We know the school year has just begun, and you're still searching for school supplies for your 8th grader. But the high school admission season is upon us, and, believe it or not, you need to start thinking about next year now.

The first high school fair will be held Saturday, Sept. 16 from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. and Sunday, Sept. 17 from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. at Brooklyn Technical High School, at 29 Fort Greene Place in Brooklyn. Get there early. The fair is generally a zoo -- with big crowds and a line around the block -- but it's worth your while to go. It's a great place to meet students and faculty members from schools across the city, and it will give you a sense of which schools will be right for your child. Most subway lines have stops nearby: try the DeKalb Avenue stop on the N, Q, or R lines; the G to Fulton Avenue, the C to Lafayette, or the Atlantic-Pacific Stop on the 2, 3, 4, 5, B and D lines.

If this fair is not convenient, there will be fairs in each borough Oct. 21 and 22.

Individual schools generally have "open houses" or tours and as they are scheduled they will be posted on the Insideschools.org website. Check the open house section regularly, and check each school's website as well. Open houses book up fast, and you will want to visit the schools that interest you before applications are due Dec. 1.

Next week your 8th grader will be working with our counselor, Erin Hill, to make a preliminary list of schools he/she is interested in applying to. If your child is one of the 25,000 8th graders who are planning on taking the specialized high school admissions test Nov. 4th or 5th, Ms. Hill will provide an admission ticket one week before the test. She will also provide a ticket to audition for admission to Fiorello H. LaGuardia High School of Music & Art and Performing Arts (dates to be determined).

The Bard High School assessment is scheduled for Oct. 7 & 8, 14 & 15. If you are interested in Bard your child should indicate this next week and Ms. Hill will provide the admission ticket one week before the assessment (dates may be prescribed - we will let you know). Your child should now have a high school directory - please begin working with him/her to determine which schools you want to tour, and you should begin contacting those schools directly.

Questions? There will be a thorough information session at our Curriculum Night on Wednesday, September 20 at 6:00 pm. You will be receiving much more communication from us in the coming days and weeks!

Erin Hill School Counselor EHill3@schools.nyc.gov

Sara Sloves Parent Coordinator 917 441 1234