CLASS OF 2010

Senior Handbook Table to Contents

Survival Guide Reminders…………………………………………………………………………Page 2

Senior Planning Calendar………………………………………………………………………….Page 3

Resume Checklist and Resource……………………………………………………………....Page 4

Careers and Majors………………………………………………………………………………....Page 5

Apprenticeships……………………………………………………………………………………....Page 6

Military…………………………………………………………………………………………………....Page 6

Post-Secondary Schools.……………………………………………………………………….….Page 7

Monetary Value of an Education……………………………………………………….…....Page 8

College Lingo Descriptions……………………………………………………………………..…Page 9

College Search Tips…………………………………………………………………………………Page 10

Playing Sports at a Division I or II School…………………………………………….…..Page 10

Financial Aid…………………………………………………………………………………………..Page 11

SAT and ACT Test Information and Dates…………………………………………..……Page 11

Scholarships…………………………………………………………………………….……………..Page 12

Student Activity Record……………………………………………………………….…………Page 13

All students attending Augusta County Public Schools may participate in education programs and activities, including but not limited to health and physical education, music, vocational and technical education. Educational programs and services will be designed to meet the varying needs of all students and will not discriminate against any individual for reasons of race, color, national origin, religion, age, disability, or gender. Students and school personnel are protected against retaliation.

The following individuals have been designated to handle inquiries regarding the non-discrimination policies
Title IX Coordinator
Eric W. Bond
6 John Lewis Road
Fishersville, VA 22939
(540) 245-5107 /
Section 504 Coordinator
George Earhart
6 John Lewis Road
Fishersville, VA 22939
(540) 245-5107

We are an equal opportunity employer who fully and actively supports equal access for all people regardless of race, color, religion, gender, age, national origin, or disability.

CLASS OF 2010

Welcome to your SENIOR YEAR!!! We know that this is an exciting, and at times, complicated year. This handbook is filled with information that will behelpful in the coming months as you plan and prepare for your ticket to the future, a high school diploma. Please review it carefully by yourself and with your family to ensure timelines and deadlines are noted. As you start your senior year, please keep the following survival guide in mind:

  • Stay focused on academics. Senoritis can hit the best of students, but remember that colleges and universities continue to track your scholastic achievement even after acceptance. Take advantage of 4th year Math, Science, English, and Social Science courses.
  • Keep a list of all honors and activities completed. This helps with job applications and letters of recommendation. Use the SDHS Student Activity Record at the back of this handbook.
  • Complete a career inventory to help you narrow down your options and interests for after high school. This can help when seeking additional training, or when choosing a major. The career coach, Mrs. Gardner, is a great resource when researching careers and majors.
  • Periodically check the scholarship board and SDHS website for scholarships and other important information. It is updated every week.
  • Make use of the many resources available to you: this handbook, the internet, the School Counseling Office, etc. You can also log on to and click on “After School Explorer” for more resources.
  • Listen to or read the announcements every day. The announcements are posted on SDHS web page for parents or students who miss them.
  • All 17 and 18 year old male students must register with the Selective Service within 30 days of turning 18. It is Federal Law. You go to any post office and fill out a Selective Service registration form and a card will be mailed to you once your registration is processed.
  • You can register to vote at any library, post office, DMV branch, or through your local registrar once 18 years of age. Applications are also online at
  • Enjoy your Senior year! 

SENIOR PLANNING CALENDAR

September/October

Clarify educational and career goals

Talk to recruiters if the Military is a consideration. They try to make monthly visits to SDHS.

Organize a calendar with deadlines. Use a planner/agenda.

Attend College Night at 6:30pm, Tuesday, September 24th at Robert E. Lee High School

Begin to periodically check scholarship board and the School Counseling website

Create a final list of all schools or colleges you are interested in attending. If you plan on attending a technical or trade school, write to the schools for applications and information or visit. Research websites for deadlines and applications.

Check the dates for Early Decision college applications and make sure you are meeting all necessary deadlines and requesting transcripts early (2 weeks before deadline).

If you are planning on playing a sport at a Division I or II school in the fall, make sure you have completed the NCAA Clearinghouse application online and printed/returned the release form to the School Counseling office for transcript release.

Review all financial aid information and application deadlines for schools of interest.

Retake the SAT or ACT if needed. The SDHS CEEB code is 472197. You must list SDHS as a school to receive your scores in order for the School Counseling office to send SAT and ACT scores with your transcript.

Confirm what SOL’s and classes you still need to pass so there are no surprises at the end of the year!

November

Research the Internet and guidance website for local and National scholarships

If you are undecided on your future goals, talk to your school counselor or set up a date to get assessed at the Career Assessment Center

Double check December deadlines- All transcript requests must be turned in to the School Counseling Office AT LEAST TWO WEEKS PRIOR to the deadline!

