PTHS Counseling Office Newsletter
December 2024
Holidays are supposed to be happy and exciting events where families can reunite and celebrate the things and memories we cherish. However, sometimes the holidays and holiday gatherings can be less magical and more, well, stressful.
The holiday season means taking a vacation from work and school. While the break is much needed, we often find that our routines get thrown off, expectations are heightened, and we are moving at a fast pace to get everything on our list accomplished. Here are a few tips to help minimize stress and make the holidays more fun, fulfilling, and relaxing:
Be Open to Change: Every family has a holiday tradition. Talk with your children about the traditions, which ones they enjoy and which ones you can evolve to make them more fun or memorable for everyone involved. It is okay to change it up! As your children get older, routines and traditions might need to shift and adjust. Accept the change and talk with your children about making a shift or new tradition, if needed.
Be Realistic: Think about the conversations you have had with your children. Are they nervous about seeing the extended family they haven’t seen in a while? Are they anxious about meeting someone new or being in an overstimulating environment? See where they might need support in the upcoming holidays and help them talk through different solutions and coping strategies to get through it together.
Prep for Changes in Routine: Changing routine can be difficult and for some children and adults can be unsettling or overwhelming. Talk to each other about the upcoming holiday plans, what the day will look like, what expectations there might be, and what they can expect at each place you may visit. If you are travelling, encourage them to bring familiar things to help them feel comfortable and try to keep some of the smaller routines such as bedtime or morning routines, the same. This will help them feel just a little more comfortable in an unfamiliar environment.
Give Yourself a Break: Don’t stretch yourself too thin. Remember that the holidays can be a magical time. Take a moment to relax and enjoy the holiday season. Watch your favorite holiday movie, enjoy a warm cup of coffee or hot chocolate while watching the snow falling. Decide what is important to you, prioritize it, and say no to the events or things that will make the season too overwhelming to enjoy.
Laugh and Enjoy the Moment: Children and teens tend to read the situations and pick up on any stress or tension. Keep in mind that what you’ll remember when it’s over are the unexpected moments when everybody is relaxed, laughing, and enjoying each other’s company and not the carefully choreographed party, dinner, or outing.
Teens are facing challenges of social media pressures in addition to the pressures of simply growing up. Beyond the modern-day stressors, teens are hyper-aware of the world around them. There might have been a time where parents were able to shield their teens from some of those anxieties, but the internet has made that a thing of the past.
Recent surveys have found that nearly one-third of high school students report concerns about their mental health as a major source of stress. In 2021, the CDC found that 37% of high school students reported experiencing poor mental health during the pandemic, with 44% reporting they persistently felt sad or hopeless. Just because students are back in the classrooms, does not mean those challenges have disappeared. In fact, we are seeing an increase in these reports while managing the day to day of balancing peer relationships and managing a class schedule.
When to be Concerned:
Some amount of stress is normal, and even healthy, so it can be difficult for parents to identify whether the stress they are seeing in their teen is too much. As teens get older, they naturally start to push away and communicate less, so it becomes even more important for parents to be aware of the red flags, like frequent headaches or stomach aches, excessive hostility, or withdrawal from longtime friends. If you are concerned, start by reaching out to your school counselor, who can help provide support and resources for your teen!
Tips for Helping your Teens Manage Stress:
Start with the Basics: When it comes to day-to-day strategies, start by encouraging healthy eating and sleep patterns. Teach your teens about mindfulness and breathing exercises but help them learn to focus on the positives. Teaching teens to be aware of their feelings and thoughts is important, but you also need to teach them to focus attention on the positive and the good. Self-care can start with small, everyday acts, like listening to a favorite song or taking the family pet for a walk. Keep in mind that it is important still for teens to recognize and deal with the negative or the bad feelings, emotions, and thoughts. Help them understand how to recognize these feelings and eventually talk through them with a trusted adult or peer.
Make Time for Small Talks: Teens have a very short attention span. We as parents have them for about ten minutes, before they zone out! Find opportunities to have 10–15-minute conversations to find out what’s going on in their world by creating a space where they feel comfortable talking and sharing those thoughts and feelings with you. The key is to ask the right questions and not settling for one-word answers. Reflect on a time where you had a really great conversation with your teen, and they shared a lot of information with you. Where were you? Were you in the car driving to a game? In the living room watching a movie? When you have figured out that space, try to have those conversations during those times to help teach your teen it is okay to open up!
