| *** Contact Karen Schwartz for your password and UserID! *** |
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FOR A COMPLETE LISTING OF SCHOLARSHIPS GO TO;
http://www.collegeguidanceconsultants.com/texas
Please contact Mrs. Schwartz (kschwartz@brazosisd.net) for the UserID and password.
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FEBRUARY NEWSLETTER
ATTENTION PARENTS: Students are not allowed to use their cell phones during the school day. Too many students are either calling or texting parent(s) during the school day when they have either forgotten something at home or become ill. IF a student needs to contact a parent he/she needs to come to the office to do so. ANY STUDENT USING A CELL PHONE TO DURING THE SCHOOL DAY WILL BE WRITTEN UP! Please discuss this with your child. PARENT MEETINGS Course Selection Meetings have been set up for parents of 8th, 9th, 10th, and 11th grade students. 8th grade students and parents will choose their 4-year plan and select courses for next year while 9th, 10th, and 11th grade students will review their four year plans and also make course selections for the 2008-09 year. It is very important that ALL parents and students try to attend this meeting. Listed below are the scheduled dates for each grade level: 8th GRADE: MONDAY, March 3rd, 6:30-7:30 PM Current 9th, 10th, 11th GRADE: MONDAY, March 10th, 6:30-7:30 PM There is additional information listed in this issue about course selection and planning. All of this will be reviewed and discussed during each meeting. Please try to attend. ***ATTENTION JUNIOR & SENIOR PARENTS: A REPRESENTATIVE WILL BE HERE AT BHS ON MONDAY, FEBRUARY 11TH AT 6:30 PM TO EXPLAIN THE FINANCIAL AID PROCESS FOR COLLEGE STUDENTS. ALL PARENTS OF SOON TO BE COLLEGE STUDENTS SHOULD ATTEND***
PSAT TESTING: Students that took the PSAT in October have been given their score report and test booklet. To make the most of their PSAT experience students should:· Consult your score report in the section titled “Overview of PSAT/NMSQT Answers,” to locate which question number you either omitted or missed. · Using your test booklet, work those questions. In doing so, you can determine whether you made careless errors or if the question covered material that was unfamiliar to you. · For the questions that covered unfamiliar material, consult your teachers. · Make a list of the vocabulary words that you encountered for the first time. Define the words and try to incorporate them into your vocabulary. · Review the math concepts that were difficult for you. You may be able to locate similar problems in your math book to practice INSIDE THIS ISSUE: Parent Meetings/PSAT Testing………………………….p.1 Course Selection Tips……………………………………p.2 Parents & Course Selection………………………………p.3 Scholarship Myths & Explore UT……………….………p.4 Scholarship Deadlines….………………………………..p.5 TAKS Testing……………………………………………p.6 February Dates to Remember………………………p.7 COURSE SELECTION TIPS8TH GRADE: THERE HAVE BEEN MAJOR CHANGES IN THE CURRICULUM REQUIREMENTS THAT WILL IMPACT THIS ENTERING FRESHMAN CLASS. · As an entering freshman you have a choice between three degree plans, the Minimum, Recommended, or Distinguished. Each of these plan requirements will be discussed and explained but basically the Recommended and Distinguished Plan are what almost all students must enter into high school with. · Start planning NOW for post-graduation—what do I want to do after I graduate? What are my interest, what special skills do I have? Giving some thoughts to these questions now will pay off later on. 9th GRADE: · Select classes that are both challenging and appropriate. You want to choose the most difficult class you can handle, but you also want to do well. · Find elective courses that will allow you to further your interest. · If you already have some colleges in mind, review the list of courses that the colleges say are required for a student to be considered for admission. 10th GRADE: · Challenge yourself. You want to choose the most difficult class you can hand, but you also want to do well. · Taking additional academic classes in English, math, science, social studies and foreign languages look good on a college application. · Stay involved in school and community activities. You will be glad you did when you start applying for scholarships, college admission, and/or resumes for employment. 11th GRADE: · Review you list of perspective colleges. What courses are listed as "required” for admissions purposes? · Chooses solid academic classes. These include English, math, science, social studies, and foreign languages. Remember pushing yourself academically in high school will make college an easier transition. · Colleges look closely at the list of courses taken during the senior year. Admissions representatives look for students who are taking strong academic classes in preparation for college.
PARENTS: ASSISTING WITH THE COURSE SELECTION PROCESS Parental involvement in the course selection process is vital. Here are some hints for you.
