QUESTIONS ABOUT SIERRA CANYON SCHOOL

Who will attend?

Sierra Canyon School welcomes incoming 9 th grade boys and girls from all over the San Fernando Valley and its environs. The Nordhoff Campus is located in the heart of Chatsworth in an attractive, fully equipped, private building.

 

Will bus transportation be available?

Bus transportation is available for students arriving from most regions of the San Fernando Valley. For students who find themselves outside of that geographic range, Sierra Canyon School makes available a list of student addresses from which parents may organize carpools.

 

Will the curriculum be college preparatory?

The curriculum provides a rigorous college preparatory program and satisfies UC standards.

 

Will there be AP level classes?

There are many AP options in all five core subject areas (English, foreign language, history, math, and science).

 

What will be the average class size?

Our average class size is 12 students.

 

What sports will be offered?

We will offer football, boys and girls basketball, cross-country, golf, soccer, track, and volleyball (based on student interest). We will offer comprehensive physical education classes as well. In upcoming years, we will include baseball, swimming, water polo, and tennis (also based on student interest).

 

How large will the grades be?

Each grade will average around 80 students.

 

What will the Permanent Campus include?

The Permanent Campus will be nothing short of extraordinary. It will blend in with the surrounding countryside in an impressive and environmentally sensitive way. The Permanent Campus will include scores of classrooms, a voluminous library, a gymnasium, an auditorium, a media center, and an attractive dining area. The Permanent Campus will add to the beauty of the pre-existing landscape and will serve as a 21 st century model for all secondary schools.

 

When will it be built?

We will break ground for the new campus in the spring of 2006. The first phase completion date will fall somewhere during the 2006-07 year.

 

Will the First Year Campus have a cafeteria?

The First Year Campus has a cafeteria that serves hot lunches and snacks daily. Students can choose from a variety of enticing locations in which to dine: an atrium in the center of the building, the back lawn, or either of the dual outdoor areas on which there is a volleyball court, a basketball court, and outside seating.

 

What is a tutorial period?

Tutorial periods are periods that students, their classmates, and their teachers have in common. They occur once a cycle (six day rotation), and they serve as an opportunity for small group meetings, one-on-one review, and exam review classes held at the teacher’s discretion.

 

Will there be a dress code?

There is a dress code that incorporates neat, professional attire but it does not require a strict uniform.

 

Does Sierra Canyon School have any religious affiliation?

No. Sierra Canyon School honors the beliefs of all community members.

 

Who will teach me?

Our teachers are experienced and energetic people from independent schools all over the country. They are experts in their subjects who have pursued and achieved advanced degrees in their field of interest.

 

Who will coach me?

Teachers who have expertise in a given sport will coach some teams; other teams will be led by coaches with college, high school, and club level experience.

 

As a Sierra Canyon School student, will I be able to travel?

Yes. Sierra Canyon School students travel for each grade-level retreat and again during Peak Week. Other opportunities for travel come along at fairly regular intervals, so keep your eyes and ears open!