MATRIX: Fit and Polish... wrapping up the semester switch...

1.  LOCKED IN SCHEDULE
2.  RETROACTIVE HONORS CREDIT
3.  LOOKING AHEAD
4.  LAST DAY TO CHANGE CLASSES
5.  APPRECIATIONS
6.  DATA IS COMING!
7.  COLLEGE CLASSES GOOD TO GO
8.  WE'RE DOING PRETTY GOOD

===1.  LOCKED IN SCHEDULE===
Some teachers have raised concerns regarding why I had to change certain schedules from 1 period to the next.  Please know that it is deliberate and that I am not having the students period-shop.

For example, particular students who have Trigonometry, Spanish Speakers 3, Physics and the like are all locked into a schedule.  That is the case for a lot of students across grade levels.  I know that some classes may become inbalanced where a teacher has 20 in period and 25 in another.  I understand the ideal is 23 in eacher class but let's keep it in perspective that some teachers have close to 40 in their classes.  I have to balance their class so that may mean imbalancing your classes by a few students.  Some teachers have to have multi-level rosters in their classes and they have acquiesed in order to ensure that student schedules were not disrupted.

I wish I didn't have to change the whole master but unfortunately we lost 2 teachers and that impacted everyone's scheudle in some way.


===2.  RETROACTIVE HONORS CREDIT===
I will be putting a couple of forms in teacher's boxes regarding Honors credits.

I want to make sure that the students receiving honors are in the right placement as well as students who shouldn't be receiving honors credit be in the right placement.

In addition, I want to give you guys the opportunity to retroactively give students honors credits or to not give them honors credit if they didn't fulfill some project they were supposed to do for honors credit.


===3.  LOOKING AHEAD - MASTERING A NEW SCHEDULE=== 
So... now that we are slowing down with schedule changes, let's be proactive and look ahead to creating a master schedule.  Here are things that need to be done in order to make a master schedule by the end of the semester:
1. Have students choose classes for the Fall by end of first week in March.
2. Teachers fill out preference sheets
3. Counselor and a team create a tentative master schedule
4. Teachers see the new master schedule
5. We start plugging in as a collective where teachers are needed and can shine


===4.  LAST DAY TO CHANGE CLASSES===
Please note that the last day for students to request changes is Friday, February 10, 2012.

Of course, teachers will still be able to recommend schedule changes for students.

===5.  APPRECIATIONS
Thank you to Ms. Nunez (our parent liaison) and Ms. Grissom for regulating the front office space on Monday.  That really helped out with the drop-ins and ensuring that as much students as possible were following protocols.

Thank you everyone who has wished me Happy National School Counselor's Week!

Thank you to my new TA, Norman Sevilla and Yesenia Ramos, who are very quick and efficient.  When I asked them to do something, they were very much on-task.

===6.  DATA IS COMING!===
When the grading period closes, please be on the lookout for the following data.

• All grades: Report Cards, Honors Roll Data
• 8th Grade: Copies of Culmination Letter
• 9th: LAUSD Requirement and College Application Transcripts
• 10th: LASUD Requirement and College Application Transcripts
• 11th: Personalized Credit Appraisal, LAUSD  Requirements and College Application Transcripts
• 12th: Copy of Senior Letter, Personal Credit Appraisal, LAUSD Requirements and College Application Transcripts

===7.  COLLEGE CLASSES GOOD TO GO===

Huzzah!!! Both college classes are good to go.  The Community Orchestra class is off to a great start with 56 enrollees.  We have 11 out of our allotted 7 spaces.  LAHSA came through with a whopping 20 students as they should because they are a performing arts high school.  IT more than made up for the high school that did not recruit.  All but 1 of our students showed up! :-(

The Music Appreciation class filled up with a whopping 43 students.  We had 15 out of our allotted 7 spots filled.  And all of our student showed for the class.

WAY TO GO NOW STUDENTS!!!

===8.  WE'RE DOING PRETTY GOOD===
So... I'm talking to the other schools and I think that in comparison, we are in a much better state than some of the other schools.

