Exploration News
Summer Programs for High School
If you’re looking for a productive way to spend your summer and are interested in greater college preparedness, consider attending a pre-college summer program. These programs can be a great opportunity to experience life on a college campus, earn advanced college credit, build relationships, and increase your admission chances. Summer programs are available locally, with commuter or on-campus options, and across the country. They can cover general college readiness and subjects or focus on specific areas of study. Is there a specific college you are interested in attending? Apply to their summer program! Don’t delay! Most programs have application deadlines in March and April and many offer financial aid for those who qualify. Here are a few suggestions, but you can do your own research as well:
General Studies:
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Carnegie Mellon Pre-College Summer Program
Specific Subjects:
This list is in no way exhaustive but should get you started in the right direction. If summer programs like these are out of your reach, acquiring a summer job or taking a course at the community college can also add depth to your admissions profile.
Scholarships
The best form of need-based and merit-based financial aid comes directly from a college or university. Need-based aid depends on a family’s financial situation while merit-based aid, also known as scholarships, comes from student achievement or talent. This can be in the areas of academics (grades and test scores), visual and performing arts, community service, leadership, athletics, and more. It takes effort to research scholarships provided by each college, but it is worth it.
Some things to know when exploring scholarships:
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Locate the financial aid section of each college to see what types of scholarships they offer.
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Check carefully for scholarships that require an extra application or additional requirements.
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Be aware of stacking and displacement. When a student receives a scholarship and need-based aid, the college may stack the aid, allowing the student to receive both, or displace one form of financial aid with the other.
Local Scholarships
Students may also be able to find scholarships through local businesses, service organizations, or even their parents’ employers. It is wise to conduct a Google search to see what is out there. Organizations such as the Rotary Club, the Chamber of Commerce, the Port of Los Angeles, and other organizations may provide financial opportunities.
High Achieving Underrepresented Students
There are several large scholarships that are available to high achieving students from underrepresented groups such as low-income students or minorities. These include Questbridge, The Posse Foundation, the Gates Scholarship, and others.
The Western Undergraduate Exchange (WUE)
California is in a group of states that offer a tuition exchange called the Western Undergraduate Exchange or WUE. Participating colleges require a minimum GPA and/or test score to qualify. Some colleges award the WUE rate automatically and some award the rate to only a few students. WUE nonresident tuition discounts average up to $9,400 per year making these schools more affordable than some California schools.
RaiseMe
RaiseMe is a website that allows students to earn micro-scholarships based on grades, activities, work experience, and more. Participating colleges guarantee that students will be awarded a minimum amount of scholarship money based on the accurate information provided. RaiseMe is a great way for a student to gauge how much a college might award in merit aid as well as earn scholarship money that would otherwise not be available. Students can start adding their grades and activities as early as 9th grade and watch their scholarships build up throughout their high school years. Check out iLEAD’s RaiseMe page.
To explore and learn more about financial aid, make an appointment with our College Advisor, Laura Kazan.
Keep an eye out for our webinar on financial aid and the college search in April.
Opening of the Curriculum Library
Charter Profile
Be sure to view our public school profile for iLEAD Exploration (our official charter name is iLEAD Hybrid). Since opening five years ago, we have built a solid charter school option for all types of learners!
Tales2go
Save The Date
High School Graduation will be held on June 3 at 4:00 p.m. at The Grand in Long Beach. We look forward to seeing all our graduates participate in this special event.
ASB News
Associated Student Body
Congratulations to our 2019-2020 ASB Team!
12th Grade:
Alyssa Sanchez
Mary Miller
11th Grade:
Camilo Whitfield
Julianna Longhenry
Sydney Shepherd
10th Grade:
Abigail Myers
Ariella Clarino
Charis Dubose
Kniya Rogers
Meet Your EL Team
Name/Role: Jennifer Ramirez, EL Coordinator
Location: Irvine
Family: Married to Alex, and we have three kids, who are nine, seven, and four years old.
Best Vacation: Backpacking through Spain for a month.
Fun Fact: After backpacking through Spain for a month, I returned home, sold my car, resigned from LA Unified, and decided to return to live and teach in Madrid, Spain.
Name/Role: Melissa Clarke, EL Support
Location: Foothill Ranch (south Orange County)
Family/Pets: Married to my husband, Chris, for 10 years. We have a daughter, who is eight, and a son, who is 6. We have a cat named Jimmy, a hamster named Marshmallow, and a beta fish named Blue Fin.
Best Vacation: Trip to Washington, D.C., with my family when I was in high school.
Fun Fact: I earned the Girl Scout Gold Award, which is the highest award in Girl Scouting.
Name/Role: Amri Gallardo, EL Support
Location: Chatsworth
Family/Pets: Husband, two daughters, and one turtle (did you know that red-eared slider turtles live 30 years?).
Best Vacation: When my husband goes south to Mexico to visit his family, I run farther away from them and rent a hotel room with my girls by the Ventura beaches.
Fun Fact: I used to be an aircraft mechanic before becoming a teacher.
