Counselor's Notebook, March 2008

Volume 44

Number 7

The Answer Is Elementary

www.masca.org

March 2008

MASCA 2008 Spring Conference The Resort & Conference Center at Hyannis Thursday – Saturday, April 10 -12, 2008 KEYNOTE SPEAKERS

KAREN D’AMOUR MASCA President-elect

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any elementary schools in Massachusetts do not have a school counselor as part of their staff, and I am sure there are a variety of reasons. Some schools may feel that historically they have not had an elementary school counseling position and, therefore, they do not need one. Other schools may have increasing budget constraints and, as a result, they have eliminated these positions.

It seems that in our ever-changing world — with an increase in violence in our communities, war abroad, and the changing dynamic of the family structure — school districts need to consider how these issues impact our elementary school children.

I decided to interview the elementary school counselors in my school district in order to get a better perspective on their roles. The role of an elementary school counselor, I found, varies from one school to another and one district to another, but there seemed to be some common threads.

The broad goal of the elementary counselor is comprehensive, developmental, and prevention-based. The counselor’s responsibilities usually include individual, (continued on page 21)

Thursday, April 10 Jim Desrosiers, author of Charting the Course: One Life.

Endless Possibilities. Getting Started

Friday, April 11 Rosalind Wiseman, author of Queen Bees & Wannabes, Queen Prom Moms & KingPin Dads, Owning Up Curriculum

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

Register online or use the form on page 14 of this issue.

Inside . . .

MASCA Bylaws Proposed Changes .....10

MASCA PDP Signup Form........... 17

Guidance Administrators Forum Program ...................................12

Directory Order Form ..................20

MASCA Conference Registration .......14

To renew your membership, go to www.masca.org.

MASCA Conference at a Glance ........15

MASCA MEMBERS WELCOME! UMass Boston School Counseling Student Association 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 VICE PRESIDENT POSTSECONDARY JAY LEIENDECKER Vice President Enrollment Services, Dean College Tel. 508-541-1509 • Fax 508-541-8726 E-mail: jleiendecker@dean.edu

presents

Collaborating with Community Partners to Implement the Massachusetts School Counseling Model Presenter: Katie Gray

Thursday, May 1, 2008 Campus Center 3rd Floor Bay View Room #3540 PDP Documentation will be available

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

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COUNSELOR’S NOTEBOOK

Please Save My Library

By SALLY A. CONNOLLY, CN Editor

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his past holiday season, parents, grandparents, and doting aunts agonized over what to give their special child.

After careful consideration, most ruled out toys with small parts, lead paint, powerful magnets, or projectile parts.

Making it onto my personal shopping list were Hannah Montana MP3 players and talking globes. But my granddaughter Kaitlyn, a second-grader, delighted as much in receiving the safest, and best, gift of all – a book.

I should have remembered Kaitlyn’s recent school project, which called upon her to illustrate what she liked best about school. Kaitlyn’s completed assignment portrayed a colorful schoolhouse with a smiling woman standing in a room lined with books. Her favorite room in the school, she had written at the top of the page, was the library, and her favorite person was the librarian.

Kaitlyn’s reason? “Because,” she had written carefully, “the library has books.

And when I read, I play in my mind.”

A book, we gift-givers should recall, eliminates worries about choking, lingering illness, perforated intestines, and broken bones. By simply turning the pages, a reader can safely open up a world of imaginative play. And more.

Millions of other children, young adults, and even adults agree with my granddaughter. For years they have bought and pored over four hundred million copies of the Harry Potter books.

The magnitude of this reading phenomenon has been recognized by various groups in the past year. Entertainment Weekly magazine named Harry’s creator, J.K. Rowling, as 2007 Entertainer of the Year. Barbara Walters selected her as the Most Fascinating Person of 2007. And Time magazine honored Rowling as a runner-up for its 2007 Person of the Year.

Recently, Kaitlyn articulated another reason books are such an important part of her life. As she read one of her chapter books in bed, her younger sister, Olivia, a preschooler, asked, “Katie, is reading fun?”

“Yes,” Kaitlyn replied. “When I read, the book talks to me.”

This silent conversation with authors must be protected and promoted, even when a budget crunch looms in our community. The internal dialogue provides not only pleasurable play; it opens a win-

MARCH 2008

dow of opportunity. It is a gift that keeps giving, and it must remain abundantly available to all.

