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PRINCIPAL'S UPDATE 
February 5, 2017
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SEVEN PENINSULA HIGH SENIORS NAMED
2017 U.S. PRESIDENTIAL SCHOLAR CANDIDATES
 Seven Peninsula High School seniors have been named as candidates for the 2017 U.S. Presidential Scholars program honoring young people for outstanding academic achievement, artistic excellence, leadership, citizenship and community service.
They are:
Andrew Arietta, Annie Benedict, Caroline Kim, Kaila Kim, Claire Kim-Narita, Adeline Wang, and
Madison Westergaard.
The candidate pool consists of some 4,000 students with high SAT or ACT scores or selection through the YoungArts Program. A review committee narrows that list to about 560 honorees in the semifinal round. Approximately 161 students are then named Presidential Scholars, one of the nation's highest honors for high school students. The Scholars represent excellence in education and the promise of greatness in young people. In honoring the U.S. Presidential Scholars, the President of the United States symbolically honors all graduating high school seniors of high potential.
We are very proud of Peninsula High's success in this competition over the past six years. Peninsula High students David Tang-Quan 2011, David Wang 2012, Braeden Benedict 2014, and Ruwanthi Ekanayake 2016 earned the distinction of being a Presidential Scholar selected from the State of California, and all traveled to Washington DC to receive their medallions and meet the president.
Semifinalists will be announced in April and Scholars will be announced in early May.
 AMC TEST ON TUESDAY (SPECIAL BELL SCHEDULE)
On Tuesday, February 7, students who signed up to take the AMC test for mathematics, should report to Room S45. Testing will begin at 7:15am and conclude at 8:55 a.m. We will be on a special bell schedule with no 0 Period and 1st Period starting at 9:36am.
WINTER SPIRIT WEEK THEME IS SPACE JAM
Monday-
Wear neon or bright colors to kick off Space Week
Tuesday- Wear a jersey
Wednesday- Wear White! We're having a Black Light Space Jam Pep Rally, and will be on a double assembly pep rally!
Thursday- Black Hole/Black Out! Wear all black to school and to the games vs. PV!
Friday- Sundaaaazzee! Wear sunglasses to school!
FEBRUARY IS BLACK HISTORY MONTH
Thank you to Mrs. Lipton for the Library display case honoring Black History Month.
PEN HIGH WELCOMES STUDENTS FROM KOREA
On Tuesday, February 7, Peninsula High will welcome fifteen students and five teachers from Dae-Cheon High School in Bo-Ryeong City, Choong-cheong-nam-do, South Korea. A welcome reception will be held in the College Career Center in the morning, and then the students will enjoy experiencing life at Palos Verdes Peninsula High School and the surrounding community. Special thanks to host families, Colleen Cotter, Erin Cha, Jin-Young Chang, Merin Dahlerbruch, Yung-Mee Park, Rachel Stam, and Ericka Yagi, for opening your homes to the teachers and students. Exchange programs would not be possible without you kindness and generosity.
THANK YOU KOREAN PARENT'S ASSOCIATION
Perhaps you have noticed the new outdoor classroom, located between the library and the new Bradbury-Smith Art Gallery. It is with deep appreciation that we thank the Korean Parent's Association for generously funding this new project. Varied learning environments enrich the Peninsula High learning experience.
 WALK FOR LIFE IS COMING ON FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 24
It is time for students, staff and community members to start signing up to participate in this year's walk. You can download this
WFL Participation Form or find it under Panther Picks on the school website
pvphs.com. Students will need to print out both sides of the form so that they can get their parent signatures as well as Period 5 & 6 teacher signatures. Forms should be returned with a minimum $30 donation to the ASB room P115. All participants will receive a wfl shirt!
CALLING ALL HAIR DRESSERS!
Do you want to join the fight against cancer? JOIN US for this year's Walk for Life event! Pen students will be cutting their hair to donate to a non-profit providing wigs to children fighting cancer. We need hair stylists to donate their time to cut student donors' hair. Make a difference and join the fight! Walk for Life is Friday, Feb. 24th, and the time commitment is 11am-2pm. Please contact Heather Myrick at
[email protected]
 PEN PHOTOGRAPHERS FINALISTS IN PRESTIGIOUS CONTEST
Congratulations to two of our many talented photography students, Lineth Parajon and Ever Goya, for being selected as finalists in the "Photographers Forum 37th Annual Student Photo Contest"! This is one of the most prestigious national photo contests in the U.S. These two panther's photos were selected from 13,000 entries and will be published in a beautiful high-end coffee table photo book. We also wish them luck in the final round to win some of the huge cash awards sponsored by Pentax cameras.
