We are so excited to welcome your 9th grade student to Northgate next year and wanted to send out some information as we approach our scheduling and planning season.

There are several dates coming up that will offer you and your student a chance to get acquainted with the school. Additionally, these dates will give you critical information on courses as well as their selection, and will offer helpful guidance on how to plan for the year ahead. Participation in these events will help you and your student get ahead in terms of learning how to maximize success at Northgate.

Here are some helpful dates to put in your calendars for this and next year!

• Thursday January 9- Course Information sent via Email/ParentSquare
• Thursday January 23- 8th Grade Course Information Night - 6pm in the Gym
• Thursday January 30- Course Requests Due- Paper for all, + Homelink for MDUSD families
• Tuesday Feb 18- Non-Foothill Student Optional Course Counseling (Zoom) - 3:00-4:30
• Wednesday Feb 19- Thursday Feb 20 - Foothill Course Counseling (during school hours)
• Tuesday April 22- OPEN HOUSE 6pm
• Monday July 29- Friday August 2- MANDATORY ADDRESS VERIFICATION on site at Northgate HS
• Tuesday August 5th- Frosh Orientation (Mandatory) - 8-12
• Tuesday August 5th- Walk Through Registration - this is where students receive their official schedules, textbooks, and lockers
• Wednesday August 6th- First day of school

We have arranged for two days for our counselors and administrators to visit Foothill Middle School to meet with students and discuss scheduling choices for the 2024-25 school year

February 29th and March 1

We have one online counseling session coming on February 18th via Zoom from 3:00-4:30.

ZOOM LINK

We are excited to meet you! If you have any questions about scheduling selections, feel free to contact their school counselor, organized by alphabet. Email is always best, and they will offer appointments to families who need them.

School Counselors

• Last Name A-Gl- Leanne Owen- owenl@mdusd.org ext 3546
  
• Last Name Go-N Khushnima Driver driverk@mdusd.org ext 3526
• Last Name )-Z Lauren Mercado mercadol@mdusd.org ext 3539

Administration

• Principal Kelly Cooper cooperk@mdusd.org ext 3500
• Last Name A-L Tucker Farrar farrar.tucker@mdusd.org ext 3502
• Last Name M-Z Tyler Rosecrans rosecranst@mdusd.org ext 3503

Be sure to contact MDUSD Enrollment Services and visit their webpage for the important information and dates.

Enrollment Services, not Northgate High School, handles all transfer student paperwork and decisions.

Packets are available online at our website- www.northgatehighschool.org

When it is time to turn it in, they can be submitted to the main office at Northgate, emailed to cooperk@mdusd.org, or turned in to the office at Foothill, Diablo View, Sequoia, or Pine Hollow.

Instrumental Music - Auditions and Placement generally in May, working with middle school programs. 9th grade students must take Concert Band or Orchestra.

Contact: Roberto Garcia-Leiva, director- garcialeivar@mdusd.org

Vocal Music- Auditions and Placement generally in May, working also with middle school programs

Contact: Kelly Cooper, Principal (new Director TBD) - cooperk@mdusd.org

Dance- Auditions and Placement in April; 9th grade students may be placed in Dance I or II only.

Contact: Kourtnie Howerton- howertonk@mdusd.org

Drama- Auditions and Placement generally in May, working with middle school programs 9th grade students must take Drama I.

Contact: John Litten- littenj@mdusd.org

Visual Art- 9th grade students generally begin with Art Design A/B or Intro to Animation; contact department chair for more information

Contact: Carolyn Moore- moorec@mdusd.org

Here are some great upcoming events to bring the family to!

• Boys Basketball v Concord HS - 1/10
• Boys Soccer v Foothill 1/11
• Girls Basketball v Berean Christian 1/13
• Girls Soccer v College Park 1/14
• Wrestling v Benicia 1/15
• Drama I and II One Act Plays 2/6
• Choir show- Musical America 2/27
• Dance Production Show 3/19
• MDUSD Band Festival 2/2
• And so many more! See our website calendar for a full list

With more than 27 sports teams at Northgate, our student athletes have many opportunities to get on the field and court and perform.

