Richland College Green Commons

PSAT Testing

This Saturday, October 17 all RCHS juniors will be taking the PSAT test. Please to report to the Kiowa building at Richland College promptly at 8:30am. Testing will begin immediately.  Please help our students with things to remember in preparation for test day:

1. Get a good night’s sleep the night before the test.

2. Eat a light but nutritional meal a couple of hours before the test.

3. Arrive at the test site (Kiowa Bldg) on time, calm and secure in the knowledge that you have prepared well for the test.

4. Bring two (No.2) pencils to the test.

5. Bring a calculator to the test.

Vision/Hearing testing for RCHS Jrs.

In compliance with State Law (Chapter 36 of the Texas Health and Safety Code), the Health Center will be conducting vision and hearing screenings on all RCHS Juniors.  Please mark your calendars, the screening will be done in Kiowa building on:

Tuesday, October 20
Wednesday, October 21
Thursday, October 22
Friday, October 23

during the SAT classes.  Students, please remember to bring your glasses or contacts with you on that day.

Free science tutoring

On campus, we offer FREE TUTORING IN the SCIENCE CORNER! Please take time this semester to go to the 2nd floor of Sabine Hall across from lab S261 and use the SCIENCE CORNER as an additional resource to help you succeed in your science courses. The SCIENCE CORNER is a place for students to:

• Have access to additional science learning resources in close proximity to your science courses
• Meet with study groups
• Attend review/help sessions
• Get help from science tutors
• Get help from science faculty during their office hours

We hope you will use this learning area in efforts to help you excel and succeed in your science courses at Richland! For more information, please contact Ami Stovall at A.Stovall@dcccd.edu or 972-761-6781. Be sure to leave a contact name and phone number so that we can reach you to answer your questions.

October “Connections” Workshops

The October Fall Schedule for “Connections” Study Skills Workshops is now available www.richlandcollege.edu/CTLC. Remember to register early for the workshop(s) as there is limited space for each session. On eCampus/Blackboard, you’ll find the October Workshop schedule, the Instruction Sheet and the Topics sheet.

The end of the year is upon us and we are looking for dedicated, motivated students who want to serve as mentors to our incoming students. Here is the basic information about this wonderful student program we are trying to build and improve:

1. Who can apply? Current Juniors who want to be a mentor for our incoming students.

2. What is the application process? Juniors complete an application and secure references using the RCHS Mentor Reference Form from two Richland College instructors and their RCHS Academic Advisor. Each student must also provide a copy of their current transcript and attendance with their application form.

3. When is the due date? All forms must be turned in to the RCHS office by or before May 15, 2009.

4. Who would make a good mentor candidate? Juniors who have good attendance, grades, and attitudes will make good mentors. Basically, RCHS Mentors should be good role models for incoming students.

5. What is the commitment for being a mentor? RCHS Mentors will meet after classes the last two weeks of May Term to plan the RCHS Duck Camp. Additional summer planning days may be necessary. During the 2009-2010 school year, mentors will meet weekly with the mentor coordinator and bi-weekly with their mentees.

6. Why should you be a mentor? RCHS Mentors will learn important leadership skills and will be considered leaders within the school program by RCHS staff. Serving as a mentor will help when completing college application essays and scholarship applications!!! All RCHS Mentors who complete the academic school year will receive an honorary certificate from RCHS.

7. Where can I get the forms? Go to the documents section of the Junior eCampus organization or print the forms that are attached to this email. You can come by the RCHS office to pick up copies as well.

Questions about the RCHS Mentor Program may be answered by the Coordinator, Jude Ayozie. He can be reach at JAyozie@dcccd.edu or 214.277.9203.

Final exams are fast approaching, so please see the Center for Tutoring and Learning Connections (CTLC) tutoring schedule for the week final exams below. Download a printable schedule here.

