Ms. Dodds' summer in the news

Toward the end of this article :)

Far West?

An anonymous commenter on the previous entry writes that

ALL UPREP SENIORS IS ATTENDING FAR WEST SO IF YOU ARE AN UPREP SENIOR GO AND REGISTER AT FARWEST BECAUSE THATS WHERE MOSTLY EVERYINE IS GOING

Does anyone know anything more to share about Far West? Location? Course offerings? Campus safety? Anything else?

CSU and LPS to review transcripts for UPrep students

LPS-College Park
Learn. Lead. Succeed.

Contact: Juan Vera
510.633.0750 x615
jvera@leadps.org


FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE


Cal State East Bay, LPS-College Park to review transcripts for UPrep Students Tuesday, August 14

The partnership between the two institutions is a result of an educational commitment to the underserved community and the educational future of Uprep students that may feel a lack of educational support from community educators.

East Oakland, California -- August 10, 2007 -- With the recent closure of three high schools over the summer in Oakland, Cal State East Bay and LPS-College Park have taken the initiative to assist displaced students from the most recent and controversial school closure of University Preparatory Charter Academy (UPrep).

UPrep students and family members will have the opportunity to have their transcripts reviewed by Cal State East Bay Enrollment Counselors. Marc Strong, an Enrollment Counselor for the Oakland area, will be spearheading the team of evaluators that will be attending.

In addition to the transcript evaluation in order to help students meet the admission requirements for the California State University system (CSU), Leadership Public Schools-College Park will be having an information session regarding their admission requirements for 9th, 10th, and 11th graders. Although LPS-College Park does not have a Senior class, entering Seniors will have the opportunity to meet and network with Cal State East Bay Enrollment Counselors to have a better assessment and understanding of the courses still needed to be eligible for CSU admissions. These evaluations should help alleviate any skepticism of a student’s transcript from other high schools they will be transferring to and any universities they may apply to in the near future.

The event will be held at the Eastmont Library Branch inside of the Eastmont Town Center on Tuesday, August 14, 2007 from 6pm-7pm. With the engagement and commitment to the educational well-being of the Bay Area, Cal State East Bay and LPS-College Park will continue to provide support to the community residents of East Oakland.

Holy Names has space

Holy Names High School for girls has space. This is a private school, but some financial aid is still available. Principal Sally Slyngstad writes: Holy Names High School would like to invite the girls that were displaced by the closing of University Preparatory Charter Academy to apply for the Fall 2007- 08 academic year.

Applications may be downloaded from our web site http://www.hnhsoakland.org or by calling Sandra Carrillo, Admissions Director, at (510) 450-1110 ext 119.

Financial need will be evaluated on an individual basis.

Registration for school is August 13th so an immediate response is desirable. If you need help with completing the application, contact Hanna or Kateri.

How do you enroll in a community college?

An entry that needs writing is a how-to for enrolling in community college classes before you have graduated from High School. Students who are entering senior year at Uprep were going to attend Merritt, and many would like to take classes at a Junior College (JC) next year even though Uprep can not take care of the paperwork.

• Must students who wish to attend JC before graduating have a sponsoring High School?


• Can students take classes that their High School has already given them credit for?
  


• What are the fees and deadlines?


• Where can students find information about these things?

If you have any knowledge to contribute on these topics, please answer in the comments, or send your text to uprepstaff @ gmail.com and we'll publish it asap.

High School Options

Over at The Education Report, Katy Murphy publishes a list of schools that students and their families can look into. There is also a link to the letter inviting Uprep families to a school fair on Tuesday night.

Mills Educational Talent Search

Dan Fisher, who taught at Uprep for two years, now works for the Mills Educational Talent Search. He encourages Uprep students to apply for this program.

Mills Educational Talent Search is a federally funded program for low income, first generation college bound students that provides academic advising, college tours, once a month Saturday workshops, referrals, letters of recommendation, access to space and computer labs at Mills, FAFSA (Free Application for Federal Student Aid), scholarships, etc. Students involved in the program this year received the Cal Incentive award, Gates, East Bay College Fund, East Bay consortium, among others.

Mills Educational Talent Search has a few target schools like Skyline, Castlemont, Fremont, Life Academy, but also serves non-target schools including UPrep. Dan writes:

... if you know students who might be interested, please let me know. We serve all grades. In the fall however, I serve mostly seniors helping them with the college application process including working on personal statements, helping to submit the application, etc.

Anyway, please remind them that they need to apply, and that if they need an application or more info they can call me at (510)-430-3346 or email me at dfisher@mills.edu.

Leadership Public Schools has room

In an e-mail to uprep.parents@gmail.com, principal Andrew Gordon writes:

We are a small, college preparatory, tuition free charter high school celebrating it's third year serving the families of East Oakland. Our mission is to lovingly and strategically prepare 100% of our students to ultimately gain access to, and success in college and beyond. We were featured in the Drive to Discover segment on the ABC7 News at 6p.m. as a school helping kids achieve their dreams and goals of success via going to college.

We celebrate having:

• a small student population, where we can develop positive relationships with students
  
• a standards based curriculum
  
• a safe campus
  
• a school with partnerships with UC Berkeley's College of Engineering and Laney College
  
• a heavy emphasis and focus on mathematics support
  
• talented and credentialed teachers

LPS College Park is 10 blocks away from your current location and we are more than glad to help your children continue their work towards preparing for college. I currently have space for 30-35 students who will be 11th graders and 25-30 students that will be 10th graders. I am happy to sit down to chat with as many parents that are looking for options for their students. We are confident that our educational program will support your children and ask that as you make decisions about a new school, that you consider us.

Respectfully,

Andrew Gordon, M.S.
Principal, LPS College Park
510-633-0750
510-290-5630

8601 MacArthur Blvd., Bldg 100
Oakland, CA 94605

Lighthouse Charter has room

Down in the comments, principal Stephen Sexton writes that
Lighthouse Community Charter High School is one school that notified CCSA that we would make or had spaces available for interested UPrep students. Lighthouse Community Charter High School is located in downtown Oakland and we currently enroll 9-11 grade students and we will be a fully enrolled K-12 in the 2008-09 school year. We have a few (<5) openings at 9th, 10th and 11th grade.

For those who are interested, you can call my administrative assistant Arlene Aldrette at 510.271.8403 to learn more about the school. I hope you all find the best educational option for your children in this difficult time.

Meeting on Saturday - or not?

According to a student comment at The Education Report, there will be a Board meeting on Saturday after all, at 10 am. Can anyone confirm that?