What skills do students need to be successful in college? According to Dr. Conley, there are four categories of skills needed to succeed in any educational setting after high school - this could be a technical school, a community college or a four year college.

Thinking Skills: These include skills such as critical thinking and problem solving skills and knowing how to use a variety of strategies to solve problems. Intellectual curiosity, reasoning, analysis skills encompass this category.

Content Knowledge and Academic Skills: A solid knowledge of academic subjects: English, math (especially algebra), science, social studies, a second language, and the arts. The two most important academic skills are writing and research skills.

Academic Behaviors: Study and organizational skills. The ability to self monitor and prioritize, make to-do lists, to persist when the work is difficult and to participate successfully in a study groups.

College Culture and College Knowledge: Knowing how college operates as a system and a culture. Ability to interact with a diverse group of people, work on a team, and interact with a professor. Knowledge of the "secret code" of college admissions - testing, applications, financial aid, and timelines.

These skills are interrelated and can be developed and nurtured by school, family and community influence. The skills are not just developed in high school but are honed from an early age. For more information see David Conley's report Toward a More Comprehensive Conception of College Readiness, http://www.s4s.org/

Canterbury's after-school enrichment offerings for kindergarten through fifth graders have expanded as parents expressed a desire for a wider variety of programs. Organized and administered by PTA volunteers, the program features hands-on science, French, yoga, theater, chess and Spanish during Fall, Winter and Spring sessions. The hour-long classes vary in cost from a $40 for an 8 week yoga class to $80 plus a book and CD fee for the newly introduced Spanish program. The program is self-funding, and the PTA offers $25 scholarships to students requiring financial aid.

The enrichment program has spread to other elementary schools. When the elementary school reorganization began to take shape last year, some Canterbury families destined for a change of schools began working with Gearity volunteers to organize a similar enrichment program at their new school. That program is up and running and thriving.

At the middle schools and high school, five stations are available. Origins has hot lunch and food bar selections; Trattoria offers three different pizza; Fresh Grille serves up hamburgers, chicken sandwiches and fries; Sandwich Central gives students sub sandwich; and Garden Emporium has fresh salads. Although the elementary schools still have a monthly menu of hot meals, each will soon add a food bar with cold selections.

Let's face it: it's hard to get kids to eat nutritious food. "But what Chartwells brings to the table," said Shergalis, "is a wealth of experimenting through their central chefs and their experience in 1,200 other districts throughout the country. They've learned ways to cook nutritious foods that kids will actually buy and eat."

And this comes without having to raise prices for school meals. It's a win-win deal for the district and parents.

Play it Forward! Fourth Annual Heights March Musical Magic Benefit Concert
Turn your clocks ahead and celebrate time with some of the finest musicians who perform and teach right here in Northeast Ohio! The program includes the timeless music of Bach, Bartok, Poulenc, Schubert and some rousing Hungarian gypsy music! It all happens Sunday, March 9, 2008 at 3 p.m., at Fairmount Presbyterian Church, 2757 Fairmount Boulevard, Cleveland Heights. Donation: Adults $15 / Students $10 / Families of 4 or more $40 (other donations welcome!)

Proceeds from the concert, featuring Cleveland Orchestra musicians, Cleveland Heights professionals and teachers, and Heights High musicians, will 'pay it forward' to the next generation of musicians by supporting students in the Cleveland Heights High School Instrumental Music Department through scholarships for private music lessons.

Share a Meal, Build a Community
Grace Lutheran Church is building community through its Community Making Meal program. Community volunteers create and serve a meal on the last Wednesday of the month (March 26, April 30, May 28 and beyond!) for families and individuals who need the nourishment of a healthy meal and the chance to meet other community members.

The program tries to help families stretch their food budgets. The meal is served at 6:00 PM and participants are encouraged to sign up to help with the next meal.

Miss the Tax Forum? Not to Worry
If you weren't able to make it to the recent Forum on Tax Issues, co-sponsored by the League of Women Voters and FutureHeights, you can watch a videotape of the forum at 10 am and 7 pm daily on channel 23 until March 4. An audio download is available on the LWV-Cuyahoga Area, Heights Chapter website, chuh.net/lwv.

The forum covered the proposed City of Cleveland Heights 0.4% income tax increase and the Cleveland Heights-University Heights Library 1.9 mill property tax levy.

Summer arts internships available through ArtWorks
Consider applying to ArtWorks 2008. ArtWorks is the only arts-based job training program for Northeast Ohio high school students. For six hours a day, five days a week, ArtWorks apprentices create exciting work in theater, dance, music, and visual arts while learning professionalism and responsibility. Apprentices host performances and exhibitions of their work and work with master teaching artists to develop a professional portfolio. ArtWorks will take place at University Circle in Cleveland.

Any high school student entering 10th, 11th, or 12th grade in the fall of 2008 may apply. Graduating seniors are ineligible. No prior arts experience is necessary. We are simply looking for people who are interested in the arts and would like to learn job skills. Students must submit an application on time and be interviewed to be considered for the program. Applications are due by Thursday, April 3, 2008. Applications and more information are available on Young Audiences' website: http:// www.yaneo.org/what/artworks.html