OMS School Counseling Newsletter
January 2026
School Counseling Team
A message from the school counselors
Dear Families and Caregivers,
We hope you were able to enjoy some meaningful time together over the break. In this newsletter, you will find resources for families supporting children who may be experiencing anxiety, as well as information about private school options, community supports, and mental health resources.
Each week, the counseling team hears from students about situations they encounter online, including on platforms such as Snapchat, Instagram, and other social media. We encourage families to stay involved in their child’s online world by checking in regularly, keeping communication open, and helping students make safe and thoughtful choices online. Please remind your student to keep their profiles set to private and to only accept friend requests from people they know personally. Occasionally, adults may misrepresent themselves online, and maintaining these boundaries can help keep students safe.
This month, counselors will also be leading activities throughout the school as part of the Great Kindness Challenge, promoting kindness, connection, and a strong sense of belonging within our school community. Ask your student more about it the week of January 20th. Next month we will begin meeting meetings again to touch base briefly will all students.
As always, please feel free to reach out to the counseling department with any questions or concerns. We appreciate your partnership in supporting the well-being of our students.
Warmly,
The OMS Counseling Department
GUIDELINES FOR THE PRIVATE SCHOOL RECOMMENDATION PROCESS
The following guidelines have been developed to ensure that each student’s private school application process runs smoothly.
Private School Coordinator: Cheryl Kerr ~ Administrative Assistant to School Counseling and Administration
- Please email Cheryl (ckerr@arlington.k12.ma.us) with a complete list of the schools you child is applying to and their application deadlines
- Please complete the linked OMS caregiver insight form that will be sent directly to the school counselor
Additional Information
Online requests for the Counselor/Administrator School Report within Ravenna, Gateway, etc should be sent to the student’s School Counselor’s email address.
Online requests for teacher recommendations should be sent to individual teachers’ (Math, English, etc.) email addresses. Before sending an online request, students should make the recommendation requests of teachers in person.
If online recommendations are not available, provide stamped envelopes for each teacher recommendation request (English, Math, etc.) in the folder to Cheryl Kerr.
Sign the Release of Information section online for Ottoson to release transcript information, or fill out this release and email it to Cheryl Kerr.
Reminder: Recommendations are confidential between the requesting school and Ottoson Middle School personnel.
For all other questions regarding the Private School Application Process, please call or email
Cheryl Kerr in the School Counseling Department at ckerr@arlington.k12.ma.us, 781-316-3744 ext 28006.
Massachusetts Partnerships for Youth (MPY) is pleased to announce its new MPY Parenting Solutions Library. The MPY Parenting Solutions Library is offered at no charge, in partnership with Peace At Home Parenting Solutions, a non-profit located in Mansfield, Connecticut. Peace At Home Parenting Solutions is a dynamic hub of trusted knowledge and compassionate support that inspires parents to create positive change for their children, their families and themselves. Through this new partnership, MPY is pleased to offer proven resources to help students’ families thrive.
Peace At Home Parenting Solutions specializes in empowering parents with evidence-based strategies to foster nurturing connections that safeguard their children's mental well-being. The trainings are presented by experts with advanced degrees and the trainings focus on child and adolescent development, including difficulties in school, mental health challenges, neurodiversity, LGBTQ+ identity formation, racism, and grief. These trainings present easy-to-use strategies for long-lasting change
Community Resources
The District invites you to complete the APS Family Support Request Form. It is designed to give families an avenue to request support and helps the District and schools understand the needs and concerns of families in order to provide the most effective support and resources. Once you complete this form we will share your responses with the family engagement department and/or school social workers or counselors to support your child(ren)/ family.
Financial assistance for youth sports. (DK4) is committed to helping kids thrive by providing athletic opportunities for children of all ages, skill levels, and diverse backgrounds. We believe that sports can harness the power in kids by building character and confidence, teaching perseverance and teamwork, which ultimately fosters the development of skills needed for responsible citizenship
Financial assistance for Arlington residents living with cancer
Parent Support through PPAL (Parent/Professional Advocacy League) They offer workshops on a range of topics from navigating your child's IEP, to active parenting. The also have a series in Spanish.
Winter 2026 Brochures
Arlington Recreation Department
Mental Health Resources
Mental Health and Parent Supports
Ottoson School Counseling- many great resources are linked here, including previous newsletters.
Massachusetts Launched a new Community Behavioral Health Centers (CBHCs) to serve as an entry point for timely, high-quality and evidence-based treatment for mental health conditions and substance use disorders, including routine appointments, urgent visits, and 24/7 community-based crisis intervention as an alternative to hospital emergency departments. CBHCs receive enhanced state funding through alternative payment models to support flexible, person-centered treatment.
Community Supports (Food, Mental Health, Housing, etc.)
Greater Massachusetts Special Needs Events
Therapy.com - Therapy.com has created a state-specific guide featuring inclusive, affordable mental health services for individuals navigating cultural, financial, or systemic barriers.
Services are available to all Arlington Public Schools students and families.
Services are virtual and include short-term individual and group therapy, parent/caregiver
consultation. Following an initial session, additional services may include medication evaluation
and prescription, and longer-term outpatient referral support.
Referrals to Cartwheel Care go through your student’s school counselor
Parent Support Groups are offered through Child Therapy Boston.