Bradley University - College Kickoff Event

Bradley is hosting a College Kickoff event at 3pm on Sunday, September 14th. At this event, you will:

• Attend an essay writing seminar with our Bradley English Faculty to truly give you a leg up when it comes to writing your college essays
• Learn about the financial aid process, transferring AP/IB/Dual Credits, and other details in your college searches
• Set up your Common App account
• Ask questions about the college experience to current Bradley students

Click here to register for this informative event.

Ronald W Reagan Leadership Program at EC

If you are interested in Eureka College for the 2026-27 school year, check out the Ronald W Reagan Leadership Program! This program provides a full ride plus study abroad opportunities! It is open to students with at least a 3.30 GPA who have demonstrated leadership in a variety of areas. More information can be found here.

Linking Common App to Naviance

If you are a senior using the Common App, you will need to link your account to Naviance for us to send all Counselor Documents as well as Teacher Recommendations. Below are the steps to link the two:

1. Log onto your Naviance account.
*If you do not know the password, you can log in using Clever.*
2. Click on COLLEGES --> COLLEGES I'M APPLYING TO.
3. Click on MATCH ACCOUNTS.
4. Enter your Common App Email address and click on MATCH ACCOUNTS.
5. You are done :)

Stop by the Student Services office with any questions.

Discover Illinois Colleges with No Application Fee

Applying to college can be an exciting yet daunting process, especially when considering the costs involved. Fortunately, many colleges in Illinois are making it easier for prospective students by waiving application fees. Here is a current list of Illinois colleges that do not charge an application fee, helping you save money while exploring your educational options.

Augustana College
Aurora University
Bradley University
Eastern Illinois University
Elmhurst College
Eureka College
Greenville College
Illinois College
Illinois Institute of Technology
Illinois Wesleyan University
Lake Forest College
Loyola University Chicago
McKendree University
Millikin University
Monmouth College

Northern Illinois University
Rockford University
Saint Augustine College

SIU - Carbondale
University of IL - Springfield
University of St. Francis

Shape Your Future - COMING SOON!!

 

Attendance Matters

Let the Attendance Games Begin!  Throughout the 2025–26 school year, we’re turning attendance into a full-on challenge—with contests, promotions, and bragging rights up for grabs.

Kicking off this Friday: Homerooms will go head-to-head in our first attendance showdown. The goal? Show up, stand out, and stack up those days present. The homeroom with the best attendance wins—not just the glory, but breakfast for the whole homeroom.

So sharpen those pencils, set your alarms, and let’s make showing up a priority. Game on!

Parent Workshops - Fall 2025

SENIORS: What is Parchment?

Parchment is the electronic transcript site that makes sending transcripts simple. It is completely free for all students currently in high school. The best part...it takes about 2 minutes to go on the site and request a transcript. The counselors then click an approve button and the colleges have the transcript. It is the only way that transcripts will be sent to colleges, universities, NCAA, etc.

Reminder to seniors: You must register using the email that was sent to your school email from Parchment. Registration takes about 5-10 minutes but will only need to be done once. After you are registered, ordering transcripts couldn't be simpler.

Note to Parents: The student must sign up for Parchment using the link to his/her school email address. Any accounts using other email addresses will not work because the account will not be properly linked to our school. Please encourage the students to set up the account as soon as possible. It is the only way transcripts will be sent.

ICC Online Dual Credit Help

There are over 50 students taking ICC classes. Pretty amazing. That means 50+ students will be earning college credits while in high school.  Below are two important links for current students...

This first link helps you find your ICC username, log into your ICC email, and log into your eServices (MyICC) account. There is a Help Desk phone number listed at the top if you have any issues or need a password reset.

This second link details answers to the frequently asked questions we get each semester.

Please note that ICC classes begin on August 18th. We would strongly encourage all ICC students to be sure they can access classes before this date.

Getting Involved!! What does IVC have to offer?

🎉 Want to actually enjoy high school? Get involved. Seriously. Science says it works. Whether you're into touchdowns, trombones, theater, or tech, there's something here with your name on it.

This guide gives you the inside scoop on most of the sports, clubs, and activities our school offers—aka your gateway to fun, friends, and finding your thing.

❓ Got questions? Wondering if there's a club for underwater basket weaving or competitive kazoo? Hit up your counselor. They're basically your personal GPS for extracurricular awesomeness.

👉 Click here to explore Sports, Clubs, and Activities – Your future favorite thing might be one click away.

Welcome to the 2025-26 School Year

We are so glad to get back to school. There are a lot of exciting and informative activities and events planned for this school year. There will be a blend of in-person and virtual events hosted by the counseling department throughout the year. We look forward to staying in touch with all parents and students. Please reach out to any of the counselors with any questions you may have:

Mr. Mark Kosinski (students last name A-K) -mkosinski@ivcschools.com
Mrs. Laura Davis (students last name L-Z) - ldavis@ivcschools.com
Mrs. Rachel Williams (students with IEPs) - rwilliams@ivcschools.com

Service Academy Night

Congressman Darin LaHood is hosting a Service Academy Night on September 22, 2025 beginning at 5:30 PM at the 182nd Airlift Wing in Peoria, IL. If you are considering any of the 5 service academies, this is a meeting you will NOT want to miss! RSVP required by September 15th. Click on this link for more information and to RSVP.

