Taking a Break is Neccessary!

With the holidays around the corner and people getting ready to travel and eat good; HEC is here to say "TAKE A BREAK." Especially to our seniors. Times are crucial. This part of life becomes more and more hectic. After Thanksgiving break...Guess what? It's finals week. Take time to focus on yourself and goals. Take time to realize what you would like for your life. Take time to sleep and eat. Re-energize your body! You will need it.

Anyone who as ever talked to Ms. Nolan knows she is all about self-care. Ms. Nolan is here to tell you:

TAKE A BREAK!

 Did you hear her? Can you hear her voice in your head? Take a break!
School becomes hard. You get tired. You get burnt out. It happens. Guess what? It happens to adults! Even we have to take a step back and realize that we need to be recharged! Thanksgiving break is this weekend. Take time to get to know your family again. Play cards, crack some jokes and sleep. Oh, and do not forget to eat! School is important, but sometimes we all need time to recharge! Taking a break is necessary!

Message to the Seniors: 

  It is important to get your essays and applications in! Your FAFSA should already be done! But please please try to finish up those essays and applications! If you need any assistance please call Mr. Bullard and/or  Ms. Nolan. You can e-mail us too!

Mr. Bullard- 314-285-0606

mbullard@heccstl.com

Ms. Nolan -314-285-1254

lnolan@heccstl.com 

Message to Freshmen:

 You all have been shining! Continue to be leaders to your peers at school. Continue to show your teachers the initiative you have taken! You all have chosen to be part of a leadership community and HEC is so excited to see you grow!

Message TO ALL HEC STUDENTS:

 You all keep us as a staff going. You guys are our inspiration. We have a job based off of your success and your needs. We are here for you. Continue to be involved and share your stories with us.

 

Our Freshmen fellas on their best Academic behavior! They took over the Saturday Academy. Shout out to our Vashon Students for their outstanding Leadership!

Our Seniors have set great examples to your younger students. They bring bright smiles and eagerness for their future!

Look at the HEC Family getting that REAL!!!

On November 20th, 2016 Vashon High School held a family dinner. Nathaniel and Donnay are two new HEC students. They are freshmen in the 9th grade academy. They both brought their mothers to the dinner to help build a stronger relationships with their school.

This week's guest speaker was Christopher Miller the Program Manager for Wyman Teen Leadership Program. Mr. Miller discussed his upbringing from Walnut Park to getting his degree from Harris Stowe. He was very engaging. He talked the "real" with HEC Family! HEC would like to send a huge Thank you to Mr. Miller and Wyman Teen Leadership Program!

Mr. Armstrong and HEC's honary student Lily.

Fatima is a freshman at Vashon. She is also involved in ROTC.

Ms. Nolan trying to explain a very difficult ice breaker that confused everyone! Maybe next time guys!!

The HEC students trying to understand the ice breaker Ms. Nolan just explained!

Christopher Miller, Program Manager for Wyman Teen Leadership Program

When no one understands what they are supposed to be doing!

The HEC Staff had the opportunity to attend the 42nd Annual  EOA conference in Downtown St. Louis. The HEC family came to represent! (Ms. Nolan-College & Career Specialist and Mr. Armstrong- Director of HEC Upward Bound)

Mr. Bullard the College & Career Counselor for HEC Upward and Ms. Jacqueline from our sister program enjoying their dinner!

Who says adults can't have fun?

The HEC family!

HEC Student keep a smile on Ms. Nolan's face!

Jalen White is a freshman at Vashon High School. Jalen is excited to grow and is ready to share his leadership skills.

Nathaniel Norman Jr.  is a freshman at Vashon High School. Vashon has a positive project where the teachers pick a student that motivates them to come to work everyday. Nathaniel was one of those students chosen! Nathaniel also plays basketball for Vashon.

Standing Strong & Moving Forward

October 29th was the second  Saturday of the HEC's Saturday Academy and the student came ready to learn and grow. Our HEC students are learning how to navigate through school for today and for the future. 

