Friday, October 30, 2015

MEWA Weekly Announcements and Principal's Message


The Metro East Web Academy provides a technology-rich 21st century learning model that ensures student success in a rapidly evolving learning, work, and community environment. 

Dear Parents and Students:  

Help Wanted: Projections of Jobs and Education Requirements Through 2018

Landmark report shows where the jobs will be, by education level, occupation and industry through 2018, and how postsecondary education is increasingly essential to middle class earnings.
For the full report:  See this Link!

Aurora Tolver with her new bike!  The amazing MEWA supporters and staff raised the money through our donation account to replace Aurora's bike that was stolen while locked up outside in our bike rack!!  Way to go MEWA!



Announcements:
Find out more information at www.tradeswomen.net!

  • Oregon Promise gives the high school Class of 2016 the opportunity for full or partial tuition grants to attend community college:
    ​​
    The state is launching its Oregon Promise program—offering graduating high school seniors an opportunity to have some or all of their community college tuition covered.
    This program is available to high school students graduating in Spring 2016. Students must have at least a 2.5 cumulative GPA, have resided in Oregon for at least 12 months prior to community college enrollment, and enroll at least half time in community college in Fall 2016.
    To apply, students must complete the Oregon Promise application, submit their high school transcript, and complete the FAFSA or its approved alternate. Students must accept all state and federal grants they are awarded to qualify for the Oregon Promise.
    Students must apply for the Oregon Promise program between
    ​ ​
    November 1, 2015, and March 1, 2016. Learn more at
    ​ ​
    www.OregonPromise.org
    ​.​


  • COLLEGE NIGHTS WITH ECMC:

    Educational Credit Management Corporation is partnering with local community colleges to provide free college night events to educate students and families about higher education opportunities and financing their education. Visit www.collegenights.org/event-details.html for details. Upcoming dates and locations:

    November 4 - Mount Hood Community College in the Visual Arts Theater. Free pizza will be served starting at 5:30pm and the event will end by 8 pm. Visit www.mhcc.edu/CollegeNight/ for further details. 
    November 5 - Portland Community College, Southeast in the SE Community Hall. Pizza and refreshments will be served at 5:30 pmwith the presentation starting at 6:30 pm. Visit pcc.edu/collegenights to register. If you would like a parking pass, email Luis at lrodrigu@pcc.edu at least one day in advance.

    November 10 - Clackamas Community College in the Gregory Forum. Free pizza and beverages will be served. Doors open at 6:30 pmand the session will go from 7 to 9 pm. Visit www.collegenights.org for more information.



  • Picture Re-Take Day is Wednesday, November 4 from 10:00 am to 2:00 pm. If you missed the Picture Day in September, or if you want to have your picture retaken, come on Wednesday.



  • Save the date! The Foreign Language Achievement Test (FLATS) is coming up!  It is Wednesday Dec. 2nd from 3-5:30 at MEWA. The FLATS test is for students who speak a second language and would like to get high school credit for it. If you are unable to take the December test, don't worry! There will be one offered in the spring also. If you would like to sign up for the December test, please click on this link: FLATS FORM!
    Keep in mind, if you sign up for the test and don't show up, you will be held responsible for the cost of the test you missed.




  • Field Trip: Come See a Play!


    What whistles, hoots, throws off sparks and moves at about 180 miles an hour? Ain’t Misbehavin’!”-- The New York Times

    Come with the English department to see Ain't Misbehavin' at Portland Center Stage on Thursday, November 12. Here's a brief description from Portland Center Stage: Winner of the Tony Award for Best Musical, this sassy, sultry revue celebrates the remarkable life and talents of a legendary jazz great, Fats Waller. The delightful humor and infectious energy of this exuberant jazz revue takes us from the Harlem Renaissance through World War II; Waller’s work shows a determination to grasp life’s joys, laughter and passion, even in a community shadowed by the pain of a complex American society. With permission from the authors, PCS is creating an expanded-cast version of the original production."

    The play is recommended for ages 12+. Tickets are $15 (a bargain!). If you would like to attend, but can't afford the ticket, please talk to me. 

