School Counseling Mission Statement
The School Counseling Program provides assistance to students in the further development of skills necessary for personal success: encouraging positive character traits, coping with life's difficulties, building cohesive relationships, and achieving academic success. Through collaboration with administrators, teachers, students and their families, local businesses, and postsecondary institutions the school counseling program strives to promote and enhance academic, career, and personal development for all students.
How can I meet with my School Counselor?
School Counselors are often meeting with students or in classrooms, it is best to schedule an appointment. Email is preferred.
412-429-2270
Mr. Steve DePace School Counselor Last Names A - F sdepace@cvsd.net
SCHOOL COUNSELING RESOURCES
- CAREER EXPLORATION
- COLLEGE in HIGH SCHOOL (CiHS)
- COLLEGE PLANNING
- COMMUNITY SERVICE
- FINANCIAL AID
- GRADE LEVEL CHECKLISTS
- GRADUATION PATHWAYS
- NAVIANCE
- NCAA ELIGIBILITY
- NEW STUDENT RESOURCES
- PARKWAY WEST CTC
- PERSONAL/MENTAL HEALTH SUPPORT
- SCHEDULING
- SCHOLARSHIPS
- STUDENT ASSISTANCE PROGRAM (SAP)
- TESTING (SAT/ACT/ASVAB)
- SUMMER - CREDIT RECOVERY & ENRICHMENT
- TUTORING RESOURCES
- TRANSCRIPT REQUEST FORMS
- US GOV/ARMED SERVICES
- WORK PERMITS AND JOB OPPORTUNITIES
CAREER EXPLORATION
High School Career Portfolio Schedule
CAREER EXPLORATION RESOURCES
Naviance Student serves as each student's Individualized Career Portfolio. Students' experiences and learning will be documented, updated, and stored in this digital portfolio.
Our goal is to support every student’s journey in exploring career paths. Naviance Student is utilized through classroom lessons presented by teachers and school counselors, Advisory lessons, as well as for post-secondary planning.
Some of the career features include:
Career Interest Profiler
This tool helps students discover careers that match areas of their interest. Students are asked to answer “like”, “unsure”, or “dislike” to 180 different work activities. They then are given a listing of careers that best match their interests. Each listed career has a profile with detailed information such as job descriptions, education requirements, related occupations, related college majors, knowledge and skills required, common work activities/tasks, and wage outlook. All 10th grade students complete this assessment with a lesson presented by the counselors. This is then utilized to support their research for the writing of a career research paper in the English class.
Personality Type Assessment
The Do What You Are® Self Discovery Personality Type assessment will generate a report that will provide the student with important information about personal characteristics. They will learn about careers that are matched to their personal strengths and blind spots, how they negotiate in daily life, and a host of other useful information.
The Cluster Finder
OTHER CAREER RESOURCES
US Bureau of Labor Statistics -The Occupational Outlook Handbook can help you find career information on duties, education and training, pay, and outlook for hundreds of occupations.
COLLEGE in HIGH SCHOOL (CiHS)
College in the High School (CiHS) offers high school students the opportunity to earn both high school and college credit simultaneously by completing approved courses at their high school. The curriculum is endorsed by the partnering college or university and delivered by CV teachers.
Upon graduation, students must request their college transcript directly from the sponsoring institution to be sent to their intended college or university. CV does not have access to CiHS credits or transcripts.
Below are links to sponsoring institutions CiHS and transcript request process.


Will my CiHS credits Transfer to another institution?
One way to research the answer is to use Transferology
*We can not guarantee college credits will transfer. The credit transfer depends on the receiving school’s evaluation, policies, and your chosen major. Inquire with admissions if your CiHS credits will transfer. Historically, students have been able to utilize CiHS credits, and have found it worth purchasing at the discounted rate.
COLLEGE PLANNING
COLLEGE SEARCH
Presentations & Seminars
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Seniors - College Applications & Essays
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Naviance, Applications, & Transcripts
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Juniors - Post Secondary Seminar
- JUNIORS POST SECONDARY SEMINAR PRESENTATION RECORDING
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Common Application
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CVHS COLLEGE PROFILE
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CCAC
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PSU SRAR
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PITT SRAR
Resources ...
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Application/Admission Types
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NACAC Admissions Definition
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Useful College Admission Term
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College Types
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Career and Technical Colleges
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Large or Small College?
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College Costs: Knowledge is Power for Applicants
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Top 10 Tips for Writing a College Essay
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Factors in College Admission
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College Rankings: What Do They Really Mean?
