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See you guys on my new blog! :) This blog will still be active, but without my posts. Read more in the post below. ^____^<3

Hi, everyone! With the new school year, my old blog is being given to new students to run. (My work exists only within that tag and for the single ask pertaining to my blog entries. All of the rest was the work of other students from my high school, many of whom graduated with me and will no...

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How is the valedictorian of the class determined? Does the type of classes (Honors/AP/TA) that an individual takes determine his/her class rank?

The valedictorian is the student with the highest cumulative GPA. The grades from sophomore year (including any summer school courses before sophomore year) to junior year are included in this calculation.

Honors and AP and TA classes are heavily influential in class rank. Certain honors and AP classes carry more weight, so an "A" in an Honors/AP class confers more points. For example, an "A" in a regular class is only worth 4 points, whereas an "A" in an AP class is worth 5 points. With APs and Honors classes, not all straight As are considered equal. (A student getting straight As in six regular classes would only accumulate 24 points for a 4.0 GPA while a student getting straight As in five regular and one AP class would accumulate 25 points for a GPA of 4.17)

(note that ALL AP classes have this special feature, but only certain Honors classes have this weighing. For example, Honors English 3/4 does not confer these extra points. An A in Honors English 3/4 is only worth 4 points).

TA classes are not considered in the calculation of GPA, since they are pass/fail classes. This is of considerable advantage to an AP/Honors student. 

Suppose that Student A takes 5 APs and 1 regular class while Student B takes 5 APs and TA. If both get straight As, then Student A has a total of 29 points, for a GPA of 4.83 (29 points/6 classes). However, Student B has 25 points (TA offers no points), yet only 5 classes are averaged. As a result, Student B's GPA is 5.0. Many students take TA periods in order to either relax or to boost their GPAs. Whether this is fair is under scrutiny.

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Mark Keppel High School Tutoring Schedule for the 2012-2013 school year

AP/CST season is approaching, so make sure you get the help you need! Don't be afraid to ask - the teachers and tutors will be glad to help only if you ask!

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The Nordstrom Scholarship is open to high school juniors who:

Live and attend school in a state with a Nordstrom or Nordstrom Rack store. Not sure if there's a store in your state? See ourstore locations.

Have at least a 2.7 GPA.

Volunteer or participate in community service or extracurricular activities.

Plan on attending an accredited college or university during all four years over which the scholarship is distributed. (The scholarship is paid out in equal installments of $2,500.)

Plan on applying for financial assistance in order to attend college.

Apply for a chance to win $10,000! 

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For Freshmen: California Scholarship Federation Applications

For all freshmen: if you are interested in joining this California honor society, the application period is now open!

Applications can be picked up at Ms. Hake's door (room B116, first floor of the B building). Follow the instructions carefully on the application to see if you qualify and complete all necessary fields.

You must also attach a copy of your report card OR a copy of your PowerSchool grades, but the date must be seen on the PowerSchool copy to verify that those are truly the final grades. 

Turn in your completed application and grades to Ms. Hake by next Friday!

NOTE: ALL MEMBERS (sophomores, juniors, seniors) MUST REAPPLY THIS SEMESTER BY FILLING OUT ANOTHER APPLICATION FORM. 

California Scholarship Federation:

http://www.csf-cjsf.org/CSFHome.asp

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Extracurricular Activities/Community Service Series, #1

This is the beginning of a series that details the extracurricular activities of students and clubs, so that one may be better informed of high school opportunities and activities.

All across the nation, there are thousands of high school valedictorians and salutatorians. There are even more students who have 4.0 unweighted GPA. Each month, there are always students who get perfect scores on their SATs.

So how do colleges distinguish between all these academically-qualified candidates? Numbers no longer tell the entire story, but activities can. One's extracurricular activities greatly enhance one's application from the rest. Grades are now taken for granted - to be truly competitive, one must engage in activities that not only reflect one's interest, but also benefit the school or community as a whole.

The following is an example of community service. A group of instrumental music students from the MKHS band and orchestra, self-dubbed the "Christmas Ensemble," performed holiday music in December for the community. They first rehearsed some Christmas music and even some Chinese folk songs to cater to the demographics of these venues. These musicians then performed at the Christmas program at the Monterey Park Bruggemeyer Library, at the Gedatsu Church in Rosemead during the congregation's service, and at various convalescent homes to spread holiday cheer. This activity is not only original, but also shows an interest in community service and music, the true forte of these young musicians. 

