EOF Monthly Newsletter December 2012

EDUCATIONAL OPPORTUNITY FUND

And Off We Go on Winter And Off We Go on Winter

Break…Goodbye Fall 2012!Break…Goodbye Fall 2012!

Inside this issue:

Kwanzaa Ceremony 2

EOF Student Alliance 3

Exam Tips 3

Twas the Night… 4

To All Students 5

December Calendar 6

hat a semester

we had! I want

to commend all

of our EOF students for

your time, effort and pro-

gram participation this

past Fall 2012 semester

both to our new incoming

class and all our returning

students. I am truly

pleased to have seen such

dedication from all of

you, seeing you in the

office studying every day,

tutoring each other, doing

your homework and

meeting with your EOF

counselors. Also, your

level of involvement in

all of our workshops of-

fered and community ser-

vice in and out of CCM

this Fall, was some of the

best I’ve seen. Staying in

contact and participating

is the key to your success

at CCM as an EOF stu-

dent. It speaks VERY

highly of your level of

commitment. Through the

challenges we faced this

semester as Super storm

Sandy tried putting a

damper on our momen-

tum, affecting so many of

us, you still stayed the

course.

Lots of great new things

happened during the Fall.

We launched our new

EOF Online & Resources

course on Blackboard –

our 24/7 EOF virtual of-

fice. In addition, we be-

gan a new EOF Transfer

Scholarship Fundraiser to

assist one graduating sen-

ior who will be transfer-

ring to one of NJ’s col-

leges. Lastly, we saw

great initiatives from our

EOF Alliance. These in-

cluded: bake sale fund-

raisers, our Cops n’ Kids

book drive, conference

participation, and much

more. I can’t wait to see

what the Spring will have

in store for us!

Let’s wrap up the semes-

ter STRONG! Get

through those finals, give

it that one last push –

YOU ARE ALMOST

THERE! Use the winter

break as a time to relax

and rejuvenate, you sure-

ly deserve it. For our

graduating seniors, con-

gratulations! To all our

returning students, we

will see you back January

15th. Have a wonderful

holiday and a Happy New

Year 2013!

Sincerely,

Pamela Marcenaro, EOF

Director

CONNECTIONSCONNECTIONS

BAD WEATHERBAD WEATHERBAD WEATHER

Communication Methods During Inclement Weather

Titan Alert System is now in effect, notifications will come exclusively through Titan communication sys-tem.

Titan Alert. Alerts will be forwarded to your CCM email account, and any additional contact points, including person-al email, phone calls and text messaging. For more information about Titan Alert, go to http://www.ccm.edu/titanalert.aspx

Check the CCM website at www.ccm.edu.

If you never received Titan Alert, call the emergency information number 973-328-5580.

The college makes every effort to communicate closing or delayed opening information as soon as possible.

P A G E 2 C O N N E C T I O N S

O n Thursday, December 6, we

celebrated our Annual

Kwanzaa Holiday gathering. This is

a staple for the EOF Program and

one that’s become a very popular

and well attended event on campus,

as it is open to the entire CCM

community. Administrators, faculty

and students came together for an

afternoon filled of community,

family and culture. After the

ceremony, everyone enjoyed a

holiday luncheon.

This year, we added some new

things to our celebration. We

featured a beautiful Kwanzaa

inspired art piece by one of our Fine

Art students’ Somina Mosaku and

also raffled a holiday M & M Mars

gift box, which was won by one of

our new EOF students, Guadalupe

Barrios.