Pearce is Hiring!!

Materials Engineering Camp

Attention all students entering their Junior or Senior year! The Peoria chapter of ASM Materials is hosting their 20th annual week long summer camp for students who are interested in Engineering. This camp is FREE to all selected participants. Camp runs from July 21 - July 24 from 8:00 AM - 4:00 PM for 2025. More information can be found here. Applications are due May 3rd and can be found here.

Summer Opportunity at ISU: Redbird Risk Management Challenge

Redbird Risk Management Challenge

Illinois State University invites the best that the Midwest and beyond has to offer to compete in a weeklong risk management challenge held at the Katie School of Insurance and Risk Management on the ISU campus from July 13 through July 18, 2025.

Teams assume the roles of senior risk management professionals and are asked to guide their corporation through a minefield of potential disasters. Losses may occur without notice - and have the potential to greatly setback your corporations ability to operate. The only alternative to bankruptcy is for your team to correctly assess the impact of these perils and implement superior risk management strategies. The winning team is determined by which corporation generates the most profit by the end of the week.


This experience is challenging and requires teams to think creatively and stay resourceful.

We have fun too! In the evenings there are structured social activities such as bowling, mini-golf, and other competitive activities designed to build camaraderie and help earn additional revenue for your “companies”. Students stay in a dorm on the Illinois State University campus while in the program, allowing them to experience what it is like to live on a college campus.

Special student guides and programming are arranged for students during the evening.



                                                            APPLY HERE



Please contact Program Coordinator Kylie at kmaurer@ilstu.edu with any questions.


We are seeking students who:

• Are entering their senior year in high school
• Plan to attend college after graduation
• Presently have at least a 3.2 GPA (on a 4.0 Scale)
• ACT scores and Letters of Recommendation are viewed favorably but NOT required

Selection will be based on GPA, extracurricular activities, community service, and leadership roles held by the applicant. A letter of recommendation from a business/consumer science teacher is viewed favorably. This recommendation confirms the student’s activities and interests in business.


Applications are due May 31, 2025.

What Does This Cost?

This program is FREE. The Redbird Risk Management Challenge is funded through a generous donation from State Farm® and the Spencer Educational Fund. While on campus for the challenge, the costs of tuition, room, and meals are covered.

Local Scholarship List Released

The counselors met with the senior class this morning to present all of the local scholarships available to the students for the 2024-25 school year. All scholarship applications will be due on April 2nd. No late applications will be accepted.

Any student who was not in attendance is encouraged to take a look at the presentation by clicking here and stopping by the counseling office to pick up the scholarship list.

All scholarships must be accessed through Naviance. Students can log in to Naviance using Clever.  The list of scholarships can be found by clicking here or the link in the Local Scholarships Section to the right. All scholarships must be filled out by the students using their email accounts.

Attention Seniors: Local Scholarship Dates Announced

Each year, over $100,000 is given out in local scholarships. These scholarships range from $250 to $40,000.  Last year, there were 50+ different scholarships awarded to graduating seniors.  With the growing cost of college, every penny helps.

Here is a breakdown of the upcoming dates...

Wednesday, February 19  - Local Scholarship Meeting - Extended HR

Students will see a presentation on all of the available scholarships. They will also receive a handout which lists each scholarship.  That sheet will be posted on this blog on the 19th for all students and parents to view. All scholarships will be available through Naviance on the 19th.

Click below for the rest of the dates.

Community Foundation of Central Illinois Scholarships

 Community Foundation of Central Illinois Scholarship

Community Foundation of Central Illinois offer scholarships to the Central Illinois area. Click the link below to see more details about deadlines and scholarship qualifications.

You can find scholarship opportunities here!

WIU Fee Waiver through the end of February

From WIU Admissions:

Our admissions application remains open and we are making admissions decisions for Fall 2025. Students may use either the Western Illinois application or the Common Application to apply:

Western Illinois application

Common Application

Fee Waiver through Feb. 28
We want to support students still making college decisions or re-thinking earlier plans. We will automatically waive the application fee for students who apply by February 28. This will save the student $30. 

A How-to Guide for Freshman Registration

 Planning a schedule for freshman year can be quite an intimidating process. Hopefully this blog post will help students and parents through the process. The pink registration sheets are due by Friday, Feb 28th to the student's grade school main office. Class selection should also be inputted into TeacherEase before returning the sheets (for those students with access to TeacherEase.) 

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.

Please click below for further instructions...

Financial Aid Application Nonparticipation Form

Senior students and their parents are able to submit the FAFSA starting December 1 for the class of 2025 using the website https://studentaid.gov/

Parents/students who do not want to complete the FAFSA will need to submit the FAFSA non participation to the ISAC portal by May 1 of the year they graduate.  The directions for nonparticipation form can be found by clicking here.

Completing the FAFSA or nonparticipation form is a graduation requirement for IVC High School.

