The scholarship workshop in the computer lab went well. Parents, grandparents, and students were in attendance.
WRDW, the only local news station that also uses Twitter (@WRDW) sent out a reporter and a camera man.
I still cannot break the stigma that these workshops are for everyone who can maneuver through the Internet and not just for juniors, seniors, and adult or non traditional students. Scholarship searches and applications must start at a younger age.
Even the FAFSA site has a site dedicated for middle school students . As they state, "Sure, you can wait for your parents or teachers to provide this info. But why wait on others to learn what’s best for YOUR future?"
The shared document and presentation can be accessed by anyone on the net reading this blog. Just click on the links in the previous sentence. The documents were created with Google Docs and Presentations.
One example of a scholarship open to students with a minimum age of 13 from DoSomething. DoSomething.org has teamed up with Mountain Dew to offer six $5000.00 scholarships. Applications are due December 12, 2008 and winners announced in January.
For more information visit the DoSomething.org website to see some awesome opportunities for our youth from grants to support their cause to
Apply For Your $5,000 Scholarship!
Eligibility
All applicants must be 13 years old or over to enter, a U.S. Citizen, and, most importantly, awesome.
The scholarship money can be used for any advanced education, be it college, graduate or vocational. Applications will remain open until December 12th and winners will be announced in January.
The students checked their Internet impression by conducting a Google search of their name and viewing the News, Images, Maps and the search results. After the Google search, they entered their names in cvgadget.com and saw how their piece of cyberspace can be viewed by others. The point was made that if they apply for a job, a scholarship, an internship the pictures they put on MySpace or anywhere else on the net can be found even by library patrons.
We discussed a few social networking apps, everyone acknowledge hearing or participating in MySpace...but Facebook, Twitter, and LinkedIn had the heads shaking in a negative fashion.
Everyone was encouraged to apply for their free credit report through the Federal Trade Commission's site. You do not have to be an adult to be a victim of identity theft.
We discussed resumes, scholarship application letters, finding a minimum of 3 adults outside of family and friends that can write a valid letter of recommendation.
Then we stepped out of the computer lab and ventured over to the Reference section where the paper copies of the FAFSA applications and the many reference books about scholarships and colleges are available for those who want to read books that did not leave the library. Then over to the aisle with the 370 series of books where they can get books to check out which ranged from how to study, how to survive your freshman year, scholarships, PSAT, SAT, MCAT, LSAT study guides.
Back to the computer lab for more practical application, accessing GAcollege411 and searching for your Internet appearance.
I look forward to next week's workshop. I challenge our students to spread the word about what they learned to their friends, younger brothers and sisters, and yes, even their parents.
When a student has to fill out a FAFSA, parental information about taxes is required and many students have never filed taxes and may not be sure how to discuss the subject with their parents.
Other topics discussed encouraged the students to empower themselves, look into dual or joint enrollment while they are still in high school, qualifying for free and reduced lunches qualifies the student for free or reduced SAT fees and allows the student to apply up to 5 colleges with fee waivers.
I reminded them not to by into the media hype, they can Do It! I asked them all to spend as much time as they do surfing the net, working on their MySpace page, and invest a little time in themselves by registering for GACollege411, checking out the many links compiled in the shared document and if they needed assistance they knew where I would be for the next 3 Wednesdays.
If we do not invest time, interest, and concern in our youth...Who will be rocking your rocking chair in the future?
Showing posts with label Parent Involvement. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Parent Involvement. Show all posts
Thursday, December 4, 2008
Thursday, October 23, 2008
Report Card Day in RCSS
Report cards for the first nine weeks of school were distributed today (In the Richmond County school district). For parents and guardians who access iParent...there will be no surprises IF all of your student's teachers are using the electronic gradebook. Today should not be the first day that you learn the names of your student's teachers.
The school board passed a recommended iParent timeline for all schools to implement the iParent program starting with the 2nd 9 week period. This item was on the consent agenda for the Sept 2008 school board meeting. Does it mean the program is in place and operational in all schools? Have you received a notice for iParent orientation or an alternative appointment if you cannot make it to the school? Please come out when your school has iParent night and help other parents who may be new to using a computer or a student information system. Remember this is one step in bridging the digital disconnect.
