December 2025 Newsletter

• December Calendar at a Glance
• 12 Days of Self-Care Challenge
• Class Updates
• Mental Health Resources
• College & Career Resources

Starting Monday, December 1st we will post a self-care challenge each day for 12 days on our Instagram page (@WA_Counseling) and Counseling Google classrooms.

Once students complete each challenge, they can fill out the self-care challenge response form (also posted on the classroom and Instagram pages). Each day, we will choose a winner and they will win a themed prize.

As the holiday season approaches, excitement can sometimes come with stress. Remember to take a moment for yourself—pause, breathe, or step outside for a quick reset. Small acts of self-care, like getting enough sleep, spending time with supportive people, or enjoying a favorite activity, can make a big difference. However you celebrate, your well-being matters, and it’s always okay to slow down and ask for support when you need it.

Mindfulness - Watch a Meditation for Recharging Your Social Battery Around the Holidays

This holiday season, Cartwheel has put together some simple, fun activities to help families connect and create special moments together. Try these conversation starters at the dinner table, an act of kindness checklist, and more! Holiday Winter Family Guide

We will introduce the Senior Capstone Experience to the senior class during Advisory on December 17th. We encourage all seniors to begin networking with friends and family to potentially secure a host site for the spring experience!

To learn more about the Capstone Experience, please click here for the website. We encourage everyone to note the mandatory dates on the family calendars now!

Reminders:

• You should submit your application when you are ready - you do not have to wait for your school counselor to send your records.

• Don't forget to pay the one-time $8 transcript processing fee - you can pay here or cash to Mrs. Willsie

• Each college will most likely send you a login for an application portal. Please make sure to login and track the document status from the colleges’ side.

• You can see when a document was sent in your “My Colleges” section if you click on the college's tile. From there, scroll down and find the Application Document Status section.
• Please check SCOIR to see the dates when your counselor submitted the supporting documents and contact the college directly if it's been three weeks from the application deadline and the college is still telling you a document is missing. Please be patient!
• Make sure once you apply to a school, it is moved to the applied column.
• When you hear back from the college regarding their decision - accept, deny, defer, waitlist - please enter that into SCOIR as well.
• Due to the integration of SCOIR and the Common Application, quarter 1 grades will be available to all Common App colleges on your list. Whether or not colleges decide to access them would depend on each school’s policy.
• If submitting test scores, you must send from CollegeBoard or ACT directly.

The annual AFL-CIO Scholarship and Labor Education Program is in its 68th year. Through the program, the Massachusetts AFL-CIO and affiliated unions are proud to award financial resources to high school students pursuing trade union programs or college/university study.

The AFL-CIO offers an exam for their annual scholarship, if interested, please register by Dec 19th. The deadline is firm, and no late registrations will be accepted. To qualify students must be a senior in high school, fill out the online application and take the exam.

The scholarship exam info is below.
Exam Registration here: https://massaflcio.org/scholarships
A study guide is available: https://www.learnlaborhistory.com/

The exam consists of 30 multiple choice questions and one written essay. All questions will be selected from the information in the study guide.
Location/time/Date : TBD

If you have any questions, please feel free to reach out.
Mr. Doherty - Counseling Department

Individual Senior Meetings:

Our meeting will last approximately one hour. Students: please book 1-hour time slots. Please select your counselor’s booking link below to schedule your senior meeting:

Mrs. Leah Birnkrant

Schedule Senior Meeting with Mrs. Birnkrant

Mrs. Susan Lynch

Schedule Senior meeting with Mrs. Lynch

Mr. Brian Doherty

Schedule Senior meeting with Mr. Doherty

Mrs. Samantha DeMagistris

Schedule Senior Meeting with Mrs. DeMagistris

Ms. Jenna Grossman

Schedule Senior Meeting with Ms. Grossman

Mrs. Heidi Hider

Schedule Senior Meeting with Mrs. Hider

Mrs. Lauren Clark

Schedule Senior Meeting with Mrs. Clark

Please review the Class of 2026 Senior Timeline for an overview of what to expect during senior year.

Please review the Class of 2027 Junior Timeline for an overview of what to expect during junior year.

The counseling department will meet with all sophomores the week of December 8th (students will come down during their Chemistry classes).

What to Expect

During this meeting, you'll have the chance to:

1. Chat with your counselor

2. Look back at how Quarter 1 went for you

3. Ask any questions you may have

Look forward to catching up soon!

Please review the Class of 2028 Sophomore Timeline for an overview of what to expect during sophomore year.

Please review the Class of 2029 Freshman Timeline for an overview of what to expect during freshman year.

Here is a link to the presentation by Mr. Manning, Counseling Intern, in the First Advisory

WA School Counseling Website

The Westford Food Pantry provides services for individuals and families in the local community and surrounding towns with emergency, short and long-term needs for quality fresh and dry foods along with personal care and household items. Click Here for more information.

Marine Toys for Tots Foundation: If your family is in need of gifts for the holidays, please fill out the application by December 12

Westford Academy has partnered with Cartwheel Care for the 2025-2026 school year. Cartwheel is a mental health service available via telehealth to students and parents/caregivers. For more information, please see Cartwheel FAQ handout here.

Cartwheel Webinars:

December 10 at 12pm: Talking to Children About Grief and Loss in Developmentally Friendly Ways

January 14 at 7pm: Building Resilience and Emotional Exposure in Kids

The holidays can be wonderful—and sometimes overwhelming—for kids and teens. If your child could use someone to talk to, or if you'd like guidance navigating a tough moment, we're here to help.

Through Cartwheel, your family has access to teletherapy, family check-ins, and psychiatric care with licensed clinicians. No waitlists, no hassle—just support when you need it.

If you have any questions, you can also reach out to your student's school counselor.

