The 2020-2021 Free Application For Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) is now open for completion! Students must complete the 2020-2021 FAFSA online at www.fafsa.gov by 11:59 PM on February 1, 2020 for TN Promise eligibility. Please click here for the documents and information students need in order to successfully file FAFSA.

If you need help completing the FAFSA, please contact the Counseling Office at 423-581-1600 to schedule an appointment.

Another resource for help is the Educational Opportunity Center. Please call them at 423-319-6940 or 423-748-4635 to schedule an appointment.

We encourage all of our seniors and their parents to attend our annual FAFSA Frenzy event! It will be held in the West High cafeteria on November 14 from 3:30 PM-6:30 PM. No appointment necessary.

Please bring the following information:

Student:

• Laptop
• Social Security Number
• Date of birth
• Copy of 2018 tax return, if filed

Parent(s):

• Date of marriage/re-marriage/divorce/death of spouse - month and year only
• E-mail address
• Social Security Number
• Date of birth
• Tax information for 2018, including tax returns and W-2 forms

This booklet, produced by GEAR UP TN, has some great information for high school seniors! Suggestions and guidelines for preparing for the future are given for all students, including those planning to enlist in the military, become a member of the workforce, enroll in a Tennessee College of Applied Technology (TCAT), or enroll in a 2-year or 4-year college. At this time of year, the pages about financial aid and completing the FAFSA (section 3) will be very helpful!

UT Promise is a new undergraduate scholarship program guaranteeing free tuition and mandatory fees for qualifying Tennessee residents attending UT’s campuses in Knoxville, Chattanooga, Martin and Memphis. UT Promise is a student-success oriented scholarship program that requires students to complete volunteer service hours and meet with a volunteer mentor each semester to ensure a successful student experience.

Qualifying students must meet the following criteria:

• Tennessee resident
• Family household income under $50,000/year
• Receive the Tennessee HOPE Scholarship
• Be admitted and attend any UT campus
• Complete 8 volunteer service hours and participate in mentoring each semester

Interested students may find more information, including a timeline and the application, here. A separate application is required for this program! The deadline to apply for UT Promise is to December 15.

The AP experience will largely remain the same but there are a few administrative changes that will go into effect in the 19-20 school year:

· Starting in the 19-20 school year, for AP classes that start in the fall, exams will be ordered in the fall. This process will be through the student’s CollegeBoard portal and the AP teacher.

· All AP exams will be given in May 2020.

· The cost of the exams will be $94.00. There will be a price reduction for students who qualify for free and reduced lunch. The reduced price will be announced from the state in the near future.

· Payments can be made by check paid to West High or online with the My Payments Plus account.

There will not be a paper registration form this year.

· If you have any questions, please contact the Counseling Office.

Payment Windows:

October 1st-November 1st for Fall AP Tests/Courses

Calculus

History

Language

January 28th-February 28th for Spring AP Tests/Courses

Art

Biology

Chemistry

Environmental Science

Government

Human Geography

Literature

Macroeconomics

Psychology

Statistics

World History

Credit Recovery applications are available in the counseling office. Session 1 will begin on October 22nd and run through January 30th. The second session will run from February 4th until April 30th. Students will attend Tuesdays and Thursday from 3:20 until 6:30 at either East or West High School. Students can pay for credit recovery at the Central Office business department or on-line beginning Monday, October 7th.

FX teachers have started an after-school tutoring program for freshmen. Please see document below for the daily schedule.

The Tennessee Governor's School for the Arts (GSFTA) exists to provide high quality arts education for gifted and talented high school students in the state of Tennessee. This summer 2020 curriculum includes individual and group instruction designed to help each student explore and develop his or her talents in music, ballet, theatre, film-making, and visual art. Current sophomores and juniors are eligible to apply. Students must complete both the paper application and the on-line student data form. Links to both can be found here. Completed applications are due to their Mrs. Byrd in the Counseling Office on or before November 20.

Information about and applications for the remaining Governor's Schools have not been released yet. We will share this as soon as it is available.

Below is a list of FIRM scholarship deadlines for some local colleges. Please note that in some cases, students must apply and be accepted before they are able to access the scholarship application(s). Also, many schools require that ALL parts of the application are received by the deadline, including the application, application fee, test scores, and high school transcript. It is important to apply well before the stated deadlines!

Carson-Newman University - Apply Early

East Tennessee State University - December 15 priority deadline for Academic Performance Scholarships

King University - Apply Early

Middle Tennessee State University - December 1

Tennessee Tech University - December 15

University of Tennessee at Chattanooga - December 1

University of Tennessee at Knoxville - November 1 (for competitive scholarships, honors programs); December 15 (general)

Walters State Community College - February 1

October 1: FAFSA opens - Seniors and their parents can start completing FAFSA on this date

October 22 & 25: Individual Retakes Seniors

November 1: Class of 2020 deadline to apply for TN Promise Scholarship

November 1: Field trip to TCAT for seniors interested in applying to TCAT

Nov. 2, 2019 - July 1, 2020 - complete and report 8 hours of community service (must report on-line) (Please note that students may only use community service hours performed between these dates.)