Math
Monday, May 11th, 9 a.m.-8 p.m.
Tuesday, May 12th, 9 a.m.-8 p.m.
Wednesday, May 13th, 9 a.m.-6 p.m.
Thursday, May 14th, 9 a.m.-6 p.m.

Writing
Monday, May 11th, 9 a.m.-7 p.m.
Tuesday, May 12th, 9 a.m.-7 p.m.
Wednesday, May 13th, 9 a.m.-6 p.m.

Accounting
Monday, May 11th, 11 a.m.-8 p.m.
Tuesday, May 12th, 11 a.m.-8 p.m.
Wednesday, May 13th, No tutoring
Thursday, May 14th, No tutoring

ACCESS 1-to-1 Lab
Monday, May 11th, 9 a.m.-7 p.m.
Tuesday, May 12th, 9 a.m.-7 p.m.
Wednesday, May 13th, By appt. only
Thursday, May 14th, By appt. only

Science Corner
Monday, May 11th, 8 a.m.-8 p.m.
Tuesday, May 12th, 8 a.m.-2 p.m.
Wednesday, May, 13th, 8 a.m.-8 p.m.
Thursday, May 14th, 8 a.m.-2 p.m.

NO Economics tutoring finals week!

NOTE: CTLC will be closed: May 15- 17 but will be open Monday, May 18 at 9 a.m.

TAKS testing will take place this Wednesday through Friday:

Wednesday, April 29: Math Testing
Thursday, April 30: Science Testing
Friday, May 1: Social Studies

Students, remember to bring a sack lunch with you on those days. Please report to the Kiowa building promptly at 8:30 a.m. each of the above dates. Testing will begin immediately.

Things to remember in preparation for all 3 test days:
1) Meet with your professors this week to discuss missing class next Wednesday, Thursday, and Friday.
2) Make sure that all required course work is completed before next Wednesday.
3) Get a good night’s sleep the night before the test.
4) Eat a light but nutritional meal a couple of hours before the test.
5) Arrive at the test site on time, calm and secure in the knowledge that you have prepared well for the test.
6) Bring two (No.2) pencils to the test.
7) Bring your graphing or scientific calculators to the test.  Remember to turn in all required course work prior to the testing dates or after testing with professor approval.

Click here to access the TAKS Study Guides. The Texas Education Agency has developed these study guides (and specifically, 11th grade exit-level Math, Science, and Social Studies) for students and your families to use on your own in an effort to improve your knowledge and skills on the various concepts needed to successfully pass the TAKS testing.

Also, please be sure to visit the College Success Labs (room K103) to receive additional help in preparation for the TAKS testing next week

The Dallas County Community College District (DCCCD) Foundation has created the MUSE Presidential Scholarship Program to recognize students who demonstrate community leadership, a strong sense of purpose, a deep work ethic, and clear educational goals.

The scholarship program will fully support the cost incurred by recipients including -  tuition, books, laboratory and supply fees required by the students program of study. The recipient can receive the scholarship for up to six semesters.

One scholarship will be awarded for each DCCCD college location.

The deadline for application submission: April 3, 2009. Completed applications should be submitted to Alamito Hall Room, room A206.

As a company dedicated to helping people feel better, Tylenol is proud to support the future of healthcare with our annual TYLENOL® Scholarship program. Now in its 17th year, the program helps students who are pursuing careers in the healthcare, life sciences, or related fields manage the rising costs of education. This year, they’ll be awarding $250,000 in scholarships based on leadership qualities and academic performance, including ten $10,000 and thirty $5,000 grants. More scholarship information here.

Next Tuesday, March 17th is our next RCHS Workshop (Yes, during Spring Break week). Lead by Christopher Manes, the topic of this workshop will be CAPSTONE BOOT CAMP from 3:15-5:15 p.m. in room K103. During this time you will receive help with all Capstone Components of your individual projects. For those of you interested in attending this workshop, please see the capstone information sheet. Before the workshop, print, complete, and sign the information sheet and bring it with you on March 17th. This information sheet is designed to help us in assisting you all with your individual topics of your senior projects.

