Guidance

Planning for College

Credits Available

Dear Parent of a 2008-2009 Junior or Senior,

We are beginning the process of enrolling for next school year. This is an ideal time to go over your student’s transcript with him or her and look forward to making plans for after graduation. We are encouraging our rising juniors and seniors to look at the possibility of taking college courses while they are still in high school. As the article I have enclosed states, “Students who take college courses while in high school are more likely than their peers to graduate, to go on to college, and to do well in college.”

We currently have three programs through which students may earn college credit while still in high school. Southeast Community College provides courses through Fiber Optic Distance Learning and Online Courses. With Distance Learning, the student is in a classroom at Palmyra High School connected to a teacher and students at other schools. The Online Courses provide interaction with an instructor, but all work is conducted via computer. The University of Nebraska – Lincoln Advanced Scholars Program is also done through Online Courses. I have enclosed more specific information about these programs, classes available, costs, etc. Please take some time to look over the information to see if this is something from which your student might benefit.

Too often juniors and seniors decide to take the easy way through the last two years of high school, sometimes taking electives they don’t find challenging or study halls and Teacher’s Aides. The junior and senior years are when students should be preparing themselves for the rigors of college studies by taking classes that are the most challenging and demanding. Actually taking college courses is probably the best way to prepare students for what will be required of them when they go to college.

If you have any questions, please don’t hesitate to call me or email me at merryman@esu6.org.

Elective Options for Juniors and Seniors

College credit courses are available through Distance Learning and Online from Southeast Community College and Online through UNL’s Advanced Scholars Program. All of these courses offer students an opportunity to get a head start on building their college transcripts while they are still in high school. Research shows that those students who have completed college courses during high school are more likely to attend college after high school, and they are more likely to stay in college through graduation.

The cost of the courses through Southeast Community College was $45 per quarter credit plus $1.00 per quarter credit fee for 2007-2008. It is expected that the cost will be about the same for 2008-2009. Most of the courses through the Fiber Optic Distance Learning Program are 3 quarter hours each which would cost approximately $138. The Online Courses through SCC are generally 4.5 quarter hours and cost approximately $207. SCC textbooks may be ordered at www.sccbookstore.com or call 1-800-642-4075.

Distance Learning Courses available for 2008-2009:

1^st Semester

1^st Period : 8:00 – 8:50 or 8:05 – 8:55 Intro to Psychology

2^nd Periord: 9:00 – 9:50 Composition 1 or Intro to Psychology

4^th /5^th Period: 11:35 – 12:25 Public Speaking or Intro to Psychology

8^th Period: 2:40 – 3:30 Public Speaking

2^nd Semester

O Period: 7:05 – 8:10 TTH Intro to Psychology

1^st Period: 8:05 – 8:55 MWF or 8:00 – 9:20 TTH Intro to Sociology

2^nd Period: 9:05 – 9:55 MWF or 9:00 – 10:10 TTH Intro to Sociology

2^nd Period : 9:05 – 9:55 Composition 2

4^th/5^th Period: 11:00 – 12:20 TTH Life Span

4^th/5^th Period: 11:35 – 12:25 Public Speaking

6^th Period 1:00 – 1:50 Intro to Sociology

SCC Online Courses

1^st Semester

Principles of Accounting

Macroeconomics

Composition 1 (requires ACT score of 19 or COMPASS score of 75)

College Algebra (requires ACT score of 23 or COMPASS score of 66)

Medical Terminology 1

Medical Terminology 2

Introduction to Psychology

Introduction to Sociology

2^nd Semester

Principles of Accounting 2

Microeconomics

Introduction to Literature

Elementary Statistics (requires ACT of 23 or COMPASS score of 66)

Introduction to Psychology

Life Span Human Development

Introduction to Sociology

Medical Terminology 1

Medical Terminology 2

Universityof Nebraska– Lincoln Advanced Scholars Program

Students who enroll in Advanced Scholars may take a wide variety of UNL general education requirements while taking their regular high school classes. The college credits earned through the Advanced Scholars Program may be transferred to UNL or any other institution. This program helps students make the transition from high school to college by becoming accustomed to college coursework and processes while they are still in high school.

The cost for Advanced Scholars Online courses is $100 per semester credit hour with no additional university fees (almost half the cost of UNL resident tuition rate with university fees).

Courses available	Credit
Introductory Accounting 1	3	(Fall only)
Introductory Accounting 2	3	(Spring only)
Biotechnology: Food, Health and Environment	3	(Spring only)
Plant Science	3
Introduction to Art History	3
Animal Products	3
Descriptive Astronomy	3
Career Opportunities in Biochemistry	1	(Spring only)
Business Computer Application	1
Classical Mythology	3	(Fall only)
Multimedia Approach to Computing	3
Statistics	3	(Spring only)
Strategies for Academic Success	3	(Spring only)
Insect Biology	3
Engineering Economy	3
Principles of Mass Media	3	(Fall only)
Introduction to Library Research	1
College Algebra and Trigonometry	5	(Spring only)
Earth's Natural Resources System	3
The Science of Food	3
Elements of Physics	3
Comparative Policies	3
International Relations	3
Introduction to Psychology	4
Judaism, Christianity, and Islam	3	(Spring only)
Introduction to Sociology	3
Women in Contemporary Society	3	(Spring only)
Sociology of Crime	3

ACCESS COLLEGE EARLY SCHOLARSHIP

The Coordinating Commission for Postsecondary Education will again have funding available for Access College Early Scholarship for high school students who qualify for next school year 2008 – 2009. This is for high school students who are taking early enrollment classes from a Nebraska based college or university.

Last year there were not enough funds to meet the number of requests received so it is important to apply early. The Commission will begin accepting applications for next year on July 14. Students who apply for the ACE funding must also be registered with a participating college prior to the Commission requesting verification of enrollment from the college.

To qualify, a high school, or that student’s parents must have experienced an extreme hardship (i.e. fire, loss of job, accident, etc.), or currently be eligible for one of the following federal benefit programs:

Food Stamps

Free or Reduced Price Lunches

Supplemental Security Income (SSI)

Special Supplemental Nutrition Program (WIC)

Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF)

If you want to apply for this program and you believe you qualify, please see Ms. Merryman before June 1 to complete the application.

Nova Net

Nova Net is an Online Program which allows Palmyra High School to offer a means of credit recovery for students who have failed required courses and to offer a means for expanded elective choices. There is no cost for these courses, which offer only high school credit. Most courses can easily be completed in a semester. There are a few short courses, which only require a quarter to complete. The courses that require a semester receive semester credit. The shorter courses receive only quarter credit. It is expected that a student who signs up for these courses should complete these courses.

Required courses and courses offered at Palmyra High School must be taken first through the regular classroom.

Courses available are:

Anatomy and Physiology Paragraph Writing

ACT Prep Physics

Algebra 1 Pre-Algebra

Algebra 2 Probability/Stats

American History Reading/Writing/Spelling

Automotive Reading/Writing

Basic Electronics Science 9

Biology Spelling

Business/Entrepreneurship Trigonometry

Careers Word Power Index