Bowman High School

Bulldog News Fall, 2015

Robin Geissler, Principal Carrie Covell, Editor Eran Zeevi, Assistant Principal

We see the brightness of a new page, where everything yet can happen. ---Rainer Maria Rilke

He conquers who endures. ---Perseus From the Desk of Mrs. Geissler… The start of a brand-new school year at Bowman paints a vibrant picture, a collage of hope with the promise of achievement. I am happy to report that Bowman staff attended the Capturing Kids’ Hearts Training over the summer. The mission of the training is “to win students’ hearts and to lead them to their personal best.” As a result, our staff is focused on building relational capacity with students, encouraging them to do their best. We have always had a good rapport with our students and families, but we are taking it to the next level this year! As I visit classrooms and talk to students, I hear the refrain of voices that are making the best of their new beginnings. Students are actively engaged in rigorous academic pursuits in all subjects. I have observed students in spirited discussions, speaking their minds, researching opinions and basing their arguments on facts. Essential questions guide the instructional model at Bowman. Since we are preparing students to graduate from high school with the necessary skills to thrive in careers and colleges, we are implementing the four C’s: Critical thinking; collaboration; communication, and creativity. It is not productive to memorize content in isolation. Students must be taught how to think critically, problem solve, and work as a team. The business models for Google, Yahoo, or Gen Tech follow this paradigm. Our goal is to engage students in “academic dialogue” at every opportunity, ensuring that the intellectual energy on campus is driving us forward. We have some exciting events happening this year. For the third year, Bowman received a grant from AT& T to implement the Roadtrip Nation curriculum in several elective classes. Check out the program on RoadtripNation.org to find out more about this nonprofit educational tool that “helps students explore career pathways.” Also, we continue to strengthen our relationship with our new neighbors through the Habitat for Heroes building project. Bowman students delivered welcoming plants and notes to the first 26 families in phase one, enjoying meeting families and offering kind words to our new neighbors. My final message is to our students: I encourage you to face any obstacles blocking your success at school this year. If you need help, ask for it. The discipline of showing up every day, maintaining a good attitude, and trying your best is a winning combination for school and for life. Last year 295 Bowman graduates earned a diploma and enrolled in college or technical school. I challenge you to be an active participant in the amazing winning streak that is Bowman High School!

Bowman’s Night School Program

I would like to welcome everyone back to the 2015/16 school year. Bowman is continuing its journey of

growing and becoming the best possible school to connect students who have had challenges at other

school sites. We offer many programs to make sure we can reach each individual student in their pathway

to success.

Night school is a program offering an outstanding opportunity for students who are 18 and over and

working. Night school is held every Thursday night, and is closely matching to our day school program

in many ways. Students are afforded four classes needed to graduate, and in addition, all students

participate in a work experience class. Our students can earn more credits by providing pay stubs while

gaining skills in their work employment positions. Night school provides a more flexible schedule for

those working and needing their days available.

Night school offers all classes required for graduation. Since students attend only once a week, it is

important for them to take school work home and complete it during the week. Night school is a very

structured program where students are held accountable for attendance, class work, home work, and

credits. I am proud to share that in 2014/15, Bowman’s Night School never had less than 90% positive

attendance. New to this school year, Bowman was able to hire a teacher for two additional sections of

Art Electives, offering more elective choices to our students.

The night school program also offers a variety of additional services and resources for our students. Both

academic and crisis counseling are available to students if and when it’s needed. We also have a career

coach coming twice a month to assist students in career explorations, writing resumes, filling out

applications, and finding job leads. ACTION services are provided weekly for those students needing

supports in making better life choices. The work experience classes provide students with guidance on

job interviews, filing taxes, and work ethics.

I am honored to be working alongside such a dedicated and caring staff in our night school program.

Michal Coombe, Jose Rosales, Lindsey Villanueva, Ravinder Athwal, Mary Gaskin, Ami Gonzales,

Rosa Villanueva, and Desmond Carter contribute every Thursday to maintaining an outstanding program

available to our adult students on campus. If you have any questions regarding the program, please feel

free to contact me by phone, email, or setting up a meeting.

Intervention Credit Classes

A little more persistence, a little more effort, and what seemed hopeless failure may turn to

glorious success. -Elbert Hubbard

At Bowman students who are credit deficient or skill deficient in Math and English have a wonderful

opportunity to get the extra help, support, and credit they need to be more successful. Projected to begin

on September 14, 2015, “Intervention Credit Classes” will be offered in Math and English Monday

through Thursday. For the morning students, classes will be held from 8 to 9 a.m., and for the afternoon

students from 3 to 4 p.m. As soon as the schedule is finalized, an Intervention Credit Class flyer will be

posted on the Bowman website: http://www.bowmanhighschool.org/.

Welcome back! I am so excited to be teaching English 12 and ELD students again this year! With every

new school year comes the opportunity to add new resources to use in the classroom, including new

textbooks and technology. This year I am very excited to be piloting the Collections textbook series with

my students. Along with the Chrome laptop computers, these resources will help us further implement

the Common Core State Standards. Our four anchor standards to focus on this year are: Reading, Writing,

Speaking & Listening, and Math. Every lesson my students will encounter this school year will

encompass standards-based instruction that prepares them for the California Assessment of Student

Performance and Progress (CASPP) state-wide testing as well as for college.

