Academic Planning:  Grades 9-12

This page is filled with guidelines and directions regarding information about scholarships, academic plans, academic resources, career planning, important and timely issues of concern for parents, summer enrichment workshops, NCAA and NAIA eligibility, etc.   This website provides links, timely materials and updates for present seniors -- scholarships available, recruiting visits -- in particular. Many recruiters begin visiting Pius in early September as school begins; the majority will visit in October and November. There will be several college fairs around the city; parents and students should check the "Calendar" https://spxkc.org/planning-for-college for dates and times of these fairs, information nights, as well as college recruiting visits to SPX. Thanks for visiting!

     Pius has two counselors: Mr. Richard Murphy and Mrs. Mariza Cascone (part time). Mrs. Cascone works primarily with the freshmen. In addition, we have Ms. Krista Daniels, our Inclusive Education Teacher, who works and assists special needs students and the SPX Strategic Intervention Team (S.I.T.).  She writes accommodations' plans and works individually with students who are challenged academically; in addition, she coordinates the Peer Mentoring Program that SPX has.  Her office is in the Fine Arts Building, and her phone extension is 413.
Parents should contact her as needed.

                       Senior Year:  Important Dates to Remember for 2020-2021
 
ACT Testing Dates
Sept 12      Oct 24          Dec 12        Feb 06         Apr 17          Jun 12      July 17

SAT Testing Dates:
Aug 29       Sept 26       Oct 03         Nov 7          Dec 5          Mar 13         May 8      Jun 5         
All of these dates reflect the new version of the SAT

Oct 1st 2020
Student and parents visit FAFSA website:            http://www.fafsa.ed.gov        Completion of this form is essential to securing financial aid.

Feb  1st  2021
FAFSA priority deadline for submitting FAFSA form.  The form may be submitted after that date; however, priority is not given to completing it in a timely fashion.

April 25th 2021
Notify Mr. Murphy where final transcript is to be sent for 1) college;  2) summer welcome / registration;  3) sorority or fraternity; NCAA or NAIA Eligibility Center.

                       Seniors / Senior Parents Should Do These Things

MONTHLY:

• Know that seniors have two excused college visits; familiarize yourself with the procedure (on the left).  It is simple:  set it up online, bring a written parental note to Mr.Murphy, get an orange "College Visit" slip, have it signed by all teachers, then turn it in to Mrs. Bohr in the main office by the day before the visit.
• Visit "Scholarship Station" for scholarship updates:https://spxkc.org/scholarship-station-1  
• Be Aware of college application deadlines, be vigilant about transcript submissions, and requesting ACT scores to college and universities
• Make sure BOTH of you know the ACT login
• Deadlines vary
• Senior Parents:
       I am sending this set of notes to you to make things easier for you and for me:  
       1)  Two College visits are excused for seniors, provided proper protocol is followed.  Procedure is on this page and the "Planning for College" submenu on Mr. Murphy's page -- parent note given to Mr Murphy (not Mrs. Bohr in the main office--this only slows the process), College visit slip acquired, and student has each teacher sign it.   Student then turns in both to Mrs. Bohr prior to the college visit day.
       2) Mrs. Cascone and I will set up a  "senior folder" with each senior in the Fall that is accessible through their Google Drive.  We also will have seniors set up "Remind Texts" for recruiters coming to SPX and for other college fairs and information nights.  We also will actually take seniors through a college application, beginning to end, with application and fee payment.  They will need their social security number and a credit card, so please have them have both with them once school begins.
       3)  Scholarship info is on Mr. Murphy's main website page:  It is the "Scholarship Station"  https://spxkc.org/scholarship-station-1
       4)  Transcripts will be sent until a senior has 45 approved service hours (45 semester 1, 52 semester 2)  toward his/her graduation and is current with tuition payments.    A listing of approved community organizations in on the "Community Service" link under the FAITH AND SERVICE tab at the top of the main SPX website page.   If you wish to have approval requested for any additional organizations, then email Mr. Monachino and secure his stamp of approval.
       5) If a senior completes an application and sends it, I cannot send a  transcript unless I know about the completed application.  Some colleges, notably KU, KSU, and Univ of Nebraska, have initiated a new policy of students self-reporting grades and credits (then later verifying with a final transcript). The counselor is not necessarily notified.  Your senior should  email me, send a Remind text, or bring me a note requesting the transcript.
       6) Some colleges and universities require that the ACT score come directly from ACT.  This is the student's responsibility to complete the request; the application should indicate if this requirement is the expectation.  To request a score directly from ACT, go to www.actstudent.org, log in, click on "Send My Scores", insert the proper school code, pay, and submit.   Otherwise, I can send a photocopy of their test scores card which should suffice.
       7) FAFSA application opens October 1st    FAFSA link    You have to establish an account and get a FAFSA ID number first.  Both the parents and the student must complete a FAFSA and have separate accounts:  students should NOT use their school email, and the parents and the student should have separate emails.  There are many FAFSA Frenzy events throughout the fall and winter at the community college campuses that can assist you with completion of the form.  https://dhe.mo.gov/ppc/fafsafrenzy.php    Priority deadline is 1 Feb 2021.  FAFSA's can be sent after 1 Feb 2021, however.
  
