SENIOR NEWSLETTER
  


Graduation



2007-2008 SENIOR NEWSLETTER #1

1ST 9 WEEKS

By:

Mrs. Carolyn Haynes            counselor names a-o

Mrs. Emwanta Thompson     counselor names p-z & ell

 

NEWSLETTER ITEMS

  • SENIOR ENGLISH CLASS VISITS AND GRADUATION INFO
  • Graduation information
  • SENIOR ACTIVITIES
  • SENIOR PICTURES AND YEARBOOK INFORMATION
  • TESTING INFORMATION
  • COLLEGE INFORMATION
  • SCHOLARSHIP AND FINANCIAL AID INFORMATION
  • REQUESTING TRANSCRIPTS (FOR PERSONAL USE AND FOR COLLEGES)
  • LETTERS OF RECOMMENDATION
  • HONORS GRADUATION & NO RANKING
  • ABSENCES
  • FAILURES, CREDIT RECOVERY AND SUMMER GRADUATION

 

SENIOR ENGLISH CLASS VISITS

WE WILL VISIT ALL 12TH GRADE ENGLISH CLASSES THE WEEK OF SEPTEMBER 24TH.  DURING THE VISITS, SENIORS WILL RECEIVE A PACKET OF INFORMATION ON VARIOUS TOPICS. 

 

GRADUATION INFORMATION

GRADUATION WILL BE HELD ON FRIDAY, MAY 16TH AT 7:00 p.m. AT THE BELMONT CURB CENTER.  SENIORS WILL HAVE TO PAY SENIOR DUES AND CLEAR ALL BOOK AND SCHOOL DEBTS BEFORE THEY CAN PARTICIPATE IN SENIOR WEEK AND GRADUATION REHEARSAL.  ONCE THE ADMINISTRATORS HAVE SET THE AMOUNT FOR SENIOR FEES, THEY WILL INFORM STUDENTS AND PARENTS.

 

 

SENIOR ACTIVITIES

COLLEGE NIGHT @ THE TN STATE FAIRGROUNDS  OCT. 2ND

SENIOR TRIP TO ORLANDO, FLORIDA    APRIL 16TH—20TH

SENIOR WEEK         APRIL 29TH—MAY 2ND

SENIOR BREAKFAST         MAY 2ND

PROM  @ THE HILTON HOTEL   MAY 2ND

IN HONOR AND SPIRIT AWARDS CEREMONY        MAY 6TH

 

SENIOR PICTURES AND YEARBOOKS

THE GUIDANCE DEPARTMENT DOES NOT HANDLE SENIOR PICTURES OR YEARBOOK ISSUES.  THE CONTACT PERSON IS MRS. EVELYN DAVIDSON AT EXTENSION 1401.

 

TESTING INFORMATION

THE STATE OF TENNESSEE REQUIRES THAT ALL STUDENTS PASS 3 GATEWAY TESTS IN ALGEBRA I, ENGLISH II AND BIOLOGY TO GRADUATE AND RECEIVE A REGULAR HIGH SCHOOL DIPLOMA.  THE TESTS ARE GIVEN IN DECEMBER AND MAY.  IF A STUDENT DOES NOT PASS ALL 3 TESTS, THEY WILL NOT BE ABLE TO PARTICIPATE IN THE GRADUATION CEREMONY.  THESE STUDENTS WILL BE ISSUED A CERTIFICATE OF ATTENDANCE.

 

THE ACT AND SAT ARE NATIONAL TESTS THAT STUDENTS REGISTER FOR THEMSELVES EITHER BY MAIL OR THE INTERNET.  THE INTERNET ADDRESSES ARE WWW.ACTSTUDENT.ORGAND WWW.COLLEGEBOARD.COM.  THE CODE FOR ANTIOCH HIGH SCHOOL IS 430-030; THIS CODE SHOULD BE WRITTEN ON THE REGISTRATION FORMS.  ALL SENIORS WILL GET ONE VOUCHER TO TAKE THE ACT FOR FREE. 

