We hope your school year is off to a great start! This newsletter is published quarterly and is brought to you by the PHS School Counseling and College Advising Offices.

Important Dates
Tuesday, November 5 - No School for Students
Thursday, November 7 - College and Career 101 workshop for interested juniors
Friday, November 8 - Registration Deadline for December ACT
Wednesday, November 13 - Enrichment - Mandatory Josten’s meeting for seniors
Friday, November 15 - Explore Penta field trip for all sophomores
Wednesday, November 27 to Friday, November 29 - No School, Thanksgiving Recess
Wednesday, December 4 - Enrichment - Mandatory SCOIR demo for freshmen
Monday, December 9 - Penta Career Center Open House, 6-8 p.m.
Thursday, December 12 - College and Career 101 workshop for interested juniors
Saturday, December 14 - ACT Test
Tuesday, December 17 to Thursday, December 19 - Exams
Friday, December 20 to Monday, January 6 - No School, Winter Recess
Tuesday, January 7 - School Resumes
Friday, January 10 - Registration Deadline for February ACT
Monday, January 20 - No School, Martin Luther King, Jr. Day

Academic Support
Students may need some support with their academics. If there is a need for additional support with a class, here are some resources to help students succeed:
Academic Labs (math lab, writing lab, science lab and world language lab) 
PHS SOS Tutor Program
Khan Academy -  www.khanacademy.org

Freshman Information
Freshman Counselor Meeting Information
Counselors met with freshmen in a group setting in mid-September to go over various information about the high school including grading scales, Schoology, academic support services, PowerSchool and creating a 4-year academic plan. The PowerPoint from these meetings can be found on the Counseling Office web site here: http://www.perrysburgschools.net/Downloads/PHS%20Freshman%20Meeting%20Presentation%20-%20September%202019.pdf

Sophomore Information
Pre-Explore Penta Day
As a career exploration activity, all sophomores attended a Pre-Explore Penta meeting on October 23rd during Enrichment. Students were given information on the various programs available at Penta Career Center and will select two programs they would like to see when they take their Explore Penta visit on Friday, November 15. Many of the Penta programs support students making post secondary decisions to attend college or enter directly into the workforce after graduation. At Penta, students gain crucial experience that provides priceless insight into their interests and abilities. There are many Penta programs that support students' skills and abilities in countless college majors. There is also an Open House at Penta Career Center on Monday, December 9 from 6-8 p.m. Students in every grade level, parents, guardians and community members are encouraged to visit, take a tour and talk with instructors to learn more about the programs and how students are prepared for careers as well as college. Many of the programs are now providing transcripted college credit as a number of students plan to continue their education at the college level. 

Junior Information
Junior Appointment
It's that time of year again when we meet with our juniors to discuss their plans for after graduation. Juniors should have completed a pre-survey on Schoology, so your school counselor can call you down for an appointment during the months of October and November to talk about post-secondary plans, credits towards graduation, College Credit Plus information, ACT/SAT testing and anything else that will help to narrow down what you are planning to do after high school.

College and Career 101 Workshops
Each month, beginning in November, we have an exciting opportunity for juniors called College & Career 101, which will provide students information about the college process and how to help prepare for their senior year. Students will be able to attend the information sessions during their lunch period in the Multipurpose Room and learn more about a variety of topics, such as: Exploring Careers/College Majors, Building a Resume, Factors in Admissions and the College Application Process and Financial Aid/Scholarships. A sign-up will be posted to Schoology at the end of October and the dates are: November 7, December 12, January 23, February 6, March 19 and April 16. A different topic will be discussed each month. 

March 2 Success
Searching for a free, on-line ACT/SAT prep tool that is nationally-recognized? Here it is! March 2 Success provides cutting-edge assessment software and world-class education content in an easy-to-use, self-paced format designed to accelerate the student learning curve for state assessment testing, SAT and ACT practice and preparation. The March 2 Success system can enhance and refresh your knowledge to assist you in achieving your educational or career goals. To get started, visit www.march2success.com.


Senior Information
November 1st Deadline Quickly Approaching
This is a reminder to all seniors that our recommended deadline for having all college applications and supplemental materials submitted to colleges is October 31. November 1 serves as an Early Action deadline for many Ohio colleges (The Ohio State University, Miami University, Case Western Reserve University, etc.) and it is critical to have all materials (applications, fees, transcripts, ACT/SAT scores and letters of recommendation, if needed) submitted by this date for admission decisions. This deadline also serves as a merit scholarship deadline for many colleges as well. Please see Mrs. Czech if you have any questions about this deadline or about how to have materials submitted.

FAFSA/CSS Profile
All seniors planning to attend college next year should complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) with the assistance of their parents or guardians. Completing the FAFSA is the only way to receive college financial aid assistance (grants, loans and Federal Work Study) from federal and state governments. Some institutions require information from the FAFSA in order to award scholarships as well. Please visit https://fafsa.ed.gov/ to complete the FAFSA. If you need help completing the FAFSA - The University of Toledo will be hosting workshops on the following dates to help students and parents complete the FAFSA - November 12, December 18 and January 15. There will be trained staff on hand to help you complete the application. The times for all three dates will be 3:00-7:00 p.m. and all will take place in Rocket Hall, Room 1200. You do not need to be attending The University of Toledo next year to go to the workshop. It is free to attend. For more information, call 419-530-8700.

Scholarship Information
A list of scholarships is updated on Naviance throughout the school year, although January and February are the months with the highest volume of scholarships available. You may find the list under the Colleges tab (select “scholarships & money” then “scholarship list”). Also, in February, every senior will be able to fill out the Local Scholarship Common Application. Filling out this one scholarship application puts students in the running for over 50 local scholarships (including all scholarships through Perrysburg Schools Foundation). Keep an eye out for more information about the application in February!

Start Here Scholarship - Owens Community College
Students who plan to attend Owens Community College and have taken CCP classes at Owens have the unique opportunity to continue on the academic path they have started at Owens and earn their associate degree or certificate and enter the workforce or transfer to a four-year college or university. This scholarship will cover tuition, for eligible students and is renewable if criteria are met.

Featured Career of the Quarter…..Actuary
No matter the source, actuary is consistently rated as one of the best jobs in America for its high salary, job security and work environment. Actuaries use mathematics, statistics and financial theory to analyze the financial costs of risk and uncertainty. Actuaries work in insurance, financial services, transportation, energy and the environmental sector. 

If you are someone who enjoys math, is a problem-solver, has strong communication skills and a good business sense, this could be a career for you! You can find more information about being an actuary here: https://www.bls.gov/ooh/math/actuaries.htm. Many colleges in Ohio offer degrees in Actuarial Science including Bowling Green State University, Kent State University, Miami University, Ohio University, The Ohio State University, The University of Toledo and University of Cincinnati. 

Helpful Links
www.actstudent.org (ACT registration)
www.sat.collegeboard.org (SAT registration)
www.naviance.com (Naviance - college planning software)
www.pentacareercenter.org (Penta Career Center)
Follow PHS College Advising on Twitter - @PHSCollegeAdvis

Contact Information
Nicole Bihn, A-F, [email protected], ext. 5184
Dawn Burks, G-L, [email protected], ext. 5183
Alana Sigg, M-R, [email protected], ext. 5185
Rick Rettig, S-Z, [email protected], ext. 5186
Lindsay Czech, College Advisor, [email protected], ext. 5182
Megan Lazor, Secretary, [email protected], ext. 5188
Mary Neely, Secretary, [email protected], ext. 5001
Melissa Notestine, Prevention Specialist, [email protected], ext. 5195