May 2010

Volume 2, Issue 2

Some tips and strategies to help you successfully complete these exams. pg. 3

TOP 10 SAT AND ACT TEST-TAKING TIPS

Action Plans

SAT/ACT Information

What you should be doing to prepare for college. pg. 6

Here is some important exam info for you. pg. 5

The

Pinnacle Educat ion’s Magazine for Students and Parents

Personal and Career ExplorationClass at our campus locations helps students deal with a variety of issues they are faced with as they approach graduation. pg. 7

End of the Year AttendanceIt is very important that students finish the year strong as the end of the school year approaches. pg. 3

PinnaclePost

Links LibraryImportant links with tips and resources for students. pg. 5

Important DatesMark your calendars with these important Pinnacle events. pg. 4

Tip of the MonthHelpful student & parent tips. pg. 4

How to Avoid Online High School BurnoutWhat you can do to make sure you don’t get worn out from school. pg. 2

In this Issue:

PinnaclePost ContentsMay 2010 - Volume 2, Issue 2

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Be sure to visit the Pinnacle Online High School Counselor’s Corner website at www.pinnacleeducation.com!

Parents and students can find resources and a variety of relevant information on Counselor’s Corner. Visit the site today!

Check back often for updates.

Visit the Counselor’s Corner Website!

How to Avoid Online High School Burnout

We’ve all been there before. Mindlessly staring at a computer screen, completely devoid of what might be on it. Or maybe you might be involved in so many activi-ties or clubs, that it seems like your only break time is the 15 minutes in the car between student council meetings and soccer practice. If this sounds like one of your days, you might be at risk of serious burnout.

First identified in the 1970s, burnout is a state of emotional, mental, and physi-cal exhaustion caused by excessive and prolonged stress. It mostly occurs when people feel overwhelmed and are unable to meet constant demands. Burnout can also cause long-term changes to the body that make people vulnerable to illnesses like colds and flu. And everyone is at risk of becoming overstressed, from Fortune 500 CEOs to 6-year-olds.

From bright-eyed and bushy-tailed first graders who suddenly balk at participat-ing in school activities to star-student seniors who suddenly smash the snooze button well into first period, no one is im-mune to burnout. So as you continue on with your online high school classes and

everyday activities, here are three ways to help you avoid burnout.

Slow and Steady. It is a well-known fact that students who are involved in extracurricular and outside activities generally perform better academically. It is also proven that some things are good in moderation. So while it is good to par-ticipate, if all the activities start to pile up, you may lose more than a few hours of sleep. If students begin to over schedule themselves, they are likely to become less focused and irritable. If this sounds like you, try and scale back some of your activities and schedule some time to just relax and recharge.

Avoid Boredom. If you can become burned out by doing too much, the same can be said if you don’t do enough. For some students, they are resigned to the fact of just doing their school work and nothing else. But this frame of mind can also lead to burnout. If you don’t feel challenged in school, you may also expe-rience the same symptoms as burnout. So if you find yourself in need of a chal-lenge, try enrolling in advanced classes or joining an extracurricular activity.

Stop, Drop, and Roll. What works for fire safety, can also help prevent burnout. Whenever you feel stressed and over-whelmed, just remember to stop, drop and

roll. First, just stop and take a step back and take a personal inventory. Ask your-self, “Where are you now, and what do you want to accomplish today?” Second, drop something off your schedule that doesn’t need to be done today. This will help you prioritize and relieve stress. Fi-nally, roll in a different direction. This can be anything from varying a daily routine to delegating a responsibility. If you do this, it is a great way to avoid burnout.Hopefully these tips will help you the next time you feel a stressed and over-whelmed. Also, please remember that it is always a good idea to ask for help when you need it. Whether it’s a parent, friend or teacher, there are plenty of resources available to you. So the next time you are feeling the effects of burnout, remember these tips.

Pinnacle Education- www.pinnacleeducation.com

By: Gabe Trujillo

Did you know that just because the end of the year is approaching, you still need to attend your courses regularly? Student should be working in their courses 20-25 hours per week. For Online students who have less than their usual load of four courses, this means working longer in the fewer courses you are currently taking.

