Reminders

Just wanted to remind you all that the next ACT registrations deadline is the January 6th for the February 7th test date. Remember, Talent Search students get 2 fee waivers to use. Make sure you get your waiver if you haven't used your two yet. Christmas break is coming fast. Half the year is almost over! Can you believe it? Don't let things pass you by!

New Stuff Is Coming

I know it's been a while, but it's because we are hard at work here! ;) New features have been added and will continue to be added in the coming days. As you can see to the right, there is now a slide show of some of the pictures in the photo album. What!? You didn't know we had a photo album? Well go check it out then.

Alright. The new podcast is here. Click on the link at the top, especially if you are interested in broadcasting or public speaking.

Blog Action Day 2008: Poverty

This year's Blog Action Day topic is poverty, so I want to take this opportunity to give out information about some of the local organizations that help to fight poverty. These are all places you can contact to get volunteer hours. These volunteer hours can go on your resume and be used to obtain scholarships that require them. Not only are you helping to reduce poverty, but you are also earning respect and volunteer credits. Contact these organization and ask if they take volunteers.

Boone County Salvation Army:
Joy Prater, Director
150 Hwy 62-65 Bypass
Harrison, AR 72601
870-741-3130

Harrison City Housing
George Holcomb, Director
710 Robinson
Harrison, AR 72601
870-741-8673
george@housingharrison.com

Head Start
Susan Dean, Director
701 E. Prospect
Harrison, AR 72601
870-741-9406

Northwest Regional Housing Authority
Ken McDowell, Director
114 Sisco
PO Box 2568
Harrison, AR 72601
870-741-5522
nwhra@windstream.net

Ozark Opportunities, Inc.
Wanda McMurrin, Coordinator
701 East Prospect
PO Box 1400
Harrison, AR 72602
870-741-2089
ooi@alltel.net

Ozark Share and Care
105 Hwy 62-65
Harrison, AR 72601
870-741-3130

Rural Development
Linda Cantrell, Manager
402 North Walnut, Suite 130
Harrison, AR 72601
870-741-8600

http://blogactionday.org/js/6d41537c2439b1cb032f2892f7ac0e1ff267544b

Are you reading this thing!?

Because if you are, you have the opportunity to get a free 25 min. card to use at tutor.com. All you need to do is add a comment to this post with your name and school and I'll make sure you get one (as long as you are in Talent Search). To add a comment, click below this post where it says "comments". There is no obligation to do anything, it's just 25 minutes of free, online tutoring. I only have a limited number, so comment NOW!

Get Ready for Your ACT Test This Year.....(click here: "X")

ACT Study Information
Found in:
"Preparing for the ACT" 2008-2009 Study Booklet (Purple)
Provided by ACT

Read on Page:
#3 General Test-Taking Strategies
#4 Preparing for the Test Day
#5 Strategies for taking the ACT Tests
#6 ACT English Test
#7 ACT Mathematics Test
#8 ACT Reading Test
#9 ACT Science Test
#9 ACT Writing Test (Optional)
#11 What to Expect on the Day of the Test

Take on Page(s):
#14 English Test
#26 Mathematics Test
#34 Reading Test
#42 Science Test
#57-58, 75-78 Writing test

Do on Pages: #59-72 Scoring Your Practice Tests

Yellville-Summit and Valley Springs Freshmen

September 12 is the day you all will be headed to Northark for Making High School Count - an interactive presentation that's especially great now that you are in 9th grade. The show starts at 9am and your buses will leave school first thing in the morning, so don't be late! Bring  your permission forms and turn them in to the office. You can't go without them.

Best, Worst, What?

Welcome to the Talent Search Blog. This is probably the first time visiting form many of you, so make sure you take a look around and get familiar with things. The poll is on the top of the sidebar, the scholarship website links are just below the poll, and the college website links are below that. At the bottom are the counselor contacts and calendars. You can leave comments by clicking below any post where it says "comments". Don't forget to use your planners this year, that way you can make sure this year will be the best yet. ;)

Making It Count

Hey all you freshmen....It's time to make it count!!!. On Monday, September 8 at 10:00 a.m. ETS will host a Making It Count program for students from Hoxie, Hillcrest, and Twin Rivers at the Walnut Ridge Community Center. Other schools being represented include Walnut Ridge, Black Rock, Sloan Hendrix, and Crowley's Ridge Academy.

