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?

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?

Making Those New Year’s Resolutions Stick

It’s the time of year when we are all supposed to reflect on the past 12 months, the good, the bad, and the ugly.  Then we are supposed to pick up a pen and write down what we will do differently in the next 12 months.  For many, health is a top priority, for others, finding new success or making a big change in their life will be the new goal.  Unfortunately, we oftentimes lose sight of our goals after a few weeks, falling back into old habits, or just not feeling motivated to make the changes we were so excited about at the beginning of the year.  So how do we make New Year’s Resolutions stick?  How do we write a goal that will last until it is achieved?  Most importantly, how do we find the motivation to work harder to make the desired changes a reality?

Writing a resolution, or a goal, takes quite a bit of thought.  It’s not something one can sit down and scribble down in 10 minutes.  In fact, a New Year’s Resolution may not be perfected in time for the New Year.  To start, reflect on the past year in a quiet, comfortable spot.  Try to start with January 2013 and go through the major events of each month until you end at December.  Sometimes it helps to look back through Facebook or Instagram to find pictures of the things that were important enough to post on your Timeline.  Then, decide what you want to change, or do differently in 2014.  Are there any goals that were not quite achieved in 2013?  Modify these to be more realistic for the changes you have made personally in the past year.  After thinking about this for a day or two, write the changes and goals down!  Make sure they fit the S.M.A.R.T. criteria (specific, measurable, attainable, relevant, and timely), and that they are actually something you believe you can accomplish in one year.  Make sure to tell someone about your Resolutions, like a family member, teacher, or a friend, someone who will support you through the trials of the coming year.  Remember to thank them for always having your back and for helping you to stay on track with your goals.  Finally, post your Resolutions somewhere obvious, where they can be seen by you every day.  Don’t let them fall into some obscure corner of your room, or under the bed collecting dust.  Hang them up at eye level, so that even when you feel discouraged your Resolutions are there to remind you what the end goal really is.

So let’s welcome in 2014 and look forward to a year of growth and change.  Let’s make it a year of new achievements and success, of new friends and talents.  We hope all of you stick to your New Year’s Resolutions and become the student and individual you want to be in 2014!

Tips for Future Success

Succeeding academically can be challenging at times and breeze at others.  Studying, attending class regularly, and completing assignments on-time are all important in academic success and gaining the most from your education.  We wanted to give you some tips that may help as our students develop their study habits into skills that will help them as they pursue their life goals.

1. Focus. This is a hard skill for many individuals, but the ability to focus on one task at a time and see it through to completion is a great skill to have.  One way to develop this is to make sure your workspace is free from distractions.  Set mini goals to complete assignments more effectively.  For example, when writing a paper, tell yourself you will write at least one full page before taking a snack break or checking Facebook.
2. Note Taking. Making sure to take good notes and use them is important.  Practice writing only the important information by taking notes during your favorite TV show, or movie.  Find a way of organizing your notes that works best for you.  For instance, some use bullet points, while others draw boxes on the page.  Review your notes before and after a test to validate your responses. Don’t simply memorize your notes, but find ways to actively engage with them.  This way, you are more likely to remember the concepts in the future, rather than only specific details.
3. Clarification. If you are confused on a concept being learned, be sure to ask questions.  Your teachers are there to help you develop and understand the material being learned.  The only silly question is the one that never gets asked.
4. Organization.  Make sure your workspace stays organized so you always have the materials you need at your fingertips.  This will help you accomplish assignments faster and will eliminate wasting time digging through a pile to look for “that one paper” with important notes.
5. Time Management.  Invest in a day planner and write down all important assignment due dates, school holidays, and activities.  Use the planner to schedule your day from class, to homework, to social time so that you never miss or forget anything important.  It’s important to balance work and social in your life, so make sure you have time for both!
6. Collaboration.  Sometimes all you need for motivation is someone to bounce ideas off of, get feedback from, and talk problems through.  Whether you collaborate with a fellow classmate, teacher, parent, or counselor, working with someone else can be very beneficial in helping you to better understand a concept. 

Which of these skills do you feel you need to improve?  Have you mastered any?  Just remember, each skill you develop while in school, will help you become more successful in your future education, career, and life in general.  Wherever you are a heading, take what you learn in school with you. 

Remember the ME in MEWA; at Metro East, it’s all about you.

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.

