September 2026 Newsletter
WA Counseling Department
Meet Mr. Speliotis! 😃
A bit more about Mr. Speliotis
What inspired you to become a school counselor, and what do you enjoy most about working with students?
My inspiration on becoming a school counselor comes from my high school experience. I was a student-athlete with ambitions of playing at the highest level in college. I suffered a major setback my sophomore year and felt as though I lost my chances of achieving my goals. My school counselor was a huge support during this time and pushed me to push through. Fast forward 2 years, I was accepted into college and played baseball at the Division 3 level. I do not think I would be able to achieve these goals if it was not for my counselor. What I enjoy most about working with students is watching them grow over the 4 years and achieving goals and aspirations they set out for.
What’s a hobby you have outside of school?
I enjoy cooking overall. Recently I have been invested in trying new recipes for smoking food on a smoker.
Where are you from, and where did you go to college/grad school?
I am from Salem, Massachusetts. I completed my undergrad from Suffolk University in Entrepreneurship with a minor in Management and my Master's from Salem State University in School Counseling.
Meet Mrs. Morrissey! 😃
Mrs. Morrisey will be joining the WA School Counseling team for Mr. Doherty's caseload of students until November.
A bit more about Mrs. Morrissey.
What inspired you to become a school counselor, and what do you enjoy most about working with students?
I loved coaching and working with families when I ran youth lacrosse in my town. Counseling seemed like a natural fit for me. I like working with students as they explore their post-secondary planning. This transitional period is exciting, and it's rewarding to be a part of it.
What’s one fun fact ?
I lived in San Diego from 2000 to 2012. I miss how a sweatshirt was all I needed to handle the mild weather year-round!
Where are you from, and where did you go to college/grad school?
I grew up in Connecticut and went to Lafayette College in Easton, PA. I went back to school in 2016 at University of Massachusetts, Boston for my Master's in Counseling.
Senior Parent/Caregiver College Application Seminar
The Counseling Department will present a Senior Parent/Caregiver College Application Seminar which outlines the college process on Tuesday, September 8th at 6:00pm in the Performing Arts Center at WA. The seniors will receive the same presentation during the school day.
After these presentations, seniors can begin to schedule individual senior meetings with their counselor. While we meet with the students alone in the fall, parents/caregivers should feel free to email your school counselor with any questions.
College Affordable
The WA Counseling Department will be offering a College Affordable financial aid presentation on Wednesday September 16th at 6:00 pm in the PAC for families of Juniors & Seniors!
WA is excited to announce our continued partnership with College Affordable, an organization dedicated to helping Westford families navigate the financial aid process with personalized support. For additional information on family registration and free monthly webinars, please visit the links below:
AP TEST REGISTRATION 2026
Registration Deadlines:
Regular Registration begins September 8, 2026
Registration ENDS October 15, 2026 at 11:59 PM. NO EXCEPTIONS
CollegeBoard/My AP Classroom Deadlines:
Students must be connected to their AP Classroom(s) no later than 10/30/26.
Students are expected to take the AP Exam for ALL AP courses for which they are enrolled.
**We recognize that some students choose to self-study for exams. Please note that self-studying should not be prioritized over courses offered at WA and is not recorded on your WA transcript/school records. Additionally, each college determines what scores are required to earn credit at their school, while others do not take any APs as credit.
All information is below.
On Saturday, October 17, 2026 from 8:00am-11am (students arrive between 7:30-7:45am), the PSAT/NMSQT (Preliminary Scholastic Aptitude Test/National Merit Scholarship Qualifying Test) will be administered to interested sophomores and juniors at Westford Academy. The PSAT/NMSQT is suited for those students who have already completed Geometry.
Registration opens for the PSATs through Total Registration on Tuesday, 9/8 and closes on Tuesday 9/22 promptly at 11:59pm. Late registrations will not be accepted. Please use your WA email address when registering.
Please note that we have fully transitioned to the digital version. There are deadlines we need to meet to upload our registration file to CollegeBoard and to complete a digital readiness test. Due to all these additional steps, there will be no exceptions for late registrations.
Welcome to Senior Year!
Seniors & Parents/Caregivers: We hope you had a wonderful summer and welcome to senior year! We are excited to work with you throughout the post-secondary planning process.
Please read this entire document HERE as it has a lot of important information.
