Counselor's Notebook, January 2008

Volume 44

Number 5

www.masca.org

January 2008

Greetings for the New Year

JENNIFER JUST McGUIRE MASCA President

H

appy New Year! I hope you had a wonderful holiday season and that you returned to work feeling refreshed after an enjoyable break from school. I can’t believe how quickly this year has gone by. It seems like only yesterday that the Governing Board met at Dean College for our LDI to prepare for the year ahead.

I want to take this opportunity to review some of the Governing Board’s efforts this year.

A major focus has been to complete our strategic plan and to move forward with action plans for MASCA. Thanks to Jane Rathbun, the Board has received two training sessions on strategic planning.

Not only are we using these new skills and knowledge for MASCA, we have added them to our personal repertoire.

Along with Jane, Bob Bardwell and Sheila Deam have reviewed and “cleaned up” MASCA’s action plans, which should be presented to Governing Board members this month. Working with action plans will ensure that our efforts as volunteers align with MASCA’s mission. The biggest lesson we have learned is that a strategic plan is a living document—something that needs to be revisited each year, not something

that is tackled every five years.

Perhaps you noticed that I used the word “volunteer.” As you know, for the most part we are all volunteers who give of our own personal time (and our energy) to make MASCA work. Without volunteers, MASCA could not be the organization it is today.

I hope that MASCA has been a valuable resource for you this year. Perhaps you attended the fall conference and were able to listen to ASCA’s president, Eric Sparks. Or maybe you attended the MA Model workshop last summer, and you are working towards Model implementation and experiencing changes in your school. For many of you, attending an affiliate meeting on a regular basis may have given you the chance to network

with counselors in other schools.

We are always striving to better serve our members. Please consider getting involved with MASCA. There are many different ways to contribute — from running for elected office to serving on a committee. Please feel free to contact me if you have questions about the opportunities available for you. I’m sure I can assist you in finding something that works with the time you have available.

Although winter is barely here, it’s not too early to think about the upcoming spring. And as you know, with spring comes the MASCA conference. Mark your calendars now and put in for the professional days, so that you can join us in Hyannis in April. I look forward to seeing you there. ■

MASCA 2008 Spring Conference Charting the Course: MARC’s leading the way.

April 10-12, 2008 • Hyannis For information about conference programming and registration, MASCA membership, and exhibitor information, go to www.masca.org.

Inside . . .

Guiding Students to College

By Kim Gangwisch-Marsh ............. 10 MA Model Institute 2007-08 Update

By Helen O’Donnell ....................... 11 College Application: A Case Studied

By Matthew Coleman ................... 12

Membership Application..............14 MASCA Awards 2008................... 15 Officers Nomination Form .......... 19 Spring Conference Notes ............ 21 People, Places, and Programs ..... 22

Call for Appointed Positions COUNSELOR’S NOTEBOOK 2007– 2008 PRESIDENT JENNIFER JUST McGUIRE Upper Cape Cod Regional Technical School 220 Sandwich Road, Bourne, MA 02532 Tel. 508-759-7711 x247 • E-mail: jmcguire@uppercapetech.org PRESIDENT-ELECT KAREN M. D’AMOUR Manchester Essex Regional High School 36 Lincoln Street, Manchester, MA 01944 Tel. 978-526-7641 • Fax 978-526-2044 E-mail: damourk@mersd.org PAST PRESIDENT ROBERT BARDWELL Monson High School, 55 Margaret St., Monson, MA 01057 Tel. 413-267-4589 x1107 • Fax 413-267-4157 E-mail: bardwellr@monsonschools.com VICE PRESIDENT ELEMENTARY AMANNDA BARTRAM Lynn Public Schools, Lynn, MA 01902 E-mail: bartrama@lynnschools.org VICE PRESIDENT MIDDLE / JUNIOR HIGH CELESTE CIANFRANI Gateway Regional High School 12 Littleville Road, Huntington, MA 01050 Tel. 413-685-1109 • E-mail: ccianfrani@grsd.org VICE PRESIDENT SECONDARY MATT COLEMAN Southeastern Regional Vocational Technical High School 250 Foundry Street, South Easton, MA 02375-1780 Tel. 508-238-4371 • E-mail: mcoleman@sersd.org

As per the MASCA by-laws, we seek to fill the annual slate of appointed positions: Executive Director, Secretary, Treasurer, Coordinator of Membership, Counselor’s Notebook Editor, Technology Coordinator, and Coordinator of Professional Development.

Job descriptions for each position can be found on MASCA’s website. If you are interested in applying for one of these positions, send a resume and letter of intent no later than February 15 to Jennifer McGuire, Upper Cape Cod Regional Technical School, 220 Sandwich Road, Bourne, MA 02532, or via e-mail to jmcguire @uppercapetech.org.

Applicants will be interviewed by a screening committee, which will make recommendations to the Executive Council and the Governing Board. ■

VICE PRESIDENT POSTSECONDARY JAY LEIENDECKER Vice President Enrollment Services, Dean College Tel. 508-541-1509 • Fax 508-541-8726 E-mail: jleiendecker@dean.edu VICE PRESIDENT ADMINISTRATORS THOMAS HUGHART Wellesley High School, Wellesley, MA 02481 Tel. 781-446-6305 x5142 • Fax 781-446-6308 E-mail: thom_hughart@wellesley.mec.edu VICE PRESIDENT COUNSELOR EDUCATORS REBECCA A. SCHUMACHER UMass Boston, Boston, MA 02125 Tel. 617-287-7651 • Fax 617-287-7667 E-mail: Rebecca.Schumacher@umb.edu VICE PRESIDENT RETIREES RALPH SENNOTT P.O. Box 1391, Westford, MA 01886 Tel. 978-692-8244 • E-mail: ralphsennott@hotmail.com EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR ROBERT QUIST 34 Clovelly Street, Lynn, MA 01902 Tel. 781-842-1645 • Fax 978-740-1122 • E-mail: bobqui@aol.com TREASURER TINA KARIDOYANES P.O. Box 1007, Monument Beach, MA 02553 Tel. 508-759-3986 • E-mail: tkaridoyanes@gmail.com SECRETARY ANN HOURIGAN North Reading High School, North Reading, MA 01864 Tel. 978-664-7800 • E-mail: annhourigan@yahoo.com Questions concerning membership in the Massachusetts School Counselors Association should be addressed to: MEMBERSHIP COORDINATOR DEBORAH CLEMENCE P.O. Box 805, East Dennis, MA 02641 E-mail: DeborahClemence@verizon.net The Counselor’s Notebook is published by the Massachusetts School Counselors Association, Inc. 10 times a year, September through June. The yearly subscription rate is $20.00; individual issues are $2.00.

