Dates to Remember:

DECEMBER:

1. WV Girls Soccer Awards
Night 7-9 pm commons
4. ASVAB Testing 7:30-2:30
pm Aux. Gym (Mal K/Dale
B.)
4. Bowling vs Sunnyside (Nob
Hill Lanes) 3:30 pm
5. Boys Bball Vs Mt Si5:15/7:00
5. Boys Swim/Dive Lions Pool
10:00 am vs Walla Walla
6. WV Wrestling Invite 10:00
WVJH
8. •Sr. Parent Mtg. 7 pm
Commons
13. •Holiday Magic Concert & Social 2 pm commons/main gym * Holiday Magic Dance 8-11 pm Commons
13. Boys Bball vs Foster 4:30/6:15 pm
18. Wrestling Vs Sunnyside 7:00 pm
19. Faculty Holiday Show

DEC 22-JAN 2 - NO SCHOOL - HOLIDAY / WINTER BREAK

JANUARY:
8. Financial Aid Wkshp. 7 pm Commons (Sponsored by the
Counseling Office)
8. Football Banquet 6:30 pm Glenwood Square
9. Pep Assembly
10. POORMAN'S DANCE 9:45-11:45 PM COMMONS
12. •Sr. Parent Mtg. 7 pm Rm. 201
16-18 •JrROTC Drill/Rifle/Colorguard Meet 8 pm-Sunday noon both gyms and Building 2 Classrooms
19. •Martin Luther King Jr. Holiday...NO SCHOOL
20. Dollars for Scholars Bunco Night. 7 pm in commons

College-bound students and their parents: Heads Up!

    We have recently been made aware by the Higher Education Coordinating Board (HEC Board) of a significant change in college admission requirements for the Class of 2005 – our current 11th graders. All Washington State four-year colleges and universities have changed their high school science admission requirements to reflect areas in which it has been determined high school graduates are particularly weak. Please note these changes refer only to Washington State four-year colleges and universities. Students planning on attending a college or university outside of Washington
should contact the registrar of that school and obtain, in writing, the course requirements for admission.
    High school GRADUATION requirements for science will remain the same. Students need a minimum of two years of science, one of which must be a lab science. This science requirement may be sufficient for students to gain admission to a community college or trade school. However, students planning on attending any four-year college or university in the state of Washington must have a minimum of two years of LAB science, one of which must be algebra based (Chemistry, AP Chemistry, Physics, Electronics, Physics for Tech).
These changes have been discussed with your student in RAM Prep class. Our counselors review student transcripts to determine whether or not the student meets GRADUATION requirements, not college entrance requirements. This is the responsibility of the student and the parent. Of course, our counselors are available to discuss post-secondary questions with students and parents as requested.
     Another change impacting the Class of 2007 is the addition of two science requirements at the junior high level. The addition of these classes is probably long over-due and is designed to assist our students in meeting the state and federal standards in science education. Effective Fall 2004, a trimester of Physical Science will be required in the 8th grade and a trimester of Introduction to Biology in the 9th grade. However, the 9th grade sciences, Physical Science and Introduction to Biology, will NOT meet the requirement for one credit of lab science for college admission. It will satisfy graduation requirements for 1 credit of non-lab science. Students planning on attending a four year college or university in 2005 or beyond must have 2 credits (4 trimesters) of sequential lab science (Basic Biology, Plant or Animal Biology, Anatomy, AP Biology, Chemistry, AP Chemistry, Physics, Electronics, Physics for Tech) of which one credit (2 trimesters) is algebra based (Chemistry, AP Chemistry, Physics, Electronics, Physics for Tech).
Please review the scenarios below to determine whether your high school plan aligns with your post-secondary objectives. As always, as counselors and administrators, we are here to assist in any way we can.
      Satisfies college entrance requirements:
        A. Basic Biology + Animal OR Plant Biology (1 year lab science); Chemistry A +             Chemistry B (1 year algebra based lab science)
        B. Chemistry A + Chemistry B (1 year algebra based lab science); Physics A + Physics B             (1 year algebra based lab science)
        C. Physics for Tech A + Physics B (1 year algebra based lab science, same content); Basic             Biology + Animal OR Plant Biology (1 year lab science)
      Does NOT satisfy college entrance requirements:
            A. Basic Biology + Animal OR Plant Biology; Anatomy A + Anatomy B OR AP Biology A                 + AP Biology B
                (No algebra based lab science)
            B. 9th Grade Science (Physical Science + Intro to Biology) Not a consecutive lab                 science; Basic Biology + Animal OR Plant Biology (1 year lab science; not an algebra                 based science)
            C. Horticulture A + Horticulture B (considered .5 science for college admission); Basic                 Biology + Chemistry A (not a full year of algebra based lab science)
           NOTE: 9th grade science satisfies the non-lab science requirement for high school               graduation, but does NOT satisfy any college admission requirements.

