Friday, September 28, 2007

Health and Physical Education

We will be mailing home a letter to all students who still need to fulfill their Health and/or Physical Education requirement for graduation. The state of Ohio requires that all students complet 0.5 credits of Health and 0.5 credits of Physical Education to receive a diploma. You may complete the credits in several ways:

SENIORS (class of 2008)
Option 1: Lifetime Wellness AND Personal Fitness
Option 2: Sport waiver AND online health
Option 3: Strength and Fitness, Ultimate Lifetime Activity, OR Independent Study PE; AND online health
Option 4: PSEO physical education AND online health

FRESHMEN (2011), SOPHOMORES (2010) and JUNIORS (2009)
Option 1: Lifetime Wellness AND Personal Fitness
Option 2: Strength and Fitness, Ultimate Lifetime Activity, OR Independent Study PE; AND online health
Option 3: PSEO physical education AND online health
**THE SPORT WAIVER ENDS WITH THE CLASS OF 2008.**

Online health is offered at least once per semester and over the summer. The Independent Study (or 8th Hour) Physical Education is offered during the school year and in the summer. Students must register for online health and for Independent Study PE in the Guidance Office.

Please see your counselor with any questions.

Parent and Student Portal

Parents - Please do not forget that you have the ability to access your student's grade and attendance information at any time of the day. The information is in "real-time" - as soon as a teacher updates it, you will see the change. I have attached the information from the Perry web page for your reference. Please contact the Parent Portal staff with any questions at parentportal@perry-lake.k12.oh.us.

Students - you have your own login information and can access your records. Please see your counselor if you have forgotten your login and password.

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Infinite Campus Perry Parent Portal Frequently Asked Questions

What is the Infinite Campus Perry Parent Portal?
The Infinite Campus Perry Parent Portal is a parent-specific login to the new Infinite Campus student data warehouse. The Parent Portal presents information about students to authorized parents and guardians in real time with secure socket layer (SSL) encryption of the information that is being transmitted.
How do I access the new Parent Portal?
The new Infinite Campus Portal officially went onine on Monday, March 19th. Please click on the Infinite Campus globe (above), to access the site.
Will I need any special software to access the portal?
The following are the hardware and software requirements for accessing the Perry Parent Portal:
Internet Access: You will need a minumum dial-up modem speed of 56Kbs - A slower connection will work, but not as well.
Computer: MAC or PC with a processor speed of 500Mhz or better.
Web Browser: We recommend Firefox for MAC and Microsoft Internet Explorer 5.0 or better for PC
Adobe Reader: This is a free document reader that allows you to access reports available via the portal.
You may download this for free by accessing: http://www.adobe.com/products/acrobat/readstep2.html
I did not receive a letter in the mail with a Username and Password to login to the portal. What should I do?
Please visit the Perry Board of Education office at 4325 Manchester Avenue, or email parentportal@perry-lake.k12.oh.us. Please give us your full name, address, telephone number and the best time to reach you.
How often is information posted to the new portal?
The system updates all information in real time. Attendance information requires 24 to 48 hours to verify and update.
Can I access this portal from Home and from Work?
Yes. As long as the minimum computer and Internet access requirements are met.

Thursday, September 27, 2007

Summer OGT Scores

We will have Summer OGT scores tomorrow (Friday, September 28). Please come down to the office to check on your score.

College Application process stress

I have heard from many seniors that they are experiencing a high level of stress regarding filing their college applications. I agree - I am stressed as well, because it is an important process. There are some things we can do to make it less stressful.

1. Do not procrastinate. Putting things off will only make it worse. Look at your calendar and determine all of your deadlines now so that you do not "freak out" in a few months when they near.

2. Break down your requirements into smaller pieces. While you have that calendar in front of you, break down all of your requirements into small chunks and plan for mini-deadlines. As you complete each small section, you will feel better about the end goal.

3. Ask for recommendations now. Do not wait until 2 weeks before your application deadline. This way teachers have some notice and can turn in the letters earlier. And you don't have to worry if they have completed their part of the process.

4. Tell your counselor where you plan to apply. We can keep track of the schools and know when to ask you for information, applications, etc. It is a good idea to give us our paperwork (counselor recommendation, form, or secondary school form) now so we know what to expect in advance.

5. Involve your parents. Tell them your plans. Ask them for help when needed. If you feel they are pressuring you too much, tell them this. This is a great time for you to demonstrate responsibility and learn to do things for yourself. When you are away at college, you will not have anyone to help you or be your advocate. Learn how to do this now while you can ask for help.

6. Take care of yourself. Do not stop exercising, spending time with friends, etc. You may have to manage your time differently, but it is important to maintain your needs to stay healthy - physically and mentally.

7. Try not to buy into the hype. You will see and hear information on TV, MySpace, Facebook, etc. about the application process. Before you jump to conclusions, evaluate the source. Do not let someone else's perspective on the application process stress you out. There is an entire industry that has become very profitable because of the hype. Do not let it impact you. Yes, this is easier said than done. If you need help, do not be afraid to ask your counselor.

If you would like more information, there is a wonderful organization called the Education Conservancy. They are non-profit and are working to support students and families during the already stressful time. They work to help you (and me) and keep the focus within reason. Check them out at http://www.educationconservancy.org .

