Next SAGE meeting: Engineering 101

Hello all,

I just wanted to update you with regard to next week's SAGE meeting topic. Mr. Dan Zavaleta will be present to discuss an exciting program for all those interested in a future in Engineering. Desert Vista currently is looking to expand this course for all gifted students interested in taking Engineering 101, a joint Desert Vista/ASU Polytechnic Program designed at preparing students for college and an opportunity for college credit through Arizona State University. If you are at all interested in Engineering or in pursuing a career in Engineering, please attend this next Wednesday, 5 March 2008. As always, we will be meeting in the library at 3:00PM.

See you there,

Mr. White

The Maricopa Book Drive: Coming Soon!

Here’s a quick heads up from the Community Service Department:

Some time after Spring Break, the Maricopa Book Drive will be up and running. We will be collecting new or gently used books to give to an elementary school that needs them. This event is a great way to get volunteer hours and clean up your bookshelf at the same time! All of these books will be going to a great cause, and you’ll be helping out the many kids who are less fortunate than we are.

-Grace

How to Approach Community Service

Community service can be one of the most enjoyable things to do - I can truthfully say that I help out because it’s fun, and not just because I think it looks good on my resume (this seems to be the reason most people do anything nowadays).

When choosing what community service you want to participate in, select one that reflects what your interests are. If you want to be a doctor later on in your life, volunteer at the hospital – in doing so, you can get a little taste of what you’ll be facing in the future. However, if you don't know what your future career path will be, don't worry -simply volunteer in a field that interests you. For example, if you are passionate about Spanish, you can volunteer at a place where a lot of Spanish is spoken to get practice with the language; if you really like sports, you can volunteer as coach for a little league team. In this way, the possibilities are endless.

The key to an enjoyable community service experience is to pick a job that genuinely interests you. Don't pick something just for the sake of getting a lot of hours; for colleges and for yourself, the quality of those hours are much more important than the quantity. Thus, if done correctly, community service can truly enrich your high school experience -which is what is was intended to do in the first place.

The catch is that often these community service opportunities can be difficult to find. Sometimes you can find out about them through word-of-mouth, or on the Internet. There is a nice little link to the left side labeled ‘Community Service,’ which has a list of volunteer opportunities compiled by SAGE. In addition, http://www.volunteermatch.org is a great resource. However, if you need any help looking for community service opportunities don't hesitate to contact us either by commenting on this blog or by sending us an email at dvsageclub.com@gmail.com. Don't be afraid to use us as a resource; we're here to help you out.

-Grace

Academics and Athletics: Getting Active!

Hey guys, whats up? I thought I'd take some time to share my personal experience and opinion about athletics and getting active.

There are numerous advantages to participating in a sport, one of which is exercise. You get a good workout, and studies show that if you're mentally and physically exhausted (from working those crazy math problems and working out), you get a better night's sleep. I can attest to this: I still find it hard to fall asleep when I'm not physically drained. If I had a good workout during the day, I fall asleep as soon as I hit my bed.

Athletics are also a good way to meet new people. It opens you up to a whole new sphere of people and friends. I met some of coolest and goofiest people I know on track and field.

In reality, athletics are not for everyone. Nevertheless, it is important to just get out and exercise. Anything to get you moving--chasing your dog around the house, playing with younger siblings, a quick bike ride--will allow you to enjoy life more.

However, if you can find a sport that you like and feel comfortable with, it will be very beneficial in the long run. If you feel like life is a chore, or just an endless stream of homework, sports may add some needed variety to your life. Don't worry about not having enough time; right now, as a junior, I'm managing all honors and AP classes, running varsity track and field, and still managing to get to bed before 12AM most nights. In the end, you will find that if you truly invest and dedicate yourself to a sport you enjoy, you will have a much more rewarding high school experience.

-Brian

The Fight Against Cancer

Not long ago, I sent several friends and loved ones an email asking for support. I want to send you another, just like it, to make sure you know how strongly I feel about eliminating cancer. I hope you can help me with a donation to this incredible cause. I have since made a donation to myself of $25. You can donate any amount you wish, but a match to my gift or an even larger donation would be very greatly appreciated. Your support will help people in our community and around the world in the fight against this disease.If you like, you can make a secure online contribution from my Personal Page by clicking on the link below.

Thank you!
- Kimi Pike kiminadine@gmail.com.

Click here to visit my personal page.

If the text above does not appear as a clickable link, you can visit the web address:
http://main.acsevents.org/site/TR/RelayForLife/RelayForLifeGreatWestDivision?px=4010435&pg=personal&fr_id=4820&et=hZWygCFQ81-mlfl_lugMbw..&s_tafId=94493

Click here to view the team page for F.R.I.E.N.D.S.

If the text above does not appear as a clickable link, you can visit the web address:
http://main.acsevents.org/site/TR/RelayForLife/RelayForLifeGreatWestDivision team_id=182726&pg=team&fr_id=4820&et=lAJu24XFKdkaNMLkX94mIQ..&stafId=94493

What are the differences between the SAT and the ACT?

Most of you are probably wondering what the difference between SATs and ACTs are. You can compare the two by reading the charts below:

ACT
-3 hours, 25 minutes (including the 30-minute optional Writing Test)
-4 test sections (English, Math, Reading, Science) plus an optional Writing section
-4 Reading Comprehension passages, 10 questions per passage
-Covers science reasoning (analysis, interpretation, evaluation, problem solving)
-Math Topics Covered: Algebra, Geometry, Trigonometry (4 questions)
-Total composite score of 1-36 (based on average of 4 sections); each section receives a score of 1-36; the optional Writing section receives a score of 0-12
-No wrong answer penalty
-You decide which score is sent

SAT
-3 hours, 45 minutes
-10 Sections
-Critical Reading, Math, Writing (includes the Essay)
-Reading sections: mix of passage comprehension and sentence completion questions that require vocabulary expertise
-Science not included
-Math Topics Covered: Algebra, Geometry, and Basic Algebra II
-Total score out of 2400; 3 scores of 200-800 for each section; Writing section has 2sub-scores: multiple choice (20-80) and the essay (0-12)
-1/4 point per wrong answer (except for Math Grid-in questions)
-Your entire score history will be sent automatically

Leave comments if you have any questions or concerns.

-Ellen

A New Feature: The Email Subscription Service

As part of our continued effort to make this blog more helpful and accessible, an email subscription service has recently been added to the blog.

To have our posts automatically delivered to your inbox, simply enter your email address in the textbox on the left (above the list of officers) and click the Submit button. Keep in mind that subscription to this blog is not a permanent committment; if you wish, you can unsubscribe at any time.

-Kunal