Newsletter March 2004, Page 2

Text Box: Happy 2004 to you all! Although it is past the time when we make our New Year’s Resolutions, I thought it might be appropriate to consider the “Alphabet of New Year’s Resolutions” as we struggle with new challenges every day: Avoid negative people, places, things, and habits. Believe in yourself. Consider things from every angle. Don’t give up and don’t give in. Enjoy life today. Yesterday is gone, and tomorrow may never come. Family and friends are hidden treasures. Seek them and enjoy their riches. Give more than you planned. Hang onto your dreams. Ignore those who try to discourage you. Just do it! Keep trying no matter how hard it seems. It will get easier. Love yourself first and most. Make dreams happen. Never lie, cheat or steal. Open your eyes and see things as they really are. Practice makes perfect. Quitters never win and winners never quit!Read and learn about everything important to you. Stop procrastinating. Take control of your own destiny. Understand yourself in order to better understand others. Visualize your dreams. Want your dream more than anything. X-celerate your efforts. You are a unique individual. Nothing can replace you. Zero in on your goals and go for them. Choose just one or two of these resolutions and make 2004 your best year ever! ~ Through the Model Schools validation

Text Box: process I’ve had the opportunity to visit many wonderful schools this year and you are doing an outstanding job of meeting the needs of your students. Some of the best marketing strategies I’ve seen include the “Out-to-Lunch” program that is in place at Calaveras Hills High School and Alta Vista High School, both located in Santa Clara County. The program pairs students with a mentor from the community who takes the student to lunch once a month. In addition to getting to know the student, the mentor facilitates services such as tutoring, gaining information about post-secondary educational options, and often becomes a surrogate parent. The dividends from this program are huge. Both schools enjoy enormous support for their programs from their district as well as the community at large. New Valley High School, also in Santa Clara County also has many supportive volunteers. Their Mobile Medical Unit staffed by Dr. Mitch and his medical team spends one day each week at their campus providing a variety of medical services. This is so popular that students from the other schools in the district also make use of the services. In addition, they have the NOVA Youth Employment program, a county-based program of services that helps students prepare for, and secure, employment. There is also the FLY Program (Fresh Lifeline for Youth), which is a group of young lawyers who teach students about issues surrounding the law, respect, and appropriate representation. The one thing all three of these schools have in common is a strong link to County-Based Services. An additional benefit of these kinds of outreach is that it provides assertive representation in community planning, thus providing strong advocacy for our continuation students.

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