<p>I'm concerned about my daughter's high school and her status as a National Merit scholarship semifinalist. I called the NMS organization to confirm that she qualified (yesterday was the first official announcement day), but have heard nothing from the school (and the principal has not responded). Other area schools are publishing their qualifiers in the local papers. She did have a discipline issue a couple of weeks ago, so I'm wondering if that plays into it, but then again another parent warned me last summer about their lameness, too. Any comments?</p>
<p>Check with the guidance counsellor – in a lot of schools, they are the ones who handle this. My daughter’s school also did not seem to feel the urgency of the deadlines… </p>
<p>The discipline issue should not have any bearing in her getting notification of her semifinalist status (some schools apparently still use the paper packet, some print off information for a student to fill it in online). The only problem w/the discipline issue would be if it were intense enough for the school to not be willing to support her as she moves forward in the competition (NMS needs a “this kid is an okay kid” from the school representative…not sure what it looks like/requires from the school), but she is, a semifinalist (as confirmed by you) and entitled to her information.</p>
<p>As for some schools publishing their students’ info, that’s school by school, or even dependent on the paper’s room (my daughter and friend who made it last year had coverage in our local paper, as did other kids from neighboring schools…the “parade” of NMSF seemed to be in the paper for several weeks, and some local schools never did have an interview published.) </p>
<p>There was a national press release date Wednesday…you might do a google news search to see if your daughter’s name was among those released – that can help if you need to follow up on a school that “lost” or “never received” the information…</p>
<p>Good luck, and hope she gets the info soon!</p>
<p>Thanks for the reassuring words. This is amazing to me, but I’ve gotten no response from guidance, the principal, or either assistant principal after emailing yesterday, even after calling again today. I guess I’ll try the school board today. I don’t care about the newspaper announcement, that’s just an indication of interest and support on the part of those schools. This school seems more interested in the “self-esteem” of the B and C students from what I’ve seen at year end academic awards ceremonies. On the other hand, I do need them to request another packet if they lost it, so I can’t be too annoying.</p>
<p>*She did have a discipline issue a couple of weeks ago, so I’m wondering if that plays into it, but then again another parent warned me last summer about their lameness, too. Any comments? *</p>
<p>The schools don’t give the pkgs to the parents…</p>
<p>Call the school and ask about this.</p>
<p>The discipline issue doesn’t matter at this point. </p>
<p>If it was a detention, then that shouldn’t matter for NMF, either.</p>
<p>Ok, now that the principal finally got back to me, my paranoia is dissipating! They are sending the package home tomorrow. Phew!</p>