RIVER HIGH SCHOOL
52560 River High School Rd.
P.O. Box 37
Hannibal, OH 43931
Ed Trifonoff, Principal
Angie VanCamp, Counselor
Tom Tisher, Athletic Director
Sherry Lallathin, Secretary
Dear Senior,
Welcome to your senior year at River High School. It is an exciting and important year for you.
You will be making many decisions throughout the year and this handbook should help. This handbook
is designed to give you as much information as possible and should answer many of your questions. In
addition, please refer to your college information folders frequently throughout your senior year for
updates and important information.
Have a Great Year!!!
Sincerely,
Mrs. Angie VanCamp
RHS Counselor
RIVER HIGH SCHOOL
GRADUATION REGULATIONS AGREEMENT
GRADUATION REGULATIONS: The following regulations shall be observed in the
issuance of diplomas.
1. Only those students who have completed all requirements will participate in the
ceremony and receive a diploma.
2. Seniors who have school debts, school work to turn in, disciplinary requirements or
other obligations will be permitted to participate in graduation ceremonies, but their
diplomas will not be issued until obligations are completed.
3. Seniors who have not earned the required credits as described in Board Policy and/or
have not completed the Ohio Graduation Testing Program will not be permitted to
participate in graduation ceremonies. The diplomas will not be issued until the
deficiency has been completed.
4. Students whose eligibility for a diploma is questionable should contact their
counselor prior to graduation to determine their final status. It may be impossible to
notify students prior to final exams.
5. It is the student’s responsibility to keep parents/legal guardians informed as to their
progress toward graduation.
6. It is the sole responsibility of the senior to be aware of and meet the requirements for
graduation.
7. In order to preserve the integrity of the graduation ceremonies, students must dress
appropriately in order to participate. Specific expectations regarding "appropriate dress”
for the ceremonies will reflect the changes in fashion trends; however, girls are to wear a
dress or dress slacks. Boys are to wear dress slacks and shirt. Jeans, shorts, athletic
shoes (tennis shoes) or sandals will not be permitted. Students inappropriately dressed
as described herein will not be permitted to participate in the ceremonies.
I HAVE READ, UNDERSTAND, AND AGREE TO ABIDE BY ALL RULES AND
GUIDELINES AS STATED ABOVE. I HAVE RECEIVED A COPY OF THE ABOVE
REGULATIONS.
Student’s Printed Name_______________________________
Student’s Signature___________________________________
Email Address_________________________________________
DIPLOMAS AND AWARDS
The State Department of Education has designated that two types of diplomas will be awarded to
graduates:
1. Standard Diploma
To be awarded the standard diploma, the student shall be required to meet the following criteria:
a. meet all criteria established by the SOLSD Board of Education
b. meet all requirements established by the state of Ohio
2. Honors Diploma (Class of 2012-13)
To be awarded an Honors Diploma, the student shall be required to meet at least 7 of the 8 criteria
listed below in college preparatory or the vocational education curriculum. A student shall not be
required to meet more than the specified number of criteria, nor shall any student be required to
meet any one specific criterion.
1) Earn four credits of English.
2) Earn four credits of mathematics that include algebra I, geometry, algebra II, or
equivalent and another higher level course or a four-year sequence of courses that contain
equivalent content.
3) Earn four credits of science including one credit of physics and one credit of chemistry.
4) Earn four credits of social studies.
5) Earn either three credits of one foreign language or two credits each of two foreign
languages.
6) Earn one credit of fine arts.
7) Maintain an overall high school unweighted grade point average of at least 3.5 on a 4.0
scale
up to the last grading period of the senior year.
8) Obtain a composite score of 27 on the American College Test (ACT) or an equivalent
composite
score of 1210 on the Scholastic Aptitude Test (SAT)
In order to be considered for the Honors Diploma, all students must apply. The application
will be available in the Counseling Office in April.
