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The Write Side

Back-to-School Edition 2019

The Write SideBack-to-School Edition 2019

Welcome Back to School, Students and Staff!

Dare to Dream Contest

Do you like watching Shark Tank? Do you think you have what it takes to pitch a business idea? Do you have a great idea for a business and want help to get it started? Consider participating in Glocker's 2020 Dare to Dream Pitch Competition.The Glockner Dare to Dream high school regional business pitch competition is an annual event that gives area high school students the opportunity to create a business idea and pitch it to a panel of judges for the chance to win thousands of dollars in prize money. View their website for more information. If you are interested, contact Mrs. Copley, high school librarian, at kristie.copley@westsenators.org. To watch the 2019 finals, click here. Any high school student can do this! Teams from Portsmouth High School and Valley High School participated last year and won over $7,000 and $5,000 respectively.

Changes to expect this year

New website and app available - Download the new school app on your Apple or Android device to get immediate updates and info!


Want to find school info? Go to the new website to find it.The student handbook, school calendar, and etc. can be found in the Documents section of the website (via Menu).


REGULAR BELL SCHEDULE for the 2019-2020 school year

Period 1 8:05-8:56
Period 2 8:59- 9:50
Period 3 9:53-10:44
Period 4 10:47-12:12
-A Lunch 10:47-11:20
-B Lunch 11:40-12:12
Period 5 12:15-1:06
Period 6 1:09-2:00
Period 7 2:03-2:54


New High School Entrance - To increase student safety, soon we will begin construction on a new entrance into the high school.

Students, Get Involved! See What Clubs and Activities PWHS has to Offer!

In addition to athletics, PWHS has numerous clubs and activities in which students can participate.


SOME OF OUR NEWER OR MORE POPULAR CLUBS/ACTIVITIES

  • MOCK TRIAL - Ohio Mock Trial offers an innovative approach to learning the law and how our legal system functions. Students participate in an original, simulated trial with a case on current issues prepared by attorneys. High school students will prepare and argue both sides of the case in real courtrooms locally and across the state and be scored by panels of judges and lawyers. If you are interested in joining the 2019-2020 Mock Trial, please see Miss Johnson for more details.
  • SCIENCE BOWL - PWHS Science Bowl is a highly competitive science education and academic event among teams of high schools in our district. Students compete at a faced-paced verbal form to solve technical problems and answer questions in all branches of science and math. If you do well in science and math and you're quick to answer technical questions, this may be for you! Please see Mrs. Bazler, Mrs. Callihan, or Mrs. Artrip to inquire further.
  • CLASS OFFICERS - Step up and be a leader among your peers!
  • BETA - PWHS Beta club is a division of the National Beta club. The purpose of this organization is to promote the ideals of honesty, service, morality, ethical conduct, and leadership among students; to reward meritorious academic achievement; and to encourage and assist students in continuing their education after high school. Advisers - Mr. Smalley and Mrs. Smalley
  • QUIZ BOWL - Test your knowledge and compete against other schools! Adviser - Mrs. Callihan
  • KEY CLUB - A division of Kiwanis, the Key Club is a service-based club. Volunteer service hours are recorded and will look great on college, scholarship, and job applications. Adviser Mrs. Blevins
  • Japanese Culture Club - Explore all facets of Japanese culture
  • Bass Fishing Club - Fish in competitions in and out of state. Adviser Mr. Estep
  • HPAC: Health Professions Affinity Community - HPAC - we've got your back! HPAC is a club for Anatomy and Physiology students who plan to pursue a career in the medical field. Students identify a health concern and create community projects to improve the health of our local community. Our ultimate goal is to advance "you" into the health care professions while empowering you to improve the health of our community. This is a great community service opportunity. Student participation is based on your enrollment in the Anatomy and Physiology course. See Mrs. Bazler for more information.

Musically inclined? Portsmouth West High School offers several opportunities for Vocal Music and the Performing Arts.

  • General Chorus - A Vocal Music group which rehearses during the school day and performs at the school concerts in December and May.
  • Chamber Choir - A Performance group which studies more difficult music and performs at the school concerts in December and May but also serves as a back-up group for 2 concerts during the winter tour.
  • Advanced Choir - A SSAATTBB audition only group who performs collegiate work as well as Broadway and Classical music. The group performs throughout December on a Winter Tour as well as serving as a PR group for the district. They have been invited and performed at many prestigious venues such as St. Patrick Cathedral, Nassau, Gov. Strickland's Inauguration and the Governor's Mansion Christmas Party to name a few.
  • Prima - An audition only ladies' ensemble who performs by invitation and for school activities as well as the concerts of the Advanced Choir.
  • SMOW - An audition only men's' ensemble who performs a variety of genres for community and school events as well as for the Cleveland Cavaliers, Lake Erie Monsters and Cincinnati Reds. Both SMOW and Prima comprise the membership of the Advanced Choir.
  • Thespian Troupe #5739 - The actors of PWHS have the opportunity to pledge and become a member of the International Thespian Society. Points are collected through performance and community projects. Thespians are required to be a member of the cast or crew of the high school musicals and productions. The induction and awards ceremony are held during May.
  • Musicals - At least one musical is produced by the PWHS Vocal Music Department each year. Although membership in the program is not mandatory, it is highly encouraged. There will be a musical production in January 2020 and the spring musical, Anything Goes, is slated for May 2020.

Students of the Month

Student of the Month nominations start in September. Work hard, be respectful, and be a positive role model to get nominated by your teachers!