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NACAC Application Fee Waiver
COMMUNITY SERVICE
FINANCIAL AID
Financial Aid Resources
CVHS hosts events to review the Financial Aid process each fall and spring. Our PHEAA rep guides students and families through a step-by-step process of filing the FAFSA and the state grant application.
Seniors
FAFSA 2025–26 is available noW!
What is the CSS Profile?
The CSS Profile, short for the College Scholarship Service Profile, is an online application created and maintained by the United States-based College Board that allows college students to apply for non-federal financial aid.
Juniors : Financial Aid 101
Junior Jumpstart – Financial Aid Virtual Presentation
FAFSA
PHEAA
The Pennsylvania Higher Education Assistance Agency (PHEAA) provides affordable access to higher education for PA students & families.
EducationPlanner.org
Collegecost.ed.gov
MySmartBorrowing.org
GRADE LEVEL CHECKLISTS
GRADUATION PATHWAYS
Pathways to Graduation (ACT 158)
PDE has established five different pathways by which students may meet the statewide graduation requirements. The Keystone Proficiency and Keystone Composite Pathways rely on student performance in three academic areas (Algebra I, Biology, and Literature), proven to be predictive of postsecondary success; whereas the Career & Technical Education (CTE) Concentrator, Alternative Assessment, and Evidence-Based Pathways were designed to more fully illustrate students’ college, career, and community readiness through other student artifacts and experiences.
Although students will no longer be required to achieve proficiency on the Keystone Exams to meet the statewide graduation requirement, students must take the Keystone Exams for purposes of federal accountability.
PATHWAYS to GRADUATION (pdf)
NAVIANCE
NAVIANCE
The student's log in is a Single Sign On process (SSO) using their CV email address.
NAVIANCE STUDENT LOG INNaviance is a web-based software platform that provides students with a variety of features, including college research and matching tools, course planning, career assessments, and personality tests, and surveys to help students connect what they are doing in school to what they would like to do once they complete their education.
Naviance provides additional functionality to School Counselors to track the progress of individual students, communicate and collaborate with students and families, or create reports on their entire student population. Additionally, Naviance’s integration with "The Common Application" facilitates the submission of college applications, as well as online submission of transcripts, school forms and recommendations through Naviance eDocs.
Naviance Video Tutorials
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Common App Matching
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WHAT IS THE FERPA WAIVER?
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TO SIGN FERPA WAIVER: Go to “My Colleges” tab and then “Recommenders and FERPA”. Under “FERPA Release Authorization” read release authorization and click appropriate check-boxes.
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FERPA WAIVER VIDEO
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Requesting Teacher Recommendation Letters
If your application requires a counselor recommendation, please notify your counselor via email or in person.
Transcript requests will NOT be accepted during Thanksgiving Break, Winter Break, or on days the district is closed.College Rep Visits at CVHS
NCAA ELIGIBILITY
How to register
You need to be certified by the NCAA Eligibility Center to compete at an NCAA Division I or II school. You need to create a Certification Account to make official visits to Divisions I and II schools or to sign a National Letter of Intent.
CV NCAA Approved Courses
NCAA Night at CV Presentation
NEW STUDENT RESOURCES
PARKWAY WEST CTC
PARKWAY WEST CAREER & TECHNICAL CENTER
Parkway West CTC offers trade and technical programs that are not available at the high school. Students in grades 9 - 12 can attend Parkway West CTC.
Upon completing the course of studies at the technical school and the high school, the student may receive a certificate from Parkway West and a diploma from Chartiers Valley High School.
Parkway West CTC
7101 Steubenville Pike
Oakdale, PA 15071
Phone: (412) 923-1772
Parkway West CTC promotional video
*Parkway Career & Technical Programs are not NCAA approved courses. Only core content area academic courses are NCAA approved courses.
PERSONAL/MENTAL HEALTH SUPPORT
Personal Support Programs
School Counselors are available to meet with students and make appropriate community counseling referrals. Such as...
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Student Assistance Program (SAP)
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AHN Chill Room & School Based Therapist
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Confidential Legal Release
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AFSP (American Foundation for Suicide Prevention)
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Self Care
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Crisis, Mental Health, D&A Resources
re:solve Crisis Network
1.888.796.8226

SCHEDULING
Students are encouraged to take the most rigorous courses possible based on academic ability and their capacity to manage all aspects of life such as athletics, clubs and activities, and commitments outside of school.
Please review your child's course selections for the next academic year. Students are required to print & return their course request summary with a parent/guardian signature.
If you have questions about scheduling or need additional assistance, please contact your high school counselor.
