SENIOR INFORMATION 2009-2010

GRADUATION:  The Northeast High School Graduation will be held at the Bethany World Prayer Center North Campus on Thursday, May 20, 2010, at 6:00 PM.  There is no limit to the number of people who may attend. Graduation is considered to be the highlight of one’s school career, and we feel that it should be a dignified ceremony.  We ask that all students, parents, family, and friends cooperate with us in making it such a ceremony.  (More specific details will be given at a later date.)

GRADUATION PRACTICE:  All graduates participating in the ceremony must attend graduation practice at the Bethany World Prayer Center.  Practice will begin at 9:00 AM on May 20, 2010.

GRADUATION REQUIREMENTS:  IT IS YOUR REPONSIBILITY TO KNOW HOW MANY ACADEMIC CREDITS YOU HAVE EARNED AND WHICH CLASSES YOU STILL NEED TO SUCCESSFULLY COMPLETE IN ORDER TO GRADUATE.  If you have any questions regarding the 23 Carnegie units required to graduate, please make an appointment to see Ms. Gibbs in the Guidance Office as soon as possible.

EXIT EXAM:  The LA Legislature and the Board of Elementary and Secondary Education require that all students who wish to receive a LA High School diploma take exit tests in 4 basic areas:  Math, Language Arts, Social Studies, and Science.  All students must pass Language Arts, Math, and Science or Social Studies to graduate at the end of the 2009-10 school year.  Students who attended a public school in LA for the first time during their junior year must take the Science and Social Studies Tests only.  Students who attended a public school in LA for the first time during their senior year will not be responsible for any of the Exit Tests.  Seniors who have not passed or taken the required tests will have an opportunity to retake any test needed on October 19-23, 2009 and February 8-12, 2010. (Students will also be notified of remediation opportunities throughout the year.)

INDEPENDENT STUDY:  The Office of Independent Study at LSU (www.is.lsu.edu) offers courses for high school credit.  If you want or need to enroll in an independent study course, see Ms. Gibbs in the Guidance Office for an application and additional information.  ALL INDEPENDENT STUDY WORK MUST BE COMPLETED BY APRIL 1, 2010.  Students will not receive senior classification and may not participate in graduation ceremonies until ALL coursework is successfully completed.

AFTER HOURS COURSES:  Courses are sometimes offered after regular school hours for high school credit at various high schools.  Ms. Gibbs will announce and post information after January 1^st as soon as it becomes available.

SENIOR DUES:  Seniors pay senior dues in the amount of $75.00 by February 5, 2010 to Mrs. Sanders. 

SENIOR DEBTS:  Seniors must clear all debts before caps & gowns will be issued.

GRADUATION INVITATIONS, CAP & GOWN:  Invitations, cap & gown, and other graduation supplies have been ordered from Herf Jones.  Seniors who did not have the opportunity to order their supplies may contact Herf Jones at 927-1383.

PROM: The junior/senior prom place and date TBA. If you did not pay junior dues last year, you must pay it this year in order to attend.

OPEN HOUSE:  September 16, 2009 6:30 PM, Northeast High School

SENIOR PICTURE:  There will be a senior class picture. The date and time will be announced.  There is no charge to take the picture.  The price of the prints will be announced.

HONORS DAY:   May 13, 2010.

COLLEGE/CAREER:  Seniors are urged to contact colleges and career schools as soon as possible for admissions information.  (Web sites, addresses and phone numbers are available in the counselor’s office.)  Seniors are also encouraged to meet with College and Career School Representatives who visit Northeast.  Listen to announcements and check the bulletin board in Mrs. Brown’s classroom for visitation dates.

TRANSCRIPTS:  Students will be given an official copy of their transcript at graduation. There is no need to request a transcript for in state schools. These are retrieved electronically.

ACT:  If you are planning to go to college next year, you need to take the ACT this year if you did not take it as a junior.   ACT NATIONAL TEST DATES are Sept. 12, Oct. 24, Dec.12, Feb. 6, April 10, and June 12.   A limited supply of registration forms are available in the Counseling Office and should be picked up several months PRIOR to the test date in order to meet the registration deadline or register online at www.act.org.  Online registration is preferable and highly encouraged.

