Meet your SLI!

Hi Everyone,

My name is Linsey Morrison (yes, it is really spelled with no “d”), and this is my fifth year as an SLI on 3rd Bryan.  My husband, Scott, and I have been married for almost 7 years now.  I am an NCSSM alumnae, class of 2004, and love being back here as an SLI.

My husband and I met while we were both playing on the drumline in the marching band at UNC-Chapel Hill.  I received my BA in English and my MA in Teaching to teach high school English.  My husband received his BA in Russian Literature and Culture with a minor in Astronomy and his MA in Russian.  He now works at a video game company as the Assistant Manager of customer support.

When I am not teaching Residential Education classes or spending time with 3rd Bryan, I like to watch TV and movies (I have a British TV addiction), read (mostly fiction, but a little bit of everything), play video games, and quilt and sew.

I can’t wait to get to know you all, and I am looking forward to lots of fun on 3rd Bryan this year!  If you have any questions before move-in, please feel free to contact me.

Meet Your RLAs

Your 3rd Bryan RLAs for 2013-2014 are Amy Blew, Su Cho, and Amber Woodington. Your RLAs (Residential Life Assistants) are the senior students on hall who are my assistants and are there to help you in any way you can as you transition to life at NCSSM. Here are their pictures and brief bios so that you can know a little about them before you move in.

Hi, my name is Amy Blew and I am from Mooresville, which is located in Iredell County around Lake Norman. I attended Lake Norman High School before coming to NCSSM. I love cats, as well as other mammals; food, which I am willing to share; and reading. I watch a fair amount of British TV, like Doctor Who and Sherlock, and Japanese anime, like Tamako Market and Fullmetal Alchemist. I am SO excited to be on hall with everyone next year and look forward to getting to know you.

Hi. My names Amber Woodington. I'll be one of the three RLA's (residential life assistants) on Third Bryan this year. I enjoy cheer-leading. I love to read, mostly non-fiction. I'm from Camden, North Carolina and I've lived in the same house my entire life. I have two dogs, Angel and Ella.

Hi! My name is Su Cho. I’m from Fayetteville, NC, and my home school is Terry Sanford High School. I am one of the three RLA’s on 3B at SMath is that there are a variety of fun events, such as Mr. Uni and Asia Fest. At NCSSM, I am one of the editors-in-chief of the Stentorian (the school paper) and president of the Body Beautiful Club. I am very excited to get to know all of the new juniors, and I hope they are excited for SMath!

Useful Links

NCSSM's Home Page- http://www.ncssm.edu/-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 and Junior Move-In Day Instructions-https://focus.ncssm.edu/uploaded-assets/MoveIn2013.pdf-check here for a full schedule of events for orientation and the first week of school as well as detailed instructions about what you need to do for move-in.  Junior families, be sure to read the information at the very bottom of this document as it will help you understand how move-in will work (and also has a couple pages you will need to print before move-in).
NCSSM Connections Parent's Page-http://connections.ncssm.edu/parents-under the "My Student" tab, this page has great information about dorm rooms, a list of who to contact for different questions, and a link to the my.ncssm.edu page where you can find specific student information.
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- https://www.facebook.com/groups/167182566795347/-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 hallmates 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, Aug. 10,  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. 11, 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 Inter-Hall Activity-Sunday Aug. 11, 7-8:15pm-This is the first time we get to go as a hall (juniors and seniors) to hang out with another hall and meet some other students from across campus. There will probably be game playing and silliness, but it is a great chance to work on learning the names of you hall mates and fellow NCSSM students.
First Official Happy Half-Sunday Aug. 11, 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. 13, 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. 16, 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. 17, 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. 17, 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 with snacks.
Superstudy-Monday Aug. 19, 8:30-10pm-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.  And like the name says, it's SUPER!

Linsey's 13 Must Bring Items

Here is a list of items that I recommend you bring when you move in.  Please note that you DO NOT HAVE to bring these, they are just items I often find that students forget or wish they had thought of.

1. Mattress Pad--Let's face it, these mattresses aren't fantastic. They are industrial school mattresses and while the school does its best to keep them in good condition, they still aren't going to be as comfy as your mattress back home. If you buy an egg crate mattress pad or a memory foam one, you are going to make your bed a lot more comfortable.
2. Mattress Cover--Remember the discussion above about the mattresses here....I would recommend putting a cover on the bed just to be safe.
3. Shower Shoes--Even though we have bathrooms in the rooms on our hall, the showers are communal. You will want to wear shoes. We keep them clean, but there are still going to be germs. $1 plastic flip flops from wal-mart or the dollar store are great for this.
4. Shower Caddy--Remember how the showers are communal. That means that they are down the hall from your room. You will need something to carry all your shower stuff in and to store it in when you take it back to your room after your shower.
5. Bathrobe--So when I say the showers are down the hall, what that means is that before and after your shower you will have to walk up and down a fairly open hallway. Occasionally male staff members or student family members will be on hall, and you do not want to get stuck in the shower because someone's dad is carrying their suitcase in for them. Be sure you have something more than a towel to wear to and from the shower.
6. Rug/Bathroom Set--As I mentioned before, we do have bathrooms in our rooms, and some people like to have a small rug to go in there. This is something that you would need to discuss with your roommate in advance since it is communal space, so you might want to wait until the first extended for this one.
7. Toilet Brush--While we do have a toilet brush on hall, it is worth considering buying a cheap one for your room. It will make room inspection easier too, because you won't be waiting in line to use the hall toilet brush.
8. Sponge or Cloth and Dish Detergent--At some point, you are going to need to wash some dishes in your room, and it will be a lot easier if you have remembered to bring some dish detergent and something to wash them with.
9. Hangers--They are so useful, but everyone seems to forget to bring them. You will probably eventually want to hang up some of your clothes, so bring hangers.
10. Painters Tape and 3M Command Strips/Hooks--These two products are the only things you can use to decorate your room. If you want to hang pictures, posters, a dry erase board, or anything else, you are going to need some of these.
11. Power Strip/Surge Protector--These rooms don't have a ton of outlets, so a power strip will be a big help.
12. Water Filtration Pitcher--Instead of having to buy and carry in a million bottles of water, just get a pitcher and drink your water from a cup. It is better for the environment anyway.
13. Key Ring/Lanyard--You will be responsible for keeping up with your key and your access pass. Bring something to attach them to that will hard to lose.
Bonus: Clothes for Convocation--This is a dressy event. Students should be in a dress, skirt/blouse, or dress pants and blouse for the event.  Sneakers, flip-flops and jeans are not allowed.

