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Links Library - 2
Important Dates - 2
Staff Spotlight - 2
Keeping Up With The Pace - 3
Time Management Tips For Students - 3-4
Tracking Sheets - 4
Win A Free Netbook! - 5
Fresh Start: Tips To Be A Successful Pinnacle Student - 5
Parent Corner - 6
Tips Of The Month - 6
Write For The ’Pinnacle Periodical’ - 6
Pinnacle Scholarships - 7
December Graduation - 7
Beating The Holiday Blues - 7-8
December 2009
1 5
In this issue...
Pinnacle Unveils New Counselor’s Corner Website!
The Student Services staff is proud to introduce the Pinnacle Counselor’s Corner website. Creation of this website has been a long-standing goal of the Student Services department. They have looked forward to providing information and guidance through a unique website while also offering students a new way to receive assistance in an online setting. So after much deliberation, collaboration, and development, the long-awaited and highly-anticipated site is here.
The Counselor’s Corner website is now live, and can be accessed from the Pinnacle Education website! The Counselor’s Corner link can be found on the left side menu under Programs, as well as in the Student Portal. The Counselor’s Corner is targeting full-time virtual students; however, all the information on this site is relevant to all Pin-nacle students and parents.
Here are some great features that you can find on the Counselor’s Corner:
A Blog from Student Services
Information for college-bound students
Current and previous issues of the Pinnacle Post
Calendar of events
Counseling and Guidance Links
And More!
Please visit the website often. As we continue to develop content, this site will become a valuable resource!
| December Financial Aid | December Scholarships | January of Senior Year | 2010 College Goal Sunday |
| Websites for College Bound | SAT/ACT Bulletin | Federal Grant A | Borrowing C | Loans B |
Links Library L i n k s t o h e l p f u l d o c u m e n t s
P A G E 2 V O L U M E 1 , I S S U E 5
December 12 - Phoenix National
Portfolio Day
Hosted by: Cornish College of the
Arts
Mesa Community College 12pm -
4pm
December 16th – Winter Graduation!
December 21st – January 1st Winter
Break
January 14, 2010 - Paying for College
www.collegeweeklive.com - Paying for College is
a single-day education fair featuring colleges and uni-
versities worldwide with a focus on financial aid. Live
video presentations with admission and financial aid
experts discussing ways that students can afford their
college education. Topics include financial aid forms,
scholarships, student loans, and other sources of finan-
cial aid.
CONTACT YOUR VGC FOR MORE
INFO ON ANY OF THESE EVENTS!
Staff Spotlight
Bryant Murphy - Guidance Counselor
I began working in social ser-
vices as a volunteer group
home staff in Washington,
D.C.. Later I was offered a
full time position working
with at-risk youth as a job
coordinator. I began studying criminal justice and earned
a B.S. in Criminal Justice. Back then, I had the desire to
work in adult probation. I then began working with previ-
ously incarcerated adults at a community corrections cen-
ter in Florence, AZ. I then discovered that the best way
to help others was to become involved in education. It
was then I began studying to earn a M.A.Ed. while pre-
paring students for their G.E.D. as an Academic Instruc-
tor in Florence and Eloy, AZ medium and maximum secu-
rity prisons.
My return to working with youth at Pinnacle has
been a positive shift in my career. I have enjoyed the
opportunity to work with students because I have been
able to mentor, motivate, and mediate by using examples
of real life situations. This way, my audience can truly
appreciate and relate to me, rather than someone who
has no clue what this population faces daily. I am cur-
rently pursuing a certification in Advanced Graduate
Studies in Education Intervention to develop a program
for at-risk youth and diverse learners in education.
