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COUNSELING INTRODUCTION
Counselors
- Student “Drop-in” Meetings with your Counselor via WEBEX
- DAYS: MONDAYS, TUESDAYS, THURSDAYS & FRIDAYS
- TIMES: 9:00-9:15 AM, 9:40-9:55 AM & 1:15-2:15 PM
- Scheduled In-Person Meetings with your Counselor
- DAYS: MONDAYS, TUESDAYS, THURSDAYS & FRIDAYS
- TIME: 2:15-3:15 PM
- To schedule please EMAIL Mrs. Munoz at nmunoz@tustin.k12.ca.us
Dwight Schmidt
Grades 10-12 | A thru F
Allison Krikorian
Grades 10-12 | G thru Lee
Esther Rogers
Grades 10-12 | Leg thru Ra
Harvey Guzik
Grades 10-12 | Re thru Z
Enrique Espinoza
International Students & Student Support Counselor
Erica Rosas
Career Center Specialist
Counseling Support Staff
Counseling Overview
beckman high school comprehensive counseling program
Students at Beckman High School are counseled on the most rigorous course of study with the goal of finding current and future interests for as many students as possible. Our counseling department consists of 6 counselors, a College and Career center counselor, a secretary, a data technician, a counseling technician and an office assistant. One of the underlying goals that we have in our counseling department is to find the best “fit” for all of our students. We look at course levels, student interests, and overall student well-being to produce a set of classes that the student can truly thrive in. Over the last several years, we have seen gains in our a-g rate, CTE program enrollment, Dual Enrollment opportunities, and Advanced Placement courses. These increases are due in large part to the combined efforts of our counseling department and their continued efforts to place students in a rigorous course of study that meets student interests and prepares them for post-secondary success.
A-G Rate
Providing an engaging and rigorous course of study for all students is a fundamental goal at Beckman. In 2018, 75.53% of graduating seniors met UC/CSU a-g course requirements, amounting to 503 out of 666 students. Beckman is committed to ensuring that as many students as possible complete the a-g requirements as a way to continue focus on ensuring post-secondary success and options for all students, including EL and the “middle students.”
CTE Programs
Substantial changes have been made to course offerings in an effort to provide support and interest options for all students here at Beckman. Pathways in STEAM now include Graphic Design, Media Arts, Film, Drama, Robotics, Applied Medical and Engineering courses. Our newest pathway includes the courses Intro to Engineering, Principles of Engineering, and Principles of Computer Science AP. All CTE courses are taught by CTE credentialed teachers with industry experience who work to generate real world experiences for their students with the goal of preparing them for the workplace within their chosen area of interest.
Dual Enrollment
Over the last four years, Beckman has added three new opportunities for students to participate in a Dual Enrollment program: Sports Medicine, Business/Entrepreneurship and Dance.
In response to student interest in Sports Medicine and Athletic training, Beckman partnered with Irvine Valley College (IVC) to provide two Sports Medicine classes that meet dual enrollment criteria. Students can take Kinesiology 85 and Kinesiology 215, which are Sports Medicine classes that are part of IVC’s own Sports Medicine pathway. KNES 85 takes place within a classroom with hands on activities and a more traditional structure while KNES 215 is a true internship opportunity where students are on the field with trainers responding to and preventing athletic injuries. Students receive credit for both high school and college by completing the two courses. The demand and growth of this program has been substantial enough for us to create a full three course CTE pathway which we have titled “Applied Medical.” The Applied Medical Pathway begins with Human Body Systems (a PLTW course), ROP Sports Medicine, and IVC KNES classes.
Additionally, recent senior surveys indicate that just under 20% of Beckman seniors plan to pursue business or economics once they graduate from high school. Every Beckman student receives a semester of instruction in economics as part of the TUSD graduation requirements; however, the need for exposure to business classes prompted an expansion of the partnership with IVC to include business/entrepreneurship classes. Beginning in the 2016 school year, students have the ability to enroll in 4 college level business classes that take place on Beckman’s campus and within the school bell schedule. While doing so, they earn both high school and college credit and earn a certificate in entrepreneurship from IVC.
