2012 Visions In Education Writing Contest

To promote the culture of writing on our campus and to celebrate our students, Visions is launching its first writing contest. Students from all academies and all grades are invited to participate. This year’s contest theme, “Where I’m from…” originates from a famous poem by George Ella Lyon. Poet and novelist Wendell Berry once said, “If you don’t know where you’re from, you’ll have a hard time saying where you’re going.” This writing contest will encourage students to explore their own uniqueness and give them an opportunity to create something of themselves to share with all of us.

Contest Details

Writing Prompt: “Where I’m from…”

What makes you who you are? Is it the place you live? Your family and friends? Your music, art, or hobby? Your favorite view of the river in the morning? Your mom’s tacos? Write about what makes you you. Write about what and where you come from and who you are. Your writing may take the shape of a narrative essay about yourself, a fictional short story, or a poem.

For a lesson plan to inspire ideas about how to approach this topic, click here. If you would like a poetry template to help you get started, click here. Check out George Ella Lyon’s original poem, “Where I’m From,” and read her suggestions for how to use this poem as a brainstorm for other types of writing here.

Prizes/Celebration

Prizes will be awarded by academy and grade groupings. Ten students will be selected to win a $50 prize! All Finalists will receive a Certificate of Honorable Mention. All Winners will be published in The Word Squad, Visions in Education’s new online literary magazine that will debut in the fall of 2012. Winners will be invited to attend a celebration event in the fall of 2012.

Categories

1. Narrative: Write a personal narrative of no more than four double-spaced, typed pages.
2. Fiction: Write a short story of no more than five double-spaced, typed pages.
3. Poetry: Write a poem of no more than 50 lines.

Submission Guidelines

• Type the following information at the top of your entry
• First name, Last name
• Email Address
• Grade
• CT name
• Academy (9-12, Home School or EDGE)
• Writing Category (Narrative, Fiction, Poem)
• Title
• Entries and poems must be typed and double-spaced. Single-spaced prose will not be read. Please give your story, essay and or poem a title.
• Multiple submissions are allowed. (You may enter more than one piece to the contest and may enter multiple pieces in each category.)
• Please send your entry attached to an email to thewordsquad@viedu.org with the words “Writing Contest” in the subject line. You may send a document or PDF file.
• DEADLINE: Entries must be received by midnight, May 15, 2012. Winners will be notified and prizes awarded within 30 days of the close of the contest.
• Entries must be previously unpublished and the original work of the student.
• Parents of very young writers may type the writing for their child. Technical ability must be consistent with grade level.
• Entries should be proofread and edited. Have a parent or teacher read your work.
• Students whose work is to be published in The Word Squad will be asked to complete a permission form with a parent/guardian signature.

Visions T-Shirts and Sweatshirts are Available for Purchase

Class of 2012 t-shirts are now available for $12.00.
Visions' sweatshirts are available for $23.00.
Visions' t-shirts are available for $10.00.





To purchase a t-shirt, class t-shirt, or sweatshirt, students and families may

• Stop by the Human Resources office, in Building C, at 4800 Manzanita Avenue in Carmichael, or 
• call Donna Glenn at 916.971.5526,  or
• Download the order form, fill it out and give the form along with payment to their teachers--who can then pick up the order when they next are here for a professional development meeting.

This Week's Meetings

Tuesday

Online tutoring by appointment

Tylor - 3:30 pm 

Wednesday

Antioch Public Library

Anthony - 12 pm

Haven - 1:30 pm

Angie - 3:00 pm

Thursday

Benicia Public Library

Belinda - 12 noon

Sara - 1:30 pm

Friday

Concord/Walnut Creek

Alissia - 12 noon

Alex - 1:30 pm

Margaret 3:00 pm

Visions to Host ASVAB Exam on April 19

The ASVAB (Armed Services Vocational Aptitude Battery)  is a multiple-aptitude battery that measures developed abilities and helps students learn more about career exploration and planning, in both the civilian and military worlds of work. It is administered annually to more than one million military applicants, high school, and post-secondary students.

The test time will be from 1:00 pm – 4:00 pm in the PDC. A list of students who have expressed interest has been started.

