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VOLUME 7 ISSUE 4Principal

John WilliamsAssistant

PrincipalsDoug Bird

Christopher GlanderKaren McDaniel

John NewtonJoseph Schaller

Bradley SeverAmy Skeens-Benton

Brook WeekesAthletic Director

Jim InskeepAssistant

Athletic DirectorBruce Wolf

Phone NumbersSwitchboard

846-7721Attendance

571-5915Counseling

571-5922

MESSAGE FROM PRINCIPAL JOHN WILLIAMS

www1.ccs.k12.in.us/chs/home

MESSAGE FROM PTO PRESIDENT BECKY BARKER

As we wrap up the first semester of the 2012-13 school year I can’t help but think – where does the time go? I hope that all of you have enjoyed a wonderful semester and a successful start to our school year.

We have so much to be proud of at CHS. In all areas, from performing arts to athletics and especially in our classrooms, students are working hard and excelling. This year we are proud to recognize 48 National Merit Semifinalists. We are excited to hear that we have once again been named a school of distinction by the College Board for the achievements

we have maintained with our Advanced Placement Curriculum.

This has been one of our most successful fall athletics seasons. Three of our fall athletic teams have won state championships. Our boy’s tennis, boys cross country, and girls cross country won state championships. Our girls cross country finished third in the prestigious Nike Cross Nationals meet.

Adding to our fantastic fall season, the Greyhound Marching Band continues to dominate the local competition and finished the season as Grand National Champion in the Bands of

America contest. What an honor! The Marching Greyhounds also finished first in the ISSMA State Competition. We are so proud to have the marching Greyhounds represent our school and community. These accomplishments and many more are a result of hard work from our students, staff, and tremendous support from our parents. We all should be proud and share in the celebration.

I hope that all of you have a wonderful break, and are looking forward to the second semester. As always, if you have concerns or questions, please do not hesitate to contact us.

As I write this article my heart is heavy. Amy Kline, last year’s PTO president, passed away on November 11 after a courageous battle with cancer. Amy served as PTO President of Carmel High School for two terms. She also served several terms as PTO president at the elementary and middle school levels. She was an extraordinary volunteer who never missed an opportunity to help in any capacity. She always had a smile on her face and brought an unlimited amount of energy and goodwill to whatever she did. I know for me she was a great resource, always very supportive, full of wisdom and history of how things worked, which made my job easy. Amy was one of a kind and she will be missed by all. In honor of her devotion to Carmel Clay Schools, a scholarship has been created in her name. Contributions can be made to the Amy Kline Memorial Scholarship, www1.ccs.k12.inus/foundation.

It is so hard to believe that we are getting near to completing the first

semester of the 2012-13 school year. Time does fly! I hope it has been a good school year for all of you and especially your students.

The PTO has had a busy few months since school started back in August, and as always we could not do it without all of your support. Through your membership dues, the PTO has raised over $14,000 this year. However, this number is $7,000 below our budgeted amount. If you have not yet joined the PTO please consider doing so. The money we raise through PTO membership is what allows us to support the many programs and teachers at CHS. We have also raised $7,000 to date for Gradfest, a safe and fun Carmel tradition that will be held next June for our graduating seniors. Your monetary contribution allows the Gradfest committee to purchase many wonderful and practical gift items that seniors can win through a raffle. Not only do we appreciate what you contribute monetarily, but

your willingness to volunteer in so many ways throughout the building is greatly appreciated by all. A big thank you to each and every one of you for what you have done this year to make all this happen and get the year off to a great start. You all make the job of running Carmel High School’s PTO an easy one. The forms for contributing to PTO membership, as well as, Gradfest can be found under the PTO tab on the Carmel High School website.

As always I invite you to attend our PTO meetings, which are held at 9 a.m. on the first Tuesday of every month in the Community Room. Also, please feel free to contact me if you have any comments or questions that I can help you with. You can find a complete listing of PTO Board members and contact information under the PTO tab on the CHS website, as well as meeting minutes.

Have a great finish to the first semester and a wonderful winter break with your families.

2 CARMEL HIGH SCHOOL • GREYHOUND GAZETTE • DECEMBER 2012

For a printer-friendly version of this issue and other recent issues, click here:http://www.academypublishing.com/schools/carmel/carmel.php

Deadlines for Greyhound GazetteThe Greyhound Gazette is published by the Carmel High School PTO five times a year, once in late summer and four times during the school year. Beginning this year, the newsletter will be available online only on the Carmel High School PTO web page.

