LaVergne High School. Class of Senior Year Handbook

Transcription

1 LaVergne High School Class of 2012 Senior Year Handbook

2 Your Senior Year Fall Checklist - August through December?? Make sure you continue to meet high school graduation and college admission requirements.?? Organize and record relevant dates on a calendar so you can plan your year more efficiently.?? Register for the Advanced Placement (AP) tests, if needed.?? Make copies of your admissions and financial aid forms. Practice filling them out before doing the final one.?? Meet with visiting recruiters from the schools that interest you.?? Arrange visits to schools you are considering and schedule admissions interviews if required.?? Make the final preparation of your portfolios, audition tapes, writing samples, or other evidence of talent required for admission and/or for scholarships. Finalize your resume to send with your applications.?? Submit your college admissions applications. Watch out for deadlines.?? Talk with your parents about what type budget you ll be on your freshman year. Take or retake the ACT or SAT. (LHS High School Code )?? Keep records of everything you submit.?? Identify at least two of the following to write solid recommendation forms for you: a teacher, an extracurricular advisor, a counselor, a principal, or an employer. Give the recommendation forms to teachers, counselors, etc. at least one month before they are due. Follow up on the progress of these recommendations.?? If seeking athletic scholarships, contact the coaches from the schools you are considering and include a resume of your accomplishments.??if you plan to fill out the FAFSA online to be considered for financial aid, you and one of your parents will need to apply for a PIN number at (BEFORE you file for the FAFSA in January)

3 Suffering Through Senioritis Spring Checklist - January through May?? Apply for financial aid by completing and submitting your Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) as soon after January 1 as possible. The FAFSA is available online at Call the school of your choice and confirm that they have received your admissions applications materials, including letters of recommendation and housing applications.?? Request that your high school send a copy of your transcript to the school where you have applied. Make sure your first semester senior year grades are included on the transcript.?? The information you receive back, after the FAFSA is processed, is the Student Aid Report (SAR). If any portion of the information on the SAR is incorrect, please correct it and resubmit it to the processing center.?? Submit any additional financial aid forms and documentation that is required by the school of your choice. Some of these forms may be available online including the FAFSA and admission applications.?? Notify the school(s) in writing as to whether you are accepting or declining admission by the proper deadline.?? Review your financial aid award letter with your parents and be sure that you understand the terms and conditions that accompany each kind of aid. Sign your financial aid award letter and return it to the school.?? Notify the financial aid office of any outside scholarships or grants that you have accepted since your initial application.?? Be aware of due dates for tuition, fees, room and board, and other expenses. Find out how your financial aid will be disbursed and whether you can defer payments until the funds are available.?? Respond immediately to all correspondence regarding school, scholarships, and financial aid.?? Participate in summer orientation programs for incoming freshman after high school graduation. Meet all class registration deadlines. REMEMBER: The financial aid process begins again in January for the next year of study.

4 Internet Resources LHS Counseling Favorites LaVernge High School Guidance: Find information about high school courses, scholarships, and your counselor. Comprehensive College Planning College For TN: Find information about careers, high school planning, finding colleges and majors, and financial aid planning. National Application Center: Plan, explore, and apply to college using these great tools. Mapping Your Future: Find information about careers, preparing for college, and paying for college. ecampus Tours: College virtual tours, plus information about college planning. Financial Aid & Scholarships FastWeb!: Find scholarships, colleges, jobs and internships. FinAid!: Information about financial aid, scholarships, and student loans. Career Research Occupational Outlook Handbook: Look up different careers and find information about required training, job descriptions, earning, and future job prospects. Kuder Navigator: Discover careers that match your interests, skills, and values. Kuder Career Search with Person Match Kuder Skills Assessment- 16 I NRJ S QSM Navigator Registration Code Super's Work Values Inventory-revised N JHQ V MMK Test Preparation ACT: Register for the ACT online and read about study tips and practice questions. College Board: Register for the SAT, plus find information about planning and paying for college.

