Coordinator's Corner Weekly Announcements

Weekly Announcements (October 12-16):

Quote of the Week: “Heroes are not braver than anyone else. They’re just braver 5 minutes longer.” ~ Ronald Reagan

Coordinator’s Message: October is National Bullying Prevention Month, I thought I would spend some time on cyber bullying.  Two years ago, there was a horrifying story in the news.  Rebecca Sedwick was a 12-year old girl from Florida that committed suicide after being bullied by two (and perhaps more) of her classmates online.  I was deeply saddened by the tragic news, but the part of the story that turned my stomach was when the bullies posted on their Facebook pages, “Yes I [know] I bullied REBECCA and she killed herself but IDGAF.”  My sadness quickly turned to anger, bordering on rage when I imagined my Olivia or Joshua or even my students being tormented by bullies.  But angry at whom? The 12 and 14-year old bullies of Rebecca, after all they did it; their parents, after all they raised them; the school, didn’t they know what was happening?; Rebecca’s parents, didn’t they know what was happening; the media for sensationalizing violence and insensitivity; society for encouraging competition among women (the bullying began over a boy they both liked); or myself for not doing more to educate students about the responsibility that comes with the privilege of using social media? There is a lot of blame to go around.  But what can we do?

1) Educate ourselves.

Cyber bullying can take many forms:

  • Sending mean messages or threats to a person’s email account or cell phone
  • Spreading rumors online or through texts
  • Posting hurtful or threatening messages on social networking sites or web pages
  • Stealing a person’s account information to break into their account and send damaging messages
  • Pretending to be someone else online to hurt another person
  • Taking unflattering pictures of a person and spreading them through cell phones or the Internet
  • Circulating sexually suggestive pictures or messages about a person

2) Know the victims.

Here are some statistics:

  • Over half of adolescents and teens have been bullied online, and about the same number have engaged in cyber bullying.
  • More than 1 in 3 young people have experienced cyberthreats online.
  • Over 25 percent of adolescents and teens have been bullied repeatedly through their cell phones or the Internet.
  • Well over half of young people do not tell their parents when cyber bullying occurs.
  • In a 2005 survey about gay bullying statistics, teens reported that the number two reason they are bullied is because of their actual or perceived sexual orientation or gender expression. The number one reason reported was because of appearance.
  • 9 out of 10 LGBT teens have reported being bullied at school within the past year because of their sexual orientation, and they 30 percent more likely to attempt suicide.

3) Be forewarned.

Aside from the fact that ridiculing and threatening others is just plain wrong, what you post in social media outlets is NOT private, it lives forever in cyberspace, and can follow you until the end of your days!  Colleges, universities, and employers can find you via Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram to see what kind of person you really are (which is a contradiction in terms, I know). You will change and grow and mature, but you will be reminded daily and often of the mistakes you published for the world, or just for your 1000 “friends” to see.

4) Know where to turn.

  • If you are the victim of bullying, please don’t wait to get help.  Talk to an adult immediately.  Don’t be discouraged from seeking help thinking that things will just get worse if you “snitch.”  BULLIES NEED TO BE CONFRONTED, and with the support of adults and immediate intervention, the behavior will stop!
  • If you know someone who is being bullied, don’t be a bystander.  You may not feel comfortable speaking up at the moment, but there is still plenty that you can do, namely, get help from an adult.
  • If you are a bully or participating in bully behaviors, usually these behaviors come out of a need that is not being met, and we can help you too.  But please know that we have a zero-indifference, zero-tolerance policy for any behaviors that make students feel unsafe, and there will be consequences, so come to me or any one of the CORE teachers before it’s too late.

Core is a learning community, and as members of that community, we have a responsibility to look out for one another. PERIOD.  Here are two resources for more information: https://cyberbullying.us/ and https://www.stopbullying.gov/

 

 

PSAT:  Cleveland will administer the PSAT on Wednesday, October 14, 2015. This will be a “reverse minimum day.” The PSAT will take place on Wednesday, October 15 from 7:57-11:45 AM.

  • 12th grade students participating in the senior activity report to the MPR;
  • 12th grade students who are not participating in the senior activity report to the Gym;
  • 11th grade students who did not sign up for the PSAT report to the Gym;
  • 11th grade students who signed up for the PSAT report to their testing rooms;
  • 10th grade students report to their assigned testing rooms;
  • 9th grade students who did not sign up for the PSAT should report to the Gym;
  • 9th grade students who signed up for the PSAT should report to their testing rooms
  • Students can also arrive at Nutrition if they are NOT taking the PSAT.

The bell schedule for the “reverse minimum day” on Wednesday, October 14 is as follows:

0 Period 7:00-7:50 AM

PSAT 7:57-11:45 (students should report to specific places as indicated above)

Nutrition 11:45-12:00 PM

Period 1 12:05-12:26 PM

Period 2 12:31-12:52 PM

Period 3 12:57-1:18 PM

Lunch 1:18-1:48 PM

Period 4 1:53-2:14 PM

Period 5 2:19-2:39 PM

Period 6 2:44-3:04 PM


 

Lunch Applications:  Please do your part! In order to attend CORE field trips, you MUST complete a Title I lunch application. We suggest completing it online, if you haven’t already.  Click HERE for instructions.  Print your confirmation form and bring it to the Magnet Office.

