Upcoming Senior Retreat

We are thrilled to announce the upcoming Senior Retreat from November 6-9 at LOMC in Oregon, IL. Here’s what you need to know:

• Introspective Experience: This four-day retreat is nearly 100% led by a group of six seniors, offering a unique and reflective experience.
• Rich History: This marks the 37th retreat, with over 1,000 IVC students participating over the past nineteen years.
• Limited Space: Due to the new retreat center, we can only accommodate 15 guys and 15 girls.
• Cost:  The retreat costs $100. This covers our lodging and meals at the retreat center. If the $100 fee is a concern, partial and full scholarships are available. Please see Mr. Kosinski for more information.
• Action Required: Registration sheets are available from the counselors and are due by October 18th. Space is limited, so act fast! The retreat will fill up long before the 18th.

For any questions, please see Mr. Kosinski.

Let’s make this retreat unforgettable! 🌟

EBSCO Resources for FREE!

Great news! The state of Illinois has established an agreement with EBSCO to provide FREE access to research databases for Illinois schools. our district has now been set up so all teachers, staff, and students have access to the databases. There is a link on the Parent/Student information page of our schools website, or Click Here while on school property.

New to EBSCO?

EBSCO is an online research platform that provides access to a vast collection of academic and scholarly resources. It includes articles from magazines, journals, newspapers, and other publications, making it an excellent too for students working on research projects, papers, and presentations. You can find scholarly articles, e-books, magazines, newspapers, and more!

Becoming a Teacher? Check This Out!

The Golden Apple Scholars teacher preparation and tuition assistance program is now accepting applications for the Class of 2025!

Golden Apple Scholars Receive:

• Up to $23,000 in total financial assistance for college
  
• Extensive classroom teaching experience
• Instruction from award-winning educators and expert partners
• Academic and social-emotional support
• Job placement assistance
• Mentoring in first year of teaching

Click Here for Golden Apple Application and Info

UIUC Program Explorer Tool

Before students apply to U of I, they are encouraged to check out the Program Explorer tool.

For each major at U of I, the Program Explorer tool provides a brief description, what graduates do with the degrees, how much the program costs, graduation and retention rates, related majors, and more.

Students can also take a self-assessment to discover which of the majors relate to their interests, explore majors by Holland type, and compare majors side by side.

Since students are admitted by major at UIUC, this tool is especially important to those applying. Hopefully this tool will help them make an informed decision on prospective major.

Methodist College Open House Events

Methodist College will be hosting a fall Open House on Monday, October 14th and Saturday, November 16th at 9:00 AM for any prospective students and guests. They currently offer the following degrees:

Undergraduate Degree
· Bachelor of Science in Nursing
· Bachelor of Science in Health Science
· Bachelor of Social Work


Certificate
· Gerontology Certificate

Graduate Degree
· Master of Science in Nursing

Click here to register for either of these great events!

NCAA Eligibility Center Information

Interested in playing collegiate athletics? Make sure you know what steps to take to qualify! Click below to access the NCAA Guide for the College-Bound Student-Athlete for 2024-25.

This document is full of timelines, resources, differences between the different divisions, course requirements, and so much more. If you are interested in playing DI, DII, or DIII athletics, this is DEFINITELY worth a read.

NCAA Eligibility Center Guide

Free Tuition in Illinois?

Are you ready to take your education to the next level without the burden of tuition fees? The Aim High program in Illinois is here to make your college dreams a reality! This incredible initiative offers free tuition to qualifying students, ensuring that financial barriers don’t stand in the way of your academic success. Whether you’re a top achiever or a dedicated student with big aspirations, Aim High is designed to support you every step of the way.

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

Princess Closet Hours Posted

Homecoming is almost here - don't let the lack of funds stop you from missing the fun this year! Come borrow the complete outfit: Dress, shoes and jewelry.

Bring your student ID - a $25 deposit is required: Refunded at the time of return.

Mondays: 9/16, 9/23 & 9/30 - 5:00pm-7:30pm

Tuesday: 9/24 - 5:00pm-7:30pm
Thursday: 9/19- 5:00pm- 7:30pm

Princess Closet is located in the lower level of Shore Acres Clubhouse. Entrance is on the back side of the building. Email Cari Horack at chorack@ivcschools.com for more information.

