This is a Halloween video trick Matthew Weathers did for his Nature of Math class at Biola University, October 28, 2009.

There are three new GEAR UP faces that students and staff will see running around Chief Moses Middle School.  GEAR UP welcomes new tutors Melanie Garcia, Sarah Sherman, and Francesca Hoffman.

Melanie joins us from Columbia Basin Secondary School where she previously worked with GEAR UP.  She is excited about the new challenges that await her at the VERY large CMMS.  Melanie was quoted as saying that she is, “very proud and honored to become a part of such a wonderful group of staff and students.”

Also new to the team is Sarah Sherman.  Sarah Sherman is a graduate of Big Bend Community College, where she currently tutors ESL classes in the evenings.  Sarah brings a compassionate and charismatic approach to her tutoring.  She is currently tutoring GEAR UP students in 8^th grade science and English classes, as well as working in the Intervention program several periods a day.

Connell High School GEAR UP hosted its first freshman parent night October 19.  Focusing on optimum participation the first group of twenty-five parents were mailed individual invitations outlining the nights topics and offerings presented by GEAR UP Coordinator Esther Daza-Bailie.  This first class was offered in Spanish with fourteen parents attending! 

For some freshman parents this was their first student attending CHS and first venture into the high school. They learned what was required for high school graduation and how to read a high school transcript.  The district’s student attendance policy was explained and the GEAR UP Opening Doors/Abriendo Puertas program was introduced.

Parents left feeling empowered to actively participate in their student’s high school career.  This small group event was a resounding success.  The GEAR UP program will be sponsoring this event in Spanish and English continually this fall for freshman parents.

As the Harvest of Hope II cohort moves into 7th and 8th grade, GEAR UP at Garrison Middle School is working on broadening tutor skills to more effectively increase students’ academic performance, knowledge, and preparation for the transition to high school and beyond. Part of that expansion began this August through diverse training prior to the start of the 09-10 school year.

On Wednesday, October 28th 69 7th grade students and 8 chaperones set out on a Pullman adventure.  Buses departed the middle school promptly at 7:45am.  The Finley MS group was welcomed at Washington State University by 4 senior student tour guides.  The morning began by dividing everyone into their previously assigned groups.  The groups, creatively titled (one group was called "The Huskies"), received directions on their all day scavenger hunt/bingo sheet which needed to be completed upon our return at the end of the day.  Each group set out on a different route of the WSU campus.  Landmarks visited were: the clock tower, a freshman dormitory (Stephenson East), the new Bookie, library, Martin Stadium, a freshman dining hall (Southside), Ferdinand's, and the Entomology building.  Students were elated with the elaborate "all you can eat" cafeteria, complimentary chocolate chip cookie dough "grabbers" from Ferdinand's, high fiving students walking to class, and meeting with professors.  The culminating event of the day was candy prizes to those who completed the bingo activity, and 8 gifts to well behaved, engaged, and participating students.  This campus visit provided the students a real-life look into the experiences and opportunities available at a world class four year university.

I am very excited to introduce Kirsten Geiger!

Kirsten is a student of Big Bend Community College and will be work part time with the GEAR UP afterschool Program at CBSS. Kirsten attended CBSS from 2000 to 2003. She has fond memories of being on Mrs. Pixlee’s golf team and of writing poetry in Mr. Ledeboer’s class.

Kirsten is currently working on her transfer degree at BBCC and plans to move on to Central Washington University, where she will obtain a degree in Child Psychology and counseling. Kirsten heard of the tutoring opportunity as part of BBCC’s work study program. Kirsten was very eager to come back to CBSS and give back to the school that helped motivate her to reach her goals. Now, even more exciting, Kirsten will be inspiring even more students give it their all. She is an excellent, positive academic role model and someone every CBSS student can relate to.

We are very proud to have Kirsten Geiger as part of this year’s CBSS team!