Opinions expressed in the articles published herein represent the ideas and/or beliefs of those who write them and do not necessarily reflect the views or policies of the Massachusetts School Counselors Association, Inc. The acceptance of an advertisement for publication does not imply MASCA endorsement of the advertiser’s programs, services, or views expressed. © 2008 by the Massachusetts School Counselors Association.

All rights reserved.

Questions concerning submission of articles, publication deadlines, advertising rates, etc., should be addressed to: SALLY A. CONNOLLY, Editor 19 Bayberry Road, Danvers, MA 01923 Tel. 978-774-8158 • Fax 978-750-8154 E-mail: sallyconnolly@att.net

2

COUNSELOR’S NOTEBOOK

New Beginnings . . .

KAREN D’AMOUR MASCA President-elect

grams. And we will work with changes in school budgets and possible school overrides. Counselors at the high school level will see the new Massachusetts Board of Education roll out MassCore, a recommended high school program of studies.

And all school counselors will hear more from Governor Patrick on the topic of career education.

In the words of a Dylan song, “The times they are a changin’.”

We are so busy helping others transition and adjust that we often forget to consider the changes we face ourselves.

To maximize our effectiveness, we must reflect, prepare, and carefully choose.

Decide what role you will play in the coming changes in education. And let your voice be heard. No one is better than a school counselor for taking into consideration the welfare of children in our Commonwealth. ■

O

nce we finish reflecting on the past and reviewing the present, this time of year has us thinking about what we want for the future. For some that may be more exercise or a smaller waist; for others it is world peace or spending more time with loved ones.

The New Year, however, is not the only time of new beginnings. In our profession, the beginning of the school year is the real new year. Remember when you started kindergarten? Or that feeling of growing up and transitioning to middle school?

Could anyone, even the best middle school counselors amongst us, really prepare us for what that was going to be like?

The transition to high school was not given too much thought because it was more about finally arriving than it was about grades, credits, and transcripts.

That would happen later, especially at the end of the first semester.

Most of us entered these new beginnings without thinking that it could or would ever be any different. And we gave little thought to the reality of change, transition, and the necessity of choice.

But when we turned seventeen or eighteen, college and career choices confronted us.

Most of today’s seniors, however, have already made these decisions. They now anxiously await the thick envelope of acceptance from the college of their choice or the notice of acceptance into an apprenticeship or the beginning of boot camp.

Our students’ transitions required careful thought, preparation, and choice, on both their part and ours. Now we will face another year of new beginnings. We will welcome incoming students and help them to transition smoothly. We will help outgoing students. We will prepare to initiate, or continue with the incorporation of, the MA Model into our guidance proJANUARY 2008

3

Mission of MASCA The mission of MASCA is to advocate for school counselors in the Commonwealth of Massachusetts by providing leadership, collaboration, and professional development.

4

Professional Development News

By HELEN O’DONNELL, Ed.D. MASCA Professional Development Chair

T

he following describes how to earn PDPs or CEUs from MASCA training programs. Please note that MASCA is not a CEU provider.

• The Massachusetts Department of Education requires a minimum of 10 hours of professional development study/ training in a focused area of study in order to earn PDPs. You can combine certificates of attendance and evidence of learning from other conferences to total the needed 10+ hours of study.

• Evidence of/application of learning must accompany certificates. “Evidence” is defined as action plans, narratives, research, evaluation data, summary, or other documentation agreed to by the MASCA PDP Chair. MASCA provides a combined certificate of attendance with evidence of learning document at all conferences.

• Massachusetts schools are PDP providers. You can use your MASCA certificates towards your school PDPs by following your school or district protocol.

• If you paid for PDPs at conference time (or include a $25 check made out to MASCA), mail your completed Certificate of Attendance and Evidence of Learning Form AND a self-addressed, stamped envelope to Dr. Helen O’Donnell, 10 Maplewood Terrace, Hadley, MA 01035. Your form(s) will be copied for MASCA recordkeeping and returned. Your PDP certificate will be mailed to you.

Submitted Certificates of Attendance / Evidence of Learning forms that are not completed will be returned.

You MUST have a documented total of 10 hours of professional development.

Remember, you can combine conference certificates from previous MASCA conferences or other professional development trainings to total 10 hours. Make sure “evidence of learning” is provided if you submit certificates from other workshops.

Remember to save your current certificates to combine with future MASCA workshops or conferences. To discuss options for completing your 10 hours, e-mail me at helenod@worldnet.att.net. ■ COUNSELOR’S NOTEBOOK

JANUARY 2008

5

EXEC’S NEWS The move forward in education brings changes in requirements and opportunity.

A

s we enter the new year, much has been happening in education around the state. Here are some issues that are worth paying attention to.

High school core program of studies At its November meeting, the Board of Education voted “to approve MassCore, the state’s recommended high school core program of studies for college- and careerreadiness. The recommended MassCore includes: four years of English, four years of mathematics, three years of a lab-based science, three years of history, two years of the same foreign language, one year of an arts program, and five additional ‘core’ courses such as business education, health, and /or technology.”

The Board of Higher Education is also looking at these recommendations as gateway courses to entering the state college and university system in Massachusetts.

