Appointments can be requested using the link at the bottom of this newsletter, but our focus is on social and emotional needs, academic planning (not changing current schedules from your current requests), and college & career readiness. We will seek to help you be successful in the classes that you have.

Dec 18 Advisory: students will be introduced to the course registration process, and are asked to enter their requests in Focus by winter break.

ALL resources are available at https://pikesvillehs.bcps.org/for_students/academic_planning

School counselors will meet with students individually during their science classes January 6-20.

For SY24-25 high school students enrolled in courses awarding 1.0 credit will earn 0.5 credit after a passing grade is achieved for Semester 1 (MP1 and MP2) and an additional 0.5 credit will be earned after passing Semester II (MP3, MP4, and final exam).

o MP1 and MP2 will each be weighted 50% to calculate the Semester I grade.

o MP3 and MP4 will each be weighted 45% and the final exam will be weighted 10% (40/40/20% in Living Systems and Government) to calculate the Semester II grade.

What does this mean for students? It means that if you fail the first half of a class like Algebra 1, then you'll have to re-take that first half of Algebra 1, regardless of how you do in the second semester. And vice-versa.

As of December 2023, not all students get tuition fully paid for at CCBC.

In order to qualify for four tuition-free classes at CCBC in the fall or spring semesters, 11th and 12th graders must be identified as "College & Career Ready," by earning a proficiency level of 3 or higher on BOTH their Maryland Algebra AND English state assessments. The only exceptions are in math: earn a 520 on the math SAT, or have a 3.0 GPA (unweighted) including at least a B in Algebra 1. There no alternatives to earning a proficiency level of 3 or higher in the English state assessment.

Every other student, including any other grade, and any other CCBC term of study, is still entitled to the 50% tuition discount that CCBC provides.

Colleges and other institutions often send recruiters to Pikesville, in order to provide information and answer student questions about their programs. Students can sign up to meet with these institutions on sheets located outside the school counseling office, and they will get passes in their first period classes the day of the info sessions.

Jan 17 @ 9:30: Johnson & Wales University

We have our graduation date: May 28 at 10am, at the TU Arena on the Towson University campus.

The link to order your cap and gown is live: https://www.jostens.com/apps/store/catalogBrowse/1067117/PIKESVILLE-HIGH-SCHOOL/Graduation/2595387916/CATALOG_REPOSITORY/

While you can purchase all kinds of swag, all you really need is the $14.52 cap/gown/tassel package, shown here.

The swag will ship directly to you, but the cap/gown/tassel will be shipped to school, and distributed after final exams, when we know for sure that you are graduating.

FAFSA Translation Services - The Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA®) form is available in English and Spanish. We want to make sure everyone has the information and resources they need. If families need assistance in English or Spanish, contact the Federal Student Aid Information Center (FSAIC) for help. If families need assistance in a different language, they can use their interpretation services. Choose from one of the following languages to get information on requesting an interpreter.

• 中文（粵語）
• 中文（普通话）
• Tagalog
• Tiêng Viêt
• Français
• 한국어
• Deutsch
• العربية
• Русский
• Kreyòl ayisyen

While the only have “Get Started” content above in those 10 languages, plus Spanish and English, speakers of those languages, plus +60 other languages, can all call 833-610-2590. They should press “7” and to reach an agent. At this point the caller (or person helping them) should say “Interpreter, and the name of the language they would like”.

While Common App does make blanket application fee waivers available to those who qualify, they added language this year that states that attending a school where all students get free lunch does not automatically qualify a student for a fee waiver.

If you would like to apply for Free & Reduced Meals, click this link.

If you would like to be nominated for one of these college's scholars programs, please let Mr. Goldman know.

Davidson College Belk Scholarship

Northeastern U's Torch Scholars (for first gen students) (deadline Jan 1)

Centre College

Boston University's Kilachand Honors College

For over 30 years, WJZ-TV has given High School Students across Maryland the chance to speak up and speak out about the issues that matter, in the WJZ Black History Oratory Competition.

Students write an original essay (500 words or less) based on one of these quotations:

“Service to your people is the rent you pay for living on this earth.”

