Surviving the Second Half of Senior Year (Senioritis)

Seniors! Your time here at JSerra is coming to an end as you are in the last semester of your senior year. We understand there are so many emotions involved with this part of your life. You are about to graduate high school, you are finishing up with your last high school courses, and your family is so proud and excited for your next adventure.

With being a senior one often comes down with Senioritis! This is the academic sickness making those infected less motivated and stricken with an inability to focus on their semester tasks as it is coming to an end.

Here are some tips to combat avoid this plague and defeat if you happen to be struck with Senioritis:

Keep Up the Hard Work
Although you may have received a college acceptance letter, this doesn’t mean it is now the time to start falling behind in your classes. At the end of the year, you still have to submit your transcripts to the school you decide to attend in the fall. If your grades slip too much, colleges may revoke your admissions offer. Even with too many unexcused absences, this could lead to you failing a course. Keep up the hard work and strive for the academic excellence that makes the Lion Nation proud! And, don’t forget to complete all of the necessary requirements for graduation, like those service hours!

Apply for Scholarships
Since it is second semester of senior year, some of your classes may not have a lot of new material left. If you find yourself having more time on your hands instead of homework, use this time to apply for scholarships. Many scholarships are academic based and require an essay of some sort. This will keep you motivated in the classroom as well as you will be able to hone your writing abilities – a much needed skill in college and beyond.

Savor the Here & Now
Take it all in. After all, this will be the last time you will do many familiar things. This is the last time it will be so easy to hang out with your friends at your spot for lunch because once you all go off to colleges across the country, you will only have breaks to spend time with each other. Take the time to let your teammates know you appreciate them. This is the last year you will be on the team. Talk to your favorite teacher and thank them for everything they have done for you in your high school career. Make a list of a few of things you and your friends said you always wanted to do or try at JSerra. Then make it a goal of doing one each week! Make sure you are there enjoying every last minute of being the Big Dogs on Campus before embarking on your new adventure.

With these three tips you can combat Senioritis! You all have worked so hard during your years here at JSerra. Keep up the hard work lions! The end is insight!

Lion Pride!

Commute Time Is More Time!

The school year is a busy time for many students. And as parents, your schedules are often impacted with different tasks, work, or things to do for the family. Many parents often struggle finding time to spend with their kids. If you commute with your kids, it is MORE time with your kids. This commute time is often wasted and just spent in silence, listening to music or passengers playing on mobile devices. Don’t know what to talk about? Whether your commute is 5 minutes or 30, here’s a few topic ideas to chat with your son or daughter on that drive to and from school! 

To School:

Talk about School:
Ask your child what they have going on for their day. Maybe they have a huge exam or are worried about a speech they have to give. By talking to them about it you are giving them a chance to release any stress or worry they may have. You are also showing them that you are always there for them. 

Talk about their Favorite Class:
This is another chance for you to learn a lot about your child. By their response to their favorite class, you can see the different things that interest them. If your child likes English, you can guess that they like to read and then talk about their favorite genre for books. This conversation starter can be a gateway into other conversations that will allow you to learn more about your child!

From School:

Ask about their Friends:
Since both of you have busy schedules, ask about your son or daughter’s friends. You can learn a lot about your child by who they associate with. If you personally know one of their friends, ask about them. It shows your child that you are interested in their life and what they are doing.

Talk About Their Day:
This is a topic that you can talk about for quite some time. A lot can happen in your student’s day that can be an impactful learning experience for both of you. Don’t let them get away with saying nothing? Ask about classes, friends, sports or activities. What was one thing that made them smile during the day?

Driving in the car with your child can be a valuable time where you can chat with your son or daughter and learn a lot about them and what they are up to. But, don’t forget to share about your day, too. Asking for your child’s feedback on problems you are tackling or projects you are working on is a win-win. You are able to provide insight into all that you do and are passionate about while showing your teen that you value their input and life experience, also.

Don’t let the commute time be wasted time. Talk to your child; take this time to bond with and learn about them! You can take this time to grow your relationship.

Lion Pride!

JSerra Spring 2015 Signing Day

We are always proud of our Lions. Every year, we see students reach their potential and show the world who they are as individuals. They are first and foremost students, but our Lions are also stellar in other aspects of their lives! We are so proud of the following students who signed their letters of intent to the universities of their dreams this Spring!

Softball:
Taylor Stephen – Providence College

Equestrian:
Haley Giddings – Texas Christian University

Girls Water Polo:
Marina Daroca Bazan – San Diego State University

Boys Golf:
Jonathan Unterman – Ave Maria University

Boys Water Polo:
Zachary Slaughter – George Washington University 

Cross Country:
Ashley Geisler – University of Nebraska
Victoria Yanco – University of California, Santa Barbara

Football:
Ethan Aguayo – San Jose State University
Joseph Munroe – Adams State University

Girls Volleyball:
Hannah Joyce – Whittier College

Congratulations! Everyone at JSerra will be rooting you on in your future endeavors. We know you will make us proud!

Lion Pride!