ROBERT QUIST MASCA Executive Director AP Coordinators Jeffrey Nellhaus, Acting Commissioner of Education, says that Massachusetts will participate in the U.S. Department of Education’s Advanced Placement (AP) Exam Fee Subsidy program. The purpose of this program is to reduce the cost of an Advanced Placement exam from $84 to $10 for students who meet the eligibility criteria.

In January, the College Board will send

to AP coordinators an Advanced Placement exam order form, which will include instructions about ordering the Advanced Placement exams at a reduced fee for your eligible students.

If you have any questions regarding the Advanced Placement Exam Fee Subsidy Program, contact Richard Salus at 781-338-6252, or by e-mail at rsalus@ doe.mass.edu.

Copies of the memo and forms can be found on the MASCA website under News and Announcements and Quick Links.

New Commissioner of Education At the November BOE meeting, Chairman Paul Reville gave an update on the search for a new commissioner of education. The Board hopes to announce the appointment of a new commissioner at or before its regular meeting on January 22. Details of all BOE meetings can be found at www.doe.mass.edu/boe.

Graduation Rate Task Force The Graduation Rate Task Force should be making its recommendation to the BOE at its January meeting.

We offer Degrees and Certificates in In closing, I want to thank Dr. Tim Poynton for his service to MASCA over the past few years. His hard work and effort have allowed us to move forward as an organization and as school counselors, especially in the use of technology.

I also want to welcome aboard Ron Miller, who recently retired from Natick High School. Ron will take over as our interim webmaster. We are quite fortunate to have someone of his experience and caliber taking our webpage to the next level.

I hope that you all had a safe and restful holiday season and New Year.

Until next time . . . ■

6

COUNSELOR’S NOTEBOOK

JANUARY 2008

7

MASCA Moves Forward

I

am happy to report that MASCA is in good company. At the recent meeting of the North Atlantic school counseling association leaders at Springfield College, each state counselor association was asked to share the challenges they faced. Some of the obstacles mentioned were: lack of willing leaders to step forward, limited resources available to advance the work of the association, the need to promote member benefits and increase membership, and the lack of advocacy initiatives.

These are the same challenges that MASCA faces and were part of the brainstorming that our Governing Board did this past summer. These issues are not new, but we need to address them in order to ensure the long-term stability of our organization and a positive vision of school counselors in Massachusetts.

I am proud of the work that MASCA has been doing, but I know we need to do more. I invite you to get more involved in some way. Below are four such ways to accept this challenge. Are you ready?

Annual election information MASCA is currently soliciting nominations for the upcoming election cycle.

This year we will need a president-elect, as well as vice presidents for guidance administrators, middle / junior high, counselor educators, and retirees. The nomination form can be found in this issue of the Notebook. Return completed forms to me no later than February 1. Include a photo and biographical information for inclusion in the March and April editions of the CN. Vision document update I am very excited about the writing team that has taken on the challenge of writing a vision document for school counseling in Massachusetts. Carey Dimmitt, Dave Elsner, Karen Harrington, Thom Hughart and Jen Lisk have volunteered to be part of this project, which, for the time being, is identified as the Vision Taskforce.

The group has already had a conference call to begin the conversation, and they will meet later this month to begin

8

ROBERT BARDWELL MASCA Past President writing. The goal is to create a document that explains the vision of what MASCA wants the Massachusetts school counseling profession to be and what we need to do to get there. This document will be shared with our constituents (school boards, administrators, teachers, students and parents) as well as policy makers.

We have already determined that the new document will be different from the Model and its accompanying Implementation Guide. The vision document is meant to be a treatise about what school counseling is and where we want the profession to be in the future. Please share with me or other members of the taskforce what you would like to see in the document.

By-laws update The By-laws Committee will meet on January 30 prior to the Governing Board meeting in order to finalize changes that will be voted on at the annual spring conference. Currently, very few changes in the by-laws are being proposed. One suggestion is that committee chairs will be allowed to be voting members at Governing Board meetings. If you have other concerns or suggestions, contact me before January 15.

Annual instrument update As part of the MA Model Implementation Guide, MASCA has created a draft School Counselor Appraisal Instrument (SCPAI). This evaluation tool relates directly to the MA Model, and it is specifically for school counselors.

The tool can be found on MASCA’s website, and counselors are encouraged to download a copy and encourage their

supervisors to use the instrument as part of their annual evaluation process. Although we know that formal evaluation tools must be approved by the local union representing school counselors, this tool will be helpful for school counselors who want to move towards Model Implementation or who want to be evaluated with an instrument designed specifically for school counselors. Counselors and supervisors who use the tool are encouraged to give feedback on ways to improve the instrument.

Leadership Tip: BE BOLD I have wanted to share the following with you for quite a while. Now seems like an appropriate time. The author is unknown.

Good leaders inspire others to follow by being bold. If you want to inspire your fellow members, you must start thinking and doing things boldly. This means that you will choose a path that will not be easy.

When you choose to act boldly, you will have to leave your comfort zone and stretch yourself as a leader. You may propose an activity that is difficult or you may set a goal that will challenge your colleagues. When President Kennedy set the goal to land a man on the moon by the end of the 1960’s, no one knew how it would be accomplished. That is an example of a bold goal.

Leaders do not have to know how we are going to get to our goals. Often, just by setting the goal and focusing on it, we galvanize the members to find the way to turn the vision into reality. Once the bold goal is set and the members have bought into it, you can start building teams to work toward the goal. You will grow as a leader because you will have to bring those who are not thinking boldly onto the team.

Be bold in your actions and goals and become a better leader in your school and in MASCA. If you are interested in any of these topics, please contact me at bardwellr@ monsonschools.com. I eagerly await your feedback. ■ COUNSELOR’S NOTEBOOK

DEAN COLLEGE T H E W A Y T H E R E.

98% of our graduates get accepted into 4-year colleges.

9 8 % ! We m u s t b e d o i n g s o m e t h i n g r i g h t .