Georgia School Keys PL 3.4 Partnerships to Support Student Learning’s operational strategy is to increase family involvement to support student learning through communicating with families about school programs and student progress.
iParent, a component of School Max, is an interactive web tool that allows parental access to a child’s attendance record, a list of grades along with the current average of each class recorded in the electronic iCue-Gradebook, and the current daily schedule of classes.
In the 2007-2008 school year, iParent was implemented in Davidson Fine Arts, Butler High, Westside High, Hephzibah High, ARC, C.T. Walker and East Augusta.
Currently, Cross Creek High, Morgan Road Middle, Tutt Middle and A.R. Johnson are in the process of implementing iParent. To fully implement iParent in the remaining Richmond County schools, the following actions must take place: (1) Family Information Sheets must be completed by parents, (2) teachers must be using iCue-Gradebook, and (3) a parent registration packet must be provided either through an on-site parent workshop or some other method of packet delivery.
OK...so parents are you accessing the electronic gradebook offered by your school districts? If so, are all of your student's teachers using the program? Do you know who to contact if you have problems with program? Is a system in place to resolve questions and concerns, such as course changes, teacher additions/replacements, grades, tardies, and absences?
Do you know your student's teacher(s)? Do you know your student's counselor(s)? The school administrators? School support personnel? Do you know who your school board representative(s) are? Have you ever attended a School Advisory Meeting or a School Board Meeting? If not, can you access the agendas, budgets, and minutes online?
While your student may be attending school, remember that we are our child's first and lifelong teacher. From home training responsibilities, learning to tie a shoe, brushing teeth, table manners, taking care of family members or pets, riding a bike, driving a car, to financial matters. We cannot forget that our children are always learning from us, because of us, or in spite of us which includes interacting (or lack of) other adults.
Many of us grew up with parents, educators, and administrators living in the same community. You knew your neighbors, schools were a central part of the community, parent nights were never scheduled on the same night because families had children in school at all levels. Of course, we didn't have cell phones (only 25 years old), computers, Internet access at home and/or through local libraries.
So are you a participative parent? Your lifelong learning skills will improve as you learn about your school, the school system, and how it impacts your student. Be involved, self educate, and get to know the people where your student spends at least 1/3 of their day (more if they are involved in after school activities) for the 180 days they are in school.
As always, your recommendations, shared knowledge and experiences are always welcome whether it is your experience with electronic grade books to parent involvement. Please share a comment.
The school board passed a recommended iParent timeline for all schools to implement the iParent program starting with the 2nd 9 week period. This item was on the consent agenda for the Sept 2008 school board meeting. Does it mean the program is in place and operational in all schools? Have you received a notice for iParent orientation or an alternative appointment if you cannot make it to the school? Please come out when your school has iParent night and help other parents who may be new to using a computer or a student information system. Remember this is one step in bridging the digital disconnect.
Georgia School Keys PL 3.4 Partnerships to Support Student Learning’s operational strategy is to increase family involvement to support student learning through communicating with families about school programs and student progress.
iParent, a component of School Max, is an interactive web tool that allows parental access to a child’s attendance record, a list of grades along with the current average of each class recorded in the electronic iCue-Gradebook, and the current daily schedule of classes.
In the 2007-2008 school year, iParent was implemented in Davidson Fine Arts, Butler High, Westside High, Hephzibah High, ARC, C.T. Walker and East Augusta.
Currently, Cross Creek High, Morgan Road Middle, Tutt Middle and A.R. Johnson are in the process of implementing iParent. To fully implement iParent in the remaining Richmond County schools, the following actions must take place: (1) Family Information Sheets must be completed by parents, (2) teachers must be using iCue-Gradebook, and (3) a parent registration packet must be provided either through an on-site parent workshop or some other method of packet delivery.
OK...so parents are you accessing the electronic gradebook offered by your school districts? If so, are all of your student's teachers using the program? Do you know who to contact if you have problems with program? Is a system in place to resolve questions and concerns, such as course changes, teacher additions/replacements, grades, tardies, and absences?
