Online Registration for 2019-20 Is Ready To Go!

Online Registration has been opened for all students. Students may go into TeacherEase and enter their classes for the 2019-20 school year.

The Counseling Department presented registration materials last week. The attendance for the three meetings was fantastic. Topics covered included graduations requirements, new courses, Co-op, Work-based learning, and more.  Click below to see the PDF of all three class presentations. Remember to look at the presentation of next year's grade level.

Senior Presentation - Class of 2020
Junior Presentation - Class of 2021
Sophomore Presentation - Class of 2022

Materials for all students can be found to the right in the Registration Forms Section. Any student who was not at the registration meetings should see his or her counselor as soon as possible.

Scholarship Listing UPDATED

If you want some money, you are going to have to do some work!!

Seniors should be checking out the 2018-19 scholarship listing. There is a huge range of scholarships with due dates ranging from January to March.  The scholarship page has been updated to include over 20 scholarships. Most listed are Peoria area scholarships with a few national scholarships included.

Scholarship listing may be accessed by clicking on the button on the right column or by clicking here.

American Legion Sponsoring Girls State

American Legion Auxiliary Illini Girls State is a week long program dedicated to providing training for young women in city, county, and state government. They are placed into a two party system and will run for office, campaign, vote, etc.

When: June 16-22, 2019
Where: Eastern Illinois University, Lawson Hall
Who Can attend: Applicants must have just finished her junior year in high school
Cost: The cost for a girl to attend is $250. This fee is paid by the sponsoring American Legion Auxiliary Unit (approval needed)

Sign up & information website: www.alaigs.org

Essay Contest Open to All Students

Americanism Essay Contest 2019

Title: “What are my responsibilities as a U.S. Citizen?”
Who can enter: All students in 7th – 12th grades
Deadline to enter: Feb 1, 2019
Available awards: Range from $100 cash to $1200 Scholarship

Click Here for full details

Career and Technical Information Night

Dunlap High School is hosting a Career and Technical Information night for any student interested in skilled and technical trades on Wednesday, December 5th from 6:30-8 PM in the Dunlap HS Auditorium. Come hear about opportunities in the Peoria area from local leaders in industry including Caterpillar, ATS, and the Peoria Educational Region for Employment and Career Training.

Senior Retreat - Coming Up Soon!

We are very excited about the upcoming senior retreat. Over 40 students have picked up registration sheets. The retreat will take place Oct. 31-Nov. 3 at Eagle Crest Camp in Washburn.

Some neat facts about the retreat...
-- The retreat is four days in length and nearly 100% led by a group of six seniors.
-- This is the 27th retreat. Over 900 students have attended the retreat over the past thirteen years.
-- If a student would like to attend but cannot afford the retreat ($90), there are some partial and full scholarships available if the student comes to see one of the counselors.

Please see one of the counselors for a registration sheet. The sheets are due by this Friday but can be turned in early next week. See any counselor with questions.

Golden Apple Scholarship

The Golden Apple Scholarship is available for any senior who is hoping to study in the education field. Students can trade up to $23,000 of tuition support for beginning their career in a high-need school. More information on this scholarship program can be found at www.goldenapple.org with the application found here.

PSAT/NMSQT October 10th, 2018

The PSAT/NMSQT is a great way to preview and practice for the SAT. It will test the same skills and knowledge as the SAT. When you get your test results, connect your College Board and Khan Academy®accounts to get free personalized SAT study recommendations.

In addition, when you take the PSAT/NMSQT, you’re automatically screened for the National Merit® Scholarship Program, an academic competition for recognition and scholarships.

For more information, visit NMSC's website or see the Official Student Guide to the PSAT/NMSQT or the Guide to the National Merit® Scholarship Program(for educators). The National Merit Scholarship Corporation (NMSC) is a cosponsor of the PSAT/NMSQT.

There are 35 spots available. You can sign up with Mrs. Placher in the guidance office. The test will cost $16.00. Checks can be made out to IVC. Payment must be received before test day. We will test on October 10th, 2018 at 8:00 am.

Breaking Out - Sophomore/Junior Retreat

The Sophomore/Junior Retreat is back and coming up soon.  All sophomores and juniors are invited to sign up for this overnight event. The retreat will have a variety of activities including high ropes course, paintball, duct tape boat building and more. Two days full of fun and challenging teambuilding activities.

