This document summarizes information that will be presented at an upcoming senior parent meeting. It introduces several presenters who will discuss graduation items like gowns, portraits, projects, and plans. Details are provided about ordering announcements and attire from Herff Jones, submitting senior portraits and quotes, creating senior ads, and requirements for graduation, the capstone project, and scholarships. Important dates are noted for orders, submissions, and practices. The graduation ceremony is scheduled for May 29.

1. Senior Parent Meeting
Class of 2020
Keith Foust from Herff Jones –
Graduation Gowns & Paraphernalia
Michael Dayton – Senior Portraits,
Yearbook & Senior Ads
Elaine Dasher – Senior Project
Maria Baldwin – Graduation Plan
Carey Blalock – Graduation Ceremony

2. Mr. Keith Foust, Sales Representative
kfoust@herffatlanta.com
Graduation Announcements
Cap & Gown
Class Rings
Information will be distributed at the Senior Class
Meeting on Wednesday, September 18th during TAA.

4. Herff Jones
Placing your
Order
Representatives will be at Sequoyah High
School on September 30th and October 1st to
take orders.
Orders can be placed on the Herff Jones
website beginning October 2nd
Herff Jones will return on November 4th and
December 4th for any additional orders.
All orders should be placed by December.

5. Yearbook, Pictures,
& Senior Ads:
Mr. Michael Dayton
michael.dayton@cherokeek12.net

6. The deadline for senior portraits
for the yearbook is October 5.
Go to cadystudios.com/seniors
to book an appointment.

7. October 5 is also the last day for
senior quote submissions:
sequoyahseniors2020@gmail.com

8. Senior quotes are disqualified if
they use obscene language or
reference drugs, alcohol, or sexual
activity.
No do-overs!
Easy rule: if they have to ask if it’s
inappropriate, it is.

9. Creating and submitting a senior page is easy!
It’s all online.

10. www.yearbookordercenter.com
Type in 10795

11. Click on “Buy a Yearbook Ad”.

12. Choose the size that fits your budget.

13. Choose “student”, then search her name.

14. You should see this, but
with your child’s name.

15. Create an
account.

16. Choose a template that you like.

17. You’ll be prompted to upload the
JPG’s you wish to use for your
page.
You can save your work and return
to it later.

18. When you’re done, finish the
purchase and submit your page.
Your page is sent to us
automatically.

19. Senior pages are due
November 1st.

20. Ordering a
Yearbook
www.yearbookordercenter.com
Enter 10795
$65 until September Break
$75 through January 17th.
$85 after January 17th
$95 on distribution day in May
Add $5 for name stamping

21. Email questions to
shs.yearbook@cherokeek12.net

22. Senior Capstone Project
Ms. Elaine Dasher
elaine.dasher@cherokeek12.net

23. GOAL
5 LEARNING
EXPERIENCES
Post-Secondary
Options
Leadership
Problem Solving

24. SENIOR BOARDS
Two dates this year:
Thursday, October 17, 2019
OR
Thursday, December 5, 2019

25. Questions to Ask Your Senior
What goal did you set
for your Senior
Capstone Project?
How many learning
experiences have you
completed? (5 required)
Would you please send
me the link to your
ePortfolio? (10%)
When is your next
progress check?
(October)
Are you presenting in
October or December?
(10%)
What visual aids are you
using for Senior Boards?
Would you like for me
to watch you practice
your presentation?

26. Senior Capstone Teachers ~ Please contact us with any questions.

27. Lead Counselor:
Ms. Maria Baldwin
maria.baldwin@cherokeek12.net

28. SHSCOUNSELORS
SHSCOUNSELORS
Ms. Maria Baldwin ~ (A-D)
maria.baldwin@cherokeek12.net
Ms. Wendy Fort ~ (E-K)
wendy.fort@cherokeek12.net
Ms. Monica Intravia ~ (L-Q)
monica.intravia@cherokeek12.net
Ms. McKenzie Thom ~ (R-Z)
mckenzie.thom@cherokeek12.net
Front Office Staff:
Ms. Cindy Brown
Ms. Violett Heeman

29. Graduation
Requirements
Minimum of
23 units
needed to
graduate
4 units of English
4 units of Math
4 units of Science
(must include Biology & a PH – science)
3 units of Social Studies
1 unit PE/ Health (or 3 units of JROTC)
3 units of required electives
4 units of miscellaneous electives

30. Time to Make Decisions
Technical College?
2-Year College?
4-Year College
Safety School?
Reach Schools?
What’s the difference?
What if I am not
going to college?
Is military an option?

31. August & September
Finalize your
application
list and start
applying!
• Visit college
campuses
• Register for
SAT or
ACT
Determine
your method
of application
• Early
Decision
• Regular
Decision
Organize
Application
Materials
Begin
Scholarship
Search

32. October,
November,
& December
Continue to work on college applications
Check college websites for what each college
requires
Send SAT or ACT scores
It is your responsibility to send the scores
Recommendations letters - if required
Write Essays – if required
Apply for Financial Aid

33. November 4th at 6:30pm
Sequoyah High School Theater
Financial Aid Night
Tons of helpful information
presented by Marcus Hilliard from
Georgia Student Finance
Commission

34. Applications should be completed by Thanksgiving break unless . . .
You are applying Early Action – Deadline October 1
OR
You wish to improve your grades and GPA before sending your transcript.

35. January & February
Continue to search for scholarships, and apply, apply, apply!
If you did not completed your college application process in
fall semester finalize all applications and send all supporting
documents
If you have been accepted and plan to attend, please stop by
Student Services and let Mrs. Brown know for our records.

