Magnet.

Magnet Program Overview

Because of the unique circumstance of having three magnet programs on a single campus, the Van Nuys High School Magnet Program has had to make some adjustments in its class scheduling procedures in order to satisfy the diverse needs of the Magnet student populations. These adjustments also serve to further the cause of student integration, a prime objective of the Magnet Programs.

 

All three programs have a high percentage of students who are academically ambitious and therefore have common needs in terms of curricular scheduling. This situation allows and requires that some classes be designated simply "Magnet" rather than carrying a specific program designation. In other circumstances, some classes designated M/S or PA or MM have student populations from all three magnets on the roll sheet, as well as students from the residential school. Such circumstances allow us to offer more sections of the heavily demanded Advanced Placement classes. This offering of more class sections allows us to have more flexibility in the scheduling of students and the class assignments of teaching staff.

 

The overall benefit is that students are not only exposed to a variety of ethnicities among their fellow classmates, but a variety of career interests and lifetime perspective as well, while satisfying the curricular needs of their individual courses of study.

The full enrollment of the three magnets results in a total of 1300 students on a campus of 3000. This preponderance of magnet students has had the effect of forming cultural changes among the student body and the faculty. It has placed a greater emphasis on postsecondary education and the means by which to obtain it. This has been of great benefit to the rest of the campus community.

 

The parents have formed their own support and advocacy group, the Van Nuys High School Magnet Parents Association (MPA), a non-profit organization that meets on a monthly basis during the school year. The group is run by an elected board and conducts fund raising and performs political advocacy on behalf of the magnet. A monthly newsletter keeps parents informed and also serves as an advertising organ for several community businesses.

 

The local chapter of the Korean Parents Association is also active within the parents group activities.

 

The three magnets have also established relationships with several community organizations. Northridge Hospital Medical Center, and Providence Holy Cross Hospital have provided opportunities for our medical magnets to explore the healthcare industry, as have a number of healthcare facilities around the district where these students perform volunteer hours required as tenth and eleventh graders. The Performing Arts Magnet has established a working relationship through the Live Concert Academy program with the Zappa Institute of Technology that has allowed stagecraft students to acquire employment within the entertainment industry. Previously the Magnet program had also established relationships with the Fashion Institute of Design and Merchandising and Medtronics.

 

 

Magnet Office Personnel  & Contact Numbers

T H E   M A G N E T   O F F I C E
The Magnet Office is located just inside to the right of the main entry doors off of Cedros Avenue. This office will take care of most of your Magnet Student’s needs and concerns during there stay here at Van Nuys High. There are two full time coordinators and three dedicated counselors which service the magnet student population exclusively. There are also two excellent office managers which run our office and keep everyone and everything in order. This office oversees the day-to-day running and management of the three separate and distinct Magnet Schools here on the Van Nuys High Campus.

Coordinators:
There are two full time program coordinators for our three magnet programs. We are unique in that we are the only school in LAUSD which has two coordinators. This is because our total student population for all three magnets is 1,300 students. Currently this is approximately 45% of the total school population at Van Nuys High School.

Mr. Henry Song Math-Science Magnet Coordinator
818-778-6854

Ms. Melissa Coley Medical Magnet & Performing Arts Magnet Coordinator
818-778-6854

Counselors:
We have three full time counselors which work exclusively with our magnet students. Since they work only for the Magnet Office and Magnet Students, they are able to provide a specialized experience and knowledge base to better deal with all your student’s concerns on a broad base of issues from scheduling & programming, to graduation advice, to individualized personal counseling.

Math-Science:

Ms. Nicole Kim:              A - Q   818-778-6877
Mr. Evan Zekofsky:         R - Z   818-778-6862

Medical Magnet:

Mr. Evan Zekofsky:   A -Z 818-778-6862

Performing Arts Magnet:

Ms. Marcy Pelligrini: A - Z   818-778-6836

Office Managers:
We are very lucky to have two of the best office personnel in all of LAUSD. They will actually most often be your first line of contact and be your most frequent contact persons. The magnet programs are fortunate to have these two ladies. As everyone knows, or will experience, our office staff is outstanding and instrumental in providing the best service to both students and parents. They will always be available to help arrange a parent conference with any of your student’s teachers or answer any general questions you, or your student may have, or get you or your student to the right person.

