12th grade Information

Spring Junior Year

• Junior Meetings with Counselors 

• Request Letters of Recommendation 

• Register for on campus parking Senior year

• Common Application Essay Prompts are released

Summer 

• Begin working on College Essays and Supplemental Prompts (prompts from previous years at individual colleges can be found online)

• Research Scholarships

• Sign up for an on campus parking spot (if applicable)

• Common Application 

• Morehead Cain Scholarship (UNC-CH) School Nominee Application Available Check out scholarship page on our website

Fall 

• Senior Yard Signs Available for Purchase

• Senior Yearbook Ad Form Available 

• College Visits to MPHS Campus 

• Senior Meetings with MPHS Counselors

• Official Class Rank and GPA available (Will be completed end of September)

• Order Cap and Gown 

• Pay Senior Dues on OSP

• Complete FAFSA 

• Senior Portraits

• CFNC Countdown to College 

• MPHS Senior Assembly Night 

• MPHS Financial Aid Night 

• College Application Deadlines

• Begin Scholarship Applications

• Students submit College Board Test Scores to schools (if/when ready)

Spring 

• June Graduation Date Set by CMS in January / February

• Mandatory Senior Meeting (March)

• Senior Carnival

• Submit Senior Awards Recognitions

• Decision Day (May 1)

• Prom

• Senior Carowinds Day

• Mandatory Graduation Rehearsal

• Graduation

CAPS AND GOWNS

Ordering information will be released sometime in September.  There is usually a mid-November deadline for January graduation and a December/January deadline for June graduation.This is the link for the information: https://sites.google.com/cms.k12.nc.us/mphs-graduation/cap-gown?authuser=0   

CFNC COUNTDOWN TO COLLEGE

College Foundation of North Carolina (CFNC) Countdown to College typically occurs in October. This event supports high school seniors in completing three important college enrollment steps: residency, FAFSA, and applications. The application period, which is usually one week,  is where all NC Community Colleges and some 4-year universities waive their application fees. In addition, students may register for help sessions hosted by admission professionals to answer questions and assist students through the application process.

COLLEGE APPLICATION DEADLINES

• Early Action: Plans are non-binding - students receive an early response to their application but do not have to commit to the college until the reply date. Students apply early (Mid-October or November 1st) and receive an admission decision early in the admission cycle (usually in January or February)

• Early Decision: Plans are binding - a student who is accepted as an early decision application must attend the college/university. Students apply early (Mid-October or November 1st) to his / her first-choice college and receive an admission decision from the college usually by December.

• Regular Decision: Generally applications are due typically by January 1st. Apply to hear in the Spring. (School dependent. Typically March / April)

FAFSA  (https://studentaid.gov/h/apply-for-aid/fafsa)

To apply for federal student aid, such as federal grants, work-study, and loans, students need to complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA). Completing and submitting the FAFSA is free and it gives students access to the largest source of financial aid to pay for college or career school. In addition, many states and colleges use FAFSA information to determine eligibility for state and school aid, and some private financial aid providers may use FAFSA information to determine whether someone qualifies for their aid. Submitting it is a key step to accessing grants, scholarships, work-study programs and federal student loans. 

NOTES: 

• The FAFSA can be time consuming so it is helpful to start it when it becomes available in October. 

• The site will list documents (https://studentaid.gov/apply-for-aid/fafsa/filling-out) that will be needed for the application. 

• Depending on the submission route you take, a few additional days may be needed to get the appropriate signature authorizations.

• The FAFSA confirmation page offers the option for the parent information in your FAFSA form to be transferred automatically into another student’s application. If you have more than one student who needs to fill out a FAFSA form, be sure to use this option when you see your confirmation page.

FALL SENIOR MEETINGS

Students will meet with their MPHS counselor to finalize the list of colleges the student is applying to, enter teachers who are writing letters of recommendation in Naviance, link the Common App and Naviance accounts, and finalize college deadlines to ensure the student and counselor are in sync.

FINANCIAL AID NIGHT

An evening hosted by the MPHS Student Service team to provide students and families more information about the financial aid process, the FAFSA application, ways to pay for college and more.

