By the time you receive this newsletter, we will be in the “home stretch” of the 2009-2010 school year.  It is already evident that 2009-2010 was another banner year for Valencia High School.  The academic, athletic, and performing arts accolades were numerous, and with school still in session, these accolades continue to grow.  Because of this, it would do no justice to provide an incomplete list of achievements in this newsletter.  Like past years, upon graduation, I plan to post my commencement speech on our website at www.vhstigers.org and I’ll include it in the next newsletter.  As usual, my speech will highlight the school year.

 

As I mentioned in my previous newsletter, to deal with the State’s budget shortfall, all Placentia-Yorba Linda Unified School District employers have agreed to take six furlough days during the 2010-2011 school year.  Each furlough day will save the District approximately $750,000.  The proposed calendar includes a reduction of four instructional days and two teacher pre-service days.  Three of the furlough days will be placed during Thanksgiving week and the fourth on the Friday prior to Memorial Day.

 

The administration of STAR tests on April 27 through April 30 was free of problems.  As you may have heard from your children, we greatly expanded our student incentive programs with the goal of maximizing student performance.  Valencia’s Academic Performance Index (API), which is determined by STAR and California High School Exit Exam (CAHSEE) results, has grown for the past eight consecutive years a total of 159 points.  Both of these statistics go unmatched in the PYLUSD.  We are confident that our API will continue to grow as we approach our ultimate goal of 800.

 

By now, we should have completed our International Baccalaureate (IB) and Advanced Placement (AP) Exams.  To put everything in proper perspective, twelve years ago we administered 229 AP exams in thirteen subject areas and achieved a 70% pass rate.  Last year, we administered 1005 AP Exams in twenty-five subject areas and had a pass rate of 83%.  In addition, we administered over 200 IB Exams and had a 91% pass rate.  This year, we will administer between 1350 and 1400 AP and IB Exams.  Currently, we teach twenty-five AP and nineteen IB college-level courses.

 

Valencia’s Academy, consisting of the International Baccalaureate and Val Tech Programs, continues to grow.  This year, the combined programs had an enrollment of nearly 550 students or approximately 22% of our total enrollment.  Approximately, 230 eighth graders from inside and outside the PYLUSD have been accepted into the Academy for next year.  We anticipate that over 50 students will be in Val Tech’s freshmen class next year, and between 150 and 160 students will be in IB’s freshmen class.  Both of these figures are record highs.

  

 

Now that we are completing the “exam season,” our attention shifts to graduation.  In a recent PACE phone message I sent to the homes of all senior students, I indicated that, for the first time, each senior would receive eight tickets to the commencement ceremony at Bradford Stadium on Tuesday, June 15.  I understand that this creates challenges for many families, and I’m truly sorry for any inconveniences this may cause your family.  I hope you understand that Bradford Stadium is not a Valencia facility; but, is a PYLUSD facility.

It has long been the desire of district and site managers alike that construction on Bradford Stadium would not conflict with graduation.  However, for numerous reasons, construction timelines often fail to translate into reality.  We will lose access to 2200 seats in the east bleachers.  To compensate for this loss, portable bleachers accommodating 1500 will be placed on the track from curve to curve.  Therefore, we are losing a total of 700 seats.  In addition, because of the construction, crowd flow will be greatly obstructed.  For me not to issue tickets, would be risking the safety of those 4300 allowed to attend.  Judging by the size of the overflow crowds the past two years, the issuing of tickets was only a matter of time anyway.

 

In closing, I encourage you to impress upon your children the importance of “finishing strong.”  Thanks for your continued support.  I sincerely value our partnership.

 

 

James E. Bell, Principal

Valencia High School