GECHS forms Litter Patrol

Inspired by the Keep it Clean program described by Mayor Joe Jaworski during his address to students April 23, a group of GECHS students — on their own initiative — has created the GECHS Litter Patrol.

Their duties so far have entailed cleaning the grounds and parking lot of trash and yard waste each morning before and after school once a week.

The Litter Patrol is working closely with our custodian, Ms. Jackie, to make our school as beautiful as it can be. Great job kids!

Members of the Litter Patrol include Aylin S., Guillermo Z., DeWain A., Gabby G., Maria S., Jayce H., Sedric J., and Al M.

— Ms. White

3rd Quarter Honor Roll

Galveston Early College High School proudly announces the 3rd Quarter Honor Roll. Students were presented with certificates at last night's Family Night.

All-A Honor Roll:
7th Grade: Cameron Amieva, Shelby Devona, Ronnie Hayward, Ashley Lat-ay, Liqing Li, Bradley Worthington
6th Grade:  Alezandra Demack, Katie Fickenssen, Kallie Kastis

A/B Honor Roll: 
7th Grade:  Jordan Allen, Natalie August, Star Bean, Gabrielle Beebe, Jennifer Bjork, Isabella Chapa, Chelsea Chevez, Karina De La Rosa, Carlos Galvez, Juan Garcia,  Jared Glover, Dayanna Gomez, Azucena Henshaw, Joseph Hugger, Alondra Jimenez, Mirna Juarez Cruz, David Lyle, Gavin Mudge, Maria Perales, Arais Perdomo, Joseph Rabago, Aminta Santillana, Sara Silva, Doris Smith, Roger Velazquez, Rosa Villanueva, Joshua Washington
6th Grade:  Carsyn Beall, Blake Brewster, Alain Cruz, Brayam Deossa, Kaylin Diaz, Priscila Flores, Keyana Gilber, Makia Golliday, Veronica Gomez, Kayla Kaster, Roza Kastis, Miguel Marin, Steven Patina, Kayla Ramos, Alicea Rice, Kaitlin Stewart, Victoria Weade, Daisy Woods

To comment on this post, please visit the official GECHS blog site.

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Early College High School Initiative Celebrates Success of its 230 Schools

The following is a press release from Jobs for the Future

BOSTON, MA (March 14, 2011) — More than 50,000 high school students nationwide can earn free college credit at early college high schools.

Between Sunday, March 20 and Saturday, March 26, these schools and their partners will hold events publicizing their impressive results as part of the third annual Early College High School Week. Organizers hope the awareness will help school districts nationwide adopt early college designs to increase graduation rates and the college readiness of students traditionally underrepresented in higher education.

“For many young people, early college high schools are opening the door to higher education and better-paying careers,” says Michael Webb, associate vice president at Jobs for the Future, the national nonprofit that manages the Early College High School Initiative. “Early college students are proving that such young people can complete high school on time and be prepared for success in college.”

Together, the 230 schools in the Early College High School Initiative boast a 92 percent graduation rate. Of those who graduate, 86 percent immediately enroll in college and 78 percent come in with free college credit—making a college degree easier and more affordable to earn.

The initiative is based on the principle that academic rigor and extensive student support, combined with the opportunity to save time and money, are powerful motivators for students to work hard and meet serious intellectual challenges. Early college high schools blend high school and college and compress the time it takes to complete a high school diploma and the first two years of college. 

During Early College High School Week, JFF will release the following publications:

• ACCELERATING COLLEGE READINESS: Lesson’s from North Carolina’s Innovator Early Colleges
• UNCONVENTIONAL WISDOM: A Profile of the Graduates of Early College High School
• MAKING THE GRADE: Texas Early College High Schools Prepare Students for College
• EARLY COLLEGE GRADUATES: Adapting, Thriving, and Leading in College

On March 24, JFF will present a free webinar for early college practitioners: Life Beyond Early College: Strategies for Success. This webinar will share ways in which early colleges help students develop non-academic skills (e.g., time management, intentionality, persistence in the face of difficult tasks/subjects) and how some early college graduates are faring in college today, based on a two-year longitudinal study.  Presenters will be Dawn Cooper, Director of College Readiness, Georgia Board of Regents; Kaitlin Kelley, Alumni Support Coordinator, University Park Campus School; and Michael Nakkula, professor, University of Pennsylvania.

Other activities scheduled for Early College High School Week include:

• The New School Project in North Carolina will hold a conference: 2011 Many Voices, One Goal: Every North Carolina Child Graduates Ready (March 24).
• North Carolina Governor Bev Perdue will issue a proclamation in honor of Early College High School Week.
• The Texas High School Project is planning a formal recognition of Early College High School Week at the state capital during the current legislative session.

