JUNIORS

2006-07 Class Advisors:  Mrs. Nichols, Mrs. Kusterer, Mr. Finkbeiner, Mr. Gresham, Mrs. Wirth

EMOTIONAL

This year seems to be the most solid year where students often are very responsible and take on important leadership roles of the school.  They know the ropes at PHS and they dont have the stress of the seniors, so its a calmer year.  Getting to attend dances and other school functions is often important to them, and its good to encourage them to ask someone to a dance to build those special memories.  Be prepared for them to be getting a bit worn out by the end of the year.

SOCIAL & ACADEMIC

Note:  see the attached Details and Deadlines for Juniors from the counselor, Mrs. Morris

*Sports physical are required again prior to playing sports.

*This class is in charge of the Junior-Senior banquet, and the Junior-Senior prom usually held in April.  Parents of class officers are asked to organize the Junior-Senior banquet with ALL Junior parents help being needed.  Watch for a letter about this in March.  The students take care of the dance, with one class day usually being given to complete the decorating.  All Juniors are needed for this.  Payment of class dues is required to participate.

*PSAT test is taken during school in the fall.

*ACT or SAT tests are often taken in the spring.  Its a good idea to take one during the junior year as the test may be repeated during the senior year if students want to try to raise their scores.  They need to have the final results early in their senior year to apply for colleges/scholarships.

*This class will have a Homecoming float to compete against other classes on the day of the football game also.  Class dues must be paid before students can participate.

*If planning to attend college or other post-secondary schools, its a good idea to start researching and visiting colleges now.

*Some classes plan to take a Senior Trip or have a Senior Night Event together their last year of high school.  They will probably be considering activities to help raise money this year.  Parents ideas and help will be welcome.

                                                                            SENIORS

2006-07 Class Advisors:  Mr. Collis, Mr. Jones, Mr. Leonard, Mrs. Morris, Mrs. Williams

EMOTIONAL

Just when you cant bear the idea of your senior leaving the family nest, they often start giving you reasons to change your mind and you decide to offer to buy the gas to help them leave early.  Independence is extremely important now, and many seniors will point this out regularly, especially if they turn 18, the magic adult number.  Love them and appreciate the good job you did of raising them because theyre about to head into the world and put all that training to work.  As old as they are acting, though, many feel extremely stressed (grades, choices beyond high school, college tests, balancing between friends and family time) and are actually worried about what and how they will do after leaving the safety net of home and high school.  Enjoy the moments.

SOCIAL & ACADEMIC

NOTE:  see the attached Details and Deadlines for Seniors from the counselor, Mrs. Morris.

            *Be saving your money for this year or keep buying those lottery tickets.  Things pop up every day that seniors just has to have.

            *A float for the Homecoming class competition, is the seniors responsibilities.  Payment of dues is required to participate.

            *Seniors are in charge of the Tip-Off dance, held during the basketball and wrestling season in February.

            *Fund raisers will continue if they are planning to go on a Senior Trip or have a Senior Night Event.  Your help may be welcome.

            *Get their Senior Pictures taken by a professional, yourself or a friend.  The yearbook staff requires a picture for publication in early October.  This picture really is a treasure you wont regret the patience and nagging it takes to get accomplished.

            *Find those cute baby pictures of your senior, they are often wanted for the annual or the entertainment for the Junior-Senior banquet.  Be sure to put information on the back so you can get them back, though.  Youll probably have to chase down the yearbook or class advisor afterwards.

            *Graduation caps, gowns, announcements, etc., are ordered early in the school year.  A deposit will be required with the rest of the balance to be paid when they arrive in the spring.  At least you have some advance warning and can start saving.

            *Research and visit colleges or tech schools.

            *Its time to start applying.  Remind your senior that theyll need to have their resume updated and most schools require some essays to be written.  Applications take more time to complete than most people expect.

            *Letters of recommendations need to be requested now.  If asking teachers, theyll need at least two weeks advance notice as they get bombarded with these.  Have your student write them a thank you note afterwards.

            *If applying for financial aid or scholarships, be sure to attend the PHS counselors informational meeting.  Shell explain how to fill out the FAFSA form and answer your questions.  Its very important to get your FASFA finished in early January and the first times confusing.  Colleges are only given a certain amount of money, and sometimes its on a first come, first serve basis.  You can also help this by being prepared to have your privacy bombarded as there are a lot of financial questions.  Be sure to have your taxes updated and get the current year ready to go as soon as possible, as theyll be needed to complete the FAFSA.