We had our rollover earlier than some other schools who had easy rollover and some of the other schools are inundated with changes while we are stabilizing changes.

I think this is due to the team who came out to help with the scheduling.  Thank you very much again to Velia, Kim, Sookyoung and Chuck.

TECHNOLOGY: What does it mean to be a technology school?

When I think of a technology school, I like to think we as a "technology school" is really defined not  by the way we deliver curriculum or the way our students express gained knowledge through technology.  I like to think that we are more a school that sees technology through the "Critical Studies" lens.  When I think back at how The School of The Future delivers curriculum, I like to think that is the direction we are headed eventually as a "technology."  As we talk about the direction of our school as being technology-driven, we often talk only about using technology but sometimes I think media literacy and critical studies about technology is not discussed.

CONSUMING TECHNOLOGY

I think that it is very important to gain the knowledge needed to use emerging technology such as PowerPoint, Google Docs, Web Design, Film Production and the like, but is that what makes us a technology school.  Does the use of technology make us a "technology school."  Is having a computer in every classroom define us as a "technology" school.  For me, that is only an appetizer to being a "technology school."  After all, you can make the most beautiful PowerPoint presentation and still say nothing.

versus

TECHNOLOGY AS A MEDIUM

It's a natural step that when you learn to use technology, you would use it to express one's thoughts and create new and innovative way to express ideas.  But does the delivery of ideas through new medium really define us as a "technology."  If a student critically expressed themselves in "old media" such as skits, poster boards and the like, would that not be equally valid?  I'm not sold that ethnology just means emerging new media.  I think technology is also about the old school technology that worked.  I understand that as we send students to the workforce, they need "new media" skills in order to function in college and in the working world.  Let's face it, computer knowledge is truly a must in the 21st Century.

versus

CRITIQUING TECHNOLOGY

I think a lens that we often don't discuss when we talk about technology is the "Critical Studies" aspect.  I think that a part of being a "technology" school is to help students critically look at how they consume technology, how technology plays a part in their world, how they shape the direction of technology and how they can use technology to further the goals of social justice and environmental stewardship.  I don't think it is enough to simple consume technology or express oneself through emerging technologies, I think as a "technology" school, we have to help students understand technology from a critical standpoint.

To learn more about the School of the Future, check out their website:

http://www.sof.edu/

MATRIX: The Finish Line In The Horizon...

1. I CAN SEE THE HORIZON

2. MY DEADLINE

3. DON'T TRUST ISIS

4. THANK YOU FOR YOUR PATIENCE

5. PROTOCOLS FOR SWITCHING COURSES

6. SCHEDULING IS EXHAUSTING
7. GRATITUDES AND APPRECIATIONS

===1. I CAN SEE THE HORIZON==================

I am almost done scheduling, I am doubling checking as much as I can in terms of making sure that students have the classes that they need.

There are a few students left who have a few holes in their schedules and I am trying to figure it out with Dr. Flores.

===2. MY DEADLINE==========================

My deadline is to start printing the schedules tomorrow and to have them in your boxes at the end of tomorrow to be given out at period 6 on Thursday.  That way, they have a day to mull over their schedules.

===3. DON'T TRUST ISIS=======================

Please do not trust the rosters on ISIS to be up-to-date.  Sometimes it takes a while for changes in SIS to rollover to ISIS.  What you may be seeing as a 46 student roster on ISIS may be 23 in SIS on my side.  ISIS usually takes about a day to roll-over so what you may seeing is already out-of-date.

I will get you all rosters on along with the student's schedules.

===4. THANK YOU FOR YOUR PATIENCE=========

Thank you for being patient on what is a very difficult situation for all of us.

===5. PROTOCOLS FOR SWITCHING COURSES====

Please note that we are going to using the same protocols for switching schedules.  I would like you to approve the schedule as much as possible by signing off on their switch.

Please note however that for some electives, I may put them in there for graduation purposes.  If they need the class to graduate, I am more inclined to let them switch.

