The Blazer Beat
October 18, 2024
North Lake Family,
We are more than halfway through the month of October and the start of the second 9-week grading cycle for the 2024-2025 school year. Since our last issue, we have had grades finalized, a mini-break, and our students took a common assessment to see where they are in their STAAR-tested subjects. I am happy with the results however there is always room for growth and to improve on the work that has made us successful at North Lake ECHS. As our teachers plan each week, they are ensuring that the lessons are engaging and make sure to relate the materials to the students in real-world examples.
Next week, on Thursday, October 24, 2024, from 4:30 pm to 7 pm, North Lake ECHS will host Parent-Teacher conferences and all high school staff members will be available to discuss the progress of your child during this time. They are also available next week by appointment, please reach out to your child’s teacher to schedule an appointment.
We also have a policy change regarding students attempting the AP exam without being enrolled in an AP course at North Lake ECHS. Students enrolled in Advanced Placement (AP) courses during the academic year will test for the AP exam in the Spring of that academic year. Dallas ISD purchases the exams for students who are enrolled in the AP courses and expects them to sit for the exam.
Dallas ISD also allows campuses the ability for students to take an AP exam without enrollment in a course at the discretion of campus with the cost being absorbed by the campus. Beginning in the 2024-2025 school year, North Lake ECHS will allow a student not enrolled in an AP course to take up to 2 AP exams during their academic career as a North Lake ECHS student. If students request to take the exam for an AP course that has a test on the same day as other AP exams offered by the campus we will be unable to approve this request due to limitations with facilities and campus resources.
Thank you for your understanding of this change in our AP exam policy. Students at North Lake ECHS will still have the opportunity to take up to 7 AP exams during their academic career. This on top of our dual credit program, will have our students prepared for their post-secondary journey after graduation.
Thank you for your continued support of our program and make it a great week!
Sincerely,
Adrian Hernandez
Principal
North Lake Early College High School
Twitter @AdHernandez2648
Familia de North Lake,
Estamos a más de la mitad del mes de octubre y el comienzo del segundo ciclo de calificación de 9 semanas para el año escolar 2024-2025. Desde nuestra última edición, hemos finalizado las calificaciones, hemos tenido un mini-descanso y nuestros estudiantes tomaron una evaluación común para ver dónde se encuentran en sus materias evaluadas por STAAR. Estoy feliz con los resultados, sin embargo, siempre hay espacio para el crecimiento y para mejorar el trabajo que nos ha hecho exitosos en North Lake ECHS. A medida que nuestros maestros planifican cada semana, se aseguran de que las lecciones sean interesantes y se aseguran de relacionar los materiales con los estudiantes en ejemplos del mundo real.
La próxima semana, el jueves 24 de octubre de 2024, de 4:30 p.m. a 7 p.m., North Lake ECHS organizará conferencias de padres y maestros y todos los miembros del personal de la escuela secundaria estarán disponibles para discutir el progreso de su hijo durante este tiempo. También estarán disponibles la próxima semana con cita previa, comuníquese con el maestro de su hijo para programar una cita.
También tenemos un cambio de política con respecto a los estudiantes que intentan el examen AP sin estar inscritos en un curso AP en North Lake ECHS. Los estudiantes inscritos en cursos de Advanced Placement (AP) durante el año académico realizarán el examen AP en la primavera de ese año académico. Dallas ISD compra los exámenes para los estudiantes que están inscritos en los cursos AP y espera que se presenten al examen.
Dallas ISD también permite a los campus la posibilidad de que los estudiantes tomen un examen AP sin estar inscritos en un curso a discreción del campus y el costo lo absorbe el campus. A partir del año escolar 2024-2025, North Lake ECHS permitirá que un estudiante que no esté inscrito en un curso AP tome hasta 2 exámenes AP durante su carrera académica como estudiante de North Lake ECHS. Si los estudiantes solicitan tomar el examen para un curso AP que tenga una prueba el mismo día que otros exámenes AP ofrecidos por el campus, no podremos aprobar esta solicitud debido a las limitaciones con las instalaciones y los recursos del campus.
Gracias por su comprensión de este cambio en nuestra política de exámenes AP. Los estudiantes de North Lake ECHS aún tendrán la oportunidad de tomar hasta 7 exámenes AP durante su carrera académica. Esto, además de nuestro programa de crédito dual, preparará a nuestros estudiantes para su camino hacia la educación superior después de la graduación.
¡Gracias por su continuo apoyo a nuestro programa y que tengan una gran semana!
Atentamente,
Adrián Hernández
Director
North Lake Early College High School
Twitter @AdHernández2648
Beginning on the first day of school (August 12, 2024), all students will be expected to adhere to the the North Lake Early College dress code and uniform policy.
Wednesday will be "uniform day" On Uniform Wednesdays, students are required to wear their ECHS uniform shirt, black slacks, khaki slacks or a skirt (no shorter than “finger-tip length” with arms in normal position, i.e., arms hanging naturally, as student is standing straight and upright).
New this year will be a special Senior Only Uniform of grey slacks or Grey/Blue plaid skirt with the North Lake ECHS uniform shirt or Senior Shirt!
North Lake ECHS Uniform can be purchased at Levine's two locations or via their website https://levinesstores.com/collections/north-lake-early-college-high-school.
Students will be required to follow the North Lake Dress Code on Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, and Friday. Please see the image below which outlines the do's and don'ts.
All students will be required to have clear or mesh backpacks for the 24/25 school year, small personal non clear bags are allowed. Dallas ISD will provide all students with one free clear back from the school year. I would recommend the mesh bag as they are more durable for the year. Each student will receive a new backpack during 1st period on 8/12/24.
Mesh/Clear Backpack examples - https://www.amazon.com/s?k=mesh+backpack&crid=21Z8OKVNB5ZZY&sprefix=Mesh+Bac%2Caps%2C144&ref=nb_sb_ss_pltr-data-refreshed_1_8
Hello Parents and Families!
I hope everyone had a restful fall break! Our ASP updates for the week are below.
Metrics
Applications:
37.5 of our seniors have submitted applications to affordable 4 year colleges, and at least 24% have been accepted! The majority of our students are currently working on their Common Applications with me. As I meet with students I am focusing on building their list of affordable colleges to apply to, and working on their common applications with them.
Additionally, we currently have 8 students planning on applying Early Decision to various colleges. The ED deadlines for their schools are November 1st & 15th. The deadlines for Texas A&M and the University of Texas at Austin are on December 1st. As we get closer to these deadlines I will be prioritizing working with these students to ensure their applications and all necessary documents are submitted by the deadlines.
Dallas County Promise:
We are 100% complete with the DCP Path form! The next step in the DCP process will be making sure all of our seniors have applied to at least one DCP partner college.
Scholarships
Posse Scholarship Updates: I am ecstatic to report that all 5 of our Posse nominees have been selected as Semifinalists! All of our students have completed their second round interviews, and are waiting to find out if they have made it to the final round. I will keep you updated on their status!
ASP X Davidson Scholarship Update:
Vanelly Lopez has officially been selected as a finalist for the ASP X Davidson Scholars program! Vanelly is only one of seven students in DISD selected as a finalist. She will participate in a final group interview on Saturday, October 19th!
Events
SAT Prep:
Our next SAT prep class will be October 24th. I have attached a flyer with the dates for the classes in the fall.
UNT Field Trip: Our Senior class will be visiting the University of North Texas on December 6th! Our students will have a guided tour, an admissions presentation, and will get to have lunch at the UNT Student Union building! I will update you as more information becomes available.
Thank you all for your continued support!
Dylan Matnet - dmatney@aspdallas.org
