NORTHWEST HIGH SCHOOLSenior Parent MeetingSeptember 28, 2015

Mrs. Lance Dempsey, Principal

Mr. Matt Paushter, 12th Grade Administrator

Ms. Ellen O’Connell, Resource Counselor

Tamela McCarthy-Redd, Counselor

Northwest High SchoolPresenters

AGENDA• Expectations for Seniors• Important dates for Seniors• Graduation Information• Preparing for College

Application process SAT/ACT/ACCUPLACER Transcripts/Process/Timelines Resources Questions

140 School Days Left!

Expectations for Seniors

Attendance Grades AP Tests

Number of seniors who need SSL hours!

165

Senior Class Meeting October 14th

Senior Class Activities During the PSAT 7:45 am – Breakfast in the Cafeteria 8:15 am – Balfour Representative

Distribute Graduation Announcement information Cap & Gown Forms

8:45 am – Group Photograph in the Stadium 9:30am – Guest Speaker 10:30am – Class Meeting 11:15am – Dismissal to Lunch

Mandatory Meeting!

Senior Banquet - Thursday, April 14st

Prom – The Fillmore - Friday, May 13th

Senior Awards Night - Thursday, May 19th

LAST WEEK FOR SENIORS - May 23-27

GRADUATION, June 7th at 2:30 at DAR Constitution Hall

Events

CLASS OF 2016

Graduation Cap and Gown Information

• Cost: $50• Payment can be made online, in person during

lunch on October 22nd and 23rd, or by mail to Balfour. Information can be found in the Balfour handout.

• Orders are due prior to April 1, 2016. Cost increases to $60 after April 1, 2016.

• Payment deadline is May 13th, 2016.

Yearbook

This year’s yearbook theme is… “Count Us In” Yearbooks are on sale now. Order online at

yearbookforever.com. $70 – Price increases December19th. The class of 2016 photo will be on October 14th. Photos will

be available for purchase - $20. Personal ads for the yearbook are due by December 18th. See

Ms. Mason for details.

Important Reminders

• Obligations must be paid to the Finance Office to purchase tickets to any school event including Homecoming, Prom, and Graduation.

• SSL Hours – 75 minimum needed to graduate. Deadline for SSL hours is April 22, 2016.

• 22 credits to graduate.

• College and Career Center – Ms. Rochelle Davis

PREPARING FOR COLLEGE

• SAT• ACT• Accuplacer• College Application• Student Information• Transcript / Essay Writing• Recommendations / Scholarships

ACT & SATReminders!

Upcoming test dates:Oct. 24 late registration ends Oct. 2Dec. 12 register by Nov. 6

Register online @ www.satcollegeboard.orgSAT $54.50

Upcoming test dates:

Nov. 7 register by Oct. 23

Remember the Northwest High School Code when registering: 210-589

Seniors should have had a conversation with their counselors about which is the ‘best fit’ test!

The ACCUPLACER

…students need to complete the online application for MC no later than October

31www.montgomerycollege.edu

Accuplacer Exemptions:SAT Scores of 550 on the CR / 550 on the Math

and /or score of 24 on the ACT math and/or English

Test Dates:Nov. 5: MCPS AccuplacerFeb. 4: MC Accuplacer DiagnosticApril 7: MC Accuplacer

…for college level placement at Montgomery College

College Application Checklist

All seniors and parents should have attended one of the small group meetings with the counselors over the summer to discuss graduation requirements and post-secondary plans.

Counselors met with all seniors during the week of September 14th and discussed in detail the college application process.

Ms. Davis (College and Career Information Coordinator) is also available to help with Family Connection registration and college searches.

College Process: 101

1. Obtain college applications

2. Review/create accounts for Family Connections and the Common Application

3. Set up Family Connection FERPA waiver and Common Application match.

4. Request transcripts through registrar by completing the Transcript Request form.

Submit the materials to the registrar at least 15 school days before the postmark due date of your application.

