Important Links for Move-In, Orientation, and Life at NCSSM

NCSSM's Home Page-http://www.ncssm.edu/index.php-check here regularly for a calendar of event, announcements, and links to important information.
Focus-https://focus.ncssm.edu/focus/-check Focus to update information (like email address, phone number, address, etc.), see announcements from the school, and receive alerts about your child. 
Orientation Schedule-http://www.ncssm.edu/sites/default/files/OrientationSchedule.pdf-check here for a full schedule of events for orientation and the first week of school.
Junior Move-In Day Instructions-http://www.ncssm.edu/announcement/junior-move-day-instructions-check here for detailed instructions about to do for move-in.
Packing List and Restriction-http://www.ncssm.edu/studentlife/packinglist.php-check here for a list of suggested items to bring and prohibited items.
Facebook Student Group-http://www.facebook.com/#!/group.php?gid=106340589414479&ref=ts-check out the facebook group for student living on hall.  This is a great way for juniors to ask questions or get to know their hall mates before move in day.
Linsey's Email-MorrisonL@ncssm.edu-please email me with any questions you may have about move-in, the hall, the school., or anything else.

9 Orientation Events You Don't Want to Miss!

Ice Cream Social-Junior Move-In Day from 7-9pm-This is the first chance for all the new juniors to get together and socialize.  Ice cream is served, there is dancing, and a good time is had by all.
Amazing SMath Race-Sunday, Aug. 15, 2-3pm-Imagine the show "The Amazing Race" taking place on NCSSM's campus.  Lots of fun, lots of craziness, and a great way to get familiar with the campus and meet new people.
First Brother-Sister Hall Activity-Sunday Aug. 15, 8-9:15pm-This is the first time we get to go as a hall (juniors and seniors) and hang out with our brother hall, a randomly assigned male hall that we will do activities with throughout the year.  There will probably be game playing and silliness, but it is a great chance to work on learning the names of you hall mates.
First Official Happy Half-Sunday Aug. 15. 10-10:30pm-Every weeknight throughout the school year, students gather near the swings on the interior of campus to socialize and say goodnight to their friends before in-building curfew at 10:30pm.  Don't miss this longstanding NCSSM tradition.  (For those of you wondering, yes, I did go to happy half when I was a student here.) 
Convocation-Tuesday Aug. 17, 6:30-8pm-Convocation is NCSSM's formal start to the school year.  All students, faculty, and staff dress up and assemble to celebrate the first day of class.  There is a dress code, so be sure you bring at least one dressy outfit and appropriate shoes (no flip flops, boots, or sneakers are allowed). 
One Act Play-Friday Aug. 20, 8-10pm-Our Drama Board does a fantastic job with all their productions, so I would not miss their first of the year, the One Act Play.
SGA Club Fair-Saturday Aug. 21, 1pm-Take this chance to check out all the different opportunities our clubs on campus offer.  There will be something to interest everyone.
T-shirt Signing Dance-Saturday Aug. 21, 9-midnight-At this dance, everyone wears (or carries with them) a white t-shirt and sharpie and meets other students by signing t-shirts.  On hall, before this dance, we will have a t-shirt decorating/pre-signing party.
Superstudy-Monday Aug. 23, 8:30-10pm-In the famous works of Matt Boerner, an SLI here at NCSSM, anything with super in the title can't be all bad.  This supervised study time will be a welcome chance for juniors to get down to work on all the home work they have accumulated during their first week of classes.

RLA Bios

I know this was included in the welcome letter I sent out, but here is some information about your 2010-2011 RLAs.

Hey there! I’m Catherine Thriveni, one of your Third Bryan RLAs :-)\ I’m from Salisbury, North Carolina—the wonderful place my family moved after spending eight years in Massachusetts. Music is my passion, and I’m best known for playing my acoustic guitar Alvie, singing Taylor Swift songs, and my cowboy boots. I love Make It Or Break It, Urban Outfitters, writing, roller coasters, John Mayer, dancing in the rain, and goldfish (the snack kind). I smile and laugh a lot and I love meeting new people. I look forward to getting to know each and every one of you and can’t wait to make this a great year!

Name: Reena Gupta

From: Belmont, NC
Previous High School: South Point High School
Favorite Color: Purple
I am so excited to be RLA on 3rd Bryan because I know our hall is going to be amazing this year. I love getting to know new people, reading, laughing, and dancing. I cannot wait to get to know each of you, and I hope you are ready to live on the best hall! Let me know if you have any questions:)

Move-In Tips

Here are a few tips to make your move-in day go more smoothly.
1. Read the move-in packet thoroughly!!!!! Go to the move-in packet link, read all the information, and print out the appropriate maps and parking passes.  Without this information, you may end up at the wrong place or you may not be allowed onto campus at all.
2. Be sure you have all the appropriate forms filled out!  Seriously, I cannot let you move in until you have turned in the Emergency Contact form (both the online part and the signature page) and your medical forms (especially your TB test) and have paid your security deposit. 
3. Don't over pack!  Remember that the first extended weekend when students are required to go home is only three weeks after move in so pack like you are going on a two week vacation.  It is alright if you don't bring EVERY pair of shoes you own on move in day.  Save some to bring in a few weeks.  This will also give you a chance to get a realistic idea of what you have space for and will use and what is not essential.  Consult the packing list for ideas about what to bring and prohibited items.
4. Be sure to hydrate!  Move in day is going to be hot and long and tiring.  The last thing you want is to get dehydrated and pass out or make yourself sick.  I will have a limited supply of water in the hall refrigerator and there are vending machines, but it might be wise to plan ahead and bring some water with you.
5. Bring a handcart or dolly!  It will make it easier to get all those heavy objects to the third floor.  Make sure to put your name on it as move-in day is very busy and things can get lost easily.
6. Label, label, label!  I said it for hand carts, but let me say it generally--label all of your stuff.  Calculator, computer, refrigerator, printer, bags, etc.  With that many students moving it, thing can get misplaced quickly.  For junior move-in day, there will be lots of eager students and staff waiting to help you carry things to your room.  It is easier for them to assure the belongings get to the right room if you have your name on things.
7. Sleep!  Get a good amount of sleep the night before move in. Even if you are nervous and have trouble sleeping, any amount will help tremendously. It’s a long day and the last thing you want to do is be grumpy later in the day when you’re meeting lots of people!