Getting to Where You Want to Be

“Do not lose hold of your dreams or aspirations. For if you do, you may still exist but you have ceased to live.” - Henry David Thoreau

We just completed mid-term evaluations/progress reports and are looking ahead to finishing the term & the year of 2013. Some students are happy with their evaluations, while others may be less than satisfied.  The key point to remember here is not to be discouraged.  Often, throughout life, we will reach a point that is not where we want to be.  It’s important at these points not to grow discouraged, but rather reevaluate what goals we have, and how reaching those goals will put us closer on the path of getting where we want to be.  This is why we set goals: to provide a strategy with which a course will be set for success and achievement.  A goal essentially points one in the right direction and moves that individual closer to the life they want to live.  Think about your own life.  What are your goals, both short and long term?  What do you aspire to in the future?  How is what you are doing now helping or hurting your journey to these aspirations?  Don’t become disheartened if you were less than satisfied with your mid-term evaluation.  This evaluation merely allows you to pause, take a deep breath, and realign your academic goals to achieve the evaluation you deserve at the end of the term.  Write down your goals somewhere they will be seen each day to help you stay on track and committed to achieving them.  Make sure they fit the S.M.A.R.T. criteria: specific, measurable, attainable, relevant, and timely.  Last, but not least, talk to your academic counselor about your goals, vision, and future aspirations.  Talking about your goals makes them real, writing them down allows you to better achieve them.

For more information on goals and goal writing, visit the following website: http://www.the101dreams.com/resources/the-life-you-are-dreaming-of/.

Important Announcements…

Donate canned food for Snowcap! Our school and the Service Learning and Volunteer Club has partnered with Snow Cap Community Charities to sponsor a food drive through November 22nd. All donations and can be brought to the school. For every can you donate you’ll get 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. 

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. 

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.

No School 11/27 - 11/29

MEWA Parent Booster/Advocacy Group. The next meeting is November 20th at 6:00 PM at MEWA. Snacks and refreshments are provided.

MEWA Gold Card Drop-in Lab Incentive Program:

Our Gold Card Incentive Program for the drop-in laboratory is underway. Each time you achieve your study goals that you've listed on a Gold Card, you'll be able to turn that card in for a weekly prize drawing.

Upcoming Field Trips:

Our school is scheduling a field trip for November 26th 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.

Portland-Milwaukie Streetcar Project Tour! December 4^th—This is an incredible opportunity to tour a phenomenal engineering feat right here in our city! Students MUST submit their RSVP  the Field Trip by November 22 (email Mr. Kitchens).

Choosing the Higher Path & Brief MEWA Announcements

In high school, students are faced with a number of choices, decisions and challenges as they shape their future.  One of these decisions is that of higher, or continuing, education.  Why should I go to college?  How am I going to pay for continued education?  Is this something I really want to do?  Each of these questions can only be answered by the individual student, as higher education is a personal choice.  An article from CollegeView.com offers some great insight into beginning to answer these questions and choosing the right path for you, the student.  One of the biggest reasons to attend an institution of higher learning, according to the article, is opportunity.  This opportunity comes in many forms and is based on the goals and vision a student has for their future.  For some, the opportunity to receive a college degree is a desire to continue learning, growing, and asking questions.  Others find opportunity in the financial benefit of earning a higher income with a college degree.  Still other students will find the opportunity is in being the first member of their family to earn a college level degree.  Opportunity.  As a student, each one of you has the opportunity to create and achieve your goals. “Attending college provides students with the knowledge and experience they are unable to receive from a secondary education, and finding a way to fund a higher education now can pay off in a huge way in the years to come.”

(Source: http://www.collegeview.com/articles/article/importance-of-college-education)

At MEWA, we encourage students to consider the opportunity of a higher education.  Our counselors are available to assist students in determining what their future goals are and how to best work to achieve them.  We invite each of our students to think and plan ahead so they can be ready for life after high school.  Our education process is designed to prepare students for the more independent college or employment setting.  We hope each of our students will take advantage of talking with our academic counselors about what their opportunity looks like.  Choosing the right path for the future is important and at MEWA we want all our students to strive for a successful future.

Important Announcements…

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!

Holiday: Monday, November 11 is Veteran’s Day & Metro East will be closed.  Enjoy the day off!

Let Us Help… We will begin an Open Support Class that will meet each Thursday from 1:00 to 3:00, beginning next week to assist in clearing up any issues students & parents are having with the new Genius/Brain Honey learning management system.

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.

MEWA Gold Card Program.  We have an exciting new incentive program for the drop-in laboratory. Each time you achieve your study goals that you've listed on a Gold Card, you'll be able to turn that card in for a weekly prize drawing. Currently we have two weekly prizes for students: a $10 Starbucks gift card or a free lunch from Big Town Hero. We look to add different prizes in the future. So, stay tuned, stay on task in the drop-in lab, and you too can win prizes.  If you'd like to know more about the details of how this program works, click on the following link: https://docs.google.com/a/gbwebacademy.org/presentation/d/1oeAGfNBaTgcmBAVkDjfmzjtg4qlgrvrrG51RZwSFmv8/edit?usp=sharing.

