Registration

It's that time of the year again and counselors are gearing up to start registering students for next year's classes. Counselors will be visiting all 9th-11th grade English classes the week of February 24th-27th to give students registration information and forms. Shortly after, counselors will be calling in students one by one to register for classes and summer school. Summer school classes will be very limited and priority will be given to students who need to make up classes for graduation. There will be no "go-ahead" classes.

Mt. SAC Online Applications

Mt. SAC representatives will be on campus on Wednesday, February 25th helping Seniors fill out their Mt. SAC community college applications for admissions. They will be in the library computer lab from 12:15 to 3:00pm.

Free Parenting Classes

Spiritt Family Services is hosting a free parenting class starting on February 23rd. To register for the class please contact Cheri Sauter, MS, Rose Kosyan, MFT Intern or Cassandra Mesa at (626) 442-1400.

First Day of School for 2009-2010 School Year

Mark you calendars and schedule your summer vacations! The first day of school for the 2009-2010 school year will be August 24th (two weeks before Labor day weekend)!

Junior's College Boot Camp

Class of 2010
Juniors & Parents !!
Don’t miss
COLLEGE INFO NIGHT
Weds. 2/25
6:30 p.m. - Little Theatre (English) and K-4 (Spanish)

We will cover all aspects of college applications, including testing, transcript review,
financial aid & scholarships, ETC!

Please be sure to come! Questions?
Please contact Mrs. Hall
College & Career Center - Room K4
626.965.3437, ext. 3608
email: shall@rowland.k12.ca.us

SENIOR BULLETIN - SCHOLARSHIPS AND FINANCIAL AID EDITION !!!

FINANCIAL AID – The FAFSA is DUE MONDAY, MARCH 2!! (for state/federal aid)
FAFSA workshop on Friday, Feb 20 in the Library computer lab, from 12 noon to 3 p.m. Bring filled-out paper FAFSA (available in K4) and your parents’ tax info – 2007 or 2008 OK. Parents are welcome.
THESE SCHOLARSHIPS ARE AVAILABLE NOW in K4 and/or on the internet(listed by due date).
US BANK Internet Scholarship – usbank.com/studentbanking – Due Feb. 28
City of La Puente – MUST LIVE IN CITY LIMITS! Due AT CITY ALL by Feb. 28 !!!
CSU Fullerton Future Scholars – disadvantaged/low income – Due March 2
Erika Glazer Scholarship for undocumented students at CSULA – Due March 4
Hispanic Heritage Awards – Hispanic, US Citizen, 3.0 GPA – due March 6 www.hispanicheritage.org
ECLIPSE – African American/4 year – due March 10
McDonald’s RMHC - African Americans, Hispanics, Asian Pacific and Future Scholars – DUE MARCH 13
SCCTA – Business, Communications, etc. – Due Friday March 13
Council of African American Parents – African American, 3.5 GPA – Due March 13
Italian Catholic Federation – must be BOTH – www.icf.org – Due March 15
Save Me A Spot In College – www.collegecampaign.org/contest - DEADLINE March 15
Asian Pacific Fund – Diverse backgrounds – www.asianpacificfund.org – Due March 25
Tzu Chi Scholarship – all ethnicities – www.us.tzuchi.org – Due March 31
Kiwanis of La Puente (may live elsewhere) – Due March 31
CHS Foundation – agricultural majors, 2/4 year – US Citizen – Due April 1
S & S Vending – all Seniors – www.snvending.com/schools.html - Due April 5
CAA/NBFAA scholarship for children of active police/fire fighters. Due April 11
Student-View Scholarship – www.student-view.com – Due April 19
Ayn Rand Essay Contest (The Fountainhead) – Due April 25
REMEMBER:
1. Do a FREE scholarship search on fastweb.com, NOW !!
2. FAFSA IS DUE MARCH 2, for ALL STATE AND FEDERAL AID! Watch out for fake sites! It’s FAFSA.ed.gov – not.com,.org, etc! DO NOT PAY W/CREDIT CARD !! Check with us if confused!

SENIOR BULLETIN

It’s scholarship and Financial Aid season!

FINANCIAL AID

Be sure to get going on your FAFSA form for state and federal aid!  Go to fafsa.ed.gov to get a pin number and complete the FAFSA.  BEWARE!!! There are imitators that look like the FAFSA – fafsa.com, etc.  You NEVER have to pay to complete FAFSA or apply for scholarships.  If in doubt about a site, ask us!

Mrs. Sandoval will have FAFSA workshops on 1/30, 2/12, 2/20 and 2/27 in the library from 12:15 to 5 p.m. 12:15 to (3 p.m. on 1/30).  Bring your parents!   The DEADLINE for the FAFSA in MARCH 2 !!

