Dear Class of 2010,
Winter break is finally here! We know you?re all sad to leave
behind your new friends and your awesome classes (not to mention these
stimulating first year listserv messages), but we hope you all enjoy
your month off! Eat good food, sleep a lot, and don?t forget this
important info about residence hall closing and opening:
* The last day to move out is Friday, December 15th at 8:00 pm
* If you need to stay until Saturday morning (and you have a
legitimate reason) you must be out of the building by 10:00 am, and
you must have permission for late-stay. Stop by your front desk and
ask to get on the late-stay list ASAP. Be sure to bring written
documentation (an e-mail from a parent, an airplane ticket) explaining
why you must stay late.
* Remember, you will not be permitted to enter your room at any
time during Winter Break, so make sure you take everything you need
home with you!
* Before you leave your room be sure to:
* Unplug all your appliances
* Turn your thermostat to 65º (or #3 in CBW, Slade, and Coolidge)
* Place a terminator on the cable connector (if you unplug your
cable from the wall)
* Take out your trash, compost, and recycling (you do not want to
come back to a smelly room at the end of January!!)
* Close/lock all windows and doors (but remember to take your key with you!)
* Double and triple check that all university health/safety
policies are being followed?Res Life will be checking your rooms after
you leave.
* Residence halls reopen on Sunday January 14 at 12:00 noon.
Classes do not start until Tuesday, January 16, as Monday is Martin
Luther King Day.
For more information about hall opening/closing, visit Residential
Life?s website at:
http://www.uvm.edu/~rlweb/students/?Page=move_in_out/winter.html&SM=move_in_out/move_in_out_sm.html[1]
Still not sure how you?re making it back home? Check out the ride
board online:
http://www.uvm.edu/~dos/rideshare/[2]
/AGHHHHHHHHH FINAL EXAMS!??!?!??!?! I?M NOT GOING TO MAKE IT!!!!/
We are sure that this is how many of you are feeling, but don?t
worry?you will get through the next week and a half! Here?s how:
Final Exam Study Tips:
* Check out the resources at the learning co-op, such as the
Supplemental Instruction Program, The Writing Center, Subject Area
Tutoring, and the Learning Skills Program, by clicking here:
http://www.uvm.edu/~learnco/
* Attend a review session or open office hours with your
professor. Not only is this a good study opportunity where
knowledgeable people can answer your questions, but it will often give
you insight as to what will be on the exam.
* If you study better alone, try leaving your room and finding a
nice, quiet place to study. Only you know what helps you study, but
often steering clear of music, TV, conversation, and other
distractions can really help you focus.
* If you study better in groups, try asking people in your classes
to get together for a study session. This is a great way to make new
friends. Quizzing other people and talking out loud can also help you
remember more information.
* Be sure to take study breaks?get coffee with friends, watch a
Disney movie, go for a walk, do some Karaoke, anything to clear your
head.
* Get plenty of sleep this week! Your mind works much better when
it is fully refreshed!
* Double check what supplies you need for the exam?pencil, pen,
protractor, calculator, index card, rabbit?s foot?and lay them all out
the night before.
* Eat well on the morning of exams?an empty stomach can be a huge
distraction during an exam, and will cause you to think less clearly.
* Avoid caffeine/junk food on the day of the test?you will be
jittery enough without them.
* Double check where/when your exams are. Make sure you know how
to get there, and leave ample traveling time.
* Get to the exam early and relax?last minute studying will only
make you more anxious.
Remember?final exams can be stressful, but with the right
preparation you can all do well! Plus, this is the last step?after
this, you?ve survived your first semester at college, which is
definitely something to be proud of!
/MERRY CHRISTMAS! HAPPY ?????.! MERRY KWANZAA AND A JOYOUS WINTER
SOLSTICE!!!!!/
As the Holidays approach, we take a little look into some of the
major holidays celebrated in December:
KWANZAA (or KWAANZA) /_( NAMED FOR THE RIVER IN ANGOLA)_/ is a
week-long secular holiday honoring African-American heritage, observed
from December 26 to January 1 each year, almost exclusively by
African-Americans in the United States of America.
