January 2026 Newsletter

Welcome back! We hope you and your family enjoyed a restful and joyful winter break. As we step into 2026, the counseling department is excited to reconnect and continue supporting our students! The start of the new year is a great time for students to reflect on their goals, build positive routines, and stay focused on their plans for graduation and beyond.

• January Calendar at a Glance
• Midterm Schedule & Study Tips
• National School Counseling Week
• Class Updates
• Mental Health Resources
• College & Career Resources

The Counseling Department will be hosting a Sophomore Parent/Caregiver Presentation on Monday, January 26 from 8:30 am- 9:15 am in the PAC. We will introduce you to the Counseling Department and our role during your child's four years at Westford Academy. We will also briefly discuss a timeline for post secondary planning, including the course selection process, transcript, and SCOIR.

If you have a specific question, please feel free to submit it using this form. To keep things on schedule, we won’t be holding a Q&A session at the end, so this will be the best way to share your question.

If you are unable to attend, the presentation will be posted on our website.

Check out this document for midterm exam prep!

National School Counseling Week 2026 (#NSCW26) is Feb. 2-6, 2026, to focus public attention on the unique contribution of school counselors within U.S. school systems. The theme is: School Counselors Amplify Student Success. National School Counseling Week, presented by ASCA, highlights the tremendous impact school counselors can have in helping students achieve school success and plan for a career. Learn more about the role of this essential profession: https://www.schoolcounselor.org/role.

As part of our celebration for National School Counseling Week, the WA Counseling Department will be showcasing highlights about our program and fun photomontages on our Instagram (@WA_Counseling) each day during the week of Feb. 2-6!

The WA Counseling Department is looking for AP Proctors for this spring. AP Exams will run from May 4 - May 15, with late exams the following week. There is a proctor stipend per exam. Proctors must have graduated from high school and cannot proctor any exams their child is taking, but are allowed to proctor other exams. Proctors may not be employed part or full time at a test preparation company, and proctors may not participate in any coaching activity that addresses the content of secure College Board tests. If interested or for more information, please contact Leah Birnkrant (lbirnkrant@westfordk12.us) and Brian Doherty (bdoherty@westfordk12.us), AP Coordinators.

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

The Senior Capstone provides seniors with the opportunity to apply what they've learned in school to the real world. Students may pursue an internship in a local business, community service, or complete a research project. The Capstone is the culmination of our School to Careers program, allowing students to delve into a career or research topic for the fourth quarter of senior year.

The Counseling Department introduced Capstone to the Senior class during the Advisory on December 17.

MANDATORY DATES:

January 6, January 29, February 3: Capstone Drop in Hours (Long block-optional)

February 9, 2026 (Monday) by 2:20 pm- ALL Capstone applications due (Community Service, Internship, Project)

April 9 (Thursday)- Capstone Orientation Meeting 12:30 pm

May 21 (Thursday) and May 22 (Friday)- ALL DAY- Capstone Presentations

June 2 (Tuesday) - Capstone Exhibition 9:30 am - 12:00 pm

Capstone runs from April 13 through May 20, 2026.

Check the Capstone website for all information

Reminders:

• When you hear back from the college regarding their decision - accept, deny, defer, waitlist - please enter that into SCOIR as well.
• 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.
• 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 Counseling Department will be sharing important information with junior families via email in mid-January. Be sure to check your inbox for updates and resources. Below are important dates to note!

Check out the Looking Ahead resource that shares important information about the college application process.

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

Sophomore Timeline

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.

WA School Counseling Website

Big Picture Presentation

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:

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

February 11 at 12 pm: Promoting Healthy Relationships with Food and Body in Schools

Many children find it hard to go to school because of anxiety or stress. Cartwheel's new School Avoidance program provides support to help you and your child overcome these challenges. Here is a handout in Spanish and English.

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.

Here is a FREE caregiver training from Think:Kids, the organization that supports training and implementation of Collaborative Problem Solving (CPS). The Collaborative Problem Solving® approach is an innovative parenting approach backed by science and rigorous research done in homes, schools, and clinical programs across the world. It is proven to meet the needs of all families and help children of all ages, including those with social, emotional, and behavioral challenges. Here is a link for the informational flyer in Spanish.

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.

Boston National College Fair - Representatives from more than 275 colleges and universities will participate.Monday April 27 and Tuesday April 28. Students can register here.

NACAC College Fair Schedule - virtual options too!

SAT

March 14, 2026 test date

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

May 2, 2026 test date

Deadline for registration 4/17/26 & late registration 4/21/26

Register for SAT tests here

ACT

February 14, 2026 test date

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

April 11, 2026 test date

Deadline for registration 3/6/26 & late registration 3/24/26

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. The deadline for this year is now closed.

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

2026 Christian A. Herter Scholarship application is now open.

Students must be nominated by February 13, 2026, and complete the online application and upload all required documentation by the application deadline, February 28, 2026.

Nomination and application information is available on the Herter Scholarship website.

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