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NEW DIRECTIONS

INDEPENDENT STUDY

PROGRAM ORIENTATION.

Brenda Connors, New Directions Counselor

Please note that before enrolling at New Directions, you are required to meet with your high school counselor to discuss your transfer

request and, if approved,

receive a referral which will be sent to New Directions.

WELCOME

to the

IF YOU HAVE AN IEP (Individualized Education Program):

A “Change of Placement” IEP meeting is required.

Please contact your IEP case manager for details.

SPECIAL CONSIDERATIONS

IF YOU ARE NEW TO PUSD (Poway Unified School District):

A review of your transcript is required.Please contact the New Directions counseling assistant at 858-748-0010, ext. 2420 for details.

Understanding how the independent study program works. Deciding if the independent study program is the appropriate educational setting for the student.

•How independent study works.

• What type of student participates in independent study.

• Attendance requirements.

• Grading periods.

• PUSD graduation requirements and transcript information.

•How credits are earned.

• The number of classes taken each semester.• Course Offerings at ND

Descriptions

Math & Science

College Preparatory• Profile of a successful

independent study student.• Frequently asked questions.

YOU WILL LEARN

PURPOSE OF ORIENTATION

WHAT IS INDEPENDENT STUDY?

Independent study is an alternative learning experience.

Equivalent to a regular classroom program of instruction.

Curriculum meets the PUSD standards as well as the California state standards.

Students become active participants in the learning process.

Most significant feature is the flexibility it offers.

CLOSE PARTNERS

In independent study: Students INVITE parents/guardians to be close partners with them in their daily school work.

NEW DIRECTIONS PROGRAM

A maximum of 140 independent study credits may

be applied toward a comprehensive high school

diploma (230 credits are required to graduate).

New Directions is not a school.

New Directions is the independent study program for the middle and high schools in the Poway District.

Del Norte High School

Mt. Carmel High School

Poway High School

Rancho Bernardo High School

Westview High School

TYPICAL NEW DIRECTIONS STUDENT

There are many reasons why students decide to enroll in independent study, a few of which include: Students who wish to pursue special or unique educational interests that are not compatible with attendance in the regular education programs.

Students transferring into the District mid-semester without credit hours.

Students whose families request home schooling.

Students participating in a treatment program.

Students who are employed to help out financially at home.

Non-graduated seniors.

Independent study is simply an alternative choice for your education.

PARTICIPATION IN YOUR

HIGH SCHOOL ACTIVITIES

New Directions students remain attached to their school of residence (DNHS, MCHS, PHS, RBHS, or WHS).

Students are not allowed to be on the high school campus during school hours.

Students are allowed to:

Join clubs that meet after school hours.

Participate in sports.

Attend after school activities such as athletic events, dances, tutorials, etc.

HIGH SCHOOL DIPLOMA

90 credits* (credits you MUST earn at your school site)

+140 credits (credits you are ALLOWED to earn at ND)

230 credits (credits required for the PUSD diploma)

Students receive the PUSD high school diploma from their school site (DNHS, MCHS, PHS, RBHS, or WHS).

Because New Directions is a “program” not a school, students must earn credits from their school site.*

Students who do not have 90 credits when transferring to New Directions are required to eventually transfer back to their school site as a full-time student (to earn the missing credits).

* Credits from community college, ROP (Regional Occupation Program), and other approved educational institutions count toward the 90 “site” credit requirement.

Students are assigned and must attend a weekly 45-minute appointment with an instructor who monitors and assesses their work.

Students work on one to three classes at a time (depending on whether or not math and/or biology classes are taken).

ATTENDANCE REQUIREMENTS

Five days of work (20-30 hours) must be completed each week. Students should spend 4-6 hours a day, 5 days a week, working on their assignments.

1st Absence = “Attendance Letter 1” = Call & letter to parent/guardian.

2nd Absence = “Attendance Letter 2” = Call & letter to parent/guardian PLUS mandatory conference with the counselor.

3rd Absence = “Attendance Letter 3” = Transfer to an alternate educational setting.

NO EXCUSED

ABSENCES

Students must attend their weekly appointment on time with 100% of

their assignments completed.

ARE ALLOWED IN INDEPENDENT STUDY.

If a student misses his/her weekly appointment and or attends the appointment with incomplete work (not 100% completed), an absence will be given (equivalent to five

school days).

MANDATORY

Arrive 30 minutes early to check work

Same day/same time

45 minute one-on-one meeting

2 – 3 hours if testing

No rescheduling

Students attend a weekly meeting with an

instructor.

