Guidance Notes
PUTNAM VALLEY HIGH SCHOOL
Guidance Notes
January 2024
Greetings from Guidance!
Here we are at the midpoint of the year and the time seems like it has just flown by! The second semester will fly by too, especially once it starts getting warmer outside. Make sure you make the most of these next few months in class and with extracurriculars. If you need help with a class, seek out your teachers and counselor. We are all here to help you perform your best!
Seniors:
Over 90% of our seniors have applied to colleges and many have already received their first round of responses. Please be sure to update your Naviance account with that information. If you are planning on applying to additional schools or have yet to apply, please see your counselor ASAP!
If you need any mid-year reports/grades sent to the colleges you applied to, please stop into Guidance to fill out a quick form so we know where you want them to go. Many colleges will not consider your application status complete without the mid-year report/grades.
Hopefully you did not have too much trouble with the new FAFSA, but all financial aid forms should already be submitted by this writing. Please get them done now if you have not done so already.
The FAFSA, and in some cases, the CSS Profile are the required financial aid forms that need to be completed. If you have questions about financial aid, check the college’s website under financial aid or call the financial aid office of the college you plan on attending. On a related note, don’t forget to check the guidance website for scholarship opportunities.
Each year, we have numerous scholarship opportunities available for students to apply to. In some cases, students need to apply for individual scholarships. For other local and school-based scholarships, students must fill out the “Senior Award Application”, which will be sent to Seniors via Google Classroom very shortly. Please be on the lookout for that. A Connect Ed message will be sent with further information.
Juniors:
We have individually met with all of our Juniors to discuss post-secondary plans and given preliminary guidance on schools to research among other important college admissions information. We encourage all families to get involved in the process. Parents/guardians can contact Mrs. Keller at lkeller@pvcsd.org to schedule an appointment with their son/daughter’s counselor if interested in meeting. If your child is planning on applying to a four-year college next year, encourage them to speak to their counselor on a regular basis. It looks as though most colleges will remain test optional for the upcoming admissions season, but we think college bound Juniors intending on applying to a 4-year college should have a plan for taking the SAT and/or ACT sometime this semester. There are some colleges that we know will not be test-optional, and a high test score can also improve an applicants chances of being admitted. Information on deadlines, where to register and prep courses are available on the guidance website. If you have any questions, please see your guidance counselor.
We just held our annual College Application Seminar for Juniors and Junior families to review the college application process and details. We had a great turnout, which was awesome to see! If you were unable to attend our event, the presentation is posted on the Guidance site.
The Spring College Fair is a great opportunity for students and families to speak with admissions counselors from colleges of interest. This year, the fair will be on May 2nd, at the Yorktown BOCES Campus from 5:30-8:00 pm. During the day, on May 2nd, we will bring 11th grade students who sign up for the daytime college fair from 9:00-10:30 am at BOCES as well. Be on the lookout for further information on both the day and evening college fairs.
The Course Selection Guide will be available on the high school website homepage very soon and we will begin meeting with our students individually to pick courses for next year. Parents/guardians and students should review the Course Selection Guide beforehand so that students have a plan of interested classes for next year.
Sophomores:
The Course Selection Guide will be available on the homepage of the high school website by the end of January and we will begin meeting with our 10th graders to pick classes for next year soon. We encourage parents and children to review the guide together so that students are better prepared for their meeting.
Sophomores must decide if they wish to be an IB Diploma Candidate. The IB Diploma Program begins in the 11th Grade, but the courses must be chosen in the 10th Grade. Parents, now is a great opportunity to speak to your child about their academic plans. Keep in mind that students must be enrolled in Algebra 2R or Algebra 2H in order to pursue the IB Diploma. Otherwise, students have the opportunity to take individual IB courses. If you have questions about the IB Diploma Program, including if your child can pursue the diploma, please reach out to The IB Diploma Coordinator, Mr. Vincent DeGregorio at vdegregorio@pvcsd.org).
We have introduced our 10th graders to Naviance and administered a career interest survey recently in their History class. If students have any questions about individual results or how to interpret them, please let us know.
Putnam Northern Westchester BOCES is inviting 10th-grade students to tour the Tech Center in Yorktown on Wednesday, Feb. 28th from 8:00 am- 10:00 am. Transportation will be provided from PVHS to BOCES. If your child is interested in attending the Yorktown BOCES campus as a junior this is a wonderful opportunity to learn about the various vocational programs the local Tech Center offers regarding the permission slip, due February 2nd. Information has been sent via Connect Ed message.
The Spring College Fair is also a great opportunity for students and families to speak with admissions counselors from colleges of interest. This year, the fair will be on May 2nd, at the Yorktown BOCES Campus from 5:30-8:00 pm. Further information to follow via Connect Ed message.
Freshmen:
We will begin meeting with our 9th graders individually in the next two months to pick courses for next year. The Course Selection Guide will be available on the homepage of the high school website soon. Parents/guardians and students should review the Course Selection Guide beforehand so that they are better prepared for their meeting.
Freshman Students will have the option of joining the Science Research Program as 10th graders. Science Research provides students in their sophomore through senior years with the opportunity to conduct original research in the natural sciences. The course is directed to those students who wish to pursue excellence and progress into advanced areas of original research. Students can see their current science teacher or speak with Ms. Kathleen Westervelt, the program coordinator. Her email is kwestwevelt@pvcsd.org.
The Spring College Fair is also a great opportunity for students and families to speak with admissions counselors from colleges of interest. This year, the fair will be on May 2nd, at the Yorktown BOCES Campus from 5:30-8:00pm. Further information to follow via Connect Ed message.
Sincerely,
Mr. Dave Campion
Mrs. Dina Castrillon
Mrs. Paige Davino