Bryant Murphy
Ma
rk
Yo
ur
C
al
en
da
r
P A G E 3
Keeping up with the pace of an online course
What is pace? Pace is a measure of where you should be at in a
course, compared to when you started and are scheduled to end. For exam-
ple, in Pinnacle’s twelve week courses, you should be at the midterm by
week six, and the final by weeks twelve. However, keeping ahead of pace is
a great idea so that you can ensure all of your courses get done in a timely manner. Pace is a very
important part of your success at Pinnacle, and will affect both your attendance time and your
grades. Talk with you Virtual Guidance Counselor (VGC) for more details on pace and how you can
stay caught up!
The pace of an online course is different from a traditional high school course, and in order to complete assignments and move to another lesson, online students will have to develop Time Management Skills. It is very easy to skip a day of studying when not in a classroom setting. But there are ways students can establish a routine and follow it in order to complete a class.
Students should designate a study time each day that they can devote energy to without the fear of interruption. The time should be the same each day. If this is not possible, the student will need to set aside an amount of time each day that they will study.
Students should complete one lesson at a time in order to stay organized and maintain a constant pace. Skipping ahead to see what is coming next is a waste of time.
Read one or two pages more each day than originally planned. This will keep the pace going and keep a student slightly ahead of where they want to be. This will help in case there are times when studying cannot be done.
Keeping a steady pace does not mean that a student has to work through the lessons quickly. A steady pace is a comfortable speed where students are learning information and do not feel stressed about completing assignments. Online classes are designed to be completed slowly rather than quickly. Taking the time to learn the lessons will pay off in the end.
V O L U M E 1 , I S S U E 5
Time Management tips for students
It is important to treat an online program just as seriously as a traditional classroom
program. Putting time aside each day to work on assignments is essential to getting them completed so that more
can be learned. On this page and the next are tips for time management and organizing a student's workspace so that
one can enjoy what he/she is learning without having to rush through it.
1. Work at the same time each day to develop a routine. This will keep a student focused on what they need to learn. Try to
put aside at least two hours each day for class work. Even though students will not have to attend classes, they will still have to
complete assignments and study.
V O L U M E 1 , I S S U E 5 P A G E 4
2. Download weekly or daily lectures at one time and print them out in-
stead of reading from the computer. Too often, people miss important in-
formation when reading on the computer. They will have to go back and
reread the information, which proves to be a big time waster. Print off lec-
tures and assignments so that they will be available any time you want to
look at them.
3. Find a workspace and keep the computer and other equipment in this
space. Keep papers and assignments in this space so that they do not get
lost. Losing paperwork can also be a waste of time. Having a workspace
will also enable a person to focus on their schoolwork.
4. Create a weekly schedule to follow when completing assignments.
Even though assignments are completed at the student's pace, it is impor-
tant to stay on task and be productive. Following a schedule that is similar to a syllabus given to students in traditional college
programs will help the online student stay productive as well.
5. When studying, take frequent breaks to eat and stay hydrated. This will help process information faster and will save time in
the long run. When people spend long hours studying, they will often have to reread sections of the text. By taking breaks, stu-
dents are keeping their minds alert and focused.
6. Each student has 12 weeks to complete their course, and Pinnacle takes attendance! You must log a minimum of 30
hours (online and offline time per class) before the midterm will be unlocked and 60 hours before the final will be unlocked.
This is attendance for the virtual classroom! The midterm is only halfway through the course, around Week 5. There are more
lessons before the final. Finding time to study can be difficult, but with a little practice anyone can become a great
online student.
Source: http://oedb.org/library/online-class-assignments/keeping-up-with-the-pace-of-an-online-course
Tracking sheets . . . Use this great feature to stay on pace with each of your classes! Did you know for each course there is a
tracking sheet to help you keep up the
pace in your courses? These tracking sheets
allow you to see how far along you need to be each week
to help you meet your goals of finishing the class early or
on time.
Here’s where they are located:
-Click on your course in Angel
-Click on your “Lessons” tab
-Click on the “Tracking Sheets” folder link
-Click on the course link (it will be the name of your course)
-Click once more on the course link (again the name of your course, and underlined)
Time Management Tips for Students, continued . . . .
