BERKS CATHOLIC HIGH SCHOOL GOD FAMILY ACADEMICS FUN

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1 BERKS CATHOLIC HIGH SCHOOL GOD FAMILY ACADEMICS FUN Dear Parents: Beginning with the school year, we will be following new diocesan procedures for collecting tuition and awarding financial aid/scholarships. Please note the following : All students will be enrolled in FACTS Management for collection of tuition and fees. All families who wish to apply for financial aid or scholarships will apply online through FACTS. All tuition, financial aid and school fees will be applied to your account in a 3 step process: o o o Tuition, any applicable discounts (sibling discounts, Transfer Grants, etc. ) will be applied and a Confirmation Letter will be sent via mail, or text with these details. Financial Aid and/or Scholarships, once awarded and verified, will be applied to the account and an adjustment notification will be sent via or text to inform you of the new payment schedule. School fees - any school fees (technology fee, book fees, athletic fees, etc. will be applied to each student as appropriate. Notification of this change will be sent via or text with the new payment schedule. All financial aid and scholarships can be applied for starting January 01, We thank you in advance for your patience with the new process. If you have any questions you can contact Gina Focht at Berks Catholic at Ext Sincerely, /6~/frZ.fi?ockiJ Gina M. Focht Tuition and Financial Aid 955 East Wyomi ssing Boulevard I Reading, PA Main Office I FAX I

2 BERKS CATHOLIC HIGH SCHOOL READING, PENNSYLVANIA TUITION, FINANCIAL AID and SCHOLARSHIP INFORMATION Students must be registered before being considered for financial aid. The following list includes the sources available for financial aid for CCHS tuition: FINANCIAL AID: All Applications will be completed on-line by going to our website, beginning January 1. Any attachments must be completed along with a $15.00 processing fee and mailed directly to FACTS Grant & Aid Assessment and must be received by April15, Applicants must be registered at Berks Catholic. FORWARD WITH CHRIST SCHOLARSHIP: Applications are available to all students who are registered in a Catholic feeder parish of Berks Catholic High School. This scholarship can be picked up in the Tuition Office at Berks Catholic High School. This scholarship application is based on SCHOOL, PARISH AND COMMUNITY ACTIVITIES, ACADEMIC ACHIEVEMENT, (based on average of last year's and this year's averages) and FINANCIAL NEED. This can be applied for each year. BISHOPS SCHOLARSHIP: This scholarship is only available to an Eighth Grade student who is a parishioner in the Diocese of Allentown enrolled in Catholic or public or private schools. This can only be applied for once. The criteria for selection is based on Academic Achievement, Involvement in extracurricular activities, Service to school, parish and community and Recommendations from teacher, principal and pastor. Applications are available from pastors, principals and directors of religious education programs. Once the form is completed it should be submitted to your 8 1 h Grade Teacher. This scholarship is worth $1, awarded to students from across the Diocese of Allentown. EASTERN PA SCHOLARSHIP: The Eastern PA Scholarship is eligible to students who are defined as school age residents of Pennsylvania, enrolled in a school located in Pennsylvania from a household that has a combined annual income not to exceed $75, (increased by $15, for each dependent). Awards will be based on greatest need. To apply for this scholarship you must also apply for Financial Aid through FACTS and then FACTS will categorize who is eligible for the Eastern PA Scholarship. It is very Important that all tax documents are submitted on time as the deadline for EPSF is April10, This can be applied for every year. This application must be submitted to Berks Catholic by April10, 2014.

