October Newsletter

• October Dates and Reminders
• Blanchard Middle School Open House Presentation
• Meet the BMS Counseling Staff
• Nashoba Valley Technical High School
• Private and Technical School Applications
• BMS Counseling LinkTree - Subscribe
• October is Communicate with Your Kids Month
• Mental Health & Community Resources
• Mental & Digital Wellness Information
• PowerSchool
• Requesting Parent/Team Meetings
• BMS Counseling Department

Mrs. Leone has been a Counselor at BMS since 2014. She brings a compassionate, strengths-based approach to connecting to and advocating for her middle school students and partnering with their families. Mrs. Leone firmly believes every student possesses unique strengths, skills, talents and potential to thrive. Outside of school, she enjoys running, skiing, pickleball, hiking, biking, crocheting, podcasts, and listening to audiobooks alongside her husband, three children, and Whoodle. Her absolute favorite season is fall, and her go-to treat is ice cream! 🍦🤩

Emma Goodreau joined Blanchard in 2025 as our School Adjustment Counselor. Working across all three grades, she supports students with IEP counseling goals and partners closely with families and grade-level counselors to promote social-emotional well-being schoolwide. Guided by a collaborative, strength-based approach, Emma helps students identify and build upon their personal strengths. Outside of school, she enjoys skiing, hiking, reading, and spending time with her family and two golden retrievers. Her favorite comfort drink is chai latte! 🧋

After splitting her time between both middle schools in Westford since 2013, Ms. Werner is SO excited to be at Blanchard Middle School full-time this year! Her role encompasses a range of services, including: psychological assessments; consultation with teachers, administration and families; and crisis intervention. She believes that understanding each student’s unique strengths and needs is essential to supporting their success in school. Outside of school, Ms. Werner loves spending time with her family, relaxing, and traveling to new places!

On Thursday 10/1/26, we held an assembly to introduce all of our eighth graders to the opportunities Nashoba Valley Technical High School has to offer for high school.

As a follow-up to this presentation, NVTHS and our counseling staff coordinated a field trip to tour NVTHS Monday 10/5/26. This trip was open to any student who is seriously considering attending/applying NVTHS for ninth grade.

NVTHS is also hosting an Open House on Sunday, November 1st from 12:00 to 3:00 p.m.

Students who are applying to NVTHS should be in communication with Mr. Manning as early in the year as possible. The application deadline is 1/15/2027.

NT - ADMISSIONS CRITERIA AND PROCESS

For more information on Nashoba Tech's programs or admissions, please contact Nashoba Tech directly:

admissions@nashobatech.net

It is very important that any student interested in applying to a private or technical high school inform Mr. Manning (grade 8), Ms. Fernandes (Grade 7), or Mrs. Leone (Grade 6) by December 1.

Counselors will be having individual meetings with students applying to private or technical schools to discuss the application process and answer any questions.

***IMPORTANT***

All students applying should notify their teachers and their school counselor by December 1st for January/February deadlines and one month in advance for any deadlines before then. All formal recommendation and transcript requests from the schools to which students are applying should be received by DECEMBER 1st for January/February deadlines and one month in advance for any deadlines before then.

Please see the document below for further information on applying to a Private or Technical school.

Communicate with Your Kids Month highlights the importance of fostering strong, open, and supportive relationships between parents and children through daily conversation. The goal is to build trust, boost emotional well-being, and create a safe environment where kids feel comfortable sharing their thoughts and challenges.

Tips for parents and caregivers to connect with their preteens/teens this month:

• Listen More, Talk Less: Avoid jumping in with immediate advice, which can feel like lecturing and cause teens to shut down.
• Normalize Side-by-Side Talks: Chat during driving, cooking, or walking to reduce the intense pressure of direct eye contact.

• Create daily touchpoints: Ask open-ended questions during dinner or car rides (e.g., "What was the most surprising part of your day? Did you do or learn anything new today? Did anything happen that made you laugh today?").

