December 2007
Holiday Newsletter
Caring & Sharing with our Families and Friends 
  
Christmas Cookie Gift Bags
 
Cookie Bag

By: Amanda Formaro

Difficulty: Easy

Age: 5 and up

 

Just baked a giant batch of Christmas cookies and want to share? This craft is a great way to give the gift of baking and share your crafty talents as well!

What you'll need:

  • Paper lunch sack
  • Acrylic paint in white, green and red
  • Foam stamps: star and circle
  • Paint brush
  • White craft glue
  • Silver glitter
  • Green glitter glue
  • 6-8" ribbon
  • Cookies

How to make it:

For complete instructions, go to Kaboose.com Crafts.

 

 

Book of the Month Review
 
Book

Judy Moody & Stink: The Holly Joliday byMegan McDonald, Peter H. Reynolds
 
School Library Journal

Gr 3-5-Fans of the Moodys will enjoy this holiday offering with its sparkly cover and full-color illustrations. All Stink wants for Christmas is snow, and that's not too likely in Virginia. But things begin to look up when a new mailman named Jack Frost (looking amazingly like Santa) shows up at the door and encourages Stink to "Think snow." Predictably the plot revolves around Christmas lists, holiday plays, and lots of wishing, with a big show of heart from Judy Moody at the end. Most enjoyable is the fast-paced dialogue and witty sister-and-brother banter that readers have come to expect. A surefire hit for the "jolidays."-Teri Markson, Los Angeles Public Library

Copyright 2007 Reed Business Information

 
Family Fixin's
 
Christmas Cookies

Visions of Sugar Cookies

By:   Mackenzie Schieck

Get out the cookie cutters and sprinkles--it's time for kids' favorite do-it-yourself holiday treat.  With the kids home on holiday break, baking and decorating cookies is a fun way to spend time together, and then have something delicious to show for it.

INGREDIENTS

2 3/4 cups all-purpose flour

1 teaspoon baking soda

1/2 teaspoon baking powder

1 cup butter, softened

1 1/2 cups white sugar

1 egg

1 teaspoon vanilla extract

 

DIRECTIONS

  • Preheat oven to 375 degrees F (190 degrees C). In a small bowl, stir together flour, baking soda, and baking powder. Set aside.
  • In a large bowl, cream together the butter and sugar until smooth. Beat in egg and vanilla. Gradually blend in the dry ingredients. Roll rounded teaspoonfuls of dough into balls, and place onto ungreased cookie sheets.
  • Bake 8 to 10 minutes in the preheated oven, or until golden. Let stand on cookie sheet two minutes before removing to cool on wire racks.
College Hightlight
 
Duke LogoYounger than most other prestigious U.S. research universities, Duke University consistantly ranks among the very best.  Duke's graduate and professional schools - in business, divinity, engineering, the environment, law, medicene, and nursing - are among the leaders in their fields.
 

SAT Range: 2211 - 2315 
 
GPA Range: 3.85 - 4.00
Company Logo
Season's Greetings
 
 
Countdown to Winter Break!  In this newsletter you will find some great tips on how to have an enjoyable holiday break with your little ones, and parents of college-bound high school students shouldn't miss the important information about preparing early for college entrance.
 
Handling Extended Family Visits and Traveling during the Holidays
 
Chevy Chase

Family Education has some advice for making the trip a little easier when you travel this holiday season.   One family plus hours cramped in the car or on an airplane can equal disaster. However, a few simple tips can help make the road a smooth one.

 
  • Keep yourself and your kids hydrated. If you're flying, this is especially important, since air in the plane becomes dry very quickly.
  • Make good use of the activities you included in your activities bag. A good game or puzzle may help to forestall kids' complaints. But beware of motion sickness -- some kids may not do well with reading or writing while moving.
  • If driving:
  • Take your time! If your little one starts getting whiny in the back seat of the car (asking the classic question, "Are we there yet?"), it may be time to take a break. Pull into the next rest area or park for a breather.
  • Pass the time with simple guessing games or sing-alongs.
  • Monitor traffic reports on the radio to avoid major jams. Many highways have signs indicating what frequency to turn to for specific advice.
  • If flying:
  • Show the kids how to monitor the progress of the plane on the in-flight television screen, present on many airplanes. Not only will they find it interesting, but you'll hear that dreaded phrase, "How much longer?" far less frequently.
  • The most important thing is to get there safely. Make sure everyone is buckled in properly and that if you drive, you drive carefully. Instruct your kids on what to do if they get separated from the family, and provide them with phone numbers where they can reach you or another responsible adult.

