Monday, November 27, 2006
High School Students Rise to the Challenge
The new note requirement of twenty pages did not seem to faze the high school AVID students in their first binder check of the quarter. Look at these scores:A+ (100-105%)
Juniors: Carlo A., Patrick F., Kevin R., and Mia S.
Sophomores: Brittany B., Miguel D., Tim F., and Nico L.
Freshmen: Kiersten D., Aica D., Joelle N., Patrick B., and Caitlin G.
A (90-99%)
Freshmen: Niko R., Julie T., and Alex T.
Nice job! The next binder check will be on December 7.
Wednesday, November 22, 2006
High School Honor Roll AVID Students!
Sixty-seven percent of AVID high school students received recognition for their first quarter grades by achieving a grade point average of 3.0 or higher and honor roll status.
Junior Patrick F. and freshman Caitlin G. earned a special distinction by earning GPAs of 4.0. That's a straight-A average!
Other AVID honor students in high school follow:
Freshmen: Aica D., Alex T., Joelle N., Niko R., Camron S., Chynnah T., Elisa V., Ruben S, and Julie T.
Sophomores: Nicholas L., Tim F., Mighel D., and Stella S.
Juniors: Kevin R., Carlo A, and Asher B.
Congratulations to ALL!!
Junior Patrick F. and freshman Caitlin G. earned a special distinction by earning GPAs of 4.0. That's a straight-A average!
Other AVID honor students in high school follow:
Freshmen: Aica D., Alex T., Joelle N., Niko R., Camron S., Chynnah T., Elisa V., Ruben S, and Julie T.
Sophomores: Nicholas L., Tim F., Mighel D., and Stella S.
Juniors: Kevin R., Carlo A, and Asher B.
Congratulations to ALL!!
Tuesday, November 21, 2006
AVID Family Workshop #2 on November 28
The second AVID Family Workshop of the school year will be held on Tuesday, November 28 in the multi-purpose room of the high school from 17:00-18:00.
AVID students and families will receive their Portfolios and begin the process of building them together. This first session will focus on planning the middle and high school years in order to be prepared for and accepted into the colleges of your choice!
Parents will be asked for a small donation to offset the cost of the binders, which will be provided by Sigonella AVID teachers.
Once again, students will be involved in the complete production of the workshop.
Light refreshments will be served. See you there!
AVID students and families will receive their Portfolios and begin the process of building them together. This first session will focus on planning the middle and high school years in order to be prepared for and accepted into the colleges of your choice!
Parents will be asked for a small donation to offset the cost of the binders, which will be provided by Sigonella AVID teachers.
Once again, students will be involved in the complete production of the workshop.
Light refreshments will be served. See you there!
Creative Connections Applications
Creative Connections is one of the best programs for students offered by DoDDS. We have had several AVID students participate in it in the past, and students from Sigonella are nearly alwasy chosen. Think about applying and DO IT NOW!
Creative Connections will be held February 11-16, 2007. This is a terrific experience for any high school student interested in the visual and performing arts. Groups of students work and perform together from all over Europe in the area of painting, sculpture, modern dance, show choir, video production, drama, strings, drawing, and oil pastels. If you are interested in applying, please see Mr. Minning, Mrs. Ali, Ms. Brown, Mr. McKown, Ms. Ennix, or Ms. Folmer. The web site to see additional information is http://iweb.aaot-mzk.eu.dodea/finearts/CC.htm. You’ll have the time of your life and meet many other interesting students! Go for it!!
Creative Connections will be held February 11-16, 2007. This is a terrific experience for any high school student interested in the visual and performing arts. Groups of students work and perform together from all over Europe in the area of painting, sculpture, modern dance, show choir, video production, drama, strings, drawing, and oil pastels. If you are interested in applying, please see Mr. Minning, Mrs. Ali, Ms. Brown, Mr. McKown, Ms. Ennix, or Ms. Folmer. The web site to see additional information is http://iweb.aaot-mzk.eu.dodea/finearts/CC.htm. You’ll have the time of your life and meet many other interesting students! Go for it!!
Friday, November 03, 2006
To Be a Lawyer
AVID Junior Carlo Abcede reports on a visit by guest speaker Kari Hock:
To be a lawyer doesn't happen overnight. Not now, not ever. Mrs. Kari Hock knows this because of her long journey to become a lawyer.
Mrs. Kari Hock wasn't a very outgoing in her early years. We know from movies that lawyers tend to be loud and outgoing, but in her case, she wasn't really any of those when she was growing up. She was quite shy and growing up, and she didn't really have an idea of what she was going to be. She was a good, hardworking student and very persistent. An example of this persistence would be her effort in tennis and how when she wasn't picked to go to tournament one year she just kept practicing and practicing and the next year she was chosen. But her success in tennis is a topic for another discussion.
