Middle College News
First week!
We made it through our first week!
Hello, students and families!
As predicted, our advisory groups have shifted a bit. Here's the breakdown:
Jen P: A-Donovan
Marin: Dornik-Kibre
Jen B: Kron-Ricci
Halo: Roberts-Zabaneh
As you know, we all share an office and are available to help any student, but please email the appropriate advisor with scheduling questions, attendance issues, or just a hello to touch base. Since we are still without a staff assistant, it is much easier to connect with us via email. If you need to talk with one of us, please email with the best time and contact number, and we will call you back. We're not able to access voicemail right now, so if you've left a message, please email instead.
We can still make schedule changes before classes begin on 8/17; once the college classes begin, however, students will have to ask professors for add codes (and continue to attend the class even if they have not yet been added).
Summer grades posted yesterday, so we are now in the process of updating transcripts.
Reminders (Read 'em all, please!)
Parking permits are $52 per semester or $94 for both fall and spring semester. Permits are good at all three campuses (Cañada, CSM, Skyline). Permits do not work in metered spots. Permits are transferrable between vehicles. There is a two week grace period in which cars without permits in student lots will not be ticketed; parking regulations for metered spots and faculty lots are already being enforced. Parking permits are available for purchase online (via WebSMART). All permits are mailed to the address specified on the order.
Bookstore
Laura Brugioni from the college bookstore explained book purchase and rental procedures to all of our students on Monday.
· All Middle College students are to rent their books unless purchase is the only option
· All Middle College students will need to have a credit card in order to rent books-if they do not have a credit card at the time of each transaction they will be asked to come back with a credit card and the transaction will be voided. (The bookstore does not accept credit card numbers over the phone.)
· Rental books are due at the end of the semester-if the book is not returned to the bookstore the book will automatically be charged to the credit card on file or a hold will be put on the student's record. (This will keep you from enrolling in classes and requesting transcripts.)
· Purchased books will need to be returned at the end of the semester to Middle College.
· Middle College students are only allowed to purchase and rent books that are required for classes they are enrolled in. If you are waitlisted, then please wait until you have been accepted into the class before getting the books. If you drop a class, please make sure to talk to your advisor--return your rental books, unopened book bundles and unused access codes. If bundles and access codes have been opened then returns will be denied.
· Middle College does not pay for supplies.
Fees
Ignore tuition fees (printed on students' college schedules); for students taking 11 college units or fewer, those fees will be waived after Sept. 6.
Students may want to purchase a college ID card, which costs $8 and offers discounts as well as admission to events and programs throughout the year.
Paperwork
This week we sent home with students the MC Expectations Contract and an insurance form for Chromebooks. All students and families are expected to read and sign the contract. If students would like to check out a Chromebook for the year, the SUHSD is requiring them to purchase insurance for $32; this covers damage, loss, and theft. We will no longer be allowing students to borrow Chromebooks throughout the day or during class; students are expected to bring their own device each day, or check out a Chromebook for the year and purchase the required insurance.
2016-2017 important dates
8/17 College classes begin
8/30 Last day to add/drop college classes
9/5 Holiday: Labor Day
11/11 Holiday: Veteran's Day
11/23-25 Holiday: Thanksgiving
12/12-17 FINALS
Winter break 12/18-1/10
1/11 Middle College begins
1/16 Holiday: MLK day
1/17 College classes begin
1/30 Last day to add/drop college classes
2/17-20 Holiday: Presidents' Weekend
4/3-4/7 Spring Break
5/22-26 FINALS
5/25 MC end of the year ceremony
Next week's schedule
Monday and Tuesday 8/15 & 16 are still MC only days. We will meet from 12:30-3:05, our normal meeting time. On Wednesday 8/17 students will go to their college classes in the morning and/or evening, and their MC classes from 12:30-3:05, the same as the rest of the semester. On Monday we will start at 12:30 in Building 3, Room 142 (in the theater building across from the bookstore). On Tuesday we will start at 12:30 in Building 6, room 102 (the room we've been starting in this week).