Do you know your student's teacher(s)? Do you know your student's counselor(s)? The school administrators? School support personnel? Do you know who your school board representative(s) are? Have you ever attended a School Advisory Meeting or a School Board Meeting? If not, can you access the agendas, budgets, and minutes online?
While your student may be attending school, remember that we are our child's first and lifelong teacher. From home training responsibilities, learning to tie a shoe, brushing teeth, table manners, taking care of family members or pets, riding a bike, driving a car, to financial matters. We cannot forget that our children are always learning from us, because of us, or in spite of us which includes interacting (or lack of) other adults.
Many of us grew up with parents, educators, and administrators living in the same community. You knew your neighbors, schools were a central part of the community, parent nights were never scheduled on the same night because families had children in school at all levels. Of course, we didn't have cell phones (only 25 years old), computers, Internet access at home and/or through local libraries.
So are you a participative parent? Your lifelong learning skills will improve as you learn about your school, the school system, and how it impacts your student. Be involved, self educate, and get to know the people where your student spends at least 1/3 of their day (more if they are involved in after school activities) for the 180 days they are in school.
As always, your recommendations, shared knowledge and experiences are always welcome whether it is your experience with electronic grade books to parent involvement. Please share a comment.
Tuesday, October 7, 2008
Google's Translate Tool
Google products are part of my playground. During Google's recent birthday I wondered how different my life would be if I grew up with Google. My daughter who attends college could not believe that Google was only 10 years old...she grew up with Google.
With our military experience foreign travel was the nature of the beast. How cool learning the new languages in Germany, Spain, Korea, Thailand, Saudi Arabia, and Iraq would have been if I had Google translate tools on an Android?
As the participative parent, I worked with my daughter in a variety of subjects. She took Spanish, I didn't. I took French and haven't used it since college. We did learn the value of being bilingual as she began her job searches as a teenager. Most jobs even for teens offered a higher hourly wage for being bilingual.
Many parents, do not speak or know anything about the county of origin of the language their student may be taking in school. Google has the tools for us to check our student's homework, projects, or if we have enough self discipline to learn a new language. Google's Translate tool allows users to translate text, web sites, and even add the translate button to your websites.
Google Translate offers translations between the following languages:
Arabic, Bulgarian, Chinese (Simplified), Chinese (Traditional), Croatian, Czech, Danish, Dutch, Finnish, French, German, Greek, Hindi, Italian, Korean, Japanese, Norwegian, Polish, Romanian, Russian, Spanish, Swedish, and Portuguese.
Dictionary translation is currently available between English and French, German, Italian, Korean, Russian, and Spanish.
Today's Google's tip of the day is Search for Translation:
If you are in need of a quick translation, Google is here to help. Just search for the word you want in the language you're interested in, and you'll have your translation in a snap.
Try out these translation tasks:
translate ketchup to russian
translate senf to english
translate relish to korean
Why not learn a new phrase or two by translating one of your favorite websites, pasting text into the translate box, or translate words instantly from English with no clicks at all by adding the one click translate button to your browser?
While some schools are adding American Sign Language and select computer programming languages to the foreign language category for credit, learning a new language can support your journey of becoming a life long learner. Continue to work your brain like you work your body!
With our military experience foreign travel was the nature of the beast. How cool learning the new languages in Germany, Spain, Korea, Thailand, Saudi Arabia, and Iraq would have been if I had Google translate tools on an Android?
As the participative parent, I worked with my daughter in a variety of subjects. She took Spanish, I didn't. I took French and haven't used it since college. We did learn the value of being bilingual as she began her job searches as a teenager. Most jobs even for teens offered a higher hourly wage for being bilingual.
Many parents, do not speak or know anything about the county of origin of the language their student may be taking in school. Google has the tools for us to check our student's homework, projects, or if we have enough self discipline to learn a new language. Google's Translate tool allows users to translate text, web sites, and even add the translate button to your websites.
Google Translate offers translations between the following languages:
Arabic, Bulgarian, Chinese (Simplified), Chinese (Traditional), Croatian, Czech, Danish, Dutch, Finnish, French, German, Greek, Hindi, Italian, Korean, Japanese, Norwegian, Polish, Romanian, Russian, Spanish, Swedish, and Portuguese.