Be Prepared to be Uncomfortable: Conversations happen both ways, and experts agree that if parents expect their teens to share what is going on in their lives, parents might need to open up a small amount as well. Ultimately, if parents want teens to practice healthy behaviors, they have to be prepared to model those practices themselves. This could mean going to your teen and saying ‘Hey, I am really stressed out about work today, want to head out and take a walk?’ It doesn’t mean you have to overshare information with them but showing them that you are finding positive ways to help cope with your own stress. This can help them build their own toolbox of coping strategies.
Keep Academics in Perspective: Teens report academics is one of their biggest stressors. Here are a few ways to help them manage this stress:
- Practice and rehearse situations that are causing stress, like practicing a presentation or speech.
- Teach practical coping skills, like breaking a large project into smaller, manageable pieces or how to create to-do lists to prioritize work.
- Show your teen they should be proud of their best effort rather than expecting absolute perfection.
- And when failures do happen, it is important to remind teens that failures allow learning and create opportunities for success.
“Be where your feet are, everyday is an opportunity to start fresh.”
(Adapted from: https://www.usnews.com/education/best-high-schools/articles/managing-high-school-stress)
Attention parents and seniors: The new FAFSA (Free Application for Federal Student Aid) is now available! Completing the FAFSA is the first step toward accessing financial aid for college, including grants, scholarships, and loans. This year’s application has been streamlined to make it quicker and easier than ever. Don’t delay—submit your application early to maximize your financial aid opportunities!
How to Prepare:
Here are some ways you can get ready to fill out your FAFSA form:
Create a StudentAid.gov account (if you don’t already have one).
Learn about the documents you may need to fill out the FAFSA form.
Determine your dependency status and whether your parent(s) or spouse will be required to contribute information on your FAFSA form.
If you’re a dependent student, use the Who’s My FAFSA Parent? wizard to identify which parent(s) will be a required contributor on your form.
December
12/31: Bud Lutty Scholarship Fund – N/A
12/31: The "No Sweat" Scholarship – $2,500
January
1/8: PA American Legion 90th Annual Essay Contest – $3,500
1/10: Jim Borden Memorial Scholarship – $7,500
1/10: Scholarship for Diversity in Media – $7,500
1/10: Business, Marketing, and Technology Scholarship – $7,500
1/25: Olympus Energy STEM Scholarship – $2,500
February
2/1: William and Debrah Pettigrew Scholarship – $1,000
2/7: South Hills College Club – $2,000
2/24: Good Orthodontics Smile Scholarship – $1,000
March
3/1: Ross F. DiMarco Scholarship – $1,000
3/1: Lions Young Ambassador of the 21st Century Award Program – $500
3/1: National Italian American Sports Hall of Fame – $1,000
3/1: The Foundation 649 Scholarship – $4,000 (renewable)
3/3: Dream…Innovate…Grow Trade School + College Scholarship – $1,000 (renewable)
3/27: Pennsylvania Association of School Retirees Washington Co. Scholarship – $1,000
April
4/1: Men’s College Scholarship – $500 - $1,000
4/7: Epilepsy Foundation Western/Central PA Scholarship Program – $1,500
4/30: Keynotes Music Scholarship Competition – $7,500 - $1,100
Ongoing
Citizens Scholarship – $2,500 or $15,000
PA American Legion Scholarship Program (Multiple Scholarships) – Varies
ROTC Minuteman Scholarship – Varies
The Win Mortimer Trust – N/A
Links to National Scholarships:
Top Ten List Scholarship - (open to ages 14+)!
Creative Safety Supply Scholarship
Equitable Excellence Scholarship® Program
LawnStarter Lawntrepreneur Scholarship
The Post-Secondary Individual Planning (PIP) meeting occurs in the junior year. Students and parents will meet with their counselor to discuss post-secondary pathways, goals after high school, and how to achieve those goals. Topics discussed will include:
- Transcript Review
- Senior Course Selection
- Post High School Plans - College, Career, Military, Tech/Trade School
- Standardized Testing
- Naviance
- Timelines
Planning Meetings will take place during the regular school day beginning January 6th through March 31st. Please sign up through the link sent out from your students' counselor, which will prompt you to select an appointment date and time. Email invitations were sent out to you by your counselor. Appointments will be on a first come, first serve basis. Please consult with your child to determine a time and day of the week that best accommodates their schedule.
