What a wonderful gift of time we have received! Hope you are making the most of it! We have two weeks left in the quarter, and one more major college deadline ahead (February 1st!). Time to start evaluating where you are, and where you want to be by June 18, 2016!
In the meanwhile, we have a lot of news to share with you, so to set the mood here is a shot of Friday’s sunrise before the storm to put you in a positive state of mind…
Upcoming Events…
January 22nd: DEADLINE TO SUBMIT PINK PACKETS FOR FEBRUARY 1ST DEADLINE (See your counselor to discuss your status!)
January 23rd: SAT test (NOW RESCHEDULED for February 20th!)
January 27th: Managing Teen Anxiety Workshop (link, register ASAP) AND SFA FAFSA Completion Assistance Session 5-8PM
January 28th: Rescheduled SFA Scholarship Completion Session 3:15-4:15PM in B227 AND 4:15-5:15PM H.A.V.E. Foundation Scholarship Essay Writing Workshop
February 1st: Yet Another Important Deadline for Even More Colleges
February 4th: End of the Second Quarter/First Semester
February 5th: Scholarship Fund of Alexandria Application due by 4:30PM
February 6th: ACT
February 12th: Special Alexandria Hall of Fame Ceremony @TC (info link)
February 20th : Alfred Street Baptist Church HBCU Festival @ TC (info and registration link)
February 19: LAST ASVAB test for military placement held at TC (sign up starts February 1st in the College and Career Center and fills up QUICKLY!)
February 28th: NOVA Pathways Program Kick Off to College Program at George Mason University! (More to come for accepted students!)
Looking for an Alternative Year After High School
Take a peek at Americorps CityYear Program, and see if this might be the perfect opportunity for you. Their deadline is February 15, 2016, so take a look quick and feel free to ask questions if you would like to know more. Link
Tis the Season to Reschedule
Seniors, as you have experienced many times throughout your school career, snow days can throw off the best laid plans. That being said, there were a number of events scheduled for Thursday, and with more snow coming, other events that may be rescheduled. Please stay tuned for important information about new dates for SFA and HAVE essay writing workshops, SAT testing, and other events that have been impacted by the weather. HOWEVER, deadlines remain deadlines (even if they get rescheduled, ie. James Madison University’s deadline this past weekend). Always plan to meet the posted deadline, and do not count on college and scholarship deadlines being postponed. It is best to beat a deadline, than meet it on the mark (ie. 11:59 PM, especially when anything can go wrong at the last minute).
Speaking of which, here is more information about the rescheduled January 23rd SAT exam: SAT Testing scheduled for January 23, 2016 has been postponed until February 20, 2016. If you are registered for this test date, College Board will be sending an email with information about the make-up test date, including a new location, as TC Williams is not available for testing on that date due to another scheduled event. We are looking to use another ACPS school, however, we are awaiting confirmation on the new location.
FAFSA and CSS Profile
Free money is out there, but if you wait too late to file your FAFSA and CSS Profile (required by a large number of schools and scholarships link) there will not be as much left. Please don’t delay in completing this important documents. If you need assistance, there is plenty of help available at TC, including a special completion session on January 27th from 5-8PM (flier link). Please pay careful attention to the information you will need in order to complete your FAFSA application. Great job to those of you who have already completed your FAFSA and/or CSS Profile, but remember to go back and update once 2015 taxes are officially filed!
Also, have you seen Mrs. Feldman’s latest Scholarship Newsletter for February/March (and some January)? Link
Student Health Newsletter
Take a look at this excellent resource for Teen Health related information. Link
Mid-Year Reports
Many of you who have applied to colleges already have been asking about when your mid-year reports will be mailed out. Since grades will not be entered until February 8th, we will not be able to send anything until after that date. We are working to finalize exactly when that will be, but please be sure to communicate with any colleges that are requesting that information sooner that we had a late start this year, and will not have those grades until the week of February 8th at the earliest. More information to come as we finalize the date!
Herff Jones Coming Back to TC
Have you been waiting to order your senior packet, or just cap and gown, and are now realizing that you need to do it before any more time elapses. Well, you’re in luck because representatives from Herff Jones will be back on campus soon. Stay tuned for more information!
Senior Experience & Graduation Parade Information Coming
Please remember that Senior Experience information is coming soon, but it is important that you are spending some time reaching out to potential internship opportunities for that three week valuable learning experience. Although some assistance will be provided in the search process, it is always best to try to secure your own location so that you can be assured that it will be what you want. In addition, stay tuned for more information on the Graduation Parade that has taken place over the past two years when seniors parade through their previous ACPS schools to inspire the rising Titans, and surprise their former teachers with how much they have grown. Lots to look forward to in the upcoming months.
Stay safe this weekend, and if you are snowed in, after a few snowball fights and sledding adventures, be sure to get as much work done as you can. This is especially true for those of you who are in online courses. If you don’t have internet access at home, be sure to check out the free resource offered by the Helpdesk when you return to school. More information can be found here.
Stay positive…
