Student Services Spring Newsletter
Senior Scholarship Information
Tech Exploration Days
- Wednesday, February 24th, 8:30-10:15am -Central Campus - Nursing
- Wednesday, February 24th, 1:15-3:15pm - Central Campus - Business and IT (Accounting, IT-Web/Network, HR and Business Management)
- Wednesday, February 24th - 8:45-10:15am - Beloit Campus - Early Childhood Education
Manufacturing Showcase
Come and see the new, state-of-the-art manufacturing classroom space at the Milton campus!
When: Saturday, Feb. 20th, 9am-12:30pm
Where: Advanced Manufacturing Training Center -15 Plumb Street, Milton
Students must sign up ahead of time to attend. Forms can be found in the Student Services Office.
One-Stop Admissions Events at Blackhawk Technical College
Complete the entire admissions process in one morning!
Date: Saturday, March 12th or Saturday, April 23rd
Time: 9am-1:30pm
Location: BTC Central Campus (6004 Cty Rd. G, Janesville, WI)
Schedule of Events:
- Information on filling out Federal Financial Aid Form (FAFSA)
- COMPASS (entrance exam) testing
- Admissions Workshop
- FREE lunch will be provided
You must RSVP by contacting Katie Lange:
608-743-4463 or klange5@blackhawk.edu
Financial Aid Presentation for Junior and Senior Families
Date: Monday, February 22nd
Time: 5:30pm
Location: Performing Arts Center (PAC) at MHS
Wednesday, February 24th, 6:00pm
Beloit - Beloit Public Library (605 Eclipse Blvd)
You will need the following items in order to complete your 2016-2017 FAFSA. If you are considered a dependent student for financial aid purposes, you will also need these items for your parent(s).
- 2015 Federal Tax Return and W2s, or income estimates - you can fill out the FAFSA before your taxes are completed. You may use an estimated income.
- 2015 Untaxed Income Records, such as child support or veteran's non-education benefits
- Information on savings, investments, business assets and farm assets (if applicable)
- Driver's License (if you have one)
- Social Security Number
- Alien Registration Card or Permanent Resident Card (if you are not a U.S. Citizen)
- Date of birth for parents, and month and year of parents' marriage, divorce, or separation
See www.collegegoalwi.org for more information
2016-2017 Course Scheduling Information
Current 9th-11th grade students will have homeroom days 2/23-2/26. During those homerooms students will get more information about class opportunities available to them. On Friday, 2/26 students will get a Course Registration Form that they will use to select the classes they want to take for the next school year. Students will have from 2/26-3/3 to make their choices and enter them online in Skyward.
Students can get updated information and course descriptions for all courses that will be offered next year through the Course Guide on the MHS webpage http://monroeschools-mhs.ss5.sharpschool.com/common/pages/DisplayFile.aspx?itemId=15283478
If your student has questions about which classes to take, we encourage them to make an appointment to meet with their counselor.
A Few Things to Keep in Mind
- When students choose a class during this process, they are essentially "making a reservation" for a spot in that class for the coming school year. Student requests are part of the way MHS determines which classes we will offer and how many sections of each class will be available. If students don't request a class now, it is unlikely they will be able to switch into the class in the fall due to space restrictions. We expect that the classes students sign up for now will be the classes they take in the fall.
- On the Course Request Form there is a section for students to write down 5 alternate course choices, in the event we are unable to enroll students in their first-choice options. This happens most often with elective courses. If students do not put five alternate course options down, counselors will be required to guess which classes the student might want and enroll them accordingly. Once this happens, it may not be feasible to change the classes, so we expect all students to fill out FIVE alternate course requests so we can be sure to enroll students in courses they are interested in taking.
ACT Information for Juniors
Tuesday, March 1st - ACT plus Writing
- Grades 9, 10, 12 - School will not be in session for Freshmen, Sophomores, and Seniors
- Grade 11 - Juniors must report to their assigned testing rooms by 7:55 a.m. Testing will begin promptly at 8:00 a.m. and will be completed by 12:30 p.m. Juniors will be dismissed after testing. Buses will not run at 12:30 so please plan accordingly. Lunch will not be served. If your child must remain at school in order to take the 3:30 bus, please contact the main office so that staff are aware and we may plan accordingly.
