We at SMHS Newspaper Club want to wish every Knight a happy and fun-filled Winter Break!  Enjoy yourselves and we hope to see you all in the new year!

As college applications approach for seniors, SMHS Newspaper has decided to do reviews of popular colleges that we have personally visited in order to give a better idea and picture to college applicants.  Today's featured college is UC Santa Barbara.  In our visit to UC Santa Barbara, we felt very warmed and welcomed there.  We each received a folder filled with information ranging from admissions standards to extracurricular activities.  We then were entertained with a witty and informative talk about the college, followed by a very entertaining tour of the campus.  The college's strong attention to detail and the way they cared about each student backed up their strict admission standards.  A few of the highlights were:

-Dorm rooms with ocean views(we're not kidding)

-Amazing dining options ranging from personal breakfast burritos to pizza to even tri-tip on some nights

-Strong programs in the sciences and business

-Large athletic programs

-Caring professors

-Nice surrounding area

-Accredited university with top-notch students and professors

We hope that you enjoyed the college as much as we did and strongly encourage you to visit the beautiful campus and get a better understanding of how UC Santa Barbara would make a great choice of colleges for you to apply to.

We've received feedback from many of our readers wanting to know fun new places to go when they aren't studying or attending school.  The staff here has decided to do a series of restaurant reviews that you can go to for fun with a date or with your family.  This week we are doing a review on The Back Alley Grill, a southern style barbecue place that serves up juicy burgers in a family friendly environment.  It is located behind "Dogtopia," at 925 W. San Marcos Blvd. San Marcos, CA 92078.  When we went there, the service was quick and the food was delicious!  Their onion rings are to die for, probably the best we've had in a long time.  The wait staff was friendly and we truly felt at home, as if we were in the south.  Visit their website at: www.backalleygrill.com  We'd definitely recommend this place, as it is a family friendly environment and a great place to hang out with friends on a warm summer night!

With AP exams rapidly approaching, many of you are wondering how to score a 5 or even pass them.  A few of these simple tips will help you maximize your opportunity and help you achieve the score you desire.

These include:
-Getting a good nights rest.  Try to get at least 8 hours of sleep for a few nights before the exam.
-Eating a breakfast with protein to keep you energized.
-Not over-studying, especially the night before.
-On the night before the exam, go out and do something fun with friends.  This will help relieve some pre-test tension and ensure you are feeling good the next morning.
-Recognize that the exam will not affect your grade and that the results of the exam will not make or break your college application.

Do you ever have trouble studying for tests?  With this article you can improve your studying skills, and ace every test every time.  To get a good score, you have to know the material.  Different people have different ways of memorizing material.  Writing it over and over, reading it over and over, or having their parents or friends give them a spoken quiz.  Try a few different ways until you find out which method works with your mind the best. Read your notes and vocabulary terms over and over, then write the key terms and definitions out on a piece of paper, like you're actually taking the test.  Then try having a family member or friend say a definition and answer with the correct word.

 

            Once you have tried those methods, and any other ones you can think of, think of which ones helped you memorize the material the most. A lot of the time teachers or parents will only tell you to study a certain style, but it’s okay to explore outside of those styles and see which helps you learn the best. Remember, you can often do a lot better than you think on tests if you put out a little extra effort.

-By Staff Writer Rilind McNamara

Remember that in order to park in the school lot, you must complete a start smart class.  Classes are available at MHHS on 4/4, 4/18, and 5/2 at 6:30 p.m.  More information can be found at: http://www.smusd.org/smhs

Remember: To join CSF you must fill out an application and turn it into Mr. Zeigler's room (511) between February 13th and 24th.  It looks great for college!

     Just to let you guys know that SMHS Basebal tryouts will be held on February 18th from 9-12 a.m. on the Varsity Baseball Field.  Potential Players must make sure that they have had their required physicals and their clearance packet turned in or you won't be able to try out.  Please make sure that you have your clearance receipt turned into Mr. Dufek before or on the day of tryouts.