OVMS Guidance Office Newsletter
February 2024
Recent Events
9th Grade Course Selection Meetings
On January 30, the HS Counselors met with the Class of 2028 and reviewed pertinent information regarding HS course selection for their Freshman year. Attached below are a few items for your reference:
A blank, printable 9th grade course selection sheet
A quick view for OVHS's 24-25 Program of Studies.
Completed 9th grade course selections sheets ~ signed by parent, student, and teachers ~ are due back to the middle school counseling office by Thursday, February 15th.
Post Secondary Planning
Academic Planning
During the month of January, Mrs. Jenn Hoffman, OVSD Career Specialist and STEM Advisor, met with the Class of 2028 during Social Studies and Science classes to review long-term high school course planning, discuss all the STEM pathways offered at OVHS , and expand upon numerous internship, job shadowing, and other great opportunities available to our high school students.
BCTC ~ Open House Information
BCTC's Winter Open House:
The Winter Open Houses are targeted to 5th-9th grade students and is a great introduction to career and technical education. Each BCTC program will offer hands-on demonstrations and the opportunity for meet the Instructors and current BCTC students. Current 6th-8th grade students could win a campership to BCTC’s 2024 Career Camp (June 10-14, 2024) and there will be a drawing to win an iPad! Dates and times of the Open Houses are:
BCTC East Campus (Oley) Winter 2024 Open House
Wednesday, 2/7/24 5:00pm-8:00pm
Snow make-up date: Wednesday, 2/21/24 5:00pm-8:00pm
BCTC West Campus (Leesport) Winter 2024 Open House
Tuesday, 2/13/24 5:00pm-8:00pm
Snow make-up date: Thursday, 2/15/24 5:00pm-8:00pm
Guidance
Random Acts of Kindness
Random Acts of Kindness Day is Thursday, February 15th. Aevidum will be promoting kindness through various small acts throughout the day. Please join us by taking a moment to do something kind for someone else.
After-School Tutoring
Please sign up below if you are interested in having your student work with a NHS peer tutor. Tutoring happens after school in the MS Library, from 2:20 PM - 3:00 PM. During these sessions, students can receive direct assistance with most subjects or simply use the time as an extended study hall for homework completion or test prep. Please note that students will need to have their own transportation home at 3:00 PM.
February Dates:
Monday, February 5
Wednesday, February 7
Tuesday, February 13
Wednesday, February 21
Tuesday, February 27
Student Support Groups
During the winter months, our Student Assistance Program coordinator will be running several support groups for any interested students. The winter groups will focus on general Teen Issues along with a separate Grief and Loss group for those students who have experienced loss in their lives. Please see the attached parent permission form for more information about each group. If you would like your student to participate in a group, please kindly complete this form and return it to your student's counselor.
Dates and Contacts
Important Dates
February 9 - Valentine Day Dance
February 15 - Class of 2028 Course Selection Sheet Due
February 16 thru 19 - No School for Students
February 23 - Spring Sports Registration Due
March 1 - MOSAIC Concert
March 10 - Community Pot Pie Dinner
March 11 - MS Spring Sports Begin
OVMS Counseling Office
Dr. Lori Bisbano - Students Last Names A-L - lbisbano@ovsdpa.org
Mrs. Terri Robinson - Students Last Names M-Z - trobinson@ovsdpa.org
Location: 3247 Friedensburg Road, Oley, PA, USA
Phone: 610-987-4100
Resources
Career Ready Berks Night at the Reading Royals
On Friday, March 1, 2024, the Reading Royals will host the 4th Annual Career Ready Berks Night. Local businesses will be lined throughout the concourse prior to the game to talk to Berks County students and parents about the career pathways available in our county, and to advertise various job positions within their business.
Students will be given a “passport” at the entrance and are encouraged to visit all the business tables. Those who complete their “passport” are eligible to enter a drawing for a Royals-themed gift basket.
*Participating businesses are sponsors for free admission tickets to Berks County students, with purchase of an adult ticket. To get tickets for the Career Ready Berks Night on March 1st, please go to this website: https://fevo-enterprise.com/event/CRB
Mental Health Resources in Berks County
Please click the link below for a comprehensive list of mental health resources in our area -
https://www.berksiu.org/berks-county-mental-health-resources/
Anxiety in Teenage Girls
Symptoms of anxiety being reported by teenage girls is on the rise. Below are a few indicators to look for along with tips for parents.
College Planning Information
Please see below for some recent articles and resources regarding the college planning process.
Infinite Campus
IMPORTANT INFORMATION FOR PARENTS AND STUDENTS IN GRADES 8-11: OVHS will no longer be mailing paper copies of student schedules in June . Student schedules for the upcoming year will only be posted in the Infinite Campus Portal.
In late June, a SchoolMessenger announcement will go out alerting parents and students that schedules are available for viewing. Parents and students will still have until the first Monday in August to request schedule changes. More information on how to make a change request will be forthcoming.
Over the next few months, we ask that all parents and students take a moment to check their Infinite Campus Portal for accessibility. If you need assistance logging in, please contact the main office at the MS.