Name/Role: Lorraine Kajikawa, EL Support
Location: Torrance
Family/Pets: Married to Gavin and have two daughters and two goldfish.
Best Vacation: When I went to Paris, France, for a milestone birthday!
Fun Fact: I love planting and caring for succulents!
Name/Role: Adrienne Lynch, EL Support
Location: Los Angeles
Family/Pets: Gladys the rescue cat.
Best Vacation: Hiking dead volcanoes in Iceland.
Fun Fact: Not a lot of people know I’m a true cowgirl at heart! Because I was homeschooled, I had the space and encouragement to explore extracurricular passions. I fell in love with equestrian care, and in high school, I finally got my own horse named Foxy! It was such a thrill to show her in local gymkhanas and rodeos. I had to sell Foxy when I moved to Los Angeles for college, but it is my dream to own and ride a horse again!
Backpacks Full of Hope 2020
If you have been thinking about joining the spring 2020 Backpacks Full of Hope relief trip to Puerto Rico, now is the time to sign up. Only 10 spots remain open on our team, and registration must be completed by Friday, Nov. 15th. Click here to register today!
Important Details
- 10 team spots remain
- Total trip cost: $1,550
- New registration: $1,150 due by Nov. 15
- The trip is non-refundable after Nov. 30
- Remaining payments are due on Jan. 31
This is the third Backpacks Full of Hope trip, and we believe it is an important one. During the first and second trips, some of the most impactful feedback we had from those we were helping was hearing how much it meant to have people travel there to provide assistance. The work we are doing to aid our fellow Americans matters, and we’d love to have you be a part of it!
If you haven’t had a chance yet, please watch our latest video about the Backpacks Full of Hope project, and please consider sharing it with your circle (ex., post to Facebook, etc.). Additionally, if you are interested in donating to the trip or providing a sponsorship, contact family.engagement@
Science Accelerator Mission 2019-20
iLEAD Schools Amazing Race
iLEAD Schools would like to invite you to join your iLEAD family and friends for this ALL iLEAD Schools event. Lace up your running shoes and join us Sunday, Nov 3, at 1 p.m. at the Universal City Metro Plaza for the annual iLEAD Amazing Race. There, you will begin your Los Angeles adventure via the Metro red line on a photo scavenger hunt together with your team. Registration closes October 28. You will find more information and the downloadable permission slip here.
MAP Testing
The MAP is a beginning and end-of-year assessment that our learners take to discover strengths and areas for continued growth. Your learners can test from their own homes at a time convenient for the family, and the results are available the very next day! Only families and EFs view individual results, and your EF will review the reports with you to celebrate strengths and growth as well as identify areas of focus for the school year.
Several reports are available, including a one-page family report that shows your child’s reading level and how their score compared to other learners across the country. A longer report listing all the skills that your child is ready to develop is also available. The scores can also be plugged into Khan Academy, Newsela, the optional subscription Exact Path, and many other websites to acquire a set of learning activities perfectly customized to your child’s level.
There is a reading and math test, each about 40-60 questions long. You can pause the test at any time, as often as needed. You can also opt for a shorter 20-question test that includes a basic grade level comparison but does not give you a full skills report. Both tests support our standing as a school, and we sincerely appreciate your participation. Please contact your EF to set up a time to begin testing!
MAPTesting_2019iLEAD Exploration ASB
We are excited to announce that iLEAD will be forming an Associated Student Body (ASB) team this year! ASB is a leadership team comprised of learners who will represent the entire student body of high schoolers. The main objective of ASB is to help learners feel more connected to school and each other through involvement in ASB-organized activities.
We are looking for applicants who desire to connect with other high school learners and to help facilitate connection among their fellow learners. Team players and those who possess strong leadership skills are encouraged to apply!
Learners who are selected for ASB will be expected to attend monthly virtual meetings as well as help plan/attend a few social events throughout the year. If you are interested in joining the team, please fill out this ASB Application by Friday, October 4.
iLEAD Exploration ASB
We are excited to announce that iLEAD will be forming an ASB (Associated Student Body) team this year! ASB is a leadership team comprised of learners who will represent the entire student body of high schoolers. The main objective of ASB is to help students feel more connected to school and each other through involvement in ASB-organized activities.
We are looking for applicants who desire to connect with other high school learners and to help facilitate connection among their follow learners. Team players and those who possess strong leadership skills are encouraged to apply!
Learners who are selected for ASB will be expected to attend monthly virtual meetings as well as help plan/attend a few social events throughout the year. If you are interested in joining the team, please fill out this ASB Application by October 4, 2019.
Introducing Naviance
Naviance is a comprehensive college and career readiness tool available to all iLEAD learners. Soon you will receive a code for your learner to log in and create their account. Remember when it comes to college and career, the learner takes the lead. Please let your child use THEIR email address when signing on. Once a learner has created an account, a parent account can be added.
Take a look at this video to learn more about Naviance. Naviance also has a great phone app. Keep an eye on your email for your learner’s code to download the app.
