Monday, April 30, 2012

Jesse Medalia Strauss is filming in Prague and editing Obama 2012 videos

Meet Jesse Medalia Strauss (class of 2009), half of the two student team that produced  four short videos about learning disabilities posted at Churchill’s website (you will meet Julian, the other team member, later). Jesse is a junior at American University (AU) in Washington, DC spending this semester in Prague, Czech Republic, attending the film academy FAMU. A highlight of Jesse’s college experience so far has been editing Obama 2012 videos.
Jesse Medalia Strauss on location in Prague. Jesse is a junior at American University.
How did Churchill prepare you for College?
The most important way Churchill prepared me for college was to teach me how to self advocate. Through Churchill I learned exactly what I need to learn best and how to articulate that to professors. The relationship between teachers and students at Churchill is an essential part of the environment that Churchill fosters, which made me confident in talking to and befriending my favorite professors in college.

How did you select American?
When looking at colleges I knew I wanted a film program in an urban environment. I was really torn between American and Emerson. I decided that AU was the best fit because, although their film program was not quite as renowned, it was the perfect school to combine a love of film and politics. Previous Churchill students have attended American and it has a great LD support system.

What accommodations and support do you receive?
I have time and a half on tests and a guaranteed computer if the tests are short answer or essay based. I also can use my laptop in class to take notes even if the professor has a no laptop policy. I had a tutor for my statistics class but other than that my accommodations have been enough to get me through all my classes.

What have been the highlights so far at college?
I have found a great group of friends that get along wonderfully with my Churchill friends. I have become close with a few of my professors. Study abroad has been an amazing opportunity and has taught me so much about the world and film-making. I was elected as Communications Director of AU Democrats and have interned for the PR company that creates Obama's political ads (GMMB) where I got to edit a few for the 2012 campaign.

What made you and Julian decide to do the Churchill videos?
Churchill has done so much for us and we really wanted to do something in return. Despite the wonderful opportunity Churchill is, you still have to carry the label of being learning disabled that comes with it. That label can make people uncomfortable and many Churchill students have a hard time explaining what Churchill is to their friends outside Churchill. Parents of perspective students may also feel uncomfortable by the LD label. The videos serve as a way of explaining what Churchill is and how this label is not necessarily negative and can actually result in being a positive force in your life.

Future career plans?
Hopefully have a job making videos for a nonprofit, shooting independent films and documentaries or working somewhere in political communications.

Fondest Churchill memory?
I have two really fond memories. The first is from our Yosemite National Park trip. One night we had the choice to sleep in a cozy cabin or under a tarp in six feet of snow. Two of my friends and I opted for the snow. I got perhaps an hour of sleep in my sleeping bag designed for summer weather. An icy drip  from the trees above landed on my face - my area of the tarp was not set up properly. After what seemed like a lifetime morning came and the three of us became the first in Churchill history to last the entire night.
My second memory was being in charge of directing the class of '09 Senior Video. I decided to create a three act 20 minute documentary profiling our grade. It was complete with reenactments, interviews and archival footage. For two months the senior video engulfed my entire life and was probably the hardest project I ever undertook until filming at FAMU. But when it was played at graduation it brought parents to tears and that made it all worth it. The senior video Part I: http://vimeo.com/6612584 Part II: http://vimeo.com/6612814

Advice to current Churchill students?
Never be afraid to advocate for yourself, take advantage of every opportunity that is presented to you and practice good time management. Everything else will fall into place.

Tuesday, April 24, 2012

Churchill HS Breakfast April 24, 2012


Dr. Siebert welcomed some 30 parents attending the April 24 Churchill High School Breakfast. He began the meeting with introducing the two newly appointed co-high school principals Lynn Settlow and Jason Wallin. Another change Dr. Siebert announced was that the current college guidance counselor Bill McBrien will retire as of June 30, 2012. His assistant Deborah McEntee, a certified guidance counselor, is a strong candidate to succeed him. In addition, outside applicants are being interviewed and Dr. Siebert expects to have a top contender ready by the middle to end of May.