Kwanzaa is celebrated from

December 26 through January 1; a

very unique African American

holiday. Kwanzaa means “first

fruits of the harvest” in the African

language of Kiswahili. It was

founded by Dr. Maulana Karenga,

professor and chairman of Black

Studies at California State

University who describes himself as

a cultural nationalist. The main

purpose of Kwanzaa is to focus on

Umoja (Unity) – Gene Moss,

EOF Administrative Assistant

Kujichagulia (Self-Determination)

– Marco Garcia, EOF student

Ujima (Collective Work/Responsibility)

– Ashaloy Wilson, EOF student

Ujamaa (Cooperative Economics)

– Devon Smith, EOF student

Nia (Purpose) – Devon Smith,

EOF student

Kuumba (Creativity) Jorge

Guerra, EOF student

Imani (Faith) Nicole Barrett,

EOF student

Thank you to everyone that

attended and all our student

volunteers: Devon Smith, Marco

Garcia, Joe Hilton, Fernando

Barrios, Jorge Guerra, Ashaloy

Wilson and Nicole Barrett. We

appreciate your help!

the traditional values of family,

community responsibility,

commerce, and self-improvement.

Kwanzaa is neither political nor

religious and it is not a substitution

for Christmas, as some may think.

The core basis of Kwanzaa are

seven principles - “Nguzo Saba”

which stand for each day of

observance. During this time we

come together to celebrate our

families, cultures and communities.

We give thanks for friends and to

help one another each day of our

lives.

The values and core beliefs of

Kwanzaa truly transpire through

many cultures, as it is widely

accepted and observed by more

than 15 million people worldwide.

Our EOF

celebration

began with

a little

history on

Kwanzaa

and its symbols, followed by a

reading of the Seven Principles all

described by our staff and students,

each sharing what each symbol is

and how it impacts and inspires

their lives. Our participating EOF

members were:

Kwanzaa ceremonyKwanzaa ceremony

Left: Joseph Hilton, Saffiyah Fleary, Marco Garcia, Pam Marcenaro (EOF

Director), Devon Smith, Fernando Barrios and Ashaloy Wilson

We hope you have a wonderful

holiday season and we’ll see

you next year!

E O F M O N T H L Y N E W S L E T T E R E O F M O N T H L Y N E W S L E T T E R P A G E 3

EOF student Alliance newsEOF student Alliance news

planned the week we got back, just

for this cause. Amidst concerns

there wouldn’t be as much involve-

ment, the students of EOF proved

differently! Amazingly, the bakers

C oncerned for their communi-

ty, the Alliance students de-

cided they wanted to do something

for those affected by Hurricane

Sandy. Another Bake sale was

and shakers in EOF got on the mis-

sion!

On Nov. 15, they had

even a more success-

ful sale than the previ-

ous month!! Seven

students participated, but

sold $200.48 worth of goodies!!

Proceeds will go to the Atlantic

City Teachers United Group which

is collecting donations

for the children in pov-

erty that lost every-

thing in the terrible

storm.

Exam Tips from students & professorsExam Tips from students & professors

scheduled by professors and or the Tutoring Center.

Organize all your notes in an orderly fashion for fast referenc-ing, and utilize your textbook CD.

Make a timetable for the period of time you are studying.

Work together. For example, form a small study group.

Review all the materials at least once after your main study ses-sion.

Think up a few questions you might be asked on your exam, and try answering them.

Have an efficient amount of sleep before the exam day.

E xams val-ue your

memories and your skills and ability to under-stand what you are studying. They make you prepare before hand and may cover topics you do not know. They also force you to be specific and focused, as time is limited in most exams.

Final exams are scheduled for the week of December 13th—19th. Please observe the following tips to get yourself ready:

Start studying early and make sure you have covered all sec-tions outlined on your syllabus.

Attend academic review sessions

Allow yourself time for relaxa-tion and thinking.

Use strategies like deep breath-ing to overcome panic.

Visualize yourself in positive and relaxing situations when starting your exam.

Keep cool and calculated—don’t worry if you can’t answer the first question, calmly go onto the next. It will come to you later!

“There is a time to take counsel of your fears, and there is a time to

never listen to any fear.” ― George S. Patton

Jorge Guerra & Henry Rincon

P A G E 4 C O N N E C T I O N S

Twas the night before f inal s ,Twas the night before f inal s , And a l l through the col lege ,And a l l through the col lege ,

The students were pray ingThe students were pray ing For last minute knowledge.For last minute knowledge.

Most were quite s leepy,Most were quite s leepy,

But none touched the ir beds ,But none touched the ir beds , While v is ions of es saysWhile v is ions of es says Danced in the ir heads .Danced in the ir heads .

