High Lites January 12, 2024

The high school is excited to announce the addition of several new courses for the 24-25 school year. In December, our board approved the addition of AP Macroeconomics, Viking Genius Bar II, Unified Physical Education and Engineering Design. The program planning guide can be found on the high school website https://www.pvsd.org/high-school/program-planning/

We will begin the process of picking courses for the 24-25 school year soon. Teachers will begin to make recommendations in Student and ParentVue January 23rd through February 8th. Students and parents will be able to view and pick courses February 16 through March 7th. Counselors will then review the courses. Students are reminded that after March 7th any changes to requests must be made through the counselor.

The LAST date to make changes to requests for the 24-25 school year is March 31, 2024.

Congratulations to Newspaper and Yearbook staff members Claudia Caruso, Evan Kenney, and Meera Thoniyil for winning the Pennsylvania School Press Association’s Regional Student Journalist Competition held at Temple University on October 27. These three students won their divisions for news writing, sports writing, and photography respectively. The regional competition included about one hundred participants from eight different area schools. These students advanced to compete at a state competition held at Penn State, University Park on April 3. ​

The Pennsylvania School Press Association originated in 1924 and stands among the oldest scholastic journalistic organizations in the country. PSPA recognizes and supports student journalism programs in Pennsylvania through regional and statewide competitions, summer critiques, awards and recognition, mentorship for advisers, and other resources.

The deadline for senior recognition ads for the yearbook is January 26.

The price of the yearbook will increase after January 26. Reserve yours before January 26 and save $10.00.

Go to https://www.jostens.com/apps/store/customer/1045415/Perkiomen-Valley-High-School/ to place your ad and order the yearbook.

I am including a copy of the 2 hour delay bell schedule, just in case we might need it this winter.

HS Students can signup to participate in a variety of volunteer activities both on and off of the school campus through this Sign Up Genius. This is a fantastic opportunity for students in grades 9-12 to get involved and make a positive impact.

Please note the HS will have and extended homeroom on January 17 and we will follow a PM Assembly Schedule

The following procedure should be followed if a student becomes ill at school:

• Students are expected to report to the nurse’s suite if they are not feeling well. A parent/guardian will be called if the nurse determines the student is too ill to remain in school, has a temperature of 100.0F and above, or vomiting/diarrhea.

• A prearranged early dismissal by the student/ parent for illness is considered an early dismissal. Should a parent/guardian need to have a student dismissed from school before the regular time for special or urgent reasons, the parent/guardian should send a written request or email that includes the reason, date, time, and signature of a parent/guardian. Early dismissals will be recorded as class absences.

• The student must be fever free for 24 hours without the use of medications (i.e. Tylenol or Advil), and 24 hours without vomiting or diarrhea before returning to school.

• Students are not allowed to be sent home in an Uber, Lyft, taxi, etc.

• Students should receive their first dose of meningococcal conjugate vaccine (MCV) at 11 – 15 years of age. Additionally, 1 dose of MCV or a valid exemption is due by the first day of 12th grade.

• All students must have had the above vaccine (or valid exemption on file) or risk exclusion the first day of school.

Verification of a health/physical exam is a state requirement for 11th grade. This may be completed up to 1 year prior to the start of Junior year (7/1/22).

Please submit 11th grade physicals and immunization updates to Mrs. Cron (kcron@pvsd.org).

Verification of a physical exam is required for 11th grade. It may be completed up to 1 year prior to the start of Junior year (7/1/23). Please submit to Mrs. Torrence (Atorrence@pvsd.org).

*Please note, a dose of the meningococcal conjugate vaccine (MCV) is recommended at age 16 years and a requirement for senior year. Please submit documentation when received.

Students who receive five disciplinary referrals, attendance referrals, or a combination of five disciplinary and attendance referrals will be placed on privilege suspension. Students placed on privilege suspension will have driving privileges revoked and may not participate in school trips, dances, prom, and any other school activities. Students may seek removal from the privilege suspension list after one full calendar month from their last offense by requesting a meeting with their house principal. Upon meeting with their house principal, the administrator will re-evaluate the student’s behavior status. It may be necessary to contact the student’s teachers.

Upon completing the evaluation, the administrator may:

● Reinstate the privilege with conditions.

● Continue the privilege suspension for a period of time deemed necessary by the administrator and may reinstate at a later time with conditions.

● If a student has privileges reinstated, he/she/they can be put back on the list if any other infraction occurs resulting in detention or suspension.

A student will also be placed on privilege suspension for missing any school-wide deadline, such as: beginning of school forms, graduation project, and appearing on the debt list. A student placed on privilege suspension for these reasons will be removed once his/her/their obligation(s) has/have been satisfied.

