Your child will be given the opportunity to take the PSAT at Switzerland Point on Saturday, October 15th. This is a national test day for the PSAT and there is not a make-up date. The cost is $20. The PSAT gives your child personalized feedback on their test performance allowing them to see which questions they answered incorrectly and which academic skills they may need to improve. The PSAT is practice for the SAT which your child will take in high school. More information will be coming as the October 15th date approaches. Please email Mrs. Moseley if you have further questions!
7th Grade (TIP) Talent Identification Program Information
Duke TIP (Talent Identification Program) seeks to identify students with strong intellectual abilities that would like to voluntarily take the ACT or SAT while in 7th grade. This program is not sponsored by Swiss Point but we are happy to provide parents with the information needed to register with TIP if interested:
1. Please review your child's 5th or 6th grade standardized test scores (FCAT, TerraNova, Iowa, CTBS, SAT, ITBS, etc).
2. If your child scored at or higher than 95% on either the reading OR math portions on a norm referenced test, he/she is eligible to register for TIP. Florida students took the FCAT in 5th and 6th grade which does not provide a percentile score, however, the developmental score can be converted to a percentile score that can be used on the registration form. If your child scored at or above the following developmental scores in 5th OR 6th grade they can register:
5th grade Reading 2142
5th grade Math 2018
6th grade Reading 2220
6th grade Math 2079.
***Please note that all of the qualifying developmental scores are within the FCAT Level 5
3. Please find all of the information about the program, differences between tests (ACT/SAT), when and where the tests are offered and how to register by going to Duke TIP's website at www.tip.duke.edu. If you have any additional questions please call TIP at (919 )668-9100
4. If you do register for one of the tests ($72.00 cost), you will use the following middle school ID: 200293-AB
5. If unable to access the site please send your child to the guidance office for a paper registration to take home.
Support Groups for Grieving Families
Community Hospice of NE Florida conducts therapeutic support groups throughout the year. To learn whether a Community Hospice therapeutic support group might be right for you, call Roxanne Miller at 904-407-6330. Locations for the group meetings are in Mandarin (September 20-Novermber 8) and in St. Augustine (October 5-November 30).
How To Help Your Child Succeed in School
Parents often ask School Counselors for tips on how to help their child be more successful in school. While every student is different, there are some basics that are beneficial:
-Be informed:
1. Subscribe to the school e-newsletter so that you will not have to depend on your child to give you accurate information. 2. Write the password to the Parent Assist account in a safe but visible place and use it so you and your child will know how he/she is doing at least every other week. Please remember that we only send report cards home at the end of each quarter and it is your responsibility to check the Parent Assist account for ongoing progress updates.
3. Create shortcuts to your desktop or to your favorites for each of your child's teachers webpages. This will ensure easy access to homework/projects that teachers post on their websites for your child to check against their planner and for you to be aware of.
4. If you have a concern about your child's performance in a class please email the teacher.
-Structure your child's home study area and time: Middle school students NEED BOUNDARIES!
It is the parents' responsibility to create and implement those boundaries. Your child should empty his/her backpack every day, organize materials for the next day, finish homework that was not done during study hall, study for assessments and read every school day. We have many students who do not complete or turn in homework and we need their parents' support. The adults (at home and at school) should not have to work harder that the child to ensure they are responsible, but they do need to provide the expectation, place, time and supplies to make sure homework is completed. With Silver and Black days, a visual reminder of the classes for each day, a color coded calendar for the month with both color days marked, and even a different trapper/drawstring bag for each color day will help.
-Limit and monitor the use of social media sites/video games/texting: Middle school students are not adults who have the self-regulatory skills to know how to manage this technology or the risks associated with them. Students need their parents' guidance to benefit and not be hurt by this technology. Additionally, when at school, students will focus on learning and not so much on the "drama" that social media sites such as Facebook may create.
-Have dinner together as much as possible: Dinner is a great time to ask specific questions about your child's day. If you ask open ended questions that do not result in your child responding with "yes, no, nothing, OK, fine" it will give you a chance to learn about your child's social and academic life at school.
Trend of the Week
Snus, a dissolvable tobacco product sold in a small pouch and placed under the lip, similar to dipping tobacco. Tobacco retailers have begun selling snus tobacco products (Camel Snus, Marlboro Snus and Skoal Snus are a few) nationally and they can be found in most places where cigarettes are sold. Snus is gaining popularity among youth in the United States as an alternative to smoking and traditional "chewing" tobacco
Website of the Week
www.madd.org is the website of Mothers Against Drug Driving. It is wealth of knowledge and full of important resources to "stop drunk driving, support the victims of this violent crime and prevent underage drinking."
Victory With Honors Code of Conduct
All St. Johns County students are expected to comply with a code of conduct. Student athletes are expected to follow an additional Victory With Honors athletic code of conduct. This code includes "no student-athlete shall knowingly attend any party or other social gathering where underage drinking and drug use occurs..
Big Brothers Big Sisters Seeking Mentors
Start Something with Big Brothers Big Sisters of St. Johns County. As a Big Brother or Big Sister, you can give a child an opportunity to see beyond their everyday world and dream big. For as little as one hour a week, you can change a child's perspective of what the world can offer. To learn how you can Start Something in our community, contact Big Brothers Big Sisters of St. Johns County at (904) 829-9986 or www.bbbsstjohns.org.
Thank you for your continued support. Have a wonderful afternoon!
Heidi L. Matheny
Coalition Coordinator
904-829-6261 ext. 43
Mission: To make St. Johns County a healthy substance-free community through the reduction and prevention of alcohol and drug abuse by our youth with Prevention, Advocacy, Choices and Teamwork.