NCAA ELIGIBILITY STANDARDS FOR STUDENT ATHLETES
If you intend to participate in Division I or II athletics as a college freshman, you must register and
be certified by the NCAA Eligibility Center. Under the NCAA standards, students will not be eligible
for collegiate athletics unless they have met GPA, standardized test score (ACT/SAT), and core
course requirements. For further information regarding these rules and/or to register, please check
the NCAA Eligibility Center web page at www.ncaaeligibilitycenter.org, or contact the counseling
office.
RIVER HIGH SCHOOL
APPLICATION FOR HONORS DIPLOMA
(Applications will be available after 3rd nine weeks)
PRINT NAME ___________________________________
TO BE AWARDED A DIPLOMA WITH HONORS, THE STUDENT SHALL BE
REQUIRED TO MEET AT LEAST ALL BUT ONE OF THE CRITERIA LISTED IN THIS
PARAGRAPH FOR THE COLLEGE PREPATORY CURRICULUM.
YES
NO
1. Earn four credits of English.
2. Earn four credits of mathematics which shall include
algebra I, geometry, algebra II, or equivalent and another
higher level course or a 4-year sequence of courses that
contain equivalent content.
SAMPLE
3. Earn four credits of science that include one credit of
physics and one credit of chemistry.
4. Earn four credits of social studies.
5. Earn either three credits of one foreign language or two
credits each of two foreign languages.
6. Earn one credit of fine arts.
7. Maintain an overall high school unweighted grade point
average of at least 3.5 on a 4.0 scale up to the 7th
semester of the senior year.
8. Obtain a composite score of 27 on the American College
Test (ACT) (excluding the optional writing test) or a
composite score of 1210 on the Scholastic Aptitude Test
(SAT) (Addition of Verbal and Math score only)
VERIFIED BY ________________________
School Counselor
_____________________
Principal
COLLEGE SPORTS ELIGIBILITY
Any student wishing to play sports in college (Division I & II) must be declared
eligible by the NCAA Eligibility Center. You should apply through the internet at
www.ncaaeligibilitycenter.net. There are strict rules about official visits and what a
coach and/ or student can and cannot do. You must also send your ACT / SAT scores
to the eligibility center. Their 4-digit number is 9999. This is used just as any college
number on your ACT/SAT test application. For more information, see Mrs. VanCamp
in the counseling office.
SCHOOL TEST CODE / CEEB NUMBER
Each high school and college is assigned a test code/CEEB number. Many
times this code is requested on admissions applications and test applications. The test
code/CEEB number for River High School is 362498. Make certain that you copy
the number correctly.
COLLEGE ENTRANCE EXAMS
You may register for the ACT and SAT tests on their respective web sites. ACT at:
www.actstudent.org and SAT I or SAT II subject tests at: www.collegeboard.com. A
student may take these exams more than once. NOTE: When registering, River
High School is a test site on the dates that have an (*).
ACT
SAT
TEST DATE
REGISTRATION DEADLINE
September 8, 2012*
October 27, 2012*
December 8, 2012*
February 9, 2013
April 13, 2013*
June 8, 2013 *
August 17, 2012
September 21, 2012
November 2, 2012
January 11, 2013
March 8, 2013
May 3, 2013
October 6, 2012
November 3, 2012
December 1, 2012
January 26, 2013
March 9, 2013
May 4, 2013
June 1, 2013
September 7, 2012
October 4, 2012
November 1, 2012
December 28, 2012
February 8, 2013
April 5, 2013
May 2, 2013
SENIOR COLLEGE SEARCH AND ADMISSION CHECKLIST
1. Schedule and complete your college testing!!
 All registration materials are available online at wwwactstudent.org and
www.collegeboard.org
 Pay close attention to deadlines.
 Check to see if you need the SAT or the writing portion of the ACT.
2. Research your college choices:
 Meet with college representatives in the counseling office.
 Continue to visit college campuses.
 Review materials such as cds, books, internet, catalog, and viewbooks.
3. Finalize your college list:
 Will you be happy at the colleges on your list?
4. Collect applications and begin to complete them:
 Obtain applications. Phone, download from internet, or check with
the counseling office.