Senior Meetings
Individual Senior Meetings:
Our meeting will last approximately one hour. Students: please book 1-hour time slots. Please make sure your senior data sheet is complete before you sign up! Please select your counselor’s booking link below to schedule your senior meeting:
Mr. Greg Speliotis
Mrs. Susan Lynch
Mrs. Nikki Morrissey (Mr. Doherty's caseload)
Mrs. Samantha DeMagistris
Ms. Jenna Grossman
Mrs. Heidi Hider
Mrs. Lauren Clark
College Admissions Rep Visits start week the week of September 14!
100+ Colleges and Universities are scheduled already with more every day!
Many of you have already received notification that one of your schools is visiting. You must register on SCOIR to take attend.
Maximum in-person during school visits per senior: 8
No limit on afterschool virtual visits
Late requests are only accommodated if there is an extra seat that day. If you register but cannot attend, please reach out to Mrs. Willsie in the counseling office.
Junior Timeline Class of 2028 -- Coming soon!
In an effort to promote the health and well-being of students at Westford Academy, students will be periodically provided with two screeners: (Generalized Anxiety Disorder Scale/GAD-7 and the Patient Health Questionnaire/PHQ-9). These scales assess symptoms of anxiety and depression. The information gained will support the school's ability to provide comprehensive and timely support for your child if they require assistance. Students can opt-out of filling out any questionnaire, survey, or screener that they are not interested in taking and you can opt-out your child at any time by contacting your child's school counselor. We are committed to ensuring your child is supported academically, socially, and emotionally, and we look forward to partnering with each of you towards achieving this goal.
Sophomores are scheduled to take the screeners during the October 7 advisory.
Sophomore Timeline Class of 2029-- Coming soon!
Freshman Group Meetings
Grade 9 Biology classes will be visiting the counseling office on September 9, 10 & 11. Please go to your assigned class and your teacher will send you down to meet with your school counselor.
Cartwheel Care
Westford Academy 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.
Upcoming Cartwheel Webinars
September 16, 2026 | 7pm ET
October 15, 2026 | 7pm ET
Cartwheel also offers a School Avoidance program to support children experiencing anxiety or stress about attending school (see English and Spanish handouts).
Services include teletherapy, family check-ins, and psychiatric care with licensed clinicians—no waitlists, no hassle. Learn more in the Cartwheel FAQ handout.
For questions, contact your student’s school counselor.
InStride Health offers specialized outpatient care for kids, teens, and young adults struggling with anxiety and OCD. 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.
"Caring for Young People with School Avoidance", our parent and caregiver session: September 15, 2026 @ 2:00 - 3:00 pm ET
MPY Parent Solutions
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.
No matter your age or income – community college is now free in Massachusetts! 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.
*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.
For more information, please see HERE.
SAT/ACT Upcoming Test Dates and Deadlines
SAT
Sept. 12, 2026 test date
Deadline for registration 8/28/26 & late registration 9/1/26
Oct. 3, 2026 test date
Deadline for registration 9/18/26 & late registration 9/22/26
Nov 7, 2026 test date
Deadline for registration 10/23/26 & late registration 10/27/26
Dec 5, 2026 test date
Deadline for registration 11/20/26 & late registration 11/24/26
Register for SAT tests here
ACT
Sept 19, 2026 test date
Deadline for registration 8/14/26 & late registration 9/1/26
Oct 17, 2026 test date
Deadline for registration 9/11/26 & late registration 9/29/26
Dec 12, 2026 test date
Deadline for registration 11/6/26 & late registration 11/29/26
Register for ACT tests here
Free Practice SAT/ACT tests
Kaplan: https://www.kaptest.com/sat/free/sat-practice
CollegeBoard: https://satsuite.collegeboard.org/practice/practice-tests
The Bring Back the Trades Skills Expo in Marlborough, Massachusetts.
Join us for a unique experience where you can explore various trade skills and learn from industry professionals. Whether you’re interested in plumbing, HVAC, electrical work, construction, healthcare, or other trades, this expo is the place to be. Get ready to roll up your sleeves and dive into the world of skilled trades!
- When: October 29, 2026 9 AM to 2:30 PM (Arrive by noon to ensure you get to experience all the exhibits)
- Where: Best Western Trade Center in Marlborough, MA
- What: Hands-on exhibits to learn about and explore various trades pathways. Open to all ages, recommended for ages 10 and up. Students, adult learners and community members encouraged to attend.
WA Counseling Department
Email: laurenclark@westfordk12.us
Website: https://www.westfordk12.us/wa/counseling-department
Location: 30 Patten Road, Westford, MA, USA
Phone: 978-692-5570