Coronado College & Career Readiness
August Newsletter
Welcome
It feels so amazing to finally be back in El Paso and at my Alma Mater (Class of 88). I am excited to start meeting and helping our Coronado students and families with all of there CCMR needs. Because there is so much important information and so many places you have to go to find it, I created the following newsletter to help point you all in the right direction, as it pertains to College, Career & Military Readiness. Every month Coronado students will be able to find important information regarding FASFA, Scholarships, Dual Credit, College Visits, Field Trips and mandatory deadlines.
Feel free to reach out to me if you have any questions or concerns.
Respectfully,
Mr. Forti
College Career Advisor
Coronado HS
915-236-2031
Mr. Forti's Schoology Page
Access Code =
6HP9-2P9M-HXKNDHere you will be able to access and download important files, see new scholarships, and a host of other very important materials
August Calendar
What is the Anonymous Alerts app?
The Anonymous Alerts anti-bullying and safety app reporting system helps combat bullying and other negative activity in schools by empowering students to speak up. Social and peer pressure are some of the hardest obstacles for students to overcome.
The system allows for 1-way or 2-way anonymous encrypted communications between submitters (students, parents or community members) and district administration and/or school staff. Users of the system have the option to remain anonymous or reveal their identity when submitting a report.
How does it work?
To use this revolutionary new app, students, parents or other school personnel can simply visit the click on the “Anonymous Alerts” button or text link to submit a report expressing their concern. Anonymous Alerts® mobile applications can be downloaded directly from the Apple, Google Play or the Chrome stores.
EPISD supplies students a simple username and password activation code, making the app remarkably easy to use and students select which school and contact the message should go to. In addition, informational posters explaining how to use the app will be displayed throughout schools and offices in the district.
To send reports from the Web/Internet go to: https://www.anonymousalerts.com/elpasoisd/
To send a report from your phone:
- Download the Anonymous Alerts® app for free from the Apple Store, Google Play store, or the Chrome store
- Start the App, enter login: elpasoisd and password: elpasoisd
- Send important reports to school officials
- Add a screenshot, photo or video of the incident
- In an emergency, always call 9-1-1!
Understanding Graduation Requirements.
College/Military Visits
Who: Sargent Becerra U.S. Army
Date: On going Wednesdays throughout the school year
Time: Lunch
Location: Outside between buildings A, C, & D
Who: St. Johns University (https://www.stjohns.edu/)
Date: Sept. 7
Time: 11:00am
Location: Counseling Conference Room
Please sign up in the Counseling Center and receive a pass to attend.
Who: Mississippi State University (https://www.msstate.edu/)
Date: Sept. 9
Time: 12:00pm
Location: Counseling Conference Room
Please sign up in the Counseling Center and receive a pass to attend.
Who: UTSA (https://www.utsa.edu/)
Time: 11:30am
Location: Counseling Conference Room
Please sign up in the Counseling Center and receive a pass to attend.
Who: Grand Canyon University (https://www.gcu.edu/)
Date: Sept. 14
Time: 11:55am
Location: Counseling Conference Room
Please sign up in the Counseling Center and receive a pass to attend.
Who: The University of Chicago (https://www.uchicago.edu/)
Date: Sept. 19
Time: 12:00pm
Location: Counseling Conference Room
Please sign up in the Counseling Center and receive a pass to attend.
Who: The University of Texas at Austin (hhttps://www.utexas.edu/)
Date: Sept. 20
Time: 11:30am
Location: Counseling Conference Room
Please sign up in the Counseling Center and receive a pass to attend.
West Point Admissions
1) Prospective Candidate Tour
2) Daily Tour
3) Overnight Tour
Details, timelines, and requirements can be found on our website
Important Time Sensitive Items
The following are important items that are time sensitive
https://episd.schoology.com/course/5542726384/materials/gp/6021313337
2. FAFSA will open again around October 1, 2022. All seniors will have to complete a FASFA application to meet new state graduation requirements. For more information Go to https://studentaid.gov/h/apply-for-aid/fafsa or see me or your alpha counselor.
Dates to Remember
- Apply Texas Workshop - September 21 & September 22 During Senior English classes (Seniors, make sure you have your Social Security number handy to complete your application). This is mandatory for all seniors.
- College Night - October 18 (may be moved due to homecoming), CHS Cafeteria from 6 to 8pm
- PSAT School day - October 25th 10th and 11th graders
- SAT School day - October 27th for 12th graders
- FAFSA Night - November 10 from 5 to 7pm
Student Aid Information
www.student aid.gov parent checklist
Student checklist
How to fill out the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) - https://www.youtube.com/user/FederalStudentAid
Start early and create your FSA ID. Parents and students will need the FSA ID to complete the FASFA application. Go to https://studentaid.gov/fsa-id/create-account/launch to create on.