Begin writing your resume.

December/January

Attend the Financial Aid Workshop held in December at SDHS. Listen to announcements for a time and date.

Gather all documentation needed to submit your FAFSA so it will be ready to be submitted on January 2nd. Make this a priority!! You can submit tax information at a later time. Fill your FAFSA out online at . This is the Free Application for Federal Student Aid that allows you to receive grants and federal student loans to help pay for tuition and costs of post-secondary education.

Complete all applications to technical and trade schools

Complete all applications to colleges and universities

Ask a teacher or family member to review your applications, essays, and resumes before submitting or mailing

Apply for financial aid to meet each school’s deadline

Fill out transcript request forms in the School Counseling office to send transcripts and recommendation letters to colleges you are applying to. This is at the same time as Winter break, so you must give Mrs. Halterman in the School Counseling office all transcript request forms by Friday, December 4th, 2009, in order to meet December/ Early January College Application Deadlines!!

February/March

Review each student aid report from each school that you filed a financial aid form with. Correct the forms and return them to each school for processing.

Send documentation to your school for any state or private scholarships that you have been awarded.

If you need letter of recommendation to accompany your resume, ask teachers or family friends to write them now to include in your portfolio for job searches and housing applications.

Begin filling out applications for jobs you are interested in after graduation.

May/June

Receive an award letter from your school’s financial aid officer regarding the results of your FAFSA application.

Follow up with local scholarships you may have applied for.

Contact the School Counseling office to make sure they know the college you are attending,so they can send your final transcript to the correct school.

Get ready to GRADUATE!!

RESUME CHECKLIST

  • Make sure the following items are NOT on your resume:

Social Security Number

Weight, Height

Age

Marital Status

Religion

Race

  • Have statements that start with action verbs
  • List your most recent education first
  • List your most recent job experience first
  • References should not be included in the resume
  • Avoid crowding the text and use good spacing when formatting the document
  • Use positive words
  • Make sure the resume contains your contact information: phone number, address, and email
  • List a clear, concise career objective
  • Have 2-3 people proof read your resume after you have read over it 3-4 times yourself
  • Spell check and grammar check your resume for errors
  • Talk to the career coach, a teacher, or your guidance counselor about concerns with your resume or for additional assistance

Online Resume Resources:

WHAT CAREERS AND MAJORS ARE YOU INTERESTED IN?

Virginia Education Wizard ()

The Virginia Wizard can help you find a career, get the information needed to pursue a career, enroll in a Community College in Virginia, pay for college, transfer to a four-year college or university, and get answers to your questions regarding your future. You can search colleges by majors or programs of interest, and use career inventories in order to find out careers of interest to you. Any student interested in using this resource should contact their school counselor or the career coach, Mrs. Gardner.

ASVAB

The ASVAB is an assessment offered by the U.S. Department of Defense that evaluates General Science, Arithmetic Reasoning, Word Knowledge, Paragraph Comprehension, Numerical Operations, Coding Speed, Auto and Shop Information, Mathematics Knowledge, Mechanical Comprehension and Electronics. It is used as an assessment tool for those planning to enlist in a branch of the military; however, it can also be used to explore personal skills and aptitudes for those not entering the military.

Career Coach

Mrs. Gardner is on SDHS campus several days each week to provide career planning for our students. The Career Coach has the Virginia Education Wizard available and she can assist you in taking their career assessments. She is available to help students explore the many career paths that are available

Career Search Web Resources



Career Assessment Center

The CAC is located at the Valley Vocational Technical Center and can offer a comprehensive interest, skill and aptitude assessment for students free of charge. Referrals can be made through the school counseling department. The following assessment tools are available at the CAC:

  • Magellan is an assessment designed to help students narrow choices into their top three interests. Additionally, students answer questions relating to their physical/people skills, and time and temperament preferences. These results are based on Department of Labor Standards.
  • Learning/Working Styles is an assessment that helps the student to identify and understand the best conditions under which they concentrate, absorb and retain new information. It is divided into the following domains: physical, social, environmental, mode of expression, and work characteristic.
Workstations give students hands on opportunity to try over 35 different career options.
Reading and Interpreting Career Assessments
Career Assessments are a great tool to use when contemplating future careers and majors. You should ask yourself the following 10 questions when looking at a career choice:

1.Will you enjoy the daily activities associated with this work? Will you find this career fulfilling in the long run?

2.Is this a job with a set routine? Or will you often find new things to do and new ways to do them?

3.How much responsibility will you have? How closely will you be supervised?

4.How often will you work with others?

5.What can you do now to start preparing for this line of work?

6.How much schooling will you need to be successful in this career?

7.Can you start this career right out of college? Or will you need related work experience to qualify?