CASH FOR COLLEGE (at Mt. SAC on Sat. 2/7 from 9 a.m. to 2p.m.)  is a great opportunity to get even more help with FAFSA.  You do not have to be applying to Mt. SAC to attend!

SCHOLARSHIPS

We will now start listing scholarships available at Nogales in the Senior Bulletin and on the guidance blog. Applications will be in the College & Career Center (K4).  EVERYONE should open a fastweb.com account for a FREE scholarship search!  Watch for scholarships at stores, parents’ work, etc!  Scholarship applications will be in K4 starting FRIDAY! (listed here by due date)

Asian Pacific Fund Scholarships – for Asian and Filipino students.  Deadlines from Jan. 23 (Batanao Filipino School) to March 25. wwwasianpacificfund.org

CA. State PTA Scholarship – student must join PTA ($5 in K4).  Service & activities most important. Must be RECEIVED by Feb. 1 = mailed by Jan. 28!

Best Buy Scholarship/ grades, service – Due Feb. 15! www.bestbuy.com/scholarships

City of La Puente Scholarship – must reside in city limits!  Due by Feb. 28 (RECEIVED,  not postmarked!)

ECLIPSE African-American Scholarship – 2.0 GPA, 4 yr. college. Due March 10.

 Hispanic Heritage Award – Hispanic, citizen/resident, 3.0+ GPA.  Due March 6! www.HispanicHeritage.org

Council of African American Parents – African American, 3.5 GPA.  Due March 13 (postmarked)

Tzu Chi Scholars – 3.0, financial need – Due March 31.

Kiwanis of La Puente/Industry – activities, need, service. Due March 31.

There will be MANY MORE! This is just the beginning! Read the Senior Bulletin & check in K4!  File your FAFSA by March 2 (earlier is better!) and start your fastweb.com account NOW!

JUNIORS – PSAT Results Explained!

PSAT scores are listed in two digits – SAT will be in three digits.

(Critical Reading 50 on PSAT will be critical reading 500 on the SAT.) 

BEST WAY TO USE THESE SCORES:

Take your original testing book and score report.  Highlight every answer without a check (check mark is correct).  Go over answers with test book to see which questions gave you trouble.  The box at the bottom also lists suggestions for improvement.  REMEMBER: Random guesses are worse than leaving blanks!

When you take the SAT this Spring, first do all the questions you KNOW, then make educated guesses (you can CROSS OUT in book) and narrow the choices.  Do not be afraid to leave questions blank on the SAT! 

The UC system will use your BEST TEST DATE for all 3 scores.  CSU’s and private colleges will MIX AND MATCH for the best scores.

Testing calendar for this Spring:

SAT

MARCH 14 TEST – the DEADLINE is February 10

MAY 2 TEST – the DEADLINE is March 31

JUNE 6 TEST – the DEADLINE is April 15

Sign up at collegeboard.com

IMPORTANT: if you are applying to UC or other selective colleges, you must take BOTH the SAT Reasoning AND the SAT Subject tests!  They are offered on DIFFERENT DATES.  Subject tests: US History, Math II, Spanish, French, Bio, Chem, Physics, Lit.  YOU SHOULD TAKE THE US HISTORY TEST THIS SPRING IN MAY OR JUNE!  You take 3 subject  tests on a Saturday; colleges will pick your top 2 (UC) or 3.

ACT

This is an alternate test for the SAT Reasoning, used by all colleges in the US.  This test allows you to guess, and has sections on reading, math and science.  You should take the PLUS WRITING option if you are applying to UC’s (CSU’s do not require the writing test – we encourage you to take it anyway!).

APRIL 14 ACT – DEADLINE is Feb. 27

JUNE 13 ACT – DEADLINE is MAY 8

Sign up at act.org

Suggested testing pattern for Juniors:

Take the SAT reasoning in MARCH, MAY or JUNE ’09.  If goals include UC/selective colleges, take SAT SUBJECT TESTS in MAY or JUNE.  Take the ACT in APRIL or JUNE.

 You will have 3 chances to repeat these tests in Senior year, but DON’T WAIT TIL THEN to test! You’ll do better after experiencing the test as Juniors.  WATCH THE DEADLINES THIS SPRING!  Mark your calendars!  And remember: good grades in strong classes are more important than tests !!!  Please get help from your counselor if you have questions !!

New Driver's Education Class

The new Driver's Ed class starts January 26th. It is only offered 1st period and you must have 1st period clear to enroll. The class is 8 weeks long and you must be at least 15 years old to enroll (grades 10, 11, and 12). If you are interested, please see your counselor immediately.

8th Grade Parent Night

This orientation meeting for parents of and for our incoming 8th grade students will be held on January 29th at 6:30pm in the gym. There will be presentations regarding our Career Pathway programs that will prepare students for starting high school in the fall.