Titan Weekly Newsletter

January

• 20 - Martin Luther King Jr. Day - No School
• 25 - FAFSA/DREAM ACT Application Workshop
• 27 - PUSD Professional Growth Day - No School for Students
• 29 - ELAC Meeting, 5:30 pm in K-1
• 31 - Cinderella Musical, 7:00 pm at PCPA

There will be no school on Monday, January 20 in observance of Martin Luther King Jr. Day.

At PUSD, we are committed to ensuring your child's online safety and privacy. As students engage in digital spaces—whether playing multiplayer games, using educational apps, or exploring new interests online—it’s crucial they understand the importance of keeping their personal information safe. With guidance on avoiding scams and protecting their digital footprints, students can enjoy learning and fun online while staying in control of their privacy. Families play an important role in helping children navigate these topics and establishing healthy, safe digital habits. Below are some Privacy and Security tips to share with your family.

K-5 Family Tips

6-12 Family Tips

It’s hard to believe it but it’s already time to begin to think about the 2025-2026 school year!

Here are some important dates to mark on your calendars:

• Transfer Requests - beginning on February 1 at 8:00 am, PUSD will accept transfer requests for students who live in the Poway Unified boundaries and would like to attend a different Poway school. This includes incoming siblings of current students, as well as students who have not yet enrolled. Transfer requests can be made on the Poway Unified website by clicking THIS link. The transfer window closes on March 31 at 5:00 pm.

• Continuing Student Registration - from February 28 - March 31, all parents whose current students will continue in Poway Unified for the 2025-26 school year need to complete online continuing registration. Look for more information coming soon.

• New Student Enrollment - beginning on April 1 at 8:00 am, new student enrollment opens on the Poway Unified website. We are excited to welcome our new students!

More details can be found on the Poway Unified website at www.powayusd.com.

All students in grades 9-12 are invited to the PHS ENGINEERING ACADEMY/PATHWAY INFO NIGHT on Wednesday, February 5 from 7-8 pm in PHS Room N3107. This is an opportunity to hear how the program is helping students major in STEM by making a difference toward their college and career goals. You will learn about what courses to enroll in to complete the two-course Engineering Pathway or five-course Engineering Academy. There will also be a presentation about updates in the Academy, an overview of the program and hearing directly from students. There will be a question-and-answer period.

Performances

January 31 - 7:00 PM

February 1 - 7:00 PM

February 7 - 7:00 PM

February 8 - 2:00, 7:00 PM

Poway Center for the Performing Arts

15498 Espola Road, Poway

Online Ticket Sales

$25 for reserved seats

$20 for Adults

$15 for Seniors, Military

$10 for PUSD Students, Staff with ID (1 ticket per ID)

Website: Tickets Page

Tickets Sold at the Door

$25 for Adults

$15 for Seniors, Military

$10 for PUSD Students, Staff with ID (1 ticket per ID)​​

​Cash, Check, & Venmo accepted

Rodgers and Hammerstein's Cinderella is a classic fairytale brought to life with enchanting songs and a delightful story. It follows the story of Cinderella, a kind and beautiful young woman who, after being mistreated by her stepmother and stepsisters, is granted a magical transformation by her fairy godmother in order to attend the royal ball. The story is full of romance, magic, and humor, and features iconic songs such as "In My Own Little Corner", "Impossible", and "Ten Minutes Ago". It's a heartwarming and timeless tale that has been beloved by generations of children and adults alike.

Join us in Poway High Room K-1 on Monday, February 10 at 6:30 pm for an engaging opportunity to connect with Principal Nash and other parents in our community. This is your chance to discuss important topics, share ideas, and help shape our school's success.

Our first session will focus on the Start Smart driving program. We look forward to seeing you there!

Join Life Planning Specialist Wendy Smith for an insightful presentation on why creating a plan matters, how to take the first steps, and where to find support along the way. You’ll also have the opportunity to ask questions and connect with fellow parents, gaining valuable insights and support. Start building a strong foundation for your child's future today! Flier found here.

On February 27, 2025, at 6:00 p.m., Valley Elementary School will host PUSD's first-ever IEP Basics training exclusively in Spanish. In collaboration with the Exceptional Family Resource Center, this event is designed to support PUSD Spanish-speaking families of students with IEPs. More details are available in the event flier.

Poway Girls Lacrosse will be hosting open workouts in preparation for our upcoming season. The workouts will be held on campus at the JV softball field (upper grass field) on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays from 4-5pm. The workouts will begin on Wednesday January 8 and end on February 7. Those who show up will need to bring running shoes and/or cleats, mouthguard, goggles, and a girl’s lacrosse stick. Hope to see anyone and everyone interested in lacrosse out there!!

Grad Nite 2025 event tickets are on sale now through May 1! Early bird pricing is available through February 15 so get your tickets early. Visit our website for more details and registration/ticket purchase link: https://www.powayptsa.org/grad-nite

Event Info: Grad Nite will take place on the night of graduation, to provide our seniors a safe, drug-free, and alcohol-free way to celebrate their accomplishments and come together one last night as the class of 2025. Poway High Seniors have the opportunity to celebrate Grad Nite at Belmont Park with fellow graduates from Mt Carmel High this year. The two PUSD high schools will have the park all to themselves!

Grad Nite is more than a party – it’s going to be SPECTACULAR! There will be food and refreshments all night long, games, rides, entertainment, and all the Giant Dipper you can stand!

As a rising senior, there will be many items on your college preparation to-do list. As a resident of California, you may be eligible for financial assistance provided through the state.

