Hello AP/IB Boosters!
Contents
Dropout Prevention and Recovery: Catching Students Before It’s Too Late, US Dept. of Education Webcast
This webcast was shown live on Tuesday, November 16, 2004, 8:00 PM - 9:00 PM ET. It is now archived for viewing.
Duration: 1 hr.
The November broadcast of Education News focused on dropout prevention and recovery and addressed questions such as:
http://www.connectlive.com/events/ednews/
Saving for College Information Night
Tentatively planned for February 24, 2005
November is college application time for Everett School District seniors and every other high school senior in our state and country. While that anxious time may be several years away for your kids, your college savings plan needs to be in full swing. To help you with that effort, the Heatherwood Middle School PTA and AP/IB Boosters are arranging for a college financial planning expert to give an evening presentation at Heatherwood to help parents understand the ins and outs of 529 plans, Coverdell accounts, Uniform Gift to Minors Act (UGMA) accounts, college costs, financial aid and other related topics. Pertinent documents will be available at the session and online.
This free workshop is open to all parents with students at Heatherwood Middle School, Cedar Wood Elementary School, Mill Creek Elementary School, Woodside Elementary School, and invited guests.
http://www.apibboosters.org/SavingForCollege.html
Everett School District Financial Aid Night, December 1, 2004
7 – 8 PM, Everett High School Auditorium, 2416 Colby Ave, Everett
Parents and 11th/12th grade students are invited to attend.
Come for answers to these and other questions:
Contact your high school counseling office if you have questions on the event.
Mill Creek Community Association Newsletter Article
We would like to thank the Mill Creek Community Association Board for publishing our article.
Page 7 of the November 2004 Mill Stream issue.
http://www.mcca.info/Forms%20&%20Info/pdf_files/November04.pdf
http://www.mcca.info/Forms%20&%20Info/Forms.html
Orca Bowl, registration deadline December 1, 2004
Washington State high school-age students are invited to participate in the Washington State Ocean Sciences Bowl competition, known as the Orca Bowl, held at the University of Washington's South Campus Center. This event is a round robin, double-elimination academic tournament. Competition questions test students general knowledge of the ocean sciences, with both multiple choice and short answer questions.
First-place winners from each of 24 regional bowls around the country will receive an all-expenses paid trip to Biloxi, Mississippi, to participate in the national competition from April 23-25, 2005. A variety of prizes for teams and coaches are awarded at both the regional and the national bowls.
Only 20 teams will compete at the Orca Bowl this year. Registration packets may be requested by calling (206) 543-6492 or emailing the regional coordinator. The entry deadline for the 2005 Orca Bowl is December 1, 2004. For more information on the Orca Bowl, see the Fact Sheet, the Resource Guide, or the National Ocean Sciences Bowl website at www.nosb.org.
http://www.cofs.washington.edu/wsosb/home/index.html
GLOBE for the AP Environmental Science Classroom
A recent article on the College Board’s web site discussed integrating GLOBE into the AP Environmental Science classroom.
http://apcentral.collegeboard.com
"GLOBE is a worldwide hands-on, primary and secondary school-based education and science program.
For Students, GLOBE provides the opportunity to learn by:
For Teachers, GLOBE provides assistance through:
For International and U.S. Partners, GLOBE provides:
Young Epidemiology Scholars Competition (YES)
"The future health of the American population depends in large part upon the knowledge and ability of our upcoming health leaders, practitioners and researchers. The Young Epidemiology Scholars (YES) Competition for original student research is designed to inspire talented students to investigate the many behavioral, biological, environmental and social factors that affect health and, based upon this knowledge, to identify ways to improve the health of the public. The YES Competition offers college scholarship awards to high school juniors and seniors who conduct outstanding research projects that apply epidemiological methods of analysis to a health-related issue."
Competition Deadline is Feb 1, 2005
http://www.collegeboard.com/yes/
The Washington Search for Young Scholars
http://depts.washington.edu/cscy/wsys/
DEADLINE EXTENDED to January 7, 2005
"The Washington Search for Young Scholars (WSYS) was created by the Robinson Center (at the University of Washington) to identify and work with our state’s most capable students, their families, and their schools to develop more opportunities for academically gifted young people. WSYS is modeled after other talent searches affiliated with universities around the US: Students who score high on achievement tests are invited to register with WSYS. Fifth and 6th grade participants qualify simply by documenting their high achievement test performance. Seventh and 8th grade participants, however, will have to take a college admissions exam, the ACT, to qualify. Those who score high will be recognized in local ceremonies and invited to participate in programs for advanced students."
World Religions: A course we would like to see offered
Newport HS in Bellevue offers a course on World Religions: Students investigate the basic ideas contained in the major religions of the world. Religions studied include primitive/ancient religious ideas, Buddhism, Christianity, Hinduism, Islam, and Judaism.
http://www.bsd405.org/curriculum/612sequence/course.asp?id=243
We would like to see a similar course offered to high school students in the Everett School District.
