Principal's Message

A Message from the Principal/CEO:

We are always inspired by our student success stories at MEWA.  These stories are evidenced in the many pictures we include in our messages related to students of the month, most improved students, and photos of student work that we also include in our weekly announcement section of the web page.  The following link will take you to a success story of a student in another school in another part of the country, but could be one of our students.  Please click on the link below to read this story:

Meet Caroline Combemale: Cyber Student, Teen Teacher and Lead Guitarist

Our handbook states: The staff at MEWA will attend to inquiries and be online daily (Monday through Friday) and will to respond to inquiries within 24 hours (except weekends).  Course assignments will be graded and returned within 72 hours. In addition each teacher has a cell phone dedicated for students to call teachers at the Web Academy. 

As our school grows, we are finding it difficult to always meet this objective via email.  Realistically, many of our teachers have a student load of approximately 200 students.  Please be patient and our teachers will get to your questions and offer support.  Also know that we have open lab times scheduled here on campus and students that need immediate help, may find that attending one of our scheduled labs, can result in faster feedback and support.  Lastly, most of our teachers host virtual sessions and participation in these sessions will also allow you the opportunity to receive answers to your questions.

Recently, a few of our students attended a field trip to a local technology company in Gresham.  The students were able to view and experience much of the 900,000 square foot complex from the high tech laboratories to the underpinnings of the facility that are engineered to reduce vibration from earth movement, which is very detrimental to the making of high tech wafers and computer chips.

Microchip Technology Inc. is a leading provider of microcontroller and analog semiconductors, providing low-risk product development, lower total system cost and faster time to market for thousands of diverse customer applications worldwide. Headquartered in Chandler, Arizona, Microchip offers outstanding technical support along with dependable delivery and quality.

Ms. Norrander and Mr. Kitchens with MEWA students!

Seniors: Now's the time to turn in your Senior pictures for the yearbook. Photos should be a head shot or upper body. Grab a friend to take your picture and have some fun. If sending from a smart phone, use the medium size (121kb) Send pictures to Kari Clayton at clayton2@mewebacademy.org

Please note that it is time for students to begin their state testing (OAKS) and show up for scheduled tests and time!  Attending and taking the test is required and very important as the school is evaluated on student results and attendance in the state report card.  Being present for the test is included in the contract that many parents and students signed during your welcome meeting.

HAVEN'T PASSED THE OAKS YET? Well, this one's for you. The math department is offering Work Samples (and Local Performance Based Assessments) every 1st and 3rd Wednesday of the month from 1:00 to 3:00 PM. If you are a Senior (or Junior) and have struggled to pass the OAKS test, you will want to make one of these sessions. Passing the math OAKS OR two math Work Samples is one requirement for graduation. Seniors should especially heed this advice as they prepare for graduation. Contact Mr. Kitchens or Mrs. Riehl for further information, or click on "Work Sample Sign UP" below to go to the RSVP (sign up) form and sign up for a date: 

Work Sample SIGN UP

Stay connected through Facebook and Twitter.  We share informative and valuable messages daily.

https://www.facebook.com/metroeastwebacademy

https://twitter.com/MEWebAcademy

You may have noticed that you now have assignments due on weekends and school breaks. This is due to our dynamic scheduling system, which supports individual learning plans. Unfortunately, we cannot change these due dates to regular school dates on a grand scale. But remember that our due dates are guidelines, not necessarily strict requirements.  So, if you are completing assignments within a couple of days of these due dates, you are staying on track.  If you have assignments that are due on Saturday, aim to complete them on Friday. If you have assignments due on Sunday, plan to complete them on Monday.

One new feature of this dynamic scheduling is the ability to select your course end date. While you cannot choose to work later than the end of the school year (June 6th), if you are trying to complete the class early, this is a helpful tool. In your grade book (in your class), you'll see a calendar icon. If you click on it, you will be able to see the target end date that your teacher chose, and could opt to choose an earlier one for yourself.  (See the image below). 