Remember, this capstone project is a work in progress. We are only seven weeks into a 14-week process. Therefore, do not be discouraged and/or get behind if you are reaching obstacles in the research, encountering problems with the end product, or earning lower grades. The important factor is that you keep up with assignments, continue to revise your projects, and think “small steps.”

Doing the assignments, remaining conscious of your mistakes, learning from those mistakes, and revising your papers and final vision for the capstone are all part of the academic process. Therefore, as you reach problems, work with your mentors, communicate those concerns to your instructors, and go to this and other capstone workshops. Also, please feel free to contact Chris Manes at cmanes@dcccd.edu or by phone at 214.549.3337. If you do not get him, please leave him a brief message including, your names, phone number and appropriate times that he can call you back.

We hope you will take a few hours out of your break as Mr. Manes will be to join us for this valuable learning opportunity.

Currently accepting applications for this summer’s Women Explore Engineering (WEE) summer camp, held July 12-15, 2009 on campus at Texas A&M University in College Station, Texas. The WEE camp is a 4-day residential summer program designed to give female high school students with an interest in science and/or mathematics an opportunity to explore engineering as a career. Participants stay in modern residence halls, attend special classes, participate in group and panel discussions with female engineers and engineering college students, see engineering activities in progress in state of the art facilities and they get to do a bit of engineering themselves by completing a design project.

Eligible students are currently enrolled in the 10th or 11th grade in high school, have As and Bs in their high school courses and have a strong

interest in a technical career that could include engineering. This program is made possible by Texas A&M Engineering and corporate sponsors. There is, however, a non-refundable program fee of $325 required to cover costs of food, housing and program activities. A limited number of partial scholarships will be available for students who qualify for free or reduced school lunch.

Applications must be postmarked on or before Friday, May 15, 2009. To download application forms or to review additional information, please visit the program web site http://essap.tamu.edu/wee/.

Questions about the Women Explore Engineering summer camp should be directed to: engineering-recruiters@tamu.edu.

On Wed., Feb. 25 at 3 p.m., professors in biology, chemistry, and physics along with Ami Stovall (RCHS CSLs) will be in S116 (the planetarium) to lead a Science Success Workshop. They will teach study strategies with an additional 15 minutes at the end of the session, which will focus more on study skills and habits to help you succeed in your science classes on campus.

Capstone, SAT, and TAKS workshops will also be available to RCHS students. These sessions are designed to help students who may need additional help with SAT and TAKS prep as well as their capstone projects. Please see the following schedule of workshops being offered for RCHS Juniors and Seniors:

All workshops will be facilitated by Professors Hatcher and Manes and are tentatively scheduled for 3:15-5:15 p.m.

• Wed. Feb. 18: TAKS ELA (Short Answer & Essay/General Writing Help)
• Wed. Feb 25: TAKS ELA (Short Answer & Essay /General Writing)
• Wed. Mar. 4: CAPSTONE (Putting the project together, any help needed)
• Wed. Mar. 17: CAPSTONE BOOT CAMP (Help with all Capstone Components)
• Wed. Mar. 25: SAT PREP/General Writing Help
• Wed. April 1: CAPSTONE/TAKS (SOCIAL STUDIES)/General Writing Help

Any other course help needed in English, History, Reading Comprehension etc. is also available.

• The price of tuition will be covered through a variety of gift sources for incoming freshmen in 2009 who are:
• recipients of a President’s or Trustee’s Academic Scholarship
• Pell Grant eligible
• attending St. Mary’s full time, and
• living in University housing

With the full price of tuition covered through gift assistance, students will be able to apply other aid for which they are eligible toward room, board, book, and fee charges. Access St. Mary’s is designed as a four-year commitment for students who meet the requirements for renewal.

Financial aid priority date is MARCH 31st. All freshmen must also complete the undergraduate admission application and the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA).
http://www.stmarytx.edu/admission/?go=accessStMarys