Santa Susana High School

February is Choice Month

School of Choice Application
January Mailer

Dear Eighth Grade Students and Parents:

The Simi Valley Unified School District "School-of-Choice" period opens on Wednesday, February 1, 2011, and closes on Wednesday, February 29, 2011, for the 2012-2013 school year. I am writing at this early date to alert you to your opportunity to choose Santa Susana High School as your high school beginning next year. If you have an interest in the fine or performing arts, an interest in technical arts, or an interest in a strong college prep academic program, then Santa Susana High School just may be for you.

Santa Susana High is a vibrant community of learners focused on Academics, Technical Arts, and The Performing Arts. As a magnet school, Santa Susana attracts an ever-increasing number of students that come to the school expecting to share in the benefits of a small-school campus while being challenged by rigorous academic and top-notch elective programs. Santa Susana offers challenging Advanced Placement (AP) and Honors programs as well as exceptionally strong and unique Arts and Technology programs. These programs and the resulting performance of Santa Susana students have placed our school in the upper echelon of the state's Academic Performance Index ("API") with a score of 866.

Since the school has no attendance boundaries, all students attending Santa Susana have made it their choice to do so. That means that our entire student body of approximately 1,200 students has actively selected Santa Susana High School as their own. The selection of the school by students, our specialized programs, our innovative and creative staff, and the small-school atmosphere attract students to our campus in ever-increasing numbers and provide for a dynamic environment different than other schools.

Santa Susana High School has an Academic Performance Index (API) of 866
WASC accreditation for a full six-year clear term
Santa Susana High School is a magnet school formally organized into a unique structure of Schools and Academies leading to "Certificates of Proficiency" when a four-year course of study is completed
Santa Susana High School teachers employ a concentrated and creative use of technology within and across the entire curriculum
There is an integration of the arts throughout the school and in day-to-day instruction
Santa Susana High School offers all students a rigorous and relevant college prep program that fulfills A-G requirements for the University of California
Santa Susana High School offers a full compliment of Honors and Advanced Placement Courses
Santa Susana High School offers highly developed, specialized courses focused on the arts (dance, music, theatre, musical theatre, stage production, and fine arts); technical arts and sciences (computer programming, multi-media, digital art, animation, graphics/publishing, e-business, and internet development,); and Academics (humanities, mathematics and sciences, and law and society)
Entertainment industry professionals serve as Artists-in-Residence to work regularly with performing arts students
Santa Susana hosts a state of the art Performing Arts Theatre, the largest performing arts venue in Simi Valley
Santa Susana High School, in collaboration with the Ventura County Superintendent of Schools Office, offers four (4) Regional Occupation Programs (ROP) on our campus in which students may receive a "certificate of proficiency" from the County ROP: Digital Graphics and Publication, Stagecraft Technology, Video Production, and Internet Development and Web Design
Internships and experience are available to qualified students combining a strong academic program with a school-to-career component in all academies
Santa Susana students attend elite competitions across the country in academics, technology and the arts
Santa Susana High School students take advantage of a unique extended-day bell schedule allowing for blocks of time for projects, rehearsals, labs, and performances on specified days
All Santa Susana High School students are enrolled in an advisory class twice a week where they receive individual attention and academic guidance from their advisory teacher with whom they remain during their stay at SSHS
Santa Susana California Scholarship Federation (CSF) students serve as tutors four days a week after school for peers who need academic assistance
Santa Susana High School offers over forty clubs to students on our campus
SSHS staff maintains a clean, safe environment with a small-campus atmosphere where knowing each student as an individual is a high priority
The Santa Susana Career and Counseling Clerk and counselors assist with students college application and help them seek out grant and scholarship opportunities
Ninety-one percent (91%) of Santa Susana graduates continue with their post-secondary education and attend CSU, UC and other elite colleges and universities across the country
Santa Susana Parents provides multiple opportunities for parent involvement through, SPSA, PTSA, Boosters, our Mentor and Speaker Connection (MASC) and other volunteer activities

Important Dates

1/31/12 - Road Show @ Valley View
2/01/12 - Road Show @ Hillside
2/01/12 - Open House
2/01/12 - School of choice applications accepted
2/03/12 - Road Show @ Sinaloa
2/08/12 - Choice Program/Tour @ SSHS - 9:00 AM
2/09/12 - Choice Program/Tour @ SSHS - 9:00 AM
2/29/12 - Choice Application Deadline
3/12/12 - New Student Interviews 3:30 - 5:00 PM
3/13/12 - New Student Interviews 3:30 - 5:00 PM

Counselor Registration Dates, locations, and times:

All registration nights will be held at the SSHS Activity Room

Monday, March 12	Tuesday, March 13	Thursday, March 15	Friday, March 16
4pm-6pm VVMS	4pm-6pm HMS	4pm-6pm SMS	All schools invited
6pm-8pm SMS	6pm-8pm VVMS	6pm-8pm HMS	For Make ups

Out of District/ Private School

Wednesday, March 28th from 5pm-8pm
Saturday, March 31st from 10am-1pm (also SSHS audition day)

School of Choice Application