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Main > Teachers5 > polizzie
Osceola High School Guidance Department
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Mission Statement
The mission of the Guidance Department is to empower all students to achieve their full potential, make positive choices and to be well prepared for their post secondary life.
In addition to Guidance Counselor services, students have access to materials available in the Guidance Resource Area and are encouraged to make use of the availability of materials found here.
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Current Events and News
The announcements for this coming week are the following:
Monday, February 13th, the SAC and Senior Meetings begin at 7:00 pm in the auditorium and media center.
Parents of Juniors- Please be aware that on Monday, February 13th, your student will be coming home with additional information regarding the PERT test that will be administered this spring. Please carefully review the information being sent home with your student regarding this new initiative.
Friday, February 17th, the Drama Program’s “Night of Comedy” begins at 7:00 pm in the auditorium.
The Academic Team competed in the semifinal District Competition Wednesday afternoon. Osceola was among six teams that won and advanced to the final competition Wednesday evening. After a very exciting and competitive final round, the Academic Team finished the season ranked 5th in Pinellas County.
If you wish to order a yearbook with a name on the cover, payment must be received by Wednesday, 2/15. You can order online at www.balfour.com or from Ms. Sauble in room 501. Yearbooks are $75 or $80 with the name on the cover. Currently there are 200 yearbooks available for purchase. There are 1300 students who have not purchased a yearbook yet. Extras will not be ordered.
The spring sports are underway: Baseball travels to East Lake HS, Tuesday, Wednesday, and Friday to play in the Lee Byers Tournament; Softball travels to Boca Ciega HS, Tuesday, for their second game of their regular season play; Tennis also travels to Boca Ciega on Tuesday for their third match of the season; Track& Field will hold their first meet at home on February 20th; and Flag Football will play their first game on Tuesday March 13th on the road at Seminole. You can find the Spring Sports Schedules on the OHS website, C2Cschools.com or in the upcoming newsletter. Come out and support your Warrior athletes!
Please go to the school website for this information, sports schedules and more.
S-E-N-I-O-R Students and Parents:
The sooner you apply for financial aid – the better! FAFSA Nights is an event aimed at helping you and your parents complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA)quickly so you can qualify for the most financial aid possible. Attend FAFSA Nights at any of the four Pinellas County high school locations from 6:60-8:30 pm for one-on-one help with your 2012-13 FAFSA.
Feb. 21
Tarpon Springs High School
6:30-8:30 p.m.
Feb. 28
Gibbs High School
6:30-8:30 p.m.
March 13
Clearwater High School
6:30-8:30 p.m.
March 20
Northeast High School
6:30-8:30 p.m.
Financial Aid experts will be available at all locations to help you and your parents file your FAFSA online. Those who participate can expect to get their FAFSA results in just one week.
Register Online:
www.spcollege.edu/fafsanights
S E N I O R S ! ! ! YOU MAY NOW REGISTER FOR BRIGHT FUTURES!!!
Make sure you also complete a FAFSA after January 1st.
Parents: As per district policy, parents must notify their child’s grade level clerk of their absence prior to end of the school day of the absence, if possible and provide written notification within 48 hours of the child’s return to school. Otherwise, the absence will be unexcused. Written notification is preferred but email will be accepted.
Homework Helpline
5:00 PM to 8:00 PM
Monday through Thursday
547-7223 or 442-3226
If you call and get a busy signal, keep trying! Some nights are busier than others.
Bridging the Achievement Gap (BTAG)
This program will help students with the following: homework; tutoring for FCAT; improving grade point average (GPA); tutoring for SAT/ACT; fulfilling community hours for Bright Futures scholarships; graduating with a high school diploma; completing applications and references for college admissions; searching for scholarships, grants, and financial aid.
Students and parents will have to sign an authorization form and bring a copy of last FCAT report.
Days of Program: Monday & Friday 2:30 - 4:30
Wednesday 1:00 - 3:00 (Math & Science only)
Place: Shiloh M. B. Church
13255 - 118th Street North
Largo
Pick-ups: Osceola High School by front office Wednesday @ 12:50
Osceola High School by front office Monday & Friday @ 2:20
Please call James Feazell (501-5517) or Gwen Feazell (204-5780) if you have questions or need more information.
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Bright Futures Scholarship Program
In 1997, the Florida Legislature created the Florida Bright Futures Scholarship Program to reward students for their academic achievements during high school by providing funding to attend postsecondary education in Florida.
The Florida Bright Futures Scholarship Program consists of three awards: the Florida Academic Scholars award (FAS), The Florida Medallion Scholars award (FMS), and the Florida Gold Seal Vocational Scholars award (GSV). Each award has its own academic eligibility requirements, award amounts and funding length. A student may receive funding for only one award. The highest award earned by the student will be selected. In addition to meeting specific program eligibility requirements, students must also meet general eligibility requirements for receipt of state aid. Public high school students may visit www.FACTS.org to compare their transcripts with Bright Futures academic requirements.