1-877-TRY-DEAN • www.dean.edu

JANUARY 2008

9

Guiding Students to College

By KIM GANGWISCH-MARSH MASCA Human Rights Committee Chair

G

reetings. This last week I booked the computer lab and spent the day introducing the FAFSA to my seniors. I had each of them go online and apply for a pin. With the exception of the handful of kids who were absent, I managed to do two things: get almost every one of my 140 seniors a FAFSA pin number and put a notion in their heads.

In addition, I gave each of them a copy of the online worksheet, and I told them to take it home to their parents. For those without Internet access, I offered to help them fill out the form at school, if they would return with the necessary parental information on the worksheet. If parents didn’t want to share that information, they could come to the school, and either I or their student could work with them.

My goal is, once we return from the winter break, to have all the students log on and hit “send.”

In the upcoming week, I will be back in the same classes to explain what the

10

Using financial aid information to plant a seed for future success FAFSA is about and to help students understand the financial aid process. I know.

“Pin first, information second” seems like a backward approach, but I think too much information, especially of this nature, dulls the teenage brain. My approach is pretty quick, and students will go home with homework. My hope is to plant a seed. Maybe they will grow into the idea by the time I work with them again. (I’m a hopeless optimist.)

However, despite my Pollyanna mission, I feel that unless I personally reach out to every one of my seniors — even those who profess they’re done with school — I might miss a kid from one of the families who aren’t thinking about “postsecondary anything” or a student who has yet to share any postsecondary

dreams with me. I figure that if I can raise awareness, I can kindle possibility.

If we, as counselors, leave financial aid responsibility to those parents who come to our financial aid nights, we are missing the boat with some of our caseload.

Not to mention contributing to the disproportionate number of economically disadvantaged, non-college-prepared students who people our schools but not postsecondary institutions.

We know that a very high percentage of our top 25% seniors are going to college. We also know that a number of our students in the upper middle 50% are also on track to go to college because they have parents who have gone themselves or want /expect that their child will go to college. But what about the rest of the student population?

When our principal awarded the John and Abigail Adams Scholarship to those students who had scored high enough to receive them, a number of students didn’t realize that their high MCAS scores equated to Massachusetts state college and university scholarships. Suddenly, students who had no prior interest in going on to school were thinking about it. And so were their parents. I got three calls from parents (none college-educated), who asked me to talk to their children about college.

It was from this student “ah ha” moment that I took my cue and scheduled the mass FASFA classes. What if one of my students was eligible for government grants and subsidized loans that could make college for them affordable? I know there are many. Almost 40% of the students receive free or reduced lunch. Would they, with this newfound knowledge and awareness, suddenly consider a postsecondary route, as did the students who won the Adams scholarships?

I have my fingers crossed. I’ll let you know how it turns out. Happy New Year! ■ COUNSELOR’S NOTEBOOK

MA Model Institute 2007-08 Update

By HELEN O’DONNELL, Ed.D.

C

ongratulations to the school districts and participants in the first Implementation Institute. As a result of collegial demand, a fall session was offered.

Fifty-one school counselors and one school principal from thirty-one school districts in the Commonwealth were enrolled in the first year-long Institute. Both groups will complete all course expectations by late April.

As a result of participation, all participating schools have • strengthened their program foundations by crafting mission statements and identifying CDE Benchmark links for strategic planning and their first-year action plans; • written management agreements and calendars designed to clarify and promote available school counseling programming and services; • developed standards-based classroom lessons and gathered data to document the impact of their service delivery and identify program gaps; • worked with online surveys and Russ Sabella’s Data Boot Camp to enhance their ability to analyze and present accountability data.

MA Model Implementation Trainers Three MASCA leaders have taken on the responsibility to provide training on the MA Model. They include: Katie Gray, M.Ed., former director of guidance at Blackstone Valley Tech, MA Model Chair, MASCA past president, president of Unique Potential: Consulting &

Leadership Coaching; Janice M. Tkaczyk, M.Ed., CAGS, retired guidance director at Cape Cod Tech, MASCA past president, ASCA Model trainer; and Helen O’Donnell, Ed.D, retired school counselor, MASCA Professional Development and Conference Chair, adjunct faculty member at Fitchburg State College ■

MARC’s leading the way All districts participating in the MA Model Institute are required to submit a MARC, Jr. (MA Accountability Report Card), to showcase their implementation efforts.

MA Model Implementation Showcase At the MASCA spring conference on Friday, April 11, 2008, all Institute participants will present implementation panels, poster / carousel sessions, and workshops to school counseling colleagues. Bring your questions, concerns, and suggestions and spend time with this talented group of colleagues.

Implementation articles Watch for implementation articles submitted by Institute participants in coming issues of the Counselor’s Notebook.

JANUARY 2008

11

College Application: A Case Studied

T

he holidays are a great time to reconnect with friends and family. This past Thanksgiving I spent the day with family members. One was a high school student, who expressed his anxiety about the college application process. He didn’t know where to begin or what schools to explore. I asked him if he had met with his school counselor. He said he had recently. Then I asked him what services the counselor had offered to him in that visit. He replied that “he was told to fill out a questionnaire and return it so that the counselor could write a recommendation letter.” That was all. He took the form and left.

This interaction took me back eighteen years to a similar encounter. In the four years that I attended private high school in Providence, my high school guidance counselor never sent me a pass.

One day, late in my senior year, I went to visit him to get the same help my young nephew-in-law needed. I said, “I want to go to college.” The counselor replied, “Good.” And then he pointed to a floor display of college view books in the main guidance office area. That was all.

We all have reasons for becoming a school counselor. Regardless of the reasons and constantly changing qualifications to be a school counselor, I think certain prerequisites should apply on any school’s job application: caring about people (not just students), respect of self and colleagues (at all times), patience, common sense, the ability to multi-task, and the desire to be a lifelong learner.

Lifelong learning can include a desire to go to quality professional development opportunities and take knowledge back to school and use it. It could also include reading counseling-related literature, taking college classes, or learning new computer skills, among other things.