Students of the Month for February:
Ryan Rangel
Davien Williams
Olena Kozhevnikova
Daniel Pinchuk

Aaron Normand, January Student of the Month with Mr. May-Varas!

Daniel Pinchuk, Student of the Month for February with Ms. Calhoun!

Most Improved Students for February:
Carl Behunin
Jessica Pitsul

Announcements:

Interested in gardening? Help the volunteer club plant for MEWA's community garden! On March 5 from 2:30 pm to 3:30 pm we will be planting starts for the garden. You will get to take home your very own start! 

We now have a new and growing FAQ Page for MEWA students and parents. Here you will see questions, answers, and how-to videos related to a variety of common issues. From our home page, www.mewebacademy.org, find the Student/Parent FAQ on the center button bar.

As we continue to study the results from our recent parent survey, we want to take an opportunity to provide you with additional support reviewing and monitoring your student's work and activity.  Please click on the video link below as Mr. Barrentine takes you through the process of accessing the parent portion of Genius -- our Genius student information system:

Video Link

Local Performance Based Assessments (formerly Work Samples) are offered every 1st and 3rd Wednesday of the month from 1:00 to 3:00 PM. If you are a senior without a math class in need of passing the Essential Skill in Math in order to graduate then you will want to plan on attending one of these. Contact Mr. Kitchens or Mrs. Riehl for further information.

Writing Work Sample opportunity for seniors on March 19th at 4:00 PM.

More Math Lab Hours!  Ms. Norrander will be hosting math labs on Thursdays from 10:00 - 12:00 in the math room.  Bring your math questions and we'll find a solution! 

Attention Juniors!

It's time to take your OAKS Writing Test!  Please click here, and follow the directions to sign up for an available time slot in FEBRUARY.

Remember, the State of Oregon requires that you take the OAKS Writing Test, and pass the Essential Skill of Writing, in order to graduate.

Please contact Ms. Calhoun (calhoun5@mewebacademy) with questions.

Have you tried yoga before? Do you want to improve your strength, flexibility and balance? Then join Ms. Norrander on Thursday's from 12:15 - 1:00 for Yoga Time in classroom 2. This is a fun, non-competitive activity for all members of MEWA. Bring a yoga mat or a beach towel. Contact Ms. Norrander if you have any questions, norrander@mewebacademy.org.

MEWA has formed a parent booster/advocacy group.  Participation in this group is open to all MEWA parents, grandparents, guardians, and staff members.  The focus of this group will be to organize and support activities that promote our school and provide enrichment and growth opportunities for students and staff.  The next meeting is March 19th at 5:00 PM at MEWA.  Snacks and refreshments are provided.  The agenda this month will focus on a discussion concerning our upcoming Open House and what do we desire the parent group to become.  We will have a drawing to give away a $25 Fred Mayer Gift Card to one lucky attendee.  Aletha Peyton won a $25 Safeway gift card at the February meeting.  Congratulations Aletha!

Seniors!! 

Now is the time to get your cap and gown ordered for graduation. Pick up your packet in the office or order directly through Josten's at (503) 255-7120.

Mr. Ellsberg has created a youtube channel for his weekly Techtown video cast.  You can follow him every Tuesday here: http://www.youtube.com/channel/UCJ8Gtv4Bpr9SjA33hMRkD5Q

Box Tops for the Box Tops for Education program:

Box Tops for Education® is one of the nation’s largest school fundraising loyalty programs and has been helping schools succeed since 1996. With over 250 participating products, it’s an easy way for schools to earn cash for the things they need.

• Over 90,000 K-8 schools participate nationwide
• Each Box Tops coupon is worth 10¢ and they add up fast!
• Schools can use their Box Tops cash to buy whatever they need most, from books to field trips to playgrounds.
• So far, America’s schools have earned over $525 million from Box Tops…and counting.*

Please bring in your box tops.  More information is available at http://www.boxtops4education.com/all-about-boxtops

Sincerely,

David L. Gray, Ph.D.