To apply for a Bright Futures Scholarship, you must submit a completed (error free) Florida Financial Aid Application during your last year in high school (after December 1st and prior to graduation). To apply online, visit http://www.floridastudentfinancialaid.org/ssfad/bf/ and click on "Apply Here." The application gives the Florida Department of Education permission to evaluate your high school transcript and test scores for eligibility for state scholarships and grants, including a Bright Futures Scholarship. You must apply during the last year in high school, before graduation, or you will forfeit all future eligibility for a Bright Futures Scholarship. You may apply prior to meeting all requirements. You must also complete a Free Application for Federal Student Aid
You should apply for a Bright Futures Scholarship even if you are not considering going to college, are planning to go out of state, are taking a few years off, or are enlisting in the military. Students who apply by their high school graduation date and are found eligible for a Bright Futures Scholarship have up to three years from high school graduation to begin using the scholarship.
Class of 2011 Florida Bright Futures Scholarship Program Initial Eligibility Brochure
VERY IMPORTANT:
2011 Florida Legislative Changes
RECENT CHANGES TO BRIGHT FUTURES:
Class of 2012 Update
Class of 2013 Update
Class of 2014 Update
Community Service Paperwork
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Career Exploration
Not sure what you want to be when you grow up? Check out the Career Exploration section for ideas.
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Character Education
TOLERANCE
Respecting the individual differences, views, and beliefs of other people.
Three Words a Day
Feb. 1 Control your thoughts.
Feb. 2 Don’t think can’t.
Feb. 3 Put things away.
Feb. 4 Exercise improves attitude.
Feb. 5 Use positive words.
Feb. 6 Develop good habits.
Feb. 7 Friends take time.
Feb. 8 Trust your judgment.
Feb. 9 Like yourself first.
Feb. 10 Always pay attention.
Feb. 11 Build someone’s confidence.
Feb. 12 Questions aren’t dumb.
Feb. 13 Tell the truth.
Feb. 14 Love is best.
Feb. 15 Respect others’ feelings.
Feb. 16 Don’t fear failure.
Feb. 17 Everyone has worries.
Feb. 18 Ask what if__?
Feb. 19 Ignore put downs.
Feb. 20 Go ahead laugh.
Feb. 21 Helping feels good.
Feb. 22 Think before speaking.
Feb. 23 Always work willingly.
Feb. 24 Cheer somebody up.
Feb. 25 Never get discouraged.
Feb. 26 Consider others’ needs.
Feb. 27 Do for yourself.
Feb. 28 Don’t make excuses.
Feb. 29 Failure is can’t.
Dinner Dilemmas - Scenarios to help create family discussions that promote Character Education in Pinellas County.
STOP THE GOSSIP CAMPAIGN
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Connect!
PrepHQ is now Connect!
ConnectEDU products provide students with a comprehensive set of online tools that help with everything from choosing high school courses to building a career path, from finding and applying to colleges more efficiently, to financing higher education wisely, and much more. Not only does Connect! provide students with these tools, but it invites parents and counselors to get involved as well and assist students through the planning and transition processes.
STUDENTS – Begin your online college and career planning! Learn how here.
PARENTS – Get involved in your child’s college and career planning! Learn how here.
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Dual Enrollment
St. Petersburg College offers college classes to qualified high school students in Pinellas County at no charge! These courses give students credits toward a high school diploma and a college degree. Courses are available on SPC campuses and some local high school campuses.
Who is eligible?
Students enrolled in grades 11 or 12 in Pinellas County public, private or home-education programs. Private school and home-education students may begin in 10th grade.
What's required to enroll?
* For academic courses, a 3.0 unweighted cumulative GPA or a 3.0 in the subject area to be studied at SPC.
* For technical courses, a 2.0 unweighted cumulative GPA or a 2.0 in the subject area to be studied at SPC.
* Satisfactory scores on the College Placement Test (CPT) or SAT/ACT.
* A college GPA of 2.0 (C average) is required to remain in the Dual Enrollment program.
Contact your high school guidance counselor to see if you are eligible to take Dual Enrollment classes at SPC.
Checklist to sign up for dual enrollment classes.
Early College Program
The Early College offers the opportunity for students entering grades 11 and 12 in Pinellas County high schools, private and home-schooled students to attend school full-time at an SPC campus for free. Students may earn a high school diploma and an associate degree.
Early Admission
The Early Admission program offers free college classes to qualified Pinellas County high school students who are entering the 12th grade. These courses also fulfill high school graduation requirements and are available only on SPC Campuses.
