Dear 8th grade families,
Believe it or not, it is time for your family to begin considering high school options for your child. One of the great benefits to being an eighth grade student (and parent) at The Lexington School is the placement-counseling program that you receive here. To begin this process, I am enclosing a questionnaire for you to fill out regarding your child and your family’s initial feelings about future educational pursuits. This is for your use as a way to help guide your thinking about high school.
For those interested in local high schools, I have included Local High School Options and Important Dates to Consider. These sheets will be important as you begin to make contact with the different schools. If you are interested in the magnet programs, we will have assemblies here at school, and the schools will host informational evenings. These will be important dates to notice. The deadline for the initial application to the magnet schools is October 15. The application can be found at
http://www.fcps.net/how-do-i/apply-for-a-magnet-school-or-gifted--talented-program
Please do not hesitate to schedule an appointment or call if you need guidance. If you are unsure of you school district, please visit
http://www.fcps.net/how-do-i/know-where-my-child-should-go-to-school
On October 7, TLS will host the 5th Annual High School Fair. This is a required event for our 8th graders. Last year we had 76 different schools, including all of the local schools as well as several boarding schools, attend. This is a unique opportunity for you to meet and talk with the admission staff or director of several different schools on in the same afternoon.
For those interested in boarding school, I suggest you plan to attend the Boarding School Symposium, October 7 at 2:30 P.M. in our theater. This again is a required event for our students. Please call Judy Bottoms to schedule an appointment with me if boarding school is of interest to you.
Next week I will meet with students to begin talking with them about their options. I will challenge them to resist the herd mentality and be open-minded about all their options. I challenge you to do the same. Don’t try to make your child fit a particular school; rather choose a school to fit your child.
I hope these counseling services will help you navigate better what may seem to be a complicated process for your child’s next educational experience. I am happy to work with you and your child on the exciting next phase in his/her life.
Sincerely,
Una MacCarthy
Middle School Head