LaVergne High School. Class of 2014 Senior Year Handbook

LaVergne High School Class of 2014 Senior Year Handbook

High School Graduation Requirements English 4 Credits English I English II English III English IV Math 4 Credits Algebra I Geometry Algebra II Upper Level Math Science 3 Credits Biology Chemistry or Physics Another Lab Science Social Studies 3 Credits Geog., World, Ancient or Modern History U.S. History Economics Government.5 Credit.5 Credit P.E. and Wellness 1.5 Credits Wellness Physical Education Fine Arts Elective Pathway 3 Credits.5 Credit 3 Credits Personal Finance.5 Credit Foreign Language 2 Credits (Must Be the Same Language) Elective.5 Credit 2 Credits 23 Total Credits Required for Graduation 4.0 GPA 12 Honors or Higher Courses Graduate with Honors Graduate with Distinction Graduating With Honors Valedictorian Graduation with Honors Graduation with Distinction Meet ACT Benchmarks o English 18 o Math 22 o Reading 21 o Science 24 3.0 GPA plus ONE of the following: o Participate in Governor s School o Participate in a TN All State musical organization o Be a National Merit Finalist or Semi Finalist o Composite score of 31 on ACT o Score 3 or higher on two AP Exams o Complete the International Baccalaureate Program o Earn 12 of more college credits o Earn a nationally recognized industry certification

Senior Year Checklist Make sure you are on track to graduate. Review your transcript and credits. Get involved! Involvement in clubs, sports, community programs, and other extracurriculars look great when applying for colleges, scholarships, and jobs. Update your academic resume. Update your list of community service, school activities, new report cards, test scores, and honors or awards. Make a plan! Whether you plan on attending college, getting certified at a technical school, or entering the workforce, you need to make a plan. Set a goal and take steps to reach it! Fall Consider retaking the ACT. Register online at www.actstudent.org. Review the application procedures for the schools you plan to apply to. Submit your college admissions applications. Watch out for deadlines. Consider applying to at least two schools. Continue researching careers and majors, especially if you re undecided! Student athletes register with the NCAA or NAIA Clearinghouse. Register online at www.eligibilitycenter.org or www.playnaia.org Begin applying for scholarships. Spring Apply for financial aid by completing the FAFSA. Complete the FAFSA online at www.fafsa.gov. Continue applying for scholarships. Take care of any unfinished admissions paperwork.

Internet Resources LHS Counseling Favorites LaVernge High School Guidance: www.lhs.rcs.k12.tn.us/teachers/guidance/guidance.htm Comprehensive College Planning College For TN: www.collegefortn.org Find information about careers, high school planning, finding colleges and majors, and financial aid planning. Financial Aid & Scholarships FAFSA: www.fafsa.gov The Free Application for Federal Student Aid. TSAC: www.tn.gov/collegepays Tennessee Student Assistance Corporation; HOPE Info FastWeb!: www.fastweb.com Find scholarships, colleges, jobs and internships. FinAid!: www.finaid.org Information about financial aid, scholarships, and student loans. Career Research Occupational Outlook Handbook: www.bls.gov/oco Look up different careers and find information about required training, job descriptions, earnings, and future job prospects. TN College & Career Planning: http://www.planningyourdreams.org Use the Kuder Navigator to discover careers that match your interests, skills, and values. Access code: N3696538FRP Test Preparation ACT: www.actstudent.org Register for the ACT online and read about study tips and practice questions. College Board: www.collegeboard.com Register for the SAT, plus find information about planning and paying for college.

Financial Aid 101 Adapted from CollegeForTN.org What is financial aid? Financial aid is money from federal, state and private institutions that's used to pay educational costs. Sources of financial aid include the federal government, the state government, colleges and universities, community groups, and corporations. What are the specific types of financial aid? Scholarships and grants can be need-based, merit-based, or gift aid. Merit awards can be conditional on financial need or not. Loans for students and parents can be need-based or non-need-based. Most financial aid packages involve some loans. Student employment programs provide work opportunities. Work-study jobs may be on campus or in nearby communities. You are paid an hourly wage set by the school. For more information, consult a financial aid counselor at the college you plan to attend. How do I apply for financial aid? You should complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) as soon as possible after January 1 of your senior year in high school. Applications are processed and results are sent to the colleges you listed on the FAFSA. Your Student Aid Report (SAR) will be sent to you. This report summarizes the information entered on your FAFSA form, and shows the amount of your Expected Family Contribution. Your school will then provide you with an award letter outlining types of aid for which you are eligible. Continue to apply for other scholarships and grants for which you may be eligible outside of the college or university Helpful online resources: www.collegefortn.org www.finaid.org www.fafsa.gov