Early Dismissal Tuesday:  The next Early Dismissal Tuesday will be Tuesday, October 20th at 1:34 p.m. Please plan accordingly.

Le Sabre Online:  Did you know you can read our school newspaper online?  Go to www.lesabre.org to see what our fabulous journalism staff has to say.

Arts Scholarship Program: Through its scholarship program, the Anthony Quinn Foundation supports high school students’ extracurricular study of the visual arts and design, performing arts, media arts, and the literary arts. Scholarship amounts range from $1,000 to $3,000. Scholarships may be used for a recognized pre-college, summer, or afterschool arts education program, but may not be used for either secondary school or college tuition. To be eligible, applicants must be a young adult in high school who demonstrates exceptional talent, dedication, and a strong commitment to personal artistic growth and who will benefit from financial support.  The foundation will begin accepting applications on October 15, 2015. Full applications must be returned no later than January 3, 2016.  Visit the Anthony Quinn Foundation website for complete program guidelines, a promotional video, information about previous scholarship recipients, and application instructions.

 

 

MIT INSPIRE: The first of its kind on a national scale, INSPIRE enables students to showcase and present original research in one of thirteen fields: political science; history; cultural studies; economics; women’s and gender studies; literature; music research; media; art and architecture; linguistics; philosophy; anthropology; and science, technology, and society. Expert judges will award prizes for the most outstanding work in each category.  The first round of INSPIRE involves submission of a research abstract and report, with a deadline in January 2016. The top entrants will be invited to the final round of the competition at MIT’s campus in Cambridge, MA in April 2016. At the 2015 competition, students collectively went home with over $48,000 in prizes…and two of our students, Jordan Sozi and Shirin Moti, won first prize in the competition. Click HERE for more information. Good luck!

 

 

PTSA Drive: Students, please support the PTSA (Parent, Teacher, and Student Association) by joining for $8.00.  ​PTSA sponsors school leadership and club activities, senior scholarships, Grad Night, and other school wide initiatives. Without the PTSA, many of activities you enjoy as students would not be available. Join today!

 

 

Tutoring Available:  The Boys and Girls Club of the West Valley is offering free tutoring Monday-Thursday in our school library from 3:00-6:00 pm.  They also offer college admissions workshops.  One of the tutors is a CORE alumnus. Come to the Magnet Office to register.

 

 

Bigger and Better!:  The Magnet Office has moved!  We are now in E8.  Check us out and don’t hesitate to see a copymom or Ms. Macon if you need anything.

 

 

COREture:  Winter is coming! (…for my Game of Thrones fans) Don’t forget to get your COREture gear– T-shirts, sweatpants, sweatshirts at great prices! All proceeds go to the program!

 

 

Book Bundles:  There are still 9th, 11th, and 12th grade Book Bundles available.  Having your own copy of the books we are using is an invaluable tool and all proceeds go back to the program. Come to the Magnet Office for an order form.

 

 

Spirit Fridays!: Remember to wear your CORE t-shirt (or any Cleveland t-shirt) for a chance to win a gift card to one of many fabulous establishments!

 

 

COREdinators: Do you have ideas about how to make CORE even better?  Are you a freshman looking for ways to be active in your school community?  Then join COREdinators, Fridays at lunch in E10!

 

 

Corebaby Email: Be sure to check your Corebaby email address EVERYDAY for important updates! If you use another email address as your primary email address, you can forward your Corebaby emails to that address so that you don’t miss anything! See Mr. Saavedra if you have questions.

 

 

Forgot Your Corebaby Email Password?:  You can retrieve it, but it will cost you a dollar.  Go to Mr. Saavedra in E7 for information, but don’t go empty handed.

 

 

Cavalier News: Have you seen Cleveland’s new website?  Go to www.clevelandhs.org to check it and get important schoolwide info!

Important College News for All:  Have you visited the Career and College Office website?  It is an incredibly useful resource as you begin the college admissions journey in the ninth grade.  Be sure to bookmark the calendar as there are important dates to note. Go to https://www.careerandcollegeoffice.org/ to check it out.

 

 

Clean Up After Yourselves:  Please do your part to keep your learning environment and other areas on campus clean.  Pick up your trash, recycle where possible, and remind your friends to do the same! I do not want see your trash left on the floors for someone else to clean up. Thank you!

 

 

Got Suggestions???: As we begin the 2015-2016 school year, we want to hear from you! What suggestions do have for improving the program? Go to the Home Page and click the icon to submit your suggestions.

 

(Coordinator’s Corner last updated October 10, 2015 @ 9:00 AM by Ms. Macon)