Go Panther Photographers and remember Mr. Stiles always says:
"Life is like a camera. Just focus on what's important, capture the good times, develop from the negatives, and if things don't turn out - take another shot."
LINK CREW HOLDS FIRST FUTURE LEADER CONFERENCE & LUNCH
On Friday, February 3rd, Link Crew invited thirty-five freshmen to attend the 4th period Link Crew class, where students participated in numerous leader-led activities and got to learn more about the "behind-the-scenes" work that Link Crew Leaders do to orchestrate events. They also provided valuable feedback to current leaders on enhancing our organization's effectiveness. Pizza was served, and four lucky freshmen won Habit gift cards after winning a rollicking game of Reverse Charades! Special thanks to Link Crew Leaders Nicole Hay, Tori Torres, and Daniel Tseng for planning and executing such a fun and informative event; more Future Leader Conferences are planned for the rest of this year, so if you're a member of the Class of 2020 and receive an invitation in the coming months, we hope you'll join us!
CHINESE NEW YEAR
On Monday, January 30, the Peninsula High community celebrated the Chinese New Year. Thank you to our Chinese American Parent Association (CAPA) for the lovely luncheon they provided for our staff and the student activities provided at lunchtime. Special thanks to our CAPA co-presidents Karen Chuang, Niki Lin, and Annie Wu for organizing the New Year celebration.
 PTA COUNCIL REFLECTIONS RECEPTION
On Wednesday, January 25, Peninsula High School was well-represented at the PVP Council of PTAs Reflections Art Program Reception with entries in all of the six Reflections art categories. Four of our students were at the event to receive their awards:
Tomoki Fukazawa
won 1st Place for his film production "Passion".
Isaac Cervantes
won 2nd Place for his music composition "Musically Bent".
Camille Masu
da won 1st Place for her photograph entitled "Come Together".
Lauren Tateyama
won 2nd Place for her visual art piece "A Flaming End".
Lauren Kong
won 1st Place for her essay entitled "We"
Mary Sweetnam
won 2nd Place for her dance choreography entitled "Be Here Now"
Our 1st Place winners now move on to compete with other students in the 33rd District of the PTA. The 33rd District Reflections Recognition and Tea is on Sunday, February 26th. Congratulations to all our winners and we thank you for sharing your wonderful artistic talents with our community! Well done Panthers!
Thank you to Selina Lai and Kako Silvestre for chairing the Peninsula High Reflections Contest.
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John Letcher and
Shannon Hearn |
SHANNON HEARN WINS LOCAL LIONS CLUB SPEECH CONTEST
Peninsula High Senior Shannon Hearn won the speech contest sponsored by the local Palos Verdes Peninsula Lions Club. Her winning speech addressed the topic of "Is The Right to Privacy A Threat to Our National Security?" The competition was held in the Peninsula High School library on February 1. Shannon will now move on to the next round of this contest.
Thank you to the Lions Club for sponsoring this annual event that gives our students incredible opportunities to shine.
FBI AGENTS DISCUSS CAREER OPPORTUNITIES WITH WORLD LANGUAGE STUDENTS
On Friday, February 3rd, FBI Community Outreach Specialist Dr. Kay Ko and Special Agent Daniel Chang came to Peninsula High to share with our students the importance of language acquisition and career opportunities in the public service. Two presentations were held in the Kelly Johnson Fieldhouse.
The presentations were phenomenal and truly inspirational for students and our teachers. The Fieldhouse was packed and many students stayed after for questions. The guest speakers were impressed with the outstanding Peninsula High School world language program and the questions our students asked. Thank you to June Choi for arranging this event.
ATTENTION SENIORS - LOCAL SCHOLARSHIPS ARE AVAILABLE
There are many scholarships listed on Naviance which are offered by local organizations. Peninsula Education Foundation, Palos Verdes Peninsula Council of PTA's, Sandpipers, PV Junior Women's Club, Lions, etc. are just a few that offer scholarships for which Peninsula High School seniors are eligible. Due dates for many of these opportunities are quickly approaching.
