Miami Schools Provides Programs For Students’ Future

Miami Schools Creates Education Council of International Cities

In an aim to make students better prepared for the global marketplace, Miami Schools is creating the Education Council of International Cities. This council aims to help students gain the education they need to take part in the challenges of a new global economy. Many businesses in Miami and America now have more international services and concerns.

The motivation behind the creation of the Education Council of International Cities in the Miami Schools is to adjust and succeed in world where distance and time are increasingly less important as barriers to global commerce. The Miami Schools is aiming to add a more global perspective on education. The Education Council of International Cities will create international guidelines for quality education from both an academic and economic perspective.

The Miami Schools’ Education Council of International Cities will be comprised of chief education officers, national and international business researchers, business leaders and mayors of major urban cities from around the world. This Council will use current research to provide professional development for teachers. Many fields have formed international research teams but these are not common in education. This is research team is also unusual in that Miami Schools is a large urban school district and most research teams come from smaller suburban schools. The Miami Schools’ Education Council of International Cities will be formed and membership established by May 2007.

Miami Schools Joins Up with the Greater Miami Chamber of Commerce for the Future Executives Program

Miami Schools aims to help students to choose a career by learning proper planning and business behavior from the Greater Miami Chamber of Commerce. This new program will be started in eleven schools in the Miami Schools system. The Miami Schools Future Executives Program will center around the “Tools for Success” lessons in the ninth grade. These lessons will follow a curriculum that includes postsecondary education, proper behavior in the work place, manners, ethics and conflict resolution.

The program also wants to establish Future Executives clubs in Miami Schools that will be responsible for two activities a year, a pre-holiday networking event in mid-December and a mini goals conference in May of 2007. This program is part of Miami Schools continued effort to ensure that children are armed with the tools they need to succeed in school and beyond.

Miami Schools Help Welcome New Pro Soccer Team to Miami

Students in the Miami Schools are competing to help the new pro soccer team choose a mascot and a nickname. The Miami FC is hoping the students can help them choose the best nickname and mascot. The contest which began on September 18th and ends October 6th. The contest is open to all 361,550 K-12 grade students in the Miami Schools system. The contest will be judged by a panel composed of Miami Schools’ officials, Miami FC staff, celebrities and contest sponsors. Three top nicknames and mascots will be posted for voting on the Miami FC’s website. Students may submit their nickname entries and mascot designs through their teachers.
by: Stacy Andell

Pittsburg Schools’ Magnet Schools Programs

Pittsburg Schools Holds a Magnet School Information Fair

The Pittsburg Schools is holding an Information Fair aimed at providing parents with the information they need to provide their children with the best opportunities. The Pittsburg Schools’ Magnet Information Fair will be held on October 7th at the Frick International Studies Academy. Pittsburg Schools’ Magnet schools and educational programs aim to provide students with the best opportunities in areas of special interest, talents, or future career pursuits. Enrollment in the magnet program is expected to lasts one year and students enrolled in the program must maintain proper academic progress, citizenship and attendance. If the student cannot meet these requirements the student will be transferred back into their assigned school.

The Pittsburg Schools’ Magnet Information Fair is important because there are only a limited number of spaces available. Fifty percent of these places are reserved for students of African American background with the remaining positions for students of other races in order to preserve a racial balance. Faculty and students from the Pittsburg Schools’ magnet schools will be at the Magnet Information Fair in order to help answer questions parents may have. Magnet options are available in elementary, middle and high school students.

A preferred registration period will be offered from October 9-20. Preferred registration in the Pittsburg Schools’ magnet schools programs is offered to students who: are currently enrolled in the Pittsburg Schools’ magnet program and wish to reenroll in the same magnet program; younger siblings of any student who is currently enrolled in the same magnet program in the same school where the younger sibling is applying; and finally a geographic preference is offered to certain students based on space and racial balance, students with difficulties in mobility will also be given geographic preference to the magnet program to which they apply.

General Information About the Pittsburg Schools’ Magnet Schools

Pittsburg Schools’ Magnet Schools program provides students the opportunity to pursue certain special interest and talents. Several of the Pittsburg Schools’ magnet programs offer the opportunity to begin in kindergarten and continue on into middle and high school. General registration to the Pittsburg Schools’ magnet program will be from November 1-15. When the student is finally accepted to the Pittsburg Schools’ magnet program is based on the promotion to the grade that is being applied. Twins who are accepted to the same magnet school program will not be separated. Notification of acceptance to the program will be in January of 2007.

