Ap(Parent)Ly for March 19, 2014

March  19, 2014

www.wihi.org

*Added since last edition


Counseling News


Ann Arbor Public School Happenings   

Area Happenings


826Michigan


Neutral Zone


Join Together

Contact Us


Click on the Read More link for all the details

apPARENTlyWiHi Parent & Student News You Can Use


March  19, 2014

www.wihi.org

*Added since last edition


Counseling News


Ann Arbor Public School Happenings   

Area Happenings


826Michigan


Neutral Zone


Join Together

Contact Us



*School News: TedX Comes to Skyline this Saturday!

7:00am: Doors open - check-in, meet & greet On-stage Hosts

Evie VanDeWege (12 Pioneer) & Mackenzie O'Connor (12 Pioneer) 

8 -10 am: INNOVATION

Tristan Lopus (12 Greenhills): 

40 Miles. Infinite Potential: The Power of 

Engagement and Collaboration in Detroit

Marianne Cowherd (11 Community): 

Science, Youth, and You

Alona Henig (11 Community): 

Song: No Scrubs/Daydreamer

Max Albert (12 Pioneer): 

Education++

Maya Gianchandani (12 Skyline): 

An Industrialized Education

10-10:20am: Break for conversation 

10:25am-12pm: PHILOSOPHY

Gabriel Cornier-Bridgeforth (12 Steiner) : 

Behind the Smile

Isabel Doades (10 Skyline): 

Words or Swords?

Sofie Kromis (12 Community): 

Dancers -Sofia Fall, Louisa Judge, Sofia Sylvester

Why Dance Makes Sense

Aaron Stryker (12 Skyline): 

Challenging Conceptions of Health

Hannah Clague, Maddi Hagan, Jackie Qiu (12 Skyline):

The Value of Public Education

Bobby Boyle (11 Skyline): 

Why Philosophy 

12pm-12:30pm: Lunch and Music

Huron Acapella Singers

Raticals

Dark Horse by Katy Perry arr. Kyp Papageorgiou

Brianna Briegel, Pedro Esteva III, Sara Jay, Chelsea Koga, Adam Kruger

John Nicoli, Kyp Papageorgiou, Mateo Piper, Aly Reynolds, Maadi Srinivasan

Cameron Stein, Topher Wang, Katherine Wardner 

Treble Makers

Bellas Final/Madness opb The Barden Belois (arr. Ed Boyer, Ben Bdram & Deke Sharon) 

& Muse (arr. Maadi Srinivasan)

Maya Dalack, Becca Deakin, Emily Dodge, Anna Fansler, Tasia Gibson, Sara Jay, Izzy Matossian

Emily Paige, Rashmi Pandian, Aly Reynolds, Maadi Srinivasan, Katherine Wardner 

12:35-2pm: INTROSPECTION & INTERACTION

Morgan Burgard (12 Pioneer): 

The Key to the Lock

Mira Heaney (10 Skyline): 

Thoughts on Modern Feminism

Trevor Force (9 Skyline): 

The Power of the High Five

Irene Wei (11 Pioneer): 

Decoding Life Through Art

Dominick DeFazio (12 Pioneer): 

The Possibilities of Confidence

Alice Held (12 Community): 

Recovery: Breaking the Silence 

2-2:20pm: Break for conversation 

2:25-4pm: SOCIETY

Dante Kabat (11 Huron): 

Interpreting the World

Josh Lash (12 Pioneer): 

President Ted: What Makes a Great AmericanPresident

Johannes Steiling (10 Skyline): 

Why We Need Net Neutrality

Dana Shin (12 Pioneer): 

Kiss Our Skeletons

Wei Wen Balter (12 Skyline) & Sean Jacobi (12 Community): 

The Invisible T: Issues Facing Transgender People Today

Aaliyah Jihad (12 Pioneer): 

Cultural Appropriation: Why Your Pocahontas 

Costume Was Not Okay

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AAPS 29th Annual College & Career Fair
Sunday, March 30, 2014
2:00 - 4:00 PM
Pioneer High School


WiHi Counseling News:

Women: EMU sponsors Digital Divas, females in technology careers, Friday, April 25, 2014 Free EMU Student Union RSVP at (734) 487-0407Freshmen and Sophomores:

*Calling All Future Engineers!    Society of Women Engineers Girls Research Engineering And Technology (GREAT) day, hosted at the University of Michigan. GREAT day will be held on April 12th, from 9 AM to 4 PM. We would like to invite all 7th to 10th grade girls (and their parents) to join us for a day of engineering exploration and fun! We are emailing you because we are asking you to forward this to all teachers, counselors, parents, and other interested parties! More information and registration information can be found at the following link:   http://www.swe.engin.umich.edu/#!greatday/c476.  $5 per participant to help cover the cost of food. questions, contact great-day-chairs@umich.edu.

All Students

*1. Summer Job FROM MDOT:  This is a great program that empowers students by exposing them to the State of  Michigan careers in the transportation workforce, Pre-college opportunities, Skilled trades  and an opportunity to earn money for 10 weeks this summer. The enrollment period will begin on April 1st. The positions available are limited .  If you are able to share this with all students especially those who qualify for free and reduced  lunch it would be a great opportunity if they meet the additional criteria. 

www.michigan.gov/MDOT-YDMP 

*2. WCC Presents Women in Construction Technology, Friday, April 11, 12:00Noon, Landau Building, WCC, 734-677-5105

3. Visiting colleges or want to? Amtrak features 50% coupons for student and parents/guardians at:http://www.campusvisit.com/amtrak.htm

4. Greyhound offers 15% discount for students with their “Student Advantage Card.” Also gives up to 50% discount on stuff. http://www.studentadvantage.com/nextstep

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College Programs

Lawrence Institute of Technology Exploration Day: 3/21, 8AM-1PM  RSVP at explorationday.ltu.edu

Aquinas College Fine Arts Day  3/21  8AM    aquinas.edu/fad

Oakland University Visit Day, 3/22/14  9AM+ Oakland.edu/visit

Grand Valley State University Laker Days 3/28, 4/11  RSVP at www.gvsu.edu/visit click on “events”

Aquinas AQ Day  3/28/13 aquinas.edu/you

*Michigan State University’s James Madison College Junior Visit Days, 4/4, 7, 14  10:00 Club Spartan www.jmc.msu.edu.visit

*UM-Dearborn Spring Open House, Saturday, April 12  12:00 umd.umich.edu/springopenhouse

Savannah College of Art & Design (SCAD) Days (Atlanta, GA)  4/12  scad.edu/scadday

Purdue University’s Juniors Exploring Engineering, 4/14/14 8AM www.purdue.edu/wiep

UM Flint Spring Preview  4/19/14, 10AM-2PM  RSVP to go.umflint.edu/preview

College News

Faring Well at the College Fair by John Boshoven

     As you walk through the doors of the Pioneer or Novi college fair, the noise will be loud. People cluster around what seems like scores of tables, filling out cards, leafing through brochures, and competing for the attention of nicely dressed admission representatives. This could be it, you think. You could find your dream college in this very room!

      College fairs are an exciting chance to talk to the people in the know. Admission representatives from a variety of colleges are all gathered in one place, just waiting to answer your questions. But it's easy to get caught up in the crowds and confusion. Soon you're crisscrossing the room (or many rooms), stopping at any booth that catches your eye or seems popular. When that happens, you end up with lots of pretty brochures, but not a lot of clear impressions about which colleges you may be interested in. Making the most of a college fair means planning your strategy before you enter those doors.

     Making a list and checking it well, you know, “Treat a college fair like a buffet dinner," advises Susan Hallenbeck, director of undergraduate admission at Saint Leo University (FL). "There will be more there than you can possibly take in, but then again, not everything is to your taste." Experienced buffet diners know that it's best to scope out their choices before they start filling their plate. Savvy students can do the equivalent by looking over a list of college fair participants before the fair.

