PALSS Update

September 18, 2014

1. Ideas for reducing paperwork at the beginning of the year- There were parents from Park View,
Colony Oak, Ripona, Ripon El and Ripon High School represented at the meeting. It seemed to
vary by school the volume of paperwork that came home for signatures at the beginning of the
year. Some schools had only a few pages while others seemed to have more to sign. Some sites
had mailings sent home before school started (Park View and Ripon High) while the other
schools did not. It was suggested by Ripon High principal Lance Morrow that the principals talk
about what is sent home at the beginning of the year and attempt to standardize it. He also
thought that more items could be added to Aries and signed electronically. Jen Brogan asked if
the District Internet form could be signed just once instead of yearly. Mr. Morrow said this was
a county requirement and had to be signed yearly.

2. Waksman science program- Ripon High parent Paul Femino shared with the group about an
excellent science program his oldest son was involved with while he attended Modesto High.
The program is originally from Rutgers University and has been running on the East Coast for
over 20 years. In order to start at Ripon, it would require an advisor and students interested in
being a part of a 3 week intensive training program at Lawrence Livermore Laboratory in the
summer. Mr. Morrow was very interested in learning more about the program and the costs
involved. Mr. Morrow envisioned students from the Honors Biology class getting involved in this
program. Ripon High teacher and Ripon El parent, Cam Burton asked if kids in the CP classes
would be able to have this opportunity as well. Mr. Morrow said yes absolutely. Ripon High
Booster Club President Shari Hernandez said that the Booster Club would most likely be willing
to offset the costs for the supplies needed. Mr. Femino shared that this program inspired his
son to pursue science as his course of study. He received a full-ride academic scholarship to
University of Tulsa.

3. Good things happening at Ripon High- Jen Brogan updated the group on new classes Ripon has
added. The Peer Helpers class was added this year as well as AP Spanish Literature. An English
teacher was also hired this year as well as the music/choir teacher increased to full time. Ripon
High has been able to reduce their class sizes with the new additions! Most classes have 30
students or less in them with the exception of some History classes. Next year Ripon High hopes
to add AP Human Geography, AP Psychology, as well as additional business classes. Mr. Morrow
pointed out their pass rates for all of the AP classes are well above average. Ripon High also
mandates that every student in an AP class takes the AP test. A Park View parent who has an 8
th

grade student came to PALSS to learn more about the high school. He had heard a rumor that
Ripon High did not have any AP classes. In truth, Ripon High has 10 AP courses, which is
excellent for a school of its size. Karina Ilardi commented that still many parents are not aware
of what is offered at Ripon High. Jennifer West, Colony Oak parent, has said she has seen
marketing materials from Central Catholic that are very impressive. Shari Hernandez said that
the Booster Club could help with the expense of creating promotional materials for Ripon High.
The parents at the meeting all agreed that there needs to be marketing to elementary students
and parents starting in 6
th
grade. By 8
th
grade most parents have made up their minds about
what high school their child will attend. Kristie Martin, Colony Oak parent, said that other
schools are working hard to attract our students and we need to have promotional materials
and events/activities that tie our younger kids in to Ripon High. Some ideas were including
elementary students in the Homecoming parade and inviting them to activities at the high
school. Kristie also mentioned she thinks an IB program would be a good thing for Ripon. Many
doctors that she calls upon for her job send their kids to the IB program in Modesto. They would
prefer to send them to Ripon if it was offered here. Jennifer West also believed it is important
for all PFCs to meet regularly and plan out events and help each other. When she was a PFC
President this was done one time and she found it to be invaluable.

4. Other- Two Ripon High parents, Janeen Eisenhauer and Kiki Shaw, expressed their concern over
the lack of college information they were getting. Mr. Morrow said that the counselors were
going into the classrooms and doing college presentations. Both parents said they felt the
information was not reaching the parents. Jen Brogan asked if the school was holding a College
Night so parents could get the information as well. Mr. Morrow has said yes he believed there
was a night on the calendar. However, when Karina looked on the website we could not find a
date. Mr. Morrow had said he would talk to the counselors about a College Night. Janeen was
also concerned about the FAFSA and that Ripon does not submit Cal Grant GPAs for all of its
students. If the student completes the FAFSA and a Cal Grant GPA is not submitted by the
school the student does not receive a Cal Grant even if they are eligible. Jen Brogan encouraged
Mr. Morrow to look into submitting Cal Grant GPAs electronically for all students. Jen shared
that nearly half of her students at Enochs (known as a middle to upper middle income school)
qualified for a Cal Grant last year. The parents also expressed a need for more college guidance
at Ripon High. Jen explained that the counselors at Ripon High are very busy with guidance
counseling, personal counseling as well as administrative duties. Mr. Morrow told the group
they are hoping to hire an additional administrator so this would allow the counselors more
time for counseling duties including college. Janeen asked to get more information out to the
parents and students about the Naviance program the Booster club purchased last year. This is
a great tool students can use at school or home for college and scholarship searches and has
personality and interest inventories to see what future careers may be good for students.