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Seniors
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Class Rank - is no longer recorded at Grand Island Senior High
Students starting in the fall of 2016 or after will be recognized using the Latin system for Academic Recognition. All Advanced Placement (AP) courses will carry a weight of 5 and all other courses have a weight of 4.
Summa Cum Laude - 4.0 or above - honors banquet, sash and medallion at graduation, identified in the graduation program.
Magna Cum Laude - 3.75-3.99 - honors banquet, sash and medallion at graduation, identified in the graduation program.
Cum Laude - 3.5 - 3.74 - identified in the graduation program.
Yearbooks & Senior Pictures
In order to have your photo (your child’s photo) published in the yearbook, students need to have them emailed or dropped off to Mr. Holton by March 1. The picture should be, if possible, a head and shoulders picture that is at least 1 MB in size and is a vertical shot.
It is ESSENTIAL that ALL seniors have their pictures taken at school on picture day at the beginning of the school year so they will have a picture in the yearbook. We understand that not all seniors will have their pictures taken separately by professional photographers, so that is why it’s so important that all students have their pictures taken at school. If a student skips “picture day” then there is no guarantee that they will appear in the yearbook.
Regarding senior pictures, new pictures sent to the school are used to replace the ones taken at school in the senior section of the yearbook. So, if a student skips picture day, we will use the picture taken by the school photographer.
The school photos are also used for school badges.
Senior Picture Requirements:
- Head and shoulder photograph only (We want to see faces.)
- NO Hats or sunglasses
- NO Filters
- The senior should be the only one in photograph (No pets or siblings).
- Color photos ONLY
- Photographs should be 1 MB in size
Photographs should be sent to cholton@gips.org.
Prices for the yearbooks this year will be $65 and must be ordered by May 31, 2023.
Yearbooks can be ordered through Jostens and will be mailed out in July. Orders must be placed by using a credit/debit card. Cash and checks are not accepted. NO EXTRA YEARBOOKS will be ordered so if people don't order them by May 31, then they will not receive one.
Please contact Mr. Holton if you have any questions regarding the yearbook or senior pictures.
GRADUATION CAP/GOWN & ANNOUNCEMENT ORDERS
Please read the following carefully:
There are two components to ordering items for graduation.1. Cap and gown unit
2. All other optional graduation merchandise: JostensEvery student who is graduating will need a new cap & gown unit (cap, gown, tassel & diploma $40) in order to be able to participate in the graduation ceremony. Orders & payments will be taken at GISH by Mrs. Hernandez in the West office. Students who are not participating in the graduation ceremony will still need to fill out an order form for the diploma, which costs $20. Payment for cap and gown unit is due by Thursday, December 2nd. Online Payment Link
All other graduation product ordering information can be found here: Jostens
10 Reasons to Apply to Colleges in October!
1. The earlier students apply, the sooner they will hear from colleges!
2. The sooner an application is complete, the sooner their name is sent to financial aid for scholarship consideration and students will find out about Honors Programs and the benefits.
3. Students can get your college online files set up with email, ID numbers and PIN numbers.
Students can check your application status online.
4. The sooner a student's application file is complete, the better the opportunities.
(If you want a dorm room, the sooner you apply the better.)
5. Late students at some colleges are at a disadvantage for opportunities.
7. Coaches will contact students about college athletics. Fine Arts will post audition dates.
6. Students can visit with College Department Chairs to learn about departmental scholarship opportunities.
7. Universities have career information online to help students choose a major.
8. The colleges will identify any high school deficiencies early and students can work with their high school counselor to get them taken care of in the spring of their senior year.
9. Some colleges may waive the application fee if students apply early and apply online.
10. Students can access support services right away if they have an IEP or have other accommodations.FAFSA
Six Items and 22 Minutes: All You Need to Fill Out the FAFSA
1. Create an FSA ID. You and a parent must each create a username and password at FSA ID that will serve as your Federal Student Aid (FSA) IDs for the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA). You will each need your own email address to create an FSA ID. You and your parent must create separate FSA IDs. Create this first!
You and your parent’s Social Security or Alien Registration number. Here’s what to do if your parent doesn’t have a Social Security number.
