DIGITAL MEDIA ACADEMY
Weekly Newsletter for August 8, 2022
A message from your Academy Coordinator
In this newsletter you will find helpful information, some volunteer opportunities, and enrichment activities
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.
If you need to, email Ms. Skelton and make sure to include your academy, campus, and ID number in the body of your email. Please reach out with any questions or concerns that you have to Ms. Skelton (mary.skelton@fortbendisd.com).
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.
Academy Bus Routes
Digital Media Academy Class Representatives NEEDED
Class representative positions would be used as an advisory council to assist the DMA officers and Academy Coordinator in coming up with field trips, socials, and other events in the Digital Media Academy.
JOIN the DMA BAND App - STUDENTS ONLY
Scan the QR Code on the invite above to join our new group!
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 Codes
Schoology Code
Class of 2023 - 6WX8-CP4H-9F2WT
Class of 2024 - 6F9F-7XCM-4WGFF
Class of 2025 - HKW9-TJVG-38KBK
Class of 2026 - FG6CQ-RZD6J
Academy Opportunities
Hightower Academy Booster Club Needs You
Parents,
The Hightower Academy Booster Club is still looking for fill some board member positions. If you are interested please contact the Nikki at hightowerabc@gmail.com
Listen to the Wellness Tool Box Podcast
This is a PODCAST is host and produce by one of our very own Janavi Seshadri Check out her Podcast at https://open.spotify.com/show/2QDq7fUk2CrsSseEA0VXme
Summer Discovery
Do you enjoy Photography and Film, Drawing and Painting, or Acting? Are you looking to step up your game on the dance floor? Or develop amateur fashion sketches? Our Arts & Design programs explore many different forms of Art and our teach you the important concepts of visual art, literary art, and performing art. We place emphasis on your individual artistic direction and allow unique avenues for exploration. Our programs are geared toward high school students and specified to fit the learning styles considered most effective for young adults.
Fundamentals of Logo Design
*Do not pay for certificate. Just take a screen shot of your course completion.
EdX Online Coursework
Texas Internship Challenge
Texas Internship Challenge: https://www.txinternshipchallenge.com/vosnet/Default.aspx
The Texas Internship Challenge encourages students to participate in the thousands of internships around the state to gain the marketable skills employers are looking for. Internships help you explore career opportunities, network with employers, and earn a salary or school credit. Start your search by entering your keyword in the search bar above. Click here to register and enter your résumé.
VOLUNTEER HOURS
**CHANGE: Students will submit all volunteer hours to Schoology in the appropriate assignment area. Please upload volunteer hour documents in the appropriate format so they may be viewed and recorded. You will NOT receive credit if the documents cannot be opened properly
Volunteer Opportunity - Friends of Sienna Branch Library
https://www.signupgenius.com/go/10c0f4bafa62fa6fac07-friends1
Letter 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:
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:
Send A Smile Today Volunteer Opportunity
Do you wish to volunteer with Send A Smile Today™ to earn community service hours? Here are the guidelines for earning volunteer hours:
*ONLY GREETING CARDS OPTION. NO DONATION OF STAMPS
Click here for our card making guidelines for further details.
Houston Audubon Volunteer Opportunities
Founded by volunteers in 1969, the mission of Houston Audubon is to advance the conservation of birds and positively impact their supporting environments.
From supporting our staff at our headquarters, to maintaining trails on our Bird Sanctuaries, to increasing appreciation and understanding of birds throughout Houston, and more, volunteers are the lifeblood of Houston Audubon!
Read below to learn more about our current volunteers needs and how you can get involved in helping protect bird habitat in your community. Click the link below for more information
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.
SMITHSONIAN DIGITAL VOLUNTEERS:
This is a virtual/digital volunteer opportunity. Student need to sign up to volunteer. By signing up Smithsonian will record your date and time under "MY WORK" when you log in to transcribe. However, it will not track the amount of time you spend on each document. Therefore, each completed document you will receive .5 hours of credit. There is a 3 HOURs MAX for this volunteer opportunity. Take a screen of your "My Work" page showing your name and completed pages to get credit. No signature is need for this volunteer opportunity. CLICK HERE for more information about tracking your volunteer work with the Smithsonian
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.
Student and Parent Resources
WHAT PARENTS SHOULD KNOW ABOUT COVID-19 INFORMATION AND PROTOCOLS
The Aggie Homework Helpline
The Aggie Homework Helpline (AHH) is an initiative to help provide quality, free online tutoring to PK-12 learners and families. The mission of the AHH is to connect Texas families and school district partners with Aggie tutors and education interns who are committed to improving learning outcomes for PK-12 students.
Tutoring appointments through the AHH can be scheduled between 8 a.m. – 8 p.m. CST Monday-Thursday and 8 a.m. — 5 p.m. CST Friday.
Virtual Meeting Expectations
I want to remind students that Academy Virtual meetings/events are school and academy sponsor events and FBISD Student Code of Conduct applies and enforce. I ask that students adhere to the following expectations.
- Demonstrate courtesy and respect for all participants and guests
- Behave in a responsible manner by turning off your mic, video, and refraining from using the annotating tool without permission from the meeting host.
- Ask thoughtful questions during Q&A
- Be in compliance with host requests
- Comply with all guidelines noted within the SCC (School Code of Conduct)
Digital Media Academy
Email: mary.skelton@fortbendisd.com
Website: www.fortbendisd.com/digitalmedia
Location: 3333 Hurricane Lane, Missouri City, TX, USA
Phone: (281)634-3106
Twitter: @DigitalMediaACA