Highlights Newsletter August / September 2010

Chatsworth Highlights
LOS ANGELES UNIFIED SCHOOL DISTRICT
CHATSWORTH HIGH SCHOOL
10027 Lurline Avenue, Chatsworth CA 91311
(818) 678-3400, FAX (818) 709-6952
CHS on-line: www.chatsworthhs.org
Si desea una copia de Highlights en español, por favor llame a Chatsworth High (818) 678-3400


Our 48th year
Number 1
August / September 2010

Student Registration
8/9 8:00 – 10:00 a.m: Arts/Media & Medical Academies
8/10 8:00 – 10:00 a.m: Business/Govt., Design Tech. &
Humanitas Academies
8/11 8:00 – 11:00 a.m: Olympians & Titans Academies


8/16 First Day of Classes
8/23 PTSA @ Library, 7:00 p.m.
8/24 Chatsworth Leadership Council @ Library, 6:00 p.m.
8/26 CEAC/ELAC Orientation @ Library, 6:00 p.m.
8/31 Booster Club @ Parent Center, 6:00 p.m.
9/2 – 9/10 School closed – no classes
9/11 Football v. Panorama, 7:00 p.m.
9/13 PTSA @ Library, 7:00 p.m.
9/14 Chatsworth Leadership Council @ Library, 6:00 p.m.
9/17 Football @ University, 3:00 p.m.
9/21 Professional Development Minimum Day
1:03 dismissal
CEAC/ELAC Election @ Library, 6:00 p.m.
9/22 Senior Parent Meeting @ Chancellor Hall, 6:30 p.m.
9/23 Back-to-School Night, 6:00 – 8:00 p.m.
9/24 Minimum Day – 12:23 dismissal
Football v. Reseda, 7:00 p.m.
9/28 Professional Development Minimum Day
1:03 dismissal
Booster Club @ Parent Center, 6:00 p.m.

Looking ahead to October:
10/1 Football @ Santee, 7:00 p.m.
10/8 Football v. Banning, 7:00 p.m.
10/11 PTSA @ Library, 7:00 p.m.
10/12 Professional Development Minimum Day
1:03 dismissal
Chatsworth Leadership Council @ Library, 6:00 p.m.
10/15 Football v. Taft, 4:00/7:00 p.m.
10/22 Football v. Birmingham, 4:00/7:00 p.m.
10/26 Professional Development Minimum Day
1:03 dismissal
10/29 Football @ Granada, 4:00/7:00 p.m.

Important Dates for the 2010 – 2011 School Year:
• November 11, 2010 – Veterans’ Day Holiday
• November 22 – 26, 2010 school will be closed
• December 20, 2010– January 7, 2011 – Winter Break
• January 17, 2011 – M.L. King Jr. Birthday Holiday
• February 21, 2011 – Presidents’ Day Holiday
• April 1, 2011 – Cesar Chavez Day – No School
• April 18 – 22, 2011 – Spring Break
• May 30, 2011 – Memorial Day Holiday
• June 7, 2011 – Last day of Instruction


COUNSELING OFFICE
The first day of the Fall 2010 semester will be Monday, August 16. Students will report to the HOMEROOM listed on the program card they received during pre-registration. You must bring your emergency card to receive your program card. After Homeroom #1, you will report to the period one class that is listed on the program card.
Monday, August 16 will be a full day of instruction beginning at 7:45 and ending at 2:32. All students will be expected to check into all classes. NO program adjustments will be made on the first day of classes. After students have signed into their classes, they may request a form for a program adjustment starting Thursday, August 19. Adjustments will be made only under the following conditions:
• Student is in wrong grade level class
• Student has already taken and passed the class
• Summer school adjustment
• Senior class schedules will be adjusted Thursday, August 19 and Friday, August 20.
• Junior & Sophomore class schedules will be adjusted Monday, August 23 through Wednesday, August 25.
• Freshman class schedules will be adjusted Wednesday, August 25.
• No class schedules will be adjusted after the third week of school.
Your summer mailing packet includes the schedule and other important information regarding Registration Week for all students. Pay close attention to the SLC (Small Learning Community) schedules, date and time.

