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What Is Reach a Student?
Reach a Student is a website established to give students direct communication access to student mentors in various grade levels. Students will be able to reach out to other students and ask any questions they have regarding student and campus life. The site will also stream videos of students sharing their experiences at Windermere Prep as well as activities around campus. Find Out More
This summer, I had the opportunity to volunteer at my local hospital in Dr. Phillips. My job, as a volunteer in the ICU, was to answer phones, transport blood capsules, and organize medicines by patients' names. After finishing those tasks, I was left to observe the environment around me. On one of my weekly visits after I had finished my assigned tasks, I saw a doctor struggling to communicate with his patient. The patient was an elderly man who only spoke Spanish. His family also spoke very little English. The doctor tried to communicate with the family but he realized the patient's family couldn't understand him. He stepped out of the room to place a call to the translator line to help him. After twenty or thirty minutes, a translator came to the room to help the doctor and the family understand what was happening. I was shocked at the length of time they waited and asked my dad, a physician, if this was a usual occurrence. He told me "oftentimes, doctors can not speak the same language as the patient and aren't able to provide the best care they can because of the language barrier." Additionally, doctors struggle to convey emotion and empathy in the same way they can with their English patients because many are forced to use Google Translate if they cannot afford to wait for a translator. This unfortunate circumstance showed me one of the major problems plaguing the healthcare community. I researched translation programs which would allow doctors to provide a similar level of patient care.
Day Translation: This is a medical translation service in which doctors can call and a HIPPA certified translator will translate and convey more meaningful information to both parties - doctor and patient (family). With live translation tones, pauses and dialectics are expressed more effectively than a robotic translator.
iTranslate: This is an app which will allow the doctor to speak into the phone and hear themselves speak out loud in the language they desire. This app seems to allow for a quicker method of communication while also allowing for more complex discussions and hopefully more empathy and emotion.
These two programs allow doctors to provide a similar level of care to their non - English speaking patients. Since Windermere Prep is partly international boarding students these same applications may be extremely useful to teachers as well. To promote camaraderie in and out of the classroom students should use these apps to get to know boarding students better!
I remember when the first day the Turning A Page project was introduced to me in 8th grade I was
nervous. I wanted to end middle
school strong and so I decided to do something unique. I wanted to do something that no one
had ever done before, and so I chose the topic of fortunetelling and
mysticism. I recommend to students
who are looking to challenge themselves to choose a topic out of the
norm. By not choosing a hobby or
something that I was familiar with, I learned new things. For example, I learned how to read
fortunes and I studied the culture of gypsies and fortunetellers. I think that choosing a topic that you do not know well adds a completely new meaning to this project.
Many students may believe
that they can start working on the project only a few weeks before their TAP presentation. I think that it is really
beneficial to start working on TAP as soon as you can because it takes a lot of
time to make your presentation the best that it can be. It gives you time to ask the teachers anything that you may feel
concerned about.
Before you start writing
your TAP script, start by writing out an outline. I personally preferred making a list. I numbered the
list from 1-10 and then I wrote the class subject and explained how my
topic could be connected to the subject. It helped to color-code the different class
topics. For example:
1. Edgar
Allen Poe (A Dream Within A Dream): Explained connection #1
2. Edgar Allen Poe (The Raven): Explained connection #2
5. The Giver (Conformity): Explained Connection #5
6. The Giver (Colors): Explained Connection #6
After you make your
outline, you should show each of your teachers the connections for their class
to make sure that they will accept all your connections. Also, it may be helpful when thinking of connections, to refer to Edmodo and look at all of the folders for each
class. For math I went through the
textbook and read the word problems because they can help for inspiration.
While you are thinking of
connections, come up with your visual aids. You can make certain connections by using visual aids. For example, on my topic of fortune
telling, I used items such as candles, a crystal ball, and tarot cards. Visual aids are extremely helpful if you
know how to use them to your advantage. I made numerous connections to what I read on the different tarots cards. For example I had written:
In the picture of the sun tarot card, you see the planets
revolving around the sun. Galileo Galilei, an Italian physicist, astronomer,
engineer, and philosopher, proclaimed that the Earth and the planets in our
solar system revolved around the sun – a controversial idea at the time as the
common belief was that the planets revolved around the Earth. He was also known
for throwing two rocks of different sizes off the Leaning Tower of Pisa to see
if the heavier rock would hit the ground first. To his surprise Galileo
discovered that the rocks, no matter the weight landed on the ground at the
same time. As a result of his findings, Galileo theorized that objects of
different weights and masses would have the same amount of force pushing them
down.
It might be helful when starting to write out
the rough draft of your script, to print out your outline. While you type
different connections into the script, cross them out from the outline. By doing this you are making sure that
you include all of your connections into your presentation. When you are first writing up your
script, don't worry about making your writing perfect, just type an outline of
your presentation just indicating how each connection will be used. Once you finish the outlining, then go
back to finalize and revise it. With your finalized script, it is really important to time
yourself as you read it out loud to make sure that your presentation will fit the 15 minute time
frame. At first, my script was too long by several minutes and it took a long time to shorten my it down.
One VERY important thing
that I learned while making my script is that it is more about making the
connections than going extremely in depth on your actual topic. I struggled a lot with time because I
had long sections where I talked about my topic and very detailed connections. If you are struggling with time like I
did, first simplify the descriptions
of your topic before making big changes to your connections. Remember that you are being graded more on
the connections, than how detailed you were in explain the topic.
In your presentation, be
sure to think of a way to interact with the teachers. Your teachers do not want to hear a 15-minute long speech;
they want to feel as if they are being transported into the setting that you
have created. Think of how you can use the space that you are
given to your greatest advantage. Decorate your
presentation area by making it authentic to your project. For example for my fortune telling
topic, I decided to make a tent with a lot of gypsy fabrics and lanterns. I researched my topic to see how
gypsies decorated their space for fortune telling. I think the visual appearance was one of the biggest contributions that made my project different.
