Dear ERHS Students and Community,

Welcome to the 2^nd semester!  The year is really moving at a fast pace.  The first semester is “in the books”!  All students will be receiving their report cards on Tuesday in advisory.  As you review your grades and comments, please return to the goals that you set earlier in the year.  How are you doing at this point?  Where have you exceeded or yet to meet your goals?  The second half of the year is where many hit their stride.  Think about what strategies you can employ to attain your goals.  Speak to your family and advisor in order to get some advice as to the options that are available to you, inside and outside of school.

Over the Regents Week, Eleanor Roosevelt High School had nine Eno Boards installed in classrooms.  The entire building now has state-of-the-art whiteboards in all classrooms in order to facilitate learning and maximizing our ability to use technology on a daily basis.  This is an incredible achievement and will have a great impact in the school's ability to access information from the Internet, use a variety of instructional software and try out the new slates that will allow for writing on the whiteboard from another location in the classroom.  Teachers and students will begin to get acclimated to this additional learning technology over the coming weeks.

As we return for the second semester, remember to show your ELRO spirit by attending our home basketball games and school events.  The basketball season resumes on Tuesday, February 2nd with a double header at Wagner starting at 4:30pm.  See the specifics in the "Athletics" part of the calendar.  This Friday evening the Student Council is sponsoring the "early" Valentine's Dance.  Come out to have a good time to enjoy the music and festivities.  All clubs are encouraged to use the new tack boards over the water fountains and on the tack strips in the building to hang informational material.  PLEASE do not use tape on the walls or doors in the school.  "If you can't tack it don't put it up."  Also, all clubs need to remove dated material themselves from these areas after the events have past. 

Thanks to all who contributed to the Haiti Relief fund.  We have raised over $1700 with some large donations from the faculty!  We have sent out checks to the Clinton-Bush Haiti Relief Fund and to Doctors Without Borders.  Keep up the great work and continue to dine in our cafeteria for free for both breakfast and lunch and contribute those funds saved to the cause.  We will continue to raise funds in a variety of ways in the second semester.

Continue down the "WHOA" path and know you are supported by the ELRO community. 

Your principal,

Mr. Saliani

School-wide Student Information:

• Juniors interested in enrolling in an SAT Prep course at Eleanor Roosevelt can register with Revolution Prep online. The next session is for the May SAT. Students who think they may qualify for a scholarship can see Ms. Cohen for an application. A large portion (or even all) of the cost can end up being waived. 
• The OPTIONS Center for Educational and Career Choice at Goddard Riverside Community Center is offering a low-cost SAT Preparation Class for high school Juniors on Tuesdays and Thursdays from March 9-April 22 at the OPTIONS Center at 593 Columbus Avenue. The cost of the class is $20 and covers all classes, two practice tests, and all materials. To apply visit www.OptionsSATclass.blogspot.com  (due Feb. 9th).  
• Congratulations to Maeve Kerr for winning the Association of Black Educators of New York's "Bridge From Africa" Essay Contest!  We're proud of you Maeve!
• Starting this week and for the next few weeks, you will have the opportunity to order prints from the current photography show in our gallery. All prints will be $2 and all money will be donated to our Haiti relief fund. Join us in supporting our ElRo artists and our Haiti fund!

Advisory Information:
 

• This week's highlights... 

•   9th Grade
• Monday -  Chancellor's Conference Day - No students in attendance
• Tuesday - Activity: Create a mock report card include specific grades for each class and comments from teachers.
• Wednesday - Read
• Thursday - Read
• Friday - Activity: Reflection using mock report card and actual report card create a set a goals for MP3 and MP4

•   10th Grade
• Monday - Chancellor's Conference Day - No students in attendance
• Tuesday - Activity: Create a mock report card include specific grades for each class and comments from teachers. & SHELFARI 3 students present
• Wednesday - Read
• Thursday - Read
• Friday -Activity: Reflection using mock report card and actual report card create a set a goals for MP3 and MP4

• 11th Grade
• Monday - Chancellor's Conference Day - No students in attendance
• Tuesday -Calendar
• Wednesday -Naviance Introduction

