PTHS Counseling Office Newsletter

1. Fall Activities

2. Senior Spotlight

3. Junior Junction

4. Sophomore Square

5. Freshman Focus

6. PSAT/NMSQT

7. AP Exam Registration

8. South Hills Trade and Tech Fair

9. American Math Exam

10. PTHS Counseling Office

As the air turns crisp and the leaves begin to change, October is the perfect time to embrace all the fun and festive activities fall has to offer! Whether you're looking to spend time outdoors enjoying the beautiful weather or cozy up inside with friends and family, there's something for everyone. From pumpkin patches and hayrides to spooky movie nights and creative Halloween crafts, fall is filled with opportunities to relax, recharge, and make lasting memories. Here are some exciting activities to help you fully enjoy the season while taking a well-deserved break from your studies!

It is important to view the application for your postsecondary plans (whether it is college applications, trade and technical school applications, union applications, or job applications) as your canvas to paint your unique story instead of just a mere form to complete. It is an opportunity to present your individuality, growth, and aspirations. By telling your story effectively, you become human and more than just an applicant.

As you begin to complete your information it is easy to assume it is a form because you are entering standard information and demographics about yourself. However, when you hit that submit button, the person on the other side is not reviewing’ your form, they are reading your story. Here are a few tips on viewing your application as your story:

Differentiation: it is your opportunity to stand out and show what makes you different from the rest. Sharing your story helps you distinguish yourself and leaves a memorable impression.

Showcase your Personality and Interests: it is your opportunity to provide officers with insight into who you are as a person, what motivates you, and what you will bring to their campus community.

Highlight your Growth: colleges and universities are interested in your journey and personal development. Sharing a challenge you have overcome, a lesson learned, and how you have grown can be compelling. It shows that you are resilient and have a willingness to learn.

Contextualize your Achievements: grades and test scores do not always demonstrate the full context of your academic abilities. Use the application to explain any extenuating circumstances that might have affected your academic achievement, how you overcame that, and additional achievements you have made. It will help provide a more holistic view of your abilities.

Engage the Reader: an engaging and well-written narrative can captivate the reader’s attention. Admission officers really appreciate those who can articulate concisely, clearly, and persuasively.

Authenticity Matters: be yourself! Authenticity is key to building a connection with the admissions committee. Be honest and genuine about your experiences, interests, and aspirations.

For more information check out: https://sites.gatech.edu/admission-blog/2023/09/21/the-college-application-is-not-a-form-its-your-story/

November

11/3: DAR Good Citizens Program Scholarship Contest

11/30: George Benson Scholarship Fund

11/30: Western Pennsylvania Golf Association Scholarship

April

4/30: Keynotes Music Scholarship Competition

Ongoing

PA American Legion Scholarship Program (Multiple Scholarships)

ROTC Minuteman Scholarship

The Win Mortimer Trust

Links to National Scholarships

College Jumpstart Scholarship *Open to grades 10-12!

$500 Going Merry Future Fund Scholarship *Open to grades 9-12!

$1,000 Stress-Free Scholarship *Open to grades 9-12!

Build a Better Future $10,000 Scholarships

Bold.Org - Find College Scholarships by State, Major, or Academic Year

ConnectHER Film Festival Award

Niche $40,000 No Essay Scholarship

AES Engineering Scholarship

AmericanTrucks Student Scholarships

$1,500 Annual Video Contest Scholarship

$1,000 Proactive Senior Scholarship - 2026 Seniors

Dyslexia/Auditory Processing Disorder Scholarship

Western Golf Association Evans Scholars Foundation

Stantec Future Leaders Scholarship

Vocational, Technical & Trade School Scholarships

College Scholarships for Hispanic and Latinx Students

Best Fellowships And Scholarships For Women

The Best Scholarships For STEM Majors

Grocery Stores That Offer Student Scholarships

Restaurant Jobs With College Scholarships

Junior year is a great time to update your resume! Adding to your resume can help you to stay up to date with your activities, sports, and volunteer work. This will allow you to write about your experience in the moment and not have to recall the details of your experiences. Remember that what you gain from the experience is the most important part of the experience.