      Choose the colleges you most want to find out more about. If you have time, research these colleges by reading information in your guidance office or by checking out guidebooks or Web sites. "Know what you want to find out at the fair," says Paul Marthers, former director of admission at Oberlin College (OH). Write up a short list of questions to ask admission representatives. To compare several schools, plan on asking the same questions at each table. The questions you ask should be unique to your interests and not easily found in standard college materials. "The college fair is a good time to talk person-to-person with the representative of that school," says Janet Helfers, guidance counselor at Mariemont High School (OH). "Your job is to think of good questions." So cross out the questions like, "How many people are in the freshman class?" Instead, ask what the two or three most popular majors are (that can give you a good idea of the main interests of the majority of the students). If you have a particular major in mind, don't ask "How good is major X?" No college representative will tell you that a program is bad. Instead, ask how many students take that major; what research faculty members are involved in (and the opportunities for undergraduates to participate in it); or what courses you would take your first year in a particular major. Students who are undecided should ask about what services and support are available to help them explore various majors.

     Other things you can ask about: extracurricular activities, what kinds of students the college is looking for, what percentage of students receive financial aid, and other concerns unique to your interests and situation.

 Mapping out a strategy

      Before you leave for the fair, make sure you have the following supplies: a small notebook with your list of colleges and questions you want to ask; a pen or pencil; and a backpack or tote-bag to hold all of the college information you'll be collecting. Students with access to computers may wish to print up a few sheets of self-stick address labels. Include your name, address, phone number, e-mail address, high school, year of graduation, intended major(s), and any extracurricular activities you're interested in. At the fair, slap the address labels on the college information cards to save you time in filling out the same information over and over at each college's table. The real strategizing begins when you arrive at the fair. Look for a map of where each college is located. If it's a relatively small fair, all the tables may be in one large room, like a school gym. At big fairs, like AAPS and NACAC's National College Fairs, hundreds of colleges may be spread over many rooms. Especially at the larger fairs, it's important to map out your route. Note where each college is located and plan the most efficient way to visit the colleges on your list. (For example, you want to make sure to visit all the colleges of interest to you in one room before moving to the next.) Also, make sure to check out the schedule of information sessions: many fairs have sessions on the search process, applications, financial aid, and other issues run by experts in the field. These sessions are a great place to ask general questions about the college admission process. Your notebook and pen are great tools for keeping all those conversations straight. After you leave a table, jot down your impressions of the college and the answers the admission representatives gave you. Try to do this before you visit the next table, while your impressions are still fresh.

Teaming up

     Depending on the time of day of the fair, both students and parents may be encouraged to attend. If a family member attends the fair with you, talk about your plan ahead of time. You may decide to split up-perhaps a parent can attend the financial aid seminar so you can visit more colleges. Another option is staying together for part or all of time. You may find that your parents or siblings ask different questions than you do. Also, it can be helpful to get a second opinion on your impressions of particular colleges.

Browsing

      Planning ahead ensures that you get to visit the colleges that most interest you. But also make sure to leave time for browsing. "Be adventurous! Don't just focus on 'name' schools," says Hallenbeck. "You may find that a school you've never heard of offers the exact major, extracurricular program, etc., that you're seeking."

Following up

      By the time the fair is over, you'll have a bag filled with information about colleges-and a possible case of information overload. Don't succumb to the temptation of just piling all those brochures in some obscure corner of your bedroom. If you're feeling overwhelmed, take a day or two away from the college search. Then get out all of those brochures, along with the notes you took while at the fair, and read through them. You may find that some colleges aren't as interesting as you first thought. Others only look better the more you research them. For those colleges, follow up by filling out the information cards in the brochures or by starting to schedule college visits. Remember to visit with the college representatives when they visit our school in the Fall- We will have several visitors during the lunch periods for you to meet and get to know.

      Have Fun
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2013-14 Testing Dates and Deadlines


ACT
  The ACT Assessment Test assesses a high school student’s general educational development and their ability to complete college-level work. The multiple-choice tests cover four skill areas: English, Mathematics, Reading, and Science. The Writing Test, which is optional, measures skill in planning and writing a short essay. The ACT is generally taken by 11th Graders in the spring/summer of their Junior year of high school and by seniors retaking them to improve their scores. The ACT is also included as part of the Michigan Merit Examination (MME) and will be administered in school in March, 2014. http://www.actstudent.org

2013-14 Test Dates

Test Date                     Registration Deadline              (Late Fee Required)

April 12, 2014             March 7, 2014                         March 8–21, 2014

June 14, 2014              May 9, 2014                           May 10–23, 2014

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SAT
  The SAT Reasoning Test is a measure of the critical thinking skills students need for academic success in college. The SAT is usually taken by 11th Graders in the spring of their Junior year in high school and retaken by seniors to improve their scores. Each section of the SAT is scored on a scale of 200-800, with two writing subscores for multiple-choice and the essay. 