5 Ask Yourself These Questions Before Enrolling in a College/School?? Is the school accredited? Is it licensed by the State to provide the program I want??? Does the school offer financial aid? If so, what types??? How much does the program cost? What does that include? Will my financial aid be enough to cover the cost of attendance? Will I have to pay any of it back??? Do I have to pay all expenses at once??? Can I get a refund if I have to drop out??? What is the average number of students in each class? Will I have enough contact with my instructors? How many students who begin a program actually graduate??? What are the attendance and grade requirements??? Can I get the courses I want at times that are convenient to me??? How long will it take to complete the program? How many hours a week will I be in class? How many hours of homework will I be expected to do??? Does the school provide all of the training that I need for the professional certification required for my career??? What will I have when I complete the program? A degree? A certificate??? If professional certification is required for employment, how many students enrolled in the school s program pass the certification exam??? Does the school have modern facilities and equipment? Will I be trained on state-of-the-art equipment used in the field that I want to enter? Does the school have enough equipment to ensure all students will get to use it??? What percentage of graduates find jobs? What does the school do to help graduates locate jobs? Does the school provide free job placement services??? If I decide to continue my education, will other schools accept the coursework from my current school? Check with the school to which you may transfer and find out if they will accept your coursework.

6 What is CollegeforTN.org? CollegeforTN.org is a student services website supporting the public and private colleges and universities of Tennessee. It gives students a vehicle to view and apply for Tennessee two and four year colleges, as well as, complete a career assessment to assist students in deciding a career path. ACT and SAT tutorials are also available for students. How Do I Register? For LaVergne High School students, use the steps below to create an account: Go to click Create and Account in the top right corner of the page. Username: lhs in front of your Novell username Password: your 7-digit student number Counselors Last names beginning with: A-D: Terry Cozart [email protected] D-H: Steven Lay [email protected] I-M: Melody Foy [email protected] N-R: Tiffany Andrews [email protected] S-Z: Lauren Little [email protected] If you selected to use the provided by Collegefor TN, your address would be yourusername followed For example: [email protected]

7 T EENNNNEESSSSEEEE E E DDUUCCAATTIIOONN L LOOTTTTEERRYYT S C CHHOOLLAARRSSHHIIPP P P RROOGGRRAAM MS ELIGIBILITY REQUIREMENTS T ENNESSEE HOPE S CHOLARSHIP All Tennessee Education Lotery Scholarship Program recipients must: Award am ount is $ 4, for 4 -year institutions and 2 -year institutions that offer on -cam pus housing ; $ 2, for 2 -year institutions (not to exceed the cost of attendance ) Be a Tennessee resident one year prior to application deadline; Sept. 1 for Fall or Feb. 1 for Spring and Summer Complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA), online at (Applications must be received by Sept. 1 for Fall or Feb. 1 for Spring and Summer) Enrol in a Tennessee college or university, listed on the back of this form within 16 months following graduation from a Tennessee high school or completion of a Tennessee homeschool or GED program (Students graduating from some out-ofstate schools may be eligible. For more information, call TSAC.) Be enrolled for at least 6 hours Minim um 21 ACT (Com posite) / SAT (Math + Critical Reading ONLY ) on a national test date OR Final cum ulative, w eighted 3. 0 GPA for entering freshm en graduating from eligible public or category 1, 2 or 3 private high schools GED students m ust have m inim um ACT /SAT test scores stated above AND 525 on the GED test TN homeschool and non-category 1, 2 or 3 private high school graduates m ust have ACT /SAT test scores stated above AND m ust have been enrolled in a hom eschool program for 2 years immediately preceding graduation A SPIRE A W ARD $1,500 SUPPLEMENT to Tennessee HOPE Scholarship M eet Tennessee HOPE Scholarship requirem ents AND Parents or independent student s (and spouse s ) adjusted gross incom e m ust be $ 3 6, or less on tax form Students m ay receive ASPIRE or GAMS, but not both W ILDER -N AIFEH T ECHNICAL S KILLS G RANT Award am ount is $ 2, (not to exceed the cost of attendance ) Available to all persons who enroll in a certificate or diplom a program at a Tennessee Technology Center (TTC ) and m eet residency requirem ents May be eligible for Tennessee HOPE Scholarship if student is initially HOPE eligible and enrolls at an eligible Tennessee institution within 3 years of completing a TTC diploma program Never drop a course without talking to your financial aid office about how it may impact your lotery scholarship eligibility Award amounts for parttime enrollment will be prorated based on attempted hours Award amounts are subject to reductions based on lottery revenue FOR QUESTIONS AND ADDITIONAL ELIGIBILITY REQUIREMENTS, PLEASE CONTACT THE TENNESSEE STUDENT ASSISTANCE CORPORATION (615) (800) / G ENERAL A SSEMBLY M ERIT S CHOLARSHIP $1,000 SUPPLEMENT to Tennessee HOPE Scholarship Entering freshm en graduating from eligible public or category 1, 2 or 3 private high schools must have at least a final cum ulative, weighted GPA AND 29 ACT (Com posite)/ SAT (Math + Critical Reading O NLY) on a national test date Hom eschool and non -category 1, 2, or 3 private high school graduates m ust have ACT /SAT test scores stated above AND enroll in 4 or m ore courses totaling at least 1 2 sem ester hours with a cum ulative GPA of at least 3. 0 at an eligible postsecondary institution while enrolled in high school Students m ay receive ASPIRE or GAMS, but not both T ENNESSEE HOPE A CCESS G RANT Award am ount is $ 2, for 4 -year institutions ; $ 1, for 2 -year institutions Entering freshm en graduating from eligible public or category 1, 2 or 3 private high schools must have at least a final cum ulative, weighted GPA AND 18, 19 or 20 ACT (Composite ) / SAT (Math + Critical Reading ONLY ) on a national test date AND Parents or independent student s (and spouse s ) adjusted gross incom e m ust be $ 3 6, or less on tax form Award is non -renewable after 2 4 attem pted hours, however students m ay becom e HOPE eligible, contact financial aid office for details

