1. WELCOME PARENTS CLASS OF 2010

2. What is tonight about?  Now that your “children” have made it this far, what is next?  What happens when they leave SCHS?  Are they on track for life after high school?  What should you be doing now to help them get ready?  How can you all get help to make some decisions?  Answers to your burning questions

3. Administrators you should know... Ms. Pam Tapley, Principal Mr. Glidden Nieves, Assistant Principal Ms. Vicki Luttrell, Assistant Principal

4. Get to Know Your Counselors… Ms. Crowell A-DO Ms. Smith DR-LEB Ms. Swaine LEE-RIN Ms. Short RIO-Z

5. MEET OUR GUIDANCE SUPPORT PERSONNEL… Ms. Buehler Ms. Lee Ms. Woodruff Ms. Barber College and Career

6. Meeting with a counselor is easy...  Call the Guidance office to schedule a parent conference with all teachers or speak with your counselor directly.  Students should meet with their counselor once every nine weeks this year and every month their senior year!  Students may come to the Guidance Office before school, during lunch, or after school to make an appointment with their counselor.  Remember…Ms. Barber is also available in the Career Center!

7. What it takes to be a Senior...  18 credits  On track for graduation  2.0 GPA (recommended)

8.  24 Total Credits:  4 English  3 Math* (Algebra 1 or equivalent)  3 Social Studies  1 World History  1 American History .5 Economics .5 American Government  3 Science .5 Health: LMS .5 Personal Fitness .5 Phys Ed elective  1 Practical or Fine Art**  8.5 Electives  * 4 Math required if entered 2007-2008 or after  ** 1 Fine Art if entered 2007-2008 or after What it takes to graduate... Pass FCAT 1926 Read/1889 Math 2.0 GPA

9. Problems with the FCAT ?  Substitute ACT/SAT scores  15 on Reading and Math for ACT  410 in Reading/370 in Math for SAT  Walk with the class, receive a Certificate of Completion, retake until you pass (must have 24 required credits and a 2.0 GPA)  Take classes at community college and earn an AA degree (must have 24 required credits, 2.0 GPA, and pass CPT)  Earn a GED  Attend a tech school or take a job that does not require a high school diploma

10. Consider the options...

11. LIFE AFTER ST CLOUD HS... or preparing for the future! FASTEST GROWING INDUSTRIES Education & Health Services 30.6% increase Healthcare & Social Services 30.3% increase Professional & Business Services 27.8 % increase

12. Working: where, what, how?  Type of work desired  Additional training  Resume  Dress for Success  Practice interview skills  Check out benefits: insurance, tuition reimbursement, chances for advancement  Needed for ALL jobs  Good attendance  Communication and computer skills  Ability to work as a team member

13. TAKE A LOOK AT… Osceola & Orange County Technical Schools TECO Mid-Florida Tech Orlando Tech Westside Tech Winter Park Tech

14. Military  Investigate jobs of interest  Research all branches for those jobs  Take the ASVAB  Talk to a recruiter

15. College Admissions 2-year and Community Colleges  Standard High School Diploma or GED  CPT: Computer Placement Test  Certificate of Completion with 24 required credits, 2.0 UW GPA, & passing CPT scores 4-year Colleges and Universities  Standard High School Diploma  GPA Unweighted, Academic ( 3.0 or greater)  Appropriate SAT/ACT scores (at least 1000 SAT, 23 ACT)  Rigorous academic courses in HS: AP, Honors, DE  Minimum of 18+ academic credits: 4 English, 4 Math (recommended) (Algebra I & above) 3 Science, 3 required Social Studies (4 recommended ) 2 Foreign Language, 3 other academic credits

16. What it REALLY takes to get in… Mid-Range GPA’s and test scores for Fall admission:  FAU3.0-3.6980-1130 SAT20-24 ACT  FSU3.7-4.21180-1330 SAT26-29 ACT  UCF3.4-4.11140-1280 SAT24-28 ACT  UF4.0-4.41210-1400 SAT26-31 ACT  UNF3.5-3.71160-1210 SAT23-24 ACT  USF3.5-4.11100-1270 SAT24-28 ACT

17. Bright Futures Scholarship  Florida Academic Scholars Award 100% 3.5 GPA in selected subjects 1270 SAT or 28 ACT 75 hours community service  Florida Medallion Scholars Award 75%* 3.0 GPA in selected subjects 970 SAT or 20 ACT  Florida Gold Seal Vocational Scholars Award 75% 3.0 in selected subjects 3.5 in 3 sequential vocational courses Test scores:  SAT – 440 verbal, 440 math or  ACT – 17 English, 18 Reading, 19 Math, or  CPT 83 Reading, 83 Sentence Structure, 72 Math *REMEMBER – FMS currently pays 100% to attend Valencia!