Please e-mail your article in an attachment to newsletter editor Martha Allan at marthaallan@indy.rr.com.

If you are interested in advertising in the newsletter, contact Academy Publishing at info@academypublishing.com. Here is the deadline for the remaining issue for this school year:

Article Deadline / Posted OnlineMarch 21, 2013 / April 11, 2013

Support Our School By Supporting

Our Newsletter Sponsors!

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VOLUME 7 ISSUE 2

Principal

John Williams

Assistant

Principals

Doug Bird

Karen McDaniel

John Newton

Joseph Schaller

Bradley Sever

Amy Skeens-Benton

Brook Weekes

Athletic Director

Jim Inskeep

Assistant

Athletic Director

Bruce Wolf

Phone Numbers

Switchboard

846-7721

Attendance

571-5915

Counseling

571-5922

MESSAGE FROM PRINCIPAL JOHN WILLIAMSwww1.ccs.k12.in.us/chs/home

MESSAGE FROM PTO PRESIDENT BECKY BARKER

I hope that this letter finds you

enjoying the start of the new year

as much as I am.

We are ready for a great year

at Carmel High School. The

freshmen are doing a wonderful

job of fitting in and becoming an

important part of the high school.

I credit our freshman orientation

program (Greyhound Kickoff) for

this success. Thanks to over 200

upperclassmen who gave up their

last Friday of summer to work

with our freshmen; also, thanks

to the over 35 teachers who gave

up summer vacation to be part

of this great Carmel High School

tradition.

This year we welcomed 4,700

students back to Carmel High

School. As you think about

that number, it is important to

remember that our size allows

our students many opportunities.

Because of size, we have a facility

and a curriculum that is second

to none in the state of Indiana. I

believe the size of our school is one

of our greatest strengths. Certainly,

no student should expect any less

from us because of this.

Having a great start of school

does not happen by accident.

There are many groups that

should be recognized for their

work in getting school up and

running. Our administrators,

teachers, secretaries, custodians,

and cafeteria workers do so

much to make sure the school is

ready to go; also, a special thank

you to our counselors for their

efforts. All this is done so that your

child can have a wonderful and

fulfilling experience as a student

at Carmel High School. I would

also like to thank the HiLite staff

for their work during this summer

to have the first edition ready for

the students on day one.

We welcomed 34 new teachers

to Carmel High School. They are

a great group of both new and

experienced teachers who are

talented and passionate about

educating our kids. They truly are

the best of the best.

When you read this the year

will be well under way. I hope

that things are going well and

that children are working hard

and having success. If there are

questions or concerns please

do not hesitate to contact us. I

believe that by working together

we can make a difference for all

of our students. Have a great fall!

For those of you returning,

and for all new CHS families,

welcome! I hope you have had a

smooth transition from summer

break into the routine of school.

A special thank you to Kim

Paarlberg for coordinating all of

the volunteers and NHS students

at the registration.

Please take time to review the

PTO volunteer form that is on the

PTO section of the Carmel High

School website. There are many

opportunities for volunteering

and your participation is an

important part of this great

school. We need your help in so

many different areas! Kimberly

Paarlberg is the PTO coordinator

of all the volunteer efforts at

CHS. You can reach her at kim.

paarlberg@sbcglobal.net if you

have any questions.

The PTO is proud to support

many programs at Carmel High

School. One of the programs is

the Greyhound Kickoff, which

took place before school started.

Thank you to the many teachers,

student mentors and staff who

participated in this orientation

day. I hope it was a good day for

your freshman student. I enjoyed

meeting many of you at the

Parent-to-Parent Coffees and look

forward to working with you

throughout the year. Thank you to

Gidget Hagen, catering manager

continued on next page...

Transition Night for Incoming Freshmen The 8th Grade Academic Transition Night for all 2013-14 freshmen and their parents will be held at Carmel High School on Tuesday, Jan. 15. There will be three sessions in the auditorium (5:30, 6:30, and 7:30) with important information provided about scheduling for the freshman year. Also, representatives from the International Baccalaureate Program, Special Services, and academic departments will be available to answer your questions.

Private school students and parents have their choice of either a 6:15 p.m. or 7:15 p.m. meeting in the Large Group Instruction Room in the Freshman Center. Snow date for Transition Night is Thursday, Jan. 17.

8th Grade Parent Coffees in 2013• January 18: 8th Grade Parent Coffee – at Creekside Middle School at 8:30 a.m.