3 In e t. COMPANY TUITION MANAGEMENT MADE EASY. Dear Parents: FACTS Grant & Aid Assessment will be conducting the financial need analysis for Berks Catholic High School for the upcoming school year. Families applying for financial aid will need to complete an application and submit the necessary supporting documentation to FACTS Grant & Aid Assessment by May 15,2014. Applicants can apply online begillliing January 1, 2014, at Once an online application has been completed, the following infonnation will need to be sent to FACTS to complete the application process: Copies of your most recent Federal tax forms including all suppmting tax schedules. Copies of your 2013 W-2 forms for both you and your spouse. Copies of supporting documentation for Social Security Income, Welfare, Child Support, Food Stamps, Workers' Compensation, and TANF. All supporting documentation can be uploaded in pdf format online. Documentation can also be faxed to or mailed to the address below. Please be sure to include the applicant ID on all faxed or mailed correspondence. FACTS Grant & Aid Assessment P.O. Box Lincoln, NE If you have questions or concerns about the application process, you may speak with a FACTS Customer Care Representative at Sincerely, ~Urzdj1?L!i?vm Gina M. Focht Berks Catholic Tuition & Financial Aid

4 Step 1: Navigate to your institution's website to complete the online application Step 2: Submit your Federal Form 1040 Income Tax Return, W-2 folims, and s~p.porting documentation for non-taxable income to FACTS. You can upload documents by logging into your online account or fax them to Draft or Preview Copy tax documents will not be accepted. Please allow at least two weeks for processing your application. Who decides bow much financial ajd I will recejye? The educational institution granting aid is solely responsible for determining the final award. The analysis completed by FACTS Grant & Aid Assessment serves as a recommendation only. Why do I have to provide this personal and confidential information? FACTS Grant & Aid Assessment must verify your expenses and household income to assist your institution in making an informed decision about the amount of financial aid needed for each family. How can I check the status of my application? Once you have completed the online application, you will be able to log on to the FACTS Grant & Aid Assessment website to check the status of your application. Help is available from FACTS A n el net. COMPANY Grant & Aid Assessment

5 INSTRUCTIONS FOR APPLYING FOR FINANCIAL AID 1. Go to the Berks Catholic Web page at 2. Go to the middle of the page and look for the gray box on the right hand side labeled Quick Links. 3. Click on the FACTS- Tuition and Financial Aid Tab 4. If you are not registered with FACTS through Berks Catholic, you select new user and you will click on Create new account. 5. Pick Name and Password. 6. Click on the Grant and Aid tab. 7. Fill out Application on-line and answer all questions applicable to you. All applications should be submitted by April 15, When asked tuition amount, please enter $7, After application is finished and submitted to FACTS, make sure all documents are sent in to FACTS in a timely manner. You will receive a letter from the Tuition Office at the end of May with your Aid rewards. If you do not qualify for aid, you will also receive a letter. Also, please remember your user name and password as you will need this if you want to go back in to your application. You can stop and go back into the system anytime just remember to hit the SAVE button on the application. You will need your user name and password to be used when you sign up for your billing on the FACTS system also. Mailings will go out in early March about the billing system.

6 FACTS REGISTRATION CHECKLIST FOR NEW FAMILIES: When registering online for your FACTS account to select a tuition payment plan or apply for financial aid, please be prepared to complete the following: 0 Name, address and phone numbers (daytime, evening & mobile) for the person who is responsible for paying tuition. 0 Name of student(s) who will be attending school and their grade for next September. 0 Be prepared to create a Username and Password. (Password must be at least 8 characters long and must include both letters and numbers) 0 Select Security Questions from a drop down menu and provide the answers to those questions 0 At this point, you will then see the options to either Apply for financial aid or Select a payment plan. Click on the link you wish and proceed. 0 If you are setting up your payment plan f.or the first time, choose how you will be paying tuition from the options your school has provided- through an invoice (Bill) or Automatic Deduction (ACH) 0 If you select Automatic Deduction you must have a blank check with you so that you can enter the Routing Number and Checking Account Number into the system. (Deposit slips will not have the correct information so numbers must be taken from a check) 0 If you are applying for financial aid, review the short video and take a look at the information on the initial page to help you prepare for completing the application. Please know you will need to have your banking info or credit card available so that you can you can pay the application fee. * *VERY IMPORTANT- please know that if y0 u put your address on the registration form ALL communications, including your tuition bill, will come to you throug~ . If you wish to receive your bill and any correspondence by US Mail then do not enter your address. FOR FAMILIES WHO ALREADY HAVE A FACTS ACCOUNT: 0 If you already have a FACTS account for your student(s) in the school you do not need to create a new account or register any new students. New students be added to your existing FACTS account by the school. 0 To apply for financial aid, simply log in to your account then select the link to apply for financial aid and follow the instructions above. (If you have never logged in to your account contact your school for a special code to access your current account.

