Beach Reading

Dear Scholars,

The New York Times has come out with several very interesting articles lately on the intersection of college admissions, financial aid, and the economic downturn.  I am reposting some of my favorites below for your weekend reading enjoyment:

1. INSIDE THE FINANCIAL AID OFFICE AT BOSTON UNIVERSITY
2. SAVING FOR COLLEGE
3. PAYING IN FULL AS THE TICKET INTO COLLEGES (Great reading for anyone on a wait list)
4. CONGRATULATIONS! YOU ARE NOMINATED.  IT’S AN HONOR.  (IT’S A SALES PITCH.)
5. GAP YEAR PROS AND CONS
6. COLLEGES STRUGGLE TO FIGURE OUT WHO WILL SAY YES
7. PUBLIC COLLEGES GET A SURGE IN APPLICANTS
8. AN OPTION TO SAVE $40,000: SQUEEZE COLLEGE IN 3 YEARS
9. GOING OFF TO COLLEGE FOR LESS (PASSPORT REQUIRED)

Happy reading!

Best Regards,

Andy Weiss

Senior Brunch Update

Dear Seniors and Families,

I just wanted to request that anyone who still wants to purchase a ticket for the senior brunch bring money to either me or Alex Rodriguez by Thursday, April 30.  You can find me during lunch either in my office (2803) or Ms Sevillanos’ office (3522) until April 30.  I will be out of the office May 1-4 and will be unable to accept any payment later than this Thursday. 

Graduating seniors and teachers are free, and family and friends are $45 cash only.  I still have free tickets available, so if you would like one for your family please email me at aweiss@dadeschools.net. 

I also want to put out a call for speakers at the May 9 program.  We have several speaking roles available; if you are interested in one of them, please see me immediately.

See you May 9!

Best Regards,

Andy Weiss

Senior Brunch Invitation

Dear Seniors and Parents,

It is my pleasure to invite you to the 2009 Scholars Academy Senior Brunch.  The brunch is your opportunity to receive your copy of the Scholars Academy yearbook and your purple Scholars Academy graduation cord.  It is also our annual tradition that each graduating senior is toasted (or roasted) by a Scholars Academy teacher.

The brunch is Saturday, May 9 from 10AM to 1PM at the Ronald W Shane Center (6500 Indian Creek Drive).  Students and teachers are our invited guests, and tickets are $45 for friends and family.  Due to a generous donation by a group of parents, a limited number of free tickets is also available, so don’t hesitate to see me if the price is a burden.  I hope that as many of you as possible will be able to make it.     

The following invitation will be delivered to students today and should go out in the mail tomorrow, but I wanted to make it available as soon as possible: brunch-invite-final

This is a wonderful, intimate way to celebrate your achievements with your peers.  I hope that each of you will be able to attend.  Please RSVP for you and your family to either me or to Alex Rodriguez before May 1.  I look forward to seeing you there!  If you have any questions, don’t hesitate to email me at aweiss@dadeschools.net.

Best Regards,

Andy Weiss

New SA Student Orientation

Dear Incoming Scholars and Families,

I wanted to remind everyone of our New Student Orientation this Thursday, April 16, at 6:30 PM in the MBSH Media Center.  I hope to see all accepted students and families there!

I have now combed through all of the responses to the 2009-2010 acceptance letters and accomodated as many people off of the waitlist as possible.  Two available gifted spaces remain in the gifted sections, but I do not anticipate that additional spaces will open up in the non-gifted section unless additional accepted students move out of our attendance boundary or unexpectedly change schools. 

If you know of any students classified as gifted who have not yet applied to the program, please give them my direct email address (aweiss@dadeschools.net), as I no longer anticipate regularly checking the online application for new applicants. 

See you tomorrow night!

Best Regards,

Andy Weiss

New YAMI Mentors

Dear Scholars Girls,

Andrea Coyne at the Youth Aide Mentoring Initiative is once again looking for female mentors between the ages of 15 and 18.  This is a great opportunity to earn some extra money while doing meaningful service work.  If you are interested, you can contact her at 305.672.8080 ext 23. 

You can view the recruitment flyer here: new-yami-flyer

Best Regards,

Andy Weiss

Save the Date!

Dear Scholars,

Graduating Seniors:

Our Senior Brunch is tentatively scheduled for Saturday, May 9, from 10 AM – 1 PM at the Ronald W. Shane Center.  Please save the date.  Scholars Academy students and teachers are our invited guests, free of charge, and family and friends will be able to purchase tickets.  I anticipate announcing the price by the end of spring break, and also hope to have several free tickets available if the price is too burdensome.  Once I announce the price, please come prepared to purchase tickets for your family and friends as soon as possible after the break.

Also, don’t forget to turn in your SA Senior Yearbook pages to Alex Rodriguez before April 10.  Her email is arodriguez0207@yahoo.com.

Incoming Freshmen:

Ms. Williams and I will be at Nautilus for subject selection on April 14 and 15.  On April 16, there will be an orientation session and meet and greet in the MBSH Media Center from 6:30 PM – 8:30 PM.  At the end of the session, students matriculating from private schools will be able to fill out subject selection sheets.  Students, parents, brothers and sisters are all welcome to come. 

Oh Spring Break, how do I love thee?  Let me count the days!

Best Regards,

Andy Weiss