Information for Seniors

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Finish high school with flying colors.

Make sure you have the important things covered.

During the senior year, parents and students have plenty of questions about graduation ceremonies, class rings, diplomas, sending transcripts to colleges and universities, etc. This brochure is intended to address those concerns. After reading this, you may still have questions. We encourage you to contact our office with any issues

that arise concerning the senior year. We’ll start by talking about diplomas and proceed to other matters, hopefully providing helpful information for the coming year.

Graduation Supplies

Websites and ideas for preparing a graduation ceremony that is perfect for your student.

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Graduation Ceremonies

This list will help you find information about graduation ceremonies in your area.

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Scholarship Information

Check out this list of resources for finding scholarships available to your student.

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Gateway Christian Schools Information for Seniors

2 Diplomas

The diploma will be mailed to your family approximately two weeks after we receive the final grade form. Plan ahead because coursework must be finished in time to send final grades. All diplomas will be sent directly to the home address listed on the most recent paperwork received from you. Be sure to inform us of any changes in your address, email, or phone number(s).

Transcript/Scholarship Application Requests

• When requesting by fax, mail, email, or phone, be sure to include the student’s full name and date of birth. • We ask that you allow up to

two weeks for transcript preparation, so be sure to get your requests in on time for deadlines!

• If you’d like for us to include ACT/SAT scores with the transcript, make sure to use our school code (431-421) when registering to take the ACT or SAT.

• In order for us to send up-to-date transcripts, we need to have received up-to-date records from you. Be sure to turn in Grade/Attendance Reports on time so that we are able to include this information on the

transcript. (Transcripts sent to colleges and universities after December in the senior year should include

fall-semester grades.)

• When applying to a college for admission or scholarship (whether using the particular institution’s application or The Common Application), read the forms carefully and be sure to fill out the appropriate parent/student portion (if applicable) and sign the form (if required). Many have a section for a school

official/counselor to complete and sign. After you fill out the parent/student portion, send the form to us. We will

complete our portion and send it to the college by fax and/or mail. Please be sure to include with your request all

information pertinent to the request, including the name, address, and fax number of the college. (Please note that many colleges have forms available online for you to download and print.)

Grade/Attendance Reports

When filling out grade reports, be sure to use specific course titles. Assign credits when courses are complete, enter the number of days completed as well as the date the semester ended, and sign the grade form. At the top of the form, be sure to write “Intent to Graduate” and the intended date and year of graduation. Grade reports with problems will be returned to you for correction. This includes those lacking signatures, final grades, or the number of days completed.

Other problems that might cause grade reports to be returned are non-specific course titles, conflicts concerning the ending dates of semesters, and omission of credits. Summer school grades must be submitted on a separate Summer School Grade/Attendance Report (we’ll be happy to send this form to you at your request).

Graduation

Gateway does not have a graduation ceremony since Gateway students are spread out across Tennessee. Each chapter of the Tennessee Home Education Association (located in major cities in Tennessee), however, has a graduation ceremony for home-educated students. The following page is a list of the ceremonies in each area. We will include updated information on our website about each ceremony as it becomes available. Some families choose to participate in a large ceremony, while others plan a more private ceremony for their graduating senior. In order to get the diploma in time for a graduation ceremony, please make sure to complete coursework and turn in final grades on time. You should receive a diploma and final transcript approximately two weeks after we receive your final grades. All coursework must be complete before we send a diploma. We cannot accept “prophetic” grade reports received before coursework is complete.

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Graduation Ceremonies

Chattanooga Area (CSTHEA):

Grad Coordinators: Gary & Carol Hargraves Contact: [email protected]/[email protected] [If

no email: (423) 751-2993 (w)/(423) 344-1115 (h)]

Jackson Area (WTHEA):

Graduation Coordinator: Diane Dougan Contact: (731) 824-2819

Knoxville Area (SMHEA):

Grad Coordinators: Cory & Barbara Bennett

Contact: [email protected]/ (865) 675-3073

Register online at smhea.org/graduation.html

Manchester-Tullahoma Area:

Graduation Coordinator: Carol Vanattia Contact: [email protected]/

(931) 394-2249/(931) 273-5730

Graduation Coordinator: Linda Reed Contact: [email protected]

[email protected]

931-596-3171 or 931-273-9708

Memphis Area:

MHEA Graduation Coordinator: Tonya Richard Contact: (901) 465-5517/(901) 753-4705

[email protected]

Faith Baptist Church Ceremony:

[email protected]

Mid East TN Area (CHIMES):

[email protected]

Nashville Area (MTHEA):

Graduation Coordinator: Bonnie Hoskins Contact: [email protected]/(615) 477-6917

Check our website for more information about graduation ceremonies as it becomes available:

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Though Gateway does not provide graduation supplies, the following is intended to help you find the supplies you need to create a graduation memory that will last a lifetime.

