WHS Guidance News
August 2020
Greetings from WHS Guidance!
We are looking forward to reconnecting with students and families as the school year kicks off! Updates in this newsletter include:
- New Counselor
- Counselor Caseloads
- Schedules
- Guidance Seminars
- College Rep Visits
- SATs & College Admissions
- Senior Questions
- Upcoming Events
- Resources
- Other Updates
We can't wait to connect with you soon!
Joining the WHS Team
We are also welcoming 3 school counselor interns this year- Ms. Katy Ananian, Ms. Maddie Kinker, and Mr. Craig Surdam.
Welcome to WHS!
Schedules
While the Add/Drop date will be September 30 for all full-year and semester one classes, we are asking that students reach out prior to the start of the school year if at all possible. Due to the nature of this year's schedule and the need to maintain learning cohorts, students should be aware that it may not always be possible to make schedule changes.
Guidance Seminars
College Rep Visits
In addition to these WHS-specific opportunities, there are a number of virtual info sessions, tours, and visits that students can access from the College Events section in Naviance. Finally, the National Association of College Admissions Counselors (NACAC) will be hosting several Virtual College Fairs this fall. We will be sharing more information on how to get the most out of these events soon, but feel free to register at https://www.virtualcollegefairs.org/.
SATs
As you may know, three-fifths of US four year colleges and universities (over 1450) have opted to go test-optional for this (and in some cases future) admissions cycles. In these cases, students will not be required to present test scores. A regularly updated list of these schools can be found at http://fairtest.org/university/optional. However, we strongly advise students to check admissions websites for specific information about the school's policy. Additionally, the CollegeBoard has asked colleges and universities to extend deadlines for receiving test scores.
The resounding advice that we have heard from our partners in college admissions is: Take care of yourself. We continue to hear from college admissions representatives that they: 1) understand that these are challenging times and students may be struggling; 2) will work with students and counselors to get a full picture of the student's learning during this time; 3) want students to take care of themselves and their families and to stay healthy. This statement, endorsed by over 360 colleges highlights the commitment to equity, student self-care, balance, and meaningful learning within the college admissions community.
Senior Questions
-Senior Guidance Seminars will begin on Friday, September 25 and will focus on issues around future planning
-All seniors will have one or more individual senior meetings with their guidance counselor this fall (we will have more details on when these meetings can start soon!)
-Seniors and their families will be invited to Senior Future Planning Night, held over Zoom on Thursday, September 24 at 6:30PM
-Seniors can access the Future Planning Workbook now for tips on moving forward with the application process - things like creating a Common App account, securing teacher recommendations, and finalizing your list can be worked on now
If you haven't already, check out the Grade-Specific Resources on the WHS Guidance website.
Upcoming Events
Sunday, September 13 - NACAC Virtual College Fair
Tuesday, September 22 - First Day of Classes
Thursday, September 24, 6:30-8:00PM - Senior Future Planning Night for Students & Families
Friday, September 25 - First Day of Seminars for 9th and 12th graders
Ongoing - MEFA Virtual Webinars, College Rep Visits
Wednesday, September 30 - Last day for schedule changes to 1st semester and full-year classes (Add/Drop Deadline)
Monday, October 12 - NACAC Virtual College Fair
Sunday, October 18 - NACAC Virtual College Fair
Resources
- Joel Giacobozzi, Principal (joel.giacobozzi@watertown.k12.ma.us)
- Annmarie Boudreau, Assistant Principal (annmarie.boudreau@watertown.k12.ma.us)
- Brian Brewer, Dean of Students (brian.brewer@watertown.k12.ma.us)
- Guidance Counselors (adrienne.eaton@watertown.k12.ma.us, jaimie.leonard@watertown.k12.ma.us, lindsy.orpen@watertown.k12.ma.us, kimberly.osborne@watertown.k12.ma.us, fabian.rivera@watertown.k12.ma.us)
- Joie Mara, School Nurse (joie.mara@watertown.k12.ma.us)
- Sara York, Team Chair (sara.york@watertown.k12.ma.us)
- Marie Mele, Secondary Special Education Coordinator (marie.mele@watertown.k12.ma.us)
- Brandon Rabbitt, Director of School Nutrition (brandon.rabbitt@watertown.k12.ma.us)
The following links are part of the Watertown Public Library's COVID 19 Resource Guide:
Other Updates
Students should keep an eye on their email for a brief survey from their guidance counselor. Please take the time to complete this short survey about your experiences during school closure last spring and your questions about the start of the school year.
Stay tuned for more information about 9th grade orientation and student technology deployment and orientation!