Principal/CEO

Metro East Web Academy

503-258-4790

Tips for Those Interested In Scholarships

Photo Source: https://www.fastweb.com/college-scholarships/articles/2963-12-tips-on-winning-a-scholarship

Some of you are seniors this year and some of you are not quite there yet, but all of you should be thinking about what you want to do after high school.  For some students, college is the goal and graduating with a Bachelor’s degree.  Others may be more interested in earning their Associate’s degree or obtaining a certificate from a trade school.  There are many options for students interested in continuing their education after high school.  We hope each of our students at MEWA goes on to pursue a higher education, but we know money can sometimes be a factor in making this decision.  To help with this, there are a number of different opportunities for students to earn money towards their education.  Today’s blog is going to offer some tips on one of these: scholarships.

1. Don’t wait until the last minute to apply for scholarships! For everyone who is not yet a senior, start looking at the ones you may qualify for now so that you don’t get caught off guard when all the sudden it’s May of your senior year.  Also, keep in mind there are some scholarships that can be won for students who are already in college, or who have not entered high school yet.
2. If you use a scholarship matching website (such as Fastweb.com), give answers for the optional questions.  This will help the site return twice as many scholarships that give you a better chance of winning them.
3. Keep an eye out for local scholarships.  Ask your counselors if they know of any in the area that you may qualify for.
4. Apply to any and every scholarship you qualify for, no matter how big or small the monetary return is.  Many small scholarships can add up quickly and can be less competitive.  Be sure to save any of your essays as often they can be tailored to fit the responses required in multiple scholarships.
5. Don’t miss any deadlines.  Stay organized as you work through the process of finding and applying for scholarships.
6. Read the instructions and tailor your responses to match the goals of the scholarship sponsor.
7. Personalize your essay responses and show who you really are through your writing.  Bringing out your passion and community impact will help you stand out among the other applicants.
8. Google your name and clean up your digital footprint.  Make sure your Facebook or other social profiles are free of immature or inappropriate posts.
9. Proofread your essays for spelling, grammar, and punctuation errors.
10. Make a copy of your application before you mail it.  Save the copy for your records and reference it for future applications.

(Source: https://www.fastweb.com/college-scholarships/articles/2963-12-tips-on-winning-a-scholarship)

Talk to your academic counselor about what opportunities are available to you.  They are here to help you choose the right path and find the means to help you achieve your goals.

What other opportunities are you pursuing to fund your education?

Principal's Message

A Message from the Principal/CEO:

Please note that it is time for students to begin their state testing (OAKS) and show up for scheduled tests and time!  Attending and taking the test is required and very important as the school is evaluated on student results and attendance in the state report card.  Being present for the test is included in the contract that many parents and students signed during your welcome meeting.

Brooke working in Art class

Friday is a popular day for open lab!

Ms. Gebhart and Riehl in open lab!

Interested in gardening? Help the volunteer club plant for MEWA's community garden! On March 5 from 2:30 pm to 3:30 pm we will be planting starts for the garden. You will get to take home your very own start! 

Community Gardner's.

HAVEN'T PASSED THE OAKS YET? Well, this one's for you. The math department is offering Work Samples (and Local Performance Based Assessments) every 1st and 3rd Wednesday of the month from 1:00 to 3:00 PM. If you are a Senior (or Junior) and have struggled to pass the OAKS test, you will want to make one of these sessions. Passing the math OAKS OR two math Work Samples is one requirement for graduation. Seniors should especially heed this advice as they prepare for graduation. Contact Mr. Kitchens or Mrs. Riehl for further information, or click on "Work Sample Sign UP" below to go to the RSVP (sign up) form and sign up for a date: 

Work Sample SIGN UP

Stay connected through Facebook and Twitter.  We share informative and valuable messages daily.

https://www.facebook.com/metroeastwebacademy

https://twitter.com/MEWebAcademy

You may have noticed that you now have assignments due on weekends and school breaks. This is due to our dynamic scheduling system, which supports individual learning plans. Unfortunately, we cannot change these due dates to regular school dates on a grand scale. But remember that our due dates are guidelines, not necessarily strict requirements.  So, if you are completing assignments within a couple of days of these due dates, you are staying on track.  If you have assignments that are due on Saturday, aim to complete them on Friday. If you have assignments due on Sunday, plan to complete them on Monday.

