Announcements

The academically talented high school seniors who are selected for this honor have an opportunity to compete for about 7,600 National Merit Scholarships worth more than $30 million that will be offered this spring. More than half of the Finalists will win a National Merit Scholarship and earn the Merit Scholar® title.

NMSC, a not-for-profit organization that operates without government assistance, was established in 1955 specifically to conduct the annual National Merit Scholarship Program. The program honors individual students who show exceptional academic ability and potential for success in rigorous college studies.

Steps in the 2021 Competition

Over 1.5 million juniors in about 21,000 high schools entered the 2021 National Merit Scholarship Program by taking the 2019 Preliminary SAT/National Merit Scholarship Qualifying Test (PSAT/NMSQT®), which served as an initial screen of program entrants. The nationwide pool of Semifinalists, representing less than one percent of U.S. high school seniors, includes the highest-scoring entrants in each state. The number of Semifinalists in a state is proportional to the state’s percentage of the national total of graduating seniors.

To become a Finalist, the Semifinalist and a high school official must submit a detailed scholarship application, in which they provide information about the Semifinalist’s academic record, participation in school and community activities, demonstrated leadership abilities, employment, and honors and awards received. A Semifinalist must have an outstanding academic record throughout high school, be endorsed and recommended by a high school official, and write an essay.

From the approximately 16,000 Semifinalists, about 15,000 advanced to the Finalist level. All National Merit Scholarship winners will be selected from this group of Finalists. Merit Scholar designees are selected on the basis of their skills, accomplishments, and potential for success in rigorous college studies, without regard to gender, race, ethnic origin, or religious preference.

National Merit Scholarships

Three types of National Merit Scholarships will be offered. Every Finalist will compete for one of 2,500 National Merit $2,500 Scholarships that will be awarded on a state representational basis. About 1,000 corporate-sponsored Merit Scholarship awards will be provided by approximately 240 corporations and business organizations for Finalists who meet their specified criteria, such as children of the grantor’s employees or residents of communities where sponsor plants or offices are located. In addition, about 200 colleges and universities are expected to finance some 4,800 college-sponsored Merit Scholarship awards for Finalists who will attend the sponsor institution.

National Merit Scholarship winners of 2021 will be announced in four nationwide news releases beginning in April and concluding in July. These scholarship recipients will join more than 353,000 other distinguished young people who have earned the Merit Scholar title.

Senior Planning Guide

Soaring Hawk Awards

Beginning Friday, February 5 at 8:00 a.m., parents will be able to enroll their incoming kindergartener via online registration. More detailed information is available on the Enroll/Registration page.

Per Board Policy 501.15, applications will be considered late if they are received after June 1. Late registrations will not be considered until all other placements have been made.

What is Needed for Registration?

Please follow the kindergarten registration checklist, as a guide detailing the required documents. Most of the documents can be uploaded into your online application. However, if you do not have the capability to upload documents or if you need copies made, please submit documents starting February 5 to your neighborhood elementary or the registrar at the district office, 306 SW School St. The required documents are:

• Home Language Survey
• Proof of Residency
• Proof of Child’s Birth Date

Medical documentation will be collected at a later date.

Informational Meeting – Updates to Come

This year, the kindergarten parent informational meeting will be conducted virtually. This meeting will be held on April 22 at 6:30 p.m. More information regarding how to join will be shared at a later date.

Due to increased elementary enrollment and limited space, parents are encouraged to enroll their upcoming kindergartener based on the process set forth by the district.

Important Dates to Remember

Visit this document to review important dates for kindergarten families for the 2021-2022 school year.

PRESCHOOL Registration opens on Monday, January 25, 2021.

KINDERGARTEN Registration opens on Friday, February 5, 2021.

2020-21 Before & After School Program Registration opens April 8 to incoming Kindergarteners.  Click here to learn more!

https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/19Dic2GIwS5PD5Q5-go4_mUJFdd8xwaxS?usp=sharing

The scholarship application, along with additional information, can be accessed on the Coolidge Scholarship site: www.coolidgescholars.org

Please note the deadline is 4:00 p.m., Wednesday, January 20, 2021.

Senior Picture & Ad Information

If you wish to order photos, please go to  https://www.hrimaging.com/#shop , type Ankeny High School in the search bar, select the school, and follow through the simple ordering process.

For those wishing to pay by cash or check, flyers are available at the school for your student to pick up, and should be returned to the school by September 25th.   Should you need any assistance please contact HR Imaging’s customer service department at 815-433-1766.

Ryan Reynolds

Vice President of Sales

HR Imaging – Photography, Yearbooks, IDs, & School Branding