BHS – MAKING A DIFFERENCE

SENIOR NEWSLETTER

AUGUST-SEPTEMBER

 

 

 

 

 

 

SENIORS,

Welcome to your senior year at Brighton High School!!  I am reviewing all transcripts to be sure credits are in order for graduation.  When I have completed this I will call you in to sign off on your plan.

There are 342 seniors in this year’s class so you must be patient and pay close attention.  

Newsletters and important information will be posted monthly.  It is VERY important that you keep up with the information so you will know what to do and when.  If you do not get information to your parents, then how will they know?  TAKE RESPONSIBILITY

The BHS website is www.tipton-county.com/bhs. 

 

Respectfully,

 

Tammy Kasmai

Senior Counselor

 

______________________________________________________________________________________

 

Graduating with Honors

Any student with a GPA of 3.0 or higher at the end of the 7th semester will graduate with honors.  The end of the 7th semester is at Christmas of your senior year.

 

 

REGARDING CLASS RANK

A senior’s GPA determines class rankings at the end of the 7th semester as listed in the Registration Handbook (yours is TAN).  You will NOT be issued a rank number until sometime in February.  Not all High Schools rank their students so it is OK to put NOT AVAILABLE on the application. The student having the highest GPA will be designated the Valedictorian and assigned a rank of # 1.  The student with the second highest GPA will be designated the Salutatorian and assigned rank of #2.  The student with the third highest GPA will be named Historian and assigned a rank of #3.

In the event of a tie for the top three honors, the first tie- breaker will be the ACT score. If a tie still exists, the second tie- breaker will be the numerical average of the Core Courses.  Should a tie still exist, co-honors positions will be named.  Tipton County Board Policy

_______________________________________________________________________________ 

 

GRADUATION WILL BE MAY 20, 2010

7:30 P.M.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

ACT

If you are going to attend a college or university after high school you will be required to take the ACT.  Of course, the higher your score the more your school will offer you.  If you score 18 or below in the individual subtests you will be required to take remedial courses that do not count toward your degree.  Any assistance you can get in the area of ACT preparation will definitely be to YOUR ADVANTAGE!!  We have an ACT classes as well as ACT/Plato on the Directed Studies computers.  Utilize every avenue possible to better your score.  When filling out the ACT packet be sure to indicate that your scores are to be sent to BHS as well as any schools you are interested in attending.  Also, check www. act.org to see if the school you are choosing requires you to take the Writing portion of the ACT.  There is a list of Tennessee schools with their requirements on this website.  More and more, schools want scores sent to them directly from ACT.

 Packets can be picked up in Mr. Show’s office.

The school code number for BHS is 430 -165.

 

 

Needing a Transcript sent ?????????

 

You can request that a transcript be sent to the colleges you are applying to AFTER you have sent in your admissions application.  An admissions application can be found on the college/university website.  Follow the directions and be sure you send the application fee so the school will process your application.  If you do not have a n ACT score you must take the ACT as soon a s possible since you will not be admitted without one. 

Transcript information goes on the clipboard on the right as you come into the main counseling office (Room 104).  You need to list your name, where the transcript needs to be sent and the date.  When I have sent the transcript, there will be a line drawn through your name.  If you need a transcript to send in for a scholarship, just put yourself as the recipient.

______________________________________________________________________________________

 

COLLEGE NIGHT

 

College night will be October22, 2009, 5:30-7:30 at Munford High School.  Many representatives from colleges, vo-tech schools and the military will be here.  This is an excellent opportunity for you and your parents to acquire information concerning admission requirements, scholarships and to pick up catalogs and application forms.

 

 

COLLEGE VISITS

 

Each senior is allowed 1 (one) excused day to visit a college campus. A great time to visit is Fall Break (Oct. 5-9).  The college visit is an important factor in choosing a college or university.  APPOINTMENTS ARE NECESSARY!!!!!!  Please make an appointment with a representative from the college at least one week prior to your visit.  You are responsible for making your own appointments.

While visiting the school, you will need to get an official letter of verification stating that you made the visit.  Make sure that your name and date of the visit is on the letter.  After returning to school, submit the letter to Mrs. Moody in the attendance office.  This day will not count against you if you submit your excuse properly.  Your college day must be taken on/before March 31, 2010. You do not need permission from me.

