Messages from the EG Staff

Ms. Kim – Guide

Happy Monday, families and learners! There are only four weeks left of the semester and time will go by quickly. I wanted to remind you to please take advantage of office hours that are held Monday-Thursday from 12:00-1:15 pm. All of the guides hold these office hours in order to further support you during your independent study. If you have questions, are stuck on an assignment or are not understanding a concept, please come find us and we will be more than happy to help! Keep up the great work, you are almost there!

Ms. Marian – Guide

Happy Monday. This week, I have had an overwhelming response from learners completing assignments. This has brought me much JOY! Please be patient with me as I grade and return assignments as quickly as possible. Have a beautiful week. We only have a few weeks left, if you have work to complete, please get it done.

Bob – Education Specialist

Many years ago, I was directing a play in Los Angeles in a small theater. One day, after the show was running, I stopped by the theater to make sure everything was ready for that night’s performance. I met a gentleman there who was preparing for a rehearsal of the play he was directing. It was a one-act play by Tennessee Williams, America’s most famous playwright. Many productions of Williams plays are always being performed throughout the country at any given time. The gentleman invited me to see a rehearsal of the play, so I stopped by the theater the next day during the rehearsal, and sat in the dark audience. When the director was talking to the actors on stage, he suddenly turned toward the audience and said, “Tennessee, how can we fix this line you wrote?” From behind me, I heard a quiet voice say, “I’ll see what I can do.” I almost fainted when I realized that I was sitting near America’s most famous playwright. Check out and read some of his plays, such as “The Glass Menagerie”, A Streetcar Named Desire”, or “Cat on a Hot Tin Roof”. He is, indeed, the Shakespeare of America!

Brian – School Counselor

May is Mental Health Month. May is a time to raise awareness of those living with mental or behavioral health issues and to help reduce the stigma so many experience. Each year millions of Americans face the reality of living with a mental illness. During May, NAMI (National Alliance on Mental Illness) joins the national movement to raise awareness about mental health. Each year Mental Health providers fight stigma, provide support, educate the public and advocate for policies that support people with mental illness and their families. This year, the theme of MHA’s (Mental Health Awareness) 2022 Mental Health Month Toolkit is “Back to Basics.” After the last two years of pandemic living, many people are realizing that stress, isolation, and uncertainty have taken a toll on their well-being.

Ms. Rosie – Office Manager

Hello Families and Learners!

Here are some updates!

• Re-Registration will be going out on June 1st
• We are still printing school IDs after lunch. Please be prepared to smile, take your picture and get your school ID. If you need to make any other arrangements, please reach out to me.
• Prom will be May 27 from 6:00 p.m.- 10:00 p.m.; tickets will go on sale soon!
• Graduation is June 9th for our graduating seniors!
• No School Monday, May 30th, in observance of Memorial Day.
• Last Day of school is June 17, 2022.

Please reach out to me if you have any questions. My email address is roselia.calderon@empowergenerations.org

Ms. Jeanette – Guide Support/Care Team

Cycle 3 is flying by! A lot of learners are very hard at work on Recovery and Passion Projects. If you need a brain break, please join me on Friday morning for a paint-along! Friday at 9:00 am I will lead a painting activity on campus. You may follow along or create your own design. Hope to see you there!

Ms. Tanya – Care Team

Tips for Making your Passion Project Successful and Interesting!

STEP 1: Choose a project that is inspiring to you: Brainstorm: combine two: What would you like to create? What would you like to learn? Who do you want to help?
STEP 2: Make the project substantial and specific. Don’t make it too basic. Asking for input is a great way to make your project more useful to you and others. Also, try to plan on using resources that will help you become more deeply involved.
STEP 3. Make the project manageable. Don’t over-do it. Clearly state what you would like to do (I want to learn….., I want to make….I want to do…).

Ms. Dani – Care Team

Alrighty learners, you officially have 4 weeks left of school. Let’s make sure you are using your time wisely and staying motivated to finish strong.

With spring break now over, all that stands between us and the freedom of summer is roughly four weeks of school. For many, the impending end of the semester can be intimidating and stressful. We fear the days ahead, knowing they’ll be riddled with final project deadlines. While the weeks ahead may seem impossible, here are a few tips that can help you beat the post-spring-break slump and finish the semester strong.

Don’t pressure yourself to get it all done at once — that simply won’t work.

We have four weeks left in the semester because there is four weeks worth of work left to do. So don’t try to do it all at once. Appreciate the time you do have, and don’t let impending deadlines stress you out. Focus on one week at a time, or even a few days at a time if you have to. Try breaking your assignments and deadlines down by week to focus on what matters most in the coming days. If you have long-term projects, try setting personal deadlines to break the project down into smaller sections. If you pace yourself and work on assignments for an hour or two each day, you will find things much more manageable.

One method that can be helpful while studying is the Pomodoro Technique. It’s a simple method that utilizes bursts of hyper-focused work time balanced with short breaks to maximize your productivity. To use the Pomodoro Technique, first pick a task. Set a timer for 25 minutes and concentrate on your task for that entire duration. When your timer goes off, step away from work for five minutes. Every four cycles, take a longer break of around 15-30 minutes to recharge before your next session. If you like working to study music, there are many YouTube Channels, like The Sherry Formula, which uploads “Study with Me” videos to keep track of time for you!

Speak kindly to the one who matters most — yourself.

You’d never tell a stressed friend that they can’t persist and finish all they need to accomplish — so why speak to yourself this way? Be kind. Be supportive. Change the narrative. Instead of saying, “this is so hard” or “I’ll never understand this,” try incorporating positivity. Tell yourself things like, “If I start by reading through my textbook and looking over my notes, at least I’ll be moving in the right direction. Once I start, it will get easier!” Catch your negative thoughts when they occur and replace them with new, helpful thoughts. Before you know it, your positive self-talk will become a habit. Listen to your mind and your body.During stressful weeks, it can be easy to fall behind on things like sleep, healthy eating and staying active.

Grades are important, but nothing is more important than your physical and emotional wellbeing. Listen to your body and take time for yourself. This can take the form of whatever you need most, like an afternoon walk to enjoy the sunshine, a quick nap to recharge or a waffle breakfast to start a big day in a fun way. Set a personal goal to do at least one thing a day where you can completely let go of other responsibilities and enjoy yourself, even if you can only spare 30 minutes. Taking a short moment to focus on your holistic health will make all the difference to ensure you don’t feel burned out by the end of the semester. With the semester quickly coming to an end, it can be challenging to motivate yourself to finish. However, it’s never too late to start incorporating strong study techniques and self-care habits into your life. Break down assignments into smaller deadlines, speak kindly to yourself and listen to your body during these last four weeks of school. Finish strong, summer is just around the corner!

Mr. Rob – Care Team

Hello, 11th and 12th graders Here is the link to join your CAASPP test site. You will have to only take one test, which is the science test. This is the sign-in page to gain access to your practice test. Once you get to the page please follow the instructions of your proctor.

Starting this week, May 23-27, learners will take the CAASPP test. This test is mandatory and significant for our school’s success. 12th graders should finish the test within 1-2 days.

Testing Time
8:30 am- 11:30 am, Mon-Fri