8 Start Early Steps for Getting A Scholarship?? If possible, start the process at least two years be fore you need the aid.?? Always remember that you will be applying for scholarships about a year before you will actually receive the aid.?? Get good grades they will only help you and put you above the next applicant. Prepare Yourself?? Often scholarships are awarded to students who are involved in activities both in school and in the community. Well-rounded students have the best chance of receiving scholarships.?? Many clubs and organizations have scholarships associated with them. Doing your research in the beginning may help you obtain more scholarships. Do Research?? Figure out what makes you a special individual. This may include such things as academics, volunteer work, athletics, or your family background.?? Consider unique circumstances or conditions at th might make you eligible for aid such as being a foster child, having asthma, being a single parent, or having a disability.?? Scholarship opportunities can be found in many places including financial aid offices, libraries, local civic organizations, your (or your parents ) employer, local businesses, your high school counseling office, or the internet. Download Applications and Information?? After you collect all of the information about the scholarships for which you are interested in applying, you will need to contact the organization.?? Most organizations will have online scholarship applications. Some will require that you contact them through the mail to request applications and other pertinent information.?? Other organizations will give potential applicants their phone numbers and addresses to expedite the request for information.?? Give the organization ample time to send you the necessary paperwork. Be aware of all deadlines associated with applying. Apply?? Once you receive the application and understand all of the information that you are expected to send to the organization, you will need to apply for the scholarship.?? Many organizations require information such as a completed application, an essay, recommendations, and/or a resume from each applicant. Make sure you have given yourself plenty of time to gather all of the required information.?? Most scholarships will have deadlines for applying. You may want to keep a calendar with all of the deadlines listed so that you do not let any expire.?? Before you send in your completed application, make sure to double -check the spelling and grammar. Nothing looks worse on a scholarship application than a common spelling error.?? Remember that the application process takes time, and it could be months befo re you are notified of any awards. Be aware that some organizations will not send any follow -up correspondence if you do not receive the award.?? Always put your best effort into each application. Be neat and organized - First impressions count

