Dorsey Supports Homeless Memorial in Detroit

On Thursday December 22^nd, the Dorsey Culinary Academy prepared a turkey meal, complete with all the fixings, in honor of a special day – and some special people.

December 21^st  is the Winter Solstice – the longest night of the year.  For the last few years, Dorsey Schools has partnered with Advantage Health Centers and The Cathedral of St. Paul in an annual memorial to honor those who have died in a state of homelessness and to recognize the struggles of those who are still living in this level poverty. 

Following the lighting of candles in honor of those who made their transition in our area, participants from local shelters enjoyed a holiday meal donated by Dorsey Schools and prepared and served by Culinary Arts students from Pontiac/Waterford and Roseville.  

As the special guests departed back to their shelters, rehabilitation centers, warming centers and elsewhere, Health Center staff and other community partners supplied them with gifts intended to make dealing with the winter less daunting.

In addition to Dorsey’s Culinary Academy, many staff members from the Roseville campus and Dorsey’s corporate office assisted in passing out coats and visiting with the attendees.

The event serves as an awakening to the plight of those who do not have the resources to support themselves, often struggling in the bondage of addiction and/or mental illness, but certainly suffering with a lack of self-esteem, self-reliance, confidence, and discipline to change their circumstances. 

These are the core values of Dorsey.  Serving in both word and deed, Dorsey Schools is privileged to join in the exercising our obligation to the community. 

Mark Young
Managing Director – Dorsey Roseville

6 Things You Should Do Over Winter Break...

I hope everyone finished up the Fall 'B' Module strong.  This Winter Break is well deserved and what everyone needs to get recharged for the Winter 'A' Module.  In case you're wondering what to do with all your time off, here's some things to put on your "To Do List":

1.    Get some rest!  You’ve been working hard with your class work, homework, proficiencies and final exams.  It’s time to get some rest.  Catch up on sleep.  Make an effort to get 8 hours of sleep every night.  Try not to necessarily “sleep in”, but go to bed earlier or take a nap during the day, so when classes start again you will be on a similar routine.  Being well-rested will help you stay alert and aid in better learning results for you. 

2.    Organize your schedule.  This is the perfect time to get organized.  Write down your daily schedule and plan for the next module.  By writing it down, you’re more likely to effectively use your time.  Schedule things like study time, TV time, exercise, meals and fun activities.  The more you plan, the more you succeed.

3.    Review material.  I know it's not the first thing you want to do on your break, but there’s a reason why you’re taking the classes that you are.  It’s to learn and retain the information in order to get onto a successful career path.  Try to take at least 15 minutes per day and review notes from your previous classes.  Many of your classes build on each other and by retaining the information you already learned, you’ll be able to focus on the new information rather than having to go back and re-learn old material.  If there are things that you had difficulties with in the past, this is also the perfect time to review that material as well.

4.    Brush up on Basic Skills.  More and more, employers are requiring basic skills tests as part of your interview process.  The Aztec test that you took when you first started school measures these basic skills that employers are looking for.  During the Break, the computer lab has hours available to you to work through computer tutorials in the Aztec system on areas that were recommended for improvement on your Aztec test results print-out.  If you are unsure of your results, contact Mr. Nowak at bnowak@dorsey.edu or 586-296-3225.  Below are the Aztec Lab hours during Winter Break:

Aztec Lab Hours During Winter Break Bldg. C Room C2
DAY	DATE	TIME
Tuesday	December 27th, 2011	11:00am – 3:00pm
Thursday	December 29th, 2011	3:00pm – 7:00pm
Wednesday	January 4th, 2012	12:00pm – 8:00pm
Friday	January 6th, 2012	1:00pm – 3:00pm
*Schedule subject to change based on holidays, events, and appointment volume.  Call ahead to confirm if you don’t have a scheduled appointment 586-296-3225.

5.    Get excited and be positive!  You’re about to start another module, getting you closer to your career!  Keep a positive attitude and an open mind.  Everyone has a bad day every now and then.  It’s how you react to that bad day that will set you apart from others.  Employers want positive people who can handle speed bumps, road blocks, or whatever it is that may make you stumble temporarily.  If you’re adaptable and focus on solutions, rather than problems your attitude will reflect positivity.   

6.    Help Someone.  Talk to people about your experiences at Dorsey.  If you happen to know someone who isn’t happy with their current situation and needs to make a change, help them get started on that change.  Once upon a time you may have been that person who needed a change or maybe even a kick in the rear to get you motivated to move in a positive direction.  Be there for someone else and bring them to the campus or recommend them to your admissions advisor. 

