1. Junior College Night 2013 While you are patiently waiting, log on to Facebook and “like” Port Charlotte High School Class of 2014

2. Agenda Senior year timeline SAT/ACT Registration College Applications Financial Aid 2012 Graduate Panel Powerpoint is posted on Guidance and Career Info Center websites which you can access through www.portcharlottehigh.net

3. Next Year Late July/Early August-senior portraits. Contact is Theresa Chandler, teacher Early August-Open House. Release schedules, Senior info session follows(senior dues, graduation fees, etc.) September-should be done taking the SAT/ACT by now unless you need to achieve a specific score September/October-apply to college October-Spring-apply to scholarships January-Financial Aid Meeting May-Graduation!

4. Resources FOCUS-check attendance, grades, transcript and email teachers. Click on Course History to view class rank, GPA and transcript Facebook Page- “Port Charlotte High School Class of 2012 Webpage-Guidance and Career Info Center. Lots of helpful links and comprehensive calendar of events

5. Staff Mrs. Matthews, Guidance Counselor-schedules, tutoring, personal concerns Mrs. Tate, Occupational Specialist-Military, SAT/ACT registration, college applications and financial aid Mrs. Ortolano, Guidance Registrar-Transcripts Mrs. Tabri, Guidance Secretary-FOCUS login Mrs. Cosenza, Data Specialist-turn in community service forms to her Mrs. Tirb and Mrs. Monck, Senior Sponsors-all senior events, graduation and dues

6. Senior Schedules Current status Tentative schedule release(all schedules are subject to change based on class size, test scores, class availability, etc.) Senior schedule and college applications

7. Credit Retrieval Night School-Next session begins week of March 25 th. Highest grade you can earn is a “C.” See Mrs. Matthews to sign up Florida Virtual School-can be used to redo D’s and F’s. Highest grade you can earn is an “A.” Go to www.flvs.net to registerwww.flvs.net Summer school starts May 30. It lasts from 8am-12pm for two weeks. See Mrs. Matthews to sign up If you fail a required course Sem 1, you must do night school or FLVS. If you fail a required course Sem 2, you will not be able to walk at graduation and will need to go to summer school

8. Graduating with Honors Descriptions located on Guidance Dept homepage 3 different levels of awards. Minimum criteria is 3.5 weighted GPA Cannot have any D’s or F’s in ANY classes to be eligible. Must redo them on FLVS before graduation. Award is on high school diploma

9. Silver Cord Cord is draped over gown at graduation Awarded to students who have earned at least 150 hours of community service. 50 must be done during senior year. Examples of community service: hospital, animal shelter, tutoring, Red Cross, etc. Hours must be documented on a specific form. Located in Student Office and on the Guidance Website

10. SAT/ACT Students need a test score to apply to a 4-year university or enroll in a community college Students have been taught all year how to register. SAT-www.collegeboard.com ACT-www.actstudent.org Qualify for free/reduced lunch? You get 2 SAT’s and 2 ACT’s for free. Create an account, then see Mrs. Tate in the CIC for the waiver code. There are a limited number of waivers each test for the student body, so do not wait until the last minute Colleges will honor your highest test score so it is highly recommended that you take each test at least once When you register, fill out the section where it asks which colleges you want the scores sent to. If you do not do it when it is included in the fee, you will have to pay extra for it later.

11. College Applications Difference between a technical school, community college and 4 year university? When do I apply? How many should I apply to? How long does it take to hear back? Are out-of-state college applications any different? Can it be affordable to attend an out-of-state university? Florida Public University Matrix-located on website Should I tour any colleges? Why? Colleges visit CIC throughout the year Go Higher, Get Accepted event-February 2014

12. Letters of Recommendation Colleges ask for very specific information. Letters of recommendation are rarely needed or wanted If colleges do want a letter of recommendation, it is typically done on a specific form rather than a traditional letter If the form is for a guidance counselor, give it to Mrs. Matthews. She will ask you to complete a form listing what you were involved in during high school. She will mail out the recommendation or give it back to you sealed in an envelope. Colleges will not accept it if its not in a sealed envelope. Follow the same process for teachers Allow at least one week for letters of recommendation to be completed

13. Transcripts Colleges will need your transcript after you submit an application. First, check your FOCUS account under Course History to make sure your transcript is correct See Mrs. Ortolano in Guidance to complete a request form Transcripts Florida Public Colleges-can be sent electronically by us Private or Out of State Colleges-will be mailed out by you Taking Edison courses? You will also need to fill out a form with Mrs. Ortolano for your Edison transcript to be sent to the colleges

14. Financial Aid/Scholarships Scholarship box Pirate TV Bright Futures Scholarship-will complete application in December or January Bright Futures GPA vs Weighted GPA FAFSA-Federal Application for Federal Student Aid. Parent meeting in January

15. 2012 College Panel Thank you to the following 2012 graduates for dedicating their time to give back to PCHS. Mitchell Nielsen-University of Florida(Gainesville) Kayla Croteau-University of Central Florida(Orlando) Ranee Agin-Charlotte Technical Center(Port Charlotte) Betsy Declet-Florida Gulf Coast University(Ft. Myers) Sidnee Rodriguez-Edison State College(Punta Gorda) Nick Stampar-University of Miami(Coral Gables) Alex Hinand-Florida State University(Tallahassee)