September 27, 2005

Dear FCHS AVID Family,

Greetings AVID family from the FCHS AVID Team. We are writing to update you on events that we feel are most important to you and your AVID student.
FCHS will be administering the Preliminary Scholastic Aptitude Test (PSAT) on Wednesday, October 12, 2005. That test will take place during the school day to allow as many students who choose to participate. We, AVID Team, encourage all of our ninth, tenth and eleventh grade students to take this test. Seniors are already preparing for the upcoming SAT. The PSAT cost is $15.00 per student. Fairfax County Public Schools pays for all tenth graders to take this test. They do not pay for our ninth or eleventh graders. As such, we are asking you to help us fund this and allow your student to participate. We understand that this may create a burden to some families. If this is such a case, we (AVID) will cover the cost of the testing. Please ask your student to let us know as soon as possible so that we may make the arrangements to register and pay for your student. For those who are able to pay, we need to have the money not later than Friday, October 7. This will allow us time to ensure that your student has a test and class schedules have been arranged to allow your student’s participation.

Next item of news to share with our AVID family is our college field trip schedule. To date this is our schedule:

There are also College Fair Day (s) at Fair Oaks Mall October 16, 2005 and at Hayfield High School evening of October 17. We highly encourage you and your student take advantage of these opportunities to visit with the many college representatives and get information. These trips are supported and funded in part by Project Discovery. We are truly grateful for this support and opportunity to allow our students to visit these colleges. If you have not completed the Project Discovery information packet, please do so and have your student return it to us.

Again if you have any concerns about your student’s grades, progress or otherwise, we encourage you to contact us. We would also continue ask that you look for your student’s AVID notebook and review it regularly with your student. There is a signature line in each book for you to sign when you do your review. This allows you to assist us in ensuring that your student maintains their grades and completes all class assignments.
A reminder, FCHS has our after school tutorial program up and running again this year. Your student may stay late on Mondays and Thursdays from 2:20-4:00 p.m. to get help with their work. We, FCHS AVID, have professional tutors available for those times to assist our students. The late bus leaves school at 4:00 p.m. to transport participating students home. We can arrange tutoring for other days if you feel your student be in need of additional support.
We “Thank You” you in continuing to support each of our students in their strive to fulfilling their unique potential and making their dreams reality.

Very respectfully,

Francis L. Payne
FCHS AVID Coordinator