A Cal Grant is money for college you don’t have to pay back. To qualify, you must apply for the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) or California Dream Act Application (CADAA) by the deadline and meet the eligibility and financial requirements as well as any minimum GPA requirements. Cal Grants can be used at any University of California, California State University, or California Community College, as well as qualifying independent and career colleges or technical schools in California.

In the spring, during online registration for the 2025-2026 school year, you will be given the opportunity to verify that your information will be sent to the California Student Aid Commission or to opt out of participating in the Cal-Grant program. California education code requires public high schools to electronically submit GPAs for all 12th-grade students unless the student has opted out.

To learn more about program qualifications, go to www.Calgrants.org .

This is a friendly reminder to order your graduation items (including your cap and gown) as soon as possible if you haven't ordered yet.

If you have any questions, feel free to reach out to Jostens:

Phone: 858-486-2020

Email: mark.boyer@jostens.com

Thanks to everyone who placed their orders!

This workshop will provide individual help with completing the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) or California Dream Act (CADAA) and/or Chafee Grant for Foster Youth applications.

Poway High School

Room K-1

Saturday, January 25, 2025

9am - 12pm

It's FREE!

Plan to stay for up to an hour

Bring your Chromebook or laptop.

Please get your FSA ID in advance and bring your login information.

Creating an FSA ID Worksheet

Filling out the CA Dream Act?

Please create an account in advance and have the login/PIN ready if possible or get started on this day.

Materials Needed

FAFSA/CADAA Checklist

The San Diego County Office of Education is once again sponsoring the 8th Annual San Diego Black College Expo on Jan. 30th from 11am-1pm and it is free for students to attend. Transportation will be provided from PHS and students would depart at 9:30am and return at 1:45pm. This is a really good opportunity for students to be exposed to what HBCU's (Historically Black College & Universities) offer. Please let us know if you are interested in attending by emailing or speaking to Mrs. Taylor (email through Canvas or at mtaylor@powayusd.com).

Come hear a presentation about the benefits of attending community colleges on Tuesday, February 4, 2025, from 5:30 PM to 7:00 PM at Rancho Bernardo High School Performing Arts Center (PAC). Learn more about the Promise Program for first time college students. This program allows high school students to receive up to two years of free tuition, book assistance, priority registration and more as long as they earn a college GPA of 2.0 and above. It’s an incredible opportunity! It’s also a separate application so save this date to get more details!

Seniors, Join us at the Community College Application Workshop on Wednesday, February 5, 2025 during lunch in the Titan Center (Room K-16, next to the Counseling Office) to get step-by-step guidance from PHS staff to ensure your application is submitted on time. Bring your Chromebook or laptop, Student ID, and SSN. See you there.

PHS is offering the ASVAB exam on March 18 at 8:35am in the Library Room L-13. If you are interested, please stop by the Titan Center or sign-up using the link below. Students 16 years and older are able to take this assessment. This is not just for joining the military. If you are curious about find a job that would be a great fit for you, then you can take this exam as a career assessment.

ASVAB Exam Sign Up

More info on the ASVAB

Please note if a test center decides to close, students will receive direct notification from the College Board. You can register for the SAT at the College Board website here. You can register for the ACT at the ACT website here. We will have more information for the PSAT in August 2024.

It's scholarship time for our local community organizations, and we are here to help you navigate through this process.

1. Start by exploring our Scholarship Deadline Log. In this document, you will discover lots of great local opportunities, and just to name one that opened on January 15th, the San Diego Foundation Application provides students access to more than 130 scholarships ranging from $1,000 to $5,000. Also, don't forget to check out college and trade school financial aid pages for more options.

2. Connections: Talk to your family and friends to possibly find scholarship gems with employers, or even your job!

3. Stay Informed: Follow us on Instagram @counseling_PHS for the latest scholarship news and reminders.

4. Application Tips: Apply for as many scholarships as possible, even the smaller ones - they add up! Be organized, meet deadlines, and personalize your application to stand out.

5. Be Prepared: Ensure you have all necessary documents, ask for letters of recommendation early. Often times, scholarship applications will ask for a letter of rec from a teacher or counselor as well as a community resource such as an adult or non-family member, employer, club coach, or organization leader. Highlight your strengths and be genuine about your experiences.

6. Begin the FAFSA or DREAM ACT Application: Completing the FAFSA is important so start your application SOON! Check with your college financial aid office for their priority consideration deadline; sometimes it is earlier than the California priority funding deadline of March 2, 2025.

Please note that the FAFSA application is not just for need-based aid; it may be needed for merit-based scholarships, local community scholarships, student loans, and other financial benefits.

Remember, every little bit helps, so take advantage of all available resources. Good luck on your scholarship journey, and reach out if you need support!

- PHS Counseling

Join us in giving our Titans the very best in 2024-2025! Memberships are $15 per person and are offered to anyone interested in supporting PHS - parents, caregivers, students, teachers, staff, grandparents, etc. Joining and donating is easy to do online by clicking this link or scanning the QR code.

Please visit our website PowayPTSA.org to learn more about our PTSA, how you can help support us, ways to get involved or simply make a small, much-needed donation to support our programs here at PHS.

We look forward to partnering with you for a great year!

All students and staff members are encouraged to wear green and/or gray on Fridays to show our Titan spirit!

Office Hours:

Monday - Friday

8:00 am-4:00 pm

Website: http://powayhigh.powayusd.com/

Location: 15500 Espola Road, Poway, CA 92064, USA
Phone: 858-748-0245

Contact: rnash@powayusd.com