One of our newest dual enrollment opportunities comes in the form of an online History of Dance class (IVC Dance 77). The course meets the needs of several student types: impacted class schedule, work restricted, and health restricted. Students participate in online discussions, complete assessments, and work through various online activities all within the structure and framework of a college learning management system. As with all of our dual enrollment opportunities, students receive both high school and college credit upon completion of the class.
As of this year, Beckman is also pursuing an opportunity for students to participate in a Dual Enrollment opportunity in the field of Communications. Students will have the opportunity to take Communications Fundamentals (COMM1) and Argument and Debate (COMM3). These classes are both UC/CSU transferable and meet CSU graduation requirements for Oral Communication and Critical Thinking. Plans for the classes will be finalized within the coming weeks with an initial offering of the courses in the fall of 2019.
AP Course Offerings and Participation Rate
Beckman currently offers 24 different Advanced Placement (AP) courses. We have spent a great deal of time selecting diverse course offerings and identifying possible students for participation with a goal of increasing both the pass rate and access rate of our students. We have added a Computer Science Principles class, a Human Geography class, and opened up our science offerings to varying grade levels. Data from our 5 year score summary shows that we have been successful in increasing the number of students who are accessing AP courses AND increasing the percentage of students who receive a passing score on an AP test.
Academic Supports
There are many ways Beckman has been working to address the needs of the student community within the classroom and beyond. Class sizes have been reduced significantly, and “seven-period days” have been limited for students in order to provide an atmosphere that prioritizes balance and focus in the academic schedule over cramming as many courses into the school day as possible.
Many interventions have been developed and expanded over the last several years. Peer tutoring has been broadened, which has improved school atmosphere and a sense of empowerment for both the tutors and tutees. After school options have also been added. Beckman has partnered with Titan Tutors (CSUF) to provide a tutoring center for math and science and has also created an after school writing center for one-on-one writing support. School ELAC meetings were previously held at Beckman High School, which was an inconvenient location for many parents of EL students who live in a community 5.5 miles away. The meetings were moved to a district elementary school in their community, which has been more convenient and increased attendance from an average of 5-10 parents to 20-30 at meetings in 2018-2019. This change also sent the message to the community that their students and our contact with the community is a priority.
Significant focus has been placed on addressing the diverse needs of all students working towards academic success. Counselors have developed online resources on a Haiku Page that show online videos, planning templates, and various other counseling-related information to help students and parents navigate high school and college/career planning.
Social/Emotional Supports
In the 2015-2016 school year, Beckman brought on a new freshman counselor to aid students in the transition from middle school to high school and help them with course selection, interventions, and any necessary social or academic support in this crucial first year. Shortly after in 2017, Beckman added another counselor whose task is specifically to assist students who need additional support. Students who are English Language Learners and students who are at-risk for various reasons are a primary focus.
Summary
Over the last several years, we have been extremely fortunate to see some tremendous gains here at Beckman. Our counseling program and the changes that have been initiated by student interactions are a major contributing factor. Research on student achievement overwhelmingly points to a positive correlation between a student’s academic engagement and their attendance, their grades, and their discipline. At Beckman, we believe that our counseling program can and does directly impact ALL aspects of student achievement while in high school and careful planning and thoughtful course selection places students on a path to success.
COUNSELING RESOURCES
- 2021 Advanced Placement (AP) Test Schedule
- All About A-G Requirements
- Community College Classes
- Course Adds/Drops - Important Dates
- Healthy Limit Waiver for AP/HONORS Courses
- Transcripts & Records
- Challenge Success Information
- Counselor Coffee (Videos) - January 2021
- Counseling Newsletter Archive
2021 Advanced Placement (AP) Test Schedule
THE COLLEGE BOARD ANNOUNCES NEW TEST ADMINISTRATION WINDOW
The College Board released important information regarding this year’s AP Exam administration.