When you are at the final
stage of TAP where you are practicing the presentation, and you find it difficult memorizing the order of your script, it may be helpful to make a
few note cards with generalized bullets that will prompt you to remember what
to say next. Try to
separate your script out into different sections and take some time every day
to memorize each section one by one, this will make memorizing quicker. For memorizing, I found it helpful to read each section over and over again until I could say the written words without looking at the
script.
If you've ever found yourself floundering to maintain your grades, barely
getting by the first week of school, follow these tips and strategies I have
cultivated over my past two years as a high school student at Windermere Prep.
Time management and
Organization
When school, sports, and other extracurriculars
get crazy, time management is key to maintain a good learning experience. As a
high school student, or a student of any grade, you need to recognize what
needs to be done urgently and what can wait. The best way to do this is by
finding a system of organization. Whether it be a planner, Google doc, or a
notebook, find a place where you can organize everything that needs to be done
into categories: mandatory work, extra work, questions you might have, due
dates, reminders, notes, etc…This will let you know exactly what you have to
do, when, and what's coming up.
Talk to your Teachers
As much as you don't want to believe
it, your teachers are here to help you! Don't hesitate to ask them for help
after school or during SRT. A key piece of information worth remembering is
that when you actively invest in your education, your teachers will notice this
and think of you more often, finding ways to help you and always keeping in mind
what you might need. They will come to you with more detailed suggestions and
resources.
Review, Review, Review!
The best way to lighten up on studying
for a final, midterm, or even a test or quiz, is to constantly review. Create a
system where you review your classes, whether it be 15 minutes daily for each
class, or a couple hours on the weekend. Doing this keeps the knowledge fresh,
which will ultimately help you study effectively for big cumulative tests or
exams. This will also keep you from cramming, giving more time to process the
information. When you do this, studying is truly just review, not relearning!
Prepare for Classes
Another great way to stay on top of
classes, especially challenging ones, is to introduce the next topic to
yourself with some light textbook (or whatever resource is best for the class)
pre-reading. This sets up the unit for you and puts you at an advantage. Don't
worry if you don't understand at first, when you begin learning with your
teacher and other students, your questions will be gone! This gives you more
time to understand and process the concept.
Make use of your
Resources
This might be obvious, but don't
overlook any resources your teachers give you! These resources are an
opportunity, use them wisely! The most accessible and best ones are those added
by your teacher on Canvas. One of the best and most useful resources I have
found is the canvas calendar. With all your future assignments and tests
listed, you can see the exact workload for the upcoming weeks and plan
accordingly. If you still find yourself struggling with the class, ask your
teacher for more practice or good websites. You can also do your own research
and find websites and books to help.
Take Good Notes and be
an Active Student
Arguably the most important of these
tips is to be an active member of your class. If you have questions, ask them!
They are most likely legitimate questions that everyone else also has. They
also might bring up a good argument or sub topic that needs to be addressed to avoid
confusion later. You might just be doing everyone a favor when you ask
questions. You should also try to make connections and share ideas to the
class, as this could facilitate a well-rounded discussion with your peers.
Lastly, take. good. notes. Find what works best for you and stick with it. This
could be hand written notes, flashcards, typed notes…anything! Good notes does
not necessarily mean copy every word down. Good notes are ones that summarize
main ideas and include key details. You might also want to analyze the
information you have and apply it in different ways to test your understanding.
Learn, do not Just
Study
Make sure your priorities and reasons
for studying are well-intentioned. Do not just study to attain the "perfect
grade". Understand the information given to you, and be able to apply it. This
is how you truly make use of what you learn in school.
Recognize the
Importance of your Education
As much as we think the things we learn
in school are useless, and while we might not remember them or use them later,
that doesn't mean we shouldn't learn them! The benefit of learning something
"useless" is not in its content, but in the skills developed and used. These
classes teach us to think critically, analyze the information, and apply it.
Attaining knowledge at our level is an opportunity, so seizeevery minuteof it, whether you think it minuscule
or not. And perhaps the most important piece of advice I can give you, do it
for yourself. Do it for your self-improvement, for your enrichment, and for
your enjoyment. Find what makes you love learning and pursue it, no matter if
it isn't the safest bet. Be a reasonable risk-taker. No matter what you pursue,
if you do it whole-heartedly, you will find your way to success. Enjoy what you
learn and do it to become the best version of you, to become a well-rounded and
worldly citizen. And remember, grades are not the final and only measurement of
intelligence. As long as you are trying, improving, and working hard, your
grades will reflect that. If they don't, there might other aspects of an
education that you are stronger in, and those are just as important!
Learning a new language is not all about memorization, but it is
more about being passionate and creative.
Why be passionate? People cannot memorize things that they do
not like because those things will not be impressive enough to them in order to
be taken into their memory. Before learning a new language, you should have positive
feeling towards that language and ask yourself why you want to study it.
Your reason for learning a new language can be simple. For example, you may want
to learn Korean just because Korean dramas attract you. When you know your
purpose, you will be able to better identify your passion. The ability to like
a language so much will make the difference in the process of learning. Also, if
you are passionate about something, you will spend your time on doing it
frequently, thus you will improve more quickly than those who are impassionate.
After you know your passion towards the language, it's time to
accomplish your goal- use the language fluently. In order to succeed in this
area, you should be an active learner, not the passive one. What does it mean
to be active? You should manage your own plan as well as your own method to
learn. There are many ways to learn a language, and not everybody will have the
same ways, the same plan. You should find the way that is suitable for you so
that you can learn comfortably. Here are some tips:
For the beginner, you should know the basic vocabulary first,
this can be accomplished by using the website www.quizlet.com, or you can write
down words on notecards and stick them where you can see easily and frequently.
These places can be on the wall at the desk, on the door, or even neat the
toilet- as long as you see it frequently.
When you know the basics, you should learn how to apply you've
learned in daily life. When looking at something, try to reflect on related
vocabulary that you have just learned. By doing this, it is hard to forget the
vocabulary since it is already a part of your daily life.
