[BHS etree] ADMIN: Schedule changes Thursday/ Exit Exam info and request for help

[bhs at idiom.com]

Contact: Janet Huseby jhuseby at pacbell.net
 
1. Some Students' Schedules changed today (Thursday)
2. Exit Exam information/request for help
 
1. Student Schedule changes.  Berkeley High currently has 3,250
students.  Because enrollment exceeded the school's initial enrollment
projections, a number of classes are overenrolled particularly in
Academic Choice.  To remedy crowding the school is opening new
government and U.S. History sections, as well as two new sections of
both art and English.  In addition, a fifth counselor was assigned to
Academic Choice. 
 
On Thursday (September 27) 130 juniors and seniors received schedule
readjustments moving them from overcrowded classrooms to the new
sections.  Students, who were chosen randomly and, wherever possible,
with minimal disruptions to their overall schedules, were notified
during first and second periods of the schedule changes. The
administration is committed to making the transition as smooth as
possible and believes the changes will create more productive and
nurturing learning environments as the school year moves forward. 
 
The new History Teacher, Matt Magansay, received his MA in Social
Studies at San Francisco State University and completed his teacher
training at San Francisco's Galileo High School.  We are pleased that
he is joining the staff. 
 
2. Exit Exam. The first of three sets of the  California State Exit
Exam (CASEE) will be held next Tuesday and Wednesday, Oct. 2 and 3 for
approximately 300 juniors and seniors.   All students in California
are required to pass this exam in order to receive a high school
diploma.  In order to help our students with this high stakes hurdle
we are working to create a calm and orderly atmosphere. A first step
is to have a clam and orderly check in.  We need four parents on both
Tuesday and Wednesday from 7:15 to 9 am to help with this task.  We
are also looking for two parents each day to stay on until noon to
help with monitoring and two parents each afternoon to help check the
tests in and package them up.  If you can help, please contact Janet
Huseby at jhuseby at pacbell.net