September 29, 2006

Dear Parents;

Grapevine High School will be administering the PSAT/NMSQT (Preliminary Scholastic Aptitude Test/National Merit Scholarship Qualifying Test) to junior and sophomore students. The College Board does not recommend that freshmen take the PSAT, but freshmen who are in PAP English classes or in PAP math classes also have the opportunity to take this test. I want to encourage all sophomores and juniors planning to attend a four-year college or university to take the PSAT. National Merit Scholarships and many other scholarship opportunitiesavailable to juniors use the PSAT as a criterion for awarding scholarship money.

The local test date is scheduled for Wednesday, October 18, 2006, from 8:30 a.m. to 11:35 a.m.  Please note that senior students and those students who are not testing will report to school on that date at 11:35 a.m.  Buses will run at the normal times so students who ride the bus should report to the SAC for supervised study.

Students who choose to take the PSAT will be charged a fee of $15.00. Registration will begin September 18th and close October 13th. Students must complete a short registration form available in the counseling office, attach a check for $15.00, and give it to the counseling office secretary. The form may also be downloaded from the GHS website (www.gcisd-ghs.org). Checks should be made payable to Grapevine High School. Credit cards will not be accepted. PSAT testing room assignments will be posted on Monday, October 16th.

To communicate this information to our students, the counselors will be visiting the English classrooms to distribute and discuss the details regarding the PSAT/NMSQT. Four reasons to participate in the testing program are listed as follows:

1.     To receive an information pipeline regarding colleges and scholarships
2.     As a junior student, to open the gate for National Merit Scholarship Awards
3.     To practice for the SAT college entrance examination
4.     To find out about developmental verbal and mathematical abilities

I hope this information is helpful to you. Please contact your child’s counselor or me if you have any questions or need further information.

Reminder:  College Night is October 17th at Grapevine High School from 6:30 p.m. – 8:30 p.m.

Sincerely,

Jerry D. Hollingsworth
Principal