• January 25: 8th Grade Parent Coffee – at Carmel Middle School at 8:30 a.m.

• February 1: 8th Grade Parent Coffee – at Clay Middle School at 8:30 a.m.

• February 19/20: Private school enrollments with CHS counselors, by appointment made at Transition Night (January 15)

• February 21: CHS Parent Coffee – at Carmel High School @ 7:00 p.m.

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Holiday Lights Recycle DriveFrustrated to find that those holiday lights that have been in your basement all year no longer work? Don’t throw them in the trash! The Carmel Clay Schools Green Team is sponsoring a holiday lights recycle drive December 3-14. A box will be located by the Attendance Office (Door 4) during this time period and any holiday light strands that no longer work can be placed in it. All strands will then be picked up by DAO recycling.

Senior Info• Prom: Saturday, May 4,

8 p.m., The Fountains

• Graduation Ceremony: Sunday, June 2, 2 p.m., Indianapolis Convention Center

Distinguished Graduate InformationAfter winter break, the Distinguished Graduate Application will be available in the Counseling Office. This program celebrates the well rounded Carmel Greyhound. Approximately 100 students will be recognized as either commended or distinguished at our Carmel High School Graduation Ceremony on Sunday, June 2. One extremely exceptional student will be recognized as THE Distinguished Graduate for the Class of 2013. Please take time to consider applying for this prestigious recognition. Applications will be available in the Counseling Office after winter break and are due to the Activities Office no later than 3:30 p.m. on February 15.

4 CARMEL HIGH SCHOOL • GREYHOUND GAZETTE • DECEMBER 2012

Carmel Education Foundation Honor RollWith the holiday season quickly approaching, the Carmel Education Foundation would like to invite the Carmel community to show its gratitude and appreciation of a CCS employee through an “Honor Roll” donation.

Thank an Educator with the CEF Honor Roll<http://www1.ccs.k12.in.us/foundation/honor-roll>

Holidays are a great time to show your appreciation to your child’s bus driver, a school secretary or your child’s teacher, and a tax-deductible donation to CEF in honorarium makes a great gift!

When a CEF Honor Roll is awarded, staff receives:

• Certificate of acknowledgement for their outstanding efforts

• Name on the CEF website• Inclusion in the CCS Shout-out

(internal staff highlights)• The educator’s superior is notified.

All donations are tax deductible and applied to grants for CCS educators.

Thank someone today!http://www1.ccs.k12.in.us/foundation/honor-roll

Early Childhood Program is Looking for a Few Good FriendsIn order to provide an inclusive experience for the students in our Early Childhood developmental classrooms, we invite typically developing peers to participate as “Peer Friends.” Peer friends should:

• Be at least four years old by August 1, 2012.

• Demonstrate age-appropriate cognitive, motor, communication, social, and self-help (bathroom) skills. (Early Childhood teachers and Speech Language Pathologists will conduct a brief screening.)

• Be available to attend in the AM (8:05 to 10:35) or PM (12:05 to 2:35) classroom following the Carmel Clay school calendar with regard to school breaks and holidays.

Our Early Childhood program is based on developmentally appropriate skills as described in the Foundations for Young Children in the Indiana Academic Standards. Our curriculum includes language-rich experiences with focus on early literacy and math concepts.

Parents are responsible for transportation to and from school. There is a one-time materials fee of approximately $95 for the 2012-13 school year.

Spaces are limited. If you would like your child to be considered for selection, please contact the Early Childhood teachers at the locations listed below.

Forest Dale Elementary:AM & PM Gina Barbato (gbarbato@ccs.k12.in.us) AM only Kelly Sharkey (ksharkey@ccs.k12.in.us)

Cherry Tree Elementary:AM & PM Heather Nichols (hnichols@ccs.k12.in.us)AM & PM Monica Alford (malford@ccs.k12.in.us)

Smoky Row Elementary:AM only Amy Barnes (abarnes@ccs.k12.in.us)PM only Miranda Barfield (mbarfiel@ccs.k12.in.us)

Orchard Park Elementary:AM & PM Katie Beik (kbeik@ccs.k12.in.us)PM only Kelly Sharkey (ksharkey@ccs.k12.in.us)

For general questions about Peer Friends, contact Charone Lesher, Early Childhood Coordinator, at 317-571-4616 or clesher@ccs.k12.in.us.