Specific colleges will require the CSS College Board Profile information to be complete. Here is a list of colleges and universities that use CSS Profile as part of their financial aid process for some or all of their financial aid applicants https://profile.collegeboard.org/profile/ppi/participatingInstitutions.aspx
Establishing a Going Merry account is an essential tool to help students find and apply for scholarships. Go to https://www.goingmerry.com/ to set up your profile and begin applying.
Need help asking for a letter of reference or recommendation. Use the following document to help you ask and to provide your current information to your recommender.
https://episd.schoology.com/course/5542726384/materials/gp/6021297267
- The Gates Scholarship - Deadline September 15, 2022 The Gates Scholarship (TGS) is a highly selective, last-dollar scholarship for outstanding, minority, high school seniors from low-income households. Each year, the scholarship is awarded to exceptional student leaders, with the intent of helping them realize their maximum potential. Scholars will receive funding for the full cost of attendance* that is not already covered by other financial aid and the expected family contribution, as determined by the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA), or the methodology used by a Scholar’s college or university. *Cost of attendance includes tuition, fees, room, board, books, and transportation, and may include other personal costs. https://www.thegatesscholarship.org/scholarship
Hispanic Scholar Application - Deadline March 2023 Must be of Hispanic heritage, U.S. citizen, permanent legal resident, or DACA, Minimum of 3.0 GPA on a 4.0 scale (or equivalent) for high school students; minimum of 2.5 GPA on a 4.0 scale (or equivalent) for college and graduate students, Plan to enroll full-time in an accredited, public or not-for-profit, four-year university, or graduate school, in the US, for the 2023-2024 academic year, Submit the FAFSA or state-based financial aid forms https://www.hsf.net/scholarship
Click here for an extensive list of scholarships listed in Going Merry for the month of September.
Building the Pipeline for Women in Engineering and Medicine
- We’re very excited to announce an upcoming Perry Outreach Program on Saturday, October 22, 2022 at TTUHSC El Paso in El Paso, TX. The Perry Outreach Program is a free, one-day, hands-on experience for high school women who are interested in pursuing careers in medicine and engineering. Students will hear from women leaders in these fields and try it for themselves by performing mock orthopaedic surgeries and biomechanics experiments.
We are currently seeking applicants for our El Paso, TX program. Participants should be students who gender-identify as female or nonbinary in grades 10 and up with an expressed interest in science, medicine and/or engineering. Applicants should fill out our online application in advance of the September 26, 2022 application deadline.
Additional information can be found on our website: www.perryinitiative.org
The application may be accessed directly using the following link: https://perryinitiative.org/pop-application/
More information and a printable flyer for this event can be found HERE.
Western Tech Brochure Page 1
Western Tech Brochure Page 2
Western Tech Scholarship Information Page 1
College Board Information and Test Prep
Students and Parents,
Students, you can prepare and increase your SAT, PSAT or AP scores by going to Khan Academy, a free online service, that offers personalized practice with proven results. Students will need to create a Khan account at https://www.khanacademy.org/sat.
Below are the national testing days for SAT that students can sign up for through https://satsuite.collegeboard.org/sat/registration.
Khan Academy also offers various other math and English prep courses.
Other recourses for SAT Prep https://youtube.com/channel/UCyaDpuG_X60c-0I-MgZ696Q
AP Testing
Please make a note of the days and times for the spring tests listed below.
For students wanting to challenge an exam, please see Mr. Forti ASAP to get registered. The last day to challenge an exam is November 1, 2022.
More information will be provided in the coming weeks.
TSI Resources
TSIA2
Test-Prep Sites
The following are a list of websites that can help students prepare for the TSIA2. Many of these sites have been put together from various Community Colleges from all over Texas. *DO NOT PAY for any resources or pay to take the test. Students will take the TSIA2 for free here at Jefferson/Silva.
What is TSIA2? - The Texas Success Initiative Assessment (TSIA or TSIA2) is the state-mandated placement test (Texas Education Code §51.3062) that Texas public institutions must use to determine a student's readiness for college-level courses. The purpose of the TSIA test is to provide you with useful information about your academic skills in math, reading, and writing. You cannot "pass" or "fail" the placement tests, but it is very important that you do your very best on these tests so that you will have an accurate measure of your academic skills. The results of the assessment, in conjunction with your academic background, goals, and interests, are used by academic advisors to determine your course selection and where you will be most successful. The TSIA2 is used only in Texas and dose not replace the need to take SAT/ACT and more importantly the STAAR EOC. Those tests are needed for graduation as well as college entrance.