Our first quarter theme is: The Individual and Society. All of our reading, writing, speaking, listening,

vocabulary, and grammar lessons will connect with this theme. We are currently working on first-person

narrative. In addition to writing narratives, students will also practice other structures to include

argumentative writing and informative essays. This intense writing practice will prepare students for the

district-wide performance task assessments administered on a quarterly basis. The Google Docs program

is where students will write and store their essays and projects for the entire school year.

As we analyze and evaluate a variety of texts, students are learning how to identify evidence to support

their claims. Rich discussions have taken place as students interpret what they read. Students are

practicing and applying critical vocabulary terms, as well as analyzing and relating famous quotations,

to their lives.

As we kick off this school year, students have created their own, self-managed classroom. Each class

period has devised their own social contract whereby everyone in the class has shared how he/she would

like to be treated by others in that class. I am very proud of my students in this task. We have all agreed

to help each other make good choices towards success. So far, I am pleased to see my new, and returning,

students highly motivated to earn their credits.

One of my favorite quotes is by Winston Churchill: “Never, never, never quit.” Remember, when you

put your mind to it, you can do anything; let’s do whatever it takes to earn those credits, Bulldogs! A

special shout out to the following students for their exceptional ability to start out so strong these last

few weeks: Diego Gonzalez, Adrian Rodriguez, Maria Rodriguez, Luis Guerrero, Ricardo Silva,

Jatziri Solis, Jonathan Flores, Danny Recinos, Ryan Quezada, Osvaldo Gonzalez, Raul Castillo,

Daisy Betancourt, Joselyn Cervantes, Miguel Cruz Ruiz, Pedro Ruiz, Dario Suarez Gutierrez, and

Elizabeth Hernandez.

We may encounter many defeats, but we must not be defeated. ---Maya Angelou

Bonnie’s Classes

Expository Reading and Writing with Bonnie is off to a challenging start as students jump into the pool

of rhetorical argumentation and terminology. Students are currently exploring the essential question:

“Could it be that video games are good for kids?” while tearing apart the popular science author, Steven

Johnson’s, argument about this controversial topic. What’s the claim? What’s the reason? Where’s the

evidence? Is it credible? Is the counterargument wiped out? How does he use rhetorical strategies to

persuade? These are all important questions students have been working hard to answer! This week

students will be working on writing rhetorical précis shaped by their analysis of the text, and finally,

emulating the author’s writing strategies while forming their own opinions supported by evidence in

argumentative opinion pieces about the topic. All of this hard work is preparing students to take the

district developed argumentative writing task in October! Go Bowman students!!

Theatre Arts with Bonnie is off to a fantastic start. Students began the semester by exploring the world

of theatre games, games intended to build self-confidence, trust, concentration, and awareness. This was

also accompanied by lots of laughter as students faced their fears and tried things they’d never thought

they would! Along the way, students have been learning some of the basis terminology for stage work –

cheating out, projection, facial expression, and breaking character, and have using them as they begin to

present to each other! A progression to improvisation came next, with students learning the basic rules

of play and allowing themselves to fail in order to succeed! Students have also spent time selecting

monologue pieces and will be working hard to understand characterization, basic staging techniques,

script scoring, body language, and believability as they progress toward monologue performances! The

Bowman thespians are upon us!

April’s English 9/Reading Students kicked off the year discussing the essential question: How do challenges shape one’s identity?

We have watched inspiring videos of ordinary people doing extraordinary things and held discussions

attempting to dissect and answer the question. Before we looked at the concept of identity in characters,

we took the time to look at self-identity. We will continue to refer to this question as we move into a

short story unit. We will be spending a considerable amount of time throughout the year on annotation.

Students will be learning to “talk to the text” as though the text was deep in a conversation with them.

Students will also be focused on writing argumentatively. They will often be asked to argue and defend

their answers.

Super stars in English include: David Cawley, Daniel Macias, Derian Acosta, Ana

Murillo Gutierrez, Eric Davila, Anthony Lavin, Vanessa Manzo, Colt Tapia,

Marguerite Smith, Kayla Trimble, and Danica Davood.

Often we learn more by looking for the answer to a question and not finding it than we do from learning the answer itself.

---Lloyd Alexander

More from April

United States History

Our yearlong essential question is: Has the United States become the nation that is originally set

out to be? We are looking forward to learning about the Roots of Democracy and the influence

of the Enlightenment on the founding of American principles. In this unit, we will examine the

question: Do we still see evidence of American founding principles around us today? Students

in United States History have brought to the classroom a great understanding for America’s

foundations and have shown enthusiasm about learning more! We are off to a great start on our

journey through America’s past!

Shining historians include: Vanessa Manzo, Colt Tapia, Michael Farretta,

Alexander Garcia, Keyaira Whitaker, Nick Lander, Jason Horton, Koby Vienna,

Hunter Miller, and Courtney Quashen.

ASB

The goal in ASB is to learn about and practice leadership

skills which include communication, problem solving

techniques, brainstorming, parliamentary procedure, group

dynamics, time management, goal setting, organizational

skills, project planning, community outreach, delegation and

public speaking. The objectives also include enhancing

individual self-esteem and self-confidence, developing

positive attitudes, coping with stress and becoming aware of

leadership roles. We will be focusing this year on community outreach. We just delivered

flowers to the new residents of the Habitat for Heroes homes next door to us to welcome them

to the neighborhood.

ASB News:

We look forward to seeing you at the Back to School Night Safari on Sept. 15th from 7-

8:15 pm.

