Senior NEWS!!!!

SENIOR NEWS

February 2009

 

Congratulations                                                   HOPE

STAR Students/Teachers                                                                                 To be HOPE-eligible you must

Andy Bishop   (Star Student)                                                                             have a 3.0 GPA for the College

Keith Petty   (Star Teacher)                                                                                Prep Diploma or 3.2 GPA for the       

 Remaining Star Students and Star Teachers in Alphabetical order        Tech Prep Diploma at the end of

Adren Anderson                  Cindy Brown                                                         the senior year.  All core courses    

Stephen Ball                          Sandy Green                                                        are averaged together to determine 

Amanda DeJiacomo             Michelle Richards                                                HOPE eligibility. You must apply     

Patrick Hall                            Marcia Wright                                                      for HOPE.  You can use the

Daniel Johnson                    Pat Gallagher                                                         FAFSA or the simple HOPE form

Tyler Johnston                     Rosie Wigington                                                  on the gacollege411.org website.     

Jaclyn McClain                     Gail Culbreth                                        

Michelle Parker                     Walter Trevathan

William Varnado                   Linda Hunter                                        

                                                                               

                                                           

BALFOUR ORDER INFORMATION – Caps and Gowns   

Senior Fee - $55.00 will help cover the cost of your Cap & Gown, Tassel, Diploma, Diploma Cover, etc.  Order online at www.hrcampussupply.com.  This fee is due to BALFOUR by Tuesday, February 3.  Mr. Smith will be in the lunch room February 3 for orders not made online.  A LATE FEE will be assessed if you place your order on or after March 1.   Mr. Smith will return to the counseling office on February 19 to pick up orders made in the counseling office. 

 

Graduation Announcements:  If you ordered announcements through Balfour, Mr. Smith will be here at lunch on March 19^th to distribute these.  You must have paid your order in full by that day to receive them.

 

MEN:  By law, you must register with the Selective Service up to 30 days before or 30 days after your 18^th birthday.  Register online at www.sss.gov or pick up a registration form at the local post office.  More information is available on the wall in the hallway outside the counseling office.

 

EVERYONE:  Register to vote as soon as you turn 18!!  Forms are available at the public library or county administration office.

 

**COLLEGE GOAL SUNDAY** – February 15, 2009.  Free FAFSA (college financial aid application) assistance offered to parents and students.  Several locations, including , Dalton, and Dahlonega.  You must bring certain documents such as your completed 2008 income tax return, etc.  See the website at www.collegegoalsundayga.com for more information.

 

SAT REASONING TEST DATES & DEADLINES – Register online at www.collegeboard.com

March 14 (offered at Pickens High School) – Late registration available through Feb.10

May 2 (offered at Calhoun and Cartersville High Schools) – Registration deadline is March 31

June 6 (offered at Fannin Co. High School and Calhoun H.S. ) – Registration deadline is May 5

PHS school code = 111695                                 Test fee:  $45.00

 

ACT TEST DATES & DEADLINES – Register online at www.actstudent.org

April 4 (Cherokee H.S. in Canton is a test site) – Register by February 27

Note:  Some colleges may require or recommend the writing portion as well.

PHS school code = 111695                 Test fee: $31.00        Optional writing test: $15.00

 

COLLEGE VISIT DAYS – You are allowed 2 days in which you are NOT counted absent to visit colleges.  Forms are on wall in hallway outside the guidance office.  Questions?  See someone in the counseling office.

 

COLLEGE INFORMATION

Application deadlines vary depending on the college.  Some have deadlines that are already past.  Colleges are filling up fast, especially for housing!  For colleges in Georgia, go to www.GACollege411.org.

For colleges outside Georgia, go to the individual college(s) websites.

                                                  

Reinhardt College:  *Open House date is Sat., February 21.  Register online at www.reinhardt.edu or call the admissions office at 770-720-5526.

 

Georgia Southwestern State University (Americus, GA):  Preview Day is March 21.  Must reserve a place if interested. @ http://www.gsw.edu/~admissions/PreviewDayRegistration.html or                         Call 800-338-0082 or 229-928-1273.  

 

Abraham Baldwin Agricultural College (ABAC)  Sat., February 14^th  Stallion Days –open campus days.  Students should log on to www.abac.edu/stalliondays to register or call 800-733-3653

 

Other colleges: Check the colleges’ websites to see if/when they have open house or other special visitation days.  This is a great opportunity to see a campus and determine if it’s a good fit for you.