There really is no switch necessary for Grades 6, 7, and 8.

===6. SCHEDULING IS EXHAUSTING=============

It has been an exhausting endeavor to have to do this work all over again in less time.  However, I just spoke to Kathy Torres upstairs and they have not rolled over any of their classes yet.  That's an easier task and they are starting to just now roll it over.

===7. GRATITUDES AND APPRECIATIONS========

Thank you to these individuals who came out to help this weekend.

Ms. Valle: for creating you roster folders nice and neat on Saturday.

Ms. Yang: for recreating, updating, printing and photocopying all the change forms on Saturday.

Dr. Flores: for scheduling students into their honors classes on Saturday.

and a big special thank you to

Ms. Harada: for balancing classes while I schedule, for telling me it will be okay when I freaked out, for getting nourishment to keep the work going and basically spending the weekend with me on Saturday and Sunday.

PBL: Main Course or Dessert Projects

In the discussion about Project-Based Learning (Inquiry-Based Learning) on Monday, one thing I wanted to note was the difference between "dessert style" projects and "main course" projects.

Dessert Style Projects are projects that comes after the learning of a concept.  The students would gain the skills through rudimentary instruction such as lecture, tests, homework, etc.  Then the instructors would do a project as almost an afterthought to the experience.

Main Course Style Projects are driven by an essential (driving) question.  The essential question drives the entire project which provides and overall learning experience for students.  The project is introduced at the beginning of the unit and uses an over-arching project as the culmination of a student's overall learning experience.  Along the way, they discover tools that help them in synthesizing  solutions to the problem posed by the essential question.

MATRIX: Re-mastering a Master Schedule

1) REFLECTION AND GRATITUDE
2) REMASTERING THE MASTERED SCHEDULE
3) PATIENCE
4) MATH MUSICAL CHAIRS
5) SO… WHERE'S MY NEW SCHEDULE?
6) SEQUESTERING
7) MID-YEAR CHANGES
8) CALLING FOR HELP!!!

===1) REFLECTION AND GRATITUDE

As I write this Matrix Journal, it is hard not to pause and take the time to just reflect on the terrible loss of staff that we will be facing.  And before it is too late and before things are left unsaid and we get buried underneath all the minutia of the upcoming changes, I want to say how sad I am that we are losing Mr. Aghevli and Ms. Grissom as part of our NOW family.  Both teachers have brought a vibrancy that our students gravitate towards and will deeply miss.  Mr. Aghevli will be missed by his seniors and I miss miss working with him to get our students to fulfill their service learning projects and to graduate.  Ms. Grissom brought a vibrancy to Math that was vacant with in our previous year and it is a loss for our students.  Most of all, I will miss them as people regardless of whether we didn't really get to know each other or whether we always agreed or not.  Thank you so much for everything.

Thank you to Ms. Harada who has been most helpful in helping me man Peer Tutoring after school.  It has been a great start albeit stressful in the midst of all the upcoming changes.

Thank you to Ms. Vickers, who when I turned for help regarding a student, came through and talked with the student.  I specially want to thank you because you are swamped as we all are but you didn't refuse to help me out.  It is in this tough times that I miss the work that you, me and Ms. Palencia has last year.  Thank you always.

===2) REMASTERING THE MASTERED SCHEDULE

As you know, I was at the point of having already completely rolled over the Fall schedule into the Spring schedule and at this point, I should be completely done with the Master Schedule and done with scheduling period.  In fact I was done.  Unfortunately, with the loss of 2 staff members, there are going to be changes in the Spring Master Schedule and surprisingly almost everyone is left unscathed.  We are facing the same dilemma that we faced last year, with the Math changes and the Spanish collapse.

This time, around the changes are happening in the following areas:

• The collapse of all 9th grade sections from 4 sections to 3 which includes the collapse of 4 Algebra 1B to 3 and 2 Algebra 1B2s to 1 and the collapse of New Media to 1 section. 
• The collapse of Geometry from 3 sections to 2.
• The collapse of a 9th grade advisory from 5 advisories to 4.
• The collapse of 4 sections to 3 sections.
• The movement around of certain classes as teachers assume English 7 and Algebra Readiness.

