Sunday, March 23, 2008

AVID in Purple and Blue

Recently, the B Day AVID class came dressed in purple and blue. They looked so nice, GAP shot them for this photo. Notice the purple tennis shoes on Drew.



Saturday, March 22, 2008

Legislation Would Help Military Families Change Schools

New legislation is being proposed in Maryland and other states to help military families successfully navigate or even eliminate the different state requirements for high school graduation. And none too soon! Every one of the fifty states has different requirements, making PSCing a nightmare and jeopardizing college application chances.

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.

By Niko Rosal, Grade 10

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
 
 
 
P Please consider the environment before printing this email.
 
 
 
 
 

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

Registration for next year is about to commence. We will be updating students' four-year plans in class, even if they are PCSing. It is critical, as we all know, to meet and even surpass the college entrance requirements. AVID ensures that as well as getting the grades to go with it.

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!

AVID students have been actively involved in a number of activities in DoDDS-Europe recently.

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.

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