Senior Activities

Crystal Tarris — Thu, 31 May 2012 15:28:00 GMT

Final exams for seniors are almost over; our last day of senior year is in sight. I've probably said it before, but it is pretty surreal that high school is ending. But the next week won't leave much time to think about it--tonight is our senior camp out and tomorrow morning before school people will be holding their breath to see what the Class of 2012 has come up with for a "senior prank". Other events coming up for seniors in the next week are:

June 1st- Lake Compounce senior trip 9:40am-6:00pm
June 1st- GRHS play "Our Town" 8:00pm
June 2nd- GRHS play 7:00pm
June 4th- Whitewater rafting senior trip 7:45am-6:00pm
June 5th- Indoor practice for graduation & senior cookout! Starts 9:30am
June 6th- Senior Awards Assembly: Seniors arrive 11:00am. Starts 11:45am
June 6th- Senior Banquet / Boston Dinner Cruise 2:40-11:45pm
June 7th- Outdoor practice for graduation 11:30am
June 8th- GRADUATION! Seniors arrive 5:15pm (in the gym). Starts 6:00pm

Choosing Your College

Crystal Tarris — Wed, 11 Apr 2012 22:38:00 GMT

When you receive your college acceptance letters, it may be a hard decision choosing which school to attend. It's a good idea to visit the campus again, especially if you haven't been there yet. Accepted student days are good events to go to because many give you the chance to take some classes, eat in the dining hall, tour the campus, talk to students, and even spend the night in a dorm. In my case, as soon as I stepped onto the campus of my college I knew that that was where I wanted to go. I had done research on the college before visiting and had also visited a few other colleges, but none gave me the feeling that this one did. If none of your schools do this for you, don't worry--there are other factors that can help you at least narrow down the list. The cost of tuition, the amount of financial aid you are granted, scholarships, distance from home, etc. are all things to seriously consider when choosing your college.

Smile

Crystal Tarris — Wed, 21 Mar 2012 22:37:00 GMT

I've been asked several times this year what was something I would always remember from high school, and I would always answer with something awesome or exciting that happened. I never thought that something else I would never forget was the moment when we were told that one of our classmates had passed away in a car accident. Emily Savery was an artistic, upbeat, outgoing girl who I am proud to have been able to call friend. Saturday marked one month since the accident and many of us continue to remember her during our everyday activities. I know that no matter how old I get, I won’t forget her smiling face, and I know that I’ll always see her like that—forever beautiful. Forever young.

The senior class has plans to honor Emily at graduation. We will also be holding a fundraiser to benefit the class of 2012 later on this year in her remembrance.

FAFSA

Crystal Tarris — Sun, 26 Feb 2012 23:36:00 GMT

By now every family should have filled out their Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA). The FAFSA determines how much financial aid a student is eligible for based on family income and how much money the family is expected to put forward to pay for their student’s college education. Financial aid isn’t something you have to pay back, so this is an important document to submit as accurately and timely as possible. The form is six pages long and takes around an hour to complete. The FAFSA can be applied for by mailing in the paper form, or online at www.fafsa.ed.gov.

Second Semester

Crystal Tarris — Mon, 23 Jan 2012 14:36:00 GMT

Tomorrow will be the start of the second semester, and my last semester of high school. I'm taking one full-year class, so tomorrow I will start four new ones. The first semester has gone by so fast; it seems like just yesterday I came into the Central Office to begin my internship, or the first day of drawing where we were told to draw like children. It is strange to think that there will be no more scheduling, choosing what classes to take next year, trying to get gym with your friends or fitting in that class you never got around to taking. It is exciting, however, that next year instead of taking the bus to school, you will be walking, driving, or taking a shuttle around your campus, meeting new people, and taking classes you may never even have heard of.

Portfolio Review

Crystal Tarris — Wed, 18 Jan 2012 15:37:00 GMT

This weekend I made the one hour, twenty minute trip to Albany, New York for my portfolio review at my first-choice college. I had eighteen pieces- ten drawings and eight photographs. Shortly after arriving at the college I was called into my appointment; I brought in my big folder of artwork and began. I talked about each piece, when I did it and what I used, among other things. The woman who was doing the review asked me about what I thought was good in each piece and what I would change, etc. It lasted about half an hour, and when we got through everything she told me that I was accepted to the art program! It was such a relief to finally have my review. Now I can definitely look forward to going there in the fall.