Furthermore, you can watch movies in the language that you are
learning with subtitles so that you can practice listening skills as well as
your vocabulary.
For writing skills, you can write things that you like in that
language and find teachers or tutors who would be able to edit them for you. By
having people correct your writing, you will be able to remember your mistake
and avoid making it again.
Know -> learn -> apply. These three steps are important
and useful to learn a new language.
These are my tips. I hope that it can help you to accomplish
your goal in learning a new language!
Having effective study habits can reduce time and stress that
comes with schoolwork. Here are some way that can make your life easier:
#1- Learn
the Way You Learn
Everyone is individual with the way
that they learn. Auditory, visual, and kinesthetic are the three different ways
of learning. Knowing what type of learner you are lets you study the
information in a better way. You will find better results when you personalize
the way that you study.
#2-
Deadlines and More
After receiving an
assignment, creating a schedule including deadlines and extracurriculars will
help you prioritize tasks. With less procrastination more sleep and less stress
will come. Having everything in the same place, like planner or calendar will
make life much easier.
#3- Teachers
Learning
how to talk to your teachers can be very beneficial. Most teachers are more
than happy to provide extra help. Not only will this help you on your further
assignments and tests, it also shows that you care about your academics. Some
grades are given though work ethic so talking with your teachers can also a
major grade booster.
#4- Studying
for the Test
When studying try not to think of
everything thing that has ever been said in class, this will add even more
stress. When you start to study, focus on the most important topics. Once you
have those topics and are confident with them, if there's still time before the
test, you can then move on to the smaller details.
#5-
Distractions Vs. the Quiet
When studying it is
easy to turn on the T.V or your phone and get off topic quickly. Doing this
however breaks your concentration and makes it harder to focus. With less
distractions, more studying can be done and the amount of time it takes to
study is cut down. If there is no place that you can study quietly, consider
studying at the library. Distractions also come from getting up and getting
things that you need to continue studying. Once you sit down to study, make
sure you have everything you need.
#6-Night
Before a Test
It is tempting to
hold off studying until the night before. You might tell yourself that it is
easier to learn more closer to the test in order to remember more. Create a
schedule for a couple days before the test. Take some time review your notes
and re-read important things in the textbooks. It might seem that that is a lot
to do, but that lets the information sink into your brain in a way more natural
way. Sleep is also very, very important. If you are tempted to pull an
all-nighter you will only be hurting your chances of getting an A. With a
proper amount of sleep, your brain will be in good shape on test day.
#7- Stay
Positive!
Positive reinforcement is a very important and
powerful thing. After finishing something for school, reward yourself. Whether
that be taking a break from studying to get some food, or watching some
Netflix, rewards are important. Breaks also can help improve studying, your
brain can only take so much hard work at a time. It will keep your stress
levels down and the information will also have a chance to sink in. With this
new mindset implemented, procrastination can be cut down!
Many students dedicate a lot of their time to extracurriculars,
sports, volunteer work, jobs, etc. I myself have dedicated my entire life to
gymnastics, where I spend every afternoon of every week practicing for
just a few moments of glory every year. Spending all of this time involved in
something like this makes you realize how important time is, especially when
you're involved in the IB program. After all of these years, I have picked up a
few tips and tricks on time management and how balancing your social life,
extracurriculars, and school work can be done effectively. I've finally learned
that balancing my time would help me in the long run and would relieve a lot of
unnecessary stress as well.
Firstly, realizing where your time is going helps you understand
how you could be using your time better and create a more efficient schedule
that lets you control where your time is being spent and how it could be spent
better. Setting priorities helps you focus on activities that are most
important and allows you to categorize the most important to least important
things you need to get done. The best way to manage your time is to stay
organized. I recommend using a calendar or planner and daily to-do list, to
check off items as you complete them. I also recommend doing tough tasks first
while you're fresh and alert and breaking large projects down into smaller
chunks to complete these projects more efficiently. I know my main drawback
when it comes to time management is procrastination. I've learned that the best
ways to avoid procrastination is to set daily priorities, try focusing for
short amounts of time instead of hours at a time, and attempting difficult
tasks at your high-energy time since your concentration will be easier then.
Don't allow interruptions, like a loud room to study or your friend's bothering
you, get in your way or else juggling your work may seem much more difficult
than it actually is and you'll just become more discouraged. These few tips and
tricks may just save you from a sleepless night of studying in the future.
Sports are exciting extracurricular
activities that keep you happy, fit, and engaged. But, there's a variety to
choose from, each fitting different personalities and abilities. It's great to
have an insight on multiple different sports so that you understand the
commitment and qualities used in each one. Many sports seem like barely any
work when watching, but you'd be surprised at how much practice and effort they
put in. I totally recommend playing a sport and trying new ones, but make sure
that don't just do it to play a sport. You want to find one that you'll enjoy
and will be a great addition to your daily routine.
I've put together a list of commitments
required for two fall sports (swimming and volleyball) since they're both very
popular and fun to try! It also includes what it's like to play it. I've gotten
volleyball information from experience, and interviewed a friend to learn about
the WPS swimming program.
Volleyball:
Practices
They are
usually 2 hours long and 5 days a week for JV, 6 days a week for varsity. Practices
usually involve running (as a warm up or if we make mistakes), ball control
warm ups (such as passing), controlled scrimmage, and a few other drills that
vary between practices.
Games
Before
games, players eat team meals together and then either start warming up, or
take a van to the game (if it is away). Each game is best out of 3 sets for JV,
and best out of 5 for varsity. If it goes into the last set, that will go to 15
points, while all the other sets go to 25 points. Varsity must watch half of
JV's game, and JV must watch half of varsity's.
3. Positives
It's an
exciting sport to play with friends and there are many positions for people
with different skills. There are different actions done throughout each game
such as hitting, blocking, setting, serving, and passing. People in the back
row pass (and occasionally hit), while people in the front row, besides the
setter (who sets) hit and block with an occasional pass. That way, if you
dislike one activity, but enjoy the other, you can specialize in your favorite
aspect of the game.
