PRINCIPAL'S MESSAGE (Sent electronically 10/12/09)



Back to School Night is this coming Thursday, October 15.  Gates open at 6 pm. Classrooms open at 7 pm.  Ask your child to write down all of his or her classroom numbers in period order.  Refreshments will be available in the upper quad courtesy of the PSTO's Cafe El Toro.  Come early for easier parking.

Back to School Night is a minimum day for students.  Dismissal is 12:50.  Find the minimum day bell schedule and dates for all early dismissal days here.



If you haven't joined the PSTO yet, and you are in a position to do so, please plan to join on Thursday night during our membership drive.  Membership is $15.  We currently have fewer than 30% of our families as members.  Find out how membership dollars are spent here.



During Back to School Night, parents will also have the opportunity to vote for parent representation on the School Site Council.  Find out about the School Site Council and read parent-candidate biograhies here.



Next time you visit the family portal, please check all of your emergency information and alert our records clerk immediately if there is outdated information - including phone numbers, e-mail addresses, and contact information.



If you were unable to attend Senior Parent Night on October 7, please visit the Guidance Department web site to view the PowerPoint presentation from the event.



Seniors applying to Cal State University may go online to www.csumentor.edu to apply today! The application timeline runs from October 1st through November 30th. 



Seniors applying to University of California will be able to go online to www.universityofcalifornia.edu to apply November 1st through November 30th.



All college-bound students on all levels should visit the Guidance Department's College Admission home page and become familiar with the process and expectations for students who plan to attend college.  Among the documents all college-bound students on levels should be aware of is the Letter of Recommendation guidelines.  Find the packet here.



All college-bound students should also be aware of the Common Application.  The Common Application serves students and member institutions by providing an admission application online and in print that students may submit to any of our 391 members.  



Homecoming Week is October 19 - October 24.  Day-by-day details here.

PRINCIPAL'S MESSAGE (Sent electronically 9/27/09)

Enrollment is 2,924 students.  That is an increase of almost 100 students compared to last year.  In addition to students choosing ET through the Choice process, other students have chosen ET over private school, due in part to the economy.  The unforeseen increase (we staff and purchase based on projected enrollment) has resulted in impacted classrooms and textbook shortages.



Relief is in the works.  We are opening additional sections in our most impacted classes on Tuesday, September 29.  We have also ordered additional textbooks.  When students return from the 9/28/09 Fall Recess Day, the sections will have been opened. 



Schedule changes will affect students in all grade levels.  The process of choosing students is primarily random and is based on reducing impacted classes.  In other cases, it is in the interest of balancing classes across the board.  For example, Student A may switch from an impacted period 3 English class to a newly opened period 4 English class because his or her period 4 elective is available during period 3.  Student B's elective is not available at another time (we call that a locked schedule), therefore Student A is chosen instead of Student B. 



The 600 building will be opened when students return on 9/29.  The Advanced Technology in Manufacturing (ATM) program is housed in 600.  This program features Rapid Technologies and Additive Manufacturing with a focus on the technologies and processes that help conceive, test, improve and manufacture new products.  The building will also house our solar boat, which we will enter in America√s largest solar boat competition in May. 



Back-to-School Night is on October 15.  Gates open at 6 pm.  Come and listen to our award-winning band while you have dessert, courtesy of the PSTO, vote for School Site Council members, and check out the GRAD NITE, e-scrip, and other information booths. Classrooms open at 7 pm.  Students are dismissed at 12:50 - minimum day bell schedule.



The economy is also impacting college-bound students. The National Association for College Admission reported that students are forgoing their "dream schools." From 2000 to 2006, there was a steady 10 percent growth in overall enrollment at two-year institutions, according to the most recent figures from the Department of Education.  From 2006 to 2009 that percent has doubled.  Students are now more likely to transfer into their dream school, both to save money and to ensure admission.