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Carmel Cosmetic& P L A S T I C S U R G E O N S

Carmel Cosmetic& P L A S T I C S U R G E O N S

Carmel Cosmetic& P L A S T I C S U R G E O N S

Second Semester Schedule Change Requests During December, counselors worked with students to plan for any changes to their second semester schedules that were necessary because of first semester failures or teacher recommendations. If you are considering a request for a change to your student’s schedule for reasons other than failing a class or following a recommendation made by a teacher, please be sure to check the information about schedule changes found in your student’s Pathways beginning on page 19. If you have any questions, please contact your student’s counselor.

CHS COUNSELING CENTER COMMUNIQUÉ

The FAFSA ProcessThe State Student Assistance Commission of Indiana (SSACI) – the agency that handles state financial aid – is now a paperless communication process. Students who apply for federal and state grant funding for 2013-14 will use the 2013-14 Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) beginning January 1. Students can file their FAFSA electronically at www.fafsa.ed.gov.

To ensure that the state grant award process is progressing for the students to determine their state grant funding eligibility:

• Students and parents MUST put a valid (checked often) email address on their FAFSA to receive email updates from SSACI. Please note that both edit and award notifications, if applicable, will be sent via email in 2013-14.

• State grant funding consideration for 2013-14 requires that a FAFSA be received by the federal processor on or before March 10.

• The FAFSA must be error free on or before May 15, 2013 in order to remain in the state grant applicant pool. **

** Please Note: Students should visit eStudent, www.ssaci.in.gov/estudent, often between February and the start of the school year. Students can view their state awards, award history, school choice, and any issues (called edits) that need to be corrected on their FAFSA. Any student who files a FAFSA using an Indiana address will be able to create an eStudent account. Non-Indiana residents will not be able to access eStudent nor qualify for state grant funding.

Things to Know About Financial AidFinancial aid is money that can help you pay for college. Some aid is money that needs to be paid back and other aid can be in the form of a gift and does not require repayment.

1. Financial aid can help you pay for college

2. More than $207 billion in aid is available There are four main sources:

• Federal government• State governments• Colleges and universities • Private organizations

3. You have to apply to qualify for aid If you don’t fill out financial aid forms, you won’t get any aid.

Even if you think you may not qualify, you should still submit the forms. Some scholarships will not be awarded to students unless the student has filled out the FAFSA (Free Application for Federal Student Aid).

4. Begin with the FAFSA – it’s free. You must fill out the FAFSA to qualify for many types of aid.

This application gives you access to scholarships, grants, work-study jobs, and loans.

5. Completing the FAFSA is convenient Complete the form online at www.fafsa.ed.gov. Families can

begin filling out the FAFSA beginning January 1. However in order to import your family’s tax information directly from the IRS website, you need to wait to fill out the FAFSA until February 1.

FAFSA Workshop Day for Seniors and ParentsCarmel High School is offering a FAFSA workshop day on February 26 from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. to help parents complete their FAFSA by the March 10 deadline. ***This workshop was made possible through a grant made to the Carmel Clay Public Library from the FINRA Investor Education Foundation through Smart investing @ your library®, a partnership with the American Library Association. No appointment is needed.

6 CARMEL HIGH SCHOOL • GREYHOUND GAZETTE • DECEMBER 2012

Attention SeniorsPlease remember to request a midyear transcript via www.parchment.com; the midyear transcript will include your 7th semester grades. Also, keep in mind it is your responsibility to request a FINAL transcript to be sent to the college you will attend in the fall. This request can be made any time before graduation.

Enrollment for Private School StudentsEnrollment for private school students will be on February 19 and 20. Appointments can be made by attending the Academic Transition Night’s Private School meeting that will be held on January 15. It will be necessary for private school families to attend one of the two meetings held on January 15 at 5:30pm or 6:30pm. During that meeting, you can schedule an enrollment appointment for February 19 or 20. If you are unable to attend one of these meetings, you can schedule your enrollment appointment by calling Lori Lynch at 571-4621 after January 15.

Summer School Registration The one five-week session of summer school will run from Monday, June 3 through Wednesday, July 3. Classes meet Monday through Thursday from 8 a.m. to 12 p.m. No classes are scheduled for Friday. Students who plan to attend summer school are reminded to see their counselor to register and to take care of any necessary changes to their schedule of courses for the 2013-14 academic year. Please note that no summer school reminder will be sent to students. Students who have signed up are automatically in the class unless notified directly from the high school.

