Frequently Asked Questions
1. What am I going to learn?
Communication Skills - Students at Freestyle will receive a strong foundation in language and visual arts and meet UC/CSU requirements for English, Fine Arts, and Electives. In addition to developing research and writing skills through persuasive essays, research papers, creative stories, and poetry, students will also learn to express their ideas visually through drawing, layout, design, and photography.
Multimedia Technology- Students will use the latest technology to become producers, not just consumers, of media. All projects will require students to create a video, web, or sound component to their written work using the latest multimedia software such as Photoshop, Illustrator, Dreamweaver, Flash, Garageband, Pro Tools, Soundtrack Pro, and Final Cut Pro. Students will use media not only to create their projects but to publish them in websites, blogs, podcasts, video broadcasts on the web and KMVT.
Workplace Skills- Real world, project based learning will help students become strong presenters, project managers, collaborative workers, and creative problem solvers. These skills will be reinforced through internships, and job shadowing opportunities during their 2nd year.
Knowledge of World- Learning becomes more relevant and meaningful when it is connected to the world outside of school. In every project, students will make connections between what they are learning and their community. Guest speakers will give students insight into the world of work and industry trends. Web based learning will inform and connect us to people in other cities and countries.
Knowledge of Self- Freestyle will help students develop and expand their ideas as they explore issues that matter to them. Students will learn about themselves – what interests them, what their strengths are, and what their future might look like.
2. How am I going to learn it?
Project Based Learning
All our projects will allow students to work in teams to explore real world issues that interest them and affect their community. With the help of teachers and industry partners, students will develop multimedia presentations to present their findings in quarterly exhibitions. These exhibitions will demonstrate the students’ understanding of content, as well as their proficiency in academic, technical and 21st Century Skills.
Real World Connections
We are committed to taking advantage of the opportunities open to us in the Silicon Valley. As a student, you will learn from experienced teachers with a strong background in the media arts. Guest speakers, field trips, and project work will bridge the gap that often exists between school and “the real world.” In addition, students will have the opportunity to participate in mentorships or job shadowing to connect them with local media professionals. Businesses that have already expressed an interest in working with Freestyle are Google, Apple, Microsoft, Dolby, Cisco and Adobe.
You will learn this by taking 3 classes at Freestyle. Every student takes these 2 CORE classes
~ English with Mr. Jack
~ Design (Digital Photography and Graphic Design) with Ms. Pedinotti.
Each student will then choose to take for his/her 3rd class EITHER
~ Film Production with Ms. Kefauver OR ~ Web Production / Audio Engineering with Mr. Florendo
3. How Will This Help Me?
At Freestyle, you will not only strengthen the necessary writing, speaking, and research skills you will need in college, but learn critical communication skills that will help you express your ideas in exciting and original ways. Your portfolio of work will allow you to present yourself in a unique manner to admissions officers, employers, and/or clients. By the end of two years at Freestyle, your portfolio will have examples that will set you apart with but not limited to the following:
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4. Who may attend?
The program is open to juniors (as 1st year students) and seniors (as 2nd year students) at Mountain View, Los Altos, and Alta Vista High Schools. Note: Waiting list priority is given to students currently in the MVLA UHSD above students transferring into the MVLA UHSD starting their Junior year.
5. What are the Entrance Requirements?
There are no entrance requirements to enroll at Freestyle (except 1st year students must be juniors and 2nd year students must be seniors).
6. What is the enrollment procedure?
Applications for the 2009-2010 school year will be downloadable here (.doc). By the deadline TBA in 2009, students may submit an application to their counselor to be considered for the following school year. Should there be more applications than the school can accept, a lottery system will be used to select students. Freestyle strives to have a balance of juniors and seniors, males and females, as well as an even number of students from Mountain View, Los Altos, and Alta Vista High Schools.
7. When are classes held?
See schedule below.
8. What will my day look like?
All students (Juniors and Seniors) can choose to attend Freestyle from EITHER 2.5 hour block schedule below. Juniors and Seniors together will attend Freestyle for English, Fine Arts and one Elective for 30 Units of credit for the year. There is a limit of 32 Juniors and 32 Seniors due to equipment constraints for each session. Juniors and Seniors will be in separate classes, not combined together in any class. An example two day schedule would look like this:
Day 1: First 1 hour 15 minutes in English or Design, a short break, then the second 1 hour 15 minutes in Design or English.
Day 2: Entire 2 hour 30 minute block in either Film or WebAudio Production.
This two day schedule would then repeat itself.
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Current Juniors will have first choice as to which block (AM or PM session) to attend Freestyle during their Senior Year and any other remaining slots will be filled in with new incoming Senior students.
9. Will there be food at Freestyle?
There is no cafeteria on campus at Freestyle. Students are responsible for their own meals.
10. Can I enroll in Freestyle and participate in sport, drama, or extracurricular activities?
If you choose Option 1 AM Session above, you can participate in an afternoon activity.
11. Where is Freestyle?
Freestyle is located behind the Mountain View – Los Altos District Office at 1299 Bryant Avenue, Mountain View, CA 94040.
Camp Map
12. Will transportation be provided?
No transportation is necessary for students at Mountain View and Alta Vista High Schools.
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13. How many units will I get?
Successful completion of the Freestyle coursework in one school year will get all students 10 credits each of English, Fine Arts, and Electives for a total of 30 credits.
14. Do Freestyle classes count for admissions to the UC and CSU systems?
English and Fine Arts classes at Freestyle are UC approved courses. Approval for our Elective courses is pending.
15. Can I take a class at Freestyle without enrolling in the whole program?
Because Freestyle is an interdisciplinary program, with all classes supporting the project based learning, students will not be able to take individual classes in selected periods of the day.
16. Is this a one or two year program?
Freestyle is designed as a two-year program, with students working on more advanced work and participating in student mentorships the second year.