College Scheduling
If you are on a waitlist for a college class, when a spot becomes available, you will be notified through your my.smccd email account. You then have 24 hours from the time the email was sent (NOT when you read it) to add yourself into the class. If you do not add yourself into the class, you will be dropped from the waitlist and will not be in the class at all.
To add into the class, simply go to Websmart – under Student Services, choose Registration. Then scroll down and choose Select term and choose Registration--add/drop classes, then Fall 2016. Scroll down to your schedule and then use the drop-down menu next to the class to choose add. Be sure to scroll down and hit submit changes. Additionally, forward the email to your advisor when you get it so that she can double-check to see that you added yourself (using above directions) correctly. The email notification is the easiest way to know that space has become available but it requires checking your email, so please check that account daily or set up your account to forward to an account that you do check daily. There is also a way to receive a text notification via your WebSmart account.
You can either add yourself into the class (again, use above directions) or forward the email to your advisor and she will do it.
If you are on a waitlist, but aren't notified that a spot has become available before classes start on Wednesday, then you will go to the class and ask for an add code. Unless the professor explicitly tells you not to stay, please stay in the class, even if you are not officially enrolled yet. If the professor will not give add codes the first day, please plan on going to the class a second or third time, each time asking for an add code. Once you get the add code, please give it to your adviser so that she can add you to the class.
Essay reminder
The summer reading essay was assigned on Wednesday and is due next week on Wednesday 8/17 by 11:00am (BEFORE class).
You will email your completed essay to your Middle College adviser:
A-Don = Jen Petroelje: petroelje@my.smccd.edu
Dor - Kib = Marin Holt: holtm@my.smccd.edu
Kron - Ric = Jen Buchanan: buchananj@my.smccd.edu
Rob - Z = Halo Smart: smarth@my.smccd.edu
Parameters:
Two double-spaced pages; one page focused on Malala, and one focused on you
Assigned Wednesday (8/10), due next week on Wednesday (8/17)—no later than 11:00 am
Prompt:
Describe and cite—with evidence (yes, this means direct quotes and specific examples cited with page numbers) from the book, I am Malala, the quality that best describes Malala and then describe and cite (with examples from your life) the quality that best describes you.
PTK Welcome
Three students from Cañada Phi Theta Kappa chapter spoke to all of our new students on Wednesday. They talked about their path to Cañada and where they are now in their educational journey, as well as their involvement in PTK, the Honors Society for Two-Year Colleges. We've had many students join PTK over the years, some even taking leadership positions at the college and even at the international level.
Chelsea, Estaban, and Catherine shared excellent tips for success at the colllege, including:
- Keep all course syllabi, read them thoroughly, and refer to them regularly so you know what is due when
- Adhere to due dates -- the date on the syllabus is the date the assignment or reading is due, not when it is assigned
- Figure out an organization system and stick with it
- Learn how to manage your time -- this includes learning how to prioritize, make a schedule and stick to it, and figuring how long it is actually going to take to complete an assignment or prepare for class
- Go to class, even when it appears the professor doesn't take attendance -- get the most out of each class
- Behave appropriately in class -- other students are paying for these classes and in some classes, giving up work to attend class -- they don't want to be distracted by people talking or being rude or disruptive in class
- Monitor your electronics use in class -- put your phone away, don't use a laptop/tablet if you are going to get distracted
- Connect! With peers and professors! Go to office hours, study groups, the Learning Center and the STEM Center. Make sure you get contact info from a couple of people in each class so you have people who can be your study buddies or can give you the notes if you are absent. Professors are a valuable resource -- use them!
Estaban shared his two favorite quotes for success:
"Failing to prepare is preparing to fail."
"We are what we repeatedly do. Greatness then, is not an act, but a habit."
Cañada Middle College
Email: petroelje@smccd.edu
Website: canadacollege.edu/middlecollege
Location: 4200 Farm Hill Boulevard, Redwood City, CA, United States
Phone: 650-306-3120
Facebook: www.facebook.com/CanadaMiddleCollege