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ePEP (ePersonal Education Planner)
Now, more than ever, it is important that each student have a carefully planned and challenging course of study. As middle and high school students complete their ePersonal Education Planner or ePEP and map out courses, keep this in mind: When planning, think about your goals after high school. Whether you want to go to college, a vocational training center, or straight to the workforce- you'll need to be prepared by taking the most appropriate and challenging courses. It may sound funny, but exploring your career interests now will help direct your educational path. Also, take time to set goals, talk to your parents and guidance counselor, and start planning your future today. And remember, plan smart!
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FACTS.org
You may have BIG plans for after high school graduation...travel the world, go skydiving, learn origami...oh, yeah, and college. But do you have a plan for meeting your graduation requirements? Are you tracking your courses or crossing your fingers? Don't wait until it's too late! You can go online today to FACTS.org, plan course work, and check your progress toward graduation, earning Bright Futures scholarships, and even meeting state university admission requirements.
FACTS.org is Florida's official online student advising system. High school students, college students, parents, and even counselors can use the services provided on this website to help plan and track educational progress in Florida! FACTS.org is provided free by the Florida Department of Education to help students make informed choices about their education.
With FACTS.org, you can:
- Determine career objectives
- Evaluate high school progress
- See high school course summary and grades
- Learn about higher ed opportunities in Florida
- Apply to college online
- Choose the right major
- Access college transcripts and grades
- Track progress towards college graduation
- Determine what matters in bachelor's degree completion
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FCAT Explorer
The FCAT Explorer features skills practice for both reading and math and includes passage and question topics from several areas of the Sunshine State Standards, such as Social Studies, Science, and the Arts.
Reading Timeline: 10th Grade Benchmarks is a program that provides FCAT-like reading passages and practice questions that students can use to practice the reading skills tested on the 10th grade FCAT.
Math Timeline: 10th Grade Math Benchmarks is a program that provides FCAT-like questions that students can use to practice the math skills tested on the 10th-grade FCAT.
Nearly every student attending Florida's public schools has been assigned a user name and password. Due to new login procedures, you must contact your student's guidance counselor for Username and Password information.
FCAT Graduation Requirements: Importance of the Grade 10 FCAT
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Florida Trend's NEXT
Each year, the Florida Trend's NEXT magazine team works hard to provide you with tools and information to make smart decisions about your future -- your job, career, education and life.
Along with the articles, the other messages you see throughout the magazine are from businesses, organizations and schools that care about you and your future plans. Together, they are committed to providing you the very best, most informative magazine.
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Florida Virtual School
Founded in 1997 as a grant-based project between two Florida school districts, FLVS began with just 77 enrollments, a dream, and a group of educators brave enough to try online learning for secondary students. At the time, they assumed that online learning would appeal to students in advanced computer classes or who were exceptionally self-disciplined. They have been proven wrong on both counts.
In 2004-2005, Florida Virtual School served 33,767 individual course enrollments or 21,453 students. Clearly, every kind of student imaginable is included in those numbers. Online learning is meeting many needs including credit retrieval, advancement, access to courses not normally available, and more.
While quality is all over the map in many online learning initiatives across the nation, FLVS has led the way in providing a rigorous academic program that has passed stringent external reviews by many states across the nation. Winner of numerous national and international educational awards, FLVS now trains other teachers, administrators, school districts, and states in how to deliver a sound, accountable, and successful online learning experience.
Florida Virtual School is fully accredited by two major agencies: The Southern Association of Colleges and Schools (SACS) and The Commission on International and Trans-Regional Accreditation.
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Helpful Links
Goal Ladder - Although no goal-setting method is foolproof, writing down a goal and developing an action plan can greatly increase your chances of success. The most successful action plans are step-by-step. That's why a goal ladder - in which each rung represents a successful step - can be a useful tool. A goal ladder creates a powerful visual image of where you're headed and what actions you must take along the way.
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National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA)
The National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) is a voluntary organization through which the nation's colleges and universities govern their athletics programs. It comprises more than 1,250 institutions, conferences, organizations and individuals committed to the best interests, education and athletics participation of student-athletes. The website contains details about the Association, its goals and members, and corporate partnerships that help support programs for student-athletes.
NCAA Eligibility Center
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Pinellas County Schools
The Pinellas County School District is the 22nd largest district in the nation and 7th largest in the State of Florida. With over 13,000 employees, Pinellas County Schools is the largest employer in Pinellas County. Situated in the middle of Florida's west coast, Pinellas County is home to more than 148,000 prekindergarten through adult public school students.
Do you want information about a particular Pinellas County public school? Would you like to know when school is out for the winter break so you can plan your own holidays? You can find all of this information as well as answers to your most important questions on this site.
Students participating in athletic/physical extracurricular activities are required by the School Board Policy to purchase Student Accident Insurance. Enroll online now! Coverage for extracurricular activities is included in the purchase of "At School" or "24 Hour Coverage."
