La Mirada High School

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La Mirada High School

• The Matador Scholar Academy
• The GATEway to Your Future!

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The MSA Program GOAL

• To Maintain a Program That
• 1. Prepares students for future academic success
  and beyond
• 2. Meets individual interests of all GATE and
  honors students
• 3. Inspires students to seek a wide variety of
  new experiences

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MSA GOAL contd

• 4. Encourages students to become well-rounded
  individuals who demonstrate academic diversity
  and are involved in LMHS outside of the classroom
• 5. Builds a spirit of pride in the LMHS community

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The Matador Scholar Academy

• The GATEway to Your Future

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The Matador Scholar AcademyThe GATEway to Your
Future!(cover of blue packet)

• Program
• Highlights

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Student Information Packet

• Calendar of Events
• Creativity, Action, Service Hours
• Academy Enrollment and Academic Requirements
• Academy Enrollment FAQ page
• Special Recognition Options
• College Board - AP Scholar Awards
• Curriculum Paths by Subject
• Course Prerequisites
• MSA Course Catalog
• MSA FAQ page

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Academy Enrollment (page 3)

• The enrollment period is
• Dec. 1st - Feb. 13th (8th graders)
• Jan. 15th - Mar. 2nd (9-11th graders)
• -------------
• Enrollment is required to take
• honors and AP courses at LMHS

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Enrollment Requirements(page 3)

• Completed application packet
• Recommendations from a current English or social
  science teacher and math or science teacher
• A copy of the students most recent CST exams
  with student scoring at or above the middle of
  the proficient level
• Official transcripts showing an academic GPA of
  3.0 or above and scoring primarily A or B grades
  in core academic subjects

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CST Scores

• 600 Total possible points
• assess the students mastery
• of grade-level academic standards
• 300 Basic (below grade level)
• 350 Proficient (at grade level)
• 400 Advanced (above grade level)
• LMHS identifies 375 honors level
• (middle proficient)

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CST Scores

• Math CST Scores
• for Honors Courses in
• Science
• Math
• ELA (English Language Arts) CST Scores
• for Honors Courses in
• Social Science
• Language Arts
• Foreign Language

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Enrollment Requirements(page 3)

• Full Academy Enrollment
• Access to all academic subjects and academy
  courses

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Enrollment Requirements(page 3)
Students who meet MSA requirements in one
academic area will be enrolled in the academy to
take honors and AP courses in that area only.
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Enrollment Requirements(page 3)

• 2. Math / Science Academy Student
• Has A and B grades in math and science classes
• Scores middle-proficient or higher on the math
  portion of the CST exam
• Does not meet MSA requirements in humanities
  subjects

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Enrollment Requirements(page 3)

• 3. Humanities Academy Student
• Has A and B grades in language arts and social
  science
• Scores middle-proficient or higher on the
  language portion of the CST exam
• Does not meet MSA requirements in math / science
  subjects

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Enrollment Requirements(page 3)

• 4. Visual and Performing Arts Academy Student
• Special admissions will be granted to students
  who dont meet the above requirements but
  demonstrate exceptional talent in the visual and
  performing arts (as per teacher recommendation)
  for the purpose of taking AP Studio Art and AP
  Music Theory.

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Academic Requirements(page 3)

• Maintain a grade of C or above in all Academy
  courses
• Maintain an overall GPA of 3.0
• Score at or above proficient on all CST exams

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Academy Probationary Acceptance(page 4)

• Granted to students who are close to meeting MSA
  Requirements
• Proficient CST scores
• C grade in an honors class
• B or C grade in regular class
• Student must have a 3.0 and
• excellent teacher recommendations

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Academy Probationary Acceptance(page 4)

• Must improve grades or CST scores in spring
  semester
• Will be allowed to register for honors and AP
  courses in spring registration
• Will be dropped from those courses if they dont
  meet the terms of their probation
• All students will be notified of the terms of
  their probationary acceptance by their counselor
  at student business days in August.

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Academy Special Recognition Criteria(page 3,
6-7)

• Complete One Scholar Option
• Matador Scholar Option
• AP International Diploma Option
• Humanities Scholar Option
• Math Science Scholar Option
• Complete 150 Creativity, Action, Service (CAS)
  hours
• Maintain a 3.0 GPA
• Score proficient or advanced on all CSTs
  (9th-11th grade)

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College Board - AP Scholar Awards(page 8)

• AP exams are taken every year in May at LMHS
• Students can earn college credits by passing AP
  exams
• Exams are scored on a scale of 1 to 5 - a score
  of 3 is passing
• Exams cost 84 per exam and financial aid is
  available

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The Benefit of AP Exams
That is a savings of over 7,000!
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CAS Hours(page 2)

