Matching majors with schools

Today I found an amazing wiki - it has every major I could think of and then lists of schools that offer that major. It also has links to websites where you can do a free college search - this provides a customized result list based upon the answers to questions personalized for you!

http://collegelists.pbwiki.com/

Also, if you are not familiar with wikis (quick in Hawaiian), then click on the bottom right on the above website for a link explaining about wikis. It will link you to a great short video entitled "Wikis in Plain English." If that doesn't answer your questions, leave me a comment below or email me and I'll try my best to help you out!

-Rhonda

Cricket Chirps

Yesterday, I had the pleasure of visiting the Weather Capital of the World - Punxsutawney, PA. I also got to see Phil and visit Gobbler's Knob. Good thing for me that it wasn't Groundhog Day, as 25, 000 people is way more than fits my comfort zone. One of the neatest things that I did learn is that there is truth to the tale that the number of cricket chirps in a minute is a predictor of temperature. Here is a cricket chirp temperature calculator - check it out!!

http://www.csgnetwork.com/crickettempcalc.html


-Rhonda

Internet Public Library

Writing a paper? Getting ready for finals? Need some homework help? Have some poetry to share? Check out the Internet Public Library's Teen Spaces at http://www.ipl.org/div/teen/.

Book List

The list of student recommended books has now been posted on the Book Brunch wiki. Just go to the site below and the select the book recommendations page. Feel free to add books and insert authors where I did not know them.

-Rhonda

Book Brunch

We had an awesome Saturday morning discussing books and completing some projects... If you tried to get on the wiki though, you may not have been able to. It seems I neglected to change the setting to public. OOPS! Well, it is now accessible at http://bookbrunchets.pbwiki.com/

I'll be adding a page with the books we all recommended. Now you have a summer reading list!

-Rhonda

Happy Administrative Professional's Day

Let me tell you something...and it isn't a secret. Things would not run they way they do around here without our amazing assistant. So, if you talk to Joni on the phone, tell her thanks for the great job!

Happy day, Joni!

--ETS

Activites that promote fitness

I am participating in Shape Up PA - through Clarion U. We get a weekly newsletter with some interesting tidbits and since today is such a beautiful spring day, I wanted to pass along a few!

• Are you engaged in activities that promote fitness, but not into walking? Check out this convertion table at http://moonwalk.palmpeoria.org/logMiles/conversions.asp.

• Also, 2500 steps = 1 mile (dependent on stride length.)

If I find more interesting facts, I'll send them your way!

-Rhonda

Earth Day

Here are some websites in celebration of Earth Day 2008. check them out at your leisure!

-Government related sites http://www.earthday.gov/kids.htm
-Crafts and more http://holidays.kaboose.com/earth-day/
-Check out the photos from across the nation http://earthday.envirolink.org/

Plant a tree, conserve our resources, recycle and more. Have a neat project you did? Leave it as a comment, so that we can all share in your knowledge or experience!

-Rhonda

Math SAT

Attached are the powerpoint and links from the SAT workshop on Saturday. Feel free to use this information! - Rhonda

http://del.icio.us/mctoth/SAT

(OK - I'm still working on attaching the powerpoint)

A Few FAFSA Pointers from My Friends in FA

When filing on-line:

-The save button appears sporadically, throughout. When it is there, use it. Progressing to the next page, does not automatically save your application.

-Do not use the back button.

Again, DO NOT PAY FOR THIS SERVICE! Filing your FAFSA is free. Make sure you are on the .gov site!

Get your FAFSA filed today! Remember May 1 is the PA deadline.
-Rhonda

Important Date Changes!

Due to some craziness in our office, bad weather, travel and just about everything else, it seems we need to make a few changes in the spring schedule.

Our VisionQuest date for rock climbing and the ropes course has been set for June 12. (It was tentatively June 11.) There will be limited transportation from Clarion. Also, you will need to bring your lunch, as this year we'll be paying a fee to use the facility!

The date for Taking Care of Me: Mind, Body and Soul will be May 10th. This workshop is at the Clarion YMCA.

Don't forget to call and register for these great days. There is also limited room on the two junior high trips, so call and register and send in your permission slips! Need more info, visit us at www.clarion.edu/ets and click Upcoming Events.

Rhonda

Seniors - FILE YOUR FAFSA @ .gov

I've pulled up this post from last year, to remind you of the importance of getting you FAFSA filed this month!

Attention seniors or anyone planning to enroll in postsecondary education in Fall 2008:

It is time to file your FAFSA (Free Application for Federal Student Aid.) Applicants are encouraged to file online, but there are still paper versions available through Trio offices. (Call us.)

Meanwhile, if you do decide to file online, make sure you use the government website at http://www.fafsa.ed.gov/. Do not use any of the look-a-like sites that charge a fee. Filing the FAFSA is free. Here are some of the sites not to use (The links are not active - just check out the names.) : http://www.fafsa.com/, http://www.fafsa.us/, http://www.fafsaonline.com/, http://www.fasfa.com/. They are designed to confuse. I am sure there are even more out there - so feel free to share them in the comments.

Remember- the FAFSA is filed FREE and it is a .gov website!

Rhonda

Did you check?

