Finals Approaching

SAGE,

You totally don’t want to think about it right now, but finals are just around the corner. That means you can add studying for them to your already vast to-do list. Here are some helpful hints on how to prepare for your exams and get everything else done.

Tip 1: Start early
Preparation for exams should begin earlier than the day before the test. You can’t cram an entire unit of information into an all-nighter. Get started at least a week before the exam. Space out studying in advance, so you're not overwhelmed at the last minute.

Tip 2: Organize
Begin by making yourself a calendar outlining a daily schedule of topics for review. Cover a small amount of material for each class each day. Every time you complete a topic, give yourself a mini review on what you've already learned.

Tip 3: Outline
Once you have decided what you need to study and how much time you need to spend studying, it is time to actually study. One of the best ways is to make succinct outlines. As you read over your textbook and class notes, write a brief summary for each topic. Highlight the areas in your outline that were most troublesome. When you have finished with all the material, you will have an outline you can review.

Tip 4: Make flashcards
Similar to outlining, making flashcards is a really helpful technique for studying. By writing down the information from your outline, you are already doing half the studying. Once the flashcards are complete, you will have a portable study packet to look over.

Tip 5: Get help
If you are having trouble memorizing something or a particular concept is just not sinking in, get help before it’s too late. Ask your teacher to go over a glitch you might be having. All your teachers are there to help you before school, and sometimes after school as well.

Tip 6: Sleep
You need at least seven hours of sleep a night to function. Tests are designed to make you think. If you are sleep-deprived, you won’t be able to remember any of the information you worked so hard to cram into your brain. When cramming the night before (you shouldn't, but this is a worst-case scenario) KNOW WHEN TO STOP. A good night's rest is THE MOST IMPORTANT THING YOU CAN DO FOR YOURSELF.

Tip 7:Stay calm
Do not panic at the exam! Even if at first glance the test is overwhelming, remember to breathe. If a question seems too hard, answer all the questions you know, then return to the ones you left blank. Remind yourself that you are prepared. Step into the test with confidence, because you're prepared.

Tip 8: Don’t rush
You have spent at least two weeks studying, so what’s another couple of minutes? Work through the exam slowly and read all the questions before answering them. If you are done before the time is up, look over your answers. Checking your work may be boring, but it can catch stupid mistakes that cost you easy points.

Tip 9: Relax post-exam
Don’t let panic overwhelm you. Even if you think you bombed the exam, worrying will not change your score. It may, however, affect your mindset for your next final. Zone out the last test and stay focused on the next one. Odds are, you didn’t do as badly as you think.

And last, try not to stress. Stay calm, and know that it'll all turn out alright in the end. Good luck!

-Victor
:)

AIMS Retakes

Next week, juniors will have a chance to retake the Arizona Instrument to Measure Standards (AIMS) Exams. Tuesday, 28 October students will have the chance to retake the Writing portion, Wednesday, 29 October students will have the chance to retake the Reading portion, and Thursday, 30 October is reserved for Math. Juniors needed to have signed up for AIMS retakes well before today--so if you are planning on signing up now, you will have to wait until next semester -- which is when all sophomores will need to take the exams. Next semester's schedule is as follows:

* 24 February - Writing
* 25 February - Reading
* 1 April - Math
* 2 April - Science (NEW)

For those of you who want to study for this exam, you might wish to review my teacher website AIMS page, which is http://staff.tuhsd.k12.az.us/dwhite/index_files/Page1650.htm, where I have provided links to study guides, rubrics, and a practice test.

Good luck to all of you who have chosen to retake it. For those of you who have not yet taken it, no worries until next semester (I'd still take a look at the website though if I were you).

Take care,

Mr. White

Advanced Placement Exams: Monday, 5 May to Friday, 16 May 2008

Good luck to all of you on your upcoming AP exam (or exams). I recommend that you all study hard up to the exams, but give yourself that final day before the exam just to relax. Get a good night's sleep and be sure to eat a healthy breakfast before you go to your exam (so, no cold Pop Tarts on the run). The exam dates and locations are as follows:

Week One
Monday, 5 May 2008—
Government & Politics: US
Begins 7:45 – 41 students
Proctors: Mark Kulik, Karen Hinds
Location: Library Labs 1-3

Tuesday, 6 May 2008—
Spanish Language
Begins 7:45 – 15 students
Proctor: Josephine Levy
Location: Language Lab

Statistics
Begins 11:45 - 12 students
Proctor: Birgit Musheno
Location: Language Lab Location: Library Lab 1

Wednesday, 7 May 2008—
Calculus BC
Begins 7:45 – 63 students
Proctors: David White, Kathy Shamley, Ryan Stanley
Location: Library 2 & 3

Thursday, 8 May 2008—
English Literature
Begins 7:45 – 9 students
Proctor: Mark Kulik
Location: Guidance Career Center