GRADUATION DATE

CMS will set the graduation dates and locations for all CMS high schools in January / February. As soon as the date is set, it will be communicated on the Senior Webpage, in the Mustang Express, and via all MPHS social media and communication channels.

LETTERS OF RECOMMENDATION

Most colleges require at least two letters of recommendation with at least one being from a teacher of a core curriculum class. (Math, English, etc.) Students should begin asking teachers for letters in the Spring of Junior year. Teachers and counselors do not begin writing letters until the Fall semester of Senior year but by requesting early, staff can allocate time to complete the requests. 

Notes:

• Some teachers cap the number of recommendations they will agree to write so it is beneficial to ask early. 

• All recommendation letters will be loaded by those writing them directly into Naviance, the Common App, or a college application portal as applicable. Students will work with their MPHS counselor to make sure the appropriate letters are directed to the school(s) the student desires. 

• Many scholarship applications also require letters of recommendation and often more than two. 

• Students should only send the number of letters the institution or scholarship requires. (e.g. if the application requires one, do not send two.)

MOREHEAD CAIN SCHOLARSHIP 

Due to changes made by UNC-Chapel Hill this year, there is a new timeline to apply for the Morehead Cain Scholarship. If a senior would like to go through the school nomination process below is the timeline of firm deadlines.

Please review our scholarship tab on this website for more information. 

ON CAMPUS COLLEGE VISITS

Many colleges will schedule visits to the MPHS campus in the fall. The schedule will be listed in Naviance. Students must sign up to attend sessions. Students will be alerted to these visits by the email address listed in Naviance. If a student has a school in their "Colleges I am Thinking About" or "Colleges I am Applying To", they will automatically receive an email from Naviance alerting them if a rep from that college is planning to visit MPHS.

SENIOR ASSEMBLY NIGHT

Seniors and parents are invited to attend the senior assembly in the MPHS Auditorium hosted by the MPHS counseling department. Topics covered include: the college application process; common application; Naviance; testing; teacher recommendations; college essays; future events geared towards post-secondary options and much more. There will also be Q&A.

SENIOR DUES

All Seniors are required to pay a Senior Fee via Online School Payments. Fees must be paid prior to graduating or students will receive financial obligation forms. The fee typically covers the annual senior gift, miscellaneous extraneous graduation costs, and other class-specific events such as Senior Carnival.

SENIOR AWARDS RECOGNITION

Each year, seniors are recognized for their academic and/or personal accomplishments, leadership, and contributions to MPHS. Seniors may be highlighted because of merit, scholarship, and/or teacher nominations. Look for information on how to highlight a student in a Spring (April / May) edition of the Mustang Express.

SENIOR PORTRAITS

There will be several opportunities for Seniors to have their portraits taken over the summer and then again in October. The pictures taken will be used as the student picture in the yearbook. Information on how to sign up for portraits will be communicated in the Mustang Express, school communications, and social media channels. Appointments are scheduled at prestigeportraits.com.

Senior Portrait FAQs:

Q:  How are senior pictures different from other school pictures? 

A:  They are longer sessions because students get more poses and the option for more outfits.  Sessions can be as short as 15 minutes or as long as 90 minutes.   

Q: What do the seniors wear for the pictures?  

A: The tux/drape photo involves a black tux jacket, shirt, and black bowtie or a black drape (gives the impression of a black dress) and results in a formal-looking picture.  This is the one we use in the yearbook.  Students can also do cap and gown pictures and outfit of choice pictures.

Q: What does the photographer provide?  

A: The tux/drape and cap/gown are provided by the photography company.  Outfit of choice is brought by the students.

Q:  Are all of these included in the yearbook?

A:  The tux/drape photo is the only one we include in the yearbook.

Q:  What are the "Outfit of Choice" Pictures? 

A:  These are outfits that students bring for additional pictures - casual clothes, athletic uniforms, favorite outfits, etc.  Students who definitely want these need to try to come for pictures over the summer. I cannot promise we will be able to do Outfit of Choice in the October sessions.  It involves lots of time and space that might not be available once classes resume. 

Q:  What can I do if I miss the summer and October sessions?