RECYCLING FOR A BETTER TOMORROW…..
West Valley High School’s Transition Program, a prevocational life skills program, has been involved in recycling for the past eight years. As in the past, recipients of a Department of Ecology award, students take this project seriously-from collecting school and donated recyclables to separating aluminum, plastic, newspaper, and cardboard, and hauling them to a local recycler. Money earned is used in the program for various classroom activities, as well as a student-planned field trip at the end of each school year. In addition, students also collect used printer and toner cartridges. Please help the environment and provide Transition students with recyclable items. They may be delivered to the high school – Room 304 or call 972-5952 for pickup. Thanks to those in our community who have contributed in the past and continue to provide the opportunity for students to learn the value of working hard.

This years musical will the “Little Shop of Horrors”. One of the longest running Off-Broadway shows of all time, this affectionate spoof of 1950’s sci-fi movie has become a household name, thanks to a highly successful film version and a score by the same team who wrote the Little Mermaid, Beauty and the Beast, and Aladdin.
Performances will be March 10, 11, 12 and 13th. Auditions were held November 17th and 18th and call backs were Wed the 19th. All junior high and high school students were invited to audition. The following is the list of cast members:

West Valley School District Board of Directors
The West Valley School District is accepting applications for a vacancy on the Board of Directors, District Area Five. District Five can be roughly described as an area bordered by Ahtanum Rd. to 64th Avenue and Occidental Avenue, Spring Creek Road to 48th Avenue, 56th Avenue and Tieton Drive to 64th Avenue and Nob Hill Blvd. to 80th Avenue and Zier Rd. Maps are available for review at the West Valley School District Office when applicants pick up their application packets.
In order to be eligible for this position, interested
persons must be citizens of the United States and a registered voter in the Director District Five and the director candidate can not be employed by the school district. Dependents of current employees are eligible to apply, however, they will not be eligible to be hired by the District if the candidate is successful. Neither the director candidate nor dependents may work for the school district, unless already employed. In addition, the candidate and dependents cannot have any pecuniary interest, directly or indirectly, in any contract, purchase of materials, or activity paid from school funds.
Application procedures and candidate guides available by contacting:
West Valley School District No. 208
8902 Zier Road
Connie Dean
Yakima, WA 98908
or call 972-6004
Application deadline: December 31, 2003

Important Note From The Child Nutrition Department
Effective January 5, 2004, Visa & Master Card Deposits called in before 10:30 A.M. will be posted to your child’s account.
Calls received requesting a deposit after 10:30 A.M. will be posted the next day. NO EXCEPTIONS!!!!
Students receive two verbal notices (secondary schools) or written notices (elementary schools) of low account balances and are responsible to maintain a positive account balance. Students will not be able to call parents during the lunch period.
Account information is available by contacting Laurie or Linda at 972-6040 or 962-6048 between 8:00-11:00 a.m. and 11:30-2:30 p.m.
Feel free to call our office or leave a message with your request and they will get back to you as soon as time allows.
To assure your child east daily, Visa Authorization is available. For further information, contact our office at 972-6040 or 972-6048.

“A Night of Elegance”
February 12, 2004
This year’s Night of Elegance, sponsored by Dollars for Scholars, has been scheduled for Thursday February 12, 2004. Tickets are $15.00 per person and will go on sale in December. Food this year will be appetizers and desserts. New this year will be an auction.
If you have any questions of comments please contact Toni Benetti Flabetich at 969-0048.
West Valley Senior Class Parents of 2004
Will be meeting December 8th & January 12th at 7:00 pm in the WVHS Commons. We want to start in on the fun stuff! Our clothing sales are still on – for items call 966-4070 or 966-7023 – we have great Christmas gifts.
If you’re traveling to the east side of our state on December 26th to December 29th, stop & see us at the Indian John Rest Stop area (east bound).
Students, don’t forget to share the party sign-up information with your family. Thanks.

