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• ART STUDENTS GRAB SILVER KEY HONORS
• JUNIORS VISIT GENESYS WORKS
• CHOICES CORNER: TRAINING YOUR TEEN RECAP

The Scholastic Art & Writing Awards has an impressive legacy dating back to 1923. Over the years, the Awards have grown to become the longest-running, most prestigious recognition program for creative teens in the U.S., and the nation's largest source of scholarships for creative young artists and writers. A noteworthy roster of past winners includes Andy Warhol, Sylvia Plath, Truman Capote, Richard Avedon, Robert Redford, Joyce Carol Oates, Stephen King, John Updike, and many more.

Each year, the Alliance partners with more than 100 visual and literary-arts organizations across the country to bring The Awards to local communities. Teens in grades 7 through 12 can apply in 28 categories of art and writing for the chance to earn scholarships and have their works exhibited or published. Submissions are juried by luminaries in the visual and literary arts, some of whom are past award recipients. Panelists look for works that best exemplify originality, technical skill and the emergence of a personal voice or vision.

In the last five years alone, students submitted nearly 900,000 original works of art and writing. During that period, more than 60 top arts institutes and colleges have partnered with the Awards to make $40 million in scholarships and financial aid available to regional and national Scholastic Award winners. 

On Friday, February 7, 40 select Westside High School juniors visited the Genesys Works office in downtown Houston. These students have already applied to Genesys Works and are aiming to participate in the training this summer and earn an internship for their senior year. As soon as we arrived, the Genesys Works Program Coordinators broke the students into groups and introduced a couple of games that would give them the opportunity to get to know the group. 

Next, Steve Sidney, CIO of Bristow Group, spoke to the students about his background, his company, and the field of Information Technology. Bristow Group has mentored four Westside students in their paths in the IT field over the past two years. Three alumni of the program, including two Westside alumni, were available to answer any questions the students might have about being able to manage their time and how to get the most out of the Genesys Works experience!

After lunch, the students split into two groups to explore the tunnels and walk to corporate partners of Genesys Works. One group walked to Kinder Morgan, while the other group walked to Centerpoint Energy and were able to speak with some current interns placed at Centerpoint.

Applications are still open to apply for Geneys Works until February 14. Stop by L203 and visit with Mrs. Garcia for more information.  

In case you missed the PTO/Choices event last week, keep reading for a recap of the presentation "Training Your Teen: A Chapter from the Owner's Manual You Wish Came with Your Teen"...

One thing we do know is that our brains aren't finished developing until we are 25. Three important parts of the brain that are making changes are the prefrontal cortex, the nucleus accumbens, and the amygdala. The prefrontal cortex is our control center for thinking and it directs our judgment and decision making. The nucleus accumbens governs motivation and when this is mature, you will see an intense increase in novelty seeking. Lastly, our amygdala directs our emotional response. Because our prefrontal cortex isn't finished developing until age 25, then we encourage you as parents to be your teen's prefrontal cortex until theirs is fully grown.

We encourage you to set firm boundaries with your teen. Although they may not admit it at this age, knowing what your rules and expectations are for them makes them feel safe and cared for. Another important aspect of parenting a teen is to make sure that you make them earn what they are given as opposed to giving it to them for free. Earning builds long strands of neurons in their brain for adult thinking. This teaches them self-efficacy which is positively correlated with self-esteem.

Most importantly, the most powerful reinforcer of teenage behavior is your praise. At this phase in your teen's life, you may feel like you are micro-managing and lecturing a lot more than you are praising. However, it is important to focus on what your teen is doing right and reinforce that behavior. I know it seems that your praise is going in one of your teen's ears and out the other, but praise at this age means the same or even more than when they were younger.

I want to thank the PTO, especially Barbara Nassab for their sponsorship of last Tuesday's event. Stay tuned for more events coming up!