Planning Ahead: Unconventional College Majors

As we prepare to say goodbye to our graduating senior class, we want to remind our students that college is an experience meant for them to grow, learn, and find a career path that means something. There are traditional majors available at every school such as Business, Communications, Psychology, Pre-med and more, but there are also many other exciting options out there for students wanting to try something different.

Do you dream of working with the stars? At USC, you can major in various facets of Theatre, numerous types of Performance, Dance, Animation & Digital Arts, and even Writing for Screen & Television!

If owning a bakery has been a life-long dream, then the Bakery Science & Management major at Kansas State University should be considered. The major trains students for research, administrative, production, or executive positions within the industry, or students can choose to study quality control and research and development.

For the students who love binge watching their favorite shows on Netflix or obsessing over celebrities, the Pop Culture major at Bowling Green State University is a perfect match. This major prepares students for careers in journalism, mass media, public relations, and advertising.

Do you work well with people and want to help them? You can help athletes by becoming an Athletic Training or PGA Golf Management major at UNLV! If you aren’t interested in sports, there are also majors in Restaurant Management and Meetings and Events to help you understanding of the significance of the hospitality industry.

There are also majors in Costume Technology at DePaul University, Floral Management at Mississippi State University, and Adventure Education at Green Mountain College. There is always an option to major in Business or Communications, but minor in Dance, Gender Studies, and more. The possibilities are endless with the help of your trusty counselors, so be sure to visit them early to plan out classes and get advice on majors and minors!

College is a time to continue your education and prepare yourself for your future. Every major requires the same general educations classes of Math, Science, English, and History; all courses that will help you in the future. It is important to remember to find your passions while you’re there, too! No matter the major or minor, your JSerra family will always be rooting for your success!

Lion Pride!

Social Media Savvy: Parents’ Guide to Facebook

Parents, if you don’t already know what Facebook can do, you’re about to find out! Facebook is one of the most used Social Media platforms for both parents and children, and that’s because it’s a great way to connect with friends, family, and colleagues.

 

Now-famous Mark Zuckerburg and his fellow Harvard University colleagues launched Facebook in 2004. It was originally created as a limited membership for Harvard students, but has since allowed anyone who is at least 13 years old, depending on local laws, to become a user starting in 2006. Users can add “Friends” and separate them into subgroups such as “Close Friends” and “People from School/Work”. As of June 2014, Facebook has over 1.3 billion active users.

It’s likely you or your student has a Facebook account, so here are a few basic rules for protecting your children online.

Be Aware of Who They’re Adding
If recent additions to their friends list look questionable, ask how they know this person. If they met anywhere outside of school, work, family, or extracurricular activities, they probably haven’t met in person. Warn them the dangers of adding strangers and be sure they delete them immediately.

Encourage Them Not to Post Anything They Wouldn’t Want to Explain to Grandma
If it’s not something they are comfortable talking about in person, there’s no reason for it be on Social Media. Make sure your student understands that everything on the Internet lives forever, so it’s important to keep inappropriate content off of Facebook.

Privacy Isn’t Protection
Of course it’s important to be sure their accounts are private, but explain that it doesn’t mean their content is safe. Anything that is liked by their friends can be seen on the newsfeed of others. While their future may seem far away, college admission teams and future job professionals would likely be able to find content with a quick Google search. Tell them to keep away from posting suggestive content, specific locations like home and work, phone numbers, and email addresses.

These habits should be carried over onto other Social Media sites as well! It’s important to always appear professional, no matter where you are in your career.

Don’t forget to like us on Facebook and follow our other accounts to stay up to date with JSerra news, tips for students and parents, and more!

Lion Pride!

College Bound: The Universities You Do (Or Don’t) Get Into Do Not Define You

Every year, college acceptance letters start hitting the mailboxes. While this can be a very stressful time in your educational career, it is also a time to step back and look at the big picture for your future college successes!

While many students are intimidated by the idea of college, especially when it comes to their dream schools, it is important to keep a positive attitude. The schools you do and don’t get into do not define who you are as a student or individual. Here are a few tips about college admissions results: 

Don’t Take It Personally:
Remember; whether you are crying tears of joy or sorrow, your admissions decisions do not define who you are. Getting in doesn’t mean life’s doors are now open to you without effort and drive. Being rejected doesn’t mean that all of your dreams are no longer important. No matter what your envelope says, you endured an extensive and exhausting process – congratulations!

Visit The Prospective Campuses, Again:
Once you figure out which campuses are potential, visit them again! Spend all day on the different campuses and see what interests you the most or see what different amenities they have that will help you succeed as a student. You may find yourself learning new things about the campus that you didn’t know before!

Celebrate:
Whether it is your first choice or your fifth choice, take pride in that a school you applied to wants to extend acceptance to you. This is something to be proud of. Your hard work has paid off! And we are all PROUD of you!

College acceptance letter season is a time where you should remain confident in who you are as a person and everything you have accomplished thus far in your life. You have dedicated so much time and energy into your schooling; be proud of yourself and congratulations!

Lion Pride!