Meet Julie McCoy & Jen Schaffer
Mrs. McCoy is the current 7th Grade School Counselor at Blanchard. This is her first year employed by the Westford Public Schools. She is a graduate of the University of Massachusetts, Amherst where she majored in Psychology and Sociology. She completed her Masters of Education in School Counseling at the University of Massachusetts, Boston in 2006. Mrs. McCoy has been a School Counselor for 15 years. Mrs. McCoy enjoys working with middle school students and believes every student is unique. She is passionate about helping students reach their full academic, social, and emotional potential. In her spare time, Mrs. McCoy enjoys traveling, hiking, book clubs, and spending time with her husband, three children, and their dog Luna. 7th grade families, if you have any questions or concerns, please don't hesitate to reach out to Mrs. McCoy.
Mrs. Jennifer Schaffer joined the Blanchard School Counseling department in 2022. Jen is a licensed Massachusetts Early Childhood and Elementary Education teacher and has taught at both the Robinson School and Westford PreSchool here in Westford since 2014. Prior to working in Westford, Jen was a First Grade teacher in NH. She studied Human Resources and Employee Relations at Cornell University, and then earned her M.Ed in Elementary Education from Cambridge College. She really enjoys the Counseling Admin and School Registrar role within the Blanchard community because it gives her the unique opportunity to combine her previous IT and Corporate HR skills with daily interactions with the students, parents and staff. Jen enjoys traveling, reading, warm weather, and spending time with her husband, three children and two dogs!
Students are assigned to counselors by grade level. Each counselor remains with her students from grades 6 through 8.
PowerSchool
Not sure how to access your student's schedule? Please see below:
- Use your device (Go to: https://westford.powerschool.com/public).
- 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.
Nashoba Valley Technical School Information
On Friday 10/7/22, 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 have coordinated a field trip to tour NVTHS later this month. This trip is open to any student who is seriously considering attending/applying NVTHS for ninth grade.
Interested students should stop by the Counseling Department to see Mrs. Leone to obtain a permission slip and/or discuss the application process. The permission slip is due back to Mrs. Leone by October 18th.
NVTHS is also hosting an Open House on November 6th from 12:00 to 3:00 p.m.
Students who are applying to NVTHS should be in communication with Mrs. Leone as early in the year as possible. The application deadline is 1/15/2023.
Project 351
"At Project 351, we believe that every young person is remarkable and that within them, lies the tools, vision and desire to build a more just, inclusive and united global community."
Project 351 is a nonprofit organization that seeks to engage an 8th grade Ambassador from cities and towns across Massachusetts in a yearlong service project aimed at building a "united, engaged, and compassionate world".
Ambassadors are chosen based on the following values: ethic of service and the values of kindness, compassion, humility, and gratitude.
If your 8th grader is interested in applying to be the Project 351 Ambassador from Westford, please see Mrs. Leone in the BMS Counseling Department.
Click here for more information on Project 351.
Social Media Challenges – FDA Warning
The FDA is warning about a rise in adolescents and young adults participating in dangerous social media challenges. One recent challenge posted on social media encouraged people to cook chicken in NyQuil and similar over-the-counter cough and cold medicines. "Boiling a medication can make it much more concentrated and change its properties in other ways," the FDA said. The agency also pointed to a TikTok challenge daring people to hallucinate by taking large doses of the over-the-counter drug Benadryl. The FDA cited reports of teens ending up in hospital emergency rooms or dying after participating. The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends parents should talk to their children about social media dares and discuss them "calmly and without judgment" while encouraging them to think through any potential negative outcomes.
bryt Family Engagement Team
Parents Learning with Parents (PLP)
October Speaker
Parenting in the Age of Technology
Speaker: Diana Graber, Author, "Raising Humans in a Digital World"
How many hours should students sleep on a school night?
Takeaway: Sleep is vital for health and mood! Instead of using a cell phone as an alarm clock, try using a basic battery alarm clock instead (leave the phone downstairs!).
Why Back-to-School Anxiety Is So Much Worse Now, and 5 Ways to Cope
BMS Counseling Department
Website: https://sites.google.com/westfordk12.us/bmsguidance/school-counseling-home
Location: 14 West Street, Westford, MA 01886
Phone: (978) 692-5582