Family Focus Give Your Children The Magic of BACK TO SCHOOL faNtsEt. ) JOIN US FOR OUR OPEN HOUSE SUNDAY, AUGUST 23RD 12PM - 4PM Jewish Classes • Meet the Teachers • Moon Bounce • Live Entertainment • Games • Food MJI offers electives for high school students. Rachael Vettese 'Bring in this ad and receive a free dance bag when you register and make your first payment. Limit one per family and valid only at open house. MISS BARBARA'S Teen2Teen Staff Writer T 1160 Grant Street Birmingham, MI 48009 248-901-4454 missbarbarasdancecenter.com Jazz • Ballet • Hip Hop • Tap • Lyrical • Mom & Tot • Competition • Zumba 1528260 Ak tote We're All in This Together Paeclopme n Xi- Ih MS Tuesday, September 1, 2009 Registration 6:00 PM - 6:30 PM Program 6:30 PM - 8:30 PM If your life has been affected by multiple sclerosis in any way. this is your chance to connect with others in your MS community. Whether you're being proactive about your own health or helping, to care for someone else. you can share your experience and learn from others. Please join us to: Learn about MS. treatment options, and support services that are within your reach Featured Speakers Omar Khan. MD Professor of Neurology Director. Multiple Sclerosis Center & Image Analysis Laboratory Program Director. Neuroimmunolony and Multiple Sclerosis Fellowship Wayne State University School of Medicine. Detroit Director. Multiple Sclerosis Clinic o graduate from high school, students must satisfy both district and state require- ments. Usually, a teenager's freshman and sophomore years are consumed with taking the required academic courses. Then, in junior and senior years, there's finally the chance to take more electives. But what if your school doesn't offer electives you want, such as Hebrew, ethics or Jewish history? The only local school that offers these topics as accredited courses for high school stu- dents is the Michigan Jewish Institute (MJI) at the Shul in West Bloomfield. Allison Rein, a Michigan State University freshman, took "Exploring the Holocaust II" at MJI. Her MJI class had 10-15 students. "I enjoyed the small class size': she said. "I liked the way we sat around one big table rather than smaller tables with just one other person?' The smaller classes enable students to feel comfortable sharing opinions. MJI is an accredited college, so classes are very similar to AP classes in high school. Many students decide to enroll in a MJI class because they would like to take a Judaic course not offered at their high school. That class also may provide them with either high school and/or college credit. As part of Michigan's Dual Enrollment Program, eligible students can take an MJI course as an "elec- tive" for high school credit and their school district pays a portion of the MJI tuition. But don't think the classes are not academically challenging. "You have to be ready to do a lot of reading and outlining on your own," Rein said. Because of the commitment, she suggested it is best for the student to make the choice to take an MJI class, and not the parent. This fall, MJI is offering Elementary Modern Hebrew, Advanced Topics in Modern Hebrew, Encountering Jewish Civilization I, Exploring the Holocaust I and II, and Ethics and Society. For more infor- mation, visit www.mji.edu . 117 Rachael Vettese, 16, is a junior at Bloomfield Hills Andover High School. Harper University Hospital. The Detroit Medical Center Share real-life experiences, resources. and advice with other people affected by MS Jewish Community Center 6600 W. Maple Road West Bloomfield, MI 48322 248-661-1000 (call for directions) College Essays Made Easier Register Now! 800-887-8100 Light appetizers and desserts served ,527760 Homemade Italian Dishes & Pastas Fresh Seafood • Fresh-Cut Steak Salad & Flat Pizza and more! 411111P1,1 41 6***** b thp..041dand 1/2 off all bottles of wine every Monday!! $8 OFF www.loccino.com Open Mon-Fri for lunch and dinner. Saturday and Sunday dinner only. Private Banquet and Conference Rooms Up to 85 People 2 Dinner Entrees Free entree up to $8 value with ITALIAN GRILL & BAR the purchase of a second entrée of equal or greater value. Not valid 5600 Crooks Rd. with any other offer or discount. (North of Long Lake Rd.) Maximum value $8. Expires 9/15/09 Troy, MI • 248-813-0700 LOCCINO 102M0 60 August 20 20C Wow Writing Workshop will offer college essay writing workshops in September to incoming high school seniors in Berkley and Grosse Pointe. The interactive workshop is called "Wow Them with Your College Essay." Each student will take home a pol- ished college essay after attending the four-week workshop. The college admissions process is increasingly competitive. Admissions officers say essays on a college applica- tion are the equivalent to an interview with a university admissions counselor. The workshops, to take place through Berkley Community Education and the Neighborhood Club in Grosse Pointe, will be taught by professional writers Susan Knoppow, Marti Benedetti and Kimberly Lifton. "College-bound seniors who complete this workshop will learn how to turn everyday experiences into compelling stories that will catch the attention of admissions counselors,"Knoppow said. In addition to producing an applica- tion-ready essay, students will learn a step-by-step method for writing addi- tional essays and improve their overall writing skills, which will serve them well in college and beyond, she added. The workshop, which costs $175, consists of three two-hour sessions and a 20-minute one-on-one essay review with a professional writer. Two four-week sessions will be held at the Neighborhood Club in Grosse Pointe and at Berkley High School. Session One is Sept. 14 and 21 and Oct. 5 and 12 in Grosse Pointe and Sept. 15 and 22 and Oct. 6 and 13 in Berkley. The sec- ond session is Oct. 19 and 26 and Nov. 2 and 9 in Grosse Pointe and Oct. 20 and 27 and Nov. 3 and 10 in Berldey. To register, call Berkley Community Education at (248) 837- 8900 or the Neighborhood Club at (313) 885-4600. Students should bring a notebook, pen and a college application to the first class.