Welcome to 2010-2011!

Hey Everyone! Welcome to the 3rd Bryan 2010-2011 blog. If you want to look at posts before this one, you are welcome to, but be aware that the information in the posts is not up to date and does not always apply to this year. However, there are some great pictures from last year, and you can get a sense of some of the activities we did. Please be sure to check the blog regularly for information about hall events, school-wide announcements, and pictures of our activities.

Move Out Information

*Below is a copy of the email I sent to the 3rd Bryan parent email list. If you are looking for the attachments mentioned or the list of charges, please check your email.* Let me know if you have questions!

Hello 3^rd Bryan Parents,

The end of the year is almost here and I wanted to give you some more detailed information about how move out and graduation will work, what you need to do to check out, and what things the school charges for. I have already gone over this information with the students on hall, but I want you to have it directly as well so that you will know what to expect and can ask any questions you may have in advance. I am sorry this email is so long, but the information is very important so take time to read it. So, here goes, your guide to everything you need to know about move out:

1. The Week Before—Beginning Monday, May 31^st, I will be doing room inspections every night to check that specific things have been done to help students clean their room, pack, and prepare for move out. The students have received a checklist of what needs to be done each night, and they know that if their room does not pass inspection they will not be allowed to attend the fun, end-of-year events like the lock-in or Airband. If you are interested in seeing this list, it is the attachment titled “Final Week Procedures”. Please understand that this list comes from my supervisors and is pretty much the same for everyone on campus so I am not able to change many of the things on the list.

2. Room Condition Reports—At one of these room inspections, I will let students know which one as soon as I get my duty schedule for the week sorted out, I will go over the room condition reports with students. In case you don’t remember, the room condition reports were those forms you signed at the beginning of the year that detailed any pre-existing damage to the room. With the students I will note any additional damages that may have happened throughout the year, and we will write those on the form. On move out day, you and your daughter can look at the room condition report together and make sure you do not see anything we missed earlier in the week, and then you will both need to sign the form. Going over these forms before move out day will make it faster for me to check people out, instead of having to go over each category on the form on an already hectic day.

3. The BIG Day!—On move-out/graduation day, I will begin checking students out of the dorms half an hour after graduation ends, which should be about 12:30 unless graduation runs long or gets moved because of rain. To “check-out” appropriately, students need to complete everything on the checklist attached to this email entitled “Check Out List”. Most of these things should not take a long time since the students will have been packing and cleaning their room all week long. Once everything on the list is completed, students will sign up on a sheet posted by the lounge door saying that they are ready for me to check them out. I will go down that list to check people out. When it is their turn, I will come to the student’s room and double check that all the things on the checklist are completed. If an item is not completed satisfactorily, I will ask that the student redo it, and their name will be dropped to the bottom of the current list. When I am satisfied that everything is clean and empty, I will take the student’s key, access pass, and laundry card (for seniors), and collect the signed room condition report. At that point you will be checked out and ready to leave.

4. Early Check Out—If you want to check-out before graduation begins, I have given students the option to request a time earlier that morning. If you choose to do this, there are several things you need to understand. First, I am NOT obligated to check students out before graduation and am offering to do so to try to accommodate you. If you are signing up to check out early, I expect that everything will be done on time and extremely well since I am giving up my personal time in the morning and volunteering to get up extra early to accommodate you. Second, if you have requested an early check out time and, upon inspecting the room at the end of the week, I feel like it will not be ready for check out on time, I will ask that you reconsider and check out after graduation. Third, if it rains and graduation is moved to our indoor location, I will likely be asked to drive a loop and will not be able to do early check outs. Last, but not least, once you have checked out of your room and turned in your keys, you WILL NOT be allowed to go back there to change before or after graduation or for any other reason. Please consider all of these factors carefully and talk to your daughter before requesting to check out early.

5. Cleanliness—Please note that I will be VERY strict about cleanliness because if the rooms are not clean, I personally have to go back through and clean them myself. I do not want to spend my Sunday after graduation cleaning 19 rooms so please make sure it is clean before asking me to come check you out.

6. Charges—I want to make sure that you are all aware that there is a $50 “institutional cleaning service charge” that is automatically taken out of EVERYONE'S security deposit that is used to make routine improvements to the residence halls. One more time, EVERYONE WILL BE CHARGED $50 for this charge, regardless of how clean your room is when you move out. In addition, I have posted a list below of other charges that can be assessed for damages or cleaning. Note especially that improper check-out is a $40 charge and late check-out is a $25 charge for every hour.

Please remember that graduation and move out day is extremely exciting, hectic, emotional, and exhausting. Plan ahead and be reasonable about what you want to accomplish that day. Students will be trying to say goodbye to their friends and may not always move as fast as you expect them to in getting moved out. Talk with your daughter about what is important for her that day, like having time for pictures after graduation or getting moved out early so she doesn’t have to worry about it after graduation. Please let me know if you have questions about anything or if there is anything I can help you with as the year draws to a close.

Class of 2010 Group Picture

Hey Senior Parents,
I thought you all might want to know that the Class of 2010 group graduation picture is scheduled to be taken tomorrow afternoon. Can you all believe it is that close to graduation?