February/March 2023 Senior Parent Letter

We wanted to keep you informed and remind you of upcoming events and dates.

January  31      February scholarship emailed to parents

February 16     Parent/teacher conference 4:00-7:00pm

February 20     No school-President’s Day

February  24    4th six weeks ends.  Make sure your teenager is passing.

February 28      March scholarship list should be available on the counselor's door

                           and emailed to parents. 

March 1            FAFSA completed for TN Promise requirements. See TNP emails for details

March 6            Report cards

March 7            Seniors will do community service activities for the day for TNP, Beta, etc. A form will need to

                          be signed for proof of hours.

March 10          Deadline for April 15 ACT test. Register at  www.act.org 

March 21          Roster posted of Honors & Distinction on large bulletin board in counseling office

Graduation      May 25 at 4:30 pm at LeConte Convention Center

                         More details of senior activities/events will be coming in the next parent letters.

 Reminders

• Make sure your teenager has applied to the schools of interest and hopefully has received information about their status.  If not, contact the school and check on the status.  If you have not received any information, they may be waiting on your FAFSA to be filed.
• Continue working on the FAFSA to make sure it is complete by March 1st if you have the TNP scholarship.  If you have specific questions about the FAFSA or the SAR(student Aid Report, received a week or two after filing the FAFSA) you can call 1-800-433-3243
• The state of Tennessee recognizes and promotes students who have met one of the following criteria below as being a Ready Graduate.
• Score a 21 or higher composite on the ACT (or SAT equivalent) or
• Complete four (4) Early Post-Secondary Opportunities (EPSOs) (AP, DE, SDC classes) or
• Complete two (2) EPSOs + earn an industry certification (in an approved CTE program of study) or
• Complete two (2) EPSOs + score 31 or above on the Armed Services Vocational Aptitude Battery (ASVAB).

• All students who get the ready graduate recognition will get to wear a red cord at graduation.  If you do not have one of the 4 options, the one last chance to get it, is to register (act.org) for the last ACT on March 10 for the ACT test given on April 15^th and get a 21 composite.
• We have a list of the Ready graduates at this time.  See your counselor if you are not sure if you are one.         
• For TNP students:The Summer Bridge Program is a free three-week program designed to help incoming students start on a more college-ready level, both academically and socially. Each day, students receive reading, writing and math instruction and attend a college success Lunch & Learn, with lunch provided. On the last day, students have a chance to test out of learning support courses at the college they plan to attend. If you answer yes to any of the following questions, the Summer Bridge Program is for you:

• Did you score below a 19 on the math or reading section of the ACT?
• Did you score below an 18 on the English section of the ACT?

          The Summer Bridge Program is an optional program and will not affect your TN Promise

          Eligibility.  Details will be given later in the Spring. 

• Compare offers from the schools which you have applied.  Most schools should start sending your award letter in April. The letter lets you know what their school can offer you.  Most schools want you to accept or decline each of the awards by May 1^st. This will allow the schools to make offers to other students.
• Make sure your teenager is in credit recovery during or after school to recoup the credit.  If credit recovery begins too late in the semester, there is not enough time to get the credit.  Sometime in mid March we should have the students and their progress in credit recovery available.  You can check with their school counselor to check their progress.
• Please make copies of the scholarship offers your teenager receives and give to your counselor by 

April 28th.  If the copies are not received by April 28^th  they will not be recognized for awards night.

The state will recognize two levels of graduation- Distinction and Honors

It will be noted on your diploma and transcript.  You can receive both of the recognitions.

A roster of all seniors will be posted by March 21^st to review distinction and honors.  You will look over the roster and initial by your name that you agree with the honors/distinction noted.  If you think you have either one and it is not noted, you are responsible to tell your counselor to review it.

Graduate with Distinction:

Students will be recognized as graduating with “distinction” by attaining a B average and completing at least one of the following:  

• Earn 12 or more semester hours of transcripted postsecondary credit (this includes dual enrollment)-4 classes i.e (Comp I, II, Speech, Psychology, etc.)
• Participate in at least one of the Governor’s Schools
• Participate in one of the state’s All State musical organizations
• Be selected as a National Merit Finalist or Semi-Finalist
• Attain a score of 31 or higher composite score on the ACT
• Earn a nationally recognized industry certification (OSHA, any certifications you received from Northview classes)

Graduate with Honors

Students who score at or above all of the subject area benchmarks on the ACT or equivalent score on the SAT will graduate with honors. Last ACT to count before graduation is April of senior year. The benchmark scores can come from different test administrations not just from one administration.  See chart below.

ACT’s College Readiness Benchmarks

Benchmarks are scores on the ACT subject area tests that represent  the level of achievement required for students to have a 50% chance of obtaining a B or higher or about a 75% chance of obtaining a C or higher in corresponding credit-bearing first year college courses.  These college courses include English Composition, College Algebra, an introductory social science course, and Biology.  

The ACT College Readiness Benchmarks are:

You all have done a great job of getting scholarship applications, asking questions about the schools, completing the FAFSA, keeping track of their academic requirements and encouraging (maybe nagging) your teenager to work on various areas.  We have wonderful students and appreciate your encouragement and support during this process.

Cheryl Troutman                       Candi Buffington                       Bethany Schultz

Last names     A-H                     Last names I-N                          Last names  O-Z