FAQ
How do I contact a counselor?
Our counselor, Mr. Gonzalez, will be pleased to meet with you or your students. When Mr. Gonzalez is available, students are welcome to drop by and speak with him. Additionally, Mr. Gonzalez can be reached by phone at 669-369-4423 or via email at jugonzalez@scusd.net. You can also schedule an appointment by contacting Ms. Priya at kselvaraj@scusd.net or by phone at 669-369-4426.
When will MHS students select their classes for the next school year?
In the months of January or February, students will choose their courses.
What classes will be offered to tenth graders at MHS?February
10th Grade Courses
1.English/Honors
2.Math (Algebra, Geometry, Algebra 2, Trigonometry Honors)
3. Chemistry
4. Spanish 2/Spanish 2/AP Span
5.World History/AP European History
6. PE 10
7. Optional: AP Art, AP Computer Science, Theater 2, Music 2, Leadership, Sports PE.
Honors classes at Kathleen MacDonald?
This coming academic year, 2023-2024, we will offer chemistry to all our students. Our teachers and Administration feel strongly that all students need a solid foundation. Our science teachers put out a joint statement:
"Chemistry is a challenging course for all students. The Chemistry course at MHS will prepare all students for future on-level and AP-level science courses. The pacing and the skills in Chemistry are designed to challenge students at all levels. At MHS we believe in equity and equal opportunities for all students to take higher-level classes. For this reason, the science curriculum for the first two years is intentionally planned to give all students a strong foundation in core STEM classes."
The same principles apply to Algebra 2. The pacing and skills in Algebra 2 are designed to challenge students at all levels. After the completion of Algebra 2, students will be prepared to successfully take both trig honors and AP Calculus in their Junior and Senior years.
And World History, students have the option of taking on-level world history or AP European History if they want to take an advanced class. World History Honors is only taught at MECHS, which partners with Mission College.
Can a student take classes over the summer at an outside educational institution or a local community college?
Yes, MHS students can enroll in courses outside of MHS. Students applying for courses out-of-district should get approval from the school. High school students can take up to four out-of-district, UC-approved courses during their high school career. In the Santa Clara Unified School District, students are allowed to take 4 courses from a WASC-accredited school and put them on their transcript. If a student takes more than four courses at an outside WASC institution, everything over 4 will not be included on the transcript.
Will my community college grades get transferred to my MHS transcript?
No
Can I take summer courses and skip a level?
Yes, It needs to be from a WASC-accredited school, and the course has to be a 10-unit course. If you do plan on having your summer courses count on your MacDonald High School transcript, you will have to get the course approved by MacDonald High School Administration.
Is the institution UC/CSU accredited?
Summer programs cannot be utilized in place of needed coursework or to skip levels of classes unless they are authorized high school academic programs with prior clearance from us.
Will there be coursework that provides college credits similar to the Mission High School program?
You can earn college credits if you take an AP class and score a 3 or higher on the AP test.
How do you calculate a weighted GPA?
Use Grades from the “a-g” Subject Requirements
Your GPA is calculated by assigning point values to the grades you earn, totaling the total points, and dividing the total by the number of “a-g” course units
A = 4 points
B = 3 points
C = 2 points
D = 1 point
F = 0 points
Only the grades you earn in the “a-g” subjects in the 10th, 11th, and 12th grades are used to calculate your GPA. 9th grade courses can be used to meet the Subject Requirement if you earn a grade of C or better, but they are not used to calculate GPA.
Using Honors Courses to Complete your GPA
UC assigns extra points for up to four units of University-certified honors level and advanced placement courses taken in the last three years of high school. No more than two years of UC-approved courses taken in the 10th grade may be given extra points. Grades will be counted as follows:
A = 5 points
B = 4 points
C = 3 points
D = will not be given an extra point
Courses must be in the following “a-g” subjects: History, English, Advanced Mathematics, Laboratory Science and World Language. They must be certified as honors courses by the University. In these fields, as well as computer science, social science, and the visual and performing arts, acceptable honors-level courses are designed to prepare students for an Advanced Placement Examination of the College Board or a Higher Level of Examination of the International Baccalaureate. College courses that are transferable to UC are acceptable honors-level courses.
What is "Dual Enrollment or "Concurrent enrollment"?
It is when you take a community college course while be a full time high school student.
What is PCBL time?
PCBL stands for Personalized Competency-Based Learning. PCBL time has been created to enrich and support your academic progress. You are responsible for using this time wisely. Supports will be provided by staff if this time is not used appropriately.
PCBL Time, called “Advisor” on your schedule, is your homeroom, which will give you an opportunity to:
Review bulletin (e.g., upcoming school events, club meeting times)
Work on projects, homework, read silently
Receive additional academic support, embedded recovery, and enrichment from teachers
Upon request, students may receive a permission slip to be released from homeroom to see another teacher in order to:
Complete teacher approved assessment retakes
Receive additional academic support, embedded recovery, and enrichment from teachers
By request and invitation from staff members on campus (e.g., Club Advisors, Wellness Coordinator, Principal), you may be released from homeroom in order to:
Attend Counselor-led workshops on study skills, college, and career readiness
Wellness appointments and group meetings
Support provider appointments
Participate in planned activities at our School Design Lab, Innovation Center, and other locations
When the bell rings
When the bell rings for PCBL at 12:25pm on Mondays and Thursdays, you need to report to your scheduled homeroom, which is called “Advisor” on your school schedule.
PCBL Time Norms
In homeroom or in any other space during PCBL Time, you are expected to:
Be on time like for any other class
Know how you’re doing in all of your classes (e.g., checking your grades in Aeries regularly)
Work productively on school-related subjects (e.g., homework, projects, assessment preparation) or wellness activities (e.g., mindfulness, self-regulation)
If teachers provide the opportunity, utilize this time to work on retakes and revisions of assessments
Consider sitting in groups of 4 or smaller
Respect classroom norms
PCBL time has been created to enrich and support your academic progress.
How to communicate with teachers?
The best way to communicate with a teacher is via email.
If a student has poor grades in a semester, will teachers communicate with parents?
Parents will be notified via quarter-grade reports. Parents can always look at the students' Aeries grade reports and get the most up-to-date grade daily.
Does 9th grade count?
Yes, it does.
SVCTE?
Students may currently enroll in SVCTE in their 11th and 12th grades through the Santa Clara Unified School District. As long as SVCTE and Santa Clara Unified School District are partners, MacDonald High School will support the trades that SVCTE provides and give students a hands-on education while they are still in high school.
Under the heading of Visual and Performing Arts, the graduation requirements state that students must complete "three semesters, one semester of each of the visual, performing, and practical arts." Does that mean that each area of the visual and performing arts must be taken by students once per semester?
Two courses in visual/performing arts and practical arts/CTE. This includes any variety of fine arts, and performing arts courses, in combination with a practical arts course for a total of 15 credits.