• Dr. Lillie May Carroll Jackson

“We are all bound up together in one great bundle of humanity, and society cannot trample on the weakest and feeblest of its members without receiving the curse on its own soul.”

• Frances Ellen Watkins Harper

"A life is not important except in the impact it has on other lives."

• Jackie Robinson

The Top 20 Students with the highest-scoring essays will be invited to perform their Speeches in person, in front of an audience of family, friends and judges, to compete for scholarship prize money. The Speech Event will be streamed LIVE on CBS News Baltimore at WJZ.com

WJZ will announce the Winners on the air, during the WJZ Black History Oratory Competition Awards Special, where the Top Speeches will be broadcast on TV!

All essays and signed application forms must be emailed to Oratory@wjz.com by 11:59pm on Monday, January 20th. Note, essays are due early this year!

Essay Prompt, Application Form, and Official Rules are Available for Download Online: https://www.cbsnews.com/baltimore/news/wjz-black-history-oratory-competition-2025/

For More Info, Visit: //wjz.com/oratory

Questions? Email: Oratory@wjz.com

https://www.reaganfoundation.org/education/scholarship-programs/ge-reagan-foundation-scholarship-program/

• Demonstrate the attributes of leadership, integrity, drive, and citizenship within their communities, schools, and workplaces
  
  
• Display strong academic performance (minimum 3.0 grade point average/4.0 scale or equivalent)
  
  
• Be citizens of the United States of America
  
  
• Be current high school seniors attending high school within the United States, (including any U.S. territories or commonwealths), and graduating in winter 2024 or spring 2025. Homeschooled applicants and applicants living on a U.S. Armed Forces base and attending high school outside the U.S. are eligible.
  
  
• Plan to enroll in a full‑time undergraduate course of study at an accredited four‑year college or university in the United States for the entire 2025-2026 academic school year

Hagan Scholarship -- deadline 12.1.24

Ron Brown Scholarship -- deadline 12.1.24

The Coolidge Scholarship -- deadline 12.11.24

Amazon Future Engineer -- deadline 12.19.24

Cirkled The "No Sweat" Scholarship -- deadline 12.31.24

Two Minutes $2000 (Sallie Mae Sweepstakes) Scholarship -- deadline 12.31.24

Jackie Robinson Foundation -- deadline 1.9.25

AFCEA Central Maryland Chapter - STEM Scholarship -- deadline 1.15.25

AFCEA Chrissy Bob Community College - STEM Scholarship -- deadline 1.15.25

AFCEA Jeremy A. Pinkerton Cyber Scholarship -- 1.15.25

AFCEA STEM Scholarships -- deadline 1.15.25

The Mellfin Scholarship -- deadline 2.7.25

BCPS HBCU College Fair Book Scholarship -- 2.18.25

Dr. Joe A. Hairston Scholarship -- deadline 02.18.25

Reisterstown Lions Club Norman Ports Memorial Scholarship (Owings Mills HS, Franklin HS and Pikesville HS) -- deadline 2.28.25

Paws for Progress -- deadline 3.1.25

Build a Better Future -- deadline 3.3.25

Central Scholarship -- deadline 3.3.25

The Women's Traffic and Transportation Club of Baltimore Scholarship -- deadline 03.30.25

19th Annual Point Breeze Credit Union Scholarship -- 4.30.25

Maryland Central Scholarship -- deadline not announced

The Maryland Department of Human Services Scholarship -- deadline not announced yet

It’s with this connection to our schools and community that we are excited to offer a $1,000 scholarship called the “Paws for Progress” to a graduating senior who is planning to pursue a career in veterinary medicine or an animal-related field.

We kindly ask that you share this scholarship opportunity with area students, particularly those interested in veterinary medicine, animal science, or related fields. The application process is straightforward, and we are eager to support a student who shares our passion for animals and community service. We self-funded the $1000 award, but are collecting for a second place scholarship of $500. So far, we have raised $200 and are certain we will reach our goal! We would love to be able to get our scholarship information out to as many schools as possible to share with your students. If you have any questions or need more information, please feel free to contact me!

https://bold.org/scholarships/paws-for-progress-scholarship/

Greetings from Ursinus College, a small liberal arts school located 30 miles outside of Philadelphia! As the college application season is right around the corner, I am writing to let you know of an incredibly exciting scholarship opportunity for your students!

