~STUDENT STORE~
                 Currently, we have the location and storage place for the student store. We finished sanding the wooden cabinet, so now we can be able to paint it. We have to mail the fundraising request form to the board, so they can approve it. In our timeline, we wrote that we had to get the school tax ID and we have gotten it. Now we can start receiving donations for the student store. We can't go to businesses until the fundraising request form is approved by the board. We finished the cover letter form, so we can give it to the local businesses. Hopefully, we get enough money to start buying our merchandise.
                    Before we buy the merchandise we are planning on making a survey of different snacks, so the students can choose which ones they like the best. This will help us buy snacks that will sell successfully. The money will go to ASB, so the school in general will benefit from the student store.

~STUDENT STORE UPDATE~
               One of the issues we were having with the student store was the location. Now that we have talked to Mr. K, we have a location and a storage room. We don't have to build the booth, because a wooden storage cabinet was provided for us. All we have to do is paint the cabinet and make it look really nice and presentable. We are going to do that with the help of our classmates. Also, in order to have a student store we have to fill out a fundraising paper and send it to the board, so they can approve it.
                  Another thing, we have to work on is getting donations and money for us to be able to buy the merchandise. We still have to ask Mr. K for the school tax code so we can receive money for the store. We still haven't decided whether the money should go to ASB or the senior account.

~CIVIC STANDARDS~

12.2. Students evaluate and take and defend positions on the limits of rights and obligations as
         democratic citizens, the relationship among them, and how they are secured.

                  As, students and citizens we have the right to freedom of speech in the classroom. We are able to voice are opinions and ideas. In the My Life Project, we are allowed to share our ideas and we are able to create the ideas, such as the skate park. One of our classmates had an idea to create a skate park in the community and we are all working together to make it happen. Another, project we are being allowed to express and make happen is the student store. We are working together to make a student store at our high school. During school we are allowed freedom of speech and if we weren't, we could do something about is, because by law that is our right as citizens.

~ENGLISH STANDARDS~

~UPDATES~
               Currently, we are working on finishing the Skate Park Proposal by planning an outline of what job each person had to do. Also, some of the group members are going to try to get the tennis courts location for the skate park on September 10, 2014. They will present the proposal to the board and explain what we are trying to accomplish. If we get the location it'll really help us have everything planned out and then when we have a Grant or enough money, we can start building the skate park.
                 Another project, we are working on is the Student Store Proposal. We have written the cover letter, summary, introduction, and budget. We still need a couple more pages to have the proposal finished. The purpose of the student store is to benefit the students and also the school. The student store will be open afterschool, so it is convenient for the students who are hungry or thirsty afterschool. The group members of the My Life Project will be the ones who will be in charge of the student store.



~ENGLISH STANDARDS~

(W) 5. Develop and strengthen writing as needed by planning, revising, editing, rewriting, or trying a
           new approach, focusing on addressing what is most significant for a specific purpose and
           audience.

             As a group, we have had to do a lot of research on how to create a student store on campus. We had to find the proper location and think about how much the merchandise would cost. We were assigned to start a group project proposal, and then present it. In order for us to know how to write a proposal we had to look up outlines and examples on the internet. Before the presentation, we had to write a cover letter, summary, introduction, and budget. We basically summarized or talked about each topic briefly. Then afterwards we got great feedback and ideas from the teachers, to improve our proposal and project. In order, for our project to be successful we have to critically think about what strategies and plans to use.

        

 ~PLANS AND PROJECTS~
             As a group, we will continue to work on the skate park and try to get a grant for us to be able to build it. Our group has already wrote the skate park proposal, so now we will work on writing our group project proposal. One idea we have is to make a student store on campus. The student store would probably take place afterschool. In order to make the student store we have to raise money so we can build the booth. In the student store booth; we want to sell snacks, drinks, school merchandise, and other items. We are not sure about the project yet. This is an idea or plan we really want to do. It would help us as individuals to learn responsibility and it would help students who need to buy something afterschool.
                As an individual, I've decided that I really want to create a Fashion club! The other idea I had was a photography club, but I think that is not necessary since we already have a yearbook class at the school. The Fashion club would be really fun to have at school in my opinion. We can do DIY's on clothing, shoes, hair accessories, and even make up. I know a lot of students like to look up DIY videos online, so why not do at school where you can have help from your club members.