• Validate Their Feelings: Use phrases like "That sounds really frustrating" before offering any logic or solutions.
• Respect Their Privacy: Give them space when they pull back, while reassuring them you are always ready to listen.
• Ask for Permission: Try asking, "Do you want me to just listen, or do you want help problem-solving?"

Blanchard has partnered with Cartwheel Care for the 2026–2027 school year. Cartwheel offers telehealth mental health services for students and parents/caregivers. Here is the family interest form or contact your child's Grade Level Counselor at BMS if you are interested in Cartwheel services.

Upcoming Cartwheel Webinars

Friend Drama, Group Chats, and Social Exclusion: What Parents Need to Know

• October 15, 2026 | 7pm ET

• November 18, 2026 | 7pm ET

Cartwheel offers a variety of services. Here is some information to further understand what Cartwheel has to offer and/or get started:

Family Flyer (English)

Family Flyer (Spanish)

Parent Guidance Flyer (English)

Parent Guidance Flyer (Spanish)

Family Welcome Experience

Cartwheel also offers a School Avoidance program to support children experiencing anxiety or stress about attending school.

Services include teletherapy, family check-ins, and psychiatric care with licensed clinicians—no waitlists, no hassle. Learn more in the Cartwheel FAQ handout.

The Westford Holiday Assistance Program is a collaboration of the Cameron Senior Center, St. Catherine St. Vincent de Paul Society, the Westford Food Pantry and community benefactors to provide qualified families with gift cards during the holiday season. Information about the program is included in the attached application. Applications are due to the Cameron Senior Center, P.O. Box 2223, 20 Pleasant St., Westford, MA 01886 by the deadline, Friday, October 23, 2026.

If you or a family have a question, they are welcome to reach out to me, 978-399-2503 or Alison Christopher, achristopher@westfordma.gov / 978-399-2325.

InStride Health offers specialized outpatient care for kids, teens, and young adults struggling with anxiety and OCD and is now accepting patients ages 7 up to 26. Their evidence-based treatment combines CBT and ACT with a focus on exposure therapy, and families can typically begin care within 1–4 weeks. Each personalized care plan includes therapy, exposure coaching, parent and skills groups, and, if needed, medication management.

• Significant Life Disruption: The patient’s anxiety or OCD is significantly disrupting their daily life (e.g., school, social events, or work) or their family's routine.

• Limited Treatment Response: Prior therapy was unsuccessful or the patient requires a higher level of support.

• Complex Presentations: The patient is experiencing physical symptoms or co-occurring disorders, such as depression, ADHD, or

  high-functioning autism spectrum disorder (ASD).

Why InStride?

• Real-World Application: Our exposure coaches motivate and hold kids and young adults accountable for practicing exposures and facing anxieties wherever they occur, whether that's at school, home, or out in the community.

• Transformative Care*: 97% of graduates experienced clinical improvement, and >9 in 10 saw a reduction in anxiety symptoms with significant reductions observed as early as two months.

• Purposefully Time-Bound: A structured, personalized path with clear milestones and a transition plan for lasting success.

• Expert Care Team: Includes a therapist, exposure coach, and psychiatrist for medication management, if indicated.

• Easy Access: Most commercial insurance is accepted, and patients start care within just 1-4 weeks.

Click Here to access InStride's free webinars!

Located in Acton, MA. We are a family-focused practice providing evidence-based therapy for children, teens, and parents. At Rise and Shine, our mission is to empower individual and family systems with skills that allow them to RISE from ambivalence, isolation, and distress to a place where they SHINE and grow in relationships, cognitions, and wellness; living with purpose.

Rise and Shine Family Therapy in Acton, MA has afternoon and weekend availability for IN PERSON therapy and assessments. We provide superbills for insurance reimbursement, more information about them can be found here: Superbills & Reimbursements.

