learning Communities(SLC)

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TEACHERS… know their students well engage more with parents and community work closely with each other welcome community collaboration enjoy higher job satisfaction

PARENTS… are known well and their voices are heard become allies with teachers are respected as valuable resources

Why Small Schools/SLCs? Why Small Schools/SLCs? STUDENTS… have higher attendance rates and lower dropout rates have higher graduation and college attendance ratesachieve at higher levelsknow their teachers and classmates wellenjoy a safer learning environment

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all will have an A-G academic curriculum

all will have a rigorous course of studyall will be on a Traditional calendarall will meet or exceed State Standardsall will fulfill LAUSD high school

graduation requirementsall will be WASC accredited

WHAT DO SMALL LEARNING COMMUNITIES, NEW TECH HS AND PILOT SCHOOLS

HAVE IN COMMON…

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What are some of the DIFFERENCES between a

Small Learning Community,Pilot School

and New Tech HS?

What are some of the DIFFERENCES between a

Small Learning Community,Pilot School

and New Tech HS?

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Pilot Schools (PS)

New Tech High School (NTHS)

SMALL LEARNING COMMUNITIES (SLCs)

•has own California Department of Education code and accreditation

•have California Department of Education code and accreditation under main campus location code

•has own California Department of Education code and accreditation

•are housed on a HS campus under the lead of a principal and the collaboration of a lead teacher

•housed in a separate space lead by a New Tech HS principal

•housed in separate space or building within the larger high school campus under the lead of a Pilot School principal

•have certain flexibilities over teacher selection, curriculum, schedule, and uses of other resources

•certain autonomy over teacher selection, curriculum, budget, professional development, and schedule

•autonomy over staffing, budget, governance, curriculum, professional development, assessment, schedule

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2008-2009Belmont Zone Choice

Schools

2008-2009Belmont Zone Choice

Schools

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Academic Leadership CommunityPilot School located at Miguel Contreras LC

• ACADEMICS: The ALC offers an inclusive, college preparatory curriculum, including the AVID program and an advisory class where AVID strategies are offered to each student.

• LEADERSHIP: Explore leadership strengths and participates in authentic leadership roles in our school and surrounding community.

• COMMUNITY: Annual fieldtrips to local colleges, college mentors, and after school community classes, community college classes, and internships for all students.

• Wide range of Honors and AP level classes including Honors English 9 and 10, Honors, Chemistry, Honors World History, AP English Language, AP English Literature, AP United States, History, and AP Calculus.

• Affiliations and partnerships with colleges and community groups including Loyola Marymount University, Santa Monica College, LACC, and the LA Chamber of Commerce.9

Activists for Educational EmpowermentSmall Learning Community located at Vista Hermosa HS

•Emphasis on a Human Services career path: Psychology, Sociology and Internship.

•A-G courses are team-taught and project-based team taught, career based and emphasize social issues.

•Grade-level advisory classes will have a social issue theme where students will complete a minimum of 100 service hours and a culminating service-learning project at the end of four year.

•Opportunities for student leadership, college mentoring and outreach, tutoring and enrichment, college and job shadowing, and social/academic events and field trips.

•Seniors will have the opportunity to travel to a region in the world where they will experience life in another country and participate in a community service project during their stay.10

Business and FinanceSmall Learning Community located at Vista Hermosa HS

•Our academic focus is the world of general Business and Finance.

•Learn about economics, the world of finance, and careers in the business and finance services industry.

•Opportunities for volunteer and paid business Internships

•Job Shadowing and Business speakers are an integral part of our Small Learning community.

•All activities culminate in a special graduation (which includes a certificate and an AOF Medal). Graduation is hosted by Urban Educational Partnership.11

Business and TourismSmall Learning Community located at Miguel Contreras LC

•Students will be provided with a quality high school program to allow students to move in a college and career pathway.

•Engage in interdisciplinary learning, service learning and inquiry-based projects

•Opportunities for interaction with the business sector through job-shadowing, internships, project-based assessment practices

•Visits to museums, universities, and theatre performances

•Students will be eligible for business scholarships and a graduation ceremony sponsored by the OMNI Hotel.12

Civitas SOLPilot School located at Vista Hermosa HS

•Civitas School of Leadership (SOL) is a "1 to 1" School, meaning that every student receives a modern Apple Laptop Computer for the duration of their High School Education.

