Welcome Back, Fall!

Welcome back to Metro East, Cybersharks! We hope you are getting to know your teachers and are settled in to your classes. This year brings with it many exciting new changes at MEWA, the first of which, is the changing of our name from Gresham-Barlow Web Academy.  Additionally, we have a new principal/CEO: David Gray, who has worked in the education field for over 27 years and is passionate about education. Dr. Gray and his staff have implemented a new Student Information System (Genius), a new curriculum through Florida Virtual Schools, and a new Learning Management System (Brain Honey) for this academic year.

Some important facts about our school: MEWA is a non-profit corporation/public charter school governed by an independent appointed Board of Directors. The mission of MEWA is to provide a high quality online educational option for students. The school opened in 2009 with 70 students. Current enrollment is over 360 students. We offer students an opportunity to participate in an early college program (MEECA), online dual credit courses through Mt. Hood Community College, and we also offer a GED program. MEWA is fully accredited by the Northwest Accreditation Commission (AdvancED) and  our students come to us from 22 different school districts.

To add to the excitement of starting the new academic year, we are launching a new incentive program to promote student engagement and attendance! We will have a drawing on November 22, 2013 for a give away of two iPod Touch 16GB players. In order to be entered into the drawing, students must login every school day beginning on October 14^th, and work at least 1 hour on coursework while logged in, and complete 5 assignments per week that are submitted for grading. This particular incentive will end November 18th in order for us to choose a winner by November 22nd. We hope all MEWA and GED students participate! MEECA students will be eligible for a different drawing at a later date. Please do not hesitate to call if you have any questions, need support navigating the curriculum, or for any issues you may have. Connect with us online through Facebook, Twitter, and Pinterest!

MEWA is an open campus. Students are free to come and go as they please. We require check in and out but do not hold students to attendance requirements on site. Responsibility for student monitoring belongs to the
parent/guardian. We will ensure that they are monitored once in the facility but they are free to depart as they choose. There is a two-hour time limit on campus and students are expected to work quietly in the computer labs so they do not distract from others’ learning.

Let’s have a great year Cybersharks!