5. Send SAT/ACT scores through Collegeboard and ACT.

6. Complete and return self-evaluation to Counselor and Teacher.

7. Mail or electronically submit student portion of the application directly to the college.

Applying to College with Family Connection & eDocs

“““TTThhheee WWWaaayyy III’’’mmm AAApppppplllyyyiiinnnggg &&& DDDeeellliiivvveeerrryyy TTTyyypppeee”””

= APPLYING TO COLLEGE USING THE COMMON APPLICATION. = ON THE COUNSELING OFFICE ELECTRONIC COLLEGE APPLICATION

PROCESSING FORM THIS SYMBOL MEANS THAT YOUR TRANSCRIPT, SECONDARY

SCHOOL REPORT, RECOMMENDATIONS AND SCHOOL PROFILE WILL BE SENT

ELECTRONICALLY FROM THE REGISTRAR’S OFFICE.

= APPLYING TO COLLEGE ONLINE. = ON THE COUNSELING OFFICE ELECTRONIC COLLEGE APPLICATION

PROCESSING FORM THIS SYMBOL MEANS THAT YOUR TRANSCRIPT, SECONDARY

SCHOOL REPORT, RECOMMENDATIONS AND SCHOOL PROFILE WILL BE SENT

ELECTRONICALLY FROM THE REGISTRAR’S OFFICE. = THE COLLEGE DOES NOT ACCEPT ELECTRONIC TRANSMISSION OF YOUR

TRANSCRIPT AND/OR RECOMMENDATIONS ALTHOUGH YOU MAY STILL BE ABLE

TO APPLY ONLINE. = ON THE COUNSELING OFFICE ELECTRONIC COLLEGE APPLICATION PROCESSING

FORM THIS SYMBOL MEANS THAT YOUR TRANSCRIPT, SECONDARY SCHOOL REPORT, RECOMMENDATIONS AND SCHOOL PROFILE WILL BE SENT BY MAIL FROM THE

REGISTRAR’S OFFICE. YOU MUST SUBMIT ENVELOPES TO THE REGISTRAR’S OFFICE

AND TO YOUR TEACHERS WITH SUFFICIENT POSTAGE.

Transcript Information

Fees for Official Transcripts: 1 – 3 FREE 4+ $3.00 per official transcript

NCAA CLEARINGHOUSE: if the student plans to play sports in college. Student will register online at the NCAA website Registrars office at NW is alerted of registration and will

upload a transcript directly to NCAA.

Recommendation Letters: Self-Evaluation Form

Form available on NW Website. Students should speak to their counselor about writing a letter

of recommendation. It will be sent along with your transcript unless otherwise

indicated.

If a teacher recommendation is required, students MUST request a letter of recommendation from their teacher in PERSON before selecting their name on Family Connections!!!!!!

Provide teachers with a copy of your self-evaluation and a note about what schools you are asking them to write for and their deadlines.

Essay Writing The topic should be meaningful and the one that the

student will enjoy writing about. Be descriptive!! Don’t be afraid to brag about accomplishments. Be creative, especially if it fits your personality. Don’t try to impress schools by using “big” words. Relax- writing the essay is not as tough as it seems.

Financial Aid & Scholarships

The Free Application for Federal Student Aide (FAFSA) is the most critical piece for receiving $ for college.

Financial Aid Seminar (December 1 @ 6:30pm)

FAFSA should be completed between Jan. 1 and March 1, 2016 .

College Goal Maryland offers students and parents the opportunity to have the FAFSA completed on-site at no charge.

February 21, 2 to 4 pm at MC Takoma Park CampusFebruary 11, 4 to 6 pm at MC Germantown CampusRegister online at CollegeGoalSundayMD.org or call 1.877.632.4709

Scholarship information can be found using Family Connection, Fastweb.com, and the College & Career Info page of the NWHS website. The JAG Scholarship Bulletin is sent via Family Connections to registered students & parents.

QUESTIONS?