Junior Spring Newsflash

 

Class of 2025 Juniors & Parents,

Please click on the link below to reserve (not purchase) your cap and gown for next year!!

heygrad.net

This will allow us to send information to you regarding senior items, caps and gowns, graduation rings, and letter jackets.

Shannan Phinney

1508 Colony Circle

Longview, Texas 75604

Phone: 903.757.6595

www.balfour.com

 

UPCOMING DATES OF IMPORTANCE:

April 30 - AP Research digital submission

May 6 - AP Government (AM)

May 7 - AP Seminar (PM)

May 8 - AP English 4 (AM)

May 10 - AP US History (AM)

AP Economics (PM)

AP Art portfolios uploaded

May 13 - AP Calculus (AM)

May 15 - AP World History (AM)

 

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THURSDAY NIGHT AT THE LIBRARY - is available to all students for tutoring, make-up work, earning back time for absences, and access to online credit recovery.  Take advantage of this FREE opportunity every Thursday from 4:15 pm – 6:15 pm in the high school library

 

ACCESS TO MY WEBSITE:  Go to www.shisd.net and follow the link to High School/Faculty Pages/Counselors.  You will need to access my website daily, every other day, weekly, in other words…OFTEN.  I am constantly updating information that you NEED to know. It is your responsibility to access the counselor’s website to learn of scholarship opportunities.  Email is the preferred method to communicate along with the daily announcements but many scholarships are only offered electronically and are accessed/submitted online.

 

ATTENDANCE – It is your responsibility to come to school.  If you are absent from class for whatever reason, get with your teacher to make up your work.  State Attendance laws require you to attend school at least 90% of each semester to earn credits.

 

TSIA2 ASSESSMENT:  All first-time-in-college students are required to take the TSI (Texas Success Initiative) Assessment if not previously tested and enrolled, TSI Complete or exempt.  See Mrs. Williamson to get on one of the monthly TSIA2 tests.  The cost is $20.00

 

WRITE AN ESSAY:  Almost every scholarship application requires an essay as to “why you are deserving of the _______________ scholarship.”  This is a common theme in many scholarship applications that will be available to you during your senior year.  This is your time to shine.  DO NOT be LAZY and miss out on the opportunity for scholarship monies because you do not want to write an essay.  Save the essay and tweak it for various scholarship opportunities that may come up in the future.  College is very costly and every little bit of money you can get COUNTS!  Don’t get into the mind set of, “I will never be awarded this scholarship….or “This is only a $500.00 scholarship.” Scholarship committees are looking for a very diverse group of students to award monies to. Plus, you might just be the only student that applies! One scholarship for $500.00 can pay for books for a class.

 