8.How do the employment projections for this career compare with other careers? How important is job security to you?

9.Will you be satisfied with the typical pay in this line of work?

10.Is this career a good stepping-stone to another fulfilling career? Or will you need to go back to school to move on to something new?

Source:

Apprenticeships

If you like to work with your hands and your mind, you might want to consider an apprenticeship after high school. More an 850 occupations can be learned on the job through an apprenticeship.

In the US today, some 37,000 program sponsors, representing over a quarter million employers, industries, and companies, offer registered apprenticeships training to approximately 440,000 apprentices. If you complete a registered program, you will receive a certificate from the U.S. Department of Labor which proves your qualifications for the career and can lead to earning a license, certificate, or degree.

For more information on registered apprenticeships in the Shenandoah Valley, visit the Department of Labor and Industry, Valley Region, 201 Lee Highway, Verona VA, 24482. The office phone number is (540) 248-9280 and fax number is (540) 248-9284.

MILITARY OPTIONS AFTER GRADUATION

Military Enlistment

The U.S. Army, Navy, Air Force, Marines and Coast Guard offer job training in many fields as well as some financial assistance for college.

Reserve Officer Training Corps (ROTC)

The ROTC program provides an opportunity to attend college while studying military leadership and skills. ROTC is usually a college elective that requires approximately four hours per week of your time. The first two years of the program do not require a military commitment. However, enrolling in advanced ROTC does incur a military obligation.

Service Academies

The United States maintains five service academies:

  • The United StatesMilitaryAcademy at West Point, New York
  • The United States Naval Academy at Annapolis, Maryland
  • The United StatesAirForceAcademy at Colorado Springs, Colorado
  • The United StatesCoastGuardAcademy at New London, Connecticut
  • The United StatesMerchantMarineAcademy at Kings Point, New York

Admissions Process

Admission to service academies is highly competitive. The process is rigorous. It is important that you review the process for the particular academy you are applying to and begin the steps as early as possible. Here are some basic guidelines you should know about.

Each candidate must:

  • be 17 but not yet 22
  • be a U.S. citizen at the time of enrollment
  • be unmarried with no dependents
  • have an above average high school record
  • have strong scores on the SAT or ACT
  • be in good physical health
  • have above average strength, endurance and agility

* Military recruiters try to visit SDHS on a monthly basis. It is important to talk with them regarding your interests and any questions you may have.

WHAT POST-SECONDARY SCHOOL IS RIGHT FOR YOU?

Technical Institutes/ Professional Schools

These schools offer very specific programs leading to career preparation. Please be careful and check out the schools accreditation. You can research accredited options at

Community Colleges

Community colleges are public two-year institutions. Their objective is to offer programs that are financially and geographically accessible to the local community. Most of them offer two-year transfer programs to larger colleges and universities.

Liberal Arts Colleges

Liberal Arts colleges are typically smaller than universities and have smaller classes taught mostly by professors. A liberal arts education features a broad base of courses in the humanities, social sciences and sciences.

Universities

Universities usually have a larger enrollment and include a liberal arts college, professional colleges and graduate programs. Because of their size, universities offer a broader range of academic choices and may have more resources.

HOW MUCH MONEY AM I GOING TO MAKE?

Does a college degree pay off? Learn how much more money you can make by continuing your education.

The data shows that a college degree correlates directly to your salary range—and the relationship between compensation and education level is becoming even more prominent. As our society has continued to evolve, education has become the optimal route to professional success: pursuing a degree is the best way to receive training, to gain expertise in a given field, and even to guide you and help you make choices about your career.

Today, a formal, focused education is an essential ingredient. Employers have increasingly used diplomas and degrees as a way to screen applicants. And once you’ve landed the job you want, your salary will reflect your credentials. On average, a person with a Master's degreeearns $31,900 more per year than a high school graduate—a difference of as much as 105%!

Average Annual Earnings for College Graduates and Non-Graduates

Professional Degree / $109,600
Doctoral Degree / $89,400
Master's Degree / $62,300
Bachelor's Degree / $52,200
Associate's Degree / $38,200
Some College / $36,800
High School Graduate / $30,400
Some High School / $23,400

Source: U.S. Census Bureau, Current Population Surveys, March 1998, 1999, and 2000.

UNDERSTANDING THE COLLEGE LINGO BEFORE YOU APPLY

Accreditation – Accreditation is recognition of a college or university by a regional or national organization which indicates the institution has met the standards prescribed by the organization. Specialized accreditation of individual programs within the college/university can also be granted by professional organizations recognizing minimum standards for training for that profession.

Affiliation – Non-profit colleges are classified as state assisted, private/independent or private/church supported. The institution’s affiliation does not guarantee quality. Affiliation with private/church-supported schools may or may not have requirements for religious life.