Students attending summer school are reminded of the following strict attendance requirements. Students must attend a minimum of 72 of the 76 hours of possible instructional time. This means that a student can only be absent the equivalent of one day (4 hours total).

Registration forms for current CHS students are available in the counseling center. Current eighth graders will receive information about summer school when they meet with Freshman Center counselors in late January.

Please Note: Summer school courses could be cancelled if enrollment or funding is insufficient.

Scholarship ConfirmationsIf your student has earned a scholarship, please submit a copy of the official confirmation letter, including the amount, to Linda Christy or Julie Van Buren in the counseling center. Please submit only those confirmed college scholarships of the school the student will be attending. All monetary information will remain confidential. Submission of confirmations will enable your student to be recognized at Scholarship Awards Night on Thursday, May 23, at 6:30 p.m. in the CHS auditorium. Each scholarship submitted will also be listed in the commencement program. The last day to submit confirmations for recognition at awards night and the commencement program is Friday, May 4. Due to coordination and printing deadlines, any awards received after this date will not be included in the awards night program or listed in the commencement program.

Carmel Education Foundation Scholarships Founded in 1966, the Carmel Education Foundation (CEF) has as its mission to support the academic achievement of Carmel Clay students through scholarships and teacher grants. Over its 45-year history, CEF has provided more than $1.7 million in scholarships to CHS graduates. CEF offers over 60 scholarships. These scholarships have specific eligibility, such as evidence of financial need or academic achievement.

Any CHS senior planning to attend a college, university, or vocational school is invited to apply for a CEF scholarship. The online application form and instructions for CEF’s 2013 scholarships will be available on December 21 at http://www1.ccs.k12.in.us/foundation/Scholarships. The CEF scholarship application MUST be submitted no later than March 15. For more information, contact the Carmel Education Foundation at 317-844-9961 ext. 1009 or email foundation@ccs.k12.in.us.

CHS COUNSELING CENTER COMMUNIQUÉ

7

Hoosier Boys State and Girls StateApplications will be available in late January for juniors interested in attending Hoosier Boys State or Hoosier Girls State this summer. Hoosier Boys State will be held on June 16-June 22, at Trine University in Angola, Ind. Hoosier Girls State will be held June 23-28 at Trine University.

Hoosier Boys/Girls State programs are sponsored by the American Legion and American Legion Auxiliary. Participants learn about government processes, citizenship, and leadership. Due to the generous support of organizations such as Carmel Lions, Carmel Rotary, and Carmel American Legion Post 155, and Carmel High School, our selected delegates incur no cost to attend. Students interested in attending must complete an application (including three teacher recommendations) and must have a minimum 3.0 cumulative grade point average.

Delegates must be able to attend the entire week-long session. Applications will be available through U.S. history teachers, as well as in the Counseling Center, beginning in late January. Applications will be due in late February. For more information, see www.boysandgirlsstate.org.

AP Exams Registration: February 15 – March 12 • Exam Dates: May 6 – May 17Registration to take the College Board’s Advanced Placement exams begins Friday,

Feb. 15. Registration will be conducted online through a link on the counseling webpage. Students who are currently enrolled in an AP class will receive information in February about the registration process.

The exam registration deadline is Tuesday, March 12. After that date, additional late fees will apply. The College Board has increased the test fee to $89 this year. State-funded math and science exams are $8. Checks made out to CHS or cash will be accepted.

Students must attend a pre-administration session to complete required paperwork in advance of the exams. This will be held during SRT on Tuesday, April 23. All students taking an exam must attend this session. Exams will be given May 6 – May 17.

Information about the test schedule and the exam registration process will be available in the Counseling Center and on the Counseling webpage. http://www1.ccs.k12.in.us/chs/counseling

Checking on a Student’s Academic ProgressParents often ask about how to check on a student’s academic progress. The myCCS online service offers easy access to a student’s academic information. Parents who have not yet signed up for myCCS can easily gain access; go to the Carmel Clay Schools website, http://www1.ccs.k12.in.us and click on myCCS at the top of the home page - all you need to register is an email address and your student’s school ID number. After viewing the student’s information on myCCS, if additional information is needed or if there are questions, the teacher can be emailed (a quick connect is available through the website). Parents without Internet access or who prefer to talk to teachers directly can reach teachers by calling the school at 846-7721.

Homework AssistanceThe Rose-Hulman Institute of Technology is again offering its homework hotline assistance program. The service is free and is geared toward help in the subjects of math and science. Call 1-877-ASK ROSE. Hours of operation are Sunday – Thursday, 7 p.m.-10 p.m.