Ms. Rheva Nickols 818-778-6854
Ms. Susanna Reyes (afternoon only)

 

 

*********************************************************************************************************
VNHS Honor Code

Every faculty member and student at Van Nuys High School belongs to a community of scholars where academic integrity and the pursuit of excellence are fundamental commitments. Students come to this school not only to improve their minds, gain knowledge, and develop skills that will assist them in their life's work, but also to build character. This Ethical Contract is intended to promote and protect an atmosphere of trust, fairness and respect at Van Nuys High School.
Cheating:
Cheating is a form of dishonesty where a student attempts to give the appearance of a level of knowledge or skill that the student has not obtained. Examples include:

1. Copying from another person's work during an examination or while completing an assignment.
2. Allowing someone to copy during an examination or while completing an assignment.
3. Using any unauthorized materials not specifically approved by the instructor during any exam or while completing any assigned work.
4. Collaborating on any group or individual assignment without the direct authorization of the instructor.
5. Taking an examination or completing an assignment for another, or permitting another to take an examination or to complete an assignment for you.
6. Altering a graded work after it has been returned, then submitting the work for re-grading
7. Submitting identical or similar papers for credit in more than one course without prior permission from the course instructors.
8. Stealing, reproducing, circulating or otherwise gaining access to examination materials prior to the time authorized by the instructor;
9. Retaining, possessing, using or circulating previously given examination materials, where those materials clearly indicate they are to be returned to the instructor at the conclusion of the examination;
10. Providing false information in connection with any inquiry regarding academic integrity.
11. Falsifying of records and/or official documents: academic records; grade reports, letters of permission, add/drop forms, ID cards, lunch passes, absence excuses, parent notes, etc.
12. Continuing work on an examination or assignment after the allocated time has elapsed.

Plagiarism:
Plagiarism is a form of intellectual theft that violates widely recognized principles of academic integrity. It is the verbatim repetition or paraphrasing, without acknowledgment, of another person’s writing.* Violations include:

1. Copying another student's work and submitting it as one's own work (i.e. homework, term papers, group projects etc.).
2. Using any other person or organization to prepare work which one then submits as his/her own.
3. Paraphrasing the thoughts of another writer without acknowledgment.
4. Citing a source that does not exist.
5. Attributing to a source ideas and information that are not included in the source.
6. Citing a source in a bibliography when the source was neither consulted nor cited in the body of the paper.
7. Intentionally distorting the meaning or applicability of data.
8. Inventing data or statistical results to support conclusions.

*All significant phrases, clauses, or passages taken directly from source material must be acknowledged either in the text itself, in footnotes, or in any other format specified by the teacher.

Other:
Any other misconduct which includes other academically dishonest, deceitful, or inappropriate acts. Examples of such acts include but are not limited to:

1. Pressuring or encouraging another student to participate in any violation of the ethics code.
2. Planning with another to commit any act of academic dishonesty.
3. Profiting financially or otherwise from the advocation and/or support of any unethical act.

Consequences for Violations of Ethical Standards
Any violations of this code occurring in the classroom will be subject to penalties established by the classroom teacher. The classroom teacher may, in addition, refer the incident to the Counseling Office. These referrals, or any violations occurring outside the classroom, will be subject to additional disciplinary actions established by the Counseling Office.

Sanctions may include but are not limited to:

1. Reduced or failing grade.
2. Notification of parents.
3. Suspension from school.
4. Parent conference.
5. Required parent attendance with student in class.
6. A letter of reprimand.
7. Signing of a probationary contract to be placed in the student cumulative record.
8. Notification of offense in school disciplinary computer record.
9. Notification to other current teachers.
10. Exclusion from school activities such as graduation activities, dances, sporting events, field trips, hospital assignment, etc.
11. Loss of college recommendation letters.
12. Any appropriate combination of the above.

The Ethical Standards for behavior at Van Nuys High School serve as a framework for the development of good character. Adherence to such standards engenders the integrity and trust necessary for a flourishing academic community where both teachers and students can thrive.

 
Credit: We would like to acknowledge that some portions of this document have been drawn from other Honor Codes: Stanford University Honor Code, Brigham Young University Academic Honesty Code, Charleston College Honor System, Cornell University Statement of Academic Integrity, Northwestern University Principles of Academic Integrity, The WestPoint Honor Code. Also, special credit is given to the 1997-98 Magnet Student Honor Code Committee of Van Nuys High School for their invaluable assistance in the preparation of this Honor Code. (CJH 3-24-99)