Highlights

CWU GEAR UP ,2005-6 Cohart Event

6th grade

The 6th grade all-cohort event gives students their first orientation to a postsecondary learning through a campus visit to Central Washington University. From a list of 18 options, students choose one academic area to learn about during their visit which also includes a campus tour. Pre-Tour Assignment: Students will complete an interest survey and learning style inventory. Post-Tour Assignment: Students write a five paragraph essay, “Thoughts for My Future.”

7th grade

Central Washington University’s “Bridges” program partners diverse CWU college students with faculty to design and facilitate creative college-like hands-on learning activities for seventh graders. Past programs include Global Voices which engaged students in various creative writing assignments subsequently posted on the Web. Pop Culture included a film festival and multi-media artistic exploration of today’s media. The 2005-6 proposed program “Day of the Dead,” explores Mexico’s post-Halloween cultural event. All activities support 7th grade EALRS.

8th grade

Students investigate careers as they follow a typical college class schedule to three different locations at Big Bend or Yakima Valley Community Colleges campus to hear career professionals answering questions about their career fields, including salary, work environment, advancement opportunities and the preparation needed to enter one of these fields. Pre Campus Visit Assignment: Students complete “The Career Game” career inventory, then chose three career areas from among 50-80 options. Post Campus visit: Students choose one career area and develop a 2-3 minute oral presentation supported by a visual display.

9th grade

Students get a real world orientation to college admissions by completing College Application, a Personal Statement, the FAFSA (Free Application for Federal Student Aid), and portions of the SAT. Pre-activity: Students develop an outline to their personal statement, and review 2 or 3 of the math questions on a sample SAT. During the activity (held on CWU’s campus or in-district) students are given guidance to complete or prepare for each of the four areas. Post Event Assignment: Students complete a 5-paragraph personal statement.

10th grade

In early fall, students engage in a short exercise to identify potential weaknesses they need to overcome to become successfully enrolled college students, then will design their own intervention strategies. They will be encouraged to enroll for the PSAT. In last spring, students will revisit their plans and evaluate their progress, then engage in several planning activities to develop strong 11th and 12th grade plans to make college admission a reality in two years’ time, including building a course plan. Students are also encouraged to think about strategies for funding college costs, including after school jobs, or entrepreneurial opportunities.

11th grade

Students are introduced to more activities required for Post-Secondary enrollment and beyond, including writing a resume, developing a cover letter and preparing for an interview, activities required by most high schools as part of the “13th Year Plan.” Students also get ideas for books to read and vocabulary to acquire, scholarship search strategies, suggestions on sustaining a college support team, and college admission test dates.

2nd Annual GEAR UP Middle School Student Art Show & Exhibit

Date of Event - Friday, May 14th, 2004

"Yakima Valley middle school students (grades 6 - 9) are invited to exhibit their art work in a Student Art Exhibit at the CAD*LAC Center in Wapato May 14 to 28. This exhibit is part of the Washington State Art Commission's Wallace Art Participation project. Students have the option of selling their work during the exhibit period."

To view Art Gallery visit the Art Exhibit Main Page on the CAD*LAC Site