Goodbye Xanga.

Words, words, words, words, words.

Words can be so deceiving. I can deceive you, I even deceive myself using them. I've been so self-deluded!

So over the past several weeks the Word has been burning and burning in my heart. And yet with every conviction I realize more and more how short my actions fall. I get convicted reading Crazy Love and turn around to reject a homeless man, not just within the same day, but within the same minute. I listen to amazing sermons on loving neighbors and then walk out of the apt only to walk right by my neighbor without talking to them. I talk about vanity like it's so far from me and yet I find incriminating and embarrassing pictures of me from only several months ago. I judge people on how mean they can be and then tell the dumbest, most offensive story. I tell God that I'm a slave for Him and then find myself fighting for my time...

The list goes on and on...

When was the last time I realized I was so horrid of a sinner? So short on my actions? Realizing how much work is yet to be done? I don't think since those first salvation years of turning over my personal values actually.

It feels good to blush again though honestly. I still can't help but to walk in trepidation of how long this will last, of how much I can change... but I know it can happen. And though I feel very alone in all this sometimes, I am encouraged that I am not alone. I just have to run and persevere in faith.

Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles and let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us. (Heb. 12:1)

So why the Goodbye Xanga after almost 5 years of consistent posting? I just don't want this venue of justifying myself anymore. Amidst other reasons.

BYE!

Don't know if this will mean much to very many people, but WE ARE OUT OF P.I. STATUS!!!

("P.I." stands for Program Improvement. You are considered a PI school if you do not meet the Adequate Yearly Progress, which is determined by the state under No Child Left Behind.)

Our school has been a PI school for the past SEVEN years (PI-Level 5). Two years ago, we finally met our AYP, which put our status on hold till we passed it a second time this past year.

Our API score is now at a whoppin 635.

To put that number into perspective, here are some scores from other familiar high schools, all in the West SF Valley (LD 1):

• Chatsworth: 704
• El Camino:   768
• Reseda:        703
• Birmingham:  669
• Kennedy:      665
• Taft:             738
• Cleveland:    727

The scores of the schools in our district in the East Valley (LD 2):

• Polytechnic:    635
• N. Hollywood:  685    (this scores includes the highly gifted magnet scores also)
• Arleta:              606
• Grant:               642
• East Valley:      562
• Sylmar:             620
• San Fernando:  572
• Van Nuys:        723    
• Verdugo:          669

Ain't too shabby. All scores include the magnet scores. The schools w/ the same demographics as our school are Arleta, East Valley, Sylmar, San Fernando, and comprehensive North Hollywood High. However, also to be fair, our feeder middle school scores are also improving!:

• Sun Valley:   616
• Byrd:            679
• Maclay:        596

If you're curious about other schools (including elem, middle, and high) in LAUSD, click here.