Wednesday, September 26, 2007

Test Optional Schools

Many students fret over high-stakes testing, particularly the ACT and SAT. Many students suffer test anxiety or do not perform well on these tests for a variety of reasons. A low score on either test does not necessarily mean a student will not be successful with higher education.

Many colleges and universities have recognized that there is not necessarily a connection between the ACT/SAT score and successful college performance, and quite a few have gone "test optional." "Test optional" means that the college does not require a test score as part of the application process.

If you are interested in learning more about schools that do not require an ACT or SAT score for admission, you may find details at http://www.fairtest.org/optinit.htm . Fair Test states that 755 schools are test optional, including Denison University, Lake Eric College, Tiffin University, and Youngstown State University.

Congratulations!

Congrats go out to the girl's soccer team for a great game against Aurora!

Tuesday, September 25, 2007

End of First Grading Period

The end of the first six-week grading period is one week away - October 3. Please be aware that all eligibility is based on your most recent report card. Also, seniors - we send a copy of your report card in your transcript with your college applications.

Parents - you are able to access your child(ren)'s grades at any time through the parent portal. For more information, go here http://www.perry-lake.k12.oh.us/pplc/index.php . You do not have to wait for interim reports or report cards.

SAT Registration Deadline

Regular registration for the November 3, 2007 SAT ends October 2, 2007. You can register online at http://www.collegeboard.com/student/testing/sat/reg.html or obtain a paper registration packet from the Guidance Office.

PSAT Registration

PSAT Registration has begun in the Guidance Office. Sophomores may take the PSAT as a practice; Juniors - it's the real deal.

WHO: Sophomores and Juniors
WHAT: PSAT (Practice for the SAT and NMSQT)
WHEN: Wednesday, October 17, 2007; 8:00 AM
WHERE: PHS (we will bus to Manchester West, but you check in at PHS)
WHY: A great practice for the SAT and for the process of taking a standardized test

COST: Sophomores = $0; Juniors = $13 (check payable to Perry High School)

A flyer has been mailed home. Booklets are available in the guidance office if you would like more information.

Saturday, September 22, 2007

Scholarships

The most frequent question we hear from students and parents is how to obtain information on scholarships. Generally speaking, there are three sources for scholarships: 1. the college/university, 2. locall scholarships, and 3. scholarship search engines/books.

1. The majority of scholarship money we see students receive is from the college they will attend/are attending. Applying for scholarships from colleges can happen in many different ways. Some schools require a separate application. Some do not. Some require you to submit your admission application early. You need to check with each college and make sure you are following their procedure. Colleges typically have a link for "financial aid and scholarships" in their admissions section of their web page. Do not be afraid to call and make sure you have exhausted all resources. Also, I have a book in my office that you may look through to see if your possible colleges will have any money for you.

2. Local scholarships are those applications that we receive in the guidance office and post for you. They vary by major, necessary GPA, and amount. There is no rule regarding when we receive them, although it seems we have more in the early spring. Currently there is only one listing in our office. You can find out what is available in the guidance office by checking our web page at http://www.perry-lake.k12.oh.us/high/classrooms/guidance/scholarshipslist.php or by visiting the Guidance Office to receive a hard copy of the list. We update the list when we receive information or when deadlines pass. If you need an application, you must see Mrs. Weaver.

3. There are many scholarship search engines and books that you can use to find money for financing your education. Some examples include http://www.fastweb.com/ and http://www.brokescholar.com/. Please do not think that these are the only sites that I visit! I could create a list that you would tire of reading. Please make sure the sites are legitimate before you give them any personal information. If you need help with this, please see me or Mrs. Reigert.

Some general rules about scholarships:
1. Do NOT pay to apply for a scholarship.
2. Do NOT pay someone else to help you find scholarships.
3. Do NOT procrastinate when applying for scholarships.

If you find any other scholarship resources, please forward them on to me. There is a more complete list that I am compiling for the soon-to-be-updated guidance web page.

Friday, September 21, 2007

Senior Meetings

Seniors - please do not forget to sign up for a meeting with your counselor. The sign up sheet is in the senior lounge. You can NOT sign up to see us during a class. Sign up for a lunch or free block. If your free block is not during the sign up times, see your counselor - we will work with you.

Also, we will finish visiting first semester English classes today. If you do not have English at Perry this semester, do not fear! We will contact you to go over our presentation.

Parents - please ensure that your student has 1. made an appointment with us and 2. actually attended the appointment. And call us with any questions!

Wednesday, September 19, 2007

Go Pirates


Good luck, Pirates: golf, volleyball, girls tennis, and freshman football!


world of blogging

I attended a workshop this morning called, "Inside Generation Online." I learned quite a bit, but will focus on the two highlights:

1. I am part of generation online (I'm not as old as you thought, huh?)
2. I am not communicating with you (students, parents, etc.) as well as I can

I decided to begin a blog that you can check to update what is happening in the Perry High School Guidance Office.

Please be sure to check out the Guidance web site at www.perry-lake.k12.oh.us/high/classrooms/guidance/index.php. My student aide is currently updating the site, so it will have a new face very soon!