When Kaitlyn returned to school after the holiday vacation, she shared her New Year’s resolution with her classmates. “I would like to be able to read more,” she said. And she added, “I also want to be able to go to the library more.”

In Kaitlyn’s community of Newburyport, budget difficulties have meant the re-

configuration of schools, larger classes, additional fees, and the elimination of some programs. If future financial cutbacks threaten one of her favorite things about school, I am sure Kaitlyn will plead loudly and clearly, “Please save my library.” _________________________ Ms. Connolly is the author of A BOY FROM LAWRENCE (2006) and Never Better: All Things Considered (2007). For information, go to www.neverbetter.net. I

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A Message from the President

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hope that as you read this edition of the Counselor’s Notebook, you are getting excited about the upcoming annual spring conference and are making plans to attend. I look forward to seeing many of you there — reconnecting with counselors and meeting some new attendees as well. I can’t believe that this will be my ninth MASCA spring conference!

I know, however, that some readers have an ever-growing list of reasons not to attend the conference. Making the time can be difficult. Family commitments, finances, distance to Hyannis, the work (and students) piling up while out of the office for two days. The list could go on

JENNIFER J. McGUIRE MASCA President and on. We are all pulled in many directions, both professionally and personally.

What I can tell you from my own experience is that each year’s conference has

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.

been better than the one before. Breakout sessions are increasingly relevant and engaging, making it difficult to choose which ones to attend. Our keynote speakers are nationally- and internationally-recognized individuals. Over all, the conference committee is committed to giving you a top-notch professional development experience.

For those of you who are reviewing your “why not to attend list” right now, here are reasons to reconsider joining us in Hyannis. Hope to see all of you there.

Jen’s Top 10 Reasons to attend the MASCA Spring Conference: Number 10: Keynote presenter Rosalind Wiseman, internationally recognized author/educator of Queen Bees & Wannabes and Queen Prom Moms & KingPin Dads Number 9: Keynote presenter Jim Desrosiers, president of GROWTHco and an expert in goal setting and time management Number 8: A full-day workshop on Career Planning (Anyone who knows me understands why I would not miss a chance to plug this one.)

Number 7: An Exhibit Hall full of more than candy and pens. This is an opportunity to connect with colleges, learn about specialized programs for kids, purchase resources and much, much more.

Number 6: Amazing resources for graduate students, including Employment Tips Panel, resume reviews, interview suggestions, and graduate student poster sessions Number 5: The MASCA General Meeting—your chance to stay current on what is going on in your organization Number 4: Presentations on the Biotech Initiative, a partnership between MASCA and the Massachusetts Department of Education Number 3: Presentation of the annual MASCA awards (of which you could one day be a recipient) Number 2: Three days and two nights on Cape Cod Number 1: Networking and socializing with your colleagues ■

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MARCH 2008

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EXEC’S NEWS

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t its January 17 meeting the Board of Education voted to approve a new commissioner for the Department of Education: Mitchell Dan Chester, Senior Associate State Superintendent for the Ohio Department of Education. We welcome Mr. Chester to Massachusetts, and we look forward to continuing our relationship with the DOE, as we work collaboratively on issues relating to school counselors and students and families in Massachusetts. We also want to thank Jeff Nielhaus for his service over the past year and through the transition period.

The Board of Education revised the graduation rate formula for Massachusetts public high schools. Under the new policy, high schools must meet or surpass a four-year graduation rate of 60 percent (up from a single rate of 55%) and a fiveyear graduation rate of 65 percent (new) or show a two percentage point increase in the four-year graduation rate (new) from the previous year. This is the second year of using graduation rate data as one of the determinations for districts to achieve AYP (Annual Yearly Progress).

BOB QUIST MASCA Executive Director Since last spring, a task force met numerous times to develop recommendations to present to the Board of Education. I believe that the Board of Education has made a thoughtful decision; however, I also believe it does not go far enough in terms of urban schools and the special education issue. Transiency, which is a major issue in urban school districts, is one example.

Districts are confronted with many students who show up for a week or two and then disappear. Or they come from other districts having done poorly in their previous district, yet that becomes

We offer Degrees and Certificates in

a statistic for the receiving school district.

In my own district we had a student enter our district from a neighboring school district. The student had had little or no success and dropped out in one week. My district now owns that statistic without ever having any real chance to make a difference.

Many of our transferring students, especially those entering mid-year, come with an academic deficit, and they are not in a position to make it in the remaining number of standard years. In terms of special education, those students who are in out-of-district placements(ODPs) may not graduate in the standard number of years for a variety of different reasons, yet the particular school (in most cases just one in a district) are the ones held accountable.