P A G E 5
E-mailing your Instructor
Remember to e-mail your instructor, through the course,
and ask for the midterm and final exams to be unlocked.
The instructor has up to 24 school hours to review your
progress and unlock the exam.
Be sure and leave yourself plenty of time for this process
to take place, which means you should be staying ahead
of pace for your end date.
Sending mail to All Course Faculty
• Click into your course
• Click on the Communicate tab on the top of the page
• Click on Quick Message
• Click the To: button
• On new screen under User, check All course faculty.
• Then, click the “To” button, then OK.
• Type a subject and message and click Send.
Remember: Instructors LOVE to talk to you as well!
Instructors are available to talk with by phone from
early in the morning to late in the evening. Think of
calling your instructor like raising your hand in class.
See below for all the department contact information.
Call Pinnacle at 480-755-8222 or 1-888-567-1844 Then press #1 for extension then enter in the depart-
ment’s direct extension four digit number.
English x2734
Math x2748
Science x2729
Social Studies x2720
Electives x2745
Fresh Tips to be
a successful pinnacle student
CONTACT YOUR INSTRUCTOR,
THEY WANT TO TALK TO YOU!
V O L U M E 1 , I S S U E 5
Say Thank You To Our Troops . . . Something cool that Xerox® is doing….just click the link below and select
the card you want to send. If you go to this web site, www.LetsSayThanks.com you can pick out a thank you card and Xerox® will
print it and it will be sent to a soldier that is currently serving in Iraq. You can't pick out who gets it, but
it will go to some member of the armed services.
P A G E 6 V O L U M E 1 , I S S U E 5
Students who have a class with a start date of 9/28/09 or later will be given an automatic two week extension in
order to account for the Winter Break.
Always try to keep ahead of pace in your courses so that you have plenty of time to complete them. Your VGC can give you specific details about where you stand with your pace, but also try keeping your own calendar and try to stay ahead be taking the midterm in week five, and the final in week eleven. Courses are all twelve weeks long. See the front page article for more informa-tion on Pace.
Attention Parents: WE NEED YOU! Believe it or not you play a large role in your student’s suc-cess. Please make sure your student’s Virtual Guidance Coun-selor (VGC) knows how to get a hold of you and the best time of day to reach you. Good phone num-bers and an e-mail from you are wonderful resources so we can re-
cruit your help when necessary.
Tips to stay involved:
Help your student set up a cal-endar and plan out what they need to have done, and by when, in each class.
Ask your student how their classes are going.
Have your student show you their progress in each class.
Help your student study for quizzes and exams.
Contact your students VGC if you have questions or concerns.
Wondering how to check your student’s grades? Run a grade report! Here’s how:
-Click into the academic course you are interested in looking at.
-Click Report tab on top of screen.
-Under Category use the drop down menu and select Grades.
-The screen will automatically refresh: under Grades it should say Student Grades and User should be your stu-dent’s name.
-Click Run on the bottom right of screen.
-The Reports Console will then come up.
No matter how calmly you try to referee, parenting will
eventually produce bizarre behavior, and I'm not talking
about the kids. ~Bill Cosby, Fatherhood, 1986
P A G E 7 V O L U M E 1 , I S S U E 5
A Future So Bright A Pinnacle Scholarship will help
you on your path to a brighter future. Congratulations to each and every one of you for putting forth the ef-
fort necessary to earn your high school diploma!
Pinnacle Education recognizes the remarkable talents and achieve-
ments of our students. In an effort to encourage lifelong learning, Pin-
nacle has created the Pinnacle Excellence Scholarship and the
Pinnacle Challenge Scholarship. These scholarships will help our
graduates in pursuit of their educational goals beyond high school.
Every Pinnacle High School graduate is eligible to apply.
If you would like to learn more about how you can take ad-
vantage of this great financial opportunity, please contact
your Virtual Guidance Counselor or campus principal.
