Counseling Department Newsletter

• Upcoming Events
• First Annual Wachusett Fall Job Fair
• FAFSA Update
• QCC & MWCC Instant Decision Admissions Events
• Regular Decision College Checklist
• Transcript Request Form
• Mental Health Matters: Gratitude Challenge

Upcoming Events:

• December 11th, 12th, and 14th: Instant Decision Days with Mount Wachusett Community College and Quinsigamond Community College for senior students. Advanced registration was required.

• December 11th - December 15th: Counselors will be giving presentations during sophomore Health classes on graduation requirements, scheduling, an overview of the Wachusett Partnership Program, and Naviance Career Exploration.
• Spirit Week at Wachusett!
• Monday, December 18th: Pajama Day
• Tuesday, December 19th: Flannel Day
• Wednesday, December 20th: Winter Hat Day
• Thursday, December 21st: Ugly Sweater Day
• December 21st: Freshman Meetings with Counselors Conclude

Don't forget, winter break will be from Friday, December 22nd - Monday, January 1st!

On November 17th, the Wachusett School Counseling Department sponsored our first annual Fall Job Fair! This was an opportunity for employers to connect with students who were looking for employment in the local community. What a fantastic event! We were joined by the Holden Recreation Center, Oriol Healthcare, S & S Marketpace, Sweets & Java, and The Wilde Companies, who set up tables outside of the cafeteria. Additionally, several other local employers provided their application materials, as they were not able to join us in person. We also provided students with interview preparation resources, resume writing resources, and links to other job searching websites for their reference. We had several students become employed as a result of the Job Fair and we are excited to hold our next Job Fair in the spring!

Please see below for some great pictures of this new Wachusett tradition!

The federal government has just shared that the FAFSA will open up on/by December 31st, 2024.

In the meantime, here are some excellent FAFSA and financial aid related resources that will help you prepare. As a reminder, you are able to create an FSA ID and should do so ASAP, so that when the FAFSA opens up you are ready to go!

• Create your FSA ID HERE (website)
• About the FSA ID: Information from MEFA (infographic)
• Going Merry FAFSA Presentation: Key Changes for Families and Students (presentation slides)
• The New Streamlined FAFSA by Mark Salisbury of TuitionFit.org (webinar December 14th - register here)
• The First Step for Finding the Money You Need for College: Completing the FAFSA by Sallie Mae (previously recorded)
  
• The First Step for Finding the Money You Need for College by Sallie Mae (webinar December 13th - register here)
• What You Need to Know about the New FAFSA by MEFA (article)
• www.credible.com - Site that compares loan lending rates
• www.mefa.org (financial aid website)
• Mass Ed Co Flyer - Local Resource for Financial Aid Support (attached below)

Seniors, are you still working on your applications? Here are a few tips and reminders to help you out!

• Match your Common App account with your Naviance Account.
• Complete the FERPA Waiver on Common App.
• Don't forget to complete the FAFSA (opens on 12/31) and/or CSS Profile (open now).
• Work on your essays and edit them. Visit The College Essay Guy's website for more tips!
• Make sure you know your deadlines.
• Have you grabbed a blue sheet yet? Stop by the counseling office to grab a blue transcript request form to have your transcript sent to the colleges you are applying to.

Seniors! Don't forget that these blue transcript request forms were due on Thursday, December 1st. To request that your high school transcripts be sent to the colleges you are applying to, make sure you fill out this blue sheet. Stop by the counseling department to pick one up!

For any senior student who did not sign up for the QCC Instant Decision Days being held here at the high school, QCC invites you to attend one of their upcoming admissions events:

• Super Saturday Registration Event: January 6th, 9:00 am - 1:00 pm
• Terrific Tuesday Registration Event : January 9th, 3:00 pm - 7:00 pm

You can sign up HERE!

For any senior student who did not sign up for the MWCC Instant Decision Day being held here at the high school, MWCC invites you to attend one of their upcoming admissions events:

Enrollment Express Dates:

January 6th, 8:00 am - 12:00 pm & January 9th, 3:00 pm - 7:00 pm (Gardner Campus)

January 9th, 3:00 pm - 7:00 pm (Leominster Campus)

You can sign up HERE!

The School Counseling Department has invited everyone in the Wachusett High School community to join us in a gratitude challenge between now and December break! It has been a wonderful opportunity for all of us to infuse a bit of joy into these often stressful weeks before vacation, as well as engage in the practice of gratitude. Scientific research shows that practicing gratitude can improve your physiological, physical, and mental health, specifically reducing stress, lowering blood pressure, and increasing energy!

Each week has a different prompt/theme regarding what we are grateful for:

• Week One: People, Places, and Things
• Week Two: Sensory
• Week Three: Reflection
• Week Four: Gratitude for Self

Please see a more in-depth list of prompts/themes attached below. Students and staff have been writing their responses on snowflakes and we have been hanging them up in the hallway outside of the auditorium. It has been a wonderful way to celebrate each other and all of the things we are thankful for this season!

Book an appointment here!

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