BHS February Parent Newsletter
From the Counseling Department
Counselors
A-D, Mrs. DeGeorge degeorgea@rcschools.net
E-K, Ms. Bryan bryanc@rcschools.net
L-R, Mrs. Van Winkle vanwinkles@rcschools.net
S-Z, Mrs. Clawson clawsons@rcschools.net
Counseling Secretary, Mrs. Sadler sadlerm@rcschools.net
Continue to check the counseling website at http://blackmancounselor.wix.com/counselorspage for updated information.
Connect with the counselors
Graduation Requirements
English = 4 credits
Math = 4 credits
Science = 3 credits
Social Studies = 2 credits
Government/Economics = 1 credit
Fine Art = 1 credit
Personal Finance = ½ credit
Wellness = 1 ½ credit
Foreign Language = 2 credits
Elective focus (pathway) = 3 credits
Elective = 1 credit
*A total of 23 credits are needed for graduation.
Registration Timeline for the 2016-2017 School Year
Beginning January 19th
Counselors will meet with students during English classes to do short registration discussions.
February 1st- February 19th
INOW online registration open. Students will register at home using the registration form and instructions given to them during the discussion with the counselor. A counselor will be available in the library during primetime each day for registration help and to answer questions. Due to snow days and testing, we will meet with some students as late as February 12th.
March 4th
Verification forms will be sent home. The deadline for parent overrides is March 11th.
March 11th
Signed verification forms with any changes are due to the counseling office. A parent override form is required to take a course beyond the teacher recommended level.
Youth Leadership Rutherford Applications Now Available
Youth Leadership Rutherford applications are now available to current high school juniors for the 2016-2017 school year. Youth Leadership Rutherford is a selective personal development, civic education and community engagement initiative for high school seniors in Rutherford County. Conducted by the Leadership Rutherford Executive Director and the Business Education Partnership Foundation Executive Director, Youth Leadership Rutherford is a private, not-for-profit 501(c)(3) organization dedicated to community leadership development. Applications are due by February 19th.
Youth Leadership Rutherford consists of an overnight weekend (Friday - Saturday) orientation program in September, seven seminar days from October - April and graduation in May. Each day focuses on a major area of community concern and explores issues of leadership within the context of the subject. The goal of each program day is to open the minds of participants to the viewpoints surrounding each issue and to enable young people to become more visionary leaders. The program also includes six independent project assignments as well as a group project and student blogging.
Dual Enrollment Information
Eligibility
To be eligible for the Dual Enrollment program, students must:
1. be a junior or senior in high school;
2. have a minimum 3.0 high school GPA; or
3. have a minimum composite of 22 ACT (SAT composite of 1020); or equivalent ACT Plan test score
**Admission to MTSU and the Dual Enrollment program does not guarantee eligibility for all courses. Some courses require prerequisites and/or certain test subscores, including Math and English courses.
Cost
The tuition cost of a Dual Enrollment class is $166.00 per credit hour. This cost can be offset by the Dual Enrollment Grant, if the student applies and is ruled eligible. Students must maintain a 2.75 GPA for dual enrollment courses taken to stay eligible for the grant. The student should be prepared to pay the tuition cost in advance and then be reimbursed. Other anticipated costs include textbooks, $25 application fee, online course fees, and any applicable lab fees.
Dual Enrollment Grant
The total amount of grant money per student is $1200 total for their high school career. Current juniors get $500 for class one and two, which will cover the cost of a 3 hour class ($498 total per class). Current seniors were only set to get $300 for course 1 and 2, but MTSU decided to scholarship the additional $198 for the first two classes so that they too could have class one and two covered in full.
- Current seniors
Current seniors who have not taken two DE classes in the fall can still take advantage of this additional money provided by MTSU ($198) for the Spring term to cover class one and two in full. For class 3 and 4 they will receive $100 per credit hour leaving them a balance of $198 for class 3 and 4.
- Current juniors
Current juniors who have already taken two classes will receive $200 for class 3 (leaving a balance of $298) and nothing for class 4 (leaving a balance of $498).
*Although class 3 and 4 seem like a lot of out-of-pocket money, in-state undergraduate tuition cost is currently $1,011 for a 3 hours course, resulting in a savings of $513 when paying the full tuition amount for a dual enrollment course.
INow
Parent Teacher Conferences
Extra Help
ACT Dates & Help
Test Dates:
Feb. 6
April 9
June 11
Register online at actstudent.org
BHS School Code: 431636
ACT Saturday morning tutoring:
Ms. Baumann in F15, and Ms. Ailes in F9 tutor at 9:00 a.m. on the Saturdays the week before each ACT is given. When you arrive, park in the front parking lot and enter through the F hall door. This door will remain locked during the study session.
ACT help during Prime Time:
English and reading help: See Ms. Burks in C14
Math and science help: See Ms. Ailes in F9
PTO News
The PTO is planning to start selling After Prom tickets the beginning of February. They will be $25.00 per person. And, anyone who would be willing to donate their time or money for After Prom is greatly needed and appreciated. After Prom will be held on Friday, April 29th - early Saturday morning April 30th at the MTSU Rec Center.
Senior Parent's Section
FAFSA
Here’s a checklist on what you'll need:
You should have the following information and documents with you as you fill out the 2016-17 Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA):
- Student’s Social Security number
- Parent(s)’ Social Security number(s)
- Student’s driver’s license/permit/state issued ID number (if student has one)
- Student’s Alien Registration Number (if student is not a U.S. citizen)
- 2015 tax information (if required to file) for student and parent(s). To complete and submit the 2016-17 FAFSA in January, use estimated tax information (i.e. 2014 tax return, 2015 W-2 information, or last paystub).
- Records of untaxed income, such as child support received and veterans noneducation benefits, for student and parent(s)
- Information on checking and savings account balances; investments; and business and farm assets for student and parent(s)
- Student’s FSA ID username/password. The student may create a FSA ID username/password by visiting fsaid.ed.gov today or while completing the 2016-17 FAFSA.
- Parent’s FSA ID username/password. A parent may create a FSA ID username/password by visiting fsaid.ed.gov today or while completing the 2016-17 FAFSA.
Tennessee Promise: FILE YOUR FAFSA BY FEB. 15TH!
Your student should have received a TN Promise handbook during the Prime Time meeting on Nov. 19th. Extras are available in the counseling office. The second mandatory meeting is March 15th at 5:30 at BHS. Students must file their FAFSA by Feb. 15th, attend 3 mandatory meetings, and complete 8 hours of community service for each semester they receive TN Promise funding.
If your student still needs to complete the 8 hours, sign up for the Rutherford County Volunteer Days on April 9th and 23rd from 8 a.m. to 12 p.m. To sign up, contact Lisbeth Couser at Lisbeth.Couser@yourlocaluw.org.
Senior Newsletters
College Day
NCAA
If your student is planning to play sports at an NCAA Division I or II college, he/she must register with the NCAA Clearinghouse at www.ncaaclearinghouse.net. This should be done as soon as possible. NCAA requires 16 core courses. Make sure your student has met those requirements by talking with their coach or counselor.