For information on graduation and other senior events, please visit www.tinyurl.com/JHS2021Info!
Dear Class of 2021 Students and Parents/Guardians:
Congratulations on your senior status! I am excited to work with you this year as you move toward young adulthood. Whether you are headed to work, college, the military, or another endeavor, I hope to support you during this year of transition.
This letter contains information that I hope will answer some common senior year questions. Most of this information (as well as this letter with links to the webpages mentioned throughout) is posted on our JHS Student Services webpage which can be found by clicking on “JHS Student Services home” on the JHS homepage or by visiting http://johnsonstudentservices.weebly.com/ directly.
Diploma Requirements
First, before you move on to your next step in life, you need to make sure you get your high school diploma. The high school graduation requirements can be found in the district planning guide: http://johnsonstudentservices.weebly.com/high-school-planning.html. If you are NOT on track to graduate this year, I will be scheduling individual meetings with you and your parents during the month of August. In most cases, we can make a plan to get you to graduation. There are several local educational options that can help you get back on track, if you are willing to work hard. Students must pass all classes required for graduation with a 70% or better in order to walk in the graduation ceremony in May and receive their diploma. Parents, you can keep up with your student’s grades throughout the year by checking Infinite Campus. If you need access to this tool, please contact our technology liaison, Lisa Williams, at [email protected].
Schedule Information
Class schedules will be available on Infinite Campus in late July. Schedules are created based on information submitted on student registration sheets in the spring, as well as graduation requirements. Wherever possible, we attempt to fulfill your top choice requests. If you would like to request a schedule change, you may submit the request form found here: www.tinyurl.com/johnsonschedule. Student Services will not accept any email, phone, or in person schedule change requests. All requests are subject to class max rules and administrator approval. In addition, schedule change requests, if approved, may take several days to process, particularly once school starts. You must follow your schedule as posted in Infinite Campus until you see a change. If your request is denied, we will communicate via the email address you submit in your request so please make sure to check your email account regularly.
College Admissions
To assist in your post-secondary planning, we have created a College and Career planning page that has information on college admissions, financial aid, and career readiness. This page can be found on our homepage, or by visiting the direct link: http://johnsonstudentservices.weebly.com/college--career-planning.html. If you are planning on attending college, I also suggest you visit the webpages of the colleges you want to apply to very early in your senior year. (Seriously, now would be the best time to start!) Every college has different deadlines and the application process is unique to each school. Our webpage gives you some general guidelines, but you are responsible for knowing the particular requirements of the schools you want to apply to. A good place to start is the college’s “freshman class profile” or “admitted student profile”. This is a summary of information on the students accepted at that particular college the previous year. You can compare your information (such as GPA and test scores) to those of the “average” student that was admitted to help determine whether a particular college is a good fit for you.
SAT/ACT
In “normal” years, most colleges require that you take the SAT or ACT as part of the admissions process. Technical colleges, including Lanier Tech, are notable exceptions. They do not typically require the SAT or ACT. If necessary, these schools will have you take a placement test called the Accuplacer after you apply to the school. If you know you are going to a technical college, there is no need to take the SAT or ACT. The SAT and ACT are used to predict your ability to succeed in college and are part of your college application. Note that many colleges are adjusting their admission requirements for the Class of 2021 to account for cancelled SAT/ACT test dates in the spring and summer of 2020. The SAT and ACT are optional parts of the application process for many colleges this year. If you typically test well, you may wish to submit test scores as part of your application, but many colleges are offering alternate ways to demonstrate college readiness. Review individual college admission webpages to determine your options.
Detailed information on registering for and taking the SAT and ACT tests can be found on the “testing” page of our webpage: http://johnsonstudentservices.weebly.com/testing.html. These tests are different from the ones you are used to taking in school. We do not schedule them or sign you up for them. You register yourself online and pay for them yourself. (If you are on free or reduced lunch, a fee waiver is available. If you need one, please email me at least ten days prior to the registration deadline.) If you need help registering for the SAT or ACT, let me know! I schedule several registration help sessions throughout the fall that you can attend during an elective period.
It is important to know your college admission deadlines and schedule your SAT/ACT test at least six weeks prior to the admission deadline to ensure your scores arrive in time. Typically, you do not need to take both tests. Nearly all schools look only at your highest score on EITHER test. However, if you are applying to a very competitive college, you will likely want to try both tests since there is no way of predicting which one you will do better on.
