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<STRONG><FONT size=3>DEAR ZOO MAGNET PARENTS: QUITE A FEW LETTERS HAVE BEEN SENT, BUT A REPORT I GOT WAS THAT,"OH, IT'S JUST ANOTHER FORM LETTER." SO THEN, IF YOU CAN, TAKE THOSE BULLET POINTS AND MAKE THEM A THREAD THROUGHOUT YOUR OWN PERSONAL THOUGHTS. OTHERWISE, MAKE IT CLEAR THE LETTER MAY BE A FORM LETTER, BUT THOSE BULLET POINTS ARE VALID.</FONT></STRONG><BR>
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<STRONG><FONT size=3>REMEMBER - THIS IS CRITICAL. I MET MS. HONEG AT THE TEACHER APPRECIATION lUNCHEON. SHE'S A NICE LADY, BUT SHE DOES NOT DESERVE THIS KIND OF PRESSURE EITHER, TO COME HERE TWO DAYS A WEEK AND TRY TO DO WHAT MS. ROJAS DID IN <U>FIVE!</U> THE STUDENTS WILL SUFFER GREATLY.</FONT></STRONG><BR>
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<STRONG><FONT size=3>THANKS FOR YOUR TIME AND EFFORT.</FONT></STRONG><BR>
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<STRONG><FONT size=3>BRUCE</FONT></STRONG><BR>
<BR> <BR>> Subject: Magnet counselor crisis<BR>> Date: Tue, 15 Jun 2010 07:01:39 -0700<BR>> From: lmcmanus@lausd.net<BR>> To: webneckels@hotmail.com<BR>> CC: ebbarel@yahoo.com; lhurevitz@brgslaw.com<BR>> <BR>> Hi Bruce,<BR>> <BR>> Sorry I could not email this last night. The letter was on my work computer. SEE ATTACHED<BR>> <BR>> Likewise I will add it below to the body of this email. But make certain to send the Word .doc as well.<BR>> <BR>> Cheers and thanks,<BR>> <BR>> Lee N. McManus<BR>> NHHS Zoo Magnet coordinator<BR>> (323) 660-0165<BR>> <BR>> <BR>> <BR>> Please email/write Ms. Luckett, Director of the LAUSD magnet office re: planned reduction of counseling services at the HGM and Zoo Magnet. The narrative below is a sample; the more personal your message/letter the better. Address emails to:<BR>> estelle.luckett@lausd.net and ramon.cortines@lausd.net and alma.sanchez@lausd.net<BR>> <BR>> Ms. Estelle Luckett<BR>> Office of Student Integration Services <BR>> LAUSD<BR>> <BR>> Dear Ms. Luckett,<BR>> <BR>> —> Insert a brief sentence (or two) introducing yourself, and your personalized concerns re: reduction of magnet counseling staff <BR>> <BR>> Beginning July 1, 2010, The Office of Student Integration Services will no longer fund ˝ of the guidance counselor at the North Hollywood High Zoo Magnet Center. North Hollywood High’s solution is to have the Zoo Magnet and the NHHS Highly Gifted Magnet share the services of a single guidance counselor. This scheme is unworkable and unfair to the students of both magnet programs:<BR>> <BR>> • Safety: When the counselor is off campus there are only two LAUSD employees on the Zoo Magnet campus—coordinator (certificated) and clerk (classified) outside of classrooms to ensure a safe campus and respond to any and all school-wide challenges and responsibilities. Note: there is no custodian on campus during school hours.<BR>> <BR>> • Equity: One counselor assigned to 600+ students who must commute between campuses and maintain records in two separate locations cannot serve those students adequately or well.<BR>> <BR>> • Workload: Unlike a typical guidance counselor, the Zoo and HGM counselors have increased responsibilities. The Zoo Magnet must prepare the course matrix and serve as college counselor, dean, nurse, and—along with the coordinator—custodian. The HGM counselor has college preparatory duties that far exceed those of their comprehensive high school peers, and Zoo and HGM counselors meet and conference with parents far more often. <BR>> <BR>> • College counseling: While nearly all of the Zoo Magnet’s graduates attend college, 60% of the 2009 class earned UC acceptance, most of the seniors at the Highly Gifted Magnet apply to elite private collages, often for early enrollment, and for myriad scholarships requiring not just skilled counsel, but detailed and personalized letters of recommendation from their guidance counselor—a time sensitive task that presently requires overtime from the full-time HGM counselor.<BR>> <BR>> • Special needs: Gifted students may be atypical among special education students, but they have special needs. They do not require resource teachers or remediation; rather, they need increased academic counseling that ensures their access to appropriate educational services. <BR>> <BR>> —> Close with a brief, personalized summary restating your concerns and expectations <BR>> <BR>> <BR>> <BR>> <BR>> <BR>> <BR> <br /><hr />The New Busy think 9 to 5 is a cute idea. Combine multiple calendars with Hotmail. <a href='http://www.windowslive.com/campaign/thenewbusy?tile=multicalendar&ocid=PID28326::T:WLMTAGL:ON:WL:en-US:WM_HMP:042010_5' target='_new'>Get busy.</a></body>
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