• Subject:  The University of Texas at Austin Automatic Admission Policy -Senate Bill 175, passed by the 81st Texas Legislature allows The University of Texas at Austin to limit automatic admission to 75 percent of the university’s enrollment capacity designated for first-time resident undergraduate students. The University has determined that it will automatically admit all eligible 2024 fall freshman applicants who rank within the top 7% of their high school graduating classes, with remaining spaces to be filled through holistic review. Each fall, the university notifies Texas school officials of the class rank that current high school juniors need to attain by the end of their junior year in order to be automatically admitted.  This percent is TBD for the Class of 2025.
• AP Students:  Your scores are available to view online at  www.collegeboard.com. Texas Governor Greg Abbott signed into law HB 1992, legislation requiring all Texas public colleges and universities to award credit to students who submit scores of 3 and higher on AP Exams.  This applies to entering freshmen at Texas public institutions of higher education beginning in the fall of 2016. Students planning on attending out-of-state institutions must find out if your institution will accept a 3, 4, 5 and which courses you will get credit for. Log on to www.collegeboard.com/ap/creditpolicy. Click on “AP Credit Policy Info,” type in your college’s name, click on the college, and click on the “click here for this Institutions AP credit and placement Policy on the Web.”
• Continue to take the most rigorous courses offered that you can handle academically.  Push yourself; don't take the easy route.  Your GPA began in the 9th grade year and all of your core-classes count in the overall GPA.  (see the following SHHS school website- http://www.shisd.net/hsinfo.html and go to the COURSE DESCRIPTIONS for more information about GPA)  Remember to visit with your current teachers about decision making for next year courses especially MATH and any HONORS/AP…Take the right courses for YOU. 
• PROSPECTIVE COLLEGE ATHLETES: Register online with the NCAA Clearinghouse if you want to play college athletics. http://web1.ncaa.org/ECWR2/NCAA_EMS/NCAA.html
• Participate in activities that are important to colleges.  Colleges are interested in seeing that you chose a challenging curriculum, including good electives.  They will also look at your non-academic activities.  This is where your clubs, leadership positions, and community involvement will help.  It is better to show you were truly involved and committed to a few organizations than to compile a long list of clubs in which you had membership. 
• Continue to update your resume and update it often as you have events to add.  On this resume, you should list all of your school activities, community activities, church activities, honors, awards, volunteer hours and projects, work experience, technology skills, and advanced courses you have taken.  Don't leave out a thing!  Then when you are ready your senior year to compile a professional resume to attach to your scholarship applications, you won't need to try to recall all that information. You will have it at your fingertips!  Also, you will need to provide anyone who will write you a letter of recommendation for college or scholarships a copy of this resume.
• Now is the time to seriously begin thinking about what college or technical school you would like to attend.  Start planning your College Visits.  During your Junior and Senior years, you may be granted up to 2 college days each year to visit a college campus.  College days cannot be taken in December, the week prior to Spring Break, nor in May.  This absence is excused and will NOT count against your exemptions as long as you fill out and turn in the proper paperwork.  In order to take a college day, you must complete and return the College Day form ONE WEEK prior to the college day. Get this sheet from the wire rack in the high school office.  If you are on the failure list at any time with an "I" or a grade of "69" or less, or if you have failed a semester course you cannot take an excused college day.  You must bring an official note from the college you visited (on college letterhead) to excuse the absence for exemption purposes.  Spring Break and summer are also good times to arrange a visit your top colleges.  Be sure to make appointments ahead of time for a tour of the campus and set up time to visit with the financial aid officer and/or the Freshman academic advisor.
• JUNIOR YEAR:  It is important that you register for and take either the ACT or SAT sometime during your junior year - get the study guide for the test you plan to take and begin preparing.  It has been suggested (but not required) to take both the ACT and SAT at least once to determine the one on which you perform better. See Counselor’s website subpage on "College Entrance Exams" for more information about dates/costs etc.  Flyers and free practice booklets are available in the College & Career Center in the High School Office.  Do not wait until your senior year to take these tests, especially if you want to qualify for your school's early admissions.  Colleges begin notifying prepared students of admissions in December (of the Sr. year) but only if you have applied and have all the requirements in place during the first semester of your senior year.  **** You are responsible for sending your ACT, SAT and TSI scores to the college or university of your choice. I do not send them because they won't accept them from me!  Be sure to use the "Free" score reporting option when signing up for either the ACT or the SAT.

• Protect your ONLINE REPUTATION
• Meningitis Vaccination now required for all students entering college in Spring of 2012 or after….This is for new & transfer students under 30 years of age...   Beginning Jan. 1, 2012, Texas state law (Senate Bill 1107) requires the following:  All entering students under 30 years of age must provide documentation of receiving an initial bacterial meningitis vaccination dose or booster within the last 5 years. This includes all new and transfer students, as well as former students who are re-enrolling after a break in enrollment.  Students must show proof of having the vaccination at least 10 days prior to the start of the semester
• JUNIOR MALES: You must register with the Selective Service within 30 days of your 18^th birthday.  IT IS THE LAW!!!!  Men can now submit their registration information when they turn 17 years 3 months and will automatically be registered upon turning 18.  Pick up a registration form at the post office or go to www.sss.gov

Interested in Dual Credit - Apply Online to Kilgore College:

STEPS TO TAKE IF PURSUING ENROLLMENT IN A KILGORE COLLEGE DUAL CREDIT COURSE AND ARE TSI TESTING ON THE SPRING HILL CAMPUS OR ON THE KILGORE COLLEGE (LONGVIEW) CAMPUS.

