Global Studies Academy
Newsletter September 12, 2022
From your Academy Coordinator -
In this newsletter you will find helpful information, news from the GSA Booster Club, and some volunteer opportunities and Enrichment Opportunities.
Parents/Guardians, please make sure that you have gone into skyward and checked your email addresses. It is our main way of communicating with everyone and last week many were undelivered. If it is incorrect, please update it.
Enrichment and Volunteer Hours: You will find links in the newsletters to enrichment and volunteer opportunities for the semester. Please remember that you will need to complete two enrichments per semester for a total of 4 for the year and 12.5 volunteer hours for a total of 25 hours a year.
GSA Booster Club Membership Dues!!
Please pay your $45 GSA Booster Club membership dues. Click the link below to complete the registration form and submit your payment. Dues are used to pay for various events throughout the year including student socials, Lock-In, the Global Issues Summit and the End of Year Banquet. Funds are also used for student Travel Grants and for Senior Scholarships.
We also accept additional donations on our website and please reach out to businesses or companies that may be interested in donating to these wonderful students! Thank you for your support!
We appreciate your help in making this year the best GSA year yet!
GSA Parent & Booster Club BAND
Please take a moment to download the "Band" app, this is a quick and easy way to stay in touch as a group. GSA Booster Club is very active and hosts a lot of spirit nights, parent socials, and invites all GSA parents to play an active role in GSA through opportunities provided in the Booster Club. Scan the QR Code or click the link below to join our group!
Hey, join our 'GSA Booster Club & Parent Band' group on BAND - The app for groups and communities!
https://band.us/n/a0a57eGeW7765
Academy Bus Routes 2022-2023
NEW! Band APP for STUDENT ONLY communication through GSA
Feel free to scan the QR code below to join our Band to stay up to date on all things GSA!
Global Studies Academy Student Survey
Please take some time to fill out the form at the link below from our GSA Student Executive Leadership Team. GSA's Student Executive Leadership Team is working diligently to ensure your experience in GSA is memorable and enriching.
We would like to start highlighting our outstanding Academy students and their accomplishments in and outside of school. If your student has won an award, received a scholarship, participated in a competitive summer program, etc. please submit this form. We will post your student's accomplishment in/on the varies academy social media platforms and they may be featured in other community publication.
The name and photo associated with your Google account will be recorded when you upload files and submit this form
Schoology Course Codes
Class of 2026: BNKQX-H3TT8
Class of 2025: VPJX-CW5H-VGHTF
Cass of 2024: VT9G-5M3S-FZ88N
Class of 2023: 8JDHC-R5M8M
YOU MUST FILL OUT THE FORM BELOW WHEN SUBMITTING ENRICHMENTS!!
Labor Day Enrichment Event - September 14th
NPR Politics Live Podcast in Houston
THIS PODCAST WILL BE RECORDED AT 8PM CENTRAL TIME ON THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 15TH.
After a two year hiatus, the NPR Politics Podcast is headed back to the stage, this time at Zilkha Hall in downtown Houston, featuring a panel of your favorite NPR voices: Ashley Lopez, Asma Khalid, Domenico Montanaro, Susan Davis and Tamara Keith.
This all-star cast will dig into local and national midterm races, the big political news and issues in Texas and what they just cannot let go of.
Join us for an exclusive behind-the-scenes look at how the podcast is made, and a chance to put your questions to the pod squad.
Youth in Politics - Article Writing
Youth in Politics is an organization dedicated to creating more civically engaged and informed teens. If you are interested in writing article(s) to be published on their website, you may receive enrichment credit for each article that is published.
*NOTE* your article must be published to receive enrichment credit, if the owners of Youth in Politics choose not to publish your article, you will not receive enrichment credit.
Lockheed Martin's Career Launch Workshop
Lockheed Martin and Tallo are offering a 4-part webinar series to help high school students get ready for a career out of this world. Participants will hear experiences from experts in the aerospace field, see behind the scenes how LM develops space innovations, and learn how to start a career in Space. Students who complete the whole series will earn a Space Certified Digital Badge and be entered to win prizes such as a Microsoft Surface, Oculus, or Raspberry Pi! This is open to all high school students. Please share this opportunity with students and their families!
