Guidance News
Scholarships Information
Scholarship information available in the Guidance Office. Pick up a list of Scholarships available for the 2007-2008 school year. Deadlines are specific for each scholarship.
The Local Scholarships are provided through various local and outside foundations or organizations. Marquette Area Public Schools has a committee, which oversees these scholarships and funds for senior recipients. Each scholarship has its own criteria according to the donors' request. Many of the scholarships have components, which may include but are not limited to financial need, GPA, college and curriculum of choice, or teacher recommendation.
*Local Scholarship applications were distributed to seniors in classes on February 6th. Application deadlines are firm, so please submit them on time. Click on the following link to print a copy of the Local Scholarship Information Letter, and the Local Scholarship Application.
Local Scholarship Information Letter
MICHIGAN COMPETITIVE SCHOLARSHIP UPDATE
(Don't confuse this with the Michigan Merit Award)
The Michigan Competitive Scholarship is confusing! In order to qualify for this scholarship, you have to take the ACT no later than December of your senior year and score a total of 90 ( the sum of four subtests). It correlates to a composite score of 23. ( By the way , the state will accept a person's highest ACT Score -- again, no later than the December test date in the senior year.) Those who achieve this score will receive a certificate which will be presented at our local Senior Awards Banquet in May.
In order to get a monetary Michigan Competitive Scholarship you must:
-Earn a composite score of 23 on the ACT
-Demonstrate financial need, determined by filing a FAFSA
So, if you meet the qualifications and receive a letter from the Department of Treasury congratulating you on qualifying, it does not mean that you will receive any money. You must qualify for financial aid in order to get the monetary award.
MICHIGAN TUITION GRANT PROGRAM
The Michigan Tuition Grant Program is based on financial need, but is for use at private, nonprofit, degree-granting colleges and universities in Michigan. Since private colleges usually have higher tuition than public college and universities, the amount of the Tuition Grant is higher as well- $2,700.00 this year. Again, the way to access this is by filing a FAFSA by the end of February.
**Note: FAFSA forms must be received by March 1. Keep this in mind when filing. Getting your FAFSA in earlier than March 1 increases your chances of receiving aid, as money is awarded on a first-come, first-serve basis.
THE MICHIGAN MERIT AWARD
Financial aid administrators at public, four-year universities in Michigan have agreed not to use the Merit Award in calculating their institutional financial aid packages. The Merit Award does not cancel out Michigan Competitive Scholarships or Tuition Grants. However, the Michigan Merit Award may reduce work-study or federal loan. It will not, however, reduce the Federal Pell Grant (also based on financial need). Questions? Call 888-956-3748.
THE "EXPERTS"
If you want the best financial aid advice, ask a financial aid administrator at the college or university you are interested in attending. High School guidance counselors are given quite a bit of information but policies, financial aid packages, and the monies are awarded vary from institution to institution.
SCHOLARSHIP SEARCHES
You do not have to pay someone " big bucks" to find scholarships for you. You can do the same thing they can do on the web. I recommend these sites to you in your search.
DATES TO RESERVE
Financial Aid Night will be held on Tuesday, January 9, 2007 at 7:00 p.m. in the MSHS Little Theatre.
Senior Parent Night will be held on Tuesday, September 12, 2006 at 7:00 p.m. in the MSHS Little Theatre.
Junior Parent Night will be held on Tuesday, September 19, 2006 at 7:00 p.m. in the MSHS Little Theatre
We strongly recommend that all parents of seniors attend these two informative meetings.
NON-4-YEAR DEGREE CAREERS
Many of the fastest growing employment opportunities and careers are non-degree jobs and require technical and/hands-on training programs such as apprenticeships, technology school certificates, and associate degrees. The Armed Services is also a wonderful opportunity for many of our students to acquire post high school training and job skills.
For Parents
Working Together For Children
By Carmella S. Harmon
Most parents understand the importance of being actively involved in their children's education. For some, however, it's difficult to take that first step. Just how do you become positively and actively involved? There are a number of ways to make sure you're a positive force in your children's education. Following are a few simple ones.
Communicate with your children's teachers.
You don't have to wait for Open House at the school to meet your children's teachers. You can take the first step in august, during school registration. Periodically telephone your children's teachers throughout the school year to find out how your children are performing in their classes. Find out whether or not your children are:
Schedule periodic meetings:
If you have concerns about how your children are doing in school, you don't have to wait for parent-teacher school, consider having your child attend the meeting with you. This provides an opportunity for your child to hear comments directly from the teacher rather than filtered through you, thus preventing any miscommunication. These meetings are a two-way street. Just as you're there to learn more about how your child is performing in the school setting, teachers are interested in learning about any issues at home that may be affecting the child's school performance.
Work with your children at home:
No matter how old your children are and how well they are doing in school, they could probably still benefit from your active participation at home as well. Many schools require planners of some sort for students, providing the students (and teachers) with one central location to write down all homework assignments, upcoming test and projects. Check your child's planner on a regular basis to see whether or not your child has homework due. If your children haven't written their assignments in their planners, find out why not and encourage them to keep this book up to date.
Attend open houses:
Far from one more useless activity in an already over-scheduled life, open houses can actually provide a wealth of information for parents. This is a great opportunity for parents to again meet their children's teachers, the school counselor, the principal and other staff. You'll follow your children's schedules by actually going to all their classes during an open house, allowing you an ideal opportunity to meet all the teachers in one fell swoop.
Become active in the school:
Is your school constantly beating the bushes for chaperones for dances and field trips, room mothers and Parent Teacher Association officers? This is your chance to make further inroads into becoming more closely involved with your children's education. If you've truly involved in their school lives as well as their home lives.
Active parenting takes time, but the time you spend helping your children be personally and academically successful will return benefits to you tenfold. Your positive involvement and time, your child's time and your child's teachers' time are all directly related to helping today's students become tomorrow's successful adults.
Carmella S. Harmon is a professional school counselor.
Tucson Unified School District
Townsend Middle School