We, like our students, have too many hours of computer screen time, but the computer is necessary for our work.

Learning how to send and receive e-mails, for example, can save us wasted time waiting to speak to someone in person.

Prep schedules, lunch, lunch duties, admin periods, sick days, teaching classes, and meetings can all hinder person to person

12

MATTHEW COLEMAN MASCA VP Secondary contact on a moment’s notice. Although e-mails can be impersonal, the end justifies the means. E-mails create a log of discussions, and they can open up a world of communication to outside resources.

And with the introduction of the online college application, the online Common Application, electronic career portfolios, etc., we have to recognize the value of technology in our work.

Getting back to my relative. His first college planning session could have been quite different. The counselor could have used technology easily in this session.

Starting with interests and abilities, he could have referenced prior assessments.

If none were available, the counselor could have gone to a site-licensed website or other free online inventories. He could have asked about elective courses my relative had taken. The student had taken a C.A.D. class because it was the closest elective to his main interest: construction management. Another quick discussion could have centered on organization: “Where do you keep college material and have you requested any?” We can’t assume that all students have their own desk or even their own bedroom.

Then, the counselor could have asked, “Why are you interested in construction management?” If he had, the student would have mentioned that “he has a part-time job in construction and some guys at work went to New England Institute of Technology or Wentworth Institute of Technology.” The counselor could then point out the basic differences in these schools. If the counselor wanted to and had time, he/she could quickly type in the name of each school into Google and

click the link for their website. Within five seconds or less the school’s website would have popped up. A couple more clicks of the mouse, and there would be the admissions home page. Another click and the student would see the school’s freshman year course of studies. It can be printed out while the student is still seated in front of you.

Five more minutes with the student and the counselor could go to the College Board website and use their “Matchmaker” to identify all schools with construction management in New England (if the student did not already know this).

Other discussion points were missed by the counselor. He could have asked: “Have you visited any schools and do you know how to do that?” “Are your parents /guardians supportive?” “How do you plan to finance your education?”

“What extracurricular activities are you looking for?” . . .

This school counselor may have had a class to teach or an IEP meeting to go to. My relative may have been a walk-in, and the counselor may have had an appointment waiting. I’ll assume the reason was good, knowing how incredibly hectic our schedule is. What I do know for sure is that he was not asked to fill out an appointment slip and come back later.

With each student that walks in our door, we must ask ourselves, “How would I feel in this young person’s position?” Or, “What did I need from my counselor when I was their age?” ■

Board of Education approves MassCore To learn more about the recommended courses for aligning high school graduation requirements and college admissions, go to: www.doe.mass.edu/ hsreform/cccr

COUNSELOR’S NOTEBOOK

JANUARY 2008

13

14

COUNSELOR’S NOTEBOOK

MASCA Awards 2008

By KATHLEEN BARRETT, Ed.D. MASCA Public Relations /Awards Committee Chair

M

assachusetts school counselors have the chance once again to recognize those who model and inspire excellence in our profession. The MASCA Awards Committee encourages you to nominate a colleague this year for the annual MASCA awards.

The nomination process is quick and easy, and it offers an invaluable opportunity to recognize someone who has made a meaningful contribution to the field.

Those nominated are honored by the act, and those selected as recipients are doubly honored. Here’s what you need to know.

MASCA members may nominate a candidate for any of the organization’s four traditional annual award categories: Counselor of the Year, Leadership, Administrator of the Year, and Special Award.

With its Torch awards MASCA recognizes a newcomer to the field as well as a retiring counselor. You can, thus, honor a colleague on both sides of the practice continuum.

Each award category has its own criteria, and candidates must provide evidence of meeting a minimum of two criteria. The Counselor of the Year, Leadership, and Torch Awards require MASCA membership, licensure, and current employment as a school counselor. The retiring / retired Torch Award is an exception to the current employment criterion.

Making a nomination To nominate your candidate, complete the MASCA Awards Nomination Form, provide two letters of recommendation, and include desired supporting informa-

tion. Supporting information could include the candidate’s resume, articles written about their programs, letters of support from their principal, etc. Be creative and include whatever best demonstrates why your candidate should be selected as a MASCA Award winner.

Send materials electronically to kathleen barrett@comcast.net. Or mail to MASCA Awards Committee, c/o Dr. Kathleen Barrett, 77 Emerson Road, Longmeadow, Massachusetts.

Nominations must be received by March 1, 2008 to be considered for this year’s awards.

The MASCA Awards Committee will select winners in each category and presentations will be made, according to our tradition, at the spring conference in Hyannis. ■

Awards Criteria Counselor of the Year Award • Has made outstanding contributions to the school community • Demonstrates excellent rapport with pupils, parents, and school personnel • Is a highly respected counselor of students

Leadership Award • Demonstrates able leadership in the counseling profession on the local, state, or national level • Provides extensive service to the community in youth activities and community service initiatives • Has made innovative contributions in research, publications, presentations, or workshop leadership • Actively participates in organizations at local, state, and or national levels

Administrator of the Year Award • Has made an outstanding and significant contribution to the guidance and counseling movement • Developed a new program • Implemented an innovative program • Initiated unusual improvements of guidance service in his / her area of responsibility Special Award • Made a contribution of unusual significance that substantially affects the guidance and counseling profession • Made a contribution that directly affects counselors • Made a contribution that directly affects students • Made a contribution that directly affects a school program

Nomination form is found on page 16.

DEADLINE FOR NOMINATIONS: MARCH 1, 2008 JANUARY 2008

The MASCA Torch Award . . .

Passing the torch (You may nominate in one or both categories)

Retiring Counselor • Retiring this year or has retired within the last five years (mandatory) • A model for new counselors, demonstrating highest standards of professional competence • Has made outstanding contributions to the school community and/or profession • Demonstrated excellent rapport with students, parents, and school personnel Rising Star • A newcomer to the profession, who has entered the field within the last five years (mandatory) • A model for new counselors, demonstrating highest standards of professional competence • Has made outstanding contributions to the school community and/or profession • Demonstrated excellent rapport with students, parents, and school personnel ■

15

MASCA Awards 2008 Nomination Form Person nominated: ____________________________________________________________________________________________ Place of employment: _________________________________________________________________________________________ Position held:______________________________________________________________________________________________ Superintendent: ____________________________________________________________________________________________ Is the nominee a member of MASCA?