The Abele Scholars Program at Ursinus is a great fit for higher achieving students in and out of the classroom with demonstrated financial need. To be eligible, a student will need to be a U.S. citizen residing in any of the 50 U.S. states or Washington, D.C., have a high school GPA of 3.0+, and have a SAI of $40,000 or less.

Throughout their time at Ursinus, Abele Scholars will receive support with special programming such as mentorship and workshops. They will also receive:

• $40,000 - Annual and renewable $10,000/year scholarship
• $3,000 - Enrichment funds for study abroad, internships, etc.
• $2,000 - Startup costs (like a laptop, books, dorm supplies)
• $8,000 - Maximum payment toward student's federal direct loans upon completion of the program

...For a total of $53,000 per student!

More information about our Abele Scholars Program is available on our website.

I hope this message finds you well. My name Nastassia Holley, and I am the General Manager at Regal Cinemas in Hunt Valley. I am reaching out to inform you of the job opportunities we currently have available at our theatre and would like to spread the word to your students.

We believe this would be a fantastic first job or a general employment opportunity for those who love movies, enjoy working with others, and are eager to create lasting memories. We are offering both part-time and seasonal part-time positions, with flexible hours to accommodate school schedules, other jobs, and personal commitments.

I have attached our "Now Hiring" folder for your convenience and a direct link to our posting. If possible, we would greatly appreciate it if this could be posted somewhere visible within the school to reach as many students as possible.

Thank you for your time and assistance in sharing this opportunity with your students. We are excited to potentially welcome them to our team!

Here is the link below:

https://www.indeed.com/m/viewjob?jk=233bdc5910e9fb99&from=serp&tk=1iabb1tu62c3f0a6&xkcb=SoAE67M36LeIGoy4Up0LbzkdCdPP

We are excited to share that the Horatio Alger Association scholarship application

for high school juniors is NOW OPEN!

600+ scholarships available, up to $25,000 each

The Horatio Alger Association is seeking students that display integrity and perseverance in overcoming adversity, and plan to pursue higher education. Students must have financial need and a determination to turn their adversity into opportunity and pursue their American Dream.

If you have students that you believe would be great candidates, please share this information and application with them today!

If you would like to know more about the Horatio Alger Association scholarships, please consider attending our live Info Session in January. Click here to RSVP.

APPLICATION DATES:

DECEMBER 1, 2024 - MARCH 1, 2025

ELIGIBILITY REQUIREMENTS:

• Be enrolled full time as a high school junior in the United States
• Exhibit a strong commitment to pursue and complete a bachelor’s degree at an accredited non-profit public or private institution in the United States (students may start their studies at a two-year institution and then transfer to a four-year institution)
• Demonstrate financial need ($65,000 or lower household income)
• Be involved in co-curricular and community service activities
• Display integrity and perseverance in overcoming adversity
• Maintain a minimum grade point average (GPA) of 2.0; and
• Be a United States citizen

The BCPS Student Members of the Board in 2011-12 and 2016-17 were form Pikesville High, and we haven't been represented since then. It's time that we tried again, Panthers! Reach out to Mr. Goldman to talk through this if you're interested.

Scholarship just for juniors

https://studentscholarships.org/scholarship/32864/broad-horizons-scholarship-for-high-school-juniors#google_vignette

Deadline is January 31

Jan 3: Deadline to register for February ACT

Feb 8: ACT

Feb 21: Deadline to register for March SAT

Mar 8: SAT

April 18: Deadline to register for May SAT

May 3: SAT

May 22: Deadline to register for June SAT

Jun 7: SAT

Register for SAT at www.collegeboard.org

Register for ACT at www.actstudent.org

SAT Registration fee waiver is available from the student College Board account.

If you would like to apply for Free and Reduced Meals, click here.