We are here to help you finish your courses on time and with a passing grade. Don’t be afraid to contact us with any questions or concerns you may have. Make sure to come up with a schedule so that you have set-aside time to work 20-25 hours per week in your courses. This is what we know to be the formula for success for Pinnacle students.

1. Be Equipped: On the night before the test you should gather everything you’ll need: the admission ticket, a valid form of photo identification, several #2 pencils, a calculator with fresh batteries (for the SAT only), a watch, and a high-energy snack.

2. Don’t Cram: You’ve worked hard. The best thing to do the evening before the test is to get a good night’s sleep. You’ve covered the content and you’ve perfected the skills. Now it’s time to get in test mode -- calm, rested, confident, and ready.

3. Dress in Layers: The climate in test centers can vary from sauna-like to frigid. Be prepared for both extremes and everything in-between. You need to be comfortable to do your best.

4. Arrive Early: You may want to scope out your test location before test day to ensure that you know where you’re going. Getting to the test should be the least of your concerns.

5. Don’t Spend too Much Time on One Question: Each question is worth the same number of points. If a question is confusing or too time-

consuming, don’t lose your cool. Instead, move on to greener pastures. You can come back to hard questions if you have time at the end of a section.

6. Don’t Look for Unscored Questions/Sections: The experimental section on the SAT is well-camouflaged. Sometimes the ACT contains experimental questions that are scattered throughout the sections. Do your best on every question--that way, you’re covered.

7. Keep Track of Where You Are in a Section: On the SAT, obvious answer choices early in a set may be correct. Obvious choices near the end of a set are often booby traps.

8. Guess Aggressively: If you don’t know an answer, don’t leave the question blank or guess randomly. Eliminate the choices you know are wrong, then make an educated guess from the remaining options.

Remember, if you can eliminate even one answer choice then it pays to guess on the SAT. On the ACT, students aren’t penalized for guessing. Only the correct answers count toward their score, so it is better to guess than leave a blank.

9. Be Careful Filling in the Answer Grid: Make sure you’re filling in answers next to the right numbers.

10. Relax: Your attitude and outlook are crucial to your test-day performance. Be confident.

*Brought to you by the American School Counselor Association

Some tips and strategies to help you successfully complete these exams.

End of the Year Attendance:

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TOP 10 SAT AND ACT TEST-TAKING TIPS

Pinnacle Education - www.pinnacleeducation.com

It is very important that students finish the year strong as the end of the school year approaches.

Here are some tips on ways to get the most out of your time away from class.

Apply for an internship. Having an internship is one of the most important ways you can gain experience and start to make contacts within your field of inter-est. While college students hold most of the available internships, more opportu-nities are now available for high school students looking to get valuable work experience. To learn more about how you can get an internship, check out this article on FastWeb.

Join a club. Being a part of a club, organization or extracurricular activity is a great way to meet new people and share common interests. Creating a network of friends, co-workers and colleagues is an excellent way to get a head start on your career goals while still in high school.

Develop your talent. If you have a talent or hobby that you would like to pursue as a career, try and devote as much time to it as you can. For example, if you enjoy writing, spend some time reading books of various genres and even do a little blogging when you have some extra time. If you enjoy learning about his-tory, read any books or magazines and watch history-themed programs to learn more about different eras. The more you practice your talent and research your hobby; the better prepared and informed you’ll be.

And there you have it, because of the flexible scheduling of online high schools, you now have extra free-time. But, if you choose to spend your time us-ing one of these options, it will definitely be time well spent!

The top five things to do when you’re not in your online class

One of the great benefits of going to an online high school is having a flexible schedule. Online stu-

dents are able to work at their own pace and complete their classes at a time that best fits their needs. Since students can chose when they want to work on their classes, they can have time for other vari-ous extracurricular activities. If you’re an online student and are looking for ideas on things you can do on your free time, here are some suggestions.

Become a volunteer. Look for local orga-nizations that may need some help from volunteers. It can be anything from hos-pitals to homeless shelters. Donating your time to others is a great way to give back to your community and develop important skills for the workplace. Having a few volunteer hours on your college applica-tion would be beneficial as well when you apply to college or university.