Portfolios

Crystal Tarris — Thu, 05 Jan 2012 14:36:00 GMT

Lately I have been working to get my portfolio ready to submit to the colleges I am applying to. Most art majors call for a portfolio review in order to be accepted into a college’s art program, so this is something requires a lot of hard work.

It isn’t only art majors that need a portfolio. Majors like professional writing, game design, architecture, and digital film making all very likely require a portfolio. Colleges usually want anywhere from five to twenty pieces of original work, depending on the school and the major.

My portfolio consists of about eight or nine drawings from direct observation (some of which took over nine hours done over several days), and seven photographs that I've taken. All I need to do now is digitally send my artwork to two colleges and visit one for a face to face review.

Reindeer Games

Crystal Tarris — Fri, 23 Dec 2011 13:45:00 GMT

It’s now the last day before winter break, and you know what that means! That’s right, today is Reindeer Games. For seniors, this is one of the days when you suddenly become very competitive and... spirited. In other words, seniors go crazy because this is our last Reindeer Games and our last chance to win (the class of 2012 won as juniors last year, so who knows what’s going to happen now?). At this moment I’m trying to be objective and not say that seniors rule... but there’s no denying it. Now, how embarrassing will it be for me if we lose? Regardless, let’s go class of 2012!

Diploma Paper, Acceptance Letters

Crystal Tarris — Fri, 16 Dec 2011 14:32:00 GMT

Monday morning I was called down to the office to get my name confirmation paper for my diploma. It’s basically a sheet of paper with your first, middle, and last name printed on it and a space for you and your parent/guardian to sign to verify the spelling of your name that will be printed on your diploma. It was interesting to see how a generally insignificant piece of paper made the fact that we are graduating this year a little more real.

In the past few weeks many students have been anxiously awaiting college acceptance letters to arrive in their mailboxes, and some have been finishing and sending out the last of their early action/early decision applications. For the college I’m working on now, I only have to send out my art portfolio before I hopefully receive an acceptance letter. Once I send my portfolio, I will have one acceptance, one pending, and two more applications to go.

Alumni College Fair and Winter Sports

Crystal Tarris — Fri, 02 Dec 2011 14:30:00 GMT

Last week was Gateway’s annual annual alumni college fair. This college fair gives students the opportunity to talk to Gateway students who have graduated in the past few years about the college they are attending. It’s different from other college fairs because students can get a first-hand account of what the college is like from people they know. It is also advantageous for seniors planning to attend a local community college, because schools like HCC, STCC, and BCC will give students who have filled out an application an instant decision on their admission.

This week began winter sports season, which means mine and four friends’ final year of cheerleading. I can’t believe these next three months will be my last cheering for Gateway’s varsity basketball teams, but I’m excited to start. This also means it is time to balance school work with practice, which means working harder to finish homework before and after practice in a reasonable amount of time. Even though we are seniors, we still have to do homework and get good grades just like any other year!

Drills

Crystal Tarris — Tue, 22 Nov 2011 14:46:00 GMT

This week I became acquainted with the procedures involving the different drills we have at the school. In Friday’s case, it was a shelter-in-place followed by a fire drill. Like most students, I thought that things like fire drills and lockdowns are planned to take place on a certain day, and then an administrator simply says “okay, pull the fire alarm” or “call a shelter-in-place”. However, there is actually a lot of planning involved in these drills. Dates and approximate times of execution must be set, and meetings must be held before and after the fact to discuss first what should happen, then after what did or did not happen, what went well and what could be improved. At the “after” meeting, I was asked to say my piece about how I thought the drill went and give a student’s point of view of these drills. It was very interesting to see all the things that go on behind the scenes, while students sit in class, unsuspecting.

Spirit Points

Crystal Tarris — Thu, 10 Nov 2011 14:01:00 GMT

Seniors have several opportunities this month to gain spirit points. We can get points for bringing in nonperishable food items for the Student Council food drive, and next Tuesday (November 15) is America Recycles Day, so be sure to wear green! I believe we are behind in the food drive, so don’t forget to bring in food for spirit points and also to support a good cause.