WEEKLY MEETINGS

ADDITIONAL MEETINGS

MATH LAB:

Mandatory attendance to weekly math lab

Weekly for 45 – 90 minutes

BIOLOGY LAB:

Mandatory attendance to weekly biology lab

Weekly for 2 – 3 hours

Please note that the labs are MANDATORY.

STANDARDIZED TESTING

STAR (Standardized Testing and Reporting)

CAHSEE (California High School Exit Exam) Tests are given at New Directions.

Absences are given to students

who do not participate.

Students are required to participate in all

standardized testing.

REPORTING GRADES

New Directions operates on a semester system.

Fall Semester: 18 weeks Spring Semester: 19 weeks

Progress reports are hand-carried home by students at the 6 and 12 week marks.

Semester grades are mailed home at the end of each semester.

EARNING CREDIT AT NEW DIRECTIONS

Students at

New Directions have the

opportunity to earn

30-35 credits each semester.

New

Directions is

NOTNOT credit acceleration program.

Most courses take FIVE weeks to complete.

Biology takes NINE weeks to complete.

Math takes the WHOLE SEMESTER to complete.

CREDITS ON YOUR TRANSCRIPT

At the end of each semester, student grades and credits are applied to student

transcripts.

Credit Summary – High School Subject Areas Req Cmp Def None Specified Career English Civics 5.00 5.00 Economics 5.00 5.00 Elective 85.00 25.00 60.00 English 35.00 5.00 30.00 Fine Art or Foreign Lan 5.00 5.00 Fine Art 5.00 5.00 Fine Arts Waiver Foreign Language Health 5.00 5.00 Life Science 10.00 10.00 Mathematics 20.00 15.00 5.00 Practical Arts 5.00 2.50 2.50 Practical Arts Waiver Physical Education Physical Education 20.00 15.00 5.00 Physical Science 10.00 5.00 5.00 Social Science United States History 10.00 0.00 10.00 World History 10.00 5.00 5.00 ------Total Credits------ 230.00 97.50 132.50

19-WEEK SEMESTERWEEK ENGLISH HISTORY ELECTIVE ELECTIVE ELECTIVE MATH

1 WEEK 1 1

2 WEEK 2 2

3 WEEK 3 3

4 WEEK 4 4

5 TEST WEEK 1 5

6 WEEK 2 6

7 WEEK 3 7

8 WEEK 4 8

9 TEST WEEK 1 9

10 WEEK 2 10

11 WEEK 3 WEEK 1 11

12 WEEK 4 WEEK 2 12

13 TEST WEEK 3 13

14 WEEK 4 14

15 TEST WEEK 1 15

16 WEEK 2 16

17 WEEK 3 17

18 WEEK 4 18

19 TEST 19

5 cr 5 cr 5 cr 5 cr 5 cr 5 cr 30 CR

LATE ENROLLMENTWEEK ENGLISH HISTORY ELECTIVE ELECTIVE ELECTIVE MATH

1

2

3

4

5 WEEK 1 5

6 WEEK 2 6

7 WEEK 3 7

8 WEEK 4 8

9 TEST WEEK 1 9

10 WEEK 2 10

11 WEEK 3 11

12 WEEK 4 12

13 TEST WEEK 1 13

14 WEEK 2 14

15 WEEK 3 WEEK 1 15

16 WEEK 4 WEEK 2 16

17 TEST WEEK 3 17

18 WEEK 4 18

19 TEST 19

5 cr 5 cr 5 cr 5 cr - 5 cr 25 CR

PARTIAL CREDITWEEK

ENGLISH HISTORY ELECTIVEELECTIV

EELECTIVE MATH

1

2

3

4

5

6

7

8

9

10 10

11 WEEK 3 11

12 WEEK 4 12

13 TEST WEEK 3 13

14 WEEK 4 14

15 TEST WEEK 3 WEEK 1 15

16 WEEK 4 WEEK 2 16

17 TEST WEEK 3 17

18 WEEK 4 18

19 TEST 19

5 cr 5 cr 5 cr 5 cr - 5 cr 25 CR

Eng. w/draw grade =

“C”

Hist. w

/draw grade = “B

”

Design M

xd/Media 1 w

/draw grade = “B

”

CLASSES ON CAMPUS OTHER WAYS TO EARN CREDIT

ON CAMPUS – Seniors only are allowed to take 1-2 classes (5-10 credits) on campus under the following conditions:

1. If they need the class to graduate; 2. New Directions does not offer it.

(Example: Physical Education & Physical Science classes.)

ROP CLASSES – 16 years & older may take ROP classes that are offered at the various high school campuses. Students register at the PUSD Adult Ed. Department located at the Twin Peaks Center.

ADULT ED CLASSES – Seniors (& when offered, Juniors) only are offered evening classes during Fall and Spring sessions. Students register at the Adult Ed. Dept. in the Twin Peaks Center. They will need to get their counselor’s signature before registering.