Almost everyone is affected in some way and surprisingly the 6th grade cohort was the saving grade as a simple change there saved 10th grade, and 11th grade from a complete rewrite.  Tentative changes that are have been made are the following:

• 6th Grade - Periods 2 and 3 have been switched.  No student will be with another teacher, no one is moving anywhere.  Classes at period 3 will switch over to 2 and vice-versa.  This switch includes P.E.  This period switch was the savior of the other grade levels.  I was reluctant to have done but after seeing how it prevented changes of periods in 7th, 8th, 10th and 11th, I felt I had to do it so that the changes in schedule wasn't a complete rewrite.
• 7th Grade - Harada and Aceves will switch periods.  Students should stay with their teachers and their cohort.  As of now, Ms. Talleda will assume English 7.
• 8th Grade - No change other that Mr. Benavides will assume Algebra Readiness.  Someone will assume Ms. Vicker's advisory.
• 9th Grade - 1 cohort from English 9, Algebra 1, Health/Env. Sci and 1 New Media will be spread out among the 3 sections.  Ms. Yang will be assuming Algebra 1.  There will be a change in advisory.
• 10 Grade - No change of periods in the Core classes (English, World History and Biology) but changes in Math and in Spanish and Korean will mean changes of schedules for students.  This will affect P.E. as well.
• 11th Grade - No change of periods in English, Chemistry, and U.S. History but changes in Math and in Spanish and Korean will mean changes of schedules for students.
• 12th Grade - Mr. Mize and Ms. Talleda will switch period 1 and 2 to accommodate Ms. Talleda's assuming of English 7.  This will result in schedule changes for students.  Someone will assume Mr. Aghevli's advisory.

===3) PATIENCE

Right now, I have gone through about 6 different Master Schedules since last week looking at different scenarios if certain things were to happen.  (At one point, I was even making a Master Schedule based on what would happen if we had lost another teacher.)

Right now, there is a tentative Master.  I am perusing through to make sure that there are no conflicts.  I am perusing to make that if a student had Spanish 1 and Algebra 2, they would still be able to take it.

===4) MATH MUSICAL CHAIRS

The Math department and I met this morning to go over collapsing of some sections and who would assume Grissom's sections.  As per the decision of the Math Department in the 01.25.2012, the following changes were made to the Math teaching schedule:

• Mr. Benavides - 2 Geometry, 2 Algebra Readiness (previously 2 Algebra 1B, 2 Algebra 2B)
• Ms. Yang - 3 Algebra 1 (previously 3 Geometry)
• Mr. Wu - 2 Algebra 2, 1 Algebra 1B2

===5) SO… WHERE'S MY NEW SCHEDULE?

Because of the new changes that were decided during this morning's Math meeting, I had to come up with a new Master for what it seems like the 6th or 7th time.  I have not begin to reflect these changes into SIS and will begin to undo all my work from November and break in order to accommodate this new Master Schedule tomorrow.

So... I will be coming in this weekend to continue working on scheduling and to try and make sure that I get schedules to your boxes by Monday morning.  Yes, it will mean long hours and sacrificing my weekend.

By Friday, you should see your rosters on ISIS completely disappear.  And then on Saturday, see your classes start getting rearranged.  And rearranged some more and then some more.

So, when can you see the matrix?  I am waiting for Chuck and Brenda to speak to a few more people and then I will release the Matrix in full glory.

===6) SEQUESTERING

Please note that I would like to be left alone these next two days if not the next two weeks.  I am about to take the work of 2 months and dismantle it to reassemble it again.  If I am to get you guys rosters and schedule, please help me out and ensure that I am left alone to do this daunting task.

Please try to send students going to the restroom to Ms. Lucy downstairs.  I cannot deal with bathroom breaks in the middle of re-scheduling.

