Magnet Logo
July 9, 2009
Dear Parent/Guardian,
I am pleased to announce that Daniel Pearl Magnet Center has been approved to become a stand-alone high school in the Los Angeles Unified School District (LAUSD). As a magnet high school, Daniel Pearl will deepen its focus on journalism and communications to support its goal of offering a high quality curriculum that reflects the informational skills needed in our 21st century digital world.
You may already know that Birmingham High School has become an independent charter school and is now called Birmingham Community Charter High School (BCCHS). It is no longer part of LAUSD and there will be some changes as both schools convert to their new situations.
Since BCCHS and Daniel Pearl Magnet High School (DPMHS) are now two separate high schools, students in each school will only be enrolled in classes in that school. Magnet students will receive 100% of their classes in DPMHS where they will have the opportunity to enroll in AP and honors classes as well as a variety of elective classes. In addition, teachers with expertise in journalism, play production, Physical Education, English and math have been hired as new members of the magnet staff.
Magnet students will continue to have access to sports and extracurricular activities. However, the charter school’s first day of school will be Wednesday, August 19th, so students interested in joining a sports team in Fall of 2009 should contact BCCHS Coach Rick Prizant at 818-758-5259 for information about team practice.
The first day of instruction for DPMHS will be Wednesday, September 9th and an Opening School Preview event is being planned for students and their families in late August. (A phone message with information about this event will be sent out later in the summer.)
It is understandable that some of the changes may invoke feelings of both excitement and worry. Please know that magnet staff members are committed to providing your children with a quality academic program in preparation for college, career and successful lives. Students will receive all of the benefits of a smaller high school—caring teachers who know them well, personalized learning programs, greater opportunities for stakeholder involvement, a unified vision for the school community and accountability for both schools and students in achieving academic benchmarks.
The Magnet Office is closed for the summer, but I can be reached at 818-654-3674 or by email at janet.kiddoo@lausd.net. Please do not hesitate to call me if you have any questions.
Sincerely,
Janet Kiddoo
Interim Administrator
Daniel Pearl Magnet High School