WHS School Counseling News

Dear students and families,

We are looking forward to welcoming you back to Watertown High School in a few short weeks! As we plan for our return to WHS, we are focusing on ensuring that all of our students, those who were fully remote last year and those who returned in-person, are prepared to start a safe and successful school year. Given the uncertainty of the past two years, we acknowledge that some students and families cannot wait to return to the building while others may feel worried or anxious about this step. The WHS Guidance and Mental Health team offers a number of supports to students throughout the school year that are outlined further along in this newsletter.

Additionally, school counselors are working to finalize student schedules and plan Guidance seminars for this school year. We are excited to host our College Fair and the SATs this fall and are looking forward to a number of evening events for students and families, starting with our Senior Future Planning Night in September.

Please read on for information about:

-Counselor Caseloads

-Student Schedules

-Student Orientations (9th grade, new 10th-12th grade students and last year's fully remote students)

-Mental Health Resources for Students

-SAT Registration Deadline

-NHS Application Deadline

-Upcoming Guidance Events

-Tips and Reminders for Students

-Additional Resources

We will see you in just a few short weeks!

Class of 2022 (12th grade): Students with last names E-I

Class of 2023 (11th grade): Students with last names F-K

Class of 2024 (10th grade): Students with last names E-J

Class of 2025 (9th grade) Students with last names F-I

Email: adrienne.eaton@watertown.k12.ma.us
Phone: 617-926-7736

Class of 2022 (12th grade): Students with last names O-Z

Class of 2023 (11th grade): Students with last names O-Z

Class of 2024 (10th grade): Students with last names P-Z

Class of 2025 (9th grade) Students with last names P-Z

Email: jaimie.leonard@watertown.k12.ma.us
Phone: 617-926-7736

Ms. Osborne works with students in our ESL program.

Ms. Osborne speaks Spanish and English.

Email: kimberly.osborne@watertown.k12.ma.us
Phone: 617-926-7736

Class of 2022 (12th grade): Students with last names A-D

Class of 2023 (11th grade): Students with last names A-E

Class of 2024 (10th grade): Students with last names A-D

Class of 2025 (9th grade) Students with last names A-E

Mr. Rivera speaks Spanish and English.

Email: fabian.rivera@watertown.k12.ma.us
Phone: 617-926-7736

(substitute for Ms. Lindsy Orpen)

Class of 2022 (12th grade): Students with last names J-N

Class of 2023 (11th grade): Students with last names L-N

Class of 2024 (10th grade): Students with last names K-O

Class of 2025 (9th grade) Students with last names J-O

Ms. Slayton speaks Spanish and English.

Email: katharine.slayton@watertown.k12.ma.us
Phone: 617-926-7736

Mrs. Tracy is the Guidance Administrative Assistant. She is available to assist students and families with scheduling meetings with school counselors, accessing transcripts, sending materials to schools, organizing scholarships, accessing PowerSchool, printing schedules or report cards, and much, much more.

Email: linda.tracy@watertown.k12.ma.us
Phone: 617-926-7736

Each student at WHS is assigned a school (guidance) counselor. Their school counselor will work with them throughout their four years to assist them with meeting their academic and career/college readiness goals while also providing social and emotional support, access to opportunities and resources, and more. We encourage students and their families to reach out to their school counselor with questions early and often! Some examples of how students and their families use school counselors during high school include:

• assistance with planning for and selecting courses
• support with organization and accessing of school resources (tutoring, Math Lab, Writing Lab, extra help, mental health counseling, etc.)
• help with brainstorming extracurricular experiences (community service, internships, summer programs, access to special opportunities)
• support during the career and college planning process (including individual meetings, small group programming, and evening programming)
• assistance with navigating difficult situations (social situations, asking for help from a teacher, managing stress, etc.)
• access to additional community resources (mental health resources, mentoring, special programs, food/housing insecurity resources, etc.)
• support submitting materials for testing, scholarships, special programs, and more

For a more comprehensive list of Guidance programming, please click here.

The Student Support Team at Watertown High School also includes our school nurse, school adjustment counselors, school social worker, and school psychologist. Together with our assistant principal, this team meets weekly to collaborate and problem-solve regarding issues that may interfere with student progress and wellness. If you have concerns about your student's wellness or progress, please inform your student's school counselor.