Please see Mrs. Arico in the CCC if you have any questions.
COURSE SELECTION INFORMATION SESSIONS CONTINUE
 HARBOR COLLEGE COURSES AT PENINSULA HIGH THIS SPRING
Peninsula High continues to serve as a satellite campus for Harbor College.
Juniors and seniors can enroll in free classes and earn college credit.
These courses are taught by Peninsula High teachers.
Film Appreciation is taught by Dr. Coleman and Sociology is taught by Mr. Wheeler.
Application forms are available in the Counseling Office, H15 and H64.
Turn in forms to Dr. Coleman (H15) or Mr. Wheeler (H64) by January 19.
You do not need to go to Harbor College to sign up.
HUM 17 M,W 3:15 - 4:50 PVPHS H15 Starts February 6
SOC 001 TU,TH 3:15- 4:50 PVPHS H64 Starts February 7
 PRINCIPAL'S FORUM FOR PROSPECTIVE PANTHERS
There will be four more Principal's Forum for prospective Panthers.
Principal's Forums are an opportunity for prospective students and parents to meet Mitzi Cress, Principal of Palos Verdes Peninsula High School, and to learn more about Peninsula High in an informal setting. Forums are held on campus in the College Career Center (CCC).
Monday, February 6, 2017 3-4:30 p.m. (campus tour)
Thursday, February 9, 2017 6-7:30 p.m.
Thursday, February 15, 2017 6-7:30 p.m.
Tuesday, February 7, 2017 6-7:30 p.m. (Special Education Forum)
This info session is designed for parents of students with an active IEP. Member of the Peninsula High Special Education team will join the principal to answer questions.
MUSIC DEPARTMENT NEWS 
- February 8 - The Marching Band will perform at the Pep Rally
- February 9 & 10 - Mr. Doctor and his students will perform in the PAC at Pen Cafe @ 7:30 PM
- February 22 - The Concert Band will perform at their Midwinter Concert in KJF
- Information about upcoming auditions for our choirs and instrumental music groups is available on the PVPHS Music Boosters website under the Auditions tab on the left.
TWO PEN MUSICIANS RECEIVE ALL STATE HONORS
Sophia Wang, a 10th grader, has been selected to perform in the All-State Orchestra as a viola player. This is the 2nd year in a row she has been selected. Last year she was chosen to play in the All-State orchestra as a violin player.
Jeehoon Kim, a 10th grader, has been chosen to play in the All-State band as an oboe player.
This is a tremendous accomplishment for both of these musicians. 100's of the finest high school musicians from all over California audition for these ensembles. Acceptance is a true testament to the talent of the musicians.
TWO PEN MUSICIANS SELECTED FOR SCSBOA
The Southern California School Band and Orchestra Association Honor Ensemblesv(SCSBOA) held their annual auditions for Honor Ensembles. Over 2000 students from 11 counties ranging from Santa Barbara to San Diego competed for these prestigious ensembles, and two of our talented Pen musicians were selected! Violinist Yuna Kim (Symphonic Orchestra) and trombonist Lailie Kahsai (Advanced Jazz Band) performed to a sold out crowd at Arcadia High School on Sunday, January 22nd. Congratulations ladies and thank you for sharing your talent and representing Peninsula High School!
JAZZ BAND VISITS INTERMEDIATE SCHOOLS
Our Advanced Jazz band brought some cool tunes to Miraleste and Palos Verdes Intermediate schools these past two weeks. Peninsula's music outreach encourages younger students to join the fun of music ensembles and also provides great music during lunch. Our impressive band had everyone tapping their toes and smiling!
SEOUL TO SOUL CONCERT
Seventeen of our Peninsula students will join 32 underprivileged musicians from the Child Fund Korea Dream Orchestra in Asia America's Youth Symphony's "Seoul Meets Soul" benefit concert on Thursday February 16, 7:30 pm, at the Wilshire Ebell Theater in LA. Sponsored by the D.K. Kim Foundation and directed by Grammy nominated David Benoit. This 100-piece orchestra will play a range of music from James Bond to Broadway to classics. This wonderful blending of eastern and western cultures supports music education on two continents. Tickets are available at www.aasymphony.org and Students are only $12! Group discounts are also available. See the flyer below.