I hope that over time the Board of Education will revisit this issue. I suggest that a receiving district for transferring students be allowed to make a sound educational decision and place the student in the correct grade range, that the district not be penalized for doing the right thing, and that students in ODPs be counted but not used as part of the Special Education subgroup.

In any event I commend the Board of Education for including a school counselor on the task force. This move brought a perspective that would not have otherwise entered into the decision making process.

MASCA Spring Conference It is almost here, April 10-12 at the Resort and Conference Center (formerly the Four Points Sheraton) in Hyannis. A tremendous number of breakout sessions and major keynoters will be presented. Helen O’Donnell and her committee have been working non-stop to once again bring professional development opportunities for the benefit of all of us. Detailed information can be found on the MASCA website.

Guidance Administrators Forum The Guidance Administrators Forum 20th Annual Conference for Guidance Counselors and Administrators, “Creating a Welcoming and Positive School Environment,” will be held on Thursday, March 20 at Regis College. Information and the flyer can be found in this issue of CN and on the MASCA website. Registrations are limited. Check it out.

Until next time . . . ■

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COUNSELOR’S NOTEBOOK

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MARCH 2008

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Finding Professional Development Opportunities

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THOM HUGHART MASCA VP Administrators

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rofessional development has to be more than merely collecting PDPs for the purpose of relicensure. We have a professional responsibility to our students, our teachers, and our communities to continue to grow and develop.

How many of us can say that guidance counseling is the same now as it was fifteen or twenty years ago? Five or ten years ago? Or even just a few years ago? Guess what. We don’t even call ourselves guidance counselors any longer. We are school

counselors.

I frequently hear about the lack of professional development opportunities in our own schools and districts. Teachers have quite a few, but counselors do not.

And the opportunities geared specifically for counselors range from $150 for one day to $300-400 for a couple of days.

Many of us can’t afford that. But I think there are professional development opportunities that we can make happen: • Aren’t our affiliate meetings professional development? We discuss what we are doing, compare concerns, and share information.

• Let’s not forget one of our greatest professional development offerings: our MASCA annual conference. School counselors gather in the same place to present our best practices, learn from each other, and network. If you haven’t been to the MASCA website to see the preliminary program, go now. What an opportunity to be together for two and a half days and learn so much.

• The Guidance Administrators had a one-day conference on Positive and Welcoming School Environments.

• There was a fall conference in Sturbridge.

A first-year counselor remarked to me that she missed the connection, networking, and dialogue that she had experienced in her internship/practicum class her final year in grad school. A number of us veteran counselors decided to fill the gap.

About four times per year we host a meeting in our (Metro West) area at one of our high schools for all counselors who have been out one or two years. What a way to connect and support each other. Sometimes if we don’t get out of our own buildings we mistakenly think that everyone does everything the same way we do things.

The final way to find free professional development for your department is to teach each other. Whenever a counselor attends a conference, workshop, reads a book on school counseling, takes a course, or attends a meeting, find time for a presentation at a department meeting. Don’t forget the interns working in your department. They go to classes every week and can teach us so much, if we only ask.

Professional development is all around, but we have to get up, leave our building (and our comfort zone), and take advantage of it. ■ COUNSELOR’S NOTEBOOK

MARCH 2008

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MASCA Bylaws Proposed Changes Current Language

Proposed Language

Rationale for change

ARTICLE VIII – GOVERNING BOARD Section 1. Voting Members: Voting members of the Governing Board shall include the President, President-elect, Immediate Past President, the seven Vice Presidents, and one Trustee from each Massachusetts school counseling affiliate association. Honorary/Life Members of the Governing Board will have one vote shared among all Honorary/ Life members in attendance at the meeting.

Section 1. Voting Members: Voting members of the Governing Board shall include the President, President-elect, Immediate Past President, the seven Vice Presidents, the standing committee chairs and one Trustee from each Massachusetts school counseling affiliate association. Honorary/ Life Members of the Governing Board will have one vote shared among all Honorary/ Life members in attendance at the meeting.

Committee chairs make a tremendous contribution to MASCA and are expected to attend Governing Board meetings, therefore they should have the right to vote. Additionally, they often have to make motions for action items requiring a vote, but currently cannot make a motion as they do not have a vote.