===7) MID-YEAR CHANGES

Please hold off on mid-semester changes.  In fact, if possible, dissuade students from changing.  If they are in a year-long class (if it has a B section), have them remain there.  If they are in an elective, please dissuade them from moving so that their schedules int heir core-classes don't go any more topsy-turvy.  With the loss of 2 teachers, I want to make sure that there is as little movement in periods as possible.

Mid-year changes are tough because someone else has to take them.

===8) CALLING FOR HELP

I will be in this weekend and if anyone would like to come in and help, i would be much appreciative.  I could use help in photocopying class-change request forms, making roster folders (like the ones I gave you in the summer), organizing schedules, etc.

MATRIX: Spring Schedule is ready...

1. SPRING 2012 ROSTERS
2. CH-CH-CHANGES: MID-YEAR SWITCHES, ONE-SEMESTER COURSES, SPORT PLAYERS, AND THAT STUDENT
3. HARADA AND GRISSOM
4. LOOKING AHEAD TO FALL 2012
5. WHY DO YOU KEEP SAYING MATRIX?
6. LETTERS OF RECOMMENDATIONS
7. COLLEGE APPLICATION FEES: HELP!

===1. SPRING 2012 ROSTERS===

Having spent a day at work to day, I was able to accomplish a lot! Before we left for break, I made sure to finish an expect copy of the fall Matrix for Spring. It is a very tedious and very complex job that normally APSCSs oversee and a rollover is a process that requires meticulousness, Anyways, I finished it before we left, I started working on re-numbering courses and all of that back in November because I know the college applications would take a lot of my energy.

Today, I went to work and just knocked everything out. I was able to transfer every student's schedule from Fall semester to Spring. I went in at 8AM and got the last one down at 5PM. The custodian was pretty nice because he told me to leave at 4PM and he let me stay another hour.

SO… tomorrow, when you look in your ISIS, you should have rosters for Spring 2012.

2. CH-CH-CHANGES: MID-YEAR SWITCHES, ONE-SEMESTER COURSES, SPORT PLAYERS, AND THAT STUDENT

When it comes to changes, we have to keep in mind: "When someone is enjoying a small class, someone else is enjoying a large class."

As we transition to Spring, my goal is to have as little change as possible. In a small school, changes having trickling effects as we learn last year.

Last year, we decided to have students who failed Algebra 1A to take it over and changed around the configurations of Spanish. It was a move that have trickling effect on just about everyone. Unfortunately, because our matrix is so rigid, it drove number balance crazy and it drove others to take on more students than they could. And it was a head-ache for me because I literally had to redo the entire matrix schedule all over again.

One semester classes are also a pain in the butt for small schools because of the effect they have on everyone else. When students are done with a one-semester class, they get shuffled off to other teachers which means their classes get switched or someone else's classes get bigger because of it. We have 1 this year but those students in that class will have to be rescheduled, which means that there will be some reshuffling in the 11th and 12th grade because of it. Teachers that will be affected by the 1-semester course will be Talleda's English classes, Alexander's Elective courses (which is way beyond capacity right now), possibly Wu's Film Production, Schlatter's Journalism and possibly Waid's HS Drama (which is also up to capacity).

Sport Players, because athletes do get credit for playing sports, some athletes may be done with PE. If they are in PE and opt out of it, switches will be made which will drive up someone else's numbers.

There's always those couple of students that does nothing in classes. I want them out on my classes next semester. Where would I put them? Mr. Alexander, Mr. Waid, are already overflowing.

===3. HARADA AND GRISSOM===

Ms. Harada, Ms. Grissom would like to switch her Period 1 class with her period 6, it means it will affect you too. I will leave that up to you two.

Switches like this one work. It involves only Harada. No one's numbers get big and they both teach the same students.

===4. LOOKING AHEAD TO FALL 2012===

As Spring comes around, we look towards the Fall. Let's keep in mind what happened last year. We started the process SO late! We have to do better this year. In fact, on that whole-secondary meeting, we were promised and assured that we would have some type of Matrix before the end of Spring Break. Mr. Deligencia noted it.

