In middle and high school, our PTAs become PTSAs. But the “S” is sometimes overlooked. This page is specifically for resources that your Student and your family can access that look ahead to high school and beyond.Visit this page often for middle-school specific opportunities for scholarships, community service, summer learning, tutoring, programming, and some thoughts about early testing and college fairs.
WHY? Why community service? Because there are a handful of scholarships that require volunteer service. And because it’s a good habit to get into – there is a 40-hour requirement to graduate from high school (the clock starts Fall of freshman year). Find your “thing” now, and you will be a better rounded person and a great candidate for applications of all kinds.
Why a college fair? Actually, why even think about college already? The earlier you start perusing the options, the less stressful junior and senior year is. Attending a college fair as a 7th or 8th grader is completely non-committal. Use the time to see what’s out there and what might be appealing. Know that these choices will change every year, and know that that’s a really good thing. As your student grows as a student and as a person, they will find different things important; knowing that there is a great school for them to find can be really comforting.
Why scholarships? Because it’s free money. Even if your student spends 2 hours on several applications and wins only $50 in scholarships, they have earned $25/hour. Which they probably aren’t getting babysitting or mowing lawns.
Why programming? Because there are a lot of great programs out there for our kids, but they are sometimes hard to find. Why early testing? You mean the SAT?? Yes. If you have “that student,” taking the SAT or ACT now automatically enters them into a talent search. This could mean opportunities that they would not get otherwise. For example, check out the Johns Hopkins Center for Talented Youth.
PSAT Shorewood High School will be offering the Pre-Scholastic Aptitude Test (PSAT) on Wednesday, November 2. They will hold the exam during the school day with an altered bell schedule that will be released closer to the test date. The PSAT costs $15, which can be paid to the Business Office or online at: http://www.shorelineschools.org/Page/791. The PSAT is a valuable, affordable practice exam that will show students which areas to focus on to improve your skills before taking the SAT! Please bring a calculator, pencil and snack on the day of the test. Testing will begin at 7:50AM and room assignments will be posted. All sophomore students are automatically signed up to take the PSAT exam for free! The Shoreline School District covers the cost of all sophomores to take this exam, recognizing that it is valuable preparation for college and career options. National Merit Scholarships are tied to PSAT scores in JUNIOR year. Why consider practicing in middle school? Reduce test anxiety by making this kind of testing routine. Testing yearly prior to junior year may help increase scores when it matters - one of the current National Merit Finalists from Shorewood started yearly testing while attending Einstein...
Upcoming Events
College Fairs! Why start going to college fairs in middle school? To show your kids options. To see how many schools are out there (not just UW, WSU and Western!). To be able to explore without the stress of being in a decision-making place. To learn about what college looks like now, and what innovative programs are available. And to get glossy brochures of beautiful places!
Scholarships and Competitions Listed by earliest deadline first
"I Have a Dream Scholarship" due 1/31/17 for ages 13+. Submit an online written response for the question: "We want to know... what do you dream about? Whether it's some bizarre dream you had last week, or your hopes for the future, share your dreams with us for a chance to win $1,500 for college." (250 words or less)
"Sweet and Simple Scholarship" due 2/28/17 for ages 13+, $1500 award Submit an online written response for the question: "Not every gift has to be expensive or extravagant. In fact, sometimes it's the sweet and simple things that make a real difference in our lives. Think back and tell us about something you received as a gift and why it meant so much to you." (250 words or less)
"Superpower Scholarship" due 3/31/17 for ages 13+, $2500 award Submit an online written response for the question: "Which superhero or villain would you want to change places with for a day and why?" (250 words or less)
"All About Education scholarship" due 4/30/17 for ages 13+, $3000 award Submit an online written response for the question: "How will a $3,000 scholarship for education make a difference in your life?" (250 words or less)
"Fifth Month Scholarship" due 5/31/17 for ages 13+, $1500 award Submit an online written response for the question: "May is the fifth month of the year. Write a letter to the number five explaining why five is important. Be serious or be funny. Either way, here's a high five to you for being original." (250 words or less)
"Do-Over scholarship" due 6/30/17 for ages 13+, $1500 award Submit an online written response for the question: "If you could get one 'do-over' in life, what would it be and why?" (250 words or less)
College Prep/Future Planning Resources
College Board’s Big Future BigFuture has information on finding colleges, paying for your education, and making a college plan. About 60 percent of the content on Big Future is repackaged material already available on the College Board website and the rest is brand-new topics. Information throughout the site is provided in nugget-sized tips and one-minute videos with student stories such as how they decided about going to school in a city, what role extracurricular activities played in deciding a major, and putting together a financial-aid plan for college. There are also videos from experts addressing topics of college planning
Opportunities for Young Scholars Early Entrance to UW The Early Entrance Program is a two-step program consisting of one year of Transition School, an intensive college preparatory program taught at the Robinson Center, and subsequent full-time enrollment at the University of Washington, typically beginning with one or more courses during the Transition School year.
The Early Entrance Program is the Robinson Center’s original early university entrance program. Recognized as one of the most prestigious early university entrance programs in the nation, this program facilitates early entry to the University of Washington for a carefully selected group of sixteen highly-capable young students younger than fifteen (15) years old. As mandated by state law, students must have completed 6th grade in order to enroll in the Transition School. It is highly recommended that students have completed 7th or 8th grade in order to have basic academic skills in place.
The Davidson Young Scholars program provides FREE services designed to nurture the intellectual, social, emotional, and academic development of profoundly intelligent young people between the ages of 5 and 18 (students must be between the ages of 5 and 16 when applying).
$495.00 quarterly (3 months) This Tutor Supported course was developed by Stanford’s Center for the Study of Language and Information (CSLI) and utilizes innovative language analysis technology and provides students with rigorous instruction and practice in the grammar, usage, and conventions of standard English. Its five interwoven components – Parts of Speech, Sentence Structure, Sentence Composition, Paragraphs, and Reading – correspond to the latest English Language Arts standards.
A cumulative progression of multimedia lectures and associated exercises fosters student literacy and critical thinking. Throughout the course, students are asked to compose responses to a wide variety of writing prompts. The reading component of this course balances a broad range of high-quality informational and literary texts, including familiar classics and diverse modern works.
The EPGY Language Arts course is delivered entirely online and begins immediately upon completion of your enrollment.
Johns Hopkins Center for Talented Youth Summer programs CTY offers four residential programs for qualified students who have completed grades 7 and above. Intensive Studies (Grades 7 and Above) CTY: Intensive Studies for 7th Graders and Above is available to students whose scores on designated standardized tests place them above the mean for college-bound high school seniors. Academic Explorations (Grades 7 and Above) CTY: Academic Explorations for 7th Graders and Above is available to students with a wider range of test scores.
Elementary Schools All elementary schools in the Shoreline School District can use your help. All phone numbers are listed on the last page of the Shoreline calendar.