One new feature of this dynamic scheduling is the ability to select your course end date. While you cannot choose to work later than the end of the school year (June 6th), if you are trying to complete the class early, this is a helpful tool. In your grade book (in your class), you'll see a calendar icon. If you click on it, you will be able to see the target end date that your teacher chose, and could opt to choose an earlier one for yourself.  (See the image below). 

Students of the Month for February:
Ryan Rangel
Davien Williams
Olena Kozhevnikova
Daniel Pinchuk

Most Improved Students for February:
Carl Behunin
Jessica Pitsal

Announcements:

We now have a new and growing FAQ Page for MEWA students and parents. Here you will see questions, answers, and how-to videos related to a variety of common issues. From our home page, www.mewebacademy.org, find the Student/Parent FAQ on the center button bar.

As we continue to study the results from our recent parent survey, we want to take an opportunity to provide you with additional support reviewing and monitoring your student's work and activity.  Please click on the video link below as Mr. Barrentine takes you through the process of accessing the parent portion of Genius -- our Genius student information system:

Video Link

Local Performance Based Assessments (formerly Work Samples) are offered every 1st and 3rd Wednesday of the month from 1:00 to 3:00 PM. If you are a senior without a math class in need of passing the Essential Skill in Math in order to graduate then you will want to plan on attending one of these. Contact Mr. Kitchens or Mrs. Riehl for further information.

Writing Work Sample opportunity for seniors on March 19th at 4:00 PM.

More Math Lab Hours!  Ms. Norrander will be hosting math labs on Thursdays from 10:00 - 12:00 in the math room.  Bring your math questions and we'll find a solution! 

Attention Juniors!

It's time to take your OAKS Writing Test!  Please click here, and follow the directions to sign up for an available time slot in FEBRUARY.

Remember, the State of Oregon requires that you take the OAKS Writing Test, and pass the Essential Skill of Writing, in order to graduate.

Please contact Ms. Calhoun (calhoun5@mewebacademy) with questions.

Have you ever been interested in learning self-defense? It is not too late.  GirlStrength will be running a 9 week self-defense class for Middle School students at MEWA.  You will receive elective credit for participating, but only 12 girls can enroll.  We do ask for a 100% commitment that you come to every class which will be held on Monday's from 3-4:30pm.  Contact Ms. Powell right away if you are interested!  

powell@mewebacademy.org / 971-231-5496

https://docs.google.com/a/gbwebacademy.org/presentation/d/1zoQgSBkl-nUIxA_HIkUeY2h7wyw3_SqZbEdGN3zdZWo/edit?usp=sharing

Yoga!!!

Have you tried yoga before? Do you want to improve your strength, flexibility and balance? Then join Ms. Norrander on Thursday's from 12:15 - 1:00 for Yoga Time in classroom 2. This is a fun, non-competitive activity for all members of MEWA. Bring a yoga mat or a beach towel. Contact Ms. Norrander if you have any questions, norrander@mewebacademy.org.

MEWA has formed a parent booster/advocacy group.  Participation in this group is open to all MEWA parents, grandparents, guardians, and staff members.  The focus of this group will be to organize and support activities that promote our school and provide enrichment and growth opportunities for students and staff.  The next meeting is March 19th at 5:00 PM at MEWA.  Snacks and refreshments are provided.  The agenda next week will focus on a discussion concerning our upcoming Open House and what do we desire the parent group to become.  We will have a drawing to give away a $25 Fred Mayer Gift Card to one lucky attendee.  Aletha Peyton won a $25 Safeway gift card at the February meeting.  Congratulations Aletha!

Seniors!! 

