summer newsletter

points.

Don’t panic if you can’t re-member the answer. An-swer the easy questions first, then go back and look at the harder ones. This will give you confidence, and can trigger your memory. If a problem is unclear, skip it and come back to it later. Sometimes you may find the answer in another question. Looking at the general topic may help you remember more specific facts that could answer the question. If all else fails, write down the closest thing you can think of. This will get you started in the right direc-tion. Some teachers will give you partial credit for trying.

Learn some relaxation tech-niques you can use during the test to calm yourself. Breathing exercises, muscle relaxation, and visualization are skills that can relax you and help you perform bet-ter.

Most students can achieve higher test scores with the proper preparation and atti-tude. By utilizing these tips and thoroughly reviewing all course material, test scores can dramatically in-crease. You can do it!!!

Fall Preparation & Reducing Test Anxiety by Julie M. Armenta, M.A., Educational

Second Quarter Newsletter

With Fall coming, many stu-dents face a multitude of tests; both standardized and classroom-based. Preparing for these tests is not always as easy as studying your notes and working on review questions, though these practices are extremely important. Stu-dents often face anxiety about tests, and this anxiety can deeply impact their test preparation and performance. Below are some ways of dealing with this anxiety, and how to prepare for tests.

Avoid negative thoughts. Think-ing about all the things that could go wrong with the test will in-crease your anxiety. Relax and try to have fun!

Start studying at least a week before the test. Even 15-20 minutes a day will help to keep the information fresh in your mind. Take those spare moments of brushing your teeth, curling your hair, and eating lunch, and turn them into active study time. Every little bit counts!

Create a schedule and stick to it. Repetition is a good rule of thumb. Remember: 1 class equates to 1.5 hours of study time each week. So 5 classes equate to 7.5 hours of study time a week minimum.

Get a good night’s sleep and eat a power packed breakfast. Be on time. Being late will increase your anxiety, arriving early al-lows you time to relax before the test. Take a few minutes before the test to review, recite, and re-hearse.

Bring all the materials you’ll need. Find out ahead of time what you will need. Pencil or pen? Are calculators or study guides allowed? Do you need

scratch paper?

Avoid discussing the test with classmates the day of the test. This increases your anxiety. It is more produc-tive to sit quietly and review your notes.

Act confident. Sit and stand with a calm, controlled pos-ture. Slow down. Avoid expressing your nervous-ness. Be Confident!

Take the time to focus be-fore the test. Arrive early and review your notes, or if this causes panic, focus on an item in the classroom, a pleasurable scene or activi-ty, etc.

Listen carefully to the teacher or test-giver’s verbal instructions before the test is given out. This infor-mation is very important. Read all instructions slowly and carefully at least twice.

Ask for clarification on di-rections and questions if you need it.

If you are afraid you will forget something, write it down on the margin or back of the test as soon as you receive it.

Skim the test when you re-ceive it to budget your time. Often teachers will indicate how many points each section is worth. It doesn’t make sense to spend 10 minutes on a 5 point question, and then not have time to write an essay worth 40

Come get help this summer at Armenta for….. June, July, August 2012

Volume 11, Issue 1

Inside this issue:

Success at Armenta 2

Student of the Quarter 3

Summer School Info 4

Summer Activities 5

Educational Specialist Info

6

Yearbooks 8

Announcements

Yearbooks are for eve-ryone, both regular stu-dents and tutoring stu-dents. They are $65.00 each and will include the Summer program. Reserve yours now!

The first day of school is September 10th Don’t forget to sign up early for the Fall term. We also have year round programs if interested.

Get your Armenta Learning Academy t-shirts for Sum-mer School. They are $15.00 each and are required for all field trips.

Success at Armenta – Thank you for being a part of Armenta this year!


