Leo Jr/Sr High School
Senior Newsletter
November 2014
- Important Dates -
Friday (11/7): No School – PT Conference Default Day
Friday (11/13): No School – Records Day
Thursday (11/27): Happy Thanksgiving! No School
Friday (11/28): No School – Thanksgiving Recess
DID YOU KNOW?......
Madison Kanka is among the top
16,000 senior students in the nation!!! She represents one
of less than one percent of high school seniors who received
the highest scores on the PSAT. Maddi is now a
Semifinalist in the National Merit Scholarship Competition. Wish her luck as she proceeds in the competition. We are proud of you!!!
Congratulations to Connor Van Ooyen and Alexandra Oyler - Leo's Commended Students in the 2014 National Merit Scholarship Program!
Connor Van Ooyen and Alexandra Oyler have been named Commended Students in the competition because of their exceptional academic promise. About 34,000 Commended Students throughout the nation are being recognized for their exceptional academic promise. Way to go!
Congratulations to Connor Van Ooyen and Allison Moher!
Connor and Allison are the Leo High School nominees for the Indiana University Wells Scholarship. Connor and Allison have both met the very high demanding requirements of the scholarship - schools are encouraged to nominate students who have shown exceptional qualities of character and leadership, have been significantly involved in extracurricular activities, have demonstrated a concern for their community, and have excelled in terms of class rank, grade point average, and performance on standardized tests. In the past, successful nominees have typically ranked in the top 5% of their class, have compiled a GPA of 3.9 or higher on a 4.0 scale, have scored 1350 or higher on the combined SAT Critical Reading and Mathematics tests or 31 (composite) or higher on the ACT, and have shown a pattern of serious commitment to one or more activities outside of class.
Congratulations to Kylie Ryan!
Kylie will be representing Leo High School in the DAR (Daughters of the American Revolution) Good Citizen Award Program. Kylie’s community service and dedication to being a good citizen have led to her nomination. Best of luck, Kylie!
Caps and Gowns
ALL SENIORSneed to order a cap and gown unless they are absolutely sure they have one that will fit from a sibling or friend who attended Leo recently (must fall midway between the knee and ankle). If you missed the deadline for the capand gown orders from Jostens, please mail the order form to or drop it off at:
School Spirit
101 Airport North Office Park
Fort Wayne, IN 46825
260-483-1825
Further questions may be directed to
College Courses for High School Seniors
Seniors in good academic standing have the opportunity to take a college course for dual-credit next semester at IPFW, Ivy Tech State College, Indiana Tech or the University of St. Francis. Classes will be offered at various times during the school day and in the evenings. There are many courses offered in a variety of subject areas. The EACS Education Foundation will reimburse a significant portion of the tuition at the end of the school year if you complete the class with a C or better.
· IPFW course offering booklets are available in the guidance office (cost is approximately $100-$800 for tuition and fees and $80-$100 for books per course.
· Ivy Tech State College offers free classes to seniors who apply early to the “Take a Course on Us” program. There are courses offered in business, health sciences, technology, public services, and general education. Application information is available at http://ivytech.edu/northeast/takeacourseonus/.
· The University of St. Francis offers courses to high school seniors through their ACE Program. The cost per class is approximately $265, plus the cost of books. For more information on available classes, visit the St. Francis website at www.sf.edu.
· Indiana Tech offers classes to high school seniors at a discounted rate through their Early Start program. The cost is approximately $225, and they offer a variety of general education courses. For more information and to apply for enrollment, visit www.IndianaTech.edu/EarlyStart.
College Applications
· You MUST apply early to your top chosen college(s). Many scholarships are awarded through your application and have specific cut-off dates. Check with the college’s website for specific details and dates.
· Most colleges prefer that you apply online. While some schools still offer paper applications, many do not.
· Please be sure to bring the counselor page to me, Mrs. Smeltzley, in the guidance office so I can release your transcript to the college(s) you apply to. It is important that I know your name, email address, major, and cell phone number in the event that I have any questions about your application.