Apply Online to Kilgore College:

1. Go to kilgore.edu
2. Highlight FUTURE STUDENTS
3. Highlight NEW STUDENTS- START HERE
4. Highlight ADMISSIONS FOR DUAL CREDIT STUDENTS
5. Scroll down and click button for DUAL CREDIT APPLICATION FOR ADMISSION
6. Fill out application and WAIT for your KC ID# to be EMAILED to you (Use an email address you check often)
7. Check your email often for your KC ID#
8. When you receive your KC ID#... put the number in the “Notes” of your phone or somewhere SAFE! You will need this number over and over again!
9. While Waiting on Your KC ID#:
10. Go to your counselor and get a DUAL CREDIT CONTRACT. This contract must be signed by you and your parent – Turn the Dual Credit Contract in to your Counselor.

After You Receive Your KC ID#: FOLLOW EITHER OPTION 1 OR OPTION 2 BELOW

Option 1: 1.       Go see your counselor to sign up to take the TSI test at SHHS. 2023-24 Tests Dates:       Oct 18 Nov 15 Jan 24 Feb 14 Mar 20, 27 April 17 May 1 2.      Complete the PAA Assignment and bring your completion certificate to Mrs. Williamson before test day. 3.      Pay for your TSI Test: $20.00 (WHOLE TEST) $10.00 (SINGLE SECTION/RETEST)	Option 2:      1.       BE AT A COMPUTER THAT YOU CAN PRINT FROM      2.       Got to www.tsipreview.com/welcome/KilgoreCollege      3.       Click the GET STARTED button      4.       Click the NEXT button      5.       Fill out the demographic information USE THE SAME EMAIL ADDRESS YOU USED ON YOUR DUAL CREDIT APPLICATION AND YOU MUST KNOW YOUR KC ID# IN ORDER TO COMPLETE THIS STEP.      6.       Make sure you accept the TSI PAA User Agreement and go to STEP 2      7.       Complete the TSI Pre Assessment Activity (PAA) and PRINT a copy of your certificate (This will be emailed to you at the email address you entered. You must turn in this certificate when signing up to take the TSI)
Show up on time on your scheduled test day to C105/C103 Computer Lab	Go IN PERSON TO KILGORE COLLEGE To Schedule your TSI Test – COST $40
*Once you have proven college readiness with your TSI SCORES- see your counselor for registration paperwork.  YOU will take this registration paperwork to KC to enroll into the courses. After you have registered…you will need to pay for your courses (see payment info)	On Test Day - BRING WITH YOU THE FOLLOWING INFORMATION/ITEMS: 1.       KC ID # 2.       PAA CERTIFICATE (You printed this out when you took the TSI pre assessment) 3.       $40.00 if you are taking both parts of the TSI/$20.00 if you are taking only one part of the TSI 4.       PICTURE ID- OR YOUR PLAN TO GET AN ID (You must have a picture ID on testing day. IE: Driver’s License, Permit, etc) 5.       You are now signed up and ready to take the TSI AT KILGORE COLLEGE (Longview or Kilgore Location)

 

TSI TUTORIALS – https://accuplacerpractice.collegeboard.org

TSI LEARNING RESOURCES: https://accuplacer.pearsonperspective.com/perspective/home?passCode=ACCUPLACER_family

TSI: Passing Standards: Math- 950          ELAR - 945 with Essay Score of 5

• If you passed the TSI Assessment you are now ready to see your counselor for registration paperwork and a copy of your transcript (You cannot register for any Kilgore College class while in high school without this paperwork from your counselor!) 

TSIA2 Scores:

The College Board has graciously created a portal for students to use to retrieve their TSIA/Accuplacer test scores: 

 

Student Portal

https://studentportal.accuplacer.org/?SFMC_cid=EM106580-&rid=47693047#/home

 

To access your TSIA2 Scores online after you leave the testing room, you will need to know your unique SHHS Student ID.  This ID is different from your KC ID.  Please put this into the notes of your phone so that when you graduate from high school and move on you will be able to pull up your TSI scores to show your prospective college/university your passing TSI Scores. You would have also used a PERSONAL EMAIL ACCOUNT.

 

2023-24 SAT Test Dates & Registration Deadlines - Register online at collegeboard.com

 

SHHS GPA SCALE The GPA is the cumulative numerical average of final semester grades earned for completion of a high school diploma. The GPA provides a profile of a student’s overall performance in high school.