It will be getting cold soon, so purchase your Bowman spirit wear sweatshirt.

Constitution Day activities will be held on campus at both breaks on Sept. 17th. Remember

to wear red, white, and blue to enter the raffle!

The ASB students impress me daily with their commitment to Bowman!

If a child can’t learn the way we teach, maybe we should teach the way they learn. ---Ignacio Estrada

Stacey’s Government Classes Another year for a fresh start and I am looking forward to making it a great year! Government is a senior class that focuses on current events in America, including but not limited to Presidential Races, current laws, and changes from Congress to the Supreme Court. This is an exciting time to be taking a Government Class due to all the current changes with Common Core Curriculum. We are focusing on reading, writing, math, speaking and listening and applying all the Government State Standards to ensure we are addressing the educational needs and skills of the students. Students have already discovered different faucets of the American Political System—foundations, political parties, and division of powers. They are taking those fundamentals and applying them to Create-A-Country. Students are busy looking at our true American Values, deciding how they feel and designing a country that they would like to live in. I am looking forward to seeing the creativity following—I could see the light bulbs and excitement as I assigned the project.

Stacey’s US History I am excited to start the year with a group of new to students to Bowman and to myself. I looked forward to share some of my favorite times of US History and teach students new skills. United States History focuses on overall themes of:

Foundations of America The Progressive Era World War I The Twenties and the Jazz Age The Great Depression and the New Deal World War II The Cold War Civil Rights Movement Vietnam War Era America into a New Century

We will be using a variety of skills to make sure that all the State Standards are incorporated. We will also be focusing on the Common Core Standards—reading, writing, math, speaking and listening. I have and will continue to encourage students to read history as a story. I am looking forward to teach the students that history is not always boring, but can be a very exciting subject to learn and why it matters. I am excited to share move love for learning with them!

Tell me and I forget. Teach me and I remember. Involve me and I learn. ---Benjamin Franklin

Sandy’s Classes

Welcome to Sandy’s Classes in Room 3! Students taking

computer classes in Bowman’s computer lab/Room 3 are engaged

in project-based learning to develop 21st Century skills, including

computer/digital literacy, critical thinking and problem solving.

Additionally, communication, collaboration, creativity and

innovation are encouraged!

All classes in Room 3 started the semester with students working

in groups to develop a Social Contract or an agreement of behavior.

After much discussion and group work in each class, the first

adjective students wrote down on the Social Contract was

“Respect.” This exercise reinforced the principle that all people

want to be treated with Respect! When visiting Room 3 during

Back to School night, be sure to check out the Social Contracts posted for every class!

Both of the Computer Applications and Web Design classes started the school year getting to know

each other through games, group work and a class project. The project had students use digital

cameras to take photos of each other and then each student used their photo to create a unique “All

About Me” poem. When you visit Room 3 and check out the student poems you will see how

students are unique and yet have much in common.

Currently in Computer Applications, students are learning the basics of Excel: inputting data,

entering formulas, formatting spreadsheets using cell styles, and more. Students can earn extra credit

points by participating in Excel BLAST where students demonstrate their knowledge to the class

using the laptop computer and projector. Excel BLAST emphasizes skills learned before moving on

to the next skills set.

Students in Web Design are currently learning HTML coding basics. They are working as a team to

develop coding skills to create a unique Web page about an athlete they admire or favorite sport

team. Throughout the course of the class, students will learn through hands-on practice the elements

of Web design using Adobe CS6 Dreamweaver software, an industry standard Web site creating and

management software. Adobe CS6 Photoshop is incorporated into the Web Design curriculum.

I extend kudos to all of my students for their great attitudes and for doing their best work when

working independently or when working as a team. It has been a great start to what I hope is a

productive and fun school year A Shout-Out to:

1st period: Anna Esparza, Ryan Cunningham, and Diego Gonzalez

2nd period: Alan Heredia, Andrew Ramirez, Ryan Tag, Miguel Velez, and Cody Yanecko

3rd period: Anna Esparza, Jessica Esqueda, Jessie Leon, Jatziri Solis, and Tyler Pinkston

5th period: Isaiah Sanchez, Jared Stewart, Michael Swiney, Kathy Gonzalez and Danny Recinos

7th period: Curtis Adkins, Devone Washington, Aileen DeLaCruz, and Erick Luna

Please call or contact me by e-mail at sgeyer@hartdistrict.org if there are questions about the class

or to discuss a student’s progress Also check out my Web page at sandysclass.com where you can

access my Syllabus, Class Rubric, Student Gallery as well as Resources used in the class. I hope to

see you at Back to School night!

Sheryl’s Modern Civilization Class

This year has started off great! The students are very eager to learn and earn credits. In Modern

Civilization, the students have been learning about the Syrian Crisis in the Middle East. The students

have been studying the causes of the Syrian Civil War and examining how neighboring countries are

handling the mass exodus of Syrian refugees. Lastly, the students will evaluate the various resolutions,

and express their personal perspective on the crisis.

Next in Modern Civilization, the students will be studying “the roots of democracy.” Specifically, they

will learn about how religion, the Greeks, and the Romans have influenced the democratic society of

today. They will compare and contrast the rights and responsibilities of “then” and “now.” Students are

always surprised to discover just how similar sixth-century BC is to present-day.

