A presentation for parents new to Foothill Technology High School in Ventura, CA.

1. Foothill Technology High School
2005 California Distinguished School
2006 National Blue Ribbon School
2005 – 2012 Top 20 Ranked School in California
2010 – 2012 AVID National Demonstration School
2012 – U.S News and World Report – Top 2% “Best Schools in America”

2. The research is in, and it is clear. Study after
study has shown that the involvement of parents and
families in the schooling of their children makes a
significant difference.
Regardless of income and background, students
with parents who are involved in their academic
careers are more likely to earn high grades and test
scores, enroll in higher level programs, and be
promoted. These students attend school regularly,
show improved behavior, adapt well to school, and
have better social skills.
The findings hold true across all segments of
society – poor, minority, and middle class. All
students do better when their parents are involved in
their school lives. “Parent and community
involvement that is linked to student learning has a
greater effect on achievement than more general
forms of involvement”.

3. New Parent Night Agenda
-Welcome & Introductions
-Essentials
-Tips for Success
-FIRE Advisory
-AVID—College Readiness
-Student Support
-School Policies
-Technology
-PE Options
-Community Service
-Ways to Support FTHS

4. The Essentials
Getting Your Child To School
• VHS & BHS bus routes
• Drop Off/Pick Up
• Tardy Policy
School Supplies
• Agenda available at student store $5
• Wait for syllabus
Textbooks
• Home set, class set
Office
• Sign in when student tardy & anytime visiting campus
• Sign out when leaving
• Office staff will not interrupt classes to deliver lunches,
forgotten HW, etc.

5. Tips for Success
•Check grades early and often in Zangle
•Communicate with faculty about your students social /
emotional needs
•Encourage your student to use their agenda
•Encourage your student to get involved
Opportunities include: over 30 clubs, ASB, Journalism,
Speech & Debate, FIRE leader, etc.
•Get involved!

6. F.I.R.E.
•FIRE is an advisory/academic intervention for all 9 th graders
•11:21-11:51 every Tuesday-Thursday year long
• Junior/Senior Mentors will lead the advisory under the
supervision of a teacher
•In FIRE, students will:
• Receive academic support based on assessment data
• Obtain help from a teacher in a specific class
• Develop high school socialization skills
• Receive study skill/organization support
• Work on homework / projects
• Learn AVID strategies

7. College Culture
We believe
• All graduates should be eligible and prepared to enter a
four-year college upon graduation from FTHS (A – G
ready)
• College Ready – Work Ready
• All students should participate in
rigorous courses
AVID
• School wide strategies & activities
• Support Team including
Administration, Counselors,
Career Center, Coordinator,
Elective Teachers & Site Team
th th

8. College Readiness
9th Grade :
• Four year plan in Health Class & EDA (September)
• Practice PLAN (November – limited spaces)
• Career exploration in Media Center & EDA
• Begin building a resume
10th Grade:
• 10th Grade Counseling Sessions (October)
• Transcript Review
• Practice PSAT (October – limited spaces), PLAN
(November)
• Sophomore Parent Night (October)
• College/Career exploration

9. 11th Grade:
• PSAT (October)
• Junior Parent Night (January)
• Job Shadows & college/career exploration
• SAT prep course (recommended for some students)
• SAT and ACT tests (Spring)
• AP Testing (Spring)
• Personal statements for college applications
12th Grade:
• SAT/ACT testing (Fall)
• Personal Statement support and feedback (Fall)
• College Application workshops (October)
• Scholarship workshops
• Senior Parent Night (October)
• Financial Aid Night (January)
• AP Testing (Spring)

10. Student Support
Counselors:
Mr. Boyd – Last Names A – Gh, ext. 1011
Ms. Freeman – Last Names Gi – O, ext. 1013
Mrs. Vega – Last Names P – Z, ext. 1014
Your counselors assist all students with their academic and
social / emotional needs.
Media Center Specialist:
Mrs. Kapala, ext. 1008
College and scholarship coordinator as well as the community
service coordinator. Mrs. Kapala works closely with students on
career and college planning.
Registrar
Ms. Nordin, ext. 1005
Ms. Nordin is the point person for official transcripts, VC
transcripts, Cal Grant Submissions, and multi-site enrollment
forms.

11. School Policies
Discipline
Review discipline policy in student agenda to ensure
understanding of school and district rules
Dress Code
Clothing shall be void of any illegal substances, sexual, profane,
gang-related, or offensive attributes
Clothes shall conceal undergarments. See-through, fish-net, off
the shoulder, halter tops, bare mid-riffs, and skirts above the
thigh are prohibited (skirts and shorts should reach the bottom
of their finger tips with hands at their sides).
Attendance
Absence and Tardy Policy

12. New website!
www.foothilltechnology.org

13. Sign up for email newsletter on the new website:
www.foothilltechnology.org
Email
newsletter
starting
this year.
Sign up
here.

14. Find teacher webpages on the new website:
www.foothilltechnology.org
• Every teacher
has a landing
page including:
– Contact
information
– Homework /
Classwork
– Syllabus
– Class resources

15. Check grades &
attendance on Parent Connection
• Zangle has become Q-Connect
• Middle school log-ins work at FTHS
• Parents may request their password in the front
office at any time
• Passwords ARE case sensitive
• Parents can view:
– Attendance
– Assignment scores
– Quarterly and progress report grades
– Student transcripts
– Student test scores

16. Parent Connect:
http://zwc.ventura.k12.ca.us/parentportal/
How it used to look… How it looks now…

17. Parent Connect:
http://zwc.ventura.k12.ca.us/parentportal/

18. Parent Connect:
http://zwc.ventura.k12.ca.us/parentportal/

19. Student online newspaper:
www.foothilldragonpress.org
Photos
Videos
Articles

20. Twitter
Follow us @FoothillTech
…to get reminders and links to
updates on our website.

21. Physical Education
-On campus cross training
-On campus dance
-Mavericks
-YMCA
-Independent Study
-Athletics at boundary
high school

22. Supervised/Independent Study Physical Education
•Supervised P.E. students enrolled in the YMCA/Mavericks classes will
be provided transportation.
•Please encourage your student to put forth their maximum effort
•It is critical that Independent P.E. students turn in contracts & hours
monthly
Athletics
•Athletes are released for sports at 1:55pm each day
•Transportation is provided
•Please contact your boundary high school directly for try-out
information – Athletic Directors: BHS – Craig Williams VHS – Dave
Hess
•Parents of athletes – please stay for a brief meeting immediately
following this presentation.

23. Community Service
•All students must complete 75 hours of community service as a
graduation requirement
•Recommended 20 hours each of the first three years and 15
during senior year
•All hours must be pre-approved
(Mrs. Kapala)
•Comprehensive list of
pre-approved organizations
on website
(www.foothilltech.org)

24. Ways to Support FTHS
•Join PFSO
•Volunteer at school
•Chaperone an activity or dance
•Technology fund
•Select FTHS at participating stores (Target, Office
Supply, etc.)
•Escrip (www.escrip.com) or Upromise
(www.upromise.com)
• Turn in your Vons 10% Back To
Schools coupon to the office
•Sign up for your employer’s
matching funds program
•Donate to Renaissance or AVID

25. • This presentation is available
on our new website:
www.foothilltechnology.org