The View—Volume VIII, No. 5 | February 2010

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PTSA PRESIDENT'S MESSAGE

PSAT, SAT, ACT, FAFSA

Allison Aquino-Arcio
PTSA President

PTSA ASSOCIATION MEETING

CSF APPLICATIONS AVAILABLE

ADOPT-A-FAMILY UPDATE

Westview recently participated in the Poway Unified School District “Adopt-a-Family” program.  

The AAF program was started eight years ago to provide basic necessities and modest gifts for the holidays to PUSD families in need. Adopted families (who have been referred to the program by PUSD schools) fill out a "wish list" of requested items. The program then distributes the anonymous wish lists to schools, organizations and businesses in the area.  The donor groups return their completed wish lists to the Adopt-a-Family headquarters, where volunteers review the donations, and, if necessary, do additional shopping with donated gift cards.

Unlike many charitable organizations who take a percentage of donations to cover overhead costs, every single donation made to the AAF program goes directly to families. The program is run completely by volunteers and any minimal costs for overhead is paid for by the Palomar Council PTA.

This year, the AAF program supported about 400 PUSD families. Westview PTSA Community Concerns Chair Jenny Cole coordinated Westview's participation in the program this year. Westview groups and classes adopted 13 families,and provided an additional $1000 worth of gift cards for grocery stores, gas stations, and discount stores. As in previous years, the most popularly requested item was children's shoes.

GRAD NITE TICKETS

WESTVIEW CHOIR CONCERT

Mark you calendars for Westview Choir's Festival Concert, Tuesday, March 16, at 7:00pm.

This concert will showcase our festival and competition literature.

General tickets for this evening of fun, beautiful music are $5; student tickets are just $2!

QUICK WEB LINKS

Daily Bulletin – visit the daily bulletin to see what’s happening today!

School Calendar – see what events are coming up throughout the year.

General Information – can’t find what you’re looking for? Try this link.

Athletics – support your Westview Wolverines – visit the athletic pages to see when your favorite team is playing.

Counseling – graduation requirements, colleges visiting Westview, scholarships, course catalog, etc.

PTSA Webpage - see all that the Westview PTSA has to offer.

ENJOY THE WINTER BREAK!

Adopt-a-Family Update

California Scholarship Federation (CSF)

Choir Concert

College Recruiting Presentation

Counselor's Corner

DMV

Grad Nite Tickets

Inspirational Thought

Principal's Message

PTSA Association Meeting

PTSA President's Message

Quick Web Links

Spring Sports

Spring Sports Try-Out Schedule

What's Coming Up

Winter Sports

DMV MAKES INNOVATIVE STRIDES WITH SOCIAL MEDIA

Offers Educational Tips on MySpace, YouTube, Facebook and Twitter!

Grabbing the attention of teens today can be quite a challenge, especially since they want easy-to-find information quick and in most cases - online. The DMV wants to keep young drivers informed and safe on the roads, so it’s encouraging teens to obtain educational information through mediums they are regularly visiting anyway - popular social networking websites like YouTube, My Space, Facebook and Twitter. By creating a presence on websites that teens are familiar with and routinely use, the DMV is ensuring that they are getting all the information they need to be successful and skilled drivers.  

On the DMV MySpace page, teens can connect to the department’s website (www.dmv.ca.gov) directly and take sample written driving tests, learn about important new safety laws aimed at teens (like the no-cell phone law), set up appointments for written and behind-the-wheel driving tests, order personalized plates, and more. 

The widely-popular “Ask The DMV” Column, located in the blog section of the department’s MySpace page, is widely popular. Here, teens can get their questions answered without having to call the DMV or even take the time to search the website for much needed information. Teens and their parents can use the DMV’s convenient online services 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, for free – either by accessing www.dmv.ca.gov or by obtaining information from the MySpace page directly at www.myspace.com/californiadmv.

If your teen needs a more visual medium, the DMV YouTube channel is also a powerful educational resource. The site contains more than 50 instructional video clips, allowing young adults to hone their driving skills right from their desktops. Not just for teens, these videos bring the California Driver Handbook to life and serve as a refresher course for drivers of all levels. Topics include the Top 10 reasons people fail their behind-the-wheel test and other common misconceptions about the rules of the road. The DMV YouTube channel can be accessed on the DMV website at www.dmv.ca.gov or by going directly to www.youtube.com/californiadmv.

Facebook, currently the most popular social networking website, is another great way for teens to find out more information about the DMV. By becoming a fan, teens and their parents will have access to DMV news updates, links to online services, and driving safety videos — you can even interact with the DMV by posting comments on the fan page. To become a fan of the DMV on Facebook, just simply go online at www.dmv.ca.gov or click here to go directly the page.

Teens and their parents can now receive more instant updates by following the DMV on Twitter. Using only 140 characters or less, DMV will “tweet” updates with new information on related DMV services and important driving safety information. If you have questions for the DMV, Twitter is a great way to get your questions answered instantly. You can follow the DMV on Twitter by logging onto the DMV website www.dmv.ca.gov  or go directly to http://twitter.com/ca_dmv.

Connecting with teenagers in a way that is comfortable for them is vital to the DMV’s goal to prepare young drivers to be responsible and knowledgeable of the rules of the road before they get behind the wheel. Encourage your teen to log on! The visual and interactive online content can make learning to drive fun and easy.