Now is the time to get your cap and gown ordered for graduation. Pick up your packet in the office or order directly through Josten's at (503) 255-7120.

Mr. Ellsberg has created a youtube channel for his weekly Techtown video cast.  You can follow him every Tuesday here: http://www.youtube.com/channel/UCJ8Gtv4Bpr9SjA33hMRkD5Q

Box Tops for the Box Tops for Education program:

Box Tops for Education® is one of the nation’s largest school fundraising loyalty programs and has been helping schools succeed since 1996. With over 250 participating products, it’s an easy way for schools to earn cash for the things they need.

• Over 90,000 K-8 schools participate nationwide
• Each Box Tops coupon is worth 10¢ and they add up fast!
• Schools can use their Box Tops cash to buy whatever they need most, from books to field trips to playgrounds.
• So far, America’s schools have earned over $525 million from Box Tops…and counting.*

Please bring in your box tops.  More information is available at http://www.boxtops4education.com/all-about-boxtops

Sincerely,

David L. Gray, Ph.D.

Principal/CEO

Metro East Web Academy

503-258-4790

Principal's Message

A Message from the Principal/CEO:

Ms. Riehl working a math problem with Sarah Allen!

Please note that it is time for students to begin their state testing (OAKS) and show up for scheduled tests and time!  Attending and taking the test is required and very important as the school is evaluated on student results and attendance in the state report card.  Being present for the test is included in the contract that many parents and students signed during your welcome meeting.

Art students planning their mural activity!

Students explaining to MS Powell and Gebhart where the mural will be located.

We now have a new and growing FAQ Page for MEWA students and parents. Here you will see questions, answers, and how-to videos related to a variety of common issues. From our home page, www.mewebacademy.org, find the Student/Parent FAQ on the center button bar.

We want to apologize for the Brain Honey disruption of service over the last few days.  The company that provides this service assures us that they are working on the problem.  We know that this causes anxiety in some of our students as they are trying to maintain the pacing schedule and turn in the expected three to four assignments a day.  Keep in mind that the assignment schedule and due dates are just a recommendation and suggested pacing.  We do not  have a requirement that a student strictly adhere to this schedule. The pacing schedule is determined by our Brain Honey Learning Management System and based on the notion that there are a set number of assignments that have to be completed in an 18 week semester for each course.

We have also noticed that the minutes worked function of Genius is not accurately accounting for the amount of time that a student is actually online.  We are working to resolve this issue as well.  So, for parents that want to see this calculation, you will have to use the student log in.  Brain Honey is accurately accounting for the activity time.  As always, if you have questions, please do not hesitate to call or communicate by email.

Stay connected through Facebook and Twitter.  We share informative and valuable messages daily.

https://www.facebook.com/metroeastwebacademy

https://twitter.com/MEWebAcademy

You may have noticed that you now have assignments due on weekends and school breaks. This is due to our dynamic scheduling system, which supports individual learning plans. Unfortunately, we cannot change these due dates to regular school dates on a grand scale. But remember that our due dates are guidelines, not necessarily strict requirements.  So, if you are completing assignments within a couple of days of these due dates, you are staying on track.  If you have assignments that are due on Saturday, aim to complete them on Friday. If you have assignments due on Sunday, plan to complete them on Monday.

One new feature of this dynamic scheduling is the ability to select your course end date. While you cannot choose to work later than the end of the school year (June 6th), if you are trying to complete the class early, this is a helpful tool. In your grade book (in your class), you'll see a calendar icon. If you click on it, you will be able to see the target end date that your teacher chose, and could opt to choose an earlier one for yourself.  (See the image below). 

Students of the Month for January:
Jessica Chase
Aaron Normand
Aaron Whistler

Most Improved Students for January:
Sarah Campean

Announcements:

As we continue to study the results from our recent parent survey, we want to take an opportunity to provide you with additional support reviewing and monitoring your student's work and activity.  Please click on the video link below as Mr. Barrentine takes you through the process of accessing the parent portion of Genius -- our Genius student information system:

Video Link

Local Performance Based Assessments (formerly Work Samples) are offered every 1st and 3rd Wednesday of the month from 1:00 to 3:00 PM. If you are a senior without a math class in need of passing the Essential Skill in Math in order to graduate then you will want to plan on attending one of these. Contact Mr. Kitchens or Mrs. Riehl for further information.