___ Yes

___ No

Award for which this person is nominated: ___ Counselor of the Year ___ Leadership Award

___ Administrator of the Year ___ Special

___ Torch: Rising Star ___ Torch: Retiring

In your nomination packet, consider the criteria listed for the award category and offer specific examples to demonstrate how your candidate met the criteria and contributed to the school and professional community.

Person making the nomination: ______________________________________________________________________________ Address: __________________________________________________________________________________________________ ___________________________________________________________________________________________________________ Telephone: ________________________________________________________________________________________________ Mail to: MASCA Awards Committee c/o Dr. Kathleen Barrett, Chairperson 77 Emerson Road Longmeadow, MA 01106

E-mail: kathleenbarrett@comcast.net E-mail: (Put “MASCA Award Nomination” in the subject line)

DEADLINE: MARCH 1, 2008

Institute Trainers MA Model Implementation Institute Trainers are available for site visits, department reviews, curriculum day-training, and consultation.

To discuss your needs and financial arrangements, contact Jan Tkaczyk at jantkaczyk@comcast.net or Katie Gray at uniquepotential@comcast.net.

16

COUNSELOR’S NOTEBOOK

Nominations Requested from Counselor Educators

By KATHLEEN BARRETT, Ed.D. MASCA Awards Committee Chair

A

s I write this article, the end of the semester is almost upon us, and

I’m sitting next to a giant pile of papers to grade. Like many of my colleagues, I guess!

By the time you read this, I hope my counselor educator colleagues (and our students) will be refreshed from a great holiday break and will be getting ready to begin the new semester. Before the bells ring and we’re off and running to a new set of classes, the MASCA Awards committee has a small, but meaningful, request. We would like you to encourage your students to apply for MASCA’s George Thompson Memorial Scholarship, which recognizes exceptional promise.

THE GEORGE THOMPSON MEMORIAL SCHOLARSHIP: The Value of Winning

By LAUREN McNALLY Graduate Student, Assumption College

A

s recipient of the 2007 George Thompson Memorial Scholarship, I want to encourage all current graduate students to apply for this prestigious award. George Thompson left a profound impact on the Holliston school system, and being nominated for this award was quite an honor. By applying for this scholarship, students are promising dedication to their future school counseling professions.

Writing the essay, “What Counseling Means to Me,” gave me an opportunity to reflect on my goals and ambitions as I enter the counseling field. As I stated in my essay, “I have a desire to leave a positive impact on the lives of my students,

promoting both their educational and personal successes. Having the opportunity to effectively communicate and enhance students’ high school careers is my true passion.”

Attending the MASCA conference in Hyannis last spring introduced me to the many continuing education and professional development opportunities available to counselors, and I was inspired to become even more active.

The George Thompson Memorial Scholarship provides a wonderful opportunity to make a graduate student stand out among numerous qualified candidates.

I am grateful that I had the opportunity to apply and represent the scholarship. ■

Nominate your graduate student in school counseling for recognition by MASCA. Deadline: March 1, 2008

The $1,000 award helps somewhat with college costs.

Please encourage a deserving student.

Winning is a wonderful honor, but the application process alone can be affirming for a student. Knowing that their professor supports them and recognizes their excellence goes a long way toward building confidence and recognizing excellence.

This is a nice way to give back to our profession.

The application process is easy. The student must send • a letter, • a copy of the current transcript, • a letter of reference from a counselor educator, and • an essay titled “What Counseling Means to Me.” The entire application can be e-mailed to me at kathleenbarrett@sjc.edu. Please put “MASCA Thompson Scholarship Application” in the message line. The deadline for applying is March 1. ■ JANUARY 2008

17

ED’S VIEWS

ED BRYANT, NCC MASCA Life Trustee

A

s I sit and write this column, it is the beginning of December, and I’m looking forward to Christmas. How was your Thanksgiving? My family had its annual touch football game. My team lost. But we have much to be thankful for at this holiday season.

Do you participate in the VFW Voice of Democracy program? At Ipswich High School, an English teacher uses it as a class project. The winner is submitted to the local and district VFW, and both the teacher and the student receive an award from the Ipswich VFW. School counselors are concerned about the health of their counselees. What about the health of the counselor? Do you get a regular checkup? According to “Bottom Line” here are some items to check: blood pressure, hamstrings, lymph nodes, pulse points, and thyroid. What do your lab tests include besides cholesterol? How do you shovel wet, heavy snow? Do you push the heavy white stuff instead of lifting it? Are you aware of the symptoms of a heart attack? As one who has had a triple bypass, it “ain’t” fun!

Other thoughts for the New Year pertain to MASCA. As we say in the armed services, review your vision, your mission, your strategic imperatives, and your tactics.

My holiday thought for all: “Walk while we have the light.” Best to all for 2008. ■

Plan now to attend the MASCA Spring Conference • • • • 18

Programs Exhibits Hospitality Networking

COUNSELOR’S NOTEBOOK

Massachusetts School Counselors Association Officers Nomination Form 2008-2009 Nominations may be submitted by either of the following: 1) an affiliate association with authorized signature, or 2) the signatures of ten MASCA members.

Please note: • Nominees must be paid-up members of MASCA and have indicated a willingness to serve.

• The President-elect automatically becomes President.

• The slate will consist of President-elect, VP Counselor Educators, VP Guidance Administrators, VP Middle / Jr. High, and VP Retirees.

Mail by February 1 to: Bob Bardwell Monson High School 55 Margaret Street Monson, MA 01057

Deadline for receipt of nominations is February 1, 2008.