CHS COUNSELING CENTER COMMUNIQUÉ

8 CARMEL HIGH SCHOOL • GREYHOUND GAZETTE • DECEMBER 2012

CHS COUNSELING CENTER COMMUNIQUÉ

SAT Prep Classes OfferedStudents can get an edge on the SAT with intensive SAT preparation classes April 17 or 18 and April 24 or 25 in preparation for the May 4 and June 1 SAT tests. The cost is $15 for math, $15 for verbal or $30 for both. Registration forms will be available online or in the counseling center beginning March 1. The sign-up deadline is Monday, April 15. Contact Pat Barker or Julie Van Buren in the counseling center for details (571-5922).

Graduation Qualifying Exam (For 9 - 11 Graders)End of Course Assessments (ECAs) in Algebra I and English 10 are used as the Graduation Qualifying Exam in the state of Indiana. Students must earn passing scores on these tests and complete all course requirements to receive a diploma.

Many of our current students in grades 9-11 have already taken and passed the Algebra I ECA. Others, who are currently enrolled in the Algebra I course, will take the ECA exam in May. Students who have already earned credit in Algebra I but who did not take or did not pass the Algebra I ECA will also take the test in May.

All of our current 10th graders will also be taking the English 10 ECA in May. Details about the administration of these important tests will be included in the spring PTO newsletter.

College Goal Sunday – February 24 at 2 p.m.Attention Seniors: College Goal Sunday, a state-wide program to help college-bound Indiana students with the financial aid application process, is February 24 at 2 p.m. For further information, call 1-800-992-2076, or visit the website at www.CollegeGoalSunday.org to find a workshop location at an area high shool.

Bring your tax information and financial aid office professionals and volunteers will talk you through the process of completing the FAFSA. The deadline to submit the FAFSA is March 1. Every family should file with FAFSA regardless of their current financial situation. It makes students eligible for low-interest loans, possible work-study jobs on campus, and is required by many schools for consideration of merit scholarships. FAFSA worksheets are available in the counseling center. The FAFSA forms are to be completed online. Visit www.fafsa.ed.gov for further information.

Junior Students - College Information DaysIn March all juniors will attend a college information session presented by our College and Career Resource Center (CCRC) staff. CCRC staff will provide information about the college search process, tips and tricks related to the application process, tools and resources to support their search, and data to help students understand how they “match” up at various colleges and universities. Juniors will participate in these presentations on either March 4 or March 12 during SRT.

9

CHS COUNSELING CENTER COMMUNIQUÉ

Standardized Testing InformationCounselors receive many questions from parents regarding which standardized college admission test their student should take. On October 17, sophomores and juniors (who signed up) took the PSAT. It is generally recommended that students who plan to attend college take the SAT and ACT at least one time during the spring of their junior year. Because most colleges will consider the highest combination of any college admission test scores presented with an application, many students will take either the SAT or ACT two times prior to their senior year.

The ACT will be given at CHS on February 9 and April 13. The ACT is also offered at other testing locations on June 8. The SAT will be given on January 26, March 9, May 4, and June 1 at Carmel High School. The testing companies prefer that students register online at either www.act.org or www.collegeboard.org. The cost for the SAT is $50. The ACT has an optional writing section that we recommend you include when signing up for the ACT. The total cost for the ACT is $50.50. Be sure to include the Carmel High School code (150445) with your registration so that we receive a copy of your student’s testing scores. We also encourage you to select up to four colleges to have your test scores sent directly. This is offered as a part of your registration process for both the SAT and ACT tests.

A few highly selective colleges require the SAT Subject Tests. If a student is concluding the study of a subject this spring, he/she may want to consider taking the appropriate SAT Subject Test in June.

Please keep in mind that standardized testing is only part of all the information that represents and presents students and their accomplishments. For most colleges and universities, the most important part of the student’s record is the quality of the student’s academic course work and the grades that are earned in these classes. For highly selective schools, the quality of the student’s character and her/his leadership in school and/or community activities weigh heavily.

Very Important: There are many changes in SAT and ACT test registration and test day requirements. It is now required that you submit a current photo when you register online. This photo will print on your admission ticket that is now REQUIRED for you to bring on the day of the test. You will also be required to bring a current photo ID on the test day. You will no longer be able to register for the SAT or ACT on the morning of the test. You must make arrangements online BEFORE the test day. PLEASE read all test day information before the morning of the test with your student so that he/she will not be denied entrance on the morning of the test.

