"The Royal Times"
Volume 4 Issue 4 David Schnurstein Jr./Sr. High Principal Jan 26, 2008
15260 Nisqualli Rd., Victorville, CA 92395 (760) 241-8827 FAX (760) 243-0654 website: vvcs.org
A WORD FROM THE PRINCIPAL
It’s becoming harder and harder to get a college education these days. Recently Mrs. Clarkson and I attended a counselor’s workshop at Victor Valley College and were told the wait to get into the nursing program is two years now. This is after you have finished your prerequisite classes. At this time there are simply more people applying than there is room for. The 23 California State University schools received more than 138,000 applications electronically for fall 2009, according to CSU Public Affairs. This is up 17% from this time last year. And now, due to budget cuts, they are accepting 10,000 less students. Applications for the UC schools are up 5% but these schools plan to accept 6% fewer students due to budget cuts. As I noted in the November issue of The Royal Times, more people are realizing the value of a college education.So, what is VVCS doing to make sure your child is one who is getting accepted to college? First, we are offering more classes and extra-curricular activities to make our students more competitive for acceptance to the schools of their choice. Classes such as Spanish III and Spanish IV (both approved by the University of California system) give your child a competitive edge against those students with only two years of foreign language. Our Advanced Placement classes (including next year’s AP Psychology which has already been approved by the College Board) also make your child stronger academically. This last month, 31 students became the first members of the National Honor Society at VVCS (did you see their picture in the Daily Press?). This will open many doors for them after they leave here. Finally, Mrs. Clarkson has already met individually with every senior at VVCS to discuss future plans one on one. Now she has begun meeting with our juniors. We know that one of the major reason’s that you send your child to our school is for the personal attention and help they get in preparing for the future!
IMPORTANT UPCOMING EVENTS:
PLACEJan 30 Junior High Movie Night VVCS Gym
Feb 6 ASB Workshop VVC
Feb 9 2nd semester class changes due
Feb 14 Math Counts Competition Cal Baptist
Feb 16 NO SCHOOL (President’s Day)
Feb 20 NO SCHOOL (Teacher In-service)
Feb 26 Winter Sports Awards Night Church Sanct.
Feb 28 Jazz Festival Vanguard
PSAT SCORES
The scores from the PSAT tests administered in October have arrived. We are pleased to announce that our 10th and 11th grade averages were at or above the California average in every category. The state average is normally well above the averages for San Bernardino County. If you have not seen your child’s score, they are always available to you in the office.
BRIDGE PROGRAM FOR VICTOR VALLEY COLLEGE
Just like the schools mentioned in "A Word From the Principal," applications for VVC are rising as well. Without preferred scheduling it is almost impossible to get all the classes a student needs. If any senior is planning on attending VVC or using it as a fall back school, the MUST attend a workshop on Friday, February 20th, from 8:00 a.m. until noon in the computer lab. Any questions see Mrs. Clarkson.
ACSI JUNIOR HIGH SPELLING BEE
Congratulations to 8th grader Sarah Obrique and 7th grader Greg Sandoval. Both of these students finished in 2nd Place at the ACSI Spelling Bee in Fontana, January 23rd.JUNIOR HIGH MOVIE NIGHT
JUNIOR high is having a movie night on Friday January 30th just for junior high students. The cost is $5.00 for the PIZZA, Popcorn and soda. We will be watching "Horton hears a who" AND "journey to the center of the earth".
VVCS AT KNOTT’S BERRY FARM
VVCS has discounted tickets to Knott’s Berry Farm for February 21st. If you would like to take your family, tickets are available in the office for $22.50 for all ages. Meal vouchers are available for $7.50. We hope to see you all there!
MUSIC UP-DATES
Did you see our Marching Band and our Cheerleaders in the Victorville Christmas Parade? Between the two groups we had over 50 students march down 7th Avenue in December. You can catch Mr. Barnes’ troops at the New Student Open House (March 3rd) or travel with them to the Jazz Band Festival at Vanguard University (March 10th).
CONGRATULATIONS
Our own Rachel Conway was named Miss Teen Victor Valley and will now move on to compete in the Miss California Scholarship Pageant in April. Rachel is one of seniors this year.
MORE RECOGNITION
As "American Idol" begins a new season, our own Adriana Beaton made it to the second round at last summer’s auditions. Adriana is another of our very talented seniors.
ALUMNI NEWS
HEATHER LONG (Class of 2008)
After graduating from VVCS last spring Heather was accepted at 11 of the 12 schools to which she applied. These schools included UC San Diego, UC Santa Barbara, San Diego State, and Liberty University in Lynchburg, Virginia. In the end, Heather decided to stay closer to home and attend the University of Redlands. She is now working toward an accounting degree. In addition, she has joined the club Quarters For Kenya and volunteers at a children’s hospital. Heather also notes that she has a philosophy class with fellow alumni, Mark Macias (2007).