Students will still have the opportunity to earn college credit this year by taking AP Exams. The testing window has shifted in order to accommodate the in-person World Language exams and the online exams for all other subject areas.
The World Language exams will only be offered in-person. All precautions will be taken in order to provide a safe and secure testing environment. All other exams will be offered online and will be taken from home during the assigned administration date and time.
The College Board’s shift in the exam schedule has resulted in a later testing window. Some of the exams will take place after the last day of school.
TUSD will make all efforts to ensure that all seniors who are scheduled to test will have the opportunity to keep their school-issued device in order to complete their exams and will have the opportunity to participate in graduation activities, which are currently in the process of being planned.
Students will have the opportunity to cancel their exam for a refund, minus the $5 processing fee, through March 5, 2021. Additionally, Beckman students enrolled in an AP Course that would still like to take the exam can complete a late registration for all online exams through March 5, 2021 by signing up through Total Registration.net, paying the exam fee plus the $40 late registration fee. Reduced rates for late registration are no longer available.
The testing exam schedule is as follows:
Day |
Date |
Subject |
Time |
Location |
---|---|---|---|---|
MON |
5/10 |
French |
8:00am |
IN PERSON @ school |
TUES |
5/11 |
Spanish |
8:00am |
IN PERSON @ school |
FRI |
5/14 |
Chinese |
12:00pm |
IN PERSON @ school |
TUES |
5/18 |
English Lit |
9:00am |
ONLINE @ home |
TUES |
5/18 |
Comp Sci A |
1:00pm |
ONLINE @ home |
WED |
5/19 |
APUSH |
9:00am |
ONLINE @ home |
THURS |
5/20 |
Art |
9:00pm |
Portfolio - turn in @ school |
THURS |
5/20 |
World History |
9:00am |
ONLINE @ home |
THURS |
5/20 |
Government |
9:00am |
ONLINE @ home |
THURS |
5/20 |
Psychology |
1:00pm |
ONLINE @ home |
WED |
5/26 |
CompSci Princ |
1:00pm |
ONLINE @ home |
WED |
5/26 |
English Lang |
9:00am |
ONLINE @ home |
THURS |
5/27 |
Biology |
9:00am |
ONLINE @ home |
THURS |
5/27 |
APES |
1:00pm |
ONLINE @ home |
FRI |
5/28 |
APHUG |
9:00pm |
ONLINE @ home |
FRI |
5/28 |
Micro |
1:00pm |
ONLINE @ home |
WED |
6/9 |
Calc AB |
9:00am |
ONLINE @ home |
WED |
6/9 |
Euro |
9:00am |
ONLINE @ home |
WED |
6/9 |
Calc BC |
9:00am |
ONLINE @ home |
WED |
6/9 |
Physics 1 |
1:00pm |
ONLINE @ home |
WED |
6/9 |
Physics C Mechanics |
1:00 PM** **Make-up date TBD for students also taking Physics 1 |
ONLINE @ home |
THURS |
6/10 |
Physics C - E&M |
9:00am |
ONLINE @ home |
THURS |
6/10 |
Chemistry |
9:00am |
ONLINE @ home |
THURS |
6/10 |
Physics 2 |
1:00pm |
ONLINE @ home |
THURS |
6/10 |
Statistics |
1:00pm |
ONLINE @ home |
All About A-G Requirements
Community College Classes
What is the difference between Dual Enrollment and Concurrent Enrollment?
Dual Enrollment
- Enroll in a college class within our BHS bell schedule
- Grades/Credits posted on HS. transcript AND college transcript
- Counts as one of your Beckman classes
- Info sessions required
- IVC Business
- IVC Dance
- IVC Communications
- IVC KNES/NUT
Concurrent Enrollment
- Enroll independently in a college class
- Max of 2 pre-approved outside courses on Beckman Transcript
- Cannot be used to meet graduation requirements
- Max of 1 course per semester and 2 courses in the summer
- Healthy Limits & max of 7 classes applies
Who is a good fit?