In moving forward to Fall, I urge everyone to keep these things in mind:
Is our master schedule working to allow us all to be a t our best? Have we repeated an LA High or Belmont schedule?
How is our three main focus (social justice, environmental stewardship and technology) integrated to the master schedule?
What are some innovative master schedules we can look at? When a team went to the CES Fall Forum last year, we saw some great ideas from Master schedules. Why have we not talked about them?
How do we alleviate one class from getting too many students while another class enjoys small numbers.
What kind of electives do we want to offer? Should they fall under the three main focuses?
What is our program of instruction for grade levels. 9th grade is one where students do not receive the same program.
How can we have a master schedule that would allow us to do work like exhibitions for projects?

===5. WHY DO YOU KEEP SAYING MATRIX?===

I used to teach elementary and it just stuck. When I say Matrix, I mean Master Schedule. Although a Master Schedule is far more complicated than an elementary matrix.

===6. LETTERS OF RECOMMENDATIONS===

If you haven't already done so, please do your letters of recommendations for students that you've said yes to.

===7. COLLEGE APPLICATION FEES: HELP!===

We have a few students who are applying to private colleges that need help paying for application fees. They need help. If I could I would. There are four seniors that can get in to these schools that said they are not applying because they can't afford the fees.

MATRIX: Winter always turns into Spring

Hello everyone!

After a long hiatus, the Matrix Journal is back!

1. Winter always turns into Spring
2. Timeline
3. The process
4. Ch-ch-ch-changes
5. Looking Ahead
6. Don't let students get you sick
===============================

===1. Winter always turns to Spring===
As cycles come and go, we know that winter always turns into spring. Such is the rhythm of life and of schools. As we go into January, there will be some hard work that will have to be done in order to get ready for the coming semester.

As we go into holiday, let's take the time to reflect on the year: the adventures and misadventures we might have had and how we forward into the new year. What lessons did we learn from this year as we forge ahead into 2012?

===2. Timeline===================
December - Master Scheduling for Spring
January - Class changes are made
February - Semester shift

===3. The process================
December
a. CL31: Build Spring Course List into CL31
b. CL01: Build CL01 Master Schedule using data from CL31
c: CL10: Create relationships between course numbers in Fall CL01 and Spring CL01
d: CL10 & CL11: Transfer Fall data into Spring

January
a. Print schedules
b. Course changes are taken
c. CL04: Course changes are made in CL04

February
d. Semester switch begins

===4. Ch-ch-ch-changes============
Because we are not having Algebra 1A this Spring, there should not be the massive changes that we saw last year. Course lists should relatively remain the same except for the New Media/Perez/Folsoi transfers.

If we do end up having to make a plan like having an Algebra 2A or collapsing sections of Spanish courses, it could and will more than likely have the system-wide domino effect had last year. For a small school, little changes really impact everyone else's schedule.

If you feel that there has to be some major changes in your class, like taking out a huge portion in your class for whatever systemic reason, please make sure to alert an administrator. Changes that will affect the entire master schedule should be addressed to an administrator.

===5. Reflections=================
When we met into May of last year, a commitment was made that we would have our a tentative Master Schedule set by May. In order for that to occur, we must be vigilant and diligent to the task of creating a master schedule. In order to do so, I think that following will need to happen if we are not to repeat last year late into the game.
- January: Departments meet in order to flush out what classes will be needed in the next year.
- February: Departments and administrative staff meet in order to discuss who will teach what.
- Early March: Counselor put out "Fall Semester - Course Survey"
- Late March: Counselor present SS15 (Tentative Student Course Counts)
- Early April: Counselor works with a committee to create a master schedule
- Late April: Counselor and committee present tentative master schedule options to entire staff

===6. Don't let students get you sick===
I was at the computer lab working with students on their college applications yesterday. A young lady was coughing up a storm and I was sitting next to her. I should have told her not to cough on me but I didn't want to make her feel uncomfortable. I eventually did tell her but now I am starting to feel the muscle soreness in my shoulders that usually come from a flu.