Looking for Something Awesome to Do this Summer?

Dear Counselor,

Thank you for helping us spread the word about Duke Summer Session’s incredible summer opportunities for high school students.  Please share the message below with your students and colleagues to let them know that we are now accepting applications:

Good news from Duke Summer Session!  We are happy to announce that we are now accepting applications for our life-changing summer programs at Duke University.  Whichever program you choose, over the course of the summer, you will find that Duke Summer Session is committed not only to building lifelong memories and friendships from around the world, but to laying the foundation for a future of collegiate success.  It is for this reason that students regularly report that our programs strengthened their college application and paved the way for academic excellence at top universities.  Follow the links below to apply to one of our transformative summer programs:

Summer College Application – A four-week, credit-bearing program for US students currently in 10th or 11th grade and internationalstudents currently in 10th – 12th grade in which they take undergraduate-level courses.

Summer Academy Application – A three-week program for students currently in 9th – 12th grade in which they take a certificate course.

Intensive STEM Academy Application – A one-week, STEM-based program for students currently in 9th – 12th grade that consists of a variety of laboratory tours, faculty lectures, and workshops.

We strongly encourage you to apply online today, as spaces fill quickly!

Sincerely,

Nicki Charles, Ed.D.

Director of Summer College and Summer Academy for High School Students

Duke University

summercollege@duke.edu 

Scholarship Season Has Officially Opened!!

Seniors:

Just when you thought a relaxing two weeks was at your door step, Mr. Kulp goes and put bunch of scholarships on his blog page!  Check out the Scholarship Postings on the menu bar above.  You will remember from your Junior and Senior meeting that Mr. Kulp showed this feature of his web site to you.  I have put a bunch of new scholarships on there.  Check them out to get on the money train....

In addition to these, please click on the link below to learn of Nineteen other scholarship possibilities.  Please read the description closely as there are some of these scholarships that our students are not eligible geographically to apply for.

http://www.cfgreateratlanta.org/community-impact/scholarships/

Delta Sigma Theta Scholarship

Delta Sigma Theta is pleased to offer ONE SOCIAL CIRCLE SENIOR a $500-$1000 scholarship for academic excellence.  Only seniors with a 3.0 GPA or better will be considered.  Community service and letters of recommendation will also be taken into consideration as well.  Applications are due by February 15th, 2018.

Delta Sigma Theta Scholarship

Peach State Legacy Scholarships

Peach State Federal Credit Union will award NINE $2000 scholarships to seniors who plan to go to college and major in an education field.  Applications are due to Peach State Federal Credit Union by March 16, 2018.

Legacy Student Scholarship Application

Legacy Student Scholarship Information

The Alice and Bobby Dodd Schoalrship

The Alice and Bobby Dodd Scholarship has been established to recognize students with uncommon dedication to community service.  This scholarship awards a first place ($1200) and a second place ($800).  There are two separate scholarships in this program- one that is given to students who have a physical challenge, yet devote themselves to community service and another one that is given to students who do not have a physical challenge.  Applications are due by January 31st, 2018. 

The Alice and Bobby Dodd Scholarship Application

The Julian and Jan Hester Memorial Scholarship

The Community Bankers' Association of Georgia is proud to once again offer this scholarship to a deserving senior whose community is served by a member bank of the CBA.  Our local bank is The Bank of Social Circle.  Applications are due to the bank no later than April 6, 2018.

Julian and Jan Hester Scholarship Application

Walter Harrison Walton EMC Scholarship Application Due Date Extended!

Walton EMC has established a scholarship program in honor of Walter Harrison where they will award ten $1000 scholarships to seniors who family's electricity is provided by Walton EMC.  Seniors at Social Circle are invited to submit a completed application to Mr. Kulp no later than January 5th, 2018 at 4 pm.  Don't be confused by the due date on the application!  Your due date is January 5th.  The two best applications will be forwarded on to Walton EMC by January 19, 2018 to be in the running for one of the ten scholarships.

Walter Harrison Scholarship Application and Information

Fine Arts and Leadership Scholarships from Andrew College

I wanted to send you some information on two important programs occurring at Andrew College on Saturday, January 20.

The first is our Fine Arts Scholarship Audition Day.  Interested seniors may compete for music, theatre and art scholarships and learn more about opportunities within our fine arts program. 

The second is our Andrew Serves Leadership Day.  High school students are invited to participate in a hands-on exploration of the Andrew Serves program, the premiere service and leadership organization at Andrew College.  Participants may also be eligible for an $8,500 per year Andrew Serves Scholarship.  This would also be a great team-building opportunity for teams, student councils, etc. 

Individual students can register here:

Fine Arts Scholarship Audition Day

AndrewServes Leadership Development Day



Happy Holidays,


Andy Geeter
Andrew College

Tell Us how We Are Doing at SCHS

The Georgia Parent Survey is designed to help us know the school climate is at SCHS.  It is designed to let us know where certain problems are so that we can focus efforts to fix those problems.  Please take a minute to help us make SCHS the best place for your child to receive an education.

Georgia Parent Survey

Midterm Week

Next week is a big week for your student.  Midterms will be administered to SCHS students.  They should be studying for these.  There is an early release policy for these days that you will want to know about.  If you are off campus some for Dual Enrollment or Work Based Learning, you will still want to look these things over and make sure that you are in compliance.

Early Release Permission to Leave Form

Schedule for Midterm Week

Help Support the SCHS Youth Leadership Walton Scholarship Fund

Are you hungry?  Here is a great way to eat great at Jersey Mike's Subs, save money AND benefit the SCHS Youth Leadership Walton Scholarship Fund from December 6th through the 10th.  Print these money savings coupons and $2 per coupon used will be donated by Jersey Mike's.  Too easy!!