Scheduling Resources for SY 25 - 26
resources
Additionally, students can use these grade-specific worksheets to draft their requests before entering them in the portal:
Student Request Portal Open-
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March 18 – March 25
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Signed Summary Due: March 27
Forms
SCHOLARSHIPS
SCHOLARSHIPS
TIPS ON SEARCHING FOR SCHOLARSHIPS! (PHEAA pdf)
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CVEF Local Scholarships
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Mega Scholarships
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www.fastweb.com
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www.scholarships.com
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Pittsburghfoundation.org
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www.educationplanner.org
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www.Cappex.com
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www.raiseme.com
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StudentScholarships.org
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BigFuture.Collegeboard.org
STUDENT ASSISTANCE PROGRAM (SAP)
The primary goal of the SAP is to help students overcome barriers so that they may achieve, remain in school, and advance. SAP is a systematic process using techniques to mobilize school resources to remove barriers to learning. The core of the program is professionally trained to identify problems, determine whether or not the presenting problem lies within the responsibility of the school and to make recommendations to assist the student and the parent. When the problem lies beyond the scope of the school, the SAP team will assist the parent and student so they may access services within the community. The student assistance team members do not diagnose, treat, or refer to treatment; but they may refer for a screening or an assessment for treatment.
School personnel, peers, students themselves, or family members may refer students to SAP. Any person who is concerned about a student is encouraged to refer that student by submitting a SAP referral online.
Some signs and symptoms of students who may be referred to SAP are:
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SAP - Community Resources
EMERGENCIES/CRISIS |
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Resolve Crisis Network |
1-888-796-8226www.upmc.com/resolvecrisis |
Crisis Text Line |
Text HELLO to 741741Crisis Text Line Info |
CHILD ABUSE |
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Allegheny County CYF |
412-473-2000 |
Pennsylvania CHILDLINE |
1-800-932-0313 |
Pittsburgh Action Against Rape(24 hour hotline) |
1-877-338-8255412-687-8005 |
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DRUGS/ALCOHOL |
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Allegheny County D/A Administration(Crisis Intervention Hotline) |
412-350-33281-888-424-2287 |
Gateway Rehabilitation Center |
1-800-427-1177 |
AL-A-Teen, AL-Anon Family Groups |
412-572-5141 |
Narcotics Anonymous Helpline |
412-255-1155 |
Outreach Teen & Family Services, Inc. |
412-561-5405 |
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EATING DISORDERS |
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Pittsburgh Educational Network for Eating Disorders |
412-366-9966 |
WPIC's Center for Overcoming Eating Disorders |
412-624-9329 |
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GRIEF/LOSS |
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The Caring Place |
1-888-244-4673 |
Cancer Caring Center |
412-622-1212 |
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HEALTH INSURANCE FOR UNINSURED CHILDREN |
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Caring Foundation for Children |
1-800-543-7105 |
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HELP-LINES & HOT-LINES |
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Runaway Hotline |
412-661-1800 |
Contact Pittsburgh |
412-820-4357 |
HOMELESSNESSSara Salopek - Education for Children and Youth Experiencing Homelessness Program, Allegheny Intermediate UnitFood Bank of Bethany Presbyterian Church |
412-394-5936
412-221-5132 |
RAPE/VIOLENCE |
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PAAR |
1-800-363-7273 |
Women's Center & Shelter |
412-687-8005 |
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MENTAL HEALTH RESOURCES |
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American Psychological Association |
1-800-621-4000 |
Allegheny MH/MR Administration |
412-350-4457 |
Chartiers Community Center, Inc |
412-221-3302 |
Family Line |
412-344-7645 |
STAR Clinic (at Western Psychiatric Institute & Clinic) |
412-246-5754 |
Vista Behavioral Associates |
412-641-7016 |
Cranberry Psychological Associates, Inc. |
412-220-0144 |
Intercare |
412-831-0355 |
Allegheny Clinical Association |
412-279-9500 |
Allegheny General Hospital - Child & Psychiatric Services |
412-330-3041 |
Southwood Psychiatric Hospital |
412-257-2290 |
Southwest Human Services |
412-831-8821 |
Stepping Stones Psychiatric Care |
412-221-7770 |
Outreach Teen & Family Services, Inc |
412-561-5405 |
PREGNANCY |
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Allegheny County Health Department(Maternal & Child Health Program) |
412-247-7950 |
Genesis of Pittsburgh |
412-766-2693 |
Mom's House of Dormont |
412-531-6667 |
Mom's House of Pittsburgh |
412-271-2229 |
McGee Womens Hospital(Education & Outreach) |
412-641-1000 |
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TESTING (SAT/ACT/ASVAB)
SAT & ACT Resources
If you are sending test scores as a part of your college application you must send them directly from the SAT or ACT websites
PSAT & ASVAB - offered once per year during the school day - mid October. All CV Juniors elect to take one or the other.