Wednesday, March 2nd - ACT WorkKeys
- Grades 9, 10, 12 - Classes will be held as usual for Freshmen, Sophomores, and Seniors
- Grade 11 - Juniors must report to the Practice Gym by 7:55 a.m. Testing will begin promptly at 8:00 a.m. and will be completed by 11:00 a.m. Juniors will resume a shortened schedule for the remainder of the school day. Lunch will be served.
The ACT Plus Writing consists of four multiple choice tests: English, Mathematics, Reading, and Science, as well as a test that measures writing skills. The test provides information about your student’s current academic skills and college and career readiness. The test is free of charge and the results can be used for a variety of purposes. For example, the scores can be used for the college admission process, scholarship applications, and National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) eligibility.
The ACT WorkKeys is an applied skills assessment that measures “real world” skills that employers believe are critical to job success. There are three components: Locating Information, Reading for Information, and Applied Mathematics. Many companies require applicants to complete the ACT WorkKeys assessment during the application process to evaluate their practical job skills.
Important Information Regarding the ACT Assessments:
- Attendance is required. It’s critical that all juniors are present on both days, as there are only two make up days: Tuesday, March 15, 2016, for the ACT Plus Writing and Wednesday, March 16, 2016, for the ACT WorkKeys. Please consider moving any appointments that are scheduled for your student on these days.
- No cell phones or electronic devices are allowed in the testing room, nor are they allowed during any break from testing. Cell phones should be left in vehicles or at home on testing days.
- No food or drink is allowed in the testing room.
- Bring photo identification (e.g., school ID, driver’s license, passport)
- Bring sharpened lead No. 2 pencils. No mechanical pencils or pens are allowed.
- Bring a permitted calculator (http://www.actstudent.org/faq/calculator.html)
- Information about the ACT Plus Writing: http://www.actstudent.org/testprep/
- Information about the ACT WorkKeys: http://www.act.org/workkeys/assess/pnp.html
Thank you for your help in creating a positive testing experience for your student. If you have any questions, please feel free to contact us.
Saycha Basken
School Psychologist
608-328-7243
Chris Medenwaldt
Principal
608-328-7557
Additional ACT Information
In addition to the required March 1st test date for all class of 2017 juniors, students may retake the ACT. Visit www.actstudent.org to register. When requested, provide the Monroe High School Code 501-545 to send scores to MHS and use the MHS Test Center Code 186910 to test at MHS. Test fees are $39.50 without writing and $56.50 with writing.
Test Date
- April 9, 2016 - Deadline to Register is March 4. Late registration period is March 5-18 April 1.
- June 11, 2016 - Deadline to Register is May 6. Late registration period is May 7-20.
Junior Conference Information
Families will be receiving a letter in the mail with the date/time of their student's scheduled conference. If that time does not work for you and you would like to reschedule, please contact your student's counselor.
Colony Brands Career Expo for Seniors
The 2016 Colony Brands Career Expo exposes seniors to the diversity of careers available in southwest Wisconsin. Every senior who attends will be eligible for a $350 Scholarship payable to any accredited (2 or 4 year) college. The event will be hosted at Colony Brands the mornings of April 14th and 15th. Watch for future communications with details for advanced registration in which students can request their date preference on a first come first served basis.
Advanced Placement Testing Information
Students who take the Advanced Placement (AP) classes can earn college credits through taking AP exams. Visit https://apstudent.collegeboard.org/creditandplacement/search-credit-policies to search for college and universities that offer credit or placement for AP exams. AP courses are high school classes taught at the college level to prepare students to take specific AP subject exam.
College Board charges a $92 fee for AP exams; $15 of this fee is due when ordering the exam for materials, the remaining $77 is due at the exam administration.
Students interested in taking an AP exam need to order an exam in Student Services between February 22nd and March 4th. A required pre-administration session will be held at 7:30 am April 5th in the LMC to complete student identification information and communicate exam dates, times and locations. AP exams are administered May 2 - 13.
Important information about Graduation for Seniors
Contact Information for Student Services Staff
Saycha Basken - School Psychologist - 328-7243 or saychabasken@monroe.k12.wi.us
Alicia Ziolkowski - School Counselor (students with last names A-L)
328-7123 or aliciaziolkowski@monroe.k12.wi.us
Debbie Schmidt - School Counselor (students with last names M-Z)
328-7258 or debraschmidt@monroe.k12.wi.us