Senior Class Newsletter
Orange High School
Volume 6 Issue 10
May/June 2018
Counseling Department Contact Information:
Phyllis Farlow, last names A-E
phyllis.farlow@orange.k12.nc.us
919-732-6133 x20026
Chanta Jackson, last names F-L
chanta.jackson@orange.k12.nc.us
919-732-6133 x20024
Samuel Westbrook, last names M-R
samuel.westbrook@orange.k12.nc.us
919-732-6133 x20020
Kelly Schaeffer, last names S-Z
kelly.schaeffer@orange.k12.nc.us
919-732-6133 x20022
Nick Montgomery, Career Development Coordinator
nick.montgomery@orange.k12.nc.us
919-732-6133 x20604
Grace Befort, College Advisor
919-732-6133 ext. 20023
Counselor’s Corner:
Happy May Seniors!
We’re almost to the finish line! You only have DAYS until graduation! We are so proud of your accomplishments thus far. We know that this time of year is tiresome but don’t let Senioritis get the best of you. There are several things that you should be doing right now to ensure that your last semester of high school is a success:
« Be sure that you’re passing all of your classes!
« Apply (or continuing to apply) for colleges
« APPLY FOR SCHOLARSHIPS!
« Complete your FAFSA (www.fafsa.gov) ASAP!!
« Complete your Credit Recovery Courses (this does not apply to everyone)
« Decide where you’re going and/or what you’re doing after high school
« Prepare to pay your Enrollment Fee/Housing Deposit at your respective colleges
« Complete your Senior Exit Survey by May 15th: Click HERE to access the survey.
This is the time of year where emotions are high and it’s easy to find yourself feeling overwhelmed. Don’t forget that your Counselors are here to help you to navigate through all of the confusion. We want to help you make it to the finish line!
Remember to keep up with dates and deadlines, remain actively involved in your extracurricular activities, take part in community service events, develop your resume, and meet with your Counselor regularly to ensure that you are on-track for graduation. Let us know what we can do to help you meet your goals and Finish Strong!
- Your Counselors
2017-18 Senior Calendar At-A-Glance
May
1 National College Decision Day
7-25 AP Exams
15 Senior Exit Survey is due!!!
24 Senior Awards Night
June
7 Graduation practice 11am @ the
Dean Smith Center
8 Graduation! 4:30pm @ the
Dean Smith Center
30 FAFSA Submission Deadline
Scholarship Challenge UPDATE!!!
Keep checking the scholarship bulletin! New scholarship opportunities are added as they are received at OHS!
Right now, your class total is $ 5,172,852. Make sure that you are sending Mr. Westbrook any information about scholarships and awards that colleges/universities send you so that it can added to the senior class total. Remember, Mr. Yarbrough challenged your class beat the Class of 2017’s total of $7 Million!
May 1st - National College Decision Day
On May 1st, show off your important decision and school pride by wearing a shirt from the college you have decided to attend!
College Campus Basics…
What should you take when you move in?
Summer is coming! You’ve probably planned a couple of vacations and plan to spend lots of time with your friends and family before you make “The Big Move” on campus. But while you’re planning to enjoy a few months of freedom, be sure to keep in mind that there are a few things you’ll need to live comfortably on campus and they could become quite expensive. Here is a checklist of projected items you’ll need…
Linens/Laundry Supplies
« 2 Sets of Extra-Long Twin Sheets and pillowcases
(Most dorm beds are extra-long twin - check with your college for the exact size you’ll need)
« Towels (3 each of bath, hand and face)
« Pillows (2)
« Mattress pad (check with college for size needed)
« Blankets (2)
« Comforter/bedspread
« Clothes hangers
« Laundry bag/hamper
« Laundry basket
« Laundry detergent, fabric softener and stain remover
« Lint brush
« Mini sewing kit
Electronics
« Laptop (printer is optional; there are usually computer labs where you can print)
« Portable speakers (if you want to play music from laptop/MP3 player)
« HDMI cord, Ethernet cord for computer (check if your room has wireless access- some colleges do not)
« Surge protector or extension cord
Shared Items — Check with roommate(s)
« Audio equipment
« TV and/or DVD player
« Coffeemaker/hot pot/microwave (if allowed, often you can rent one through your college)
« Mini-refrigerator (if one isn’t provided, often you can rent one through your college)
« Area rug
Room Needs/Storage
« Bedside lamp
« Alarm clock/clock radio
« Mini trash can
« Storage bins or trunks
« Under-the-bed storage trays
« Desk lamp
« Fan
« Iron and ironing board
« Bulletin board and pushpins
« Dry-erase wall calendar/board
« Mini tool-kit (including screwdriver, hammer, wrench)
« Picture hangers (double-sided tape for concrete walls)
Household and Kitchen Items
« Paper towels
« Trash bags
« Light bulbs
« All-purpose cleaner
« Plastic storage bags
« Food-storage containers
« Dish soap
« Dish sponge or cleaning cloth
« Clorox wipes
« Toilet Tissue
« Bowl, plate and cup
« Coffee mug
« Water bottle
« Silverware
« Can opener
« A small cooking set
« Cooking utensils
The Deal on Clothing…
Space is limited in your dorm room. Most closets will be about half the size of your closet at home. This means that it is virtually impossible to bring all of your clothes with you when you move on campus. We suggest that you pack your clothes by season (spring and summer; fall and winter) and keep the following things with you all year….
« Socks
« Sweats
« Slippers
« Sweaters
« Light-weight and heavy jackets
« Gloves/scarf/hat
« A few pairs of boots
« Business-casual clothes
« At least 1 business/professional suit
« At least 1 pair of dress shoes
« A swimsuit/swimming trunks
Miscellaneous
« Umbrella
« Backpack
« Sports equipment
« Printer paper
« Electronic storage media such as memory cards and USB flash drives
« Tape
« Scissors
« Toilet plunger
« Luggage or travel bags
« Rain jacket
« Rain boots
Toiletries
« Aspirin or other pain relievers
« Vitamins
« Adhesive bandages, antibiotic ointment
« Cough drops
« Shower caddy
« Shower shoes or flip-flops
« Shampoo and conditioner
« Hairstyling products
« Bath and face soap
« Travel soap container(s)
« Deodorant
« Toothpaste and toothbrush
« Dental floss
« Comb/brush
« Tweezers
« Nail clippers
« Hair dryer/straightener/curling iron
« Lotion and/or facial moisturizer
« Cotton swabs
« A robe
It’s Off to Work I Go…
Attending college directly out of high school doesn’t work for everyone. In some cases there’s a financial need to go directly to work, in other cases your desired career may not require a college degree, or you simply may be experiencing burnout from the world of academia and you’re just ready to get to
THE MONEY. Some students feel as though attending college right away would be a waste of their time and their parents' money until they have a clearer understanding of what they want. Whatever your reason is, we want you to be prepared for the workforce. Attending or graduating from college typically leads to higher salaries over time but that doesn’t mean there aren’t benefits to getting a job right out of high school. Let’s explore a few advantages of going straight to work….
1. Money
Obviously, earning a paycheck is the #1 motivator for getting a job. Being able to buy your own clothes, your own car, or getting your first apartment (or house) is a wonderful feeling. Students who’ve been working part-time during high school might be able to stay with the same employer on a full-time basis, and even earn higher pay.
2. Experience and Employability
Any job experience can help with future employability. With a previous job history and employer references, your next potential employer can verify that you have good work habits and an ability to learn new skills.
3. Career Exposure
Most working adults know that career goals can change as you get older. Working after high school arms young adults with a taste of what a career in a particular industry might be like. With this knowledge, you can cross certain industries off the list and make a more informed decision on what you want to do over the long haul.
4. Responsibility
Responsibility typically increases throughout a child’s life -- from having their clothes set out daily by Mom in the first years of elementary school, to driving themselves to high school on time. Those incremental steps help prepare young adults to become responsible employees in the future. However, there's nothing like real work experience to teach you how to be responsible on the job, with others, with your own money, and with your career aspirations.
5. Educational Value
Teens getting real-life experience and knowledge from jobs might be better prepared to handle the coursework if they decide to attend college later. For example, someone who performs basic accounting functions at work might be able to fare well in basic accounting classes in college.
6. Paid Tuition
Employers don’t want good employees to leave. Turnover costs money because companies must pay to screen, hire and train new employees. Many companies help employees pay for college tuition if their employees major in something that is beneficial to the company. For example, suppose an employee works in the accounting office doing clerical work, but wants to get an accounting degree. The company itself would benefit from helping to pay some of the tuition, especially if the employee has proven capable, trustworthy and loyal.
No matter the path you choose to take after graduation, remember that every job you’ll ever have will require some form of training, so education is never-ending. Be sure that you know of the necessary certifications, degrees, or hours of field experience in order to maintain longevity in your desired career. Check out this information, average salaries, and more on the Occupational Outlook Handbook:
IMPORTANT SENIOR INFORMATION
Complete your Student Information Sheet through the link below! We use this to assist us with writing recommendation letters for you, so completing it is VERY important!
You should create accounts through the following websites:
CFNC
College Board
ACT
The Common Application
The minimum requirements to be accepted into any public, in-state college or university is a 2.5 GPA and an 880 on the SAT (critical reading + math only) or a 17 on the ACT (composite.)