HSoC Weekly Update
December 13 - 17, 2021
Quote for the Week
“Disciplined runners consistently clear their heads and focus fully on the journey ahead.. .because their passion and zeal for the goal supersedes the strain. The goal beckons them onward. Passion doesn't negate weariness; it just resolves to press beyond it.”
― Priscilla Shirer,
Congratulations- New Graduates
Winter Break
December 20, 2021 - January 5, 2022
Students Return January 6, 2022, Who will be the first graduate of 2022?
Financial Aid Requirement Form
In accordance with Texas Education Code (TEC), §28.0256, beginning with students enrolled in 12th grade during the 2021-2022 school year, each student must do one of the following in order to graduate:
Complete and submit a Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA);
Complete and submit a Texas Application for State Financial Aid (TASFA); or
Submit a signed opt-out form.
Laws and Rules
In 2019, the 86th Texas Legislature established the new requirement for Texas students to complete a financial aid application (or formally opt-out) in order to graduate. The State Board of Education (SBOE) adopted rules related to the new requirement in January 2021.
Opting Out
A student may opt-out of the financial aid application graduation requirement if:
a parent or guardian submits a signed form;
the student is 18 years of age or older and submits a signed form; or
a school counselor authorizes the student to decline to complete and submit the application for a good cause.
AT minimum all are required to complete a FASFA I.D
Complete this form: https://forms.gle/HC9F3iLy9Ntf6gyf6
New scholarships! - One Stop Shop for Scholarships - Going Merry
In the last month or so, we’ve added two major scholarship programs with a combined 30 winners and $450,000 in awards, whose scholarship applications are exclusively on Going Merry:
-
- The
- Foot Locker Scholar Athlete Award, worth $20k each for twenty
- students - Due December 17 (in ten days), so remind your students to get their essays and recommendation letters in!
-
- The
- Earnest Scholarship, worth $5k each for ten students - Due
- January 31.
We
add new scholarships each week, so invite your students to create accounts. This way, we can notify them directly of scholarships that they have the best chance of winning.
Here’s
an email template we made to help you
do that. Get help with the TX state FAFSA® deadline
The FAFSA® state deadline is in about a month, on January 15. Is your school behind on reaching its completion targets? If so, consider using our 100% free FAFSA® Made Easier suite of tools, which includes:
-
- Detailed,
- real-time tracking for counselors, down to the individual (and even question) level
-
- Automated
- reminders for students to complete their FAFSA®s, if they haven’t already
-
- A
- simpler FAFSA® form with guided help, designed to help families navigate the FAFSA® for the first time
Get
more info here, or
schedule
a FAFSA® informational session here.
Ellis County Master Gardener Association (ECMGA)
The Ellis County Master Gardener Association (ECMGA) seeking students who will be graduating high school in 2022 aware that the ECMGA will again offer college scholarships up to $3000 to those students who have declared their intent to pursue a degree in horticulture or other discipline areas related to horticulture (see a listing of related academic areas on our website).
Senior students applying for the ECMGA 2022 College Scholarship are invited to visit the website at http://www.ecmga.com and download the scholarship application forms found under the “Scholarship Tab” or you may choose to forward this information to interested students. Completed scholarship application forms are due to the ECMGA by no later than March 14, 2022 - 4:00 P.M.
Applications may be submitted by mail or in-person to the ECMGA office located at the Texas AgriLife Extension Service Office located at 701 South I-35, Suite 3, Waxahachie, Texas 75165. Completed applications should be mailed "Certified Mail - Return Receipt Requested" if they are not delivered in person.
If further information about the ECMGA College scholarship program is needed, please contact us at the Texas AgriLife Extension Service Office at 972/825-5175 or George Cole at 972/937-2440 (H).
George Cole, Chairman
ECMGA 2022 College Scholarship Committee
972/937-2440 (H)
georgedciii@att.net
ASVAB Testing -Feb 4, 2022 at 8:30 am Contact. Martha Cunningham- mcunningham@wisd.org
HSoC - High School of Choice
What is Waxahachie High School of Choice?
We are an alternative high school, designed to help at-risk students achieve their goals of high school graduation and beyond. HSoC supports students through rigorous, innovative, and engaging learning experiences. Every student will be empowered to fiercely navigate their world with resilience, purpose, courage, humility, and pride.
Academic Performance and Effort
It is an expectation that all High School of Choice (HSoC) students put forth the effort to reach their maximum potential. Academic excellence is achieved by challenging yourself to improve on every assignment or task you encounter.