College Bound Students! Connect with your counselor to discuss the ACT, SAT, or the PSAT.  They have information and dates for registering for these tests.

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

Hands-On Learning & MEWA Announcements

Mr. Barrentine is teaching students about crustaceans.  There are many opportunities for hands on activities at MEWA.

Last week’s blog talked about the importance of involvement in the education process.  This week, we take this concept one step further and discuss the importance of actively participating in one’s learning, known as hands-on learning.  Studies have shown hands-on learning increases the level of engagement and understanding of the student and the benefits of this are immense.  An article by Everest describes these benefits from the perspective of a student’s future.  First of all, the student exhibits a greater retention of course material through active engagement with the concepts being taught.  Additionally, critical thinking skills are easily developed in a stimulated environment.  This is due to the increased attention given to “in-the-moment” learning.  Finally, the personalized guidance a student receives from the instructor during the hands-on-learning process is much greater than in a lecture or classroom setting.

(Source: http://news.everest.edu/post/2010/01/top-5-benefits-of-a-hands-on-learning-environment/#.UmqmKFwSAps)

For students at MEWA, hands-on learning is still a big part of their education as we offer the stimulated environment needed to apply, discuss, and discover the concepts explained in coursework.  Our teachers work on-site and are host to drop-in labs in which students can visit, ask questions, and progress through their assignments.  Drop-in labs are encouraged so that students receive the hands-on application they sometimes need to better understand what is being learned.  We also invite students to participate in field-trips and clubs to interact with each other, their teachers, and the school on a more social level.  At MEWA, we want to stimulate the student’s mind and help them to achieve all of their future goals.

Important Announcements…

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!

Let Us Help… We will begin an Open Support Class that will meet each Thursday from 1:00 to 3:00, beginning next week to assist in clearing up any issues students & parents are having with the new Genius/Brain Honey learning management system.

The Student Leadership Club is open to all students!  The focus of the club is to build leadership skills for those who join.  Ms. Norrander will be the staff sponsor with Mr. May-Varas and Dr. Gray assisting. The next meeting will be Thursday, October 31 @ 1:30PM at MEWA.

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.

MEWA Gold Card Program.  We have an exciting new incentive program for the drop-in laboratory. Each time you achieve your study goals that you've listed on a Gold Card, you'll be able to turn that card in for a weekly prize drawing. Currently, our weekly prize is a $10 Starbucks gift card. We look to add different prizes in the future. So, stay tuned, stay on task in the drop-in lab, and you too can win prizes.  If you'd like to know more about the details of how this program works, click on the following link: https://docs.google.com/a/gbwebacademy.org/presentation/d/1oeAGfNBaTgcmBAVkDjfmzjtg4qlgrvrrG51RZwSFmv8/edit?usp=sharing.

College Bound Students! Connect with your counselor to discuss the ACT, SAT, or the PSAT.  They have information and dates for registering for these tests.

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.

The Harris Bell History & Important Announcements

 

“The Harris Bell is just that: a bell. It resides just outside the MEWA Principal’s office and is there for the occasions when students achieve success and earn the right to "Ring the Bell."  This honor is relative to a student accomplishing something significant, which could be completing their last class to earn their diploma; earning their GED; or for some of our students, simply passing all their classes for the first term ever. It is our hope that to "Ring the Bell" will become a fun and thoughtful reward in celebration of students who are getting on track or performing great feats.  We also look forward to the potential community building that may result when students in the building hear the bell and come calling to see who is celebrating a recent achievement.” –John Kitchens

While the Harris Bell celebrates the success of our students, it is important to look at what success is.  What is your success?  Do you ever reach a point of maximum success, or do you take the time to celebrate life’s little achievements?  Think back to when you were younger.  Success was often found in something small, such as crossing the street for the first time without holding the hand of a parent.  Perhaps success was riding a bike down the driveway without training wheels.  These achievements may seem small in hindsight, but at the time, they were huge moments of pride.  Now think about what success means to you now, and where that success will lead in the future.  Prepare for your success by writing goals, benchmarks for a greater achievement.  Talk with your counselor about how to reach these goals.  The most important thing is to hold yourself accountable; don’t let others tell you what your success should be and find the will within yourself to make a dream a reality.  Remember the ME in MEWA; at Metro East you come first.

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.  Our first meeting is Thursday, October 17 at 1:30 PM at MEWA.  Ms. Norrander will be the staff sponsor with Mr. May-Varas and Dr. Gray assisting. 

MEWA is starting a parent booster group.  Our first meeting will be held Wednesday October 16 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 will be to organize and support activities that promote our school and provide enrichment and growth opportunities for students and staff.