Student ID Badges:
For the remainder of this school year, we are piloting the use of Student ID badges with our Night School Program. Starting at the beginning of the next school year (2004-2005) ALL students and staff will be required to have on their person at all times their ID badges. These badges will also be used as their ASB cards as well as identification for safety purposes here at the high school. Bunco Buddies Night
If you are looking to have some laughs, some good conversation, food and fun then we have the place you want to be. Our next Bunco For Buddies night is scheduled for Thursday January 20th at 7:00 pm in the High School Commons area. The cost is only $10.00 per person with prizes, snacks and drinks provided. Please come and join in on the fun.
Holiday Magic
This year’s show will include holiday music featuring the West Valley High School Band, and a drama short presented by the West Valley High School Drama Club between the hours of 2-3 pm in the Main Gym at the High School on Saturday December 13th followed by a post concert wheelchair/snowflake ball for our honored citizen guests from area nursing/retirement homes. Punch and cookies will also be provided.

Together, We Can Make A Difference:
This year has been a particularly bad year at West Valley Schools in regards to “Gang Activity”. In order to help alleviate any “Gang Anxiety” we are asking for parents’ help. The following enclosure is a list of Gang Dress and Gang Behavior that was supplied to us by the Yakima Police Department. Please do not allow your child(ren) to wear or display any of the listed items on any West Valley School premises. If a student is seen with any of the following items on their person, there will be consequences administered as per the Student Code of Conduct as explained in the student handbook. Please take the time to read over the enclosed list of items. We do ask parents to report any “Gang-like behavior” to their school administrators as soon as possible. We hold your child(ren)’s safety in upmost highest regards. Thank you very much for your help with this increasing problem.

Attendance, Responsibility, and School Success

Research shows us that prompt and regular school attendance is an important key to  student success in school.  Each student in the West Valley School District , according to his/her level of maturity, is expected to demonstrate respect, concern, and caring for all staff, students, and community… follow the school and District rules…and to conduct him/herself in a responsible manner as a member of the school community. An important part of this goal is prompt and regular school attendance by all students.

With this in mind, we understand there are sometimes illnesses and emergencies, which may cause your child to miss school. However, please pre-arrange all other absences with the school office and plan on having your child collect work from his or her teacher(s) so that they will miss as little classroom instruction as possible.

Community Attendance Boards Assist Students and Parents

An important learning goal of the West Valley  School District is to teach students to be responsible for themselves. Prompt and regular school attendance is closely tied to this important goal as students prepare for their next educational level or the world of work. To further our goal, we have formed a Community Attendance Review Board (CARB) designed to review student cases, K-12, of excessive absences or tardiness. An appearance before the CARB would hopefully prevent referral to the Yakima County Juvenile Court. More specific information related to our CARBs may be obtained through any of our school offices.

Student Attendance Laws

Washington law holds students ages 6 through  18 years of age and their parent(s) / guardian(s) accountable for the student’s attendance. Under State law RCW 28A.225.010, school districts are required to petition the Juvenile Court for legal action after a student has FIVE unexcused absences in a calendar month OR TEN unexcused absences in a year. Parents may also be fined $25 a day for their child’s unexcused absences. West Valley School District’s policy is more restrictive, counting one period of unexcused absence as one (1) day.

District Guidelines for Excused Absences:

1.  Absence due to illness or health conditions, family emergency or religious purposes.

2.  Pre-arranged absences of parent-approved activities when also approvedby school principal.

3.  Extended illness due to verified health condition.

4.  Participation in school-approved activity.

5.  Absences resulting from disciplinary actions or short-term suspensions.

District Guidelines for

Unexcused Absences

Please call the school any day your child will be absent.

Parent(s)/guardian(s) must submit excuses within 48 hours of the absence. Only absences which meet District standards will be excused. School staff will communicate (e.g., conferences, letters, telephone calls) with parents/guardians regarding student absences.  An absence which does not fit the above definitions will be considered a truancy even though an excuse is submitted.

Daily Attendance Counts!

Please help us show your child that daily  attendance is important and that you are willing to help him/her be successful by  planning vacations and other appointments around the school district instructional calendar.