UNG and Lanier Tech On-site Admissions Days
If you are interested in applying to UNG or Lanier Tech, I will host on-site application workshops during the school year. You can sign up for a workshop by completing the forms found at the links below. UNG and Lanier Tech admissions counselors, as well as myself, will be on hand on these days to answer questions and help you complete your application and gather supporting documents. Once dates are set, I will contact you with additional information.
UNG application workshop sign up: www.tinyurl.com/UNGapplication
Lanier Tech application workshop sign up: www.tinyurl.com/LTCapplication
Transcript Requests
As you start completing college and scholarship applications, you will find that you will need to send your official transcript to the colleges you apply to. You may also need transcripts for scholarship applications. Mrs. Dunn in Student Services handles all transcript requests. Her email is [email protected] and she requires at least one day’s notice for transcript requests.
Financial Aid/Scholarships
College can be affordable! An overview of financial aid is available on our webpage: http://johnsonstudentservices.weebly.com/college--career-planning.html. The primary sources of financial aid for college are federal and state aid, school-based scholarships, and private scholarships. To apply for federal and state aid (including the HOPE and Zell Miller scholarship), you complete an application called the FAFSA. A link to the FAFSA and information on completing it are available on the webpage listed above. We also have links to several different scholarship search engines on our webpage. Deadlines vary widely, so just like with college admissions, make sure you are mindful of deadlines. If you are requesting recommendation letters for a scholarship, it is important to ask your recommender several weeks in advance for a letter. There is also a “local scholarships” page on our website where I post information for local scholarships that come across my desk. I suggest you check this site frequently throughout the year. Some of the scholarships posted here have very small applicant pools which increases your chances of receiving them.
Hope/Zell Miller Scholarships
The HOPE and Zell Miller scholarships are specific to Georgia residents and awarded based on your final HOPE GPA. The Georgia Student Finance Commission calculates HOPE GPAs based on academic courses taken while in high school. Your HOPE GPA is NOT the same as your JHS GPA and it is not printed on your transcript. You can check your HOPE GPA on the Georgia Futures webpage: www.gafutures.org.
Senior Photos and Yearbook Information
In order to be in the yearbook and in the senior slideshow at graduation, you must schedule a senior photo session with Cady Studios. Photographers will be on site at JHS on Thursday, September 24th and Thursday, October 8th. You must schedule a session online by visiting http://session.cadystudios.com/. Sessions cost $30 and include a yearbook pose and cap and gown pose. If you do not wish to pay the sitting fee, you can have the basic yearbook photo taken for free which will ensure you are in the yearbook and part of the senior slideshow at graduation, but you will not get to see your photo proof beforehand or choose your yearbook pose. You must have your photo taken by Cady Studios to be included in the yearbook and slideshow so please schedule a session even if you are having senior photos taken elsewhere.
Parents, if you would like to purchase an ad for your graduating senior in the yearbook, please visit www.knightyearbook.com to review prices and other information. Yearbooks can also be purchased at www.knightyearbook.com and are sold at a discounted rate through August 30th. Questions about yearbooks, senior ads, or photos should be directed to our yearbook sponsor, Christy Williams, at [email protected].
Graduation fees/products
Senior fees are collected by Josten’s, our graduation products company. Students will place their orders for caps and gowns during a senior meeting on campus in the fall. The required senior fee is $80 and covers cap, gown, diploma, diploma cover, and one tassel. Josten’s also offers many additional products that students can order if they wish. You can view their products online by visiting www.jostens.com. Questions about senior fees should be directed to Josten’s by calling 706-226-4446.
Parking Permits
Seniors have first dibs on parking permits! You will be able to purchase your parking permit a day before underclassmen. If you plan on driving to campus, head to the JHS webpage: www.jhs.hallco.org to download the required forms and mark your calendar for Thursday, July 30th. You will be able to submit your completed forms and payment on this date.
Senior events
I hope your senior year is special! There are several events throughout the year that honor the Class of 2021. Please check the JHS homepage frequently for information on senior nights at athletic and fine art events, homecoming and prom, academic and career tech honor nights, graduation practice and more.
Communication
Finally, I want to encourage all of you (parents included) to sign up for the Class of 2021 Remind service. I send periodic updates and reminders regarding senior events, college visits, scholarship opportunities and other senior-specific information via text or email using this service. To sign up, text @21johnson to 81010.
Also, please feel free to contact me throughout the year via email, [email protected], phone, 770-536-2394, ext.1105, or in person throughout the school year. I look forward to working with you as you transition from high school to college, work, or other endeavors.