Dear Mr. Smith “I wanted you to know that I am thrilled with your enthu-siasm for teaching. It is obvious, just by looking in your eyes, how excited you are about what you do. It makes me miss teaching! It is a very precious gift to have a truly good teacher, and wanted to thank you. I come home very excit-ed by how excited you are and how well she is doing and all her great grades. So, thank you ” “Thank you Mr. Smith for all you have done for my daughter Sara. She actually excited about math again and

went from a D to a B+ in less than a month. You are an amazing teacher/and role model. Thanks for coming in her life and making such a difference.” Shelly Scott

Mr.Smith and Mrs.Armenta

I love the academy because you help me so much. I don’t think I want to go back to public school. There is no drama here and every thing is so fun and smooth. Mr.Smith has a sense of humor and he’s very intelligent. Mrs.Armenta is a lot of fun and makes learning fun too. I used to have low scores and grades. And now I have all A’s and B’s. And I am on honor roll. Thank you Armenta Academy.

Kendall,

“I have never seen my son excited about school ever through all his school years. We are excited about his enthusiasm to learn and grad-uate this year. Thank to you!” Elaine

Thank you so much for updating me on my daughter progress. She said she is learning so much more and she loves working with Mr. Smith. Mr. Smith is great at updating me every day as to what they worked on and what she needs to do, and most of all, he has such a positive attitude towards her and that is huge. She has never had any teacher believe in her, so because of this, she has never believed in herself academically. She was a lot happier today when she got home from school, which is a first in a long time. Thank you again and have a nice weekend,


Honor Roll Students:

Kendall is a brilliant stu-dent who is interested in every-thing in the world around her. She is a hard working student has all A and B grades. She plans for her future to be a law-yer and a psychologist. Kendall is knowledgeable about many subjects and is always willing to share what she knows with the other students and teachers.

Danielle Guiol , Grade 9 She is an avid reader and frequently reads through her day. She gets along well with everyone here at Armenta. She has grown both academi-cally and socially since com-ing to ALA and we are proud of her and all of her accom-plishments. Keep up the great work!! You are awesome.

Daniel our new freshmen student at our school, drives out from Yorba Linda. Great kid! He is always willing to learn new things & loves to learn! He will also be working with us on summer school studies!!!

PARENT OF THE SEMESTER

Joyce Walker, do-

nated supplies to

our local Marine

Mammal center.

ALA is a part of seals release at Crescent Bay in Laguna and at the Montage!!!

The fair included a dog walk, dog-kissing booth, dog contests, a police canine demonstration and several booths from local dog adoption and day care centers. Proceeds from the event, which was organized by Saddleback College business students and sponsored by the college's Associated Student Gov-ernment, will benefit South Orange County no-kill shelters and rescues. Informational and vendor booths in-cluded the Guide Dogs of America, Tracy's Pots, Help Your Dog Help Others, Pet Country, Armenta Dog Academy, Adoption Corners and Pearls for Pups.

We have a very exciting summer planned this year. Our main theme will be Oceanography and our field trips are scheduled to coincide with each section of study we will be cov-ering.

In addition to the science experi-ments and classroom based activi-ties, we have a Photography class planned. Each student will be mak-ing a photo journal saving their summer, both at Armenta and away, in pictures. Students will need to bring a disposable camera to take pictures of their summer adven-tures. At the end of the summer, we will be putting all their pictures in journals & albums for the students to keep & share.

At Armenta Learning Academy we aim to provide students with oppor-tunities to grow through a wide vari-ety of human interactions. This

growth is nurtured through the foun-dations of enriching environments, such as the small class size and inter-active field trips.

We offer summer activities that pro-vide students with hands-on, tactile experiences in addition to the class-room environment. Many of the sum-mer activities serve as extensions to the school year curriculum. We offer a across curriculum of summer activi-ties to help students to not fall be-hind and to prepare for the upcoming school year.

We are also available for summer tu-torial support. ALA aims to give stu-dents an opportunity to develop and “field test” the many skills and atti-tudes that are introduced during their time with us. This provides the foun-dation necessary to foster growth in self-awareness and confidence. ALA’s classes enhance the develop-

Summertime, Summertime -K-Adult Programs

Armenta Pet Academy raising funds for no-kill shelters


ment of talents, personal interests, social skills and esteem. ALA offers additional classes tailored to the student as enrichment to the stu-dent’s regular curriculum structure. These classes for credit are compli-mentary to the traditional instruc-tional curriculum, including a varie-ty of courses that provide students with enrichment opportunities which cannot be provided through regular classroom activities. Our small class size, one on one educa-tional support, and individually paced programs, have so much to offer the student enabling them to reach success through newfound skills.