COED COMPETES AT USA REGIONALS
COED Choreo competed at USA Regionals at Sonora High School this past Saturday. Among several other schools from the southern California area, Varsity COED Choreo took home 1st place in the Small Hip-Hop, All-Male, and Partner Dance categories, and 3rd place in the Large and Medium Hip-Hop categories. Junior Varsity COED Choreo took home 2nd place in the All-Male, 5th place in the Medium Hip-Hop, and 6th place in the Large Hip-Hop categories.
COED Choreo's next competition is Saturday, February 11th at West High so come out and support the team!!
 RECORD NUMBER OF PEN STUDENTS QUALIFY FOR CSF
Attention all Panthers more than 59% of you are eligible for CSF! Wow...that means that 1431 students are eligible for membership and should apply! This is one of the highest number of students we have ever had qualify. Collections are at lunch in H65 until the 16th! Check the eligibility lists outside of H65 and the Hawthorne Office to see if you one of the 1431. Let's make this the LARGEST CSF class EVER!! Come and be a part of this AWESOME student recognition program!
 PLEASE SUPPORT PEF
February 5th kicks off PEF Awareness Week at Peninsula. Donations made to the Peninsula Education Foundation make up for state budget shortfalls to ensure high-quality education in our district.
PEF donations come from YOU. These donations pay for our academic counselors, college career center and staff, our award-winning SMERT and STEM programs, the PVPUSD Science Fair, Chuck Miller grants for teachers, and scholarships for graduating seniors.
An enormous thank you to all families who have already donated!
Wondering how much to donate? $750 is the suggested donation per child, but every contribution helps! Give a little, give a lot, just give! $100....$50.....$25. The amount is up to you. It's also not too late to become a $2,500 major donor and enjoy benefits such as pre-purchase of Main Event tickets and an invitation to our Major Donor Reception in June.
PEN FORMAL AT NATURAL HISTORY MUSEUM
In the halls of North America and Africa, and surrounded by dinosaurs, almost 800 students enjoyed the "A Land Before Time" formal at the Natural History Museum. Thank you to ASB for planning such a fun evening.
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PENINSULA RESEARCH STUDENTS COMPETE IN JUNIOR SCIENCE AND HUMANITIES SYMPOSIUM (JSHS) AT UC IRVINE.
Eight Peninsula High research students presented their research at the Junior Science and Humanities Symposium at UC Irvine. The eight students competing were (in the photograph: back row: Annie Benedict, Regina LEE, Ryan BARNES, Rei LANDSBERGER, Ishan GAUR; Front row: Saehui HWANG, Alisa HATHAWAY, Erika HATHAWAY.
Rei LANDSBERBER and Ishan GAUR placed third and fourth respectively in the competition and will now compete in the poster competition at the JSHS National Competition in San Diego in April. Annie Benedict placed sixth and was named as an alternate for the competition.
These students won an all-inclusive expense paid trip to the national competition with only 60 students from across the nation participating
JSHS is a Tri-Service - U.S. Army, Navy and Air Force program that encourages high school students to conduct original research in the fields of science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM). JSHS is a collaborative effort between the research arm of the Department of Defense and nationwide colleges and universities. JSHS aims to prepare and support students to contribute as future scientists and engineers, conducting STEM research on behalf of or directly for the Department of Defense (DoD), federal research laboratories to help advance the nation's scientific and technological progress. Through JSHS, over 8,000 youth annually compete in 48 regional symposia covering the U.S., Puerto Rico, and DoD Dependent Schools in Europe and the Pacific to receive recognition, incentives, and scholarships for their research achievements.
SCIENCE BOWL COMPETITION
Last Saturday our National Science Bowl team participated in the annual competition at the Jet Propulsion Laboratory. The team was led by the presidents Caroline Kim and Regina Lee. The team also consisted of members Andrew Arrieta, Lori Won, Taurean Zhang, Madison Chew, and Sina Moshfeghi . All the matches were so exciting all day long! The team members did an amazing job. National Science Bowl is a nationwide academic competition that started about 25 years ago and it is one of the nation's largest science competitions. The competition tests students' knowledge in all areas of science and mathematics. The teams face-off in a fast-paced question-and-answer format, being tested on a range of science and STEM disciplines including, biology, chemistry, Earth Science, space science, physics, energy and math. The team is actively planning for next year's competition. The team members greatly appreciate Hea Kim, a parent, for her amazing work and effort in supporting our Science Bowl team.