 Collect your thoughts about essays, recommendations, and your resume.
 Visit your school counselor to review your plans.
 Set deadlines for yourself and stick to them.
5. Complete your parts of the application:
Complete application online: download and print any school counselor
forms (when required) -ORUse copies to practice--save the original for the “Final Draft”.
 Type the applications or print neatly in black ink. NEATNESS COUNTS!
 If you must use whiteout, match the color of the application.
 *CAREFULLY craft your essay. This is your chance to let colleges know
who you are. Write/Edit/Rewrite/Edit and then review with teachers,
parents, friends and counselors before you finish.
 Select teachers who know you well to write recommendation letters. Allow
at least two weeks for them to write the recommendations.
 Complete the transcript request form and bring your completed
application to the Counseling Office with an addressed, stamped
envelope.
 DO NOT WAIT UNTIL THE LAST MINUTE. The deadlines are YOUR
responsibility.
 Why sending applications by October/November makes sense:
- Your chances for admission at rolling admissions schools are usually
higher early in the process.
- You are less likely to miss a scholarship deadline.
- Early decision and early action deadlines come early!
- You may know your decisions earlier!
* PLEASE ALLOW FIVE SCHOOL DAYS FOR YOUR SCHOOL COUNSELOR TO
PROCESS AND MAIL ALL OF YOUR APPLICATION MATERIALS.
6. Apply for scholarships:
 Look for any additional forms in your application packet for
scholarships from the individual colleges you are considering.
 There will be a special meeting for scholarship/financial aid in February
here at RHS.
 Searching can pay off. Look under all of the rocks.
 Great websites:
 www.fastweb.com
 www.finaid.org
 www.collegeboard.org
 The counseling office will also provide updates throughout the year.
7. Notification timeline (When will I hear back?)
*Regular Decision
March 15 - April 15
*Early Action/Early Decision
December 15 (approx date)
*Rolling Admission
Generally 4-6 weeks after
Application has been mailed.
8. Complete and file FAFSA (Financial Aid Form)
o You must apply online.
 Earliest date FAFSA will be available online is January 1st. The FAFSA
website is: www.fafsa.ed.gov. Remember: You must complete a new
FAFSA application each year your student is in college.
9. Final Decision Time (When do I have to make my decision?)
 May 1st! or according to the university policy.
 Make your final decision based on your heart and your head!
 If you make a good college list, you simply can’t make a bad
choice. You will like all of your choices!
Online College Application Checklist
___ 1. Complete the application online.
___2. Pay application fee online with a credit card.
___3. Print a copy of the application for your files.
___4. Print a copy of the counselor or college prep form, if applicable.
___5. Print off a transcript request form from the counseling website
or pick one up in the counseling office and fill it out.
___6. Address a business-sized envelope with where it is to be mailed.
___7. Put adequate postage on the envelope, usually two first-class stamps.
___8. Bring counselor/college prep form, envelope, transcript request form and
any application materials to be mailed to the counseling office.
Paper College Application Checklist
NOTE: Most colleges prefer online applications
___1. Download or pick up application.
___2. Complete all sections neatly using black ink.
___3. Pay application fee by check or money order--no cash.
___4. Make a copy of the application for your files.
___5. Obtain a copy of the counselor or college prep form which should be in the
application packet.
___6. Print off a transcript request form from the counseling website or pick one
up in the counseling office and fill it out.
___7. Address a business-sized envelope with where it is to be mailed, or use the
one included with the application packet.
___8. Put adequate postage on the envelope--usually two first-class stamps.
___9. Bring application, counselor/college prep form, envelope, and transcript
request form and any application materials to be mailed to the counseling office.
REQUIRED PROCEDURES FOR SUBMITTING
COLLEGE/SCHOLARSHIP APPLICATIONS
1. If completed online, PLEASE NOTIFY THE COUNSELING OFFICE
IMMEDIATELY so that we can send your transcript to the appropriate school. There is
no other notification needed at that time. You will need to provide a request for a
transcript and provide an addressed envelope with adequate postage (usually 2 stamps)
per envelope.
