Venture, established in 1978, is a fully accredited comprehensive school for students in grades K-adult education, and delivers the curriculum through independent or home study. Students come to Venture a minimum of once a week and spend about an hour with their teacher. Students receive weekly assignments at that time, and are expected to spend a minimum of 20 hours a week on academic work. 

Students attend Venture by choice. Venture helps students to pursue their educational opportunities outside the classroom, yet within the framework of the educational requirements of the San Ramon Valley Unified School District. The nature of the independent study program gives students the opportunity to personalize their instruction and the freedom to utilize resources and activities to create an exciting and flexible educational experience. While attending Venture, many students take courses concurrently at the local community colleges. Students learn and practice the self discipline necessary for future success.

Venture School is dedicated to providing a place where all students feel valued and unique. Students are offered creative opportunities to learn and to accomplish their academic goals. The program offered is tailored to meet students’ individual needs and incorporates individual learning styles, interests, aptitudes and passions. Venture is a dynamic institution constantly examining the program and seeking new strategies to better meet the ever-changing needs of students and the demands of the 21st century.

May 1, 2012

SchoolMessenger

Venture Families – If all has gone according to plan, you should have received this newsletter through our new communication system called SchoolMessenger. All schools in the San Ramon Valley USD have just begun using SchoolMessenger to communicate with their families. This new system allows us to send both email and voicemail messages. We promise to use it judiciously, as we have in the past with the Lyris system. You will generally hear from us through email; we will reserve phone messages for critical correspondence. Feel free to contact Matt Hermann if you have any questions regarding this system.

STAR Testing

Thank you all for your participation in STAR testing. We appreciate the excellent attendance by our 10^th and 11^th graders and our elementary school students last week, and we look forward to seeing our middle school students and 9^th graders this week. Our testing schedule is currently posted on the homepage of our school website:

http://www.venture.srvusd.k12.ca.us

Thank you for your support

California High School Exit Examination (CAHSEE)

The final administration of the California High School Exit Examination (CAHSEE) will be given on Tuesday, May 8^th  (English Language Arts) and Wednesday, May 9^th (Mathematics). Juniors, seniors, and adult education students who have not passed one or both sections of the test and sophomores who were absent for one or both sections during the March administration should take the test in May. We have sent reminder notices to all students who are still required to take the test this year. Testing both days will begin promptly at 8:30 a.m. and finish by noon. Please mark these important dates on your calendar now.

On these testing dates we will also be administering a practice CAHSEE for all 9^th graders. This test will provide our 9^th grade students with the opportunity to experience taking a sample exam and to practice their test-taking strategies.  It will also provide us with important information on student performance to help guide intervention and support services here at Venture and at our comprehensive high schools. All 9^th graders who have not yet taken a mock test are required to attend these testing sessions.

Concurrent Enrollment Program for 2012-13 School Year

Applications are now available at our front desk for Venture students who would like to apply for concurrent enrollment at their home school for the 2012-13 school year. Applications must be completed and returned to Venture by Friday, May 11^th. All students who are interested in concurrent enrollment must apply, even if they are currently enrolled in the program.

Placement in the concurrent enrollment program is limited. District policy allows Venture to place ten students in each comprehensive high school and three students in each middle school. Students can only be placed at their home school. Concurrent enrollment is not permitted at the elementary level.

At the high school level, priority is given to students needing to take either laboratory science or foreign language, or both. These courses are not available at Venture and are required for four-year college admission. Within this priority group, older students are given preference. At the middle school level, priority is given to students who we determine will benefit most from the program. 

Students selected for concurrent enrollment will receive notification in early June. This notification will include information regarding course scheduling at the home school.

2012-2013 Registration

Registration packets for returning students are ready to be picked up at the front desk. Our registration dates are as follows:

Wednesday June 6                        9:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m.

Thursday June 7                        1:00 p.m. – 3:00 p.m.

Wednesday August 8                        9:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m.

Thursday August 9                        1:00 p.m. – 3:00 p.m.

A reminder to our returning out-of-district families – you will need to reapply for an interdistrict transfer to the San Ramon Valley Unified School District. We recommend that you contact your home school district to begin that process as soon as possible. Feel free to call us at Venture (925-479-1200) if you have any questions regarding registration.