• All MSA students are encouraged to complete 150
  hours of Creativity, Action, and Service (CAS)
  but it is required for special recognition at
  graduation.
• 50 hours - Creativity (the arts)
• 50 hours - Action (physical activity)
• 50 hours - Service (community service)
• CAS begins in February of the 9th grade year and
  concludes in February of the 12th grade year
• CAS encourages student life outside the classroom
  and helps students reach beyond themselves and
  their books

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MSA Calendar(page 1)

• Academy social event each Fall and Spring
• Academy service event each Fall and Spring
• Induction ceremony each September for new
  academy students and an awards ceremony
  each June for seniors
• Pre-Exam pep rally before AP and state testing
• Testing reminders and tips
• Exam schedules
• Goody bags
• Social Activities
• College application and scholarship workshops

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MSA Parent Booster Club

• Proctor mock AP exams
• Proctor real AP exams in May
• Assist with MSA newsletter mailings
• Organize and chaperone MSA college visits
• Assist in set up of various MSA social and
  service events
• Fundraise funds for AP and honors class
  materials and fieldtrips
• We need your support!

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MSA Course Catalog(pages 13-20)

• 20 AP Courses
• 9 Honors Courses
• 4 GATE/Honors Elective Courses

Academy students must show proof of meeting
course prerequisites to enroll in an MSA course
(pages 11-12)
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8 New Academy Courses!

• Philosophy Seminar (Sept. 07)
• (Theory of Knowledge)
• Language Arts 11 Honors (Sept. 08)
• AP Statistics (Sept. 08)
• AP Biology (Sept. 08)
• AP Environmental Science (Sept. 08)
• AP Art History (Sept. 09)
• AP Comparative Government and Politics (Sept.
  09)
• AP Language Composition (Sept. 10)

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• Curriculum Paths
• By Subject
• (pages 9-10)

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Suggested Courses for the 9th Grade Honors
Student

• Language Arts 9 (regular or honors)
• Math (regular or honors)
• Earth Sci. / Biology / Biology H
• World History Honors or Elective
• Spanish 1 or French 1 or Elective
• PE (Marching Band, Athletics, Cheer)
• Keyboarding and Health

MSA students have special access to keyboarding
and health during summer school!
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What Colleges Look For

• Overall GPA SAT/ACT scores
• Student is taking the most challenging courses at
  the school
• Involvement in extra-curricular activities both
  on and off school campus (especially activities
  related to future major/career)

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What can you do to prepare? Make an academic
plan!

• Meet Cal State and UC requirements
• Take challenging classes
• Pay attention to course prerequisites
• Score A and B grades
• Get involved (do CAS)
• Practice being a good test taker
• CST exams
• Benchmark exams
• PSAT / SAT / ACT
• Visit www.collegeboard.com

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MSA Contact Information(cover)

• Check www.lamiradahighschool.com for updated
  information
• Email the MSA Coordinator
• Call the MSA Coordinator Office hours
  1130-200 M-F
• Current students can visit the MSA Coordinator in
  room 560 at snack or lunch M-F

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Other Important MSA Contacts

• Mr. Brady Graham - College and Career Counselor
• Mr. Rick Garcia - CAS coordinator
• Mrs. Luisa Rogers - Assistant Principal of
  Curriculum and Instruction
• LMHS Counseling Staff

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LMHS Counseling Staff

• A-Chs Sally Stephens
• Cht-Gonzales My Nguyen
• Gonzalez-Leh Elva Mendoza
• Lei-Olz David Hallum
• Om-Sano Ila Patterson
• Samp-Z Theresa Gallardo
• Visit www.lamiradahighschool.com
• to email your students
• LMHS counselor

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Important Dates for current 8th graders!

• MSA Application Deadline
• February 13th
• (must be received by this date)
• Mailed to LMHS care of Mrs. Shackleton
• Student delivered to room 560
• Dropped off at the LMHS main office
• Faxed to LMHS

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Important Dates for current 8th graders!

• LMHS Community Open House January 29th, 700pm in
  Gym
• MSA Information Meeting (Repeat) January 29th,
  600pm in LMHS MPR
• MSA Application Deadline
• Feb. 13th (must be received by this date)
• Mailed to LMHS care of Mrs. Shackleton
• Student delivered to room 560
• Dropped off at the LMHS main office
• Faxed to LMHS

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Important Dates for current 9th-11th graders!

• MSA student information sessions in Feb. at lunch
  in room 560 with Mrs. Shackleton
• MSA Information Meeting (Repeat) January 29th,
  600pm in LMHS MPR
• MSA Application Deadline March 2nd (must be
  received by this date)
• Mailed to LMHS care of Mrs.Shackleton
• Student delivered to room 560
• Dropped off at the LMHS main office
• Faxed to LMHS

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La Mirada High Making Strides Toward an 800 API

• 767 Reach for the Heavens!