1. Fall 8 th Grade Parent Meeting Information on HSPT/Applications/Committees/Edge

2. Sign-up/Sign-in  Please sign-in on the class list.  Volunteer Sheets:  Class T-shirt – parents interested in creating the class t-shirt  Communion Reception – 8 th grade parent responsibility – reciprocal for Confirmation  Yearbook – parents interested in creating the yearbook for the entire school  Room Parents – parents willing to put up with my crazy party ideas.  Please sign-in on the class list.  Volunteer Sheets:  Class T-shirt – parents interested in creating the class t-shirt  Communion Reception – 8 th grade parent responsibility – reciprocal for Confirmation  Yearbook – parents interested in creating the yearbook for the entire school  Room Parents – parents willing to put up with my crazy party ideas.

3. High School Placement Test  WHEN: Thursday, December 1 st – it will take the students all morning.  WHERE: At St. Michael’s either Mrs. Howard or Mrs. Taylor will proctor the test  You will need to fill out the High School Placement Test Registration Form – DUE by September 23 to Mrs. Taylor.  Fill out the form whether or not your student is going to Catholic or Public High School.  Where it lists (3) HIGH SCHOOL PREFERENCE please indicate at least 1 Catholic High School.  1-2-3 * Be sure #1 is the High School you wish to attend – HS’s often give preference to those who have indicated their school to be the #1 choice.  If you wish records sent to your 2 nd and 3 rd choice a $2 fee for each additional mailing will be billed to you.  WHEN: Thursday, December 1 st – it will take the students all morning.  WHERE: At St. Michael’s either Mrs. Howard or Mrs. Taylor will proctor the test  You will need to fill out the High School Placement Test Registration Form – DUE by September 23 to Mrs. Taylor.  Fill out the form whether or not your student is going to Catholic or Public High School.  Where it lists (3) HIGH SCHOOL PREFERENCE please indicate at least 1 Catholic High School.  1-2-3 * Be sure #1 is the High School you wish to attend – HS’s often give preference to those who have indicated their school to be the #1 choice.  If you wish records sent to your 2 nd and 3 rd choice a $2 fee for each additional mailing will be billed to you.

4. HSPT cont.  Approximately 300 (298) questions/ 2 ½ Hours – there will be breaks  Multiple choice tests – what you have learned/how you learn  Exam does not penalize guessing  No calculators – scratch paper is provided  5 different testing sections: 1.Verbal Skills 2.Quantitative Skills 3.Reading Skills 4.Mathematics Skills 5.Language Expression Skills  Approximately 300 (298) questions/ 2 ½ Hours – there will be breaks  Multiple choice tests – what you have learned/how you learn  Exam does not penalize guessing  No calculators – scratch paper is provided  5 different testing sections: 1.Verbal Skills 2.Quantitative Skills 3.Reading Skills 4.Mathematics Skills 5.Language Expression Skills

5. HSPT Class  Mrs. Howard offers a class Mondays after school in her room to practice and prepare for the HSPT.  It is FREE of charge – the school is paying for the practice books.  There are snacks!  This really prepares the student and demystifies the style of test  Mrs. Howard offers a class Mondays after school in her room to practice and prepare for the HSPT.  It is FREE of charge – the school is paying for the practice books.  There are snacks!  This really prepares the student and demystifies the style of test

6. High School Visits/Shadowing  Visits begin at the end of September. We will have set dates and will post them the week before on my website.  All of the Catholic High Schools in the area come visit.  In October students may begin shadowing at the different High Schools.  This is considered an ABSENCE – please let myself and Maureen/Michelle in the office know when your student is going to shadow.  Students are required to make – up all missed class work.  Visits begin at the end of September. We will have set dates and will post them the week before on my website.  All of the Catholic High Schools in the area come visit.  In October students may begin shadowing at the different High Schools.  This is considered an ABSENCE – please let myself and Maureen/Michelle in the office know when your student is going to shadow.  Students are required to make – up all missed class work.

7. Recommendations  All students will fill out a resume (given out this evening to you). THIS WILL BE A GRADE. It will also save us time later. Please assist your student in filling out the resume.  Do not presume that I, or any other teacher, remembers that your student does a volunteer job/sport/drama class outside of school. We don’t. Please have them put it in the resume.  If you are seeking recommendation letters from myself or other teachers do NOT wait until the last minute. We need a WEEK minimum to complete the letter.  On the HS websites it will indicate that you need a recommendation – since you are coming from a Diocesan school a recommendation will be automatically sent.  All students will fill out a resume (given out this evening to you). THIS WILL BE A GRADE. It will also save us time later. Please assist your student in filling out the resume.  Do not presume that I, or any other teacher, remembers that your student does a volunteer job/sport/drama class outside of school. We don’t. Please have them put it in the resume.  If you are seeking recommendation letters from myself or other teachers do NOT wait until the last minute. We need a WEEK minimum to complete the letter.  On the HS websites it will indicate that you need a recommendation – since you are coming from a Diocesan school a recommendation will be automatically sent.