Friday, 9 May 2008—
US History
Begins 7:45 – 60 students
Proctors: Amanda Domino, Amie Hickel & Dennis Abgrall
Location: Library Labs 2 & 3

European History
Begins 11:45 - 19 students
Proctor: David White
Location: Library Lab 1

Week Two
Monday, 12 May 2008—
Biology
Begins 7:45 - 24 students
Proctor: Kathy Shamley
Library Lab 2

Music Theory
Begins 7:45 – 8 students
Proctor: Kari Fischer, David White
Location: Guidance Career Center

Physics B
Begins 11:45 - 5 students
Proctor: Stacy Foster
Location: Guidance Career Center

Physics C: Electricity & Magnatism
Begins 11:45 / 1:45 - 11 / 1 students
Proctor: Katrina Montoya
Location: Library Lab 1

Tuesday, 13 May 2008—
Chemistry
Begins 7:45 – 34 students
Proctor: Laurie Wiesinger
Location: Library Lab 2

Environmental Science
Begins: 7:45 – 8 students
Proctor: Michele Lucas
Location: Career Center

Psychology
Begins 11:45 - 33 students
Proctor: Chris Jones, Stacy Foster
Location: Library Lab 3

Wednesday, 14 May 2008—
English Language
Begins 7:45 – 53 students
Proctors: David White, John Matthews,
Michele Lucas, Chris Jones
Location: Library Labs 2 & 3

Art History
Begins 11:45 - 4 students
Proctor: Kari Fischer
Location: Career Center

Thursday, 15 May 2008—
Macroeconomics
Begins 7:45 – 1 student
Proctor: Kelly Price
Location: Guidance Conference Room

Microeconomics
Begins 11:45 - 1 student
Proctor: Chris Jones
Location: Guidance Conference Room

World History
Begins 7:45 – 74 students
Proctors: David White, Amie Hickel, Diana Brown
Location: Library Labs 1-3

Friday, 16 May 2008—
Spanish Literature
Begins 7:45 – 19 students
Proctor: Dawn Schmidt
Location: Library Lab 1

Latin Literature
Begins 11:45 - 7 students
Proctor: Josephine Levy
Location: Career Center

Take care and good luck

- Mr. White

Student Tips for Writing an RN

RN's are excellent examples of the "practice makes perfect" philosophy. These papers are essentially five paragraph essays condensed - each one has an intro, body, and conclusion. In the beginning a three prong thesis is advocated and teachers will generally accept it. However, gradually move away from this writing aid because it will restrict your ideas. Also, remember, three prong theses must be parallel and can usually be the first sentence. However, some teachers prefer a creative one line intro. Transitions must be obvious since there are no paragraph separations. In general stay away from too much flowery language, just be straightforward.

The following are rules agreed upon by teachers:

-Never use contractions or personal pronouns
-Active voice preferred over passive.
ex. Active: The student (doer of the action) wrote the essay (receiver of the action). Passive: The essay (receiver of the action) was written by the student (doer of the action).

RN's often require the inclusion of quotes from a literary source. Before writing, find the quotes that would complement your topic. Do NOT use random quotes: they will be awkward. Always introduce your quotes and provide an explanation afterwards. As well, remember to cite the quote in the following fashion: (Author page #). However, quotes do not have to be cited if the author or source is part of the sentence. For the conclusion it is allowed to restate the thesis. However, extend or reword the thesis so that it is not an exact replica. Conclusions should only be about one to two sentences. Keep this in mind and you should be fine. Good luck!

-Janson

A Sneak Preview of the Field of Engineering

I'm not sure how much you have heard, but the ASU pilot engineering course (Engineering Design 101 I believe) will be continued to be offered next year. After taking the course this year, I have some insider information for interested math/science students who want to determine if engineering is the right major for them BEFORE they get to college (engineers are often disadvantaged because they have no experience from high school and have no idea what's really included in their major. Well, no more!)

The Rundown: This year, the course was on tuesdays and thursdays after school from 3:00 - 5:00pm in Mr. Zavaleta's room. Professors Hinks and Henderson met us at DV and taught a parallel course to the one offered at ASU Polytech on Mondays and Wednesdays. We did two major projects (one per quarter), first rockets and then robots. For the two competitions and presentations, the "DV Kids" drove out to the ASU Polytechnic Campus and participated as a part of the actual college class.

All in all, I believe this course allows a "sneak preview" not only of Engineering majors, but of Arizona State University as well. The only drawbacks were the time commitment needed (it was much easier to handle with release, but those with a full schedule found the day a bit tiring) and the college-size cost of the course (a mildly pretty penny, but I think it was undeniably worth it; plus, as a "student" of ASU, you get all the discounts in their store, which is a good, good deal).

For more information, you can contact myself or any of the other students who participated in the program (Dexter Scobee, Aaron Goldstein, Arjun Vinze, Megan Grady, or Martin Baricevic) as well as Mr. Z or ASU itself.