Coupons

Trying to Fill Out That FAFSA?

Back in September, we had a great meeting to coach families up on completing the FAFSA.  NOW is a great time to get that done.  You should not wait.  Here is the presentation that was used that evening:

Presentation Given at Financial Aid Parent Night

Janice M. Scott Memorial Scholarship

The Janice M. Scott Memorial Scholarship will award 3 to 4 $2500 scholarships to rising seniors who have at least a 3.0 GPA, combined family annual income of less than $50,000, and demonstrated leadership.  If that is you, click on the link below to see all the information.  The application due date is March 31, 2018.

https://jmscottmemorialfund.org/apply/

ROTC Scholarships

A great way to serve your country AND get a huge price break on college expenses is ROTC.  Attached is a brochure that will answer all of your questions about this great opportunity!

ROTC Scholarship Information

Dual Enrollment Meeting

Don't forget that the Dual Enrollment Meeting is this Thursday night in the cafeteria at 6 pm.  PLEASE come to this meeting and hear all that you will need to know for Dual Enrollment.  This meeting will be well worth your time, and save the need for many individual meetings next year.  See you then!

Gordon State is Coming to the Circle

On November 30th during Advisement, Kathleen Freeman from the Office of Admissions at Gordon State College will be here to talk about this two year college that has dormitories, and has even started to offer 10 four-year degrees.  One thing that a lot of people do not know about Gordon State is that a senior who does not have foreign language credits can still be admitted.  This is an exciting time at Gordon, and you will want to check out what they have going on.  First, look over their website: https://begordon.com/  Second, register for this meeting on the 30th.

Click here to register for the Gordon State College Meeting

Apply to College Day at SCHS

via GIPHY

Seniors:

Friday, December the 1st is Apply to College Day at SCHS. 

Wear your college/military shirt on Friday-We would like to make this a big deal for everyone by encouraging you to wear a t-shirt or sweatshirt with the college's name/logo that you are either going to or planning on applying to.  If you are headed to the military, get your pride plastered across your chest! We want to celebrate the fact that you are bound for something better than your parents' couch, so show that post-secondary-pride!

Get that College Application Done- We are going to take over a computer lab for as long as it takes to make sure that every senior at Social Circle has their college application done.  We are bringing in a bunch of expert help who will be there to work with students to complete a college application, send a transcript and possibly send SAT/ACT scores if needed.  Here is what you will need:

1. a decision about what college you want to apply to.
2. your log in to www.gafutures.org, www.collegeboard.org, and/or www.actstudent.org If you forgot them, look in the notebook that Mr. Kulp gave to you at your senior meeting or use the "forgot password" feature that is on every one of these sites.
3. a credit card to pay application fees/test score fees (If parents are not comfortable sending in the credit card, fees can be paid later on at home.)  (In some cases, students who qualify for fee waivers can have these fees waived- ask your counselor.)
4. Register for your own help sessions to knock this task out by completing the form below:

REGISTRATION FORM FOR COLLEGE APPLICATION HELP SESSION

Need help with Health Insurance?

Insure Georgia will be hosting help sessions designed to walk you through the application process to secure healthcare coverage through Medicaid, Peachcare, or ACA Healthcare Plans.  These sessions will be offered at the Monroe Library on November 20th, 27th, December 4th and 9th at 9 am to 1 pm.  Check out the flyer below.

ACA Navigator Flyer

Easy Scholarship Application for Seniors

SunTrust is offering two $500 scholarships a month until May.  All you have to do is enter this contest each month to be in the drawing each month:

 www.suntrust.com/offtocollege

Want to Go to The Air Force Academy?

Here is an opportunity to that you need to attend if you are considering an appointment to the Air Force Academy:

https://drive.google.com/file/d/0BxrC0qe5F03Pam1YTVRsY3pWS1ZGdk9FZUJneEQ3T3d2cFN3/view?usp=sharing

SAVE THE DATE- November 30th- Dual Enrollment Information Night

Dual Enrollment (formerly known as Move On When Ready) is a great way for solid students to earn college credits while they are still in high school.  Parents love this program because it is FREE college.  Kids love it because it springs them from being in a class here at high school.  Very little sales job has to occur with Dual Enrollment, but there are many factors that have to be taken into consideration before jumping into this. That is why you need to make the time to be at this event.

On November 30th at 6 pm in the cafeteria, is a important meeting for all students and parents interested in doing Dual Enrollment next year.  This meeting will educate everyone on the procedures that have to be followed to apply to this program.  It will also help parents and students be aware of pitfalls.  The students and parents who attended this program last year and are doing DE this year are enjoying a smooth ride.  The ones who didn't have not always had as smooth of a ride.

We will have representatives from the three main colleges that serve our students:

Great Scholarship for a HIGHLY Qualified Senior Who Wants to Be a Teacher

The College of Education at Mississippi State University is proud to offer the Mississippi Excellence in Teaching Program (METP) Scholarship. This innovative scholarship is designed to recruit and prepare teacher candidates for the future of tomorrow’s education profession.  By Changing Tomorrow Through Education Today, the METP provides participants insight into world-class collaborative teaching pedagogy.

Qualified high school applicants must have a 28 or above on their ACT or a score of 1310 or above on the SAT and a 3.5 overall GPA.  Participating scholars receive an award covering full tuition, books, room and board, and incidental expenses for four years of attendance along with a one-time technology stipend.  Participants gain exposure from faculty and fellow METP scholars at both Mississippi State University and the University of Mississippi during a cross-campus visit and a summer residency.  Scholars have an opportunity to experience a study abroad or an off-campus learning experience and the added opportunity of attending a national or regional professional conference relevant to their teaching discipline. Upon graduation, scholars must teach in a Mississippi public school for five years.