This week our Soldan ladies explained why they love HEC and why they keep coming back:

Cardejah Warner:

"I keep coming to Saturday Academy because it will really help me in life and it makes me want to keep going to school and not give up because I can do it. The support and love that they show me help me throughout the year."

Nylah Burns:

 "This is a great program to be in to further your education. I keep coming to Saturdays to get help in my classes. The teachers make time to help the students get and understand the work giving to the at school. Never stop gaining your education because the brain is never full."

Diamond Sullivan:"HEC makes the impossible possible."

The guest speaker for this October 29th's Saturday was Chamaura Henderson. Chamaura is graduate from Southeast Missouri State University. She majored in Athletic Training and she is also a McNair Scholar. McNair is a TRIO program that helps people in their junior year of college prepare for graduate school. It is a program that requires students to do research in their chosen field and they present at MO-KA-NE Tri-State Conference. Chamaura found a job right out of college and plans to attend Graduate school in Texas next year. Chamaura said she is willing to help any student that wants help. Her information can be given upon request.

In Ms. Nolan's Senior Life Skills class they talked about "Forward Thinking." Thinking about life after college and how they are going to be successful. Ms. Nolan talked to students about being the "King and/or Queen of Success." Student made visions boards with the quote "I am the King/Queen of Success" on the board. The students explained how they are successful and how they are going to get there.

Tamia volunteered showing her board on how she is the Queen of Success. Tamia is a drawer and often speaks through her art work. She is a senior at Lift for Life Academy.

Darrell showed how he is a King of Success. He is currently a senior at Carnahan School of the Future. Darrell wants to be a lawyer, politician and actor. He hopes to attend Howard after high school. He is a leader within his school and is determined to show the world what success looks like.

Kierra is a senior from Cardinal Ritter. She is light that makes sure everyone knows that she is a Queen that will be successful. Kierra wants to be an Auditor when she gets her degree.

Ms. Henderson brought some open and honest dialogue for our Students and Parents.

Our HEC Family is very proud of our students and all the hard work that they are putting in. We are here to serve our students and want our students to know we see bright futures in each and everyone of you! (From Left to Right: Mr. Bullard-College & Career Counselor, Mr. Sedrak- Math, Mr. Brown- Science, Mr. Armstrong-Director of HEC Upward Bound, Ms. Nolan- College & Career Specialist & Ms. Christina- Social Worker.)

Our freshmen boys brought so much enthusiasm and excitement. They are taking over our freshman class. They came eager to learn. They enjoyed their learning in Mr. Brown's class.

The Return of the Saturday Academy

“It's essential to keep moving, learning and evolving for as long as you're here and this world keeps spinning” 

― Rasheed Ogunlaru

 

On October 15th, 2016, the Saturday Academy made its return. We had a great turn out.  It is quite amazing to see a group of young people who give up their Saturday to receive more education. The staff was very impressed and motivated by the students who showed up. This is going to be a great year!

Message to Students

 Stay encouraged through out the year. Times do get hard. But never give up and use your resources. Remember that HEC serves as an extra resource to you. Keep in contact with your teachers, principals, and counselors. We are all here to serve you and see you walk across those stages!

 

Message to Seniors

Remember that the FAFSA date has moved up to October 1st. Parents are allowed to come to Saturday Academy on October 29th, 2016. Also, HEC has volunteered with most high schools to help with the FAFSA!

Make sure you are getting applications out and checking on deadlines for your selected colleges.  ANY HELP YOU NEED PLEASE REACH OUT TO US! 

One group trying to figure out how they are going to survive in college

Students mixing in groups to get to know one another

Seniors looking at different ways to rest while in college

Senior Class of HEC Students

Look at all of those Educated and determined HEC Students

Being engaged while telling the groups about their character

"Sometimes you have to do what you don't like to get to where you want to be "

- Tori Amos

Getting some advice about attending college

Ms. Nolan brought in her "Life Coach" and  Mentor Danielle Washington from Wyman Teen Leadership Program. Danielle participated in Wyman TLP and has been working for Wyman since she was in High School. Danielle was the guest speaker for the first Saturday Academy and challenged the HEC students with different scenarios of going to college. The HEC students had an opportunity to get to know one another and think about their future plans.

