WHS Guidance News

Read on for information about:

- Appointments with Guidance

- Mental Health Resources

- LGBTQ+ Resources

- PSAT for 10th and 11th Graders

- College Application Office Hours

- Financial Aid Webinars

- Upcoming College Admissions Visits

- Scholarships

Students can schedule appointments with their school counselor by visiting the WHS Guidance website and clicking on their counselor's name. Students are reminded to avoid scheduling meetings during class times.

World Mental Health Day was Saturday, October 10. We would like to take this moment to remind students and families that in addition to a student's school guidance counselor, students have access to our school adjustment counselors, Mr. DiSciscio and Ms. Rhodes, our school psychologist, Ms. Voudris, our school social worker, Mr. Bresnihan, our PUSH Academic Support teacher, Ms. Malone, our school nurse, Mr. Mara, and our community outreach counselor, Ms. Kiuru. This student support team works closely to provide students with resources, counseling, coping strategies, and connections to outside agencies as needed. Please feel free to reach out to your student's school counselor if you have questions or concerns about your student or would like to learn more about these in-school resources. Additional local resources are listed on our Guidance website.

National Coming Out Day was celebrated on Sunday, October 11. Watertown High School has an active GSA (Gender Sexuality Alliance) advised by Mr. Sean Morris. The club meets regularly via Zoom (link in morning announcements). The GSA is a safe place for LGBTQ+ students and allies to express themselves freely. Please contact Mr. Morris (sean.morris@watertown.k12.ma.us) if you are interested in joining the club's Google Classroom.

Outside of WHS, students and families may find useful resources and support from the Greater Boston PFLAG or the The Trevor Project (1-866-488-7386). The Trevor Project provides a 24/7 hotline for LGBTQ youth who are in crisis. Both agencies offer helplines, educational and outreach materials, and support services for LGBTQ+ students and families.

We plan to offer the PSAT to all students in grades 10 and 11 on Tuesday, January 26, 2021. CollegeBoard has provided this alternate date for testing due to COVID. This administration has the same benefits of the October administration including eligibility for the National Merit scholarship programs. This in-school test administration provides students with the opportunity to take a practice version of the SAT at no cost. Once students take the test, they have access to a number of free test prep resources to help prepare for the SAT tests. More details about the test administration and the various resources available to students will be shared as we get closer to the test date. For more information on the PSAT, click here.

For the next several Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays, our interns will be hosting College Application Office Hours for seniors. From 1:45 PM-2:30 PM, seniors can drop in to ask questions and get support with college applications. These office hours are in addition to school counselor appointments and office hours. Seniors should check the morning announcements for Zoom links.

Don't forget to take advantage of the numerous live and on-demand webinars that the Massachusetts Education Financing Authority (MEFA) is offering this fall. WHS will not be hosting an event, but there are a number of opportunities to access the information you need through MEFA's website and events.

We have hosted over 65 virtual college admissions visits since the start of the school year! These are a great opportunity for students to hear directly from admissions officers about the school, the admissions process, and more. Below is a list of upcoming visits:

THURSDAY, 10/22/2020

3:30 pm: Saint Joseph's College of Maine

3:30 pm: Washington & Jefferson College

4:15 pm: Salem State University

FRIDAY, 10/23/2020

11:00 am: Fisher College

11:00 am: University of Maine at Fort Kent

Students are encouraged to visit Naviance for scholarship application details, deadlines, and additional information. Below are just a few of the scholarships currently posted:

Women’s Ministries Scholarship Program

Forty-nine (49) $20,000 awards

Deadline: October 15, 2020

NSHSS STEM Scholarships

Seven (7) $2,000 awards

Deadline: October 15, 2020

Horatio Alger Scholarship

One-Hundred and Six (106) $25,000 awards

Deadline: October, 25, 2020

NACME Scholarship

Multiple Awards

Deadline: October 30, 2020

Jack Kent Cooke Foundation Scholarship

Forty (40) $160,000 awards

Deadline: October 30, 2020

SP High School Scholarship

Ten (10) $10,000 awards

Deadline: October 31, 2020

Voice of Democracy Scholarship

Fifty (50) $30,000 awards

Deadline: October 31, 2020

Coca-Cola Scholars Program

One-Hundred and Fifty (150) $20,000 awards

Deadline: October 31, 2020

Be Bold Scholarship

$10,000

Deadline: October 31, 2020

Nitro Scholarship

Twelve (12) $2,000 awards

Deadline: October 31, 2020

Nichols College Scholarship

One (1) $76,000 award

Deadline: December 4, 2020

Massachusetts JCI Senate Scholarship

Two (2) $1,000 awards

Deadline: January 22, 2021

Henry David Thoreau Foundation Scholarship

$20,000

Application opens October 15, 2020 and closes on February 1, 2021