On Monday, November 20th we will be hosting the annual METP Scholars Day on campus.  Please share this registration link https://goo.gl/forms/ug1Cx5MDCZMVBVJk1 with high school seniors interested in attending the METP Scholars Day.  Please encourage students to register for this event by Friday, November 10th.

To apply for the award, applicants must first be admitted to Mississippi State University http://apply.msstate.edu/, and complete the METP application in the scholarship platform by the priority deadline of December 1st.

If you have students interested in the Mississippi Excellence in Teaching Program at Mississippi State University or would like more information, please contact me by phone at (662) 325-5543 or by email at mking@colled.msstate.edu to schedule a time to visit.

Sincerely,

Christa King

Walton EMC Walter Harrison Scholarship

Walton EMC has established a scholarship program in honor of Walter Harrison where they will award ten $1000 scholarships to seniors who family's electricity is provided by Walton EMC.  Seniors at Social Circle are invited to submit a completed application to Mr. Kulp no later than December 22nd, 2017 at 4 pm.  Don't be confused by the due date on the application!  Your due date is December 22nd.  The two best applications will be forwarded on to Walton EMC by January 19, 2018 to be in the running for one of the ten scholarships.

Walter Harrison Scholarship Application and Information

University of West Georgia Is Coming to The Circle

Are you interested in learning more about the University of West Georgia?  Perhaps this college is the perfect fit for you, yet you have not considered all the ways that University of West Georgia is hoping with energy and super-solid educational opportunities.

You should make time in your schedule to come and meet with Ms. Logan Hall Taulien on November the 7th during Advisement.  If you are interested in getting in on this meeting, please register using the form below.

Register for the University of West Georgia Meeting Here

College/Money

Get Help Paying for College

Help your senior fill out the FAFSA (Free Application for Federal Student Aid) as soon as possible! Don't wait because each state and school has its own deadline even though the application for the FAFSA has a 21-month cycle. Plus, some states award aid on a first-come, first-served basis until the money runs out.

Estimate the Cost for College and Find the Most Affordable Option

Comparing colleges and universities based on cost does not have to be difficult. Use tools like this worksheet to divide costs, gift aid, and loans in a side-by-side comparison.

December 5th at 3:30- Reconciliation Day

What is Reconciliation Day?  It is the final day to clear up zeros or to retake any test that is eligible to be retaken.  This year, we are implementing two Reconciliation Days- December 5th and another one in May.  The December date will be the last day to get things done before those grades in the grade book become irreparable zeros.  This will allow students and parents to know where a student truly stands with a grade while there is time to make plans going forward.  This boundary line is provided to help students maintain focus as they work towards a great, hard-earned education. 

Interested in Taking Dual Enrollment (formerly Move On When Ready) Classes at Georgia State Perimeter in 2018-19?

On October 24th from 5:30 to 7:30, the Office of Admissions at GA State Newton Campus will host a Dual Enrollment information meeting for students and parents.  If you even think you might be interested in Dual Enrollment next year with GA State, you NEED to attend this meeting.  There is a ton of problems that arise from a lack of advanced preparation that going to this meeting can prevent.  If you plan on attending this event, please complete the attached form below:

https://undergradapply.gsu.edu/register/?id=0f126816-6a6b-4280-9d45-a52f767a1f14

Looking for a Great Way to Volunteer Doing Something You Already Love Doing?

Brittany Townsend (who works at Madison Health and Rehab. through our Health Occupations Course) brought this opportunity to me a while back calling for students to volunteer their time downloading music to ipods that patients will use as a form of music therapy in their healing process.  Students, you know how to download better than anyone else!  Let's get in there and use our talents to bless others who are going through tough times.  If you are interested in this opportunity, please contact Joann Wren at (706) 242-3200.

Message from GA Southern about Scholarships

As your students continue their college search, many are probably asking about scholarships. Here are some helpful links and information about academic scholarship opportunities at Georgia Southern. The priority deadline to apply for scholarships for the Georgia Southern Statesboro campus is November 1, 2017, and the final deadline is February 1, 2018.

In addition to applying for Financial Aid by filling out the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) or applying for the HOPE Scholarship, Georgia Southern offers many academic scholarships to help high-achieving students cover their expenses. We offer three different tiers of scholarships, each with their own interview event. To be competitive, students should have the following test scores and a strong GPA.
Southern Scholars Showcase: 1360+ SAT or a 29+ composite ACT
Scholars' Day: 1270+ SAT or 27+ composite ACT
Southern Leaders Conference & Interview Day: 1170+ SAT or a 24+ composite ACT
All scholarship events are by invitation only, so please encourage qualified students to complete the MyScholarships application. Please note, students must apply for admission to submit the application and they must be accepted to Georgia Southern’s Statesboro campus for scholarship consideration.

If you think one of your students may be eligible for scholarships at Georgia Southern, please encourage them to first apply for admission and submit the MyScholarships application. For consideration to attend Southern Scholars’ Showcase, students should apply for scholarships and be accepted to Georgia Southern by November 1, 2017. The final deadline to apply for scholarships is February 1, 2018. Remember, this process is for Statesboro students only. The Armstrong campus* will award scholarships separately for this year.

If you would like a list of students from your school who may be eligible for academic scholarships, or if you have any questions, please contact me at 912.478.5391 or admissions@georgiasouthern.edu.

Sincerely,

Tosca Morgan
Admissions Counselor

Young Harris College Is Coming to the Circle

Young Harris College is a four year, liberal arts college in beautiful Young Harris, Georgia, home of the famed and beloved former governor and senator, Zell Miller.  You may recognize that name from the HOPE Scholarship program as he was the author of the HOPE Scholarship Program over 20 years ago.  To learn more about Young Harris College, click this link.

