Juniors and Seniors Get help with your College Applications!

Visions Students in grades 11-12 are invited to participate in a day of workshops to help you on your path towards acceptance at a Four-Year College or University. 

When: Thurs., Oct. 24, 2013, 9:15 a.m. - 3:00 p.m. 

Where: Northgate Christian Church, 2201 Lake Herman Rd., Benicia 

Space is limited: First come, first served, so 

 Please click here to SIGN UP TODAY! 

Please note: These are not the same workshops that were offered at our September event. 

9:30 - 11:30 CSU Application Workshop (12th grade) Counselors will be available to help you begin your application. Please bring your unofficial transcripts (community college and VIE) and laptop (if available)

9:30 - 10:30 How to Write a Personal Statement Essay (12th graders) Students will examine personal statements from students that were admitted to Stanford and UC Berkeley to identify key components of this essay.

10:30 - 11:30 Personal Statement Essay Review (12th graders) If you have started your personal statement and would like feedback or suggestions, CT Olivia Johnston will be available by appointment only. Please email Olivia to schedule your appointment.

12:00 - 2:30 UC Application Workshop (12th grade) Counselors will be available to help you begin your application. Please bring your unofficial transcripts (community college and VIE) and laptop (if available)

12:00 - 1:30 What to Do Your Junior Year to Prepare for College Admission (11th graders) Learn about the courses and activities you can participate in this year to enhance your college application.

Add Drop Deadline

The last day to add or drop classes for this semester is Friday, October 11. This is also the last day to order books, directed project supplies, and computers.

If you are considering switching classes, adding/dropping a class, or are still deciding on materials to order for a directed project, please keep that date in mind.

This is especially important if you have an elective or math class that you are struggling with and would like to change.

Assembly Bill 484

Governor Brown signed Assembly Bill 484 on Wednesday.

The bill, authored by Assemblywoman Susan Bonilla (D-Concord),  effectively cancels the STAR tests for English and Math for this year so that schools and districts have a chance to get ready for the upcoming Smarter Balanced Assessments.

According to an article at ABC:
(http://abclocal.go.com/kabc/story?section=news/state&id=9271193)

"California has been giving the STAR tests to all students in grades 2-11. Under the plan approved by Brown, only the science portion of the test would be given to fifth, eighth, and 10th graders next spring before being dropped altogether a year later."

While not much more information has been provided, it looks as if 2 - 11 graders will not be taking the STAR tests this year EXCEPT for the science test that is administered to grades 5, 8, and 10.

I will keep you posted as news develops.

You can view the actual text of the bill here.
http://leginfo.legislature.ca.gov/faces/billNavClient.xhtml?bill_id=201320140AB484

Are You Struggling?

Are you struggling to complete your work? Unhappy with your grades? 

I can help you, but before I step in, make sure you are doing all you can.

First:

Make sure you are working about 1 hour per day on each subject. Time yourself, set a schedule. Think about what you would be doing in a regular high school and create a class schedule for yourself.

Example Schedule:

8:00 - 8:50 - English

9:00 - 9:50 - Science

10:00 - 10:50 - History

10:50 - 11:00 - PE

11:00 - 11:50 - LUNCH

12:00 - 12:50 - Math

1:00 - 1:50 - Elective Class

+ approx. 1 hr. of homework give or take. 

Don't get bogged down in any one subject. 

If you can't complete an assignment after an honest 50 minutes worth of work, STOP, take a break and go to the next subject. 

Remember, I can see through Launchpad exactly when you sign on, and how much time you are keeping your assignments open. If you aren't signing in every day and attempting to work on each subject, there is not much I can do. 

Second:

Consider working at one of our tutoring centers. There are tutors and other students there that can help. Consider going to the library or a coffee shop to work. Sometimes just getting away from home can help.

Third:

Call the homework helpline if you get stuck on a problem. 

If you are doing ALL that, and you still are struggling, I can work with you one on one to help you succeed. We can set online tutoring appointments on Fridays, or you can come out to Livermore to the library for face to face sessions. I can also modify some of your assignments, if needed.