MEWA Weekly Announcements

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

Dear Parents and Students:  

Open House

MEWA is excited to have YOU at our Open House, October 17th 2016!

Please join us from 5-7 pm at MEWA and meet staff, enjoy a pancake dinner, and have a chance to win some great prizes!

This event is open to prospective students and families as well as area businesses and residents who are interested in what we do.

If you are a parent/family who is interested in donating a door prize or service of any kind, please contact Nikki or Hillary @ 503-258-4790

Please see the attached flyer and feel free to share with others

Riddle of the WEEK!

Riddle:

Can you name three consecutive days
without using the words
Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday,
Thursday, Friday, Saturday, or Sunday?

We Want Your Feedback!  Click Here!

OCTOBER 5 – NATIONAL PUMPKIN SEED DAY – NATIONAL APPLE BETTY DAY – NATIONAL DO SOMETHING NICE DAY – NATIONAL WALK TO SCHOOL DAY

NATIONAL PUMPKIN SEED DAY

As the temperatures cool and the leaves turn, the season becomes perfect on the first Wednesday in October to enjoy National Pumpkin Seed Day!

Many of us have fond memories of roasting these delicious nuggets after carving the Jack o’ lantern, but most of us never realized just how good (and good for us) they were. But surprisingly, pumpkin seeds have been valued for their dietary and medicinal properties for thousands of years. In fact, pumpkin seeds have been traced back as far as 7000 BC, according to archeologists excavating a tomb in central Mexico.

Among other civilizations, the Aztecs and Mayans were believed to revere pumpkin seeds as an important and powerful source of food and nutrition. As it turns out they were on to something – In a comparison to other nuts and seeds, Pumpkin Seeds are one of the most nutritious plant-based foods. A quarter cup serving alone includes an immune boosting 17% of an adult’s daily allowance of zinc and a powerful red blood cell-supporting 15% of the iron needed.

This little seed also has a whopping 8.5 grams of complete plant-based protein in just 1 ounce. Ounce for ounce, that’s 2.5 times more protein than a hard-boiled egg. These flavorful bites have much more to offer including a plentiful helping of minerals with over 40% of the RDI of magnesium, phosphorus and manganese, essential nutrients that aid in overall body function.

For more information, visit the National Day Calendar page for National Pumpkin Seed Day.

Announcements:

• Attention all high school students: Next year is around the corner! It's time to forecast for your classes. Contact your counselor this month to schedule a forecasting meeting.

• Please remember, the school does not have support lab on Fridays.  Please join us Monday through Thursday from 12-3:30 if you need a quiet place to work or additional support.  

• "Hey  seniors, for those of you applying for financial aid for college next year, The fafsa application is now open. Submit your application asap! Remember, the website is fafsa.gov, NOT .COM! Make sure you submit the application for the 2017/2018 school year and use income information from 2015. If you need help, let your counselor know!" https://fafsa.gov/

• Are you planning to attend college? November SAT test registration deadline is October 7th. Go online to the following site: https://collegereadiness.collegeboard.org/sat/register  (College Board SAT registration) and register to take the test at a location near you. 

• Field Trip: Come and hear about Puppet Technologies Thursday October 13th from 9am - 1:30pm. Puppet Technologies develop software and serve NASA, Sony, Intel, REI and more.   We will hear from a Technical Solutions Engineer, Principal UX Designer, Sr. Technical Recruiter and a Sr. QA Engineer. We'll end the day with an office tour so the students can see what thier culture looks like.  This is a FREE event and open to all High School students.  We will meet at the school at 9:00am and ride the Max downtown Portland. Please bring a lunch, we will return around 1:30pm.  Please email Nikki Albelo for more details at albelo@mewebacademy.org

• Field Trip: Salmon Run - On Wednesday October 19th the Science Department is sponsoring a field trip to the Fish Hatchery at Bonniville Dam and Multnomah Falls.  At the Fish Hatchery we will observe Salmon and then move onto Multnomah Falls where we will hear from Professor Chris Gorsek on the Salmon Cycle. This is open to all students.  We will meet at the school at 9:00 and return at 3:30.  Please make sure you bring a sack lunch, warm coat and close toed shoes.  Please contact Mr. Ling, Ms. Dinsmoor or Nikki Albelo at albelo@mewebacademy.org for more information.