When:  Saturday, Oct 13 to Sunday, Oct 14
Where: Great Oaks Camp in Lacon
Cost: $45 (covers all food and activities)

The registration sheet is due to Mr. Kosinski by Friday, Oct. 5th. Feel free to call or email with and questions you may have.

 

ICC Announces Visit Days for 2018-19

Illinois Central College has released this year's Friday Campus Visit Days. What a great way to visit ICC's campus and learn about different programs offered!

Reserve your spot online at https://icc.edu/admissions/campus-visits/

This year, ICC is grouping programs by 'Career Cluster' on the same visit day to better categorize career fields that share common traits. The full list of days is as follows:

Oct 5th - Health Careers
Oct 26th - Science, Technology, Engineering, & Mathematics
Nov 2nd - Arts, Audio/Visual Technology & Communication
Nov 30th - Agriculture & Industrial Technologies
Feb 1st - Business, Legal and Information Systems
Feb 22nd - Arts and Behavioral Sciences & Humanities
Mar 1st - Law, Public Safety, Corrections, & Security
Mar 29th - Hospitality & Tourism

Manufacturing Tours 2018!

Peoria Educational Region for Employment and Career Training (P.E.R.F.E.C.T.) is hosting this year's Manufacturing Tours on Friday, October 19th at Caterpillar followed by lunch and a tour of the Agricultural and Industrial Technologies facility at ICC. Space is limited - contact your Guidance Cousenlor by Friday, September 28th if you are interested!

Calling all Science Students - Student Researcher Program

There is a fantastic program coming up in November for those students interested in the science field. The Ag Lab in Peoria will be hosting a one-day Student Researcher Program for 11th and 12th grade students. Students are selected for this program based on demonstrated skills and merit. Since the program is limited to 48 students in the Peoria area, there is an application process. A program such as this one looks great on college applications.

Students who have interest in the following fields would benefit from attending this one-day program: Biology, Chemical Engineering, Chemistry, Entomology, Food Technology, Genetics, Microbiology, Molecular Genetics, Physical Science, Plant Pathology, and Plant Physiology.

Turn in your application to your Guidance Counselor by Friday, September 28th!

Click here for the application

College Application Fees Waived!

Some schools will offer fee waivers for all students during a given week of the semester. Check with schools to which you are applying to see if they will have any weeks such as this. Two major ones:

Eastern Illinois University - no application fee through October 15th

Western Illinois University - no application fee the first week of October

Ending the Silence Program at Chillicothe Public Library

The National Alliance on Mental Health is hosting a program at the Chillicothe Public Library on Tuesday, October 23rd at 6:00 PM on Ending the Silence. The program focuses on helping end the stigma surrounding mental health conditions, warning signs of mental illness, and what steps to take if you or a loved on is showing symptoms. Audience members will have the opportunity to ask questions and gain an understanding of an often-misunderstood topic. Please call the library at 274-2719 with questions.

Caterpillar's ThinkBig Program

Attention Juniors and Seniors! If you are intrested in being a heavy equipment technician but are not sure where to start, check out Altorfer Inc.'s program on Saturday, October 27th from 9:00 - 10:30 at Altorfer, 1 Capitol Drive, East Peoira. Learn about ICC and the Caterpillar ThinkBig Program - a two year hands-on program that includes a paid internship! Click the link below for more information:

ThinkBig Now!

Articulation Unplugged at Illinois State University 2018

On September 17th, Illinois State University held its annual State Articulation day. This is an informative opportunity for counselors to meet with different public and private universities to obtain yearly updates to Illinois' higher education institutions. The following two links highlight our discussion:

12 Reasons to Stay in Illinois
Gives a one-page look at each state university. Includes enrollment data, tuition, important contacts and dates, and some financial aid info.

State Universities at a Glance
A multi-page booklet that lists a ton of infor for state universities including: a comparative list of available majors, freshman requirements, important deadlines, and financial information.

In addition, we attended a college fair with over 100 colleges and universities and received an abundance of information in regards to schools and their different programs. Please see your counselor for additional information on your college choice or major.

ISAC Representative to IVC

Illinois Student Assistance Commission (ISAC) representative Emily Blankenship will be at IVC on Friday, October 5th from Noon - 3:00 to help any student and their parent(s) fill out the FAFSA and answer any questions about all things Financial Aid. Stop in to see her on a first-come, first-serve basis or contact the Guidance department to schedule an appointment.

