Week 3! Spirit week and bonding event.

Hi everyone!

This week we had our first group bonding event! Boy did we have a lot of trouble deciding on what that was going to be.

Originally, I proposed that we go bowling at Strikers East Bowling. However, Jade and Shae both told me that they would rather go laser tagging, since it was more fun to them. I thought this was a pretty great idea, so we brought it up during FOCUS last Wednesday. The group actually all seemed to like the idea! We all agreed that laser tag would be a great activity. Unfortunately, Wes could not make it Friday nightbecause of work and track conflicts, so everyone voted to wait for him to go to laser tag. After much argument regarding a replacement activity, we settled on pizza and movie night in the library.

During the actual event, we watched Déjà Vu featuring Denzel Washington and Paula Patton. I ordered three large pizzas, but only Shae, Cam and Jade ended up coming. They didn’t seem to like one of the pizzas I got, since it had broccoli. They dubbed it the “weird pizza” and refused to eat it. Despite that, we still had a ton of fun.

This week is also spirit week! Katie has been instrumental in the committee to set up all the festivities, and she has been dressed up every day according to the theme. Good job Katie for showing so much school spirit and commitment! (She is staying after school all night after school today to decorate the halls.)

Thanks for another great week everyone!

 

Zan

Here is a picture of Cam! Cam bought us cookies and soda for our get together. Yay Cam!!

Week 2! Dinner, SATs, and Lunch!

Hi Everyone!

Last week was very eventful. The SEAD leadership came to visit us at RHS last Thursday! I had the honor to meet several of the parents, as well as the elusive Miss Kayla. I was also able to see Cam at work at Hanneford’s as a bagger. He bagged the candy and soda we bought for the event, though he himself could not be there due to work. (Best bagger ever!) Overall the dinner was very successful. Jay, Danise, Jenni and Katy presented information on financial aid, SEAD III, college readiness and resources at Raymond. Several alumni of the SEAD-Raymond program, Tayler and Brianna, also attended the dinner. These young women shared many insights regarding college planning and growing up in general. I was glad to meet them and learn that they considered SEAD to be an important part of their journey. I am also going to give myself a pat on the back for ordering the food. Word on the street: it was delicious. Thank you Fremont House of Pizza (which didn’t serve pizza…)!

Last Saturday, I also proctored a practice SAT test for the Reach High Scholars. I tried to tempt the SEAD scholars to come with bribery of an Applebee’s lunch afterwards, and of course benefits for their college readiness. Alas, only Miss Jade came to the practice. I’m so proud of Jade for getting up so early on a Saturday morning, especially since she had stayed quite late at school the day before working on her Dartmouth Bound application. So congratulations, Jade, for completing the application and the practice test! Even though only one scholar came to the practice, I could not renegade on my promise of food. Jade and I had the first SEAD event of the spring at the Tuckaway Tavern. (No worries, no alcohol involved, though it was a “tavern”.) We had delicious seafood! Be jealous other SEAD scholars. (Of course, don’t be too jealous, I will be holding another practice SAT test on April 25^th, and if you come to that one, I promise the same treatment!)

Thanks everyone for an awesome week.

Your Friendly Neighborhood Intern,

Zan

Jade reluctantly agreed to be in this picture with me. Hooray for Jade for wonderful work all around this week! 

Week 1! The beginning of the end.

Hi Everyone!

 

Today is the last day of the 3^rd quarter! Tomorrow, you will be officially beginning the last quarter of your junior years.

Many of you had unit tests, essays and projects these last few days, and I have been really proud of all your hard work. Tati and Shae are working on a project in sociology about Sunni Muslims. The girls invited me to work with them on their posters one day, and I saw that they were way ahead of everyone else in their class in terms of research, poster planning, and poster decoration. Tati and Shae really used the time given in class well. They were never distracted by idle chatter or other students. As a result, they were able to finish most of their project before many other groups had started! Good job girls!

This experience was a great way for me to begin my internship, and I hope that all of you will carry this excellent work ethic into the home stretch of this year. Even though the school year is beginning to wind down, we cannot afford to get relaxed with our attitudes towards school work and college preparation! The end of junior year is immensely important in the high school careers of college bound students. Not only do you have to wrap up all your hard work for the past year by reviewing all the material in preparation for the finals, you also have to begin looking at your life after high school in a serious manner.

Perhaps the career and college fair that will be coming to RHS tomorrow, April 8^th, will be a great way to start the thinking process. There will be representatives from many local universities, businesses, community colleges and technical schools. No matter what you like to do and what sort of future you hope to have, the fair is a good place to start. I sincerely hope to see you all there!

Thank you everyone for being so lovely during my first week here, and I look forward to spending everyday with you for the next two months.

 

Zan

P.s. I finally caught up with Wes today after only seeing him in the hall ways for quick conversations! Eventhough he was shy, he let me take this lovely picture. Thank you Wes! 

Hi from the spring intern!

Hi everyone!

 

My name is Zan and I’m the new SEAD-Raymond intern for spring 2015. I will be arriving at Raymond High School this Thursday, April 2^nd.

 

I am currently a junior at Dartmouth College, and I’m double majoring in Engineering modified with Art, and French Studies. In my free time I like to draw, rollerblade and cook. I most recently worked at a product design firm in Milwaukee during an off term. I also recently got back from traveling in China during the Chinese New Year holiday in March. I am originally from Shenzhen, a city in southern China. However, my mom and I moved to the U.S. when I was 10, and I went to middle school and high school in Shorewood Wisconsin, a small town near Milwaukee.

I am so excited to get to know the SEAD scholars and to help them learn more about moving towards young adulthood. Having gone through that process not so long ago, I would love to do anything I can to make it easier for them. I am also excited to continue the work that Katherine and Roberto did earlier this year. If any of you have any questions or concerns, or if you just want to say hi :), please feel free to contact me at (603)-369-8778 or email me at zan.song.16@dartmouth.edu. I would also love it if you would follow my weekly updates about our work at SEAD-Raymond at the SEAD Raymond blog:http://seadrhs.blogspot.com/.

 

In other exciting news, the SEAD leadership team (Director Jay Davis, Program Coordinate Danise Olague, and College Pathways Coordinator Jenni Gargano) will be coming to visit Raymond High School on Thursday, April 9^th. That’s next Thursday! We will be having a SEAD family dinner at RHS (exact room TBD) starting at 6:00 pm. All SEAD Scholars and family members are invited and highly encouraged to come! We would love to see you at the dinner, and I would personally be honored to meet all the lovely family members. I

 

I am truly looking forward to working with all of you at RHS. See you all very soon!

 

Best,

 

Zan ​