Just One More Year!That’s what your high school junior is saying these days, as they watch their senior classmates prepare to move on. As a junior, anticipating the last year of high school can be scary and exciting at the same time, and to them, it just doesn’t seem like their time will ever come. But as we all know, time passes more quickly than anyone expects and before we know it, their graduation day arrives! And believe it or not, getting ready for that senior year can be just as hectic as the year itself, so here’s some information we hope will help. So when your child says, “just one more year,” he or she will be more excited about the prospect of moving on, and less afraid about how to get there.
Start Preparing for the SAT or ACT
It's probably not what your child wants to hear, but preparation for standardized admissions tests should start long before ever hearing the letters S-A-T or A-C-T. These tests measure skills developed over a long period of time, both before and during high school. What is the difference between the SAT and ACT? They’re both standardized tests and they both factor into the college admissions process (click here to learn about the differences between the two tests and how they compare).
One of the best ways your child can get ready is to take solid academic courses (and study hard for them, of course). Your child should enroll in the most challenging courses she can handle in English, math, science, social studies, foreign languages, and fine arts. Algebra and geometry, in particular, will give your child the skills needed to succeed on the math part of the college entrance exams. Overall classroom experiences will affect how well your child does on admissions tests. Here are some examples of ways your child can supplement her classroom experience:
- Reading newspapers, novels, textbooks, poems, and magazines can help your child build
her vocabulary.
- Looking up unfamiliar words in the dictionary and trying to get a handle on prefixes, suffixes,
and root words can help vocabulary building as well. Studying a foreign language can also help
your child figure out new words.
- Clubs, sports, games, part-time jobs, and other activities can improve your child's problem-
solving skills.
You and your child should visit www.collegeboard.com regularly. You can get a wealth of information and assistance on things like when and how to register for the SAT, how to plan for college, finding a college that’s best, and how to pay for college. This site also has many other tools that can help your student during their senior year, like the My Organizer account feature, which can be used to assist with organizing your child’s steps during senior year. For information about how to register and take the ACT, visit www.act.org.
Keep Your Eyes Open for Scholarships Offered to Juniors
There’s plenty of scholarships being offered throughout the year, and many of them are not just for the seniors! Click here for a comprehensive list of scholarships available for 2008!
Birthday Shout-Outs for January, February and March!The following family members celebrated or will celebrate their birthdays during these first three months of 2008: January–Danasha Reddick, Jamie Cansler, Joseph Bradley, Aryn Corbin, Guy Riddick, LaTeisha Corbin, Shayne Harrington, Mitchell Jones, Kendael Corbin, Michael Silva, Tre` Von Crawford, Quandejah White, and Brooke Harrington; February–Tykia White, Christian Reddick, LaShonda Hazard, Anne Marie Corbin, Joyce Wooding, Ray Corbin, Christian Peacock, Shelia Pierce, Hector Irenne, III, Tiana Carrington, Calvin Reddick, Reginald Cummings, Leroy Thompson, Sr., Christina Marie Lopes, Larenzo Lopes, Tracy Lopes Miller, and Anna Brooks; March–Julia Silva, Sonya Silva, Eddie Corbin, Danielle Jones, Jordan Lopes, Alonzo Lopes, Jr., Lincoln Ned, III, David Silva, Jr., Carline Silva, Joseph Temas, Daniekqua Reddick, Daishaun Cerene, Shawn Peacock-Bryan, Marc Miller, Joseph Burke, Juanita Reddick, and Cameron Miller.
HAPPY BIRTHDAY, Ya’ll–we love you!! And remember, we want to recognize each and every one of you, but if we missed your birthday this time, please use our Contact Page and let us know! We’ll be sure to add your name to our list.
Join Us for a Grande Strand Experience! 
Don’t forget to submit your best design for our 2008 reunion t-shirts to Val Haynes by email (valnraleigh@hotmail.com) or by regular mail to the address on the Contact Us Page before March 30, 2008, and win 2 movie passes.