The Power of Parents

Dear Parents,

Please take the time to read this interesting article about us, the parents. 
We can make a difference!!!

Teachers, peers and society play major roles in a child's education. But parents are a child's first teachers. And home is a child's first classroom.

Schools can and do spend enormous amounts of staff time and money trying to compensate for what is sometimes missing in children's homes. But if a child is to succeed in school and in life, it is important that parents and other adults provide a solid base of support from the preschool years through the school years.

The kinds of support children need from parents is not necessarily or solely financial. Children need parents who can help them learn how to think clearly, parents who ask their opinions and respect what they hear, parents who find the time to share themselves and instill solid values.

Of course, our children don't come with instructions (there were certainly times I wish mine had). But recently, I ran across a short, but fairly complete Parent's Pledge. It provides a good checklist for parents who are, indeed, a child's first teachers.

Parent's Pledge

1. I want my child to have the best possible education and I realize that strong school systems are essential.

2. I will provide a home environment that will encourage my child to learn.

3. I will help my child build a small but meaningful home library.

4. I will insist that all homework assignments are done each night.

5. I will discuss at dinnertime what my child has learned at school each day.

6. I will include stimulating books among the presents I give my child.

7. I will review newspaper stories and television newscasts with my child and discuss how the news may affect our lives.

8. I will meet regularly with my child's teachers.

9. I will remind my child of the necessity of discipline in the classroom especially self-discipline.

10. I will help my child appreciate and enjoy the excitement in learning and the thrill of an inquiring mind.

To keep this pledge, parents need support: businesses that create family-friendly workplaces and give parents the flexibility to occasionally volunteer for duty in their child's classroom. Parents need communities that value the important role of parents and offer programs and services that promote the healthy development of children. And parents need schools that reach out to families and communities with information about school programs and student progress. Families want to belong. Teachers and students need parents' involvement. It's a two-way street that will lead our children to happiness and success.

Source: http://www.nsea.org/parents/articles/chalktalk15.htm?printable=true

Summary of the State Department Visit!

Estimados padres de familia,
Quiero agradecer la presencia de las personas que pudieron asistir. Me doy cuenta que somos personas con muchos compromisos y les agradezco su sacrificio y dedicacion a los que asistieron.
En manera de resumen les comunico que se enfatizaron los siguientes puntos:
1. Es favorable ser honestos en las aplicaciones en cuanto a la nacionalidad, actividades, necesidades especificas y capacidad de pago. La verdad es aconsejable y preferible.
2. Se exhorta a comunicarse directamente con los entrenadores deportivos, encargados de necesidades especiales y agentes de apoyo financiero cuando tenemos la oportunidad de hacerlo.
3. Las visitas a las universidades y entrevistas (aunque sean por telefono o skype) fueron altamente recomendadas siempre y cuando sea posible.
4. El SAT no es reflejo de la inteligencia de los hijos. Si bien es cierto que es un componente importante en la aplicacion (y utilizado para becas) NO es el unico componente que se utiliza para tomar la decision de admitir o no a un alumno (a).
5. Es importantisimo que en los ensayos los estudiantes den a conocer quienes son ellos, y de donde vienen. Esta es la unica forma que tienen las ternas de las universidades de conocerlos.
6. La preocupacion de los padres de familia por el SAT es mundial.
7. Se necesita que continuemos apoyandolos para que trabajen duro y desarrollen una verdadera etica de trabajo. El mundo es competitivo y ellos deben abrirse camino en el con los recursos y herramientas que les proporciona la escuela y su familia. Lo que no esta a su alcance deben lanzarse a buscarlo. Las limitaciones nos las imponemos nosotros mismos al darnos por vencidos.
8. Debemos tomarnos el tiempor para buscar las universidades que sean adecuadas a nuestras necesidades.
Existen aproximadamente 4,000 universidades y la mejor forma de conocerlas es ingresar a las paginas Web de las mismas.
9. Para tener una mejor ideas sobre este proceso visite  http://www.collegeboard.com/. Aqui puede utilizar un buscador ingresando las caracteristicas que desea en una universidad luego obtendra una lista mas manejable de las posibles universidades para su hijo(a).