- Independent
- Strong time management skills
MOST classes taken outside TUSD will NOT be included on the student’s Beckman transcript. Such classes serve ENRICHMENT purposes only and will NOT serve to advance to a higher level or remediate a prior grade.
Students Wishing to Take Community College Courses:
- Community College classes cannot be taken for advancement or to fulfill TUSD graduation requirements (such as English, Algebra, Geometry, World History, US History, Government and Economics). - For example, you cannot take Geometry at a community college to skip Geometry at Beckman or take Spanish 2 at a community college and take Spanish 3 at Beckman.
- Community College classes count as a weighted class, therefore, BHS ”Healthy Limits” waiver applies.
- BHS policy of “7 class MAX” applies during the school year and 2 class MAX during the summer.
- Early College Program students will not be allowed to request additional classes to go on their Beckman transcript.
- Students with an impacted schedule who need to take a visual/performing art course to meet the “F” requirement for A-G UC/CSU eligibility may be approved to take a community college course.
- Beckman will add up to two (2) Community College courses to the high school transcript over the course of a student’s 4-years of high school.
- Identify the community college and the course you want to take. - Students: Check the prerequisites to see if you qualify for the course and if space is available.
- Complete a Community College Course (CCC) Request Form.
- Follow the community college’s K-12 Program enrollment steps on their website (see below).
- Online K-12 Forms (IVC & GWC) will automatically be submitted to parent email and then administration for signature.
- If the college does not have an online process, email the completed college K-12 form PDF (AKA: Special Admit Form) to drafter@tustin.k12.ca.us
- Students must request an official transcript from the Community College be sent directly to Beckman counseling within 6 weeks of course completion to include it on the Beckman transcript.
- Summer Courses: October 1
- Fall Courses: February 1
- Spring Courses: September 1
Once the Community College grade is posted to the transcript, it cannot be removed or changed.
K-12 Program Enrollment Information & Steps:
Course Adds/Drops - Important Dates
Healthy Limit Waiver for AP/HONORS Courses
HEALTHY LIMIT WAIVER PROCESS
Beckman limits the number of weighted (AP and H) classes that students can take per year. By implementing a “Healthy Limit” waiver process our intention is to help to manage the elevated levels of stress that students have been reporting. In order to assist parents with understanding the new norm here at Beckman, below is an FAQ containing some possible questions and their associated answers, the waiver itself, and directions on how to complete the online activity:
- Link to Online Waiver VIDEO ACTIVITY
- Download PAPER WAIVER
- Link to FAQ's
Transcripts & Records
TRANSCRIPTS & RECORDS
- See Schoology > Class of 2021 > Transcript Flow Chart for WHEN & HOW to send transcripts
- Information on 2 ways to order Official Transcripts
Challenge Success Information
CHALLENGE SUCCESS
This marks year two we will be working with Challenge Success through the Graduate School of Education at Stanford. Challenge Success partners with schools, families, and communities to embrace a broad definition of success and to implement research-based strategies that promote student well-being and engagement with learning. It is believed that effective change happens when all stakeholders - administration, staff, parents, counselors and students identify problems and work on solutions together. Our students are faced with many challenges and are often overloaded, so we are looking to work collaboratively to support each individual ‘whole’ student. A team of parents, students and staff recently attended the Challenge Success Conference in Palo Alto and returned with some great new ideas!
Counselor Coffee (Videos) - January 2021
Counseling Newsletter Archive
COUNSELING CORNER NEWSLETTER
- March 2021
- February 2021
- January 2021
- November 2020
- October 2020
- March 2020
- February 2020
- January 2020
- December 2019