October 2, 2009

Dear Parents and Guardians of Class of 2011, 2012 and 2013 Students:

Welcome back to the 2009 – 2010 school year. Each year we improve on our efforts to create awareness about the importance of preparing for life after high school. In Federal Way we call this the 13^th Year Plan (13YP). Each of your students began this planning in 8^th grade and shared their 13YP with you as part of their Student Led Conference.

Attention Freshmen and Juniors: As part of this year’s 13YP all freshmen and juniors will take the College Board PSAT on Wednesday, October 14th. PSAT/NMSQT stands for Preliminary SAT/National Merit Scholarship Qualifying Test. It's a standardized test that provides firsthand practice for the SAT Reasoning Test™. It also gives you a chance to enter National Merit Scholarship Corporation (NMSC) scholarship programs when you are in the 11^th grade. There is no fee for the PSAT for these students.

The PSAT/NMSQT measures:

• critical reading skills
• math problem-solving skills
• writing skills

You have developed these skills over many years, both in and out of school. This test doesn't require you to recall specific facts from your classes.

The most common reasons for taking the PSAT/NMSQT are:

· to receive feedback on your strengths and weaknesses on skills necessary for college study. You can then focus your preparation on those areas that could most benefit from additional study or practice.

• to see how your performance on an admissions test might compare with that of others applying to college.
• to enter the competition for scholarships from the National Merit Scholarship Corporation when you are in the 11^th grade.
• to help prepare for the SAT. You can become familiar with the kinds of questions and the exact directions you will see on the SAT.
• to receive information from colleges when you check "yes" to Student Search Service.

Attention Sophomores: This year’s sophomores are not required to take the PSAT. However, if you would like the opportunity to do so you can sign up with Ms. Racus in bookeeping for a charge of $13.00. You may sign up until Thursday, October 8th. If you need a fee waiver, please see Ms. Boone in the Career and College Specialist office in the library.

If you have questions about preparation beyond the PSAT for college entrance, please visit Carla Boone at Federal Way High School’s Career and College Specialist office. Ms Boone’s phone number is 253-945-5417.

The schedule for this year’s PSAT can be found on the back of this letter.

Sincerely,

Lisa Griebel, Principal

Federal Way High School