The Ensemble plays for the children at the library. 

The Ensemble plays for the elderly at the Heritage Manor home on Garfield.

The Christmas Ensemble, after their performance at the Emeritus Assisted Living Home in Alhambra. Here they pose with alumni of Mark Keppel, class of 1945. Senior meets seniors!

The Ensemble plays at the Gedatsu Church during their church service.

It's never too early to find community service opportunities. Or, even better, start your own! Discover your passion/interest, and then use it to serve the community. For example, a student interested in sports medicine may choose to hold free clinics for middle school athletes. We hope that this series will offer you ideas on starting your own project and using your strengths to help others!

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As high school seniors work on and turn in some of their college applications, some of the colleges have posted their early admissions percentages. One should pay close attention to the percentage of the freshman class filled to gauge the prospects of one's admissions to a certain college. Click the link "Early Admissions Statistics" (highlighted in red above this post) to look at some of the statistics.

Happy New Year, and good luck to all those who are applying!

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A useful blog for seniors who are applying to college, Regular Decision and Early Decision alike!

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Clubs, and other information

A small collection of a few questions we've received (and our answers) so far on the Student Advisors email (mkhs.studentadvisors@gmail.com), collected here.

Q. How I can join the National Honor Society and California Scholarship Federation?

A. To join National Honor Society, you will need to fill out an application form available in Ms. Rosso's room. You will need 3.5 cumulative academic GPA, satisfactory citizenship, volunteer service/awards, recommendation letter, and an essay. I know it sounds like a lot, but the application will guide you through the process. The application will be available towards the end of the second semester. Listen closely to the school bulletin for more details.

To join the California Scholarship Federation, you will also need to fill out an application form available in Ms. Hake's room (the Biology Honors teacher). Follow the instructions on the form - you will also need to attach a copy of your first semester report card. The application form will be available near the beginning of the second semester, so stay tuned to the school bulletin for more details.

Do well in school, get involved with school and community activities, and have fun. I wish you all the best in the application processes, and I look forward to seeing you soon!

Q. In regards to CSF (Calif Scholarship Federation) membership, you had mentioned [in a parent presentation] “5 service hours” to remain active.

Must the service hours be through the school assigned organizations? Or can it be with an outside organization?

A. The service hours may be attained through school OR community organizations. The hour sheet for CSF will allow your son to make the distinction. Just be sure that the activities director issues the volunteer service certificates when hour sheets are due (a time to be determined).

Q. My son took summer school class this summer. He got a C in Geometry. [Will]  this "C" grade will affect or lower his overall GPA when he [applies] for college?

A. Yes, his overall GPA will be affected, once all grades are averaged out. However, when applying to colleges, almost all schools judge admissions solely on a student's 'cumulative' GPA, which only includes the 10th and 11th grades (sophomore and junior year). Some colleges will look at freshman year and senior year GPA, but the it will only be a minor consideration, which means, unless a student's GPA in the 9th or 12th grades is seriously bad, colleges will not be too concerned.

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UC/CSU College Information Night

The Mark Keppel PTSA, along with National Honor Society, will be sponsoring a UC/CSU College Information Night on September 18 at 7pm in the cafeteria immediately following the 12th grade parent meeting! Representatives from both the UC and the CSU admissions offices will be giving presentations and answering any questions that you may have regarding the college admissions process. We will also be having student speakers from UC/CSU campuses to give a more personal account about their college experiences at their respective schools. Juniors and seniors especially, you don't want to miss out on this amazing opportunity to get some insight into the college admissions process. It's never too early or too late! 

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You may have seen us during Club Rush.

If so, we're glad that you decided to drop by our table on another scorching day. 

If not, that's OK too - we like the shade as much as you probably do.

Anyways, if you've got questions, feel free to send us an email at

mkhs.studentadvisors@gmail.com

Or while you're here already, just ask us a question on this Tumblr! (look for the "Got a Question?" tab) Feel free to follow us as well for more updates on school events, information, and academia.

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Frequently Asked Questions

Note: You can access this list anytime by clicking the "FAQ" button on the top row.

General

1. What do you do?

Check the “About Us” section for our mission statement.