7 BER S CATHOLIC HIGH SCHOOL SCHOLARSHIP APPLICATION FORWARD WITH CHRIST SCHOLARSHIP GRANT PROGRAM BERKS CATHOLIC HIGH SCHOOL ELIGIBILITY: All students who are registered in a Catholic feeder parish of Berks Catholic High School are eligible for scholarship grants to be distributed through the Forward With Christ Scholarship Program. Applicants will be evaluated according to the categories listed on this application with primary emphasis on financial need. INVOLVEMENT IN ACTIVITIES: Please describe activities in which you have participated. Be sure to mention the number of years you have been involved as well as held or awards received. Attach additional paper if necessary. SCHOOL ACTIVITIES: PARISH ACTIVITIES: COMMUNITY ACTIVITIES: ACADEMIC ACHIEVEMENT: Please indicate the general grade average over the past two academic years. Last year's scholastic average: This years scholastic average (1 51 semester): SUMMARY OF FINANCIAL INFORMATION: Father's annual income: $ Mother's annual income: $ Student's annual income: $ Number of dependent children: For office use only: Student ID #: Points Involvement in Activities Academic Achievement Financial Need TOTAL POINTS

8 Please complete this section. Attach a copy of your parents' most recent federal tax return in a sealed envelope to be opened only by the awards committee. Submit all documentation to Berks Catholic High School by April APPLICANTS NAME_,_-----, PHONE: SOCIAL SECURITY NUMBER: STREET ADDRESS CITY, STATE, & ZIP PARISH STREET ADDRESS. CITY, STATE, & ZIP SCHOOL YOU ARE CURRENTLY ATTENDING ARE YOU PRESENTLY REGISTERED AT BERKS CATHOLIC HIGH SCHOOL: YES_ NO FATHER'S NAME. OCCUPATION MOTHER'S NAME OCCUPATION: BROTHERS AND SISTERS LIVING WITH APPLICANT: NAME AGE SCHOOL ATTENDING SIGNATURE OF APPLICANT_-:-:-:---::--:-::--:------c:--:----::-_; ----:-:-:-- (Piease make sure you have completed activities/academic sections on reverse side.) SIGNATURE OF PARENT/GUARDIAN -=-----:-c---,------:-7---,--..,.--:--:-:-:--:-.=- (Piease make sure you have completed financial section on reverse side and attached latest financial documentation.) DATE:. For office use only: Student ID #: COMMENTS:

9 TO BE ATTACHED TO THE "FORWARD WITH CHRIST" APPLICATION Diocese of Allentown Office of Education MEMORANDUM OF UNDERSTANDING Between Parish and the Parents/Guardians of: Grade Grade Grade who will be attending Berks Catholic High School during the academic year. I understand that Catholic education is a shared venture of the Parish community, my family, and the School itself. I intend to do my part to support my Parish and to provide the example my family needs to grow in our Catholic faith. Therefore, I affirm my commitment to the following: 1. Maintain our status as registered members of Parish. 2. Worship regularly on Sundays and Holydays. 3. Contribute $ weekly/monthly to the Parish budget reflecting our family's financial commitment to our faith and to our Parish. I realize that the Parish's support, as well as the tuition rate for my child (ren), is made available to me in light of my faithful adherence to active membership in my Parish as described above. I also realize that failure to meet the expectations of active membership described above may result in the loss of financial aid. Parent/Guardian Signature Date Pastor Signature Date [This agreement is to be used each year for secondary student approval for the Forward with Christ Scholarship in the Diocese of Allentown] Please return this form to: Berks Catholic High School 955 E. Wyomissing Blvd. Reading, PA No later than April15, 2014