Paige McQuade from the Office of Admissions from Young Harris College will be at Social Circle High School on Wednesday, October the 18th during Redskin Advisement.  This is a private meeting only for those who have registered to attend.  To register, simply click the link below.

Click here to register for the Young Harris meeting

Clayton State Is Coming to the Circle

Clayton State University's Office of Admissions Representative, Shuntavia James, will be at Social Circle on October 16th during Redskin Advisement.  She will be here to share information about all of the exciting opportunities and solid educational experience that can be found on this beautiful, lake-surrounded campus near the Atlanta Airport.  To see more and learn more in advance of this meeting, please visit their website: http://www.clayton.edu/


Register for the Clayton State University Meeting

Hey Juniors and Seniors

MegaTest Day (ASVAB, PSAT, ACCUPLACER) is coming up on October 11th.  If you are a "on-campus" student, you have to pick one to take.  Go back to the last announcement about this issue: http://socialcircleguidance.blogspot.com/2017/09/psat-asvab-or-accuplacer-test-on.html for all the details.  Tell your advisor which one you will be taking. and remember that the PSAT costs $16, payable to Mr. Armstrong, Ms. Day or Mr. Kulp.

Financial Aid Meeting Last Week

Parents of seniors:

If you could not make the Financial Aid Parent Meeting on Thursday (9/28), you missed a great meeting that a lot of useful information was taught.  A huge thank you goes out to Ms. Brenda Vaughn from the Georgia Student Finance Commission and Ms. Mandy Branch from the Office of Financial Aid at the The University of Georgia for sharing their knowledge with us.

It is October 2nd, and we have access to fill out our senior's FAFSA (Free Application for Federal Student Aid) for one whole day.  Anyone out there done yet?  Me neither, but we need to go ahead and get it over with so that we will know what help is out there for college expenses.

Remember that if you need help with the FAFSA, we will be hosting a workshop in February, where financial aid professionals will be here to help you knock this out. 

We want to be a great source of help to you as you get ready for the next great adventure!

Powerpoint from the Financial Aid Meeting

All paper handouts are located right outside of Mr. Kulp's office.  Have you student swing by and get them.

PSAT, ASVAB, or ACCUPLACER Test on October 11th

On Wednesday, October 11th, all juniors will take one of the following tests- PSAT, ACCUPLACER, or the ASVAB.  Students will designate in advisement which one that he or she would like to take next week.  The following guide will help both student and parent in this decision.

PSAT- This test is designed for students who are planning on going to college to practice and improve on the SAT, a test that will determine what schools will accept a student.  This may be a student's third time taking the PSAT, but unless he or she has achieved a satisfactory score on the SAT (1200 to  meet one of the qualifications for Zell Miller Scholarship is an example) then the PSAT is still important.   The cost is $16 and can be paid in the front office to Ms. Day or Mr. Armstrong.  Fee waivers are available for students who qualify.  Only students who register can take this test.

ASVAB- The Armed Services Vocational Aptitude Battery is a military-based test that measures a student's abilities in a variety of other areas than just academics.  These tests are required for students who wish to do any job with any of the branches of the military.  An added benefit for students is the vocational component of this test will help guide students in making decisions about careers.  All juniors who do not register for the Accuplacer nor the PSAT will be taking the ASVAB by default.  The cost for this test is $0.

ACCUPLACER-  This test is designed as an admissions test to many technical schools and can also be a placement exam used by two year colleges as well.  This test is used by Athens Tech, GMC and GA Piedmont Tech. for their Dual Enrollment programs.  Any junior who is contemplating Dual Enrollment for the senior year and one of these institutions would be smart to register for this test, which will be offered by Athens Tech.  All students who take this test will also be aided in completing an Athens Tech application.  Students wishing to take this test will register with their Redskin Advisor.  The cost for this test is $0.

PSAT Day at SCHS for 9th and 10th Grade Students

On Wednesday, October 11th, the entire morning from the start of school until lunch will be dedicated to 9th and 10th graders taking the PSAT.  The PSAT is a practice SAT that will give both the student and the parent insights into where you all stack up with this very important college admissions test format.  Every student who takes the PSAT will receive valuable test prep that is tailor made to his or her specific weaknesses that were revealed on the PSAT this October.  Students are advised to take this practice test seriously and to do their best on the 11th.

NO ACTION IS NECESSARY FOR 9TH AND 10TH GRADE STUDENTS TO REGISTER FOR THE PAST ADMINISTRATION.  Your 9th or 10th grader is already registered to take this test without any payment necessary.

Get Connected. Stay Connected.

Don't let a lack of knowledge derail your plans to graduate!  In this day in which we live, students have access to more information than ever before, but if we do not access that information, we are destined for failure.

A good example of this is Infinite Campus and reading a school email account where teachers communicate with students.  Keeping connected to these two resources will dramatically improve a student's grades in high school.  Sadly, we find that these two wonderful, free resources are under used by students all for the fact that they forgot a user name or password.  Ms. Spell, our incredible media specialist, has provided us with some guides to get back on.

Infinite Campus

IC User Name: last 2 digits of year they graduate first name.last name

                            Example: 88Linda.Spell

IC Password: Redskins and last 4 digits of Student #

                          Example: Redskins1234

Google Email

Email: last 2 digits of year they graduate first name.last name@socialcircleschools.org

                            Example: 88Linda.Spell@socialcircleschools.org

Email Password: Redskins and last 4 digits of Student #

                                Example: Redskins1234

Financial Aid Information Night

Do you need money to help pay for your student's college education? Does the thought of applying for Federal Student Financial Aid scare the daylights out of you? Do you know what F. A. F. S. A. stands for?