Have a nice day,
-Kadra

The AP Exams are coming! The AP Exams are coming!

Hello all,

It is that time of year again. Tensions are high and sales of pepto-bismol are shooting through the roof. AP Exams are upon us. Thankfully, your exam isn't tomorrow. You have plenty of time between now and May to study and prepare and agonize. While you are in that process, though, a couple of reminders:

1. If you intend on taking an AP Exam, you need to sign up for it now. Exam order forms are available in a myriad of colors, including blue, green, yellow, goldenrod, and white! You can pick up an exam order form from your AP teacher or just outside the bookstore. The cost is $86.00 per exam and you need to take your order form and your payment to the bookstore. You have until February 22nd to sign up for the exam (a date that is fast approaching). You can order an AP exam form after that date, but it will cost you $30.00 extra per exam. I will not be accepting any orders after Thursday, March 6th at 3:00PM (the order form says Friday, March 7th -- but, please, for the love of everything good and holy, just get your order form in before then. Please. I'm begging you).

2. Whatever color you pick, the final color you will receive is a pink receipt that explains when and where the Pre-Administration session is and when you will be taking your AP exam. Be sure to keep that safe and visible.

3. ALL students who plan to take an AP Exam must attend one of the two Pre-Administration sessions, which will be Thursday, April 10th at 3:15PM and Friday, April 11th at 7:30AM. You will want to report to the room assigned according to your last name. These are the American Studies rooms:

Room C 207-208 (A-G) Room C 220-221 (N-S)

Room C 211-212 (H-M) Room C 273-274 (T-Z)

4. You are not required to send scores to any college or university. You may choose to release the scores later to the college or university of choice.

5. You do NOT need your teacher's permission to take an AP Exam. Your choice to take or not to take the AP exam is YOURS!

If you have any questions, you can check out one of the two AP web sites:

http://www.tuhsd.k12.az.us/Desert_Vista_HS/GiftedProgram/page2.html or
http://www.tuhsd.k12.az.us/Desert_Vista_HS/GiftedProgram/GiftedCoordinator/page4.html

Or you can e-mail me at dwhite.dvh@tuhsd.k12.az.us or call me at (480) 706-7900, extension 92154.

Take care and don't stress out!

Mr. White

How Class Rank is Calculated

1) Every semester 6 classes, and 6 classes only, will be counted towards your class rank. Therefore, the max number of rank points you can obtain in a semester is 30.

2) In Honors: A=5, B=4, C=3, etc. In Regular: A=4, B=3, etc.

3) IMPORTANT: The order in which classes are counted for rank points: Honors Core, Regular Core, Honors Elective, Regular Elective
[[Therefore, if you are taking a regular science class and an honors music class zero hour, your regular science class will be counted (4 rank points) before your honors music class (5 rank points)]]

4) IMPORTANT: Students who have taken high school math classes, and gotten an A, before entering high school (H. Geometry or H. Algebra 3-4) will have those classes as "extra credit" on their record.
[[Therefore, if they take less than 6 honors core classes, or get less than an A, their previous math credit (5 rank points) will be used for rank calculations, instead of whatever class they took during the year.]]
**This only applies to students who went to a middle school in the Kyrene or Tempe district

EX1: A freshman takes 5 honors core classes and Concert Band. They also took Geometry in middle school and got an A. At the end of the 1st semester, they have gotten all A's.
To calculate their rank, their 5 honors core classes will be used first (25 rank points total) and then one semester of their Geometry credit will be used in place of Concert Band (5 rank points). That way, though they have not taken all honors classes, their rank is still 30 out of 30!

EX2: A freshman takes 5 honors core classes and AP Music Theory. They also took Geometry in middle school and got an A. At the end of the 1st semester, they have gotten all A's.
To calculate their rank, their 5 honors core classes will be used first (25 rank points total). But because AP Music Theory is an elective, their Geometry credit (5 rank points) will be counted in place of AP Music Theory, even though it is an honors class!

......I personally never really understood how the class rank system worked until going in to talk to a counselor, so hopefully, if anyone else was confused, this should clear it up! =] If you have any additional or specific questions, please post a comment and I'll try to answer it for you!

-Audrey

General Scheduling Advice

As the scheduling season rolls around, here are some general tips to consider when selecting your classes for next year:

1. Summer school is a great way of getting credits out of the way that interest you less (e.g. physical education, health, and computer application); thus, take the classes you don't care for over the summer, not the ones which you are passionate about.

2. Be sure to take into account your projected level of involvement in extracurricular activities (everything outside of school) next year. At the same time, however, don’t take an overly easy schedule simply out of a fear that you will be overly committed next year; the key is to strike a balance.

3. Don’t drop a class simply because you have heard that a particular teacher is difficult; be willing to try the class out for yourself, confidently and open-mindedly.

Above all, make sure that you have a parent signature on the form by the deadline. Failing to do so may force you to take classes that you don't want to take.

-Kunal