Saddleback Partners with Parents

By Valeria Muñoz-Vera

Photos by Valeria Muñoz-Vera

Bright and early on May 16, 2013, parents of students from all grades arrived at the Saddleback campus to attend the fourth annual Parent Partner Conference. The meeting was divided in order to give accurate information to both parents of students currently attending the school and the parents of eighth graders, next year’s Roadrunners.

The different sessions were led by Mrs. Holga Henderson, Higher Education Coordinator, Mrs. Nancy Villarreal and Mrs. Stephanie Sachs, both counselors, and Ms. Carolina Gonzalez, Community and Family Outreach Liaison. Parents were invited for refreshments before the presentations began and were able to enjoy the performances of the Cheer Team and Dance Team throughout the day.

 

 

Henderson held a presentation in the library.  The topic was the cost of a higher education and the requirements to move onto college. Seniors Xosthan Abarca, Jesus Garcia, Steven Mejia, and Junior Christian Islas gave their testimonies of how to successfully get through high school and onto a higher education.

Gonzalez and Julie Anderson, Outreach Consultant, held another presentation in the Forum regarding the school website and Aeries for grades. They also discussed the relationship between economic status people and level of education they receive. The higher education people receive, they explained, the better economic and social status they will have. The purpose of the presentation was to let the parents know how much better of the students will be if they attain a higher education.

After the presentations, the parents got to watch the video which was shown to the students this past week regarding bullying and staying on task. Mr. Gerardo Correa, assistant principal of guidance, believes that the “presentations were informative and parents got a lot out of them.” Gonzalez shared that, “It went pretty good. I would of been happy with more parent participation. I’m still happy that the parents came and got good information about the school.”

 

Seniors attend OCC Senior Day

By Carlos Pacheco

Photos by Carlos Pacheco

On March 11 seniors from different schools and district visited Orange Coast College for its annual Senior Day.

The event consisted of tours around the campus to explore different clubs to join. Clubs were offered for all students interested in games, drama, cooking, sports, or reading. Students that attended an assembly later on got a free t-shirt. The assembly was about activities and clubs they have to offer in school.

Members from the OCC dance program performed pieces of their upcoming concert. Senior Evelyn Garcia said, “I love the performance the dancers gave in the theater.”

After that the occ staff encouraged the students explore the campus either on their own or with a tour guide. The Photography Club offered a photo booth where anyone could go and take pictures to make memories, either as a group or alone.

Most students went to explore different clubs or  to take pictures around the campus. the college provided lunch to all those who attended the trip. Senior Rosa Lopez said “I enjoyed the whole campus and the activities and clubs I saw.”

 

 

FAFSA Late Nights help students pay for college

By Leslie Alanis

Photos by Leslie Alanis

Saddleback held  Financial Aid Late Nights at the Higher Education Center to help seniors to turn in their Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) or Dream Act applications.

The FAFSA gives students access to federal financial aid for college. The Dream Act is for students that are undocumented. It gives undocumented students in California a chance to receive financial aid through the state.

The Higher Education Center holds Financial Aid Late Nights every Thursday of this month from 3:00 p.m to 6:30 p.m. Students brought their family’s income information, social security number or alien registration number, and their parents’ 2012 or 2013 income tax information in order to fill out the paperwork.

Higher Education Coordinator Mrs. Olga Henderson said, “There’s a misnomer of people that think you have to be really really poor in order to get financial aid, or some students think that you have to have good grades to get financial aid. But really they’re looking at your parents ability to pay for college and thats the determination factor so thats why the fafsa and the dream act are application that students must fill out weather to determine if their eligible”.

Senior Vanessa Aguilar attended a FAFSA night and said, “Filling out the FAFSA application is really easy as long as you have brought all your requirements.”  She added that it was really helpful having people there to help you. The FAFSA and Dream Act deadline was March 2, 2014. If you have any questions, you may contact Mrs. Henderson in the Higher Education Center.