ACT/SAT CODE:  Northeast’s ACT & SAT Code is 193-060.

ACT EXAM PREP @ LSU:  Dates for ACT Prep are TBA in Math & Verbal /$135 per subject.  For complete information and future sessions, call 578-3144 or 1-800-388-3883 or go online to www.youth.lsu.edu

SAT:  If you are planning to attend college in another state, the SAT (Scholastic Aptitude Test) may be required.  You should check with the college or university that you plan to attend.  Go online to www.collegeboard.com for test dates and to register.

NCAA CLEARINGHOUSE:  Athletes who plan to participate in Division I or II athletics in college must be certified by the NCAA Initial-Eligibility Clearinghouse.  Apply online at  www.ncaaeligibilitycenter.org

ASVAB:  The Armed Services Vocational Aptitude Battery (ASVAB) will be administered on a voluntary basis to juniors and seniors this semester.  It will take about 3 ½ hours.  There is no charge and there is no military obligation. ASVAB results are helpful in making career plans.  Students interested in taking the ASVAB must pre-register in the Guidance Office.  (Test Date - October 27, 2009)

COLLEGE ADMISSION, HOUSING:  Seniors who plan to further their education should contact the career school, college, or institution that they plan to attend in order to become familiar with important deadlines for applying for admission, as well as housing and financial aid. 

FINANCIAL AID:  There are several ways to obtain financial assistance to continue your education.  The four major categories are scholarships, grants, work-study, and loans. Financial Aid Forms will be available in Jan. 2010.  Your parent’s 2009 tax return is necessary to complete the application.  You are encouraged to apply as soon as possible after receiving your form.  Your federal financial aid form must be received by May 1, 2010 in order to have priority consideration for “TOPS”. For more information about state aid, including the TOPS Scholarship Program, contact the LA Office of Student Financial Assistance at 1-800-259-5626 or  922-1012 or online at www.osfa.state.la.us.  (Ms. Gibbs will conduct a financial aid workshop for seniors in January 2010, at which time financial aid forms will be available to seniors who do not plan to apply online.)

SCHOLARSHIPS:  Scholarship information is made available to students throughout the year.  Announcements of scholarship opportunities will be made during morning announcements. It is the student’s responsibility to listen for these announcements and to check the scholarship information posted on the bulletin board in Mrs. Brown’s classroom.  You should also contact the Financial Aid Office at the school of your choice for more information.  Web sites, addresses and phone numbers of colleges and universities are available in the Guidance Office. NOTE:  LSU’s scholarship application deadline is Nov. 15^th and many other college scholarship deadlines are as early as Dec. 1^st.

APPLICATIONS & RECOMMENDATIONS:  Applications that require a letter of recommendation by a counselor or teacher must be received at least 2 weeks prior to the deadline.  Applications that do not require letters of recommendation but do require items to be completed by your counselor must be received at least one week prior to the deadline.  Please provide a copy of your resume to the individual completing the application and/or recommendation.  Before submitting applications, please complete and sign any sections that you are instructed to complete.  Deliver applications in person to Ms. Gibbs during lunch or after your last class.

VOCATIONAL REHABILITATION SERVICES:  Students with certain exceptionalities may qualify for services and funding to further their education. See Ms. Gibbs for more information or contact the Vocational Services Office (295-8900).

SELECTIVE SERVICE REGISTRATION:  You must register within 30 days of your 18^th birthday if YOU are a male citizen of the United States or an alien male residing in the USA. You may register at any US Post Office.  You must comply with this law in order to receive federal student aid.

LAST DAY FOR SENIORS:  May 7, 2010.

ADDITIONAL:  PLEASE SAVE THIS INFORMATION SHEET FOR FUTURE REFERENCE AND TAKE IT HOME TO YOUR PARENTS.  The Counseling Department has information available for you concerning colleges, career schools, financial aid, and career opportunities.  Seniors may fill out an appointment request form to meet with Ms. Gibbs for non-emergency conferences.  Ms. Gibbs will be available to meet with seniors for urgent conferences before or after school or during lunch. Additionally, assistance will be available to you through personnel from Career Compass. Parents may contact Ms. Gibbs (Senior Counselor) at 654-5808 for more information or to schedule a conference.