Dictionary translation is currently available between English and French, German, Italian, Korean, Russian, and Spanish.
Today's Google's tip of the day is Search for Translation:
If you are in need of a quick translation, Google is here to help. Just search for the word you want in the language you're interested in, and you'll have your translation in a snap.
Try out these translation tasks:
translate ketchup to russian
translate senf to english
translate relish to korean
Why not learn a new phrase or two by translating one of your favorite websites, pasting text into the translate box, or translate words instantly from English with no clicks at all by adding the one click translate button to your browser?
While some schools are adding American Sign Language and select computer programming languages to the foreign language category for credit, learning a new language can support your journey of becoming a life long learner. Continue to work your brain like you work your body!
Friday, October 3, 2008
Ten + things anyone can do
When is the last time you visited your local school? Was it to volunteer? Participate in a blood drive? Drop off can goods for a food drive? Do you know who your child eats lunch with, regardless of their age? Would you let your child spend 6-8 hours, for 180 days with strangers? Then...you need to get to know your student's teachers, administrators, and counselors?
We hear the excuses, I don't have children, I work and don't have time, I am in the military and deployed, I don't feel comfortable at the school, they need to learn to be independent, my parents never volunteered in the schools why should I?, I didn't graduate from high school and don't want to go to my child's school...the list goes on. No time? No excuses...there is always something someone can do.
What is a parent or concerned tax payer to do?
This list is not inclusive nor listed in any priority. Comments and recommendations are always welcome.
1. Visit the school. Whether you are a parent or a tax payer, check on the ROI of the taxes you pay.
2. Visit the websites. Most schools, school districts, and state's Departments of Education provide information, FAQs, and links to submit questions on their websites. Don't own a computer? Stop by your local library. Don't know how to use a computer? Stop by your local library. Many libraries offer free computer classes. Are you a computer geek? Volunteer to teach a computer class at the local library.
3. Have a Target Card? Know someone who does? Anyone with a Target credit card can designate a school to receive a small percentage of the card use. Target allows computer users to see how much your local school or your Alma mater receives. Target pays the school, not the school board, and many people are surprised when they visit the Target Community website to see how much their school has received. Some are surprised that their school is not listed in the database yet. Encourage someone from the school to ensure the school is listed.
Target's Community: Take Charge of Schools
4. Shop at Office Depot for school supplies. No card needed. When you check out, tell the clerk you want to designate a particular school to receive 5% of your next school supply purchase. Visit your local Office Depot store to find a listing of "5% Back to Schools" ID numbers or designate the school of your choice at order confirmation. Your local schools appreciate every donation they can pick up.
5. Do you have an UPromise account? Parents do you have or do you know someone with an Upromise account? Besides saving for your own child’s college you can designate a school to receive a portion of your rewards. UPromise School Fundraising
6. Join the local PTA/PTSA or give the gift of membership. Schools are relying on support from their parent student groups and clubs. Schools that collaborate with their parent, teacher, and student groups, create a foundation to combine resources and efforts of all student and teacher needs.
7. Check your schools to see what support they need. Do they recycle print cartridges and old cell phones? Do they recycle newspapers? Do they encourage community participation in school events? Find out and spread the word. Many schools have cut back on snail mailing newsletters because they can distribute news electronically. Get involved and find out. Don't settle.
8. Host a study group in your home. With everyone watching the budget, even teens are cutting down on driving and hanging out. Why not host a study/movie night at your home and get to know the other children/young adults that your child hangs out with? Rebuild the community connection.
9. Coke Rewards - In July 2008, Coca Cola expanded their rewards program to allow point collectors to donate points to up to five schools. Someone from the school must register the school before donations can be made. Cokc Rewards
10. Check your local businesses. Some businesses support the local schools by making donations. Be sure to shop those businesses and celebrate student successes. Remember, the youth of today are growing into the leaders of tomorrow.
11. Do you have a friend that is an educator? The easiest thing to do...just ask. You might be surprised as requests range from donating box tops, Tyson chicken labels, Campbell's soup labels to help the school earn credits to purchase items in support of students...to showing up with lunch one day. Random acts of kindness can change the attitudes and environment.