High Achieving Students

Vanessa Manzo

Gavin Bowen

Dylan Wilcox

Mariela Mariscal

Amy Frump

Marguerite Smith

Sheryl’s Reading Class

In Reading, the students have been reading “hot topics” such as the unfair

treatment of garment workers, and history of child labor. The students read

the article “Why Are Your Clothes So Cheap,” and summarized the key

points. In addition, the students researched where the working conditions of

the favorite clothing companies. Lastly, the students wrote letter to these

companies encouraging them to maintain or improve the current working

conditions for its workers.

Also, the students read the debate article “Is Technology Killing Our

Friendships?” and examined the two opposing viewpoints expressed in the

article. The students then had to side with a position and support with

evidence from the text. Most students felt that technology actually brought people closer to one another.

The next topic in Reading is extreme sports. The students will be exploring the pros and cons of “extreme

sports.”

High Achieving Students

Laurena Campodonico

John Oliver

Alex Singh

It’s not that I am so smart, it’s just that I stay with problems longer. ---Albert Einstein

Mike’s Econ Minute

The Dow Jones Industrial Index plummeted 1000 points, China’s Economy in a tailspin, oil prices

at an all-time low.

This is a day in Mike’s Econ class, where students are paying close attention

to economic indicators like the Down Jones Industrial Average, the Standards

and Poor’s 500, Oil Prices, and current news regarding the state of our

country’s economy. We just finished a unit on supply and demand and how

they work to produce equilibrium in the market and are now examining real

life situations of shortages and surpluses and how the market will correct itself

in order for exchanges to occur. This year we are including a number of great

Economics lessons provided by John Stossel that will dive even deeper into

current issues our students are already facing in the market place.

Mike C’s U.S. History

Roosevelt, Dust Bowl, Bank Failures, New Deals, Depression, Alphabet Soup? What does it all

mean? That is what we are unpacking in US History as we close out the semester. Students will

have the opportunity to demonstrate their keen knowledge of the Great Depression and the current

U.S. recession. Notable in the areas of finance, banking, employment, and the role of the federal

government in crises. Having something to relate history to can make leaning so much easier for a

student. Many students are seeing firsthand what happens when an industry like housing fails and

what the ramifications are. Sometimes current events can be a very helpful to us history teachers!

Mike’s Guitar Class

Everyone at some point in their lives attempts to learn a musical instrument, and for

many guitar is their first choice. Here at Bowman that is no different, as many of my

students are new to the instrument. Many are learning the basics of music and the guitar

and others are challenging themselves to become better artists. This year it is Layla,

Derric and the Dominos epic from the early 70s is one of the most commonly heard

strains coming out of the door of room 9. Guitar students many times find out how

challenging it really is to master a musical instrument, however I like to celebrate the

small but important milestones of the learning process. The second students hear

themselves playing a melody or chord progression that they recognize there is a spark,

recognition, magic, you name it, regardless of the adjective, it is very, very, cool!

It always seems impossible until it’s done.

---Nelson Mandela

Jordan’s Biology, Health, and Work Experience Classes

Welcome back! I’m so excited to have the incredible opportunity to be long-term substitute teaching at Bowman High School. I am a Hart High graduate and a SCV native. I attended and graduated from the University of Southern California in 2013 with a Bachelor’s Degree in Psychology and a Minor in Film/Television. At USC, I was a scholarship student-athlete and a member of the Women’s Swimming and Diving Team. Fight On! I completed my M.Ed in March 2015 from the University of La Verne. When I was finishing up at

USC, I began giving a lot of swim lessons to many young, eager athletes. I thought, “Hmm, how can I give back to the community on a larger scale than just swim lessons?” I was inspired to reach and guide youth. Immediately, I applied and enrolled in graduate school to pursue my teaching credential and my M.Ed. I was so excited to be an educator, I felt as if ‘education’ was the first thing I was able to thrive in after I retired from my swimming career upon graduating from USC.

Here at Bowman, I am teaching Biology, Health, and Work Experience (W.E. on Fridays only). We incorporate the four standards that the district is emphasizing daily in my classroom. The four standards include: reading, writing, speaking and listening, and math. In Biology, we began with ‘scientific mythology that allowed students to explore how ancient peoples made sense of the world and scientific phenomenon through storytelling and grandeur thinking. Now Biology is moving through the different parts of the animal and plant cells. In Health, we have explored exercise, nutrition, weight management, and eating disorders thus far. My students in Health have enjoyed incorporating a plethora of visuals and infographics into their learning. For Work Experience, students have the ability to learn from their own working experience as well as classroom assignments. We have gone over labor laws, values, and performance evaluations thus far. The following students have gone above and beyond the call of duty during the first few weeks of school in my classes: Jonah Cevallos, Antonio Diaz, Excon Pena, Luis Diaz Arambula, Andrew Leek, Brandon Nguyen, Dylan Wilcox, Sheena Zamani, Samara Vargas, Elizabeth Agababyan, Yasser Alrayes, Jovon Hayes, Jacqueline Osores Peralta, Damaris Romero, Sergio Sillas, Irvin Lopez, and Javier Lizardo.

I am enjoying the journey of teaching full time for the first time. It is challenging, but challenging in the best sense of the word. The students that I am teaching constantly push me to be a better teacher. The education that I am gaining from your students is special because I feel like my classroom is an environment where we all can learn from each other through collaboration. The enchantment of Bowman High School is greater than I ever could have imagined. I am beyond lucky to teach your students, to interact and learn from exceptional staff, and simply to be enmeshed within the magic here at this school.