ASK THE DMV …

Experts Answer Common Teen Driver Questions

By Mike Marando, Communications Director
California Department of Motor Vehicles

SACRAMENTO – Are you a teen with questions about how to get your provisional driver permit or California driver license? Do you have questions about general driving related requirements like registration or insurance? The California Department of Motor Vehicles has answers. For more information, visit the DMV website for teens at www.DMV.ca.gov/teenweb.  

Q: What documents do I need to bring with me on the day that I apply for a driver license?

A: If you’re age 18 or over, remember to bring an original (or certified copy) of your Birth Certificate or Legal Presence document on the day you apply. You must also provide your social security number as well. If you are under the age of 18, the above requirements apply in addition to the requirement that your application be signed by your parents or guardian. If under the age of 17½ you must also provide your certificate of completion of driver’s education. And remember to bring your proof of insurance card for your drive test – this is one of the more commonly forgotten documents and can save you from making an extra trip to the DMV. For additional information, go to this link on the department’s website: www.dmv.ca.gov/dl/dl_info.htm.

Q: I saw recently that practice written tests are available online at www.dmv.ca.gov. Can I take the real written test online, too? It would be a lot easier since I don’t have my license yet and I only live with my mom, who is usually at work when I have free time.

A: Unfortunately, you can't take the written exams online. All DMV written tests must be taken on-site at a DMV field office. The practice tests are available online for you to better prepare yourself for taking the actual written test. For faster service, schedule your written test appointment online and you won’t have to wait in any unnecessary lines when you arrive at your closest field office! Save time, go online!

Q: Is it true that minors are never allowed to use cell phones when driving, even with a hands-free device?

A: That is correct. It is against the law for a minor to use a cell phone while driving. They are only to use cell phones when the vehicle is safely stopped or parked. If a minor violates this law, he or she will be subject to fines. The only exceptions to this law are in the event that a minor must use a cell phone in an emergency situation to contact law enforcement, a health care provider, the fire department or another emergency entity.

The DMV is a department under the Business, Transportation and Housing Agency, which is under the direction of Secretary Dale E. Bonner. The DMV licenses drivers, maintains driving records, registers and tracks official ownership of vehicles and vessels, investigates auto and identity-related fraud, and licenses car dealers, driving schools, and traffic violator schools. For more information about the DMV, visit www.dmv.ca.gov.

INSPIRATIONAL THOUGHT

Life is a great big canvas, and you should throw all the paint you can on it.
                                     - Danny Kaye

FAFSA FOR SENIORS

Hopefully students and parents of graduating seniors have now registered for a FAFSA PIN. If you have not done so, please visit http://www.pin.ed.gov to complete this vital step (a link is also available in Family Connection). After you are issued a separate PIN for both student and parent, you may then complete the FAFSA registration process. The FAFSA is an important document if you want to be eligible for many grants, loans, and scholarships for college. This applies not only to students who plan to attend a 4-year college, but also those planning to continue their education through the community college system or various technical schools.

Although the application is based upon your tax returns, which are often not completed until April 15, many colleges need the FAFSA to be filed by March 2 (some more selective schools even need FAFSA completed earlier). You can complete the FAFSA with estimated tax information if the actual numbers are not available, and then update with your actual numbers once they are available.

FAMILY CONNECTION

Have you heard about Family Connection but are not sure what the program is all about? The Counseling Department uses Family Connection to provide students and their parents with information in regards to high school, college and career in real-life application to Westview students. While some websites provide general information, Family Connection includes data and statistics from current and past students from our school. While students perform actions in their accounts, parents have accounts as well to view information displayed in their children's accounts. Some of the features include: 

• Bi-weekly electronic newsletters on counseling events happening on and off campus

• Student and parent access to important student data, such as GPA, counselor name, etc.

• Planning for future beyond high school

• Online registration of high school courses for the following school year

• Access to college information for past graduates, such as acceptance and attendance rates (all information protects the identity of each student)

• "Scattergrams" that compare your academic history to that of other students who have attended Westview to determine your likelihood for college acceptance

• Access to scholarships with information about past scholarship winners

• College visitation schedule on Westview’s campus, with information on how to attend

• Assistance for those students that would like more guidance, such as those who are not sure what they will be doing after graduation or who would like more assistance in developing a goal

• And so much more! 

If you would like to look into Family Connection more, go to the following website for a PowerPoint presentation on some of the program features: http://www.powayusd.com/pusdwvhs/Counseling/Presentations/FamilyConnectionWorkshop.pdf

If you need access information, please contact Kathy Bloomfield at kbloomfield@powayusd.com. Please include the student name, parent name(s), and student ID number.

COMMUNITY COLLEGE

If seniors plan to attend community college in the fall, Palomar will be conducting the EAP test to be administered in March this year. Palomar College comes to Westview and administers the placement exams for English and math placement. This will allow students to receive priority registration for the fall 2010 semester. Students may sign up online by going to http://www.powayusd.com/pusdwvhs/Counseling/Palomar Testing.htm, or see Miss Bloomfield in the Wolverine Center to sign up.

SCHOLARSHIPS

Now that college applications have been submitted, many students are focusing on obtaining scholarships. Many scholarships are available for seniors, as well as other grade levels. Available scholarships are listed in Family Connection by clicking on the scholarship list under the colleges tab.