            *Be prepared for lots of graduation activities in May.  The class chooses class flowers, colors and songs, attends Senior Sunday at a a local church and organizes a class picnic for their classmates and parents.  Many seniors spend a lot of time doing things with each other, so dont feel left out.  They figure theyll see family again, but arent sure how many friends theyll see again.

            *Graduation parties/BBQs, etc., are often held at various seniors houses in Parma where people are invited to party hop to say hello to all the graduates they know.  Theres some talk of organizing an all-night, drug-free party for all seniors this year.  So stay tuned as parental help will be needed.

Visitation Days:  Juniors and seniors are allowed one day each semester that will be school excused to visit a post-secondary institution.  Arrangements should be made at least two weeks in advance with the counselor.   Students are responsible for making arrangements with the teachers in those classes they will miss before their absences.

9^th Grade

How to Guide and Advise Your Freshman

When a student becomes a freshman, everything starts to count.  Freshman grades are used in determining GPA, and freshman activities, honors and awards can be listed on scholarship applications.  Freshmen courses, grades, credits and attendance all become part of a students transcript and permanent record.

1.   Monitor academic progress.  Strive for at least a 3.0 GPA. Sit down with your son/daughter at the beginning of each grading period and help him/her set realistic academic goals for that term.  Throughout the year, make sure that you see all progress reports and report cards.  Do not assume that someone will contact you if there is a problem.  Provide encouragement and support, and make sure that your son or daughter understands that freshman grades are very important.

2.   Encourage your son or daughter to be involved in activities and to develop leadership skills.   Most college and scholarship applications ask students to list their high school activities.  Many applications also ask for evidence of leadership.  Students should therefore be involved in a variety of activities and whenever possible, they should take a leadership role.  They could, for example, be an officer of a club or a squad leader in the band.  Depth of involvement (e.g., being on the yearbook staff for four years) is also important because it shows focus and commitment.  Encourage your son or daughter to also participate in activities outside of school (e.g., church, scouting), and if possible, to do some volunteer work (e.g., Habitat for Humanity, Red Cross).  Community service is very worthwhile, and it is impressive on any application.

3. Start to explore and discuss post-secondary education options.     Gather information, make informal visits to post-secondary schools and go to college fairs.  The Idaho-Oregon Border College Fair is 10/30/2006 from 9:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. p.m. in Ontario.     Discuss your son or daughters aptitudes, interest and abilities with him/her and begin to view these in terms of career options.

4.   Direct Writing Assessment.   Direct Writing Assessment will be administered at the high school to all freshmen in December. 

5.  State Testing.  Freshmen are required to take the ISAT tests in the Spring and Fall.  Although freshmen scores cannot be used to meet graduation requirements, they are used to help individual students and to develop curriculum.  Required scores for graduation are Reading 216, Math 238, and Language Usage 219.

6.  Review four-year plan.   In the spring, review your son or daughters four-year high school plan and make certain he/she has selected the most appropriate courses for his/her sophomore year.  Remember that an Area of Concentration must be completed to graduate.

7.  At the end of the year, start Activities and Awards file.  This is a file in which you keep information on school activities, honors, awards, leadership positions, employment, volunteer work and community activities.  Include everything!  If you have a home computer, start an Activities and Awards file and update it once a year.  This will be very helpful when your son or daughter is required to list activities and honors on scholarship applications.

8.  Plan summer activities.   In the spring, review your son or daughters four-year high school plan and make certain he/she has selected the most appropriate courses for his/her junior year.

10^th Grade

How to Guide and Advise Your Sophomores

1.  Monitor academic progress.  Strive for at least a 3.0 GPA.

2.  Encourage your son or daughter to be involved in activities and to develop leadership skills.  Most college and scholarship applications ask students to list their high school activities.  Many applications also ask for evidence of leadership.  Students should therefore be involved in a variety of activities and whenever possible, they should take a leadership role.  They could, for example, be an officer of a club or a squad leader in the band.  Depth of Involvement (e.g., being on the yearbook staff for four years) is also important because it shows focus an commitment.  Encourage your son or daughter to also participate in activities outside of school (e.g., church, scouting) and if possible, to do some volunteer work (e.g., Habitat for Humanity, Red Cross).  Community service is very worthwhile, and it is impressive on any application.

