Great News About Mira Costa High School That You Can Read In 60 Seconds September 24, 2007 NEW SCHOOL-HOME COMMUNICATIONS SYSTEM DEBUTS AT MIRA COSTA In its continued effort to improve communications between families and the high school, this fall MCHS is implementing the use of GradeBookWizard, a software program which gives parents and students access to up-to-the-minute classroom information. By entering a secure code (which was emailed to every MCHS family at the beginning of September), users can access students’ schedules and attendance records, email teachers, and view homework assignments. GradeBookWizard also provides a current listing of all the grades a student has received in a course, greatly improving upon last year’s InTouch program which only recorded progress and report card grades. Principal Julie Ruisinger estimates that 60% of the Costa faculty will pilot the use of GradeBookWizard this year, and she hopes that positive feedback from families will spur the expansion of the program in years to come.
7 COSTA SCHOLARS EARN SEMIFINALIST STATUS IN THE 2008 NATIONAL MERIT SCHOLARSHIP COMPETITION Kudos to Zoe Bollinger, Todd Burns, Nolan Caine, Scott Humbarger, Jordan Navarrette, River Snively, and Breeana Trachy! These academically talented students now have an opportunity to continue in the competition for some 8,200 Merit Scholarship awards, worth $34 million, which will be awarded next spring. This is a significant honor for these outstanding students and we are very proud of their accomplishments.
NEW OPPORTUNITIES IN THE ARTS AT COSTA As part of the MBUSD Arts Plan, representatives from the District recently met with SCROC (Southern California Regional Occupational Center) and El Camino College to explore partnership opportunities. The result: an impressive array of new course options for Mustangs this fall. Through SCROC, students will be able to receive high school credit for expanded course offerings including Graphic Design, Digital Pre-Press, Theater Management, Video Game Design and Development, and Scientific Illustration. Megan Hersman, a sophomore enrolled in the Video Game Design course is thoroughly enjoying the unique experience. As she says, "Contrary to what some kids think, video game design is not about playing video games; it's about creating 3D graphics using algebra and geometry. It's interesting to learn how math can be applied to something that all teens love!" The El Camino classes, which will be offered after school, give students the opportunity to earn college credit for free, while extending their experience. El Camino classes to be offered include drawing, film analysis and appreciation, and American Sign Language. The primary goal of the MBUSD Arts Plan is to formulate goals and strategies to provide a high quality, sequential arts education for all K-12 students in the District. You are encouraged to view the plan and an accompanying arts pathways brochure on the web at www.mbusd.org.
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