LMA Onboarding

In this newsletter, you’ll find key information and updates to help you navigate the transition into the new school year. We’re excited to start another great year together!

Legacy Magnet Academy has a magnet focus on technology, innovation, design and entrepreneurship (TIDE). Curricula is delivered through project based learning, and our grading system is based on mastery grading. In addition, LMA has partnered with Irvine Valley College for dual enrollment, in which all students from grade 7 and up are enrolled in college courses concurrently with LMA enrollment.

We encourage prospective families to use THIS LINK to sign up to receive the information-packed newsletter that our principal, Dr. Harrison, puts together which will include an overview of the LMA program and the opportunity to sign-up for a school tour while spots are still available.

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If your student is excited about thinking outside the box to identify and solve real-world problems in a collaborative group setting, is prepared to enroll in college classes from 7th grade on, and is interested in technology, innovation, design, and entrepreneurship, then this may be the perfect fit!

Continue to scroll for more information about this unique program....

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LMA follows a set magnet curriculum focused on TIDE — Technology, Innovation, Design, and Entrepreneurship. Starting in the spring of 7th grade, students begin taking Dual Enrollment classes with Irvine Valley College during the regular school day.

*Please note courses are subject to change as we continue to build our IVC partnership.

District Course Catalog (includes LMA course descriptors)

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The LMA math course progression is advanced, with 6th graders enrolling in advanced math 6 accelerated (MATH I) and 8th graders enrolling in Algebra I - Business Algebra.

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(click on the links below)

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Legacy Magnet Academy partners with our local community college, Irvine Valley College (IVC), to offer one of the most robust Dual Enrollment programs in the area. Starting in the spring of 7th grade, IVC courses are a required part of our magnet curriculum and cannot be replaced with other classes.

Through this partnership, students can earn transferable college credit, complete a Certificate of Proficiency in Entrepreneurship, and get an early start on building their college transcript.

Here are some facts about dual enrollment:

• Dual enrollment replaces traditional AP courses — LMA does not offer AP classes.

• Students are dually enrolled in both IVC courses and LMA courses starting in 7th grade.

• IVC courses are a required part of the magnet curriculum and cannot be replaced with other classes.

• Courses are taught on LMA’s campus by IVC professors, who follow IVC policies for homework, grading, and assessments (different from LMA policies).

• Middle school students earn Pass/No Pass grades; high school students earn letter grades.

• High school grades are weighted, adding an extra point toward the LMA GPA.

• Students build a college transcript with every IVC course.

• IVC grades are recorded on both LMA and college transcripts.

FERPA (Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act):

The Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA) is a Federal law that protects the privacy of student education records. The law applies to all schools that receive funds under an applicable program of the US Department of Education. FERPA gives parents certain rights with respect to their children’s education records. These rights transfer to the student when he or she reaches the age of 18 or attends a school beyond the high school level. In accordance with FERPA, professors will only communicate directly with their students in the IVC course and will not be able to respond to parent emails or phone calls, all communication must be done with the student directly.

Accommodations due to learning and/or physical disabilities:

Any student with an IEP or 504 plan can contact the Disabled Students Programs & Services (DSPS) department at IVC and present a copy of the current IEP or 504 for evaluation to determine what services can be provided by the college. The level of service and accommodations can be different than those provided at Legacy and is determined by IVC. The DSPS department provides support services, specialized instruction and accommodations to students with a disability, allowing them to fully participate and benefit from an equitable college experience. The overall mission of DSPS is to provide exemplary instruction, support services and access to students with disabilities. DSPS will support students with disabilities in educationally related activities consistent with the mission and vision of Irvine Valley College and in compliance with federal and state laws.

(DSPS Packet)

Support for student accommodations (504 and IEP)

If you have questions regarding the IVC application or CCAP registration process, please contact Traci Dilellio at tdilellio@ivc.edu.

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Students have the opportunity to complete any of the CTE (Career and Technical Education) pathways listed below by the time they graduate. All CTE courses are integrated into LMA’s course progression. Completing a CTE pathway helps students prepare for college and the workforce by connecting classroom learning to real-world applications. Students who complete a pathway will also receive a special cord to wear at graduation.

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Extracurricular involvement not only helps to build a college "resume", it also helps students to feel connected to school, helps students build very important "soft skills", build relations with peers and staff, and pursue their areas of interest.

Check out our Legacy ASB website HERE

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At LMA, while CIF-sanctioned sports are not offered, students in grades 9–12 have the option to try out for athletics at their designated home high school (Beckman, Foothill, or Tustin High School).