2. What’s the difference between you and the Aztec Buddies?

The Aztec Buddies consist of upperclassmen who actively guide their freshmen throughout the school year and hold informational lunchtime and after school sessions with them. In a way, they serve a “Big Brother/Big Sister” role for the new students.

The Student Advisors consist of qualified students who assist freshmen, other students, and parents through online correspondence via our email (mkhs.studentadvisors@gmail.com) and Tumblr. We hope to reach out to 8th graders to help them make better decisions before they even start high school and to other students who may not be able to attend Aztec Buddies sessions during the school year.

3. If you have an email, why bother with a Tumblr?

Besides allowing avid Tumblr users to submit questions, we also post useful articles or information regarding developments in Mark Keppel, the district, and other aspects of academia.

4. I asked a question, but nobody has responded yet…

We do our best to answer all questions in a timely manner while taking into consideration our own coursework and extracurricular activities. 

If you have a legitimate question, hang in there and we’ll get back to you within a week. 

4. What do you mean by “legitimate”?

We will answer questions regarding Mark Keppel classes, clubs, sports, high school life, and even academia (e.g. colleges, testing) - this list is not all inclusive.

We will NOT answer questions that have no relevance (e.g. “How high is your GPA?”) or are poorly phrased (e.g. “hao i can haz hi GPA??”) or are profane. 

Constructive comments, suggestions, and concerns, however, are welcome.

5. You guys couldn’t answer my question. What to do now?

Ask your teacher, counselor, or the Keppel faculty/administration. You may also choose to send them an email:

http://www.mkhs.org/apps/staff/

6. Any tips for us?

Work hard and work intelligently. We’ll help you with the latter, so that once you know HOW to get what you want, you’ll work hard to get it. And finally, don’t forget to have fun!

Classes

1. I don’t know if I should take this class or not…

One of the Advisors should have taken said class and will be able to help you. He or she will let you know how the class is run and the teacher’s expectations. 

We will NOT say whether a teacher is “good” or “bad” or any other adjective - such a claim is only subjective. We will only list our observations and let you make your own judgment.

2. Pssst - can I get answers from you guys?

No.

3. Not even tutoring?

If one of the Advisors agrees to be in further correspondence, then maybe. However, such questions are low-priority (meaning, they will be answered much later). You are much better off asking your teacher.

4. How do I get the classes I want?

You should have no trouble getting regular classes.

However, in order to get Honors/AP courses, you should always get good grades in your classes. Students who get As in Honors English 1/2 are more likely to be recommended for Honors English 3/4 than students with significantly poorer grades.

During class selection, be clear with your counselor about what you want. Turn in the Honors/AP request form within the deadline.

During priority processing, if you don’t get your classes, be persistent! Ask your counselor, Department Chairs/teachers, and Assistant Principal of Instruction (Dr. Northcott) for help. Even when the school year starts, be aware of classmates who are willing to drop the class you want and always remain in contact with your counselor.

Clubs/Sports

1. Why should I join clubs?

High school is not just about classes and academics. Clubs are an excellent way to make friends by meeting others with similar interests and passions. They are the gateway to fulfilling extracurricular activities that make the high school experience so much more enriching. Officer positions in clubs are also quite impressive on college applications - it’s never too early or late to  join a club!

2. Where can I find more information on clubs?

Check out the “MKHS Clubs” section on this Tumblr - you will find a “Club Booklet” on the Keppel website.

If you are looking for more specific information on clubs, we have Advisors who are members or officers of the club in question.

3. How do I join clubs?

In September, when Club Rush occurs. During Club Rush, clubs will advertise on certain days (for example, Service Clubs on Monday, Academic Clubs on Tuesday, etc.) and pass out applications/flyers for interested students. Each club has its own criteria. Stay tuned to the school bulletin for more information regarding Club Rush.

Even if you miss Club Rush, most clubs are receptive to new members. Look to the school bulletin boards for club flyers that publicize club meetings for new and returning members.

4. I don’t see a club that I like, so I’d like to start one. How?

The club application process varies from year to year, so your question could be best answered by the Assistant Principal of Business and Activities, Dr. Prentice. Her office is nearest to the West Gate and next to the Principal’s office. See Question #5 under the “General” category.

5. How do I join a sport?

You might want to email Mark Garcia, the athletic director. See Question #5 under the “General” category.

If you want to know more about a sport, we have students who are currently in the sport you are interested in, so just send us a question.