Writing Work Sample opportunity for seniors on March 19th at 4:00 PM.

More Math Lab Hours!  Ms. Norrander will be hosting math labs on Thursdays from 10:00 - 12:00 in the math room.  Bring your math questions and we'll find a solution! 

Attention Juniors!

It's time to take your OAKS Writing Test!  Please click here, and follow the directions to sign up for an available time slot in FEBRUARY.

Remember, the State of Oregon requires that you take the OAKS Writing Test, and pass the Essential Skill of Writing, in order to graduate.

Please contact Ms. Calhoun (calhoun5@mewebacademy) with questions.

Have you ever been interested in learning self-defense? It is not too late.  GirlStrength will be running a 9 week self-defense class for Middle School students at MEWA.  You will receive elective credit for participating, but only 12 girls can enroll.  We do ask for a 100% commitment that you come to every class which will be held on Monday's from 3-4:30pm.  Contact Ms. Powell right away if you are interested!  

powell@mewebacademy.org / 971-231-5496

https://docs.google.com/a/gbwebacademy.org/presentation/d/1zoQgSBkl-nUIxA_HIkUeY2h7wyw3_SqZbEdGN3zdZWo/edit?usp=sharing

Yoga!!!

Have you tried yoga before? Do you want to improve your strength, flexibility and balance? Then join Ms. Norrander on Thursday's from 12:15 - 1:00 for Yoga Time in classroom 2. This is a fun, non-competitive activity for all members of MEWA. Bring a yoga mat or a beach towel. Contact Ms. Norrander if you have any questions, norrander@mewebacademy.org.

MEWA has formed a parent booster/advocacy group.  Participation in this group is open to all MEWA parents, grandparents, guardians, and staff members.  The focus of this group will be to organize and support activities that promote our school and provide enrichment and growth opportunities for students and staff.  The next meeting is February 19th at 5:00 PM at MEWA.  Snacks and refreshments are provided.  The agenda next week will focus on a discussion concerning our upcoming Open House and what do we desire the parent group to become.  We will have a drawing to give away a $25 Safeway Gift Card to one lucky attendee.

Seniors!! 

Now is the time to get your cap and gown ordered for graduation. Pick up your packet in the office or order directly through Josten's at (503) 255-7120.

Mr. Ellsberg has created a youtube channel for his weekly Techtown video cast.  You can follow him every Tuesday here: http://www.youtube.com/channel/UCJ8Gtv4Bpr9SjA33hMRkD5Q

Box Tops for the Box Tops for Education program:

Box Tops for Education® is one of the nation’s largest school fundraising loyalty programs and has been helping schools succeed since 1996. With over 250 participating products, it’s an easy way for schools to earn cash for the things they need.

• Over 90,000 K-8 schools participate nationwide
• Each Box Tops coupon is worth 10¢ and they add up fast!
• Schools can use their Box Tops cash to buy whatever they need most, from books to field trips to playgrounds.
• So far, America’s schools have earned over $525 million from Box Tops…and counting.*

Please bring in your box tops.  More information is available at http://www.boxtops4education.com/all-about-boxtops

Sincerely,

David L. Gray, Ph.D.

Principal/CEO

Metro East Web Academy

503-258-4790

Olympics: Going for the Gold

The Winter Olympics are in full swing in Sochi, Russia and it seems that is where the focus of the media is right now.  Watching the athletes is certainly something spectacular and it makes you wonder whether they just got an extraordinary set of genes, or if it is something more; is it the character and personality of the individual that gets them to where they are, competing for an Olympic Gold Medal?  What does it take to “go for the gold”?  How can you, as a student, parent, teacher, or guardian, go for the gold each and every day?