• Thursday - Read
• Friday -Naviance Account Registration

•   12th Grade
• Monday - Chancellor's Conference Day - No students in attendance
• Tuesday-Naviance Trainer Volunteers Prep for Sessions in College Office
• Thursday-Activity: Begin drafting Part II: Existing Research on Quality of Life topic

Athletics:

• Girls Basketball Games of the Week:
• Tuesday, February 2nd - 6:00pm vs. East Side Community @ Wagner M.S.
• Friday, February 5th - 6:00pm @ Richard R. Green
• Boys Basketball Games of the Week:
• Tuesday, February 2nd - 4:30pm vs. ICE @ Wagner M.S.
• Thursday, February 4th - 6:00pm vs. American Sign Language @ Wagner M.S.

Clubs/Extracurricular Information:

• For weekly scheduled before/after school clubs and extra help meetings click this link.

         http://erhsnyc.org/clubs.jsp?rn=2139841  

• Our Nutrition Club is offering a highlight called "Restaurant of the Week."  Restaurant of the week will offer menu options for healthy eating. Our restaurant of the week is Bagels and Co
• Go for the whole wheat bagel.  If you are watching your calories try scooping out the inside of the bagels.
• Ask them to leave the cream cheese and butter on the side and save yourself 5 servings
• Go for the low fat tuna instead of the cream cheese or butter
• Try the Israeli Salad
• Soups- Vegetable Soup or Split Pea
• Coffee use skim milk or soy and save the saturated fat
• Go easy on the artificial sugar and lay off the chemicals.
• Most gyms give free trials take advantage of the opportunity and hit the cardio deck, weights, or take a class you have always wanted to take.
• Walk, walk, and walk some more.  Walking is the greatest exercise... and its free!!!

• All students are invited to help organize and participate in ElRo's Black History Month Celebration.  Meetings will take place on Fridays at 3:00 p.m. in Room 520. See Tevin J. (senior) or Savanna S. (junior) for more details.
• Drama Revolution rehearsals Wednesday from 3:00 to 4:00pm in the auditorium.
• In February, we will be launching a series of small group after school writing seminars led by Ms. Sonia Taitz a professional writer and freelancer. If you are interested in getting a start on personal essay writing for college, or just want to improve your skills, see Ms. Cohen or Ms. Fink for details.
• Model United Nations: any student interested in participating in New York Model United Nations should attend an interest meeting Wednesday February 3rd, 2010 at 3:10 PM in room 325.
• Friday Film Club February 5 at 3.  Keep an eye out for our catchy posters.  Come hang with us before the dance.  Juniors, we need you!! 

WHAT'S FOR BREAKFAST/LUNCH THIS WEEK:

The Student Council encourages all students to participate in Eat a Meal, Save a Life this week as we raise funds for Haiti in the lobby.  Simply dine in the cafeteria and donate $ to this cause.  Thank you in advance for making a difference. 

Tuesday:

Breakfast:  Cheese Omelet on a Small WW Bun, Hot Cereal Choice & Assorted Milk

Lunch: Assorted Vegetarian Sandwiches

Wednesday:

Breakfast: Cream Cheese Bagel-fuls, French Toast served with Syrup & Assorted Milk

Lunch: Crispy Chicken Tenders served with Dipping Sauce, Golden Fish & Cheese served with Tartar Sauce on a Small WW Bun & SchoolFood Plus Broccoli & Cauliflower Medley

Thursday:

Breakfast: Scrambled Eggs, Canadian Bacon on an English Muffin, Hot Cereal Choice & Assorted Milk

Lunch: Roasted Chicken Guisado, Cuban Pork, SchoolFood Plus Spanish Style Rice & Sweet Plantains

Friday:

Breakfast: Breakfast Sausage Roll, Pancake served with Syrup & Assorted Milk

Lunch: Bacon Egg and Cheese on a Bagel, Assorted Pizza & French Fries                         

Senior Class Information:

• Attention seniors:  The Seinfeld Scholarship Program is looking for students who give back to their community, have achieved academic success, show great financial need and are committed to furthering their education. The Seinfeld Scholarship provides: A four-year scholarship of up to $10,000 to the college or university of the student's choice.  Applicants should show financial need, be a leader and be active in their community, and show academic excellence.  If you're interested in applying, email Ms. Blanchette (nblanchette@erhsnyc.net).  The application deadline is February 12, 2010. 
• All seniors requesting financial aid should submit a letter from your family specifying the activity (Senior Trip and/or Senior Prom) to Ms. Miller.