ARTICLE X – COMMITTEES Section 2. Committee chairs will serve a term of three years with a limit of three consecutive terms with the exception of the Strategic Planning and Nominating and Bylaws Committees which are chaired by the immediate Past President and thus are one year term only and the Conferences Committee chair who is appointed by the President-elect annually. Ad Hoc committee chairs will be appointed by the President as long as the need for the Committee exists.

Section 2. Committee chairs will serve a term of three years with a limit of three consecutive terms with the exception of the Strategic Planning and Nominating and Bylaws Committees which are chaired by the immediate Past President and thus are one year term only and the Conferences Committee chair who is appointed by the President-elect annually. Vacant committee chair positions will be filled by the President-elect with approval by the Governing Board no later than the final meeting of the school year. Ad Hoc committee chairs will be appointed by the President as long as the need for the Committee exists.

This language allows the Governing Board to approve the Committee chair(s) selected by the President and ensures that no one president can appoint numerous committee chairs who will also now be able to vote.

ARTICLE XI – DUES Section 2. Annual dues for Associate Members shall be four-fifths of the annual rate for Professional Members, rounded to the next highest five dollar ($5.00) amount.

Section 2. Annual dues for Associate Members shall be the same as the annual rate for Professional Members.

Associate members receive all of the benefits of membership except voting rights, so therefore they should pay the same amount of dues.

Vote on proposed bylaw changes at the MASCA Conference on Friday, April 11, 2008 10

COUNSELOR’S NOTEBOOK

Making Your Voice Count

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s the presidential primary season winds down, MASCA is gearing up for its annual election of officers. Per our bylaws, a slate of officers will be chosen at the annual spring conference in Hyannis this April. MASCA members unable to attend the conference can vote by using the ballot in this issue of the Notebook. The deadline for receipt of mailed ballots is April 9. Many thanks to the five individuals who have taken the challenge and allowed their names to be considered for office. You have a wonderful group of nominees who will serve our profession well.

Emerging leaders program In a previous article I talked about Dave Elsner and Jen Lisk, the MASCA Emerging Leaders for 2007-08. Dave is a school counselor at Foxborough Regional Charter School, and Jen is a school counselor at Medway High School.

The Emerging Leaders Program (ELP) was approved in early 2007 by the MASCA Governing Board. The main goal of the program is to identify potential leaders in the school counseling profession in Massachusetts and get them involved with MASCA. To qualify, an individual must be a professional school counselor and MASCA member, have not been an elected or appointed Governing Board member, and have a desire to give back to our profession.

EL’s must present at a MASCA sponsored conference, attend a Governing Board meeting and one of the affiliate meetings, write articles for the Counselor’s Notebook, and participate in EL trainings.

In return, emerging leaders receive a free, one-year membership in MASCA, free conference registration, and free leadership training.

This year, Dave and Jen worked on the MASCA Vision for School Counseling in Massachusetts, and they helped prepare the final draft of the document. Their exMARCH 2008

ROBERT BARDWELL MASCA Past President perience, I think, will be very helpful in their professional roles and, ultimately, will help the students and families they serve.

It is time again to recruit emerging leaders. If you meet the criteria, please contact me at bardwellr@monsonschools .com or 413-267-4589 x1107. The deadline to reply is April 15. Don’t miss this unique and exciting program. It will forever impact you as a professional school counselor.

Bylaw voting at the conference Three proposed bylaw changes will be voted on by the MASCA membership at the spring conference on Friday, April 11.

Our bylaws mandate that changes be presented to the membership at least thirty days prior to the vote. This information is posted in the chart on page 10, and it will be available, as well, on MASCA’s website. The first two proposals deal with committee chairs being able to vote as members of the Governing Board, and the third has to do with changing the dues for associate members to that of professional members. If you have a question about the proposed bylaw revisions, contact me at bardwellr@monsonschools.com.

Spring will soon be here. I hope that this new season brings you much peace and happiness. ■

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COUNSELOR’S NOTEBOOK

MARCH 2008

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COUNSELOR’S NOTEBOOK

MASCA 2008 Spring Conference Charting the Course: MARC’s Leading the Way April 10-12, 2008 • The Resort & Conference Center at Hyannis (formerly, Four Points by Sheraton)

Agenda at a Glance (check for updates on MASCA’s website, www.masca.org)

Wednesday, April 9 • Exhibitor set-up • Early conference registration • Mt. Ida College Welcome Reception, Resort & Conference Center at Hyannis

Thursday, April 10 • Opening breakfast • Keynote and morning breakout session: Jim Desrosiers Author of Charting the Course: One Life. Endless Possibilities. Getting Started Attendee registration packets will include his book. Book signing at his exhibitor booth.