P.S. I received in the mail this week my official acceptance letter from the college I mentioned in last week’s post!

Snow Storm, Common App, Acceptance

Crystal Tarris — Fri, 04 Nov 2011 13:06:00 GMT

October really has been a strange month in terms of cancelled school days. It’s not even the winter season yet and we’ve already had four “snow days”. Two were due to the unusual snow storm that came Saturday evening, which produced two feet of snow in some places and caused major power outages and widespread damage to trees and power lines.

Once the power came back on Tuesday night after the snow storm, I got down to business and worked on my Common Application which I am using to apply to two colleges. I also filled out most of the application for another college not on the Common App. Now all I have to work on is the essays, submit, and I will be done with the application process. It’s a relief to have come this far in the process, but it’s not over yet!

In other news, I received my first acceptance letter to a college! It was my first-choice college and I was very happy and excited to see “you have been accepted”. It was an unofficial letter that I received after attending the scholarship decision night, and the official one should be in the mail soon! Now the only thing I have left to do is finish my portfolio, have a review, and hopefully I will be studying there next year.

Fall Sports Senior Nights

Crystal Tarris — Fri, 28 Oct 2011 13:42:00 GMT

On Monday night I headed to Springfield for a scholarship decision night put on for Massachusetts and Connecticut residents by my first choice college. The college may give a student a fixed annual scholarship for all four years of attendance based on his or her high school transcript, GPA, and SAT scores. Well, guess what? I got a scholarship! It was a huge relief to receive this award, and though I would have received it anyway based on those three things upon applying it was definitely worth it to meet the admissions counselors again and ask any questions about tuition, fees and other scholarships.

Tuesday was senior night for the cross country team and Wednesday evening was girls soccer (boys soccer will be next week). It was an exciting but nostalgic experience for all the seniors involved, knowing they were running the dam/course or playing on Booster Field for the last time. I still feel like we’re not seniors and they were the class above ours’ seniors nights, but there is no class above ours. We’re seniors and there’s no turning back time!

Scholarships Again

Crystal Tarris — Thu, 20 Oct 2011 13:09:00 GMT

The two unexpected days off this week gave me a lot of time to search and apply for scholarships. I grabbed the scholarship strategies paper that was given to students at last week's assembly and got to work. The paper gives several websites that you can visit to find scholarships. I started with the first site, filling out a registration and then a "profile" that allows the website to make a list of scholarships that are relevant to you personally. I was then presented with my list (which was organized by the deadline you must apply by to be considered) and browsed through the ones with October and November deadlines. So far I looked over and applied for about eight or nine scholarships, which doesn't seem like many but you have to fill out all your information for each one you apply for, such as name, e-mail, address, phone number, etc. Some also require a paragraph about why you think you should receive the award or a short essay, but don't let that deter you from applying for it because if you sit down and just do it you can get it done quickly.

Open House/Scholarships

Crystal Tarris — Fri, 14 Oct 2011 13:25:00 GMT

Tuesday evening saw Gateway's annual Open House, but it wasn't just any open house you attend with your parents every year for the Class of 2012- it was the last one. Now, not many seniors attended anyway but I have to say it was a pretty good last open house.
On another note, on Thursday during advisory, juniors and seniors attended a scholarship workshop in the auditorium. The presentation covered common misconceptions and myths about scholarships, strategies for applying for scholarships, and tips for writing essays some scholarships require. Students learned that you can get a scholarship for many different things, not just for academic performance; you can receive more than one; and you can be in any grade to receive one. The place you and/or your parents work may give out scholarships, and you can search online or at your local library to find scholarship opportunities. The overall point of the workshop: you can get a lot of help with paying for college, you just have to initiate the search for money that companies and organizations are willing to give you.

Senior Superlatives

Crystal Tarris — Fri, 07 Oct 2011 13:13:00 GMT

This week seniors did something that many students look forward to, sometimes years in advance- senior superlatives. Superlatives for the Class of 2012 include class funniest, friendliest, musician; most unique, changed, and outspoken, as well as standard ones such as best hair, best eyes, and most likely to succeed. These will appear in the yearbook, (which I really look forward to getting at the end of every school year) along with everyone's senior quotes and high school achievements. All these things are just a few of many that students look forward to during senior year, and it's crazy that now it's my class and me that are doing them!

