Year 3 of Project CEDAR

We are now entering Year 3 of the Project CEDAR grant. Two of your peers have completed the program and are now teaching in their own classrooms. Even though at times, you will feel overwhelmed, and as if you are never going to finish, you will.

This is the toughest year you will have in your educational career EVER and the year that will determine what you are made of. You are going to be doing a ton of homework, and learning a ton of content,  but you will survive. If it was easy, everybody would do it and you wouldn't be able to experience the overwhelming sense of accomplishment when you finish.

Not only will your family and community be proud of you, but you will feel an indescribable sense of accomplishment and self-satisfaction for what you were able to do. And nobody can ever take it away from you. If you have children, you will have provided a powerful role model for them. They will see somebody who struggled at times, who felt like taking the easy way out and quitting, but who pushed ahead and demonstrated that you can achieve whatever your goals may be through hard work and perseverance.

According to the wisdom of the "seventh generation prophecy", you are the generation of Tribal people who will "rise up and demand your rights and stewardship over the earth" and lead the next generation of Native people. As a teacher, you will be fulfilling this prophecy.

Admissions Process for Bachelor Degree Programs

According to Mona Schell in the UTTC Admissions Office, if you recently graduated with an AAS degree and now plan to continue with your bachelor degree, you will have to submit a new application to UTTC. You can do this on the UTTC website.

Mona said they will have most of your documents on file so they won't need new copies. She said you might have to update your physical.

After you submit your application, and everything is received, your application will be sent to a committee that approves all applications. Make sure that you mark "BS degree in Elementary Education" on your application so your information is accurate.

A few of you have had to get a letter from us stating that you have been provisionally accepted into the Teacher Education program. This is a separate process from applying to the college so make sure you have both completed. Most of you, as part of the CEDAR project, have all of your information submitted to us for admission to Teacher Education already.

If Admissions or Financial Aid tells you that you need a letter of acceptance from Teacher Ed, you can stop by and pick one up. Jen Heid can provide this to you. I've given her permission to sign it on my behalf if I'm not available and then initial it.

If you have any questions about this process, either Leah or me will do our best to answer your questions. The Admissions Office is doing everything they can do, too, to make this process go smoothly for you.

Enjoy the weekend!

Lisa A.

Smithsonian Institute IV - July 28-August 1

The second Smithsonian Institute for the summer will begin on Monday, July 28^th, and conclude Friday, August 1. As you know, all of you are taking this for credit (EDU 360) so attendance and full participation is required in order to meet the requirements for this course.

Leah wanted me to let you know that on Tuesday, July 29^th, we will be leaving at 8 AM sharp from the Barden Center for our field trip to Medora, in the Theodore Roosevelt National Park. We will return to campus at 5 PM that same day so make sure you make arrangements for the full day. Lunch will be provided, as well as drinking water. If you want to purchase soda/pop or other drinks, you will have to purchase those on your own.

See you Monday, July 28^th, at 8:30 AM at the Barden Center. If you have any questions, please let Leah know.

Happy Summer!

Financial Aid Disbursements

Jessica Stewart in Student Accounts just confirmed that your financial aid excess funds will be disbursed this Friday, June 27th, at 4 PM. IF you have excess financial aid, over and above your cost for tuition, fees and whatever else this summer semester, you will be getting a check.

Enjoy the rest of the week!

Message from Leah Regarding the Smithsonian Institute on Monday

Hello all!

Please read the following information closely regarding next week’s “Using Arts in the Classroom” Smithsonian workshop.  The information will include: Monday’s morning schedule, materials that you need to collect and bring in Monday, and dress requirements for Monday.

The workshop will be held in the lower level conference room in the Jack Barden Center during the week of June 23^rd to June 27^th.

All participants will receive a printed copy of the week’s agenda – however; I am including Monday morning’s schedule for your information.

Day One:  Monday, June 23^rd

8:30-9:00 am                           Registration/ Check-in

9:00-9:20 am                           Opening Prayer                                                                                                                                

9:20-9:30 am                           Welcome

Wally Mertes

9:30-10:30 am                         Native Peoples of the Americas: An Introduction

When Christopher Columbus reached the Americas in 1492, he met people unknown to Europeans. Thinking he had reached the Indies, he called them Indians. This is only one of the many mistakes, misunderstandings, and misconceptions that continue to plague America's native peoples. Dr. Herman Viola, anthropologist and curator emeritus at the National Museum of Natural History, A fundamental mistake that persists to this day is to speak about "the" American Indians as though they are one people. Despite their small numbers, the Indian peoples of North America were as dissimilar from each other as were the peoples of Europe. In terms of language, clothes, lifestyles, militancy, and religion the tribes in different parts of North America differed greatly from each other. These differences are considered "cultural" and the regions are known as “culture areas.” The North American culture areas are the Arctic, Subarctic, Southwest, Northwest Coast, California, Plateau, Plains, Northeast, and Southeast.

10:30-12:00 pm                      Large Format Abstract Painting

Karen O. Brown, visual artist, will lead a session on large format abstract painting on Tyvek and heavier paper that will be used to create an Eastern landscape wall installation as well as small puppets.  She will demonstrate techniques of layering abstract designs.

12:00-12:30 pm                      Lunch (on your own)

Materials you will need to gather and bring with you for Monday.   Please, if you can bring extras of any of these items, it would be very much appreciated.

1)  an empty cereal box,

2)  a plastic container with a lid (from sour cream, large-ish yogurt, cottage cheese or  take out), and

3) some recyclable materials for art projects (bottle caps, water bottles, tea boxes, cracker boxes, more cereal boxes, whatever you may find interesting).

Monday’s attire – each participant will be involved in creating materials that require acrylic paint.  Please, either wear or bring a t-shirt that you don’t mind getting paint on. 

See you on Monday!

PPST Tests Reminder

By this time, you should all have your Praxis 1: PPST tests scheduled. Your vouchers have an expiration date so make sure to do this soon!

Correct Dates for Institutes

The dates for the second Smithsonian Institute were incorrect in my earlier post. I have since corrected it.

The first Smithsonian Institute for 2014, the one for EDU 315, is June 23 - 27th, Monday through Friday.

The second Smithsonian Institute for 2014, the one for EDU 360, is July 28 - August 1, Monday through Friday.

Please remember these institutes fulfill the requirements for two courses. You are registered for these two courses (EDU 315 and EDU 360) and will earn a grade for each one at the end of the summer semester. Project CEDAR provided you with funding to cover the cost of tuition and fees (there are no books for you to purchase).

If you have any questions, please let us know. Leah is the coordinator for these institutes but feel free to contact me if you can't get in touch with her, OK?

See you in a few weeks!

Lisa