 

Numerical G.P.A TABLE:

100 4.0                 90   3.0                 80   2.0                 70   1.0

99   3.9                 89   2.9                 79   1.9

98   3.8                 88   2.8                 78   1.8

97   3.7                 87   2.7                 77   1.7

96   3.6                 86   2.6                 76   1.6

95   3.5                 85   2.5                 75   1.5

94   3.4                 84   2.4                 74   1.4

93   3.3                 83   2.3                 73   1.3

92   3.2                 82   2.2                 72   1.2

91   3.1                 81   2.1                 71   1.1  

 

CLASS RANK:  The following courses if taken in high school shall carry grade points and be included in the calculation for class ranking:

ENG 1 (regular/honors)	ALG 1	Biology(regular/honors)	World Geography (regular/honors)	Spanish 1, 2, 3
ENG 2 (regular/honors)	Geometry(regular/honors)	Int. Physics & Chemistry	World History (regular/AP)	AP Art (Drawing/2D Design/3D Design)
ENG 3 (regular/AP)	Financial Math Algebra 2(regular/honors) Ind.Study in Math 1 (if used as a 4th or 5th Math Credit) Ind. Study in Math 2 (Dual credit Math 1314/1342) AP Calculus	Chemistry (regular/honors) Physics (regular/honors) Forensic Science Astronomy Anat & Physiology AP Chemistry AP Biology	US History (regular, Dual Credit and AP) Govt (regular, Dual Credit and AP) Economics (regular, Dual Credit and AP)	All Dual Credit College Courses that substitute for a core-course listed: (HIST1301/HIST 1302, ENGL1301/ENGL1302, GOVT2305/ECON2301)
ENG 4 (Regular/AP/Dual)				AP Seminar AP Research

 

 AWARDING OF CREDITS  - The State Board of Education has set 70 as a minimum passing grade. Spring Hill I.S.D.’s grading system is as follows:  A=90-100 B=80-89 C=70-79

        F=69 and below (not achieving mastery / credit not earned)

A student may receive credit for a full year course if the average of the two semesters is 70 or above. If the average of the two semesters falls below a grade of 70, one semester must be repeated and a grade of 70 or above earned in the semester for which a grade below 70 was earned. If both semester grades are below 70, the course must be retaken in its entirety. A passing semester cannot be retaken to raise the score. Once a credit has been earned for a course, the course cannot be retaken for the purpose of improving the grade. If a duplicate course occurs, the grade earned the first time the course was taken will stand.

 

Advanced credit courses are given different weight amounts for the semester grades – only in overall GPA. This weight difference is not recorded on the report card, or transcript, but is automatically calculated in the computer when figuring the grade point average at the end of each semester. The actual grade earned in the class is what is reported on the transcript and on the report card.

Honors, Dual Credit and AP courses receive the weighted points if and only if the student earns a minimum of a 70 for the semester average.

The following courses are state approved Advanced Courses: AP Calculus (AB), AP English Literature, AP English Composition, AP Macroeconomics, AP US Government, AP Art Drawing, AP Art 2D Design, AP Art 3D Design, AP Biology, AP Chemistry, AP World History, AP US History, AP Seminar, and AP Research.

Locally approved advanced courses: Honors English I, Honors English II, Honors World Geography, Honors Geometry, Honors Algebra II, Pre-Calculus, Honors Biology, Honors Chemistry, Honors Physics, and Spanish III.

The following college course work for high school credit (dual credit courses) will be considered advanced credit: HIST 1301/1302, ENGL 1301/1302, PHYS 1401/1402, MATH 1314/1342, GOVT 2305, and ECON 2301

Weight for Advanced Credit Courses (that are not AP): Students taking a locally approved advanced credit course or an approved college academic course for high school credit will earn an additional one (+1) point towards the grade point average. Example: A student’s average in Pre-Calculus is 93, which is a GPA equivalent of 3.3. Adding 1 point for the advanced course designation brings the GPA equivalent to 4.3 grade points for this course.

The following weighted system will apply for all AP courses taken at Spring Hill High School: Two (+2) additional grade points will be awarded for the successful completion of each AP class in which they are enrolled. No additional points are awarded on the basis of the AP Exam score. Example: A student’s average in AP English Language is 93, which is a GPA equivalent of 3.3.Adding 2 points for the AP designation brings the GPA equivalent to 5.3 grade points for this course.