The Senior Sting
Counselor Newsletter – April 2014
Allyson Lusby,
A-F / Pat Banks,
G-O / Monica Lewis,
P-Z / Regina Taylor,
Test Coordinator / Sara Swinford,
Social Worker / Cindy Anderson,
Registrar

CHECKLIST:

  Apply for local scholarships (click here). Deadlines are approaching fast.

  Carefully compare financial aid award letters from the colleges that accept you. Make a final decision, accept the financial aid package, and mail a deposit check to the college you select before May 1 (acceptance deadline for most schools).

  If you have ruled out any colleges that have accepted you, please notify them as a courtesy to other applicants on waitlists.

Compare Award Letters to Find the Best College Deal!

By now, most seniors have completed the college application process and will begin receiving financial aid award letters. Seniors and their parents should compare those letters to find the one that offers the best financial aid package.

This letter will typically show the total cost of attendance – what it costs to go to that college for one school year, including tuition, fees, room, meals, books, supplies, transportation and personal expenses.

It may also show how much the student’s family is expected to pay toward those costs, the expected family contribution (EFC). The EFC is subtracted from the total cost of attendance to get a student’s financial need. The letter will then list various sources of financial aid offered to pay for the costs not covered by the EFC. Students can accept or reject any or all of those proposed sources.

One consideration is how much of the aid being offered is in federal student loans, which will have to be paid back after a student finishes school. If the package includes federal loans and isn’t enough to pay all expenses, students may be looking at a private education loan. Comparison shopping is a must in that case. For assistance with understanding your financial award letter contact the college’s financial aid office.

Set Up and Follow a Budget!

One financial goal for students is to have money at the end of every month. The following tips from KHEAA may help you set up a budget to track the money you make versus the money you spend so that you make future wise choices.

1.  Knowing how and when you get your money and where you spend it is the foundation of financial planning. You create a budget by estimating how much money you’ll make each month and how much you’ll spend. It’s a great way to avoid running out of money when you need it most.

2.  You must be honest with yourself when completing your budget. If you write down everywhere you spend money over a month’s time, you will get a clear picture of your wasteful spending. Once you know where your weaknesses with money are, you can work on correcting them. If you have more expenses than you have income to cover, your income will have to go up, or your expenses will have to go down.

3.  Having a budget in place will also help you save for a vacation, a new car or college. Determine how much you need to set aside to reach your goal, and build that into your budget. Move the money into a savings account so you won’t be tempted to spend it before you meet your goal.

The thought of doing a monthly budget scares people, but they aren’t difficult. The difficult part is being deliberate with your spending. Once you budget an amount for say movies, then stick to that amount. If you spend more in one category, you will have to take that money from another category.

Prom


Prom is Saturday, May 10! Tickets will go on sale in the cafeteria May 5-9. Senior Costs: $20 per ticket or $35 per couple. If taking an out-of-school guest the cost will be $60 per couple. Approval forms for out-of-school guests are now available in the main office. Get your guest approved ASAP. Students can purchase Prom table tickets: $2 per seat or $16 per table.

Senior iPad Purchase Option

All graduating seniors will have the option of purchasing their iPad this year by completing the following by Friday, May 10:

·  Pay all outstanding student fees

·  Complete/turn in the iPad Purchase Form (click here) to the front office

·  Pay the $135 iPad purchase fee

If your iPad is damaged and you would like to have it repaired before purchasing it you will need to take your iPad to the Help Desk before Friday, May 3. A damage fee will be assessed based on the number of damage claims you have filed this school year.

Job Opportunity

Hamilton-Ryker Company - Has immediate job openings for light industrial positions located at the Quad/Graphics plant in Versailles. No experience required! Must be 18 years of age. Shifts are from 7:00 a.m. – 7:00 p.m. or 7:00 p.m. – 7:00 a.m. Complete an application at www.hamilton-ryker.com. For more information call (850) 873-9786.

Volunteer Opportunities
Lexington VA Medical Center (1101 Veterans Drive) - Seeking teens to volunteer this summer. Teens may work up to eight hours per day for a maximum of three days per week. Go to http://www.lexington.va.gov/giving/index.asp for more information. Contact Candace Bradley at (859) 281-3930 x5280 for questions.

Francisco’s Farm Arts Festival (at Midway College) – Seeking volunteers assist at a festival May 16-18. Responsibilities include delivering water to artists, booth-sitting (to give artists a break), assisting at children’s art projects booths, providing information at festival entrances, and being part of the tear down crew. Volunteers will receive a free t-shirt! Register to volunteer online at www.franciscosfarm.org

·  www.fastweb.com

·  www.careerinfonet.org/scholarshipsearch

·  www.bigfuture.collegeboard.org/scholarship-search

·  www.studentscholarshipsearch.com/

·  www.scholarships.com/scholarship-search.aspx

·  www.careercruising.com/ilp

·  www.act.org/compass

·  www.kyote.org

·  www.woodfordcountylibrary.org

·  www.march2success.com (ASVAB)

·  www.act.org/workkeyspractice

·  www.careercruising.com/ilp (Method Test Prep)

BENCHMARKS / ACT / COMPASS / KYOTE
English / 18 / 74 / 85
Math / 19 / 36 / 22
Reading / 20 / 85 / 20

·  April 21-23 – ACT WorkKeys Testing**

·  April 24-25 – Pre-PAC Education Test

·  April 24-26 – Spring Musical

·  May 1 – ASVAB Testing***

·  May 11 – Mother’s Day

·  May 5-15 – AP Testing

·  May 16-19 – COMPASS Testing*

·  May 20 – Election Day (NO SCHOOL)

·  May 21-28 – KYOTE Testing*

·  May 26 – Memorial Day (NO SCHOOL)

·  May 29 – Sr. Final Exams (Blocks 1 & 3)

·  May 30 – Sr. Final Exams (Block 2 & 4)

·  May 30 – Deadline for Senior Survey, Senior Data Sheet, and Final Transcript Request (Parchment)

·  June 2 - Sr. Final Exams (Block 5)

·  June 2 – Sr. iPad Collection

·  June 3 – Sr. Breakfast (WCCC) Grad Practice

·  June 3 - Sr. Awards Night (6:30 p.m.)

·  June 4 – Graduation Practice

·  June 5 – Sr. Gattitown Field Trip

·  June 7 – Graduation (Frankfort Convention Center, 6:00 p.m.)

*For students who haven’t reached benchmark ACT scores

**For students who took a CTE KOSSA exam

***For students who passed the CTE KOSSA exam and/or interested in the military

Please see your Guidance Counselor if you have any questions.