If there are too many acceptable applicants then a lottery may be used. This lottery will include all the applicants from both the general and preferred registration periods. Applicants who submitted their applicants after November 15 will not be in the lottery. A computerized system will be used to decide how the students will be arranged. Parents and students will be informed by mail. Only the grades of kindergarten, sixth, or ninth are entry grades and students must meet certain requirements for other grades.
by: Stacy Andell

Taming Your Tongue When You're Angry

"Speak when you are angry and you will make the best speech you will ever regret." If you answered yes to the title question I am sure you have realized the truth in this quote by Ambrose Bierce. In order to gain control over your tongue you must be determined to see things differently. People who lose their temper tend to view life in a negative and judgmental way. You have the ability to direct your mind away from angry and upset feelings. You need to realize that you can have peace of mind instead of conflict.

This article will cover a variety of mindsets and behaviors that will teach you how to keep your mouth shut when you are angry.

1) Be quick to listen and slow to speak. Remember that you have two ears and only one mouth. Use them in this proportion. It's better to be a good listener than to be a good speaker. Listen carefully to what the other person has to say. Take your time before giving them an answer.

2) Don't be double minded. You can't have peace of mind and conflict at the same time. Be clearly focused on the outcome that you want. (Example: "I want to go to bed tonight feeling close to my partner.").

3) You can't be right and be married. You have to decide "Do you want to be right or do you want to be married?" Trying to be right will destroy the connection between you. Instead, strive to do the right thing.

4) Don't jump to conclusions. Slow down and think through the situation.

5) Don't say the first thing that comes into your head. I often hear people say, "I cannot keep from saying the thoughts I have." You can and you must.

6) As I was writing this, my daughter reminded me of Thumper's quote in the movie, "Bambi". "If you can't say something nice…don't say nothing at all." This is always good advice.

7) Don't overreact to criticism. Beneath the criticism is an underlying message. Criticism is a smoke screen for deeper feelings. I compare criticism to cheese on a mousetrap. What happens when the mouse takes the cheese? He gets his tail caught in the trap. That's what happens when you take the bait of criticism. Don't take the bait. Listen for the underlying message.

8) Stay away from negative thoughts and statements like, "I hate this!" "This is driving me crazy!" "I can't stand this!" These types of statements are like throwing gasoline on a fire. You are making it much more intense. Replace these with positive declarations such as "I can handle this." "This is not that big of a deal." "I have unshakeable peace of mind." "Nothing bothers me." Your thoughts will direct your emotions. Choose positive thoughts that help you keep your peace.

9) If someone uses absolute terms like "always", "never", "everybody", and "nobody"; don't take them literally. These are emotional terms. If your wife says "You never take me anywhere." and you know that's not true; don't take it as a personal attack. Try and hear her underlying request that she needs to know she is special and she wants to spend some time with you.

10) Don't overreact and don't give advice too quickly. This only trains people not to be open with you.

11) Don't try to get in the last word. It's not worth the damage you could do by trying to win or be heard.

12) If you are angry repeat this scripture based verse in your head, "In all things be self controlled." Say it over and over so that you don't get derailed into an argument.

13) There is life and death in the spoken word. Make sure your words build people up versus tearing them down.

14) Remember to breathe. Stick with the basics. When you are upset, take a few deep breaths.

15) Strive to use an approach that promotes honor and respect. This can make the difference between a twenty minute argument and a 3 day war.

16) Realize that your anger most likely is not going to help solve the problem and may actually make the matter worse.

17) Calmness will help you get to the heart of the matter. This leads to conflict resolution. Trying to be right or show your might will lead to conflict.

18) Staying connected is more important than making your point.

The only one who is responsible for the way your life works out is you. You cannot change the past, but you can take responsibility for your future. All it takes is a decision. Decide to live a life of discipline rather than one of regret. Remember that discipline weighs ounces and regret weighs tons. Develop the power of a tamed tongue.

Want An Adult Scholarship? Try This...