Maintaining a resume is a skill that you will utilize throughout your future as you continue to grow personally and professionally. It is utilized to track your education, accomplishments, experiences and opportunities, and professional development as you continue through your postsecondary and career pathways. Learning how to develop a resume throughout high school is not only a great way to showcase all that you have accomplished, it will allow you to practice the skills of writing a resume and the different components that creates one. Here are a few additional benefits to building a resume in high school:

• Self-Reflection: Creating a resume encourages students to reflect on their accomplishments and experiences. It helps in identifying strengths, skills, and areas for personal and professional growth. Reflecting on experiences within the same timeframe they occurred can allow for a genuine and authentic reflection. Try to record you experiences shortly after you complete them.
• Networking: A resume can serve as a handy tool during networking events like college fairs, trade and tech fairs, and community events. It facilitates meaningful conversations about a student's background and interests.
• Portfolio Building: Resumes can become a crucial piece to an individual's portfolio. A portfolio showcases an individual's overall development, skills, and involvement. Portfolios can be useful for presentations and interviews for future job opportunities or college admissions.
• Job Applications: Whether you are planning to head straight into employment or are searching for that part-time job, a resume showcases the experiences and skills you have accomplished over the years. Employers really appreciate seeing the opportunities you have had and the skills you have taken away from those opportunities that can contribute to their current work environment.
• College & Scholarship Applications: Many applications ask for student's to reflect on their activities as part of the process, some might even ask that student's submit their resume as a supplemental piece to the application. Starting now can help students develop a well-structure and comprehensive overview of their high school activities and opportunities.

Updating your resume is easy! Follow these simple steps to get to the Resume Portion in Naviance:

• Log in to your Naviance account.
• Click on the "About Me" which is indicated by a blue circle with your initials.
• Click on "Resume" under the Documents and Notes section.
• This will take you to your Resume building page.
• Once there, you can click on the plus sign button that will open up different categories to add to your resume.
• Pick the category our need then add it to your resume once you complete all the information for your activity.

If you are having trouble navigating the resume please do not hesitate to stop in and ask your counselor!

If you’re not doing well in class, reflect on when you are struggling and find a way to get the help that you need. Learning to go to others for help is not easy. Many of us grow up thinking that we are supposed to know everything and if we don’t, something is wrong. That is not the case! Recognizing when you need help, learning to advocate for yourself, and seeking out the support you need are important parts of becoming mature, responsible adults.

Here are a few tips to help you connect with your teachers to get the help and support you need:

Be Considerate: Teacher’s genuinely want to help you, so don’t worry about bothering them or being a nuisance by approaching them outside of class. However, keep in mind that teachers are busy, and be considerate and respectful of their time. After saying hello, ask them if they have time to talk or if there would be a better time to meet with them. If you make a date in the future, be sure to put it on your calendar or in your planner so you do NOT forget to show up for the appointment!

Ask Specific Questions: To make the most of your time, go in with specific questions you want to ask. Bring in a problem that you got wrong on a recent quiz and ask them to walk you through it or ask how you could organize your ideas better for an essay. Before meeting with your teacher, brainstorm ideas about the questions you could ask them. You can brainstorm ideas with your parents or stop in to see your counselor!

Keep your Email Communications Professional: If you would rather email your teacher, that is great! Just make sure your email is professional and appropriate. Like a formal letter, your email should start with a formal salutation (Dear Mr. or Mrs.), followed by an explanation of why you are writing to them and end with a closing and your name (Sincerely or Thank You). Want another tip? You are likely to get a quicker response if you include a subject line that indicates you need help instead of leaving it as a No Subject. Also, don’t expect an immediate answer especially if it is in the evening or late at night. Give your teachers at least 24 hours to respond.

Be Proactive: It is better to ask for help when you first realize you are struggling with something. Be proactive about seeking help from a teacher or tutor as soon as you think you’re falling behind.

Other Ways to Advocate for Yourself: Check out the NHS Tutors in the Library for help! You can also go to Khan Academy, ask your parents or siblings, or make an appointment with your counselor to brainstorm ideas to get the support you need. The sooner you get help, the sooner you’ll feel confident that you can succeed!

(Adapted from: https://educationalendeavors.org/6-tips-for-asking-your-teacher-for-help)

High school presents a time of transition, change, and new expectations. Students often find it difficult to communicate their wants and needs during this time, especially as they are trying to find balance. A high school English teacher surveyed her students and asked, ‘what would you tell your parents about this year that would help them help you?’ Here is some of the feedback she received:

Prepare for Awkwardness: responses indicated that the jump from Middle School to High School is significant and can be awkward. Students often need time to settle into the ‘newness’ of high school and it might take a while to get settled into the new groove. Sometimes students might not show they are overwhelmed but may feel it.

Time Management: students are still working to develop effective time management skills. Balancing homework, extracurricular activities, social aspects, and their sleep schedules can be difficult at first and students might need guidance on how to prioritize tasks and organize.

Expect Shifts in Friendship: navigating social dynamics in high school can be difficult. It is a natural occurrence for friend groups to shift during this timeframe. It can be something as simple as a shift in interests or meeting new people through a new opportunity. Shifts are okay, but sometimes students might need a space where they can talk and process through the shift.