If your child is interested in playing a sport, please contact the coach and keep an eye on the website for announcements. Our Athletics Webpage includes information on how to register and important dates. All athletes must upload a current physical.

Our sports medicine program has a one day opportunity for athletes to come get their physicals, while also benefiting the program that will help to keep them healthy and playing all year round.

Any further questions, please contact the Athletic Director, Ben Ballard

Every year, students have the opportunity to form clubs to gather community towards a common purpose or interest. See the attached current club list and know that a goal of our Associated Student Body is to provide multiple opportunities for ALL students to get involved and build connection to their school and their peers.

What do I need to do to get my student enrolled at Northgate?

- If you are from the Choice area or out of residency, please be sure to communicate with enrollment services and follow deadlines. Enrollment is done by the district office. First round of acceptance letters have already gone out.

We are pre-enrolled, now what?

- Course request forms must be completed and submitted in January. Class lists will be emailed in May with a change request form, to adjust for errors or changes, and official schedules are given at walk through registration in August.

- All 9th grade families will need to complete an address verification with the Northgate office during a particular time span in August, to be announced later. (Generally the first two week in August before walk through registration).

Are there any AP or Honors courses for my 9th grader?

- There are no honors or AP courses that 9th graders take. Many classes are prescribed 9th grade year, including Freshmen PE, Living Earth (Biology), and English I. Math classes are assigned based on 8th grade placement.

Once students begin AP and Honors courses, they are limited to 6 AP courses- counselors will assist students in planning for their courses with a 4 year plan during their 9th grade year.

What is Link Crew?

-Link Crew is our freshman transition program, where junior and senior students are trained to be Link Crew Leaders, and freshmen are put into small groups with two leaders, who remain with them throughout the year. They will meet their leaders at Freshmen Orientation, and continue to interact and receive mentoring and assistance from them throughout the year in Strategic Support.

What is Strategic Support?

- Northgate has a unique bell schedule where built in two times a week are periods of time for students to study and work on homework. Strategic Support (SS) operates as a separate class, occurring after 3rd period and before 4th. 9th grade students are assigned to these classes by link crew for the first five weeks of school. After those five weeks, on Thursdays, students are allowed to select their SS period, allowing students to work with teachers before big projects or assessments, or makeup assignments as needed.

Families, alums, community members, and staff are all invited to put their "stamp" on Northgate's grounds by purchasing a legacy brick for our planned 'Legacy Lane.' This pathway will be installed from the stadium entrance all the way to our planned stadium bathrooms and concessions building that we hope to fundraise for with this project.

Before we announce this to alumni and the community, we are first offering this opportunity to our current families. There will be limited availability on these bricks, with a finite space, and we have set a goal of 4,000 bricks. Bricks are available for purchase NOW in our webstore.

We asked our current 9th grade parents for tips and advice for our incoming families. They shared:

• Parents should sign up for newsletters and read all the updates/information pieces that come out, NHS does a great job of keeping parents informed.
  
• Drop off can get hairy. Allow for plenty of time, as the slow-down is real, drive through the drop off area (pull forward as far as possible before stopping) and do not stay after your child has left the vehicle. Please also remember students are all over the area- illegal u-turns and speeding are unsafe and put all of our children at risk.
• As a student, the best way to feel like you're a part of the big school is to be involved! Take a look at the club offerings, athletics and arts, and find something to do with your peers!
  
• Northgate is a GREAT school. 9th Grade Parents need to trust their children. As their child begins High School, realize it is the first step to growing a happy, productive adult. Don't shelter them and do things for them. Let your child navigate through everything high school has to offer - from Walkthrough before school starts, to their classes and extra curricular activities. Guide them, but let them choose! Both you, and they, will be happier!
  

Email: cooperk@mdusd.org
Website: northgatehighschool.org
Location: 425 Castle Rock Rd, Walnut Creek, CA, USA
Phone: 925 938-0900
Twitter: @northgatehs