A True Meaning of Happiness

Photo via http://24hoursofhappiness.com

“Happiness is a mental or emotional state of well-being characterized by positive or pleasant emotions ranging from contentment to intense joy.” Wikipedia

Happy International Day of Happiness!  Yes, this day is celebrated on March 20 to basically help make the world a “happier” place.  Do we need such a day, or is there a way to celebrate happiness all year round?  Of course, asking this question raises questions like: “Do we need St. Patrick’s Day to celebrate being Irish?” or, “Why do we only give presents at Christmas?”  What it comes down to is really our awareness of what qualifies as happiness in our lives.  The key of celebrating a day of happiness is to develop your understanding of what makes you truly happy.

Did you know that Denmark ranks #1 as the happiest country in the world, while the United States is #17?  Why is this?  Americans spend an exorbitant amount of money on anti-depressant drugs, self-help books, and inspirational speaking conventions.  Yet we are always in search of the “perfect” happiness.  An article from Forbes tells us that happiness is a choice, rather than something that is merely attained; in other words, one has to consciously make the decision to be happy.  The article goes on to give 5 “Ingredients of Happiness":

1. Positive Emotions – choose to look at things from a more positive perspective
2. Engagement – get involved/curious
3. Positive Relationships – surround yourself with people who energize you
4. Meaning – find something that speaks to your soul (give back)
5. Accomplishment

Have you ever considered that this recipe for happiness could actually equal our success?  Think about all those positive, optimistic, happy people you know…Studies show they could end up being more successful and fulfilled in their life than those of us who believe in the mantra that success equals happiness.  The reality is we have it backwards: happiness equals success!

So today, and every day, celebrate being happy and learn to live and love your life!  Try taking on one or all of the “Ingredients of Happiness” above and see if making the choice to be happy actually leads to your lifelong happiness.

If you need something to get you started, check out this link with music videos of the “Happy” dance from around the world, featuring Pharrell’s popular song.  http://24hoursofhappiness.com

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

Getting the Most from Your Online Education

As we begin the second half of our 2013-2014 academic year, it’s important to remember why we are here in the first place: to learn.  How do you get the most out of your learning experience at Metro East Web Academy?  Here are a couple tips for you to consider to help finish out the year strong.

1. Visit our “Tips for Successful Online Learning” Web Page.  This page has a number of different tips on how to be successful as an online student.  Read them and see if there is anything you need to add to your approach as we begin the next term. 
2.  Meet with your teachers at least once per week.  Your teachers are here to help you succeed and they want to see you grow.  Make sure to talk with them if you are stuck on an assignment or lesson.  Often two heads are better than one and conversing with a teacher will help both of you understand each other better in the future.
3. Keep notebooks, or computer folders, with notes for each class.  Taking notes is always a good idea and keeping these notes organized will save you time when studying for a test.  You can also use these notebooks for writing questions and answers as you go through your lessons.  Some classes require the use of a spiral notebook, but they are a handy tool for any class.
4. Turn in your homework assignments on time.  The sooner you can get an assignment turned in, the quicker you can get feedback from the teacher on your work.  Doing the assignments early will also allow you more time to ask questions for clarification, if needed.
5. Stop in the Drop-In Labs each week.  Coming in to the drop-in labs regularly will help organize your day, give you time to talk with teachers and counselors, and allow you to socialize with fellow classmates.  Collaboration produces some of the best creative results on projects and stopping by the drop-in labs will help feed your creative process.
6. Visit our online social communities to connect & engage with other students & your teachers.  Our online social sites not only provide students and teachers with helpful tips and inspirations, but they are places for parents to collaborate as well.  We want to keep our MEWA community strong, both in and outside of, the school.  We hope all our students, teachers, and parents will contribute to our Facebook, Twitter, & Pinterest pages regularly to engage in meaningful conversations and stay up to date on what’s happening at MEWA.

    How do you get the most out of your MEWA education?

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.

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.

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.