9 Watch Out for Scholarship Scams Just as there are many scholarships, there are many scholarship scams. Although many sound legitimate and official, BE CAREFUL. Remember one cardinal rule: If it sounds too good to be true, it probably is. You should be suspicious of an organization if they do any of the following:?? Request payment of fee to apply for scholarships.?? Insist on your credit card number, any bank account number, calling card number, or social security number. If given a number, they could charge unnecessary fees or drain your account.?? Pressure you to act fast. This offer will expire....?? Request an advance fee to apply for a low-interest educational loan.?? Offer to apply on your behalf or claim to have an influence on scholarship sponsors.?? Guarantee scholarship winnings or search results.?? Have loose eligibility requirements.?? Charge you for a scholarship.?? Use a mail drop as a return address.?? Do not include a telephone number for inquiries or have only an answering machine at the number given.?? Send you a notification that you were selected to receive a scholarship for which you never applied.?? Attempt to lure you in with financial aid information in order to sell you something else (i.e. life insurance annuities, etc.). Be cautious and remember that a to ll-free number and official looking stationary are not signs of legitimacy. These things are easy to obtain. Before you send money to an organization, it would be a good idea to verify their legitimacy by doing the following:?? Contact your college financial aid administrator or school counselor.?? Check with the Better Business Bureau ( the State Attorney General s Office, and the State Chamber of Commerce in your state and in the state where the organization is located.?? Visit check the list of defendants of pending scams. Contact the National Fraud Information Center (?? Call the U.S. Postal Crime Hotline at Take advantage of free sources of scholarship information and search services that are available through your public library, the financial aid office, your school counseling office, the internet, and Student Outreach Services.

10 La Vergne High School Transcript Request Form Instructions : Complete this form with all applicable information. Student signature is required at the time of ordering transcript(s). Please complete accurate address inf ormation for each destination to mail transcript(s) to and indicate the number of copies to be mailed. It is the student s responsibility to provide accurate address information on this form. A $2 PROCESSING FEE PER SCHOOL MUST ACCOMPANY THIS FORM (Cash or Money Order ONLY) Please Print or Type Name (Last, First, MI) Date of Birth Pd: Permanent Address Phone Number Shot Record Request (Only needed for final transcript) Yes No Date of Graduation Previous Last Names Addresses for Mailing Transcripts College College Address City State Zip Address City State Zip College College Address City State Zip Address City State Zip Student Signature: Date: Return to: 250 Wolverine Trail LaVergne, TN Date Completed by Counselor

11 College Day Procedures Students are allowed one college day during their senior year. The absence will be excused if the following procedures are completed: 1. A letter from the parent requesting the date and particular college student is going to visit 2. Take a letter to your counselor for verification of admission requirements 3. Must have good attendance record and good standing to graduate 4. Each of the student s teachers and the Attendance Office must sign student s permission form, and then return to Mrs. Garrison in CounselingOffice. 5. On the day the student returns to school, he/she must present the Attendance Office with a letter from the college verifying the date of the student s visit. These can be picked up at the college s Admissions Office. STUDENTS: Please remember to call the college to set up an appointment with admissions, financial aid offices and departments you are interested in.

12 La Vergne High School College Day Request Form for Seniors Student: Date: Date of Request: School Visiting: Number of Days Student Has Been Absent: Teachers Signatures: Counselor s Signature: Attendance Clerk s Signature:

13 Application for 2011 and 2012Tennessee Scholars All Students must meet the State Board of Education requirements for graduation, and the additional requirements listed below: The benefits of graduating as a Tennessee Scholar are scholarships, job preferential hiring, a better preparation success in college, and/or the workforce, rewards and recognition from business, gives you a global competitive e and the chance to a better career. If you are interested in the rewards and benefits of graduating as a Tennessee Scholar, please complete this application and checklist and return it as soon as possible to your school counselor. rewards, scholarships, and benefits associa ted with being a Tennessee Scholar are non - competitive. Unless you return this application, you may not receive the award. First Name Middle Last Address City State Zip School Grade 2011 and 2012 Graduates Check if you have completed these requirements 4 Credits of English 4 Credits of Math (Alg I, Alg II, Geom & 1 higher math) 3 Credits of lab science (Biology, Chemistry and 1 more lab science (Physics preferred) 3 Credits of Social Studies 2 CTE Credits or 2 additional AP classes or 2 Dual Credit, Dual Enrollment, online classes or 2 additional International Baccalaureate or any combination of two 2 Credits of the same Foreign Language (Cannot opt out) 1 credit of Fine Art (Cannot opt out) Wellness Additional Requirements 95% Attendance (9 days per year or no more than 36 total days in 4 years) No out of school suspensions 40 hours of volunteer Service (List service hours on back) Grade point average (GPA) of 3.0 or higher ACT Score of 19 or higher List th e classes: 1. 2.

14 Date Community Service Description EX: Walk for St. Jude Hours Contact person Phone number of Contact person For more information about Tennessee Scholars