If you have any changes during the break, if you move, change your phone number, want to change emergency contact info, etc., please give us a call at 586-296-3225 to let us know.  We look forward to seeing you back at Dorsey in Roseville on January 9^th!  Remember to get here early to pick up your class schedules in Building ‘C’.  Be safe, Happy Holidays, and enjoy your Winter Break!

So, You Are Going Out On Your Externship...

Treating your six week or twelve week, for culinary, externship like a six or twelve week job interview can land you a job!  Below are some tips to help you:

·         Show up looking and acting like a professional

·         Be there on time everyday and ask what you can do

·         Ask questions and be proactive in your learning experience, request feedback regularly

·         Communicate professionally

·         Maintain a positive attitude even in adversity

·         At the end of your six or twelve weeks show gratitude to the office manager, supervisor, and/or chef, and staff for helping you by hand writing a note or sending a card   

Personal qualitites you will be evaluated on in addition to your classroom and/or kitchen knowledge include: grooming, poise, integrity, punctuality, initiative, relations with coworkers and customers, reaction to direction and criticism, respect for ethical standards, and consideration for others.

Your externship is a great way to create a win-win opportunity for both you and the site, so remember to practice these important career tips in how you can land a job when treating your externship like a six or twelve week job interview.  

Santa Claus Visits Dorsey Roseville!

Santa Claus made a special appearance Saturday, December 17th during the Dorsey Roseville Christmas Open House. Santa’s reindeer were parked on the top of Building ‘C’ while he visited with the children and posed for photos.

During the fun event, kids decorated stockings and ornaments.  Story time was great entertainment, when Mr. Thisse, Chef Johnson and JoAnne Jamrog read the book, The Polar Express. Cookies and hot cocoa (with marshmallows, of course) were served, and everyone received a special holiday bell.

 

The young (and young at heart) hand delivered letters to Santa.  Here are a few he received:

Dear Santa,

How are you doing. I tink I have ben a good gril and tank you for all the presens and because I gave you a preset is because you’v worked so hard its not fare. Can I plse have a Christmas Babie Doll?

Love, K.

Dear Santa,

I am 10 years old. I want a baby alive and a pink digital camera.
Love, D.

Dear Santa,
I am 5 years old. I would like a electric scooter.

Love S.

Dear Santa,
I am 5 years old. I would like a pink car.

Love, K.

Dear Santa,
I would like a crayn maker. Love K.

Dear Santa,
My Christmas wishes are clothes, car, money, Kobe to win.
Love, S.

Dear Santa,
I am 11 years old. This year I have been Nice.  I would like a MP3 player, a pink laptop, Mindless Behavior cd,
Love, T.

Thank you to everyone who made this such a wonderful event!

Make Sure You Know These Important Dates!

We're in the last week of the module!  Finish up your last assignments, study hard and then take the break that you deserve.  Take note of the dates below:

DON’T FORGET TO PUT THESE ON YOUR CALENDAR!
DAY	DATE	EVENT
WEDNESDAY	DEC. 21ST	Final Exams For Monday/Wednesday Classes.  Be sure to follow dress code.
THURSDAY	DEC. 22ND	Final Exams For ALL Classes.  Jeans Day!
FRIDAY	DEC. 23RD	No School, Holiday Break!
MONDAY	JANUARY 9TH	Classes Resume, Winter ‘A’ Module Begins. Pick up your class schedules in Bldg. ‘C’ on the 1st day of classes as usual.  Get here a little early to avoid long lines.

Plan Ahead and Increase Productivity

You have heard the old question, “How do you eat an elephant?” The answer is “One bite at a time!”

Your mind, your ability to think, plan, and decide, is your most powerful tool for overcoming procrastination and increasing your productivity. Your ability to set goals, make plans, and take action on them determines the course of your life. The very act of thinking and planning unlocks your mental powers, triggers your creativity, and increases your mental and physical energies.

Increase Your Return on Energy

One of your top goals at work should be for you to get the highest return on your investment of mental, emotional, and physical energy. The good news is that every minute spent in planning saves as many as ten minutes in execution. It takes only about 10 to 12 minutes for you to plan out your day, but this small investment of time will save you up to two hours (100 to 120 minutes) in wasted time and diffused effort through the day.

You may have heard of the Six-P Formula. It says, “Proper Prior Planning Prevents Poor Performance.”

When you consider how helpful planning can be in increasing your productivity and performance, it is amazing how few people practice it every single day. And planning is really quite simple to do. All you need is a piece of paper and a pen. The most sophisticated Palm Pilot, computer program, or time planner is based on the same principle. It is based on your sitting down and making a list of everything you have to do before you begin.