The future belongs to those who believe in the beauty of their dreams. ---Eleanor Roosevelt

Lindsey’s Classes It’s been so nice to see returning students and to meet all those who are new to Bowman. I am looking

forward to a fun and productive school year, and students are ready to work hard and earn those credits.

This is our second year implementing the Common Core curriculum in all English classes across the district,

and we are off to a great start.

In English 11, we have started the year with an introduction to rhetoric, the

art of speaking effectively; students are learning how to analyze and make

effective arguments for the purpose of persuading.

In English 10, we have started the year with exploring the essential questions,

“What does it mean to be an individual in society?” and “How do our actions

impact others?” As we work to answer these questions, we will be reading,

analyzing, and responding to various sources including: articles, short stories,

advertisements, political cartoons, etc. Finally, students will be asked to write

an informative essay in which they analyze and compare the various

viewpoints of the essential questions discussed throughout the unit.

Room 7 with Geoff Chouinard

Already four weeks into the school year, and I find myself the student, and our students the teachers as we

are all showing enthusiasm toward the quest to learn from our past and grow into our future. I am extremely

excited, proud, and honored with all classes during the first grading period. Please come to Back to School

night on Tuesday September 15th to see for yourself the amazing work achieved by your son, daughter, or

loved one.

Currently, in Modern Civilizations the class is examining the catch phrase “Changes in Latitudes, Changes

in Attitudes” and how our physical and cultural geography has a daily impact on our lives socially,

politically, and economically.

In the following weeks we will examine the idea of democracy and

oppression and how we should embrace fear as our friend to overcome

tyranny. The students of Modern Civilizations have all worked very hard

and have been a pleasure to instruct.

Currently, in Economics students are examining the “immoralities” in

today’s contemporary American free enterprise markets. The above has led

to a project where students create a front page of a newspaper where they

expose how these immoralities in free enterprise arguably contributed to

our current economic downturn. Students’ have done a fantastic job in creating these projects where every

student was required to type up a one page editorial in regards to their current and researched concerns on

America’s economy. Great job everybody!

Thanks to everybody for making a positive start to the school year. No Bad Days…

Mary’s Artistic Corner

”Every Artist Was First an Amateur.” Ralph Waldo Emerson

Welcome to another Artistic School year at Bowman. My name

is Mary or better known as “The Art Teacher.” It is my pledge and

my promise to share all the knowledge I am capable of within the

school year to every student enrolled in my Art classes.

We have begun this year with the Artistic Theme, “Process of

Observation.” The students are discovering the differences between the right and the left-brain answering

the Essential question; can you be taught to see and draw?

The classes are in the pre-assessment stage observing lines, value scales, and textures. Practicing the

drawing techniques of contour drawing, blind contour drawings, gesture drawing, and still life observation

using a variety of media. This unit highlights, Leonardo DiVinci and Pablo Picasso. Come to open house

to see the budding artists who are displaying a keen sense of observation.

Yearbook

Yearbook is only as good as the sum of the whole and this year we are off to a

fast start with a great group of dedicated students already completing several

pages. Congratulations to Yearbook student Charlie Palmero-Delgadillo,

Charlie has been chosen to be the supervisor of the yearbook staff as we work on

collaborative team building and project development. He has already guided the

group to establish a theme, color and has held numerous team meetings building

a strong collaborative group. Cesar Ochoa has been elected to be his manager.

A shout out to our 2015/2016 yearbook staff: Greg Covey, Heaven Davey, Eric Davila, Kopher

Dawson, Jonathan Eugenio, Lindsey Gold, Jonathan Guzman, Stephanie Lopez, Erika Nagai, Cesar

Ochoa, John Oliver, Charlie Palmero-Delgadillo, Dominico Rotellini-Cataldi, Laura Sabedra, Sergio

Silva, Ivyanna White and Issac Zendejas.

It’s not whether you get knocked down; it’s whether you get up. ---Vince Lombardi

Jamie’s US History and Government For all of my new students I would like to say, welcome to Bowman, my hope is that you and your family will fall in love with our school the way I have. For returning students, welcome back for another

great year! It was so nice to see your smiling faces again. To my US History classes, this grading period we will be covering early US History, including topics that range from the Columbian Exchange, to the Foundations of America, and the Civil War to the beginnings of the Guilded Age. My Government students have been learning about the basic ideas and structure of our American Government. Students have been given the opportunity to create their own country and I am excited to see the outcome of the Create a Country project. I’m looking forward to this year and getting to know my new students. Good Luck to all of you and I hope to see you all at Back to School Night.

DFY IT Drug Free Youth In Town! DFY IT is off and running this year. Our returning members have already met and the leadership group

has been formed. By the time you read this, Sheree Williams, Maria Rodriguez, and Leslie Espinoza

will have helped launch the DFY IT kickoff Thursday, September 10th during both morning and

afternoon breaks. Our goal this year is to increase not only our membership but encourage more students

to participate in leadership. Since a majority of our leaders may be graduating by January 2016, there is a

lot of opportunity!

The leadership conference is an all-day event to be held at the Sports Complex on Tuesday, September

22nd. We would love to have a couple more students come along and prepare to take over the reins in

January. During the conference, the student leaders will plan our campus events such as how we will

participate in X week, when we will do our shout outs, how we will support Socktober and many other

activities during the school year. Our leaders join leaders from every other school in the Hart District to

create and plan events to launch on their individual campus. It’s a great day for team building and

collaboration.

