1. "Believe you can and you're halfway there.” ~ Theodore Roosevelt
WELCOME CLASS OF 2019!
"Believe you can and you're halfway there.”
~ Theodore
Roosevelt

2. MHS SCHOOL COUNSELING DEPARTMENT
Mr. Anthony Finley 9th Grade
Mrs. Lura Wilkes A-F
Ms. Rŏbi Anderson G-I (.5)
Mrs. LeeAnn Belknap J-P
Mrs. Hope Huey Q-Z (MOWR)
Mrs. Judy Callaway – Records Secretary

3. JOIN COUNSELING EDMODO GROUP
MHS Counseling group at 
Use code: nk38ud  
The Edmodo account has additional items posted to it such as:  summer programs, mock SAT/ACT test opportunities, volunteer opportunities and scholarship updates

4. TIPS FOR SUCCESS
First: Get organized! Use an agenda, calendar, phone reminders and technology to plan ahead and stay on track. This will help you stay on course to achieve your goals and dreams. It will also prepare you for a real-life work setting in the future.
Next: Talk to your teachers. Get to know them - so they get to know YOU. Then, when you have questions or are having difficulties in class you will feel more comfortable approaching them for help. Building a positive rapport with your teachers goes a long way!

5. TIPS FOR SUCCESS
Then: Before you fall behind - find out what extra help is available. Teachers offer extra help before/after school depending on their schedules. MHS BETA Club currently offers FREE tutoring before school (M-F) in the Media Center at 8 AM.
Last Resort: After you have tried all of the above (for a significant amount of time) sign up for a meeting with your assigned School Counselor in the School Counseling Office to discuss your concerns.

6. SOPHOMORE TIMELINE First Semester
Go to website (if you have a GAcollege411 account, use your username/password to log in. If you do not, then create a new GAfutures account .)
Get involved with extracurricular activities (MHS and/or community/volunteer)
Begin researching colleges or post-secondary opportunities

7. SOPHOMORE TIMELINE Second Semester
Students who score well on the PSAT as a Sophomore should consider taking it as a Junior (for a FEE) to possibly be eligible for the National Merit Scholarship Program.
Questions? Check out the National Merit website.
Consider Advanced Placement and/or Move on When Ready (MOWR) classes
Look for opportunities to practice for the SAT and ACT (MHS Website-Counseling Tab-ACT & SAT)
Visit colleges during summer break

8. GAfutures 8

9. WHAT CAN GAfutures DO FOR ME?
Explore links to college & career websites
Send transcripts to GA colleges
Apply on-line to GA colleges
Apply for the HOPE Scholarship and other Financial Aid: Loans/Grants (FAFSA) Free Application for Federal Student Aid

10. GRADUATION REQUIREMENTS
English Credits
4 Math Credits
4 Science Credits
3 Social Studies Credits
1 Health/Personal Fitness Credit
7 Elective Credits
(3 of the elective credits must be in World Language, Career Tech, or Fine Arts)
23 credits are required to graduate

11. Check spelling of name, birth date, gender, and grade carefully!
Also, review ALL courses and grades.

12. WHAT’S ON A TRANSCRIPT? All the classes taken in high school
Total credits attempted and earned
Total GPAs: Numeric (0-100) and 4.0 scale
There will be a weighted GPA for Advanced Placement classes
Class rank
Note: MHS GPA and HOPE GPA are not the same. HOPE GPA is available via GAfutures

13. HOPE SCHOLARSHIP PROGRAM
Students must have their correct Social Security Number on record at MHS and in their account
Students must have a 3.0 GPA in all English, Math, Science, Social Studies, and World Language courses
Advanced Placement Course Weighting will be removed and .5 added but not to exceed 4.0
All MOWR/Dual Enrollment courses count in HOPE GPA and will receive a .5 added but not to exceed 4.0
Students must take 4 classes from the academically rigorous course list (Algebra II, Pre-Calculus, Chemistry, Physics, Human Anatomy/Physiology, World Language {Levels II, III, IV, V}, Advanced Placement courses, MOWR/Dual Enrollment courses)