February 1: Complete FAFSA to ensure Tennessee Student Assistance Grant availability (based on income) and TN Promise eligibility

March 4: Mandatory TN Promise meeting at 5:30PM at West High cafeteria (arrive by 5:00)

April 15: Deadline to submit Work Ethic Diploma Requirements

April 15: Deadline to submit Tennessee Scholars Applications

These events require registration. Please click on the hyperlinked college/university name to register.

East Tennessee State University

October 19

King University

October 12

November 9

February 29

March 21

Middle Tennessee State University

November 2 True Blue Preview

February 22 True Blue Preview

March 21 True Blue Preview

University of Tennessee Chattanooga

October 14 Moc Minute @ Calhoun's on the River 4:30-7:30 PM (see below for info)

November 9 Blue and Gold Preview

University of Tennessee at Knoxville

November 2 Rocky Top Tailgate

Register on-line at www.act.org.

West High ACT Code 431-587 (Where your scores are sent)

West High Test Center Code 193810 (Where you take the test)

Upcoming Exam Dates

*October 26, 2019 - registration deadline is September 20 (October 4 for late registration)

*December 14, 2019 - registration deadline is November 8 (November 22 for late registration)

*February 8, 2020 - registration deadline is January 10 (January 17 for late registration)

*April 4, 2020 - registration deadline is February 28 (March 13 for late registration)

June 13, 2020 - registration deadline is May 8 (May 22 for late registration)

July 18, 2020 - registration deadline is June 19 (June 26 for late registration)

Please visit www.act.org for information about late registration and photo upload deadlines.

*The test will be administered at Morristown West High School on these dates

Students will not be admitted to the test center without an admission ticket.

To register and to check for late registration information, visit collegeboard.org/sat/register.

November 2, 2019 - registration deadline October 3 (October 22 for late registration)

December 7, 2019 - registration deadline November 8 (November 26 for late registration)

March 14, 2020 - registration deadline February 14 (March 3 for late registration)

May 2, 2020 - registration deadline April 3 (April 21 for late registration)

June 6, 2020 - registration deadline May 8 (May 27 for late registration)

The Work Ethic Diploma was first offered in the 2015-16 school year as part of a LEAP (Labor Education Alignment Program) grant. The standards that students are required to meet to earn the Work Ethic Diploma reflect the skills and characteristics that are needed for students to be college and career ready. More than 30 Lakeway region businesses and industries guarantee an interview to students who have earned the Work Ethic Diploma and who meet other job-related qualifications.

Seniors will apply in their TNN classes. Students who successfully complete the application process will earn cords to wear during the graduation ceremony. The deadline for meeting requirements and submitting completed applications is April 15, 2020. Please click here to view the Tennessee Work Ethic Diploma standards.

Students are assigned by the first letter of their last name.

• Tonya Ely: Students A-E
  

• Erica Gillett: Students F-L

• Renae Byrd: Students M-R

• Melanie Justis: Students S-Z

• Aimee Howerton: Counseling Office Secretary

• Office Contact Information:

Phone- 423-581-1600
Fax- 423-585-3791

Please sign up for Remind notifications to stay up-to-date with important events and information!

Text 81010 with the following message - based on the student's grade level and last name. For example, for a senior with the last name Smith, text 81010 to @4Trojans20.

Seniors Class of 2020:

For Last Names A-E: @1Trojans20

For Last Names F-L: @2Trojans20

For Last Names M-R: @3Trojans20

For Last Names S-Z: @4Trojans20

Junior Class of 2021:

For Last Names A-E: @1Trojans21

For Last Names F-L: @2Trojans21

For Last Names M-R: @3Trojans21

For Last Names S-Z: @4Trojans21

Sophomore Class of 2022

For Last Names A-E: @1Trojans22

For Last Names F-L: @2Trojans22

For Last Names M-R: @3Trojans22

For Last Names S-Z: @4Trojans22

Freshmen Class of 2023

For Last Names A-E: @1Trojans23

For Last Names F-L: @2Trojans23

For Last Names M-R: @3Trojans23

For Last Names S-Z: @4Trojans23

Emily Emerick will be our Niswonger Care Advisor for the 2019-2020 school year. She will be in the counseling office on Thursdays and Fridays from 8:00a.m. – 3:00p.m. Emily helps with questions regarding scholarships, college applications, TN promise, FASFA, ACT, or any other college needs! You can contact her at eemerick@niswongerfoundation.org.