She ended up going to the University of Washington in Seattle where she pursued a bachelor's degree in political science. She then decided to take up law. So she went to Gonzaga University. She said that Gonzaga was a good place to be and very beautiful, and all that added to why she enjoyed being a lawyer because the setting a good place.
She was at first unsure on whether or not to take up law school, but she made a wise decision in taking it, because she loved it. Her first year of law school was very difficult. It was composed of long hours memorizing, studying, and doing homework. In fact, the first year, she says, is probably the most difficult. At the end of her first year, she took the bar exam in Washington State. If you pass this bar exam then you receive your well-earned license. She indeed passed the bar exam and continued on her journey to becoming a lawyer.
When she was getting into college she needed a letter of recommendation like many other colleges require. In her case, she had her tennis coach write her letter of recommendation. She was an outstanding tennis player who never gave up. An example, as stated before, was the two teams. One team had all ten players while the other team had only seven girls who were able to compete for traveling. Her first year she wasn't picked; however, that same year she practiced and practiced for the next year when she could show off her new skills. The next year, she was good enough to travel, which shows how determined she was in anything she did. That, to me, would make a good letter of recommendation.
Her senior year in college was also a toughie. In that year, she had to take the standardized test called the LSATS. It's like the SAT except this one is for soon-to-be lawyers. This test is really expensive and composed of many parts. This also shows that being a lawyer is no easy task. You put in years of dedication and hours of learning. It's basically extremely hard, but Mrs. Hock was able to overcome this. After she passed her LSATS, she was ready to embark on the rest of her journey to become a lawyer.
After completing law school, she moved to Guam. She chose to move to Guam because of the surroundings. As a kid, her family would take many trips to Hawaii. You can now see why she'd want to move to Guam, because Hawaii and Guam share many characteristics. In Guam, she became a criminal and immigration lawyer. That is a kind of lawyer who specializes in immigrants who come to America and try to stay because of the abuse in their own country. She was successful in her job and helped many immigrants emancipate themselves from their countries.
In Guam, she also met her husband, who is a doctor. Her and her husband then moved to Michigan, where she again took the bar exam and passed. She was given a job as a prosecutor. After her prosecutor stay, she moved to Sicily. When she became pregnant, she worked parttime.
Her list of reasons to become a lawyer is quite interesting. She gives valid points and the reasons why she thinks it is important. The best reason I found was that you should do it because it makes you happy. To me, she looked happy explaining her job to us, and one day I hope to find a job like hers that makes me happy. Her explanation of being a lawyer also a tad bit convinced me to one day become a lawyer.
Mrs. Hock's long journey to become a lawyer was one of her best accomplishments yet. All of those years of practicing and practicing have paid off. The expression "practice makes perfect" is truly present in her scenario.
To be a lawyer doesn't happen overnight. Not now, not ever. Mrs. Kari Hock knows this because of her long journey to become a lawyer.
Mrs. Kari Hock wasn't a very outgoing in her early years. We know from movies that lawyers tend to be loud and outgoing, but in her case, she wasn't really any of those when she was growing up. She was quite shy and growing up, and she didn't really have an idea of what she was going to be. She was a good, hardworking student and very persistent. An example of this persistence would be her effort in tennis and how when she wasn't picked to go to tournament one year she just kept practicing and practicing and the next year she was chosen. But her success in tennis is a topic for another discussion.
She ended up going to the University of Washington in Seattle where she pursued a bachelor's degree in political science. She then decided to take up law. So she went to Gonzaga University. She said that Gonzaga was a good place to be and very beautiful, and all that added to why she enjoyed being a lawyer because the setting a good place.
She was at first unsure on whether or not to take up law school, but she made a wise decision in taking it, because she loved it. Her first year of law school was very difficult. It was composed of long hours memorizing, studying, and doing homework. In fact, the first year, she says, is probably the most difficult. At the end of her first year, she took the bar exam in Washington State. If you pass this bar exam then you receive your well-earned license. She indeed passed the bar exam and continued on her journey to becoming a lawyer.
When she was getting into college she needed a letter of recommendation like many other colleges require. In her case, she had her tennis coach write her letter of recommendation. She was an outstanding tennis player who never gave up. An example, as stated before, was the two teams. One team had all ten players while the other team had only seven girls who were able to compete for traveling. Her first year she wasn't picked; however, that same year she practiced and practiced for the next year when she could show off her new skills. The next year, she was good enough to travel, which shows how determined she was in anything she did. That, to me, would make a good letter of recommendation.
Her senior year in college was also a toughie. In that year, she had to take the standardized test called the LSATS. It's like the SAT except this one is for soon-to-be lawyers. This test is really expensive and composed of many parts. This also shows that being a lawyer is no easy task. You put in years of dedication and hours of learning. It's basically extremely hard, but Mrs. Hock was able to overcome this. After she passed her LSATS, she was ready to embark on the rest of her journey to become a lawyer.