· Driver’s license (if you have one)
· Your and your parent’s federal income tax returns and W-2s from 2019 (you can use the IRS Data Retrieval Tool to import this data!)
· Bank statement
· If applicable, other records of money earned, and records of investments and untaxed income
Don’t worry if you can’t find these materials right away: you can start the FAFSA and come back as many times as you need to update information or add schools. The important thing is to get started!
2. Complete the FAFSA at FAFSA Website on or after October 1. The FAFSA is your application for federal, state, and college-based financial aid. The colleges you list on the application will use that information to determine the types and amounts of financial aid they will award you.
3. FAFSA YouTube Channel. Attend a financial aid meeting, look for this in the announcements. Then, contact Jacquie at 308-234-6310 Ext. 303 to make an appointment, if needed. She will set up an appointment to meet with you and your parents. Be sure you have created an FSA ID before you meet.
Scholarship Essay Workshop
The GIPS Foundation is sponsoring a Scholarship Essay Workshop sometime in November, more details to be determined. Seniors and their parents/guardians are invited to attend. We introduce our online scholarship system and present examples, techniques, rubrics and helpful tips. Students are asked to bring their laptops.
Spanish translation will be available via headsets.Can I be excused for a College Open House or College Visit?
Yes, GISH will allow you two college visit days, but we encourage you to schedule visits on days GISH is not in session. Your parent/guardian needs to excuse you and inform the attendance secretary about your college visit (385-5950) at least 2 days prior to your visit. It is the student's responsibility to do any makeup work prior to being absent. Many colleges provide opportunities for students and parents/guardians to tour their campuses. Students usually get to meet staff members, see the dorms, take a closer look at academic programs, or attend extracurricular activities. Often, students can make appointments with advisors, fine arts directors, or coaches. VISIT ANY COLLEGE WEB SITE AND LEARN HOW TO SCHEDULE A CAMPUS VISIT!
IF YOU WANT TO PARTICIPATE IN ATHLETICS, YOU NEED TO CONTACT COACHES, SEND YOUR STATS, SEND VIDEOS, APPLY FOR ELIGIBILITY AND HAVE YOUR HIGH SCHOOL COACH CALL COLLEGE COACHES.
To practice and play as a freshman at an NCAA Division I or II College, the student athlete must satisfy the requirements of NCAA bylaws. Your eligibility is determined by a qualifier index, which includes your GPA in core classes and your ACT scores. The NCAA Eligibility Clearinghouse Application is available online at eligibility website. Email questions to swilley@gips.org
NAIA Eligibility
The NAIA Eligibility Center is responsible for determining the NAIA eligibility of first-time student-athletes. Any student playing NAIA sports for the first time must meet the eligibility requirements. Students must have their eligibility determined by the NAIA Eligibility Center, and all NAIA schools are bound by the center's decisions. Colleges that require NAIA eligibility are usually private schools such as Doane, Hastings College, Midland University, Concordia, and York. Students must send their ACT scores to the NAIA Eligibility center and the ACT code number is 9876.
Transferring Nebraska if you are a college student considering transferring courses, an adult returning to college or a high school student with college credit.
MID-TERM GRADUATES
Mid-term graduation will be held on Thursday, December 16th from 2:00-3:00pm in the Auditorium. More details and information to come.
Midterm graduate cap and gown unit payment is due Friday, November 5th.
Chromebook check in is December 14th in the media center. Mid-term Grad Commencement Program
For free help with college planning, contact EducationQuest Foundation:
Kearney - 308-234-6310, 800-666-3721
UNL Application Waiver Event
From Oct. 1 to Oct. 18, you can apply to the University of Nebraska-Lincoln for free. Nebraska will waive the $45 application fee for all resident first-time freshmen and transfer students who wish to apply for the Fall 2021 term. To apply to Nebraska for free, you should enter NUforNE in the Application Fee Waiver Code field at the end of Nebraska’s application at apply-now. This year, we know that it may be difficult for you to take the ACT or SAT because of public health concerns. To support students, the University of Nebraska–Lincoln is test-optional for both university admission and scholarships.
QUESTIONS
If you have any additional questions, please reach out through Let's Talk and we will be happy to provide support.