Two events for college-bound students and their parents in October will discuss these trends, in addition to the senior year calendar, testing deadlines, financial aide, and more. Roadmap to College is on October 3 at 10 am at Community Center at Laguna Hills High School.  Senior Parent Night is on October 7 at 7 pm at ETHS in Charger Hall.



California funds schools based on attendance.  Procedures related to attendance are very important.  Please follow our procedures.  



Drop-off, pick-up, and visitor policies are all designed to eliminate classroom disruptions and ensure a safe campus.  Please adhere to these policies.  Remember, we have over 2,900 students.

Principal's Message (sent electronically on 9/13/09)

As we settle into the first semester, please be aware of the following policies, practices, dates, and/or events:

2,932 students were enrolled as of September 11.  That is an increase from the previous year and above our projections.  As a result of the increase, multiple scheduling changes may be made.  In addition to the enrollment increase, level changes and class size balancing will necessitate further changes.  Please be patient the first couple of weeks as we open and close sections and balance class size.

First-time Freshmen parents, in particular, may not be accustomed to multiple changes, but it is not uncommon at the high school level as the guidance team feverishly works to lower class size, balance classes, and meet the needs and requirements of our students.

Please be patient.  Teachers work with students whose schedules are changed to ensure they are not at any disadvantage.

Monday, September 14 is the first day that students may request class schedule changes.  Students may not request teacher changes.  Students may visit the guidance office before or after school and during snack and lunch to sign up.

School begins at 8:25 every Monday.  Period two, which is the period when the majority of students begin their school day, starts at 9:15.  Find the entire Monday bell schedule here.

Tutorial is a period of the day when students seek assistance from their teachers and peers.  Students are encouraged to attend whatever class they need the most assistance.  Tutorial is also used to pick up make-up work, take missed quizzes, etc...Parents are encouraged to monitor their child's tutorial attendance to ensure total advantage is being taken.

Tutorial is a 30-minute period held every Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, and Friday during a regular bell schedule (there is no tutorial during special bell schedule days such as minimum days, assembly days, Monday late starts day, etc...). 

Parent of seniors should plan to attend Senior Parent Night on October 7 at 7 pm in Charger Hall.  Mrs. Linzey and Mrs. Rashoff will present important senior year information, including the senior calendar, college selection, testing deadlines, college admission process, and eligibility requirements.  Parents of students in grades 9-11 may attend as well.

We are moving towards paperless communications, wherever and whenever feasible.  To stay informed, please visit the ET home page frequently.  In an effort to reduce our operating budget, we will be utilizing electronic communications and phone communications more often than in the past. 

Please be aware of the calendars on the ET home page.  The Upcoming Event Dates calendar focuses on current schoolwide dates.  The Athletic Event calendar focuses on all sports and all levels.  The ET event calendar focuses on events and activities for the entire year so students and parents can plan ahead.  It is updated as we add events and/or make changes.  On the Guidance home page you will find a Academic Guidance calendar with school and district events such as Freshmen Parent Night and college testing dates, financial aid workshops, and much more. 

Do you have a question?  Please ask.  Call or e-mail.

PREVIOUS PRINCIPAL'S MESSAGE BELOW

Summer 2009 (For Spanish version, click here)

Welcome to the 2009-10 school year.  The purpose of this message is to inform you of many of the program, personnel, and policy changes that have occurred since last year.  While some of the changes are the result of the budget crisis in Sacramento, others are the result of organizational change.  My responsibility is to ensure that our students are provided the same high quality instructional and extra-curricular program our community has come to expect, regardless of the budgetary conditions and other constraints. 

Among the most significant changes is transportation.  School busses will no longer operate on a daily basis to and from El Toro.  Notification of this development has been communicated to all SVUSD families by the district office.  To that end, we have eliminated zero-period and added a 7^th period.  Therefore, instead of a 0 through 6 period day, we will operate on a 1 - 7 period day.  It allows us to offer more courses than 0 - 6.  Check out all of the bell schedules for times, since they are slightly different from last year.  For example, notice that period 2 (the first period of the day for most students) on both the assembly day bell schedule and the minimum day bell schedule have start times a little before 8 am.  