• Chess Club Begins!
  Here ye, here ye, henceforth ye olde chess club shall commence in ye olde laboratory Thursdays from 1:30-2:30, beginning the twenty second day, of the month of September, 2016AD.  It shall be led by the honorable Chess King Ling.  Beginners welcome!  Tell all ye friends and foes, lads and lasses!  Hazzah!!


• Seniors: Contact your counselor to schedule a senior meeting



• Teacher inservice day is scheduled for Friday, October 14th.  The school building will be closed and teachers will be unavailable.  Thank you for your understanding.  

• Do you need a math tutor?  Contact Toyoko Akiyama-Becker at (503) 669-1052 or toybecker@gmail.com. She charges $20 for 45 minutes of tutoring.

·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                                                                                                   

Select for Google play

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

https://www.facebook.com/metroeastwebacademy

Celebrating One Year

As you may or may not have heard, we are celebrating the 1 year anniversary of the Metro East Web Academy on April 16^th, at 6:00pm.  The celebration will be held on the MEWA campus and all teachers, staff, parents, guardians, family members, and students are invited to attend.  Now, in order to alleviate any confusion, it’s important to clarify one thing: the Gresham-Barlow Web Academy was founded in 2009; however, GBWA changed its name to Metro East Web Academy last year when the curriculum and program was updated.  Therefore, while the Web Academy is five years old, MEWA is turning one.

We are celebrating the event with refreshments, food, and good company.  Our teachers will be present to answer questions about our program as well as converse with our current students and their families.  MEWA is excited to show our current, potential, and future students everything our web-based education has to offer.  For parents interested in learning about the benefits of an online education for their children, our Open House is a good time to ask questions and the information needed to make that decision.

Now a little bit about MEWA:

“The Metro East Web Academy is an online, public charter school approved by the Oregon Department of Education.  The school’s web-based curriculum does meet Oregon State Standards and our instructors are all highly qualified teachers.

Each academy student receives a personalized education program designed to meet their unique needs.  This allows students to login anytime, anywhere and online learning is supported in a variety of ways, including:

•  Daily E-mail communication with teachers
•  Face to face check-in sessions with instructors
• Field trips and community service projects with other academy students

Students enrolled in the Metro East Web Academy will get the best of both worlds—an online learning program designed just for them, and the benefits of being part of a learning community with opportunities to interact with teachers, students, and the world around them!” (mewebacademy.com)

MEWA is extremely proud to be able to offer a beneficial academic program to help the students in our community succeed.  Our school has continued to grow in the past year, and we look forward to continuing this trend in the coming year.  Thank you to all our MEWA families and students for the support of our school and your student’s education.  Above all, thank you for choosing MEWA.

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?

The Parent of Virtual Education

Are you new to the idea of online education for your student?  Or are you wondering what your role should be within the virtual classroom system?  It is important that parents, or guardians, are involved in the education of their student.  Here are some tips on how the parent can and should be involved in their child’s online education and what the school should do to encourage this involvement.

Parents should:

• Work closely with their children, guiding them through daily lessons and actively participate in their children's daily learning
• Record student academic progress to track their success
• Communicate with teachers on a regular basis to assess children's learning, academic achievement, etc.
•  Become actively involved in parent groups, workshops, school functions and events, and student activities

The School should:

• Keep open the lines of communication between the teachers & parents.
• Hold virtual meetings & webinars with parents & students alike to build rapport & put a face to the names
• Allow parents to be involved on field trips, class meetings, and as volunteers

Parent involvement is a key piece of student motivation and desire to grow and learn.  By acting as a role model for academic success, volunteer service, and dedication to the school, both parents and teachers can encourage our students to pursue and achieve their academic goals.