Sincerely,
Carey C. Crawford
12th grade Counselor
Congratulations on your senior status! I am excited to work with you this year as you move toward young adulthood. Whether you are headed to work, college, the military, or another endeavor, I hope to support you during this year of transition.
This letter contains information that I hope will answer some common senior year questions. Most of this information (as well as this letter with links to the webpages mentioned throughout) is posted on our JHS Student Services webpage which can be found by clicking on “JHS Student Services home” on the JHS homepage or by visiting http://johnsonstudentservices.weebly.com/ directly.
Diploma Requirements
First, before you move on to your next step in life, you need to make sure you get your high school diploma. The high school graduation requirements can be found in the district planning guide: http://johnsonstudentservices.weebly.com/high-school-planning.html. If you are NOT on track to graduate this year, I will be scheduling individual meetings with you and your parents during the month of August. In most cases, we can make a plan to get you to graduation. There are several local educational options that can help you get back on track, if you are willing to work hard. Students must pass all classes required for graduation with a 70% or better in order to walk in the graduation ceremony in May and receive their diploma. Parents, you can keep up with your student’s grades throughout the year by checking Infinite Campus. If you need access to this tool, please contact our technology liaison, Lisa Williams, at [email protected].
Schedule Information
Class schedules will be available on Infinite Campus in late July. Schedules are created based on information submitted on student registration sheets in the spring, as well as graduation requirements. Wherever possible, we attempt to fulfill your top choice requests. If you would like to request a schedule change, you may submit the request form found here: www.tinyurl.com/johnsonschedule. Student Services will not accept any email, phone, or in person schedule change requests. All requests are subject to class max rules and administrator approval. In addition, schedule change requests, if approved, may take several days to process, particularly once school starts. You must follow your schedule as posted in Infinite Campus until you see a change. If your request is denied, we will communicate via the email address you submit in your request so please make sure to check your email account regularly.
College Admissions
To assist in your post-secondary planning, we have created a College and Career planning page that has information on college admissions, financial aid, and career readiness. This page can be found on our homepage, or by visiting the direct link: http://johnsonstudentservices.weebly.com/college--career-planning.html. If you are planning on attending college, I also suggest you visit the webpages of the colleges you want to apply to very early in your senior year. (Seriously, now would be the best time to start!) Every college has different deadlines and the application process is unique to each school. Our webpage gives you some general guidelines, but you are responsible for knowing the particular requirements of the schools you want to apply to. A good place to start is the college’s “freshman class profile” or “admitted student profile”. This is a summary of information on the students accepted at that particular college the previous year. You can compare your information (such as GPA and test scores) to those of the “average” student that was admitted to help determine whether a particular college is a good fit for you.
SAT/ACT
In “normal” years, most colleges require that you take the SAT or ACT as part of the admissions process. Technical colleges, including Lanier Tech, are notable exceptions. They do not typically require the SAT or ACT. If necessary, these schools will have you take a placement test called the Accuplacer after you apply to the school. If you know you are going to a technical college, there is no need to take the SAT or ACT. The SAT and ACT are used to predict your ability to succeed in college and are part of your college application. Note that many colleges are adjusting their admission requirements for the Class of 2021 to account for cancelled SAT/ACT test dates in the spring and summer of 2020. The SAT and ACT are optional parts of the application process for many colleges this year. If you typically test well, you may wish to submit test scores as part of your application, but many colleges are offering alternate ways to demonstrate college readiness. Review individual college admission webpages to determine your options.
Detailed information on registering for and taking the SAT and ACT tests can be found on the “testing” page of our webpage: http://johnsonstudentservices.weebly.com/testing.html. These tests are different from the ones you are used to taking in school. We do not schedule them or sign you up for them. You register yourself online and pay for them yourself. (If you are on free or reduced lunch, a fee waiver is available. If you need one, please email me at least ten days prior to the registration deadline.) If you need help registering for the SAT or ACT, let me know! I schedule several registration help sessions throughout the fall that you can attend during an elective period.
It is important to know your college admission deadlines and schedule your SAT/ACT test at least six weeks prior to the admission deadline to ensure your scores arrive in time. Typically, you do not need to take both tests. Nearly all schools look only at your highest score on EITHER test. However, if you are applying to a very competitive college, you will likely want to try both tests since there is no way of predicting which one you will do better on.