If you are interested, please send me an email.

Your Student’s Doodle Could Win Thousands for School, College

2009 Google4Doodle Winner

Doodle 4 Google is a nationwide contest open to all K-12 students in which contestants not only get a shot at having their art featured on the search engine’s homepage but also at a $30,000 college scholarship grand prize.

The winning student artist also will receive a Google Chromebook computer, a design tablet and a trip to New York City for a May 17 award banquet. And the top-winning student’s school also gets a $50,000 technology grant.

The theme of this year’s contest is “If I could travel in time, I’d visit …”

There are prizes for national and state finalists, too. Visit www.google.com/doodle4google for more information on rules and entries.

The deadline for submissions is March 23.

Great Books

Have you read something great lately? Share your favorite books and help us make a class list of favorites. All you have to do is email me the title and author and I will set up a page on this Blog to keep track of the list.

Campus Tour of Berkeley

Our campus tour of Berkeley is scheduled for:

Monday, March 19 (Next Monday!)
2:00pm to 3:30 pm
Sign up below

If you have already signed up, expect an email tomorrow, (3/13), with details.

Sign up early as there are only 20 spots available!



For more information about what you can expect, go to the Berkeley Visitor Services Page.

LP6 Progress Grades

Learning Period (LP) 6 progress grades have been posted.

To see your Progress grade:

• Log in to Launchpad
• Click on the My Info link (I think this has changed. I can't see what the student sees so please let me know what it is now. I think it might be More Information.)
• Click on My Progress Grades
• Make sure to set the LP. You may have to change the number in the drop down box and click “Set LP”

Look in the progress grade column of your assignment summary

Don't worry about the assignments average and assignments complete columns. They only refer to work done and graded in launchpad. The progress grade column is accurate. 

Your Engrade grade may be different from your Progress grade as it may include work that has been done in the new LP.

Let me know if you have any questions!

Dissection and Microscope Labs to be Offered Numerous Times this Semester

Two Biology Labs (microscope and dissection) are available for 9-12 and EDGE students in the upcoming months.

Students only need to attend one session for each lab. The labs are offered multiple times to accommodate student schedules. Students will need a permission slip for each lab, your CT will provide these.

Where: Visions’ PDC room

Number of students per class: 20

Dissection Lab: 3/14 at 12:30pm-3:30pm; 3/15 at 12:30pm-3:30pm; 3/22 at 9am-12pm; 3/23 at 9am-12pm; 4/16 at 12:30pm-3:30pm; 4/17 at 12:30pm-3:30pm

Microscope Lab: 3/14 at 9am-12pm; 3/15 at 9am-12pm; 3/22 at 12:30pm-3:30pm; 3/23 at 12:30pm-3:30pm; 4/16 at 9am-12:30pm; 4/17 at 9am-12:30pm

How to sign up: Contact Ms. Bryon and let her know which lab(s) you would like to attend.

If you have questions, please contact me.

Benchmark Assessments

All 9th, 10th, and 11th grade students will be taking the final Benchmark assessment during our next face to face meeting. Most of you have taken this before and know what to expect. If you haven't, it is a multiple choice language arts assessment that takes up most or our meeting time. Just be sure that all of your work is ready to hand over so I can grade it while you are taking your assessment. If you have any questions or want to go over anything specific, make sure to note it so we don't forget.

Add Drop Deadline + -

Friday, March 2nd is the add/drop deadline for second semester courses. If you are considering dropping or adding a course, please contact me as soon as possible!

Job Workshop

Looking for a Job?
Free Job Workshop with
One Stop Career Center!


Friday Feb 24th @ 1:30-2:30
Visions PDC
4800 Manzanita Avenue,
Carmichael, CA 95608


Learn Job Search Techniques and Develop Employability Skills:

• Figure out what kind of career you would like to pursue
• Decide what to do after high school
• Learn about vocational training and other educational programs
• Find Job Openings
• Learn about programs for teens and youth
• Learn Interviewing Skills and Techniques
• Develop Job-Related Skills
• Create a Resume
• Receive Job Coaching/Career Counseling services

*This workshop is for Visions in Education students only.

