Freshman Year Onboarding

In this newsletter you will find important information that will help you navigate the transition into your next grade level. We are looking forward to an exciting new year!

• *World History by Design
• Reading, Writing, & Research in Social Entrepreneurship
• Engineering Geometry with Physics
• The Technology of Biology
• Intro to Marketing, Advertising & Graphic Design
• *Comm 1 (Fall) & Comm 5 (Spring) through Dual Enrollment (IVC)
• PE

*indicates honors = additional point toward LMA GPA

District Course Catalog (includes LMA course descriptors)

Now that you are going into high school,* students will now be earning a letter grade for all Dual Enrollment courses that will be posted on both their high school AND college transcripts. On high school transcripts, these courses earn an extra weighted point towards their GPA.

Another new aspect of Dual Enrollment in high school is that your IVC professors will no longer double as LMA teachers. These professors will be teaching IVC courses on LMA campus and following IVC policy only. Please prepare for homework!

More important IVC/Dual Enrollment reminders featured below.

*As part of the required LMA curriculum, students are not permitted to DROP or substitute courses.

*All IVC courses are required to be taken with a letter grade. P or NP are NOT permitted.

Extracurricular involvement not only helps to build your college "resume," it also helps you feel connected to your school, build relationships with peers and staff, and pursue your areas of interest.

At LMA, students adhere to a set magnet curriculum*. Both LMA and IVC Dual Enrollment courses are required to complete and cannot be substituted (unless options are indicated). To see what will be required of you throughout your high school years, please review the sequence below.

*Please note: The high school course sequence and curriculum are subject to change as we continue to collaborate with our dual enrollment partners and work to update and enhance our curriculum offerings. While we strive to provide students with the most accurate and up-to-date information, modifications may occur to better align with college-level standards, partner requirements, and student needs. We appreciate your understanding and flexibility.

We are on an advanced math pathway and you will have the opportunity to complete up to IVC's Math 3A/ Math 3B (Calc 1 & 2) by your senior year, as indicated above. Note that Math 3A is equivalent to AP Calculus A/B and Math 3B is equivalent to AP Calculus B/C. Math 3A is offered in the Fall and Math 3B is offered in the Spring. Students will take both Math 3A and 3B within the same school year.

Link to IVC dual enrollment course descriptions

• Students are dually enrolled in both IVC courses and LMA courses.
• Dual enrollment is part of the LMA pathway, therefore all students must enroll and pass the courses to remain on track.
• Dual enrollment courses are taught at LMA by IVC college instructors.
• Grades are weighted (earn an additional point toward the LMA grade point average).
• Students are building a college transcript with each new course.
• IVC grades will be input on both your LMA and college transcript.
• Homework will be assigned (IVC homework policy is different than LMA policy).
• Dual enrollment is in lieu of AP courses. LMA does not offer AP courses.

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)

For information regarding LMA's Dual Enrollment program, please contact our IVC Dual Enrollment Coordinator:

• Traci Dilellio
• Email: tdilellio@tustin.k12.ca.us

As required by California Education Code, all 9th-grade students must be enrolled in PE Course 1 during their freshman year. Please note that participation in sports does not fulfill the PE credit requirement for graduation. Please monitor parent and student email inboxes for communications from counselors regarding athletic/PE process.

Athletic Interest Notification:

• Informing your counselor of your interest to play sports during counselor 1:1 meetings will ensure you are scheduled appropriately to transition into a athletic schedule once confirmed on a roster/team (athletic confirmation process below & communicated during Fall Registration).
• If you do not know whether you want to be an athlete or not by the time we have our 1:1, you have until April to inform counselors.

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:

If not communicated to counselors during the follow up 1:1 meetings, all continuing and potential athletes must notify their counselor of their intent to play a sport by April to allow counselors to appropriately schedule for the upcoming school year and to communicate summer school PE options.

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: 1:45 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.

For any questions regarding LMA's athlete process, please contact our Counseling Tech:

• Wendi Cabrales
• wcabrales@tustin.k12.ca.us

A-G requirements are high school courses students would need to take in order to be eligible to apply for many 4 year universities, including UCs and Cal States. Graduation Requirements are the minimum courses students need to take in order to graduate from TUSD.

The LMA high school pathway has been structured so all students will be A-G eligible upon successfully completing their courses.

Students will have an opportunity to complete a number of the CTE pathways posted below upon graduation. All CTE courses are embedded in the LMA course progression. Completing CTE Pathways help students to be prepared for college and/or the workforce because pathways connect academic learning to real-world application. For each pathway completed, students receive a cord to wear at graduation.

*Specific pathway classes are subject to change as the LMA program continues to grow and develop.

Freshman year is a year to create good study habits, get involved, and think about what you may be interested in pursuing after high school. Here are some things to consider:

• Stay on top of your grades and coursework
• Familiarize yourself with information systems such as Aeries, Schoology and (for dual enrollment courses) Canvas
• Practice good organization strategies i.e. using an organization system such as a planner or digital planner for assignments, upcoming deadlines, and school events
• Get involved in school clubs and activities

Visit the LMA Counseling Website for more information on program offerings, college resources, virtual wellness room and more!

If you are new to Legacy or have not had an opportunity to watch Dr. Harrison's presentations about the Legacy program, please take a look at her incredibly informative newsletter, linked HERE.

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.

Wellness Support Counselor

Email: ttsang@tustin.k12.ca.us

Academic Support Counselor

Email: jple@tustin.k12.ca.us

Visit bit.ly/lmacounseling

*Please note the content of this newsletter is subject to change as the

LMA program continues to grow.