Hello everyone!!

I want to welcome you all to an exciting new year at Carson High School!

My name is Marc Finkelstein. I have been teaching at Carson for an incredible thirteen years and I am just beginning my fourteenth year. I love Carson High School for many reasons, but the main reason has always been and will continue to be our students. We have some of the most amazing students who are so cooperative and fun to work with. They are open to learning and bring such positive energy to the classroom every day. Without these students, I would not have been here for so many years, nor would I continue to want to be here every day.

I received my Bachelor's of Arts at the University of California, Riverside in 1997, and began teaching here at Carson High School in 1998. I love the subject I teach--English--because I have such a passion for reading and writing. There is nothing more important, in my opinion, than giving students the opportunity to explore life's most important issues and who they are through reading, analyzing and writing about some of the greatest literature ever written. It is my goal to make my students capable writers, because that skill will serve them in every aspect of their lives and careers. I also want to make my students intelligent and talented readers. If a student can understand, connect and analyze literature or non-fiction text effectively, it is my opinion that he/she will also become more engaged, aware and fullfilled in their daily lives. I truly believe that literature and non-fiction are not things that are cut off and separate from the world we live in:  it IS the world we live in. What we read is living and breathing and must be relevant to our students' lives. It is my job to help students make those connections.

I am excited about being part of the Performing Arts and Media Academy (PAMA)! We have some exciting things going on that you should know about! I am teaching INTRODUCTION TO THEATER, which will be a great start for your child to learn about drama, acting, scriptwriting and theater production -- just to name a few. Ms. Harris is teaching the ADVANCED theater class, and I look forward to working with her this year!

Students also have the opportunity to work on The Trailblazer, our school newspaper, with Ms. North, and be a part of marching band! All students from every small learning community can join any one of these classes and activities and participate.

I am looking forward to a great year!!

Please do not hesitate to get in touch with me through email at mfinke1@lausd.net. Or, call 310-847-6000 and leave a message. I will return your call promptly.

Thanks!!!!!

Marc Finkelstein

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The picture above shows my daughter, my wife and I at a holiday celebration.