Mukilteo School District Diploma: Advanced Academic Endorsement
The Advanced Academic Endorsement in the Mukilteo School District (Kamiak HS, Mariner HS) recognizes students who take a more demanding college prep curriculum. The AAE requirements include: 4 credits of English (at least 1 must be an AP course), 3 credits of Social Studies (at least 1 must be an AP course), 3 credits of Math (at least through Algebra II), 3 credits of Lab Science, 1 credit Occupational, 1 credit Fine Arts, 1 credit Computer Studies, 1.5 PE, 0.5 Health, 3 credits of World Language, and 3 credits Electives.
We think the Everett School District should consider a similar policy to recognize academic achievement and encourage students to prepare for college.
Mukilteo School District Weighted Class Ranking
The following is an excerpt from the Mariner HS Course Catalog.
"WEIGHTED CLASS RANK- Pending Board Approval
Since the single best indicator of college success is ‘rigorous courses taken in high school,’ a district committee has been exploring ‘weighting’ class rank. The proposed class rank system would award additional ‘weight’ for honors and Advanced Placement courses. If approved by the School Board, this Weighted Class Rank would come into effect for the Class of 2008 and all subsequent classes.
Key points:
Again, we think that the Everett School District should consider a similar policy to recognize student academic achievement.
Middle School Robotics Contest, December 11th, 2004
8 AM to 4 PM
Highland Middle School, 15027 NE Bel-Red Road, Bellevue, WA
Sponsors: Seattle Robotics Association, ASME, Digipen Institute of Technology
"First LEGO League is a robotic competition developed for students 9 to 14 years old. There are two primary activities: Build and program a small robot to accomplish various challenges and investigate a research topic and present findings at the tournament.
2004 Theme:
In this year's challenge, FLL teams will find ways to help people with different levels of physical ability.
Premise:
The dream of a modern society is one of equal access for all. Society as a whole benefits when creativity, technology and open minds come together to help make that equality possible for all people, regardless of physical differences.
Focus:
Many people have difficulty moving or walking, or trouble reading a distant sign or climbing stairs. The 2004 FLL Challenge is to examine these seemingly simple tasks in a new light and explore how technology and human thought can work together to create equal access for all people.
The Challenge:
Each FLL team will build and program a robot that addresses the specific needs of people who face physical challenges in today's society. Teams will research and present robotics technology solutions to help individuals in their community perform the everyday actions that many people today take for granted.
The Tournament:
The Washington State FLL Tournament is on Saturday, December 11th 2004 from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. at Highland Middle School in Bellevue WA."
Upcoming College Board Online Events
www.apcentral.collegeboard.com
The College Board has a series, primarily for educators, of online events coming up in the next few weeks. Some are free. Some have a minor charge and award CE credits.
Proposed Changes to the AP English Language and Composition Exam
December 2 at 6:30 p.m. (EST)
www.apcentral.collegeboard.com
"Chief Reader, Professor David Jolliffe, will describe the proposed changes to the May 2007 exam and will discuss skills and strategies that teachers can use to prepare students. He will also answer questions from participants."
AP English Literature and Composition Workshop
December 4, 11:00 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. (EST)
www.apcentral.collegeboard.com
Bill Pell, veteran AP English Literature teacher and College Board consultant.
Teaching Foreign Policy in AP United States History
December 9 at 6:30 p.m. (EST)
www.apcentral.collegeboard.com
"The panel will include Jeffrey Engel from the Bush School of Government and Public Service at Texas A & M University; Matt Honohan from the Wheeler School in Providence, Rhode Island; and Scott Kaufman from Francis Marion University in South Carolina. The session will be moderated by Jason George from the Bryn Mawr School in Baltimore, Maryland."
Contextual Analysis of Works of Art and Architecture -- An Introduction to the Topic
December 14 at 6:30 p.m. (EST)
www.apcentral.collegeboard.com
Presented by Dr. Robert Coad. Dr. Coad is a veteran AP Art History teacher, National Endowment for the Humanities fellowship recipient, and College Board consultant.
Announcing AP Italian Language and Culture
December 16, 6:30 to 7:30 p.m. (EST)
www.apcentral.collegeboard.com
"Dr. Elissa Tognozzi of UCLA, will outline the components of the newly created AP Exam, as well as the AP Italian Language and Culture Course Description."
Washington Post Article: A Chart Exposes High School Malpractice
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A6900-2004Nov23.html
The following was recently circulated on a few of the College Board’s Electronic Discussion Groups (EDG).
"In today's Washington Post, powerful results of new research on college performance of AP students were unveiled, based on a sample size about ten times larger than that of the landmark 1999 U.S. Department of Education study we've been referencing for several years. Especially profound are the findings demonstrating the impact of AP on students who attempt an AP course, but then only score a 1 or 2 on the AP Exam. The journalist reporting this new research from the National Center for Educational Accountability goes so far as to say: ‘Every AP teacher in the country should copy that chart, blow it up to three-by-four foot size and tape it to the wall of his or her classroom.’ I encourage you to take a look at this article, and to share it with those who need more information about the impact AP is having on students, even those who may not succeed on the AP exam."
There has been quite a bit of discussion about this Washington Post article on the AP EDGs. The major issue concerns the cause and effect question. One suggestion is to compare results (college completion rates) between groups of students with similar SAT scores. Maybe Everett School District students in the new AP Statistics course can take up this suggested study.
Thank you.
Executive Board
AP/IB Boosters
Advanced Placement Opportunities for All Students
www.apibboosters.org
info@apibboosters.org
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