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WESTVIEW CODE: 052986

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		COURSE REQUEST OPEN HOUSE In preparation for the selection of classes for the 2010-2011 school year, Westview counselors will be hosting an Open House the week of March 22nd in the Westview Staff Lounge. In preparation, please review the course request information in Family Connection and on the Westview website before your student’s assigned grade level date. The following times have been set aside for drop in questions: Current 9th Grade: Tuesday, March 23rd 1:00-3:00 Current 10th Grade: Wednesday, March 24th 1:00-3:00 Current 11th Grade: Thursday, March 25th 1:00-3:00 Please understand that we are unable to complete four year plans during the Open House, but hope to provide an opportunity to address questions as they arise regarding the Course Request Process. COURSE REGISTRATION FOR 2010-2011 Course registration for the 2010-2011 school year will begin on March 15th at 7:30am and will run through March 31st at 4:00pm.  Click the appropriate link below for more information. Current Westview students Students approved to attend Westview next year Other students PALOMAR COLLEGE ASSESSMENTS If you are a senior who is planning on attending Palomar College in the fall, they will be on campus on Friday, March 12, 2010 to complete English, Math and Reading assessment testing.  Participating students will be eligible for the Early Assessment Program, which will give you priority registration for the fall.   Seating is limited and given on a first-come, first-served basis.  Click here to obtain more information and to sign up for a testing spot. CSU ENGLISH/MATH PLACEMENT EXAMS We would like to provide you with the following information regarding the English Placement Test (EPT) and Entry Level Mathematics (ELM) exams and requirements at California State University campuses.  Before incoming first-year students begin their college career, they must be assessed in English and mathematics for placement in the proper English and math courses to fulfill their EPT and ELM requirements.   Both exams need to be taken very seriously.  Completion of both of these assessments is required prior to attendance at Summer 2010 Orientation.  Students need to bring a copy of the official EPT and ELM scores they receive (or a copy of your STAR results indicating passage of the EPT/ELM if you took this optional portion last spring). The EPT and ELM exams can be taken at any CSU campus.  The exam dates at CSU San Marcos (Westview is in their service area) during the Spring 2010 semester are on the following Saturdays:  January 23, February 27, March 20, April 17 and May 1.     Students can visit the following link to register and prepare for the EPT and ELM exams offered at CSU San Marcos:  http://www.csusm.edu/class/ept_elm/exams.html Incoming first-year students must be assessed unless they have been exempted from the EPT and ELM requirements in at least one of the following ways: Exempt from EPT requirement if: ·     SAT Writing Test score is 660 or above or SAT Critical Reading score is 550 or above ·     English ACT score is 24 or above ·     AP Language & Composition/Composition & Literature score is 3, 4, or 5 ·     EAP Exemption Exempt from ELM requirement if:  ·     Math SAT score is 550 or higher ·     Math ACT score is 23 or higher ·     AP Math Exam score is 3, 4, or 5 ·     EAP Exemption Click here for a document regarding the EPT and ELM requirements at CSU San Marcos (contact other CSU campuses for their information). This document outlines in detail the criteria for exemption from the EPT and ELM requirements and explains students’ English and math placements if they do not pass the EPT and ELM exam.    REQUESTING LETTERS OF RECOMMENDATION Please ask the teacher you wish to write a letter of recommendation for you in person. Provide a copy of your resume or brag sheet and ask if he or she would like any additional information. Inquire as to whether or not they will be submitting electronically or would prefer to mail it in. If they are going to mail it, you need to provide the form (with top information completed) and a large manila addressed envelope with three stamps for each school. Once the individual agrees to write your letter, go ahead and put their name as teacher recommendations in Family Connection (Colleges tab, Colleges I’m Applying to link, scroll to the bottom). Once you place the name of a teacher in Family Connection, the program generates an e-mail message to them. It is offensive if an individual receives an e-mail in this manner if the student has not spoken to them directly and automatically assumes they will write a letter on your behalf. If the preference is to send electronic letters of recommendation, you will want to check with your counselor or Miss Bloomfield to determine if it is possible. All Common Application schools accept documents electronically, as well as a few other colleges. If you are requesting a letter of recommendation from your counselor (commonly called a Secondary School Report), you will first need to complete the letter of recommendation packet found in the document library of Family Connection. Bring all of the completed forms to the counselor to schedule an appointment to talk about the recommendation. This process must be completed by November 1st to give your counselor enough time to complete all requests. Remember, a letter of recommendation is a professional courtesy to you and not a requirement. Follow up with a thank-you card to anyone who has written a recommendation for you. REQUESTING TRANSCRIPTS If you are applying to college, you do not need to send UC or CSU transcripts at this point; they use the grades you put on your application for admission consideration and will e-mail you requesting a transcript when they want it. Private and out of state schools often want them now, so check with each admissions office individually. Prior to requesting a transcript, you must enter all of your schools into your Family Connection account (Colleges tab, Colleges I’m Applying To link). The program allows us to send them electronically for most schools, but must be synced to do so. When completing the FERPA waiver on the screen, we do suggest that you waive your right to release your student records. When you do not waive your right, we are not allowed to express an opinion, but just give facts like attendance, enrollment, grades, and test scores. Procedures to request a transcript: Print the transcript request form found in Family Connection (Document Library, Forms). Please use only one form for all schools, using the back side as needed. List each school with the complete mailing address and deadline date. Take the completed form and pay $4 for each transcript requested at the Finance Office. Take the paid form to registrar. If you do not want your testing scores listed on your transcript, you need to write “please remove testing scores” on your transcript request form. Once removed, you will not be able to add them back on. This is an “all or nothing” option. As per district policy, there is a 4-day turnaround time for transcripts to be sent or printed.