Mr. Teddy Disciscio and Ms. Becket Rhodes, School Adjustment Counselors

A few examples of how School Adjustment Counselors support students include:

• Providing individual or small group counseling
• Building skills to help manage anxiety, stress, anger, depression, and grief
• Supporting students who are in crisis or having thoughts of suicide or self-harm with safety planning
• Navigating conversations with teachers or peers
• Sharing resources and information with students as guest speakers in English and Social Studies classes
• Connecting students with outside resources

Any student can access our school adjustment counselors. They are found in the office next to the nurse’s office. Your school counselor can also introduce you.

Email: theodore.disciscio@watertown.k12.ma.us; rebecca.rhodes@watertown.k12.ma.us.

Mr. Joie Mara, School Nurse

A few examples of how our school nurse supports students include:

• Answering questions about health concerns or feelings of stress, anxiety, and depression
• Assisting students with access to substance abuse resources and supports
• Helping develop healthy living habits
• Connecting students with outside resources

Nurse Mara can be found in the nursing suite, room 163.

Email: joie.mara@watertown.k12ma.us

Phone: 617-926-7758

Ms. Felicia Voudris, School Psychologist

A few examples of how Ms. Voudris supports students include:

• Providing individual counseling
• Building skills to help manage anxiety, stress, anger, depression, and grief
• Supporting students who are in crisis or having thoughts of suicide or self-harm with safety planning
• Navigating conversations with teachers or peers
• Helping students understand how they learn (this may include educational testing, with permission)

Ms. Voudris’ office is next to room 250 in the History wing. She often meets with students for educational testing and provides individual counseling to some students.

Email: felicia.voudris@watertown.k12.ma.us

Mr. John Bresnihan, School Social Worker

A few examples of how Mr. Bresnihan supports students include:

• Providing individual counseling
• Building skills to help manage anxiety, stress, anger, depression, and grief
• Supporting students who are in crisis or having thoughts of suicide or self-harm with safety planning
• Navigating conversations with teachers or peers
• Providing resources and presentations to students in Health classes on mental health issues, including the Signs of Suicide school-based prevention program
• Connecting students with outside resources

Mr. Bresnihan’s office is located off the stairwell across from the school adjustment counseling office. Mr. Bresnihan has an Advisory and meets individually with students.

Email: john.bresnihan@watertown.k12.ma.us

Student schedules will be visible in the PowerSchool Student Portal by the last week of August. Students will receive an email when schedules are visible. Students are reminded that schedules are based on the course requests made in the Spring. Occasionally, schedule conflicts arise and in these cases, we encourage students to contact their school counselor before the start of the school year to discuss solutions. School counselors will be available at WHS August 24-26th and August 31st from 8:30-3:00 to meet with students regarding schedule questions. Additional times may be available on September 1st and 2nd. Please email your school counselor with questions or contact Mrs. Tracy to schedule an appointment. Please remember that the last day to make changes to 1st semester and full year classes is Thursday, September 16th.

All 9th grade students will participate in the 9th Grade Orientation during the first two days of school. More details about this orientation will be shared in the coming weeks.

We will also be offering two optional orientations for students in grades 10-12 who are new to Watertown (new registrations) and students who were fully remote last year. These orientations will include a tour of the high school and an overview of school procedures. Students can choose between two orientation dates:

Tuesday, August 31, 9:30AM

Wednesday, September 8 (first day of school), 9:00AM

Interested 10th-12th grade students should RSVP here soon as possible.

Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday (August 24, 25, 26), 8:30-3:00 - Registration/Scheduling

Saturday, August 28 - SATs (WHS is not a test site)

Sunday, August 29 - Colleges that Change Lives College Fair, Boston (register here)

Tuesday, August 31, 8:30-3:00 - Registration/Scheduling

Wednesday - Thursday, September 1-2 (time TBD) - Registration/Scheduling

Saturday, September 11 - ACTs (WHS is not a test site)

Thursday, September 16 - Add/Drop Deadline for 1st semester and full-year classes

Monday-Wednesday, September 20-22 - Senior Guidance Classes during English

Thursday, September 23, 6:30-8:00 PM - Senior Future Planning Night

Thursday, September 30 - High School Open House

September-October - Senior Guidance Seminars during Advisory

Saturday, October 2 - SATs (WHS is a test site)

Wednesday, October 6, 5:30-7:00 PM - College Fair

Wednesday, October 13 - PSATs administered during the school day to all 10th and 11th graders

Thursday, October 21, 7:00 PM - NHS Induction

Saturday, October 23 - ACTs (WHS is not a test site)

Friday, October 29 - Add/Drop Deadline for 2nd-semester classes

Note: MEFA will not be offering in-person financial aid seminars this year. Instead, webinars will be held throughout the fall. WHS Guidance will post information on these when the information becomes available.