Tennessee Education Lottery Scholarship Programs Information for 2014 High School Graduates ELIGIBILITY REQUIREMENTS TENNESSEE HOPE SCHOLARSHIP All Tennessee Education Lottery Scholarship Program recipients must: Be a Tennessee resident one year prior to application deadline; Sept.1 for Fall or Feb. 1 for Spring and Summer (Dependent children of fulltime religious workers, U.S. military or Tennessee National Guard members on active duty who maintain Tennessee residency while stationed out of state may be eligible) Complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) online at www.fafsa.gov (Applications must be received by Sept. 1 for Fall or Feb. 1 for Spring and Summer) Enroll in an eligible postsecondary institution within 16 months following graduation from a Tennessee high school or completion of a Tennessee homeschool or GED program (Students graduating from some out-of-state schools may be eligible. For more information, call TSAC.) Be enrolled in at least 6 hours Never drop a course without talking to your financial aid office about how it may impact your lottery scholarship eligibility Award amounts for part-time enrollment will be prorated based on attempted hours FOR QUESTIONS AND ADDITIONAL ELIGIBILITY REQUIREMENTS, PLEASE CONTACT THE TENNESSEE STUDENT ASSISTANCE CORPORATION 615.741.1346 * 800.342.1663 WWW.TN.GOV/COLLEGEPAYS Award amount is up to $2,000 per semester for 4-year institutions and 2-year institutions that offer on-campus housing; up to $1,000 per semester for 2-year institutions Minimum 21 ACT (Composite)/980 SAT (Math + Critical Reading ONLY) on a national test date or state test date OR Final cumulative weighted 3.0 GPA* for entering freshmen graduating from eligible public or category 1, 2, or 3 private high schools GED students must have minimum ACT/SAT test scores stated above AND an average score of at least 525 on the GED test TN homeschool and non-category 1, 2, or 3 private high school graduates must have ACT/SAT test scores stated above AND must have been enrolled in a homeschool program for 1 year immediately preceding graduation and be registered with a TN local school district ASPIRE AWARD Up to $750 per semester SUPPLE- MENT to Tennessee HOPE Scholarship Meet Tennessee HOPE Scholarship requirements AND Parents or independent student s (and spouse s) adjusted gross income must be $36,000 or less on tax form Students may receive ASPIRE or GAMS, but not both GENERAL ASSEMBLY MERIT SCHOLARSHIP (GAMS) Up to $500 per semester SUPPLE- MENT to Tennessee HOPE scholarship Entering freshmen graduating from eligible public or category 1, 2, or 3 private high schools must have at least a final cumulative weighted 3.75 GPA* AND 29 ACT (Composite)/1280 SAT (Math + Critical Read -ing ONLY) on a national test date or state test date Homeschool and non-category 1, 2, or 3 private high school graduates must have ACT/SAT test scores stated above AND enroll in 4 or more courses totaling at least 12 semester hours with a cumulative GPA of at least 3.0 at an eligible postsecondary institution while enrolled in a homeschool program Students may receive ASPIRE or GAMS, but not both WILDER-NAIFEH TECHNICAL SKILLS GRANT Award amount is up to $2,000 per academic year Available to anyone who enrolls in a certificate or diploma program at a College of Applied Technology and meets residency requirements May be eligible for Tennessee HOPE Scholarship if student is initially HOPE eligible and enrolls at an eligible postsecondary institution within 3 years of completing a diploma program @ a College of Applied Tech. TENNESSEE HOPE ACCESS GRANT Award amount is up to $1,375 per semester for 4-year institutions; up to $875 per semester for 2-year institutions Entering freshmen graduating from eligible public or category 1, 2, or 3 private high schools must have at least a final cumulative weighted 2.75-2.99 GPA* AND 18, 19, or 20 ACT (Composite)/860-970 SAT (Math + Critical Reading ONLY) on a national test date or state test date AND Parents or independent student s (and spouse s) adjusted gross income must be $36,000 or less on tax form Award is non-renewable after 24 attempted hours, however students may become HOPE eligible; contact financial aid office for details *Calculated per the uniform grading policy adopted by the Tennessee State Board of Education. For further details, ask your school counselor.

