Class of 2023
JOHS Counseling Connection
January 20, 2023
How to Read the Newsletter in a Different Language
To translate the newsletter into another language, click anywhere on the newsletter so that it opens in a browser. At the top of the screen will be a "translate" dropdown box where you can choose which language and have it translated (see picture).
Para traducir el boletÃn a otro idioma, haga clic en cualquier parte del boletÃn para que se abra en un navegador. En la parte superior de la pantalla habrá un cuadro desplegable de "traducir" donde puede elegir qué idioma y traducirlo (ver imagen).
Newsletter Contents
This newsletter contains information about the following topics:
- Important Spring Senior Dates
- Senior Celebration Lunch
- Graduation and Practice Date
- NEW! January Senior Meeting Information
- NEW! Next Steps TN Promise
- What does the EFC number mean when I submit my FAFSA?
- Next Steps After FAFSA Appointment
- Handouts and Webinars to Help with Completing FAFSA
Included in Every Issue:
- College Fairs and Lunch Visits
- College Field Trips with Ms. Wilson
- College Application and ACT Fee Waivers
- ACT Practice Opportunities
- ACT Test Dates
- Credit Recovery
- School Counselor Contact and Appointment Information
- College and Career Planning Personnel Contact and Appointment Information
- Helpful JOHS Counseling Schoology Group Resource Folders
- Quick Button Links
Important Spring Dates for Seniors
NOTE: Dates subject to change
January 27 Fall Grades Posted to Your Transcript
January 27 from 5pm-7pm Senior Bonfire (sponsored by Student Government)
February 1 Deadline to apply for Community Foundation of Middle TN Scholarships
February 6-10 Coming Home Week
February 7 Quarter 3 Progress Reports
February 11 National ACT Test Date
February 11 JOHS Winter Dance
February 20 No School for Students
March 1 2023-2024 FAFSA must be submitted by this date to stay eligible for TN Promise
March 5-10 International Week Celebration
March 10 Half Day Students and End of Quarter 3
March 10 Deadline to register for April National ACT Test Date
March 13-17 Spring Break
March 20 Student Return--Start of Quarter 4
March 28 Quarter 3 Report Cards
April: Complete TWO Required Senior Surveys: District and JOHS Counseling
April 6-7 No School for Students
April 15 ACT National Test Day
April 18 Quarter 4 Progress Reports
April 24 AICE Exam Window Begins
May 1 AP Exam Window Begins
May 8-12 Senior Exam Week
May 12 AP Exam Window Ends
May 13 Prom (Martin Center)
May 16 AICE Exam Window Ends
May 17 from 11am-1pm Graduation Practice (Municipal Auditorium)
May 18 at 6pm Graduation (Municipal Auditorium)
Senior Celebration Lunch
Students must complete a combination of the tasks listed on the flyer and submit their proof by February 3 to attend. Scan the QR code to submit your proof.
Graduation
Graduation Practice Date
Graduation Practice will be on Wednesday, May 17 from 11am-1pm at Municipal Auditorium. Usually, the school does offer bus transportation to practice for students who sign up. Limited spots are available.
January Senior Meeting Information
Seniors should have received an email from Ms. Crutchfield the Assistant Principal for the AIR Academy with a summary of information from the meeting and copies of some documents. Here is the contents of her email:
- Incentives Survey: Take this survey to tell us more about what incentives you think are worth working for!
- SGA Calendar: If you want to know more about all the fun stuff SGA is doing, check their calendar here. Shoutout to Vania and Bella for filling us in today…it takes a lot of courage to talk to 500 peers!
- Graduation: Here is the link for buying just cap and gown. Here is the link if you want extra stuff (announcements, additional tassels etc) with your cap and gown. All gowns will be black this year.
- Senior Dues: Senior dues (NOT optional) can be paid here starting January 30th. You’ll receive an email on January 30th telling you its open. If you go ahead and click the link now, you can buy the (OPTIONAL) senior sign for your yard, if you want it! I’ve attached more about the payment portal (document titled School Cash Online How To).
- Prom: Reminder, the theme is The Roaring 20s aka Great Gatsby. The cost will be around $50.
