Avoiding Student Loan Traps

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Whether or not you believe the allegations, the jaw-dropping dossier of sins that the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau accuses the nation’s largest student loan servicer of committing is useful for two crucial reasons.

First, it’s a reminder of just how much can go wrong when we force inexperienced young adults, especially, to navigate a complex financial services offering.  We shouldn’t be surprised, but we should be ashamed:  elected representatives cut support for higher education; sticker prices rose; teenagers and others applied for admission, signed up for debt and, in many cases, finished their degrees.  Then came the bombardment of confusing loan and repayment options.

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ICE PAC

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As reported previously in this newsletter, President-elect Trump has chosen Betsy DeVos as his pick for federal Secretary of Education. DeVos's pro-privatization, anti-public-education views have sparked growing resistance to her nomination. Just this week the Buffalo PTA wrote a letter condemning her and a Board of Education on Long Island passed a resolution--expected to be copied by other districts--opposing her confirmation. We need all hands on deck for this one. You too can speak up to protect public education. Here's what you

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12th Grade Literature Panels Thanks Volunteers

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It is that time of year again when our seniors complete their final graduation requirement in Literature.  You are invited to join teachers and students as panelists for student comparative literary criticism thesis presentations.  Your participation in these milestone events is one reason why they are so pivotal for our graduating students.

On Wednesday, December 14th there will be two panel sessions:

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Malaysia Talent Show

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In what promises to be an annual tradition, the inaugural ICE Talent Show benefitting the Malaysia trip was well-attended and a resounding success.

Drama, magic, bands, a cappella singers, gymnastics, dancing, standup comedy, lip syncing, and lots of singers … who knew the depth and range of ICE student talent?   Performers’ ability to work through some technical issues without loss of composure demonstrated the confidence our students possess.

Ashley and Tatiana did a fine job of emceeing, as did Athena and Tatiana in an impromptu song from their Subway Moon work.  Proceeds benefit the Malaysia trip.