ATTENDANCE PROCEDURES
Re-Admitting from an Absence: Students are required to bring an absent note to the Attendance Office whenever they are absent. Students are to arrive early enough to clear absences and to arrive to class on time. Students clearing absences after 7:45 are tardy.
Early Leaves: Students planning to leave school early must bring their note to the Attendance Office before 7:45. Students who must leave campus are required to check out through either the Attendance Office or Health Office. Only a parent or legal guardian of the student may request an early leave in person or in writing.
ID Cards: Students are expected to carry their Chatsworth High ID card at all times while on campus. Replacement ID cards are available in the Attendance Office during lunch and after school.
Deliveries: We do not accept deliveries of flowers, balloons, or similar items for students.
Lunch: Chatsworth High is a closed campus; students must remain on campus during lunch. There are no lunch passes.
Address and Phone Changes: It is the responsibility of parents/guardians to inform the school of any change in address or telephone number. We need these changes to insure proper notification for school mailings and in the event of an emergency. Change forms and new Emergency Cards are available in the Attendance Office. All changes should be reported to the Attendance office as soon as possible. If a student moves outside the Chatsworth attendance area, a Continuation Enrollment Permit may be possible.
Excused Absences: A student may be excused for illness, medical/dental appointments, attending a funeral, or other justifiable reasons with the prior approval of the principal. Absences for any other reason are unexcused (for example, bad weather, transportation, or vacations). All students are accountable for demonstrating good attendance. After ten days of absence, a medical note may be required.
HEALTH OFFICE
Emergency Cards: A new emergency information card MUST be on file yearly at the school so that parents/guardians can be notified promptly to pick up a student in case of accident or illness. Students will be released to others listed on the emergency card only in the event of a major disaster, not for illness. Please keep this information updated throughout the school year. Students will not be allowed to leave campus without a current emergency card. No student programs will be issued without a current emergency card.

Medication: A student who needs to take medication during school hours must have a statement to this effect on file at the school, signed by the prescribing physician and the parent/guardian. The required forms are available from the school nurse, Mrs. Daisy Hizon, (818) 678-3411. Parents should bring in the medication and pick it up at the end of the year, or it will be discarded.

School Readmit Policy: A student returning to school with sutures, casts, crutches, leg brace(s), wheelchair or any other appliances must have a physician’s written permission to attend school and must comply with any safety procedures required by the school and Health Services personnel. A student returning to school following a serious or prolonged illness must have written permission by the health care provider to attend school, including any recommendations regarding physical activity or necessary accommodations.
An effort will be made to notify parents about school exposure to chickenpox yearly upon the first case.

CHAMP (Children’s Health Access and Medi-Cal Program) has a toll-free parent healthcare help line, 1-866-742-2273. Parents can call for information on free and low-cost healthcare programs, program eligibility prescreening, linkage to enrollment assistance at local school site, and linkage to Local District and community health resources.

School Based Clinics & Family Resource Centers: Columbus School Based Clinic – call (818) 702-1250.
Lawrence School Based Clinic – call (818) 678-7964. Kennedy School Based Clinic – call (818) 271-2547.

CLEARING CAMPUS
All students must exit the Chatsworth campus immediately after dismissal, unless they are in a school activity under the direct supervision of school personnel. It is the responsibility of parents and students to plan how students will go home as soon as their last class is dismissed.

PERSONAL PROPERTY OF STUDENTS
LAUSD does NOT provide insurance coverage for loss or damage to personal property, or for coverage for physical injuries which occur during the course of the school day. Every fall semester, low-cost accident insurance is made available to all students. We encourage you to consider this option for your student. Information is available in the Health Office.
School lockers are for the purpose of storing textbooks only. Neither the school nor the District is responsible for anything stored in lockers. Physical Education lockers are available for P.E. students.
Cell Phones: Students may not use cell phones on campus from the time they arrive until after the dismissal bell rings. Phones must be turned off and out of sight. Also, students may not operate radios, CD or MP3 players at school.

WHAT’S FOR LUNCH?
Applications for the Federal Lunch Program for 2010 – 2011 were mailed by the District to your home. In addition, they may be picked up from the Main Office or the cafeteria. Students are reminded that they must re-apply to the program each year. No October tickets can be issued without a current application. Applications can be brought to school or mailed in.

SENIOR PARENT MEETING – SEPTEMBER 22nd
Graduation requirements, senior activities and post-high school opportunities will be reviewed at this important meeting for parents. The meeting will begin at 6:30 p.m. in Chancellor Hall.

BACK TO SCHOOL NIGHT – SEPTEMBER 23rd
The evening of September 23rd from 6:00 to 8:00 p.m. will mark Chatsworth’s annual Back to School Night, and we urge you to visit your student’s teachers and learn what will be expected of your student in each subject. You will follow your student’s daily schedule from class to class and listen to a short presentation by each teacher on such areas as course requirements, homework responsibilities, projects due, etc. It will be your opportunity to put a “face” with the name of your Chancellor’s teachers. The evening’s program is not designed for individual parent-teacher conferences. However, if you would like a conference, you may sign up that evening or call the school to arrange a time to meet with a teacher or counselor.

PARENT/COMMUNITY ELECTION
At Back to School Night on September 23rd, elections will be held to fill our Parent/Community leadership positions for Chatsworth Leadership Council, which meets monthly on Tuesday evenings at 6:30 p.m. in the Library. There are regular representative positions and alternate positions available.

Parent/Community Representatives are also strongly encouraged to participate in school committees such as budget, curriculum and scheduling. Any parent or community member can participate in a committee without being an elected parent/community representative. PLEASE BECOME INVOLVED WITH YOUR SCHOOL.

Contact Sheri Osborne, Parent Representative, at (818) 678-3421 for more information.