Upward Bound

HOLMEN STUDENTS - please note that there will be NO UB OPTIONAL TUTORING on Thursday, February 19 and Thursday, April 9. We WILL have required Monday tutoring those weeks!

Video Games Linked To Poor Relationships With Friends, Family

ScienceDaily (Jan. 25, 2009) — A new study connects young adults' use of video games to poorer relationships with friends and family – and the student co-author expresses disappointment at his own findings.
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The research is based on information collected from 813 college students around the country. As the amount of time playing video games went up, the quality of relationships with peers and parents went down.

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Read the whole report at link above.

Just a reminder that we are giving the ACT practice test tomorrow (Holmen ONLY) and Saturday (La Crosse/Onalaska) and on Monday (Tomah). Please plan to attend! (You are excused if and only if Antoiwana, Paul or Jess has excused you in person!)

If you cannot attend, please email Antoiwana ASAP! to make other arrangements!

The Black River Falls test originally scheduled for Friday, January 23 afternoon has been postponed!

Friday, January 23 MORNING (8:45 a.m. to 1 p.m.) - Holmen High School

Saturday, January 24 MORNING (8:45 a.m. to 1 p.m.) - La Crosse/Onalaska (in room 141 Wimberly)

Monday, January 26 MORNING (8:45 a.m. to 1 p.m.) - Tomah High School

Many of the schools we serve have called several snow/cold days pushing back the end of school. Therefore, we have changed the start date for this year's summer program!

Students attending 2009 Summer UB at UW-L should plan to move to campus on the evening of SUNDAY, JUNE 21!

In early February we will distribute summer paperwork. Students who seriously plan to attend summer UB who have their papers complete and turned in to us by the "Ladder to Success" Saturday event (February 21) will earn a $50 bonus stipend! Half will be paid in March and half will be paid after the first week of summer UB (in addition to regular stipends.)

This summer after all the classes and finals are done, we'll go to CHICAGO - one of the GREENEST cities in the country - for several days of business and college visits, site seeing and learning.

More soon!

UB will give the ACT PRACTICE test this month to all students (except those who have been personally told by Antoiwana, Paul or Jess that they do not have to take this PRACTICE test).

* BRF students - Paul will contact you about your schedule

* Central, Logan and Onalaska students - Saturday, January 24 from 8:45 a.m. to 1 p.m. in 141 Wimberly Hall on the UW-L Campus

* Holmen students - Friday, January 23 from 8:45 to 1:00 p.m. at HHS

* Sparta and Cashton students - Saturday, January 17 from 8:45 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. at SHS

* Tomah students - Monday, January 26 from 8:45 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. at THS

If you would like to take the test at a location OTHER THAN YOUR REGULAR TUTORING SITE, please complete the online "Alternate Site Registration Form" by Thursday, January 15!!!

Why doe UB give the ACT practice test?

Our grant with the U.S. Department of Education requires that we access participants' academic growth from year to year. We use your practice ACT scores to see if you are making improvement in important college prep subject areas. In addition, since most colleges use ACT test scores as one of the BIG THREE NUMBERS (ACT scores, cumulative grade point average and class rank) in determining admissions, we believe taking the practice ACT every year will help students become familiar with the test and (we hope) do better when they take the real test in the spring of their junior year.

If you are a JUNIOR, UB will offer ACT prep classes in February and March. We will expect you to register for and take the April 2009 ACT and in most cases we will provide you with a registration fee waiver worth up to $46!

Here's the official description from www.actstudent.org:

The ACT is a national college admissions examination that consists of subject area tests in English, mathematics, reading and science

The ACT Plus Writing includes the four subject area tests plus a 30-minute Writing Test. ACT results are accepted by all 4-year colleges and universities in the U.S.

The ACT includes 215 multiple-choice questions and takes approximately 3 hours and 30 minutes to complete, including a short break (or just over four hours if you are taking the ACT Plus Writing).

If you want to learn more about preparing for the ACT, check out their web site: www.actstudent.org/testprep/index.html

Please check out the Upward Bound web site for LOTS of important info about second semester.

All UB students will receive a mailing soon. Look for it! It will have

* Info about the UB ACT practice test sessions
* Second semester calendar
* Info about second semester college visits
* A survey about second semester optional events

Seniors will also get information about
* The FAFSA (Free Application for Federal Student Aid)
* Upward Bound FAFSA workshop
* Summer options

If you have not received mail from Upward Bound by Monday, January 12, please email Cathy or call the UB office, 608 785-8539.

Also, check the UB students' page for JUNIORS' UB ACT prep sessions starting in February!