Test Dates                   Registration Deadlines         Regular Late (a fee applies)

May 3, 2014                April 4, 2014                          April 18, 2014

June 7, 2014                May 9, 2014                            May 23, 2014

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AAPS News

AAPS Schools of Choice Application Dates Announced     For students who live outside the AAPS boundaries but in Washtenaw County, a Schools of Choice window will be open for students in grades Kindergarten through 10th grade beginning March 3 – April 1, 2014. Information and applications will be available on the AAPS website beginning onMarch 3.

Pioneer News from PI High (Pioneer High, that is)

For more information about Ann Arbor Pioneer,  http://www.aaps.k12.mi.us/pioneer.home

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The Rat Rap (Huron High, that is!)

 Official Site http://www.aaps.k12.mi.us/huron.

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SkyHI (Skyline High, that is)

 Official Site: http://www.a2skyline.org/skyline.home/home

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AAPS News

Schools of Choice

The window for Schools of Choice applications closes on Tuesday, April 1, 2014.

Applications and the list of schools are available here

http://www.aaps.k12.mi.us/aaps/ins.child_accounting/schools_of_choice

K-8 STEAM at Northside – Information Night – March 24, 6:30pm – Added Date!

An additional K-8 STEAM information night has been scheduled for Monday, March 24 at Northside, starting at6:30pm. A “Meet the Principal” reception will be held the first week of April! Applications for the K-8 STEAM for In-District AAPS students will be accepted March 6 – April 1. http://www.aaps.k12.mi.us/aaps/k-8_steam

Preschool Enrollment Now Being Accepted

The Ann Arbor Public Schools Preschool at Allen and Thurston are now accepting application for 4 year olds for Fall 2014 enrollments. Full and half day options are available. To learn more – www.annarborpreschool.com

Young 5’s in the Ann Arbor Public Schools

Are you looking for the “gift of time” for your soon to be 5 year old? AAPS now offers a Young 5’s Kindergarten program for students who are five by May 1 through October 1 or with a waiver through December 1. For more information http://www.a2schools.org/aaps/academics/early_childhood#young5s

AAPS Budget Forums Set

AAPS will be hosting a round of budget forums to discuss the 2014-15 AAPS budget. Please join us for one of the forums so we can hear from you!

All forums are scheduled from 6:30 – 8pm

Tuesday, March 25 at Slauson Middle School

Thursday, March 27 at Scarlett Middle School

Monday, March 31 at Clague Middle School

Tuesday, April 1 at Forsythe Middle School

Thursday, April 3 at Tappan Middle School

AAPS Bands in Review

Tuesday, March 18, 2014

64th Annual “Bands In Review” Concert, Part 1: 7pm at Huron High School 

The Clague Middle School Band, the Skyline Concert Band, and the Huron Varsity, Concert, and Symphony Bands.  The finale will be the end of the Symphony No. 3, the "Organ" Symphony, by Camille Saint-Saens, with live organ. One hour prior to the performance, Jack Wagner and the Community High School Jazz Combo will provide additional music in the lobby. 

Saturday, March 22, 2014

64th Annual “Bands In Review” Concert, Part 2: 7pm at Pioneer High School  

The Tappan, Forsythe, Slauson, and Ann Arbor Open @ Mack Middle School Bands, the Skyline Varsity and Symphony Bands, and the Pioneer Varsity, Concert, and Symphony Bands. One hour prior to the performance, Jack Wagner and the Community High School Jazz Combo will provide additional music in the lobby. 

Tickets are $5.00 for General Admission and $10.00 for a family of 4.  They may be purchased in advance from band members or at the door.  996-3210.

Ann Arbor Marathon Benefits AAPS Students – Volunteers Needed!