January 15- No School MLK Day of Service

January 17- PM Assembly Schedule

January 24- Last day of the 2nd Marking Period

If your child is in grades 10-12 and is considering a career in the armed forces or needs guidance in choosing the right career path, they may consider taking the ASVAB exam. By taking the ASVAB, participants become eligible to use the ASVAB Career Exploration Platform. Additionally, a successful ASVAB score can fulfill graduation pathways (Act 158) if Keystone exams were not passed. The exam is scheduled for March 6 and parent permission slips are due in the counseling center by 2/21. ASVAB will be holding a parent information Zoom on January 22 at 6:00 PM. For any additional questions, please contact Mrs. Kate Kelley, our Career Counselor, at kakelley@pvsd.org.

Our students can submit an anonymous tip through the Safe2Say Program. Tips are typically related to a variety of challenges our students experience or witness, such as bullying, harassment, disrespectful language, safety concerns, etc. When a tip is received, the State (who runs Safe2Say) immediately follows up with building administrators

Did you know that the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline is now known as the 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline?

When people call, text, or chat 988, they will be connected to trained counselors that are part of the existing Lifeline network. These trained counselors will listen, understand how their problems are affecting them, provide support, and connect them to resources if necessary.

https://988lifeline.org/current-events/the-lifeline-and-988/

The previous Lifeline phone number (1-800-273-8255) will always remain available to people in emotional distress or suicidal crisis.

Montco NEW, Inc., ConnectED Summit, is hosting a FREE virtual event scheduled for Friday, January 12, 2024. The Montgomery County Network for Education and Workforce, Inc., is designed to connect educators, employers, students, and parents with valuable insights into the ever-evolving landscape of education and workforce opportunities.

Participants will:

• Gain knowledge about workforce opportunities leading to success

• Understand "learn and earn" models for building workforce pipelines

• Navigate workforce jargon with ease

• Learn essential information for the journey from graduation to gainful employment

To attend complete the registration form HERE. A zoom link will be sent to the email address provided during registration.

Community Club of Collegeville Scholarship - $1,000 – Criteria – Any senior who has maintained a 3.0 GPA or better, demonstrated a positive presence during high school, with an emphasis on character and involvement, must be attending a two or four year accredited institution or technical school. Seniors will need to fill out the application and have two letters of recommendations from a high school teacher, counselor and/or administrator. The application is attached. Completed applications must be returned to Mrs. Prettyman in the counseling center no later than March 22, 2024. Click here for application

Community Club of Collegeville Vocational Technical Scholarship Award - $1,000 – Criteria – Any senior who has attended North Montco Technical Career Center, maintained a 3.0 GPA or better, demonstrated a positive presence during high school, with an emphasis on character and involvement, must be attending a two or four year accredited institution or technical school. Seniors will need to fill out the application and have two letters of recommendations from a high school teacher, counselor and/or administrator. The application is attached. Completed applications must be returned to Mrs. Prettyman in the counseling center no later than

March 22, 2024. Click here for application

Trooper Branden Sisca Foundation Scholarship - $2,500 - Criteria - Any Perkiomen Valley Senior with a minimum GPA of 3.3, commitment to community service, must be attending a 2-4 year accredited college. Seniors will need to fill out the application, need one letter of recommendation, a copy of their transcript and an essay indicating what community service means to them. The application is attached or see Mrs. Prettyman in the counseling center for an application. Completed applications must be emailed to info@siscafoundation.org by March 31, 2024. Click here for instructions and application.

SAVE THE DATE: February 8, 2024, at 6:30 is the required Family Meeting. Students and their families are asked to attend this very important meeting in our HS cafeteria to meet with chaperones and discuss all of the details of the Disney trip. See you there! https://sites.google.com/pvsd.org/pvclassof2024/senior-trip

The Perkiomen Valley Student Loan Association provides financial aid for graduates of Perkiomen Valley High School to continue their education. The interest-free loans can be used at any accredited institution of higher learning and are repaid after the student has graduated or left school. More information and an application can be found:

https://sites.google.com/view/pvsla/home The fully completed application must be received NO LATER THAN APRIL 15, 2024 (11:59 pm) to be considered.

Each student is to pay $30 in Senior Dues prior to graduation. These dues help offset the costs of the cap and gown and diploma cover. The fee has been added to ParentVue. The due date for these dues is Feb 1, 2024. If you are paying any fees on ParentVue please note that you cannot do so using your phone.

Email: cmoss@pvsd.org
Website: https://sites.google.com/a/pvsd.org/perkiomen-valley-high-school/
Location: 509 Gravel Pike, Collegeville, PA, USA
Phone: (610) 489-1230
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/PerkValleyHS/
Twitter: @PerkValleyHS