Local Scholarship Dates Announced

Each year, over $140,000 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...

Tuesday, February 20th  - 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 20th for all students and parents to view. Students must be the ones to pick up scholarship applications from Mrs. Placher. Parents may not pick up the applications for the student. Students must pick up their own scholarship applications.

Click below for the rest of the dates.

PSAT 10, and PSAT 8/9

We will be administering the PSAT 8/9 and the PSAT 10 on Wednesday, February 28th. All freshmen and sophomores will start testing at 8am. They will need two No. 2 pencils (no mechanical) and a calculator. There is no fee associated.

The PSAT 8/9 is the first test in the SAT Suite of Assessments. It uses the same specifications as the SAT, the PSAT/NMSQT, and the PSAT 10. The assessment establishes a baseline for college and career readiness as students enter high school. The PSAT 10 continues to check on students' progress and pinpoints areas for development.

If you have any questions, please see your counselor.

ICC Honors Program - Deadline for Fall 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.

This program is limited to fifty participants, selected by a faculty-staff committee. Honors students receive a waiver of tuition (not including books or fees) for up to 64 credit courses in which they are enrolled and receive recognition on his/her academic transcript and at our commencement ceremony.


Qualifications to Apply

Acceptance into the program is competitive and based on ACT (composite score of 27) or SAT scores and other factors including but not limited to: high school GPA, extra-curricular involvement, a letter of interest and recommendations.

Candidates must be an in-district student who has not yet earned an associate or bachelor degree.

To remain in the program, Honors students must maintain a full-time course load, a GPA of cumulative 3.35 or better and must enroll in two Honors sections of general education courses per semester.


The application for the Honors Program is due February 15th. More information can be found at https://icc.edu/academics/honors-program/

Student Election Judges Needed

Peoria County is looking for qualified students to serve as election judges at the upcoming 2018 election cycle. These students must be a US citizen, be a high school junior or senior in good standing with a cumulative GPA of at least 3.0, and complete a mandatory 2 hour training class. This is a paying position for students! Students do not have to be old enough to vote to apply to work as an election judge. Interested students should click here for more information including a link to the application. See your guidance counselor with questions.

Finals Week

Here are some tips for preparing for final exams:

*Start studying early...cramming causes anxiety

*Practice and then review material so you truly understand it 

*Complete study guides/make your own study guides

*Ask questions

*Get a full night's sleep before the exam

*Eat a big breakfast before the exam

If you have any questions at all, talk to your teachers! We are here to support you! Happy Finals Week! 

Scheduling 101 Presentation

CLICK HERE FOR PRESENTATION

We had a great turnout for Parent Scheduling 101 Presentation last night. For those 8th grade and freshman parents who were unable to attend, we have attached the presentation from last night, including many of the discussion points. Just click on the link to the right.

If you have any questions about the presentations, feel free to contact the Counseling Department by calling (309) 274-5481 or by emailing any of the counselors.

• Mr. Mark Kosinski (mkosinski@ivcschools.com)
• Ms. Angela Lee (alee@ivcschools.com)
• Mrs. Laura Davis (ldavis@ivcschools.com)

How to Explain a Bad Grade or GPA on a College App

When applying to college, it is quite common for a student to find himself or herself in a situation where a bad grade or GPA needs to be explained. It may be the difference in being accepted or denied admission.  This US News article gives some great advice on how to handle such a touchy subject.

US News Article

Scheduling 101 for Parents - December 14th

The scheduling process for the 2017-18 school year is beginning. The Guidance Department would like to give parents an opportunity to learn more about the process. Scheduling 101 is geared for parents of current 8th graders or freshmen. The presentation covers a wide array of topics regarding scheduling. Topics to be covered include selection of classes, choosing a balanced schedule, which classes are required, options for the future, plus more.

What:  Scheduling 101
When: Thursday, Dec. 14th   5:00-6:00
Where: IVC Library
Who: Parents of current 8th graders or freshmen

Voice of Democracy Contest Winners

We would like to thank the VFW for their continued support of the Voice of Democracy Contest. IVC students are given the opportunity to enter a 3-5 minute oral essay for a chance at winning prizes. This year's theme was American History: Our Hope for the Future. The winners of this year's contest:

$500 First Prize - Josalyn Guariglia
$200 Second Prize - Isaac Peterson
$100 Third Prize - Ashley Horn

15 Days Until Finals..............Are you Ready for it?

Hopefully, everyone had a fabulous Thanksgiving break! We are on day two of our return, and the question we all have is.....when is Christmas break? As much as we love being at school, spending time with our families and friends was so nice! We are sure a few of you enjoyed sleeping in as well. The answer to "when is Christmas break" is SOON! We have 15 days until semester finals. So, with that being said, we want to highlight different resources we have in our building to maintain or raise your grades. For example, if you are borderline between two letter grades, talk to your teacher. Ask about extra credit. Attend after school tutoring in the school library on Tuesdays and Thursday. It is crunch time, and we are here to help! Please see your guidance counselor for assistance. It has been a great year to be a ghost! Happy Tuesday!