8. Scholarships  Look on the High School websites/Diocesan sites – some scholarships are offered.  If you are seeking a scholarship please apply on your own and follow all the directions on the website.  99% on the HSPT = $5,000 scholarship  Look on the High School websites/Diocesan sites – some scholarships are offered.  If you are seeking a scholarship please apply on your own and follow all the directions on the website.  99% on the HSPT = $5,000 scholarship

9. PVI Dates  October 30 – Open House from 1-4  January 23 – Deadline for SMART application for first consideration for financial aid  January 13 – APPLICATION DEADLINE FOR CLASS OF 2012  February 24 – decision letters mailed to applicants  March 18 – Registration for the Class of 2021  October 30 – Open House from 1-4  January 23 – Deadline for SMART application for first consideration for financial aid  January 13 – APPLICATION DEADLINE FOR CLASS OF 2012  February 24 – decision letters mailed to applicants  March 18 – Registration for the Class of 2021

10. O’Connell Dates  October 1 – first day of Shadow Visits  October 16 – Open House 1-4  November 5 – 8 th Grade Dance 7-10 P.M.  January 23 – APPLICATION DEADLINE FOR O’CONNELL HS  January 23 – Financial Aid deadline for O’Connell  February 24 – decision letters mailed to applicants  March 16 – registrations night for Class of 2021 at O’Connell 6 P.M.  October 1 – first day of Shadow Visits  October 16 – Open House 1-4  November 5 – 8 th Grade Dance 7-10 P.M.  January 23 – APPLICATION DEADLINE FOR O’CONNELL HS  January 23 – Financial Aid deadline for O’Connell  February 24 – decision letters mailed to applicants  March 16 – registrations night for Class of 2021 at O’Connell 6 P.M.

11. Ireton Dates  September 26 – shadowing begins  October 23 – Open House 1-3  January 13 – academic scholarship application deadline  January 13 – APPLICATION DEADLINE FOR FULL CONSIDERATION IN THE FIRST ROUND OF DECISIONS  January 23 – priority deadline for tuition assistance applications  February 24 – first round admissions decision letters mailed to applicants  March 5 – Admitted freshman Mass and Information sessions – 10-12  March 18 – registration for class of 2021  April – late freshman and transfer applicants considered  September 26 – shadowing begins  October 23 – Open House 1-3  January 13 – academic scholarship application deadline  January 13 – APPLICATION DEADLINE FOR FULL CONSIDERATION IN THE FIRST ROUND OF DECISIONS  January 23 – priority deadline for tuition assistance applications  February 24 – first round admissions decision letters mailed to applicants  March 5 – Admitted freshman Mass and Information sessions – 10-12  March 18 – registration for class of 2021  April – late freshman and transfer applicants considered

12. The Edge – September 26th  Team building field trip – all permission forms MUST be filled out.  We will need 4 chaperones (minimum)  This year we are taking a bus to alleviate the struggle to find drivers and keep the group together.  The new cost for both the bus and The Edge is $60.00 per student.  Long PE pants required – otherwise their legs get cut up.  Team building field trip – all permission forms MUST be filled out.  We will need 4 chaperones (minimum)  This year we are taking a bus to alleviate the struggle to find drivers and keep the group together.  The new cost for both the bus and The Edge is $60.00 per student.  Long PE pants required – otherwise their legs get cut up.

13. St. Bernadette’s Dance  Open to 7 th and 8 th grade  Friday, September 30 th 7-9 P.M.  At St. Bernadette School  This is an invite to our School – NOT a St. Michael sponsored dance – we are guests!  We will need a chaperone or two as the majority of 8 th and 7 th are interested in this dance. Please let us know if you are interested in chaperoning.  Open to 7 th and 8 th grade  Friday, September 30 th 7-9 P.M.  At St. Bernadette School  This is an invite to our School – NOT a St. Michael sponsored dance – we are guests!  We will need a chaperone or two as the majority of 8 th and 7 th are interested in this dance. Please let us know if you are interested in chaperoning.