If you answered yes, yes, no on these three questions, you gotta make plans to be at Social Circle's Media Center on Thursday, September 28th at 7 pm for our annual Financial Aid Parent Meeting.

This meeting will be geared toward parents of seniors, but anyone is welcomed to attend.  Students will not find this meeting to be beneficial, but are certainly welcomed to be there if desired.

Can't attend this meeting?  Maybe this will help:

One of Me, 544 Students

One of the biggest challenges that face students in every public high school is either not even knowing who their school counselor is because they have never seen him or her OR always feeling like the counselor is too busy because he or she is always behind closed door meetings.  This is a tough reality that faces public school students across the nation when they are seeking timely advice about college and career decisions.

While this situation makes timely college admissions information difficult to access, tools like this blog are designed to increase my student's access to high quality information.  The trick is to read it!

I am passing along another source that will definitely increase your college admissions IQ.  This guide contains information and advice related to all aspects of going to college, all the way from admissions, essay writing, financial aid, picking the right college and so much more!  Check out the web page below:

https://www.fairopportunityproject.org/

Is UGA on Your College Wish List?

The University of Georgia, our state's flagship university, offers over 130 majors to perspective students.  Click here to explore the majors offered.  Admission to UGA is an ever-increasing challenge to attain for high school students and one that requires early planning.  The freshman year is a great time to begin preparing the best resume and transcript possible, but even if your freshman year was not the best, sophomore and junior years are still important pieces in the admissions process.  The key is knowing what your goals are, and if UGA is your goal, you need to know UGA. It is with this in mind, I wanted to make you aware of two important opportunities coming up:

1) I will host a UGA Application Mini-Course during Redskin Advisement on Wednesday, September 20th.  This short class will teach you about the application process, offer up some pointers on making the application process simpler, help you strategize between Early Decision Application and Regular Decision Application, and will be a great way for underclassmen to learn about the admissions standards so that they can prepare to be a serious competitor when applying as a senior.
ALL GRADE LEVEL STUDENTS ARE INVITED AND ENCOURAGED TO ATTEND!

UGA Application Mini-Course Registration Form

2) This next event is for any 10th-12th grader who is in foster care or has been deemed "homeless" by the school board and is interested in UGA.  First Look is a program offered by the Office of Admission and Embark@UGA and will offer students in foster care or who are considered homeless an opportunity to tour the campus, opportunities to interact and meet with current students, faculty and staff to discuss available resources, information sessions highlighting admissions, merit-based scholarships and our nationally ranked facilities and amenities and lunch will be provided in the dining hall for invited students.  This event will take place on September 29th.  To register or to learn more about it, visit https://apply.uga.edu/register/?id=e913eb42-73f4-46d0-a6f2-8df99b240707

Seniors and Juniors

If you were not able to come to the Senior and Junior Information Night Meeting, you missed a lot of great information.  At least you can have access to the Powerpoint and handouts that were used!

Junior and Senior Parent/Student Night PowerPoint and handouts from Aug. 31st, 2017

Junior/Senior Information Night Presentation

Handouts:

HOPE Scholarship Information
Counseling Dates and Ways to Stay Connected

Study Tips

What Do You Really Know About the College to Which You Are Applying?

Technical College Information

High School Checklist for Juniors

College Planning Checklist for Seniors

ACT Information

SAT Information

Tools for Comparing Colleges 

Miss the Freshman/Sophomore Information Meeting on Tuesday?

Well, you missed Mr. Kulp witty commentary, but at least you can have access to the powerpoint and the handouts.  If you were unable to attend, you really need to look through this stuff.  Have a great weekend!


Freshman and Sophomore Parent/Student Night PowerPoint and handouts from Aug. 29th, 2017

Freshman/Sophomore Information Night Presentation

Handouts:

Study Tips
What Do You Really Know About the College to Which You Are Applying?
Counseling Dates and Ways to Stay Connected

Technical College Information
HOPE Scholarship Information
High School Checklist for Freshmen and Sophomores
ACT Information
SAT Information

A Great Way to Help Your Grieving Student

Camp Magic is a weekend camp experience for teenagers who have gone through a difficult loss of a loved one.  To learn more, click on the link below.

https://drive.google.com/file/d/0BxrC0qe5F03PUzNIdDB4dFYwYlFuMkZUa2tTbnVyZVhocWpN/view?usp=sharing

Academic Rigor

Here is a blog post from Rick Clark, Director of Admissions at Georgia Tech.  I am sending it out to you as another point to ponder when it comes to making decisions about academic rigor- AP vs. MOWR.  It is entitled "Straight Talk," something that is often hard to get from offices of admissions. Warning: It is not sugar-coated and addresses some tough concepts in high school and college decisions. Only read it if you are ready for what the honest opinions of one admissions counselor at a highly selective college are to the questions regarding academic rigor.

https://pwp.gatech.edu/admission-blog/2017/08/25/straight-talk/

Youth Empowerment Program for Young Men

We would like to cordially invite you to Project We Care, Inc.'s annual event, the S.O.S. Event (Sharing Our Strength), where we host and educate young men ages 9-18. This event focuses on topics such as making your goals a reality, mental health, and branding yourself. The S.O.S. Event is a wonderful platform to expose young men to professional men who are eager to pour their astute wisdom into them. Lunch, gift bags, and door prizes will be provided during this free event. 

I have included a clip from last year’s S.O.S. Event:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=88KutCLcg7Y&t=64s

I have also included a clip from this year’s empowerment event for young women entitled the F.L.Y. Event, First Love Yourself. The SOS Event this year will be similarly structured to the F.L.Y. Event:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tF07QY5ugVE&t=157s 

This event is free and space is limited! You can register starting July 23rd via www.projectwecare1.com.