Sources:

http://www.k12.com/facts-about-k12-public-virtual-schools#.Uul6IKgSDbg

http://voices.yahoo.com/how-increase-parent-involvement-within-virtual-6320478.html

Student Showcase

Our students here at MEWA possess incredible amounts of talent and we want to make sure they are recognized for it.  Each student has contributed in some way to the development and growth of our program.  Their drive, determination, and willingness to push creative boundaries inspire us to take a close look at our own motivations.

Some of our students have shown us their ability to write incredible pieces of poetry, essays, and stories.  Here is an original poem written by Madison Laurent for her creative writing class.

Other students use their creativity as an outlet outside of the classroom; Ashley Newman painted this original self-portrait on her own time, not for a specific class project.

Still others, exercise their favorite hobbies in other states and around the world.  Our MEWA student, Fiona Wylde , is extremely active in the competitive windsurfing & stand-up paddle boarding circuit.  MEWA is a perfect fit for her because she is able to easily stay caught up in her education while travelling to competitions and doing what she loves.

This just goes to show you, no matter what your hobbies, talents, or interests are, there is a place for everyone at MEWA.  Thank you to all our students for being our inspiration! We hope to continue to grow our MEWA family and support each individual’s talent.  Our students' work will be posted to our Facebook, Twitter, & Pinterest pages periodically.  We hope you will follow us through these channels to give our students the recognition they deserve!

Remember, keep the ME in MEWA.

Winter Break Activities

Congratulations, you’ve made it to Winter Break.  Now what?  For 2 straight weeks there is no class, no homework, no meetings with teachers, and no schedule.  What are you going to occupy your time with?  There are, after all, only so many hours of movies you can watch and video games you can play.  Here are a few ideas for indoor and outdoor activities that may spark your interest and (hopefully) alleviate the onset of Winter Break Boredom.

Outdoors

• Sledding, Snow Tubing, Skiing, or Snowboarding at Mt. Hood.  This is a great way to get outside and stay active.  Get a group of friends together and make it an all day trip!
• Snowshoeing at Mt. Hood.  If you like hiking, try it in the snow!  Snowshoeing is another great way to get some fresh air, while taking in breathtaking views of Mt. Hood.  Be sure to take a map with you, so you don’t get lost on the trails.
• Hiking a new trail.  The Pacific Northwest is full of some truly incredible trails.  Find some new ones in your area and just go exploring!
• Running or walking around your neighborhood.  How well do you really know your neighborhood?  Take a walk or jog during the break and test your knowledge of the area you live in!
• Throwing a Football or Kicking a Soccer Ball.  These are great activities for getting a group of friends or family members together for lighthearted competition.

Inside

• Ice Skate at Lloyd Center.  It’s indoors and a lot of fun!  Browse the mall when you are done for an extra “workout”!
• Play a board game.  Board games, or card games, are a great activity when the weather turns ugly.  Bring back some childhood memories with old favorites, or make up something new!
• Read a book, just for fun!  You read books all the time for school, but when was the last time you read one for fun?  Pick one up at the library and get lost in the pages for a while!
• Phone a friend, or talk to them in person.  With texting, Facebook, Instagram, Snapchat, and everything else digital, communication is different now than it was just a few years ago.  Try something “old school” and actually call someone, or visit with them in person.  Your conversation will have much more meaning when you interact with them face-to-face.
• Study, just a little bit, to keep your brain active J  I know this is probably the last thing on your list, but it is a good idea to keep school in the back of your mind during the break.

The weather during Winter Break is always a variable to consider, but that shouldn’t stop you from having fun, staying active, and trying new things!  Make this Winter Break the best one ever and don’t get stuck in the video game rut. We hope all our staff and students enjoy a wonderful, safe break and we look forward to seeing you in the New Year!

What is one activity that you are going to do over this break?

Sources:

http://www.everydayhealth.com/fitness-pictures/winter-fitness-activities-for-the-whole-family.aspx#/slide-9

Happy Holidays

It’s the holiday season and everyone celebrates with their own family traditions.  Some will be visiting with large gatherings of extended family.  Others will spend a quiet, cozy evening at home.  No matter your beliefs, culture, or background, the holiday season is one nearly everyone can appreciate as a time for reflection on the past year, to dream of the future, and give in the present.  It’s a season to appreciate what we have, give what we can, and enjoy the company of our closest friends and family.  Tradition is something that we all find comfort in.  No matter what traditions are celebrated in your household, each one is an important part of your holiday celebration. 

