Class of 2027 Newsletter

This will be a quarterly newsletter to communicate important senior information and dates. If you ever have any questions or concerns, feel free to reach out to the school for assistance.

These are a few people whom you need to know your senior year. They will be able to help answer your questions and guide you through the many decisions you will make this year. Additionally, I am always happy to assist in any way I can. We are looking forward to a great year!

September

23 FAFSA Opens

October

2 - End of 1st 9 Weeks

5-9 Free College Application Week

8 - Balfour (Cap & Gown) Order/Payment during lunch

12 & 13 - Fall Break - No School

TBD - Club & Group Photo Day

November

4 - WorkKeys Exam for ALL Seniors

6 - Yearbook Ad Sales Due

Progress Reports

11 - No School - Veterans Day Holiday

20 - Senior Formal Selection Due

23-27 - No School - Thanksgiving Holidays

December

16 - Exams (1st and 3rd)

17 - Exams (2nd and 4th)

18 - Makeup Exams, End of 2nd 9 weeks,

Early Dismissal 12pm

Christmas Break December 21-January 7

Please scan the QR code below to join the Senior Parent GroupMe.

The Google Document linked below has important senior information and links in one document. You are welcome to print this or access it as needed.

Many colleges will hold preview days during the fall semester. We will work to share this information in the Senior Schoology Group. Some colleges may not be listed below. If you are looking for a specific college, please check the univeristy or college website. If your student attends a preview day, please have he or she bring documentation to school from his or her attendance, so that it may be coded correctly in PowerSchool.

Below is a link to a resource with multiple scholarship opportunites to which students may apply. This spreadsheet is organized by tabs at the bottom. It includes college specific scholarships and local scholarships. It is also organized by month to know when specific scholarships are due. This is not an all inclusive list, but a great resource to use to begin applying for scholarships!

Seniors will be offered MANY different scholarships from a variety of organizations. We would like to keep a running total of the amount of scholarships offered and accepted. Anytime your student is offered a scholarship or accepts a scholarship, please use the Google Form below to enter that information. You can submit as multiple times for different scholarships. This form will be included in Senior Newsletters throughout the year.

Only scholarships that are ACCEPTED will be recognized at Seniors Honors Day. The others are requested to help the school know a total dollar amount of scholarships offered to the senior class.

Joseph Romans takes all Senior Formals for the yearbook. If your student has not had his or her Senior Formal made at their studio, they will have a makeup date on Wednesday, October 7. Appointments can be scheduled using the link below. If you have questions, you may contact, Mrs. Kasey Holt at kholt@tuscumbia.k12.al.us.

Below is some general information that you will need to know.

• There is a sitting fee of $45 due the day formals are scheduled. No refunds.
• Please have hair and make up done when you arrive for your appointment.
• Ladies: Please wear a tank top with straps that you can adjust for the drape.
• Gentlemen: Please wear a light colored tee shirt and make sure facial hair is groomed.

ALL seniors at Deshler High School will take the WorkKeys on Wednesday, November 4, 2026.

WorkKeys is a standardized test given to 12th graders in Alabama public schools. The assessment is meant to measure skills relevant to many of today’s work environments. This is a test that generates positive results in Alabama with steady progress.

WorkKeys is one of the measures through which a student can be designated as College and Career Ready in the state. They may not have the specialized training needed for particular occupations, but if a student earns a certification at the higher levels, the measure should increase the confidence of employers in hiring staff who are adept at applying useful cognitive skills and knowledge to applied work tasks in contemporary work settings.

(https://parcalabama.org/2019-act-workkeys-preparing-students-for-work-in-a-time-of-uncertainty/)

Balfour visited our campus this past Wednesday, September 23 and discussed cap and gown orders with Seniors. Students received a packet with ordering information. Balfour will be back on campus Thursday, October 8 during lunch to accept orders. The required items for graduation will cost $112.60, however, additional items are available for purchase through MRMGradSales.

Please see the video below on how to order transcipts to be sent to colleges as you complete your applications.

You can also follow these steps:

1. Go to www.tuscumbia.k12.al.us

2. Click "Schools" then "Deshler High"

3. Click "Transcipts" in the top right hand corner.

5. Click the blue link (as pictured to the right) to be directed to the Parchment website.

6. You will then click "New Learner Account" and create an account (It is recommended to set up the account with a personal email so that it can be accessed after graduation.)

7. Once the account is created, students can log in and request their transcript be sent to colleges to which they have applied.

If your student needs a copy of his or her transcript now, select the "Send Now" option. If your want it sent AFTER all grades are final (after graduation), you will need to select "Hold For Grades." Most schools require a transcipts with applications and then a final transcript after acceptance.

Now is the time to familiarize yourself with the websites of the colleges your child is seriously considering, and start the application process. Be sure to check for scholarship deadlines and requirements becuase they are different for all schools. If you child is interested in a specific school, they should be sure to let Mrs. Dixon know so that she can be on the look out for any information that comes through her office.

Additionally, many colleges will hold preview days during the fall semester. We will work to share this information in the Senior Schoology Group. If your student attends a preview day, please have he or she bring documentation to school from his or her attendance, so that it may be coded correctly in PowerSchool.

Free College Application Week is October 5-9. This is a great time to apply to colleges at no cost. Students must START and FINISH applications during this week to use a waiver and it be free of charge. We will send a newsletter with all the information for Free College Application Week.

The NWSCC FAME Program is program that combines an Associate of Applied Science Degree (AAS) in Industrial Systems Technology and two years of paid industry experience. It is a highly competitive program. Seniors may apply for this in the Spring. Please use the link below to learn more about the program.

Students may need to take the ACT or SAT. Below are the test dates and registration deadlines. If they have questions about this or need assistance registering for the test, students can see Mrs. Newbern or Mrs. Dixon during REACH.

ALL SENIORS are REQUIRED to complete the 2027-2028 FAFSA or sign the waiver to be eligible to graduate. The FAFSA application is NOW OPEN. Please see below for specific information about the FAFSA. The waiver is not currently available. Once it is made available, we will communicate that information out.

Below are some important links for FAFSA.

Use this checklist as a guide to help complete the FAFSA with ease.

Students and parents will each need to create an FSA ID. Students have had the opportunity to create their own FSA ID at school. Parents will also need to create one to ensure completion of the FAFSA. Directions are linked below for creating an FSA ID.