Reminder to ALL Seniors (Re: Parchment)

All seniors need to register with Parchment in order to have transcripts sent to any school or the NCAA. We will no longer be sending paper transcripts. Seniors have been emailed an invitation to their IVC email accounts.  All they need to do is click on the link and fill out registration.  The whole process takes about ten minutes.

2016-17 Parent Workshops

Parent College Breakfast

New Electronic Transcript Service

This year's seniors will be the first group to be able to access and fully utilize electronic transcript transmission. This will enable the students to request transcripts from any internet access even after graduation.  This service is provided by ISAC (Illinois Student Assistance Commission)  and totally FREE to Illinois schools and students.

So why go with electronic transmission? In addition to the flexibility of sending transcripts from any electronic device, Parchment enables students to keep a record of the transcripts sent.  Schools are able to transmit transcripts instantly without needing to use old fashioned paper copy through the mail.

All seniors were sent an invitation to register. They will not be able to send transcripts until they have registered with Parchment.  The whole process takes roughly ten minutes.

Clicking on the link to the upper right of this blog will take you to Parchment.

ACT Testing

 ATTENTION SENIORS!! If you have not yet taken the ACT, consider signing up for the next available test. The test is given on October 22nd with the deadline to register being September 16th. Testing location options include Dunlap High School, Illinois Central College, Bradley University, and Richwoods High School. More information can be found at www.actstudent.org.

Summer Service Trip Opportunity for Students

For the past five years, a group of IVC students and faculty have traveled up to Kewadin, MI for a week-long service on the Grand Traverse Reservation. The trip is open to any IVC student.  Over the past five years, the people on the reservation have become an extended family.  Any interested student stop by the guidance office for more information. There will be an informational meeting for all freshmen and sophomores in the auditorium on Wednesday.

The particulars of the trip are as follows:

IVC Senior Honors Night

We will be honoring seniors on Wednesday, May 18th at 6:30 in the IVC Auditorium.

Any student with a GPA above 3.25 should attend. Over $100,000 in scholarship will also be awarded. Students receiving an award or scholarship with a GPA below 3.25 will be contacted to let them know they need to attend.

Speak Up!!

We would like to wrap our suicide awareness week by encouraging you to speak up if you or someone you know is struggling. Whether it is talking to a trusted adult or calling an anonymous hotline, help is available to you. The previous few posts have given several resources that are available for several types of situations. These resources are there for one reason: to help individuals in their time of need.

In closing, we would like to leave with this final thought: Your individuality is a precious gift. Embrace your gift and share it with the world!

As a wise man once said, "Today you are You, that is truer than true. There is no one alive that is Youer than You."
                                                               --- Dr. Seuss

Mental Health Resources

Reaching out to others and educating oneself are so critical when tackling mental health issues. In addition to the resources available at school, there are many websites that have had such a positive impact on the lives of teens and their families. Some of these issues are tremendously difficult to handle, it is so important that teens know that they are not handling them alone.

Some fantastic resources include:

Crisis Text Line
http://www.crisistextline.org/
Crisis Text Line provides free emotional support and information to teens in any type of crisis, including feeling suicidal. You can text with a trained specialist 24 hours a day. Text “CTL” or “LISTEN” to 741-741.

ReachOut.com
http://us.reachout.com/
This website provides information and support for teens and young adults struggling with mental health issues, including suicide. All the material is written by teens and young adults. There are fact sheets about depression and suicide, stories about dealing with suicide issues, information on how to get help for yourself and how to help a friend, and the ReachOut blog. You can also join a forum to connect with your peers for immediate support and information or use the text service ReachOut TXT to get help from trained volunteers.

Mental Health Awareness 

Each year millions of Americans face the reality of living with a mental health condition. The following statistics focus on the teen population:

*20% of youth ages 13-18 live with a mental health condition

*11% of youth have a mood disorder

*10% of youth have a behavior or conduct disorder

*8% of youth have an anxiety disorder

In recent studies, it has shown that 50% of students age 14 and older with a mental illness drop out of high school. We surveyed our students at IVC in regards to suicide awareness, but also included a mental health piece. The following chart displays mental health issues our students have struggled with:

There are several warning signs. The following is a short list of signs you as a parent, a friend, a neighbor, a brother, or even a cousin can be aware of in case someone close to you is struggling:

*feeling very sad or withdrawn for more than 2 weeks (crying regularly, feeling fatigued, feeling unmotivated)

*trying to harm or kill oneself or making to do so

*out of control, risk taking behaviors that can cause harm to self or others

*sudden overwhelming fear for no reason sometimes with a racing heart, physical discomfort or fast breathing

*not eating , throwing up or using laxatives to lose weight; significant weight loss or gain

*severe mood swings that cause problems in relationships

*repeated use of drugs or alcohol

* drastic changes in behavior, personality, or sleeping habits (waking up early and actin agitated) 

Warning Signs of Suicide

The following short article was written by a doctor who specializes in the area of suicide. Although no one warning sign is an indicator, there is a strong likelihood that those teens contemplating suicide will display one or more of the following signs. While this is not a complete list of every warning sign, it is a fairly comprehensive list. 

