Venture, established in 1978, is a fully accredited comprehensive school for students in grades K-adult education, and delivers the curriculum through independent or home study. Students come to Venture a minimum of once a week and spend about an hour with their teacher. Students receive weekly assignments at that time, and are expected to spend a minimum of 20 hours a week on academic work. 

Students attend Venture by choice. Venture helps students to pursue their educational opportunities outside the classroom, yet within the framework of the educational requirements of the San Ramon Valley Unified School District. The nature of the independent study program gives students the opportunity to personalize their instruction and the freedom to utilize resources and activities to create an exciting and flexible educational experience. While attending Venture, many students take courses concurrently at the local community colleges. Students learn and practice the self discipline necessary for future success.

Venture School is dedicated to providing a place where all students feel valued and unique. Students are offered creative opportunities to learn and to accomplish their academic goals. The program offered is tailored to meet students’ individual needs and incorporates individual learning styles, interests, aptitudes and passions. Venture is a dynamic institution constantly examining the program and seeking new strategies to better meet the ever-changing needs of students and the demands of the 21st century.

January 24, 2012

Spring semester already?! How did that happen? Congratulations to all of our students for their hard work in the fall. Transcripts will be mailed home in a few weeks. In the meantime, of course, you may check with your teacher to see your final grades and credits for the semester.

Small Group Classes – Spring Semester

Our spring semester support and enrichment classes begin this week. Our Math and Art classes are scheduled for the same time they were held last semester. Unfortunately, Jenny Haele, our digital graphics and writing teacher, has had to make some last minute schedule changes. (We're using multiple channels to communicate these changes, so you may also get a phone call.)
1. This week's Wednesday (1/25) morning lab hours are canceled.
2. Jenny will not be in at all on Thursday, 1/26. All of this week's Thursday classes, including Literature & Response, Digital Graphics I, II, III, and Writing Skills are canceled for that day only.
3. Beginning the week of January 30 (next week), she will only be teaching at Venture on Tuesdays and Thursdays, and her schedule will start a bit later on each of those days than in the past.

• Wednesday's Creative Writing class will move to Tuesdays at 12:45.
• Students scheduled for Wednesday's Writing Skills students may move to Tuesday's Writing Skills class at 11:30 or Thursday's Writing Skills class at 1:30.
• Literature & Response will begin at 9:30 each Thursday, instead of 9:15.
• Jenny won't be offering Drop-in Writing Lab Hours starting January 30 (next week).

New schedules will be posted on our website and available at school. Thanks for your understanding.

Venture School Site Council

We are looking for one Venture student and one Venture parent to serve on our school site council for the remainder of this year. The site council - comprised of Venture students, parents, and staff - is responsible for overseeing our school improvement plan and approving our annual budget. If you would like to learn more about how Venture School operates and contribute to our ongoing school improvement efforts, please contact Venture Principal Matt Hermann at 925-479-1201 for more information.

Business/Education Roundtable Student Recognition Project:

Venture students - you still have time to submit your application for our District’s annual Student Recognition Project. Students at all SRVUSD high schools are eligible to compete. There are 24 categories ranging from acting to robotics, community service to video production. This is a great opportunity and we hope you will consider participating. A very simple application must be submitted online no later than Friday February 10^th. Projects will be due in March. You can find information on the Student Recognition Project, applications, and criteria for each category at:  http://www.srvusd.net/srp

We also have applications for each category available in the file folders on the wall in front of the counseling office.

Standardized Assessment Dates

Please save the dates for these important tests scheduled in February and March:

All 4^th Grade and 7^th Grade students must take the STAR Writing Assessment on Tuesday March 6, 2012. Testing will begin at 9:00 a.m. sharp. The test takes approximately one hour. Parents should be ready to pick up their students by 10:15.

We will hold two administrations of the California High School Exit Examination (CAHSEE) over the next two months. 12^th graders and adult education students who have not passed both sections of the test should plan to take the CAHSEE on Tuesday February 7^th (English Language Arts) and Wednesday February 8^th (Math). Testing will begin at 8:30 a.m. sharp and last until about noon each day. All 10^th grade students will be taking the California High School Exit Examination (CAHSEE) on Tuesday, March 8^th and Wednesday March 9^th. Students must pass both sections of the CAHSEE as one condition of earning a diploma.

Community Forums – Facility Bonds

You still have two opportunities to join the conversation regarding a possible facilities bond on the June 2012 ballot. An exploratory committee composed of school board members, community representatives, and district staff will be holding two more community forums to present an overview of SRVUSD facility needs and to gather feedback. The final two forums will take place at Monte Vista High School on Thursday February 2^nd and at Dougherty Valley High School on Wednesday February 8^th. Both forums begin at 7:00 p.m.

Parenting 2011 & Beyond

The San Ramon Valley Council of PTAs is pleased to announce its annual parenting conference,Parenting 2012 and Beyond …, on Saturday, February 25th from 8:30am to 3pm at Dougherty Valley High School in San Ramon. (Check-in will begin at 7:45am)

This year’s conference will once again be a combination of our Parent Ed and Community Concerns together with Special Needs conferences. Registration will open on Monday, February 6, 2012. Register by visiting www.srvcouncilpta.org.

Attendees will start their morning with a fascinating keynote address by Christine Carter, Ph.D. Dr. Carter is a sociologist and happiness expert at UC Berkeley’s Greater Good Science Center, an interdisciplinary research unit dedicated to the psychology, sociology, and neuroscience of well-being.  She is also the mother of two girls and author of Raising Happiness: 10 Simple Steps for More Joyful Kids and Happier Parents.

