HHS Counseling Department News
January 2023
Counseling Office Information
Counseling Staff
School Counselors:
Ashley Sullivan, M.Ed.; A- Cri; / LTS Darryl Perecko, M.Ed.; dperecko@wcasd.net
Heather Bratton, M.A.; Cro-Gr; hbratton@wcasd.net
Morgan Gamble, M.Ed.; Gu-Lee; mgamble@wcasd.net
Colleen Allen; M.Ed.; Lef-Pa; callen@wcasd.net
Kathy Teague, M.Ed.;Pe-Sma; kteague@wcasd.net
Becky Singer, M.Ed.; Smc-Z; rsinger@wcasd.net
Career Education Counselor:
Dave Robertson, M.Ed.; drobertson@wcasd.net
Intervention Counselor
Candy Jakubowski, M.A; cjakubowski@wcasd.net
School Psychologist
John C. Thomas, M.S., jcthomas@wcasd.net
School Caseworker
Janelle Hoole, LCSW jhoole@wcasd.net
Counseling Admin Assistants
Sharon Macnamara, smacnamara@wcasd.net - 484-266-3408
Karen Pyle, kpyle@wcasd.net - 484-266-3407
Meet Ms. Allen!
Before coming to HHS, Colleen was a school counselor and department chair at Kennett High School. She is bringing over 15 years of experience with her to Henderson High School. Colleen enjoys being an advocate promoting success for all students and providing services related to students’ academic, personal and post-secondary needs. After earning her Bachelor’s degree in Psychology from Saint Joseph’s University, Colleen continued her education at Temple University where she obtained her master's degree in Counseling Psychology. Colleen has held membership with various professional organizations such PACAC, ASCA and PSCA. She is also a past president of the Chester County School Counselor Association and served on a university advisory board. Colleen is very excited to be a part of the West Chester Area School District and looks forward to working with families and students at Henderson High School.
Meet Mr. Robertson!
Current and Upcoming Events
College Planning Night
Wednesday, Feb 8, 2023, 06:00 PM
B. Reed Henderson High School, Montgomery Avenue, West Chester, PA, USA
Throughout the Fall, the focus of the WCASD High School Counseling Developmental Program has been meeting with seniors for post-secondary planning (group meetings and individual counseling) and freshman individual conferences. Counselors are currently meeting with juniors for their individual junior conference and are continuing to meet with freshmen. Junior and freshman meetings continue throughout the winter and spring.
In addition to post-secondary planning and rapport building with freshman, the counseling team continues to support students' social and emotional health. Students are encouraged to visit the counseling office or make an appointment with their counselor or crisis interventionist if they need to talk to someone during the school day.
PSAT results are now in for 10th and 11th grade students! Students can access this information through collegeboard.org. During the week of December 12th, warrior block sessions were offered to juniors to review PSAT scores and provide help in logging into students' collegeboard accounts. Students should contact their counselor if they have any questions about their PSAT results or standardized testing.
Counselors will be meeting with juniors in English classes during the month of January. These group meetings will provide an overview of post-secondary options and be an introduction to the junior conference.
Course selection will begin in January/February! Students will have course selection meetings to learn about the process. Course selection is a very important part of the post-secondary planning process. Students should begin thinking about their academic levels, electives and talk to their school counselor if they have any questions!
Warrior block sessions for juniors will be held throughout the spring. Sessions may include items such as: resume building, letters of recommendation, personal statement development and more. Stay tuned for more information!
Career Month will be coming in March! Please stay tuned for more information!
Remember to visit the HHS counseling website, Schoology courses, and review emails on a regular basis for updated information regarding the counseling program and supports.
Learn to Earn Interest Meeting (Senior only program)
Internships allow eligible students to gain real-world work experiences that boost student confidence and help them make informed choices about future careers and related post secondary education and training options. Program participation will equip students with valuable experiences, skills, and knowledge. Students will make connections between classroom learning and workplace experiences, all while building professional relationships (networking). Students may fall in love with a career field or learn that a certain field is not for them - both types of experiences are beneficial!
The Learn to Earn is an UNPAID Internship Program of the WCASD, which offers seniors insight into the various responsibilities, skills, education, and training needed to succeed in today’s workplace. Students have an opportunity to explore various industry and career options through participation in an on-site learning experience from MAY 1st– MAY 26th, 2023 - 30 HOURS PER WEEK.
Thursday, Feb 16, 2023, 07:00 PM
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Academic Information and Support
After School HELP (Henderson Enhanced Learning Period)
The Henderson Library is open after school Mondays through Thursdays from 2:30-3:30. Staff and National Honors Society tutors (seniors) will be available to provide students with a supportive place to complete homework and get assistance with assignments. No appointment or pass is necessary, just drop-in any time during the time frame outlined above.
National Honor Society Tutoring
The National Honor Society (NHS) provides peer tutoring services at no charge to HHS students experiencing difficulty in any subject area, or simply for help preparing for a test or quiz. Students can sign up by scanning the NHS QR code posted around the building or by contacting Mrs. Peracchia or Mrs. Purnell-Bratcher, NHS Co-Advisors. Tutors and students seeking tutoring will be paired according to the subject area and their mutual free time (study halls and/or lunch).
Teacher Assistance
Teachers are available after school (from 2:15—2:50) for help with classroom assignments and test preparation. Students or guardians can arrange this by either speaking with or e-mailing the teacher directly.
Warrior Block
Warrior block runs from 10:39am-11:09am every day. This is a great time for students to get extra support from their teachers! Students can see activities that are available for them on Flex Time Manager. Please encourage your student to sign up and access their teachers during this time.
Monitoring Progress
Monitoring your student’s progress by using the Parent Portal on-line on a regular basis is a good way of reminding them that you play an important role in their education. It is appropriate at the high school level to step in and assist your student if they are experiencing academic difficulty and are unable to or are an ineffective self-advocate. Counselors are available to meet with students to review organization, time management, study skills and anything else that may be hindering their progress. Encourage your student to seek help from their teacher(s), counselor, and grade level administrator, and then follow up by emailing your student’s educators.
If you do not have a Parent Portal account or would like to add a child to an existing account and have not received your Access ID and password, you may contact the Counseling office and obtain it from Ms. Sharon Macnamara or from Ms. Karen Pyle. If you have an account but don’t remember your username and/or password, please click on the ‘Forgot username or password’ link on the Parent Portal site (https://ps.wcasd.net/public/) and enter the email address that was used to create your account. If you do not have access to that email or need assistance please send an email to parentportal@wcasd.net.
Senior Timeline and Reminders
Reminders and timelines for seniors:
At this point in the year senior students have had their individual senior meeting with their counselor. If your student has additional questions or has changed their plans in any way, please encourage them to see their counselor!
Seniors should-
- Research scholarships. Scholarship Bulletins are sent to seniors’ Naviance accounts, students’ HHS Post Secondary planning course in Schoology, and emailed.
- Be aware of college deadlines for financial aid forms.
- Continue to work to improve academic achievement. Many colleges request first and second marking period senior year grades, as well as require a specific minimum GPA to award and keep acceptances and scholarship offers.
- Check their email and college portals often for updates from their colleges.
- Request their mid year grades to be sent if necessary (more information to come).
- In May, complete their Senior Survey. This is the final requirement before graduation. This survey is also the request for final transcripts for college.