Upward Bound Newsletter, January 2004

Text Box: Despite the bitterly cold temperatures of the past few weeks, this New Year is rife with potential. Though winter will continue to reign for another three months, this indoor season marks an opportunity for reflection. Many of you have already begun to improve your academic performance. A large number of our students have consistently attended our field trips and your improved motivation is also evident in the ways that you’ve been speaking about classes, homework, and even course material itself. How do you plan to build on your improvement? Are you interested in the learning process or do you see yourself becoming overly focused on grade attainment? (This is an often unspoken danger in high-achieving students). For those of you who are still struggling academically, what will it take to start doing better? How will 2004 be better than 2003? Often we have challenges over which we have little control… difficulties with teachers, friends, siblings, even parents can hurt our concentration or motivation. Our social and emotional sides are always interacting with our academic responsibilities and the effects can be positive or negative. But, will these conflicts keep you from going to college or building a better life for yourself? If not, how will you exert control over your own destiny? Speak with your parents about these issues. Speak with your school staff too. But make sure you share with your UB staff as well. We look forward to hearing from you as you wrestle with these kinds of concerns. For all the struggles you may face or have faced, never lose sight of the opportunities that you have today or the support that you have to get there. You can make it. Andrea Takes a Break …Well not really. Andrea actually has a lot of work ahead of her! In case you have yet to notice, Andrea is pregnant with her second child. She’s looking forward to giving birth to her second daughter late in the month of April. As a result, Andrea will be on maternity leave from April 1st through the summer program. We expect her to return to us in August. If you are able to catch Andrea before April, wish her well! We’ll be missing her this summer.

Greetings from Hepburn Hall	Page 1
Holiday Party Pictures	Page 2
Holiday Party Pictures	Page 3
Homework Tips/Birthdays/ Test Dates	Page 4
Senior Info./Honor Roll	Page 5