Information for Incoming Students --> 2013-14
Hillsdale Incoming Student Information Night will consist of 3-4 different "sessions", giving parents and students an opportunity to learn about Hillsdale, experience our elective program, visit classrooms, and learn about the vast array of clubs, booster groups, and other volunteer/extra-curricular activities available to both students and families.
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Enrollment Information:
The Priority 1 Enrollment Window will open on January 7, 2013 and close on February 15, 2013. Parents/guardians will have until 11:59 AM to complete the on-line enrollment to be eligible for the benefits of the Priority 1 Enrollment Window.
Hillsdale "Nuts and Bolts": PowerPoint from November 16, 2011 Family Information Night
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Class News and Needs
HHS Foundation News
New Information:
The HHS Foundation welcomes all new families and returning families to Hillsdale for the 2012-13 school year!
The Foundation’s mission, as in past years, is to foster a “community” of giving to financially support Hillsdale High school and its unique Smaller Learning Community (SLC) environment. In 2011-12, over 300 families made non-booster donations to the Foundation’s Family Partnership Program (FPP). With the generosity and support of our community, we were able to raise 80% of our goal of $150,000 to fund:
1. Teaching staff for 12-college level classes
2. SLC House and department needs
3. Continue the outstanding Internship program.
We would like to make 2012-13 our best year yet – and need everyone’s help to meet our commitment - plus work towards our goal of 100% family participation at ANY level!
If you have already given to the FPP (beyond the booster donations) we are so grateful, and acknowledgment letters and incentive coupons will be sent to you shortly. If you have not yet given to the Family Partnership program itself, please do so now by filling out the FFP Donation form’s first line (Page 4) in the HHS Documents to Return Packet here . Please return your completed form to the school’s office at any time.
This section will be updated as information becomes available. Contact Ardythe Andrews at ardythe.hhsf@gmail.com with any questions.
From the Administration: 12th grade Portfolio Defense - a Demonstration of Academic Excellence into 2013 and beyond!
In October, 2011, Hillsdale's SLC Council voted to approve a formal portfolio defense for all 12th graders, with the first round occuring on February 7th and 8th, 2012. We have been discussing portfolios for the past decade and a great deal of hard work has gone into this decision.
At the heart of this change is our push to ensure that students graduate "college-ready", with the skills and knowledge necessary to succeed after high school. While the focus of much of school reform is on multiple-choice tests, we want to ensure that students graduate with more a more applicable skill-set, including the ability to think critically, communicate orally and in writing, read for understanding and demonstrate responsibility.
The portfolio will facilitate these skills, which we refer to as our "Graduate Profile", by requiring students to select high-quality work from every content area to place in a portfolio. Students will select a "major" area of study and prepare to defend their major and a Mastery Project during their 12th grade year. Students will have one hour to explain their work and defend their thinking to a panel of judges, including at least one teacher who has expertise in the student's major.
While the seniors of 2012 defended only their work on their Senior research assignment, now known as the Mastery Project, it gave us an important opportunity to pilot this compelling work. We are very excited about this new wave of school redesign and are grateful to the parents and community members who participated either in their son or daughter's defense in February, 2012, as well as acted as judges for other students.
As we continue to modify and improve the Portfolio Defense over the next few years, we very much welcome feedback from our students, parents and community. Please let us know your feedback or thoughts.
Jeff Gilbert
Sandy Calvo
Cheryl Lawton
Senior and Graduation News
Please visit https://hhs.schoolloop.com/Graduation for information as it becomes available throughout the year. Contact Cheryl Lawton 650-558-2603 or clawton@smuhsd.org with any questions.