• Full day: Career Plan Implementation Workshop, co-presented by MA DOE, UMA CSCOR, and MASCA representatives. (This is a slightly modified version of the sold-out, highly-rated workshop series sponsored by the MA DOE / CVTE unit in 2007.)

• Three program-session time slots • Biotech Implementation Poster Sessions / Carousels • Exhibit Hall 3-D’s: demonstrations, discussions, displays • Lunch: MASCA Awards Speakers: Keith Westrich, MA DOE, and Katie Gray, MA Model Chair “Biotech Initiatives: A MASCA / MA DOE Partnership” • Afternoon cocktail reception • Dinner on your own • Bay State College hosts MASCA President’s Party at The Paddock

Friday, April 11 • State colleges breakfast • Keynote and morning breakout session: Rosalind Wiseman Internationally recognized author / educator, Queen Bees & Wannabes, Queen Prom Moms & KingPin Dads, Owning Up Curriculum (revised 2007). Rosalind’s books and curriculum will be available for sale. Book signing.

• Program sessions • Exhibit Hall 3-D’s: demonstrations, discussions, displays • Lunch: MASCA General Meeting and MASCA Awards • MA Model Implementation Carousels, poster sessions, panels • Graduate student poster sessions • MASCA Governing Board meeting

Saturday, April 12 (morning events only) • Breakfast • Morning workshop: College Admissions 101 • Graduate Student Programs including Employment Tips Panel, resume reviews, interview suggestions, graduate student poster sessions MARCH 2008

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MASCA CONFERENCE UPDATE Graduate students play role in spring conference

By ERIN McCRAVE MASCA Graduate Student Liaison

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he Annual Spring Conference will be held in Hyannis this year from April 10-12 at the Resort and Conference Center at Hyannis. In addition to the many great vendors and breakout sessions, this year’s conference will feature a keynote address by Rosalind Wiseman, author of Queen Bees and Wannabes. There will also be some great information sessions and opportunities specifically for graduate students, and you do not want to miss the vendors!

Once again MASCA will feature graduate student poster sessions. This is not only a fantastic opportunity for graduate students to showcase their current work and research but also a chance to meet and greet with the many school counseling professionals in attendance. It is also a great addition to any résumé for those of us who are graduating this spring and looking for a job.

Anyone interested in volunteering at the spring conference, please contact me at mccrave@bc.edu for more details. Again, this is an excellent opportunity for all graduate counseling students to network with counselors from across the state.

Hope to see you there! ■

Nationally recognized authors to give keynote addresses Both full days at the conference (Thursday, April 10 and Friday, April 11) will feature nationally recognized authors.

Jim Desrosiers and Rosalind Wiseman, respectively, will give the keynote address and be available for workshops and/ or book signings. All conference registrants will receive a copy of Desrosiers’ Charting the Course. ■

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COUNSELOR’S NOTEBOOK

ED’S VIEWS MASCA PDP SIGNUP FORM I want to sign up for MASCA PDPs. Name: __________________________________________________________ Address: ________________________________________________________

ED BRYANT, NCC MASCA Life Trustee

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our CN editor has requested that we write something related to the MASCA spring conference. Okay. Is MASCA planning a session on retirees, as in past years? There was no retiree session in May 2007. We have a VP Retirees, but if you want me to continue the retiree session we have run in past years, please let me know. My title for the session was “Retirees’ Cracker Barrel.”

Did Massachusetts take part in the National Survey of Student Engagement?

Here are the five bench mark categories for colleges and universities: (1) love of academic challenge, (2) active and collaborative learning, (3) student-faculty interaction, (4) enriching educational experiences, and (5) supportive campus environment.

Should kids learn real-life money management in school or from parents or both?

USAA Magazine recommends mastering these skills: (1) how to manage a cash allowance, (2) how to manage a checking account, (3) how to save for a goal, (4) how to figure the time value of money, (5) how to get out of debt (or not), and (6) how to compare prices. For more ideas, log on to www.usaa.com and enter the key words, Savings Calculator.

Have you heard of Friends Forever? It “fosters peace between cultures in conflict since 1986.” For more information, call 877-234-0677.

If MASCA needs a speaker at the conference, I recommend Doris L. Young, “The Nurse Doctor,” who specializes in ways to avoid burnout. Visit www.