• Cheer and Dance: These activities may be available depending on each high school’s structure. Please consult your counselor for specific details.
• Marching Band: This activity is not included as part of this program.
• Home High School Determination:
• Students who live within the boundaries of LMA will have the opportunity to try out for athletics at Tustin High School.
• Students who have transferred into TUSD from another school district are also eligible to try out for athletics at Tustin High School.

It is the student’s responsibility to explore sports options, contact coaches, and communicate final decisions with LMA counselors to ensure proper scheduling.

Important Deadlines:

All continuing and potential athletes must notify their counselor of their intent to play a sport by April of the current school year to allow counselors to appropriately schedule for the upcoming school year. Counselors will inform students of this deadline during their registration presentations in-class.

This includes students interested in spring semester sports, as schedules must be coordinated to minimize conflicts.

Additional Information:

1. Research & Contact: Students are responsible for researching available sports, understanding deadlines, and contacting the appropriate high school staff. The counseling website provides athletic contact information.
2. Home High School Participation: Athletes can only participate in sports at their designated home high school. Students uncertain about their home high school should confirm with their counselor.
3. Practice & Game Logistics:
   • Once rostered, athletes will have an early release from LMA for practices and games:
     • Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, Friday: 1:45 PM
     • Wednesday: 1:55 PM
   • Transportation: Students are responsible for arranging their own transportation.
   • Missed Work: Students are accountable for making up any classwork missed due to early release.
4. IVC Classes: If participating in athletics impacts IVC classes, it is the student’s responsibility to inform professors of any schedule conflicts.

Next School Year: Adding Athletics to Your Schedule

Schedules will only be adjusted for athletics once the Athletic Confirmation Form has been completed and submitted.

• Athletic Confirmation Process:
• Download the form and follow all outlined steps HERE.
• Submit physical copies to the Front Office. Digital submissions will not be accepted.
• Forms must be signed by all required parties, including your coach.
• Allow a minimum of 24–48 hours for schedule changes to be processed once forms are submitted.

Until the form is received and processed by both LMA and your team's high school (THS, FHS, BHS), your schedule will not include early release for athletics.

Key Resources:

For more detailed information, deadlines, and links to athletic contacts, please visit the counseling website or access the links below.

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A-G Requirements are high school courses that students must complete to be eligible to apply to many four-year universities, including UC and CSU schools. Graduation Requirements are the minimum courses students must complete to graduate from Tustin Unified School District (TUSD).

The LMA high school pathway is designed so that students who successfully complete their courses will meet all A-G requirements and be fully eligible for college admission.

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One of the key components of the instructional program at LMA is the delivery of instruction through project based learning (PBL).

PBL is the ongoing act of learning about different subjects simultaneously. This is achieved by guiding students to identify, through research, a real-world problem (from local to global) developing its solution using evidence to support the claim and presenting the solution through a multimedia approach based in a set of 21st-century tools. Students show what they learn as they journey through the unit, interact with its lessons, collaborate, and assess themselves and each other. They don't merely take a test or produce a product at the end to show their learning. PBL isn't about writing a state report. It's about using what you know about the state you study and then creating your own state. It isn't about building a replica of the Washington Monument. It's about researching someone to honor, designing your own monument, and persuasively pitching a committee to build it.

Project Based Learning prepares students for academic, personal, and career success, as well as readies young people to rise to the challenges of their lives and the world they will inherit.

Here's a VIDEO LINK that shares a bit more.

Legacy's grading mission: assessment and grading will tell an accurate story of a student’s academic progress so that they will be intrinsically motivated to consistently perform at their personal best with academic integrity.

Our grading is based on a 5 point rubric, scaled from 5 (not mastered) to 10 (mastery):

9/10 - Mastery

Student demonstrated complete and detailed understanding of the learning target or standard and can transfer it to new situations without assistance.

8 - Proficiency

Student demonstrated a firm grasp of the skill and has an almost complete understanding of the concept involved.

7 - Beginning to Understand

Student demonstrated some conceptual understanding of the learning target but may still have some confusion or assistance needed to complete.

6 - Authentic Attempt with Weak Evidence

Student has attempted the learning target but has demonstrated weak understanding or can complete with significant assistance.

5 - Not Yet

Student has not attempted this learning target yet or student attempted the learning target but with little to no understanding or submitted work is missing major portions of the assignment.

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Wellness Support Counselor

Email: ttsang@tustin.k12.ca.us
Website: bit.ly/lmacounseling

Academic Support Counselor

Email: jple@tustin.k12.ca.us
Website: bit.ly/lmacounseling