Making High School Count provides first-semester high school freshmen with important information on how to recognize their potential for future success and make the most of their high school experience. This 50-minute, interactive, assembly-style presentation helps students realize the choices they make as early as freshman year can impact their opportunities upon graduation.

Bring a pencil and a great attitude and come join the other 349 freshmen students from your area begin to Make It Count!!!

School is Coming!

School will be here soon and that means Talent Search will be starting as well. Be on the look out for when your counselor will be visiting and make sure you are there. We hope to have all the counselors' calendars available to view online so you can look ahead and see when their next visit will be. Click "Contact the Counselors" in the menu bar to access the calendars. :)

POWER Camp 2008 = Done

Well, POWER Camp 2008 is over and it's time to reflect on what all we did. Vote in the poll at the right, check out pictures from camp in the photo album (more to come soon), and expect your picture discs to arrive in about a week or so.

I know I speak for all the counselors when I say we had lots of fun. Do you have any suggestions for us about how we can make camp better for next year's attendees? Send us some feedback!

Photos Galore!

There are a ton of new photos in the photo album, so go and see them. You can comment on pictures too! There will be even more pictures tomorrow, so check back then too.

Spirit of the Dance Trip

Bergman sophomores, If you haven't already seen them, there are pictures in the photo album from the trip to Branson for Spirit of the Dance and Playtime Pizza. I also took a couple videos that are worth posting, so here they are as well. DDR dance (1.4 MB). Game Over (20.5 MB).

Silver Dollar City

UPDATE: We will return to Lead Hill school by 3:00 (and Yellville-Summit by 3:30) so that students and teachers can attend Patrick's service.

Lead Hill 10th - 11th and Yellville-Summit 10th graders are headed to Silver Dollar City on Wednesday April 30th. Yellville-Summit students will leave at 7:30 from school and Lead Hill students will be picked up at 8:00 by the bus. No money is required (lunch and the tickets are taken care of), but if you want you can bring some to spend. Also, bring something for the bus ride to pass the time. If you lost your permission slip, Lead Hill is here and Yellville-Summit is here.

Conquering the Course

We did it! We conquered the ropes course at the Jones Center in Springdale. Bruno-Pyatt 7th and 8th graders and Lead Hill 7th graders traveled to the Life Adventure Center to work on team building and communication skills. Fun was had by all, and a few students overcame their fear of heights. Congratulations to everyone who participated and learned from the experience. Pictures are in the Photo Album to view, comment on, and download. Go check them out.

Oh. You mean THAT form?

Well seniors, your parents have all most likely filed their taxes because the deadline was yesterday. Why am I talking about taxes? Because, if you haven't already, it's time to send in your FAFSA. In case you've been procrastinating or neglecting to get this done, please don't wait any longer! The FAFSA is THE MOST important step in getting free money for your higher education. It's not too late, so head on over to http://fafsa.ed.gov/, apply for your pin, and get what's coming to you (and who doesn't like free money?)!

Hey Seniors!

Listen. The end is in sight, but don't loosen your grip yet. Decisions still need to be made. If you haven't gotten it already, your SAR (student aid report) will be coming soon. Make sure you notify colleges that you wont be attending as well as the one you will. Notify the college you will be attending of any outside scholarships you may have received. Make sure your counselor sends your final transcript in May. Also, think about what you will doing during the summer. It could be taking classes, volunteering, working, or just getting your freshman reading list done. Make your plans now and don't let go just yet.

Podcast Episode 3 - Social Networks

The latest episode of the NTS Podcast is available. If you use social networks (e.g. MySpace or Facebook), You'll really want to check this one out. To subscribe with iTunes click here. To subscribe with your RSS reader click here. To download to your computer, click the link in the menu bar that says Podcast.

Announcement - Yellville-Summit

The Talent Search meeting from the beginning of the month has been rescheduled for Wednesday the 19th. There were communication issues, but it has been worked out now. Thanks for your patience!

Ropes at the Jones Center - April 23

UPDATE: This trip is rescheduled for the 23rd of April due to the weather.