2018-2019 Registration Meeting Dates Set

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

Dec. 4th - Juniors
Dec. 5th - Sophomores
Dec. 7th - Freshmen

Jrs and Frosh will meet in the auditorium and Sophs will meet in the auxiliary gym.

Nurse for a Day - IVC Students Featured on the News

During your childhood you're asked what you want to be when you grow up. However, you rarely get the chance to experience anything before giving an answer. Our students had the chance to explore the nursing field when they attended Nurse for a Day at OSF. We were very proud of our students who represented IVC. The students learned everything from how to insert tubes to dressing wounds. 

For future opportunities please see your guidance counselor.

Check out the video to see Parker Clevenger on the news!!

Nurse for a Day News Story

College Isn't for Everyone - Week 5

Rebuilding America's Pool of Construction Workers... Recently, a story aired on CBS Sunday Morning that addressed the need for skilled workers in the U.S. This 8 minute video gives a great insight into the shortage of workers in the skilled trades industry.

Bradley University - Charley Steiner Symposium

Great opportunity for students interested in sports communication, PR, broadcasting, and journalism.

_________________

Bradley University Department of Communication's Third Annual Charley Steiner Symposium is Tuesday, November 7, 2017. The symposium offers an excellent opportunity for high school students to visit Bradley University and sit in on some of the best sports communication, PR, broadcasting, and journalism panels throughout the day.

Joining Bradley graduate and current LA Dodgers announcer Charley Steiner will be Peoria natives Rick Telander (Chicago Sun Times, Sports Illustrated) and 2006 Olympian Matt Savoie.

The Steiner Symposium is free and open to the public.

_________________ 

Please see Mr. Kosinski if you would like to attend, as all high school students have preferred seating during the symposium.

Click for schedule of event

Parents' Guide to Teen Depression

Teenagers face a host of pressures as they navigate their way through some tough years. With all this turmoil and uncertainty, it isn’t always easy to differentiate between normal teenage growing pains and depression. But teen depression goes beyond moodiness. It’s a serious health problem that impacts every aspect of a teen’s life. Fortunately, it’s treatable and parents can help. This article from helpguide.org is a fantastic resource for recognizing the signs and symptoms of depression and a list of ways to help your teen.

Click for for the article

Great FAFSA Video - For those who have not completed it

Last year, FAFSA released a pretty funny video designed for those students who have not completed their FAFSA yet. Please take the time to finish the FAFSA as soon as possible so you do not risk missing out on any available MAP Grant money.

College Isn't For Everyone - Week 4

College isn't for everyone...How about a career in the skilled trades? Each week we will be featuring a 2 minute video created by Dirty Jobs' Host Mike Rowe which hopefully sheds a bright light on the skilled trades.

The topic this week... White Collar Jobs are better than Blue Collar Jobs

Voice of Democracy - Due Tuesday

One IVC student will walk away with $500 in this year's Voice of Democracy Contest sponsored by our local VFW. Students need to create a 3-5 minute oral essay on the topic "American History: Our Hope for the Future." The competition is open to all IVC students. Deadline is October 31st. Students should see their counselor for registration sheet and rules.

Topic: My Responsibility to America
Grades: 9-12
Top Prize: $500
Second Prize: $200
Due Date: October 31st
For more details: Ask a Guidance Counselor

Basically students will need to write an essay and then transcribe it to an audio file. It is actually quite simple. The teachers at the high school use many different programs to save audio. Students should ask their English teacher if they are unsure what program to use.

Link to Rules/Application

Test Anxiety - Strategies to Overcome It

A little nervousness before a test is common; a panic attack is not. Frequently students come to the counseling office to talk with us about test anxiety. Since this anxiety has such a broad range, it is often very difficult to pinpoint what strategies can help a student through this difficult situation.  I recently ran across an online article which does a very nice job outlining strategies that might be successful with many students. It serves as a great starting point to relieve the anxiety.

Link to website

10 Sites to Kick Off Your Scholarship Search

If you’re hoping to fund some, or all, of your college career with scholarships, you’re in luck: There are billions of dollars in scholarship and grant money awarded each year.

You don’t need to be a valedictorian or football star to win scholarship money – there are scholarships for all types of students. But you do need to put some effort into your search.

Click here to see full US News Article

Senior Retreat - Coming Up Soon

We are very excited about the upcoming senior retreat.  Over 50 students have picked up registration sheets. The retreat will take place Nov. 1-4 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 25th retreat. Over 800 students have attended the retreat over the past twelve years.

