School Programs

 

Advanced Placement Program:

Advanced Placement (AP) is an internationally recognized program of college-level courses and exams designed by College Board and The Educational Testing Service.  By taking these exams in high school and successfully completing the AP exam, students can earn credits for college even before graduating from high school.  Bell High School was one of only two LAUSD schools recognized nationally by the College Board Report for our Exemplary Advanced Placement Programs, in particular as the school with the largest number of Latino students scoring 3+ in AP Spanish Literature Programs.  As of February 2005, Bell High School began enrolling seniors for Òzero periodÓ Advanced Placement classes (6:15 a.m. to 7:15 a.m.) that are taken Òon-lineÓ via the Internet.  All teachers must be certified to teach AP classes.  If you have any questions, you can speak to Antonio Reveles in the College Center.

 

Advanced Placement classes that are offered include:  AP English Language and Composition, AP English Literature and Composition.  AP Calculus, AP Statistics, AP Biology, AP Chemistry, AP Physics, AP Psychology, AP Macroeconomics, AP Microeconomics, AP US Government and Politics, AP History, AP French Language, AP Spanish Language.

 

Beyond the Bell:

Our Saturday Extended Learning Academy, Beyond the Bell program address math and English skills, especially those found on the California High School Exit Exam.  Beyond the Bell meets on Saturday mornings from 8:00 a.m. to 12:05 a.m.  It is another means of providing academic support to our at-risk students by providing them an opportunity to earn extra credits.  There are four, eight-week sessions that begin throughout the year and you will be asked to refer students to the program.  If you have any questions regarding the Beyond The Bell program, you may contact Mr. Arenas the Beyond the Bell Coordinator or Maribel Pelayo the Beyond the Bell Counselor.

 

D.O.T.S.

Transition from school to adult life is a process.  The District Office of Transition Service (DOTS) provides instructional support, career guidance, and job opportunities to prepare students with special needs for the adult world.  We collaborate with families, school personnel, employers, and outside agencies, empowering students to make decisions, set goals, and carry out their transition plans from school to post-school opportunities.

Students benefit by receiving:

á      Career interest screening

á      Career awareness activities, including guest speakers, field trios, and agency job fairs.

á      Pre-employment preparation:  resumes, applications, and interview techniques

á      Job search skills – including internet explorations

á      Work experience opportunities

á      Independent living skills instruction

á      Referrals to community agencies

á      Access to job-ready applicants

á      Assessment and evaluation of studentÕs interest and abilities prior to placement

á      Careful screening of applicants for dependability

á      Placement, monitoring, and ongoing support of students at the work site

á      Training wages and WorkersÕ Compensation Insurance coverage for qualified students

á      Contributing to local community and student success

           

Gifted/Talented:

Bell High SchoolÕs instructional programs for gifted and talented students are based on the principles that all students are to receive an education appropriate to their individual capabilities, interests, and needs, and that students have learning opportunities that help develop their abilities to the highest level.  Because gifted and talented students generally demonstrate high performance or capacity for high performance beyond age/grade expectations, they are atypical learners who require specialized learning experiences beyond the regular curriculum.

 

All identified gifted/talented students should be provided with unique, appropriate learning experiences.  Every program should contain an academic component leading to higher-level thinking skills with special attention placed upon developing a positive self-concept.

 

 

IMPACT:

The IMPACT program at Bell High School is a support service providing substance abuse and intervention.  The purpose of the program is to give students support and to help students achieve to the best of their ability.  The students who are referred to the IMPACT program are put into groups.  Each group meets once a week.  Each week the program meets a different period so that the students are not pulled out of the same period week after week.

 

We have several types of groups on our campus.  The ATOD group is for those students that have been caught under the influence or in the possession of a drug and/or alcohol use.  The students learn about dependency and addiction as well as the harmful effects of drug use.  Another popular group is the CRISIS group.  This group can be placed for a variety of programs.  Many students have issues with their peers, families, dealing with divorce, death and low grades and poor attendance.

 

The IMPACT program tries to give the students help in becoming better individuals and tries to teach ways to achieve at home and at school.  You may refer a student by filling out the Confidential Referral to IMPACT form located in the Main Office or talking to Mrs. Pickard, IMPACT coordinator.

 

Parent Center

The Parent Center opened three years ago.  Funding to open the Parent Center was provided by two parent grants written by Mrs. Nancy Kodama, Assistant Principal.

 

The Parent Center is centrally located in the Main Building.  The office hours are from 7:30 a.m. to 10:00 a.m. daily.  The four community members who are in charge of the Center are Mrs. Maria Bonilla, Mrs. Angelica Lopez, Mrs. Veronica Valdez, and Mrs. Betty Perez.  They provide many services to the school such as assisting with attendance by calling home to contact parents, supervision, translation, assistance in helping parents navigate through the educational system, assisting teachers in making telephone calls home, and assisting with various other services to the school.

 

Perkins

The Perkins Program is a federally funded program at Bell High School.  The goal of the Perkins Program is to offer career technical training in specialized areas so that students can secure worthwhile employment during high school and immediately after graduation. The Perkins program is based on the premise that students learn best by doing and that the workplace is an important learning environment for the student. 

At Bell High School all students have access to a system of personal support services, activities and opportunities at the school and within the community provided by the Perkins Program.  The Perkins Program is designed to increase student options after graduating from.  Bell High School by preparing our students with the following:

á      Career, technical, and basic skills necessary for entry-level jobs in specific career pathways.

á      Basic and academic skills necessary for succeeding in college.

á      Skills necessary to enter the workforce while attending college.

 

Career Pathways offered at Bell High School

Track A           Machinist, CNC                                  Graphic Arts, Printing

Mr. Gallegos                                       Mr. Calderon

                                                                                               

Track B           Computer                                            Floral Design

                                    Mrs. Glover                                        Mrs. Kelly

 

Track C           Construction                                        Drafting, CAD           

Mr. Creamer                                        Ms. Macias

Business

Mrs. Rodriguez

 

Tutoring:

Bell High School has a tutoring program that will compensate teachers two hours a week to tutor their students after school.  The tutoring program will be on Mondays and Thursdays for one hour a day.  You will need to sign up with Mr. Arenas to ensure that you are paid for your time.