As a result of feedback from parents and prodding by current 10th grade parents, Churchill has updated and expanded the college guidance section of its website and intensified its work tracking the progress of Churchill alumni after graduation, Dr. Siebert said. The new college guidance counselor will work closely with HS teachers and students on the transition process to life after Churchill.

Lynn and Jason spoke about changes planned for next year. The school day will began promptly at 8:15 am with a subject lesson, and advisory will move to a later period of the day. The dean positions will be eliminated in an effort to streamline the communication flow. Starting the 2012/2013 school year, Churchill will have a full time technology person who will assist individual students, among other duties. Next year the honor program will expand to include 10th grade (currently honor classes are only available to 11th and 12th graders). More detailed information about the honor program will be disseminated later this spring.

Churchill 12th graders who have completed chemistry, biology and earth science will have the option to choose between physics and forensics. Those who take Regents physics will also study calculus. A less math intensive physics class may be offered to students not interested in studying calculus.

Parent questions included the honor program, the science and math curriculum, executive functioning support, SAT & ACT prep, and information about non-college alternative career paths.

Monday, April 23, 2012

The college visit: Basics & Checklist

Touring a college provides teenagers opportunities to visualize themselves living and studying away from home. For college visits with younger children the main objective is to plant the idea of higher education in their minds - such visits can be combined with a family vacation or outing. Once the college search process kicks in, however, the focus is on finding an appropriate and affordable fit.

During the visit you should scrutinize the learning center and eat at the college cafeteria at peak hours. While the tour and the info session are sales pitches where the school exposes you to carefully selected students and staff, the cafeteria offers an unedited version of the college and a chance to speak with random students.  How is the atmosphere? Do students look happy? Food options? Ask students about what they like and dislike about this college, why they choose to attend and what a typical day looks like.


College Visit Checklist LD Students
Before deciding to visit a college, do your homework. LD support varies from college to college. School websites have answers to many of the questions below.
  1. What LD accommodations are offered? How do to obtain accommodations? What documentation is required?
  2. What tutoring, counseling, and support services are available on campus and how are they accessed? Is there an additional fee for these services?
3.  What academic elements are considered in the admissions process - courses, grades, test scores, interests, financial needs, essays, recommendations, and interviews? How important is each of these factors?
4.      How many students at this campus? Student/teacher ratio?
  1. Which academic programs on campus are the most popular?
  2. What is the largest class size for a freshman or sophomore? How many large classes to expect?
  3. Who teaches freshman classes? (tenured professors? teaching assistants?)
  4. What is the freshmen retention rate?
  5. What is the graduation rate? (4 year? 5 year? LD kids sometime need 5 years)
  6. What activities do students participate in during their free time-on campus (school sponsored) and in the community? What are the most popular extracurricular activities? 
  7. Greek life? (fraternities and sororities?) If so, what percent of the student body participates in Greek life? Are parties open? How do students who elect not to participate in the Greek system fit in? Policies against hazing?
  8. What portion of the student body lives on campus? What portion of the student body remains on campus for the weekends?
  9. What transportation options are available to and from campus? Trips home? Trip to the mall/shopping/excursions?  Trips to points of interests?
  10. Can freshmen have cars on campus? What is the fee for having a car on campus?
  11. Where do students go if they have a medical emergency?
  12. Do you need to bring your own computer? Are the dorms wired for Internet/e-mail services?
  13. What laundry facilities are available?
  14. What are the safety issues on campus? How are they addressed?
  15. Is campus housing guaranteed for all four years? What percent of students live on campus all four years? What housing options exist? (Theme housing? Single sex? Coed? Greek? Off-campus?)
  16. What meal plans are available? Are freshmen required to purchase a specific type of meal plan? What hours may students access food services?
  17. What is the yearly cost of attendance, including books, tuition, fees, housing, meal plans?
  18. Which financial aid forms are required? FAFSA, a CSS Profile, institutional or school specific forms, states forms?
  19. What percent of entering freshman received aid? Merit aid? Is merit aid also need based? What is the average freshman aid package? Is there a way aid is packaged - loans first, for example? Is the aid package negotiable?