This nomination submitted by:_______________________________________________________________ Affiliate association: ________________________________________________________________________ Authorized signature: _______________________________________________________________________ Date: ____________________________________________________________________________________ Telephone number: _________________________________________________________________________ MASCA Members:

School Address:

__________________________________________________________________________________________ __________________________________________________________________________________________ __________________________________________________________________________________________ __________________________________________________________________________________________ __________________________________________________________________________________________ __________________________________________________________________________________________ __________________________________________________________________________________________ __________________________________________________________________________________________ __________________________________________________________________________________________ __________________________________________________________________________________________ JANUARY 2008

19

Nominee Information Sheet 2008-2009 Candidate for the office of: __________________________________________________________________ Nominee: _________________________________________________________________________________ Position now held: _________________________________________________________________________ School address: ____________________________________________________________________________ _________________________________________________________________________________________ Home address: ____________________________________________________________________________ _________________________________________________________________________________________

Educational background:____________________________________________________________________ _________________________________________________________________________________________ _________________________________________________________________________________________ _________________________________________________________________________________________

Experience in School Counseling:_____________________________________________________________ _________________________________________________________________________________________ _________________________________________________________________________________________ _________________________________________________________________________________________

Professional affiliations: ____________________________________________________________________ _________________________________________________________________________________________ _________________________________________________________________________________________ _________________________________________________________________________________________

Please attach a recent photograph of the candidate.

20

COUNSELOR’S NOTEBOOK

MASCA 2008 Spring Conference

By HELEN O’DONNELL, Ed.D. MASCA Conference Chair

R

ecognizing the challenges many of you experienced using our first online membership renewal and conference registration, we have researched and chosen a new provider: Cvent.

Welcome to Ron Miller, MASCA’s new webmaster. Ron, our techie-talented colleague, recently retired from Natick; and

he is now working to improve MASCA’s website. With his expertise and newlyintroduced Cvent, our past issues with online processing should be resolved. Try it.

You’ll like it. Go to www.masca.org.

Please confirm your primary MASCA e-mail. When you renew your MASCA membership or register for conferences,

our new online service provider recognizes members by e-mail address. Therefore, when using this service, you must decide which e-mail address to use for MASCA mailing. To register for conferences at member rates, keep your membership current and use your MASCA email address.

Conference Notes • Credit Card payment will be available for conference registration and membership renewal together in one combined transaction. Renewed memberships will be extended for one year from your current expiration date.

• Rosalind Wiseman is coming to the conference on April 11.

• Book signings will be held on both days.

• MA Model Institute participants will present an afternoon of implementation success.

• Graduate Student Day is April 12.

• Welcome new committee members. Thanks for volunteering.

• Donations for MASCA raffles are needed. Proceeds from the raffle support our MASCA camp scholarships, scholarships, and community service learning projects. ■

Conference Opportunities for Graduate Students at the MASCA Conference

By REBECCA A. SCHUMACHER MASCA VP Counselor Educators

D

espite snowstorms and a recent farewell to the holiday season, spring and the MASCA 2008 Spring Conference will appear on our calendars soon. During January, information will be e-mailed to school counselor educators and graduate students about programs specifically designed for graduate students. Mark April 10-12, 2008 to be at the Sheraton in Hyannis for the conference.

Three events in particular will be geared for graduate students. The Graduate Student Poster Session will provide the opportunity for students wanting to experience presenting on a topic of interest. More detailed information and how to submit a proposal will be e-mailed in January to all school counseling programs. Students, when you return to school for the spring semester, check with your faculty for this

JANUARY 2008

information. If you have given your e-mail address to either of the graduate student liaisons, Carol Read or Erin McCrave, the information will be e-mailed directly to you.

A second session during the conference will offer information and materials about the job search, including the application and interview processes. If you are graduating this spring or summer, this is one session you want to be sure to attend. Feedback last year on this topic was very positive, so we believe this year’s information and handouts will again help guide you through this critical process.

Along the same theme pertaining to your future, the third session will be a panel of professionally licensed school counselors who will offer their suggestions, tips, and strategies for success in our profession. This session will be geared

for graduate students and first-year school counselors. Questions such as how to navigate the politics of schools, staying organized, developing partnerships with administration, teachers, and parents, and avoiding burn-out are just some of the topics that will be discussed along with guidance from the panel.

The conference is also a wonderful opportunity to network with other graduate students and school counselors, have some fun, and attend informative and worthy content sessions.

If you would like to have the graduate student liaisons contact you about the spring conference, please send your email address to me, and I will forward it to Carol and Erin. Feel free to e-mail me at any time about the conference: Rebecca .schumacher@umb.edu. ■

21

PEOPLE, PLACES, AND PROGRAMS

Massachusetts School Counselors Association

Order Form 2008 DIRECTORY OF MASSACHUSETTS SCHOOL COUNSELORS The Directory lists school counselors in K-12 public, private, parochial, regional and technical high schools. Phone, fax, and e-mail information is included. Each MASCA member will receive one (1) complimentary copy of the Directory.

Any additional questions may be sent to Janice M. Tkaczyk at jantkaczyk@ comcast.net.

PLEASE USE THE ORDER FORM BELOW TO ORDER YOUR COPIES, order online and use your credit card, or download the form at www.masca.org.

DIRECTORY OF SCHOOL COUNSELORS 1-5 copies @ $30.00 each . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . # ______

$_________

Additional Copies 6 or more @ $25.00 each . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . # ______

$ _________

Shipping and Handling @$3.50 each . . . . . . . . . . # ______

$_________

5.00 P. O. Processing Fee (per order) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $ _________ Checks payable to: MASCA

TOTAL ENCLOSED: . $ _________

If paying by credit card, please check this box ■ and forward to Jan Tkaczyk.