Invitations

Some families may choose to print and send out invitations of their own creation while others may order invitations from a local stationary supply store or an online supplier. Those who want to create their own may find computer software to aid in the creation, or they may choose to send handmade invitations “scrapbooking” style. Cardstock is available at office-supply stores.

Class Rings

You can design and order a class ring through a local department store, jeweler, or graduation supply company. Balfour has Gateway’s school mascot on file for rings: www.balfour.com.

School Colors & Mascot

Gateway’s school colors are red, white, and blue. The primary

color is blue. Our mascot is the “Challenger,” which is a knight mounted on a horse.

Caps & Gowns

If your student is participating in a graduation ceremony with the local support group, then the cap and gown are usually included in the cost of the ceremony. If you plan your own ceremony, it is possible to rent or buy a cap and gown. You may find a local supplier or check online. See list of websites below.

Diploma Covers

Again, for those participating in a graduation ceremony, a diploma cover is usually included. If you plan a private ceremony, you may find a diploma cover from a local supplier or online (see list below).

Yearbook

Check with your local support group to see if it has a yearbook. Or, create your own yearbook online at a site like

www.shutterfly.com.

Invitations, Class Rings, and Other

Graduation Supplies

www.milligans.com

www.hslda.org

www.balfour.com

www.graduationsource.com

www.homeschooldiploma.com

www.jostens.com

www.shutterfly.com (graduation announcements)

www.tinyprints.com (graduation announcements)

Websites for Graduation Supplies

Senior Pictures

Some local support

groups work with a

local photographer to

get a special rate on

senior pictures for

families that participate

with their group. If you

choose to do senior

pictures independently,

you may find a friend to

take informal photos or

you can work with a

local photographer.

Senior picture packages

from a professional

photographer for senior

pictures can range from

$150 to $1500.

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Scholarship Information

Free Application for Federal Student Aid

(FAFSA)

(Automatically enters student for the TN Hope Scholarship) www.fafsa.ed.gov

Tennessee Student Assistance

Corporation (TSAC)

(Hope Scholarship Information) www.CollegePaysTN.com

Other Online Scholarship & College

Info:

www.scholarships.com www.fastweb.com www.supercollege.com www.college-scholarships.com www.coca-colascholars.org www.guaranteed-scholarships.com www.scholarshiphelp.org www.colleges.com www.fsapubs.org www.petersons.com www.freschinfo.com www.free-4u.com www.collegeboard.com www.cityofcollegedreams.org www.walmartfoundation.org

List of Scholarships:

www.scholarships.fatomei.com

Recommended Books:

1) Preparing for College: A Guide for Parents www.woodburnpress.com

2) The Guidance Manual for the Christian Home

School by David & Laurie Callihan

ISBN: 1564144526

3) Cash for College by Cynthia Ruiz McKee & Philip C. McKee, Jr. ISBN: 0688161901 4) Free Money for College by Laurie Blum

ISBN: 081603

5) How to Go to College Almost for Free by Ben Kaplan ISBN: 0-06-093765-3 www.cityofcollegedreams.org While Gateway does not have a department

dedicated to researching scholarships and financial assistance, we would like to be of assistance whenever possible. We recommend that students start researching, preparing and applying for scholarships as early as the beginning of their junior year. Many scholarships have early

deadlines. For example, FAFSA’s deadline for state grants is February 15 of the senior year. FAFSA’s

deadline for the Tennessee Hope Scholarship is September 1 of the senior year. Keep in mind that, in order to be eligible for the Hope Scholarship, educated students must be enrolled in a home-education program for two, full, calendar years immediately preceding graduation. The Sam Walton Scholarship usually has a January deadline.

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Gateway expects a

college-bound student to make a

minimum ACT composite

of 21 (or the equivalent on

the SAT [970 composite]).

The lowest ACT score that

might be acceptable to a

college is about 18 (except for

colleges having “open

enrollment,” where any paying

student is accepted). The

maximum score for the ACT is

36. For the SAT it is

3x(800)=2400.

What is an acceptable score on the ACT/SAT?

ACT/SAT:

ACT: www.act.org

The ACT includes English, Math, Reading, and

Science Reasoning sections, along with an optional Writing section. Register online or pick up a

registration packet at a local high school. (A private, Christian school may be most helpful and friendly.)

Cost: $34 (without writing) $49.50 (with writing).

SAT: www.collegeboard.com

The SAT includes Critical Reading, Math, and

Writing sections. Register online or pick up a

registration packet at a local high school.

Cost: $49 (see website for optional, additional

charges)

PSAT:www.collegeboard.com/student/testing/psat /about.html Go online to find schools that give the PSAT.