A:  We do not offer another session at school.  Students in this situation should contact Ms. Ledford.  I can give you information about how to contact the studio to schedule your own appointment.  If a student has not made an appointment at the studio by the END OF OCTOBER, it is highly unlikely that we will be able to include their picture in the portrait section.

Q:  Do I have to take a senior photo?

A:  It is NOT required, but we would love every senior to be recognized 

Q:  Can I just take the tux/drape photo?  Do I have to take the others?  

A:  It is totally fine to just take the tux/drape photo. 

SENIOR YARD SIGNS 

Families will have the opportunity to purchase yard signs to celebrate their senior. Signs will go on sale at the beginning of the school year and can be ordered on PTSO Back To School Forms. Details will be in the Mustang Express and social media channels.

SENIOR YEARBOOK ADS

Families have the opportunity to purchase an ad in the yearbook to celebrate and recognize their Senior. The form with instructions on how to submit content, upload pictures, and purchase an ad will be advertised beginning in August. Ad pricing increases as time goes on so it is beneficial to submit ads by the initial deadline. The first deadline is typically early October with the final deadline in early November.

TEST SCORES

Students are responsible for submitting official standardized test scores from the SAT or ACT to the colleges they are applying to. Please note that many schools are test optional.  Seniors can discuss whether they should submit scores and to which colleges during the Fall Senior Meeting with their MPHS Counselor. There is a small fee to submit scores not in conjunction with taking the SAT or ACT.

TRANSCRIPTS

Some colleges require students to upload a copy of their transcript into the college application.  MOST colleges require counselors to send an official copy of the transcript via Naviance.  No transcripts will be available prior to the 15th day of school per CMS policy.  On the 15th day, official class rank and GPA will be run for the senior class.  Seniors should schedule a Senior Meeting with their counselor in the fall.  In that meeting seniors and counselors will come to an agreement as to what colleges the senior is applying to and which ones need an official transcript sent via Naviance.  In the following May when a senior decides where they plan to matriculate for the fall, they will need to indicate in Naviance where they want their final transcript sent.  Final transcripts are sent AFTER graduation day.  

Helpful Resources

Naviance: College, Career, and Life Readiness Platform which includes helping navigate the college application process. It is an online college readiness tool designed to help students identify their strengths and organize their post-secondary plans.

Instructions on How To Utilize Naviance: https://sites.google.com/cms.k12.nc.us/navigation/college-applications/how-to-naviance 

• Information on colleges visiting MPHS

• Indicate colleges interested in and applying to

• Super Match college search

• Scholarship Finder

• Request Letters of Recommendations

• See scattergrams for each college which will show the stats of MPHS graduates who attended.

Graduation / Senior Web Page: Access this page for all things related to graduation - Mid-Year or Spring. General Senior Information and activities are also available on this page.https://sites.google.com/cms.k12.nc.us/mphs-graduation/home

Senior News in the Mustang Express. Sign up at this link.

Canvas Announcements: Seniors will receive notifications via Canvas from their homeroom teacher. Parents can sign up to be an observer and elect to also receive announcements.

MPHS Social Media channels

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/myersparkhighschool 

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/myersparkhighschool/

Twitter: https://twitter.com/MyersParkHS 

Who You Need To Know

Annie Toth: Graduation Ceremony Co-Coordinator

Tracy Zornow: Graduation Ceremony Co-Coordinator/ Cap and Gown Coordinator

Megan Ledford: Yearbook (Senior Portraits / Senior Ads)

Kim Folk, Steven Kahoon, Maida Ciciarelli Senior Awards Recognition

Victoria Fiore: SGA

Student Counselor: By Last Name (Student Services Webpage) 

MPHS June Graduation REHEARSAL

• • • Adjust Date: Wednesday, June 5, 2024

    • Adjust Time: 2:00 - 4:00pm

MPHS End of Year Graduation Ceremony

• • • Adjust Date: Thursday, June 13, 2024

@ Bojangles Coliseum

12:00 PM

CMS Summer Graduation

Thursday, August 1, 2024 @ Ovens Auditorium

Time TBA

As always, our senior website will continue to be updated as we get more information. Please bookmark it. https://sites.google.com/cms.k12.nc.us/mphs-graduation/home