-- Ms. Laura Davis, one of the counselors, will be attending as an adult leader.  She was a retreatant on the very first retreat twelve years ago. How cool is that!?!

-- 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.

College Isn't For Everyone - Week 3

College isn't for everyone...How about a career in the skilled trades? Each week we will be featuring a 2 minute video created by Dirty Jobs' Host Mike Rowe which hopefully sheds a bright light on the skilled trades.

The topic this week... The myth that the trades are no place for a woman

FAFSA Workshop

The Free Application for Federal Student Aid workshop will be on Tuesday, October 17th at 6:00 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. Our ISAC representative will be present to walk students and parents through the FAFSA process.

Tuesday, October 17th

IVC High School Library

6:00 P.M.

Student and Parent Alert: Parchment is Free

To clear up any confusion, Parchment is free for all current high school seniors in Illinois. You should not be charged to send your transcripts to colleges.  There is no limit to the number of transcripts that you send. If you are being charged, contact one of the high school counselors. Be sure to check the following first:

• The transcript must be ordered from a student account using the IVC student email address.
• Be sure your year of graduation is correct in your account. It must say 2018 or you will be charged.
• There may be an extra fee to attach a schedule. The counselors can do it for free. See a counselor.

Colleges Doing More to Help Freshmen Adapt

Welcome Week at Bradley - Block Party Style

​Consider this shocking stat as you shop for a college: One-third of freshmen don’t return for sophomore year. And only 61 percent of undergraduates get a degree within six years.

Colleges have gotten the message and are trying their best to do more to help freshmen feel comfortable during their first year in school. 

When considering a college, be sure to ask what events are held to help ensure a successful transition to college.  How does your potential school engage students from the first day they are on campus?

Click here for the full US News Article

Attention Seniors....Experience College for a Day!

Western Illinois University is hosting College Days this fall. Attend lectures in multiple subjects, meet faculty and students, and learn about careers in multiple majors! College Days are October 27th & November 10th. Please use the following link to view the schedule for both days and to register:

 Register

If you decide to attend one of the College Days, let your guidance counselor know as soon as possible so we can count it as a college visit. 

Nurse for a day: November 2nd, 2017

This year's Nurse for a Day is being held at Saint Francis Medical Center College of Nursing on Thursday, November 2, 2017. The event starts at 9:15 a.m. and ends at 1:00 p.m. We will provide transportation. This event encourages students to seek high-skilled, high-wage careers in the nursing profession! Students will engage in hands-on activities and gain real world experience from current nursing students and nursing professionals. We are limited to taking 5 students so please email or visit Ms. Lee in the guidance department if you are interested.

Avoid These Common FAFSA Errors

Mistakes can delay your application and limit the amount of aid you are eligible to receive. To avoid errors, carefully read all of the questions on the FAFSA. Some of the most common FAFSA errors are:

• Leaving blank fields. Enter a '0' or 'NA' instead
• Using decimal points. Round to the nearest dollar
• Listing an incorrect Social Security or driver's license number. Triple-check these
• Failing to use your legal name. Avoid nicknames
• Listing incorrect marital status or failing to include the appropriate parents. If custodial parent is re-married, you will need to include your step-parent's information
• Failing to count yourself as a student
• Failing to count an unborn child. Number in household is for the upcoming school year, so, for example, if your mom is pregnant, she is counted a '2' people
• Forgetting to list the colleges you have applied to. Make sure the schools receive your information!

A WONDERFUL service is offered to Illinois students through the Illinois Student Assistance Commission. Our representative, Natalie Irwin, will schedule a meeting with parents and students who are filling out the FAFSA free of charge to answer any questions you may have. Contact your Guidance Counselor for more information.

Questions to Ask on a College Visit

One of the best ways to learn more about a college is to visit their campus. When you're visiting, it is to your advantage to slow down and ask several questions. While it is helpful to talk to the admission staff (individuals who are paid to talk up a school), it also very insightful to talk to students about what they like and don't like about their school (individuals who will give their honest opinion). Here is a list of questions to ask while on a campus visit:

Congratulations to all homecoming participants

Great job by all who participated in Homecoming week. It was a ton of fun. Results from homecoming are as follows...

       Hall Decs
1.  Juniors
2.  Freshmen
3.  Sophomores
4.  Seniors
 
     Class Comps
1.  Seniors
2.  Juniors
3.  Sophomores (Tug-o-War Champs)
4.  Freshmen

     Skit
Grand Champion...Faculty Skit (LOL)
1.  Seniors
2.  Sophomores
3.  Juniors
4.  Freshmen

    Float
1.  Juniors
2.  Sophomores
3.  Seniors
4.  Freshmen