In addition to the new 1 - 7 bell schedule, we have eliminated Late Start Wednesdays (8:55 am start) in favor of an 8:25 am start every Monday.  The purpose of the Monday bell schedule is to provide all school personnel a common meeting time for collaboration.  There is no tutorial period on Monday.  On the Tuesday - Friday bell schedule, there is a 30-minute tutorial period.  Tutorial is designed for students to get extra help, complete assignments, and make up tests and quizzes.  Attending a tutorial is mandatory.

We have also altered the school calendar to deflect poor attendance days.  The Wednesday (11/25) before the Thanksgiving Holiday, the Friday (12/18) before Winter Recess, and the Friday before Spring Break (4/2) will be minimum days (12:50 dismissal).  I am hopeful that attendance will increase significantly as a result of a "get-away" dismissal time on the eve of holidays.

Another significant change is the automation of student emergency and demographic information.  In the past, families have been provided with a blank emergency card that is completed as part of the registration process.  Instead, during registration (Bull Ring) students were provided a computer-generated copy of their demographic data file, including emergency contact information.  Students are expected to return the form after their parents update any data that is omitted or is no longer current.  In the near future, parents will be able to enter the parent portal and update demographic data electronically.

A sign of the times, our need to fundraise to support curricular and extra-curricular programs has never been more necessary.  Depending on the activity, families will be asked to donate to the program for the purpose of subsidizing the expense of operating that program.  Instructionally speaking, programs that utilize consumable materials (such as lab sciences and some arts and industrial art programs) will ask for a donation, as will extra-curricular programs such as athletics and instrumental music, for example. 

Program costs have continued to skyrocket while funding continues to dwindle ($16.7 million has been cut the last two years and $33.7 million since 2004).  SVUSD schools have relied heavily on the generosity and support of our families and the community.  I√m afraid the budget outlook will not change until the economy turns around and the State budget improves.  We will continue to partner with local businesses and promote our effortless fundraising program e-scrip.  Your continued support goes a long way towards us realizing our objective of operating high-quality programs in and out of the classroom.

Among the personnel changes, former assistant principal Craig Collins has been named the principal of Trabuco Hills High School.  Mrs. Terri Gusiff replaces Mr. Collins as the assistant principal responsible for the guidance department and as the 9^th grade principal.  Mrs. Yessian is the assistant principal responsible for discipline and supervision.  Mr. Bode is the assistant principal responsible for facilities and athletics.  Ms. Scheidler√s position, assistant principal responsible for activities, was eliminated in the budget cuts.  Though she returns to her role as ASB advisor, her administrative responsibilities have been diminished. As a result, we have no choice but to reduce the number of activities and events we typically administer. 

In the addition to the assistant principal/activities position, the librarian and library-media clerk positions have been eliminated and reduced by 50%, respectively.  As a result, our library will only be opened part time (Tuesday and Thursday and every other Friday).  Our office staff, custodial staff, and instructional support staff have all been reduced, in some capacity, as a result of budget cuts.  The last significant reduction we are facing is our material and supply budget.  We intend to utilize electronic resources more often, as we strive to be as paperless as a school can possibly be.

Unfortunately, we cannot utilize volunteers for any positions that were eliminated.  However, we can continue to utilize volunteers to help with special projects.  Please visit the PSTO web site to volunteer and to join the PSTO.  The PSTO supports most every program and project at ETHS.  I am not familiar with a school that relies on the PSTO as much as we do.  Please sign up today.

Although we have a number of challenges ahead of us, we have much to be thankful for too.  We have maintained the same level of staffing.  We have construction projects, such as 600 building upgrade (Measure B), continuing as planned.  We have stable enrollment.  We have an outstanding student body and an incredible level of support from you and the entire Lake Forest community.  We will continue to charge forward because that is what Chargers do!

Respectfully,

Dr. Allan J. Mucerino

http://www.reuters.com/article/pressRelease/idUS255144+14-May-2009+BW20090514