IVC Financial Aid Night

Tuesday, September 12th
6:00 p.m. - IVC Library (at 5:30 we will have a condensed version of the Off to College Breakfast)

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 will also be introduced. The counselors will have a shortened presentation of what was covered at the Off to College Breakfast the previous Friday.

ISAC Guide to Programs (FREE MONEY!)

This handy guide explains many of the available programs and grants available through ISAC (IL Student Assistance Commission). Explanation of the following programs includes:

• MAP Grant
• IL Veteran Grant
• IL National Guard Grant
• Minority Teacher Scholarship
• Special Ed. Tuition Waiver
• IL Teacher Loan Forgiveness Program
• Nurse Educator Loan Forgiveness Program
• …and more.

Click here for details

Off to College Parent Breakfast Recap

Parents gathered at the Chillicothe Library for an informative college preparation breakfast, where they delved into the college application and admission process. The session covered everything from filling out applications to crucial deadlines and timelines.  Key takeaways included starting early, and seeking support from school counselors and online resources. The importance of college visits was also emphasized, with tips on planning the visit, registering for tours, and engaging with current students and faculty at the college you are visiting. 

To ensure everyone has the opportunity to see the presentation, there will be a 30-minute version of what was presented this morning at Financial Night next Thursday (the 12th) at 5:30 pm in the IVC Library. The Financial Aid presentation will begin at 6:00.

Click here for a PDF version of the presentation.

ACT/SAT Deadlines Approaching

The deadline for the October ACT and SAT is coming up. Any senior who plans to retake either test should sign up ASAP.


To register, students should go to....
SAT - www.collegeboard.org
ACT - actstudent.org


The test is not given at IVC but there are nearby testing centers.

Side note: All juniors will be taking the ICC test in April. The school takes care of that registration.

Calling All Science Students - Student Researcher Program

There is a fantastic program coming up on November 7th 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.

Through the Student Researcher Program, high school students will gain hands-on experience with some of the same research techniques used daily by career researchers at the lab. By the end of the day, students will have rotated through three different laboratories, interacted closely with research staff and gained a deeper understanding of how the multi-disciplinary teams at NCAUR solve research puzzles of national importance, one piece at a time.

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.

Sept 25: Deadline for the application packet to be completed and turned in to Mr. Kosinski
Nov 7: Student Researcher Day at the USDA ARS NCAUR (AG Lab)

Click here for the application

22 Ways Parents Can Help (and Hurt) The College Application Process

Navigating the college application process can feel like a high-stakes game, and parents often play a crucial role in their child’s journey. But did you know that your involvement can either be a game-changer or a stumbling block? In “22 Ways Parents Can Help (and Hurt) The College Application Process,” the article breaks down the do’s and don’ts to ensure you’re setting your student up for success. Whether you’re a seasoned pro or new to the college admissions scene, this guide will help you strike the perfect balance between support and independence.

How to Manage the Stress of College Admission

Good video for parents of seniors to watch. College acceptance or rejection time can be a period of high stress for families so author Jennifer Wallace joins TODAY to share how families can navigate the extreme pressure high schoolers feel today.

College Tour App & Show

The College Tour is a TV series brought to you by Emmy-nominated and multi-award-winning producers. The series tells the story of colleges and universities around the world.​

Each episode of The College Tour will focus on a single college or university. Accompanying each episode is a series of shorter videos that tackle many of the FAQs with regard to each college.
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From campus life, academics, housing, sports, activities, and much more… each student driven segment will give young people an inside look at what it’s truly like being a student at the featured college or university.

Download the app for a truly one-of-a-kind series featuring colleges and universities in a way they have never been seen before!

Area schools featured so far include:
-- University of Illinois-Champaign
-- University of Illinois-Chicago
-- University of Missouri
-- Iowa State University
-- Illinois State University
-- Illinois Wesleyan University

-- University of Northern Iowa

-- Columbia College Chicago

-- Valparaiso University

-- Grand Canyon University

You may also click this link to access the episodes.