HHS Counseling Department News
March 2023
Counseling Office Information
Counseling Staff
School Counselors:
Ashley Sullivan, M.Ed.; A- Cri; asullivan1@wcasd.net
Heather Bratton, M.A.; Cro-Gr/ LTS Darryl Perecko, M.Ed.; dperecko@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
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.
Current and Upcoming Events
Career Exploration Month
During each Warrior Block (10:39am-11:09am) in the month of March, a career presentation will be available to students. Students can sign up for a presentation through their flextime manager. Presentations will be held in the auditorium and students are encouraged to attend whichever presentations interest them! Please see below for the schedule.
Junior Post-Secondary Planning Support
Throughout the spring, the counseling department will be hosting post-secondary planning sessions for juniors. All sessions will be held during Warrior Block (10:39am-11:09am) and students will need to sign up through flextime manager as spots will be limited. Each session will be run twice, so students will have two opportunities to hear the information and ask questions. The goal of each session will be to provide more information on a specific topic related to post-secondary planning. Please see the calendar of events below and encourage your students to attend!
Standardized Testing
Current juniors that are considering attending a 4 year college should consider taking the SAT/ACT. There are also some trade/technical schools and 2 year colleges, where taking the SAT/ACT could be beneficial. Students should talk to their counselor about their specific plan to help with the timeline and planning. The upcoming tests dates are listed below for your convenience. It is important to remember that families must register on their own for the exams, Henderson does not register students for the SAT/ACT.
Third and Fourth Marking Period Information
Course Selection
Course selection is one of the most important things throughout high school. Please make sure your students have reviewed their course recommendations and considered the elective classes they want to take for next year. Students should talk to their teachers about their recommendations so they have all of the information before making decisions. You can find the course selection guide here. Take a close look at the elective options that are available. Electives are one of the best ways to help students figure out a career path as they move throughout high school! If you need to make any changes, please use this form. Changes to course requests can be made until March 24th.
A few things your student should consider during course selection:
Minimum Credit requirements:
9th grade- 6 credits
10th grade- 6 credits
11th grade- 6.4 credits
12th grade- 5.4 credits
- What levels did my teachers recommend for me? How did I do this year? Was I too stressed, was I challenged enough? What can I do to balance my schedule for me?
- What are my career goals? What electives can I take that might match with my goals?
- You do not have to take all of the highest-level classes in order to go to college. A balanced schedule where you are challenging yourself in your areas of interest is the way to go.
- Keep in mind, you may not change electives throughout the school year! Make sure you have really thought through your choices, knowing that you cannot adjust elective courses after course selection as finished.
- Cyber classes can be tough! They are not built into your day and sometimes students really struggle with this format. Talk to your counselor if you are considering cyber classes.
- Level changes are possible, but only during certain times of the year and after you seek help in the current class. Take your selections seriously and make sure they are correct prior to the March 24th deadline.
Summer Planning and Summer School
The summer is a great time for your student to regroup after a tough school year and spend time with family and friends. It is also a great time for students to think about their individual interests. Students might be interested in getting a summer job, participating in a program or gaining some volunteer hours in an area of interest. WCASD offers several summer programs over the summer! Please see the summer school website (currently under construction) for more information in the coming weeks.
Summer enrichment programs and job opportunities are also posted on your student's Counseling Schoology counseling course.
HHS Post-Secondary Planning: Class of 2024
HHS Post-Secondary Planning: Class of 2025
HHS Post-Secondary Planning: Class of 2026
Please see the summer school website (currently under construction), in the coming weeks, if your student needs to make up a class in summer school. Teachers will alert families if a student has not passed a class for the year. Your student's School Counselor will contact you with options and suggestions for your individual student at the end of the year. Students must earn a final average of 70 over the four marking periods to pass for the year and at least a final average of a 60 to be eligible for summer school make up classes.