 

Visits from College Representatives (updated frequently – see Mrs. Pickering in the guidance office)

University of West Georgia will be here February 24^th  @11:00

Darton College will be here @ 11:00 February 25^th                         These representative will be

Reinhardt will be here March 5^th @ 11:00                                                  in the lunch room.

 

Information about other colleges and universities is available in the guidance office or at the various college websites.  In general, the sooner you apply to the college the more opportunities you may have for scholarships available through the college.  Make an appointment to see your counselor NOW if you’re thinking about college!

 

OTHER IMPORTANT DATES

February 16-17 –  President’s Day and Winter Break

February 25 and 26 – Georgia High School Writing Test (retake)

February 27 – Big Canoe Scholarship packets due to guidance office by noon

March 3 – STAR Student Banquet

March 12 – End of 3^rd 9 weeks

March 13 – Teacher inservice – no school for students

March 17 – Big Canoe applicant interviews (8:00-11:00) at PHS – dress nicely (no t-shirts, etc.)

March 21 – Prom    Parent Interviews for Big Canoe Scholarships

April 6 - April 10 – Spring Break

April 29 – Awards Day

May 1 – NIGHT SCHOOL TRANSCRIPT DEADLINE

May 4 – Scholarship Night at 6:30 P.M.  (note correct time, not 7:00) 

 

FINANCIAL AID INFORMATION

The best source of financial aid is the Office of Student Financial Aid at the college you plan to attend.  Financial aid info. is available on the college websites.  Go to the Financial Aid office when you visit a college.

 

*Financial Aid websites:  www.gacollege411.org,  www.fafsa.ed.gov, www.fastweb.com, www.scholarships.com.  There are other sites, but beware of scholarship search scams – scholarship information should be free.

 

1. File your FAFSA (Free Application for Federal Student Aid) as soon as possible.  Online at www.fafsa.ed.gov.  We have guideline brochures in the counseling office – this may be helpful.
2. Don’t forget College Goal Sunday – see other side for details.

 

**NEW**  SCHOLARSHIPS

(see the PHS website or the counseling office for updated  list of available scholarships)

 

TuitionFundingSources.com – sponsored by Pepsi-Cola.  Website contains the world’s largest scholarship database.  Click on Log In, Click here to register, Select GA, Pickens High School, and continue.  New scholarships added daily.

 

QuestBridge Launches 2009 College Prep Scholarship due March 31, 2009 -  Please take a moment and read this important text file www.questbridge.org/access/collegepreptext/ forwarded to us by the State DOE Department.

 

 

Name of the Scholarship	Date of Deadline
KFC Colonel's Scholars	2/10/2009
Georgia Southwestern State University Scholarship	2/15/2009
Ronald McDonald House Charities	2/16/2009
Best Buy - www.bestbuy.com  Technology Inspired	2/15/2009
AFA Teen Alzheimer's Awareness	2/15/2009
National FFA - Monsanto Company	2/17/2009
Jimmy Rane Foundation	2/18/2009
Georgia Mining Foundation	2/24/2009
Big Canoe Scholarships	2/27/2009
Do Something Awards	3/1/2009
Army Emergency Relief Scholarship	3/2/2009
Air Force Aid Society	3/6/2009
SAMMY - Scholar Athlete Milk Mastache of the Year	3/6/2009
Gainsville State College - Social Studies	3/20/2009
North GA Military Scholarship	3/10/2009
Kohl's Kids who Care - Nomination Form www.scholarshipamerica.org/i-applications/kohls	3/15/2009
Jan Hester Memorial Scholarship	3/5/2009
United Auto, Aerospace, and Agricultural Workers Essay Contet	3/31/2009
Partners Scholarship	3/20/2009
Pickens County Board of Realtors	4/3/2009
Marine Corps League	4/3/2009
Lyda Walden Fletcher Memorial Scholarship	4/22/2009
Jasper Banking Company	4/22/2009
College Prowler-Wachovia Scholarship	Check the website for each month's deadline
Atlanta Braves - Presented byPublix	check website TBA
Honea - Worley Family His. Scholarship	5/1/2009

 

More to come.  The final deadline dates on several local scholarships have not been announced.  Check the counseling office for updated information.  We will post as the scholarships come available.