 

WE ARE ASKING THAT ALL STUDENTS SEND THEIR SCORES TO THEIR COLLEGE(S) OF CHOICE, AS WELL AS HAVING A COPY SENT TO ANTIOCH.  HAVING THE SCORES SENT DIRECTLY TO THE COLLEGE/UNIVERSITY HELPS TO PREVENT A DELAY IN THE ADMISSIONS PROCESS THAT OCCURS IF THE TRANSCRIPT DOESN’T HAVE THEIR TEST SCORES ATTACHED.

 

LASTLY, AP (ADVANCED PLACEMENT) TESTS WILL BE GIVEN IN MAY TO STUDENTS TAKING AP CLASSES.  THERE IS A FEE FOR THE TEST.

 

COLLEGE INFORMATION

JUNIORS AND SENIORS ARE ALLOTTED 3 DAYS PER YEAR FOR DOCUMENTED COLLEGE VISITS.  THEY WILL BE CONSIDERED EXCUSED ABSENCES AND WILL COUNT TOWARD SENIOR EXAM EXEMPTIONS IN DECEMBER OR MAY.  PLEASE USE YOUR VISITS WISELY OR TRY TO SCHEDULE WEEKEND VISITS, IF POSSIBLE.

STUDENTS THAT HAVE TAKEN THE ACT/SAT CAN START APPLYING FOR COLLEGE NOW.  THE PROCESS TO APPLY TO A COLLEGE/UNIVERSITY IS:

1.          COMPLETE THE COLLEGE’S ADMISSION APPLICATION AND MAIL THE APPLICATION WITH THE APPLICATION FEE (IF APPLICABLE).

2.          COMPLETE A TRANSCRIPT REQUEST FORM (LOCATED IN THE GUIDANCE LOBBY) AND PUT IN YOUR COUNSELOR’S BOX.  OFFICIAL TRANSCRIPTS MUST BE SENT FROM THE GUIDANCE OFFICE.

3.          WAIT FOR THE COLLEGE TO RESPOND.  ONCE YOU HAVE BEEN ADMITTED, THE COLLEGE WILL SEND THEIR PRIVATE SCHOLARSHIP LIST AND APPLICATION FORMS TO YOU.

 

APPLICATION FEES ARE REQUIRED FOR MOST PUBLIC AND PRIVATE COLLEGES AND MUST BE PAID AT THE TIME YOU MAIL IN THE APPLICATION.  APPLICATION FEES RANGE FROM

$15-$100 PER APPLICATION.  IT TAKES APPROXIMATELY 10-14 BUSINESS DAYS FOR A COLLEGE TO RECEIVE AND PROCESS YOUR TRANSCRIPT ONCE WE SEND IT FROM THE SCHOOL.  ADDITIONALLY, WE ASK THAT YOU REQUEST YOUR TRANSCRIPTS AND ANY RECOMMENDATION LETTERS WELL IN ADVANCE ; WE REQUIRE 12-14 BUSINESS DAYS TO SEND OUT YOUR TRANSCRIPT. 

 

PLEASE UNDERSTAND THAT PARENT PHONE CALLS WILL NOT SERVE AS A REQUEST.  WE STRIVE TO MAINTAIN A FAIR PROCESS THAT STRESSES PLANNING SKILLS AND INDIVIDUAL RESPONSIBILITY.

 

LETTERS OF RECOMMENDATION FOR SCHOLARSHIPS AND COLLEGES

MOST SCHOLARSHIPS AND SOME COLLEGES REQUIRE LETTERS OF RECOMMENDATION AND/OR HIGH SCHOOL REPORTS.  SENIORS SHOULD HAVE THEIR PREVIOUS OR CURRENT TEACHERS, WHO KNOW THEM WELL, WRITE LETTERS OF RECOMMENDATION.  IF A SCHOLARSHIP OR COLLEGE REQUESTS A HIGH SCHOOL REPORT FROM THE GUIDANCE COUNSELOR, THE STUDENT SHOULD COMPLETE THE STUDENT PORTION AND  LEAVE THE FORM IN THEIR COUNSELOR ‘S BOX. 