Swimming(Information provided by a brief interview with swimmer, Sophia Hill):
Q: How long are practices?
SH:
Practices for JV are usually an hour and a half, and practices for varsity are
typically two hours long.
Q: What exercises are usually done
during practices?
SH:
Practices involve a variety of exercises such as breathing exercises, relays,
arm and leg movements, and diving practice.
Q: How long and how often are meets?
SH: Meets
during the season are typically once a week, or twice if one is on a Saturday.
Q: What are some positives of doing
swimming?
Swimming has
multiple benefits, such as getting into shape, becoming stronger, breathing
better, plus the overall spirit of the team is very uplifting.
As you can see, they both have many commitments, but also many
benefits that come with them. I hope this helped you get a thorough insight on
these sports and motivated you to consider trying one!
Contrary to my 8th grade year, this year's team was very successful. I was adamant not to give up on playing softball even though the previous year we had was disheartening. We had developed very good team chemistry despite having no wins and we were feeling confident of having a better season. People seemed to sense this and wanted to be a part of our team. We had some experienced players come to our school and join our team furthering our enthusiasm. Having these skilled members, allowed our team to position players by skill not by necessity.
Our team and coaching staff worked together like a well oiled machine. Our compatibility coupled with a desire to win led to a change in our record from 0-12 to 10-6. As a dedicated, experienced member of the team, I was awarded the position of team captain, as a 9th grader. I continued to encourage others around me and I was determined to be the best teammate I could be. To improve my skills, I would take time after practice to do extra drills on the field or in the batting cage.
Lack of sleep always wins. Don't make the mistake of
underestimating it.
As you get farther into high school,
the amount of homework you have and the number of activities you are involved
in will keep increasing, and your time for doing anything else (including
eating, sleeping, and breathing) will steadily decrease.
But don't make the mistake that I did.
As a sophomore, I'm currently taking
some of the toughest classes offered at WPS, including AP European History and
the first year of IB HL Math. I'm also on the swim team (which has
practice for two hours every day), I lead the school's Astronomy Club, and I am
on my grade's SGA. When I started staying up till 1:00 am almost every day
starting from the second week of school, I knew something was wrong. I
began to feel nauseous from lack of sleep, and my constant tiredness only
caused me to stay up even later some nights.
After an already exhausting week, four
tests on one day near the end of the 1st Quarter was my breaking point. By the time I got to my 7th period math test, I was having trouble
keeping my eyes open. I could tell that the questions on the test weren't that
difficult, but I just couldn't remember how to solve them.
That test tanked my math grade to the point where I barely scraped
an A for the quarter. That time I didn't have to pay for my lack of sleep
with my GPA, but that doesn't mean that it can't happen.
Don't cheat yourself out of a good
grade. Make sure that you try your very best to go to sleep by midnight
every night. Even if you feel like you'll do better on a test if you just
study for just one more hour, that one hour of sleep will cost you much more
than you will gain with one hour of extra studying.
And besides a lack of sleep hurting
your grades, it also hurts your overall health. A 4.0 GPA isn't going to
help you if you ruin your health by not sleeping enough. Sleep is more
important than perfecting your English essay or doing every single math problem
in the textbook. You can't always be a perfectionist, which is something
that I never really understood until this year.
So all you perfectionists and overachievers out there, please get
some sleep. You know you need it.
1. Don't
write down any reminders or set any alarms about when the assignment is due.
Does a recently received assignment
seem too difficult or tedious? Simply don't put any measure in place to remind
yourself about it. Out of sight, out of mind! This is an important first step
to procrastination, as it allows you to remove the assignment from your present
conscious and reduce the current amount of stress in your life.
2. Take
frequent and lengthy breaks from your work.
Once you've settled in to your desk or other preferred
workspace after school, feel free to play a few rounds of 2048, browse the
internet, or check social media. After all, if you never took breaks, you would
quickly become overworked and your work quality would suffer. Take breaks
whenever you don't feel motivated to work: you need them!
3. Don't set
aside time dedicated solely to working.
It would truly be a shame if your work
was regimented in constricting blocks of time. Your workflow is arrhythmic, and
trying to 'plan' motivation would make you even less motivated than you already
were. Therefore, don't make any schedules or timetables. In this way, you'll
never have to work on an assignment until you truly want too. The inspiration
will strike you when you're ready!
4. Do less
challenging assignments (and complete other obligations) first.
If you don't want to start that 4-page essay, you can easily
put it out of your mind by doing simpler work first. Complete small assignments
and do chores so that you aren't forced to cope with the difficulty of writing
the essay, At least you're doing something productive, right? The essay can
wait until tomorrow while you do this work.
5. Fulfill
every requirement for you to work optimally.
If you find that the assignment you're working on is becoming
dull and your quality of work is suffering, it's most likely because something
is preventing you from working well. Perhaps it's because your room is unclean—the
aura simply isn't right. To put yourself back in the right frame of mind, clean
your room for now and work on the assignment later. While you're up from your
desk, be sure to make your bed, eat a snack, watch some TV, and play a few
games of table tennis. Once you've gotten all of that out of your system,
you'll certainly be able to work much more efficiently on your assignment.
6. The
assignment is due 8:00AM tomorrow and it's 10:00PM? Take an all-nighter.
Plenty of people, from mathematicians to musicians, write
out their most influential proof or greatest opus in one long, uninterrupted,
feverish session. What separates you from them? You need to get this assignment
done somehow, even if it costs a few hours of sleep. Why not work through the
night and ensure the assignment gets done.
(Bonus!) 7.
Turn in the assignment late—or don't turn it in at all!
If you're truly opposed to doing this
assignment, you don't have to finish it before the deadline—or at all! For the
former, it's easy to postpone working on an assignment if a teacher only takes
off 2% for each day late, or better yet, doesn't deduct points at all if you
turn it in shortly after the deadline. For the latter, there's no easier way to
procrastinate an assignment than if you never actually do it. So omit summative
work that's difficult yet takes up a small percentage of your grade, and omit
formative work entirely.
