CIBERNEWS

Since Myers Park High School has a high rate of its graduates heading to a four (4) year college, many such schools have representatives who visit Myers Park High School throughout the school year. The representatives come to the Guidance Office, and any senior or junior student with a pass may come and see them. The following is the list of the colleges whose representatives which will be visiting the Guidance Office of Myers Park High School through Thursday, November1, 2001:

College Date Day Time

Mrs. Tribble reminds all seniors to make the deadlines for college applications and wishes everyone the best of luck.

2. IB STUDENT AND TEACHER ACCOLADES

As another year commences for the IB Mustang student body, students are gearing up for a rigorous year of academics. With this comes endless opportunities for our students to excel in a variety of areas. We are using a section of this newsletter to recognizing these achievements and need your help in ensuring that all Mustangs receive proper acclaim for their efforts. If you know of a student or teacher that has been recognized for his or her accomplishments, please email Anna Johnson at annablair6@carolina.rr.com, Anna Wyatt at AGW4012@aol.com, or Mark Hamilton at dmh584@carolina.rr.com.

As noted in our first issue and subsequently published in the Neighbors sectiion of The Charlotte Observer, Christopher Sinay, a Myers Park Senior, is one of only 5 area finalists for the Morehead Scholarship to the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. This award, established in 1951 by John Motley Morehead III, is based on scholastic ability, extracurricular attainment, moral force of character, capacities to lead and motivate fellow students, and physical vigor. The scholarship includes tuition, room and board at UNC-CH for four years.

BEN SMOLEN is to be featured on NPR on "From the Top," a radio show for young classical musicians, hosted by the pianist Christopher O'Reily. It was filmed July 28th at the Brevard Music Center, and WILL AIR EITHER THIS COMING SUNDAY (THE 14TH) AT 1:00 PM OR THE NEXT SUNDAY (THE 21ST) AT 1:00 PM; we haven't been able to find out which one yet. He played the flute in Georges Enesco's "Cantabile and Presto" for flute and piano.

David Layton, a former IB history teacher, went to Washington, D.C. in June 2001 where he was honored by the Department of Education’s Presidential Scholars Program. Zane Curtis-Olsen, a MP IB graduate and one of 141 Presidential Scholars, named Mr. Layton as the teacher who had the most significant influence on him. President Bush spoke at the ceremony for the scholars, teachers and parents. For more, see The Charlotte Observer Meckelnburg Neighbors, p, 4M, Sunday, October 7.

Congratulations to student environmental activist, Heide Iravani, alumnae of Myers Park High School's Free the Planet Club, named by The Charlotte Observer' as receipient of the prestigious "Guardian of the Environment", 2001. Robert Corbin is Heide's club advisor! Heidi was also the recipient of the prestigious David Brower Environmental Award through the Earth Island Institute. Earth Island Institute established the Brower Youth Awards to honor lifelong environmental leader David R. Brower who inspired generations of environmentalists to provide CPR for the planet: conservation, preservation, restoration. The Brower Youth Awards give these young environmental leaders the recognition, visibility and credibility their efforts deserve. Thank you to Robert Corbin and all you environmental science teachers who are working with our young people to encourage students like Heide to care for the Earth! For more, see The Charlotte Observer Opinion page, Saturday, September 22, 2001.

3. FAQ ABOUT THE CURRENT EVENTS CLUB

By: Brian McNamara, Brad Foley, and Ryan Chandler

Clubs are a very important part of Myers Park. Many people devote their time and effort into making these clubs exceptional. As a new and continuing feature, we will feature an interview with one of the leaders of a club. This issue we interviewed Mrs. Anliker, who is the leader of a new club, the Current Events Club, founded last year by a group of 11th graders interested in current events. Here is her interview:

"Basically, our club reviews and discusses current events in the news. With the current situation, we have a lot to talk about."

"This club is for anyone in any grade who likes history or just being likes being informed. Foreign students have also joined the club."

"By participating in this club, you can increase your knowledge in History and English."

"If you're interested in today's world, pros and cons of war, strategy, the effect that war has on the world economy, culture, or religion, you should join this club."

What are your dues? Is free food included with dues?

"The Current Events Club meets in MC10 or the Media Center, every three weeks, on Mondays."

We would like to give a special thanks to Mrs. Anliker for participating in this interview. We will continue to present interviews of club leaders and will also mention any important meetings or events for clubs.

4. Q & A TEACHER INTERVIEW – JOSHUA PURVIS, DRAMA

What is one lesson, other than your subject, that you try to instill in you students?

What is a catch phrase that best summarizes your classroom philosophy, and why did you choose it?

Yes, I do. It normally is all my space will allow, though I do aim to and succeed in teaching using other learning styles. A rounded education is the best education.

