Dear Mr
November 9, 2015 Dear Parents of 7th Grade Duke TIP Students, Congratulations on your student’s achievement in qualifying to test for the Duke TIP (Talent Identification Program). As you know, the purpose of the Duke TIP is to identify academic strengths, abilities, and interests as they begin their journey into adolescence. TIP can also be of assistance in determining how advanced your student’s abilities and skills are and what level of educational challenge is appropriate for him or her. For further information about the Duke TIP, please go to this site: www.tip.duke.edu/node/44. We would like to offer to your student an opportunity to take a seminar on test preparation. This is not just for the early ACT; it will benefit your student on all standardized testing. As you may know, we offer a course in ACT/SAT Test Preparation here at Father Ryan. Our excellent teacher of that course, Mrs. Paula Harris, has offered to break down some of the most important elements to being prepared for standardized testing. Our goal here is to remove obstacles that are common to first-time takers of the ACT, as well as provide the following:
In-class learning of test-taking strategies Study tools students need to practice on their own Demonstration of online practice tools
Mrs. Harris has been very successful in preparing our students for testing: The top 20% of our most recent graduates earned an average of 31 on the ACT. Twenty-four students were recognized last year for perfect scores on sections of the ACT and SAT. In addition, thirteen students in our current senior class have been recognized by the National Merit Corporation for their scores on the PSAT. Testing can be bit of an uncertainty for students in middle school. You (and we) don’t want to create stress for them with extra testing; at the same time, taking advantage of an opportunity like this may well provide information about your student that even he/she doesn’t fully realize. From our perspective, there is no pressure from us for your child to take the ACT. Even if you don’t intend for your student to take the ACT, he/she can still attend the workshop we are offering as a preparation for future testing. We will offer this seminar on December 5, 2015, from 9:00 a.m. – noon. There is no charge for this at all. This is the Saturday before the first eligible ACT Test. Space is limited, so if you would like to take part in this workshop, please go to http://www.fatherryan.org/dukeworkshop, and register. We would love to have your student participate! Thank you, Sara M. Hayes Vice Principal and Academic Dean
Paula K. Harris ACT/SAT Instructor
A Tradition of Faith, Knowledge, Service 700 Norwood Drive • Nashville, TN 37204 • Telephone: 615-383-4200 • www.fatherryan.org
In-class learning of test-taking strategies Study tools students need to practice on their own Demonstration of online practice tools
Mrs. Harris has been very successful in preparing our students for testing: The top 20% of our most recent graduates earned an average of 31 on the ACT. Twenty-four students were recognized last year for perfect scores on sections of the ACT and SAT. In addition, thirteen students in our current senior class have been recognized by the National Merit Corporation for their scores on the PSAT. Testing can be bit of an uncertainty for students in middle school. You (and we) don’t want to create stress for them with extra testing; at the same time, taking advantage of an opportunity like this may well provide information about your student that even he/she doesn’t fully realize. From our perspective, there is no pressure from us for your child to take the ACT. Even if you don’t intend for your student to take the ACT, he/she can still attend the workshop we are offering as a preparation for future testing. We will offer this seminar on December 5, 2015, from 9:00 a.m. – noon. There is no charge for this at all. This is the Saturday before the first eligible ACT Test. Space is limited, so if you would like to take part in this workshop, please go to http://www.fatherryan.org/dukeworkshop, and register. We would love to have your student participate! Thank you, Sara M. Hayes Vice Principal and Academic Dean
Paula K. Harris ACT/SAT Instructor
A Tradition of Faith, Knowledge, Service 700 Norwood Drive • Nashville, TN 37204 • Telephone: 615-383-4200 • www.fatherryan.org