Even if you are not interested in being a leader, you can still participate. All members (up to 40) are

invited to participate in the High School Summit. This takes place all day at the Sports Complex on

Tuesday, October 20th. All High Schools in the Hart District participate. It’s not only a great place to

swap ideas and get excited about events on Bowman Campus, but it is a lot of fun! If you have been

thinking about joining DFY IT, NOW is the time!

Ravinder’s Amazing Classes

Hello Everyone! I am so glad to be back to school. It was a great summer but I missed all of the wonderful

interactions we have in our classes. The year is off to a great start. In all of our science classes, our students

started out learning about how the brain grows, and how having a growth mindset can make them more

successful. The students were all excited about taking on challenges to grow their minds. We will be

implementing strategies to help the students think more critically and deeply about the subject matter in

each class.

In Earth Science we will move on to how the earth was made and how different parts of the earth work

together. We will continue to learn about different earth systems that interact to change the earth. Some

students that I want to commend on their excellent work habits and participation so far are: Kaley Frias,

Jordan Helton, Nyckole Portanova, Amy Frump and Adolfo Venegas.

In our biology class, we just began to study the Cell and cell parts. The students in this class are really

awesome in that they are working very diligently and participating in class discussions. I want to recognize

the following students for working really hard: Tyler Pinkston, Jordan Brackin, Sheridan Stowell, Jaxson

Finicle, Destiny Martinez, and Cerina Sanchez.

In our Physics, we have enjoyed the beginning of the year as we learned how science works. We just began

talking about motion and perspective. We have had some great discussions about how your viewpoint can

change your definition of the motion you are seeing. Let me say that all the students in this class are really

hard-working, but some that want to recognize for their extraordinary effort are: Edgar Espinoza, Broneel

Yadegar, John Greedy, and Jennifer Melchor.

It’s been a great start, so keep up the good work.

Jenny’s Hardworking Algebra Students

The following students have maintained an A for the entire time in Algebra:

Elizabeth Agababyan

Daisy Betancourt *

Irving Castillo*

Raul Castillo

Joselyn Cervantes

Andrew Chemali

Miguel Cruz Ruiz

Luiz Diaz Arambula

Jaxson Finicle*

Jonathan Flores*

Bailee Fulton*

Jesus Galdamez

Ruben Garcia

Kathy Gonzalez*

Sammantha Gonzalez

Bryan Gowin

Alan Heredia

Brittany Johnson

Tieler Janeck*

Kristian Martinez*

Jacob Mowrey*

Sabrina Nazari*

Jaqueline Osores Peralta

Ritchie Oviedo

Andre Payton*

Daymon Philpott

Nyckole Portanova

Anthony Renteria

Maria Rodriguez

Esmeralda Roman

Emeliano Sanchez*

Sanchez, Isaiah

Nathalie Santos

Korie Vienna*

Storey Weed*

* With honors means the student currently has an A+ in the class

Roadtrip Nation Coming Soon!

We are less than two weeks away from Roadtrip Nation (RTN) coming back to

Bowman. Last school year, RTN was a success! Through this course, students had

the opportunity to venture out and interview successful people. The journey and

preparation leading to the interview was amazing. Students interviewed nurses,

firemen, police officers, artist, teachers, counselors, principals, business owners,

athletes, and film set directors. In addition, we cover

many topics such as learning to reflect, learning from our

failures, overcoming fears, experiencing success and taking risks to define

ourselves. This year Aaron Fuller and myself, Jose Rosales, will be teaching

RTN. On October 2nd, the green RV will be visiting Bowman to kick off our

Roadtrip Nation experience. One question awaits, are you ready to define your

own road?

Wisdom begins with wonder. ---Socrates

Marlette’s Magnificent Math Classes

“Education is our passport to the future, for tomorrow belongs to the people who prepare for it today.”

--Malcolm X

Welcome to a new school year! My students are busy engaging with the mathematical practices of

perseverance, constructing viable arguments and critiquing the reasoning of others through error analysis,

attending to precision, and making use of structure. Students are being asked to explain their reasoning and

justify their answers both verbally and in writing. In cooperative groups students are utilizing their listening

and speaking skills to discuss math problems and to help each other understand math concepts as well as

speak and write the language of mathematics.

“Mathematics has beauty and romance. It's not a boring place to be, the mathematical world. It's an

extraordinary place; it's worth spending time there.” --Marcus du Sautoy

I would like to commend the following students for their efforts in

helping my class be a place where it’s worth spending time: Kaley Frias,

Janelle Liberato, Erika Nagai, Rosa Bernabe, Aisha Bogany, Heaven

Davey, Colt Tapia, Cody Yanecko, Curtis Adkins, Angela Ayvazyan,

Payton Mjelde, Marguerite Smith, Gabriel Venegas, Mason Welling,

Beky Covell, Lren DeFonte, Braydon Elgin, Michael Galaviz, Nicole

Garibay, and Alyssa Gonzalez.

Look forward to meeting everyone at Back to School Night!

Are you academically responsible and ready to build work skills?

Do you want to earn money while completing your education?

Are you a Special Education Student?

If you answered YES to all of the above questions, then stop by the Career Visions Department located

in Annex A to set up an appointment with me…. LaVetta Mayfield, your NEW Career Transition

Advisor! I am here to assist you with achieving your employment goals while completing your high

school diploma. I really enjoy using my 15+ years of educational training and employment experience

to assist individuals with training for interview preparation, resumes, career assessment and job

placement.