Get a job. There are several reasons why a getting a job can be a great use of your free time. By no means do you have to work and go to school full-time. Even having a small part-time job for a few hours a week can be of great benefit. Along with putting a little extra cash in your pocket (which is never a bad thing), having a job will give you valuable expe-rience and insight into the workplace. The lessons and training you learn at work will also pay dividends as you continue your post-secondary education and career goals. Here are some great resources from FastWeb to help you with your job search.

May 1: SAT TestMay 5: SAT June 5 Registration DeadlineMay 7: SAT June 12 Registration DeadlineMay 26: Graduation for Online High School and Sites (except Nogales)May 27: Online High School last day of school

Parents: The end of the school year is an important time for your student. We need your help to as-sist them in finishing off the school year strong. We recommend asking your student how their coursework is going and about their course deadlines. Have them show you their courses and grade-books so you can see for yourself their progress and tasks left to complete. As always, you can call your students Guidance Counselor or talk to their Lab Manager if you have questions or con-cerns. An involved parent is a critical part of the student success equation.

Students: With the end of school (May 27) quickly approaching, it is important to be very diligent at managing your time. Your Lab Manager or Guidance Counselor can help you come up with a schedule to finish your courses success-fully and on time. We have tools such as Tracking Sheets that we can help you fill-out. This will give you course work deadline to fit with the end of the year schedule. Call you Guidance Counselor today at 480 755-8222 x2965, or talk to your Lab Manager if you are a site student.

June 1-25: Summer Session OneJune 5: SAT testJune 12: ACT testJune 30: Last day for NetBook hours to count to-wards contestJuly 6-30: Summer Session TwoAugust 9: First day of school

Important Dates

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Tipsof the month

Pinnacle Education - www.pinnacleeducation.com

By: Gabe Trujillo

Links LibraryHere you can find some helpful links to information and tips that will help you during your high school career. From scholarship information, to SAT/ACT tips, there is something for any educational need. Check out the links below.

Websites for college bound studentsSAT/ACT Bulletin

Scholarship May DeadlinesArizona Financial Aid

SAT/ACT InformationPSAT: www.collegeboard.org High School Code: #030666The Preliminary SAT/National Merit Scholarship Qualifying Test (PSAT/NMSQT) is a program cosponsored by the College Board and National Merit Scholarship Corporation (NMSC). It’s a standardized test that provides firsthand practice for the SAT®. It also gives you a chance to enter NMSC scholarship programs and gain access to college and career planning tools. The PSAT measures: Critical reading skills, Math problem-solving skills, Writing skills.

SAT: www.collegeboard.org High School Code: #030666Nearly every college in America accepts the SAT or SAT Subject Tests as a part of its admissions process. That’s why more than two million students take the SAT every year.

ACT: www.act.org High School Code: #030666The ACT® test assesses high school students’ general educational development and their ability to complete college-level work. The multiple-choice tests cover four skill areas: English, mathematics, reading, and science. The Writing Test, which is optional, measures skill in planning and writing a short essay.

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Here is some important info for you.

Pinnacle Education - www.pinnacleeducation.com

Spring Action PlansWhat you need to do for the upcoming semester.

Seniors:When the Letters Start Rolling In

• You should get acceptance letters and financial aid of-fers by mid-April.

• Use Compare Your Aid Awards to compare awards from different colleges. Questions? Talk to financial aid officers. Not enough aid? Ask if other financing plans are available.

• If you haven’t already, visit your final college before accepting.

May 1: Making Your Final Choice• You must tell every college of your acceptance or

rejection of offers of admission or financial aid by May 1. Send a deposit to the college you choose.

• Wait-listed? If you will enroll if accepted, tell the ad-missions director your intent and ask how to strengthen your application. Need financial aid? Ask if funds will be available if you’re accepted.

Juniors:Get Ready for the SAT

• Visit the SAT Preparation Center™ to take a free full-length official practice test and get a score and skills report. Be sure to sign up for The Official SAT Ques-tion of the Day™ for daily practice.

Explore Colleges

• Start visiting local colleges: large, small, public, and private. Get a feel for what works for you. Develop a list of 15-20 colleges that interest you. Search for col-leges and use My College List.