•Classes are held all over Los Angeles County, both indoors and outdoors, not just in our school building.

•Students are Artists, Athletes, Musicians, Organizers, and Leaders in their community.

•Civitas SOL is a Project-Based Learning School, where learning is made real and relevant to students' lives through projects that include all subject areas.

•Civitas SOL is a community in which every student is known and appreciated for who they are as an individual, for what makes them unique among their peers. 13

Computer Science AcademySmall Learning Community located at Vista Hermosa HS

•The Computer Science Academy course of study is enhanced by computer literacy.

•Students will be enrolled in one computer class per semester for four years along with the required courses.

•A unique feature of our program is the adoption of hybrid-based, project-based and scaffold-based learning techniques as a part of classroom instruction.

•We have partnerships with colleges, businesses and community centers

•Opportunities to participate in extracurricular activities such as volunteer work, internships, mentoring, film production and web design projects.

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International School of LanguagesSmall Learning Community located at Vista Hermosa HS

•ISOL offers students 3-4 years of foreign language including French, Spanish, and Arabic.

•Our career strand is in the public service sector with an emphasis on bilingual clerical work in government, law enforcement and medical occupations.

•We are working to develop internships in bilingual office work in the public sector, such as hospitals, government offices and the court system.

•We work with organizations such as SALEF, The Cesar Chavez Foundation and Generation Earth.

•We offer Advanced placement courses in Biology, Spanish Language and Spanish Literature.

•Our many activities include the Annual Spring Festival of Student Work andthe Senior Graduation Banquet.

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Los Angeles Academy of Medical and Public Service

Small Learning Community located at Belmont High School

•The Los Angeles Academy of Medical and Public Service (LAAMPS) prides itself in being one of the two SLC’s implementing the AVID program.

•LAAMPS participates in the USC / La Curacao Mexican American Academic Achievement program.

•Opportunities to participate in the USC upper bound program.

•LAAMPS offers off track career technology courses which culminate in an employment-ready certificate upon graduation.

•We have established partnerships with local medical facilities to develop and facilitate meaningful student internships.16

Los Angeles High School of the ArtsPilot School located at Belmont High School

•Be a part of a college preparatory community with computers for each student.

•Learn through working and creating together in and outside of the classroom.

•Opportunities to participate in the production of three shows a year.

•Opportunities to participate in a New Plays Festival to showcase plays written, directed, designed and acted by students.

•Juniors will work with Mentors and Seniors may intern at theatres such as A Noise Within Theatre, Shakespeare Festival LA, and Will & Company17

Los Angeles School of Global StudiesNew Tech High School located at Miguel Contreras LC

•Computers for every student in every classroom.

•Collaborate to solve real-world problems.

•Classes that are 100% project-based.

•Classes that are team-taught by two teachers and integrated interdisciplinary in block periods (History and English, Math and Science).

•Students build resumes that meet rigorous standards of scholarship, community service, internships, and citizenship.18

Los Angeles Teacher Preparation AcademyPilot School located at Belmont High School

•Participate in rigorous instruction that will prepare you for college and allow you to contribute to your school, community and society as an educator.

•Students will be prepared to become effective, powerful teachers.

•Participate in a program where teachers are committed to training future educators/teachers.19

Multimedia AcademySmall Learning Community located at Belmont High School

• The Multimedia Academy gives students the opportunity to participate in classes where technology is integrated across the curriculum.

• We offer a variety of technology courses such as graphic arts, web development, video production, and digital photography.

• Students have opportunity to pursue internships and mentoring programs with Fox Studios, the Bresee Foundation, and the Echo Park Film Center.

• A new state-of-the-art video production and media studio for Multimedia Academy students will open in one year

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School of Awareness and Global Education

Small Learning Community located at Belmont High School

Highlights of our school include…

•a focus on communications and journalism

•courses on music and the arts

•learn about automotive technology

•become aware of issues that effect young adults

both locally and globally

•college preparation and entry 21

School of Social JusticeSmall Learning Community located at Miguel Contreras LC

•Participate in a college preparatory program.