    We will be taking the MAX downtown to Portland Center Stage. Expect to leave MEWA around 10:15 am and return around4 pm


  • School will be closed November 11th in observance of Veterans Day.

  • Open House is scheduled for November 17th from 5:00 PM to 7:00 PM.  Morning activities and labs are cancelled as teachers will be reporting in at 12:00 noon for open house preparation.  More information to come later.

  • November 23rd and 24th, the offices will be closed, but students and teachers will continue to work in their classes.

  • School will be closed November 25th, 26th, and 27th in observance of Thanksgiving.

  • Our State Report Card is now available! Both English and Spanish versions are available.  Click on this Link! Go to Gresham Barlow School District in the scroll down menu and find Metro East Web Academy.


  • If you would like information on signing up for the ACT or SAT, please see Ms. Menashe


  • eAspire is a mentorship program for high school students who are interested in learning about educational and career opportunities. Students who sign up for the program are paired with a mentor who is trained in helping students with college applications, financial aid paperwork, vocational training opportunities and more.  Student who apply must be in 9th, 10th, 11th or 12th grade and be able to communicate using email.  If you are interested in the program please contact Brian Baker at 503-258-4796 for more details.   


Our Music Club at Work!

·Now available on our website:


    We can now accept payments via PayPal for fees or donations.  If you would like to donate to our school, we use the money to pay for scholarships and activities such as field trips, incentives, and other extras that we provide our students and programs. As we are a 501 (c) (3), all donations are tax deductible and we will furnish you with a letter with our federal tax ID #.

    Get our app now and stay tuned to important announcements:


    Download your app for your iPhone or Droid from iTunes and Google Play by selecting the following:


     
     
    Select for iPhone                                                                                                   





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

    https://www.facebook.com/metroeastwebacademy



    Friday, October 23, 2015

    MEWA Weekly Announcements and Principal's Message


    The Metro East Web Academy provides a technology-rich 21st century learning model that ensures student success in a rapidly evolving learning, work, and community environment. 

    Dear Parents and Students:  


    The following quote is from an assignment one of our students submitted - we thought it is so well done, that we thought you all would want to read it as well:

    "Success should be about helping others, guiding them towards the path of accomplishment. You beat a video game? Help others beat it. Got a high score? Help others beat your high score. Providing a sense of assistance and support to others should be where your feeling of success comes from. You won the lottery? Improve your community, or donate to charity. You won a lawsuit? Come to an understanding about the situation and respect those involved. Success should be about learning and helping. Not self improvement and narcissism." -MEWA student Harrison Erwin

    Students of the Month for September:

    Haley Fulginiti

    Grace Carlin



    Mariah Powers-Davis

    Helen Sause

    Most Improved Students for September:

    Ernesto Sanchez

    Lilyanna Steele

    Mitchell Haberkorn

    Anthony Hardenburough
    Dalon Beavers
    Diana Goncharova

    Students of the month and most improved students:  Stop by the office to get your picture taken, receive a Starbucks' Gift Card, a MEWA t-shirt and other rewards.

    Interesting statistics from Jobs for the Future at http://www.jff.org/initiatives/early-college-designs)!

    Announcements:

    • School will be closed November 11th in observance of Veterans Day.

    • Open House is scheduled for November 17th from 5:00 PM to 7:00 PM.  Morning activities and labs are cancelled as teachers will be reporting in at 12:00 noon for open house preparation.  More information to come later.

    • November 23rd and 24th, the offices will be closed, but students and teachers will continue to work in their classes.

    • School will be closed November 25th, 26th, and 27th in observance of Thanksgiving.

    • Attention all 9th grade students:  MEWA's School Counselors are scheduling meetings to explain graduation requirements and begin planning classes for the remainder of the school year.  Please contact your school counselor (Ms. Menashe or Mr. Baker) to set up one of these meetings. 