Lockheed Martin’s Career Launch Workshop
September 14, 2022, 4 p.m. – Series 1: Career Launch
September 14-December 31, 2022 – Series 2: Mission Prep
October 12, 2022, 4 p.m. – Series 3: Explore Space
November 10, 2022, 4 p.m. – Series 4: Space Pathways
Enter the FBISD Farm Fresh Art Contest!
Your entry would count as an enrichment credit for the Global Studies Academy!
Harris County Elections Needs Civic Minded Students!
In Texas, high school students age 16 years and older can get paid to work on Election Day. We would like to encourage students across Harris County to apply to work in the upcoming November 8, 2022 cycle. Please note this is not a guaranteed position.
Students can apply online and find more information at the link below.
https://airtable.com/shrmbR4bnEacc7ChZ
When students serve on Election Day, they receive:
- $17/hour
- Paid training
- An excused absence from school (up to 2 days per school year)
- A letter of recommendation from Elections Administrator
When students apply, an email will be sent directly to the principal for their consent.
Community Mapping 101 - Enrichment Opportunity
Please check out the link below to complete the activity for an additional enrichment opportunity!
YOU MUST USE THE VOLUNTEER FORM BELOW WHEN UPLOADING VOLUNTEER HOURS!!
VOLUNTEER HOURS - UPDATES
GSA Students must complete a total of 25 volunteer hours per school year. This breaks down to 12.5 volunteer hours per semester. You may find some opportunities available to you below.
**CHANGE: You will now submit your volunteer hours directly to Schoology. You must upload your volunteer hour documents in a way that can be opened and viewed or you will not receive credit.
Volunteer at the Neill Elementary School Fall Festival
Sugar Land Half Marathon Event
Volunteer with SBP Disaster Relief
Experience meaningful volunteer experiences that teach you life skills as well as help your community! Scan the QR code on the second flyer below to learn more!
Cards for a Cause
Cards for a Cause is a nonprofit organization dedicated to uplifting the spirits of disheartened, hospitalized, and/or seriously ill children by creating and sending encouraging homemade cards to give them something to smile about during a difficult time.
Make and send 6 cards to equal 1 volunteer hour. Make sure you take a picture of the cards you send and upload them with your volunteer forms.
See website on how to get involved:
Letters Against Isolation
Make and send 6 cards to equal 1 volunteer hour. Make sure you take a pictures of the cards you send and upload them with your volunteer forms.
See the website on how to get involved:
TUTOR CHILDREN VIRTUALLY WITH TEENSGIVE
TeensGive volunteers are high school students who want to use their skills to give back. So, what better way than through helping younger children learn? We offer three options to our members:
- In-person tutoring at our network of after-school programs
- Virtual volunteering: tutor children from Title 1 schools online on our platform
- Teach our entrepreneurship curriculum, Counting Cupcakes, which teaches math and business skills in a fun and delicious way!
"https://teensgive.org/about-us/"
TRANSLATE TED TALKS VIRTUALLY
TED Translators are a global community of volunteers who subtitle TED Talks, and enable the inspiring ideas in them to crisscross languages and borders.
Volunteer Roles: Apply HERE
The TED Translators program encourages the growth and advancement of all of our volunteers. There are specific roles volunteers can achieve to engage in the program and develop their skills:
Translator / Transcriber
Translators and transcribers are volunteers who create subtitles on CaptionHub. New volunteers should work on one assignment at a time before claiming a new video to subtitle.
Qualifications:
- Fluent in both source and target languages (note: transcribers should be fluent in the transcription language)
- Passed onboarding application quiz
- Reviewed all TED guidelines and best practices
Virtually National Archives Transcription and Tagging VIRTUALLY NATIONAL ARCHIVES TRANSCRIPTION AND TAGGING
Topics that the National Archives is looking for help with include: Sign up Here
- Homestead Final Certificates 18-63-1894
- African American History Documents
- The American Soldier
- African American Civil Wars Soldiers
- and Many more
- At the bottom of this page, they have documents categorized by beginner, Intermediate, and Advanced.
ZOONIVERSE VIRTUAL VOLUNTEERING OPPORTUNITIES
Second Mile
Whether you love to work one-on-one with people in need or to work diligently behind the scenes, we have a place for you. People like you give their time and talents to help us serve our neighbors through the most devastating moments of their life. We could not do this work without generous volunteers. Volunteers ages 12 to 15 must be accompanied by an adult at all times.
- Before your volunteer session and for a quicker check-in, complete this online volunteer application: https://secondmile.keepntrack.com/apply/index.html?db=secondmile.
- Please be sure to sign in at the volunteer kiosk and sign out after volunteering. We will not be able to process your volunteer records without these steps.
Mask Mandate Update (August 2021)
In accordance with the latest CDC guidelines and with the rapid rise in Covid-19 cases, masks are required for all individuals who enter Second Mile.
Thank you for your help in supporting this ministry while prioritizing the health of our community.
Project C.U.R.E
Please join us in saving lives by preparing medical supplies for shipment to hospitals and clinics in need around the world. Activities may include organizing warehouse inventory, sorting medical supplies, supporting administrative efforts, pulling for and loading containers, or other projects to be accomplished for the day. This will be a fun, engaging, and hands-on experience.
Project C.U.R.E. was founded in 1987 to help meet the need for medical supplies, equipment, and services around the world. Project C.U.R.E. builds sustainable healthcare infrastructure by providing the medical supplies and equipment needed to deliver healthcare in communities. Since its inception, Project C.U.R.E. has delivered medical relief to people in need in more than 130 countries.
- Go to this link: https://projectcure.volunteerhub.com/lp/houston/
- Scroll to the calendar and select a date which you are available (Make sure to go fast, spots are filling up!)
- Select “Sign Up” and “Create new account”
- Once you have created your account, you will be emailed a confirmation
- Students below 18 must print/ fill out a waiver form signed by their parent/guardian and bring it to the event *The waiver will be in your email confirmation
- New volunteers must arrive 10-15 minutes early to their volunteer slot for an orientation
Important Information:
Thank you for volunteering to serve with Project C.U.R.E.
Project C.U.R.E.’s Houston facility is located at 8303 Kempwood Drive, Houston, TX 77055. We are located in Spring Branch near the intersection of Bingle and Kempwood.
Before arriving, please review the safety guidelines in this video.
Also, please keep the following in mind:
- Volunteers are required to wear closed-toed shoes in the warehouse.
- Please dress comfortably and wear weather appropriate clothing - the warehouse can be warm in the summer and cool in the winter.
- Some of our tasks can be physically demanding but are always optional
- Minimum age to volunteer is 15 (under 18 requires parent/legal guardian signed consent in advance).
We look forward to working with you soon! Thanks for your interest in helping in our mission of "delivering Health & Hope to the world!"
The safety of our volunteers and staff is our top priority. We are taking all possible precautions. During your volunteer time, we will be following CDC recommendations and all volunteers and staff are required to follow social distancing guidelines and wear a mask and gloves. If you have your own mask, please bring it to your volunteer session. Disposable masks will be provided if needed. Please wash your hands or use hand sanitizer throughout your volunteer session. Please do not come volunteer if you are feeling ill or have been in contact with someone feeling ill. Your support in maintaining a safe facility is tremendously appreciated!
Please keep in mind the following:
- Attire: Volunteers are required to wear closed-toed shoes. We recommend comfortable, weather-appropriate attire that you don't mind getting dusty. The warehouse is colder in winters and warmer in summers.
- Timing: Please arrive on time. You will be led by a Volunteer Leader and they will need adequate time to explain to you what will need to be done.
- Food/drink: You are welcome to bring water and small snacks with you if you wish.
- Age: The minimum age to volunteer is 14 years old; volunteers younger than 18 years old will need parent/legal guardian consent signature.
- Cancellation concern: If you are unable to attend, please cancel your registration so we do not schedule staff unnecessarily.
We look forward to working with you soon! Thank you for helping us in delivering health and hope to the world.
Target Hunger
Target Hunger depends upon the support of the community to fulfill our mission. A vital aspect of that support is volunteerism. Each year, Target Hunger welcomes hundreds of volunteers who donate their time to help children, families, and seniors in need of food assistance. If you are interested in volunteering with Target Hunger, please register below.
Current Volunteer Opportunities
Drive-Thru Food Distributions
Volunteer to help pack bags filled with food and place into the trunk’s of cars.
Register to Volunteer at a Food Distribution
Community Garden
Do you enjoy working outdoors? Do you want to share your passion for gardening with others? We welcome both novice and experienced gardeners to volunteer at our Garden. Volunteers work together to grow 6,000 pounds of nutritious produce that is distributed through Target Hunger Pantries and Food Fairs.
Community Garden Volunteers: Missouri City
The Lettuce Live community garden is in Buffalo Run Park in Missouri City, Texas. We have shifts every Saturday from 8:15am - 11:30am to help maintain the Lettuce Live community garden. We're looking for energetic volunteers to join us to harvest, weed, paint, plant seeds and have fun.
Sign up to volunteer at https://signup.com/go/zVzgXUQ
We have precautions in place to ensure the safety of our volunteers. These include outdoor space to maintain at least 6 feet of social distance, using gloves to handle produce, and wearing of masks or protective coverings over the nose and mouth in spaces where sufficient social distance cannot be maintained. We recommend volunteers bring their own drinking water to the garden and ask that you stay home if you are not feeling well.
Young Women Energized Scholarship Opportunities
"Reimagining the Impossible"
It's that time of year again!
We're reaching out today with the hope that you could spread the word to any current Seniors in high school who might be interested in a STEM scholarship. We have an opportunity for girls that are looking for a support system full of bright scholars and women that would love to share their experiences with them. It gives them a chance to start their college career off fresh and without the immediate worry of their tuition. If you think of anyone that might be interested, please encourage them to apply for our scholarship.
There will be 10 recipients of a $10,000 award for their dedication shown through grades and other extracurricular activities. The deadline is October 22, 2022, at 12:00 PM CST. If you have any questions about our upcoming STEM Conference Event on the 8th of October or any future events with Young Women Energized, please feel free to contact us on social media or through this email.
Veterans of Foreign Affairs Youth Scholarships
The VFW is dedicated to promoting patriotism and investing in our future generation. If you are a democracy-loving high school student interested in a $35,000 college scholarship or a patriotic middle school student interested in winning $5,000, these scholarships may be for you.
Voice of Democracy
Established in 1947, our Voice of Democracy audio-essay program provides high school students with the unique opportunity to express themselves in regards to a democratic and patriotic-themed recorded essay. Each year, nearly 25,000 9-12 grade students from across the country enter to win their share of more than $2 million in educational scholarships and incentives awarded through the program.
The national first place winner receives a $35,000 scholarship paid directly to the recipient’s American university, college or vocational/technical school. A complete list of other national scholarships range from $1,000-$21,000, and the first place winner from each VFW Department (state) wins at least a scholarship of $1,000. Before submitting your essay, read the rules and eligibility requirements, and find your sponsoring local VFW Post as applications must be turned in by midnight, Oct. 31. Download and complete the 2022-2023 Voice of Democracy entry form here.
The 2022-23 theme is:
"Why is the Veteran Important?"
About the 2021-2022 winner ...
Daniela Mare, a junior at Sachem High School North in Lake Ronkonkoma, New York, was named the 2021-2022 Voice of Democracy first place winner. Daniela's speech on the theme, "America: Where Do We Go from Here?" won her a $30,000 college scholarship. Daniela was sponsored by VFW Post 9486 and its Auxiliary in Centereach, New York. Watch as Daniela delivered her speech during the VFW's virtual Parade of Winners award ceremony.
Want to catch up on everything that happened this year? You can watch the full virtual Parade of Winners ceremony which was streamed live on Facebook, or see this year's complete list of winners.
Click the link below for details!!
Global Studies Academy
Email: mary.skelton@fortbendisd.com
Website: https://www.fortbendisd.com/Domain/2400
Location: 1111 Harlem Road, Richmond, TX, USA
Phone: (281) 634-3106
Twitter: @fbgsa