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Many colleges require or consider SAT scores as part of their holistic admission and placement decisions, and your score is a great way to show your college readiness. Most juniors take their first SAT in the spring, and many take it again in the fall of their senior year to improve their score. The SAT can help you keep your college options open, demonstrate your unique strengths, and even qualify for scholarships.
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Upcoming 2025-26 SAT Dates |
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Upcoming ACT Dates & RegistrationRegister Now |
SUMMER - CREDIT RECOVERY & ENRICHMENT
Credit Recovery, Enrichment, & Opportunities
Credit Recovery
Students who failed courses have the summer recovery options listed below.
It is the student’s responsibility to ensure their summer school grades are sent to the high school guidance office for documentation on their official transcript.
Enrichment
Students taking full-length, non-remedial enrichment or acceleration courses must have a transcript sent to the high school guidance office.
If approved, courses may count for credit but will not be included in GPA calculations.
Note: Families are responsible for all summer school registration fees.
Waterfront Learning (WFL)
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Credit Recovery: [Register Here] - For students who need to recover credits from failed high school courses.
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Enrichment: [Register Here] – For students in grades 9-12 who want to take additional courses over the summer. These courses are not condensed, so students should allow enough time to complete a full year’s coursework.
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Important Notes: WFL Summer courses are not an option for students seeking NCAA eligibility
Educere Virtual Summer School
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Credit Recovery: [Register Here] For students who need to recover credits from failed high school courses.
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Original Credit: [Register Here] For students seeking enrichment or acceleration courses.
Important Notes for Educere courses:
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Use Mr. Hubert as the school contact: mhubert@cvsd.net
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Abbreviated credit recovery courses are not NCAA-eligible.
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Prospective NCAA Division I and II student-athletes must take the Original Credit version.
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Other Summer Programs & Opportunities
[Click Here ]
GAP YEAR
Here are some great websites that provide information and resources for planning a gap year - [CLICK HERE ]TUTORING RESOURCES
ACADEMIC SUPPORT RESOURCES
Course Teacher – First line of support. A student can speak to their teacher to set up an individual or series of sessions for tutoring.
After School Academic Support – This resource is available after school and provides additional support in English, Math, and Science. Please contact your teacher or school counselor for more information.
Outside Services – Please note students/family are responsible for expenses associated with these programs, as well Chartiers Valley School District does not endorse any specific program.
Huntington Learning Center
hlcsouth@comcast.net (http://huntingtonhelps.com/)
1-800-CAN-LEARN
Axios Tutoring
http://www.axiostutoring.com/
412-833-6060
Mathnasium
https://www.mathnasium.com/mountlebanon
300 Cedar Blvd, #2
Pittsburgh PA 15228
(412) 213.8696
mountlebanon@mathnasium.com
Debbie Sekel
Deb's Tutoring
412/855 1268
debbie@dsekel.com
Math/Science
Robin Satty, Teacher/Tutor
Specialty: Science
512.458.0527
robinsatty@gmail.com
Tracy L Smith Owner, Finding Physics
info@findphysics.com
412.440.7535
Sean Palermo, Founder/Instructor Online Tutoring Phone: (412) 999-0369 Mobile: (412) 956-5796 Email: Sean@palermoprep.com Web: www.palermoprep.com
TRANSCRIPT REQUEST FORMS
Transcript Request Forms
Seniors- return completed forms to guidance office
ALUMNI - contact hsguidance@cvsd.net
US GOV/ARMED SERVICES

The U.S. military has five branches of service: the Army, Navy, Air Force, Coast Guard, and Marine Corps. The requirements to join are similar for all five.
USAGov is the Official Guide to Government Information and Services
Your School Counselor can provide you with recruiter contact information. Recruiters also schedule visits in the HS Commons during lunch periods.
WORK PERMITS AND JOB OPPORTUNITIES
JOB OPPORTUNITIES
WORK PERMITS
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APPLICATION FOR WORK PERMIT
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Permit can be obtained from the High School office from 8:00 am - 3:00 pm daily.
In Pennsylvania, minors between the ages of 14–18 must obtain a Work Permit. Work Permits cannot be issued to children under the age of 14. Work Permits are issued by the school district in which the student resides. It is only valid for employment within the State of Pennsylvania.