After completing law school, she moved to Guam. She chose to move to Guam because of the surroundings. As a kid, her family would take many trips to Hawaii. You can now see why she'd want to move to Guam, because Hawaii and Guam share many characteristics. In Guam, she became a criminal and immigration lawyer. That is a kind of lawyer who specializes in immigrants who come to America and try to stay because of the abuse in their own country. She was successful in her job and helped many immigrants emancipate themselves from their countries.
In Guam, she also met her husband, who is a doctor. Her and her husband then moved to Michigan, where she again took the bar exam and passed. She was given a job as a prosecutor. After her prosecutor stay, she moved to Sicily. When she became pregnant, she worked parttime.
Her list of reasons to become a lawyer is quite interesting. She gives valid points and the reasons why she thinks it is important. The best reason I found was that you should do it because it makes you happy. To me, she looked happy explaining her job to us, and one day I hope to find a job like hers that makes me happy. Her explanation of being a lawyer also a tad bit convinced me to one day become a lawyer.
Mrs. Hock's long journey to become a lawyer was one of her best accomplishments yet. All of those years of practicing and practicing have paid off. The expression "practice makes perfect" is truly present in her scenario.
Thursday, November 02, 2006
College Costs Top Inflation
from By JUSTIN POPE (AP Education Writer)
From Associated Press
October 24, 2006 10:02 AM EDT
College price increases slowed this year but they again topped inflation, and financial aid isn't keeping pace, a new report says.
Tuition and fees at public four-year public colleges rose $344, or 6.3 percent, to an average of $5,836 for the 2006-07 academic year, according to the College Board's annual "Trends in College Pricing" report, released Tuesday.
Accounting for inflation, prices rose just 2.4 percent - the lowest rise in six years, and the third straight time the gap between prices and overall inflation has narrowed.
Tuition and fees at private four-year colleges rose 5.9 percent overall, to $22,218.
The news that price hikes are getting smaller is tempered by the fact that this decade has been a period of an extraordinary increases in college costs. Published prices are up 35 percent in five years - the largest increase of any five-year period in the 30 years covered the report.
That's coupled with the reality that grant aid - from the government, colleges and private sources - isn't covering the price hikes. For the 62 percent of full-time undergraduates who receive grant aid, the average net cost of a four-year public school rose 8 percent to $2,700, the report said.
"There is some good news: There's a lot of aid out there that is helping students," said Sandy Baum, senior policy analyst at the College Board. "But there are real notes of caution about ... the failure of grant aid to keep up with the rise in prices."
The best news came for people at the nation's public two-year colleges, which educate nearly half of American college students. There, tuition and fees rose just 4.1 percent to $2,272. The increase was limited by California, which is home to more than a fifth of the nation's two-year public college students and lowered tuition and fees 12 percent this year. Elsewhere, prices rose 5.1 percent.
At four-year public schools, adding room and board to tuition and fees makes the college prices average $12,796. At private colleges, the price is $30,367.
The cost increases at state schools are baffling to many students and parents, given the relative health of the economy and state finances.
After several years of sharp cuts, state spending on higher education has been rising again nationally. The problem is that more people are enrolling, so there is less and less to spend per student.
From Associated Press
October 24, 2006 10:02 AM EDT
College price increases slowed this year but they again topped inflation, and financial aid isn't keeping pace, a new report says.
Tuition and fees at public four-year public colleges rose $344, or 6.3 percent, to an average of $5,836 for the 2006-07 academic year, according to the College Board's annual "Trends in College Pricing" report, released Tuesday.
Accounting for inflation, prices rose just 2.4 percent - the lowest rise in six years, and the third straight time the gap between prices and overall inflation has narrowed.
Tuition and fees at private four-year colleges rose 5.9 percent overall, to $22,218.
The news that price hikes are getting smaller is tempered by the fact that this decade has been a period of an extraordinary increases in college costs. Published prices are up 35 percent in five years - the largest increase of any five-year period in the 30 years covered the report.
That's coupled with the reality that grant aid - from the government, colleges and private sources - isn't covering the price hikes. For the 62 percent of full-time undergraduates who receive grant aid, the average net cost of a four-year public school rose 8 percent to $2,700, the report said.
"There is some good news: There's a lot of aid out there that is helping students," said Sandy Baum, senior policy analyst at the College Board. "But there are real notes of caution about ... the failure of grant aid to keep up with the rise in prices."
The best news came for people at the nation's public two-year colleges, which educate nearly half of American college students. There, tuition and fees rose just 4.1 percent to $2,272. The increase was limited by California, which is home to more than a fifth of the nation's two-year public college students and lowered tuition and fees 12 percent this year. Elsewhere, prices rose 5.1 percent.
At four-year public schools, adding room and board to tuition and fees makes the college prices average $12,796. At private colleges, the price is $30,367.
The cost increases at state schools are baffling to many students and parents, given the relative health of the economy and state finances.
After several years of sharp cuts, state spending on higher education has been rising again nationally. The problem is that more people are enrolling, so there is less and less to spend per student.