If you consider to go back to school after a long time away, you probably know how expensive it is going to be. If you are established with a home and a family or are in your 30's or 40's, you have plenty of other money worries. The question is: How can you find an adult scholarship?

Do not dispair; there actually is a niche for you out there. There are lots of free money for those of us who are a little older than the regular college student and want an education.

The first thing to do is a little preliminary research. You should find out what kinds of programs you are eligible. There is free money available for people of all walks of life.

Try to avoid financial aid that is just for recent high school graduates. There are quite a few out there that you will be ineligible for because of your age. You can narrow your search by avoiding those with age restrictions. If you can find financial aid specifically for returning students, it will not have any age restriction.

You should apply for anything you might be eligible for. Don't put any limits for yourself. Take advantage of all the free money available for adults and education, it's just a matter of finding a program that suits you.

The first place you might try looking is your local library. They will have tons of resources there for scholarships. Librarians are knowledgeable about these resources and will help you find what you need.

Be patient. Stick around and take notes on what you find. Here is the hard part. You have to skim through all the resources available and look for anything that might help you get that money.

If you find something suitable, contact those particular organizations. Request more information and they will probably send you all the materials you need to apply. You may also be able to contact them by a 1-800 number, in which case you can talk to a representative of the organization and get tips for applying. Remember that you are not stealing; they have all this money lying around waiting to be claimed by a successful applicant.

If you have any help filling out forms, ask someone's advice. Always fill them out thoroughly. Be sure to write clearly. If you have to write an essay, make sure that it flows well and there aren't any grammar or spelling mistakes. You can always ask someone to proofread it if you are unsure.

The important thing is to apply for as many as you can. You never know which one may be able to get you the money you need.
by: Nic Haffner

Explore Your Creativity With A Degree In Video Game Design

Video games have exploded in popularity, thanks to our high paced and pressurized world crunching down on individuals. People need a break from reality and video games provide that venue of escapism, and businesses have definitely gotten the message loud and clear. Developing new games is a fierce industry and companies need people who can always bring on better games that stimulate all the senses at once. But how can you get into this rising segment and turn your interests in computers into something that's a lucrative, fun career full of opportunity?

A degree in video game design is the training you need to break into a market where you can create fantastical worlds or develop settings that are so realistic, you can almost touch them. Individuals are demanding more and more from software companies, and only the top quality games will succeed in today's competitive world. Investing your talents in a solid education that will give you the skills and know how to create high tech video games is a wise choice. The job opportunities will never peter out or become saturated, thanks to new technology that's always being put into the market, and you can get into the gaming craze by getting the best training possible to send you into an amazing career.

You'll have the chance to use your own imagination to create great characters that become popular household names. Remember Mario and Luigi? Well, those two characters were created by people with video game design skills and they earned their makers millions of dollars. What about Yoshi? The little dinosaur is another character created by someone with video game design skills that has made someone rich and famous. Why can't that person who develops the next popular, fun character be you? Online gaming is another venue that has become a multi-million dollar industry and all you have to do is look up World of Warcraft to see how many people are hooked on video games, making the market a rich one for job opportunities.

So what's involved in video game design? Educational facilities will provide you with artistic training to help you create visual images that snag people's interest and keep them gaming, as well as the know how to apply that to animation and 3D modelling. Story development is a must, and you'll be able to think up new ways of challenging people with tricks and traps or enemies to battle to become heroes and earn glorious rewards and treasures. Not only that, those who offer degrees in video game design will help you to put together a profile that will make you an attractive asset to software companies looking for talented 3D artists and gaming developers.

One thing is for sure: Without a degree in video game design, the competition to break into the industry is so stiff that you'll never be able to get ahead. Great ideas and a creative imagination isn't all it takes to open fantastic opportunities and set you into an amazing career. Top quality skills and training that keep you on top of the game and get you that perfect job are the only way to go about finding your place in the lucrative industry of video games. You'll learn the practical side of design and animation to be able to develop games that bring in sales for businesses and earn the skills you need to be head hunted by companies. More than that, obtaining your degree in video game design won't just be an important investment and career choice, it'll also be a blast of fun as you expand your horizons and creativity, learning to think outside the box and come up with new, exciting worlds and characters.
--->by: Andy West