Lead Hill students: I will pick you all up 7:00 a.m. from Lead Hill School. We will travel to Northark Center Campus. There we will board the Bruno-Pyatt school bus and head to the Jones Center.
Lead Hill Permission form

Bruno-Pyatt students: You will leave the school by 7:00 a.m. and pick up Lead Hill students at Northark Center Campus. From there you will all travel together to the Jones Center in Springdale.
Bruno-Pyatt Permission form

EVERYONE: Wear comfortable clothes that you can be active in. Bring a lunch, a camera if you want (though I will take plenty of pictures) and something to do on the bus (homework, MP3 player, book, portable video game). Don't be late and bring both your forms signed!

ACT Registration Deadline

Just a reminder that Friday, March 7 is the registration deadline for the ACT test to be given on April 12. This is a good time for juniors to take this test because you should be familiar with much of the subject area. Speaking of tests....good luck on all of the End of Course testing coming up!!

It's Almost Here!

College Goal Sunday is this Sunday, March 2nd, 2pm at Northark. Don't miss this opportunity for a free walkthrough of the FAFSA with financial aid representatives and pros. Tell your parents to come and bring their tax info (W2s) or their tax returns, if they have filed. I'll be there, Mrs. Cox will be there, and so will everyone else who wants free help with their FAFSA.

Headin' Down South - UCA

Yellville-Summit juniors and seniors and Lead Hill seniors, The UCA tour will be February 26th. Lead Hill: we will leave your school AT 7:00 am. Don't be late! We'll drive to Yellville-Summit school where we will board their bus and ride together. Yellville-Summit: we will leave your school at 7:45. Don't be late! Everyone: bring cameras, bus entertainment, and questions to ask the UCA staff. No need to bring a lunch; we'll be eating in the UCA cafeteria (don't worry, it's great food). No permission slip, no go!
Lead Hill Permission Slip
Yellville-Summit Permission Slip

Theres a New Podcast Episode!

Hey everyone, episode 2 is here! If you use iTunes and want to subscribe, click here. If you just want to download the mp3 directly right-click here and select "save" instead. Send us some feedback about the podcast, or better yet, write an iTunes review :) Also, if you have questions that you want answered on the podcast send us an email or give us a call.

Financial Aid On-line

Just a reminder seniors that the Arkansas Academic Challenge Scholarship and the GO Grant should be available on-line beginning February 1. I hope you took advantage of the snow day to check it out. If not.....go ahead and do it as soon as possible.

To the State House!

Cushman 9th graders, you all are set to head out to the Statehouse Museum in Little Rock on April 28th. Lunch will be at Pizza Hut (yum). More details will follow.

Financial Aid Nights, Many of Them

Midland High: Your Financial Aid Night for seniors and parents is on January 28th at 6:30pm. UACCB and ETS will be doing a presentation on financial aid and the FAFSA. Refreshments will be served. One lucky senior will win $50 US Savings Bond from Citizens Bank (you must be present to win).

Valley Springs: Your Financial Aid Night for juniors, seniors, and parents is on January 28th at 6:00pm. The Arkansas Student Loan Authority will be presenting info on financial aid and the FAFSA. ETS will provide snacks and refreshments.

Cedar Ridge: Your Financial Aid Night for seniors and parents is on January 31st at 6:30pm. UACCB and ETS will be doing a presentation on financial aid and the FAFSA. Refreshments will be served.

Bergman: Your Financial Aid Night for juniors, seniors, and parents is on February 4th at 6:00pm in Old Main Auditorium. The Arkansas Student Loan Authority will be presenting info on financial aid and the FAFSA. ETS will provide snacks and refreshments.

More Field Trips?!

Yep, we've got another one in the works. This one won't be till nearly the end of the school year. It will be at the Mansion Theater in Branson, MO and the show will be Celebrate America. More details will come as the date approaches (May 9th). You can check out the show here.

Mark It In Your Planner!

Bruno-Pyatt and Valley Springs seniors, you will be recieving your field trip permission slips this first week back for the trip on the 16^th. Get 'em filled out and returned because you know: you can't go without them.

Bruno-Pyatt 8^th graders, Mrs. Stokes found those forms I was missing, so you who were not on the list are taken care of.

Happy New Year!

Welcome Back! I hope you all enjoyed the break. We're on the downhill slope now, but don't abuse that fact. If you try to coast the whole way down, you likely end up running into something on the way down (ouch!). I'm especially talking to seniors; try your hardest not to fall into the senior slump.

Here are the results of last month's poll. I guess everyone was spending the holidays with their immediate family. This month's poll is open, so make sure your voice is heard.