Happy New Year!
WRHS School Counseling Newsletter January 2019
- Scheduling for the 2020-2021 School Year
- Save the Date(s)
- Junior presentation information
- National School Counseling Week
- Tip of the month: Stress Reduction for your teen
- Scholarships for seniors
- SAT & ACT testing
Scheduling Season for the 2020-2021 School Year
Students and parents are invited to play an active role in the scheduling process. Students can review the graduation requirements and course offerings through our WRHS Educational Guide, review prior grades in PowerSchool and revisit career clusters and pathways that have been revealed through Naviance.
The scheduling process involves three parts:
1) Recommendations for course levels will be inputted into PowerSchool for students. This will be completed by teachers on or prior to January 28th.
2) All current freshman, sophomores and juniors will review those recommendations in PowerSchool, select their core classes and choose electives based on their interests from February 3rd-February 10th.
3) Students meet individually with their counselors to review their choices and finalize their course requests for next year.
*Juniors will meet with counselors from February 24th - March 2nd.
*Sophomores will meet with counselors from March 3rd - March 9th.
*Freshmen will meet with counselors from March 10th - March 16th.
Save the Date(s):
Parent Events:
April 17th, 8am: Counselors will present to parents on how to prepare for junior year, including course planning, PSAT/testing info, and college search tips. Focus will be given to how to start the college search/planning process early and in a way that makes sense and minimizes stress for parents and students.
This event will take place in the WRHS Black Box Theater DURING the school day for parents of sophomores!
For more information about this event, please email school counselors, Mrs. Kerri Knorring at kerri_knorring@wrsd.net or Mrs. Allison Connors at allison_connors@wrsd.net.
**DATE CHANGE: May 21st, 6-8pm: College Financing with Mr. Dave Landry from Central Mass College Funding Advisors
Upcoming College Fairs:
Springfield National College Fair
April 6, 2020 | West Springfield, MA
April 30 to May 1, 2020 | Boston, MA
May 12, 2019 6:00-8:00 PM
Plourde Recreation Center | Worcester, MA
May 19, 2020 6:30-8:30 PM
Merrimack Athletics Complex | North Andover, MA
Junior Presentations
January 28th (presentation during activity period): PSAT results, overviews of: scheduling, transcripts and graduation requirements and college admissions process
Week of February 10th (presentation in history classes): Overview of college admissions in history classes (developing your college list, application components, application deadlines, review of Wave 1), SuperMatch and Big Future tools
February 24th - March 2nd: Meet with school counselors to review course selections during science classes
March 10th (presentation during activity period): Naviance recap during activity period
March 10th, 6-7pm: Junior parent presentation on College Awareness & Planning, in WRHS Auditorium
April 28th (presentation during activity period): Break out sessions with college admissions representatives
School Counseling Week: February 3rd-7th
During the week of February 3-7, 2020, communities across the nation will celebrate National School Counseling week. This week is used as a time to both appreciate and uplift the important impact school counselors have on our school and neighborhood communities.
As early as the 20th century, school counselors have been a part of our educational system. Originally focused on career development and academic success, over time the role of a school counselor has expanded far beyond supporting student success in academics and career planning to include providing resources to ensure their social and emotional wellbeing.
Daily, counselors must be prepared for the variety of issues students regularly encounter – from class selection, to future planning, to the grief of losing a parent or facing the challenges of food and housing insecurity. School counselors fill a number of roles for our students – mentor, advocate, and career advisor. Now more than ever, school counselors are a vital part of supporting the education and development of our students here in the Commonwealth.
There are over 2300 school counselors working tirelessly in elementary, middle and high schools across the Commonwealth of Massachusetts. All of these professionals have dedicated themselves to guiding students both on their educational journeys and their personal lives.
Tip of the month: Stress Reduction for your teen
Signs that you or your child are having a stress response:
● Strong emotional reaction
● Sudden onset
● Post-episode realization if reaction was inappropriate
We can’t eliminate stress from our lives, but we can learn to manage our stress response and learn strategies to calm down. There are lots of ways to de-stress, some healthier than others. Here are a few ideas that work well for both children and adults:
● Practice mindfulness, being in the present moment, acknowledging how you feel right now
● Do a grounding meditation:
○ Find 5 things you see
○ Find 4 things you feel
○ Find 3 things you hear
○ Find 2 things you smell
○ Find 1 thing you taste
● Watch a funny movie or laugh
● Exercise or spend time doing a hobby you enjoy
● Talk about your feelings with a friend, a loved one, or a trusted adult, like your friendly school counselors or school adjustment counselor!
Scholarships for seniors!
SAT Test Dates & Registration
ACT Test Dates and Registration
School Counseling Dept Contact Information
Website: https://wrhs.wrsd.net/school_counseling
Location: 1401 Main Street, Holden, MA, USA
Phone: 508.829.6771