Now enjoy your vacation!  www.FamilyEducation.com

 

What should you be doing to prepare your high school student for college?

 
According to collegeboard.com, you and your students need to begin as soon as they become freshmen.  Here are some of their suggestions to complete the first half of the school year. 
 

Freshmen - Plan for the Year Ahead

  1. Meet with your counselor to discuss your college plans. Review your schedule with him or her to make sure you're enrolled in challenging classes that will help you prepare for college. Colleges prefer four years of English, history, math, science, and a foreign language.
  2. Use College Search to find out the required courses and tests of colleges that you might be interested in attending.
  3. Start a calendar with important dates and deadlines.
  4. Get more involved with your extracurricular activities. 
  5. Go to college fairs in your area.

 

Sophomores - Plan for the Year Ahead

  1. Meet with your counselor to discuss your college plans. Review your schedule with him or her to make sure you're enrolled in challenging classes that will help you prepare for college. Colleges prefer four years of English, history, math, science, and a foreign language.
  2. Start a calendar with important dates and deadlines.
  3. Get more involved with your extracurricular activities
  4. Use College Search to find out the required courses and tests of colleges that you might be interested in attending.
  5. Go to college fairs in your area.
  6. Consider Taking the PSAT/NMSQT®
  7. Sign up for the PSAT/NMSQT, which is given in October. Ask your counselor which date is offered at your school.
  8. If you're taking the PSAT/NMSQT check 'yes' for Student Search Service® to hear about colleges and scholarships.

 

Juniors - Take the PSAT/NMSQT

  1. At school, sign up early to take the PSAT/NMSQT® in October.
  2. Start Your College Search.
  3. Start with you: Make lists of your abilities, preferences, and personal qualities. List things you may want to study and do in college.
  4. Jumpstart your college planning by reading about majors and careers. Use College Search to find colleges with the right characteristics.
  5. Start Thinking about Financial Aid
  6. Talk to your counselor about your college plans and attend college night and financial aid night at your school.  

Seniors - Pulling Your Applications Together

  1. Narrow your list of colleges to between 5 and 10 and review it with your counselor. Get an application and financial aid info from each. Visit as many as possible.
  2. Make a master calendar and note:
    • Test dates, fees, and deadlines
    • College application due dates
    • Required financial aid applications and their deadlines
    • Recommendations, transcripts, and other necessary materials
    • Your high school's deadlines for application requests, such as your transcript
  3. Ask for recommendations. Give each person your resume, a stamped, addressed envelope, and any required forms.
  4. Write application essays and ask teachers, parents, and friends to read first drafts.
  5. Applying Early Action or Early Decision?
    • November 1: For early admissions, colleges may require test scores and applications in early November.
    • Ask if your college offers an early estimate of financial aid eligibility
  6. Get Financial Aid Info
    • Attend financial aid info events in your area.
    • Talk to your counselor about CSS/Financial Aid PROFILE® and learn about it with Completing the PROFILE.
    • Use Scholarship Search at collegeboard.com, review scholarship books, and ask your counselor about local and state funding sources.

Please visit the official site of the SAT www.collegeboard.com for all your SAT and college entrance information.

 
A look back at 2007
 
As we come to the close of this year, I look back on a year of tremendous growth, and feel truly blessed that our company has had the opportunity to help so many students across the nation.  Even as we grow so quickly, we still always savor the triumphs, no matter how small, of each of our students.  Our staff will speak of clients almost as family...we wait expectantly for test results, report cards, and notes from the tutors telling us how well our students have done.  This company is built on the principle that we will always do our very best to help each student find success, and we appreciate the trust you have put in us.
 
 
 
From our family to yours, we wish you a joyous holiday season and a bright and prosperous new year!


Victoria Kearney
Director of Tutoring Services