ASPIRE Report to YCSD School Board, Oct. 5, 2010

REPORT TO BOARD

DATE:              Oct. 5, 2010

FROM:             ASPIRE Program Coordinator, Janet Herring-Sherman

TO:                  YCSD School Board

ATTACHMENTS:  thank you letters, Upcoming Opportunities list, News Register article

• 1.      Registration forms this year mailed with senior information packets prior to registration, with about 30 of these returned at registration or during first week of school.
• 2.      ASPIRE Program Coordinator and literature present at registration, Back to School Night and Club Rush.
• 3.      63 students signed up for ASPIRE to date: 34 seniors, 17 juniors, nine sophomores, three freshmen
• 2 new ASPIRE volunteer mentors
• 5.      15 returning volunteer mentors plus two volunteers
• 6.      Annual ASPIRE Fall conference at Warner Pacific University in Portland on Oct. 1 attended by ASPIRE Coordinator and six mentors, marking first time this number of mentors have attended.
• 7.      Oregon University System presentation for counselors held at Western Oregon University Oct. 5 attended by ASPIRE Program Coordinator.
• 8.      Oregon Student Assistance Commission’s ASPIRE representative for our region, Gretchen Beckner, conducted ASPIRE 101 and College 101 training for 11 mentors on Oct. 6.
• 9.      ASPIRE Program Coordinator selected for statewide ASPIRE Advisory Team. Funding from Gear Up and the federal College Access Challenge Grant  are being used to “grow” ASPIRE program from 115 high schools to 165 this school year.
• 10.  ASPIRE presentations made in five of six Senior Advisory classes to date. Began with exercise asking the students if they knew what these acronyms (important for every senior to know!) meant: FAFSA, OSAC, SAR, EFC, OUS, etc. Those with ASPIRE experience did, those without, did not.
• 11.  YC ASPIRE mentors’ blog created  You’ll find it at http://ycaspire.blogspot.com This in addition to Facebook page established last year. http://www.facebook.com/pages/Yamhill-Carlton-High-School-APSIRE-Program.
• 12.  ASPIRE chosen by Education Foundation as beneficiary of Walk in the Park this past summer; presented with $1,000 for two scholarships for 2011 YC grads. (Thank you letters attached.)
• 13.  Scott Banke Memorial Scholarship Foundation provided a perpetual plaque with name of YC’s first recipient, 2010 grad engraved. Each year’s winner will be added to plaque.
• 14.  Comprehensive list of Upcoming Opportunities compiled by ASPIRE Program Coordinator. Includes  all known area  on-site and off-site events related to post-secondary education as well as SAT and ACT registration and test dates. Distributed for posting in classrooms. (Copy attached.)
• 15.   On Sept. 25, 2010, in the News Register’s Viewpoints section, an article about ASPIRE ran. It was written by McMinnville High School’s ASPIRE coordinator with the YCHS ASPIRE coordinator contributing. The link is:
• 16.  This term, a student aide is assisting in ASPIRE four times a week.