 

 

 

 

NCAA CLEARINHOUSE

 

If you are planning to enroll in college next fall and wish to participate in Division I or Division II athletics, you must be certified by the NCAA Initial-Eligibility Clearinghouse.  You can register at www.ncaaclearinghouse.com.  There is a fee to register.

 

GRANTS-LOTTERY MONEY

FINANCIAL AID – IMPORTANT !!!   PARENTS BE SURE TO READ  

 

Planning to go to college?  Financial Aid applications (FAFSA) for the Pell Grant will not     be available until January, 2010.  Grants do not have to be repaid and are awarded to students that demonstrate financial need.  For more information check the website: www.fafsa.ed.gov.  You can go ahead and sign up for a pin number.  Both you and your parent will need one.  Do the process 2 times.  When you receive the number , put it in a file so you know where it is when you need it.

Also, the FAFSA is the application for Tennessee Lottery Scholarship.  You must meet the requirements to be eligible.  A 21 or higher ACT or a 3.0 overall GPA are the minimums.  You must also attend a school in Tennessee and have been a TN resident for 1 year prior to application.  WE no longer receive any paper copies, so the application should be done on the FAFSA website.  You can run a worksheet copy so you have something on paper to actually write on/figure on.  DO NOT MAIL THIS worksheet into FAFSA.  It is only for gathering information.  The seniors who are planning to attend college in the Fall of 2010 CAN NOT submit the FAFSA until January 2, 2010

Academic scholarships are based on the student’s ACT or SAT scores, plus the student’s GPA.  If you are interested in applying for a scholarship begin with the financial aid office at the colleges/universities of your choice.  Requirements for scholarships are different at each school.  Be sure to watch for deadlines!!! 

 

SCHOLARSHIP INFORMATION

Throughout the year I will receive scholarship applications from various sources.  I will notify the entire senior class through the newsletter and it will be posted on the BHS website.  There are many sources in which to obtain scholarship monies but YOU must be willing to do the work and the research. IT DOESN’T JUST HAPPEN!! FASTWEB is an online scholarship search that you can tailor to your individual needs.  Each individual school has its own set of scholarships and sometimes has a separate form to fill out.  ALL OF THEM have a DEADLINE.  If you are a procrastinator – SNAP OUT OF IT!!!  It may wind up costing you money.

 

 

Websites for Scholarships

FastWeb Scholarship Search www.fastweb.com

Coca-Cola Scholarship www.coca-colascholars.org/programs.html

Gates Millennium Scholarship www.gmsp.org

Wired Scholar Scholarship Search www.wiredscholar.com

Burger King Scholarship Program www.bkscholars.csfa.org

Many more- just do search on google

 

GRADES-GRADES-GRADES

As your counselor, I will be checking on your grades.  If you are failing a required class for graduation, your parents will be notified.

 

Colleges will visit, periodically, outside the cafeteria.  This is a time for you to pick up an application and other information needed.

If you would like for the Rep. to call you, you will be able to set this up also. 

 

Getting Ready

There are many things to do to prepare to attend a college or university.  If you will organize the information and stay on top of it you will not get so frustrated.  Know the dates that things are due and don’t wait until the last minute.  On the website act.org click on EDUCATION, then on Students then on the top bar you will see college planning, financial aid, and career planning.  These things are provided to help you so be sure to take advantage of them.

 

 

Senior Year Timeline

 

August-December

 

·        Check/sign up on Scholarship websites

·        Sign up to take the ACT again www.act.org

·        Visit/contact schools you are interested in attending

·        Check on college websites to see if you will qualify for their scholarships and financial aid

·        Narrow down your school choices

·        Apply to schools via the school website.  Be sure to send application fee!!

·        Request transcript to be sent(past grades and ACT score)

·        Sign up for PIN number on the FAFSA website.  One for you and one for your parent. You can also run a copy of the worksheet so you will know what information you will need to fill it out when the time comes. Fafsa.ed.gov

·        KEEP YOUR GRADES UP!!!