South Carolina GEAR UP
Weekly Memo - 8/11 to 8/17
Many Thanks!
Since I never have the chance to do this formally, thank you all for getting us through a very hectic and challenging school year and Summer. I know there was a great deal of pressure on us all to produce, and it appears we have officially made our goal. As of today, our Algebra percentage of students who passed Algebra I by the end of 9th grade is 80.97%, with a few schools yet to report Summer data. If you haven’t yet, take a second, breath and pat yourself on the back…(pause)…okay, awesome. New challenges lay ahead for the cohort and its leadership. We need to focus in on a cohort wide, measureable, goal for 2014-15. Time to get back to work!
Weekly Reminders!
I extended the deadline for suggested Budget changes for FY4 to last Monday. There are some that I have not received. Please note that they are due today! The changes should include any new programs, revisions to old programs, and HR adjustments! Remember, it's not enough to just give me a new award letter. If you've changed it, I want to know how and whether this is a request for new money or if you want to move funding from an existing line. I’m doing my best to turn these award letters around by the first of September, so that we can have them firmly in place by the end of the Grant Year. I need your help on this.
Lastly, I'll be asking for your National GEAR UP Week activities soon...
Finance Update!
GC Meeting
The GC meeting will be held on Wednesday, August 27th, 2014 at FMU. Please remind your coaches that the meeting is mandatory.
We will present awards at the GC meeting for two areas: 1) The GC with the highest percentage of students passing Algebra 1 prior to the Summer and 2) The GC with the highest volunteer/in-kind contributions. I’m curious as to what you all think of doing this by Region, or for the entire grant. I need your thoughts on this. We will also be providing ALL the coaches with a small token of our appreciation.
Topics for GC Meeting
RETREAT!
It is now official. We will have a retreat on August 26th at Francis Marion. The retreat will be at the Francis Marion Cottage, http://www.fmarion.edu/foundation/cottage. The agenda is still in the works, but we will have PD in the morning, lunch, and then the afternoon will be focused on planning and discussion on the structure and direction of the grant moving forward. we start at 9 and go until 3 at the latest.
Now, because I am asking you to do two meetings in 2 days, I am going to consider the retreat to be our August meeting. So there will be NO MEETING on August 20th.
College Access Initiatives – Catherine’s Update
1. College Application Month materials have gone out to all schools who registered by the deadline. The counselors at our schools should be on the lookout for their boxes if they haven’t already received them. We currently have 206 registered College Application Month schools, including 19 of our 21 GEAR UP High schools – great work!
2. CACRAO /college reps are currently registering for College Application Month dates – each high school will receive an updated list of registered college attendees and wavier information by September 2, 2014. (the 1st is a holiday). I expect RCC and GC assistance at all SC GEAR UP High schools for their CAM events. Catherine, Vickie, Karen and I will also be at SC GEAR UP schools for those events as well. Please have the GC’s contact the counselors to see how they can assist with these events.
3. The Collaborative Counselor Training Initiative (CCTI) will open up registration to all GEAR UP educators starting September 8th. You will be able to register for Module 3: Financial Aid and the College Admissions Process via www.SCCANGO starting on September 8, 2014. Please remember that this is now primarily GEAR UP project and we are reserving spaces for our GEAR UP educators. We want to see them take advantage of these certification courses. Please spread the word in your schools.