Salina South High School

Senior Information

Post-High School Planning Meeting

On Tuesday, September 12th, Mr. Allen provided a post-high school planning presentation to the senior class.  If you were unable to attend, you can view the presentation PowerPoint.  If you need assistance with post-high school plans, please contact Mr. Allen to make an appointment.

Senior Class Presentation PowerPoint

College Planning Conference - Salina Central High School

South High seniors are invited to attend the KACRAO (Kansas Association of College Registrars & Admissions Officers) CPC (College Planning Conference) at Salina Central HS on Monday, October 30th from 8:30 a.m. - 10:30 a.m.  There will be two gyms set up in a fair browsing setting where students can talk to close to 40 colleges as well as military representatives from across the state. There will also be area businesses ready to talk with students who may consider workforce opportunities right after high school.  See Mr. Allen for details.

Financial Aid Night

The SHS Counseling Department will host Financial Aid Night for senior parents and students on Monday, October 30th at 6:00 p.m. in the South High Commons.  Financial Aid representatives from Kansas Wesleyan University will be presenting an update on the new simplified version of the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA).

Senior Parent Night

Senior Parent Night was held on Wednesday, September 13th, 2023. Special guests from the Greater Salina Community Foundation (GSCF) joined us to present "Scholarship Bootcamp".  Seniors were encouraged to attend with their parents.

23-24 Senior Parent Night PowerPoint

RECRUITERS/COLLEGES at SHSS - During Lunch in Commons

• North Central Kansas Technical College - Thursday, September 21st
• Kansas State University - Monday, September 25th
• Bethel College - Wednesday, September 27th
• Washburn University - Wednesday, October 4th
• Kansas Wesleyan University - Monday, October 9th
• University of Kansas - Tuesday, October 10th
• U.S. Army Recruiter - Thursday, October 12th
• Hutchinson Community College - Wednesday, October 18th
• Barton County Community College - Monday, October 23rd
• McPherson College - Friday, October 27th
• Wichita State University - Friday, November 3rd
• U.S. Army Recruiter - Thursday, November 9th

RepVisits
Salina South High School utilizes RepVisits to schedule visits to South High.  College, University, and Technical School admissions personnel can search and sign up for visits with the click of a button.

Senior News...

2024-25 FAFSA (Free Application for Federal Student Aid) Form
The 2024-25 FAFSA (Free Application for Federal Student Aid) is scheduled to open on December 15, 2023. Students enrolling for the academic year 2024/2025 can submit their FAFSA; families should use their 2022 income tax information. Before students and parents can complete the FAFSA, the student and parent must create an FSA ID. To create your FSA ID go to FSA ID Website.  How to Create FSA ID Video

Google Certifications - Rural & Remote NWK
Rural & Remote NWK is pleased to announce a partnership with Grow with Google and is now offering scholarships to anyone (including graduating seniors) that are interested in upskilling, whether they are looking for a career change or wanting to advance in their current position. The scholarships are valid for one year and cover any/all of the following Professional Certifications:

• Cybersecurity Professional
• Digital Marketing & E-commerce
• Introductory Level - IT Support Certificate
• Advanced Level - IT Automation with Python Certificate
• Data Analytics
• Advanced-Data Analytics (Prerequisite - Data Analytics)
• Business Intelligence (Prerequisite - Data Analytics)
• Project Management
• UX Design

These certifications are designed for those without any prior experience or training and more information can be found on our website. We also have a new Cybersecurity Pathway that is very promising for anyone interested in technical remote work. This training begins with the Google Cybersecurity Professional certification, is suitable for anyone interested in Cybersecurity, and does not require any previous experience or training. R&R NWK is working with Enterprise KC, a non-profit organization that is focused on cybersecurity, to bring additional resources to the region and access to remote work opportunities to individuals in Northwest Kansas. The demand for cybersecurity professionals is expected to increase by 35% before 2030, so this is a very promising option!  Enterprise KC is developing assessment tests for those wanting to break into the field, as well as a platform known as Heartland Cyber Range to assist cybersecurity professionals practice defending against current threats, which will be the equivalent of work experience for those wanting to break into the field. As always, these programs are offered at no cost to participants. Do you anyone that may benefit from these programs? Anyone interested in learning more should fill out a Contact Us form on our website or feel free to contact Maria Dahlquist (Technical Program Specialist) at 785-324-2266 with any questions. 