A day dedicated to the dogs Saddleback College hosted its first Dog Fair on Friday, inviting stu-dents, faculty and local residents to bring their canine friends to campus for a morning of dog-friendly activi-ties.

“Rest is not idleness, and to lie sometimes on the grass on a

summer day listening to the murmur

of water, or watching the clouds

float across the sky, is hardly a

waste of time.” ~John Lubbock

In-Home Tutoring and schooling is now available! Call us now to reserve a spot, limited space avail-able! Teacher appreciation week was in May. Mrs. Armenta and Mr. Smith touch our lives every day with posi-tive role modeling and encourage-ment for our dreams. A super big thanks to our teachers at ALA!

APA & Mrs. Armenta making a differ-ence in the community

Spectacular Sharks

Having Fun, Helping Our Community

Life in the Ocean: Above and Below

Macro Habitats, Ocean Population, Sea Life and Pollution Impact

Aquarium of the Pacific

$6.00 per Participant We will spend the day at the aquari-um and take a class about sharks. We will also tour the aquarium and see the diversity of life to be found in our oceans. Lunches will be provided for $5.50 per student.

Adventures & More Adventures Volume 11, Issue 1

We are proud to introduce the Pa-cific Marine Mammal Center as a new recipient of our Armenta An-gels Community Outreach program. Pacific Marine Mammal Center is a non-profit organization dedicated to the rescue, rehabilitation, and re-lease of marine mammals stranded along the Orange County coastline and to the increasing public aware-ness of the marine environment through education and research. There will be a collection box in the lobby for donations of the items on the list below. On July 29th, we will be visiting the PMMC and turning in our collected donations.

Toilet Paper Paper Towels Dawn dishwashing detergent Bleach Liquid Laundry Detergent (Tide

works best on our fishy laundry) 3 inch chlorine tablets (found in

pool supply section) Light Karo syrup Unflavored Pedialyte (We need

this most, right now for all the pups)

Rolls of 1 inch Masking tape (scotch or 3M brand sticks best to our fish buckets)

Blankets White Photo Paper Permanent Markers Staples or Office Max gift certifi-

cates Home Depot or Lowes gift certifi-

cates Bottled Water $.41 Stamps All Monetary donations are wel-come Cash donations can be dropped off at ALA or mailed directly to:

Pacific Marine Mammal Center 20612 Laguna Canyon Rd. Laguna Beach, CA 92651

Marine Mammals: Their Habits and Habitats

Seals, Sea Lions, Porpoises & Whales

Pacific Marine Mammal Center

$5.00 per Participant

It’s time to take the donations we have collected and go see the animals we are helping. We will take a tour of the center and see where they take care of sick seals and sea lions. After the tour we’ll have a picnic lunch on the grounds.

We have so many great activities planned for this summer. Feel free to join us for one or all of our field trips! A great way for your kids to be enriched, engaged & stay cool in school.

Tidal Pools: Life and Discovery High and Low Tide, Lunar Pull &

Micro Habitats

Tidal Pool Discovery & Dana Point Marine Center

Tidal pools hold a wide variety of unique sea life. We will be exploring

the habitats of these animals first hand. The rocks are sharp so be sure

to bring old shoes. Remember to bring sun block & supplies for a picnic.

Our Drinking Water: Lakes, Rivers, Reservoirs, and

Watersheds Freshwater Fishing at Irvine Lake.

Adults $22.00 Children $11.00 (no license required)

Come spend the day on beautiful Irvine Lake fishing and telling fish stories. We will spend the day trying to catch the wily fish and have a picnic style lunch together. Bring your fishing gear, chair, sun block, hat & lunch.


Announcing Mrs. Armenta M.A.