Conclusion:
As you may have guessed while reading through the above
list, I don't actually advocate that anyone procrastinate. Procrastinating is
an unhealthy and unsatisfactory habit, but it's one that is remarkably easy to
slip into. Because of this, everyone procrastinates to some extent. In fact, I
procrastinated writing this very blog post. Since many people procrastinate,
it's important to note some of the factors and justifications that contribute
to procrastination. As such, the "How to Procrastinate" list is an exercise in
looking at some negative actions we take so that we may see what not to do.
Instead of tackling the difficult assignment, which requires effort and focus, many
of us would rather resort to doing something from the list. However, it's
critical that you recognize the true stress that procrastinating generates, and
avoid the items on this list as you see fit. I find that in general, it's
beneficial to take the opposite actions of those on this list, and the quality
of your work will increase while the amount of work-related stress will
decrease. Take all of this with a grain of salt though, as something that works
for me may not work you, and vice versa. But no matter how you conquer
procrastination, doing so is certainly advantageous
What are
some tips you have for students that are on the fence about doing IB diploma
due to Theory of Knowledge (TOK)?
There should no reason for students to be on the fence because
half the week is a study hall and you will still have opportunities to get work
done for your other classes and also the course is not hard. There is a a lot
of reasons why one should be on the fence about doing diploma and taking TOK
should not be one of them. It is also fun to be in the class, the good thing is
that instructors can do whatever they want with the material of the class. So I
try to choose fun activities and I think that the topics in the class are very
interesting.
Could you
give a brief summary of the TOK course?
TOK is about growing as a knower and putting together pieces of
what you learn in your other IB classes. It is also about synthesizing
knowledge.
And for
students that are taking TOK, what are some tips for succeeding
in the course?
To have an open mind and to be inquisitive.
Also what
do you think would be better taking the online course or the actual class? And
why?
I think the actual class is better because a big part of the
course is discussions. And the online course lacks that. There is a lot of
things you could do with the online course and you could still have discussions
but the responses online would not be as thoughtful or as instantaneous as our
live in class discussions.
After my first event, the Special Olympics Basketball Clinic with Windermere Prep, I decided to host another Special Olympics Clinic with the track team. I hoped to have an equally successful camp but there were fewer WPS Athletes than at the Basketball clinic. The disproportionate ratio of WPS Athletes to Special Olympics athletes made me nervous and I wasn't sure how this camp would turn out in comparison to the basketball camp. After starting the camp, I realized this could be one of the most successful camps because the coaches got the chance to work directly with the athletes, which changed the environment of the camp. Instead of the WPS players doing a drill next to the players, they were leading a group of Special Olympic Athletes. The WPS track runners displayed patience when teaching and persistence in making sure Special Olympic athletes were learning new skills. The Special Olympics' athletes were eager to learn and when they struggled used the experienced players around them to gain help. Even though I felt unsettled by the fact there was an uneven proportion of athletes to mentors, all the participants were excited to be learning and playing a sport they loved!
In the WPS Community, there is very little awareness about special needs children. The goal of these camps is to increase awareness among our local community and allow both groups to bond in their commonalities. As my camps continue to grow, I hope they will provide a platform for an inclusive environment for Special Olympics.
I happened to be born a girl in the 21st century, and into a family that loves me unconditionally and provides me with anything I need and most any opportunity I want. From the beginning, I've truly lived a spoiled, blessed life. 17 years later, the only thing that's changed, somewhere in between then and now, is that I have 75 sisters from Sahasra Deepika (SD)-- a non-profit organization dedicated to providing a home and a quality education to impoverished and orphaned girls in Bangalore, India. These girls are no different than me in intellect, creativity, or capacity. The only thing separating us is a factor out of any of our controls: the socio-economic circumstance we were born into-- a factor which, unfortunately, limits opportunity.
Realizing all that I have in comparison to so many around me heightens my gratitude and appreciation for the life I live, and spurs me to take advantage of what I've been given and use it to enact change and lend a voice to what I am passionate about-- which happens to be women: women's empowerment, education, rights, and parity. I do confess, however, that at least to me, the pursuit of all these efforts sounds a little too idealistic to realistically tackle. But I have realized, largely because of what I've learned from spending time at SD, it's up to girls and boys alike to somehow, in their own way, turn these idyllic ambitions into tangible realities. This, I believe, should be, in some capacity and upon whatever issue they connect to, the goal of us millenials of the 21st century.
However, it's easy to go into any altruistic endeavor feeling some level of pity, or maybe even guilt because of what you have compared to those you want to help. I know this is oftentimes the mindset I hold. But it's equally important to realize what they do have, or even what they have that we don't. We cannot amplify humanitarian causes so much that they, as virtuous yet very broad forces, overpower the humanity within the individual you're connecting with: they are not just hopeless cases who know and have nothing but misfortune or darkness. Such a mindset causes a psychological disconnect, and can hinder you from connecting at a real, personal level. I have learned this from forming deep bonds with the girls at Sahasra Deepika, as friends and as sisters. True, we ask each other about where we come from, and exchange in what people might call more meaningful conversation, but we also talk about Taylor Swift. We sneak to the roof of the neighboring high school and see who can drink the water out of the coconut the fastest. We are real with each other. We are friends. And I think of them as no less, or no less capable than me. They are intelligent and they are talented: they're artists and they're athletes-- they've even beaten me, a varsity track runner, in running races, with me in my Nikes and them in their bare feet. And they have self-esteem and dignity, which I think is more resilient and stronger than mine, as it has been weathered and tested, broken down and built back up.
These traits of resilience and strength, nourished even more within the girls by the caring environment of Sahasra Deepika, should serve as paradigms for the rest of society. These are the qualities which transcend geography, religion, culture and sociology-economic class-- they are ones which should be universally adopted and developed within all of us, for they are the requisites of enacting lasting and effective change, and are vital in both kindling and sustaining the deepas— the lights— within us all to serve as lights of hope for all of us brothers and sisters.