Date:         September 23^rd, 2017

Time:        12:00 – 3:00 pm

Location:  General Electric Auditorium

                 4200 Wildwood Parkway Atlanta, GA 30339

Thank you,
Rosalyn Hedgepeth

College Fairs Bring Colleges to Your Door Step

September is a big month for local college fairs.  Social Circle students are going to have great opportunities to meet college representatives and learn more about the schools in attendance.  A college fair is a chance to meet (in many cases) the person who will read your college application, and allows you to "demonstrate interest" in the colleges you are considering.

On the surface, college fairs are a face-to-face, quick meetings that are designed to have the college market themselves to students.  But they can also be an opportunity to share who you are with a college.  Making a good impression is never a waste of time.

Here are two local opportunities to get your college groove on:

• Athens Area PROBE College Fair- September 6th 6 pm to 8 pm.  All grade levels are invited and encouraged to attend this event where over 120 colleges from around the United States will be available to answer questions for parents and students.  Admission is free, and if you wanna take up the cool factor a notch, click here and follow the directions.  By completing this registration and printing off a bar code, you will keep yourself from having to write your name and address at every table you stop at. You will be glad you did!

• Walton County PROBE College and Career Fair- September 7th 9 am to 1 pm.  11th and 12th grade students who complete the permission form will be taken via bus to this college and career fair for the students of Walton County.  Participants should dress for success at this event.  To gain more access to this event, please visit http://wcprobefair.weebly.com/.

Last, I would like to give you some tips and great questions to ask at a college fair that will maximize your time. 

Helpful Tips and Great Questions

Look for Mr. Kulp at the Athens Probe Fair!

Georgia College Is Coming to The Circle

Jillian Bolak from the Office of Admissions at Georgia College will be at SCHS on September 5th during Redskin Advisement time.  If you would like to learn more about Georgia College as a possible option for after high school OR you have already decided that Georgia College is it, you need to be at this meeting to meet Jillian.  If you would like to attend this meeting, you must register by using the link below.

Click here to register for the Georgia College Meeting

Grade Level Information Nights- Sponsored by the Guidance Office

Here we are at the beginning of another great year of opportunities for your students to grow in knowledge and experience.  This school year has started off great, and everyone is where they belong for their classes for the 2017-18 school year.  Now, it is time to set our sights on greater things, like preparing for life beyond high school.

In order to prepare students and their families for the processes and decisions that lie ahead with college, military, technical college, or going straight into the work world, it is important that good communication be given out regarding things like admissions testing, HOPE Scholarship, admissions tips, and many more.  On two nights next week, I will be speaking on these topics, and it is truly important that you and your student give up this one hour to make yourself ready for the tasks that are waiting up ahead.  This is one of the best and only times that we will be able to go through this important information, so please make every effort to attend your grade level's meeting.  Give me an hour, and I will give you back a better level of comfort with knowing what is coming up ahead.

• 9th and 10th Grade Information Night- Tuesday, August 29th at 7 pm in the Cafeteria.

• 11th and 12th Grade Information Night- Thursday, August 31st at 7 pm in the Cafeteria.

The Horatio Alger Association of Distinguished Americans Scholarship

The Horatio Alger Association is pleased to offer scholarships that range in value of $6000 to $25,000 to students who have significant financial need and have exhibited integrity and perseverance in overcoming personal adversity.  Students whose annual family income is less than $55,000 per year and who are United States citizens are eligible to apply for this scholarship.  Applications are due no later than October 25, 2017.  Applications can be accessed at scholars.horatioalger.org. 

More information about the Horatio Alger Scholarship

Free SAT and PSAT Help

Kaplan will be offering two free live online programs for students preparing for the September 9, 2017 ACT and the October PSAT. Would you please pass this information along to your students and families?

1. SAT Prepathon

The Prepathon offer 6 hours of free, online test prep. 

WHEN: August 27, beginning at noon ET

WHERE: Live Online

REGISTER: Kaptest.com/prepathon

2. Free PSAT Prep Live Lessons

For the 2nd year, Kaplan will offer free live lessons convering all topics from the PSAT. If your students can't make a live session, they can view the recording of the session as long as they've registered for it.

During this program, Kaplan's expert faculty will cover the most important PSAT content and tackle practice problems in livestreaming, one-hour lessons - all completely free.

For more information and to see where students register, you can click this link: www.kaptest.com/PSATPrepLive.

Want to take GMC MOWR Classes?

Georgia Military College has quickly become a popular option for students who are wanting to take Move On When Ready classes.  If you are not sure what "Move On When Ready" means, it is the name for Dual Enrollment.  This program provides free college classes to qualified students.  That means good grades and solid SAT, ACT or Accuplacer test scores.  Georgia Military College offers all on-line college courses at no cost to students or their parents through the Move On When Ready program.  It is truly free.  Please note that Athens Technical College and Georgia State University also both offer similar programs with face-to-face teaching/learning opportunities.

If you would like to be a MOWR student through Georgia Military College, you have to jump through some hoops.  To learn about those, click on the top three links below.  You also need a test score.  Caroline McDade will be at Social Circle on Wednesday, September 6th at 9:30 am to give the Accuplacer to students at no charge.  IF you have not taken the SAT or ACT or did not do well enough, you can register for the Accuplacer (an admissions test that GMC and Athens Tech can use in lieu of the SAT/ACT) by clicking on that link.  If you do not register to take this test, you will not be issued a pass to come for this test on September the 6th at 9:30.