10 CARMEL HIGH SCHOOL • GREYHOUND GAZETTE • DECEMBER 2012

TIPS FROM THE CHS COLLEGE AND CAREER RESOURCE CENTER (CCRC)

100% Digital

Facility!

Junior year is the time to investigate college options and compile a list of schools to which you want to apply. Students needing assistance getting started or understanding the process should consider making an appointment with a CHS College and Career Resource Center (CCRC) staff member. CCRC staff can assist students in a variety of ways, including: understanding the application process, generating a list of schools to consider, identifying how their student profile measures up to admissions data/criteria, and more! To make an appointment, students can request a pass at the front desk of the Counseling Center. Parents can call 571-5922 ext 7533 or email Harry Pettibone hpettibone@ccs.k12.in.us or Ann Boldt aboldt@ccs.k12.in.us for an appointment. If you missed the College Information Night presentation hosted by the CCRC staff in October, you can access the Powerpoint presentation on the CHS website under the Counseling link.

Resource Highlight: The College Search BigFuture is a useful resource for students trying to identify colleges that match their individual criteria including location, size, cost, majors, etc. Just go to www.collegeboard.org and click on the Students link and then click on BigFuture.

CCRC Programming Events for Spring 2013Please mark your calendars for these upcoming presentations as they pertain to your student. If you have any questions, please contact Linda Christy, college counselor, at 317-571-5922 ext. 7482 or email at lchristy@ccs.k12.in.us

Scholarships and Financial Aid Information Session (Grade 12) January 15 – 10 a.m. in the Freshman Cafeteria.

This session is geared towards seniors and senior parents who are interested in learning more about the financial aid and scholarship process.

How does Social Media (Facebook/Twitter) Affect the College Admissions Process? (Grades 9-11) January 17 – 10 a.m. Media Classrooms 3 and 4

Students who attend this meeting will learn that what they put on the Internet could affect college admissions and scholarships.

Interviewing Overview (Grades 11-12) January 24, 10 a.m. Media Classrooms 3 and 4

Students will get tips on how to interview from Mie-Young Reed, who is the Director of Human Resources at the JW Marriott in downtown Indianapolis. Her presentation will be an overview of interviewing Do’s and Don’ts with opportunities for students to sign up to have one-on-one mock interviews with her on selected dates (see below).

Mock Interview Sessions – January 30, February 13, February 20, and March 6 from 7:30 a.m. – 8:30 a.m. College and Career Resource Center

Military Academy Days (Grades 9-11 students and parents) February 22 (tentative date) 10 a.m. – Freshman Cafeteria.

Representatives from the military academies will be on hand to present information on each of their academies and take questions from the audience. Students and parents are invited to attend.

Junior College Information Sessions (Grade 11) – March 4 & 12, 10:00 a.m. – Auditorium

CCRC staff will be presenting to juniors during SRT on the college search and selection process as well as offering tips on visiting colleges. Juniors can sign up during the dates below for individual assistance on finding and utilizing college resources.

Individual College Search Sessions (Grade 11) – March 6 & 8 – 9:30-11:00 - D204

Essay Writing Workshop (Grade 11) – April 17, 10:10 a.m. Media Classrooms 3 & 4

Juniors can learn tips on writing the college essay before they leave for summer break. Learn what makes a strong essay and what topics students should avoid when applying for college admission.

Freshmen College Advising Sessions (Freshmen and/or parents) April 19 - half day a.m. and April 25 – all day – Freshman Center

It’s never too early to begin the college process. Parents and/or students can spend 30 minutes with a CCRC staff member who will help families know where to begin and what resources are available to help guide them to finding the perfect college.

Admission to Selective Schools – (Grades 9-11) April 23, 10 a.m. – Community Room

A panel of current seniors who have been admitted to selective colleges will discuss the process for admission and what qualities are needed to stand out in an extremely competitive applicant pool.

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TIPS FROM THE CHS COLLEGE AND CAREER RESOURCE CENTER (CCRC)

Undecided About College Major/Career Choice?Indiana Career Explorer (www.indianacareerexplorer.org) is an online tool that high school students can use to identify career interests, explore career options related to those interests, investigate educational pathways related to various careers, search for colleges/universities that match specific criteria, and more. All CHS upperclassmen were introduced to the Indiana Career Explorer site this fall and were encouraged to create a free account. Current 9th graders will be creating their accounts in March. The site offers comprehensive information for students at all grade levels, with a variety of post-secondary plans, and at all stages of the career exploration process. Parents can access their student’s profile once a student has created an account. Ask your son or daughter for their account information.