I am available at Bowman on Tuesdays & Fridays from 8:00-2:30 pm.

So please stop by and allow me to help you find your career path through our

Career Visions Department

LaVetta Mayfield

Phone 661-433-3051

Fax 661-250-9753

E-mail: lmayfield@hartdistrict.org

Kevin’s Classes

What a wonderful start to the year. I’m back with my Bowman family and couldn’t be more pleased to see

old faces in the students who will graduate this year, as well as the new class who has, so far, shown to be

extremely promising. In my Modern Civilization/Economics combo class, we are taking a journey through

the first major empires, where Greek and Rome produced influential philosophers who assisted the

development of the first forms of democracy. Our mission is to take the ideas and events from ancient times

and relate them back to the world we live in today, attempting to identify the logic behind our systems based

on reasoning.

United States History A/B and American Government is another combination course taught, in which we

strive to understand the historical events that led to the discovery of America, its Independence, and its

unity regulated by the systems of government that we currently live under today.

I end the day with my basic Physical Education course, where the purpose is to develop the correlation

between a healthy mind and a healthy body. Utilizing the basic principles of physical fitness, muscular

strength, endurance, flexibility, and cardiovascular development, a student can begin to develop a positive

attitude towards healthy living. Fitness activities are performed four days a week and the course includes

one full day of literacy. The development of skills, an understanding of the strategies, and the tactics and

techniques employed in various activities, allows a student to become more competent in that sport, or

hopefully become a better educated spectator. Students participate in a combination of team sports and

lifetime or individual activities each day during school. Our program also helps to develop important social

skills. The extensive variety of skill levels dictates a recreational setting, allowing students to learn and play

in a relaxed atmosphere.

I would like to recognize Javier Lizardo and Gio Hernandez for their performance in the first month of

school. Both have shown great work ethic, care, attention to detail, and the willingness to do what it takes

to be great. Thank you for being such a joy to have in class.

Algebra with Jose

Welcome back returning and new “bulldogs”. This year in my Algebra classes, we are focusing the Math

California Common Core standards. The objective is to apply our Algebra skills to real life applications

and dilemmas. In class, we will be collaborating to brainstorm ideas, formulas, patterns and concepts to

everyday life. Thus far, we have practiced these concepts by analyzing two pizza businesses. We compared

the business cost (supplies and wages) and compared it to their sales. In addition, we created solutions for

the businesses to increase revenue. Algebra is everywhere! I would like to acknowledge the all my students

for a great start.

Life Management with Jose “All big things have small beginnings”

Welcome back “bulldogs!” Period 2 is off to an

amazing start. We are currently learning about

the services and products that banks offer. By

the end of the lesson students should have a

better understanding of financial literacy and

making financial decision. Good job period 2!

Learning Strategies with Jose

Welcome back “bulldogs.” This year in learning strategies we will be working on math calculation, essay writing, resume writing, completing a job application, transition planning and participate in a mock interview. In addition, all students will have the opportunity to work on their core subjects. The class is designed to support you with any concerns you have. Room 2 is here for you! I want to thank all the students for a great start.

Physical Education with Aaron

The P.E. Department of Bowman High School makes every effort to improve the individual fitness level

and health of each student. It is our belief that the mind and body are interdependent; the body must be fit

if the mind is going to function at its maximum potential. We believe that good fitness habits, started at a

young age, have a better chance of carrying over into adulthood, improving overall health and quality of

life.

With this in mind, the school year is off to a great start! We have been playing

softball, basketball, speedminton, soccer, lacrosse, basketball and many more fun

activities. The kids have been very active with a lot of great performances & effort.

We look forward to the weather cooling down and being able to play without

sweating so much!!

Sylvia’s Workforce Prep Class

Sylvia’s Work Force Prep class is currently working on career exploration,

Interest Inventory, and completing a Power Point presentation on their career

of choice. They are also working on effective communication, group process,

collaborative problem solving as well as goal setting. Students are continuing

to develop their writing fluency, reading comprehension, and math calculation

skills. We are integrating vocabulary and developing strategies in our career

exploration.

Let’s hear it for our students who hit the floor running: Jocelyn Ramirez, Travis Lepine, Taylor

Ross, Nico Rotellini, Bryan Gowin and Jovan Hayes.

Sylvia Basic English 12

In my English 12 class students are currently working on grammar, paragraph writing, reading

comprehension and vocabulary development. The upcoming units include novels and nonfiction readings

and they have hit the floor running. What an awesome way to start to a very productive semester. My

students have shown me that they are ready to earn their credits. The motivation is very impressive. I am

pleased, too, with the high caliber of work that has been turned in thus far. Students who deserve special

recognition for all the hard work they’ve been doing are: Jonathan Guzman, Dallas Coffey, and Nevin

Postchy.

Sylvia's Learning Strategies

In my Learning Strategies student are currently working on career exploration and goal setting. Students

are also working on time management and organization. My students have shown me that they are ready

to earn their credits. They are motivated and ready to learn. Students who deserve recognition for all the

hard work they have been doing are: Kaylee Fitzgerald, Gabriel Venegas, Joseph Rodriguez, and

Danny Wunder.