Financial Aid Workshops

Counselors Luis Matta and Randy Nazareno are holding a Financial Aid Workshop for January 2012 and June 2012 Graduates in Fairfield (New Hope Church 1891 Woolner Avenue, Fairfield CA) on February 21st from 9:00 to 2:30 PM. It has limited seats and is by appointment only. If you are a graduating senior and need assistance in filling out the FAFSA please make an appointment at 916-971-5540.


Other Upcoming Financial Aid Workshops
February 23rd at Visions.

Cash 4 College/FAFSA WORKSHOPS
Solano Community College (February 22, 2012)
4000 Suisun Valley Road
4:00 to 8:00 PM

Fairfield Civic Center Library (February 28, 2012)
1150 Kentucky Street
6:15-8:15 PM

9-12 Field Trips for Second Semester Available for Sign-Up

Registration is now open for the  two (2) Field Trips sponsored by the 9-12 Academy.

Field Trip #1 The Exploratorium in San Francisco, Wednesday, March 21, 2012

Launchpad Event # 7565

Students will depart the Resource Center by bus to the Exploratorium in San Francisco to interact with an assortment of Hand's On Physical Science exhibits. Students should be at the RC at 8:00 am with a return time of 5pm. Snacks and Lunch is provided.

Field Trip #2 Sutter Buttes Hike, Wednesday, April 18, 2012

Launchpad Event # 7566

Students will depart the Resource Center by bus to the Sutter Buttes for an interpretative hike that features the fauna and flora of the world's smallest mountain range. Students should be dressed and have appropriate shoes for the hike. Students should be at the RC at 8:00 am with a return time of 5pm. Snacks and Lunch is provided.

Interested? Email me for more information or to sign up.

English Page Updates

I am working on updating the English page with the wonderful projects that were done last semester. I also have some great photos to put up. Take a look, but I am not done yet! I still have a bunch of work to post. If you did a project, or have a special photo you would like to post, let me know!

Semester 2!

Welcome to Semester 2! Grades are in, assignments are posted. Today begins 2nd semester. If you have any questions about your assignments, courses, or meeting dates and times, contact me as soon as you can so we can sort things out.

A few students have outstanding Master Agreements because we made changes in their courses. I will be sending MAs out in the mail today. If you get one, please sign and return as soon as possible. Thanks.

Beginning of Semester Reminder:

• All assigned work must be completed and ready to discuss/grade at our meetings in order to be accepted. 
• If you have an emergency or an illness that interferes with doing your work on time, have your parent or guardian contact me asap before our meeting. 
•  If you have questions about an assignment, or you do not know how to complete it, get help before the meeting.

Just Because

View of a sunset from inside a wave.

Have a photo, video, article or item that is interesting, unusual, or worth sharing? Email it to me and I'll post it in the Just Because post!

End of Semester 2

The last day of the semester is Thursday, January 26. Semester 2 begins on Tuesday, January 31.

Please make sure all of your LP5 work is complete and in my hands (or on my computer) by 5pm on Thursday.

Friday and Monday are teacher work days. You have off!

Community College Classes

Are you taking community college classes? If so, remember to:

• Let me know your schedule as soon as possible
• Keep all of your receipts, Visions may reimburse you for class fees and books
• Make sure you request an official transcript to be sent to Mr. Naz at Visions at the end of each college semester
• Remember that your Visions classes come first, you must keep your Visions grades up to be eligible to attend college courses while enrolled in high school

Never thought of this before? Interested? For more information about enrollment in community college courses while attending Visions, sign in to launchpad and then go to https://community.viedu.org/node/646. Or search for community college courses on VIE community.

Welcome Back!

I hope you had a relaxing break. I know I did. It can be hard to get back into the swing of things so take it slow and make sure you are working everyday. The semester is almost over and you will want to finish strong.

I have been busy today ordering books for semester 2 courses. I will be sending out an email copy of your Master Agreement this week so you can look over your planned courses and make any changes as soon as possible.

Check your grades and your progress, and make sure you know exactly what you need to do to get the grades you want this semester.

Let me know if there is anything I can do to help.