Sprayberry Counseling Newsletter

March 2023

Information for Graduation Ticket Requests for the Sprayberry High School Class of 2023 Graduation Ceremony on May 26, 2023 at 7:00 pm

Kennesaw State University Convocation Center!

Kennesaw State University now requires that an individually numbered and barcoded ticket be presented by each guest for admission to the Convocation Center. To comply with this requirement, the Cobb County School District has implemented a new procedure for allocating commencement tickets.

Guest tickets for commencement will be requested online by the graduate via the Student Portal.

The graduate will request the number of tickets desired for their guests. However, the graduate is not guaranteed the number requested. Graduates and parents/guardians should discuss the number of tickets the graduate should request for the family.

The Student Portal will open on Monday, March 6, for ticket requests by graduates (instructions to access the student portal are below).

Graduates who do not submit a request will receive 2 tickets.

The deadline for requesting tickets will be Friday, March 24.

Once tickets are allocated, graduates and parents/guardians will be notified that the number of tickets granted may be viewed in the Student Portal.

Each guest ticket for schools with a ceremony at Kennesaw State University will have a unique barcode and will be valid only for the ceremony, date, and time shown on the ticket.

Lost or damaged tickets cannot be replaced. Once a ticket is scanned for entry to the venue, it is no longer valid and cannot be re-used for further entry or re-entry.

To access the STUDENT PORTAL go to the following link:

https://studentportal.cobbk12.org

Once in the portal you will click on the three bar “Menu” button on the top left.

Click on the option for “Graduation Tickets.”

(Sometimes it takes a short period of time for the portal to load, please be patient)

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Midyear Transcripts are Ready to Order

Seniors! If your college is asking for a Midyear transcript or Midyear report you MUST follow the same directions you used previously to order an official transcript. Follow the instructions on our flyer posted here to order your official transcript for the first time or for your Midyear. Students must remember to follow each step so counselors are able to send the documents when they are ready. Please note- no transcripts can be sent without the student completing their transcript request card in the counseling office.

Chattahoochee Technical College's Senior Day- March 24

The day’s informative sessions will include: An admissions and financial aid overview, program exploration where students will speak with instructors and see our facilities, a free application session, lunch, and prizes! We would like to focus on “undecided” seniors who may need an extra push before graduation or seniors who know they want to attend Chatt Tech and would like a sneak peek.

Please come to the counseling office to sign up by March 22

Invitations for this event to follow. If you have a student who has not applied to a school or does not know what to do after high school please have them reach out to their counselor so we can work on a post graduation plan.

SOS Week 3/27 – 3/31

At the end of March, Sources of Strength will highlight different strengths throughout the week. Sources of Strength Peer Leaders are planning different activities for before school and during lunches that week. These activities will be fun, engaging, and will focus on Hope, Help, and Strength. There will also be fun giveaways for students so please encourage them to join in!

Vaping Prevention and Intervention

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration’s (FDA) Center for Tobacco Products has created classroom resources to prevent vaping among middle and high school students. These cross-curricular vaping prevention resources include lesson plans, activities, infographics, and videos that help teens learn about the dangers of e-cigarette use. Click here to access the information.

Important Notice for Seniors!

All Georgia high Schools are required to report transcript records for Seniors to GSFC for the purpose of determining academic eligibility for HOPE and Zell Miller Scholarship. Sprayberry Seniors will have a Preliminary Transcript Record submitted and verified by February 15th, 2023.

What is the significance of a Preliminary Transcript Record?

Current Seniors can access their HOPE or Zell Miller Scholarship preliminary eligibility as they plan for college admissions and paying for college.
HOPE eligible colleges may use the preliminary eligibility to determine estimated awards for the students.

Seniors need to make sure they have submitted their Social Security Number (SSN) to Mrs. Wagner, the counseling clerk, in the lobby of the counseling office as soon as possible. High schools that submit transcript records without a Social Security Number (SSN) to GSFC will result in:

No HOPE or Zell Miller Scholarship eligibility determined for the students.
Students will not be able to check their HOPE and Zell Miller Scholarship eligibility in their GAfutures account.
The colleges will not be able to view the student’s scholarship eligibility for estimated awards.

HAS YOUR SENIOR COMPLETED THE FAFSA?

If not, our Georgia Student Finance Commission (GSFC) rep, Marcus Hilliard, provided helpful guides for you and your senior to navigate the FAFSA completion process (see below). Mr. Hilliard is very knowledgeable about the HOPE and Zell Miller scholarship program, the FAFSA, the cost of attendance for college, the GAfutures website, and more. If you have specific questions regarding your student's situation, you can schedule a 30-minute phone consultation with Mr. Hilliard by clicking HERE.

SAT & ACT Wavier Information and Test Dates

To qualify for a fee waiver students must meet one of the qualifications listed in the ACT and SAT waiver information linked on the names. If your student receives free or reduced lunch they qualify and need to speak with Mrs. Wagner for their waivers.

If you need to apply for Free or Reduced Lunch you can do so on county website HERE

Please provide a copy of your confirmation form from the county for free or reduced lunch or your other qualifying documentation to receive the SAT/ACT waiver to Mrs. Wagner, the counseling clerk.

** You will receive one SAT waiver which is good for two tests and one ACT waiver which is good for four tests. Be sure to reserve at least one SAT test and one ACT test for your Senior year.**

Once you take the SAT using a waiver, you may receive up to 4 college application fee waivers for your senior year on your College Board account.