Activities for Early College High School Week 2011 can be followed on Facebook at http://on.fb.me/fuA98k.

Early College High School Partner Organizations

Early college schools are partnerships between school districts and colleges. Jobs for the Future leads a coalition of national organizations that provide startup and ongoing technical support, guidance, and professional development for their networks of schools. These national partners are:

• Center for Native Education
• City University of New York
• Communities Foundation of Texas/Texas High School Project
• Foundation for California Community Colleges
• Gateway to College National Network
• Georgia Board of Regents
• KnowledgeWorks Foundation
• Middle College National Consortium
• National Council of La Raza
• North Carolina New Schools Project
• SECME, Inc.
• Utah Partnership for Education
• Woodrow Wilson National Fellowship Foundation

For more information about the Early College High School Initiative, visitwww.earlycolleges.org.

About Jobs for the Future

JFF identifies, develops, and promotes new education and workforce strategies that help communities, states, and the nation compete in a global economy. In 200 communities in 41 states, JFF improves the pathways leading from high school to college to family-sustaining careers.
www.jff.org
www.twitter.com/JFFtweets

Choir competitors rank high at UIL

Galveston Early College High School choir students competed at a UIL Solo region competition at Angleton High School Saturday, February 19, and all came back with high accolades. Pictured above are the 14 students who competed. Twelve soloists scored a ranking of 1 and two soloists scored a ranking of 2. The choir students were recognized at assembly Monday morning and received UIL medals for their achievements. Congratulations!

To comment on this post, please visit the official GECHS blog site.

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GECHS teachers receive GISD Foundation grant

The Galveston ISD Educational Foundation recently awarded Galveston Early College High School Librarian Anna Allebach and Art teacher Theresa Pacheco a $1000.00 grant for their project, “Dare To Compare Artists.” The project will support the purchase of art and art history books for the new library at the school.

The grant is one of sixteen awarded to GISD teachers as part of the Foundation's Teachers/School Site Grant program to further classroom instruction. For a list of all of this year's grant recipients, visit the GISD web site.

To comment on this post, please visit the official GECHS blog site.

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We're looking for a few good posts!

Hey, GECHS/EC parents!!

We're looking for positive, enthusiastic, well-written stories and articles to post to The Eagle Eye. And your student's talents would be greatly received!

Need something for them to do on Galveston's "Snow Day?" Have them write about their favorite class or teacher. Or what the GECHS Core Values mean to them. Or what it's like to be a middle-schooler at an Early College High School. Submissions should be at least three paragraphs long and succinct enough to keep the readers' interest. Photos are great, too. Stories must be submitted in electronic form and can be emailed to GECPTO @ gmail.com.

Encourage your student to submit a story or two. What a great way for them to share their GECHS experience in their own words!

Thanks, and get blogging, Eagles!!

All submissions are subject to return for editing. Participation is voluntary and does not affect or apply to your child's academic standing. Refusal rights apply.

To comment on this post, please visit the official GECHS blog site.

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College Prep Student wins city-wide Spelling Bee

Congratulations to College Prep student, Majesty Otems, who won first place in the Galveston Fifth Grade Spelling Bee sponsored by the Rotary Club of Galveston on Tuesday. We are so proud of you!! A story and photos were featured on the front page of the County section of the Galveston County Daily News on February 2. Here are some photos:

Majesty Otems, a student at 5th Grade College Prep, reacts as she wins the 53rd annual city of Galveston Fifth Grade Spelling Bee. She won with the word “crisply.”

Spelling bee winners, from left, Libbie Lee Ansell, Trinity Episcopal School, second; Majesty Otems, College Prep, FIRST PLACE; and Kerrthika Muniasamy, Austin Middle School, third; hold up their medals.

Photos by Jennifer Reynolds of the Galveston County Daily News

To comment on this post, please visit the official GECHS blog site.

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Micheletti speaks about bullying

As part of No Name-Calling Week January 24-28, Galveston Early College High School and College Prep students welcomed Larry Micheletti, Ph.D., to speak to all three classes about bullying.

Dr. Micheletti is Assistant Professor of Pediatrics with the Division of Adolescent and Behavioral Health Department of Pediatrics at the University of Texas Medical Branch (UTMB). He also serves as the Mental Health Director of the Galveston Teen Health Center.

No Name-Calling Week is an annual week of educational activities aimed at ending name-calling of all kinds and providing schools with the tools and inspiration to launch an on-going dialogue about ways to eliminate bullying in their communities.

To comment on this post, please visit the official GECHS blog site.