 

SCHOLARSHIPS

THE TENNESSEE LOTTERY SCHOLARSHIP REQUIRES A

21 ACT/980 SAT OR 3.0 GRADE POINT AVERAGE TO QUALIFY FOR $3,300 PER YEAR AT AN ELIGIBLE 4-YEAR STATE SCHOOL.    FOR AN ELIGIBLE 2-YEAR COLLEGE, STUDENTS WILL RECEIVE $1,650 PER YEAR.  A SEPARATE SCHOLARSHIP INFO PACKET WILL BE PROVIDED TO SENIORS VIA THEIR ENGLISH TEACHERS. STUDENTS CAN VISIT THE WEBSITES AND PRINT OFF APPLICATIONS.  KEEP IN MIND THAT WE NEED TIME TO COMPLETE SCHOLARSHIP PACKETS.  THEREFORE, WE REQUEST 5 DAYS ADVANCE NOTICE TO PROCESS SCHOLARSHIP PAPERWORK. 

IT IS VERY IMPORTANT THAT STUDENTS PAY ATTENTION TO APPLICATION DEADLINES.

 

FINANCIAL AID

ALL COLLEGE BOUND STUDENTS MUST COMPLETE A FAFSA (FREE APPLICATION FOR FEDERAL STUDENT AID).  COMPLETION OF THIS FORM ALSO SERVES AS YOUR APPLICATION FOR THE LOTTERY SCHOLARSHIP.  HOWEVER, CURRENT SENIORS CANNOT COMPLETE THE FAFSA UNTIL JANUARY 1, 2008. 

 

WE WILLHAVE A FINANCIAL AID WORKSHOP WITH A REPRESENTATIVE FROM TENNESSEE STUDENT ASSISTANCE ON TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 13TH AT 6 p.m. IN THE AUDITORIUM.  IT IS HIGHLY RECOMMENDED THAT ALL PARENTS AND STUDENTS ATTEND THE WORKSHOP BECAUSE THE REPRESENTATIVES WILL BE ABLE TO ANSWER FINANCIAL AID QUESTIONS THAT METRO COUNSELORS CANNOT ANSWER.

 

SENIOR FAILURES , CREDIT RECOVERY AND SUMMER GRADUATION

STUDENTS MUST HAVE ALL 22 REQUIRED CREDITS TO PARTICIPATE IN GRADUATION CEREMONIES.  IF A STUDENT FAILS A CLASS DURING THE FALL SEMESTER, THEY CAN TAKE THE CLASS IN CREDIT RECOVERY (IF OFFERED) DURING THE SPRING SEMESTER.  IF A STUDENT FAILS A CLASS DURING THE SPRING SEMESTER, THEY WILL NEED TO TAKE THE CLASS IN SUMMER SCHOOL AND GRADUATE DURING SUMMER GRADUATION.  CREDIT RECOVERY NORMALLY STARTS IN SEPTEMBER AND JANUARY, AND THE COURSES ARE OFFERED ON A MONDAY AND WEDNESDAY OR A TUESDAY AND THURSDAY.  THE SCHOOL ADMINISTRATORS SET THE SCHEDULE AND MAKE SEVERAL ANNOUNCEMENTS ABOUT CREDIT RECOVERY BEFORE IT  STARTS.

ABSENCES

THE GUIDANCE DEPARTMENT DOES NOT HANDLE ATTENDANCE AND ABSENCES.  PARENTS AND STUDENTS SHOULD CONTACT TEACHERS DIRECTLY TO DISCUSS ABSENCES AND MAKE-UP WORK.

NO CLASS RANKING AND HONORS GRADUATES

METRO NASHVILLE PUBLIC SCHOOLS DOES NOT RANK STUDENTS ANY LONGER.  HOWEVER, THE VALEDICTORIAN AND SALUTATORIAN WILL BE IDENTIFIED.  THOSE STUDENTS ARE IDENTIFIED FROM THE HONORS STUDENTS.  FOR COLLEGE APPLICATIONS AND HIGH SCHOOL REPORTS THAT ASK FOR A RANK, WE MARK “NOT APPLICABLE” AND MAY ONLY PROVIDE A CLASS PERCENTILE.  FOR EXAMPLE, TOP 5% OR TOP 10%.