The actual benchmarks on the TSIA2 college readiness scale are as follows:
- ELAR: CRC score of 945-990 plus a minimum of 5 on the Essay Test, or a CRC score under 945 with a Diagnostic Test score of 5-6 and an Essay score of at least 5
- Mathematics: CRC score of 950-990, or a CRC Test score below 950 with a Diagnostic Test score of 6.
The scores will be released immediately following completion of the assessment. You’ll receive one of the following score levels:
- Basic – you need significant improvement in the subject area
- Proficient – there’s some room for improvement in the content area
- Advanced – you’ve shown exemplary skills in the content area
TSI Test Prep Study Resources
- CollegeBoard Accuplacer TSIA2 study materials - https://accuplacer.collegeboard.org/students/prepare-for-accuplacer/tsia-texas-success-initiative-assessment
- Accuplacer Perspective learning resources - Use the code found on your TSIA2.0 Score report to find additional resources, practice questions and videos specific to the areas you need the most review https://tsia2.pearsonperspective.com/perspective/
- Austin Community College TSI Assessment Preparation: Free App, Practice Tests, and Reviews https://sites.austincc.edu/tsiprep/
- College Board: Sample Questions and General Information https://www.collegeboard.org/search?tp=usearch&x=15&x1=u4&q1=ACCUPLACER&y=13&logo=accuplacer&searchType=accu_site&word=tsi
- Mometrix Test Preparation: Reviews, Practice Tests, and Study Guides https://www.mometrix.com/academy/tsi-test/
- https://youtube.com/c/MometrixTestPreparation
- Test Prep Review by Mometrix: Test Reviews, Practice Tests, and Self Assessments https://www.testprepreview.com/texas-success-initiative.htm
- TSI Practice Test.com: Practice Tests and Study Guides http://www.tsipracticetest.com/tsi-reading-practice-test/
- TSI Math Crash Course https://youtu.be/EOsoSBLmZRE
TSI Testing
ACT Test
Naviance
Seniors will complete the following
1. College & Career Readiness Survey (Fall)
2. Indicate which colleges they have applied to (min of three)
3. Upload their completed FAFSA
4. Complete the graduation survey (Spring)
Juniors will complete the following
1. College College & Career Readiness Survey (Fall)
2. Super College Match (yearlong)
This is a reminder of how to get into your Naviance Account https://episd.schoology.com/course/5542726384/materials/gp/6021313337
Definitions
- Apply Texas = ApplyTexas is an online college submission system specifically for certain Texas schools, similar to other platforms like the Common Application or Coalition Application.
- Common App = Common App is a non-profit membership organization representing more than 900 diverse institutions of higher education. We connect applicants and those who support them to a wide array of public and private colleges and universities across all 50 U.S. states, and 20 countries.
- CBE = Credit by exam (CBE) is one method for students to demonstrate proficiency in grade level or course content. The Texas Education Code (TEC), §28.023, allows students to either accelerate a grade level or earn credit for a course on the basis credit by examination.
- FASFA = To apply for federal student aid, such as federal grants, work-study, and loans, you need to complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA®). In addition, many states and colleges use your FAFSA information to determine your eligibility for state and school aid, and some private financial aid providers may use your FAFSA information to determine whether you qualify for their aid.
- Associate's Degree = An associate degree is a two-year college degree that you can obtain from a community college, junior college, online university, or some four-year institutions in the US. In terms of education, an associate degree falls between a high school diploma and a bachelor's degree.
- Bachelor Degree = A bachelor’s degree is the most common undergraduate degree awarded by universities and colleges in the US. Typically, a bachelor’s degree takes four to five years to complete and consists of 120 to 130 semester credit hours. You are expected to choose a major concentration (a specific area of study) and take additional required courses outside of your chosen major.
- College ROTC = "Reserve Officer' Training Corps," programs offer prospective and current college students a number of benefits, including: An opportunity to develop technical and leadership skills, A structured path to a career after college, Specialized professional training for military officer positions after college, Scholarships that cover tuition, fees, books, and other student necessities, Long-term career guidance and continued professional education.
- TSIA - The TSI Assessment (TSIA) is part of the Texas Success Initiative enacted by the Texas State Legislature and designed to determine a student’s readiness for college-level coursework in the general areas of reading, writing, and mathematics.
The TSIA, or one of its exemptions, has been required of Texas students entering a Texas college or university for nearly ten years. The TSIA is administered through the College Board’s Accuplacer digital platform. Universities, community colleges, school districts and high school campuses can request to administer the TSIA to students.
SAR - Student Aid Report - an electronic or paper document that summarizes the information you reported on your FAFSA form. It includes your Expected Family Contribution (EFC), your estimated eligibility for federal student loans and Federal Pell Grants, and whether you’ve been selected for verification.