Growing up with 2 brothers and no sisters made me an automatic sports lover. The one thing which brought us together was football. My desire to learn more about the medical field and love for football led to me to accept a position as an athletic trainer for Windermere Preparatory School Football. Even though I always watched football on Sunday nights, I never knew athletic trainers played such a vital support role in the game.
Every day after school, the student athletic training team would prepare for practice, which consisted of filling up water and Gatorade jugs, wrapping wrists and ankles, and tending to sore joints and other practice injuries. Contrary to the popular belief that the Student Athletic Trainers are "water girls", the truth is there is much more to the job. Being a member of the team means consistently being ready to help any player. The toughest job during games was blood and wound duty - in 30 seconds we had to change gloves, stop any bleeding, and wrap a player's arm!
Student Athletic trainers had to oversee the well being of all the players on the field on both sides of the ball. Being a member of this team has taught me how to be an effective communicator. Lack of communication, would oftentimes mean players were left with injuries needing attention or players not receiving any water. For different types of injuries, we would have hand signals to bring out certain equipment. Our ability to communicate effectively when a massive injury occurred was potentially life-saving for the players.
Being a Student Athletic Trainer requires selflessness, dedication, and persistence. The team performing at its best is dependent on having athletes in the best physical condition during, before and after the game. This is a cornerstone of the commitment of a Student Athletic Trainer. If you want to be a trainer, please don't hesitate to reach out and see if you have what it takes.
Time management is a key skill in high school, but also in
your life afterwards. Having time management allows for you to be less stressed
because you have spaced out your work and also allows for you to revise your
work to make it better. Playing a sport forces you to have good time management
skills. Being a student athlete takes a lot of prioritizing, responsibility,
and motivation to be successful in the classroom. Having good time management
skills makes you create a balance of work time and down time. People with these
skills know how to organize their lives so they accomplish everything they have
planned for that day whether it's in school, in your sport, or with your
friends.
Volunteering at the Special Olympics State Officewas a very inspiring experience. While I only performed clerical work, I quickly learned how Special Olympics plays an integral role in the athletes' lives: inspiring confidence and teamwork.
When reading through feedback questionnaires from the athletes, one of the questions asked was: "What is your favorite part about playing sports with the Special Olympics?" The athletes' responses unanimously said they enjoyed playing and meeting other people. Many of them mentioned that they were alleviated of social anxiety when playing team sports.
Considering the benefits Special Olympics (SO) events had on the athletes, I was inspired to provide them more opportunities for memorable experiences. As a member of multiple WPS (Windermere Preparatory School) athletic teams, I knew about the extensive athletic resources and experienced coaches we have. I thought this would be an excellent way to use WPS resources. Furthermore, my peers would also get a chance to train and teach while playing a sport they loved. Thus, I conceived the idea to create clinics which integrated Special Olympics athletes with WPS athletes.
The first Special Olympics-WPS camp was with the WPS Basketball program. On the morning of November 18, 2017, WPS hosted its first Special Olympics-WPS athletics clinic, with 25 special olympic athletes and 44 WPS High School basketball players (3 teams of players). I did not expect such a large turnout. Each of the Special Olympic Athletes were paired off with 2 WPS Athletes. They worked together to complete drills and at the end participated in a scrimmage.
I witnessed not only the Special Olympics athletes laughing and having fun, but also my fellow WPS classmates. The WPS players were lifting kids up and teaching them how to slam dunk. They also took the opportunity to teach all the athletes the most important part of a game: the celebration dance. The coaches turned on music and the players formed a circle to watch. They took turns dancing and showed each other how to do different dance moves. As I watched this, I saw how the camps had the ability to create awareness and an inclusive environment.
As a school privileged with many skilled coaches, WPS was able to share its resources and help improve the skills of the SO players. While there were many differences between the Special Olympics players and the WPS players, their love for the same sport brought them together and created a lasting bond.
This camp created a welcoming atmosphere and allowed both groups to share a sport they love. After the camp, Coach Ben Wilson came up to me and said, "This was one of the coolest things I have been a part of and I want the Special Olympic athletes to be a part of our team at a game." Many athletes saw it takes one small connection to form a friendship. With more awareness and exposure to special needs athletes, I hope our WPS community will become more inclusive. I believe it starts with camps such as these.
If you would like to get more involved in the Special Olympics community, reach out to your county chapter and sign up as a coach or an assistant coach. In addition, the state office is always looking for volunteers. The Special Olympics are a great way to spread your passion for a sport while helping a good cause.
Life is a pathway of choices, and the
one who makes those choices is you. Whether you make the choice, someone else
influences your choice, something influences your choices, the final result
will be produced from you. There are times where you can turn your choices
back, but most of the time, you cannot turn your choices back. Your one choice
could lead to profitable and good results, but that one choice could lead to a
series of mistakes and even a disaster. According to research, decision making
suddenly changes when you reach puberty, and change slowly when you enter the
twenties. I believe that the most choices made during the high school life is
whether you should drink and do drugs, and I believe that the choice you make
in the situation stated before will affect your future. Do not look for a
situation that is only a step ahead. LOOK at a few more steps and imagine what
your future could look like due to your one choice! I really hope for you to
not make the decisions that may affect your future in a bad way.
I would like to share some tips for tackling AP
European History. My first tip to you would be to pay attention in class.
Always take effective and efficient notes during Mrs. Hilaman's lectures, as
everything she says could be used on any tests. My second tip for you would be
to do the formative practices. Mrs. Hilaman gives a lot of practice DBQs
(document-based questions), LEQs (long essay questions), and short answer
questions. Doing her formative work will help you develop the writing styles
that the AP graders want from you at the end of the year, which will help you
get the score you want on the exam. In addition, if you listen to her feedback
on the formative work, you can use that feedback to get good grades on her
assessments. The last tip, and probably the most important, do not over study.