Student Council Information:

• The next school dance is Friday, February 5th, 6-9pm. ElRo students $3 and invited guests $5. 
• Please support "Eat a meal, Save a Life". Throughout this week we are asking everyone to stay in for lunch and donate the money that you would spend for lunch to help the people in Haiti.

Technology and Library Information:

Featured in the library table baskets this week:

• Books: Dewey Decimal 810-813 - American Literature
• Environmental Magazine - How does eating meat affect global warming? That and other baffling environmental issues are explored in this colorful magazine!
  - If you'd like to request a topic to be featured, just tell Rebecca H. or Ms. Ettenheim.

This week ...

• You can now upload multiple file types to your erhsnyc.net account. Never be without an important document that you need! For details see: http://googleenterprise.blogspot.com/2010/01/store-and-share-files-in-cloud-with.html
  "Combined with shared folders in Google Docs, the upload feature is a great way to collaborate on files with coworkers and external parties. Instead of using cumbersome email attachments, you can upload files to a folder and share it with coworkers, who can then access and edit the files from a single place."

Site of the Week

• Back to the Google Blog this week! Did you know that you can Share Folders?
  http://googleenterprise.blogspot.com/2009/10/easily-share-collections-of-files-with.html
  "Teams of coworkers often work on projects involving dozens – sometimes hundreds – of files, like documents, spreadsheets and presentations. As new materials are created and as teams grow and evolve, making sure the right people have access to the latest set of files has been a big challenge."

Science Olympiad:

Science Olympiad teams meet each week.  Please see your science teacher for details. 

Community Service, Internships, & Summer Programs: 

If you'd like to set up an appointment to talk about community service, please email nblanchette@erhsnyc.net.     

Earn community service by donating blood at a local NY Blood Center.  Visit the community service page of the website to find out how to become a blood donor and save a life.

Library community service opportunities - We could use more people working on the library reference project! Flexible hours - when you have time - invite a friend and work on any subject area that is of interest to you! See Ms. Ettenheim for details

Scholarships, Contests & Opportunities:

• Check the Music and Arts Opportunity tab on the school website for scholarship, tickets, and audition opportunities. Currently posted are the Williams Chorale Bacardi Fallon Scholarship Competition, FREE New York City Summer Institute of the Arts, New York State Summer School of the Arts, Northeastern's 7th annual Electronic Music Composition Contest, and the Duke Ellington Essay Contest.

• SCHOLARSHIP ESSAY COMPETITION (for seniors only) - Henry George School of Social Science, FIRST PRIZE: $7,500, Topic: In dealing with today’s economic crisis why is the message and philosophy of For the first time since the Great Depression of the 1930s, there is a real possibility of economic collapse and societal decline. Yet, we live in a country that has the potential to provide a just and fair economic existence for all. What has gone wrong? Why are the dominant paradigms on the left, right and center still searching for solutions? (5,000 words), Deadline, May 1, 2010. For details email Ms. Blanchette (nblanchette@erhsnyc.net).
• Like Shakespeare?  Like to act?  Participate in the 2010 National Shakespeare Competition by auditioning with a monologue here at ElRo for a chance to go on to the NYC competition.  The NYC winner receives a scholarship for summer study in the United Kingdom. The runner-up receives $1,000 from the English-Speaking Union, and the third place winner is awarded $500 by The Shakespeare Society.  For more information, email Ms. Fink at efink@erhsnyc.net
• The Alliance Development Committee offers free SAT tutoring to eligible Black and Latino Juniors with financial need. See Ms. Cohen for additional information, the deadline is February 8 to apply.

