Guidance
What students need to know about requirements for graduation:
Community Service
High school students engaging in community service projects earn opportunities for high school credit, Bright Futures Scholarships, and Graduation Recognition. Students in Polk County provide over 100,000 hours of service to communities every year through the Community Service Program.
Prior to performing community service, PPCA students must contact their Guidance Counselor or Administrator to obtain the necessary forms needed for the Community Service Program. And hours served before registration will not be counted. Please contact Mrs. Tapp for more information about the PPCA Community Service Program and the forms needed to begin volunteer service.
Steps to beginning community service hours.
1). Email or contact Mrs. Tapp to receive the student application. This form is to be signed and dated by the student and the parent BEFORE you may begin getting any community service hours.
2). When Mrs. Tapp has approved your student application, she will give you an agency application to be filled out by contact person at that particular agency.
3). After agency application has been approved by Mrs. Tapp, you may begin getting community service hours.
“Research shows that studying on Official SAT Practice for 20 hours is associated with an average score gain of 115 points from the PSAT/NMSQT to the SAT. That's nearly double the average score gain of students who don't use Khan Academy.”
Parent Portal
What is Parent Portal?
How can I take advantage of these services?
Parent Portal is a browser application that allows you to view real-time information regarding your child's classes, grades or attendance whenever you want. All you need is a student ID number and a password.
E-mail Notification - E-mail Notification is a means to receive automated notification of your child's grades or attendance delivered directly to you via your e-mail account. You can receive reports on a scheduled basis or triggered by specific events like an absence or a grade change.
Letter Notification - Letter Notification will allow the same reports and notification as the automated e-mails but you will receive a letter mailed to your home address.
You can obtain an application from the main office. The parent/guardian can return it in person with a picture ID or have the form notarized and returned by mail, with your student or in person to the school. The Parent Portal password can either be e-mailed or the parent can stop by the Guidance Department to obtain the password. You will begin receiving your E-mail or Letter Notification reports shortly after the forms are received by the school. All forms will be verified against the school records and the student's Emergency Notification Card for the current school year, which must be on file.
When accessing the Parent Portal through the Polk County Website, you will need your child's 10-digit student ID number and the password provided to you from the school.
For more information, contact our
Guidance Counselor, Mrs. Tapp.
Parent and Student Resources
FREE PRACTICE TESTS
HIGH SCHOOL ALGEBRA I, ALGEBRA II, BIOLOGY,
CHEMISTRY, ACT & SAT PREP
HTTP://WWW.VARSITYTUTORS.COM/PRACTICE-TESTS
HTTPS://WWW.PERTTEST.COM/INDEX.PHP
VIRTUAL NERD
OVER 1,500 VIDEO LESSONS ON MATH TOPICS FROM GRADES 6-8, PRE-ALGEBRA, ALGEBRA 1 & 2, GEOMETRY, SAT & ACT MATH TOPICS.
WWW.VIRTUALNERD.COM
NUMBER 2
FREE ONLINE TEST PREPARATION FOR SAT & ACT
WWW.NUMBER2.COM
MARCH 2 SUCCESS
FREE ONLINE TOOL TO HELP STUDENTS WITH SAT & ACT TEST PREPARATION
WWW.MARCH2SUCCESS.COM
I HATE MATH GROUP
FREE MATH TUTORING & TEST PREPARATION
HTTP://WWW.MATHTUTORINMIAMI.COM/
FREE P.E.R.T. MATH PRACTICE
WWW.PERTFREETESTPRACTICE.COM
HOMEWORK SIMPLIFIED
FREE TOOLBAR TO DOWNLOAD TO HELP IN SUBJECT AREAS ONLINE.
WWW.HOMEWORKSIMPLIFIED.COM
COLLEGE APP MAP
ROADMAP TO HELP WITH COLLEGE PLANNING
WWW.COLLEGEAPPMAP.ORG
FEDERAL TRADE COMMISSION: SCHOLARSHIP SCAMS
HTTP://WWW.FTC.GOV/BCP/EDU/MICROSITES/SCHOLARSHIP/INDEX.SHTML
SCHOLARSHIPS, COLLEGES, JOBS & INTERNSHIPS
HTTP://WWW.FASTWEB.COM
COLLEGE COST CALCULATOR
HTTPS://BIGFUTURE.COLLEGEBOARD.ORG/PAY-FOR-COLLEGE/COLLEGE-COSTS/COLLEGE-COSTS-CALCULATOR
UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION: STUDENT AID ON THE WEB
HTTP://STUDENTAID.ED.GOV
BASICS: LEARN WHAT IS AVAILABLE
HTTP://STUDENTAID.ED.GOV/REDIRECTS/COLLEGE-GOV
COLLEGE BOARD
HTTP://WWW.COLLEGEBOARD.ORG
STATE UNIVERSITY SYSTEM OF FLORIDA
WWW.FLBOG.EDU
FLORIDA STUDENT SCHOLARSHIP GRANT PROGRAMS
WWW.FLORIDASTUDENTFINANCIALAID.ORG
Drivers Education Online Course
IMPORTANT!
1. Students must be 14 1/2 years of age to take the course.
2. It is imperative that students stay active in the class for no less than two
weeks. Students must stay in the course for at least 15 days.
3. The drivers education course should done outside of school hours.
4. Directions to register for the Polk Virtual School course are attached. Once a student registers for the class, Mrs. Tapp will approve the request.
5. Be sure to follow the instructions carefully in order to correctly register for the Polk Virtual Drivers Education course.
Parents, please work with your child during the registration process to ensure you both understand the course requirements.
Testing and Assessments
Florida Standards Assessment and End of Course Exam Information
During the months of March through May, PPCA students will participate in the administration of state mandated standardized tests. To help you and your child plan for the upcoming assessments, you are being provided with an explanation of the Florida Department of Education state testing policies and an outline of testing schedule.
It is important for parents and students to understand the following testing policies as set forth by the Florida Department of Education. Letters are sent home to parents prior to testing.
Electronic Devices Policy—If students are found with ANY electronic devices, including, but not limited to, cell phones and smartphones, during testing OR during breaks, their tests will be invalidated. The best practice would be for students to leave devices at home on the day of testing.
Leaving Campus—If students leave campus before completing the test (for lunch, an appointment, or illness, etc.),
they WILL NOT be allowed to complete the test. Students and parents/guardians should be aware of this policy. If a student does not feel well on the day of testing, it may be best for the student to wait and test on the make-up day.
Testing Rules Acknowledgment—Prior to testing, students will sign below a Testing Rules Acknowledgment on the back of the planning sheet that reads: “I understand the testing rules that were just read to me. If I do not follow these rules, my test score may be invalidated.”
Mrs. Tapp speaking during
PPCA student assembly.
PERT Progress
10th Grade-2018-19
Passed all 3 sections: 67 %
Passed 2 sections: 23%
Passed 1 section: 3%
Passed 0 sections: 7%
Not taken: 0%
PERT Baseline Passing Scores:
Reading: 106
Writing: 103
Math: 114 (Intermediate Algebra)
Math: 123 (College Algebra)
SAT Baseline Passing Scores:
Reading: 440
Writing: 440
Math: 440
ACT Baseline Passing Scores:
Reading: 19
Writing: 17
Math: 19