I found that many of my peers studied frantically the night before assessments,
and they stressed themselves out by trying to cram all the knowledge into their
brain. Pay attention in class, and study what you don't know, and if you are
having a really difficult time grasping this, it won't help to study more, so
just move on. These tips will hopefully help you get a good grade in AP
European History with Mrs. Hilaman, and get you a good score on the AP Exam.
I have always been an avid animal lover, but I have never had a pet. My passion for them led me to joining Seaworld camp all throughout elementary and middle school. I always found animals' unique characteristics fascinating as well as how similar some of them can be to human characteristics. Strange as it may seem, by spending time with animals I was able to learn more about human characteristics. For example, dolphins are naturally social animals and when they are left without a pod they become depressed. When humans are left with no friends or family they are left feeling a similar way. After I outgrew the camps, I realized I wanted to continue to spend time with animals.
I unfortunately was not old enough to work at our local shelter. So I decided instead to come up with a drive to support animals. I spoke to my local community, handed out flyers and people brought toys and sealed bags of food to donate to ASPCA. We gathered round 30 bags of food and a hundred different toys to donate! When I dropped off these items, the staff told me how the dogs love the toys and the food helps them keep every animal who comes in fed. Next year I hope to be a Bark Buddy and help take care of the pets at the shelter. If you enjoy being around animals come and join me in helping the ASPCA!
Already one quarter of the school year has
passed, and we are getting ready for the next, with the midterm exams coming up
along with Homecoming, Thanksgiving, and Christmas. Each new quarter is a fresh
new start- a chance to get higher grades, try new activities, and put in as
much effort as you can! With this new page, it seems like you do not need
to do anything to prepare. However, there are a couple of things you can do to
give yourself a leg up to prepare for the exams and the lessons ahead.
1.
Evaluate the last quarter.
How much effort did you put into the last
quarter? Did you do all formative work, and all of the summative work? Did you
study? These are questions that you can be asking yourself. If you find
something that you could do better, like trading an hour of video games for
studying, or getting to school on time, or even just getting eight hours of
sleep, you can create easy ways to achieve this to make this an easier and
better term for you.
2.
Write down what you have learned.
Although it was just the beginning, there was a
lot of subject material that you have learned. It may not seem important, but
these topics will be on the midterm exams, though you learn them so long ago.
This leaves many people reviewing in the last week and forgetting what to
study. A way to resolve this would be writing down key themes from each of your
subjects. This would be the most important things to know, and it doesn't have
to be very detailed, just a sentence or two to help you remember. For example,
in US history I would write "The Colonies" and "The Great
Depression", and important figures during that time.
3.
Look at the Syllabus!
What better way to prepare for the new quarter
by seeing what you are going to learn? If you know the subject material, not
only will you not be lost in class, but you will know what is coming up. This
means you can also prepare beforehand, by reading or researching the main
themes and facts.
4.
Talk to your teachers
There may be things you are doing wrong or
should be doing that you do not even know about. Ask your teachers on how you
did in the quarter and what you can do to improve, from homework standards to
classroom etiquette.
5.
Make some goals!
Thanks to Skyward and Canvas, our grades are
always there to see. You may not have reached a grade level you wanted to, or
there may be a grade you want to achieve by the end of the year. A semester
grade consists of the two quarters plus the midterm exam, which means if you
know what your grade is this quarter, you can find out what grade you have to
get the next quarter and in the exam to achieve the grade you want. This end
grade will be a goal, and you can have certain goals leading up to it, like
studying every night or getting or completing all of the reviews, and getting
A's on the formative assignments.
In conclusion, don't waste time before the
quarter, or think there is nothing you can do. Make sure you do what you need
to do to have the best year ever!
Transitioning from the Middle School Student Government Association to High School SGA is a big change. I was a member in middle school and when I became a high school member I was able to see the increased amount of responsibility and commitment that was needed. In high school, even as a freshman, you play an integral role in all parts of SGA. While the transition is difficult, there are a lot of ways to continue your leadership and make sure your voice is heard.
1.Speak up
a.When you have an idea on how to make an event better speak up and make sure your voice is heard. It can be something as small as where tickets are sold to a change in venue. All of SGA appreciates ideas. If you really want to make sure your idea is considered, take some time and think through the logistics, and how things would work and then suggest the full idea. This will showcase your communicative abilities and make sure your ideas are approved.
2.Show Up
a.Be present at all events and make sure you encourage your friends to come. The more you show up and show you are dedicated the more SGA will notice.
3.Communicate
a.Take the time to communicate properly. If you can't be present at an event make sure you email at least twenty-four hours in advance of your absence. Also making sure your thoughts and rationale are clear in meetings and emails, this is a sure way to succeed in SGA.
4.Responsibility
a.In High School SGA, you have to take on a lot of responsibility. This can mean everything from picking up supplies to helping lead events. To complete all your tasks make sure you do not take on too much. If you take responsibility for your job and your actions, you will succeed in SGA.
The change this past year from Middle School to High School SGA was difficult but don't be afraid to face the challenge as it will help turn you into the best leader you can be.
I have played everything from tennis to lacrosse. However, the sport that truly changed my life was softball. As an 8th grader varsity player I had little experience, was scared to play, and was unfamiliar with our new coach. "This is a new experience for a majority of us but let's start by taking it one game at a time," said my coach, JD Wood. Although he had experience coaching sports, he was inexperienced coaching female athletes. His leadership and time in the Army taught him how to lead us and unite us as a team, which was his goal for the season and ultimately inspired me.
This year, I started as the catcher. I had no experience in the position, but it fueled me to work harder and grow as a player. Even though I didn't particularly enjoy catching, I refused to give up and took my position behind the plate as I knew everyone had to play a role for the team to succeed. I was determined to help turn our losing team into a winning one; however, it was not to be. Despite being 0-12 and receiving a mercy-ruling every game, our team's spirit, energy, and unity never wavered. Coach kept our spirits up and rallied the team to continue to work towards improvement game after game.