Directions for completing application process for GMC:

Testing Requirements for GMC's MOWR Program

Applications Instructions

Directions for GAFutures.org


Accuplacer Testing:

Click here to register to take the Accuplacer on Sept. 6th

Here Is a Big Time Resume Building Opportunity

The State Superintendent, Richard Woods, is seeking students in Georgia's public middle and high schools to be a part of his Student Advisory Council for the 2017-18 school year. These high school students will get to meet with Superintendent Woods on October 4th, January 18th, and April 11th (different dates for middle school students).  The application, listed below, is due on Friday, September 1st by 5pm. 

This is a time for students to share their experiences within Georgia's public schools, discuss state policies that impact education, along with other education-related topics, and these students also serve as ambassadors for their schools. This is a unique opportunity for students to gain knowledge about the educational system, share their opinions, and meet other students from across the state.

This is what Superintendent Woods has to say about the importance of the Student Advisory Council:

“The Student Advisory Council is an absolutely invaluable resource for the Georgia Department of Education team as we make decisions that impact students and classrooms,” Superintendent Woods said. “Nothing can replace the opportunity to hear directly from students about their experience in Georgia’s public schools and what we can improve. I’m looking forward to meeting and working with this year’s Student Advisory Council members.”

If you are interested and would like more information, see the link below, along with the application.

http://www.gadoe.org/Documents/2017%20-%202018%20Student%20Advisory%20Council%20Application.docx

· Send applications by September 1, 2016 at 5 p.m. to students@doe.k12.ga.us

Are You Interested in Learning More about Going to a Military Service Academy?

Hice Announces Service Academy Day for 10th District Students

Milledgeville, GA, July 18, 2017 | comments

Milledgeville, GA – Congressman Jody Hice (GA-10) today announced that he will host his annual Service Academy Day on Saturday, August 19^th on the campus of Georgia Military College.  The event is designed to familiarize students with the application and nomination process for the nation’s five military service academies.  Students in grades eight through twelve are invited to attend.  The event will take place from 1:30 p.m. until 3:30 p.m. in the Goldstein Center for the Performing Arts Auditorium, where representatives from the United States Air Force, Naval, Military, Coast Guard, and Merchant Marine Academies will discuss their requirements for admittance. 

“The United States Service Academies award some of the largest and most prestigious scholarships in the country,” said Congressman Hice.  “Students who earn an offer of appointment receive a top-tier education, room and board, pay, and exclusive benefits and training.  What’s more, these young men and women become commissioned officers immediately upon graduation.  I can think of no higher honor for Georgia’s 10^th District students, and each year, I am proud to congratulate the elite group of leaders who attend a United States Service Academy.”

All students admitted to our nation’s military service academies must first receive a nomination from at least one member of their state's Congressional Delegation, the Vice President, or the President of the United States.  Students who are seeking Congressman Hice’s nomination should submit a completed application to his Monroe District Office by October 13, 2017.  To access the application and learn more about the nomination process, visit Congressman Hice’s website at http://hice.house.gov/constituent-services/serviceacademynominations.htm or contact Carolyn Dallas at (478) 457-0007 or Carolyn.Dallas@mail.house.gov. 

What:  GA-10 Service Academy Day
Who:  America’s Service Academies & Students in Grades Eight through Twelve
When:  Saturday, August 19, 2017 from 1:30 p.m. – 3:30 p.m.
Where:   Georgia Military College
Goldstein Center for the Performing Arts Auditorium
325 S. Elbert Street
Milledgeville, GA 31061

Students Interested in Veterinarian Science- Great Opportunity!

Good morning. I wanted to reach out to you to let you know that registration for our Vet School for a Day program is now open. The registration period will end on September 1, so if you have any high school juniors or seniors who are interested in veterinary medicine, please make sure they apply before then. The event itself will be on Wednesday, September 20. You can find more information about the program, as well as the registration documents, here - http://vet.uga.edu/academic/vet_school_for_a_day. Please let me know if you have any questions, and feel free to pass along this information to anyone who would benefit from it. Thank you! Veronica Pennington, M.P.A.  Coordinator of Diversity Initiatives University of Georgia College of Veterinary Medicine  Office of Academic Affairs 501 D.W. Brooks Dr.  Athens, GA 30602 p: 706-542-9386  f:  706-542-1004  e: vpennington@uga.edu

Georgia Institute of Technology, Georgia State University and the University of Georgia are offering you an opportunity to come to the information session that will be located in the area. They will be in Athens on AUGUST 23rd. So don't miss out! Attached is the link to the letter and flyer. Go to peachstatetour.org for more information and for signing up.

Peach State Tour

Emory University Cultural Overnight Recruitment Experience

Emory's Overnight Program

Emory College’s CORE (Cultural Overnight Recruitment Experience) visit program supports talented, high-achieving high school seniors from underrepresented backgrounds in their college search. Students invited to CORE are traditionally either first- generation college students or they are from an underrepresented cultural or socioeconomic background.

During the three-day visit, held October 12 – 14, 2017, students have the opportunity to explore our vibrant campus, interact with current students, meet committed and diverse faculty and staff, and stay overnight in residence halls.

The program is free, and travel expenses are also covered in full for students who live outside a 275-mile radius of Atlanta, Georgia. Metro Atlanta and Georgia students would be required to drive to campus.

Learn more about CORE

Who can apply for CORE?
We invite all interested students to apply now at: http://apply.emory.edu/core/. The application deadline is Wednesday, August 16.

We will notify all students who applied whether they have been admitted to the program by mid-September.

If you or your students have any questions, please do not hesitate to contact us at admission@emory.edu.