Here's Google's prank for April 1st - go to Google and click on Gmail! Did you know you can now back date your email. Get those assignments in on time...

New! Gmail Custom Time TM
Ever wish you could go back in time and send that crucial email that could have changed everything -- if only it hadn't slipped your mind? Gmail can now help you with those missed deadlines, missed birthdays and missed opportunities.
	Mobile access Read Gmail on your mobile phone by pointing your phone's web browser to http://gmail.com/app. Learn more
	Lots of space Over 2757.272164 megabytes (and counting) of free storage so you'll never need to delete another message.

Also, here is the NASA link - check out the robot in today's photo! -Rhonda

Dreaded PSSAs

Well, unfortunately (imho), it's time for the PSSAs in western PA schools. All kids in grades 3-8 and 11 are subject to this week long battery of assessment.

Here is some basic info on the tests for those interested-
There are three sections of items for each of the reading and mathematics assessments.
There are multiple choice questions and open-ended questions.
The reading assessment requires responses to fiction and non-fiction passages to evaluate comprehension and reading skills.
The math section assesses five categories, which vary according to grade level.

Students should follow all good test taking behavior - go to bed on time, eat a healthy breakfast, use the process of elimination in multiple choice questions... So, keep up the good work - review those ETS study packets, and call us if you think you need specific help with your test taking. Most importantly - relax!

So go forth and be proficient!
-Rhonda

April Fools!

As April Fools fast approaches (less than six hours away) - I decided to do a little quick research and see what I could find out about this day.

It seems the history of April Fools Day is in question, but it is believed to have begun in Europe. Check out this site for a number of theories and some interesting stories - http://www.museumofhoaxes.com/aforigin.html.

But the neatest information I found just may be this blog entry from a tech blog I monitor. Josh Cadone's entry is the Top 10 Places to Get Fooled on April 1st. I know what I'll be checking in the morning - Google and then NASA for sure!

-Rhonda

Looking for Fun on Saturday

We have a great workshop planned for this Saturday and still have room for a few more students! So, grab the phone and call our toll free and sign up for Extreme Makeover - Self-Improvement Edition. We have some great things going on from lunch (I know you like food) to Zoomba, to Twister, to a local doctor talking about skin care. We'll be at the Health Science Center from 9-2 and have a treat bag with your name on it! I'll be there - hope you will too!
-Rhonda

Readergirlz

Hey Reader Girls - here is a site for you. Read about and join others in discussing favorite books and authors - this issue talks about and with author Sarah Dessen. If you liked "Just Listen" or any of her other books, check out the link:

http://www.readergirlz.com/issue.html

It's Pi Day

Any other math lovers out there? Ok, anyone like math or just curious? Today is Pi Day, March 14, 2008. Check out the site to find out more!
http://www.piday.org/

Youth Radio - Election 2008

I'm home on a short medical leave and was spending some time searching the Internet and catching up on a couple blogs that I "attempt" to monitor. I thought this might be of interest -it's certainly current and produced by teens from a teen perspective.

Here's the blurb from the website and the link:

Youth Radio is following Election 2008 around the country, through the perspectives of young people who are getting a close-up view of the process. Check out their thoughts, and watch for more to come.

www.youthradio.org/election2008/

Young Epidemiology Scholars (YES) Competition

This competition is a great opportunity for budding scientists and research oriented students to earn some major scholarship money. Each year, up to 120 students will share as much as $456,000 in college scholarships, with the top two national winners each receiving a $50,000 college scholarship. Scholarships can be used for educational expenses at accredited colleges or universities in the United States. Get your thinking caps on! Deadlines for submissions have traditionally been in early February of the competition award year.

The Young Epidemiology Scholars (YES) Competition for original student research is designed to inspire talented students to investigate behavioral, biological, environmental and social factors that affect health and to identify ways to improve the health of the public. YES awards up to 120 college scholarships each year to high school juniors and seniors who conduct outstanding research projects that apply epidemiological methods of analysis to a health-related issue. If you care deeply about the environment, world policy, or the world’s emerging health issues here is your opportunity to save lives.

YES will select up to 120 semifinalists; up to 60 will receive scholarship awards of $1000, completing their participation in the competition. The other 60 —up to 10 from each of six regions —will advance to the Regional Finals. The students advancing to the Regional Finals will receive an expense-paid trip to the YES National Event in Washington, D.C., April 2008, to compete with other students in their region. Regional Finalists will be judged on the basis of their written research reports, as well as an oral presentation and question-and-answer session. Forty-eight of the Regional Finalists will receive scholarship awards of $2,000, completing their participation in the competition. Twelve Regional Finalists—two from each of the six regions—will go on to compete at the National Finals.

The 12 students advancing to the National Finals will be judged by a national panel of judges on the basis of their written Research Project Reports, oral presentations and question-and-answer sessions.
YES college scholarship awards to the 12 National Finalists:
Six will receive scholarship awards of $15,000 each.
Two will receive scholarship awards of $20,000 each.
Two will receive scholarship awards of $35,000 each.
The top two national winners will receive scholarship awards of $50,000 each.
For more information about the YES Competition visit www.collegeboard.com/yes/.
~Tami