Each morning, we stand in the main hallway with a new "Would you rather?" question. The students weigh in on the options, and at the end of the day we announce the preferred option. We post serious and funny questions, and the students enjoy our unique way of morning greetings. It's fun all around!

We are still full-swing in advisement and scheduling season. Over the next few weeks, counselors will be meeting with students to:

Families are encouraged to attend these individual meetings either by phone, virtually, or in-person. Call our secretary to set up a meeting.

Our event takes place on March 24th starting at 1:00 pm. Presenters are expected to give four 20 minute talk sessions with different groups of students. Our goal is to broaden our students knowledge about careers including what the jobs entail, the training needed, and the benefits of the job. If you or someone you know would be great at this, let's get connected! Call our department secretary at extension 4050.

In January, we hosted our annual Elective Fair! This event allows all students to visit six different content areas to learn about the elective courses they can take in high school. Students filled out a survey at the end to help rank their interests in preparation for their scheduling appointment with us. We received great feedback and students find this helpful in determining their academic pathway.

March is Developmental Disabilities Awareness Month, a time to recognize and celebrate the contributions of individuals with developmental disabilities. We want to highlight the importance of inclusion, accessibility, and understanding for all members of our community. Students, families, and staff are encouraged to engage with all peers to support and learn from each other.

Take It Down is a free service that can help individuals remove or stop the online sharing of nude, partially nude, or sexually explicit images or videos taken of those under 18 years old.

Visit TakeItDown.NCMEC.org and click on "Get Started". Answer a few questions, select the image or video on your device that you are concerned about. Take It Down will assign a unique digital fingerprint, called a hash value, to the image or video. The hash will be shared with participating online platforms that can use it to detect copies of these images or videos and take action to remove the content or limit the spread. This all happens without the image or video ever leaving your device or anyone viewing it, and you don't have to share any personal information. This service is operated by the National Center for Missing & Exploited Children.

The New York State Education Department report was posted and we’re thrilled to celebrate an outstanding 97% graduation rate last year; the Class of 2025! This accomplishment reflects the hard work of our students, the dedication of our staff, and the unwavering support of our families and community.

We have heard from both the Dunkirk WNY P-Tech and Springville CAM P-Tech counselors about the programs available. We visited the Dunkirk location already and we will go to the Springville location in March. This is a specialized, hands-on school that PV sponsors two students to attend starting in 9th grade. Students attend the program for 5-6 years to complete their high school diploma and their college degree!

We are meeting with students individually to review academic progress, plan their academic pathway to graduation and select classes for next school year. Families are encouraged to attend these meetings either by phone, virtually or in-person. Call to schedule an appointment.

State testing is coming up in April and we recognize the stress and anxiety this can bring to our students. To help students understand this and learn testing strategies, the counselors will lead a lesson and discussion to help reduce the worry.

On March 4th, students will take a trip to JCC to learn about interesting careers across industries, meet employers, and even look for a summer job while playing games and earning tickets to win prizes.

The students took the exam early in February and after break, we reviewed their results together. We held a workshop to help students understand their scores, measure their interests, and then use results from both to start exploring suggested careers. The tools they were given can be used for years. Have your student show you their account online and discuss their interests and aspirations!

Sophomores will have the opportunity to tour the University at Buffalo on Monday, March 9th!

Many of our juniors attending their Career and Technical Education programs at BOCES have received a Character in Action Award. This is earned through consistently demonstrating self-control in their programs-helping create respectful, focuses, and supportive classrooms for everyone. Congratulations to Brooke Smith, Cameron Howard, and Sandra Ivett for earning this recognition!

Juniors and Seniors will have the opportunity to tour JCC on April 23rd and SUNY Fredonia on April 27th!

We are pleased to announce our new resource for looking up scholarships! There is a spreadsheet on our website that lists all known scholarships available to our students, by due date. Take a look! Apply! Ask for help! Don't turn down easy money!