On March 30, 2014, the 3rd Annual Ann Arbor Marathon will take to the streets of Ann Arbor passing through the campus of the University of Michigan.  The proceeds of the event go to the Ann Arbor Public Schools Educational Foundation.  The event includes a marathon, half marathon, a 5 K and a 1.2mile (finish for kids marathon).  For more information on the event go to the website http://theannarbormarathon.com  We are looking for volunteers to course marshal the event - cheer on the runners and keep the course safe.    To sign up to volunteer, go to: http://www.hugheswarevolunteersystem.com/become_a_volunteer/2014-ann-arbor-marathon .  Any questions, please contact Nancy Fulcher, volunteer coordinator for the Ann Arbor Marathon, at nancy@champsforcharity.com.

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*The Dawn Farm Education series present this exciting program in March  2014. You’re invited!

“Grief and Loss in Addiction and Recovery” will be presented on Tuesday March 25, 2014; 7:30 pm to 9:00 pm; by Janice Firn, LMSW; Clinical Social Worker on the Adult Palliative Care Consult Team, University of Michigan Medical Center; and Barb Smith, author of Brent’s World.  This program will describe theories of grief and grief recovery, losses that the chemically dependent individual and his/her family experience throughout the addiction and recovery processes, and how recovery program tools can help individuals cope with grief and loss.  It will include a personal account of addiction-related grief, loss and recovery from a mother who lost her son to addiction-related causes.


All programs are presented in the St. Joseph Mercy Hospital Education Center auditorium at 5305 Elliott Drive, Ypsilanti.  All programs are FREE and open to all. No registration is required. Each program provides 1.5 free CE hours for addiction professionals approved by MCBAP and NAADAC. A certificate to document attendance for CE or other purposes is provided on request.

 Further details and directions can be accessed from Dawn Farm's Web site:http://www.dawnfarm.org/programs/education-series.

You can also contact us at the Farm: 734/485-8725, or info@dawnfarm.org.

 




 

Selective Service Information: For 17 and 18 year old men, federal law requires that you register with Selective Service within 30 days of your 18th birthday. When register, you stay eligible for federal student loans, federal job training and jobs. You may register at http://www.sss.gov or at the post office.

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826 Michigan

TUTORING Drop-in tutoring does not need to be registered for, you just drop-in. Free tutoring is offered Mon. - Thurs. from 3:30 - 5:30 at 826's location of E. Liberty, behind the Robot Store. Student 8 - 18 may drop in any time to get help with any subject. Students must show up to drop-in tutoring with homework or other assignments in hand. Drop-in tutoring encourages smiling, feeling good about oneself, grades going up, enthusiasm toward learning, and positivity. The intention of drop-in tutoring is to mentor, listen to, and help students with their homework needs.
Contact  amy@826michigan.org
phone: 734.761.3463
http://www.826michigan.org

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The Neutral Zone                                                                                      

The Neutral Zone is a diverse, youth-driven teen center dedicated to promoting personal growth through artistic expression, community leadership and the exchange of ideas. Why would 3500 teens visit Neutral Zone in a month? Programs, programs, programs (and sometimes pizza – you just can’t go wrong with pizza!)

NZ Program Areas include:

Music & Technology
NZ holds weekend concerts and events for teens most Saturday nights. Teens also create, record and promote their own musical projects using NZ’s equipment and expertise.

Education
 Neutral Zone works hard to level the playing field for all teens through free drop-in tutoring, one-on-one mentoring, and a college prep program featuring college visits, ACT/SAT preparation, coaching on applications, essay writing, and financial aid, and opportunities for scholarships.
Literary & Visual Arts.
Creative writers turn up the volume by writing original poetry and short stories, while photographers and videographers discover and explore their talents using state-of-the-art equipment in digital art classes.



Leadership
The Teen Advisory Council runs the show at Neutral Zone, while several different discussion groups offer young people an open, positive space to explore sensitive issues and just plain have fun together.
Drop-in
teens come to NZ daily to shoot pool, play ping pong, use the internet, do homework, grab something to eat, or just hang out with friends in a safe, supervised space. For gfrom Terreneral questions Contact, Lori Roddy, lori@neutral-zone.org, 734-214-9995




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Submissions:
Please submit your articles, news, or announcements  to boshoven@aaps.k12.mi.us. John B. Boshoven, Editor.