1. To set up an account and get started go to www.indianacareerexplorer.org

2. Click on the “New users register here” link to set up a free account.

3. Select the appropriate “User Type”: student, parent, etc.

4. Enter your registration information, making certain to complete the required fields (with *asterisks). Be certain to provide your e-mail address so that you can access your username/password in the future if you forget it.

5. At the end of the registration screen, enter the following for the registration activation code: Carmel High School and click “Register”.

6. Be sure to make note of the username and password you chose in order to login to Indiana Career Explorer in the future.

importantdates

Saturday, Dec. 15 3-4 p.m., Riley (Dance Marathon) Smoothie Smash Down (freshman cafeteria)

Friday, Dec. 21 Grading period ends

Monday, Dec. 24 Winter Break - No school

Tuesday, Jan. 8 Second semester begins

Tuesday, Jan. 15 9:30-11 a.m., Grade 11 Meetings with counselors

Wednesday, Jan. 16 6:30-9 p.m., 11th Grade Parent Meeting (auditorium)

Thursday, Jan. 17 9:30-11 a.m., Class Awards (main cafeteria)

Friday, Jan. 18 6:30-7:30 p.m., Riley (Dance marathon) Basketball Tailgate (freshman cafeteria)

Monday, Jan. 21 Martin Luther King Day – No school

Saturday, Jan. 26 7 a.m.- 1 p.m., SAT testing Student Government Neon Dance following the Ben Davis vs. Carmel boys basketball game

Tuesday, Feb. 5 11 a.m.-1:30 p.m., National Honor Society Valentine Carnation Sales (until Feb. 8th)

Wednesday, Feb. 6 5:30 p.m., Orchestra Chamber Music Concert (orchestra room)

Thursday, Feb. 7 7:30 p.m., Winter Theatre Production (auditorium)

Saturday, Feb. 9 7 a.m. – 1 p.m., ACT Testing 2 p.m., Winter Theatre Production (auditorium)7:30 p.m., Winter Theatre Production (auditorium)

Wednesday, Feb. 13 9:30 - 11 a.m., National Honor Society Valentine Carnation Delivery

Thursday, Feb. 14 7:30 p.m., IB Theatre Senior Showcase (Studio Theatre)

Friday, Feb. 15 7:30 p.m., ComedySportz Match (Studio Theatre)

Monday, Feb. 18 Presidents Day - No School

Wednesday, Feb. 20 6-8 p.m., Dance Marathon Spaghetti Dinner/Auction (freshman cafeteria)

Thursday, Feb. 21 6 p.m., Winter Band Concert (auditorium)7:30 p.m., Winter Band Concert (auditorium)

Saturday, Feb. 23 4-10 p.m., Dance Marathon

Saturday, Mar. 2 Jazz Bands at Ball State Jazz Festival (BSU)

Monday, Mar. 4 National Nutrition Month (Food Service Staff Appreciation)

Friday, Mar. 8 9:45 – 11 a.m., Freshmen AIDS Convo 9:45 – 11 a.m., GKOM Call Out (freshman cafeteria)7:30 p.m., ComedySportz Match (Studio Theatre)

Saturday, Mar. 9, 2013 7 a.m. – 1 p.m., SAT Testing

Wednesday, Mar. 13 7:30 p.m., Choral Showcase (auditorium)

Thursday, Mar. 14 9:30 a.m., Winter Recognition Convo (varsity gymnasium)

Friday, Mar. 15 End of Grading Period

Wednesday, Mar. 20 7:30- 9 p.m., A Concert for the Community (auditorium)

Friday, Mar. 22 7:30- 9 p.m., Jazz Expressions Concert (auditorium)

Sunday, Mar. 24 2-4 p.m., National Honor Society Induction Ceremony (auditorium)

Tuesday, Mar. 26 9:30-11 a.m., Class Awards (main cafeteria)

Wednesday, Mar. 27 7:30 p.m., Camerata Orchestra Concert (Studio Theatre)

Thursday, Mar. 28 Pre-Spring Break Awareness Week

Friday, Mar. 29 Spring Break - No school

Monday, Apr. 8 School resumes

Friday, Apr. 12 7:30 p.m., ComedySportz Match (Studio Theatre)

Saturday, Apr. 13 7 a.m.-1 p.m., ACT testing

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JANUARY