Not only can we do DIY's we can also do Fashion shows to raise money for different foundations. This could be an opportunity for students to be creative and express their ideas. Many people think a Fashion club can be "superficial", but it's nothing like that. Not only does it have to do with appearance and creativity, it also has to do with the Fashion industry. I was thinking if we have fundraisers and raise enough money, we can go talk to people in the Fashion industry/business at colleges. I have so many ideas for the Fashion club, but I know it's going to take ALOT of hard work to achieve it.

~ENGLISH STANDARDS~

(RI) 6. Determine an author's point of view or purpose in a text in which the rhetoric is particularly
      effective, analyzing how style and content contribute to the power, persuasiveness or beauty of
      the text.

          

          After reading "The Alchemist" I learned many different things about life. This book really teaches you to appreciate the things and people you have in your life. It makes you question if chasing your dreams is all that matters. After getting to page 100, I couldn't put the book down and ended up finishing it. It's truly a great book and you wouldn't understand the purpose of it, until you actually read it for yourself.

~MY PASSIONS AND PLANS~
       My interests and passions are Fashion and Photography. Having a Fashion club and Photography club in Laton High School, would really help students to be involved in school. From what I see, many students love photography and fashion. Fashion can help students express themselves without saying a word. Photography can help students capture memorable and important moments in their lives.
       In the Fashion club we can learn how to sew, learn about the industry, learn about running a fashion business, and even have a fashion show to raise money for the club. By the research I've done I found that FIDM donates money for schools who want to start a fashion club. FIDM is mostly interested in small schools that have never had a fashion club, which is perfect for Laton High School. In order to receive money from FIDM, we would have to fill out a application which is due on December 31, 2014. Of course, we would need to find a teacher to run the club, but I am also more than happy to help with the club.
        For the Photography club we can learn about correct lighting, what type of camera to use, how to edit photos, and we can also have a photo-shoot. With the photo-shoot pictures we can create a gallery or a slideshow for the school to see. In order, to have the photography club we would need an experienced photography teacher.
       
~ENGLISH STANDARDS~

(RI) 5. Analyze and evaluate the effectiveness of the structure an author uses in his or her exposition or argument, including whether the structure makes points clear, convincing, and engaging.

          Reading "The Alchemist" helps us see the different perspective people have on life. Also, the text of the book has different patterns and organizations. The author is trying to make us understand the character's position by explaining the character's life and decisions he has made. By having to read the book we are comprehending the different types of literature.

                                     

          Currently, we are reading the book "The Alchemist." The book focuses on a young man who chooses to be a shepherd because he loves to travel. He goes to a palm reader and she tells him he has a hidden treasure. Throughout, his journey the young man tries to discover what this treasure is and if it even exists.

~PERSONALITY INVENTORY~
      On the first day of school our teacher passed out a Personality Inventory packet for us to complete. The packet had statements and we had to choose on a scale 1-5, how we can relate to it. At the end of the packet we had to add up the scoring and graph it. Then, we had to put each scoring in four columns. The columns were Clarifier, Ideator, Developer, and Implementer. Whichever column you had the highest score on, that was your Individual Interest. My highest score was Developer, but all my columns were very close to being the same score. A Developer enjoys putting together workable solutions and likes to examine the pluses and minuses of an idea. Although, the Developer may get stuck in developing the perfect solution. This Personality Inventory is to help us understand what part each person will play in the My Life Project.


~MY LIFE PROJECT~
      LHS created a program called My Life Project. My Life Project has to do with improving the community and school, while learning important English and Civics standards. Currently, we are trying to build a skate park in the Laton Community. We have presented our idea to the board and have written a proposal. We haven't been able to get a Grant, but we will continue to work on it.




~ENGLISH STANDARDS~

(W) 2.Write informative/explanatory texts to examine and convey complex ideas, concepts, and information clearly and accurately through the effective selection, organization, and analysis of content.
        B. Develop the topic thoroughly by selecting the most significant and relevant facts, extended definitions, concrete details, quotations, or other information and examples appropriate to the audience's knowledge of the topic.

    While, we were writing the proposal for the skate park, we had to research what to write and how to write it. We had to use persuasive language so the board would understand our point of view. We also had to support our information with precise and relevant examples. All of our ideas and arguments had to be precise and had to support our proposal. The proposal overall had to persuade and inform the board that a skate park in the Laton community is necessary.