    • What whistles, hoots, throws off sparks and moves at about 180 miles an hour? Ain’t Misbehavin’!”-- The New York Times

      Come with the English department to see Ain't Misbehavin' at Portland Center Stage on Thursday, November 12. Here's a brief description from Portland Center Stage: “Winner of the Tony Award for Best Musical, this sassy, sultry revue celebrates the remarkable life and talents of a legendary jazz great, Fats Waller. The delightful humor and infectious energy of this exuberant jazz revue takes us from the Harlem Renaissance through World War II; Waller’s work shows a determination to grasp life’s joys, laughter and passion, even in a community shadowed by the pain of a complex American society. With permission from the authors, PCS is creating an expanded-cast version of the original production."

      The play is recommended for ages 12+. Tickets are $15 (a bargain!). If you would like to attend, but can't afford the ticket, please talk to Ms Hathaway. 

      We will be taking the MAX downtown to Portland Center Stage. Expect to leave MEWA around 10:15 am and return around 4 pm. 

      Extra credit is available for attendees!

      Interested in attending? Fill out this permission slip and turn it into the school with the $15 by Monday, November 9. 

    • Our State Report Card is now available! Both English and Spanish versions are available.  Click on this Link! Go to Gresham Barlow School District in the scroll down menu and find Metro East Web Academy.
    • Portland
      National College Fair

    • Thank you to everyone that has signed up to participate in the BPA field trip. See photos from the field trip below, courtesy of Ms. Norrander:






    If you would like information on signing up for the ACT or SAT, please see Ms. Menashe


    • eAspire is a mentorship program for high school students who are interested in learning about educational and career opportunities. Students who sign up for the program are paired with a mentor who is trained in helping students with college applications, financial aid paperwork, vocational training opportunities and more.  Student who apply must be in 9th, 10th, 11th or 12th grade and be able to communicate using email.  If you are interested in the program please contact Brian Baker at 503-258-4796 for more details.   

    ·Now available on our website:



      We can now accept payments via PayPal for fees or donations.  If you would like to donate to our school, we use the money to pay for scholarships and activities such as field trips, incentives, and other extras that we provide our students and programs. As we are a 501 (c) (3), all donations are tax deductible and we will furnish you with a letter with our federal tax ID #.

      Get our app now and stay tuned to important announcements:


      Download your app for your iPhone or Droid from iTunes and Google Play by selecting the following:


       
       
      Select for iPhone                                                                                                   





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

      https://www.facebook.com/metroeastwebacademy



      Friday, October 16, 2015

      MEWA Weekly Announcements and Principal's Message


      The Metro East Web Academy provides a technology-rich 21st century learning model that ensures student success in a rapidly evolving learning, work, and community environment. 

      Dear Parents and Students:  

      Students of the Month for September:

      Haley Fulginiti
      Mariah Powers-Davis
      Grace Carlin
      Helen Sause

      Most Improved Students for September:

      Ernesto Sanchez
      Lilyanna Steele
      Anthony Hardenburough
      Dalon Beavers
      Mitchell Haberkorn
      Diana Goncharova

      Students of the month and most improved students:  Stop by the office to get your picture taken, receive a Starbucks' Gift Card, a MEWA t-shirt and other rewards.

      Why Developing Soft Skills during High School Matters

      By: Tisha Green Rinker

      soft skills
      Did you know that 77% of employers say that “soft” skills like communicating effectively are just as important to getting hired as technical job requirements or “hard skills” like knowing a computer programming language?

      What Are Soft Skills?

      In a recent college and career counseling LiveLesson® session, we discussed soft skills and why they matter to high school students who are starting to explore career paths. Soft skills are the personal traits and attitudes that allow you to succeed in the workplace, college, and life. They’re the cluster of skills that enable you to work well with groups, solve problems, manage your time, and take personal responsibility for your work. In today’s competitive job market, these are the skills that can set someone apart from other candidates. In college, they’re the skills needed to stay on top of your studies.
      With many employers saying they can’t find employees with the soft skills they need, students should know that there are strategies they can use to develop these in-demand skills while still in high school:

      Build Your Communication Skills

      To become an effective communicator, you have to first become an active listener. When conversing with family, friends, or teachers, listen carefully, paraphrase their comments back to them, and ask questions to clarify their meaning or draw them further into the conversation.
      In “Five Ways to Listen Better,” TED Talk speaker Julian Treasure refers to this technique by the acronym RASA: Receive, Appreciate, Summarize, and Ask. Not only does this practice make others feel “heard,” but it also improves your retention of facts and understanding of others’ viewpoints. In college and the workplace, you’ll need those active listening skills to understand your assignments and work effectively as part of a team.