• ElRo will be hosting a Mock SAT via Revolution Prep on Saturday, February 6th at ElRo at 9:00 am. Register at www.revolutionprep.com. The Mock SAT will be Free and any student is welcome to sit for it as long as you register. But, keep in mind (particularly if you are not yet in 11th grade) this is just to give you an idea of the exam, it is not official and is just for extra practice. 
• Serious Art Students that would be interested in spending the summer taking classes at the Savannah College of Art and Design in Savannah, Georgia should speak to their Art teacher. ElRo can nominate one student for consideration. A portfolio of 10-20 pieces is required.
• Additional Scholarship Opportunities are listed in the College Office Update posted to the ElRo website.
• Additional Writing Contests are listed on the Writing Contests bulletin board next to the Lobby.

The Week - day by day

Monday, February 1st - Chancellor's Conference Day - No students in attendance

Birthdays Today:  Ms. Bennett

Tuesday, February 2nd

Birthdays Today: Emilie H.

Special Events:

• First Day of the 2nd Semester
• 1st Semester Grades distributed

Wednesday, February 3rd

Birthdays Today: Haley R.

Meetings: Drama Revolution at 3:00 in the auditorium  

Thursday, February 4th

Birthdays Today: Helene L. & Lawrence R. 

Meetings: PTA Executive Board Meeting at 6:00pm in room 222

Friday, February 5th

Birthdays Today:

Meetings: Friday Film Club at 3.  Room to be announced.

Special Events: Valentine's Day Dance from 6:00-9:30 in the cafeteria

Saturday, February 6th

Birthdays Today: Gabriel A. & Carmen M.

Sunday, February 7th

Birthdays Today:  Ms. Kruger & Adriance B. 

Upcoming Events:

• Tuesday 2/9 (9th grade), Wednesday 2/10 (11th grade), Thursday 2/11 (10th grade) Love Event in our Library during Advisory
• Monday 2/15 - Friday 2/19 - Midwinter Recess (School resumes Monday 2/22)
• Wednesday 2/24 - Black History Month Celebration
• Thursday 2/25 - PTA Meeting - "College Night" (grades 9-11 encouraged to attend)
•  Wednesday 3/3- NHS Induction
• Thursday 3/4- PTA Executive Board Meeting
• Wednesday 3/10- Progress reports mailed out
• Thursday 3/11- Music Recital, PTA Meeting "Teen Health Issues"
• Saturday 3/13- SAT Test
• Tuesday 3/16- Evening Parent Teacher Conferences- Last Name (A-L)
• Thursday 3/18- Evening Parent Teacher Conferences- Last Name (M-Z)
• Friday 3/19- Afternoon Parent Teacher Conferences (1/2 day)- All
• Monday 3/29-Tues 4/6- Spring Recess (School resumes Wednesday 4/7)

College Information:

SUNY is offering free FAFSA workshops to Seniors - go to www.suny.edu/studentevents to register or call 1-800-342-3811 for details.

Always update your Naviance when you submit a transcript request form. If schools are not listed online, your request cannot be processed.

The link to the Family Connection for Naviance is: http://connection.naviance.com/erhsny

The College Office Newsletter can be found on the website and is updated weekly. For an expanded version of College Office Announcements, please visit the site.

College office volunteers will start up again soon. Ms. Levy is available for Essay Help on Monday from 3:00-4:00.
Ms. Taitz is available on Wednesday from 3:00-5:00.
Utilize our volunteers for help with both your personal statement and scholarship essays! Volunteer appointments will resume after Regents week.

Sign up for all Essay help in the Binder on the table in the College Office.

Juniors:

Sign up now to take the ACT/SAT tests in the spring. If you are interested in testing at ElRo seats will fill up, so register as soon as possible. If you think you qualify for a fee waiver, see Ms. Cohen right away for a fee waiver code, if you are not sure, ask!
SAT: www.collegeboard.com  ACT: www.actstudent.org

Revolution Prep is offering two sessions of SAT prep, one for the March exam and one for May. If you signed up a long time ago, please be advised that we changed the day of the week for the May Test sessions. Please email me if you have questions or concerns, the correct dates are listed at the Revolution Prep website www.revolutionprep.com. Scholarship applications are available to students that think they cannot afford the cost of the course. See Ms. Cohen for details as soon as possible.

COLLEGE VISITS

Stay tuned for schools that will be visiting us in the spring of 2010.