Virtual office hours
Serving McAuley, St. Peter’s, and St. Mary’s Mrs. Hamilton, JACS Systems Counselor, will keep virtual hours from 10:00-3:00 p.m. on Tuesdays, Wednesdays, and Thursdays.
She will be close to email (dhamilton@jacschools.org for McAuley and St. Peter’s) and dhamilton@jacss.org for St. Mary’s during those hours).
In addition, parents may call Mrs. Hamilton at 417-489-2313 during those times. If you do not receive an answer during that time, please text, as our phone reception is often unreliable in the country (texts will often come through whereas phone call –rings—will not).
Students and parents may feel free to email any day; I often check email multiple times a day and will respond as quickly as possible.
For more serious concerns, please TEXT, 417-489-2313. This is NOT an emergency number!
Mrs. Hamilton is emailing students regularly, and seniors will receive an online survey next week to gather information regarding college choices and the need for any assistance with college plans.
Post-High School Planning
As part of educating the whole student, Joplin Area Catholic Schools (JACS) aims to ensure its students are prepared for life after high school. Students’ post-high school options and plans vary and may include the following: a college and university education, technical and trade school training, or military service. Some students may even decide transitioning directly into the workforce as the appropriate route. Whichever path students pursue, their McAuley High School academic, social, and spiritual experiences and preparation will serve them well.
Colleges
Transcripts:
- Order official transcripts for your dual credit classes (or any future college coursework) is the national clearinghouse. “The National Student Clearinghouse®offers convenient online services for students. From here, you can order transcripts, obtain verification of your in-school status, find money-saving student discounts, and more.” This site is considered a trusted educational partner. www.studentclearinghouse.org
- Transcripts are mailed to seniors’ selected colleges/universities the last week of May. You may receive an email from their selected college/university that the final transcript has not yet been received (this is a routine notification and nothing about which to be concerned). The A+ designation seal will be affixed to the final transcript for those students earning that award.
- Seniors who earned any dual credit throughout their years at McAuley High School must request an official transcript from that institution. I encourage requesting that dual credit college/university’s official transcript early so that the institution seniors attend this fall will have those courses on file, and students can be enrolled in the appropriate classes. REMINDER: Students who are at least 18 years old are the custodian of their own records now, so they will need to handle the request themselves. Most transcripts can be ordered online through the registrar’s office of each institution.
Junior class: THREE key ACT points of interest.
As disappointed as we all are about this school closure extension, the exclusion of extracurricular sports and activities does give you more opportunity to utilize this time for ACT prep, college choice exploration, etc.
As always, please email me with any questions you might have, and I’m glad to assist!
~Mrs. Hamilton
“What Does This Change Mean for Students?
This change allows students to retake a single section of the exam, rather than the entire test. For example, if a student performs poorly on the science section, but aces the other three sections, they can simply retake the science section and keep their original scores in the other three sections. It’s important to note that a student must take the full test at least once before they’re allowed to take individual sections.
Along with providing students the chance to retake individual sections of the exam, the ACT also announced a new superscore. The ACT superscore allows students who’ve taken the test (or sections of it) more than once to use the best scores they received for each section. Previously only individual schools had superscore policies. The ACT states, “superscores were more predictive of how students would perform in their college courses than other scoring methods.” Additionally, according to the ACT, “a great benefit of superscoring is that it allows students to put their best foot forward for college applications and scholarship eligibility.”
The current cost of taking the four-section ACT exam—English, math, reading, and science—is $52. The cost to take the ACT with the optional writing section is $68. The ACT has not yet announced the cost of retaking an individual section of the exam; however, ACT Chief Commercial Officer Suzana Delanghe told CNN that “the single-section retake will be less expensive than taking the complete ACT again, so that should help make retesting more affordable for many students.”
