1. Ideas for reducing paperwork at the beginning of the year- There were parents from Park View, Colony Oak, Ripona, Ripon El and Ripon High School represented at the meeting. It seemed to vary by school the volume of paperwork that came home for signatures at the beginning of the year. Some schools had only a few pages while others seemed to have more to sign. Some sites had mailings sent home before school started (Park View and Ripon High) while the other schools did not. It was suggested by Ripon High principal Lance Morrow that the principals talk about what is sent home at the beginning of the year and attempt to standardize it. He also thought that more items could be added to Aries and signed electronically. Jen Brogan asked if the District Internet form could be signed just once instead of yearly. Mr. Morrow said this was a county requirement and had to be signed yearly.
2. Waksman science program- Ripon High parent Paul Femino shared with the group about an excellent science program his oldest son was involved with while he attended Modesto High. The program is originally from Rutgers University and has been running on the East Coast for over 20 years. In order to start at Ripon, it would require an advisor and students interested in being a part of a 3 week intensive training program at Lawrence Livermore Laboratory in the summer. Mr. Morrow was very interested in learning more about the program and the costs involved. Mr. Morrow envisioned students from the Honors Biology class getting involved in this program. Ripon High teacher and Ripon El parent, Cam Burton asked if kids in the CP classes would be able to have this opportunity as well. Mr. Morrow said yes absolutely. Ripon High Booster Club President Shari Hernandez said that the Booster Club would most likely be willing to offset the costs for the supplies needed. Mr. Femino shared that this program inspired his son to pursue science as his course of study. He received a full-ride academic scholarship to University of Tulsa.
3. Good things happening at Ripon High- Jen Brogan updated the group on new classes Ripon has added. The Peer Helpers class was added this year as well as AP Spanish Literature. An English teacher was also hired this year as well as the music/choir teacher increased to full time. Ripon High has been able to reduce their class sizes with the new additions! Most classes have 30 students or less in them with the exception of some History classes. Next year Ripon High hopes to add AP Human Geography, AP Psychology, as well as additional business classes. Mr. Morrow pointed out their pass rates for all of the AP classes are well above average. Ripon High also mandates that every student in an AP class takes the AP test. A Park View parent who has an 8 th
grade student came to PALSS to learn more about the high school. He had heard a rumor that Ripon High did not have any AP classes. In truth, Ripon High has 10 AP courses, which is excellent for a school of its size. Karina Ilardi commented that still many parents are not aware of what is offered at Ripon High. Jennifer West, Colony Oak parent, has said she has seen marketing materials from Central Catholic that are very impressive. Shari Hernandez said that the Booster Club could help with the expense of creating promotional materials for Ripon High. The parents at the meeting all agreed that there needs to be marketing to elementary students and parents starting in 6 th grade. By 8 th grade most parents have made up their minds about what high school their child will attend. Kristie Martin, Colony Oak parent, said that other schools are working hard to attract our students and we need to have promotional materials and events/activities that tie our younger kids in to Ripon High. Some ideas were including elementary students in the Homecoming parade and inviting them to activities at the high school. Kristie also mentioned she thinks an IB program would be a good thing for Ripon. Many doctors that she calls upon for her job send their kids to the IB program in Modesto. They would prefer to send them to Ripon if it was offered here. Jennifer West also believed it is important for all PFCs to meet regularly and plan out events and help each other. When she was a PFC President this was done one time and she found it to be invaluable.
4. Other- Two Ripon High parents, Janeen Eisenhauer and Kiki Shaw, expressed their concern over the lack of college information they were getting. Mr. Morrow said that the counselors were going into the classrooms and doing college presentations. Both parents said they felt the information was not reaching the parents. Jen Brogan asked if the school was holding a College Night so parents could get the information as well. Mr. Morrow has said yes he believed there was a night on the calendar. However, when Karina looked on the website we could not find a date. Mr. Morrow had said he would talk to the counselors about a College Night. Janeen was also concerned about the FAFSA and that Ripon does not submit Cal Grant GPAs for all of its students. If the student completes the FAFSA and a Cal Grant GPA is not submitted by the school the student does not receive a Cal Grant even if they are eligible. Jen Brogan encouraged Mr. Morrow to look into submitting Cal Grant GPAs electronically for all students. Jen shared that nearly half of her students at Enochs (known as a middle to upper middle income school) qualified for a Cal Grant last year. The parents also expressed a need for more college guidance at Ripon High. Jen explained that the counselors at Ripon High are very busy with guidance counseling, personal counseling as well as administrative duties. Mr. Morrow told the group they are hoping to hire an additional administrator so this would allow the counselors more time for counseling duties including college. Janeen asked to get more information out to the parents and students about the Naviance program the Booster club purchased last year. This is a great tool students can use at school or home for college and scholarship searches and has personality and interest inventories to see what future careers may be good for students.