December graduation: is rapidly approaching Graduation and we would like to remind you of some important
dates:
Beating the holiday blues Feelings of sadness and depression are common during the holidays, but not inevitable. University of Maryland experts offer a variety of practical tips to help you keep the blues away. Article Source: http://www.umm.edu/features/holiday_blues.htm#
Once again the holidays are upon us, which means it's
time for festive partying with friends and family, sharing
gifts and laughter -- and getting depressed. That's right.
For many people, the holidays bring on feelings of sad-
ness and anxiety that can be hard to shake.
According to the National Mental Health Association, rea-
sons for feeling blue around the holidays are numerous.
They range from fatigue -- a result of all of the increased
Courses must be completed by December 2, 2009
Contact your Virtual Guidance Counselor as soon as possible to let them know if you plan to
participate in our ceremony
Graduation will be December 16, 2009 at 7 p.m. at the Mesa Convention Center, 201 North Center Street
Mesa, AZ 85201
We hope to see you all on December 16!!!!!!!
P A G E 8 V O L U M E 1 , I S S U E 5
Beating the holiday blues, continued . . .
holiday activity -- to financial limitations and family ten-
sions. Experts say one of the fastest routes to holiday
depression is unrealistic expectations.
"Set realistic goals," said Dubin, who is also a psychia-
trist at the University of Maryland Medical Center. "If your
holiday plans require you to run around shopping and
going to parties until you are exhausted, and staying up
all night to wrap presents, your plans aren't very realistic.
You need to pace yourself and get enough rest so that
you won't be grouchy and testy."
Other factors that can contribute to feelings of sadness
around the holidays are memories of deceased loved
ones and strained family dynamics.
Creating family traditions is one way to bring family
members closer together, said Dubin. These traditions
don't have to be formal or elaborate. For instance, she
recommends visiting a nursing home to help serve
holiday meals to some of the residents, or videotap-
ing holiday celebrations and making an annual event
of watching the previous year's celebration.
One of the best antidotes for the holiday blues is do-
ing something for someone else.
"Volunteer your time this holiday season to help others
who have less than you do," said Dubin. "Taking the fo-
cus off of yourself and putting it on others can really
make you feel much better. Not only can you help other
people, but doing so will add a lot more meaning to your
holiday season."
Dubin offers these additional tips to help you banish the
holiday blues:
Delegate. Don't try to do it all by yourself. People often
want to help and to be involved. By breaking down tasks
and doling them out to friends and family, everything be-
comes more manageable.
Spend Some Time Alone. Some people love the energy
and exuberance of big holiday parties and activities. For
others, all of it is very taxing. If you find yourself getting a
little anxious, take a breather. Find a quiet spot to relax
and recharge your batteries. Other people will be so
caught up in what is going on that they probably won't
even miss you.
Let Go of the Past. Don't be disappointed if your holi-
days aren't like they used to be. Life brings changes. Em-
brace the future, and don't dwell on the fact that the
"good old days" are gone.
Give Yourself a Break. Don't think in absolute terms.
You aren't the best cook in the world, or the worst. You
aren't super mom, or the most horrible mother in the
world.
If despite your best efforts to remain upbeat this holiday
season, you find yourself feeling down for a sustained
period of time, get help. Don't try to "tough it out" alone.
There are treatment options available to you that could
make a significant difference in your outlook.
Office: (480)755-8222 Long Distance: 1-888-567-1844
English Department: Extension 2734
Math Department: Extension 2748
Science Department: Extension 2729
Social Studies Department: Extension 2720
Electives Department: Extension 2745
Student Services (Guidance Counselors): Extension 2965
Pinnacle Online High School Phone Contacts
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Published by Pinnacle Education Inc. © 2009
*Disclaimer: You are receiving this newsletter because you are a registered student or student parent at Pinnacle Online High School.
Pinnacle Online High School - College Board Code: 030666 You will need this code for some testing registrations (i.e. PSAT/SAT, ACT) as well as certain scholarship applications.