Scholarship Opportunities
- VFW Scholarship: Write an essay for the VFW Scholarship programs. This is a fantastic program we offer through the VFW with multiple chances for scholarship money. Have questions? Visit the VFW Website @ www.VFW.org, then go under the Community tab. Also visit your local VFWPost, such as VFW Post 5293 Southtown Joplin. Contact Don Bechtel 417-437-5842
- Potential scholarship website myscholarshipcentral.org
- Andrew Vidal Memorial Scholarship–This scholarship is based on the accomplishments of the individual who exemplifies the characteristics of brother/sisterhood, service, and academic excellence. Applicants must have a 3.0 or higher GPA. Awards are based on the following: 50% essay (content and financial need); extracurricular activities 25% (community and leadership); GPA and academic achievement 25%.
- Braxton Rethwisch Scholarship–The Missouri Association of College Admission Counseling (MOACAC) offers this scholarship to high school seniors who exhibit a commitment to learning and have demonstrated leadership skills and community service involvement. Five students will be awarded a non-renewable, $1,000 scholarship.Applicants must be current high school seniors with a cumulative GPA of 2.5 or higher, a Missouri resident, and must enroll as a full-time student at a MOACAC post-secondary institution (virtually every college in MO–but check the list provided before applying!)
- BETTER BUSINESS BUREAU – Junior Scholarship Opportunity The Better Business Bureau (BBB) serving eastern and southwest Missouri and southern Illinois Student of Ethics Award Program recognizes high school students whose leadership, community service, overall personal integrity, and academic history exemplify high ethics.
Students will be selected by an independent panel of judges, and scholarships must be used within three years of receiving the award. Upon verification of enrollment, scholarships will be distributed to the student’s college or trade school and must be applied toward school-related expenses including tuition, books, room and board, and other related items.
Students should apply in their junior year of high school, and the awards will be presented to students in their senior year of high school. Applications are currently open to high school juniors who will be graduating in Spring 2021.
Apply online or download, complete, and mail a paper application: bbb.org/stlouis/student-of-ethics-awards - Missouri Bright Flights Students eligible for Missouri’s Bright Flight Scholarship, based on ACT performance, must meet the following requirements: 1) Be a Missouri resident, U.S. citizen or permanent resident; 2) Earn a composite ACT or SAT score in either the top 3% of all Missouri students taking those tests or the top 4th or 5th percentiles of all Missouri students taking those tests. 3) Enroll full time at a participating Missouri school; 4) Submit supplemental eligibility information if requested by the MDHEWD; and 5) NOT be pursuing a degree or certificate in theology or divinity. The qualifying score must be achieved by the June test date immediately following your high school graduation.There is no application to complete! Eligible students will receive approval letters from the MDHEWD (Missouri Department of Higher Education and Workplace Development) achieved by the June ACT and SAT test dates and will begin arriving in the spring of your senior year of high school. The Bright Flight is renewable for up to 10 semesters or until you have completed a bachelor’s degree, whichever occurs first.
Qualifying ACT and SAT scores for current high school seniors are re-evaluated and announced each fall, and these scores are based on the scores of students who were high school seniors the previous academic year, and the score is subject to change annually.
Last year’s final award amounts included the following: ACT Score 31 or above: Up to $3,000
Completion of the FAFSA is not required to receive the Bright Flight scholarship; however, if you choose to complete the FAFSA, information on that application or updates to it can impact your eligibility for the Bright Flight even if you have previously been notified of your eligibility.
- Is athletic training a career you’ve considered? North Park University, a private college in Chicago, Illinois, has transitioned its accredited undergraduate athletic training degree to an entry-level master’s degree. This is in response to the requirement that athletic trainers must possess a master’s degree to enter the workforce. After the 2017-2018 academic year, we will no longer be accepting students into our undergraduate athletic training program. Instead, students who come to campus during 2018-2019 and beyond will be eligible to complete our 3+2 accelerated master’s degree where the student can receive both a bachelor’s degree in exercise science and a master of science degree in athletic training in 5 calendar years. See Mrs. Hamilton if you’d like more information.