DorisYoungAssociates.com.

The newly formatted Career Development magazine (Winter 2007) has an interesting article by Dr. Carol Dahir: “Inspiring School Counselors to Empower Youth to Realize Their Dreams.”

Do you agree with Stephen Leacock?

He says, “I am a great believer in luck and I find the harder I work, the more I have of it.” ■

MARCH 2008

________________________________________________________________ E-mail: _________________________________________________________

Enclose your MASCA Conferences Certificates of Attendance and completed Evidence of Learning Forms documenting at least 10 hours of professional development training. Send along with check for $25.00 made payable to MASCA to: Helen O’Donnell, Ed.D. MASCA Professional Development Chair 10 Maplewood Terrace Hadley, MA 01035

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SAVE THE DATES! 2nd MA Model Implementation Institute 2008-2009 Wednesday, July 16 • Dean College (Lodging arranged at Dean College)

Thursday, July 17 • Dean College Thursday, October 23 • MASCA Fall Conference Wednesday, November 19 • Dean College Implementation sharing at the MASCA Spring 2009 Conference

NEWS OF NOTE Congress recognizes NSCW ASCA — On January 23, the House of Representatives passed a National School Counseling Week Resolution sponsored

by Reps. Linda Sanchez (D-Calif.) and Vernon Ehlers (R-Mich.) And, on January 29, the Senate passed a National School Counseling Week Resolution sponsored by Sens. Patty Murray (D-Ore.) and Gordon Smith (R-Ore.) This marks the first time both houses of Congress have passed the resolutions in advance of National School Counseling Week.

We consider this a most auspicious start to National School Counseling Week.

Thanks for all the work you do for students and the profession.

Women move history forward NATIONAL WOMEN’S HISTORY MONTH — Each year, March is designated as National Women’s History Month to ensure that the history of American women will be recognized and celebrated in schools, workplaces, and communities throughout the country.

The stories of women’s historic achievements present an expanded view of the complexity and contradiction of living a full and purposeful life.

The knowledge of women’s history provides a more expansive vision of what a woman can do. This perspective can encourage girls and women to think larger and bolder and can give boys and men a fuller understanding of the female experience.

To honor the originality, beauty, imagination, and multiple dimensions of women’s lives, the 2008 theme for National Women’s History Month is Women’s Art: Women’s Vision.

The history of women and art is quintessential women’s history. It is the story of amazing women’s accomplishments acclaimed at the time but written out of history. Join in the celebration and ensure that their accomplishments are never forgotten. ■

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COUNSELOR’S NOTEBOOK

MASSACHUSETTS D.O.E. UPDATE Board votes to increase rate to 60 percent in 4 years; 65 percent in 5 years MALDEN, January 22, 2008 — Nearly 81 percent of students in the class of 2007 graduated four years after starting high school as freshmen, according to statewide graduation rate data released to the Board of Education on Tuesday.

This is the second year that high schools have been required to make or surpass a target graduation rate of 55 percent to make AYP. The Board voted 6-3 on Tuesday to increase that rate for the 2008 AYP determinations.

Under the new policy, high schools will be required to meet or surpass a four-year graduation rate of 60 percent, a five-year graduation rate of 65 percent or show a 2 percentage point increase in the four-year graduation rate from the previous year.

“The graduation rate is a critically important indicator of our success,” said Board of Education Chairman Paul Reville. “I am delighted to see some modest improvement this year, and I am commit-

MARCH 2008

ted to ensuring that this remains a priority topic for the Board of Education going forward.”

Acting Commissioner Jeffrey Nellhaus agreed.

“The graduation rate is a useful tool because it helps us get a clear picture of how many of our students graduate in four years, how many need five years and how many take longer or require an alternate route,” he said. “It’s important that we hold our schools to the highest possible standard, so I am pleased that the Board has agreed to increase this target.”

According to the report, 80.9 percent of the nearly 76,000 student who entered high school as freshmen in 2003 — the 2007 “cohort”— graduated in four years.

Of the remaining students, 6.6 percent are still in school, less than 1 percent did not earn a high school diploma after completing four years of high school, 2 percent earned a GED, and 9.4 percent dropped out.

Statewide, 40 of the Commonwealth’s 351 high schools are not expected to meet the new target for their 2008 AYP determinations. If the Board had not adopted the new rate with three options, 65 schools would have been impacted.

For federal accountability purposes under No Child Left Behind, all states are required to produce data describing the percentage of students who graduate with a diploma “within the standard number of years.”