36. March & April
College Bound
Receive acceptance letters from colleges
Receive financial aid packages from colleges
Decide which school you plan to attend

37. March & April
Non-College Bound
 Going into the Military? Make final arrangements with your recruiter.
 Working after high school? START looking for a job or a BETTER job.
Attend Career Fairs!
 Taking a year off before starting college? Check with your college about
deferring your enrollment. Many colleges will let you apply now and
notify your of your acceptance, but allow you to begin the following
academic year.

38. May
Notify Student Services where you will be
attending
CAUTION! – if you change your mind after
May 1, there may not be room for you at the
college
After May 1 – colleges assume you plan to
attend a different school and start offering
admission to “wait list” students
By May 1 – you must let your college know that
you plan to accept their offer of acceptance

39. Completing
the
Application
Online applications are preferred
Paper Applications can be downloaded
Should I waive my right to view
recommendations?
Apply through www.gafutures.org, or
some school use the Common
Application, Coalition, or SendEdu

41. Request transcripts for out-of-state colleges
 Create an account on www.parchment.com
 Use your personal email
 There is NOT a registration code
 There is a $5.00 fee
 The link can also be found under the Student
Services Icon by clicking “Request your
transcript”

42. Sending SAT
& ACT Scores
www.collegeboard.org for
SAT and AP Scores
www.actstudent.org for
ACT scores
Links for both may be
located on Student
Services website

44. Letters of Recommendation
• If there is an option for a recommendation to be sent
electronically, this is the option you should choose.
• If the option is not available, give your teacher/ counselor the
recommendation form with the envelope and the deadline to
return.
• ALWAYS give your teachers/ counselor 2 weeks notice
• Teachers are NOT required to write a recommendation for you,
so always ask if they would be willing to write a
recommendation.

45. HOPE
Scholarship
•Students must have a 3.0 GPA
graduating from an eligible high
school.
•Students must maintain a 3.0
GPA in college to keep HOPE.
•https://www.gafutures.org/hop
e-state-aid-programs/hope-zell-
miller-scholarships/hope-
scholarship/award-amounts/

46. Zell Miller Scholarship
• Student must have a 3.7 GPA graduating from an eligible high
school.
• Students must have a combined 1200 SAT score (critical reading/
math only) or a 26 Composite ACT score. These test scores must
come from a single test sitting.
Zell Miller Scholarship will cover tuition at 100% for an
academic year at a public Georgia college or university.

47. Hope Rigor
Information
Math:
Algebra 2
Pre-Calculus
Statistical Reasoning
College Readiness
Math
Advanced
Mathematical Decision
Making (AMDM)
Science:
Chemistry
Physics
Human Anatomy
World Language:
Spanish 2, 3,4
French 2, 3, 4
Latin 2, 3, 4
• Class of 2019 MUST have 4 units of Academic Rigor to be
eligible for HOPE or Zell Miller Scholarships.
• You do not have to have AP courses to be eligible for HOPE
• AP academic core courses, however, will qualify for HOPE
rigor
• Examples of non-AP courses that will count towards the rigor
requirement:

48. HOPE
Grant
•HOPE Grant is for students
seeking a technical certificate or
diploma
•HOPE Grant is available to
high school graduates in
Georgia regardless of GPA
•https://www.gafutures.org/hop
e-state-aid-programs/hope-zell-
miller-grants/

49. Scholarship
Information
Scholarship information can be found on the Student
Services portion of the SHS website.
Free scholarship search sites and links are located under
the resource tab under Student Services on Sequoyah’s
home page.
Contact post-secondary institution Financial Aid office
for available scholarships.
Check out parent or student employers, churches, clubs or
civic organizations for scholarship opportunities.
Financial Aid workshop to be held at Sequoyah on
Monday, November 4, 2019 6:30 p.m. in the theater.
Notify counseling office of any scholarships that are
accepted.

50. Finding
Scholarships
www.fastweb.com
www.scholarships.com
www.gafutures.org
Check Student Services website for
local scholarships
Financial Aid Night – Nov. 4 @6:30
in theater – Please plan to attend!

51. Graduation Coordinator:
Ms. Carey Blalock
carey.blalock@cherokeek12.net

52. Forsyth Conference Center
May 2nd 7 – 11pm
Tickets will tentatively go on
sale after February Break

53. Canvas Accounts for Parents

54. SPRING
Senior Class
Meeting
January 15, 2020 During TAA
Information regarding the graduation
practices & ceremony will be given to
students at this meeting.
Contracts will be due February 12, 2020 in
order to participate in graduation activities.
Students will turn these in to their
homeroom teachers even if they do not
plan on participating in the ceremony.

55. Graduation Practices
May 26th @ Sequoyah High School
May 27th @ Sequoyah High School
May 28th @ First Baptist Church Woodstock
Senior Breakfast prior to May 27th Practice
(Donations Appreciated!)

56. Graduation Ceremony
• Friday, May 29, 2020 at 8pm
• Senior report approximately at 6pm
• No limit on number of friends and family attending.
• Appropriate Dress Required:
• Senior males should wear black pants, white shirt, black
dress shoes, and black socks (tie optional)
• Senior females should wear black dress (if the dress does
not show below the gown, any color will be OK) and
black dress shoes. Low heels are recommended!

57. Graduation Gown
Return
Monday, June 1st between
8am – 11am
Sequoyah High School
Gym Mezzanine

58. Diploma Seals and Graduation Chords
International Skills Diploma
Seal
Seal of Biliteracy
Career Pathway Completers

59. Thank you
for coming!
Questions?