Although this season was not our desired outcome, it taught me about being a leader and a teammate. Being a leader means demanding the best out of others and yourself. Through our year in WPS Softball, I also learned many valuable things from my teammates: selflessness, trust, confidence, respect and communication. Being a leader or a teammate on a WPS athletics team does not mean you necessarily are the best player but it means you consistently show determination and give your best effort through all of the ups and downs. If you are interested in being a member of the WPS Softball team, please be sure to come out to tryouts next season. We are accepting anyone who wants to learn and be a part of the family we are creating.
At Windermere Prep, we're lucky to have such a
well-developing, ambitious, and growing Arts Program available to students of
all ages, no matter their level of skill. One of these many programs is the Dance
Program, taught by Gilliane Hadley and Alison Barron. Many students, new or
returning, may have questions or hesitations about the Dance Program at our
school, which is why I sat down with high school dance instructor, Ms. Hadley,
to provide some answers to any of your questions.
What do
you like the most about the dance program at Windermere Prep?
H: What I like most about the dance program is that
you get to dance everyday and I get to see you grow throughout the year. I've
had students since they were freshman and now they're about to graduate as
seniors. I also love that the fact that the dancers have different levels they
can dance in and then they have a choice to take IB Dance or stick with
elective dance or do both, which is amazing. I love that they get the
opportunity to perform and do activities with Juilliard.
How do you think dance counts as both a sport and
an art? Why are both elements important?
H: As an art, because it's a performing art, right?
As for being mixed with a sport and art, we're physical, we're always moving,
our heart rate is elevated, and we are our own athletes in our own way. Our
bodies need to be warm like an athlete and will wear down like an athlete. For
each genre of dance, there are certain skills and elements you need to know,
just like any sport.
How do you come up with our themes and visions for
our dance shows?
H: Sometimes it just happens, and sometimes I just
hear something in a song. Music inspires me a lot. If I hear something, I can
totally envision certain groups of kids dancing to it, which is how I figure
out what dances you're going to do. Regarding the themes of the shows, me and
Mrs. Barron really work together trying to figure that out because we have to
be able to pick something that not only you guys will be excited about, but
also what will inspire us to create those dances. We always like to challenge
you and ourselves. Sometimes we think, "Oh my gosh, what are we doing?" But we
are always thinking of you guys and what will keep you excited about dance and
challenge some classes technique wise.
What do you think the dance program at Windermere
Prep has to offer students and aspiring dancers?
H: So, for students who love to dance, it's a nice
break from sitting at a desk all day. It should be an escape from your busy
school schedule. Yes, I have high expectations for you, but if you love to
dance, those expectations should be second nature. I can only help you so much,
but if you try, those accomplishments are worth it in the end. Sometimes it's
hard, because our classes are so short in terms of regular dance classes.
Celeste, one of my aspiring dancers who graduated last year, found it hard to
go to auditions and face the dance world because she couldn't take away everything
that she should have. But we are not a studio, we are a school. It's not
about taking a technique class. There are things we have to dive into more such
as terminology, dance history, watching the works of other dancers and
choreographers and creating compositions. I try to base our classes off how
performing arts schools teach their dancers and try to shape versatile dancers.
I want students to be able to walk into an audition or a dance group in college
and be able to dance any genre or style, even if dancing professionally is not
their ultimate goal.
Why do you think students should take a dance class
next year, even if they've never danced before and what can they take away from
it?
H: They should not take a dance class if
they don't like to move or sweat. I think they should take a dance class
because it's good for your health and it builds your brain in a different way.
It's a release and it's enjoyable. It's interesting to see dancers in the first
month and see which dancers make it to the next semester and the changes in the
way they dance; it amazes me every time. They come in so enthusiastic and so
ready to be challenged more. The best reason to take dance is that you really
learn who you are and how much discipline you have and how much you really want
to grow as a person.
During my time in middle
school, everything seemed easy. Now there were a couple exceptions like TAP, but
for the most part it was a breeze. I could go home do my homework in an hour
and then watch TV or do something else. I had a lot of free time on my hands.
At the beginning of the 9th grade year, I didn't think that 9th grade could be
much harder than 8th grade. You would not believe how wrong I was. Now, most of
the hard work came from my AP Human Geography class (which required at least 2
hours a night) and I was forced to learn how to manage my time well so I could
have time to do some of my extracurricular activities, and other homework. The
most efficient way to clear up time is to make use of your weekends. This may
seem hard at first because your weekends are your only time off from school,
but to manage an AP class with other activities you must utilize it. Utilizing
the weekend can reduce the workload. You must stay organized during your 9th
grade year or you will fall behind on your assignments. There are a few
different apps that I recommend to get organized as they have helped me in the
past. Using technology was a big help in knowing what is due and when.
iCalendar
Wunderlist
Todoist
Things
Outlook Calendar
Another big difference between school and high school is that
you go from the top of the food chain, to the bottom. In 8th grade you were the
"big man on campus", the apex predator, you had gotten pretty used to the
campus and the teachers knew you very well. In 9th grade you flip sides, you
become the "little man on campus" and are put into a totally different
environment. With all the different teachers and classes, high school can look
overwhelming. But know that by the end of the first semester, you will be used
to it. Another big fear most 9th graders have are the seniors. They are
expected to be big and bad, but they are actually friendlier than you think.
They will assist you in pretty much anything, whether it is directions or
advice for a certain class.
The final difference between 8th and 9th grade is the immense
pressure put on by college. When entering high school, you will have a moment
of realization that now everything matters. Each test, each project, each
choice that you make in high school will affect college. So in May, when you
are looking at your course selection actually look at what classes you choose
because those decisions can come back and haunt you. Make sure to pick classes
right for you, not too hard or too easy but just right. You must put all your
effort into each an every assignment because every grade matters and one grade
can affect your quarterly grade in a positive way or negative way.