Next Steps TN Promise
Complete These Tasks to Remain Eligible for TN Promise
- November 2: Start required TN Promise Community Service
- Eight hours of community service is required to stay eligible for TN Promise (Due July)
- Report hours through your TN Achieves CONNECT account (will need name and contact information of volunteer supervisor)
- Activate TN Achieves CONNECT Account https://connect.tnachieves.org/activate
- This account is where you will report your community service hours.
- Your mentor will also contact you through this account.
- Apply to your TN Community College or TCAT campus where you plan to use TN Promise
- Complete the FAFSA by March 1: Complete early to make sure you don't miss out on some free grant money to cover other expenses.
- Mandatory TN Promise Meeting by March 1(Complete online if had excused absence for January 19th meeting)
What Does the EFC Number Mean on the FAFSA?
After you submit your FAFSA, you will receive a Student Aid Report (SAR). Please look over the SAR to make sure all the information you entered is correct. The SAR email will also let you know if you need to make some corrections because information did not match.
Within the SAR email, you will see an EFC (Estimated Family Contribution) number. The EFC is NOT a dollar amount. The number is created using a mathematical formula from the information you entered on the FAFSA. The lower the EFC, the more financial aid you are eligible to receive.
The colleges or technical schools you listed on the FAFSA will send you a Financial Aid Award letter in late spring which tells you what financial aid they are offering you based on the information you entered into the FAFSA and the cost of attendance for that college or technical school. Then, you and your parents can compare the offers to see which financial offer is the best for your finances. A private college with high tuition might give you a better offer than a public college. More on how to compare financial aid offers in late spring.
Next Steps After FAFSA Appointment
Yes, you had your FAFSA appointment the week of November 14. Now, what do you do?
Step 1: Log back into your FAFSA within 30 days of when your appointment happened. If not, the information you entered will disappear, and you will have to start over. https://www.fafsa.gov
Step 2: Parent should check all the sections student completed.
Step 3: Parent should complete the parent demographics and parent financial information sections.
Step 4: Parent and student should complete the student financial information section.
Step 5: Parent and student must sign the FAFSA using their FSA IDs.
Visit this link for a list of parent and student documents and information needed to complete the 2023-2024 FAFSA: https://studentaid.gov/articles/things-you-need-for-fafsa/?sf127815470=1
Need Help?
- Read the documents at the links in the next section of the newsletter (Provided in English and Spanish)
- Watch the pre-recorded state webinars for each section (link in next section of newsletter).
- Make an appointment with Ms. Sievers, Ms. Wilson, or Ms. Dayana or Mr. Bryan (Conexion Americas). Our contact information is at the bottom of the newsletter.
Parents with no Social Security Number
Parent citizenship does not matter when completing the FAFSA, only the student's citizenship or visa will matter. Parents with no social security number cannot create an FSA ID and will need to print a signature page to sign the FAFSA. The signature sheet must be mailed to the address on the form.
The parent will enter 000-00-000 in the box for social security number in the parent demographic section of the FAFSA. A tax identification number cannot be entered in place of a social security number.
The parents will need to print a signature sheet, sign the sheet, and mail to the address listed in order to fully process the FAFSA.
Handouts to Help with Completing FAFSA
To see if you qualify for financial aid for college or technical school, you must complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid or FAFSA each year you are in college. The Class of 2023 needs to complete the 2023-2024 FAFSA. Students wanting to use TN Promise must complete the FAFSA by March 1. However, students should complete the FAFSA as soon as they can. The FAFSA is also required to get the HOPE scholarship, Wilder-Naifeh Technical Skills Grant, and other TN financial aid programs.
NEW! Helpful State Website with Step-by-Step Videos: https://www.collegefortn.org/FAFSA/
College Fair and Lunch Visits
College Field Trips with Ms. Wilson
Contact Person: Ms. Wilson (beth.wilson@mnps.org)
Ms. Wilson is organizing a variety of field trips this fall for seniors only. There is a limited number of spots available. Students should scan the QR code on the attached flyer to sign up for a field trip. Disregard the dates listed on the flyer. Some dates have been changed. See the new dates below.
Trip Dates and Locations
- Jan. 25 Volunteer State Community College (Gallatin, TN)
- Jan. 26 Tennessee State University (Nashville, TN)
College Application and ACT Fee Waivers
Parents must complete the MNPS Fee Waiver form to determine if students are eligible to receive College Application and ACT Fee Waivers. Once the form is completed and processed, counselors can see in their Infinite Campus if students qualify for a fee waiver.
MNPS Fee Waiver Form Link: https://www.myschoolapps.com/Home/PickDistrict
Counselors have the ACT Fee Waivers forms and college application fee waiver forms. Students do have to complete their part of the college application fee waiver form before the counselor completes their part.
ACT Practice Opportunities
Test Nav Online Practice Test: Visit the link and click on "Practice Test" under the log in boxes. This platform is what will be used for the ACT re-take in October.
Oasis Center ACT Test Prep: GEAR UP Nashville and Oasis College Connection offer free ACT Prep through Methodize. Go to Methodize.methodlearning.com/join and enter the code krjtfl8 to sign up. If you have any issues, you can email Daniel Mehus at dmehus@oasiscenter.org
Schoology Mastery Prep Practice: All seniors have access to three full length practice tests for free.
How to log into Mastery Prep (Tru Score):
1. Go to your student Schoology account.
2. Click on the waffle in the top right corner.
3. Choose Tru Score.
4. Click Accept on the window that pops up.
5. You are ready to go!
Click HERE for a video that walks you through what Mastery Prep offers.
Tennessee Electronic Library ACT Test Prep (FREE)
Oasis Prep Course (Corrected Start Date)
Credit Recovery Information
The attached flyer explains how to log into Edgenuity to complete your course. Only ONE course will be loaded at a time. Use the QR code to schedule the days you plan to attend in-person. Contact information for technical questions are listed on the flyer.
Credit Recovery Get Started Information
Credit Recovery QR Code for In-Person Session
Credit Recovery Information (Spanish)
Academy School Counselors
Ms. Chaparro, School Counselor
Ms. Ellington, School Counselor
Ms. McClurg, School Counselor
Ms. Nelson, School Counselor
Mr. Van Driest, School Counselor
College and Career Personnel
Ms. Hutchinson, Graduation Coach (Room 144)
Ms. Sievers, Transition Specialist (Room 144)
Mr. Bryan, Escalera Coordinator (Room 144)
Mr. Mehus, Oasis College Connection Mentor (Room 144)
Meets with students to discuss post-secondary and career options and to guide them through the process. Mr. Mehus is
available Mondays and Tuesdays. Use the QR code to make an appointment. Email: dmehus@oasiscenter.org
Ms. Wilson, College and Career Readiness Coach (International Student Center)
Helps with apprenticeships and work-based learning and provides general college and career counseling. Email: beth.wilson@mnps.org
Ms. Morales, Conexion Americas Youth Development Coordinator (International Student Center)
Supports newly arrived immigrant students in 11th - 12th grades and guides them in the post-secondary and career planning and process. Email: dayana@conexionamericas.org
Helpful JOHS Counseling Schoology Group Resource Folders
- Military Information--Military Academies, Military Branches, ASVAB Testing, Recruiter Contact Information
- Career Exploration, Apprenticeships, and Job Search Resources--Career Exploration and Job Search Websites, Apprenticeship Info, Resume Writing, Cover Letter Writing, Interview Tips and Skills
- Financial Aid for Post-Secondary Education--General Information, FAFSA, CSS Profile
- Postsecondary Resources for Immigrant and Undocumented Students--Community Partners, Financial Aid, Helpful Websites, Scholarships
- Postsecondary Resources for Students with Disabilities--Scholarships, Colleges, and links to documents and websites.
- Postsecondary Search and Planning--JOHS Presentations, Webinars and Videos, College Search Websites, Guides to the Application Process, Application Checklists and Timelines, Resume Writing for Admissions, College and Scholarship Essays, College Fair Information and Tips, Special Application Websites, NACAC College Application Fee Waiver Request, College Comparison Worksheet.
- College Athletics--General Information, NCAA, and NAIA folders
Quick Button Links
JOHS Counseling Department
Website: https://overton.mnps.org/students/counseling
Location: 4820 Franklin Road, Nashville, TN, USA
Phone: 615-333-5135