      Develop a Strong Personal Work Ethic

      In a national survey of more than 2,000 hiring managers and human resource professionals, the top three soft skills they sought in new employees were:
      • A strong work ethic
      • Dependability
      • A positive attitude
      As a high school student in an online school, you’re probably already ahead of the game in terms of taking personal responsibility for your work. But you can build on these skills and make them more tangible to potential employers and college admissions offices by:
      Perhaps most important, by completing school assignments thoroughly and on time, you’re building the personal work ethic that will carry you through college and careers.

      Develop Lifelong Learning Skills

      As one employer puts it, “The jobs we train for today won’t even exist tomorrow.” So, to thrive in a fast-changing workplace, students want to develop the attitudes and habits of a lifelong learner. Here are a few simple soft skills activities for high school students that can help:
      • Volunteer as a tutor or mentor. As the saying goes, “To teach is to learn twice.” When you teach others, you’re constantly learning new things and new ways to learn.
      • Identify a specific new skill to learn and the steps required to learn it. Whether you want to learn to play a guitar or master a programming language, teaching yourself new skills builds your confidence and the habits of independent learning.
      • Attend free public events at local colleges, museums, libraries, or music academies. Be intentional in your television viewing and web surfing, “curating” your content to expand your worldview or dig deeper into subjects that interest you.
      • Read, read, read.
      Beyond advancing your college and career goals, of course, these skills can make your life richer and more meaningful.
      Finally, when it comes to developing soft skills, parents are one of your single greatest resources. Ask them about the role these skills have played in their lives and careers. Then, share any of their tips in the comments below.

      Announcements:

      • Parents, our State Report Card is now available! Both English and Spanish versions are available.  Click on this Link! Go to Gresham Barlow School District in the scroll down menu and find Metro East Web Academy.
      • Portland
        National College Fair

        Friday, October 23
        9:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m. Saturday, October 24
        1:00 p.m. – 5:00 p.m. Oregon Convention Center Portland, OR




      • Thank you to everyone that has signed up to participate in the BPA field trip - sign ups are now closed. If you've signed up for the field trip on 10/21, make sure you fill out your permission form and turn it into school by 10/19.  Remember, all permission forms must have a parent's signature in order for students to participate.  Follow this link if you need another copy:  Permission Form.  Questions?  Please contact Ms. Norrander at norrander@mewebacademy.org.


      If you would like information on signing up for the ACT or SAT, please see Ms. Menashe


      • eAspire is a mentorship program for high school students who are interested in learning about educational and career opportunities. Students who sign up for the program are paired with a mentor who is trained in helping students with college applications, financial aid paperwork, vocational training opportunities and more.  Student who apply must be in 9th, 10th, 11th or 12th grade and be able to communicate using email.  If you are interested in the program please contact Brian Baker at 503-258-4796 for more details.   
      Ms. Calhoun with students in Language Arts Lab!

      Students working hard in Open Lab!

      Ms. Powell's Art Class!


      ·Now available on our website:



        We can now accept payments via PayPal for fees or donations.  If you would like to donate to our school, we use the money to pay for scholarships and activities such as field trips, incentives, and other extras that we provide our students and programs. As we are a 501 (c) (3), all donations are tax deductible and we will furnish you with a letter with our federal tax ID #.

        Get our app now and stay tuned to important announcements:


        Download your app for your iPhone or Droid from iTunes and Google Play by selecting the following:


         
         
        Select for iPhone                                                                                                   





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

        https://www.facebook.com/metroeastwebacademy