A touching Thanksgiving Story

Agenda: Week of Monday/Tuesday November 22/23, 2010

Quote of the Week:  "I celebrated Thanksgiving in an old-fashioned way. I invited everyone in my neighborhood to my house, we had an enormous feast, and then I killed them and took their land." - Jon Stewart

Monday:
We'll check out the pictures we took from last Friday.  They were outstanding!

We'll also watch a TED Talk from J.J. Abrams called, "The Magic Box."
J.J. Abrams traces his love for the unseen mystery –- a passion that’s evident in his films and TV shows, including Cloverfield, Lost and Alias -- back to its magical beginnings.

As the Emmy-winning creator of the smart, addictive TV dramas Lost, Alias and Felicity, J.J. Abrams' name looms large on the small screen. As the writer/director behind the blockbuster explode-a-thon Mission: Impossible III, Cloverfield and the new Star Trek movie, these days Abrams also rules the big screen -- bringing his eye for telling detail and emotional connection to larger-than-life stories.

Abrams' enthusiasm -- for the construction of Kleenex boxes, for the quiet moments between shark attacks in Jaws, for today's filmmaking technologies, and above all for the potent mystery of an unopened package -- is incredibly infectious.

"As a boy, JJ Abrams was fascinated with magic. As a television writer, director, and producer, he has beguiled audiences with a masterful use of suspense, plot reversals, and special effects."

Wired
Tuesday:
Tutoring or - if there isn't much to do with tutoring, since we are heading towards a break -
We'll check out this 7 minute video:


We will have a socratic discussion about the video and the state of education/technology.

After watching it two things popped into my mind:

1) Moderation is very important.

2) Kids are losing the (already inhibited ability) to moderate.

 

What would our campus look like if cell phones were not banned?  I would think it would be a mess.  But, I don't know.

 

I know one thing for sure, kids know how to use technology to entertain themselves and communicate with friends.  But, do they know how to use it for their advantage to learn and do their school work (and later college work) in a more efficient way? 

 

Part of our job is going to be explaining how to balance life so that they get a boost from technology and not just have it sap their attention and ability.

HAVE A GREAT THANKSGIVING!

College... and AP/Dual.C

College & AP/Dual.

Where does the money go?

We are going to use this in class on Thursday and Friday and discuss the need for a college education.  :)

Students will write down 3 "observations" as they look over the chart.

Then we will discuss the difference between a college education and high school.

Don't do it...

Agenda: Week of November 11/15/2010 - Friday 11/19/2010

Quote of the Day:  "Never, Ever, Ever give up!"  (a good thought when being a Texans fan!)

Monday - 
Discuss and debate the article in the Tribune last week that discussed technology education and online classes.  Philosophical Chairs if possible.
Juniors will spend 20 minutes working on ePrep SAT critical reading test.

Tuesday - 
Tutoring

Wednesday/Thursday -
Tutoring
Juniors to computer lab to input answers into ePrep.
Seniors discuss scholarships & college apps.

Friday -
Discuss service hours and opportunities.
The weather should be perfect for pictures outside.  Mr. Duez would like to create Christmas cards this year.

SAT Question of the Day

This is the official SAT Question of the Day site from College Board (the people who give the test).

Click on this link to subscribe to it:
http://sat.collegeboard.com/login?actionURL=/practice/sat-question-of-the-day&applicationId=206&cbmRefId=subscribeQotdLink

Agenda: Monday, Nov. 7, 2010

Quote of the Day:  "People ask me why I've stayed here so long," Paterno told the crowd of 104,147, none of whom went home. "Look around!  Look around!  I love you all...  Now that the celebrating is over, let's go beat Ohio State!"  
-- Joe Paterno, Coach of the Penn State Nittany Lions, as Penn State held an on-field ceremony that included a video tribute and a crystal football given to the coach to commemorate win No. 400. 

Agenda This Week:
Monday - Socratic discussion about the articles they read on Friday in class (juniors).  Discuss our trip to SFA & also check college applications & scholarships (seniors).  Go outside to take class picture, if weather permits and it is a nice day.

Tuesday - Tutoring

Wed/Thu - Tutoring & TBD

Friday -  TBD

Dell Scholars Aps

The Dell Scholars application process opens today.  AVID Center is proud to continue its relationship with the Michael & Susan Dell Foundation (MSDF) this year to select another group of Dell Scholars.  Since 2004, nearly 1,000 students have been selected as Scholars, including 176 selected last year.

Many of you have been through this process before and are familiar with the procedures and timelines.  However, for those unfamiliar or who need a refresher, following are important notes regarding the process for 2010-2011. 

1. You should receive an email from the MSDF and Oscar Sweeten-Lopez, for the Dell Scholars next week.  Please note there is not a poster mailing this year.
   
2. You can contact the customer support group for any questions about Dell Scholars.  The email is apply@dellscholars.org and the phone number is 1-800-294-2039.  The web address for the program is dellscholars.org.
   
3. If your students happen to receive a message that they did not pass the eligibility quiz due to their high school not being associated with AVID, please have them submit a request through the built-in response option located below the eligibility message.  The student will be asked to provide the name of his/her AVID counselor and contact information.  Dell Scholar customer support will contact the counselor to confirm AVID is at that high school. Once confirmation from the counselor is received, the school can be added to the database quickly, and students can continue with application process immediately.
   
4. We can also field questions on behalf of AVID Center.  Our emails are lmorse@avidcenter.org and sbaratte@avidcenter.org.
   
5. The MSDF team expects to select 300 Dell Scholars this year.  Based on past practice, it is fair to assume that more than half of those selected will be AVID students, with some from other college-readiness programs.
   
6. The scholarships are $20,000 awards, which can be spread over six years, including graduate studies.  The program website lists the guidelines, but, in a nutshell, successful applicants must have at least a 2.4 GPA, have overcome obstacles, demonstrate an interest in attending a four-year college, and are Pell Grant eligible.
   
7. The application period runs from November 1, 2010 to January 15, 2011.  Students who are chosen as semi-finalists via their applications and essays will then have their AVID teachers submit recommendations.  MSDF anticipates notifying the awardees by April 10.
   
8. As district and regional directors, you can help the process by making sure that all of your AVID sites with seniors encourage the best possible candidates to apply.  Preliminary studies by MSDF indicate that AVID Dell Scholars are persisting in college at a very high rate, well above 90%.
   
9. If you would like to review the list of previous Dell Scholars, please use the dellscholars.org website.  AVID Center also maintains a database limited strictly to AVID students who have been selected, which we can provide.

 

Congratulations on all your past successes on behalf of our students, and good luck this year!

Agenda: Week of Nov 1, 2010

NOTICE:  There is a financial aid workshop for Seniors on Nov. 29th at 6:30 in the Gold LGI.  


Quote of the Week:  “I am only one, but still I am one. I cannot do everything, but still I can do something. And because I cannot do everything I will not refuse to do the something that I can do.” – Hellen Keller

Monday:
1.  Goal of the Week
2.  Binder Check
3.  Halloween Motivational Monday
4.  College Videos

Tuesday: 
Tutoring

Wed/Thu:
Tutoring & a look at SFA/Sam Houston comparison

Friday:
Senior Field trip to SFA