· Reminder: If you are a free/reduced lunch student, you qualify for application fee waivers. Please see Mrs. Smeltzley for further information.
NCAA Clearinghouse: If you have plans to play Division I or Division II athletics next year in college, please make sure you have registered with the NCAA Clearinghouse (http://www.ncaaclearinghouse.net/). You will need to register online, pay the registration fee, and bring a transcript release paper to me so I can send your transcript to them. Also, if you have not sent your SAT scores to them you will need to call the College Board (1-866-630-9305) and have that done. I believe the cost is around $9.00.
NAIA Eligibility Center: If you have plans to play college athletics at the NAIA level, please make sure you have registered with the NAIA eligibility center (http://www.playnaia.org/). You will need to register online, pay the registration fee, and bring a transcript release paper to me so I can send your transcript to them. Also, if you have not sent your SAT scores to them you will need to call the College Board (1-866-630-9305) and have that done. I believe the cost is around $9.00.
SAT/ACT Information
· If you have not taken the SAT or ACT and are planning to attend a 4-year college, you are BEHIND!!!! You must take one of the two tests prior to applying to any college. See the registration schedule below.
· If you are a free/reduced lunch student, you qualify for up to two fee waivers for the exams. Please see Mrs. Smeltzley for further information.
· Reminder: Test scores must be sent directly from the College Board (SAT) and/or ACT to many colleges including IU and Purdue. Please be sure to have your scores sent to those schools when you register for each test. Most schools will accept new test scores until January 15 for scholarship consideration.
Register for the SAT:
You may register online at www.collegeboard.com (Leo school code: 151330) Late registration requires an additional fee.
Test date: Register by: Late registration by:
December 6 November 6 November 24
January 24 December 29 January 13
March 14 February 13 March 3
May 2 April 6 April 21
June 6 May 8 May 27
Register for the ACT:
You may register online at www.actstudent.org. (Leo school code: 151330 ) Late registration requires an additional fee.
Test date: Register by: Late registration Period:
December 13 November 7 November 8 – 21
February 7 January 9 January 10 – 16
April 18 March 13 March 14 – 27
June 13 May 8 May 9 – 22
SAT/ACT Preparation
· College Board, the official SAT website, is a great option for SAT preparation. They offer an official SAT Question of the Day, an SAT study plan, sample practice questions, and a free practice test which reports your scores back to you immediately.
· Apps for your phone/tablet:
o SATLadder: One of the best ways to prepare for the SAT is to compete against fellow students. SATLadder is available to iOS users and tests critical reading, mathematics and writing. Head-to-head competitions allow you to challenge friends or strangers to climb the ladder with correct answers. SATLadder stores answered questions for later review, and allows users to earn points to unlock explanations for the challenges that troubled them. SATLadder is an excellent option for students who are motivated by a little competition.
o SAT Up: SAT Up integrates social media elements into the study experience. By completing banks of questions, users can earn achievement badges such as "See the Light," awarded for 10 correct responses, and allow SAT Up to predict SAT scores.
o ACTStudent: This is the official app for ACT test takers, and is available for iOS users. Students can use this app to register for tests, view past scores and practice four of the five sections on the exam. Like ACT Question of the Day, ACTStudent explains the reasoning behind the correct answer, as well as how to reach it. While the app includes science questions – a rarity in the app world – it does not offer practice for the writing section of the exam.
Questa Education Foundation (Questa Scholars Program)
· Forgivable, low-interest loans available for moderate to middle income individuals and families that assists in filling the financial gap for education.
· Scholars may borrow up to $20,000 for college over four years.
· Questa’s 50% forgiveness is dependent upon completion of the degree as well as continuing to live and work in one of the 11 counties of Northeast Indiana for 5 years after college graduation.
· Visit www.questafoundation.org for complete program details.
The FAFSA (Free Application for Federal Student Aid)..