OR
2. Bring completed application to the counseling office. Do not give it to a friend--it may
never reach us!
a) Make sure the application is signed and complete. Leave no blank spaces. Write N/A
on lines that are not applicable.
b) If a recommendation is required, either bring it with the application or a note stating
that the teacher will bring it to us. You should ask for a recommendation at least two (2)
weeks before you need it. It would be inconsiderate to expect someone to write a
recommendation in less than two weeks.
c) Bring a check or money order made payable to the college in the appropriate amount
for the application fee. Cash should not be sent through the mail.
d) Bring an addressed envelope with adequate postage--stamps are not sold in the office.
e) Fill out an OFFICIAL TRANSCRIPT REQUEST FORM. Forms are in the
counseling office.
3. You do not need an appointment to bring your completed application(s) to your
counselor. Bring your application(s) to the counseling office and hand it/them to the
secretary.
4. The counselor will attach your transcript (with grades of courses in progress) and
complete the counselor section, if there is one.
5. A counselor will mail your application. This verifies your transcript as official. It also
helps us keep track of who applied, where and when.
Most college applications are available online or may be downloaded very easily.
PAY ATTENTION TO DEADLINES!
SCHOLARSHIPS
There are many scholarships available for seniors to help pay for their college
education. The internet alone has many scholarship search engines. The RHS
Website has links to several search engines as well as a list of local scholarships
which are posted regularly as they become known to the counseling department.
Opportunities will be announced on the morning announcements. Paper
applications are available in the counseling office and are passed around in English
classes. There is also a college “crate” with all of the college information sent to
the department. Students and parents may browse this area as often as they wish to
search for scholarships and take the paper applications with them to complete.
Other applications are made available on the internet to download or complete
electronically.
Scholarship applications must be submitted to the student’s counselor at least ten
school days prior to the deadline. A transcript request form, as well as an envelope
with adequate postage, must be included.
FINANCIAL AID NIGHT
River High School will be hosting a Financial Aid Night sometime in February. A
representative from the Ohio University Eastern Financial Aid Dept. will be
conducting the session and addressing the needs of the audience throughout the
presentation. Discussion will center around the different types of financial aid as
well as suggestions and directions on how to complete the FAFSA. Your income
taxes for the year ending 2012 will need to be completed as soon as possible, as
this information will be needed to complete the FAFSA. A completed FAFSA will
be needed for some colleges by early February. The FAFSA website is:
www.fafsa.ed.gov
College Visits
College visits are a great way to become familiar with the admissions
process, what makes a school unique (traditions, academic strengths), and
what campus life is like. Some college representatives will be visiting
during lunch periods or before school. The best kind of visit, however, is
one that you and your parents make to the college campus.
All of this information is very beneficial to juniors and seniors who are
considering different Universities. Become informed and make informed
decisions about your future, towards the fulfillment of your goals and
dreams!
Checklist for a College visit

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Meet with an Admission Counselor
Verify admission requirements
Determine actual college costs
Ask about financial aid opportunities
Take a campus tour
Investigate your academic program(s)
Attend a class
Talk with students and faculty
Discuss your chances for success:
*Please make sure you turn in a college visit
form before your visit
*Forms are available in the office
NEED A RECOMMENDATION?
PLEASE FOLLOW THESE INSTRUCTIONS:
* Please ask for the recommendation in person.
* Allow a minimum of ten school days for your recommendation to be
completed!
* Provide the person writing the recommendation with:
1. Your complete name
2. Name and address of college or employer to which you are
applying
3. Your intended major in college or position requested
4. Date your counselor needs the recommendation OR date you
(student) are to receive the recommendation
5. Stamped and addressed envelope if teacher is to mail
recommendation
6. Copy of updated vitae or resume
7. Any additional information for teacher/counselor writing
recommendation
* Send a thank-you note after the recommendation has been written.