· Carefully read all literature sent home and given to you and your child during the course selection process. · Find a time to meet with your child to review the materials together. Encourage your child to take challenging courses. · Be aware of course prerequisites. A course selection guide will be a part of the materials given to your child. This contains a description and prerequisites for each course offered at Brazos High School. · Seek advice from your child’s teachers. They know your child’s abilities, work ethic and study habits. · Research college admission requirements. · Provide all parent signatures required by the high school on course registration materials. · BECAUSE OF THE WAY THE MASTER SCHEDULE IS BUILT, WE WILL NO LONGER ADD/DROP OR CHANGE DEGREE PLANS ONCE SCHOOL HAS STARTED IN THE FALL. ANY CHANGES MUST BE MADE BEFORE MAY 30, 2008. PLEASE BE CERTAIN THAT THE SUBJECTS YOUR CHILD SELECTS NOW ARE EXACTLY WHAT HE/SHE INTENDS TO TAKE.
COMMON SCHOLARSHIP MYTHS
There are several myths that float around and are sometimes used by companies as sales gimmicks. Here is the truth about some of these myths. *Millions of scholarship dollars go unspent each year. The National Institute of Work and Learning found that if every employee took advantage of their company’s education benefits, the amount would total $7 billion. Needless to say, not every employee takes advantage of this and as results; millions of potential benefits go unused. *Scholarship services claim high success rates. Some scholarship searches services advertise extremely high success rates. College surveys conducted throughout the years have show that the real success rate of the majority of scholarship search services is about 1 percent. This is also known as the guaranteed winner myth. There is no such thing as a guaranteed winner. *It’s whom you know not what you know. Everyone has heard the stories of scholarships being given to individual because of who they know. They had connections; they’re friends of the family, etc. It is quite possible that this has happened before, but if it does happen, it is so infrequent that it is not documented as a trend. Scholarship success is definitely attributed to what you know, to your achievements, and to your potential more than any other factor. *The more scholarships I receive, the less need-based financial aid I’ll receive. This is partly true. All resources must be accounted for when determining a student’s eligibility for need-based financial aid. As a result, the more resources you have the less eligibility for certain types of aid you may have. However, it must be pointed out that if a student’s eligibility were high enough, then the receipt of a scholarship would not impact any other need-based financial aid eligibility. This is reviewed on a case-by –case basis. ***ATTENTION JUNIORS—ANY STUDENT INTERESTED IN ATTENDING THE UNIVERSITY OF TEXAS NEXT YEAR SHOULD ATTEND RISE AND SHINE ON SATURDAY, MARCH 1st from 11 to 5. FOR MORE INFORMATION GO TO www.utexas.edu/events/exploreut ************************************************************************ ****ATTENTION JUNIOR AND SENIOR PARENTS: A representative will be here at BHS on MONDAY, FEBRUARY 11TH to go over the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) at 6:30 PM in the Commons. All students entering college must fill out this form to determine eligibility for financial aid. Please try to attend.**** SCHOLARSHIPS AND DEADLINESSam Houston School of Business: Smith-Hutson Scholarship must demonstrate financial need, be accepted to Sam Houston and major in business; Guardian Angel Catholic Church: Due April 15th Best Buy: Apply at www.bestbuy.com/scholarships by 2/15/08; Society of Women Engineers: For females that major in engineering; Deadline 3/1 Austin County Texas Exes: Must be accepted to the University of Texas @Austin; Deadline 3/30/2008 SAMMY 2008 Award: apply online at www.bodybymilk.com; Deadline 3/7 Don’t Mess with Texas: See Mrs. Schwartz for application; Deadline 4/4/08; Essays required Franklin Novicke Memorial: Due April 22; must have lost a parent or guardian; Orchard United Methodist Church: Due March 1st Wallis Lion’s Club: See Mrs. Schwartz for application; Deadline: April 15th Max W. Schlotter: Must major in education; See Mrs. Schwartz for application; Deadline 3/26 Wallis Chamber of Commerce: See Mrs. Schwartz for application; Deadline 5/1 TXDot: Must major in civil engineering , computer science or management information or computer information systems. Call 1-866-554-4330 to request packet; Deadline March 1st; Garvin Kendrick Memorial Scholarship: Must reside in Austin County and participated in the Youth Rodeo Association; Deadline 4/1 USA Funds Access to Education: Apply online at www.usafunds.org, selecting “Scholarship information” from the “Express Links” menu; Deadline March 1 TASO Football: Must be member of Varsity Football team and not receive athletic scholarship; Deadline March 10; George Foundation: Fort Bend County resident with GPA of 2.5 or higher; parents’ income may not exceed $50,000; Deadline March 15th; See Mrs. Schwartz for application; Austin County Aggie Mom: Deadline March 15th; must be a resident of Austin County; Gulf Coast Section of Petroleum Engineers: Due Feb. 15th; See Mrs. Schwartz for application; Coca-Cola Essay Contest: See Mrs. Schwartz for application; Deadline 3/5; Texas Telephone: application available at www.tta.org Deadline 3/14 Wayne Reber: See Mrs. Schwartz for application; Deadline April 30th Linda Lorelle: financial need; 10th & 11th grade students; Application available at www.lindalorelle.org; Deadline 2/22 Blinn College; GPA of 3.25 or higher; go to http://www.blinn.edu/discover Czech Heritage: See Mrs. Schwartz for application; Deadline 2/28 Sam Houston: Email scholasrships@shsu.edu for more information.
