Tuesday, March 31, 2009
Summer Opportunity in Washington D.C.
SUMMER OPPORTUNITY:
Sophomores or Juniors interested in working in Washington D.C. in the House of Representatives as a summer Page, see Ms. Ascierto for more details.
PAGE PROGRAM FACT SHEET · 2009 School Year ·
Pages are young people who are hired to serve as support staff for the U.S.House of Representatives. They are students in their junior year of high school, who come to Washington D.C. to live, work, and study as Pages. The program includes the House Page Residence Hall, the House Page School, and work responsibilities within the House.Students applying for the academic program should meet the following requirements:Eligibility for participation in the summer program includes students who have just completed their high school
- 3.0 GPA based on core academic courses (math, English, science, social studies, foreign language)
- High school junior/sophomore
- Must be 16 years old by the beginning of the Page term
sophomore or junior year.Margie AsciertoHigh School Counselor, Sigonella M/HSNaval Air Station Sigonella, Sicily, ITALYDSN: 624-3249CIV: 011-39-095-56-3249Fax: 624-3899 / 011-39-095-56-3899
Saturday, March 14, 2009
Concentrate? Of course, you can!
AVID students recently completed a unit of study on concentration which culminated in writing essays based on what they had learned. They had to include a definition and background on concentration, common inhibitors, common promoters, and advice on how to improve it. Here are some excerpts:"Concentration isn't just something on the back of orange juice cartons. Concentration is the ability to focus on what is at hand, and , despite popular belief, it is a learned behavior." (Adam B.)
"Concentration is not inherited; it is a developed behavior. A person has to learn to concentrate." (Nikia S.)
"Not being able to concentrate is not hereditary. So, you can't use your mom and dad as a hereditary excuse. It is a trait that is completely and utterly learned!" (Aidan T.)
"(Concentration) is something you have to attain, and be good at, to live a successful academic life. It may take some time, but it is totally possible, once you set your mind to it." (Krystal G.)
"Another leading inhibitor is something we often have to use in order to complete homework: the Internet. As helpful as the Internet can be to our studies, programs such as MySpace, instant messenger, and e-mail can all pose a major threat to our concentration. An easy way to avoid these sites is to tell yourself you can only be on them if your work is completed." (Tayler G.)
"To help improve your concentration, you're going to have to make changes, but first you have to recognize what's keeping you from concentrating. A few of your changes could be limiting your eating, finding a quiet place, and getting help so you can stay focused and understand the work you're doing." (Elexa M.)
"Even though you may not want to do your homework, if you record your assignments and when they are due, you will have a better chance of getting them done." (Shay W.)
"Another good one is keeping your things organized, because knowing where everything is is half the battle." (Michael M.)
"Determination helps your concentration because when you want something, it seems easier to concentrate." (Leah J.)
"You might even ask yourself questions such as: What do you have to do first to start your day? Or, what shall I do first for homework, study for my upcoming exam or complete a project that's due in a month?" (Lakara S.)
"You could make a game or song about what you're doing in class so you can stay on task. Think of ways to stay on task by doing something you like." (James C.)
"The first (promoter) is competing with yourself. If you put a time limit on the work you are doing, you can race against the clock. This will help you stay focused and you can also get your work done faster." (Chynnah T.)
"I know I can improve on making sure the distractions are put away and stay away. I need to prioritize homework over personal desires. I can also improve on making my work space more organized." (Ryan L.)
"Concentrating can be difficult but try not to get distracted; practice catching yourself when you do. If you get lazy or become tired, take a little nap before you do your work. When you're in class, ask questions so you know what you're doing when you work on your homework later." (Joem B.)
All the AVID students set personal goals for improving concentration while studying this topic and then measured the result. Almost all reported improvement in this area!
Labels: concentration concentrate AVID
Wednesday, March 11, 2009
School Nurse Inspires AVID Students
On February 23 and 24, our school nurse, Ms. Peggy Rettie, spoke to the AVID classes of Ms. Pienta and Ms. Novak about nursing and careers in medicine. She answered many of their questions and gave great information. Afterwards, students wrote articles about her visit based on their notes. Here are some excerpts from their work:"(Nurse Rettie) said that she really loved her job and that she feels like she won a lottery." (Anthony B.)
"She tells us that you must love what you do or you won't enjoy your life." (James C.)
"'To be a nurse, you have to be smart, but most importantly, you have to be compassionate, ' she says." (McKenzie E.)
"In this job, you help people everyday. Also, it can be very emotional and stressful." (Peter S.)
"She gets a sense of fulfillment in being a nurse and she couldn't really see herself as anything else." (Shay W.)
"Ms. Rettie said that when you go to college you need to keep focused and to study and then there can be time for fun." (Denice P.)
"She said your mission is to complete college in four years and also have fun along the way." (Ryan L.)
"When she was in college, she had times when she wanted to drop her classes, but she kept in mind that dropping classes led to more years in college and summer school." (Gabi M.)
"She's had many experiences: everything from watching miraculous recoveries to watching a life slip away." (Adam B.)
"She witnessed the good and bad, but her best experience was vision and hearing screening for children because she said, 'They treat you like a god.'" (Joem B.)
"While attending school, Ms. Rettie had a couple of good and bad experiences which opens your eyes to help you realize that when going into the medical field, you will experience some difficult times." (Elexa M.)
". . . caring for others takes a person with patience and a big heart to work with patients." (Lakara S.)
"After she retires, she would like to go into missionary work, because she wants to make a change and be a difference in the world. I believe that she has already accomplished that by little things she's done just at our school!" (Krystal G.)
"To her, helping people brings joy to her hear. If you look at Ms. Rettie, you know her as a school nurse. After learning about her, she is more than a nurse. She is a kind, helpful lady who will take care of you not because its her job, but because you're someone in need." (Ryan L.)
Friday, March 06, 2009
***AVID Family Workshop--March 24***
AVID FAMILY WORKSHOPMarch 24, 200917:00-18:00Above (former) Applebee'sTopics:Building Your College BinderPhantom of the Opera (Ms. Sibayan's MS AVID)How to Pay for College (thanks to Suze Orman)Green refreshments will be served!Ms. PientaMs. NovakMs. SibayanAVID Site Team