High School Life

1. Should I use a rolling backpack?

No, unless you don’t mind students stepping on your backpack. Work out those back muscles and start carrying a backpack.

2. When did these hallways become so crowded?

Welcome to Keppel. Get to class early and quickly, avoid obstructing traffic, and you’ll be fine.

3. How do I find my classes?

First, figure out what building your class is in (e.g. A235 would be in A building). The first digit tells you what floor (in this case, the second one). After that, it’s just a matter of walking down the hallway to find the right classroom - they’re in numerical order.

If you still can’t find the class, there will be ASB members (wearing ASB shirts) who can assist you.

4. Can I run to lunch?

Yes, but take care not to trip. Lines do get long after a while.

5. Do freshmen get harassed?

Not really. Most students are courteous or kind enough to help you if you are also polite.

Of course, if you are harassed, let your teacher or school official know as soon as possible.

6. High school is kind of intimidating…how do I make friends?

Get involved! Join your favorite clubs/sports and get to know the members. Work with your classmates and bond at the same time. There are many wonderful people at Keppel just waiting to get to know you, so don’t be scared - just speak up!

7. Why are all these restrooms closed?

The school can’t afford to keep all these restrooms clean and open. Your best bet would be to remember which restrooms are usually open. Restrooms on the first floors of buildings are usually open - the ones on higher floors are usually closed. Ladies, more restrooms are generally open for you than for the gentlemen.

8. Who are all these adults patrolling the hallways?

They are the high school equivalent of guard ladies from elementary school. Commonly referred to as “narcs,” these people are there to ensure your safety and to maintain order in the hallways. They may also pass out tardy slips for students who are late to class, so get going!

Miscellanea/Academia

1. What are a-g requirements?

The a-g requirements are a guide for students to follow to determine the minimum eligibility requirements for the admission to a UC or CSU campus. It is used to illustrate what students should aim for in high school in order to be prepared for university level work.

Your counselor should ensure that you are taking the right courses to fulfill these requirements. 

2. SAT, ACT, PSAT/NMSQT, AP, CAHSEE, CST…HELP!

First of all, calm down. If you are a freshman, stop worrying so much about these acronyms that upperclassmen toss around.

The SAT and ACT are two college admissions tests sponsored by the College Board and ACT, Inc., respectively. They are used to supplement the college application and serve as national benchmarks for U.S. students. Students usually take these tests in their junior/senior year. Most colleges require scores from the SAT (or the ACT). For more information, ask your counselor or check out their websites.

SAT: http://sat.collegeboard.org/home

ACT: http://www.actstudent.org/

The PSAT/NMSQT is also known as the Preliminary SAT (also administered by College Board). It is used by the National Merit Scholarship Corporation as its National Merit Scholarship Qualifying Test (hence the abbreviation, NMSQT). Juniors may take this test to enter the National Merit Scholarship Program and also to practice for the SAT, which is very similar. Sophomores may take this test to practice before taking it their junior year for possible scholarship consideration.

(The PSAT and the Practice SAT are two completely different things! The Practice SAT is sponsored by PTSA and Princeton Review to help students prepare for the SAT, not the PSAT!)

The CAHSEE is the California High School Exit Examination. It tests language-arts, math, and writing skills. Students first take this test in the 10th grade and may retake each year if they don’t pass. This test must be passed in order to receive a high school diploma.

http://www.cde.ca.gov/ta/tg/hs/

The CST (California Standards Test) is like the same test you took back in elementary school. 

Finally, AP stands for Advanced Placement. These are like your Honors courses, but in addition, AP classes will prepare you for the College Board Advanced Placement examinations. Certain scores on AP exams may grant you college credit at the discretion of the college. These rigorous courses are usually taken by juniors and seniors (some sophomores as well).

AP: http://apcentral.collegeboard.com/apc/public/courses/index.html 

In short, if you’re a freshman, don’t worry too much about these acronyms/tests. Make sure you get good grades in your classes to increase your chances of getting into Honors/AP courses.

3. I like what you guys do. How do I become an Advisor?

First of all, do you have a criminal record/disciplinary problems in school or community?

4. No…

Great! Then send us an email or look for us during Club Rush for more information. 

5. Well, that was easy.

Yeup, and we’re here to make the high school experience even easier and better for you.

Got questions? We got answers.

Students know best.