Senior Year

  • School Profile 2024-2025 

    Plan for College

    Cap and Gown Online Payment

     

    Senior Newsletters

    December 2024 | November 2024 | October 2024 | September 2024 

    GISH College Workbook

    View the college workbook for everything Seniors at Grand Island Senior High should know about applying to college:

    ENGLISH | SPANISH

    Resources for Completing the FAFSA

    EducationQuest Foundation: This Nebraska-based organization offers free services to help students and families complete the FAFSA. Visit their website at www.educationquest.org for more information and to schedule an appointment.

    FAFSA Website: The official FAFSA website (www.fafsa.gov) is a great starting point. It provides a step-by-step guide to filling out the form and answers to frequently asked questions.

    Federal Student Aid Information Center: You can contact them at 1-800-4-FED-AID (1-800-433-3243) for assistance with any questions you might have.

    College Planning Offices: Many high schools and colleges offer workshops and one-on-one assistance to help families complete the FAFSA. Check with your child's school counselor for more information about these resources.

    Videos and resources may also be found on the FAFSA YouTube Channel.

    How To Complete Your FAFSA

    The FAFSA is your application for federal, state, and college-based financial aid. 

    First, create an FSA ID. You and a parent must each create a username and password at FSA ID that will serve as your Federal Student Aid (FSA) IDs for the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA). You will each need your own email address to create an FSA ID. You and your parent must create separate FSA IDs. Create this first!

    If you or your parent does not have a Social Security Number you may be asked to answer security questions or verify name and address matches current identification.

    Next, once the FAFSA opens, complete as soon as possible. List as many colleges on the application as they will use that information to determine the types and amounts of financial aid they will award you.

    GPA Classifications

    Class Rank - is no longer recorded at Grand Island Senior High

    Students starting in the fall of 2016 or after will be recognized using the Latin system for Academic Recognition. All Advanced Placement (AP) courses will carry a weight of 5 and all other courses have a weight of 4.

    Summa Cum Laude - 4.0 or above - honors banquet, sash and medallion at graduation, identified in the graduation program.

    Magna Cum Laude - 3.75-3.99 - honors banquet, sash and medallion at graduation, identified in the graduation program.

    Cum Laude - 3.5 - 3.74 - identified in the graduation program.

    Yearbooks & Senior Pictures

    In order to have your photo (your child’s photo) published in the yearbook, students need to have them emailed or dropped off to Ms. Ellerson by March 1. The picture should be, if possible, a head and shoulders picture that is at least 1 MB in size and is a vertical shot.

    It is ESSENTIAL that ALL seniors have their pictures taken at school on picture day at the beginning of the school year so they will have a picture in the yearbook. We understand that not all seniors will have their pictures taken separately by professional photographers, so that is why it’s so important that all students have their pictures taken at school. If a student skips “picture day” then there is no guarantee that they will appear in the yearbook.

    Regarding senior pictures, new pictures sent to the school are used to replace the ones taken at school in the senior section of the yearbook.

    The school photos are also used for school badges.

    Senior Picture Requirements:

    • Head and shoulder photograph only (We want to see faces.)
    • NO Hats or sunglasses
    • NO Filters
    • The senior should be the only one in photograph (No pets or siblings).
    • Color photos ONLY
    • Photographs should be 1 MB in size

    Photos may be submitted through Jostens directly HERE.

    Or, you may share your photographs with Corrine Ellerson, Yearbook Teacher, at cellerson@gips.org. 

    Prices for the yearbooks this year will be $65 and must be ordered by May 31, 2025.

    Yearbooks can be ordered through Jostens and will be mailed out in July. Orders must be placed by using a credit/debit card. Cash and checks are not accepted. NO EXTRA YEARBOOKS will be ordered so if people don't order them by May 31, then they will not receive one. 

    Please contact Ms. Ellerson if you have any questions regarding the yearbook or senior pictures.

    GRADUATION CAP/GOWN & ANNOUNCEMENT ORDERS

    Please read the following carefully:
    There are two components to ordering items for graduation.

    1. Cap and gown unit
    2. All other optional graduation merchandise: Jostens

    Every student who is graduating will need a new cap & gown unit (cap, gown, tassel & diploma $40) in order to be able to participate in the graduation ceremony. Orders & payments will be taken at GISH by Mrs. Hernandez in the West office. Students who are not participating in the graduation ceremony will still need to fill out an order form for the diploma, which costs $20.  Payment for cap and gown unit is due by Thursday, December 2nd. Online Payment Link

    Can I be excused for a College Open House or College Visit?

    Yes, GISH will allow you two college visit days, but we encourage you to schedule visits on days GISH is not in session. Your parent/guardian needs to excuse you and inform the attendance secretary about your college visit (385-5950) at least 2 days prior to your visit. It is the student's responsibility to do any makeup work prior to being absent. Many colleges provide opportunities for students and parents/guardians to tour their campuses. Students usually get to meet staff members, see the dorms, take a closer look at academic programs, or attend extracurricular activities. Often, students can make appointments with advisors, fine arts directors, or coaches. VISIT ANY COLLEGE WEB SITE AND LEARN HOW TO SCHEDULE A CAMPUS VISIT! 

    NCAA & NAIA Eligibility

    IF YOU WANT TO PARTICIPATE IN ATHLETICS, YOU NEED TO CONTACT COACHES, SEND YOUR STATS, SEND VIDEOS, APPLY FOR ELIGIBILITY AND HAVE YOUR HIGH SCHOOL COACH CALL COLLEGE COACHES.

    To practice and play as a first-year student at an NCAA Division I or II College, the student athlete must satisfy the requirements of NCAA bylaws. Your eligibility is determined by a qualifier index, which includes your GPA in core classes and your ACT scores. The NCAA Eligibility Clearinghouse Application is available online at eligibility website. Email questions to swilley@gips.org. 

    The NAIA Eligibility Center is responsible for determining the NAIA eligibility of first-time student-athletes. Any student playing NAIA sports for the first time must meet the eligibility requirements. Students must have their eligibility determined by the NAIA Eligibility Center, and all NAIA schools are bound by the center's decisions. Colleges that require NAIA eligibility are usually private schools such as Doane, Hastings College, Midland University, Concordia, and York. Students must send their ACT scores to the NAIA Eligibility center and the ACT code number is 9876.

     

    MID-TERM GRADUATES

    Mid-term graduation will be held on Thursday, December 16th from 2:00-3:00pm in the Auditorium. More details and information to come.

    Midterm graduate cap and gown payment and Chromebook check-in will need to be taken care of before graduation.

    For free help with college planning, contact EducationQuest Foundation:

    Kearney - 308-234-6310, 800-666-3721

    Transferring Nebraska  - If you are a high school student with college credit, a college student considering transferring courses or an adult returning to college, use this website.

    QUESTIONS

    If you have any additional questions, please reach out to your School Counselor and they will be happy to provide support.