Week of January 21, 2024

January 31 - General Membership Meeting

January 31 - RHS and Northwest Education Access Financial Aid Night

January 31 - Scholarship Deadlines

February 7 - Parent Chat - Validating Emotions

Please join us for our rescheduled January Membership Meeting.

Wednesday, January 31, 2024

6:00-8:00pm

RHS Library

How to enter the building: Please use the entrance directly in front of the RHS library. Walk up the front steps, turn right at the commons/cafeteria, pass through the courtyard to get to the entrance. The front entrance near the main office will not be open.

Does your student need practice for the SAT or ACT? The PTSA aims to help our students do their best on college entrance exams and holds independent "just for practice" SAT and ACT tests. These full-length practice tests, administered by Princeton Review, offer students the opportunity to practice test taking strategies and determine baseline scores prior to taking the official SAT and ACT college entrance exams. Students in any grade can take these tests and scores are not reported to anyone other than the student.

Students can choose to take the tests online from home or in-person at RHS. There will be no time flexibility provided for in-person tests. Online tests offer accommodation for time and can be taken up to 4 weeks from test date.

Spring practice tests are coming up and it is not too late to register.

• Spring Practice Test SAT - Digital Format (online or in-person) - Saturday, February 3, 2024 - 8:30-11:00am. Registration deadline: Wednesday, January 31, 2024.

• Spring Practice Test ACT (online or in-person) - Saturday, March 16, 2024 - 8:30am-12:30pm. Registration deadline: Wednesday, March 13, 2024.

For more information and to register, please visit our website.

We don’t want financial circumstances to be a factor in considering whether or not your child will take these practice tests. If there are financial concerns, please send an email to testprep@redmondhsptsa.org. We can work with you if you need financial help.

Volunteers Needed for Practice SAT and ACT Exams

RHS PTSA is looking for 2-3 parent volunteers for the Spring Practice SAT and ACT exams at RHS. Volunteering duration will be up to 2 hours, between 8:30am-12:30pm at RHS Library. These exams cannot take place without parent help and support.

Volunteering dates - Saturday, Feb 3, 2024 and Saturday, March 16, 2024

Duties includes being on site while students take the exam and helping the proctor or students if required.

Email testprep@redmondhsptsa.org if you are interested in volunteering for a few hours. All volunteers must be LWSD approved.

Are you looking for money to help fund your college or training after high school? Here is a list of scholarships that are due on Wednesday, January 31, 2024. The only way to be considered for any scholarships is for you to apply. Each scholarship has its own eligibility requirements so check and see which ones you qualify for and APPLY TODAY! Scholarships are stackable and they do not affect your federal/state financial aid. 

Amtrak Academic Scholarship Program

InspirASIAN Scholarship

The Richard Pizzo Honorary Scholarship

WA State Fair's Blue Ribbon Scholarships

WSU Scholarships

Check the College and Career Center (CCC) webpage and the Scholarship bulletin board across the hall from the CCC for more scholarships! Questions about scholarships? Reach out to College and Career Guidance Specialist Ms. Wu at rwu@lwsd.org and please let Ms. Wu know when you have been awarded a scholarship that was shared by the CCC.

Everyone is welcome - student and parents. Join us on Wednesday, January 31 at 5pm to learn what financial aid is, who is eligible and how to apply. We will have a FAFSA/WASFA walkthrough, so come with your questions! Please see the attached checklist for items you need to have to complete the financial aid forms. In order to complete your FAFSA/WASFA, you must have setup your FSA ID prior to this workshop and bring your charged laptop (if possible).

Questions? Email College and Career Guidance Specialist Rose Wu at rwu@lwsd.org.

RSVP here.

Workshop will be in English with support in Spanish.

Simpler, more generous 2024-25 financial aid applications now available! A family of four making up to $120,500 may be eligible for aid.

Financial aid applications for this year’s graduating seniors are now available, although students and families should expect some technical issues for the time being. And it will take longer than usual for colleges to get and process applications and respond with financial aid awards.

Applications were delayed this year as updates were made to improve the FAFSA and WASFA forms and increase aid eligibility. In Washington, there are two ways to apply for financial aid. You should only complete one application - the FAFSA or the WASFA:

• FAFSA: Most people should complete a FAFSA (Free Application for Federal Student Aid). The FAFSA is used by U.S. citizens and eligible non-citizens to apply for both state and federal financial aid. The new 2024-25 FAFSA has been released in a “soft launch.” Families may experience technical issues with the form over the next few weeks, but there’s no need to rush to apply—there is no deadline for state or federal financial aid.
• WASFA: The WASFA (Washington Application for State Financial Aid) is an application for state financial aid. The WASFA is for people who are not eligible to complete the FAFSA due to immigration status, defaulted federal loans, or other issues with federal aid. The new 2024-25 WASFA is now available.

Applying for financial aid is a crucial first step toward college or job training. Many families assume they won’t qualify, but there’s more help available than ever before. This year, a family of four making up to $120,500 can qualify for financial aid in Washington. The only way to know for sure if you’re eligible is to apply.

Learn more, get support, and apply for financial aid on WSAC's Apply Page. Need Help? Sign up to attend the Financial Aid Workshop on Wednesday, January 31 at 5pm.

LW Institute of Technology Webinar

LWTech is a wonderful community resource that many people aren’t aware of. Join us to learn about:

• Stackable programs including certificates, associate degrees, and 4-year degrees.
• A wide range of academic programs in business, design, education, engineering, health sciences, IT and more.
• The focus on employment and student outcomes.
• Hands-on learning and small cohorts.
• Direct Transfer Agreements (DTA) to complete a 4-year degree.

Thursday, February 1 from 7:00-8:00pm over Zoom.

Register here.

Cost: $10 per family (scholarships available; please contact findyourfit@lwsf.org). All proceeds from this webinar go to supporting the work of the Lake Washington Schools Foundation. No refunds will be given.

Parent Chat - Validating Emotions

Why it’s so important to validate our kids’ emotions and how to do it.

Unlock the key to nurturing your child’s emotional well-being in our upcoming webinar, where we delve into why validating your kids’ emotions is essential and provide expert guidance on mastering this crucial parenting skill.

Register here.

Wednesday, February 7 from 7:00-8:00pm over Zoom.