The most important thing is to not ignore these signs if they are present. Contact a hospital or qualified individual to let them know what you have noticed.

Recognizing teen suicide warning signs  

Medical Author: Melissa Conrad Stöppler, MD

Suicide is alarmingly common. It is the third leading cause of death for people aged 15 to 24.  While boys are more likely than girls to commit suicide, teens of both genders and all ages are at risk for suicide. It is especially tragic that the three leading causes of death in teens and young adults -- accident, homicide, and suicide -- all are preventable. Parents of teens should be aware of some of the warning signs of depression and suicide. The American Academy of Pediatrics describes the following signs that may signal that a depressed teen may be considering suicide:

• withdrawal from friends and family members
• trouble in romantic relationships
• difficulty getting along with others
• changes in the quality of schoolwork or lower grades
• rebellious behaviors
• unusual gift-giving or giving away own possessions
• appearing bored or distracted
• writing or drawing pictures about death
• running away from home
• changes in eating habits
• dramatic personality changes
• changes in appearance (for the worse)
• sleep disturbances
• drug or alcohol abuse
• talk of suicide, even in a joking way
• having a history of previous suicide attempts

IVC Suicide Awareness Week April 18-22

Next week, IVC Guidance Department will be hosting a suicide awareness week. The counselors and several students have come up with a variety of activities and information to help educate our school on the prevalence of suicide, the warning signs of suicide, and what to do when a friend is talking about suicide. The outline for the week is as follows:

Monday - Awareness Day
Tuesday - Warning Signs
Wednesday - Mental Health Day
Thursday - Where to Turn / Celebrate Individuality
Friday - Speak Up!!

We will be blogging each day about the different topics listed above, so check back for more information!

Illinois Central College Scholarships

Illinois Central College Educational Foundation offers more than 600 scholarships for all kinds of students. If you are applying to ICC for the Fall 2016 semester, go to icc.edu/scholarships to find scholarships that meet your needs. All applications are due April 1st.

Suspension on MAP Grants this Thursday

Only 54 IVC seniors have filled out their FAFSA (Free Application for Federal Student Aid). Any seniors who have not completed their FAFSA are encouraged to do so before this Thursday. Below is the communication sent out by the Illinois Student Assistance Commission (ISAC).

The Illinois Student Assistance Commission (ISAC) is suspending the announcement of 2016-17 Monetary Award Program (MAP) grants for applicants whose initial 2016-17 Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA®) is received by the Central Processing System (CPS) on or after Thursday, March 10, 2016.

Oh, the Places You'll Go!

Check out where IVC seniors are headed next year on the bulletin board across from the guidance office! Seniors: be sure to tell your counselor your after high school plans to get your name added to the board.

Local Scholarship Applications Announced

Seniors met in the auditorium this morning during HR period and were given a list of all the available local scholarships. Last year, over 40 scholarships were awarded totaling over $150,000. Although we do not have exact figures for all of this year's scholarships, it is pretty fair to expect an amount very similar to last year.

To view scholarship list, click here. Although parents are welcome to look at the scholarship list, only students can stop in the guidance office to pick up the applications. The exception is the Cusac application which is available as a link on the right. The presentation listed in Local Scholarship section includes the projected monetary awards. Most of the amounts are accurate but there are adjustments possible.

All scholarships due March 24 at 3:30. No late applications will be accepted.

Helen Jordan Truitt Scholarship Application and Workshop

The Helen Jordan Truitt Scholarship was established in 1987. Since its inception, the Truitt Foundation has awarded scholarships totaling more than $2 million.  Last year $115,000 was awarded to three IVC students.

Students are invited to apply for a Truitt Scholarship. The criteria for eligibility was established by the Truitt Foundation, not IVC High School.

FAQ's for 8th Grade Parents and Students

Below you will find many of the questions that have already been asked of the counseling department for the upcoming school year in the fall. Hopefully, this blog will answer many of the concerns that have come up already in the registration process.

If you do have a question other than those listed here, please give us a call (274-5481) or send us an email. We will try to get them all answered.

Click below to see FAQ's.

A How-to-guide to Registering for Freshman Year

Planning a schedule for freshman year can be quite an intimidating process. Hopefully this blog post will help students and parents through the process. Registration sheets are due by Monday, February 22nd to the student's grade school main office. Class selection should also be inputted into TeacherEase before Monday.

The front side of the registration sheet is the demographic portion. It is important that it be filled out completely since the information will be entered into the computer system.