Determination

Being an Olympic athlete takes determination.  It means picking yourself up off the ground when you fall, again, and again.  It means never quitting, even when you are tired or sore.  This determination allows the Olympic athlete not to focus on the losses, but strive for the victories.  It means understanding the difference between just winning, and achieving greatness.  An Olympic athlete is determined to put their best effort into every practice, every match, and every day of their life.  They train hard, study hard, find their limit, and then push past it.  Greatness and success is in the level of effort, not necessarily in how many trophies are won.

Drive

An Olympic athlete is motivated by their love of a sport, their competitive spirit, and the challenges they have faced.  Each step is forward, never backward.  They are driven by a passion to be the best, yet they concede to their comrades when someone else comes out on top.  Above all, the Olympic athlete has set goals.  These goals give them something to strive for, allow them to feel success and satisfaction when they are achieved, and constantly improve as they set new goals.

Support

One cannot possibly compete for an Olympic medal without support.  Olympic athletes are supported by their parents, brothers, sisters, and teammates.  For most, they feel the support and pride of their whole country that they are representing at the games.  It’s a position filled with responsibility and expectation, but not one that must be carried alone.  Through whatever defeat, or success, an Olympian’s support system carries them to the next challenge.

We may not all become Olympic athletes, probably missing one of those extraordinary genes, but we can all achieve greatness and success in our lives.  The key is not to worry about what we don’t have, but focus on what inside us gives us that fire that moves us to continually strive to be better.

What other Olympic traits do you possess?

Principal's Message

A Message from the Principal/CEO:

Let it Snow!

The view from Dr. Gray's back yard!

Well, the weather has certainly changed for the worse over the last two days and possibly into Saturday.  As a result, we closed the office early on Thursday and all day Friday as did most of the area school districts.  Hopefully, our closure message reached all of our students and staff.

One important advantage of our virtual school is that students can continue to work and teachers can continue to teach -- so there are technically no snow days for MEWA even if we have to close the office and the school.

As we continue to study the results from our recent parent survey, we want to take an opportunity to provide you with additional support reviewing and monitoring your student's work and activity.  Please click on the video link below as Mr. Barrentine takes you through the process of accessing the parent portion of Genius -- our Genius student information system:

Video Link

Another important factor to consider when reviewing your student's activity in our system is to understand that a student's activity may not be reflected immediately in the Genius system.  The Genius system updates everyday at 7:00 AM and 7:00 PM.  Activity logged prior to these times will not be reflected until after the next update time.  Several parents have commented on this issue so hopefully this explanation will help.  If you need further help after reviewing the how to video above, do not hesitate to contact the office or review parent resources on our web page.

We now have a new and growing FAQ Page for MEWA students and parents. Here you will see questions, answers, and how-to videos related to a variety of common issues. From our home page, www.mewebacademy.org, find the Student/Parent FAQ on the center button bar.

For those of you are interested, I found the following link to Dr. Nancy Golden's (Chief Education Officer for the Oregon Education Investment Board) newsletter interesting: Newsletter

Stay connected through Facebook and Twitter.  We share informative and valuable messages daily.
https://www.facebook.com/metroeastwebacademy

https://twitter.com/MEWebAcademy

You may have noticed that you now have assignments due on weekends and school breaks. This is due to our dynamic scheduling system, which supports individual learning plans. Unfortunately, we cannot change these due dates to regular school dates on a grand scale. But remember that our due dates are guidelines, not necessarily strict requirements.  So, if you are completing assignments within a couple of days of these due dates, you are staying on track.  If you have assignments that are due on Saturday, aim to complete them on Friday. If you have assignments due on Sunday, plan to complete them on Monday.

One new feature of this dynamic scheduling is the ability to select your course end date. While you cannot choose to work later than the end of the school year (June 6th), if you are trying to complete the class early, this is a helpful tool. In your grade book (in your class), you'll see a calendar icon. If you click on it, you will be able to see the target end date that your teacher chose, and could opt to choose an earlier one for yourself.  (See the image below). 

