WHS Guidance News

April 1, 2021

Read on for information about:

- Course Selection

- Virtual College Rep Visits

- Scholarships and Financial Aid Resources

- WCF Summer Internship Program

Course Selection for 9th, 10th, and 11th Graders

Within the next week, students will be able to view their course requests for next year in PowerSchool. Students will receive an email with instructions when requests are visible. We ask that students review their requests and schedule a course selection meeting with their school counselor before April vacation (appointment sign-ups will be shared soon). During this meeting, students will have an opportunity to make any necessary changes, ask questions, and discuss their course choices for next year and beyond.

Virtual College Rep Visits

We are excited to be able to offer additional Virtual College Rep Visits this Spring! These visits are held on Zoom during the school day (students can get permission from teachers to attend). These visits, for WHS students only, are often run by the admissions officer for our area and allow for excellent, individualized conversation as well as an opportunity for students to get all of their questions answered. Students must register in advance on Naviance. The current list of scheduled visits is below, with more schools being added regularly:

Mass Maritime, Friday, April 2, 11:15AM

Skidmore College, Friday, April 2, 11:15AM

Nichols College, Friday, April 9, 12:30 PM

SUNY College at Oswego, Friday, April 9, 12:30PM

Merrimack College, Friday, April 9, 1:15PM

North Shore Community College, Friday, April 9, 1:15PM

Syracuse University, Friday, April 16, 12:30PM

Western New England University, Friday, April 16, 12:30PM

College of the Holy Cross, Friday, April 16, 1:15PM

Wentworth Institute of Technology, Friday, April 16, 1:15PM

Scholarships and Financial Aid Resources

The WHS Scholarship Booklet is now available. Students should join the Scholarships Google Classroom for access to the applications and materials. Questions? Contact Mrs. Tracy in Guidance. All applications are due before April vacation.

In addition, we frequently update our Scholarships and Special Opportunities Hub with information about scholarships, leadership events, and summer programs for WHS students. Be sure to take a look!

Students and families who are evaluating financial aid packages and making decisions about paying for post-secondary options may find these resources from the Massachusetts Educational Finance Authority (MEFA) helpful:

After the College Acceptance webinars, which provide an explanation of financial aid offers, explain how to calculate the balance due at each college, and suggest options to pay for college costs.
College Cost Calculator, which allows students to compare their financial aid offers and calculate the net cost of each school
Loan Payment Calculator, which shows details of different student loan options, including monthly payment amounts and total loan cost.

Watertown Community Foundation's Summer Internship Program

The Watertown Community Foundation will again be sponsoring the Summer Internship Program for Watertown students. This "build-your-own internship" requires that students work to develop an internship experience that allows them to explore a career or college major they may be interested in. After securing the internship site's approval, students are eligible to apply for a stipend through the WCF program. Students are expected to work for 120 hours over the course of the summer (20 hours/week for 6 weeks). Interested students should contact Ms. Eaton in Guidance. Parents/guardians who are interested in learning more about hosting an intern can also reach out to Ms. Eaton.

For a full list of special opportunities, including summer programs, please review our Special Opportunities Hub.

Student Support

Spring can be an exciting time for students and families. It can also bring about more stress as students work to finish their academic year successfully, start thinking about summer or future plans, and participate in standardized testing. The WHS Guidance website has resources on mindfulness and managing stress that students and families may find helpful. In addition, please remember that WHS school counselors, school adjustment counselors, school social worker, and school psychologist are available to support students as needed.