Ramen Noodles Overload

When we go to our state competition, we will make sure you eat. That being said, however, we don't provide snack food in the manner in which teens like to snack! So I always suggest that roommates get together and plan who will bring what type of snack food. This event should be BPA's next judged event! I can't tell you how much time and effort the students put into the snack and junk food they're bringing. When they show up to get on the bus, they have a suitcase with clothing and a bigger suitcase with food, bottled water, gatorade and soda. Some people have brought coolers.

If I were judging the event, I'd probably look at the organization. Did you pack the bananas with the Gatorade? Not a good mix. Points off for that. Did you bring a cooler that didn't leak? Good job. But most of all, I'd check to see how well you guaged how much food you'd eat. Because at the end of the weekend, people are so sick of gummy worms that they leave all of their junk food behind and board the bus looking a little green. Those who left with no food planned accordingly and would get the most points. Those who leave drawers full of food and beverage would score the least points.

My advice to you is this. Since there will probably be four people in your room, plan for that. Don't bring more than four normal people eat! Have you ever heard the phrase, "My eyes were bigger than my stomach"? I suggest you not waste your money buying food that you're going to leave behind. If I kept all the food that my students left behind at conferences, we could have fed a small country for a month.

And we're off!

I was very happy today to stay after school with four students who are trying their hardest to make it to nationals. Sara from Comm. Health is working on a speech regarding philanthropy in business. Huh? After previewing and hearing her speech, we actually think it might be a little too long! Good work, Sara! If you keep at this pace, you'll perfect the art of public speaking in time for states!

Three other Comm. Health girls stayed to work on Entrepreneurship and Medical Office Procedures. They ran into some trouble with some of the terminology and decided to go seek expert medical help.

Jacquie is doing entrepreneurship and so is Mike. Their business ideas seem pretty fabulous to me, (I won't write them here because it's super-ultra secret!) but it seems they have a lot of work ahead of them. Today I showed them both some pretty decent reference materials I had which could help them with their business plans.

How about it previous members - have any advice for the computer and judged events? If you are an alumni posting here, it would be excellent if you included your year of graduation so the others know, okay? Thanks for reading!

BPA 2007!

Hey Everyone!

This year is flying! Its going great though! I hope everyone is working hard on their competitions. The best thing to do is to be prepared, and have an awesome attitude =) As a senior, the best thing I can say is to make your deadlines because you know how they can just creep up on you.

Some things to think about if your in a group would be splitting the parts. So if some people are better at writing, than designing, give them a writing portion of the project. Not only will it improve you project, it can also help you gain some time. Also, PRACTICE, PRACTICE, PRACTICE! If you want I, or maybe some other BPA members, would be more than happy to watch teams present. Not only could you get their feedback, it would also calm your nerves some and you would become familiar with presenting in front of someone before you go to the judges. Try in front of a mirror too!! I know its a little weird, but it helps to hear yourself speak and see how you present yourself.

If you need any help or opinions with your project, or even want to ask some questions about what States is going to be like feel free to ask away!

Skirt or no skirt? That is the question.

I pose this question because if you are a BPA member or if you have been in the past, you know my position with regard to the female students wearing skirts. (Sorry guys, you're not included in this post.)

I maintain my position when it comes to being dressed professionally, especially for judged events. You can never have another chance to make a first impression. When young people take the time to look as professional as they can, the judges can sometimes overlook small imperfections in the presentation itself. But when a teen enters a judged event looking mediocre (just like everyone else) you've done nothing to set yourself apart.

I've said this before. I think of myself as your "coach". A coach is hired because of their expertise on the subject and I do consider myself pretty darn close to an expert on this subject. Players on teams listen to their coaches so they have the best chance for the big prize. Coaches also take the heat if their teams consistently lose. So my professional advice is for the girls to wear skirts and give yourself the best possible advantage over the mediocre students. Set yourselves apart and after the competition, when you go back to your room, you can dress anyway you want. Well, kind of. :)

What do you think?

Roomies

Hi everyone. Just wanted to remind you that you should be thinking about your rooming assignments. There should be 4 people to a room. Sometimes it works out that we'll fill rooms with only 2 or 3 people, but if you don't fill up with 4, you jeopardize me coming in and separating you. But just remember - we're hardly in the rooms anyway. It's a place to hang our heads to rejuvinate for the next day!

Also - judged events should be in full swing. All of them are due February 28. There is a whole week of vacation in there too, so you'd be surprised at how quick the time comes up on us.

Staying Connected To Your Roots

Wow. I'm pleasantly surprised with the responses from our alumni! I would love to hear what you are all doing, what successes you've had as well as challenges you've overcome. My thoughts are my high school students probably go through their days with that glazed look in their eye - hardly noticing what's going on around them. But once they get out into the real world, they can reflect back and think, "Hmmm...high school wasn't that bad after all!"

There are many moments in a teacher's life when we say to ourselves, "I know why I do this." (at least for me - I suppose I should speak for myself) But there are also days that I can get that glazed look too. One of the moments that shake me are when graduates connect back to their roots. You can't imagine how difficult or bittersweet it is every year when our "kids" graduate! The relationships that we form, trials and tribulations, magnets stuck up noses, break-ups and break-downs, poker faces on scary rides, (I think I still owe Sara and Kevin an ice cream for that one!) and all the like, make us like an extended family. The one major exception is that we don't have the opportunity for a Thanksgiving dinner to bring us back together.

So my invitation to the alumni is to stay connected and pass on your acquired life skills with your Protégé classmates. With this blog, I'm hopeful we can pass the techno-turkey and avoid gravy spills on my tablecloth. :)

Welcome to the blog!

Hello BPA members! I thought this blog might be another way for us to communicate with each other and to maybe offer up some helpful hints. I would ask that if any of you add a comment to this blog that you please keep it appropriate. This is an extension of our classroom, okay?

Cool! So what do you think?