3.  Have your son or daughter sign up for the PLAN.  Registration deadline is 10/27/06.  The cost is $9.00.  The test will be given on 11/07 and 11/08 in the Library.  The PLAN is an instrument given to sophomores that measures the same academic skills as the ACT (English, Math, Reading and Science Reasoning).  In addition to an estimated ACT composite score range students receive information on their interests and an assessment of their study skills.

4.  Consider having your son or daughter take the PSAT/NMSQT.  The PSAT/NMSQT is a national test that is administered by ParmaHigh School on 10/18.  The cost is $12.00.  Although the PSAT/NMSQT is a test primarily for juniors, many sophomores take it for practice (almost one-third of the PSAT test-takers each year are sophomores.)

5.  Start to explore and discuss post-secondary education options.  Gather information, make informal visits to colleges and go to the college fairs (The Idaho-Oregon Border College Fair is 10/30 from 9:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. in Ontario.  Discuss your son or daughters aptitudes, interests and abilities with him/her and begin to view these in terms of possible career options.

6.  ISAT ( Idaho Standard Achievement Test) In the spring, ISAT scores count towards graduation.  The State of Idaho requires a 241 in Math, a 219 in Reading and a 222 in Language Arts.    If proficient scores are not earned in spring of the sophomore year the tests can be retaken twice during the junior year and twice during the senior year.

7.  Review four-year plan.   In the spring, review your son or daughters four-year high  school plan and make certain he/she has selected the most appropriate courses for his/her sophomore year.  Make sure an Area of Concentration is being completed.

8.  Plan summer activities.  In the spring, review your son or daughters four-year high school plan and make certain he/she has selected the most appropriate course for his/her junior year.

9.  At the end of the year, update the Activities and Awards file.   This is the file in which you keep information on school activities, honors, awards, leadership positions, employment, volunteer work and community activities.  Include everything!  If you have a home computer, start an Activities and Awards file and update it once a year.  This will be very helpful when your son or daughter is required to list activities and honors on the scholarship applications.

DETAILS & DEADLINES FOR JUNIORS

Important Dates and Events for Juniors

Registration deadline is September 29, 2006 for the PSAT/NMQST.  Cost is $12.00 payable to the office.  Fee waivers are available in the counselors office.  Space is limited to 40 students.  Sophomores will be allowed to fill vacancies available after the September deadline.

PSAT/NMQST test will be administered at the high school.  All college-bound students are urged to take this test.  Practice on any standardized test will increase performance on college entrance exams.  Scores on this test are often needed for scholarship and college applications.  Doing well is to a students advantage.  Test preparation material is available in the counselors office.

IDAHO -OREGON BORDER COLLEGE FIAR WILL BE HELD IN Ontario, Oregon from 9:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. on October 30, 2006. 

ASVAB test will be given to all juniors.  This test provides each student with information needed to complete a career project in junior English.  The counseling office uses information from this test to assist students in making career decisions.  All branches of the military also use this test to determine eligibility and placement.

Career paper to be done for Junior English and Portfolio.

Registration deadline for May 5, 2006 ACT test is March 29, 2006.  It is recommended that college-bound students take the ACT test at least one time during the spring of their junior year.  Scores from this test are used for college admissions and scholarship awards.  Registration materials are available in the counseling office.  Fee:  $29.00

ACT Test.

Registration deadline for March 10, 2006 ACT is February 2, 2006.

Registration deadline for May 5, 2006 ACT is March 29, 2006.

Registration deadline for June 2, 2006 ACT is April 27, 2006.

CLASS ADVISORS

2006-2007

Class                                                                    Meeting Room

SENIORS                                                            Commons Area

Mr. Collis

Mr. Jones

Mr. Leonard

Mrs. Morris

Mrs. Williams

JUNIORS                                                            Choir Room

Mrs. Nichols

Mrs. Kusterer

Mr. Finkbeiner

Mr. Gresham

Mrs. Wirth

SOPHOMORES                                                Biology Classroom

Mr. Sharkey

Ms. Hitch

Mrs. Larsen

Mrs. Elizondo

Mrs. Beck

FRESHMEN                                                      Drama Room

Mrs. Cox

Mrs. Stephens

Mrs. Hutton

Mrs. Romero

Mr. Silvey