Important 8th Grade Dates and Events – Fall 2025

October 16, 2025

Eighth grade is such a meaningful and exciting year for students and their families alike. As our students prepare to close one chapter of their educational journey and look ahead to the next at high school this coming September, we want to take time to celebrate all they’ve accomplished over the past three years.

The Class of 2026 has grown tremendously in so many ways, and we’re proud of each and every student. To honor their hard work, growth, and resilience, we’ve planned several special events throughout the month of June. Please mark your calendars with the important dates below:

🎉 8th Grade Dance
Date: Thursday, June 4, 2026
Time: 12:30 PM – 4:00 PM
Location: The Inn at New Hyde Park

🎓 Graduation Ceremony
Date: Tuesday, June 16, 2026
Time: 2:00 PM
Location: St. John’s University – Lou Carnesecca Arena

🚌 8th Grade Senior Trip
Date: Wednesday, June 24, 2026
More details to follow soon

As we move through the year, we will continue to send out updates and important information regarding these events and more. Please keep an eye on your email and school communication channels to stay informed.

We’re excited to celebrate this wonderful group of students and their many accomplishments. Thank you for your continued support as we prepare to send them off to high school with pride and great memories.

Beacon High School Open House -10/17 and 10/27

We’re excited to share information about upcoming Beacon High School Open House events—a wonderful opportunity for families to get to know the school, learn more about what Beacon offers, and start thinking ahead to the high school admissions process.

🏫 Beacon High School In-Person Open Houses

You’re invited to attend one of the following in-person sessions:

Friday, October 17th

4:00–5:30 PM
6:00–7:30 PM

Monday, October 27th

4:00–5:30 PM
6:00–7:30 PM

💻 Virtual Open House

If you prefer to join from home, Beacon will also be hosting a virtual session on:

Saturday, October 25th | 11:00 AM – 12:15 PM

These events are listed on https://myschools.nyc/en/ and we encourage families to register there to secure a spot.

✏️ A Note About Beacon’s Admissions Process

Beacon has updated its admissions process this year:
50% of the admissions decision will be based on average course grades
50% will be based on an in-person written essay

Please note:

The essay will be written in person only, not remotely.
Several dates (including weekends) will be available in November for students to register and write their essays.
Students with IEPs and 504 plans will receive appropriate assessment accommodations during the essay.

Beacon will be sharing more details about essay registration as those dates are finalized.

Townsend Harris High School's Aspire Program

Sep 18, 2025 - From Townsend Harris HS:

As you know, all 8th grade students and their families must participate in the high school admissions process. We understand that this journey can feel overwhelming, which is why we are excited to share a meaningful opportunity to support you. Townsend Harris High School’s Aspire program, led by current high school students, offers guidance and firsthand insight into the admissions process, including the SHSAT, writing and video assessments, and more. This is a valuable resource designed to help families better understand what to expect and how to prepare.

Please read the message below from the Aspire Outreach Director for full event details and RSVP information. We strongly encourage all 8th grade families to attend.

The Aspire Program at Townsend Harris High School is a program that collaborates with various schools to assist middle school students in their academic careers and their transition to high school, stemming from the perspectives of current high school students. On behalf of the program, I would like to ask for you to share the following event with your school community.

On Friday, October 3, from 5-7 pm, we will be hosting our next informative presentation at Townsend Harris High School. This presentation will be led by current high school students, and will be about approaching the high school application, writing and video assessment components, and the SHSAT. All students and their families are invited to attend and may RSVP using this link: https://forms.gle/dG69z3BWqHRGNyuy7

If this information does not pertain to your role, I apologize for the oversight. Please forward this email to the appropriate individual at your school who could communicate this information to students and families.

Thank you in advance for your time, and please email us at [email protected] if you have any questions or concerns.

High School Fair - Tuesday, September 30, 2025

September 19, 2025:

On behalf of the Queens Borough President's Donovan Richards, we are excited to announce the annual High School Fair is scheduled to take place on Tuesday, September 30th, 2025 at 5 p.m. at the Helen Marshall Cultural Center (120-55 Queens Boulevard, Kew Gardens, NY 11424).

All interested in attending should RSVP via this link: queensbp.nyc.gov/RSVP . The flyer has a list of the schools that are participating. Note, we are still confirming more schools to join us that evening.