TENNESSEE EDUCATION LOTTERY SCHOLARSHIP PROGRAM ELIGIBLE INSTITUTIONS Aquinas College (003477) Art Institute of Tennessee, Nashville (009270)* Austin Peay State University (003478) Baptist Memorial College of Health Sciences (034403) Belmont University (003479) Bethel University (003480) Bryan College (003536) Carson-Newman University (003481) Chattanooga State Community College (003998) Christian Brothers University (003482) Cleveland State Community College (003999) Columbia State Community College (003483) Cumberland University (003485) Dyersburg State Community College (006835) East Tennessee State University (003487) ETSU School of Pharmacy (E01254) Fisk University (003490) Freed-Hardeman University (003492) Hiwassee College (003494) Jackson State Community College (004937) John A. Gupton College (008859) Johnson University (003495) King College (003496) Knoxville College Lane College (003499) Lee University (003500) LeMoyne-Owen College (003501) Lincoln Memorial University (003502) Lipscomb University (003486) Martin Methodist College (003504) Maryville College (003505) Memphis College of Art (003507) Middle Tennessee State University (003510) Milligan College (003511) Motlow State Community College (006836) Tennessee HOPE Scholarship Renewal Criteria Wilder Naifeh Technical Skills Grant Eligible Institutions: College of Applied Technology at Athens (005358) at Chattanooga (003998) at Covington (005280) at Crossville (004026) at Crump (005357) at Dickson (013955) at Elizabethton (005281) at Harriman (013894) at Hartsville (013893) at Hohenwald (014126) at Jacksboro (010700) at Jackson (013895) at Knoxville (004025) at Livingston (005353) at McKenzie (005352) at McMinnville (005307) at Memphis (005360) at Morristown (013891) at Murfreesboro (014543) at Nashville (013968) at Newbern (005283) at Oneida/Huntsville (009710) at Paris (013943) at Pulaski (009464) at Ripley (012164) at Shelbyville (005379) at Whiteville (014304) Eligibility shall be reviewed at the end of the semester in which the student has attempted a total of 24, 48, 72, 96 or any other subsequent multiple of 24 semester hours. Additionally, at 72 attempted hours and beyond, students may be reviewed at the end of each semester if they maintain the award on a provisional basis. Contact TSAC for details. Nashville State Community College (007534) Northeast State Community College (005378) O More College of Design (014663) Pellissippi State Community College (012693) Rhodes College (003519) Roane State Community College (009914) South College (004938) Southern Adventist University (003518) Southwest Tennessee Community College (010439) Tennessee State University (003522) Tennessee Technological University (003523) Tennessee Temple University (003524) Tennessee Wesleyan College (003525) Trevecca Nazarene University (003526) Tusculum College (003527) Union University (003528) University of Memphis (003509) University of Tennessee, Chattanooga (003529) University of Tennessee, Knoxville (003530) University of Tennessee, Martin (003531) University of Tennessee Health Science Center (006725) University of the South (003534) Vanderbilt University (003535) Victory University (009982) Volunteer State Community College (009912) Walters State Community College (008863) Watkins Institute College of Art and Design (031276) Welch College (030018) *The Art Institute of Tennessee, Nashville is an eligible HOPE Scholarship institution until the end of the 2015-16 academic year. Must have a cumulative GPA of 2.75 after 24 and 48 attempted hours. After attempting 72 hours and beyond a student may retain the award by either: Achieving a cumulative GPA of 3.0 or above, or Achieving a cumulative GPA of 2.75-2.99 AND a semester GPA of at least 3.0 in the preceding term for which the student will receive the award as a full-time enrolled student (provisional basis) Must maintain satisfactory academic progress AND continuous enrollment Scholarship is terminated after attainment of baccalaureate degree OR student has attempted 120 semester hours OR 5 years have passed from initial enrollment at any postsecondary institution whichever occurs first exceptions may be available to students with documented medical disabilities Students enrolled in a program of study greater than 120 hours may receive the award for up to 136 attempted semester hours OR the number of hours required to earn degree, whichever is less To receive funding, students must be enrolled in at least 6 hours; 12 hours, if eligible on provisional basis Never drop a course without talking to your financial aid office about how it may impact your lottery scholarship eligibility For questions and additional eligibility requirements, please contact the Tennessee Student Assistance Corporation 615.741.1346 * 800.342.1663 * www.tn.gov/collegepays June 2013

Start Early Steps for Getting A Scholarship If possible, start the process at least two years before 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 that 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 guidance office, the Internet, or Student Outreach Services (call 1-800-337-6884). Send Away for 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. Many organizations will require that you contact them through the mail to request applications and other pertinent information. Some organizations will give potential applicants their phone numbers and email 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 before 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!

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 information 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. Please Print or Type Name (Last, First, MI) A $2 PROCESSING FEE PER SCHOOL MUST ACCOMPANY THIS FORM (Cash or Money Order ONLY) 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: Date Completed by Counselor Return to: 250 Wolverine Trail LaVergne, TN 37086

LaVernge High School College Day Request Form Students are allowed one college day during their senior year. The absence will be excused if the following procedures are completed: 1. Attach a letter from a parent/guardian giving permission for the college visit. 2. Student must have a good attendance record and be in good standing to graduate. 3. Each of the student s teachers and the Attendance Office must sign student s permission form. Once attendance signs, leave the form with attendance. 4. 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. Student Name: Date of College Visit: Name of School Visiting: Teachers Signatures: 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. 8. Counselor s Signature: Attendance Clerk s Signature: