activities, events, testing, scholarships, and college...

activities, events, testing, scholarships, and college advising updates April 2016

TERRA Environmental Research Institute 11005 S.W. 84th Street Miami, Florida 33173

(305) 412-5800 www.terrawolves.com

Caridad Montano, Principal

Senior Week:

April 4th – April 8th

Miami-Dade College Admissions Blitz: Tuesday, April 5th,

12:30 p.m. – 2:30 p.m. (Media Center)

Sign up under the College Advising tab of the terrawolves.com site.

Senior Luau:

Thursday, April 7th, (Kendall Indian Hammocks Park)

Grad Bash:

Friday, April 8th, overnight

(Universal Studios/Islands of Adventure)

Teacher planning day:

Friday, April 8th

Theater One-Act Show Tuesday, April 12th,

6:00 p.m. (Cafetorium)

Chorus concert:

Tuesday, April 19th, 6:00 p.m.

(Cafetorium)

Performing Arts Banquet: Thursday, April 21st, 6:00 p.m. – 7:30 p.m.

(Cafetorium)

A few reminders: Remember to adhere to our uniform policy. Shirts must be green or white and

show the TERRA logo on the upper left side. Uniform pants must be regular blue uniform pants (no jeans, yoga wear, tapered ankle, rolled up, or skinny pants). Shirts must be tucked in, and belts must be worn. Any sweaters or

sweatshirts cannot have hoods and must also display the TERRA logo.

Make sure to be at school every day and on time. TERRA follows a 10/10 policy: if either 10 absences or 10 tardies occur, you will be placed on academic

probation.

Text the following numbers to stay up-to-date on all TERRA happenings: @terraact to 81010 (activities updates)

@terratest to 81010 (testing info. for TERRA students) @testinfo to 81010 (testing info. for TERRA parents)

If you have not yet submitted BOTH your FAFSA and FFAA applications, do so ASAP. As a matter of fact, put this newsletter down right now, and submit. Right now. Go. The number one concern regarding the college process is the ability to finance your education, and if you have not yet completed both forms, you are very likely missing out on the funds to help ease the burden. This is not something you want to delay – get on it. Remember the FAFSA is FREE, FREE, FREE, meaning do not pay to submit, ever, though websites will very politely offer to charge you for this process. Don’t pay for a FREE application. Also, once you accept a school (by submitting the deposit prior to the typical May 1st deadline: a school will never just assume you’re attending), it is polite to decline any other schools you’ve been accepted to. This can be done through a quick phone call to their admissions office or an email thanking them for the honor of your acceptance, but indicating that you’ve decided to attend another school. This is not a required step but a polite one, and polite is always good. Be polite.

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SAT exam: Register at

sat.collegeboard.org

May 7 (register by 4/8)

June 4 (register by 5/5)

Use the following sites for free practice for both the SAT and ACT. https://www.khanacademy.org/sat

https://sat.collegeboard.org/practice/sat-practice-test http://www.actstudent.org/testprep/

Juniors: make sure you are preparing and registering for both the SAT and ACT exams. Do your best to complete the testing (and retesting!) process by the end of junior year so that you can focus on college applications and deadlines during summer and the beginning of senior year. Use your PSAT reports to assist you with test preparation, and focus on making your weaknesses strengths. Plug your PSAT report into the Khan Academy site for personalized (free!) instruction and practice.

Redesigned SAT tips: remember, the new format does not penalize for incorrect answers any longer, and the essay is now optional. It is strongly suggested to take the essay portion, however, in case the schools you apply to still require it as part of their application process.

Mariana Barbara, Miami-Dade Honors College ACT exam: Register at

services.actstudent.org

April 9 (register by 3/4)

June 11 (register by 5/6)

*:Late registrations are available for a fee (based on space), but why would you WAIT? Plan now and register on

time!

Testing fee waivers are available for both the SAT and ACT if you qualify for free/reduced lunch.

Students are eligible for two fee waivers per test. Apply online

under the College Advising tab of the terrawolves.com website.

Volume 8, April 2016


Julie Vivian, College Assistance Program Advisor (305) 412-5800, ext. 2204 [email protected] 2

TERRA Academy: Biomedical Anticipated major:

Psychology Financial aid package:

I achieved a full scholarship at MDC honors. I need to apply for more when I transfer out to other universities. To get financial aid, you need to apply early - they charge at MDC based on the credits you take. Most challenging college coursework thus far: Lab reports, research papers, investigative journalism, college portfolio, service learning reflection, chemistry exams, transfer essays Biggest surprise about the college experience: College is a lot harder and it all depends on what I do. Procrastination is not an option. Time management is essential to completing any task. Advice to current Wolves: Enjoy the last few months of high school because they will go by very fast. Work hard and study but also find time to get involved. The expectations are so much different, because once you get to college, y'all ain't in Kansas anymore! (But seriously college is fun if you make the best of it!)

Mariana Barbara

TERRA Class of 2014 MDC Honors Class of 2016

https://www.khanacademy.org/sat

https://www.khanacademy.org/sat

https://sat.collegeboard.org/practice/sat-practice-test






http://www.actstudent.org/testprep/

http://www.actstudent.org/testprep/

Understanding your financial aid package:

The process: 1. Student/parent completes FAFSA and FFAA online: this is the only way to receive federal and/or state funding for financial aid 2. EFC (Expected Family Contribution) is determined. *Your EFC is not the amount of money your family will have to pay for college, nor is it the amount of federal student aid you will receive. It is a number used by your school to calculate how much financial aid you are eligible to receive.* 3. SAR (Student Aid Report) sent to student and schools: please check this report through your FAFSA to make sure the information listed is correct. It will guide you regarding any errors that may have come up and how to fix them, but you must review it to know this. 4. Your college determines the award(s) you are eligible to receive. 5. Awards are mailed to you or posted online, usually by mid-April at the latest. 6. Check your status! It is your responsibility to stay updated with the financial aid amounts offered to you. 7. Decide which awards to accept or decline. (Loan amounts may be reduced, if you only want to accept a portion of what’s offered.)


Julie Vivian, College Assistance Program Advisor (305) 412-5800, ext. 2204 [email protected]

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The financial aid award letter/email/online notification will also explain all of the costs associated with attending that school, also known as the COA (Cost of Attendance). It is unique to you and your circumstances, based on the information you’ve provided to them. This is huge…please do not hesitate to ask me to help explain your award letter. Before you commit to any college, you really need to understand if the money that you are getting from your college is enough to help you pay for it. It is important that you know and understand: Total Cost of Attendance (what are the individual costs and are they necessary? Every letter will include this.) Your EFC (Expected Family Contribution) How much you received in grants and scholarships (free money) Work Study offers (a job on campus) Loans (money that you must repay) Once you understand all of the above, you can then determine if that school is an option for you and/or if you can decline some of your loans.

Understanding your financial aid package: Sample award letter (from last year – your letter will obviously list the 2016-2017 school year):



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So, according to this example, this student’s total cost of attendance is $61,684 per year (top red arrow). The financial aid award totals $57,675 per year (bottom red arrow), though that includes $5,500 per year in student loans. This is a conversation you need to have with your parents. Though this school is offering a good chunk in grants (the University Tuition Grant, the Pell Grant, and the Supplemental Educational Opportunity Grant), this student will still have to come up with $4,009 per year not including the $5,500 offered in student loans. It will be up to you and your parents to decide if the amount you need to pay per year is worth attending that particular school. Again, make sure you know what’s expected of you to attend a school – the financial aid award letter will explain all of that. Your Final Decision: Please remember that for most colleges, a final decision is required by May 1st. Once you decide, you will have to send in your admissions deposit and schedule an orientation at the college, but the process is different for each school, so make sure you understand the amounts and deadlines for your chosen school.

GREEN scholarship and program opportunities

Also be sure to check fastweb.com and bigfuture.collegeboard.org for additional scholarship opportunities.

Calzadilla/DTRT Police Memorial Scholarship The Senior Police Executive Angel Calzadilla/DTRT Police Memorial Scholarship is open to all high school seniors who want to pursue a career in law enforcement at the Miami Police Training Center. Please keep in mind that the scholarship is ONLY for those planning to attend the Miami Police Academy. If you have any questions on the academy application process or anything pertaining to the Miami Police Academy please call the Registrar's office at 305-603-6616 and speak with Mabel Arrazcaeta or Ofc. Harold Geisse. If you have any questions about the scholarship please give us a call. More information: to obtain a copy of the application and info sheet, log on to http://dotherightthinginc.org/scholarship/. Deadline: April 15, 2016 Hubert Sibley South Florida Educational Federal Credit Union Scholarship Eligibility: parent/legal guardian or student must be a member of the SFECU with an active account opened on or before April 8th, 2016, applicant must meet graduation requirements and be graduating with a standard diploma in 2016. Application available in the University Center. Award: (15) four-year prepaid college tuition awards Deadline: April 8, 2016 ExxonMobil Bernard Harris Math and Science Scholarship Program Named for the first African American to walk in space, ExxonMobil Bernard Harris Math and Science Scholarships are available to 2016 graduating high school seniors in school districts represented by the Council of the Great City Schools. Four scholarships for two males and two females --- $5,000 each --- will be awarded to two African American and two Hispanic students on behalf of the former NASA astronaut, physician and businessman, Dr. Bernard Harris. Eligibility: Seniors. African American or Hispanic. Academic Achievement. Leadership skills or community service in the area of Science, Technology, Engineering or Mathematics. Minimum 3.0 unweighted GPA. For more information, go to: http://www.cgcs.org/domain/19 Award: $5,000 Deadline: April 15, 2016



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http://dotherightthinginc.org/scholarship/

http://www.cgcs.org/domain/19


Big Sun Scholarship The Big Sun Organization is proud to be able to continue to help young athletes succeed in their academic pursuits. We are offering an annual scholarship to a deserving student. All student athletes are eligible for this award, regardless of which sport they are participating in. The successful applicant will be a high school senior or be attending a post secondary institute and currently involved in some sport at that institution or in the community. Award: $500 More information: http://www.bigsunathletics.com Deadline: June 17, 2016 Magnet Schools of America College Scholarship The Magnet Schools of America (MSA) honors outstanding high school magnet graduates by awarding ten (10) notable students with the MSA College Scholarship Award. Each award is a $1,000.00 college scholarship to use toward future college expenses, including textbooks, technology, and other related educational materials. Applicant must be graduating from a M-DCPS Magnet High School Program with a 3.5 unweighted GPA or above. Applicant must have applied and been accepted to a technical, community, or four year college/university. Applicant must be available to receive recognition of the award during the MSA Conference, May 4-6, 2016 in Miami, Florida. Applications must be sent to: School Choice & Parental Options, 1450 N.E. 2nd Avenue, Suite 352, Miami, Florida 33132. Application available in the University Center. Deadline: Friday, April 15, 2016 2016 Greater Miami Chamber of Commerce Jeanne Bellamy & Carlos Arboleya, Jr. Scholarship The Jeanne Bellamy Scholarship fund was created by Jeanne Bellamy, the first woman to serve as chair of the Greater Miami Chamber of Commerce. The Carlos J Arboleya, Jr. Scholarship fund is in memory of Carlos J. Arboleya Jr., son of Chamber Chairman Carlos J. Arboleya who served the organization in its 1992-1993 year. Two $2,500 scholarships will be awarded; one to a female, high school senior from a Miami-Dade County public high school who intends to pursue a degree in business and the other to a male, high school senior from a Miami-Dade County public high school who intends to pursue a degree in business. Both scholarships are restricted to 12th graders. Application available in the University Center. Deadline: Monday, April 18, 2016 at 5:00 p.m.



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http://www.bigsunathletics.com/


Florida PTA Scholarship Florida PTA is pleased to offer a total of four (4) scholarships, one each in the following categories: University, Fine Arts, Community College, and Vo-Tech, to a student graduating in the 2015-2016 school year. This is a one time (non-renewable) award of $2,000.00 and will be awarded to a worthy student who is interested in getting a start in life through higher education. This award is specifically for a student who wishes to pursue their education at a Florida University, Fine Arts School, Community College, or Vo-Tech. Requirements for each student to apply for this scholarship include: Graduate from a Florida High School in the 2015-2016 school year, be a member of their high school’s PTA/PTSA or the Sunshine State PTSA, be a resident of the state of Florida, planning to continue their education in the 2016-2017 school year at a University, Fine Arts, Community College or Vo-Tech, fully complete the application and submit letters of recommendation, an essay, and copies of their official high school transcript, ACT and/or SAT scores. Additional factors will be taken into consideration in selecting a winner (e.g. need, special circumstances, extracurricular activities and honors, etc.) Application available in the University Center Award: $2,000 Deadline: May 1, 2016

TERRA PTSA 2016 Scholarship Our fantabulous TERRA PTSA is offering (19) $500 scholarships to graduating TERRA seniors. Six scholarships will be awarded to each academy, and (1) scholarship will be awarded on behalf of the Catherine “Kuzco” Gonzalez award. Qualifications: PTSA membership and/or Parent Donation Program Participant, as of March 1st, 2016, proof of college acceptance at a qualifying institution, minimum 3.0 GPA, demonstrated responsibility, character, and leadership, two letters of recommendation, completed application and essay response form Application available in the University Center Deadline: May 9, 2016 to the PTSA office

Judge Sidney M. Aronovitz Memorial Scholarship Fund The Aronovitz Family partnered with The Miami Foundation to honor the memory of the late Judge Sidney M. Aronovitz. Judge Aronovitz stood as an example for the community, excelling in his chosen profession and always thinking of those less fortunate than himself. Scholarships are awarded to Miami-Dade County minority students planning to continue their education through the university level. More information: www.miamifoundation.org Deadline: Friday, April 15 at 4 p.m.



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http://www.miamifoundation.org/




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College Assistance Program (CAP, Inc.) CAP, Inc. provides scholarships to Miami-Dade County Public School graduates who have exhausted all avenues of financial assistance (federal, state and institutional), but still have significant unmet needs to attend the college of their choice. Eligibility: financial need, graduation from a Miami-Dade County Public High School, full-time attendance, seeking a degree at a post-secondary institution, study towards completion of first undergraduate degree only. More information: www.miamifoundation.org Deadline: Thursday, June 2, 2016 at 4:00pm Give Kids A Chance Scholarship Give Kids A Chance is offering scholarship grants in the amount of $1,000 to high school seniors planning to attend college. The scholarship will be offered to those students graduating from public high schools in the State of Florida. Students who are attending college and who have previously received a grant under this program will also be eligible to apply for additional grants for each year they remain in college and maintain a minimum grade point average of 2.5 on a 4.0 scale (but for no more than 4 years). More information: www.miamifoundation.org Deadline: Friday, April 15 at 4 p.m. 2016 Miami-Dade County Council of PTAs/PTSA Scholarship ELIGIBILITY: 1. Be a graduating senior from a high school having a PTSA in Good Standing* with the Florida PTA and the Miami-Dade County Council PTA/PTSA, 2. Be a U.S. Citizen or an eligible non-citizen, 3. Have attended a Miami-Dade County Public High School for the last two (2) years, 4. Have a high school grade point average of 2.5 or better, 5. Have applied to enroll as a full-time student in a postsecondary community college, vocational technical school or a four (4) year college or university. 6. Submit all application materials by deadline date. Additional eligibility criteria may be found in the application packet. Application available in the University Center Award: $1,000 (The number of scholarships awarded is based upon available funds.) Scholarship monies may be used for tuition, textbooks and necessary school-related expenses. Deadline: SUBMISSIONS MUST BE RECEIVED IN THE PTA OFFICE NO LATER THAN APRIL 25, 2016. NO EXCEPTIONS. LATE APPLICATIONS AND/OR INCOMPLETE PACKETS WILL RENDER THE APPLICATION INELIGIBLE FOR CONSIDERATION. Scholarship recipients will be notified no later than May 6, 2016. The scholarship award ceremony will be held on May 12, 2016, at 7:00 p.m., in the Auditorium of the School Board Administration Building (SBAB).






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Alan R. Epstein ‘Reach for the Stars’ Scholarship Fund The Epstein family established the Alan R. Epstein ‘Reach for the Stars’ Scholarship to honor the life of an outstanding young man who was tragically killed in an automobile accident. Scholarships are awarded to students who have overcome life's obstacles. Eligibility: financial need, graduation from a Miami-Dade County Public High School, full-time attendance, seeking a degree at a post-secondary institution, study towards completion of first undergraduate degree only. Selection criteria: Alan R. Epstein ‘Reach for the Stars’ Scholarship Statement that describe circumstances related to your family’s financial status, Personal Statement/ Essay about personal obstacles and their positive impact on your life, Volunteer/ Work Experience and School Activities, Letters of Recommendation, College Acceptance Letters, Official Transcript More information: www.miamifoundation.org Deadline: Friday, April 15 at 4 p.m. Kiwanis Club of Kendall/South Dade Foundation (KSDF) Incentive Scholarship Award 2016 Awarded to graduating high school seniors residing in Kendall/South Dade, and attending one of the following local high schools: Coral Reef, Miami Palmetto, Robert Morgan Educational Center, Felix Varela, Miami Southridge, Terra Environmental Research Institute, Miami Killian, Miami Sunset, SAS Kendall Campus Students must demonstrate exceptional achievement in the areas of academic performance, leadership, school, community involvement, and financial need. The Incentive Scholarship Award 2016 will be a one-time award. Application available in the University Center. Award: $1,000 Deadline: May 13, 2016 North Bay Village Optimist Club Scholarship The N. Bay Village Optimist Club has fundraised primarily to fund our College Scholarship program, awarding over $150K to 12th grade Miami Dade public school students during this time (each scholarship award is for $1000). All 12th grade students in Miami Dade schools are eligible. More information and to download application: www.nbvoptimistclub.com Award: $1,000 Deadline: April 16, 2016


http://www.nbvoptimistclub.com/


SunTrust Off To College Scholarship For the tenth consecutive year, SunTrust is pleased to offer the Off To College Scholarship Sweepstakes where students can win a $500 scholarship for education expenses at a 2 or 4 year public or private college/university located in the U.S. A total of 30 individual $500 scholarships will be awarded for education expenses. Two winners will be randomly chosen every two weeks throughout the sweepstakes period. Entrants can be either: High school seniors planning to attend college in the fall of 2016, or Current college students continuing undergraduate studies in the fall of 2016 Free to enter - eligibility is not based on GPA or financial need. For complete details and application go to: https://www.suntrusteducation.com/ScholarshipSweepstakes/index.html Deadline: Two winners chosen every two weeks through May 13, 2016

Ayo and Iken Attorneys and Advocates Children of Divorce Scholarship The Law Firm of Ayo and Iken, a Florida law firm helping people with divorce and custody issues recognizes parents who co-parent their children despite the hardships of a separated household. Parents that successfully prioritize the best interests of their children should be recognized. We would like the children of those parents to be a success in life and recognize the outstanding example of parenting shown by their mothers and fathers. The Law Firm of Ayo and Iken, would like to help Florida high school seniors who have lived in a divided household from which two parents strive to maintain respect for each other as an ongoing concern while caring for their children. Two winners, selected by a committee of child custody attorneys, will each be awarded a $1,000 scholarship to be used toward their first year of college. You must write a 2000 minimum word essay describing how your parents continue to work together despite being part of a separated household. Your essay must describe in detail how your parents overcame obstacles and remained excellent role models More information: http://www.myfloridalaw.com/children-of-divorce-scholarship-ayo-iken Deadline: May 1, 2016



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Gen and Kelly Tanabe Scholarship 9th-12th grade high school, college, or graduate student including adult students. Legal resident of the U.S., Currently in school or planning to start school within the next 12 months. Essay. Financial need is not considered. The selection of the winner is based primarily on the quality of the submitted personal statement. Application must be completed online: http://www.gkscholarship.com Award: $1,000 Deadline: July 31, 2016 Raise.me: DO THIS, TERRA, DO THIS. Raise.me helps students in 9th - 12th grades to discover colleges and earn scholarships for their academic and extracurricular achievements throughout high school. These bite-sized scholarships are called “Micro-Scholarships”. When students add achievements to their Portfolio on Raise.me, they could be eligible to earn Micro-Scholarships towards our partner colleges. These achievements can include good grades, participating in clubs, playing on a sports team, volunteering, or even starting a club. They can include AP or IB courses, honors classes, and college-level courses, too. Students can build a Portfolio of their achievements, Follow Colleges, and watch their scholarship earnings pile up. The Micro-Scholarships students can earn on Raise.me vary depending on what each college chooses to offer. Some Micro-Scholarships can range from anywhere between $500 to over $1,000 dollars. For example, if a student gets an A in an English class, he or she could be eligible to receive scholarships from dozens of colleges on Raise.me. When students achieve a goal and earn Micro-Scholarships, they can view their earnings in their personal Portfolio on Raise.me any time throughout high school. Each college has a different deadline for students who wish to earn scholarships on Raise.me. If students decide to apply for admission to a college where they have earned Micro-Scholarships, they must follow a college before its Follow Deadline and make sure their Portfolio is as complete as possible to ensure their information is fully submitted to the college. If the student is admitted to the college, their scholarship earnings will automatically be included in their financial aid package. More information and profile logon: www.raise.me



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http://www.gkscholarship.com/

http://www.gkscholarship.com/

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