Students who wish to take the Saturday, October 2 SATs at WHS must register on the CollegeBoard website by September 3rd. Space is limited and slots fill up quickly.

Eligible 11th and 12th graders received an email containing the NHS application in early July. Applications are due Thursday, September 23 to Ms. Eaton. Current members do not need to re-apply.

The start of the school year can be a busy time for everyone. New classes, new teachers, new routines, and new things to remember! Below are a few general and grade-specific reminders for students as we start off the school year.

All Students

• Finish your summer homework! Be sure to check the Summer Learning website for complete details.

• Make sure that all schedule changes are made by the appropriate dates. The Add/Drop Deadline for 1st semester and full year classes is Thursday, September 16. Changes to 2nd semester classes must be made by the last day of Quarter 1.

• Students can make appointments to see their school counselor by stopping into the office or by signing up online at https://sites.google.com/a/watertown.k12.ma.us/whs-guidance/appointments (the 2021-22 appointments will be available starting the second week of school). We encourage students to schedule their appointments during a study hall or lunch if possible. Students should always come with a pass from their teacher.

• Check your school email or Guidance Google Classroom for our newsletter with information about community service opportunities, part-time jobs, deadlines, scholarships and more!

• WHS Guidance is now on Instagram (@WHSGuidance50)! Follow us for updates!

12th Graders

• During the week of September 20, seniors will meet in small groups with their school counselor for senior guidance classes. Following these meetings, seniors must to set up an individual senior meeting to continue discussing their post-high school plans

• If necessary, make sure you are registered for the SATs or ACTs this fall. Spaces fill up quickly, so be sure to register early. WHS is a test site on October 2 (the registration deadline is September 3). Visit www.collegeboard.org or www.actstudent.org for a full list of test dates. Students who receive free or reduced lunch are eligible for fee waivers for these tests and for college applications.

• Seniors who have not yet spoken with teachers about recommendation letters should have those conversations early in the year to give teachers ample time to write the letters. We ask that students give teachers at least one month’s notice before their first deadline. The teacher recommendation forms can be found online and in the Guidance office.

• Throughout the fall, college admissions representatives visit WHS. Check your email and Google Classroom to find out when schools are visiting WHS and sign up on Naviance to attend. These are great ways for students to learn about schools they are interested in, or ones they’ve never heard of, and get some face-to-face time with a representative who just might be reading WHS applications later in the year.

11th Graders

• Use Naviance! Explore careers, majors, and post-secondary opportunities to help you plan for your future. We also post information about scholarships and college visits here.

• 11th graders will be taking the PSATs in October. This practice test, offered during the school day to all 10th and 11th graders, provides students with a chance to take a practice version of the real SAT. These scores help students determine what areas they should focus on when studying for the SATs without the pressure of having their scores be reported to colleges.

• Remember that junior year is the last full year of grades that colleges and universities will see before they consider your application – make it a good one!

10th Graders

• Learn more about your interests! Spend time this year learning about what you enjoy doing, how you learn, and what your strengths are. 10th graders will also be introduced to Naviance, a career and college planning resource, that can help you put together these pieces as you plan for your future.

• Prepare for testing. In 10th grade, students will take the PSATs (a practice version of the SATs) and the MCAS in English and Math. Doing well on the MCAS may qualify students for scholarships at state universities. Passing the MCAS is also a graduation requirement.

9th Graders

• Develop good study habits! Not sure how to start? Talk to your teachers or school counselor for some tips.

• Get involved in an activity! Meetings are usually posted in the morning announcements.

• Prepare for the Science MCAS. 9th graders will take the Science MCAS at the end of the school year.

As a reminder, WHS and the greater community have many resources available to students and families. Here are some that students and families might find helpful:

• Joel Giacobozzi, Principal (joel.giacobozzi@watertown.k12.ma.us)
• Annmarie Boudreau, Assistant Principal (annmarie.boudreau@watertown.k12.ma.us)
• Brian Brewer, Dean of Students (brian.brewer@watertown.k12.ma.us)
• School Counselors
• Joie Mara, School Nurse (joie.mara@watertown.k12.ma.us)
• Sara York, Team Chair (sara.york@watertown.k12.ma.us)
• Brandon Rabbitt, Director of School Nutrition (brandon.rabbitt@watertown.k12.ma.us)

The following links are part of the Watertown Public Library's COVID 19 Resource Guide:

• Food Assistance
• Housing Assistance
• Watertown Mutual Aid