pfc newsletter O A K
P A R K
H I G H
S C H O O L
March/April 2014
www.oakparkusd.org/ophs
The Principal’s Message National Merit Finalists Congratulations to OPHS National Merit Finalists: Laura Cruz-Albrecht, Dorinda Fong, Audrey Salinger, Cathy Sun and Wendy Xiao. All five of Oak Park High’s National Merit Semifinalists have been named National Merit Finalists. This is a remarkable achievement that all of the semi-finalists make it to become finalists. These students are considered in the top 1% of high school seniors in the nation out of 1.3 million students. To become a Finalist, Semifinalists must have an outstanding academic record throughout high school, be endorsed and recommended by the high school principal, and earn SAT scores that confirm the student’s earlier performance on the qualifying test. The Semifinalist must submit a detailed scholarship application, which includes an essay and information about the Semifinalist’s participation and leadership in school and community activities.
Awareness Week This week OPHS Advanced Peer Counselors organized the Awareness Week activities, which focus on the theme of Empathy and included classroom visits, an art show, guest speakers, a parent evening, and a Slam Poetry night.
CIF Playoffs Congratulations to the Girls Varsity Basketball team who reached the quarterfinals of the California Interscholastic Federation Southern Section (CIFSS). The boys varsity team plays Santa Barbara in the SemiFinals and could make it to the finals at the Anaheim Pond. Girls Soccer also made it to the CIF quarterfinals losing a hard-fought, high scoring game to St. Joseph’s High in Lakewood.
Course Advisement March is the month when OPHS conducts the course selection process for the upcoming school year. We have renamed our “Open House” to Course Advisement Night to more accurately describe its purpose. Following a brief presentation in the pavilion, parents and students will be able to peruse displays and talk to teachers about course offerings for next year to be more informed about their selections. This follows classroom visits by school counselors and administrators who describe the course selection process to students. Shortly thereafter, Naviance, the course selection system is activated and students go online to make their course selections for the 2014-15 school year. Prior to this, teachers are offering Advanced Placement course advisement sessions to give students a glimpse into the requirements and rigor of these honors courses. From these course selections, we will build the master schedule for next year.