  8) If your son or daughter is considering college sports, then an NCAA or NAIA Clearinghouse account must be established.  They are $70+, so discussion about college sports, if applicable, should take place early in the school year.

      

                 ESSENTIAL INTERNET SITES FOR COLLEGE-BOUND STUDENTS:

www.collegeboard.com                          www.dhe.mo.gov     [Missouri Dept of
                                                                                                 Higher Education]

www.finaid.org                                       www.mappingyourfuture.org

www.studentaid.ed.gov                           https://spxkc.org/scholarship-station-1           

                               ATHLETIC ELIGIBILITY AND COLLEGE SPORTS:
     Students who wish to play college sports need to register with the NCAA or NAIA Clearinghouses whether it be Division I, II, or III [see the links to the side]. Please note that a student's ACT or SAT scores must be sent directly from ACT [www.actstudent.org] or the College Board [www.collegeboard.com] . ACT / SAT scores on the transcript or sent by photocopy are not considered official. The student (family) can request those online by going to http://www.actstudent.org and clicking on "send my scores." You have to include the date(s) of the score(s) you wish sent. You would want to send a "REGULAR" report. Fees vary.  NCAA code is 9999; NAIA code is 9876.   

                          ADOLESCENT CONCERNS AND TEENS' NEEDS

     There are a number of links that deal with "adolescent concerns" which parents and students may find worthwhile and interesting to read. These include anxiety, ADHD, depression, eating disorders, bullying, suicidal tendencies and other situations that interfere or affect a child's performance.  Check out more information:  https://spxkc.org/parents-issues-and-concerns

                                                     TESTING:
     Wednesday, October 14, 2020, will be St. Pius X's All-School Testing Day. All students will be taking practice ACT assessments; a detailed, itemized report will be available for the students in about 10 days.  https://spxkc.org/testing
     The PSAT is optional for Pius kids. We take it October 17th, the Saturday following All-School testing day--juniors and sophomores who opt for it.  It is good for standardized testing practice and for National Merit scholarship qualification; it is also a prelude to the SAT test for students who would opt for that. The practice ACT is taken on another date.

     In 2020 - 2021, juniors will also take the ACRE [test of religious knowledge] during the school year at some time.

                            SEMESTER FAILURES AND MAKEUP GRADES

     Students may use the eCampus option available through their public school district or several other credit recovery options available on MYSPX.  See the link  www.acellus.com, as this is the most common.  A $100 fee for each course.


                                                        JUNIOR YEAR:

• 1) Set up scholarship accounts: Go to https://spxkc.org/scholarship-station-1 and set up profiles.  Periodically, you will receive emails alerting you to a scholarship or grant for which you may be eligible. Go to the link, read the "capsule" and apply if you fit the criteria.

• 2) Visit college websites, or technical careers       to inform yourself about options.     https://www.uti.edu/careers

• 3) Look at https://www.campusreel.org/ and www.youvisit.comto take virtual tours of schools. Many schools have their own online virtual tours as well.  

• 4) You have one excused college visit.  Take it.  Follow the procedure outline above for seniors, or click the link on the left.

• 5) Go to the "Planning for College" MENU and use one of the tools.  https://spxkc.org/planning-for-senior-year
•  

                                   UNDERCLASSMEN PLANNING:

Students develop a 4 Year Plan with the Counselors.  They are highly encouraged to do community service in the summers of their freshman and sophomore years.  Students are always advised to find the main sources of information about a school's areas of study by checking out their main websites.                                                 

                            HIGH SCHOOL PLACEMENT TEST FOR 8TH GRADERS:

8th Grade students and parents: this link will provide further information for you regarding the High School Placement Test exam.  http://www.ststesting.com/hsptpg9.html