Remain their Safe Space: high school is a time where emotions can shift up and down. There can be a lot of internal and external pressures. Students should remember to give themselves some grace and that mistakes are okay. Mistakes provide the most learning and growth. Having a space where they feel comfortable to communicate can help them navigate these emotions and pressures.

For more information, check out the following article: https://www.insider.com/what-9th-graders-wish-parents-knew-about-high-school-2023-9

All currently enrolled 10th and 11th grade students at Peters Township High School will take the Digital PSAT at no cost. To accommodate our students, we will test over (2) days:

• October 28 – Grade 10 will take the PSAT/NMSQT
• October 29 – Grade 11 will take the PSAT/NMSQT

This test predicts readiness for college and career and advanced coursework. It also provides targeted practice in preparation for the digital SAT. Students who take the PSAT/NMSQT during their junior year are automatically considered for the National Merit Scholarship program.

For more information:

• Get Familiar with the Digital PSAT/NMSQT
• PSAT/NMSQT Student Guide

Digital Readiness Check

Students will test using their school issued Chromebooks via the Bluebook application. Students should open the Bluebook application now to allow for the latest updates and/or installation. The Bluebook app can be found on the Desktop or in the Company Portal.

To prepare for test day, we will be conducting a Digital Readiness Check on October 10 during students’ English classes. Please make sure your student has a fully charged Chromebook and power cord for both the Digital Readiness Check and test day! Once the Digital Readiness Check is complete, students will have access to a full-length practice test.

Further test day information will be coming soon. Contact Ms. Patton (pattona@pt-sd.org) in the Counseling Office with any questions.

Registration must be completed through the Total Registration website: https://user.totalregistration.net/AP/390535

Registration opens Monday, September 29th at 12:01am.

Registration closes Monday, November 7th at 11:59pm.

November 12th by 11:59pm Exams must be paid for by this date. Any exam with a remaining balance after this date will be canceled.

November 14th: Last day for a full refund.

If you have general questions of concerns, please contact Courtney Wolf in the high school counseling office: (724)941-6250 x8910 or wolfc@pt-sd.org

The trade and tech fair is a fantastic event for all students planning to attend college, trade/technical school, and employment.

Peters Township High School is hosting the annual South Hills Trade and Technical Fair this fall! We are excited to invite your students to attend the event on Wednesday, November 5th, from 6:00–8:00 PM.

Students can register here: https://forms.office.com/r/rzCh8TyjC7

Check out this link for an updated list of vendors planning to attend: https://docs.google.com/document/d/1CMcQu1sdDA2YDmz-QnVEIbM6y8eiIq41/edit?usp=sharing&ouid=101929008508713593729&rtpof=true&sd=true

This event has been a wonderful success in connecting students with career and technical pathways over the past several years, and we are thrilled to offer this valuable opportunity again. Your participation helps our students learn more about future career options, explore hands-on training programs, and engage with professionals in a variety of fields.

The American Math Exam will be given on Wednesday, November 5th at 8:00 am! Any student is eligible to take the exam, but current Algebra II students & above are targeted.

• The exam is free
• Entirely voluntary
• Lasts approximately 75 mins.

Students who score highly enough become eligible to move onto the next level of the test; with the grand prize being a chance to participate as a member of the American team of the International Math Olympiad. Students are responsible to make-up any missed work as a result of participation, but absence from periods missed will be pre-excused.

Anyone who would like to participate or if you have any questions, please contact Mrs. Prinsen at prinsenh@pt-sd.org.

October 8: FAFSA Completion Night @ PTHS

October 22nd: End of 1st Quarter

October 23rd: Parent/Teacher Conference Day

October 24th: No School for Students

October 28th: PSAT/NMSQT Grade 10

October 29th: PSAT/NMSQT Grade 11

November 5: American Math Exam

November 5: South Hills Trade & Tech Fair

November 7: AP Exam Registration Closes

November 8: Senior Vendor & Craft Show

November 26: No School for Students

November 27 through December 1st: Thanksgiving Break

Ms. Patton: pattona@pt-sd.org

Ms. Simmons: simmonsa@pt-sd.org

Mrs. Prinsen: prinsenh@pt-sd.org

Mrs. Kottner: kottnerj@pt-sd.org

Mr. Sudol: sudolj@pt-sd.org

Mrs. Wolf: wolfc@pt-sd.org

Mrs. Gobbie & Mrs. Vamossy

Counseling Secretaries

vamossyj@pt-sd.org

gobbiel@pt-sd.org