Students of the Month for January:
Jessica Chase
Aaron Normand
Aaron Whistler

Jessica Chase with Ms. Struyk-Bonn

Most Improved Students for January:
Sarah Campean

Announcements:

Local Performance Based Assessments (formerly Work Samples) are offered every 1st and 3rd Wednesday of the month from 1:00 to 3:00 PM. If you are a senior without a math class in need of passing the Essential Skill in Math in order to graduate then you will want to plan on attending one of these. Contact Mr. Kitchens or Mrs. Riehl for further information.

Writing Work Sample opportunity for seniors on March 19th at 4:00 PM.

More Math Lab Hours!  Ms. Norrander will be hosting math labs on Thursdays from 10:00 - 12:00 in the math room.  Bring your math questions and we'll find a solution! 

Attention Juniors!

It's time to take your OAKS Writing Test!  Please click here, and follow the directions to sign up for an available time slot in FEBRUARY.

Remember, the State of Oregon requires that you take the OAKS Writing Test, and pass the Essential Skill of Writing, in order to graduate.

Please contact Ms. Calhoun (calhoun5@mewebacademy) with questions.

Have you ever been interested in learning self-defense? GirlStrength will be running a 9 week self-defense class starting Feb. 3rd for Middle School students at MEWA.  You will receive elective credit for participating, but only 12 girls can enroll.  We do ask for a 100% commitment that you come to every class which will be held on Monday's from 3-4:30pm.  Contact Ms. Powell right away if you are interested!  

powell@mewebacademy.org / 971-231-5496

https://docs.google.com/a/gbwebacademy.org/presentation/d/1zoQgSBkl-nUIxA_HIkUeY2h7wyw3_SqZbEdGN3zdZWo/edit?usp=sharing

Have you tried yoga before? Do you want to improve your strength, flexibility and balance? Then join Ms. Norrander on Thursday's from 12:15 - 1:00 for Yoga Time in classroom 2. This is a fun, non-competitive activity for all members of MEWA. Bring a yoga mat or a beach towel. Contact Ms. Norrander if you have any questions, norrander@mewebacademy.org.

MEWA has formed a parent booster/advocacy group.  Participation in this group is open to all MEWA parents, grandparents, guardians, and staff members.  The focus of this group will be to organize and support activities that promote our school and provide enrichment and growth opportunities for students and staff.  The next meeting is February 19th at 5:00 PM at MEWA.  Snacks and refreshments are provided.  

Seniors!! 

Now is the time to get your cap and gown ordered for graduation. Pick up your packet in the office or order directly through Josten's at (503) 255-7120.

We will be holding a MEECA Information Session on February 12th from 5:30 PM to 6:30 PM here at the school. 

Mr. Ellsberg has created a youtube channel for his weekly Techtown video cast.  You can follow him every Tuesday here: http://www.youtube.com/channel/UCJ8Gtv4Bpr9SjA33hMRkD5Q

Box Tops for the Box Tops for Education program:

Box Tops for Education® is one of the nation’s largest school fundraising loyalty programs and has been helping schools succeed since 1996. With over 250 participating products, it’s an easy way for schools to earn cash for the things they need.

• Over 90,000 K-8 schools participate nationwide
• Each Box Tops coupon is worth 10¢ and they add up fast!
• Schools can use their Box Tops cash to buy whatever they need most, from books to field trips to playgrounds.
• So far, America’s schools have earned over $525 million from Box Tops…and counting.*

Please bring in your box tops.  More information is available at http://www.boxtops4education.com/all-about-boxtops

End of Semester -- January 17th -- We will not be sending out report cards!  So, parents, it is important that you access your student's grades through the parent access log in to Genius.  Please do not hesitate to call if you do not know your parent access login or you need technical assistance.  New semester begins January 27th -- new courses will be accessible on Monday! How do I do this? Click on this link!

Sincerely,

David L. Gray, Ph.D.

Principal/CEO

Metro East Web Academy

503-258-4790