While the state’s overall rate increased from last year, a gap was still evident in the graduation rate among minority students: In the 2007 cohort, 65.2 percent of African American students graduated within four years, as did 58.5 percent of Hispanics, 83.7 percent of Asians and 86.4 percent of White students.

Among subgroups, 53.3 percent of Limited English Proficient students graduated within four years, as did 62.8 percent of special education students and 65.2 percent of low income students.

Last year was the first year the state was able to calculate a cohort graduation rate based on student level data. Using data compiled through the state’s Student Information Management System (SIMS), the state can track students from their entrance into ninth grade through the time they exit.

For more information on the graduation rate, look online at www.doe.mass. edu/infoservices/reports/gradrates. ■

19

Reminder from MASCA

EDUCATION IN THE 21st CENTURY

Please check your membership expiration date on the affixed mailing label.

For a membership form, go to MASCA’s web site, www.masca.org.

The future of eBusiness and electronic transcripts

By JAY LEIENDECKER MASCA VP Postsecondary

A 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 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . # ______

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

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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: _____________________________________________________________

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year ago, Bob Bardwell asked me a couple of questions about the advent of high schools transmitting their transcripts to colleges by e-mail. It is happening in pockets of the country. In Indiana such a consortium now exists among high schools and the state colleges and universities.

In our own Department of Education this topic has been discussed. But we need a coordinated effort. At least a halfdozen software vendors serve most of higher education. Another half-dozen vendors are currently marketing their software as the best way to send transcripts.

Will these two groups of vendors ever merge or make their systems compatible?

Probably not, until they have to do it.

Currently, it seems, high schools will receive their software at no charge. Colleges will carry the cost for connectivity.

Personally, I feel that is fine.

In time the relationships among all the vendors and colleges will likely vet some vendors out of business. The fewer, strong vendors in the marketplace will make the communication occur.

Without a doubt, we will be transmitting high school transcripts to colleges in an electronic file. That’s great. How soon?

That is the question. ■

Skills for a new age “The Partnership for 21st Century Skills, whose members include education-related firms such as Apple, Microsoft, and McGraw-Hill Education, has devised a six-point plan for ‘a unified, collective vision for 21st century learning.’ It includes core subjects; 21st century content, such as global awareness and civic literacy; learning and thinking skills like creativity, communication, and contextual learning; ICT (information and community technology) literacy; life skills, such as leadership, ethics.”

— http://www.asbj.com/MainMenu Category/Archive/2007/September/ WhatisReady.aspx, Accessed on September 3, 2007. ■ COUNSELOR’S NOTEBOOK

THE ANSWER IS ELEMENTARY (continued from page 1) small-group, and large-group guidance as well as collaborative efforts with parents, faculty, school staff, and the local community. Elementary counselors, in addition, are almost always on the Child Study Team, attend IEP Meetings, and are the 504 coordinator for their building.

Elementary school guidance focuses on self-esteem building, peer relationships, conflict resolution, and understanding emotions within the context of changing families and a changing world. Teachers, parents, and students make the needs of students known; and the counselor constructs activities, lessons, and smallgroup guidance to address these needs.

At these grade levels, understanding emotions and learning to express them appropriately are very important. A child who understands her emotions, has good self-esteem, and can maintain good peer relations is a student who can focus on academics, have confidence in achievements, and contribute to the community.

Social skills and the building of selfesteem are also emphasized through lunch groups and classroom activities. Classroom guidance can be as simple as reading a story that has some character or social-emotional theme and then discussing it afterward or completing a followup writing piece or drawing activity.

Katie Marsh, one of the elementary counselors I spoke with, said: “Peer relations is definitely an important topic. Social interactions can start becoming quite complex as early as first and second grade; and by fourth, fifth, and sixth, they can be practically all-consuming for some children. My role is to provide all students with a safe place where they can come and talk, vent, relax, calm down, and pretty much whatever they need . . . . and one of my responsibilities is to help students become comfortable and familiar with the different words and expressions that accompany various emotions and feelings, so that they are as prepared as possible to handle both their emotions and those of friends and peers.”

Elementary counselors are also a great resource. They can recommend children’s books that deal with a variety of topics, assist teachers with classroom behaviors and role models, and teach collaboration and good citizenship. Just last week our district took part in a collaborative effort to teach all our school children about computer safety. The elementary MARCH 2008

counselors involved community, parents, teachers, and staff in presentations on Netsmartz, a web-based resource to educate and empower our children and their parents in responsible use of the Internet.