Request for Service Referral Form

(978)219-4292

info@riseandshinefamilytherapy.net

The PHP provides intensive, structured day treatment for adolescents who need extra support in their mental health journey. This is a full day program that includes group therapy, case management and psychiatry for kids 13-17 years old that are experiencing mental health symptoms impacting their ability to remain in school and/or the community but not warranting an inpatient level of care. We have a tutor on site who communicates with the schools and provides a 1.5-hour block of tutoring daily, so that kids do not fall behind in their schoolwork while working to stabilize symptoms.

We are currently accepting referrals—we take most major insurances including Mass Health!

COMING SOON: In early November 2026, we will be expanding to open a PHP for ages 8-12! More details to come.

The Massachusetts Partnership for Youth (MPY) Parenting Solutions has created a list of proven resources to help students' families thrive. Parents can watch or just listen to experts who get right to the point solving big and small challenges. Each Library includes 10-minute videos and handouts.

Click HERE to access the videos and handouts in each library.

In the online world, hyper-definitive hot takes and bold statements reign supreme. YouTube titles like "The Most Disturbing Influencer EVER" or TikTok videos declaring "Literally No One Has a Personality Anymore" are deliberately designed for one thing: Certainty = Engagement.

While this formula drives clicks, it carries a heavy cost. Acting overly certain in digital vacuums creates conflict rather than curiosity, leaving users exhausted and isolated.

The Goal for Students: Moving from Certainty to Curiosity

No one knows everything. While certainty divides, curiosity brings us together. To help kids navigate online spaces healthily, we must teach them to:

• Recognize Engagement Tactics: Understand that sensationalized posts are designed to provoke knee-jerk reactions.

• Practice "Integrative Complexity": Analyze multiple perspectives and discover common ground.

• Nurture Authentic Connection: Move beyond memes and headlines to build meaningful human relationships.

Key Action Steps for Educators & Families

1. Recognize the Role of Curiosity

   • Younger Kids: Prioritize real-world, in-person play and quality interaction over screen time. Model this by putting devices away when engaging with them.

   • Older Kids: Analyze real social media posts together to unpack surface-level certainty and foster critical thinking.

   • Self-Reflection: Encourage kids to examine their own online actions and reactions to build self-awareness and personal growth.

2. Model Curiosity over Dismissal

   • Demonstrate how seeking to understand others—even when their behavior is puzzling—strengthens relationships.

   • Lead with genuine curiosity rather than dismissal when kids share interests you don't understand (like a specific influencer or video game).

   • Engage in one-on-one conversations to understand the root of disruptive behaviors without compromising boundaries.

3. Build a Curiosity-Driven Community

   • Teach students to gently challenge their own assumptions and opinions with thoughtful questions.

   • Value learning as an ongoing process rather than a race to be right.

   • Allow space for meaningful, student-led tangents ("rabbit holes") to spark intrinsic curiosity and give students agency.

Not sure how to access your student's schedule and/or Progress Report? Please see below:

1. Use your device (Go to: https://westford.powerschool.com/public).
2. Download the 'PowerSchool Mobile' app on your phone - see image on the right for how to access your account. Once logged on, click on the "My Schedule" icon in the left nav and you'll see your student's schedule.

Please use the link or telephone number below to contact the School Counseling Administrative Assistant for assistance in setting up a 20 minute meeting with your child's core teachers (Math, Science, Social Studies and Language Arts, School Counselor). Meetings take place on certain days of the week based on teacher planning time, the grade and cycle day of the week. If you would like any additional Blanchard teacher or staff member to attend, please note that in the email as as well. Thank you.

Jill Attardo at jattardo@westfordk12.us or 978-692-5582 x 6172.

Paige Leone - 6th Grade School Counselor

Emily Fernandes - 7th Grade School Counselor

John Manning - 8th Grade School Counselor

Emma Goodreau - 6-8 School Adjustment Counselor

Jill Attardo - School Counseling Administrative Assistant

Website: https://sites.google.com/westfordk12.us/bmsguidance/school-counseling-home
Location: 14 West Street, Westford, MA 01886
Phone: (978) 692-5582

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