The Editor apologizes for the multiple transmissions and faulty receptions of Volume II, No, 1 on its inaugural day, September 28, and thereafter. The system servers of both the school system and the school were interrupted by computer virus attacks, and one transmission by Word file attachment was mistakenly attempted. All future editions will be in plain text format like this issue until further notice. The difficulties were further aggravated by the attendance by Mr. Corbin, our technical adviser and computer guru, at an out-of-town seminar.

Please advise the editor of address or profile changes, technical difficulties, etc. at devilr@mindspring.com or 704.333.7848.

The Editor thanks the students who have written most of the articles for cIBernews.

The IB PAC Board would appreciate your input on suggested changes and additions to the Home Page for IB-Parent Advisory Council, accessible at www.myersparkhigh.org/ib/pac . All links are accessible and contain valuable information, excepting the last two that are labeled “under construction.” The “No/Low Cost Summer Enrichment” link provides further links valuable to 10^th and 11^th graders, although some updating of the links is required. As is true for this newsletter, technical improvements are possible to the extent of volunteer help of our talented students and their parents.

CAS stands for “Creativity, Action and Service,” a required component of IB students, but these opportunities may also represent community service hours required of pre-IB students:

1. FAMILY LAND DAY 2001 is October 20, 2001 at Redlair Farm near Belmont Abbey, North Carolina. Featuring guided nature hikes, hay rides, pumpkin painting, animals, raptor releases, artisans and more, this is a great opportunity for the service portion of CAS hours and for MPHS Ecology Club members. Call Marsha O’Brien, 704.968.3475 or the FLD Volunteer Hotline, 704.342.4744 x 209 to sign up or get more information at the web site, www.catawbalands.com .

2. CAROLINAS JOINT WALK TO CURE ARTHRITIS at Queens College, Saturday, October 27, 2001. They need volunteers to run carnival booths, hand out balloons and recognition prizes, or simply encourage participants. Contact Shawna M. Culler, Arthirtis Foundation, Carolinas Chapter, 704.529.5166, or sculler@arthritis.org .

3. Avondale Presbyterian Church needs volunteers Monday and Wenesday, 4:00 to 5:00 PM for tutoring or mentoring middle school students. Contact Laura Meier, Director, 704.333.6194 or devilr@mindspring.com .

4. Some possible places to volunteer are: Room in the Inn at various churches, Habitat for Humanity, or Crisis Assistance. The YMCA, Jewish Community Center, and United Family Services also offer volunteer opportunities where you can assist with after-school programs, sports, etc. The possibilities are endless when it comes to helping others in the community. Ask your guidance counselor about more volunteer opportunities.

Thank you to everyone who generously donated to the Myers Park High School IB PAC. Our donations exceed $7,000, but the exigencies faced by our staff for the new year threaten to exhaust our budget before the needs of Dr. Thomas, the IB teachers, and the IB students for the 2001-2002 school year are met. The Board will meet again on November 8, 2001.

9. MISSION STATEMENT: To provide interesting, timely and important information to students, parents, teachers and staff about the MPHS IB Program via the Internet.

GOALS: 1. To involve IB students in all phases of production, creation, distribution and institutionalization of the Newsletter.

2. To involve parents of IB students and provide a media to make information accessible and answer frequently asked questions.

3. To assist teachers in allowing students to learn about and from them, communicate issues and concerns they have to parents, and facilitate IB activities and programs.

10.IB COORDINATOR NOTES: The IB curriculum model is displayed as a hexagon with six academic areas surrounding the core. While overall balance is maintained, flexibility in choosing concentrations is encouraged to allow students to pursue personal interests or meet college entrance requirements. In keeping with this educational philosophy, we plan to add four new IB courses for the 2002-2003 school year: IB Philosophy, a second year of IB Computer Programming, IB Islamic History and IB Photography. We are also exploring offering IB Geography.

RON THOMAS

The views and opinions expressed herein are those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect those of CIBERNEWS or its participating editors, teacher consultants, and publishers. CIBERNEWS is distributed by e-mail every two weeks beginning 09.28.01 to anyone interested in the MP-IB program who has submitted an e-mail registration form. To subscribe or submit articles, please e-mail to devilr@mindspring.com .

By Bobby Samuelson and Matt Jackson

College Date Day Time

2. IB STUDENT AND TEACHER ACCOLADES

3. FAQ ABOUT THE CURRENT EVENTS CLUB

By: Brian McNamara, Brad Foley, and Ryan Chandler

What are your dues? Is free food included with dues?

4. Q & A TEACHER INTERVIEW – JOSHUA PURVIS, DRAMA

RON THOMAS