Out in the taverns ,Out in the taverns ,

A few were st i l l dr inking,A few were st i l l dr inking, And hoping that l iquorAnd hoping that l iquor

Would loosen the ir thinking.Would loosen the ir thinking.

In my own apartment ,In my own apartment , I had been pac ingI had been pac ing

And dreading examsAnd dreading exams I soon would be fac ing.I soon would be fac ing.

My roommate was speechless ,My roommate was speechless ,

Her nose in her books ,Her nose in her books , And my comments to herAnd my comments to her

Drew unfr iendly looks .Drew unfr iendly looks .

I drained a l l the coffee ,I drained a l l the coffee , And brewed a new pot ,And brewed a new pot ,

No longer car ingNo longer car ing That my nerves were shot .That my nerves were shot .

I s tared at my notes ,I s tared at my notes ,

But my thoughts were muddy;But my thoughts were muddy; My eyes went ablur ,My eyes went ablur ,

I just couldn’t s tudy.I just couldn’t s tudy.

“Some p izza might he lp ,”“Some p izza might he lp ,” I sa id with a shiver ,I sa id with a shiver ,

But each place I ca l ledBut each place I ca l led Refused to de l iver .Refused to de l iver .

I ’d near ly concludedI ’d near ly concluded That l i fe was too crue l ,That l i fe was too crue l , With futures dependingWith futures depending

On grades had in school .On grades had in school .

When a l l of a sudden,When a l l of a sudden, Our door opened wide ,Our door opened wide ,

And Patron Saint Put I t OffAnd Patron Saint Put I t Off Ambled ins ide .Ambled ins ide .

Her spi r i t was care les s ,Her spi r i t was care les s ,

Her manner was mel low,Her manner was mel low, S tarted to be l low:Started to be l low:

“What kind of student“What kind of student Would make such a fuss ,Would make such a fuss , To toss back at teachersTo toss back at teachers What they tossed at us?What they tossed at us?

“On Cl i f f Notes ! On Crib Notes!“On Cl i f f Notes ! On Crib Notes!

On Last Year ’s Exams!On Last Year ’s Exams! On Wingit and S l ingit ,On Wingit and S l ingit ,

And Last Minute Crams!”And Last Minute Crams!”

Her message de l ivered,Her message de l ivered, She vanished from s ight ,She vanished from s ight ,

But we heard laughingBut we heard laughing Outs ide in the night .Outs ide in the night .

“Your teachers have pegged you,“Your teachers have pegged you,

So just do your best .So just do your best . Happy Finals to ALL,Happy Finals to ALL,

And to ALL, a good test .”And to ALL, a good test .”

Good luck on al l yourGood luck on al l your f inal exams!! !f inal exams!! !

Author UnknownAuthor Unknown

TWAS the NIGHT BEFORE FINALSTWAS the NIGHT BEFORE FINALS

E O F M O N T H L Y N E W S L E T T E R E O F M O N T H L Y N E W S L E T T E R P A G E 5

December 20 1 2December 20 1 2

P A G E 6 C O N N E C T I O N S

Everyone in EOF wishes you a Merry Christmas, Happy Holidays, and a very happy and successful New Year !!

Sun Mon Tue Wed Thu Fri Sat

1

2 3

4 5 6 Kwanzaa Holiday Celebration, SCC

Davidson Rm. A&B 2:30 PM—4:00 PM

7 8 Hanukkah begins

at Sundown

9 10

11

12 Classes End at

10:45 PM

13 Final Exams Day Classes 13th—18th &

Evening Classes 13th—19th

CCM Bills Due!

14

15

16 17 Final Exams

Evening Classes 13th—19th

Winterim—Classes

18

19 20

21 Winter Begins

22

23

24 Campus Closed

(Dec. 24th— Jan. 02)

Campus Closed

25 Christmas

26 Kwanzaa

27 28

29

30 31

Be sure to turn in all your outside Community Service & Work-

shop Verification forms to get credited by December 18th.