SENIORS FAMILIES,
SHS THE GUIDE
NEWS
LETTER TO SENIOR SPRING
Q: How can I contact
the counselor?
Parents
Smay@starkville.k12.ms.us
(662) 324-4130
Please allow 2 days before
sending additional emails or
calls to assure the most
coordinated and rapid
response.
If you would like to meet in
person, please schedule an
appointment. Thank you for
your consideration!
Students
Appointment Slip - front desk.
Be specific if possible
Smay@starkville.k12.ms.us
I may be able to answer brief
questions easily via email
If you are on Remind, I can often
respond to your request quickly
with answers/resources.
Receive Announcements
Text @shsmay2017 to 81010
270+ people have already joined.
Thanks! Sonum May,
12th grade counselor
Website: www.starkvillesd.com/shs
-counselors-corner/
Q: Senior Dues:
What Do I Owe?
2 fees- Separate costs paid separately
Senior Dues $85 to SHS.
Includes: Diploma cover, yearbook,
senior t-shirt.
Due to Ms. Arick in the front office
before March 10th.
You may work out a payment plan if
needed. Diploma will not be released
until paid.
Cap & Gown Fee Min. deposit
$80 to Herff Jones Rep.
Higher if other items ordered. If
deposit is not yet paid, late fee will
be charged.
Due: All balances due on April 6th.
If you ordered clothing, see Ms.
Sullivan for pick up.
(Cap & gown required in order to
participate in ceremony).
Turn In:
Any scholarship/award received
even if not attending that
college. Lets beat last years
class total! Free sunglasses when
you turn these in to me or Ms.
Cox!
College, Military, or Job
Acceptance Letters to add to our
Hall of Fame. Go you!
Prom
Apr. 29. Tickets are $30/each. All
fees on student account must be
paid before ticket can be
purchased. Student must not
have had OSS this year.
February/March 2017
Check Yourself:
Next Steps
DIPLOMAS: Verify spelling of your
name on ORANGE list of 12th
graders on Senior Bulletin Board
in Main Hall. Initial next to name
if correct.
This will be what is printed on
your diploma.
Mistake? See Mrs. Ward in front
office ASAP.
HONORS: Verify name on BLUE
list of Honor graduates. Initial
next to name. Changes? Notify
me ASAP.
MS Scholars: Verify name on PINK
list of MS Scholars graduates.
Initial next to name. Changes?
Notify me ASAP.
Note: Honors & MS Scholars
Be sure you still meet GPA &
other reqs. Yes, you can try for
both.
FYI: Honors based on courses taken
(30) and min. 3.75 GPA. Detailed
reqs pg. 36 of SHS Handbook. (No CS
reqs)
FYI: MS Scholarsbased on courses
taken, min. 2.75 GPA, 18 ACT, no
OSS, 95% attendance, 40 hours
community service. Detailed reqs
found www.msmec.com/ms-scholars-
curriculum or Green sheet outside my
office
Complete CS Forms (outside my
office) & must be returned to me
before March 24th.
THE
Q:I havent passed
all my state tests...
Students must be on track in their
courses and pass all 4 subject area
state tests to graduate. If you are
still missing one, make a plan:
Students listed as 12th grade:
Retest MAP/SATP subject area
state test February 21-24.
Students listed as 11th grade:
Take ACT with Juniors Feb. 28.
Dont just show up: Prepare.
Pick up MAP Algebra/English II
practice tests, ACT Online Prep
log-ins, or SATP Biology/US
History note packets from me.
SHS Library also has ACT test
prep books available for extra
practice.
Dont forget: 17 in
corresponding subject area on
the ACT can count as a Pass.
The next ACT deadline to sign
up for is March 3rd.
Listen to announcements and
sign up for Remind for updates
on extra remediation plans.
Q: How do I sign up for
the ACT?
Sign up online at home
www.actstudent.org. If you need
help, see outside my office for the
Tips sheet, or look online on our
website.
Q: Are you actually
reading this?
3 free taco gift cards and an MSU
sticker to the first 5 students that
mention this section to me.
GUIDE TO SENIOR SPRING
Q: Am I on track for grad?
Phew! Im wrapping up another
round of credit checks. Grad reqs are
found in Student Handbook pg. 35. If
you still have questions: Come ask
me these dates during lunch in the
Caf:
Wednesday, February 1st
Wednesday, February 8th
Wednesday, February 15th
Dont forget to check Honors/ MS
Scholars lists too!
Parent/guardians: see pg. 1 for ways
to contact me.
Q: How are my grades?
What is my GPA?
PowerSchool is the fastest way to
check grades and overall GPA, too. If
you have questions about courses,
check with the teachers syllabus for
grading/ make-up work policies. SHS
teachers work hard to be available
via email/phone for questions.
Students, if you need access to your
PowerSchool, you may get info from
Ms. Sullivan in front office.