12. Self educate. Learn about the local school and the district, check out the budgets posted online, find out who your school board members are and attend a meeting, find out who the advocates are for education and check their websites. If any of these items listed are not occurring...then take initiative and start something.
13. Is everything going great in your school district? Find out what our students are doing online. Schools around the nation are participating in Flat Classroom Projects, inclusion when a student is diagnosed with cancer, and blogging for causes adults never hear about. Technology integration for the digital natives keeps the students engaged, not enraged.
Do you have additional ideas? Leave a comment.
We hear the excuses, I don't have children, I work and don't have time, I am in the military and deployed, I don't feel comfortable at the school, they need to learn to be independent, my parents never volunteered in the schools why should I?, I didn't graduate from high school and don't want to go to my child's school...the list goes on. No time? No excuses...there is always something someone can do.
What is a parent or concerned tax payer to do?
This list is not inclusive nor listed in any priority. Comments and recommendations are always welcome.
1. Visit the school. Whether you are a parent or a tax payer, check on the ROI of the taxes you pay.
2. Visit the websites. Most schools, school districts, and state's Departments of Education provide information, FAQs, and links to submit questions on their websites. Don't own a computer? Stop by your local library. Don't know how to use a computer? Stop by your local library. Many libraries offer free computer classes. Are you a computer geek? Volunteer to teach a computer class at the local library.
3. Have a Target Card? Know someone who does? Anyone with a Target credit card can designate a school to receive a small percentage of the card use. Target allows computer users to see how much your local school or your Alma mater receives. Target pays the school, not the school board, and many people are surprised when they visit the Target Community website to see how much their school has received. Some are surprised that their school is not listed in the database yet. Encourage someone from the school to ensure the school is listed.
Target's Community: Take Charge of Schools
4. Shop at Office Depot for school supplies. No card needed. When you check out, tell the clerk you want to designate a particular school to receive 5% of your next school supply purchase. Visit your local Office Depot store to find a listing of "5% Back to Schools" ID numbers or designate the school of your choice at order confirmation. Your local schools appreciate every donation they can pick up.
5. Do you have an UPromise account? Parents do you have or do you know someone with an Upromise account? Besides saving for your own child’s college you can designate a school to receive a portion of your rewards. UPromise School Fundraising
6. Join the local PTA/PTSA or give the gift of membership. Schools are relying on support from their parent student groups and clubs. Schools that collaborate with their parent, teacher, and student groups, create a foundation to combine resources and efforts of all student and teacher needs.
7. Check your schools to see what support they need. Do they recycle print cartridges and old cell phones? Do they recycle newspapers? Do they encourage community participation in school events? Find out and spread the word. Many schools have cut back on snail mailing newsletters because they can distribute news electronically. Get involved and find out. Don't settle.
8. Host a study group in your home. With everyone watching the budget, even teens are cutting down on driving and hanging out. Why not host a study/movie night at your home and get to know the other children/young adults that your child hangs out with? Rebuild the community connection.
9. Coke Rewards - In July 2008, Coca Cola expanded their rewards program to allow point collectors to donate points to up to five schools. Someone from the school must register the school before donations can be made. Cokc Rewards
10. Check your local businesses. Some businesses support the local schools by making donations. Be sure to shop those businesses and celebrate student successes. Remember, the youth of today are growing into the leaders of tomorrow.
11. Do you have a friend that is an educator? The easiest thing to do...just ask. You might be surprised as requests range from donating box tops, Tyson chicken labels, Campbell's soup labels to help the school earn credits to purchase items in support of students...to showing up with lunch one day. Random acts of kindness can change the attitudes and environment.
12. Self educate. Learn about the local school and the district, check out the budgets posted online, find out who your school board members are and attend a meeting, find out who the advocates are for education and check their websites. If any of these items listed are not occurring...then take initiative and start something.
13. Is everything going great in your school district? Find out what our students are doing online. Schools around the nation are participating in Flat Classroom Projects, inclusion when a student is diagnosed with cancer, and blogging for causes adults never hear about. Technology integration for the digital natives keeps the students engaged, not enraged.
Do you have additional ideas? Leave a comment.
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