I am sure there are others, so feel free to add your suggestions in the comments section

Room Decoration Guidelines

Please review these guidelines and keep them in mind as you move-in. I will be giving you a hard copy of these guidelines, but it is better if you know before move-in what you can and cannot do to decorate your room. Let me know if you have questions.

ROOM DECORATION GUIDELINES

STUDENTS: While we realize that students desire to arrange and decorate their rooms in order to make themselves comfortable, we also recognize the need to set limits for reasons of health, safety, and the conservation of the limited resources here on campus. We, therefore, ask that you adhere to these guidelines as you arrange and decorate your rooms. Your rooms will be checked for compliance at the first room inspection. Students who violate these guidelines and damage their rooms and/or furniture will be assessed a fee and will be required to correct the problem if possible. If you need clarification or have questions about any of this, please see your SLI prior to making a change.
1. Doorways must remain clear of obstruction. An unobstructed path must exist from the bed(s) to the door. The door must open freely to an angle of 90 degrees without hitting furniture. Carpeting must be placed or cut to allow for this.
2. To avoid negatively affecting the air flow and temperature in rooms, furniture may not be placed closer than 2 feet in front of the air vents or block the thermostats. Also, duct tape, card board or other materials may not be used to block the air vents.
**** Thermostat adjustments in Hunt and Beall must be made by Plant Facilities. Please do not remove the covers. Let your SLI know if the temperature in your room needs adjusting.
3. Containers for alcoholic or de-alcoholized beverages are not permitted in rooms. Used soft drink cans may not be used for decoration and should be recycled.
4. Posters and other wall decorations must be mounted with blue painter’s tape or 3M Command Strips (specific brand). Masking tape, transparent tape, duct tape, electrical tape, packing tape, double-sided tape (foam or transparent), poster putty, pins, thumbtacks, brads and nails are not permitted. Adherence to this restriction will be checked at the first room inspection. Students may not use blue painter’s (or any other) tape to create designs on doors, walls, or floors.
**** Because everyone’s taste is different with regard to the display of the human body, posters which display nudity are not permitted. The genitalia, breasts and buttocks must be covered in such posters.
5. Furniture should be arranged and used in the manner intended by the manufacturer. It may not be disassembled or stacked unless it is specifically designed for that purpose, ie., wardrobes may not be stacked on dressers and must remain upright on the floor.
6. The walls of the hallway leading to the students’ rooms may be decorated only in a manner specifically approved by the SLI for that hall. Since the outside of room doors face a common area of the hall, the NCSSM staff may require students to remove items from doors which are offensive, disrespectful to members of the larger community or are otherwise inappropriate for public view.
7. Furniture from the common areas of the hall (such as lounge furniture) may not be taken into students’ rooms.
8. Lofts are not permitted and all furniture for a given room is to remain in that room throughout the year. Six inch stilts also are not permitted.
9. Street and traffic signs are the property of state and local governments and are not permitted as room decoration. Signs which are found in rooms will be confiscated and given to the Campus Resources Dept. for disposition.
10. Windows may not be decorated and may not be used to hang posters, flags or messages.

Move In Tips to Keep You Sane

Here are a few tips to make your move-in day go more smoothly.
1. Read the move-in packet thoroughly!!!!! The move in packet will be sent to you and posted on the NCSSM website and it has everything you will need to know about moving in. Please 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 long 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! Juniors, you may not have to do this since so many people will be here and be eager to help you, but seniors, for you this is really important. It will make it easier to get all those heavy objects to the third floor. Just 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 3rd Bryan 2013-2014!

Hello Everyone!  Welcome to 3rd Bryan and the 2013-2014 school year!  Our hall theme for this year is "Choose Your Own Adventure".  This theme is inspired by the Choose Your Own Adventure books where readers get to make choices throughout the story that ultimately influence the ending of the story.  We want everyone on hall this year to have adventures, choose their own path, find their way to the ending they want, and enjoy the story along the way.

I hope you are looking forward to this year as much as I am, and I can't wait to see what adventures we have together!

P.S. You are welcome to look at the content of the blog before this point, but please be aware that any information posted before this may not be accurate for the 2012-2013 school year.