From the Bowman Counselors….Path to College

It’s time for Juniors to get ready to apply to college next year. If you are interested in applying directly to

a 4-year university, there are some steps in the process that need to be handled by this spring. In order to

apply directly to a university students need the proper coursework, a college entrance exam (the SAT and/or

ACT) and an online application. Before you apply next October you will need to take the SAT and/or the

ACT. Colleges accept both the SAT and the ACT. Both tests are given several times a year. Colleges will

use the highest score a student receives on either test. Information, test dates, fees and registration are

available online at www.collegeboard.com for the SAT and at www.actstudent.org for the ACT.

Students who still need to complete their college prep coursework can take classes at COC this spring and

throughout their senior year. Students can come see Lori, Suzy or Ami to have their transcripts evaluated

in order to determine which classes are still needed to be ready to apply next fall.

Counselors will be meeting with all Juniors this fall to help get them ready to apply to college next year.

More from our Bowman Counselors:

Seniors, it’s time to start thinking about

College Next Year It is time to starting thinking about what you plan to do after high school. The counseling staff at Bowman

would like to help you get a jump-start on attending college. We would like you to consider several options,

not just College of the Canyons. If you would like to apply to colleges other than COC, there are several

steps you need to take this fall. The following are some helpful hints to get you ready to attend college.

Please feel free to come in and talk to Lori, Suzy or Ami about attending college or other post-secondary

options.

Step One: Taking the SAT or ACT

Colleges accept both the SAT and the ACT. Both tests are given several times a year. Colleges will use

the highest score a student receives on either test. Details including time and room will be available soon.

The SAT: For information on the SAT go to www.collegeboard.com

The ACT: For information on the ACT go to www.actstudent.org

Step Two: Apply to College If you would like to apply to a California State University (CSU), you will need to:

1. Make an appointment with counselor to review your coursework.

2. Take the SAT or ACT by December

Have your scores sent to the CSU of your choice

3. Pick up a copy of your transcript from Colette, the Registrar.

4. Fill out the online application at www.csumentor.edu

Application period runs from October 1st to November 30th

Application period for the spring semester starts August 1st

5. Complete the FAFSA application starting in January in order to secure financial aid. Apply

online at www.fafsa.ed.gov

6. Information on the CSU system can be found online at www.calstate.edu

7.

Applying to other colleges follows the above format. Check the college’s website for specific application

information.

Extra Credit Opportunities

Have you asked your student if they have any homework? Although Bowman students do not have

regularly assigned homework, for those students who are motivated to achieve, homework is available and

is an excellent way to make up credits quickly. Students must earn the right to have homework by being

on time and productive in class, and they must ask their teacher to be given homework. Homework is a

reward for regularly attending students to help them finish their coursework quickly. Every teacher has a

homework policy to help students, contact your students’ teachers for more information.

Before and After school Extension Credit classes in Math and English will be starting soon and

will provide students with additional opportunities for credit earning and to address knowledge and skills

necessary for graduation and success after high school. Morning classes will be Monday through

Thursday from 7 – 8 am and Afternoon classes will be Monday through Thursday from 3 – 4 pm.

The Hart District’s CTE Regional Occupation Program is a fun way for students to earn

elective credits at the same time they are exploring career possibilities. For over 30 different occupations,

these semester long classes offer classroom instruction and hands on experience at the job site. Classes

start January 11th, and signups are being taken now for Spring ROP classes, see Lisa James, the work

experience coordinator, to sign up.

Students interested in College Now! COC’s special admission program for high school

students should meet with a counselor soon. The earlier the process is started, the earlier

registration date students will receive. Bowman students can attend COC classes while still at Bowman.

Students should pick up an application form in the counseling office and go over the registration,

orientation, and concurrent enrollment process with a counselor. Reminder, COC classes count double, for

both college and high school, and the tuition is free for concurrent high school students.

With the holidays approaching, many retailers are starting to hire. Students who are under 18 years old will

need to get a work permit from Bowman. Over 18 year olds will still want to let Bowman know they are

working because employed students can receive work experience credits for the hours that they are on the

job. See a counselor or the work experience coordinator for further information.

Interested in finding your dream college or career? Don’t know what you want to do after high school? You

need to meet Bowman’s Career Coach, Sally Ibarra. Sally is available to meet with students

Monday/Wednesday/Friday from 9 – 2:30. She can help with COC admission, as well as, resumes, cover

letters and job interview training.

Home School Returns Students wishing to return to their home schools for the spring semester should meet with either Suzy or

Lori during the next month to plan what they need to do.

Students must meet 4 district requirements by December 18th in order to return:

Have attended Bowman for a minimum of 9 weeks

Have grade level credits

Have excellent attendance

Have no discipline problems

Seniors must have a minimum of 190 credits completed with all of their 9th, 10th, 11th, and first semester

12th grade courses finished.

Juniors need to have a minimum of 130 credits completed with all 9th, 10th, and first semester 11th grade

courses finished.

Counselors will be meeting with students over the next few months to discuss remaining requirements. If

you have any questions about your student’s progress, please contact one of the counselors.

Bowman ASB Presents Safari Night!

Join us for Back to School Night:

When: Tuesday, September 15th

Where: Bowman High School

Time: 7:00 pm to 8:15 pm

(ELAC Meeting begins at 6:15 pm)

Fun for the whole family:

• Play Safari themed games

• Listen to the sounds of the jungle

• Support the students by purchasing:

o Pizza Meals

o Snacks and Drinks

o Bowman spirit wear