18. WHEN SHOULD YOUR STUDENT TEST? ACT OR SAT?  SAT is a Reasoning test…it tests your student’s  Reasoning ability  A good test for students who excel in math  College admissions test  May be used for placement at Valencia  FCAT alternative 410/370  ACT is a test of Knowledge...it tests your student’s  Learned knowledge  A good test for students who excel in language  College admissions test  May be used for placement at Valencia  FCAT alternative 15/15 SAT & ACT are comparable tests & should be taken in winter/spring of 11th Planning to attend college – take SAT/ACT with Writing ACT or SAT req. for FAS & FMS

19. OTHER TESTS TO CONSIDER…  Take the CPT if your student…  Plans to take Dual Enrollment classes (3.0 GPA – test Spring ‘09)  Plans to attend community college after graduation (test Spring ‘10)  May be used for Bright Futures GVS  PSAT is…  A great way to practice for SAT – Individualized Score Report for each student  the test that determines National Merit Scholars (top ½ of one percent nationwide), National Hispanic Scholars, and National Achievement Scholars  OUR JUNIORS TESTED OCTOBER 15TH!

20. College and Career Center Learn about educational opportunities after graduation from high school. Discover career information – just ask! Use the computers for career and post- secondary school searches. Access financial aid & scholarship information. Learn how Prep HQ can help you! Find answers: NCAA Clearinghouse, college visits, applications, transcripts. Ask your counselor or see Ms. Barber TODAY!

21. www.facts.orgwww.facts.org – check it out!  Make a 4-year plan on ePep!  Check out their unofficial BF GPA!  Take a CHOICES interest inventory!  Visit SUS university websites to help find the right college – check out programs & narrow choices!  Apply to colleges during summer after junior year! Your student can…

22. The Search for the Green  Community service - remember to document your hours - Bright Futures FAS requires 75 hours!  Check Prep HQ scholarship opportunities - get ready for senior year!  NCAA Clearinghouse - register online at end of junior year.  Bright Futures - Academic, Medallion and Gold Seal - apply online senior year (after December 1).  www.facts.org Use your ePEP account for an unofficial Bright Futures GPA evaluation! www.facts.org

23. WHAT TO DO NOW! Fall: Write down your abilities, preferences, and personal qualities Evaluate your options for senior year and after high school Attend college night Retake the FCAT if necessary Consider taking an SAT/ACT prep course or practice online Set up an account on www.facts.org for college searches, BFS evaluation, college admissions information Begin your college search Winter/Spring: CPT @SCHS for students registering for Dual Enrollment classes (must have a 3.0 GPA & Valencia application on file) Register to take the SAT &/or ACT Meet with your counselor to review your options for senior year Sign up for an FLVS class to make up credits or raise GPA - summer school won’t be an option! Arrange for college visits over spring break or summer vacation Narrow your college choices to 5 Do research on scholarships (Internet, College and Career Center, college websites)

24. Summer Fun? Summer Fun?  July 1Begin NCAA Clearinghouse paperwork for students planning on athletic recruitment www.ncaaclearinghouse.org  July-AugNarrow post-secondary options (3-5 choices are good)  University-bound students should begin writing college application essays  Complete brag sheet & resume Bring a copy to your counselor  August-SeptComplete state university applications – set a deadline and get it done! (UF applications open July 1 – most others August 1) - early is better!

25. Web Resources  http://www.schs.osceola.k12.fl.us - access grades, stay current with Prep HQ, check important dates http://www.schs.osceola.k12.fl.us www.act.orgwww.act.org - ACT registration; sign up for the writing section if planning to attend college; educational planning  www.campustours.com - college admissions; virtual campus tours; web/cam broad casts and college admissions message board www.campustours.com  www.collegeboard.com - SAT registration (Reasoning or Subject Tests); test taking tips/practice questions; financial aid information; college admission tips www.collegeboard.com  www.facts.org - information about financial aid; career/interest inventory (CHOICES); ePEP www.facts.org  http://nces.ed.gov/ipeds/cool - college opportunities; college search; list of internet resources http://nces.ed.gov/ipeds/cool SAT ®

26. Thank you for your attention… Remember… It is your responsibility to make up any work you missed while attending this presentation!

27. Junior Parents… Thank you for attending and completing our evaluation form.