Reflection

Take some time during Winter Break to think about how the past year went.  What went well?  Is there anything that could or should be changed in the coming year?  This is a good time to write down your resolutions for the New Year.  I know, there’s always the argument that no one ever sticks to those promises they make at the end of the year, but maybe adhering to the resolutions for 2014 should be at the top of the list.  Decide what it is you can do to become a better you.  Resolutions don’t have to be shared; they are that one thing each of us can commit to for ourselves.  So challenge yourself to take a moment over the holiday break to write down one or two resolutions that will make 2014 an exceptional year.

Giving

Part of the holiday season is giving to those around you.  Giving gifts to our friends and family is popular during the holidays.  There are also charities that accept donations in order to give to those who may need some help getting through the holidays.  Many of us have seen the signs for donations to SnowCap Community Charities or the Salvation Army.  Whether we give to an organization to help others, or give to one another in a gift exchange, the holiday season helps us each to think about those around us.  It’s a time to appreciate what we have and give to those who need it.

Relaxing

Sometimes, the holiday season can be stressful.  There is so much hustle and bustle in the streets and malls with everyone trying to find the “perfect gift”.  Then there’s the baking, the cooking, the decorating, the family visits, the phone calls; we could go on and on!  If you do nothing else this Winter Break, please just relax.  Enjoy some time to yourself, read a new book, or take a walk outside.  Spend some time doing nothing so you come back in 2014 refreshed and ready for the New Year.  You deserve it.

From all of us at MEWA, Happy Holidays! We hope you enjoy celebrating with those closest to you and take part in the traditions with your family.

What is your favorite Winter Break activity?

The MEWA Mission

In last week’s Principal Message, Dr. Gray mentioned some words from Principal, Hershel Olmstead that struck a few chords with the mission of the new Metro East Web Academy.  “What we need is a school where we are welcomed, and valued for who we are, where there are many talents that are recognized and praised.  We need a place where we are encouraged to try new things, take risks, and making mistakes is accepted as normal learning” (Principal, Hershel Olmstead).  How does this resonate with MEWA, our students, our teachers, our parents and guardians, our friends, and our community?  As we transition into our new location with a new name and updated learning software, MEWA upholds the tradition of providing exceptional online education.  Our curriculum is designed to be completed online, but our teachers and academic counselors are available on-site to assist students as needed.  This structure allows students to deepen their learning and development through face to face support from their teachers, without the distractions of the traditional classroom.

Both students at MEWA and the Gresham community benefit from the dynamic learning environment of our school.  Students are able to participate in field trips that allow them to interact, engage with, and better understand the community in which they live.  Additionally, MEWA seeks to reach out to local businesses as partners to share their experiences, resources, and ideas with our students.  The end goal is to encourage our students to develop academically and as active members of the communities in which they live.  We encourage our students to reach out and take on new challenges as a part of their overall learning and personal growth.  As an organization, we strive to embody what we hope for in each of our students. MEWA, above all, is a place for learning, for trying, for thinking, and for growing.

Important Announcements…

Science Test Prep Session: Wednesday, December 4th from 1-2pm.

Check out our web page! We now have a button in the top right corner labeled "How are we doing?" We care what about what our parents and students feel about our school. Please let us know your thoughts.

Box Tops for the Box Tops for Education program: Please bring in your box tops.  More information is available at http://www.boxtops4education.com/all-about-boxtops

Toy Drive! The CSU (Christian Student Union) club will be collecting toys for the KGW Great Toy Drive this year. Please drop off unwrapped toys and we will get them to KGW.

Immunizations!!! This clinic is available to provide the required immunizations for school attendance:

December 18, 2013, 9:00 am - 12:00 pm

Rosa Parks School 8960 N. Woolsey, Portland, OR 97203

MEWA has 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 December 11th at 5:30 PM at MEWA.  Snacks and refreshments are provided.