TAKS Testing On Wednesday, March 5th, the first sessions of TAKS testing will be done. On that date students in grade 9 will take the Reading test, while students in Grades 10 & 11 will take the English Language Arts portion. These tests are very important for all grade levels. Any student that does not pass a section of TAKS must give up an elective class next year to take a TAKS Remediation class. This is important because, as a junior, all four sections, Math, ELA, Science and Social Studies, must be passed to graduate. A high school diploma cannot be issued until all four sections have been passed as a junior. If a student fails a section as a 9th or 10th grader it is likely he/she will have trouble with the Exit level (11th Grade) test so to prevent that from occurring all students failing a section will take a TAKS remediation class as well as mandatory summer school. The other sections of the TAKS test will be administered in April. Please see the chart below for dates and subjects tested. Tuesday, April 29th: Grade 10 Math Exit Level ELA retest Wednesday, April 30th: Exit Level (11th Grade) Math Exit Level Math retest Thursday, May 1st : Grade 9 Math Grade 10 Science Exit Level Science Exit Level Science Retest Friday, May 2nd: Grade 10 Social Studies Exit Level Social Studies Exit Level Retest Social Studies FEBRUARY DATES TO REMEMBER
Feb. 2 Boys Powerlifting Meet @ Palacios Feb. 4 Boys Golf @ Sealy 8:30 AM Feb. 5 Varsity Baseball Scrimmage with Needville 6:00 Girls & Boys Basketball with Yes Prep 5/6/7:30 Feb. 8 Boys Basketball with Van Vleck 5/6/7:30 Feb. 9 Pro Grad Senior Serve 6:30 PM at KC Hall Feb. 11 Financial Aid presentation 6:30 PM Commons Boys Golf @ Sweeny 8:30 AM Feb. 12 Girls Golf @ Sweeny 8:30 AM JV & Varsity Baseball Scrimmage @ Rice 6:00 Boys Basketball @ Boling 5/6/7:30 Feb. 13 Blood Drive 9-3 Feb. 15 Angleton Tennis Tourney JV & Varsity Baseball Scrimmage with Sealy 6:00 Feb. 16 Boys & Girls Powerlifting @ Rice Consolidated Feb. 18 JV/Varsity Baseball @ Royal 4:30/7:00 Boys Golf @ New Gulf Feb. 19 Softball @ Burton 5:00 Girls Golf @ New Gulf Feb. 21 Columbia Lakes Tennis Tourney Feb. 21-23 Softball @ Rice Tournament Feb. 22 JV/Varsity Baseball with Burton 4:30/7:00 Softball @ Schulenburg 5:00 Feb. 23 Powerlifting Boys & Girls @ Edna Boys & Girls Track @ BF Terry Rosenberg Feb. 25 Boys Golf @ Ganado Feb. 26 JV/Varsity Baseball with Weimar 4:30/7:00 Girls Golf @ Ganado 8:30 Softball @ Yes Prep 6:00 Feb. 28-Mar.1 Varsity Baseball @ Sealy Tournament JV Baseball @ Columbus Tournament Softball @ Schulenberg Feb. 29-Mar. 1 Columbia Lakes Tennis Tournament Mar. 1 Girls & Boys Track @ Ganado
Brazos High School PO Box 458 Wallis, TX 77485
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