Scholarship List 08-09

GRAB College Prep is an excellent resource for students and parents exploring college options.

Students, parents told to apply early and often for college financial aid - Article from Grand Rapids Press

Zaps Learning Company will be conducting an ACT Preparation Seminar on Wednesday February 4th and Thursday February 5th from 3:30 to 6:00 PM in the MCE High School Library.  The cost of the seminar is $79 and includes the instruction, a study guide, and 27 practice tests.  To register for the seminar, go on-line to www.zaps.com or call 1-877-927-8378.

College Goal Sunday is February 8th, 2009.  At the event, students and parents can have an expert help them fill out the FAFSA forms.  aims to increase the number of students who complete the FAFSA accuarately and on-time.  For more information about this event, visit www.MICollegeGoal.org.

As the FAFSA filing season approaches, students and parents can better inform themselves about the application process by viewing Do You Need Money for College?  

Steps to Federal Student Aid explains the FAFSA application and submission process in seven steps.   

A personal identification number called a Federal Student Aid PIN can be used to electronically sign the FAFSA, drastically decreasing the application’s processing time. To save time, students and parents should request PINs before students apply for aid. A Federal Student Aid Pin also may be used to sign other forms and to access student information. PINs must be requested online at www.pin.ed.gov.

The FAFSA on the Web Worksheet is a useful tool in preparing to complete the online FAFSA. The worksheet lists the FAFSA questions and provides boxes for students’ (and parents’) answers. The order of the questions on the worksheet follows that of FAFSA on the Web, which differs from the paper FAFSA. Students and parents can view and download the worksheet PDF at www.FederalStudentAid.ed.gov/worksheet.

Students should visit www.fafsa.ed.gov to complete the online FAFSA.  If a Web site requests credit card information or some other form of payment to complete the FAFSA then that Web site is not the official government (FREE) Web site. 

Provided by National Training for Counselors and Mentors (NT4CM)

A Parenting Awareness Michigan (PAM) conference is being held on October 22nd in Marquette and on November 3rd in Lansing.  For details, visit www.preventionnetwork.org.

The Mobile Dentists are scheduled to return to MCE on November 3rd & 4th.  Please watch for forms to come home with your child in September.  Mobile Dentists is a preventive dental care program for students pre-school through 8th grade.  Services provided include dental examinations, cleanings, flouride treatments, x-rays, and sealants for children who return the forms.  Grants are readily available to parents for this service to cover financial need.  For more information about the Mobile Dentists, visit the website at www.mobiledentists.com or contact Joan Bellinger at #757-3733 ext. 1116.

Parents often find themselves in situations where they are waiting with their children.  The following suggestions can make this wait fun and you may have great interaction with your child.  This document is produced by the International Network for Children and Families and the 350 instructors of the “Redirecting Children’s Behavior” course.  It is included in Positive Approaches for Challenging Behaviors developed and compiled by Mack/Vitto 2008. 

Nine Ways to Make Waiting Fun

• Ask your child to make up a silly, outrageous story about why the waitress is taking so long to deliver the meal, or what caused the traffic jam.
• Hold up an ordinary item such as a pencil or spoon.  Have the child suggest unusual uses for the object.
• Take turns singing as many songs as you know that have a color in the song.  Example: Rudolf the RED Nose Reindeer, the Yellow Rose of Texas, Blue Suede Shoes, etc. 
• Ask your child to close their eyes and describe what you are wearing
• Ask your child to list 10 things found in a dentist office, car repair shop, or bakery.
• Thumb wrestle with your child.
• Hum a song and have your child guess the title.
• Give your child the name of a character in a book.  They have to identify the book title.
• Tell your child three unrelated items such as, a dirty sock, watermelon and a swing set.  Ask them to tell you a story incorporating those items. 

Many teens have questions about the law but don’t know where to turn for answers.  Former juvenile division Judge Tom Jacobs started a new website to explain laws that impact teens and their families. 

www.askthejudge.info