Spring is in the Air

The weather seems to be taking a turn for the better (knock on wood) and Spring is certainly in the air.  It always seems that after the trauma of moving our clocks forward for Daylight Saving Time, we begin to experience the pleasant sights, smells, and sounds of Spring: birds chirping, sun shining, people running, and flowers blooming.  With the beginning of Spring, which is actually March 20^th, comes the rapidly approaching promise of Spring Break.  Now this is one holiday nearly every student looks forward to--why wouldn’t they?  We’re talking about an entire week out of the classroom, with no correspondence with teachers, and really no need to even logon to a computer (except we know everyone will).  For MEWA students, our system does indicate that assignments are still due during this break period; however, we recommend looking ahead and completing those assignments either this week, or early after the break is over to stay on task.  All of this is outlined in the Principal’s Message.

So what to do with an entire week off?  Are you going on a family vacation?  Travelling somewhere warm and sunny?  Or will you be sticking around town, meeting up with friends, and just relaxing?  Perhaps you will log a few more hours with your job?

For those students who don’t have “big” plans for the break, we have some ideas…

• Participate in an “Alternative Spring Break.” Volunteer at an organization during the week such as with Habitat for Humanity, Zenger Farms, SnowCap, or any other organization you are interested in.  Not only will you experience the value in helping others, but this is an activity that is perfect to discuss in a scholarship essay or application.
• Work on those scholarships!  Do some research and look for new scholarships that are available to you, especially within the community.  Work on some “generic” essay templates and revise your resume or activity chart so that your most current version is ready when the time comes.
•  Read a new book, for FUN.  Head down to the library and see if you can find a book or two to read for fun.  Excite your imagination and just relax; if the weather is nice, you can read outside!
• Pick up a new hobby.  Try something new this Spring Break.  Look up some new recipes, create a new work of art, take some creative photos, or sew yourself an outfit.  Maybe you are interested in scrapbooking, learning a new language, or playing a new instrument; the list goes on.  There are a number of things you can do!
• And of course, you can always work on some things for school; just to stay caught up. J

We hope all our students enjoy a fun-filled, relaxing, and safe Spring Break!  Remember, teachers will be unavailable during the week as well, so try and get any questions answered before this week is over.  Have fun!

What are your plans for Spring Break? If you could plan the perfect Spring Break, what would it include?

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?