Upcoming Field Trips: Portland-Milwaukie Lite Rail Project site (December 4, 2013, 11 am - 3 pm)

Join us on a great opportunity to explore a current real-world, large project going on in Portland -- it's the Portland-Milwaukie Lite Rail Project Site -- West Segment. We'll bus from MEWA, departing at 11 am, returning at 3 pm.

Remember the ME in MEWA; at Metro East you come first.

Plenty to Be Thankful For

“Be thankful for what you have and you'll end up having more. If you concentrate on what you don't have, you will never, ever have enough.” -Oprah Winfrey

With Thanksgiving this week and December starting Sunday, it feels as if the holiday season is moving us quickly from one sale to the next.  I propose we slow down, breathe, and simply enjoy the present moment for what it is.  Thanksgiving is a holiday designed to allow us to appreciate what we have, be thankful for those around us, and extend this gratitude to those who support us the most.  An article from the Huffington Post invites us to add some extra “feel good” to this holiday by showing some “old school” gratitude.  How do you do this?  Send kind words to your friends and family in a hand-written letter, write a thank you note to your teachers, let your study buddy know you appreciate their support, or perform a Random Act of Kindness for a stranger.  Remember to take time for yourself.  Start a Gratitude Journal to write down and remember all of the little things you have in life that make it fantastic.  Life is not always peachy perfect, but learning how to appreciate and find joy in little moments will help overcome the road blocks and frustrations.

So take some extra time this holiday week and reflect on what you are thankful for.  Discover, if you haven’t already, what in your life brings joy and happiness.  You can then share these thankful thoughts, or keep them to yourself.  Make sure to pass on your gratitude to others.  Consider doing something “old school” for the VIP in your life.  This little exercise will help show you everything that is good in your life.  Wishing you, your family, and your friends a very happy Thanksgiving holiday!

Source: http://www.huffingtonpost.com/m-shannon-hernandez/got-gratitude-give-it-awa_b_4298151.html

The Season of Giving With Metro East

It’s November.  The days are getting dark earlier, the storms have arrived, & Thanksgiving is only a few weeks away.  Celebrating the holidays marks the beginning of the "Season of Giving."  This year, Metro East is excited to partner together with SnowCap Community Charities, the Service Learning Club, and the Volunteer Club to sponsor a canned food drive!  Our drive will run through November 22^nd and we have a large collection barrel in our school lobby for donations.  Foods such as canned fruit and vegetables, peanut butter, dry pastas and grains, soups, stews and chili, canned meats, tuna fish, shelf stable milk, breakfast cereals, soups and sauces, baby food and formula are much needed in our community and are appreciated.  All non-perishable donations can be brought to the school.  For every item donated, students will receive a ticket for a chance to win a $10 iTunes gift card.  The more you donate, the higher chance of winning the iTunes gift card!  Contact Ms. Hathaway with any questions.

About our partner, SnowCap Community Charities:

“SnowCap Community Charities is a philanthropic organization created to provide food, clothing, advocacy and other services to the poor.”  The organization began in 1967 when members of the East Multnomah County Community noticed many of the needs of the residents were not being met.  SnowCap (which stands for Suburban Neighborhoods Operation Witness Community Action Program) originally set-up three centers from which the community was served.  By the organization’s 40^th anniversary it had served over 1.4 million people, had a staff of 7 and a budget of $500,000.  With this, SnowCap was able to implement new programs including: English language instruction, community gardens, and home delivered food boxes for seniors.  For more information about SnowCap visit: http://www.snowcap.org/Home.aspx.  We at MEWA are proud to be partners of this organization and a member of the community at large.  Thank you for your generosity and participation in our canned food drive!

Important Announcements…

Tomorrow is a sequential calendar date!  “Each century contains twelve such sequential number calendar dates, the first being 01-02-03 and the last one, 12-13-14. So, December 13, 2014 will be the last such sequential calendar date in the 21st century” (Aziz S. Inan, Ph.D., Professor, Electrical Engineering, University of Portland, Portland, Oregon).

