The NAACP Parents' Councils of the Gaithersburg High School Cluster and the City of Gaithersburg are hosting the second Parent/Student Assessment Information Night on Thursday, September 30, 6-9 p.m. ("snow date" October 14) at Forest Oak Middle School.

Parents and students in Grades 2-12 are invited to attend. Transportation, child care and dinner will be provided at no charge. While the primary focus is on the SAT and state-mandated standardized exams, the program offers a diverse array of sessions and entertainment for the entire family.

New sessions added this year cover topics such as the new Grading and Reporting policy, special education, and Montgomery College's Gateway to College Program, a new partnership that begins this fall for students who are at risk of not completing their MCPS high school diploma.
Sessions for high school students include how colleges use SAT scores, credit and identity theft, and goal-setting.

Students elementary school age and younger will enjoy an area children's song writer and entertainer, and the middle school group will participate in small-group martial arts instruction. Elementary and middle school session topics include assessment overview, test-taking skills, goal setting and rap sessions with recent high school and college graduates.

Parents and high school students are given the option to register for sessions of their choice based on needs and interests. The program includes a parent session in Spanish.

Families are encouraged to preregister. Registration forms are available through MCPS schools and online. The preregistration deadline is Friday, September 17. Onsite registration will begin at 5:30 p.m. on September 30. For more information, e-mail tammyhyson@aol.com.