Welcome to

Sophomore & Junior

Parent Night!

August 25, 2025

Agenda

“If it is important to you, You will Find a way. If not, you Will find An excuse”

-Ryan Blair

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• Counseling TEAM
• Graduation Requirements
• 4 year Plan/ ECAP/Credit Checks/GPA/Course Levels/Academic Support
• Down Credits?
• Student Athletes/ NCAA
• Life After High School Plans
• Get involved/Build your Portfolio

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• College/Career Preparation
• Naviance
• College Entrance Requirements
• Career/Military and beyond
• Helpful Tools
• PHHS Parent Expectations
• Break Out Sessions

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2

6-6:30 General Session

6:35-6:55 Session 1

7-7:20 Session 2

Your Counseling Department Team

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4- Year Plan

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Credit Checks

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• Students need to earn a minimum of 6 credits/ year
• 11th grade should have 12 credits to be on track
• 10th grade should have 6 credits to be on track
• Civics Test – passing score required for graduation
• Community Service Hours

*20 Hour per school year = 80 total hours*

Non Profit Organization (5013c)

Parents/Family Members cannot supervise

Ms. Olivo verifies all hours/organization

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Difference Between Course Levels

General

General overview of standards & assesses knowledge of content with some application

*Advanced Placement (AP)

• 1st year college-level course
• increased workload
• increased homework
• may earn college credits for course IF exam score meets selected college criteria

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*Dual Enrollment(DE)

• Allows students to take in-person college classes while enrolled in PHHS
• Classes count for both HS. & college credit (enrollment at Rio Salado and course registration required)

**students may take fewer classes in college and save money on total college costs.

*Concurrent Enrollment (CE)

• Allows students to take online college classes while enrolled in PHHS
• Classes count for both HS. & college credit.
• Students MUST be enrolled at Rio Salado, and pay Rio Salado’s Tuition Fees

**students may take fewer classes in college and save money on total college costs.

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Unweighted GPA is out of a 4.0 scale vs Weighted GPA is out of a 5.0 scale

Academic Support

PH/Tutoring

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Remediation

Before/After School Tutoring

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Grade Checks

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Started August 20th

Every two weeks

Academic Plan

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Students with 3+ F’s

Parent/Teacher/Student/

Counselor Meeting after student participates in Prowler Hour with no progress

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• Credit Recovery Online Program

(Not NCAA approved)

• Full Schedule as Seniors
• Summer School

(Registration typically opens during the spring)

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Down credits… what to do?

Student Athletes

NCAA-

• Responsible for determining eligibility for student athletes for Div I and II
• Athletes need to register with the NCAA by end of their junior year at www.eligibilitycenter.org
• Requirements include 16 core courses for Div I and Div II
• Students must sign Transcript Release Form and submit to counselor.

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NAIA-

• Any student interested in playing sports at NAIA colleges must have their eligibility determined by the NAIA eligibility center at www.playnaia.org

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• If you plan to participate in a competitive college sport, make sure you have the grades and college test scores that you need. Credit Recovery classes are NOT acceptable for NCAA.

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Beginning the College/Career Process

• Grades matter every year!!!
• GET INVOLVED (Show dedication on extracurriculars - clubs, sports, volunteer)
• BUILD YOUR PORTFOLIO (Create resume, recommendations, tests, etc.)
• Take your assessments every year
• PSAT (National Merit Scholarships, etc)
• SAT/ACT
• ASVAB (Junior year)
• Explore internships/summer programs
• Utilize your school resources (Counselors, Google classroom, PowerSchool, Naviance, PHHS website)
• Attend College & Career events and visit campuses - Talk with the reps!
• Attend West-Mec Open Houses

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ASSURED ADMISSION

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Learn more in one of our Break Out Sessions

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No course deficiencies

AND

3.0 Core GPA

President Scholarship:

3.8+ GPA

No course deficiencies

AND

2.75 Core GPA

No World Language Req.

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Lumberjack Scholarship:

3.75+ GPA &

No “C’s”

No course deficiencies

AND

3.0 Core GPA

Wildcat Excellence:

3.75+ GPA

COMMUNITY COLLEGE ENTRANCE REQUIREMENTS

• No SAT or ACT
• A placement test (EdReady) is required ONLY if cumulative GPA is less than a 2.6

WHAT ARE MY OPTIONS IF I AM NOT GOING TO COLLEGE…

• EVIT
• West Mec
• Current sophomore, junior, and senior students may apply
• Military
• Community College Certificate Programs
• Maricopa Skills Center
• Apprenticeship Programs

PHHS Parent Expectations

• Power Schools Assignment & Grade Checks
• Organization & Time Management
• Student Handbook, Dress Code
• Promote School Involvement- clubs, sports, events & service
• Attend Counseling Presentations, Meetings, & Activities
• Be Mindful
• Don’t let go…too much.

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13

PSAT/NMQST

• Current Juniors (using their PHHS email address)
• The Preliminary SAT/National Merit Scholarship Qualifying Test (PSAT/NMSQT)
• Qualifying test for the National Merit® Scholarship (See nationalmerit.org for more information)
• Cost- $18 (refunds are unavailable)

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Questions?

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Breakout Sessions

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Room H115: The Nuts & Bolts (PowerSchool, Naviance, Parent Square, NCAA) -with Ms. VandenBerg and Ms. Cooper

Room H105: What’s up With West MEC?

-with West-Mec Reps

Room H111: Show Me the Money! (For College, That Is)

-with Ms. Huynh & Ms. Patterson

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