October 4, 2003
Hello AP/IB Boosters!
Contents
The Seattle Times College
Guide
On Sunday, 9/28/03, the
Seattle Times published a 20 page College Guide. Advanced Placement Courses and
the International Baccalaureate Program are mentioned throughout the
guide.
The key theme for college bound students is to take rigorous courses in middle school and especially high school. Seattle University’s Dean of Admissions, Michael McKeon, says, "We’d rather see a B in an AP class than an A in a regular class."
Another point of advice for students wanting to go to college is to follow their passion. College Admission’s people aren’t necessarily interested in a long laundry list of clubs. "They are looking for people with a passion for something… They like to see signs of hard work, initiative and commitment, that a student can start with an activity and get better at it."
The full College Guide is available on-line at
http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/news/education/collegeguide/
Heatherwood Middle School
AP/IB Boosters and the HC Parent Club will cosponsor the American Math Contest (AMC 8). American Mathematics Contest 8
To AP/IB Boosters and the HC Parent Club, thank you very much for your donations. Without your donations, sincerely, this event would not have taken place. Thank you!
The PSAT/NMSQT
One of the recommendations in the College Guide is for juniors to take the PSAT/NMSQT (Preliminary SAT/National Merit Scholarship Qualifying Test). In our last newsletter we listed statistics on the latest National Merit Semifinalists in the Greater Seattle Area.
http://www.apibboosters.org/Newsletters20030925.htmlEPS juniors, and younger if desired, should have registered this last week for the PSAT/NMSQT that will be given later this month. For more information, see the following:
http://www.collegeboard.com/student/testing/psat/about.html
Membership Drive Status
We welcome our new members. Our thanks for everyone that came by our Safeway camp and signed our petitions to end the 4x4 block schedule and the English/History combined courses at Jackson HS. There will be more membership drive events coming to a grocery store near you. We will be at Albertsons on 10/11/03. Details to follow.
Upcoming Events
Tuesday, October 7, 2003, 7 PM Heatherwood Middle School Curriculum Night
Gateway Middle School Curriculum Night Wednesday, October 8, 2003, 7 PM
Seattle Performing and Visual Arts College Fair Washington State Convention and Trade Center, Seattle, WA
http://www.nacac.com/exhibit/exhibit.cfm?code=03PSEDozens of college reps from around the country will be on hand. Participating institutions include: The Juilliard School of New York, The Peabody School of Music (Johns Hopkins University) of Maryland, and the UCLA School of the Arts and Architecture.
Jackson High School Focus Group
If you would like to be considered for this discussion, please email me by 10/6/03. The group will discuss the 4x4 class schedule, Humanities Block, Additional A/P classes and other items. Fred is Mr. Fred Dahlem the principal of JHS. We received the below letter last week.
Todd,
Jackson High School will be going through a program evaluation
this October. The BERC Group, LLC, an evaluation, research, and consulting
company has been hired to do the review. As part of the review the BERC
Group would like to randomly select members of the AP/IB Boosters to participate
in a focus group discussion about the Jackson High School program. Members
not selected will also be invited to attend. In order to select and invite
members of the AP/IB Boosters, Dr. Duane Baker, President of the BERC group,
needs your membership list. If you would be kind enough to email him the
list of your members with their email
addresses attached, Dr. Baker will then
select and invite your members.
Your members will be invited to attend a meeting on October 13
so Dr. Baker needs the list of members as soon as possible. You can contact Dr.
Baker by phone at 260 863-1737 or email at duane@bercgroup.com. You can
also get information about the BERC Group at www.bercgroup.com.
Fred
Thank you,
Todd Aagard
Chairperson
AP/IB Boosters
Advanced Placement Opportunities for
All Students