Graduation

Venture seniors should all have received their graduation packets by now. Seniors may order a cap and gown for the ceremony, but no one is required to wear a cap or gown to participate in our graduation. Cap and gown orders must be returned by May 9^th. In the graduation packet, seniors will also find a personal statement form. Graduates will provide a short statement about their education and their future plans. Venture teachers will read these statements at the graduation ceremony.  Personal statements are due back to your teacher by May 25^th. 

Our graduation is scheduled for Thursday June 21^st on the Dougherty Valley High School football field. The ceremony will begin at 7:00 p.m. The ceremony will last approximately 1½ hours.  Graduating students should plan on arriving no later than 6:30 p.m. Students will meet on the field and line up in alphabetical order.  Staff will give them instructions at that time.

We look forward to celebrating with you soon.

Venture Site Council Meeting

The final meeting of the Venture School Site Council is scheduled for Thursday May 31^st at 8:30 a.m. We will be discussing our school safety plan and plans for the 2012-13 school year. All members of the Venture School community are invited to attend.

Venture Interact Club

The Venture Interact Club meets on the 1^st and 3^rd Wednesday of each month from 3:45 to 4:45 in Classroom 1 at Venture School. Meetings this month are scheduled for May 2^nd and May 16^th. Our May 2^nd meeting will feature a guest speaker from The Rabbit Haven, a rabbit rescue group, and some very cute bunnies. All Venture students in grades 8-12 are invited to attend. We always have good snacks and good company. Come join us! Contact Principal Matt Hermann for more information.

National Honor Society

The Venture chapter of the National Honor Society meets on the first Friday of each month at 10:30 in Classroom 1. (Our next meeting is this Friday, May 4^th. We will be electing officers and discussing plans for participating in the Barnes and Noble Book Fair.) High school students with a 3.0 GPA or higher are eligible to join NHS. For more information, please contact Natasha Isaq – nisaq94@aol.com- or Shoshanna Lee – blackrose994@sbcglobal.net

Venture Book Club

Our final meeting of the Venture Book Club will be held on Wednesday June 6^th at 12:15 in the Art Room. We will be reading Mockingjay, the final book in the Hunger Games trilogy. If you haven’t had a chance to read these great books yet, this is your chance to catch up with us. We will have a few copies available to borrow at Venture; see Principal Matt Hermann if you are interested. Talk with your teacher about credit for joining the conversation!

Counselors’ Corner

Marsha Mak Mondays-Wednesdays

mmak@srvusd.net

479-1215

Maria DuBose Thursdays

mrdubose@calhigh.net

479-1239

Jill Odne Fridays

479-1239

jodne@srvusd.net

Remember to check http://www.venture.srvusd.k12.ca.us/cnsling for up-to-date information.

SENIORS

Please make sure that you are registered with Naviance as you will need to complete a district exit survey using Naviance in JUNE before you can graduate from Venture.  To check that you are registered, go to www.connection.naviance.com/venture and log in.  If you get to the Welcome page, you are registered correctly.  If you cannot access this, please see the counselor as soon as you can.

Diablo Valley College, Las Positas College and Other Community Colleges

Seniors, it is very important that you start your application process for Fall 2012 now!!  Please see your counselors to get helpful information on how to do this.

JUNIORS AND SENIORS
EOPS Summer Institute at Diablo Valley College
This is a six week bridge program to prepare recent high school graduates or rising juniors to be successful at college.  Courses strengthening English, math, and college readiness skills are offered in a fun and supportive learning environment.  Applications can be obtained from Marsha, the counselor and are due May 11^th.

MIDDLE AND HIGH SCHOOL
Concurrent Enrollment at the SRVUSD High Schools and Middle Schools
Concurrent enrollment applications are now available in the front office. Pick one up if you are interested in taking 2 classes at your home middle school or high school. Applications are due back Friday, May 11th.

HIGH SCHOOL
Concurrent Enrollment at California Community Colleges
Some websites have already uploaded summer and fall courses.  If you see a course you would like to take, please see Marsha for the “permission slip”.  Drop in hours are usually Mondays-Wednesdays 10 am to noon.  Please e-mail her at mmak@srvusd.net to make sure she will be there when you want to see her.

MIDDLE SCHOOL

My Future, My Way: First Steps Toward College, A Workbook for Middle School Students is available to our middle school students. Please pick these up from the shelves near the counselors' office.

SAT Question of the Day

New information on CA immunization law for 2011-2012 school year (Whooping Cough) for 7th - 12 grades