Recommended Books to Prepare for the

ACT/SAT:

1) SAT Strategies for Super Busy Students Kaplan Publishing ISBN: 978-1-4195-5161-1 2) (ACT) ISBN: 978-1-4195-5160-4

3) ACT Premier Program (2008 Ed.) Kaplan Pub. ISBN: 978-1-4195-5163-5

(SAT) ISBN: 978-1-4195-5138-3

How to Get Scholarships

1) Take a practice ACT/SAT.

2) Take the ACT or SAT and make a score acceptable for the scholarship/financial aid you seek. (The ACT often determines college entrance as well.)

3) Participate in community service and/or

volunteer opportunities. This may be valuable for a student’s portfolio and is looked upon

favorably by scholarship committees.

4) Research available scholarships, paying particular attention to their requirements and deadlines. Remember to allow two weeks for Gateway to prepare transcripts and other paperwork. Turn your requests in early to make sure you meet scholarship deadlines. We receive a flood of requests at certain times of the year.

5) If the scholarship requires an essay, make sure yours represents your best writing and includes real-life experiences (if appropriate).

6) Construct a high-school portfolio. This requires planning early in the student’s high-school career. It is helpful for extra-curricular work reflected in the portfolio to show aptitude and interest in the major the student will pursue or the field related to a specific scholarship.

Gateway’s High-School Code/CEEB

Code Number:

431-421

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Counseling by Phone and

Email– Our office is open

from 9am-3pm (CST) and we

are happy to take your calls

during those hours. You may

leave a voicemail message at

any time. We know that our

phone lines are often busy,

but if you leave a message,

one of our counselors will be

glad to call you back. Email is

also an excellent way to

communicate with us. Often,

it may be quicker than a

phone call, and may be done

at any time.

Grade/Attendance Report

Review– We review every

grade report so that we can

let you know if there are

problems. Sometimes,

problems don’t become

evident until we do an

evaluation and compare

grade reports with your

educational plan and/or

other grades reports. The

evaluation is important to

ensure that the student is on

track to graduate. Ultimately,

we consider the parents

responsible to make sure that

Gateway’s requirements are

being met and appropriate

high-school materials are

being used, but we do our

best to help you in this

endeavor.

High-School Information

Packet– Gateway students

are provided with high-school

information in order to avoid

surprises as they progress

through high school. Parents

should be careful to read all

information available from

Gateway in order to ensure

that their children meet our

requirements and follow our

policies so that we can issue a

diploma.

Quarterly High-School

Seminars– One of our

counselors (usually, the

Coordinator, Greg Stablein)

does a free, quarterly,

high-school seminar that includes

information on choosing

appropriate teaching

materials for high school,

keeping good records,

frequently asked questions,

and much, much more.

Seminars are held in the

library of the Gateway

Curriculum Center in

Memphis, TN. Much

information is available on

our website at

www.gatewaychristianschools.com

for those who are too distant

to attend a seminar.

Junior Evaluation– The

junior evaluation is done

sometime after we receive

first-semester grades in the

11

th

_{grade. Be careful to}

submit grades on time to

ensure that you get an

evaluation!

Senior Evaluation– We

evaluate the student’s

progress when we receive the

application for enrollment

into the 12

th

_{grade and again}

after we receive first-semester

grades in order to make sure

that the student continues to

be on track in the senior year.

Dual Enrollment– We

have a counselor who

prepares transcripts and

paperwork for dual

enrollment. Please keep in

mind that those who desire

dual enrollment should

notify us early! It is important

to be enrolled with us for the

year in which the student will

participate in dual

enrollment and to submit the

appropriate paperwork to

Gateway on time each

semester, whether or not the

student will receive

high-school credit for the course.

Transcript Preparation–

At your request, we are happy

to send official transcripts at

no charge to colleges,

universities, and scholarship

Gateway Offers…

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committees, or to you. The

first 10 are free. We request $2

per transcript after the first 10

and $5 per transcript for

students who graduated before

2000. Please allow up to two

weeks for transcript

preparation. Transcripts are

usually sent fairly

expeditiously, but we receive

many requests at certain times

of the year and try to fulfill

them in the order in which

they were received. Due to the

high volume of paperwork, it

can take time to get all of the

documents in order for

transcript preparation.

Driver License/Permit–

Students who desire a license

or permit must present an

SF-1010 form to the DMV. This

requires that the students be

registered for the current school

year. Grade reporting must

also be up-to-date. Students

who have already obtained the

SF-1010 form for a permit are

not required to supply the

form again to the DMV for a

driver license.

Recommendation

Letters– For students in need

of academic

recommendation, a Gateway

counselor can assist in

preparing a letter of

recommendation to

scholarship committees,

colleges, universities, etc.

Informational Website–

We frequently add more

information to our already

information-packed website

about getting started, high

school, events, resources, etc.

Stay up to date by checking:

www.gatewaychristianschools.com