The parent support group, Westford Supportive Parent Solutions, is meeting the 3rd Tuesday of every month 6:30pm – 8:00pm. The group will be held at the Roudenbush Community Center, 3rd floor Recreation Department. The attached flyer has additional details.

Nicole Laviolette - Community Wellness Coordinator

NEW - Mobile Clinician Services

Westford has a no cost clinician to support residents on waitlists for mental health appointments.

If the intake determines that the Westford Mobile Clinician is the right fit for you, upt to ten sessions will be offered. The number and frequency will be determined by the clinician. in person and virtual visits are available.

Call for an intake screening:

Nicole Laviolette: 978-399-2503 or Alison Christopher: 978-399-2325

For more information : Mobile Clinician Description

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.

Parents Supporting Parents: Family Learning Sessions held first Tuesday of the month from 7-8pm

Need additional support? Check out our Family Support Resources

Learn how to strengthen communication with your teen through active listening. This Newport Academy article shares five practical tips to help parents/caregivers build trust, empathy, and stronger connections.

No matter your age or income – community college is now free in Massachusetts if you have earned your high school diploma! The MassEducate and MassReconnect programs allow all Massachusetts residents who have not yet earned a bachelor's degree to attend a MA community college for free. No tuition. No fees.

For more information, please see HERE.

*There is a fee to enroll in a dual enrollment class as a WA student. Here is a link to learn about the dual enrollment program through WA.

SAT

December 6, 2025 test date

Registration closed

March 14, 2026 test date

Deadline for registration 2/27/26 & late registration 3/3/2026

Register for SAT tests here

ACT

December 13, 2025 test date

Registration closed

February 14, 2026 test date

Deadline for registration 1/9/27 & late registration 1/23/26

Register for ACT tests here

Free Practice SAT/ACT tests

Summit Educational Group: http://www.mytutor.com/students/practice-tests/ma

Kaplan: https://www.kaptest.com/sat/free/sat-practice

The ASVAB (Armed Services Vocational Aptitude Battery) will take place on Friday, January 9, 2025 at 7:30 am in the Lecture Hall. This is open for students in grades 10-12.

For more information, or to sign up, please contact Mr. Doherty in the Counseling Department (bdoherty@westfordk12.us).

The ASVAB is an aptitude test that measures developed abilities and helps predict future academic and occupational success for military careers.

The ASVAB Career Exploration Website (test takers are given access after they finish the test):

https://www.asvabprogram.com/. The ASVAB Program is widely used as a career aptitude test and the government has created a great career research website that test takers may review their results on and research career pathways that match their interests and aptitudes.

Westford Academy is proud to participate in the Massachusetts Seal of Biliteracy program. The Seal of Biliteracy is awarded at graduation to seniors who demonstrate literacy in two or more languages, a partner language as well as English. Please note that the partner language does not have to be one that a student has studied in the Westford Public Schools. The Seal of Biliteracy Program encourages students to develop their language skills and expand their cultural understandings to be better prepared to enter the workforce and contribute to a global society. Please see HERE for more information regarding the program and for information about how seniors can apply to take the qualifying language exams. Students must begin by filling out the application form located on the World Language Department page on the Westford Academy website by TBD.

The following colleges and universities have established policies to award college credit for the Massachusetts State Seal of Biliteracy:

State Universities

• Worcester State University
• Bridgewater State University
• Salem State University

Community Colleges

• Bunker Hill Community College (PDF)
• Cape Cod Community College
• Massachusetts Bay Community College
• Middlesex Community College
• Mount Wachusett Community College
• North Shore Community College
• Northern Essex Community College

Bentley

If you have been awarded The Seal of Biliteracy in any foreign language, you may be awarded Intermediate Modern Language credit at Bentley. If you have been awarded the Seal of Biliteracy with distinction, you may be awarded Intermediate Modern Language II credit at Bentley.

https://www.bentley.edu/undergraduate/advanced-standing-credit

UMass Amherst

Beginning Fall 2024, UMass Amherst will award 12 credits for the Massachusetts Seal of Biliteracy and 15 credits for the Seal of Biliteracy with Distinction.

https://www.umass.edu/registrar/students/transfer-information/massachusetts-state-seal-biliteracy

https://www.collegetransitions.com/dataverse/learning-support-services

https://www.concordspedpac.org/Colleges-Disabilities.html

Also check out our website for more resources! https://www.westfordk12.us/wa/guidance/pages/information-students-disabilities

College Affordable, an organization dedicated to helping Westford families navigate the financial aid process with personalized support, has partnered with WA. For additional information on family registration and free monthly webinars, please visit the links below:

January 15, 2026 - Financial Aid Offers & Appeals

https://collegeaffordable.org/westfordacademy/

https://collegeaffordable.org/webinar-schedule/

Massachusetts Educational Financing Authority is a state run organization, committed to helping students and their families plan, save, and pay for college and reach financial goals

Families can view webinar dates and times and register HERE. Webinars will be recorded and posted online for families who are unable to attend a live event.

FAFSA Festival: December 3, 4:00-6:00 pm

Financial Aid 101: December 4, 6:30-7:30 pm

Jumpstart to College Admissions: December 11, 6:30 -7:00pm

NEBHE’s Tuition Break program, the New England Regional Student Program (RSP), provides significant tuition savings to residents of the six New England states when they enroll at out-of-state public colleges and universities within New England and pursue approved programs.

The 2026–27 Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA®) form is now available to everyone. Click here for more information: https://studentaid.gov/announcements-events/fafsa-support

Outside Scholarship Listing (updated often)

Follow us on Instagram for important updates @wa_counseling

Email: laurenclark@westfordk12.us
Website: https://www.westfordk12.us/wa/counseling-department
Location: 30 Patten Road, Westford, MA, USA
Phone: 978-692-5570