Gracias por su apoyo y estaremos informandolo de otros eventos como este para apoyar a nuestros estudiantes en su proceso de ingresar a las universidades.

Tengan un feliz fin de semana. Dios les bendiga!

If you have received a report card you are not satisfied with, read on!

If you've received a few low grades on assignments throughout the year don´t give up. You still have time to bring up your final grade. Don't accept failure!

Sometimes, a good grade on the final project or exam can increase your final grade dramatically. Especially if the teacher knows you're really trying.

1.    Gather all your work assignments to determine exactly how and why you earned the low grades. Identify your weak points. Did your grades suffer because of careless grammar or poor writing habits? If so, be more mindful of grammar and structure during the final.

2.    Visit the teacher and ask her to go over your assignments with you. Ask her what you could have done differently.

3.    Ask what can you do for extra credit. By trying to take charge of your destiny, you are showing responsibility. Teachers will appreciate this.

4.    Ask for advice from the teacher. Teachers can direct you to resources that are topic-specific.

5.    Put all your energy into the final test or project. Find a tutor to help you. Ask the teacher to explain the format of the test. Will it be an essay exam or a multiple choice test? Target your study accordingly.

6.    Join a study group. Discuss the final exam with other students. They may have notes that you missed or they may have better insight into the teacher's preferences when it comes to test questions and answers.

7.    Improve memory skills. There are many techniques to improve your memory. Find one that is best for you and the material you're studying.

8.    Get serious. Don't be late to class. Get some sleep. Turn off the TV.

Talk to your Parents

If you know a bad grade is imminent, then it might be wise to talk to your parents first. Let them know that you are trying to make a change and improve your performance.

Get them involved. You may want to discuss creating a homework contract with your parents. The contract should address time commitments, homework help, supplies, and other issues that affect grades.

Looking Toward the Future

If you have just received your end-of-quarter grades and you're looking forward to improving your performance next year, there are plenty of things you can do. Try these three things listed below.

1.    Get organized. Keep a journal of assignments to identify strengths and weaknesses. Organize your supplies and establish a good study space.

2.    Try to use color-coded supplies to stay organized.

3.    Identify your personal learning style. This is critical to improving your study habits. Don't waste valuable study time using ineffective study methods.

source:http://homeworktips.about.com/od/makingthegrades/a/badgrades.htm

CSS Profile : What is it? and What documents do you need?

CSS/PROFILE – A Financial Aid Form

The CSS/PROFILE is used to award their private grant money and scholarships. The PROFILE, as it is known in shorthand, is administered by the College Scholarship Service (CSS), the financial aid division of the College Board, and it is only accessible through the College Board website. One can find the form most directly by going to http://www.profileonline.collegeboard.com/. The College Board website is also the place to go to find the list of the colleges and universities that require the PROFILE. I would still advise families to visit the websites of each college to which your child is applying to check the form requirements and deadlines for submission.

The CSS PROFILE determines the Expected Family Contribution. The PROFILE looks at both the student and parents’ income and assets.
Some of the key differences are:
The PROFILE questions may vary from school to school, as colleges have some discretion to tailor the form to their specific institutions. As long as college financial aid officers remain within their institutional policies, they have the flexibility to exercise their “Professional Judgment” as they see fit.
- In general, the PROFILE requires information, particularly in terms of assets and expenses. For example, it considers the equity in the family’s primary residence (though a handful of colleges have elected to exclude this from the calculation, Princeton among them).
One last thought: Most colleges use these financial aid forms for awarding need based aid, not merit aid. There are exceptions, however. The best thing to do is to check with each school’s financial aid office to find out what is required to be eligible for both need and merit aid. And truly one last thing: financial aid deadlines at many schools follow close on the heels of college application due dates, so please look carefully at websites to make sure that these important deadlines are met.

Documents needed to complete the CSS
Tax returns
W2s (The W-2 form reports an employee's annual wages and the amount of taxes withheld from his or her paycheck, in USA)
Records of untaxed income
Current bank statements
Current mortgage information
Business and farm records
Records of stocks, bonds, and other investments
Social Security benefits and retirement plan information
If your custodial parent’s marital status is separated, divorced, or remarried, you will be sent an e-mail alerting you that your non-custodial parent needs to complete the NON-Custodial PROFILE. Your non-custodial parent will also need the above documents in order to complete their required portion of the CSS PROFILE accurately.