For more information about this resource, go to www.Netsmartz.org.

Elementary schools have the task of helping children develop the life skills they need to face the challenges of a changing world. Elementary counselors can be an integral part of this process. They can help children acquire effective interpersonal skills, good study habits, and the self-es-

teem needed to make good decisions.

By working in a school district that has elementary school counselors, I have seen first-hand how they affect the social and emotional welfare of our children by fostering effective learning and better citizenship. This is so essential as students face adolescent challenges and career preparation.

If you are an elementary school counselor who uses data to support the effectiveness of your services or if you want to respond to this article, please e-mail me at damourk@mersd.org. ■

21

MASCA Candidates for Office (2008-2009) President-elect Christine Evans

Director of Guidance and Student Support Services, East Bridgewater High School B.S., M.Ed., and CAGS, Bridgewater State College Experience: school counselor, Whitman-Hanson Regional High School Professional affiliations: MASCA, South Shore Guidance Association

VP Counselor Educators Felicia Wilczenski

Associate Dean of Academic Affairs and Professor, UMass / Boston B.S. and Ed.M., Boston University; C.A.E.S., Boston College; Ed.D. and M.S., UMass /Amherst Experience: Associate Professor, Rhode Island College; Assistant Professor, SUNY Buffalo Professional affiliations: MASCA, ASCA, NASP, MARIACES

VP Guidance Administrators Carolyn Richards

Supervisor of Guidance and Testing, Somerville High School

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COUNSELOR’S NOTEBOOK

B.A., Anna Maria College; M.A. and M.Ed., Columbia University; CAGS, Clark University Experience: Director of Guidance and Assessment, Haverhill Public Schools; Coordinator of Testing and Assessment, Lowell Public Schools; guidance counselor, Westwood Secondary School Professional affiliations: MASCA, North Shore Guidance Directors, ASCA, ASCD

MA Model Implementation Institute Offers a 45-PDPs certificate from MASCA Optional (for additional fee): 3 graduate credits from Fitchburg State College For course description, requirements, and registration, go to www.masca.org/ Trainers: Katie Gray, Jan Tkaczyk, Helen O’Donnell

VP Middle / Junior High Richard White

School counselor, Gateway Regional Middle School B.A., Clark University; M.Ed., Northeastern University; CAGS, American International College Experience: Director of Residence, Eagleton School; counselor, Challenge for Youth; school adjustment counselor, Gateway Regional School District Professional affiliations: MASCA, Franklin-Hampshire Guidance Association, Gateway Teachers Association, MTA, NEA

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

VP Retirees Ralph Sennott

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

Retired counselor, Cambridge Rindge & Latin School B.A., Xavier University; M.A., UMass / Boston Professional affiliations: MASCA, Greater Boston Guidance Association, Northeast Counselors Association, MTA, NEA MARCH 2008

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

23

MASSACHUSETTS SCHOOL COUNSELORS ASSOCIATION

Official Ballot 2008-2009 (Must be received by Wednesday, April 9, 2008, if mailed) PRESIDENT-ELECT ____ Christine Evans, Director of Guidance, East Bridgewater High School ____ _____________________________________________________________________________________________ (write-in) VICE PRESIDENTS (All are two-year terms, unless noted):

VP COUNSELOR EDUCATORS ____ Felicia Wilczenski, Associate Dean of Academic Affairs and Professor, University of Massachusetts, Boston ____ _____________________________________________________________________________________________ (write-in)

VP GUIDANCE ADMINISTRATORS ____ Carolyn Richards, Supervisor of Guidance and Testing, Somerville High School ____ _____________________________________________________________________________________________ (write-in)

VP MIDDLE /JUNIOR HIGH ____ Richard White, School Counselor, Gateway Regional Middle School ____ _____________________________________________________________________________________________ (write-in)

VP RETIREES ____ Ralph Sennott, Retired Counselor, Cambridge Rindge & Latin School ____ _____________________________________________________________________________________________ (write-in) Only Professional Members or Retired Members who previously held Professional Membership shall be eligible to vote.

You may vote in one of two ways: Mail this ballot (no photocopies accepted) to: Robert Bardwell, MASCA Past President, Monson High School, 55 Margaret Street, Monson, MA 01057 Vote at the Spring Conference, April 10-12, 2008.

For more information, contact Robert Bardwell: bardwellr@monsonschools.com

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

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March 2008