In preparation for your PIP Meeting with your counselor, start thinking about what postsecondary options are available and what pathways you would consider!
The word postsecondary is a word students and families hear of quite often as students propel forward to their high school graduation. Questions move from – what do you want to be when you grow up to what postsecondary path or option is the best for you? A postsecondary education is the level of education following successful completion of high school. It is a higher-level education that not only includes colleges and universities, but also trade, technical, professional schools and even on the job training!
A postsecondary degree shows proof to employers that you have attained competence in a specific, practical, and academic skill. Postsecondary planning is pivotal over the next few years of high school as it can help determine your interests and how they can relate to a potential postsecondary path.
2- year degree: An associate's degree is shorter than a bachelor’s or master’s degree. This degree is for those seeking to gain expertise to join an entry-level position in their profession. The associate's degree program aims to prepare students for employment opportunities and professional life in general. It can set them up to handle managerial roles or specialized occupations in less time than a bachelor’s program. Many associate's degrees cover the nursing and business professions, as well as technical and vocation programs. You can often find an associate's degree program through community college. Some four year universities such as Waynesburg University also offer associate's degrees. If you decide to seek further education in your field of study, you can then transfer your credits towards a bachelor's degree.
4 – year degree: A bachelor's degree is typically a four-year program. Colleges and Universities can offer both undergraduate and graduate degrees offering a wide range of courses and programs for students to study. They often have connections and partnerships with local, community agencies and organizations for student internships and job shadow opportunities. Most offer Study Abroad programs for their students to spend a semester or a year studying abroad.
Technical Education: Technical training provides students with professional teaching and training. It is aimed to prepare and equip students for occupations by providing technical, and conceptual training with practical, on-the-job experience in a particular field. This path offers training in a shorter period than a 4-year program and helps them learn the necessary skills to make them qualified for their chosen careers. This is often completed through technical colleges such as PTI, Triangle Tech, Rosedale Tech or offered through local apprenticeships.
Workforce: Students can head straight into the workforce upon their high school graduation. Students will receive on-the-job training at the workplace with guidance from a supervisor, manager, or other knowledgeable employee. On-the-job-training helps new employees get a firsthand look at all the work procedures they can expect and encounter each day. They learn workplace expectations, equipment operation, and any other skill needed to complete their job successfully.
Military: The military is a postsecondary training and employment option. While serving their country, military personnel develop transferable interpersonal and technical skills that can enhance their career prospects. All six of the military branches offer extensive and diverse job training (Army, Marine Corps, Navy, Air Force, Coast Guard, and Space Force). If you are interested, talk to your local recruiter for more information! Military provides scholarships for college and many career options.
Graduation will be here before you know it! Start thinking about what interests you and what careers those interests align with. Utilize your Naviance account to help you explore your interests further through the various career interest surveys! If you have questions, stop in to see your counselor for help!
(Adapted from: https://admissionsly.com/post-secondary-education/ and https://www.valamis.com/hub/on-the-job-training)
With Winter Break just around the corner, it will be a great time to update your resume! Adding to your resume can help you to stay up to date with your activities, sports, and volunteer work. This will allow you to write about your experience in the moment and not have to recall the details of your experiences. Remember that what you gain from the experience is the most important part of the experience.
Maintaining a resume is a skill that you will utilize throughout your future as you continue to grow personally and professionally. It is utilized to track your education, accomplishments, experiences and opportunities, and professional development as you continue through your postsecondary and career pathways. Learning how to develop a resume throughout high school is not only a great way to showcase all that you have accomplished, it will allow you to practice the skills of writing a resume and the different components that creates one. Here are a few additional benefits to building a resume in high school:
- Self-Reflection: Creating a resume encourages students to reflect on their accomplishments and experiences. It helps in identifying strengths, skills, and areas for personal and professional growth. Reflecting on experiences within the same timeframe they occurred can allow for a genuine and authentic reflection. Try to record you experiences shortly after you complete them.
- Networking: A resume can serve as a handy tool during networking events like college fairs, trade and tech fairs, and community events. It facilitates meaningful conversations about a student's background and interests.
- Portfolio Building: Resumes can become a crucial piece to an individual's portfolio. A portfolio showcases an individual's overall development, skills, and involvement. Portfolios can be useful for presentations and interviews for future job opportunities or college admissions.