Parents and students are encouraged to apply as soon as possible after January 1, 2015. There are two ways that a family can complete the FAFSA:
1. Apply online at www.fafsa.ed.gov.
2. Request a paper FAFSA by calling the Federal Student Aid Information Center at 1-800-4-FED-AID (1-800-433-3243) or 1-319-337-5665.
The deadline for completing the FAFSA is March 1, 2015. Many families choose not to file the FAFSA because they know they will not qualify for financial aid. Every college-bound senior and parent should file a FAFSA regardless of their financial background. Most scholarship applications, both private or college merit scholarships require a FAFSA be filed. In addition, this is the only way your family can qualify for subsidized and unsubsidized loans!!! Below are some suggestions and hyperlinks to help you get ready for this process.
What should you do right now?
· Apply for your pin NOW!!! This will allow you to electronically sign your FAFSA and submit it quicker! Pin Information (www.fafsa.ed.gov)
· Gather the necessary documents. Documents Needed
· Download a FAFSA on the Web Worksheet so you know what you will be asked and what information you will need when you fill out the form in January. FAFSA on the Web Worksheet
· DO NOT go to the wrong website. FAFSA.com is a website that will CHARGE YOU for a FREE application.
College Events/Opportunities
· Manchester College Pre-Pharmacy Academic Day – Friday, November 14: Sit in on classes, tour campus, speak with professors and current students, and enjoy a complimentary lunch. To make a reservation, view the website at www.manchester.edu or call the Office of Admissions at 800-852-3648
· Manchester University Spartan Day – Saturday, November 15: Tour campus, attend a financial aid session, receive a complimentary lunch, attend a student panel discussion, and meet faculty, coaches, and admissions staff. To make a reservation, view the website at www.manchester.edu or call the Office of Admissions at 800-852-3648
· University of Dayton Explore Engineering – Saturday, November 15 from 10:00 – 4:00. For more information and to register, visit go.udayton.edu/exploreengineering.
· Manchester College Accounting and Business Academic Day – Friday, November 21: Sit in on classes, tour campus, speak with professors and current students, and enjoy a complimentary lunch. To make a reservation, view the website at www.manchester.edu or call the Office of Admissions at 800-852-3648
· Manchester University “Music at Manchester Weekend” – Friday, November 21 and Saturday, November 22: Students will be able to meet the entire music department faculty, take a private lesson for instrument or voice with one of the studio professors, participate in a rehearsal with one or more of the ensembles, and take an audition. Students may choose to shadow some music students to classes, dine on campus, and even stay overnight. To make a reservation, view the website at www.manchester.edu or call the Office of Admissions at 800-852-3648
· University of St. Francis Health Careers Visit Day – Saturday, November 22. This is a great opportunity to learn about the various healthcare programs offered at USF. Information on the admission process to these programs will also be discussed. Contact the office of admission at 260-399-8000 or visit sf.edu/visit to register to attend.
· University of St. Francis Talent Scholarship Day – Friday, December 5: New students interested in attending USF have the opportunity to submit a portfolio or audition for scholarships. Students can be awarded talent scholarships to attend USF. To reserve a time, call 260-399-7700, ext. 8001.
· University of Southern Indiana Southern Hospitality Days – February 21, March 21, and April 11. Tour campus and housing, meet current students, and visit with faculty and staff.
Upcoming Scholarship Deadlines
The scholarships listed are available through the guidance office and/or online. To be considered for a scholarship sponsored by a college or university, it is best to apply for admission to that college or university ASAP. Scholarship paper applications are available in the guidance office, unless there is a web address listed.
Varying The Community Foundation of Greater Fort Wayne has many scholarship available for senior students pursuing a post-secondary education. Their scholarship brochure is available online at http://www.cfgfw.org/scholarships/applying-for-a-scholarship/college-scholarships.
Rea Magnet Wire Scholarship – Open to children and stepchildren of permanent, full-time Rea Magnet Wire retirees and employees with at least three years of continuous service. To apply, contact Kris Coak, Rea Magnet Wire Human Resource Department at 260-421-7369.