Reps And Apps

Crystal Tarris — Fri, 30 Sep 2011 14:00:00 GMT

It was a busy week in terms of college events. Monday started out with two meetings with representatives from UMASS Dartmouth and the College of Saint Rose, and Wednesday a representative from Champlain College. There were a number of other college reps who came during the week, and still others to come in the next few weeks, but these are the three that I met with so far. When representatives come to school, it is a great time to meet with the colleges that interest you and ask questions about the school, campus life, dorms, a particular major, etc. You will likely be given brochures, contact cards to fill out, and even the rep's personal business cards so you can e-mail them if you have any further questions or want to request an interview.
Thursday night my dad and I attended a college application workshop held by Gateway's guidance department. This was a very informative presentation that gave advice and instructions for submitting college apps. Students and parents who attended the workshop got important information about the application process. A few things that were covered included a checklist of documents that need to be submitted (the application itself, a personal essay, 2-3 recommendations, your high school transcript, and your test scores from the SAT or ACT), application deadlines, the difference between Early Decision and Early Action, and several other things people need to know about the process. I recommend that students and parents about to start the application process attend any workshops or presentations put on by the guidance department.

College Visits

Crystal Tarris — Fri, 23 Sep 2011 13:51:00 GMT

By the middle of junior year, I started receiving 10-12 pieces of mail a week from colleges all over the country. Many prompted me to schedule a campus visit, so off I went. I've visited three colleges so far, but you should visit as many as you can if you are interested in attending because it is a great way to get a candid, casual feel of the place you may be living for two, four, or more years, instead of the formal feel of the college website or brochures.
Most schools will have an open house day or weekend when you and your family can come for campus tours, application seminars, and interviews with admissions counselors. They usually take place in the spring, when students are still on campus for classes; students usually lead the tours as well, so it is a great time to ask questions about the college from people who are attending it.

SATs

Crystal Tarris — Fri, 16 Sep 2011 13:35:00 GMT

Eleven days into the school year and it's time to start preparing (for many students) for a second round of SATs. Typically students take their first SATs in May or June of their junior year, and again in September or October of their senior year in order to better their score.
Personally, I was very happy with my score from the first time I took the SATs in June, so I won't be taking it again. I think the reason I did so well was because I studied. People wonder, how can you study for a test as big and long as the SATs?? Well, it sounds impossible if you are studying questions and answers, but you really want to pay more attention to the way questions are worded, the type of question, and what it is asking you to do.
I studied using Kaplan's 700 page SAT Prep book. The book gives pointers and instructions on how to answer questions and what to look for, and included four practice tests (which really made up most of the 700 pages).
When you take the SATs, don't forget or miss the deadlines for signing up and for payment, because you will be charged extra for signing up after a certain date. To sign up and find dates, times, locations, and prices for the test, go to www.collegeboard.com.

Opening Entry

Crystal Tarris — Thu, 08 Sep 2011 13:43:00 GMT

"OH, MY GAWD... WE'RE SENIORS!" a classmate yelled out in disbelief as our first day of senior year came to a close. And a week later it is still a bit of a challenge getting used to being the highest grade in the school. I keep expecting to see students from last year's graduating class in the hallways, in classes, and in the cafeteria.
This is the year that many students will be thinking about, planning for, and applying to colleges. Students should be making a list of colleges to apply to, scheduling campus visits, filling out paperwork for financial aid and scholarships, and filling out applications.
College fairs are a great way to start your list of colleges to check out. You can meet representatives from colleges, ask questions, and get a general idea of what the school is all about. You have to decide early on about what kind of college you are looking for. Think about what is important to you- the size of the school, the student/professor ratio, and most importantly the cost and location. I always ask about how big the college is and where it is located, because I don't want a very big school like UMASS or a location like New York City. If the school has what you want, definitely ask for more information by either e-mail or post. If nothing about the college really appeals to you don't ask for more information, because you will be getting a lot of mail that you will just end up throwing out or deleting anyway. I receive on average ten pieces of mail from different colleges a week that I didn't ask for more information.

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