- Almost all male U.S. citizens and male immigrants ages 18-25 are required to register with the U.S. Selective Service. Not registering can affect your ability to attend a post-high school institution and to obtain federal financial aid, obtain a valid job in the U.S., and can also result in a fine or prison term if prosecuted and convicted.You may register by mail or online…it’s a simple process! Access the official Selective Service site (www.sss.gov) or stop by your local post office and pick up the official Selective Service registration card.
- The University of Missouri is offering a new major, the BS (Bachelor of Science) in Microbiology. It is the ONLY undergraduate degree in microbiology at a Missouri public institution.Students study the subject areas of bacteriology, immunology, mycology, parasitology, and virology, and this degree will prepare students for entry-level positions in a variety of areas: public health, clinical and research labs, human and animal health pharmaceutical companies, and the food industry. The BSM degree will also provide excellent prep for dental, veterinary, medical, or nursing schools. Brochure copies may be downloaded from http://vpbio.missouri.eud/undergraduate-studies.
- DUKE TIP Duke University’s Talent Identification Program (TIP) program for 4-6, 7th, and 8-10th graders may be just the enrichment challenge your son/daughter needs to remain challenged and excited about curriculum content and its application in a variety of mediums such as year-round learning options, residential summer programs, online courses, and enrichment resources.Eligible students must score at or above the 95th national percentile on an accepted grade-level national standardized achievement or abilities test; score at or above the 95 percentile on a state assessment; or score 125 or above (full scale or composite) on an accepted IQ test. Students only need to qualify through one of these three methods. 8th grade students qualify by taking the ACT or SAT on their own and reporting their scores to Duke TIP as a way to qualify for TIP educational programs.If you think your child qualifies for the Duke TIP and are interested in the testing information, please contact Mrs. Hamilton at dhamilton@jacss.org
ACT Information
“ACT test registration for fall 2020 and spring 2021 test dates will open at the end of July. Our priority is to expand access to full ACT testing, particularly for students in need of a composite score for admissions decisions, scholarship opportunities, placement, and career insights. In order to do this, we have made the difficult decision to postpone the rollout of section retesting, the option to take one section of the ACT® test at a time…ACT remains committed to offering superscoring and online testing options at selected national test centers this fall. In late fall/early winter, we plan to offer a remote proctoring solution, allowing students to take the test online, at home or at other safe and convenient locations…”
The online option sites are limited during this initial roll-out, so we may not have such an option in southwest Missouri. Plan on the traditional paper test at this point. (One distinct advantage of the online test option is that scores are available about 48 hours after testing compared to the usual 2-week period.)
- “ACT superscoring: ACT will report a superscore for students who have taken the ACT test more than once, giving colleges the option to use the student’s best scores from all test administrations, rather than scores from just one sitting, in their admission and scholarship decisions. ACT research suggests that superscores are just as predictive—if not slightly more predictive—of first-year grades compared to other scoring methods.”
If interested in reading more in-depth, consult ACT.org.
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McAuley 2020-21 students interested and/or planning to take the ACT should access the following link with information about summer testing and potential ACT online at-home testing this fall.
http://leadershipblog.act.org/2020/04/act-to-offer-students-additional-summer.html
ACT Prep and Dates
It’s never too early for a high school student to start preparing for the ACT. You can order ACT’s free publication, “Preparing for the ACT,” online under “Order Support Materials.”
Upcoming ACT dates for the 2019-2020 school year are listed below. Visit the ACT website to register for an upcoming test.
JACS Business Office
930 South Pearl Avenue
Joplin, MO 64801
417-624-5003
St. Mary's Elementary School
3025 South Central City Road
Joplin, MO 64804
417-623-1465
St. Peter's Middle School
931 South Byers Avenue
Joplin, MO 64801
417-624-5605
McAuley Catholic High School
930 South Pearl Avenue
Joplin, MO 64801
417-624-9320