Financial Aid Presentation (9/12/18)

We had a great turn out at ISAC's Financial Aid Presentation last night! Representative Emily Blankenship gave an overview of different types of aid such as grants, loans, and scholarships. If you were unable to attend, or attended but have additional questions, here is a link to the presentation:
  
Financial Aid Presentation

Off to College Guide

All seniors received this year's Off to College Guide at the senior meeting last week. The guide is packed information such as: timelines, factors to consider, college open houses, keys to the process, important website links, and steps to writing a great essay.

The guide can be accessed by clicking this link.

To see the powerpoint of the whole senior class presentation, click here.

SAT - October Test Deadline Approaches

The deadline for the October 6th SAT is coming up. Any senior who plans to retake the SAT should sign up ASAP. All juniors will be taking the test in April.  To register, students should go to www.collegeboard.org. The closest testing center is ICC in
East Peoria.

Homecoming Coming Soon!!!

Homecoming week will be here soon (September 17th-22nd to be exact)!!! This is a great way to meet new people, get involved with your class, and have FUN!! Float building starts two weeks before homecoming . If you want to help your class, reach out to the class sponsors for schedules (float, hall decorations, & skit).

The following people are class sponsors:

Freshmen: Mrs. Aldrich & Ms. Dukes

Sophomore: Mr. Williams & Mr. Mercer

Junior: Mrs. Placher & Mrs. Bogner

Senior: Mr. Kosinski & Mrs. Heth

Off to College Breakfast

Important Dates for Seniors & Their Parents

Below is a list of important dates this year with a short description of each. We encourage seniors and parents to attend as many of these programs as possible. For more info on any of them, please call (309) 274-5481 x2.
 

Off to College Breakfast 

Friday, Sept 7th

8:00 a.m. - Chillicothe Library

This is our 10th year offering an Off to College Breakfast at the Chilli library. The breakfast will cover the application process, some of the ins and outs of college, tips for parents, and more.  The program lasts about 45-60 minutes.

 

Financial Aid/Scholarship Night

Wednesday, Sept 12th  

6:00 p.m. - IVC Library 

A representative from the IL Student Assistance Commission will be at IVC to present a program on financial aid and scholarships. This program is very informative, especially for those parents who are new to the college application process.

FAFSA Night - Wednesday, October 17th

6:00 p.m. - IVC Library

The Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) can be tricky sometimes. This program is designed to help you navigate the application and make the process much easier.

High-Tech Ag and Diesel Technology Career Expo

High-Tech Ag & Deisel 
TechnologyCareer Fair

Thurs, Sep 13 @ 4:00-7:30 pm

East Peoria Campus
AIT Building

A drone flies high above rows of corn with pinpoint accuracy. A tractor navigates itself through the field. A service technician troubleshoots an issue for a customer’s machine through remote technology.

ICC will feature these tools of the trade, and more, for today’s agriculture, diesel technology and construction industry careers at its High-Tech Ag and Diesel Career Expo on Thurs., Sept 13 from 4:00 to 7:30 pm in the Agricultural and Industrial Technologies (AIT) Building on the East Peoria Campus.

For more info, click here.  Deadline to reserve a spot is September 7th.

Parchment - What is it?

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.

Mental Health Programming at the Library!

The Chillicothe Public Library is collaborating with local organizations to illuminate issues related to mental health. Topics include suicide prevention, nurturing mental health, and encouraging dialogue to help end the stigma surrounding mental health conditions. Click on the photo for more information, call the library at 274-2719, or visit chillipld.org.

ICC's Apprenticeship Program Open for Fall!

ICC is offering qualified applicants the chance to get paid in a high-demand job, while also attending school to earn an associate degree. These programs combine job related credit courses with structured on-the-job learning experiences. An apprenticeship is first and foremost a job and comes with substantial training and the development of transferable skills, which is beneficial to the employer and the employee. The goal for the apprenticeship programs is to provide workers with advanced skill sets that meet the specific needs of employers, using a flexible learning approach.

The Fall 2018 Industrial Maintenance program is now accepting applications. Click here for more information.

*** Additional Information as of 6/19/18***

Illinois Central College will host two informational recruitment sessions to choose from for potential students interested in learning about its new industrial maintenance apprenticeship program and other programs. The programs are focused on helping students connect with employers from the beginning of their education and attend college for little to no cost.

Event 1: Tues., June 26, from 5-7 p.m. at Arbor Hall at the Peoria Campus

Event 2: Fri., June 29, from 10 a.m.-Noon at the Agricultural and Industrial Technologies Building at the East Peoria Campus