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ATHLETIC BOOSTER CLUB NEWS!
YOU'RE INVITED!
To the 26th Annual A Black & Gold Affaire, Saturday, March 18, 6pm! Be There!
This is Peninsula's largest and most important fundraiser! Help us maintain our facilities and keep our athletic programs strong by supporting this FUN event!
Please make your Reservation now for the BIGGEST fundraiser of the year - A Black & Gold Affaire! For Reservations, Donation Form, Sponsorships or to place a Program Ad, please visit:
the ABC website
We Need Your Team Action Photos!
For the all sports media show to be shown at A Black & Gold Affaire.
THANK YOU TO OUR GENEROUS SPONSORS!
A Black & Gold
Sponsors as of February 3, 2017!
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All-Star $2500-$4999
The Syal Family
Varsity $1000-$2499
Boys Soccer
Wendell & Lori Hamamoto
Steve & MaryBeth Kane
Bo & Jennifer Kelly
Frank & Marta Merola
Marc & Jolene Meskin
The Milch Family
Kuni & Candi Takeda
Richard & Liz Umbrell
Steve & Ceci Watts
Junior Varsity $600-$999
Robert & Martha Zane
Frosh/Soph $300-$599
George Cashman
EDCO
Ferdows Family
William & Elaine Jow
Steve & Romy Martz
Meyerhoff Family
ZAP Swimming
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Panther Patron $100-$299
Louie & Marcella Bozanich
Chris & Christine Collins
The Cress Family
Ciro & Elisa Fidaleo
Chris & Nicole Graves
Ken & Tomoko Hatae
Dora Hsu
JJ & Michelle Jongkind
David & Judy Lee
Eric & Janet Louie
Prakash & Kathy Mansukhani
Jill Masuda
Dave & Anita Matharu
Yogi & Tiffany Matharu
PV Peninsula Test Prep & Tutoring
John & Tina Quinn
Rich & Julia Rosas
Linda Shu
Mark & Debbie Simpkins
The Suppelsa Familly
Judy Law Torok
Bin Cao & S. Wang Family
Michael & Meagan Webb
Friends
John & Jean Baskovich
Elite Educational Services
Liz Gibson
Eugene Lee
Lucas Family
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MAKE A DIFFERENCE - JOIN THE ABC TODAY!
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If you missed this week's Sports Update
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| GIRLS' BASKETBALL SENIOR NIGHT |
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BOYS' BASKETBALL SENIOR NIGHT
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FROM OUR SCHOOL NURSE
Dear Parents,
If students need to leave school for a medical appointment during school hours, they need to pick up a pink pass in the Health Office prior to leaving school. A parent may call the Health Office at 310-377-4888 ext.291 and leave a message or the parent may send the student to the Health Office with a note. We do not accept emails. It is the responsibility of the students to pick up their pass prior to going to class. The students will show their pass to their teacher at the beginning of class and work out the particular aspects of leaving during class time. If students leave between classes, they do not need to show it to a teacher. They may be asked to show the pass to a campus supervisor upon leaving. When your students have a pink pass, they do not need to come back into the Health Office. They may meet you at a prearranged spot. If the appointment is the first thing in the morning, come check in at the Health Office. If you come to school and need to get students out of class immediately, we may not be able to find the students immediately as some teachers are in alternative settings or a PE class could be anywhere on campus. While we understand that emergencies happen, it is less disruptive to the classes to plan ahead. Thank you for your consideration.
Wendy Keller
School Nurse
A MESSAGE FROM GREG ALLEN - Freedom4U
What's happening to our youth? Why are they having high levels of anxiety, depression, substance abuse and suicide? Reports from across the country, including our own South Bay, show that teens are overwhelmed to the point of not being able to function.