Prepare for College - 9th Grade Checklist

To Do:

  • Take challenging classes in core academic subjects. Most colleges require four years of English, at least three years of social studies (history, civics, geography, economics, etc.), three years of mathematics, and three years of science, and many require two years of a foreign language. Round out your course load with classes in computer science and the arts.
  • Work with one of your parents to estimate your financial aid using FAFSA4caster and be sure to save for college.
  • Get involved in school- or community-based activities that interest you or let you explore career interests. Consider working, volunteering, and/or participating in academic enrichment programs, summer workshops, and camps with specialty focuses such as music, arts, or science. Remember—it’s quality (not quantity) that counts.
  • Ask your guidance counselor or teachers what Advanced Placement courses are available, whether you are eligible, and how to enroll in them.
  • Use the U.S. Department of Labor’s career search tool to research your career options.
  • Start a list of your awards, honors, paid and volunteer work, and extracurricular activities. Update it throughout high school.

To Explore:

Prepare for College - 10th grade checklist

To Do:

To Explore:

Prepare for College - 11th grade checklist

To Do:

All Year

Fall

  • Take the PSAT/NMSQT. You must take the test in 11th grade to qualify for scholarships and programs associated with the National Merit Scholarship Program.

Spring

  • Register for and take exams for college admission. The standardized tests that many colleges require are the SAT, the SAT Subject Tests, and the ACT. Check with the colleges you are interested in to see what tests they require.
  • Use a free scholarship search to find scholarships for which you might want to apply. Some deadlines fall as early as the summer between 11th and 12th grades, so prepare now to submit applications soon.

Summer Before 12th Grade

  • Create a username and password called an FSA ID that you’ll use to confirm your identity when accessing your government financial aid information and electronically signing your federal student aid documents. Learn about the FSA ID, and create yours. Note: You must create your own FSA ID; if your parent creates it for you, that’ll cause confusion later and will slow down the financial aid application process. (By the way, you can watch a video about creating your FSA ID below.)
  • Narrow down the list of colleges you are considering attending. If you can, visit the schools that interest you.
  • Contact colleges to request information and applications for admission. Ask about financial aid, admission requirements, and deadlines.
  • Decide whether you are going to apply for admission under a particular college’s early decision, early action, or regular decision program. Be sure to learn about the program deadlines and requirements.
  • Use the FAFSA4caster financial aid estimator, and compare the results to the actual costs at the colleges to which you will apply. To supplement any aid FAFSA4caster estimates you might receive, be sure to apply for scholarships. Your goal is to minimize the amount of loan funds you borrow so you have less to pay back later.

To Explore:

Prepare for College - 12th grade checklist

To Do:

All Year

  • Work hard all the way to graduation—second-semester grades can affect scholarship eligibility.
  • Stay involved in after-school activities, and seek leadership roles if possible.

Fall

  • As soon as possible after its Oct. 1 release, complete and submit your FAFSA® form at fafsa.gov, along with any other financial aid applications your chosen school(s) may require. You should submit your FAFSA formby the earliest financial aid deadline of the schools to which you are applying, usually by early February.
  • After you submit the FAFSA form, you should receive your Student Aid Report (SAR) within three days to three weeks. This document lists your answers to the questions on your FAFSA form and gives you some basic information about your aid eligibility. Quickly make any necessary corrections and submit them to the FAFSA processor.
  • If you haven’t done so already, register for and take the standardized tests required for college admission. Check with the colleges you are interested in to see what tests they require.
  • Apply to the colleges you have chosen. Prepare your applications carefully. Follow the instructions, and PAY CLOSE ATTENTION TO DEADLINES!
  • Well before your college application deadlines, ask your counselor and teachers to submit the required documents (e.g., transcript, letters of recommendation) to the colleges to which you’re applying.
  • Complete any last scholarship applications.

Spring

  • Visit colleges that have invited you to enroll.
  • Review your college acceptances and compare the colleges’ financial aid offers.
  • Contact a school’s financial aid office if you have questions about the aid that school has offered you. In fact, getting to know your financial aid staff early is a good idea no matter what—they can tell you about deadlines, other aid for which you might wish to apply, and important paperwork you might need to submit.
  • When you decide which school you want to attend, notify that school of your commitment and submit any required financial deposit. Many schools require this notification and deposit by May 1.

To Explore:

#WEAREWEST

PWHS Advanced Choir performs with We Banjo 3

The PWHS Prima and SMOW groups performed the premier choral back-up (arranged by PW alum, Noah Lovins) on Aug.4, 2019, with WE BANJO 3 in concert at the Dublin Ohio Irish Festival, one of the nation's largest festivals.


We Banjo 3 is a band from Ireland which is composed of two sets of brothers. LiveIreland has described them as "the hottest group in Irish music". The group has had repeated #1's on the Billboard Chart and is known for its philanthropic work, the most recent of which has been its support of Mental Health America throughout its summer and fall 2019 US tours.


Congratulations to our PWHS Advanced Choir!

Upcoming Games and Events

Labor Day is Mon. 9/2. No school.

Class officer elections: Wed.9/4-Fri 9/6

Homecoming elections: nominations/elections: 9/9-9/11

Senior immunizations due to nurse no later than 9/9. (Senior immunization exclusion date is September 9, 2019. State law mandates all seniors receive the meningococcal vaccination and proof of such must be received by the school to avoid exclusion on September 9. Please turn in your immunization record to the School Nurse.)

Waiver day/Parent-Teacher Conferences: 10/3

No School: 10/4


Opening football @ Home vs.KIPP (Columbus) 8/30


Games next week

Girls soccer: 9/3 @ Piketon; 9/4 Home vs. Northwest.

Boys soccer: 8/29 Home vs. Minford; 9/3 Home vs. St. Joe; 9/5 Home vs. Northwest.

Volleyball: 8/29 Home vs. Minford; 9/4 @ Clay; 9/5 @ Northwest.


Click on the following sports to view their complete schedules:

Football

Volleyball

Girls Soccer

Boys Soccer

Golf

Boys Cross Country
Girls Cross Country