Junior College Prep III Monthly Digest

November

by Christie Martin on November 3, 2016

Dear Parents,

Thank you so much for all of your help in a successful Homecoming week and Haunted House! Together we have raised nearly $1,500 towards Prom and Senior Year Events. This is outstanding. November we will roll out the Donation Cards Fundraiser and we will ask for full participation from all students and parents. I believe that this year we will not have to do a December fundraiser of Chocolates! But we need everyone’s help and support. I will be sending the letter below home with students Friday the 4th please return them by November 10th with your contribution. This week in college prep we continue to work through the college essay prompts for college applications. Since students are so used to writing academically writing creatively has been a challenge. I believe that once students get through one prompt confidently the rest will be easier. Topic A of the Apply Texas Prompt will count as 2 grades, one of which will be a part of the Final Exam. This week the students completed an activity in class in which they read several example essays to help them create their own. Next week students will begin to receive instruction on creating e-portfolios. I am looking forward to them selecting pieces that highlight all their accomplishments. If you have any questions please don’t hesitate to email me at: cmartinmcdaniel@judsonisd.org.

DearParents,

ThankyouforyourcontinuedsupportoftheJuniorClassof2018.ThisNovemberourFundraiseris:

The Donation Support Card.

Parentscommittopurchasing10DonationSupportCardsfor$10.00 DonationSupportCardswillincludemixedincrementsof$2to$10and$5to$20. Examplelooksliketheonebelow:

StudentswillhavefromNovember16thtoNovember30thtoengagetheirCommunityandaskforsupport.Studentscanaskforsupportfromfamily,friends,church,organizations,peopleandplacestheyhavevolunteeredfor,neighborsoranyone!Theideaistogetoutoftheprotective“momanddad-will-give-it-to-me”andaskothersforsupport.Thishelpsstudentsbuildskillsincommunication,connection,andcollaborationandhonorsourclassroomvaluesystem. OurgoalistogenerateasmanydonationsaspossibleinNovemberandtakeabreakfromtheChocolateFundraiserinDecember!Witheveryone’shelpIknowwecanachieveourgoal!PleasesupporttheClassof2018byindicatingyourlevelofsupportbelow:

_____Iwillprovidemystudentwiththeopportunitytobuildcommunitybypurchasing10cardsfor$10.00.AlldonationsmustbeturnedinbyNovember30thtoMs.Martin. _____Iwillprovidemystudentwiththeopportunitytobuildcommunitybypurchasing15cardsfor$15.00AlldonationsmustbeturnedinbyNovember30thtoMs.Martin. _____Iwillprovidemystudentwiththeopportunitytobuildcommunitybypurchasing15cardsfor$20.00AlldonationsmustbeturnedinbyNovember30thtoMs.Martin. _______________________________ ______________________________ ________________________ ParentSignature StudentSignature Date _______________________________ ______________________________ ParentName(Printed) StudentName(Printed)

Students GET OUT OF YOUR COMFORT ZONE!

November is here and it’s time to begin raising funds for junior and senior year activities. Your commitment is essential to reaching our goals. Brace yourselves.... You are going to have to talk to people you sometimes talk to or even people you don’t know. Brené Brown, a research professor at the University of Houston, explains that one of the worst things we can do is pretend fear and uncertainty don't exist. By taking risks in a controlled fashion and challenging yourself to things you normally wouldn't do, you can experience some of that uncertainty in a controlled, manageable environment. Learning to live outside your comfort zone when

you choose to can prep you for life changes that force you out of it.

2 big reasons to do this is that: You'll find it easier to push your boundaries in the future. Once you start stepping out of your comfort zone, it gets easier over time. As you step out of your comfort zone, you'll become accustomed to that state of optimal anxiety. "Productive discomfort," as they call it, becomes more normal to you, and you're willing to push farther before your performance falls off. You'll see that as you challenge yourself, your comfort zone adjusts so what was difficult and anxiety-inducing becomes easier as you repeat it. You'll find it easier to brainstorm and harness your creativity. This is a soft benefit, but it's fairly common knowledge (and it's easily reproducible) that

seeking new experiences, learning new skills, and opening the door to new ideas inspire us and educate us in a way that little else does. Even in the short term, a positively uncomfortable experience can help us brainstorm, see old problems in a new light, and tackle the challenges we face with new energy…. The benefits you get after stepping outside of your comfort zone can linger. There's the overall self-improvement you get through the skills you're learning, the new people you meet, the new foods you're trying, the new country you're visiting, and eventually the new career you're interviewing for. Practice this month!