December Senior Newsletter 

There are about two more weeks until Winter Break! Once we get back from break we only have a couple of weeks left of the first semester, which means that half of your senior year will be over! Enjoy this time of year! 

Upcoming College Application Deadline: January 1st Regular Decision 

January 1st is one of the most common regular decision deadlines for college. While January 1st may seem like a full month away, the reality is you have much less time to get all of your materials together. 

Why is there more of a time crunch? Bloom-Carroll High School is closed for Holiday Break during a portion of that timeframe leading up to, and after, January 1st. You only have up through Tuesday, December 19th, to gather/complete all your materials. This means that you only have about two weeks to request a personal copy of your transcript (for your GPA, class rank, individual class grades, etc), request letter(s) of recommendation (and give your recommender time to complete them), and ask/receive answers to any questions that you may have. 

Scholarships

Fairfield County Foundation Scholarship applications have opened up! BCHS highly encourages students to apply for the FCF Scholarships since there is a smaller applicant pool (county vs state/national) with over 130 scholarship funds available.

Note: Fairfield County Foundation requires first semester grades on your transcript. If you apply through the Fairfield County Foundation and request a transcript to be uploaded, know that it will not be uploaded until after first semester grades are complete (end of January).

Thinking about attending Ohio University Lancaster? The Kilburger Scholarship pays 100% of tuition costs, is renewable each year, and can transfer to the main campus! Deadline is January 26th. What a great opportunity!

Fairfield County Foundation Scholarships and the OUL Kilburger Scholarship details can be found in the BCHS Scholarship Resource. This is a reminder that the BCHS Scholarship is a great place to start when searching for scholarships. The BCHS Scholarship Resource houses scholarships that range from the national level down to the local level: BCHS Scholarship Resource

College Acceptance Letters 

Future Senior Newsletters will include recognition for students who have been admitted into the college they wish to attend, scholarships they have been awarded, employment they have obtained for after high school, and recognition for military enlistment.

If you would like to be recognized, whenever you receive a college acceptance letter from one of your top two colleges that you plan to attend, please forward the acceptance email to Mr. Kelley ([email protected]). If you receive a scholarship, employment offer (for after high school) and/or enlist in the military, please send that supporting documentation over to Mr. Kelley as well.

FAFSA - Delayed 

The revamped FAFSA Form was expected to open December 1st. However, currently, it is still not open. Student Aid states the “redesigned and streamlined FAFSA form will be available by Dec. 31, 2023.” If it is delayed past December 31st, I will include an update in the January Senior Newsletter.  

FAFSA - Help Session

If you would like assistance working through the FAFSA Form, there is an upcoming FAFSA Night presented by the Fairfield County Foundation. The FAFSA Night will be January 18th, from 5 - 7pm at the Fairfield County District Library.

OU CCP Celebration 

Have you completed any CCP classes through Ohio University? OU is celebrating graduating seniors who earned college credit through the College Credit Plus program. “At Senior Celebrations on Friday, December 8, students will learn more about how to become a degree-seeking undergraduate student at Ohio University and how College Credit Plus credits transfer.” 

“Students will: Hear from Financial Aid and Scholarships and Undergraduate Admissions representatives, Connect with current Ohio University students who can answer their questions about life as a Bobcat, Participate in games and activities with other incoming Bobcats, Enjoy lunch — on us! Interested students can visit our webpage to learn more and register for Senior Celebrations!”

Military Contacts

Going directly into the military is a pathway some of our students take after high school. If this is a path you are considering and have not started inquiring about the details, now is the time to start. For your convenience, BCHS has created a list of contacts for each branch of the military to whom you can reach out to ask questions and gather information. 

Ohio Army National Guard- SSG Hitchens, Anthony, Cell: (614) 381-0095

Army- SSG Benoit, Zebulon, Email: [email protected]

Marines-  Sgt Will, Nathaniel L. Email: [email protected], Cell: 614-477-8845

Navy/Navy Reserves- SCW Blair, Mathew, Cell: (740) 918-9389

Air Force - SSgt Kincaid, Jeremiah, Email: [email protected]

Coast Guard - General Recruiter Contact, Email: [email protected],  Office: 614-866-3109 

Employment

One of the more recent local developments is the creation of the Fairfield 33 Corridor and the Career Readiness Endorsement (CRE). In short, the CRE connects students to the benefits of working at local businesses. Below is an excerpt directly from the Fairfield 33 Corridor:

“Do you want to start a career right out of high school? Are you looking for a way to pay for college without taking on large amounts of debt? Would you like to have a job with regular hours and good pay? The Fairfield County Career Readiness Endorsement is your pathway to a local career.”

To learn more about the Fairfield 33 Corridor and the CRE, stop in to the counseling office to speak with Mr. Kelley. You can also check out the CRE website. Finally, you can also contact the Fairfield 33 Corridor Career Navigator, Karie Stone at [email protected] or (614) 209-1202.

Senior Spotlight

Don’t miss your chance to commemorate a special year in the life of your favorite Senior. It is a special time filled with memories, accomplishments, and new things ahead. As a Senior supporter, you have the opportunity to show your love and pride by honoring your favorite Senior in the Yearbook. We are offering the opportunity for a FREE “Senior Spotlight” advertisement. Make sure your son, daughter, or loved one has an ad ALL ABOUT THEM to look at when the Yearbook comes out next fall. Some possible ideas include a good luck note, a graduation congrats, or something unique for your Senior along with a digital picture (either a current picture, or a special picture from the past).