Counselors will present information to Juniors and their parents about what students should be doing to prepare for post-condary school.  The meeting will be held in the Auditorium from 5:45p.m. to 6:25p.m. just prior to the Gibbs High Second Semester Open House - Thursday, January 19, 2012.

Students will be taking End-of-Course tests December 6 - 16.  These tests count 25% of students' grades and are required.  Graduation is at stake here, so students need to do the best they can.  They need to come to the testing sites with two, number 2 lead pencils.  Students taking an Algebra I or an Algebra II test must bring an approved calculator to the test.  All students need to eat a good breakfast the morning of testing.  The tests begin at 8:30a.m., so students should be on time to school.  Good luck, students! Study very hard!

Students who plan to transfer from a two-year community ollege to a four-year college as a junior may now plan their exact coursework.  Students who follow the "pathway" are guaranteed a transfer into the appropriate four-year college program of study.  Check out the website:  www.TnTransferPathway.org

Applications are now available for Governor's Schools.  These summer programs for gifted and talented high school students are available throughout the state in a variety of disciplines.  Applications may be obtained by visiting www.tn.gov/education/govschools/index.shtml
Student, please watch your deadlines for these programs carefully.

Call Mrs. Deloris Anderson, the Gibbs High counseling secretary, to find out what information and paperwork you need to provide for registration (689-9130 x 1415).  Certain documents are required at registration, so it is easier for parents to contact Mrs. Anderson so that they do not have to make extra trips to the high school.  Please know that past records like achievement test scores, transfer grades, the last report card, transcripts of courses taken and credit awarded, and teacher recommendations about levels help counselors schedule the most appropriate courses for your child.

Monday, October 24 through Friday, October 28, 2011 is Tennessee College Application Week
College For TN at http://www.collegefortn.org

This awesome website includes most of what students and parents need to know about high school and post-secondary school planning (college, technical, vocational, etc...)  It includes information about what students and parents should be doing to prepare for post-secondary school each year of middle and high school, The site links parents and students to all types of important information such as:  how to calculate the cost of post-secondary school, financial planning, financial aid, scholarships, selecting the right school, calculating the cost of education, portfolio planning, job searching, applying for post-secondary schools, and much much more.  Check it out as soon as you can, and use it as needed.
The website is www.collegeforTN.org

Students interested in an athletic scholarship need to know the NCAA requirements as soon as the 8th grade, because what courses students take in high school will determine whether or not a students meets eligibility.  Go to the following web site for information and requirements:  www.eligibilitycenter.org,  It is important that parents of students interested in an athletic scholarship review this information with their students prior to them beginning high school.  Be aware that not all courses offered at Gibbs High School are approved by NCAA.  For example, NCAA only accepts academic classes like English I that are taken at the College Prep/Standard (CP) level.  There are some exceptions for disabled students.  Study the requirements on this site carefully.  Parents and students are responsible for meeting the NCAA requirements.

Students qualifying for Dual Enrollment Courses through the Dual Enrollment Grant may take four courses with the grant without penalty.  Now the funds received from the fifth, sixth, seventh, and eighth Dual Enrollment Grant (DEG) will be deducted from the student's initial HOPE Scholarship (including the Aspire or General Assembly Merit Scholarship supplements and the HOPE Access Grant.  The deductions will be on a dollar-for-dollar basis.  The deductions work like this.  If a fifth DEG is received, then $300 will be deducted from the initial HOPE Scholarship award; a sixth DEG will mean a deduction of $600; a seventh DEG will mean a $900 deduction; and an eighth DEG will mean a $1,200 deduction. (Note:  Students who go out-of-state to college do not have to repay fund.  If the student ever transfers back to Tennessee to finish college and if the student is still HOPE eligible then the initial HOPE Scholarship award will be deducted.  Students attending the Tennessee Technology Centers after high school may not have DEG's deducted from their Wilder-Naifeh Grant.