February Updates!

There are officially 124 days left until Commencement on June 6, 2010 (not that I'm counting...)! February is the beginning of the end of the school year. Once February starts, time seems to fly by. Weekends are no longer your own, with Discovery Days, Pow Wow, Sadie Hawkins and Prom, the Food Drive, Asia Fest, Latin America Fest, Africa Fest, Mini-term, Spring Break, extendeds, and end of the year concerts and plays. Plan ahead and you will see that each weekend will be booked. Some of the best times of your life are and will occur in the coming weeks... so get your cameras ready! I will definitely have mine out and ready (just ask Hope...hehe).

• Register for the March SATs:

The registration deadline is Thursday, February 4th. The SATs will not be offered at NCSSM in March, but in most cases, the Counseling staff provides transportation to a local Durham high school. Please contact Gail Hudson at hudson@ncssm.edu if you plan to take the SATs in March in Durham, and will need transportation. The SATs will be offered on campus the first weekend in May. The registration deadline is March 25th. If you miss the deadline, you may be able to register but will have to pay a late fee.

• Summer Service for Juniors:

For the Juniors who have not completed their 60 hours of summer service, you are required to volunteer this summer. As mentioned in the assembly in January, each student is required to volunteer 60 hours from June until August of one summer at one agency in North Carolina. If you are unable to complete your hours in the given time frame, please email me, Dr. Barber (barber@ncssm.edu) and Kevin Cromwell (cromwell@ncssm.edu) for approval. Extensions may be given to students who are travelling out of state, visiting parents, or partcipating in research programs out of the state. If you need help finding local non-profit organizations to volunteer at, please email me and I will send you a list of agencies that have hosted NCSSM students.

• Pow Wow:

Come kick of the monthly cultural celebrations with NCSSM as we host the 19th annual Pow Wow in the PEC on Saturday, February 6th! Come celebrate with tribes all over the state, and experience a glimpse of NC Native American culture in the form of chants, drumming, dances, arts and crafts and food! Admission is free for NCSSM students and $5 for everyone else. I hope to see everyone there!

• Black History Tour of UNC- Chapel Hill:

On Saturday, February 13th, Dr. Tim McMillan, professor of African and Afro-American Studies will give NCSSM students a walking tour of UNC campus highlighting little and well known African American history on the very popular campus. If you are interested in attending (students and parents), please email me.

• Trimester Exams:

Second Trimester Exams! By now everyone knows that exam week is not as hectic as it seems. The week before is more stressful, but once the exams start, the pressure starts to wear off. Here are a few tips to prepare for a stress-FREE and RELAXING week/trimester:

1. Study... now. Most trimester exams are cumulative, so take out your old quizzes and tests and start reviewing them. This is a great way to earn brownie points with your teacher before the final exam review (if offered).

2. After reviewing your past quizzes and exams, VISIT YOUR TEACHER. Office Hours are offered because THEY WANT TO SEE YOU! I meet with so many teachers who tell me that their students don't come to see them. If you don't understand something, go to them with the problem (and what you've done) and ask for help. They're teachers for a reason, and even though they may seem like the Wizard of Oz, you'll find that they truly have your best interest at heart. If not, come see me and we'll see what we can do.

3. Tutorials do help, but having your own "tutor" to provide one-on-one help will take you further. There are many tutors on this hall. Talk to Jeanette and Rebecca about STEPPE. They may be able to help you in a particular subject, or direct you to someone who can.

4. Get some sleep. Most of you get about 6-7 hours of sleep, which is okay. Aim for good and great (8-9 hrs). I dare you to deactivate your Facebook and twitter accounts until Trimester exams are over. You will find so much more time to actually get work done, and get to sleep by 12am. Who knows... you may even sign early check for the first time this school year!

5. EAT!!! So important. Even if you find that you can't eat three meals, doctors have encouraged eating 5-6 smaller meals throughout the day. If you don't like the PFM, cook your own meals, or make a pot-luck meal with friends. You have the benefit of having access to a hall stove. Use it!

6. Relax, and take a breather. Schedule "me time" in your day. Even if it's only 30 minutes, put on your headphones and listen to opera for 30 minutes. A soothing exercise that I used to enjoy was laying on the floor and playing ocean music. Close your eyes and listen to the waves crash for 30 minutes. Promise- it'll be one of the BEST naps of your life. You'll wake up refreshed and rejuvenated!

• Mini-term:

I will be co-sponsoring a mini-term trip to Maui from February 24- March 5! In my absence, please contact Leah Dula Brown, SLI of Ground Reynolds. Her email address is dula@ncssm.edu and her number is 919.416.2819. All overnight and curfew extension forms should be faxed to her at 919.416.2829. If you have any questions, please let me know.

• Quote of the week:

"Think of all the beauty left around you and be happy." -Anne Frank