LATEST NEWS

Name: Ms. Ferguson's Website
Telephone: 814-642-2544 x4208

The 2026-27 school year has kicked off and we are so excited to welcome new and returning students. Typically, our first few days are very busy with schedule changes, but we will quickly move into senior transition planning and 7th grade check-ins. Students often ask 'what exactly do you do?' The primary role of a school counselor is to advocate for all students in the building. We wear a lot of different hats, but as an umbrella statement we are committed to helping students develop into responsible and happy young adults. We help students meet academic, personal/social and college/career goals. I hope to include some information on my website that serves as a valuable resources for students and parents, but please feel free to call or email me with any questions you may have.
Ms. Ferguson

ACTIVITIES

College and Career Readiness

At Port Allegany High School, students are exposed to a K-12 career education program that gets them ready for the next step, whether that be college, trade school, the military, or the workforce. Students develop an awareness of careers, an understanding of their strengths and what employers are looking for in a worker, and engage in activities to help them develop a career portfolio.

XELLO

Xello is a program that our district uses beginning in kindergarten to increase students' awareness of careers both locally and nationally. In grades K-2, students utilize Spark! to explore different career-fields in a game-like setting. As students enter grade 3, the district employs more activities to teach your children about their own strengths, what employers are looking for in employees, and how to start their own business. Visit https://xello.world/en/ to have your child log in so you can see what they're up to!

SAT REGISTRATION AND PRACTICE

CollegeBoard is a one-stop shop for career exploration, college search, and SAT registration. The PSAT and SAT will be digital using the Bluebook app and all student chromebooks have that app installed. Word on the street is that the pendulum on standardized tests is swinging back to them being more important again, so we encourage all students interested in four-year college to take these exams.

SCHOLARSHIPS

Your child has been accepted to college - congratulations! Now the tough part: how to pay for it. After filing your FAFSA and PHEAA, you will probably still have a gap to cover. Scholarships are available at the national and local levels to help your family with this gap coverage, but your child needs to put in the legwork to apply! See the 'Scholarships' tab above for available scholarships. Call your friendly School Counselors for all of the most up-to-date information!