ICC Honors Program - Deadline Approaching

ICC established an Honors Program to recognize those who exhibit academic excellence. Consisting of enriched forms of existing courses, Honors sections are based on active student participation through research assignments, in-depth class discussion, group projects and independent study. Students may also enhance leadership skills in community service activities. 

ACT Prep Class

ACT TEST - April 9th

Prep Class - Feb 8 - Mar 23

Registration for prep class ends Feb 1st.

Cost - $50 (includes ACT Prep book)

Class takes place two or three times per week from 2:45-4:15. 

Every point matters on the ACT.  It can make the difference between a $2,500 scholarship and a $10,000 scholarship.  All students are encouraged to take the ACT.

Continue reading for complete ACT Prep class schedule.

ICC Placement Test

Any senior who plans to attend ICC in the fall should register for the upcoming placement exam. The exam covers mathematics and reading.  Results from the exam will be given to each student by his or her counselor roughly a week after the exam.

Juniors who plan to take classes at ICC as a senior should also be taking the test.

Friday, March 11th

8:30 a.m.

Please sign up in the Guidance Office ASAP.

Local Scholarship Dates Announced

Each year, over $160,000 is given out in local scholarships. These scholarships range from $250 to $75,000.  Last year, there were 45 different scholarships awarded to graduating seniors.  With the growing cost of college, every penny helps.

Here is a breakdown of the upcoming dates...

Peoria Area Regional College Fair - March 3rd

High school students and their families will have the opportunity to learn about nearly 100 colleges and universities during the 2nd annual Peoria Area Regional College Fair on Thursday, March 3 at the Renaissance Coliseum on the campus of Bradley University in Peoria. The fair will take place from 6 to 7:30 p.m. and admission is free. 

Bradley University, in collaboration with the Illinois Association for College Admission Counseling and area high schools, presents this opportunity for students beginning their college search to speak with college and university representatives from around the country.

A list of participating institutions, parking instructions, and other details are available at bradley.edu/collegefair.

FAFSA Workshop

All parents and students are invited to the Free Application for Federal Student Aid workshop on Wednesday, January 20th at 6:30 pm in the IVC Library. Seniors and their parents are strongly encouraged to attend this workshop as financial aid as well as most scholarship opportunities require the completion of FAFSA.  ISAC Representatives will be present to walk students and parents through the FAFSA process.

Wednesday, January 20th

IVC High School Library

6:30 P.M.

Registration for 2016-17 is upon us!!

It is that time of the year. Registration meetings have started. Check out all of the information that was distributed to the students by clicking on the links to the right.

Included on this blog:
-- All registration sheets
-- All forms
-- Course catalog
-- Instructions on how to register online
-- PDF version of presentations to students

Start Thinking Scholarships!!

The price tag on college can be scary, but students rarely, if ever, pay the 'sticker price.' Looking and applying for scholarships is a great way to help pay for the cost of tuition, books, room & board, and other expenses. Be sure to check out the scholarship bulletin board in the guidance office to see the latest available scholarships.
www.studentscholarships.org/newsletter.php has a list of scholarships ranging from $500 - $10,000.

Financial Aid/Scholarship Seminar

The 32nd annual Financial Aid / Scholarship Seminar will be hosted at Richwoods High School Auditorium on December 2, 2015 from 7 - 9 PM.

Get free scholarship and financial aid information presented by representatives from various organizations including Peoria Promise, ISAC, Richwoods HS Scholarship Advisor, Midstate College, and CEFCU.

All Peoria County college-bound juniors, seniors, and parents are welcome and encouraged to attend. Save the date and plan to attend for an interactive Q & A session with the presenters.

For questions about the event, contact Jim Bixby at 309-253-1491 or email at jbixby@mtco.com.

Registration Meeting Dates Set

Meetings for next year's class registration are as follows:

• Dec. 1st - Juniors
• Dec. 2nd - Sophomores 
• Dec. 3rd - Freshmen

All meetings will take place during extended homeroom in the auditorium.

ICC Visits the Seniors

Seniors planning to attend ICC next fall met in the auditorium this morning for an informative presentation about schooling next year.  Margot Birkner spoke to roughly 25 students about programs, scholarships, placement testing, and deadlines.

Some important points covered:

• Honors Program - students with an ACT score of 27 or above are eligible to apply. Admittance into the program includes full tuition waiver. Deadline is February 15th.
• ICC Scholarships  - There is one application for all scholarships. Application opens in mid-January. Deadline is April 1st.
• Placement Test - Will take place in March. Date TBA.
• Registration for Fall Classes - Begins April 1st.
• Special Note - Application deadline for students interested in the Two-year Health Career Program is mid-January. This does not apply to students who plan to transfer to a 4-yr program.

Any students who have questions can stop and talk with their guidance counselor.