ACT/SAT Test Prep - METHODIZE
Students can take advantage of ACT/SAT Test Prep in XELLO. Methodize is Method Learning’s brand new online learning platform. Methodize consists of newly updated and revised ACT and SAT courses. Our online program has served over a million students in the past two decades and Methodize distills that experience into a new platform that makes it easier for students and teachers to do test prep. Students can access Methodize under "Links and Resources" in their XELLO account.

Class of 2024 Senior Photos for the Yearbook

The deadline for senior photographs for the yearbook will be December 19, 2023, so plan now to meet the deadline. Photographs can be turned in as printed pictures, digitally on a CD or jump drive, or emailed to [email protected]. If you are sending them digitally, make sure they are at a high resolution or the reproduction in the yearbook will be unsatisfactory. Senior portraits must meet the following criteria to be used in the yearbook:

• Head and shoulder shot or can be cropped to head and shoulders shot.
• No hats or hands
• Color (not black and white or duo-tone)
• Plain background (It can be outside.)
• Vertical picture
• No selfies

The rationale behind these regulations is that head size remains consistent among all pictures and that all portraits command the same amount of attention rather than one individual standing out on the page. If you have any questions about the requirements or want the yearbook adviser to look at a photograph to see if it meets requirements, contact Kim Warren at [email protected] or 309-3798.  Yearbook staff members are also available to take a senior portrait for the yearbook. Students can contact Kim Warren to set up an appointment. Lifetouch photos can also be used. If you didn't take Interstate (school) photos, take them on retake day The yearbook staff has access to the photos, but students just need to let Mrs. Warren know they want these used.

South High Student Opportunities...

Please read carefully. Some opportunities apply to a specific age/classification of student. Additional information is available in the Counseling Office.

Volunteer Opportunities
Are you looking for opportunities to volunteer in the Salina and Saline County community?  Here are some links to get started.

Volunteer Match, Salina Youth Helping Hands, Catholic Charities, Salina Family YMCA, Saline Emergency Food Bank, Salina Area United Way, Salina Regional Health Center Student Volunteer Program 

Earl Bane First-Time College Student Microscholarship
The Earl Bane First-Time College Student Micro-Scholarship is for $250. A student may only receive this scholarship one time. The scholarship may only be applied for tuition for a college credit class and must be paid directly to the college. This scholarship is for anyone in high school enrolling in a vocational or college-level class for credit, but it must be the first time the student has taken a vocational or college class.  The applicant must be a current USD 305 student attending either Central or South High and enrolled in a college credit class. Applicant must have his or her Xello IPS up-to-date and all assigned activities completed as required by the IPS Advisory Council of each high school. Ask your counselors for details. The student must demonstrate the ability to be successful in earning credit in a college-level class.  Application Deadline: Wednesday, September 20, 2023 at 11:59 p.m.  Earl Bane Microscholarship Application

O'Brate Foundation - Dual Credit Scholarship
The O’Brate Foundation desires for students with limited financial means to have the ability to take college courses while in high school. Our Dual-Credit Awards vary based on each student’s enrollment status and financial situation. Students who apply earliest in the semester are extended Priority Consideration. Applications submitted before December 1st in the FALL semester and before May 1st in the SPRING semester will be considered. Login to SM Apply > Click Dual-Credit Scholarship from the Programs Menu. No access code or permissions required. Qualified applicants will be contacted by O’Brate Foundation Staff to complete an in-person or video conference interview within one to two weeks of application submission. Notification of the award decision may take two to three weeks after the interview.

RaiseMe Microscholarship Program
Did you know that you can start earning incremental college scholarships, also known as micro-scholarships, your freshman year of high school by signing up for the RaiseMe program? When you create your online portfolio, you can start logging your grades, classes, extracurricular activities and other college prep experiences to track your progress toward college scholarships, all the way up to your senior year of high school. Colleges and universities have partnered with RaiseMe to help eligible high school students in grades 9-12 track their personal and academic progress and start earning micro-scholarships. These awards are performance-based scholarships that are earned for achievements both inside and outside the classroom, including excellent grades, volunteering, participation in extracurricular activities, and ACT/SAT scores. Raise Me offers high school students the opportunity to quantify their leadership in high school and their community, achieving good grades, taking challenging courses, and participating in extracurricular activities. Learn more about this exciting, no-cost opportunity and sign up. The deadline for seniors to add achievements to their RaiseMe profiles is December 1 of their senior year.