Two Extra Hours per Day

Always work from a list. When something new comes up, add it to the list before you do it. You can increase your productivity and output by 25 percent or more-about two hours a day-from the first day that you begin working consistently from a list.

Make your list the night before for the workday ahead. Move everything that you have to do the next day. When you make your life the night before, your subconscious mind will work on your list all night long while you sleep. Often you will wake up with great ideas and insights that you can use to get your job done faster and better than you had initially thought.

The more time you take to make written lists of everything you have to do , in advance, the more effective and efficient you will be.

Different Lists for Different Purposes

You need different lists for different purposes. First, you should create a master list on which you write down everything you can think of that you want to do sometime in the future. This is the place where you capture every idea and every new task or responsibility that comes up. You can sort out the items later.

Second, you should have a monthly list that you can make at the end of the month for the month ahead. This may contain items transferred from your master list.

Third, you should have a weekly list where you plan your entire week in advance. This is the list that is under construction as you go through the current week.

This discipline of systematic time planning can be very helpful to you. Many people have told me that the habit of taking a couple of hours at the end of each week to plant the coming week has increased their productivity dramatically and changed their lives completely. This technique will work for you as well.

Planning a Project

When you have a project of any kind, begin by making a list of every step that you will have to complete to finish the project from beginning to end. Organize the steps by priority and sequence. Lay out the project in front of you on paper or on a computer so that you can see every step and task. Then go to work on one task at a time. You will be amazed at how much you get done in this way.

As you work through your lists, you will feel more and more effective and powerful. You will feel more in control of your life. You will be naturally motivated to do even more. You will think better and more creatively, and you will get more and better insights that enable you to do your work even faster.

As you work steadily through your lists, you will develop a sense of positive forward momentum that enables you to overcome procrastination. This feeling of progress gives you more energy and keeps you going throughout the day.

When you plan each day in advance, you will find it much easier to get going and to keep going. The work will go faster and smoother than ever before. You will feel more powerful and competent. You will get more done faster than you thought possible. Eventually, you will become unstoppable.

To view the original post by Brian Tracy, go to:
http://www.briantracy.com/blog/general/plan-ahead-and-increase-productivity/?lid=title

Successful Study Strategies

We're just about at the end of Week 5 of the Fall 'B' Module and finals are quickly approaching.  Use these "Successful Study Strategies" to enhance your learning, retention and test taking ability. 

Listening in Class

ü  Concentrate on your teacher you should review study notes and your textbook before class

ü  Tune out noise and talking

ü  Listen for the main ideas

ü  Focus on the What? Why? Where? When? Who? And How?

ü  If you miss class arrange to get notes from another student

Taking Notes in Class

ü  Don’t write down everything

ü  Record the main ideas and supporting facts

ü  Use your own words

ü  Keep your notes organized

ü  Use a highlighter--- paying attention to bold printed items in the text and any information given in margins

Remembering

ü  After school, quickly review your notes while they are still fresh

ü  Highlight important notes or add explanations

ü  Apply what you’re learning as soon as possible

ü  Study with a friend. Answer each other’s questions

ü  Study more regularly for shorter periods. This often works better than one long cram session.

ü  Questions should be written down and brought up for clarification in class

Studying

ü  Get motivated --Assignments that seem overwhelming can be much more easily handled if they are broken up into manageable parts

ü  If possible, find your own quiet space to study

ü  Keep your workplace clean and uncluttered

ü  Make sure you have good lighting and a comfortable chair

ü  Have all of your materials ready for study, Textbooks, paper pens and pencils including colored highlighters, computer

ü  Don’t do your homework in front of the TV. Minimize distractions use soft background music to tune out other distracting noises in your environment.

ü  Study in 30 minute periods followed by a 10 minute break

ü  If your mind wanders bring yourself back to your task

ü  Repeatedly review the material to be remembered .Stop occasionally and recall what you are learning

ü  In your own words--- say aloud what you want to remember

ü  Use sketches or diagrams to increase your retention

ü  Associate new information with old information

ü  Form a study group especially before exams for reviews

Test Taking

ü  Write your own study questions Pick out important points

ü  Make a list of the facts that are hard to recall

ü  Put the information on Study cards or sheets of paper carry it around with you and periodically glance at it for a few seconds. Repetition is essential to retention.

ü  The night before the exam,spend a short time going over the main ideas and concepts one last time

ü  Get a good night’s rest before the exam

ü  First scan through the entire test

ü  Read the Directions

ü  Choose an Answer

ü  If you are not sure of an Answer move on to the next question. Studies have shown that other questions may lead you to an answer for the question you did not answer

ü  Before turning in the finish test make sure you have provided an answer for every question