Counselor's Corner

Counselor's Corner will be shared with families monthly to highlight what the counseling department does with and for students. It is meant to guide conversations at home and answer questions families may have. If there is a topic you would like to see addressed in a future Counselor's Corner, please email Ms. Machia (kmachia@wsps.org) with your ideas.

●Term average of 85 or higher with no failures.

● No more than 3 tardies or 5 absences per term.

● No administrative disciplinary action (detention, IHD , or Suspension).

● Participation in the Renaissance community service project.

****Click here for the Full Renaissance Program Guidelines

Upcoming College Visits here at West Side!

Click here to register for College Visits

11/5/26- Post University @ 9AM

11/5/26- Bryant University @ 12:30PM

11/10/26- Southern Connecticut University @12:30PM

11/12/26- Westfield State University

11/24/26- Mitchell College @ 9AM

Gear up on November 16th

Seniors will be getting a survey on November 4th and are expected to sign up for gear up day events if applicable.

Western New England University, University of Hartford, Massachusetts College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences, Holyoke Community College and Springfield Technical Community College will be at WSHS offering instant, non binding decisions to applicants. Applications must be submitted on or before November 6th!

FSA ID workshop. On 10/19 approximately 55 seniors participated in an FSA ID workshop to begin their financial aid journey. Please see the attached slideshow.

2027 creating-using-fsa-id

For Financial Aid information or FAFSA help:

https://www.mefa.org/webinars/

Online FAFSA help sessions:

November 17, 2026

4:00pm – 6:00pm https://mefa-org.zoom.us/meeting/register/SdKYt8PYQuK8YrWUbbD6Zg

December 16, 2026

4:00pm – 6:00pm

https://mefa-org.zoom.us/meeting/register/yoz8VNISS-W81v4Pbt5DmA

Step by Step walkthrough Video

https://www.mefa.org/webinar/understanding-the-fafsa/

Additional help can be found through college and university financial aid offices.

🏫 CTEC Open House Tuesday November 24 from 5 - 7p.m., at CTEC 174 Brush Hill Ave., West Springfield for current students and their families or interested 8th grade families.

Grades close November 9th. If you do not have access to Powerschool, please reach out to the counseling office.

Tips for struggling students:

1. Create a routine-set homework time and create a homework space.

2. Arrange to have student stay after with teacher: Late bus is on Monday, Wednesday and Thursday

3. Build resilience: encourage your student to attempt assignments and to not give up.

4. Check Powerschool and Google Classroom for missing work.

5. Peer tutoring will start in November.

6. Problem solve with your student: discover barriers and work to problem solve

WSHS is partnering with the H.E.R.E. Project of the YWCA of Western Massachusetts to provide students with age-appropriate education designed to help young people build healthy relationships, recognize unsafe or unhealthy behaviors, support their peers and make informed decisions.

If you believe your student would be a good candidate for this program, please reach out to their school counselor for a referral. Groups begin on November 10.

Seniors!!!!

Please take a moment to review the following information outlining the application process and expectations for eligibility for the Massachusetts AFL-CIO Scholarship Exam, which is open to all high school seniors. Here are the important pieces of information:

• Students must register to participate in the scholarship exam no later than Friday, December 18th, 2026. The link to register for the exam can be found here.
• The exam will be proctored by me and take place during the week of February 1st and February 5th, 2027. More information will be distributed by me in the months to come.
• The exam will be taken online. It consists of multiple choice questions and one essay. A fully charged Chromebook is required.
• The Massachusetts AFL-CIO administers up to one million dollars of scholarship awards on behalf of unions and labor councils throughout the state.
  
• Study Resources, including a study guide, are available for test prep at this link.
• For additional information on the AFL-CIO scholarship, including an interactive exam website studying tool, you can visit this website.

The Peer Mentor program will start next month. If you are the parent/guardian of a freshmen student or a transfer student and believe they would benefit from peer support as they navigate high school, please reach out to your student’s counselor.

Xello Wednesday, November 4th. Grade 9 students will explore their learning styles. Grade 10 students will look at careers in demand, Grade 11 students will learn self advocacy skills, and Grade 12 students will work on application completion, resume, fsa ID, exploring apprenticeships etc. and will complete a post secondary survey.