The Seniors discuss what subjects they need to learn about college before Graduation

When the Seniors of HEC think  they are funny

 

Welcome Students the start of Saturday Academy of 2016/2017

On Saturday, September 24th HEC welcomed many new and current students to the Saturday Academy. The Summer Academy of 2016 was a great success. We welcomed a new staff member to the HEC Staff. The staff hopes that the students are more than excited to start this new year. The staff is extremely excited to move forward. The HEC staff has taken on a theme for this year which is  "NO EXCUSES."

First off we would like to welcome Ms. Lisa Nolan to the HEC Staff and family. Ms. Nolan is now the College & Career Counselor for HEC Upward Bound. Ms. Nolan graduated from Southeast Missouri State University with her Bachelor's of Science in Social Work. Ms. Nolan will be attending Regent University to pursue her Masters of Art in Non-Profit Leadership. She will also be pursuing her Masters of Social Work in the near future.

The current students welcomed Ms. Nolan this summer with much excitement. Ms. Nolan had the opportunity to work with the Sophomores along side Ms. Lyles. Ms. Lyles and Ms. Nolan tagged team Poetry and College and Career Readiness. The current students made sure that Ms. Nolan knew what she was in for!

There were three panelist who came and spoke to the students on the subject "If I knew now what I knew then"

ReNeaSha Ford, Desiree Joyner and Constance Moment brought to the table three different perspectives and walks of life. ReNeaSha ford was a participant with the Upward Bound Program with Forest Park. Desiree Joyner and Constance Moment both were participants in HEC Upward Bound. The panelist answered questions honestly and were able to help out students and parents. They discussed finances, FAFSA, how to talk to professors and they even talked about students being away from parents. All three speakers were insightful and HEC sends a huge thank you to them for taking time on a Saturday to come and speak to the HEC family.

HEC would like to welcome our phenomenal teachers to the start of our school year. The following is a list of teachers and what they will be teaching:

• Mr. Bullard- 12th Grade College & Career Readiness
• Mr. Brown-Science
• Ms. Nolan-Life Skills
• Mr. Mayham- Communication Arts
• Mrs. Turner-Mathematics
• Ms. Christina Garnett-Social Worker

On behalf of HEC Upward Bound we would like to welcome our students and families.This year is the start of something new. Our staff has been working hard to make sure that we are following our mission. Students be prepared to be challenged, but supported. Be ready to grow and know how to move forward.

Mr. Herman Armstrong, Director

Mr. Marvin Bullard, College & Career Specialist

Ms. Lisa Nolan, College & Career Specialist

Just for fun. Below are some fun photos from the Saturday Academy and Summer Academy 2016:

Ms. Garnett making panelist ReNeaSha laugh.

Mr. Bown & Mr. Sedrak participating in the ice breaker

Mr. Bullard and Mr. Armstrong having fun during the ice breaker

Ms. Middleton and a group of HEC student experiencing the Ledge in Chicago

Another group experiencing the Ledge with Ms. Lyles and Ms. Nolan

Mr. Armstrong experiencing the Ledge with students

The women staff of HEC taking selfies at the Bean in Chicago

The HEC family had an amazing time during the Summer Academy of 2016!

2016 Senior Roll Call

Some of our seniors posing after a session.

ACT and SAT tests…FAFSA…course credits…recommendations…scholarships deadlines…college applications...of course, homework! These are just some of the responsibilities high school seniors have to maintain. It is no easy feat standing at the crossroad between childhood and young adulthood juggling several plates and trying not to drop any.

HEC Upward Bound staff and faculty hope to alleviate some of the anxiety that comes with this major transition for our students. We assist with test prep, FAFSA completion, college applications and recommendations, securing scholarships, and yes, even homework. Why? Because when students succeed, we succeed.

Calling all 2016 HEC Upward Bound SENIORS at Vashon, Gateway, McCleur, Carnahan, and Soldan! We’re in your corner, and we’re cheering you on the whole way through.