Parents here is an article I found interesting! Happy Reading!

Dealing with Sibling Rivalry

Siblings have a unique relationship within a family, because they are typically close in age and may believe that they share the same problems. However, siblings can also be very competitive. Research has shown that as teens handle disagreements with their siblings, they also learn important skills:

• how to value another person's perspective,
• how to compromise and negotiate,
• how to measure their own worth,
• how to argue,
• how to control aggressive impulses.

How can parents deal with sibling rivalry?

Set an example. The way parents resolve problems and disagreements sets a strong example for teens. It's essential that parents work through conflicts in a way that is respectful, productive, and not aggressive. Celebrate the times when your teen tries their hardest along with the times that they win. If both of your teens are competing in a basketball tournament and one comes in first place and the other second, celebrate them both equally. They both tried their hardest and did a great job.

Respect teen individuality. To ease tensions between their teens, parents need to acknowledge each sibling's special attributes and avoid making comparisons between siblings. Parents should also avoid scolding one child in front of the other. Parents should find time to spend with each of their children individually. Take them to events or participate in activities that they enjoy.

Do not get involved in disputes but guide them. The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends that parents should remain impartial and encourage siblings to work out their differences. It's a good idea for parents set guidelines when letting them work out their problems. For example, don't let arguments get out of control or become violent. By letting them work things out, teens can be taught to consider the consequences of their actions, think of alternative solutions to the problem, evaluate the alternative solutions, and decide on the right action

Appreciate when your teen solves problems or cooperates with siblings. Take time to praise your teen when they are able to work out a problem. This will enhance cooperation and help with future conflicts. Recognize your children when they cooperate with each other. Encourage them to build relationships in which they appreciate each other's talents and differences. Teach them to overcome their competitive nature and celebrate each others achievements.

Spend time together as a family and with each of your children individually. Family activities can reduce conflict, so establish an activity or a special day when your kids can spend time together and relate to each other. This can help ease tensions between them. Teens that come from families who spend quality time together have a much greater ability to problem solve, negotiate and compromise than those from families who do not

Seniors

By the end of this week you should have completed the essays and have narrowed down your college choices. Then you need to check admission deadlines with those colleges.

Remember your letters of recommendation are needed and your teachers should give them to you no later than next week.

For all documents you get, make copies to keep your own personal file of your own application process.

The Common Application offers six different essay prompts for you to choose from as you write your personal statement. However, sometimes having lots of choices can be overwhelming and confusing. Here are some general tips to help you get started.

• Start by making a list of the five or six things that are most important to you and that you feel you could talk about on paper, in a conversation, over coffee, etc. for a really long time. This list can include people, places, things, ideas, events, issues, and more.
• Next, think about what kind of information is found in the other sections of your application. Is there something new that you want to communicate about yourself? Is there a particularly meaningful activity or piece of information that you have listed that you would like to say more about?
• As you look over this preliminary list, see if any of the topics jump out at you and make your heart flutter a little more than usual. That could be a match made in heaven.
• Next, look at the list of Common Application essay prompts. Which one fits the topic that you’ve chosen the best?
• As you begin writing, if you feel like the prompt you have chosen doesn’t quite work or fit your topic, don’t worry. There are five others to choose from.

Here are the options given:

Option #1: Evaluate a significant experience, achievement, risk you have taken, or ethical dilemma you have faced and its impact on you.

Option #2: Discuss some issue of personal, local, national, or international concern and its importance to you.

Option #3: Indicate a person who has had a significant influence on you, and describe that influence.

Option #4: Describe a character in fiction, a historical figure, or a creative work (as in art, music, science, etc.) that has had an influence on you, and explain that influence.

Option #5: A range of academic interests, personal perspectives, and life experiences adds much to the educational mix. Given your personal background, describe an experience that illustrates what you would bring to the diversity in a college community, or an encounter that demonstrated the importance of diversity to you.

Option #6: Topic of your choice.