UNG and Lanier Tech On-site Admissions Days
If you are interested in applying to UNG or Lanier Tech, I will host on-site application workshops during the school year. You can sign up for a workshop by completing the forms found at the links below. UNG and Lanier Tech admissions counselors, as well as myself, will be on hand on these days to answer questions and help you complete your application and gather supporting documents. Once dates are set, I will contact you with additional information.
UNG application workshop sign up: www.tinyurl.com/UNGapplication
Lanier Tech application workshop sign up: www.tinyurl.com/LTCapplication
Transcript Requests
As you start completing college and scholarship applications, you will find that you will need to send your official transcript to the colleges you apply to. You may also need transcripts for scholarship applications. Mrs. Dunn in Student Services handles all transcript requests. Her email is [email protected] and she requires at least one day’s notice for transcript requests.
Financial Aid/Scholarships
College can be affordable! An overview of financial aid is available on our webpage: http://johnsonstudentservices.weebly.com/college--career-planning.html. The primary sources of financial aid for college are federal and state aid, school-based scholarships, and private scholarships. To apply for federal and state aid (including the HOPE and Zell Miller scholarship), you complete an application called the FAFSA. A link to the FAFSA and information on completing it are available on the webpage listed above. We also have links to several different scholarship search engines on our webpage. Deadlines vary widely, so just like with college admissions, make sure you are mindful of deadlines. If you are requesting recommendation letters for a scholarship, it is important to ask your recommender several weeks in advance for a letter. There is also a “local scholarships” page on our website where I post information for local scholarships that come across my desk. I suggest you check this site frequently throughout the year. Some of the scholarships posted here have very small applicant pools which increases your chances of receiving them.
Hope/Zell Miller Scholarships
The HOPE and Zell Miller scholarships are specific to Georgia residents and awarded based on your final HOPE GPA. The Georgia Student Finance Commission calculates HOPE GPAs based on academic courses taken while in high school. Your HOPE GPA is NOT the same as your JHS GPA and it is not printed on your transcript. You can check your HOPE GPA on the Georgia Futures webpage: www.gafutures.org.
Senior Photos and Yearbook Information
In order to be in the yearbook and in the senior slideshow at graduation, you must schedule a senior photo session with Cady Studios. Photographers will be on site at JHS on Thursday, September 24th and Thursday, October 8th. You must schedule a session online by visiting http://session.cadystudios.com/. Sessions cost $30 and include a yearbook pose and cap and gown pose. If you do not wish to pay the sitting fee, you can have the basic yearbook photo taken for free which will ensure you are in the yearbook and part of the senior slideshow at graduation, but you will not get to see your photo proof beforehand or choose your yearbook pose. You must have your photo taken by Cady Studios to be included in the yearbook and slideshow so please schedule a session even if you are having senior photos taken elsewhere.
Parents, if you would like to purchase an ad for your graduating senior in the yearbook, please visit www.knightyearbook.com to review prices and other information. Yearbooks can also be purchased at www.knightyearbook.com and are sold at a discounted rate through August 30th. Questions about yearbooks, senior ads, or photos should be directed to our yearbook sponsor, Christy Williams, at [email protected].
Graduation fees/products
Senior fees are collected by Josten’s, our graduation products company. Students will place their orders for caps and gowns during a senior meeting on campus in the fall. The required senior fee is $80 and covers cap, gown, diploma, diploma cover, and one tassel. Josten’s also offers many additional products that students can order if they wish. You can view their products online by visiting www.jostens.com. Questions about senior fees should be directed to Josten’s by calling 706-226-4446.
Parking Permits
Seniors have first dibs on parking permits! You will be able to purchase your parking permit a day before underclassmen. If you plan on driving to campus, head to the JHS webpage: www.jhs.hallco.org to download the required forms and mark your calendar for Thursday, July 30th. You will be able to submit your completed forms and payment on this date.
Senior events
I hope your senior year is special! There are several events throughout the year that honor the Class of 2021. Please check the JHS homepage frequently for information on senior nights at athletic and fine art events, homecoming and prom, academic and career tech honor nights, graduation practice and more.
Communication
Finally, I want to encourage all of you (parents included) to sign up for the Class of 2021 Remind service. I send periodic updates and reminders regarding senior events, college visits, scholarship opportunities and other senior-specific information via text or email using this service. To sign up, text @21johnson to 81010.
Also, please feel free to contact me throughout the year via email, [email protected], phone, 770-536-2394, ext.1105, or in person throughout the school year. I look forward to working with you as you transition from high school to college, work, or other endeavors.
Sincerely,
Carey C. Crawford
12th grade Counselor