Sunday, March 23, 2008
AVID in Purple and Blue
Saturday, March 22, 2008
Legislation Would Help Military Families Change Schools
Read the whole article HERE in the Washington Times.
Excerpt:
"With military 'brats' changing schools an average of six to nine times from kindergarten to 12th grade, the Pentagon is proposing a multi-state compact that would help families with the transitions.
"'The one thing we continuously forget to address is the sacrifices our children are forced to make,' said Rear Adm. Len Hering, commander of the Navy's Southwest region.
"Adm. Hering moved from Annapolis to San Diego as his middle son entered his senior year, which he said tested the entire family.
"His son hoped to take advanced placement courses in chemistry and calculus but instead had to repeat physical education and state history courses usually taught to freshmen. It was his third state in high school, requiring a third class in basic state history.
"'He took badminton with ninth-graders and a third history course,' Adm. Hering said."
Future legislation will hopefully eliminate these kinds of requirements for military children who move during high school.
Friday, March 14, 2008
Former Journalist Speaks to AVID Students
Mr. Nolan Schramm is a former journalist who graduated from Kansas State University with a Bachelor of Science degree. As a journalist, his job was to find facts that could be used as news stories. His goal with his career was to make a difference.
When he started being a journalist, he had to write wedding announcements and obituaries. He worked on accuracy, which is the biggest thing in journalism. Accuracy is one of three things that will make you successful in the journalist world: accuracy, speed, and sources. “Always go back to the sources,” he said. That was the best way to find the truth. After weddings and obituaries, he did crime scenes, writing about missing persons and crime scenes.
A word of advice from Mr. Schramm: “Find out what people want to know.” It doesn’t matter whether it is a city newspaper or a school paper. And if there is no newspaper, start one.
Thursday, March 13, 2008
Unfortunate Events
Due to a unexpected change in travel plans, AVID Founder Mary Catherine Swanson will not be able to attend a Family Workshop when she visits Sicily with her husband next month. Unfortunately, they will only be on the island during the actual week of Spring Break, which makes it impossible to schedule a workshop at that time. Many teachers, students, and families will be traveling themselves, or transportation would be a problem. Mary Catherine is disappointed herself, as am I, but I believe she will leave a special message for AVID students and parents in Sigonella.Mary Catheirne Swanson founded AVID in 1980 at Clairmont High School in San Diego. Today, there are over 200,000 AVID students worldwide and it is an international educational non-profit corporation. Mary Catherine retired from the AVID Center and education officially one year ago, but she remains active as a member of the Board of Directors and is archiving AVID materials and memorabilia from the past at the AVID Center.One more regular AVID Family Workshop will be scheduled and help this spring, probably in May, to celebrate our successes and send off our seniors to college!
_________________________________________Maryellen Pienta | AVID Coordinator | Sigonella MS/HS, Sicily| DSN 624.3207 | CELL 347.8979.441 | maryellen.pienta@eu.dodea.edu
Sigonella Spring Sports Schedule 2008
Soccer Track
| March 29 | At Vicenza | March 29 | At Naples |
| April 19 | Home vs Naples | April 19 | At Vicenza |
| April 25 April 26 | At MMI At AOSR | April 26 | Bye |
| May 3 | Bye | May 3 | At Aviano |
| May 10 | At Milan | May 10 | At Naples |
| May 17 | Home vs Aviano | May 17 | At Aviano |
May 21-24 European Soccer Championships @ Ramstein/K-Town
May 23-24 European Track Championships @ Wiesbaden
Monday, March 10, 2008
ADVANCED PLACEMENT EXAMS
All AVID juniors and seniors are taking Advanced Placement classes and will thus be taking these exams!
Advanced Placement Exams will take place during May 5 - May 16, 2008. On the given exam day, students are to report to the Main Office at 7:45 A.M. and will be escorted to the testing site
As your students have already been informed, the exams will be given on the following dates and times:
Wednesday, May 7, Calculus AB (7:45am – Noon).
Thursday, May 8, English Literature (7:45 am – Noon).
Friday, May 9, US History (7:45 am – Noon).
Monday, May 12, Biology (7:45 am – Noon).
Monday, May 12, Physics B (Noon – 4:00 pm)
Wednesday, May 14, English Language (7:45 am - Noon).
Wednesday, May 14, Italian Language and Culture (7:45 am – Noon ).
We ask that students and parents be aware that the AP exams take priority over sports and other scheduled activities on exam days and the weekends prior to the exam days. We ask that you assist us with making the AP Exams a PRIORITY.
These AP students have worked very hard all school year. Remember, by taking these exams, students can possibly earn college credit helping to save you tuition at the college level. If a student does not take the AP exam, then no weighted grade is given. Good Luck students!
Sunday, March 09, 2008
Registration & AVID for Next Year
Returning students will automatically be eligible and enrolled in AVID next year unless they become academically ineligible (below 2.0). Research shows that enrollment in college increases with each year of AVID in high school. If the student and parents do not want to further participate in AVID, parents should write a letter or email to Ms. Pienta and Ms. Ascierto stating so ASAP. Otherwise, we're keeping you!
If you are not sure, please call or email or stop by to talk about AVID and success in it and with it.
Friday, March 07, 2008
AVID Students PARTICIPATE!
High school AVID athletes Carlo A., Niko R., Leah J, and Mia S. recently competed in the DoDDS-Europe basketball championships in Mannheim, Germany.
Senior Patrick F. and eighth-grader Yoshie B. traveled to Germany with Ms. Arnold to compete in the Junior Science Symposium, also near Mannheim.
Sophomore Andei K. and freshman Kris R. have been selected to attend DoDDS-Europe's LinguaFest (foreign language conference) in Germany later this month!
Sophomore Chynnah T. represented Sigonella's Future Educator's Association at the European FEA Conference in Garmsich, Germany, in February.
Markus J., Patrick B., Summer G, and Joem B., high school AVID students, traveled with the JROTC drill team to Ramstein, Germany, where they earned a first place finish in the Unarmed Regulation Drill European competition. Markus J., Brittany B., Patrick B., and Summer G. also competed in the Color Guard competition.
Jennifer P, another junior, attended the week-long International Student Leadership Institute in Oberwesel, Germany.
Latest Round of College Acceptances
AVID Seniors: Patrick F., Carlo A., Kevin R., and Mia S. Congratulations to Kevin R., who has received acceptances to Towson University in Maryland and George Mason University in Virginia.