THE ROLE OF AN EDUCATIONAL CONSULTANT AND EXPERT

Educational consultants help students prepare to make transitions in their education program from kinder to college. Frequently, school districts and families have different priorities when determining the most appropriate services for a student with special needs. It is advantageous for parents to seek advice from an impartial expert to ensure that your rights are re-spected and that your child’s success is kept as the first priority. For many parents, the process is the beginning of a relationship with their child’s school that will last for many years. The more educated and confident the parent is, the better able they are to advocate for their child and maintain a professional and positive relationship with the school. My experience in the schools system, coupled with my consulting expertise enables me to help families navigate the "system" to improve a student's education-al experience. At Armenta, we can specialize the curriculum in areas of concern and need. Working as a team to maximize learning potential is key to tackling the challenges faced by your children such as reading and math disorders, test anxiety, organizational and time management skills, etc. This specialized program is for students who can benefit from Julie M. Armenta, the Educational Specialist and Owner of the Academy to concentrate on special learning needs for your child/children in a 1 on 1 setting.

Summer and Fall Enrollment-Reserve spot now!

Steve Kamph DC, whose clinic Southern California Neurofeedback, located in Newport Beach, spe-cializes exclusively in LENS and traditional neurofeedback evaluation and treatment. Neurofeedback is a permanent and drug-free solution for ADD/ADHD, learning disability, Asperger's, OCD, anxiety, depression, brain injury/concussion, autism, and a number of other conditions. Neurofeedback is also known for enhancing cognitive, memory, academic, and athletic performance. Steve can be reached at 949 702-7585, and would be happy to discuss you the application and benefits of neurofeedback specifically for you or your children. Treatment solutions and protocols are designed and im-plemented to integrate with your children's academic program.

Southern California Neurofeedback 2400 West Coast Hwy., Suite J

Newport Beach, CA 92663 949 722-7321

www.socalneurofeedback.com

Recognition Corner


Congratulation to our Graduating Seniors. We are so proud of you.

Student Volunteer programs at Armenta!

A volunteer contest win-ner Kendall Walker. She has volunteer over 20 hours of her precious time working with spe-cial needs student, Ma-ria!!! She helps Maria with her Math and reading !!! Thank you Kendall. We are very proud of you.

ALA highly recommends Greg Rich-ardson who is a music instructor in our area. He teaches Guitar Lessons, Recording Studio, Rehearsal Studio, Artist Development, Rock Camp, Band Management. You can reach him [email protected] or 949-306-4803

Katya Pulford

Jake Rawlings


Etiquette & Manners for Today’s Children & Teens

Basic Manners & Etiquette Workshops / Social Skills Classes

Appropriate Dress for various settings Personal grooming Handshaking - The Ultimate Greeting Introducing yourself and others - The Ultimate

First Impression Responding to introductions Name tag etiquette Conversation skills How to remember names Body Language & Eye signals

Thank you notes Netiquette - Cell phone and electronic etiquette Telephone manners Respecting cultural differences Being a thoughtful traveler - Travel etiquette Dating etiquette General manners and common courtesies The Job interview Ask what you need and we will do!

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I know parents need a break and a happy safe place for your children to go when you need to relax and rejuvenate. This local center is clean, fun and convenient. At ALA we are also available for enrichment and teacher directed activities as well during the week for academic and enrich-ment programs for all ages!

Armenta Enrichment Center!!

YEARBOOKS FOR ALL This year at ALA we have the opportunity to make a truly fantastic, lasting memory for all our kids, both school and tutoring students, but we need your help! We are asking all our parents to participate by creating a page for their kids. We want to have a page of “thank you” comments for ALA, the teachers and anyone who has been involved in making this a fantastic year! Input from students, such as poems, thank you notes, pic-tures, stories and memories is welcome. Please get involved. Together we can make this a wonderful memory keeper. Send an email to [email protected] with your information and to reserve a book.

Ryan our poetry contest winner won two movie tickets for his creative talent!


Fishing Trip FISHING TRIP 6/21/2012

“ We all made it safe home and caught a lot of fish, sculpin, halibut, sand dabs, barracuda and more, nev-er have seen so much fish on a boat in my life! As much as we love the ocean, 10 hours was a long trip and happy to be back on land, but thank you students and parents for a special time!”Mrs. Armenta

Awesome Armenta gang

Daniel and his dad

Walker family