COMMUNITY COLLEGE – Seniors & Juniors may take classes at community college for high school credit. They must see their counselor prior to registering for the class (for the permission form to take to the college and to have the class approved for the high school credit).

CSU & UC “a – g” REQUIREMENTSCOURSE CSU UC

a. History

Two years of history/social science, including 1 year of U.S. History or 1 sem. of U.S. History & 1 sem. of American government, and . . .for CSU, 2 sem. of history/social studies from either “a” or “g” subject areas and . . .for UC, 2 sem. of world history, cultures and geography from the “a” subject area.

Same

b. EnglishFour years of English, which can include not more than one year of ESL/ELD courses.

Same

c. Math

(highest level math at ND is Alg 3-4)

Three years math (algebra I and II, geometry)

(4 years recommended)

Same –

4 years recommended

d. Laboratory Science

(no physical science classes at ND)

Two years laboratory science including . . .for CSU, 1 year of physical and 1 year of biological science (one of which must be from the “d” subject area with the other from either “d” or “g”) and . . .for UC, at least 2 of the 3 core disciplines of biology, chemistry and physics (both from the “d’ subject area and 3 years recommended.)

Same –

3-4 years recommended

e. Foreign Language

(no foreign language classes at ND)

Two years of language other than English. Must be the same language.

Same –

3-4 years recommended

f. Visual and

Performing Arts

(Design Mxd/Media 1-2 at ND)

One year visual and performing arts. Students must complete a single year-long course selected from the disciplines of dance, drama/theater, music or visual arts.

Same

g. College Preparatory

Elective

(four classes at ND – site specific)

One year elective chosen from any of the areas on the approved “a-g” course list.

Same

PROFILE of a SUCCESSFUL

INDEPENDENT STUDYSTUDENT

Lives with a parent or guardian. Schedules daily study hours. Has a quiet, free from distraction, study

space. Is on time for his/her appointments. Works at a job no more than 20-25

hours per week. Is self-disciplined and motivated.

A Student That. . .

Has realistic goals. Receives encouragement and help at home. Keeps school as a priority regardless of personal problems. Chooses to “problem solve” rather than blame others or past events. Has healthy habits regarding sleeping, eating, and exercising. Relates to self and others in a positive manner.

SUCCESSFUL STUDENT (cont.)

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTION

1. What happens if I get sick and cannot attend my weekly meeting?

If a student is ill and cannot attend his/her weekly meeting, the parent must call the instructor BEFORE the meeting time to make arrangements to drop off the completed assignment and pick up the new assignment.

This is allowed occasionally & will NOT result in an absence.

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS (cont.)2. How does a student meet the PUSD PE

and/or physical science requirements?

New Directions does NOT offer any PE and/or physical education classes. Students usually meet these requirements before enrolling at ND.

Students who have not met either requirement should plan

to return to who have not met either requirement will be allowed to take the class or classes on campus while attending at ND. their school site in the future as a full-time student.

Seniors who have not met either requirement will be allowed to take the class or classes on campus while attending New Directions.

3. What happens if I miss my weekly appointment?

Students who miss their weekly appointment will receive a 5-day absence, resulting in an Attendance Letter.

4. What happens if my assignment is not complete at my weekly appointment?

If the assignment is not 100% completed, the student will receive a 5-day absence, resulting in an Attendance Letter.

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS (cont.)

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS (cont.)

5. Does New Directions follow the District calendar?

Yes, New Directions DOES follow the District calendar.

6. Can I reschedule my weekly appointment for vacation?

Weekly appointments CANNOT be rescheduled. Please plan vacations around the District calendar

7. What do I do if I need help?

New Directions’ students are independent workers. If help is needed, students must ask their parents/guardians for assistance.

Students may e-mail or call the New Directions’ instructor for clarification

if necessary.

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS (cont.)

WHAT IS THE NEXT STEP?

If you have decided to pursue transferring to New Directions, please continue to the next slide.

For those student who have specific questions before deciding on transferring to New Directions, a group meeting is held on most Thursday afternoons from 3:00 – 4:00.

Please contact Maritza at 858-748-0010, ext. 2420 to sign up to attend a meeting.

As stated at the beginning of the orientation, students must meet with their high school counselor before transferring to New Directions.

Once we receive a referral, you will be contacted by New Directions’ personnel to schedule an enrollment appointment.

Please note that students must CONTINUE ATTENDING their school site throughout the FULL day before enrolling at New Directions.

THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME. WE LOOK FORWARD TO MEETING YOU.

HOW DO I ENROLL AT NEW DIRECTIONS?