Exploring Careers in Rural Pharmacy: A virtual Panel Discussion

Illinois Rural Health Association and IL AHEC are hosting a virtual panel discussion on Thursday, February 27th from 7:00-8:00 pm.

This panel will allow you to hear first-hand from rural pharmacists who work in different settings, as well as current students to gain a better understanding of the profession. An overview of the various academic pathways to becoming a pharmacist will also be provided.

This event is for high school students, college students, or anyone looking for a career change. To register go to https://www.ilruralhealth.org/event-6043536 .

Seniors Attending ICC - Fall 2025

 Are you a current senior planning on attending ICC this fall? Be sure to check out their Early College Visit Day on February 7th from 9:00AM - 12:00PM. Take the next step in your college journey and see everything ICC has to offer firsthand. This is your chance to explore programs, learn about financial aid and scholarships, meet faculty and current students, tour the campus, and more. Click this link to register for this informative event!

ARTS AND TECHNOLOGY CAMP

ARTS AND TECHNOLOGY CAMP

Interested in hands-on sessions in everything from music, theatre, filmmaking, improv and visual art to game design, engineering, and speech and debate? 

Join us this summer for Bradley’s Arts and Technology Camp!

Spend a week immersed in your passions–choose one major course and one minor course for the week and spend your time in breakout sessions where you’ll build new skills through hands-on experience.

On your final day of camp, you’ll be able to showcase your accomplishments with your peers, family, and friends at an exciting camp expo. You’ll also earn digital badges to showcase your skills on your resume or LinkedIn.

Arts and Technology Camp Video

Announcement from SIU-E Regarding Free Tuition

This message came from the Chancellor at SIU-E...

We know that too often the opportunity to earn a college degree is not realized because students worry about how they will pay tuition. I am also surprised by how many students and families miss available opportunities simply because they do not know about them.

I am proud to share that this year the SIUE Commitment, SIUE’s program to provide free tuition and fees has been expanded to more deserving Illinois residents. Illinois students admitted to SIUE arriving from households with an annual income of $113,575 or less will now have access to free tuition and fees.

All of the Illinois state universities have a similar program. This link will explain the program at each of the universities.  It is worth a moment to see if you qualify.

Registration Presentations

The counselors met during extended homeroom this week with the to-be sophomores, juniors, and seniors
about registration for the 2025-26 school year.  Students are encouraged to discuss their class selections with parents and enter their classes directly into TeacherEase.  The counselors will begin calling the students to the counseling office to discuss those choices when we all return from holiday break. Click below for each presentation. Remember: it is the grade students will be in next year.

Sophomore Presentation

Junior Presentation

Senior Presentation

The Skills Gap: New Opportunities Through Trade Schools

As the demand for skilled workers continues to grow, trade schools are stepping up to fill the gap. These institutions offer specialized training in fields like construction, healthcare, and technology, providing students with the hands-on experience and credentials they need to succeed. With the promise of good wages and job security, trade schools are becoming an increasingly attractive option for those looking to enter the workforce quickly and effectively. This video produced by MTI gives a closer look at that Skills Gap.

ACT Prep at Bradley University

📢 Attention Juniors!

Bradley University will host online ACT Prep Classes from February 4th to March 4th, in preparation for the April test. This is a fantastic opportunity to boost your scores and enhance your college applications. All juniors are strongly encouraged to take advantage of these classes. Don’t miss out on this valuable chance to prepare for your future!

ACT review will be on Tuesday evenings from February 4 - March 4, 2025.

Cost: $99

Click here to register

Click here to purchase ACT book for class

Work based Learning Opportunities for IVC Students

Exciting news! Applications are now available for the Work-Based Learning (WBL) programs in Construction, Certified Nursing Assistant (CNA), and Emergency Medical Services/Fire Science. These programs offer students hands-on experience and invaluable skills in their chosen fields, preparing them for future careers.

The Construction program allows students to explore the trades, while the CNA program provides essential training for those interested in healthcare. The EMS/Fire Science program is perfect for students passionate about emergency services, offering training in fire safety, emergency medical care, and rescue operations.

These WBL programs not only provide practical experience but also open doors to potential job opportunities and certifications. Interested students should apply as soon as possible to secure their spots. More information can be found by clicking here.

Don't miss this chance to gain real-world experience and jumpstart your career!

Scheduling 101 - Presentation for Parents

The Scheduling 101 presentation at IVC High School provided parents with an overview of the scheduling process. Key points included:

• Sequencing of Classes: Core subjects like English, Math, Science, and Social Studies were discussed, along with academic pathways and prerequisites for advanced courses.
• Graduation Requirements: Detailed information on credit requirements, mandatory courses, and standardized tests needed for graduation was provided.
• Class Schedule Layout: The daily schedule and block scheduling were explained to show how students’ days are structured.
• Electives Offered: A wide variety of electives, special programs like AP courses and Dual Enrollment, and extracurricular opportunities were highlighted.

Parents were encouraged to engage with their children’s academic planning and use school resources to ensure a successful high school experience.

Click here if you would like to
view the PDF of the presentation with speaker notes