If mailing the form, please send to: Janice M. Tkaczyk P.O. Box 318 East Dennis, MA 02641

Your name and contact information: Name: ______________________________________________________________ School District/Business: _______________________________________________ Mailing Address: _____________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________ E-mail Address: ______________________________________________________ Phone: _____________________________________________________________

22

South Shore counselors meet Drew University sponsored the South Shore Guidance Association in December at the Sheraton in Braintree. School counselors were treated to both a delicious meal and informative presentations on the school’s special offerings.

North Shore counselors meet In early December counselors on the North Shore celebrated the holidays at the meeting sponsored annually by Dean College at the 1650 Hart House in Ipswich. Over 60 counselors attended this festive occasion.

The following week the Northeast Counselors Association met at Jimmy’s Allenhurst in Peabody to learn more about the programs at New England Technical Institute.

WMCA sponsors meetings The Western Massachusetts Counselors Association (WMCA) traditionally holds five dinner meetings during the year. We also provide professional development opportunities for our membership, and we award a number of academic scholarships for the relatives of our members.

This year our opening meeting was held in October at the Carriage House at Storrowton Tavern in West Springfield.

We were fortunate to have the meeting hosted by the Pine Tree Admission Consortium (Bridgton Academy, Saint Joseph’s College of Maine, Southern Maine Community College, University of Maine, University of Maine at Farmington, University of New England, University of Southern Maine, and Maine College of Arts).

The admissions staff of these schools helped make this evening a success. They discussed their unique programs and opportunities, and many WMCA members expressed an interest in visiting the schools during their spring counselor tour.

In late November, Drew University hosted our dinner meeting at Max’s Tavern at the Basketball Hall of Fame in COUNSELOR’S NOTEBOOK

Springfield. Mary Beth Carey, director of admissions, and William Mohan, the New England regional admissions representative, were wonderful hosts. They gave us a personal and informative view of the school. Our members were impressed with the types of majors and the experiences offered at this college.

On November 16, WMCA sponsored its annual fall professional development program, “The Internet, What Children are Doing and the Risks.” This full-day conference featured Sgt. Steven Del Negro and Lt. Michael Kalmbach from the Massachusetts State Police Computer Forensic Unit / ICAC Task Force.

Attendees expressed a desire to have the program repeated. The conference, which included a continental breakfast, coffee break, and lunch cost only $40 for members and $60 for non-members.

Our Professional Development Committee (which consists of Ellen Frost and Betsy Ogonis, co-chairs, and Phyllis Levenson, Andrea Bryla and Dottie O’Neil) has started investigating new topics for the spring conference. For information about the conference, e-mail Ellen Frost at efrost@enfieldschools.org or Betsy Ogonis at bogonis@enfieldschools.org.

The WMCA Executive Board is: President, Phyllis Levenson President-elect, Amy Scully Past President, Elaine Sands Secretary, Ruth Robert Treasurer, Sheila Burke Membership Chair, Lauren Perry Reservations Chair, Carrie Buckner Newsletter Chair, Becky Lescarbeau Professional Development Co-chairs, Ellen Frost and Betsy Ogonis Publicity and Awards Chair, Michelle LaVallee Scholarship Chair, Donna Lyons Social Chair, Christine Beluzo Nominating Chair, Bob Bardwell

NECA plans meetings Northeast Counselors Association will meet on: • January 17, Executive Board only • February 6, Secretary’s Night, Merrimack College • March 4, Johnson & Wales University at Angelica’s in Middleton • May 6, Dean College at Danversport Yacht Club in Danvers. ■ JANUARY 2008

SAVE THE DATES! 2nd MA Model Implementation Institute 2008-2009 Tuesday, July 15 . . . . . . . . . . . . . Dean College Wednesday, July 16 . . . . . . . . . . Dean College Thursday, October 23 . . . . . . . . MASCA Fall Conference Wednesday, November 19 . . . . Dean College Implementation sharing at the MASCA Spring 2009 Conference Implementation Institute offers a 45 PDPs MASCA Certificate Optional (for additional fee): 3 graduate credits from Fitchburg State College Watch for course description, requirements, and registration at www.masca.org Trainers: Katie Gray, Jan Tkaczyk, Helen O’Donnell

Look Forward To Your Future

With Mitchell College’s outstanding 4 and 2-year academic programs, along with the Thames Academy pre college experience , we can provide you with the education and support you need for the future you envision.

SM SM

New Programs and Highlights for 2007-2008: • Thames Academy, an innovative • New Bachelor Programs: one-year certificate Post-Grad/ Communications, Tourism & Pre-College experience Hospitality, Homeland Security and Environmental Science • Mitchell’s Learning Resource Center is one of the nation’s premier programs for students • NCAA Division III Athletics with documented learning disabilities and AD/HD

Mitchell College • 437 Pequot Avenue • New London, Connecticut 06320 (800)443-2811 • www.mitchell.edu

23

SAVE THE DATES!

MASCA 2008 Spring Conference Four Points Sheraton, Hyannis Thursday – Saturday, April 10 -12, 2008 KEYNOTE SPEAKERS including Rosalind Wiseman, author of Queen Bees

3 full days of professional development activities, networking, and hospitality.

For exhibitor information or to plan a program, suggest an activity, or join the Conference Committee, contact Helen O’Donnell, Conference Chair, at helenod@att.net.

YOUR MEMBERSHIP RENEWAL DATE IS INDICATED BY YEAR AND MONTH ON YOUR ADDRESS LABEL BELOW.

When you renew your membership, return both the application and your check made payable to “MASCA” to the Membership Coordinator. To receive an acknowledgement of your membership, please include your e-mail address.

Massachusetts School Counselors Association, Inc. COUNSELOR’S NOTEBOOK Sally A. Connolly, Editor

PRESORTED STANDARD U.S. POSTAGE

PAID

CHANGE OF ADDRESS ?

NORTH READING, MA PERMIT NO. 96

..........................................

NAME

..........................................

ADDRESS

..........................................

CITY

STATE

ZIP CODE

Please include former address as shown at right and send to:

DEBORAH CLEMENCE P.O. Box 805 East Dennis, MA 02641 FORWARDING SERVICE REQUESTED

January 2008