8TH GRADE NEWS 

CEF Scholarship Applications - **Deadline to submit applications for Cycle 1 are available**
The Catholic Education Foundation (CEF) sponsors tuition scholarship awards for 8th Grade students who attend Catholic elementary and high schools. Cycle 1 of the Tuition Awards Program (TAP) offers a scholarship award for one year of high school. Families must reapply for award and qualify each following year. Families are encouraged to apply regardless of financial income as all applications will be reviewed individually and awarded based on need. Completed applications must include Proof of Financial Income (completed tax return for previous year). Applications for Cycle 1 are now available. Deadline to submit for Cycle 1 is October 14, 2011. Due to in-house requirements and deadlines this date cannot be extended. Please contact the school office if questions. All information is strictly confidential. Scholarship awards are based entirely at the discretion of the CEF Board and not St. Mary School. Awardees will be notified via mail.

Baby Pictures- Each year a special addition to the school yearbook is created depicting baby pictures of all 8th grade graduates. Each graduate is asked to submit one (1) baby picture, no larger than 4 x 6. Pictures can be submitted via email to sandyfrench@la-archdiocese.org or to the school office attention of Sandy French, Yearbook Coordinator. Acceptable form of pictures is jpg or bmp only. Pictures should be of high printing quality, and not printed as resolution will deminished and yearbook appearance reduced. Deadline to submit photographs is December 16, 2011. Due to yearbook deadlines this date cannot be extended.

Diploma -
In early September a form is sent home to verify the proper spelling and name of your child for their diploma.

Cap & Gown Portraits & Video Message -
All 8th Grade Graduates have formal portraits taken in mid-February. Each student is fitted for their cap & gown in late November. Graduates are to bring their own gown/cap for portrait day, and dress is formal uniform. A group photograph is also taken. All portraits are provided by Lifetouch. There is no make-up day for Cap & Gown portraits, therefore, we ask that you mark your calendar so you do not miss this special event. **DATE TBA**

Traditionally, graduates are also video-taped in short sequence for special 'thank you's' to parents, family or friends. This video is shown during the 8th Grade Banquet and is made available for purchase.The coordinators will also collect photographs of the graduates for the video. Additional information to follow from the Banquet Coordinators.

**Please look for more details of 8th Grade events to follow from Room Mom's and Mrs. Soriano***