Data from the California Healthy Kids Survey, for MBUSD, RBUSD & PVPUSD, show that over 20 percent of high school seniors have seriously considered suicide in the past 12 months. Over 55 percent of high school teens are struggling with depression or other mental health issues.
Debilitating anxiety and depression is impairing our youth from experiencing the fullness of their lives.
This past fall semester, I gave nine different parent presentations across the South Bay to concerned parents.
Parents need to change their focus. Asking kids to perform continual achievements is overwhelming them. Kids are trying to please others and do not have a sense of who they are, what they care about or how to take care of themselves. Reports on college freshmen reveal that these students are unable to manage the many pressures of academic life. One in three college freshman do not return for their sophomore year, according to US News & World Report.
They don't have the life skills to manage their time, social life and schedules. They haven't gained the valuable experience of being responsible for themselves because their parents have been overly managing their lives.
A solution? Chores.
For most of our kids, their participation in family through contribution, involvement and responsibility in family life has been eliminated. It has been replaced by the goal of an external image of a super kid who is doing too much, which leads them to feelings of emptiness and hopelessness, even wanting to end their lives.
Chores also help connect kids with their families. When families are disconnected from each other, it leads to depression, loneliness and alienation. Even though teens are going through the stage of independence from their parents, they still need meaningful connections. Parents need to slow down and genuinely connect with their kids. Most will model their parents' lifestyle on how to manage and schedule their life priorities.
As parents, we need to adjust our priorities, schedules and lifestyle to reflect healthier choices for our kids. This means changing what we say, do and aim for as adults toward meaningful connection with each other and with our kids. This means more down time, relaxed time and fun time. That's right - it's OK to have fun!
By working together, parents, teens, community leaders and school personnel can adjust their priorities to reflect a much healthier balance in their lives.
Dr. Greg Allen is a parent of four kids and a licensed therapist practicing in Palos Verdes and Hermosa Beach (
www.drgregallen.com). He is the founder and director of Freedom4U, a South Bay non-profit organization focused on releasing youth into their purpose (www.freedomcommunity.com) and providing counselors to help students with social-emotional and substance abuse problems at schools in MBUSD, RBUSD, & PVPUSD
By Greg Allen
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Sophomore Parents:
There is one more opportunity to attend a Sophomore Counseling Presentation Tuesday, February 7, 2017 at 7:30AM in the Gym.
SoCal Roc is now enrolling for the Spring semester. Classes begin Monday, February 6th. Sign up in the Counseling Office to speak with a SCROC advisor and pick up an application. SoCal Roc is FREE for Pen students and transportation is provided.
Come to the Counseling Office to meet with a SCROC Counselor!!
It's Almost Scheduling Time!
Students will be submitting their course requests for 2017-2018 starting on February 13 using their student Aeries Portal. Information about the course selection process will be mailed home during the week of
February 6. Students must have their own Aeries account to select classes; they cannot use the parent account. Parent accounts can only view the course requests.
Students can access the Aeries portal through the school website, pvphs.com by clicking on AERIES at the top of the homepage.
-If you do not have a student Aeries account please send an email to
-Your email must contain the student's full name, birth date, grade, and email address. Please note that the student is requesting an Aeries account.
-Once the Registrar links your email to Aeries, you will receive an email from [email protected] with the temporary password to access your account. Be sure to check your spam or junk folder if you do not receive the email.
Questions on what classes you should take next year?
Counselors will begin meeting with individual students as follows:
Juniors: February 27 - March 10 during English classes
Sophomores: February and March during individual Sophomore counseling appointments
Freshman: March 13-24 during English class
Attention Juniors and Parents:
Are you interested in Interning with Boeing this summer? If so, the Boeing Rep will be on campus
Wednesday, February 22nd at 5:30pm in the PAC to go over the Boeing Summer Internship Program. If you are interested in majoring in or a career in Engineering, Technology, Science, Math and/or Computer Programming the Boeing Summer Internship is a wonderful opportunity.
Please join us February 22nd to hear all about this amazing program. Parents are also welcome to attend.
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The annual Remember The Titans Golf Tournament
is coming up on March 6, 2017
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Follow Pen High on the following official sites
@CressPenhi
@pvphsasb
@pvphszoo
@pvphs_panthers
@pvphs_athletics
Have a great week!
Mitzi Cress
Principal
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