•Participate in Service Learning projects beyond the graduation requirement.

•Participate in a specialized curriculum focused on global issues and a history of social justice including projects that focus on such issues as voter registration, AIDS awareness and immigrant rights.

•Attend curricular and field trips.

•Opportunities to interact with business and community leaders.22

School for Visual Arts and HumanitiesPilot SchoolVista Hermosa HS

•Our SMALL SCHOOL will give you the attention, support and skills you need to succeed in your classes.

•Learn to THINK FOR YOURSELF and defend your views through classes that connect to each other and to art.

•Be creative in ART CLASSES such as Drawing, Painting, Sculpture, Ceramics and AP Studio Art for all four years of high school.

•Come to FIELD TRIPS at the J. Paul Getty Museum, Huntington Library and Gardens, Los Angeles County Museum of Art, Museum of Contemporary Art, Museum of Tolerance, Norton Simon Museum and the Science Center.

•Participate in INTERNSHIPS and SUMMER ARTS PROGRAMS at Disney Imagineering, Los Angeles County Museum of Art, and the Museum of Contemporary Art, Innerspark and more!23

Application Process

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Students entering the 9th grade in September 2008, and live in the Belmont Zone of Choice may apply.

Who can apply?

When can you apply? Applications will be mailed to the homes of 8th grade students who live within the Belmont attendance area on March 14th.

When does the application period end?

Friday, March 28, 2008 at 5:00 p.m.25

• Applications will include a return POSTAGE PAID return envelope.

• Applications should be mailed in the envelope provided.

• Schools will NOT accept applications.• Applications must be received at Local District 4 by 5:00 on Friday, March 28, 2008

What happens once the application is received at Local District 4?

How will applications be distributed?

Applications will be date-stamped and input into the BZOC SIS system as they arrive.26

How will students be selected?• Each school will be filled as applications

arrive at Local District 4.• Every effort will be made to accommodate students’ first, second, or third choice.

• Once a school is full the list will be closed.• Applications, that are not filled out correctly or do not fill out an application by the due date, will complete unfilled school lists.

How will students be notified?• Student assignment letters will be mailed to homes

the week of April 14th.• Schools will receive official lists and contact

students with orientation information.27

How do I pick my school

for 9th grade?

Choose by academic interest!

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Pref #

(1-14)School Name Type of Small School

(SLC, Pilot, New Tech)

Site

4 Academic Leadership Community Pilot School Miguel Contreras LC

3 Academy for Educational Empowerment Small Learning Community Vista Hermosa HS

10 Business and Finance Academy Small Learning Community Vista Hermosa HS

9 Business and Tourism Small Learning Community Miguel Contreras LC

5 Civitas SOL Pilot School Vista Hermosa HS

8 Computer Science Academy Small Learning Community Vista Hermosa HS

13 International School of Languages Small Learning Community Vista Hermosa HS

11 Los Angeles Academy of Medical and Public Services

Small Learning Community Belmont HS

6 Los Angeles High School of Global Studies New Tech HS Miguel Contreras LC

15 Los Angeles High School of the Arts Pilot School Belmont HS

14 Los Angeles Teacher Preparation Academy Pilot School Belmont HS

12 Multimedia Academy Small Learning Community Belmont HS

7 School for Visual Arts and Humanities Pilot School Vista Hermosa HS

2 School of Awareness and Global Empowerment

Small Learning Community Belmont HS

1 School of Social Justice Small Learning Community Miguel Contreras LC

Example: I’m interested in Law EnforcementMy selections would start with #1 as my first choice, #2 second, #3 third choice, #4 fourth choice, … #15 as last choice.

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Important to remember:

•Fill out your the application completely and correctly

•use the return postage paid envelope to mail your application

•do not return applications to any school site

•application must be received by 5:00 p.m on Friday, March 28th30

•Please contact your school Middle School administrator

•Visit the Local District 4 website at: http://www.lausd.net/District_4/-click on “Offices”-click on “Belmont Zone of Choice”

•Contact Local District 4 at: (323) 932-2000 or (323) 932-2221

Questions?

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Booths are available for you to visit to

obtain more information on each Small School.

Thank you for your attending.

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