Prepare for AP Exams

• Do well on AP Exams and receive credit or placement at most colleges. Get AP Exam preparation.

Plan Ahead for the Summer & Senior Year

• Review your senior year class schedule with your counselor. Challenge yourself with honors and AP classes and stick with sequences you’ve begun, in the languages, for example. Read about how to select your courses.

• Plan summer activities early. Enrich yourself by vol-unteering, getting an interesting job or internship, or signing up for special summer learning programs. Sophomores:

Stay Focused

• Sign up for college preparatory courses.

Explore Summer Opportunities

• Look for a great summer opportunity — job, internship, or volunteer position.

• Check with your counselor and search online for summer school programs for high school students at colleges.

Freshman:Stay Focused

• Sign up for college preparatory courses.

Explore Summer Opportunities

• Look for a great summer opportunity — job, internship, or volunteer position.

• Check with your counselor and search online for summer school programs for high school students at colleges.

*Action Plans from: http://www.collegeboard.com/student/plan/starting-points/index.html.

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For those of you looking to continue your education at a college or university, you need to make sure that you are prepared and do your research. Here are some tasks to help you prepare for college during the upcoming semester.

Pinnacle Education - www.pinnacleeducation.com

It seems as time marches on, teenagers deal with a rising amount of respon-sibility as they move through high school. Most of us couldn’t imagine dealing with some of the issues our teens face everyday. Pinnacle Edu-cation’s campus class, Personal and Career Explorations, helps students deal with a wide variety of issues they are faced with as they approach gradu-ation.

At the beginning of the year, we focus on a career oriented curriculum. To help our students better understand the world around them, first we focus on the “Personal” portion. Students take a Predictive Index Survey that reveals their strengths. This survey highlights the best possible ways for a student to maximize their natural abilities. Students will also work on resume building, interviewing skills, and col-lege preparation.

After the winter break, students return for a more introspective portion of Personal and Career Exploration. We look at family traditions, cultural differences/similarities, drug abuse, and goal setting. Personal and Career Explorations instructors shape the

direction of the topics to best suit the interests of the specific school in which they are located.

Many of the areas we cover can stir up emotions that teens often have a difficult time processing. Through-out most of the year, PCE instruc-tors, along with Betty Matwick and Lesley Pelky, facilitate empowerment groups. PCE team member Betty Matwick piloted a Women’s Empow-erment group in the spring of 2009. These groups have grown now to include a Young Men’s Empowerment group. Each Pinnacle Education site has the ability to offer support groups that center around what is happening with the school as a whole. Our teens give out all kinds of signs when they are struggling with complex feelings, yet are often pressured to act as if they are doing better than they really are.

I have facilitated a young men’s group at the Tempe East Campus this year. Young men share feelings, experi-ences, and dreams. These young men are never stifled. Their groups help build a true sense of self respect, and community that has fostered positive growth for our students.

Personal and Career Exploration Graduation Tips:

We want to see all of our May Graduates participate in our May 26th ceremony. Here are some helpful hints about how to make Graduation night one to remember.

- Online students, be sure to order your cap and gown and turn in your Graduation application

- Arrive at the site 2 hours before the ceremony begins

- Dress appropriately (see Code of Conduct in your Graduation packet)

- Ask your guests to arrive 30 minutes before the ceremony is scheduled to begin (tickets are not necessary)

- Bring your cash or check if you are ordering professional portraits

- Bring $8 to order your Graduation DVD

- Come ready for a night to remember!

Congratulations Class of 2010!!!

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Follow Us!Pinnacle Phone ContactsOffice: 480.755.8222

Long Distance: 1.888.567.1844

email: pinnacle@pin-ed.com

English: x2734

Math: x2748

Science: x2729

Social Studies: x2720

Electives: x2745

Student Services: x2965

Departments

Pinnacle Education - www.pinnacleeducation.com

Class at our campus locations helps students deal with a wide variety of issues they are faced with as they approach graduation.

By: Vince Mosca - PCE Instructor

www.pinnacleeducation.com

3225 S. Hardy, Tempe, AZ 85282

Tel: 480.755.8222 Fax: 480.755.8111

Inspirational Quote:“It is our choices that show what we truly are, far more than our abilities.” - J.K. Rowling