Parents, you may pick this up in
person. We cannot give access over
phone.
Q: I just need a form
Outside my office in the blue file
holder:
Transcript Request forms
MS Scholars Community Service
logs
ACT Test Dates
Senior Brag Sheets (only needed
for letters of recommendation)
Other resources!
By Ms. Bell:
Scholarship file:
Hard copies of scholarships
organized by due date.
Q: How do I send a
Transcript?
Complete Transcript Request form.
Return with $1/transcript to Ms. May,
Ms. Cox, or Ms. Bell.
If you receive Free or Reduced Lunch,
you may qualify for an Application
Fee Waiver. Let us know by noting it
on your form.
Transcripts are sent twice weekly.
Turn in requests in advance of
deadlines. We are unable to fulfill day
of requests. It is your responsibility to
ensure deadlines are met!
Q: I want a hard copy of
my own transcript. Do I
still fill out a request?
Yes. Mark Pick Up By Student on the
form and check back on my door for
pick up.
Q: A college emailed
stating they have not
received my transcript
1.Allow at least 2 weeks.
2. Log into application portal to check
status. Sometimes, they are
automated emails. If status says Not
Yet Received, you may call
admissions office to find out more.
3. Check with Ms. Cox to see when
SHS processed your transcript.
4. Admissions Offices receive many
documents. Your info may need to be
resent. In this case, please complete
another request. You may also
request to pickup a hard copy to
deliver in person.
THE
Q: How do I apply
to college?
Considering college after
graduation? Application season is
now.
Start with TACO Checklist
outside my office
Check Admissions pages on
college websites. They have
admissions reqs & necessary
info.
Do your research. Helpful
websites include:
www.get2college.org
www.riseupms.com
www.collegeboard.org
Come to events you may need!
Schedule an appointment with
us if you get stuck.
Q: Im interested in
EMCC.
January 31stMeet with recruiters
to receive help on:
Applying
Scholarship applications
Tuition guarantee forms
Learning about programs
Freshman honorary questions
Q: Financial Aid Info
February 20 3:30-5PM
Informative session on steps to
take to pay for college.
Q: College Panel
Night!
Feb. 20 5:30PM Host college reps
from range of schools to answer
Q&A style about application
process. Best part? You wont
know who represents which
college until the end. Lets see
what we really know!
GUIDE TO SENIOR SPRING
Q: I need help with the
FAFSA.
FAFSA is a MUST. Many SHS families
have already completed and
submitted their FAFSAs. Each college
sets their own priority deadlines (e.g.
MSUs is March 1st). Check their
Financial Aid pages for details.
Not sure which parent to list?
Www.studentaid.ed.gov/sa/sites/
default/files/who-is-my-
parent.png
Not sure how to start?
Schedule 30 min. appointment
with Get2College for Feb. 7th (2-
6PM). Parents encouraged but
not required as long as you bring
needed documents. Get2College
will walk you through FAFSA,
state aid, & give 1-on-1 info for
your plans. See Ms. Bell to
schedule an appointment (662)
324-4130. Appointment required.
Already started but stuck?
Call experts at these numbers for
free help: (601) 321-553; (228)
875-4441; (662) 349-2789
Q: What about financial
aid?
Free money Federal
FAFSA. FAFSA. FAFSA.
Free money State
State aid application
(www.riseupms.com)
MTAG/MESG
Financial need + 20 ACT?
Do you qualify for tuition
coverage thru HELP
Grant? Due March 31st.
3. Their money College Scholarship
May req separate scholarship
application
4. Their money: Private Scholarships
Apply for scholarships. See
online for resources and
links. Check front desk
for some hard copies.
Q: I still want to go on a
college visit.
Seniors get 2 excused college visit
days during the year. Pick up a form
from the Attendance Office before
your trip. Let your teachers know too!
Q: Will you write a letter
of recommendation for
me?
Thanks for asking! I love writing
letters of rec for students. Because I
have so many requests come in, I
need some things from you:
1. At least 2-weeks before deadline
2. Completed Senior Brag sheet
(this helps me write a stronger
letter!)
3. Exactly what date the letter is
needed by, and in what format
(Will you pick it up? Will I upload
it or email it?)
If the above 3 are not met, you may
need to find another candidate to
write you a letter.
Q: Need-to-know dates?
Feb 7 Get2College FAFSA Day
(appointment only)
Feb. 11 Regular ACT
Feb. 20 Parent Conference
Financial Aid Info Session
College Panel Night
Feb. 28 Juniors only ACT
Mar. 3 April ACT registration
Mar. 10 Senior Fees due
Mar. 13-17 Spring Break
Mar. 24 MS Scholars CS due
Mar. 31 Report cards
April 6 Cap & Gown $ due
Apr. 8 Regular ACT
Apr. 14 Good Friday holiday
Apr. 20 Progress reports
Apr. 29 Prom
May 26 Graduation