CHS Counselors' Corner
February 6th, 2026
Welcome to the CHS Counselors' Corner, your guide to all Counseling-Department-things for the CHS Class of 2027!
Semester 2 Timeline
This is an incredibly exciting time for juniors, and regardless of your plans, feeling organized and prepared will empower you.
While we will share many steps with you in person, please start with the following big ticket items (and for a more detailed list, please see the Class of 2027 College Planning To Do's document below):
- Join the Class of 2027 Google Classroom; use this code: scevrd2p
Start exploring SCOIR, our college research portal, which you can access through Clever.
Tour college campuses (virtually and/or in person); you have access to up to three excused absences each semester for the purpose of touring schools. Please bring proof of your visit–a note, official email, etc.–to your House Office to retroactively excuse your absence after returning.
Register for our college Admissions reps visits to the Career and College Readiness Center, which can be accessed here.
Register for the SAT or ACT (see dates at www.collegeboard.org or www.actstudent.org).
Schedule your “junior meeting” appointment with your counselor; individual counselors will instruct you how to do so in your upcoming House meeting. Whether you are considering college, a career, the military, traveling, or don't know what is next, we look forward to supporting you!
Class of 2027 College Planning "To Do's"
Looking for an itemized list of tasks that will keep you informed? Print out our guide, which was distributed to students, below!
Junior Packet: Your One Stop Shop!
Counselors recently held House-specific meetings for the Class of 2027; at these meetings, students were given the packet below, which includes a plethora of information to guide you as you start the process of exploring life after CHS.
YouScience: Looking For Your Career Path? Look No Further!
The Chelmsford High School Counseling Department is pleased to revisit YouScience with our juniors. Originally explored with the Class of 2027 last school year, this software intends to help students discover how their talents and aptitudes connect to potential career paths; additionally, it provides insight into the steps, programs, and education–including colleges that might be a good fit–needed to pursue them.
This strengths-based software will be reviewed with juniors on Monday, February 9th and Friday, February 13th during PLUS block.
For more information on YouScience, please see the attached flyer, as well as the following brief video below. We look forward to supporting our students as they discover all this software has to offer!
Your Senior Year Schedule!
Can you believe it's already time to think about your senior year schedule? For all things schedule-oriented, including a detailed timeline, information on the override process, general instructions, and the Program of Studies, please see below. https://docs.google.com/presentation/d/1VY9uV2VFvhSLXNvWnz6Djd6MR70NystIVMYY6gFo9Q8/edit?usp=sharing
College Affordable: Free Expert Financial Aid Assistance
Navigating the financial aid landscape can be challenging. Thanks to a generous donation, Chelmsford High School families now have access to personalized support and resources to help you navigate the college financial landscape including the financial aid process. The CHS School Counseling Department has teamed with the experts from College Affordable to help you to take the steps to make college more affordable. Please see below for more info, and register here.
College Affordable Webinar: NEXT THURSDAY, February 12th!
There are many layers to the college search. One big piece - and often overlooked - to that puzzle is cost. Join College Affordable as they explore how to incorporate cost into your college search.
Dates: Thursday, February 12, 2026 at 6:30 PM
Topic: Incorporating Cost into College Search
All families who are new to College Affordable and their support, should click on this link and continue to our school icon to register. This page will house information related to different program aspects you can take advantage of.
If you previously registered with College Affordable and need to just sign up for these webinars, please follow this link.
All questions can be directed at College Affordable via email financialaid@collegeaffordable.org or call/text 781-343-1941.
Need Career-Based Help?
What are you interested in doing for a career? Do you know? How DOES one figure it all out?
If you're looking for insight on what you might enjoy doing, please visit the MassHire Career Information Center. Free to all Massachusetts residents, this resource is designed to provide occupational and educational information to help people make better-informed career and school choices.
Take a peek below, and please see Ms. DaSilva in the Career and College Readiness Center for more information!
Stress Relief for February Break!
Breaks from school can be joyful and fun, but they can also be challenging. Please remember to take care of yourself; here are some great tips on how to make the most of your upcoming break, courtesy of SCOIR, to get you started.
6 Ways to for Students Make the Most of Their Winter Break | Scoir
About Us
Mr. Dan McGrath
Emerson House A-K
Ms. Kara Kelley
Emerson House L-Z
Ms. Tammy Leary
Hawthorne House A-K
Mrs. Christine Lima
Hawthorne House L-Z
limac@chelmsford.k12.ma.us
Mrs. Jen Orsini
Whittier House A-K
orsinij@chelmsford.k12.ma.us
Mrs. Jamie Ellis
Whittier House L-Z
ellisja@chelmsford.k12.ma.us
Ms. Shannon Bischoff
District Coordinator of Social Emotional Learning & Counseling bischoffs@chelmsford.k12.ma.us
Ms. Gabriella DaSilva
Career and College Readiness Facilitator
dasilvag@chelmsford.k12.ma.us