To view full calendar click here

EMPORIA STATE UNIVERSITY

• February 1 - Priority deadline
• March 15 - Priority deadline for Federal Financial Aid
• To apply for talent scholarships, contact the department directly. Contact information is on their site.

FORT HAYS STATE UNIVERSITY

• December 15 - Priority deadline for general scholarship
• February 15 - Final deadline for general scholarships
• March 15 - Priority deadline for Federal Financial Aid

KANSAS STATE UNIVERSITY

• December 1 - Priority deadline for premiere scholarships
• February 1 - College/Departmental scholarship deadline
• February 1 - Priority deadline for Federal Financial Aid

PITTSBURG STATE UNIVERSITY

• February 1 - Deadline for general scholarships

UNIVERSITY OF KANSAS

• December 1 - Priority deadline for general scholarships
• March 1-Priority date for Federal Financial Aid

WICHITA STATE UNIVERSITY

• WSU begins awarding scholarships for incoming freshmen in September. Apply early for full consideration for scholarships
• October 15 - Deadline for admittance to be included in the DSI Competition (Distinguished Scholars Invitational)
• December 1 - Deadline for freshman merit scholarships

AUGUST-SEPTEMBER

• Register for the SAT and/or ACT if you didn’t take a college entrance exam as a junior or want to take one again. Remember: Your counselor can help with fee waivers.
• Take a look at some college applications. Make note of all the pieces of information you will need to compile.
• Check with your school counselor to make sure you are on track to graduate and fulfill college admission requirements.
• Take every opportunity to get to know colleges. Meet with college representatives who visit your school, attend local college fairs, and visit campuses.
• Narrow down your list of colleges. Collect information about the application and financial aid process at each school.
• Create a checklist and calendar to keep track of standardized test dates, college application due dates, and financial aid deadlines. Make note of the other materials, such as recommendations or essays, you’ll need to complete your applications.

OCTOBER

• Some colleges will have deadlines (rolling, priority, early decision, and early action) as early as this month.
• If you cannot afford the application fees that many colleges charge, ask your counselor to help you request a fee waiver.
• Finalize your college essay. Many schools will require that you submit at least one essay with your application.
• Request personal recommendations from teachers, school counselors, or employers.
• Research scholarships. Ask your counselor, your colleges, and local religious and civic groups about scholarship opportunities. You should never pay for scholarship information.

NOVEMBER-DECEMBER

• Finalize and send any early decision or early action applications due this month. Have a parent, teacher, counselor, or other adult review the application before it is submitted.
• Every college will require a copy of your transcript from your high school. Follow your school’s procedure for sending transcripts.
• File your Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) as soon after Dec. 15 as possible. In addition to determining your eligibility for federal funds, many colleges and states use the form when distributing grants, so don’t delay. Watch the mail for your Student Aid Report (SAR)—it should arrive four weeks after the FAFSA is filed.
• Make sure testing companies have sent your scores directly to the colleges to which you are applying.
• Begin to organize regular decision applications and financial aid forms, which will be due in January and/or February.
• If needed, register for the January SAT. It is the last one colleges will be able to consider for a senior.
• Many popular and selective colleges will have application deadlines as early as Jan. 1. Others have deadlines later in January and February.
• If necessary, register for the February ACT (some colleges will be able consider it).
• In January, ask your guidance office to send first semester transcripts to schools where you applied. At the end of the school year, they will need to send final transcripts to the college you will attend.

FEBRUARY-MAY

• Acceptance letters and financial aid offers will start to arrive. Review your acceptances, compare financial aid packages, and visit your final choices.
• Don’t slack in the classroom. The college you decide to attend will want to see your second semester transcript.
• May 1 is the date when the college you plan to attend requires a commitment and deposit. When you’ve made your college decision, notify your counselor. Send in your deposit by the postmark date of May 1. If you’ve been offered financial aid, accept the offer and follow the instructions given. Also notify schools you will not attend of your decision.
• Request that your final transcript be sent to the college you will be attending.
• If you are wait-listed by a college you really want to attend, visit, call, and write the admission office to make your interest clear. Ask how you can strengthen your application.

Information Courtesy of 2023 National Association for College Admission Counseling (NACAC)