MEWA Student Leadership Club.  This club is open to all students with a focus on building leadership skills for those who join. If you are interested in joining, please attend the next meeting on Thursday, November 14, 1:30 PM at MEWA.  You do not have to be present to participate.  Contact Ms. Norrander for more information: Julie Norrander <norrander@mewebacademy.org>

Our Parent Booster Group will have the next meeting November 20^th at 6:00 PM at MEWA.  Participation in this group is open to all MEWA parents, grandparents, guardians, and staff members.  The focus of this group is to organize and support activities that promote our school and provide enrichment and growth opportunities for students and staff.  Snacks and refreshments are provided.

College Bound Students: Take a Free ACT/SAT Practice Test! Warm up for the test and find out how you would score.  Get realistic practice and try your hand at the types of questions you’ll face on the actual exam.  You’ll receive a personalized score report pinpointing your strengths and weaknesses.  Princeton Review Assessment:  1-888-578-8378 ext. 1030. The dates for the 4-hour test are 11/16 – 9:00 AM – 1:00 PM or 12/8 – 2:00 PM – 6:00 PM.  They are located at 421 SW Hall St., Portland.  You can check them out at: PrincetonReview.com.  The test and results are free – this is a for-profit company and they will offer students the opportunity to take prep classes at a cost.

Field Trip Opportunities…Our school is scheduling a field trip for November 26^th to the Portland Art Museum to see the Samurai exhibit. We plan to take the kids there via MAX.  Please contact Mr. Kennedy or Ms. Powell if you have an interest or questions.  Join us December 4 as we tour the new Portland-Milwaukie Lite Rail Project! Fill out the permission form here: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/1uMUH-gpVorp3hCGy4JUujeCNG2QwEYfNX_UxnOivjYU/viewform

Stay Active! We have many incentive programs right now including: a drawing for (2) 16GB iPod Touches, weekly drawings for Drop-In Lab goal achievements, & Student of the Month awards.

Remember the ME in MEWA; at Metro East you come first.

Involving Everyone & Important Announcements

©iStockphoto.com

Enrolling your student in an online education is an important step toward ensuring their continued growth and learning.  The online student is one who works well independently; however, family involvement in the education of a student is crucial to their success.  Having the support of an adult can positively influence the academic growth of a student.  A study from the US Department of Education shows that parents and family members who take the time to be involved in a student’s education increases that student’s ability to get better grades and test scores, graduate from high school, continue on to a higher education, be better behaved and have a more positive attitude (USDE).  What does family involvement look like?  It can be a variety of activities that both the family and the student benefit from.  Activities such as: reading together, checking homework, getting involved with the school, talking with teachers regularly, or simply asking, “How was school today?” every day, all show the student how important their education is to the family.

(Source: http://www.wate.com/story/371979/family-involvement-is-important)

At MEWA, our culture of learning and personalized education is the first step in supporting our students.  We encourage all family members to be involved in their student’s education and are always available to talk about different ways this can be done.  One of the exciting new ways to be directly involved in your student’s academic life is by attending our Parent Booster Group meetings.  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.  Contact the school for more information on meeting times and topics of discussion.  As always, we welcome feedback from family members!

Important Announcements…

MEWA is starting a student leadership club.  This club will be open to all students!  The focus of the club will be to build leadership skills for those who join.  Ms. Norrander will be the staff sponsor with Mr. May-Varas and Dr. Gray assisting.

Fiddler on the Roof field trip on October 30^th:  The play starts at 12:00 PM.  We will leave school around 10:30, board the Max, and head downtown.  The cost of the play is $15.00.  Permissions forms must be turned in by Friday, October 25^th.

Don’t Forget!  Our incentive program is in full swing.  We will have a drawing on November 22, 2013 for a giveaway of two iPod Touch 16GB players.  To enter, students must login every school day, work at least 1 hour on coursework while logged in each school day, and complete 5 assignments per week that are submitted for grading.  We hope all MEWA and GED students continue to participate!

Remember the ME in MEWA; at Metro East you come first.