Master Schedule for the 2017-18 School Year

The SCHS Master Schedule is formally released for use by SCHS students making plans to accommodate work-study program or Move On When Ready course options.  If you are a MOWR student for this coming year, and you have a completed class schedule for the fall, please email Mr. Kulp (who is away from the office the week of 7/17 through 7/21) at mike.kulp@socialcircleschools.org to set up an appointment for the week of the 24th through the 29th.  This meeting will be your opportunity to make your schedule work for both schools.

2017-18 SCHS Master Schedule Course Line-Up

It's Time to Get Smart about Buying a College Education

Lynn O'Shaughnessy is national expert on college admissions and financial aid. She offers parents easy to understand advice in navigating the waters of college admissions.  She is offering a webinar this week to take your level of college-knowledge to a deeper level.  Here is what she has to offer: Colleges are businesses. When you start looking for schools, you need to be on guard just as you would walking onto a car lot. The only way to capture the best deals is to become a smart college shopper. And I can help! I'm holding a special training THIS WEEK entitled, 8 Secrets Colleges Don't Want You to Know. Attend the one-hour online presentation and you'll discover valuable insider secrets to shrinking your college costs.  What You'll Learn Here's a taste of what you'll learn during this free mini workshop: 1. Letting teenagers apply to whatever universities they want - and hope for the best - can be a financial disaster. But good for colleges! 2. Many of the most popular universities can make the majority of their students pay full price because they can get away with it.  Most colleges would like to do the same, but can't. 3. Discover the invaluable tool that many colleges would prefer you don't use when comparing REAL college prices. 4. Many schools love to quote six-year grad rates which is crazy. Learn how to pinpoint four-year grad rates and compare schools within seconds. 5. Job placement figures from colleges are often bogus. Discover a reliable source. 6. Does it really matter if you attend an elite university? Enroll now: Tuesday (July 11) at 5:30 pm Pacific, 8:30 pm Eastern. Register now.    Wednesday (July 12 ) noon Pacific, 3 pm Eastern. Register now.    Wednesday (July 12 ) 5:30 pm Pacific, 8:30 pm Eastern. Register now.   Thursday (July 13) 5:30 pm Pacific, 8:30 pm Eastern. Register now.  Bonus Everyone who attends the mini workshop will receive my brand-new resource guide - What You Need to Know About College Graduation Rates. The guide includes grad rates for more than 700 private and state colleges. Another bonus: Answering your college questions: I will set aside some time during the presentation to answer college questions.  I don't offer these open-to-the-public webinars very often, so I hope you take advantage of the opportunity this week! Enroll now!

Warmly, Lynn O'Shaughnessy Lynn@TheCollegeSolution.com TheCollegeSolution.com

But...What Do Colleges Prefer?

Ever wonder about which choice is right when it comes to classes, clubs, community service with regards to getting in to your college?  Looking good to an Office of Admission is a top priority for a student who wants to go to that college, but we can't do everything, right?  We only have 16 awake hours in our days, so picking "what to leave in/what to leave out" becomes an important part of the high school experience.  Maybe this blog post from Ashley Brookshire on the Southern Association of College Admission Counseling Blog Page will serve as a compass as you navigate these waters we call High School.

http://www.sacac.org/blog/

Scholarship for Rising Seniors- This Is an Early One

We wanted to reach out again to let you know that we have renewed our College Success Scholarship for 2018. At Study.com, our mission is to make education accessible. Our College Success Scholarship gives one lucky student $1,000 to help with their tuition. We would love for your community of students to take advantage of this scholarship next time around!

Applying for the College Success Scholarship
Students need to apply by April 1, 2018, which gives them plenty of time to submit the quick and easy application! We will choose one winner based on their free response submissions.
To submit their application, students must visit this page: http://study.com/blog/college-success-scholarship-by-study-com.html

Eligibility Requirements
In order to participate in the scholarship contest, applicants must meet the following criteria:

• Must be a U.S. Citizen or Permanent U.S. Resident
• Must be enrolled (or accepted) in an accredited college or university
• Graduating high school seniors who meet the above mentioned criteria may apply

Sincerely,
Subho N Dutta

Secretary of State Student Ambassador Program

We would like to introduce a new opportunity for your students for the 2017-2018 school year. The Student Ambassador Program is a leadership development program for high school students that centers on civic engagement, voter registration promotion, and volunteerism.  This statewide program is engaging Georgia’s next generation of leaders with their communities.  Throughout the year, students will plan events like speaking to their peers about the importance of voting, assisting them in registering to vote, attending local civic meetings, and volunteering within their communities.  The Secretary of State Student Ambassador Program is the first of its kind in Georgia.  During the 2016-17 school year, 102 schools and over 850 students across the state participated.
The program is free to join, and there is a team at the Secretary of State’s office dedicated to assisting local schools and ensuring the success of the program. Each school is allowed to select up to 9 representatives.  In the fall, these students will attend one of our 6 Regional Kick-Off events.  At these events, students will receive all of the training and materials they will need to be successful in the program.

A student ambassador from 2016-17 states, "I am a rising senior and have participated in the Student Ambassador Program for two years. I have benefited from the program in unimaginable ways. I have witnessed the power of the Secretary of State Student Ambassador Program to empower students in leadership and create involved citizens. Personally, my communication, public speaking, and organizational skills have greatly improved as a result of my involvement in the program. In addition to personal growth, I have benefited from pouring back into my community by helping people register to vote, working closely with my teammates and administrators, providing my peers with the knowledge necessary to make their voice heard, and developing the leadership culture of my school. Every student should have access to this opportunity, and every school and community will benefit from the investment of its students in the program."

For more information, or to join the Student Ambassador Program, please contact the Secretary of State’s Outreach Team at ambassadorsupport@sos.ga.gov or (404) 6540-6045. You may also visit our website at http://sos.ga.gov/index.php/general/student_ambassador_program.