Kwanzaa consists of seven days of celebration, featuring activities
such as candle-lighting and pouring of libations, and culminating in a
feast and gift-giving. It was founded by controversial black
nationalist Ron Karenga, and first celebrated from December 26, 1966,
to January 1, 1967. Karenga calls Kwanzaa the African American branch
of "first fruits" celebrations of classical African cultures. They
have seven principles:
1. UMOJA (Unity)
2. KUJICHAGULIA (Self-Determination)
3. UJIMA (Collective Work and Responsibility)
4. UJAMAA (Cooperative Economics)
5. NIA (Purpose)
6. KUUMBA (Creativity)
7. IMANI (Faith)
CHRISTMAS or CHRISTMAS DAY is an annual Christian and secular
holiday that celebrates the birth of Jesus, along with themes such as
family, goodwill, giving and compassion. It incorporates Christian
religious ceremonies with the traditions of ancient winter festivals
such as Yule and Saturnalia. Christmas traditions include Nativity
scenes, the exchange of gifts, the arrival of Santa Claus,cards
,decorations and the display of Christmas trees.
Christmas is traditionally celebrated on December 25. It is
preceded by Christmas Eve and in some countries is followed by Boxing
Day. Eastern Orthodox Churches celebrate Christmas on January 7, which
corresponds to December 25 of the Julian calendar. These dates are
merely traditional and neither is thought to be the actual birthdate
of Jesus
HANUKKAH, also known as the FESTIVAL OF LIGHTS or FESTIVAL OF
REDEDICATION, is an eight day Jewish holiday that starts on the 25th
day of Kislev, which may be in December, late November, or, while very
rare in occasion, early January (as was the case for the Hannukkah of
2005?2006). The festival is observed in Jewish homes by the kindling
of lights on each of the festival's eight nights, one on the first
night, two on the second night and so on.
In Hebrew script, the word Hanukkah is written ???? or ?????. It is
most commonly transliterated to English as HANUKKAH or CHANUKAH.
/WINTER SOLSTICE. /No one's really sure how long ago humans
recognized the winter solstice and began heralding it as a turning
point -- the day that marks the return of the sun. One delightful
little book written in 1948, 4,000 Years of Christmas, puts its theory
right up in the title. The Mesopotamians were first, it claims, with a
12-day festival of renewal, designed to help the god Marduk tame the
monsters of chaos for one more year.
Many, many cultures the world over perform solstice ceremonies. At
their root: an ancient fear that the failing light would never return
unless humans intervened with anxious vigil or antic celebration.
There's much new scholarship about Neolithic peoples and their
amazing culture. For example, it now looks as though writing is much
more ancient than we earlier thought -- as much as 10,000 years old.
Neolithic peoples were the first farmers. Their lives were
intimately tied to the seasons and the cycle of harvest. I'm certain
they were attuned to the turning skies.
Scholars haven't yet found proof that these peoples had the skill
to pinpoint a celestial event like solstice. Earliest markers of time
that we've found from these ancient peoples are notches carved into
bone that appear to count the cycles of the moon. But perhaps they
watched the movement of the sun as well as the moon, and perhaps they
celebrated it -- with fertility rites, with fire festivals, with
offerings and prayers to their gods and goddesses.
/----------------------------YAY FOR SPRING
SEMESTER!!!!--------------------------------/
So now that Fall semester is almost over and the Spring semester is
coming up, here are some suggestions to making next semester even more
fun!!!!
* UVM Pogram Bored programs: check out www.uvm.edu/bored[3] for
details in January
* Try something new like skiing or snowboarding (if you?ve never
done so) or just making a snowman or go sledding.
* Take advantage of the Learning Coop, for academics
* Look into new clubs or organizations
* Check out downtown Burlington
* Do the Penguin Plunge: check out
http://www.penguinplunge.org/[4] for details
* Check out the Advocat, Student ambassadors, Resident Advisors and
Orientation Leader positions that will start their application process
late January
We Hhope you enjoy your Holidays and take time for some well earned
rest and relaxation. Look out next Spring for e-mail from the 2010
Class Council. Have a great second semester!
Your Student Orientation Coordinators,
Joseph and Stephanie
Links:
------
[1]
http://www.uvm.edu/~rlweb/students/?Page=move_in_out/winter.html&SM=move_in_out/move_in_out_sm.html
[2] http://www.uvm.edu/~dos/rideshare/
[3] http://www.uvm.edu/bored
[4] http://www.penguinplunge.org/
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The 'FY' listserv exists to provide first year students with information regarding class programming and important dates. We will do our best to limit the postings to only the most helpful and timely information. You cannot unsubscribe from this list.
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