Directory Information Opt-Out Letter Opt Out Form for the 2010-2011 school year. Complete and return this form to your child's principal if you do not want directory information released concerning your child.
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PCS Portal
PCS Portal is the new student information system for Pinellas County Schools. PCS Portal allows parents to log in and check their child’s grades, attendance, discipline, etc. in real time. PCS Portal also has a list of programs specific to parents, such as the Student Reservation System (SRS), PCS Online Community Center, Parent Forms, and Meal Pay. These programs are listed on the main page of PCS Portal, so after you log in, you will see them on the lower right of the screen. Logging into PCS Portal gives the parents a “one-stop shopping” experience.
Username = "p."+ParentConnect Username (example: "smithr" becomes "p.smithr").
Password = ParentConnect Password (if your password is less than 6 characters add enough Z's at the end to make a 6 character password). The Password must be all capital letters and\or numbers.
FAQs
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Scholarships and Financial Aid
Eckerd Family Foundation – This opportunity to receive money is for students in a Center of Excellence that also have a financial need. Completed applications should be sent to Donna Burn at the Pinellas Education Foundation. We are on pony route 2. The DEADLINE for these applications is March 31, 2012. You can also learn more about this by going to www.pinellaseducation.org
The Bailey Family Foundation is offering a $20,000.00 scholarship. To apply go to: www.bailey~family.org Application deadline is March 15, 2012.
The Florida Society Colonial Dames XVII Century Anne Massey General Scholarship: This is a $1000.00 scholarship awarded to a senior who will be attending a Florida 4 year college. They must show scholarly records and financial need. This application is in the Career Center, Bottom drawer of file cabinet. Please make a copy and leave the original.
The Johnson Scholarship Foundation offers a scholarship for: children of current or former UPS employees, OR students with disabilities who attend a STATE university. The application deadlines for these two opportunities are April 15th and May 15th respectively. To download applications go to: www.jsf.bz.
Gulf Beach Masonic Lodge No. 291 Scholarship Opportunity: www.gulfbeachlodge.org The Ernest J. Freeman Jr. Memorial Scholarship: $500 for each of 4 years for $2000 total to applicant who demonstrates high academic achievement as well as active community service. The deadline is APRIL 30, 2012. There is a copy of the application in the Career Center if you have trouble finding it at the above referenced website.
TheLawFirmForFamilyLaw.com is offering 3 scholarships of $1000 to students showing excellence and involvement. Go to their website for all the information and applications. The deadline for this scholarship is: March 31, 2012.
Student Insights is offering 11 scholarships to seniors who plan to attend a 4 year college, community college, or career school. To apply simply go to their website www.student-view.com and complete a 20 minute application survey about colleges in your area. This is a no brainer requiring no essay, no SAT scores, no grades, etc. Deadline is April 22, 2012.
Buick Achievers offers several scholarships in fields that could potentially lead to automotive industry including business, technology, engineering or design. Go to www.buickachievers.com for all the details. Application deadline is February 29, 2012.
If you are interested in attending Furman College, go to their website to find out about the Furman Scholars program which offers $5000 scholarships per year to qualified candidates. www.furman.edu/furmanscholars
If you are interested in attending Wofford College go to their website to learn about the Wofford Scholars Program. This is for JUNIORS. http://connect.wofford.edu/nominate
Otterbein University in Ohio offers many unique scholarship packages for students. Go to their website to learn more or email the admissions office at UOtterB@otterbein.edu
Know the Facts about Financial Aid. Take this quick quiz and discover some of the facts and dispel common misconceptions about financial aid.
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Senior Section
Senior Seminar Powerpoint
S-E-N-I-O-R Students and Parents:
The sooner you apply for financial aid – the better! FAFSA Nights is an event aimed at helping you and your parents complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA)quickly so you can qualify for the most financial aid possible. Attend FAFSA Nights at any of the four Pinellas County high school locations from 6:60-8:30 pm for one-on-one help with your 2012-13 FAFSA.
Feb. 21
Tarpon Springs High School
6:30-8:30 p.m.
Feb. 28
Gibbs High School
6:30-8:30 p.m.
March 13
Clearwater High School
6:30-8:30 p.m.
March 20
Northeast High School
6:30-8:30 p.m.
Financial Aid experts will be available at all locations to help you and your parents file your FAFSA online. Those who participate can expect to get their FAFSA results in just one week.
Register Online:
www.spcollege.edu/fafsanights
S E N I O R S ! ! ! YOU MAY NOW REGISTER FOR BRIGHT FUTURES!!!
Make sure you also complete a FAFSA after January 1st.
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Testing Information
There's no need to freak out like Calvin. We've got the information and resources that will help prepare you for a number of standardized tests. |
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