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, InDesign, Bridge, Dreamweaver, Flash, After Effects, Garageband, Pro Tools, Soundtrack Pro, Reason, 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 on the local Mountain View TV Station 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 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 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 volunteer for outside paid and unpaid job opportunities such as helping a local community member/organization create a video, designing a webpage for a local business, or using our studio to help a local musician record and produce music.

You will learn this by taking 3 classes at Freestyle. Every student MUST take these 2 CORE classes

~ English or English Honors - you choose. There is no need to take another English class at MV/LAHS.
~ Design (Fundamentals of Visual Art, Digital Photography and Graphic Design)

Each student will then choose to take for his/her 3rd class EITHER

~ Film Production          OR           ~ Web Production / Audio Engineering

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:

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?
   You must have a 2.0 GPA or above. 1st year students must be juniors and 2nd year students must be seniors.

6. What is the enrollment procedure?
   Enrollment applications for the following school year are downloadable below 365/24/7.

Choose an application format:        Deadline: anytime before the February Break.

This application can be completed electronically with these documents EXCEPT for signatures. By the Friday before the February break, students must submit a completed (preferably entries typed in electronically) and signed application to their counselor to be considered for the following school year. There are about 200+ applicants each year for 72 Junior seats hence selected "application responses" and a lottery system is used to select students. The best 12 "application responses" submitted with an application by the deadline will receive automatic admission into Freestyle. Everyone else would still be subject to the lottery. Freestyle strives to have a balance of students from Mountain View HS and Los Altos HS. Candidates will be notifiedby email if accepted or wait listed in early March.

More about the application responses: On the back of your paper application, please hand write (no typing) and/or illustrate/draw your answers to

1. Why would you be a good fit for Freestyle?

2. What excites you about Freestyle?

Give us a sense of who you are with your answers and/or illustrations/drawings – limit yourself to only the back of the application. Do NOT attach other documents. The top 12 candidates based on this application will receive automatic admission. Everyone else will be subject to a lottery.

Why does Freestyle use a lottery system? Freestyle was originally created and envisioned to be another choice for those students who are "just doing school", not necessarily excelling in school or students with art or technical experience in hopes of getting these kinds of students once again excited about school. We are not looking for the "best" student or even a particular type of student. Our application process does not require any experience and does not require a portfolio to match the reason why Freestyle was created. This would hopefully entice students who are "just doing school" to apply. Our only requirement are a 2.0+ TGPA, a Junior or Senior within MVLAUHSD. We want a mix of all students and a lottery has resulted in a good mix of all levels of creative and passionate students with all levels of talents, skills and enthusiasm levels.

7. When are the 3 classes held?
   Basically, classes are held during Periods 2, 3, & 4 for AM Session or Periods 5, 6, & 7 for PM Session. Students choose either AM or PM Session to attend Freestyle. 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 AM or PM block schedule below. Juniors and Seniors together will attend Freestyle for English, Fine Arts (Design) and one Elective (Film OR WebAudio) for a total of 30 Units of credit for a single year. There is a limit of 36 Juniors and 36 Seniors due to equipment constraints for each AM and PM session. Juniors and Seniors will be in separate classes, not combined together in any class. This breaks down to a maximum of 18 students in each of the 4 classes with a capacity of 72 students for each AM and PM session or a total maximum capacity of 144 students.

Current Juniors are automatically admitted to Freestyle for their Senior year and current Juniors will have first choice as to which block (AM or PM session) to attend Freestyle during their Senior Year. Any other remaining Senior seats will be filled in with new incoming Senior students.

Schedule:

*THURSDAYS are alternating J-Day and S-Day.

• One week: S-Day where Seniors are in English/Design on Thursday.
• Next week: J-Day where Juniors are in English/Design on Thursday.
• Following week: S-Day where Seniors are in English/Design on Thursday.
• Following week: J-Day where Juniors are in English/Design on Thursday.
• Etc.

*Thursdays will also be reserved for special whole school events - guest speakers, etc.

Depending upon scheduling abnormalities, sometimes certain days will be switched so that we can even up teaching hours for classes during any particular week.

Shadowing or campus visits - interested candidates can contact Leo.Florendo@freestyle.mvla.net for shadowing a student or campus visits.

9. Will there be food at Freestyle?
   There is no cafeteria on campus at Freestyle. Students are responsible for their own meals. A microwave and mini-fridge are available for student use in the WebAudio room.

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 MVLA District Office at 1299 Bryant Avenue, Mountain View, CA 94040.

12. Will transportation be provided?
   No transportation is necessary for students at Mountain View and Alta Vista High Schools.

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 (Design), and Electives (Film or WebAudio) for a total of 30 credits. For completion of two years at Freestyle, students will receive a total of 60 credits.

14. Do Freestyle classes count for admissions to the UC and CSU systems?
   All English and Design classes at Freestyle are UC approved A-G courses. Film and WebAudio are NOT UC approved A-G courses but count as an elective on your transcript.

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. Student MUST take all 3 classes at Freestyle.

16. Is this a one or two year program?
   Freestyle is designed as a two-year program, with students working on more advanced work in the second year.