Tuesday, April 17, 2012

Harris F., aspiring writer at Ithaca College

Harris F. is having a terrific freshman experience at Ithaca College, both academically and socially. Thanks to a solid foundation built at Churchill and a strong work ethic, he masters his classes, and finds time to work as a Resident Assistant for his dorm floor as well as enjoy activities with his friends..

Ever since he was in middle school, Harris has known that he wanted to work in the film industry, which simplified the college search - only a handful of colleges have film programs. Narrowing the search down to three colleges, he picked Ithaca because he wanted to experience an environment different from New York City. Located in Ithaca, NY, Ithaca College is about a five hour drive from New York City.

“I just loved the campus,” he said in an interview over the phone about visiting Ithaca College for the first time. In addition to the campus environment and the academics, Harris liked that Ithaca prepares film students early on for their future careers by sending them to either Los Angeles or New York City for internships where they learn on the job and make industry connections.

To become accepted, Harris took both ACT and SAT and did better on the ACT. After working with a tutor he retook the ACT, raising his score. Extracurricular activities including having been on the Student Council at Churchill and working as a camp counselor several summers also contributed to his admission, he thinks.

The most important skill he learned at Churchill was self-advocacy.
“Because of the prep at Churchill, I can now approach my professors and get the support I need,” Harris says. At Ithaca, he has been using the writing center, but any other LD support than extended time has so far been unnecessary.
“It is good to know that it is available,” he says about the learning center, “in case I’d need it in the future.”

A film major focusing on script writing for radio and TV, Harris is planning a minor in English Literature or Writing. For a student with dyslexia who initially struggled with reading and writing, starting at Churchill in 4th grade was a transforming experience. A vivid imagination has been the driving force behind his development as a writer while learning how to handle his dyslexia.
“It shows that you can overcome anything,” Harris says about his accomplishments.

Harris misses the teachers at Churchill and visits every time he comes to New York. “I consider them my friends,” he says about the Churchill staff.
“Churchill’s a great environment, the best in the world.”

Monday, April 16, 2012

Colleges that Change Lives in NYC May 21 & 22

Churchill alumni attend several of the schools selected by "Colleges that Change Lives" (CTCL) a non-profit organization dedicated to the support of a student-centered college search process.
"We support the goal of each student finding a college that develops a lifelong love of learning and provides the foundation for a successful and fulfilling life beyond college" the CTCL website states.
For more info, click below and read my post Colleges that Change Lives (Jan. 13, 2012).

Colleges that Change Lives College Fair
Monday or Tuesday May 21 & 22 at 7pm (2 days)
New York Penn Hotel, NYC
Skytop Ballroom
401 Seventh Avenue 

Monday, April 2, 2012

Lynn University - individualized LD support in resort setting

Over spring vacation, my son and I visited Lynn University in Boca Raton, Florida. Lynn has a reputation for offering solid LD support, and a couple of Churchill alumni attend this school. In addition to general accommodations, such as extended time, peer tutors and easily accessible professors, students at Lynn can take advantage of a special LD program, Institute for Achievement and Learning, which offers individualized support including coaching in organizational skills, study skills and time management, counseling and expert tutoring. This tailored-made program costs $5,875 per semester for new students and $4,225 per semester for returning students on top of $43,500 (2012/2013) annually for tuition, room, board and fees.

Lynn did a terrific job organizing our visit. We were greeted by an MBA student from London  - 23% of Lynn's 2,000+ students are international students.Then we had lunch with a professor and two students from the major my son is interested in, followed by a tour by a student in my son's prospective field. Classes are small and interactive. Popular sports are tennis, soccer and golf. Many students have cars on campus and there are shuttle buses to Ocean beaches and shopping. Our tour ended at the admissions office where we met with an admissions officer familiar with Churchill School.

However impressive the support program seemed and how pleasant we found the campus, its location, and everyone we interacted with, I was concerned about Lynn's low freshmen retention rate (62 %). When asked, our tour guide explained that located five minutes from sandy beaches in sunny Florida, Lynn attracts some young people with other priorities than studying. Freshmen being disappointed in the academic rigor and Lynn's tough anti drugs and alcohol policy contribute to the large drop between freshman and sophomore year, she said. I buy that explanation - apart from the classrooms, Lynn felt more like a resort than a higher learning facility.