14. ZELL MILLER SCHOLARSHIP
Graduate as Valedictorian or Salutatorian of your class; OR
3.7 GPA on a 4.0 scale in all English, Math, Science, Social Studies, and World Language courses
AND
Received a minimum 1200 on the SAT (Critical Reading and Math Scores only) or 26 on the ACT at the time of graduation
Advanced Placement Course Weighting will be removed and .5 added but not to exceed 4.0
MOWR/Dual Enrollment Course receives a .5 added but not to exceed 4.0
Must take 4 classes from the academically rigorous course list (Algebra II, Pre-Calculus, Chemistry, Physics, Human Anatomy/Physiology, World Language {Levels II, III, IV, V}, Advanced Placement courses, Dual Enrollment courses)

15. HOPE SCHOLAR & ZELL MILLER SCHOLARSHIP AWARDS
The HOPE Scholar program will pay at an eligible PUBLIC postsecondary institution a percentage amount of the standard tuition charges from the previous year. In subsequent years, the award amount will be a percentage of the immediately preceding year’s HOPE Award Amount.
The HOPE Scholar program will pay at an eligible PRIVATE postsecondary institution a percentage amount of the HOPE Award Amount, currently $1, per semester
The Zell Miller Scholar program will pay at an eligible PUBLIC postsecondary institution 100% of the standard tuition charges
The Zell Miller Scholar program currently pays $2, per semester at an eligible PRIVATE postsecondary institution

16. HOPE GRANT No GPA requirement from high school
Maintain 2.0 GPA at a Technical College
Enrolled in a Certificate or Diploma program
Award amount is equal to the HOPE Award Rate found on

17. ZELL MILLER GRANT PROGRAM
Attending a Technical College and in Certificate or Diploma program
Must earn a 3.5 GPA at Technical College to obtain/maintain
Full Standard Tuition Charges are Paid

18. HOPE GPA

19. WHAT IS MY HOPE GPA?
To access your HOPE calculations, follow these steps:
1. Go to and sign into your account or create one if you do not already have one.
2. Update your profile to include your LEGAL name (no nicknames), date of birth, and social security number.
3. After you have updated the information, scroll back up to the top left side of the screen and click on
My HOPE GPA.
4. Choose “McIntosh High School”
5. Click on Select to see your HOPE GPA. 19

20. QUESTIONS & REMINDERS HOPE GPA
If you have any issues with gafutures, please see your School Counselor ASAP!
HOPE preliminary GPAs will be updated at the end of each semester.
HOPE GPA is finalized upon graduation.

21. MOVE ON WHEN READY (MOWR) PROGRAM JUNIORS & SENIORS
Allows a student to earn high school and college credit at the same time.
Can be structured for all day or partial day away from school.
Must work very closely with counselors for course approval and grade receipt.

22. MOWR Parent/Student Meetings
IMPORTANT
Parent and student MUST attend (1) MOWR meeting in order to participate in the MOWR program.
It does not have to be the same meeting.
Attendance is recorded and NO exceptions are made.
(4) Meeting dates and locations are offered.

23. MOWR Parent/Student meeting dates
MOWR: IMPORTANT DATES
MOWR Parent/Student meeting dates
Dec. 6 at 6:30 PM
Lafayette Educational Center
Sams Auditorium – Fayetteville
Jan. 12 at 6:30 PM
Sandy Creek High School – Tyrone
Jan. 19 at 6:30 PM
Starr's Mill High School – Fayetteville
Feb. 28 at 6:30 PM
McIntosh High School - PTC

24. IMPORTANT DATES Semester Exams: December 14th, 15th, and 16th
AP Parent Night: January 12th
at 6 PM in the MHS Auditorium
Club Z Mock SAT Test: Saturday, January 21st at 8:00 AM in the MHS Auditorium (See MHS website for details)
Parent Night for Results: February 2nd at
6:30 PM in the MHS Media Center

25. ADDITIONAL IMPORTANT DATES
Credit Recovery Meetings:
January 6 PM – MHS Cafeteria
January AM – School
Counseling Office
Registration for Junior Year: Begins March 13th

26. From The McIntosh High School SCHOOL COUNSELING DEPARTMENT…
THANK YOU FOR ATTENDING!
"Embracing Excellence for All ~ Students First"