Read the entire web site so that you know what to expect
if you are selected to attend GSMS.
Talk with your counselor to see when your application
should be completed and submitted. The school deadline will be considerably before the statewide deadline.
Remember that there are two distinct parts to the application: the online section and the paper section.
If you need help typing your application, ask for help.
Ask two teachers for a recommendation. At least one of
them should be a science or math teacher. Give the teachers two weeks
to write the recommendation.
Think about your answers before completing the application.
Eighth-grade students should clearly write "Yes"
or "No" in the site-selection blank.
Submit your application to your counselor before
the deadline.
School-Level Responsibilities
Because they are dealing with middle-school students,
counselors may have to take an active part in encouraging qualifying students
to apply for GSMS.
Counselors or others designated by the principal should
notify students who meet the qualifications and go over the information
on the web site.
One effective way would be to meet with the potential
candidates in the computer lab and navigate the web site with the entire
group. At that time, the students could also download the application.
Post information about the web site in all 7th and 8th
grade science and math classrooms.
Arrange to have someone type applications for students
who cannot type their own.
Send information about GSMS home in the school newsletter.
Set a date that applications are to be turned in by the
students and inform students of the date.
Each school shall convene a selection committee that
consists of the counselor, a science teacher, a math teacher and, when
possible a teacher of gifted students. The school selection committee
shall send in rank order the names and applications of no more than fourteen students to the county superintendent’s office. Private schools
and home-schoolers should contact the county superintendent's office to
see when applications must be submitted. Submit school nominees to the county coordinator using the Principal's Recommendation Form.
County-Level Responsibilities:
The superintendent shall select a county coordinator
(it may be the same as for GHA) and e-mail that person's name and e-mail
address to Sherry.L.Keffer@wv.gov.
The county coordinator shall immediately call the private
schools in the county, directing them to rte web site.
The superintendent or his designee shall convene a selection committee that includes a science or math teacher from each
county middle school or junior high, a teacher of gifted students, and
a counselor.
The committee chair shall set a date that applications
are due in the central office inform all middle and junior high schools,
including private schools, of that date.
The Selection Committee shall submit the names of up
to twelve students to the statewide pool for GSMS. Rank-order the students by grade.
Each county is guaranteed that at least one qualifying student will
be selected to attend a Governor's School, but the decision regarding
placement will be made by the state selection committee. Counties with
800 or more students in grade 7and 8 grade combined may submit up to six
more names. Please attempt to recruit and send both males and females
who are truly interested in attending.
Pay close attention to the student choices for sessions. Some eighth grade students will be eligible for only
one of the GSMS sessions due to scheduling conflicts. Others will not
be eligible for the WVU session if they attended after their seventh-grade
year.
The names and applications, accompanied by the
Superintendent's
Selection Form, must be postmarked by April 15, 2011, and
mailed to
Remember: the postmark deadline for the counties to submit choices and applications is April 15. You can mail your GSMS apps and your taxes the same day!