- Job Applications: Whether you are planning to head straight into employment or are searching for that part-time job, a resume showcases the experiences and skills you have accomplished over the years. Employers really appreciate seeing the opportunities you have had and the skills you have taken away from those opportunities that can contribute to their current work environment.
- College & Scholarship Applications: Many applications ask for student's to reflect on their activities as part of the process, some might even ask that student's submit their resume as a supplemental piece to the application. Starting now can help students develop a well-structure and comprehensive overview of their high school activities and opportunities.
Updating your resume is easy! Follow these simple steps to get to the Resume Portion in Naviance:
- Log in to your Naviance account.
- Click on the "About Me" which is indicated by a blue circle with your initials.
- Click on "Resume" under the Documents and Notes section.
- This will take you to your Resume building page.
- Once there, you can click on the plus sign button that will open up different categories to add to your resume.
- Pick the category our need then add it to your resume once you complete all the information for your activity.
If you are having trouble navigating the resume please do not hesitate to stop in and ask your counselor!
If you’re not doing well in class, reflect on when you are struggling and find a way to get the help that you need. Learning to go to others for help is not easy. Many of us grow up thinking that we are supposed to know everything and if we don’t, something is wrong. That is not the case! Recognizing when you need help, learning to advocate for yourself, and seeking out the support you need are important parts of becoming mature, responsible adults.
Here are a few tips to help you connect with your teachers to get the help and support you need:
Be Considerate: Teacher’s genuinely want to help you, so don’t worry about bothering them or being a nuisance by approaching them outside of class. However, keep in mind that teachers are busy, and be considerate and respectful of their time. After saying hello, ask them if they have time to talk or if there would be a better time to meet with them. If you make a date in the future, be sure to put it on your calendar or in your planner so you do NOT forget to show up for the appointment!
Ask Specific Questions: To make the most of your time, go in with specific questions you want to ask. Bring in a problem that you got wrong on a recent quiz and ask them to walk you through it or ask how you could organize your ideas better for an essay. Before meeting with your teacher, brainstorm ideas about the questions you could ask them. You can brainstorm ideas with your parents or stop in to see your counselor!
Keep your Email Communications Professional: If you would rather email your teacher, that is great! Just make sure your email is professional and appropriate. Like a formal letter, your email should start with a formal salutation (Dear Mr. or Mrs.), followed by an explanation of why you are writing to them and end with a closing and your name (Sincerely or Thank You). Want another tip? You are likely to get a quicker response if you include a subject line that indicates you need help instead of leaving it as a No Subject. Also, don’t expect an immediate answer especially if it is in the evening or late at night. Give your teachers at least 24 hours to respond.
Be Proactive: It is better to ask for help when you first realize you are struggling with something. Be proactive about seeking help from a teacher or tutor as soon as you think you’re falling behind.
Other Ways to Advocate for Yourself: Check out the NHS Tutors in the Library for help! You can also go to Khan Academy, ask your parents or siblings, or make an appointment with your counselor to brainstorm ideas to get the support you need. The sooner you get help, the sooner you’ll feel confident that you can succeed!
(Adapted from: https://educationalendeavors.org/6-tips-for-asking-your-teacher-for-help)
The PSAT/NMSQT scores are now available to students. Scores can be accessed by logging into student College Board accounts or through the email from College Board announcing availability of scores.
Did you know that the PSAT is on the same scale score as the SAT? It provides a predicted score of what a student would have received on the SAT if taken the same day. The score report also provides student strengths and areas for improvement. The PSAT scores can be connected to Khan Academy for free targeted practice to improve SAT scores. Practicing on Khan Academy cannot only help increase SAT scores but also help you to be eligible for scholarships through the College Board Opportunity Scholarships.
Ms. Patton (Last Names A-C): pattona@pt-sd.org
Mrs. Wolf (Last Names: D-Hh): wolfc@pt-sd.org
Ms. Simmons (Last Names: Hi-Mh): simmonsa@pt-sd.org
Mrs. Prinsen (Last Names: Mi-Se): prinsenh@pt-sd.org
Mr. Sudol (Last Names: Sf-Z): sudolj@pt-sd.org
Mrs. Gobbie & Mrs. Vamossy
Counseling Secretaries