Immediately following the keynote address participants will have the opportunity to attend their choice of over twenty different morning and an afternoon small group seminars, focusing on current parenting topics. The keynote address, two small-group sessions, continental breakfast and lunch are all included in the $40 conference fee.

If you have any questions, please contact Vanessa Berastain at srvparented@gmail.comor for more information visit our PTA Council website at www.srvcouncilpta.org.

Counselors’ Corner

Marsha Mak Mondays-Wednesdays

mmak@srvusd.net

479-1215

Maria DuBose Thursdays

mrdubose@calhigh.net

479-1239

Remember to check http://www.venture.srvusd.k12.ca.us/cnsling for up-to-date information

HIGH SCHOOL NEWS
All Venture high school students have been invited to register with Naviance/Family Connection and complete “Do What You Are” which helps students understand themselves and choose careers based on their answers.  If your student hasn’t yet done this, please ask them to see the counselors for assistance.  The students have been very happy with their results from “Do What You Are”.

For career and college exploration, students (and parents) can go online to www.careercruising.com. The user name is Venture and the password is careers. For a demonstration, please come to Marsha’s drop in hours, otherwise, explore using “Career Matchmaker”, search for careers on “Explore Careers” and use career selector also under “Explore Careers”. Be sure to save all information on your portfolio so that you can always check back on your selected careers.

Considering Colleges Out-Of-State: 'Creating Options in Your College Search'- an event for parents and students (Jan. 31, 2012). The Regional Admission Counselors of CA and DVHS will be co-sponsoring this event in the DVHS Commons, on Tuesday, Jan. 31 from 6:30 to 9 p.m.

Over 35 out of state colleges will be represented. The session will begin with an overview of the benefits of attending college out of state including topics such as increased chances for admission, the opportunity to graduate on time, learning how to adapt to a new setting, how to lower out of state tuition and finding the "perfect fit" school. In addition, each college will give a brief overview of its highlights and then a college fair will follow.

Plan to arrive at 6:30 to hear the presentation and college overviews, to maximize the value of this event.

A list of attending colleges will be available in early January but a preliminary list includes ASU, Culinary Inst. of America, Drexel U., Miami University of Ohio, Northeastern U, U of Nevada-Reno, University of Arizona, Regis U., Grand Canyon U., Oregon State U, Purdue U etc.
Questions? Contact Mrs. Schratz in the College and Career Center, jschratz@dvhigh.net.

Heald Colleges
Kathryn Valentine, Heald College Senior High School Coordinator, will present information about 18-24 month associate degree programs in healthcare, legal, business and technology available at Heald Colleges on Wednesday, February 15th at 1 pm in Classroom #1 at Venture School.  Heald College is accredited and has articulation agreements with all 23 CSU campuses and many other universities.No need to RSVP.

The Annual Education Summit
For African American and Latino Youth: Pathways to College Access, Success and Graduation

Saturday,February 25, 20128:30 am to1:00pm
Cal State East Bay • 25800 Carlos Bee Blvd • Hayward CA
University Gymnasium
Event Highlights Include:
•Inspirational Speakers
•Educational, College and Career related Workshops for Middle and High School Students and their families
·College and Resource Fair, including representatives from Northern CSU campuses, community colleges and community vendors

• Cash for College Event

• Lunchand Free ParkingProvided
Please visit our website to register online, to receive more information about the bus scholarship and to print event flyers in English and Spanish:
www.csueastbay.edu/EducationSummit
For questions, please call the Summit Hotlineat510-885-3516

MIDDLE SCHOOL AND 9^TH GRADE GIRLS

On Saturday, February 25, 2012, the Tri-Valley Expanding Your Horizons in Science and Mathematics ™ (EYH) Conference will be held at Diablo Valley College in San Ramon.  Registration has already begun and can be accessed at the website address below.  The purpose of the EYH conference is to encourage young women in grades 6-9 to persist in studying mathematics and science, thus expanding their future career options.  Girls will participate in two hands-on workshops, a special group activity, eat lunch (provided) with the presenters, and attend a career fair/science expo.

 The EYH conference serves to:

• Increase the interest of young women in math and science through positive hands-on experience.

• Foster awareness in math- and science-related career opportunities.

• Provide young women with opportunities to meet and interact with positive role models who are active in math- and science related careers.

Additional information can be found on their website at http://tveyh.org.

MIDDLE SCHOOL NEWS

My Future, My Way: First Steps Toward College, A Workbook for Middle School Students is available to our middle school students. Please pick these up from the shelves near the counselors' office.

San Ramon Valley Soroptimists sponsor 8th annual "She's All That" conference
February 11, 2012
San Ramon Valley High School
9:00 a.m. - 3:00 p.m.
"She’s All That!" is a unique conference aimed at empowering middle-school aged girls. It includes an inspirational keynote presentation and a choice of three of the available workshops for girls. Our popular “Live Your Dream!” Expo will include numerous informational exhibits again this year. The adult workshops have been expanded and new ones are being offered.
Pre-registration is required. Registration fee is $30 through 1/15/2012 and $35 thereafter.
To register and for more information, go to: http://www.soroptimist-sr.org/index.php/signature-project

Youth to Youth takes place on Saturday, March 3^rd at SRVHS and registration is now open.  This AMAZING conference is an opportunity for middle school teens to spend the day with high school leaders who believe in themselves and are making healthy choices and decisions such as being drug, alcohol, and tobacco free. But this conference is about so much more than drug and alcohol prevention it's about leadership, self-confidence and empowering young people to make positive choices that impact their future.

This fun filled all day event, consists of games, team building activities, inspirational speakers, workshops, small group sessions, and so much more all focusing on helping teens to make positive choices in their lives. The day ends with a fabulous DJ and dance!  For registration and more information, go to-- http://conta.cc/vNbm6j