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News to Know
This news feed is for general information that is relevant to a wide range of students and/or families. Last edited on 4/10/24)
Attention Class of 2024:
Financial Aid Student Webinars:
· May 21, 2024 at 5:00-6:00 pm -ET
Attention Class of 2025:
MEFA has three upcoming webinars for families looking ahead to next year’s college admissions and financial aid process. Registration links can be found by clicking each title.
All presentations will include guidance provided by college planning experts and a time for live Q&A.
The National Association for College Admission Counseling (NACAC) invites students, parents, and counselors to explore the college search process at the NACAC National College Fair in Boston held on Thursday, May 2, 2024 from 9 a.m. – 12 p.m. and 6 p.m. – 8:30 p.m. and Friday, May 3, 2024 from 9 a.m. – 12 p.m. The fair will be held at the Boston Convention and Exhibition Center.
More information about the NACAC National College Fair in Boston— including directions, a list of colleges exhibiting at the event, and tips to help students prepare for the fair — is available online at https://www.nacacattend.org/24Boston.
All Students:
Congressman Auchincloss’ office is hosting a Virtual Service Academy Night on Tuesday, May 28th from 6:00-7:30pm. This is an opportunity for high school students in grades 9-11 to learn more about the application process for the five United States Service Academies: West Point, Navy, Air Force, Merchant Marines, and Coast Guard. LINK
JOB POSTINGS can be found HERE
Need an unofficial copy of your transcript, report card or get your weighted & unweighted GPA? Students can now access this information by clicking on the "Student Reports" tab in Powerschool.
Need a peer tutor?
National Honor Society provides peer tutoring in most subject areas. Complete this form and you will be assigned a tutor based on your need and skill level. If you are not contacted within a cycle, please see Mr (Eric) Collins (Room 443) or Mr Krieger (Room 246).
Need a work permit???
If you require a work permit, please email Ms. Burns (burnsl@wellesleyps.org) who will help process it.
Summer Opportunities
Regis College Summer Scholars Program
The Harvard Model Congress Leadership Summer Camp
West Point Summer Leaders Experience
Massachusetts Historical Society (Student Fellowship)
AMIGOS offers service and immersion Summer Programs in Latin America for youth ages 13-19
UNAGB's 2024 Summer Institute in Global Leadership programs for Middle and High School Students
This July, we are thrilled to introduce our inaugural summer program for high school students—the WPS Summer Leadership Institute. This three-week initiative is crafted to empower students by developing their leadership skills, exposing them to innovative city spaces, and inspiring them to shape their own futures. Throughout the program, participants will:
Immerse themselves in hands-on experiences.
Visit first-rate institutions, such as an MIT maker space and Boston Children’s Hospital’s Immersive Design Lab.
Engage with experts in engineering, biotech, social innovation, and more.
Develop skills in entrepreneurship, digital storytelling, networking and influencing, which they can apply immediately in a community impact project and in the fall in an internship program.
The program is scheduled to run from July 8 to July 26, 2024.
For additional details regarding our application process and available scholarships, please visit https://wpsinstitute.org/sli
Enjoy Life Academy
Parents:
The Resilience Project Parents and Caregivers Program helps educate and support parents and caregivers, in order to help them better support the emotional wellness of their children and teens. We offer parent workshops, free hospital-based events, and community talks throughout the year. Please contact us for more information and/or with inquiries related to supporting parents in our community (Natick, Needham, Newton, Waltham, Wellesley, Weston).
Coffee w/ The Director of School Counseling
*All meetings will be in the Faculty Dining Room from 9-10am
Friday, October 13th - Topic: Naviance and SCOIR
Friday, December 15th - Topic: student supports
Friday, February 16th - Course Selection
Friday, April 5th - College Guidance Network
Parent Evenings ‘23/’24
(All evenings begin @ 7:00pm virtually unless otherwise noted. Links will be available the week of the event, unless otherwise listed below)
9/13 Standardized Testing Night
recommended for junior students & parents/guardians
9/20 Senior Parent Night
10/18 at 6pm Navigating the College Process with Students w/LD
recommended for junior/senior students & parents/guardians
Slides: https://docs.google.com/presentation/d/1apN5rGd7CIjlctAIYXOCThrAjVai-dj6LE4fW2aaOVM/edit?usp=sharing
11/13 at 7pm Financial Aid Night - MEFA/WSF/WHJWC
recommended for senior students & parents/guardians (junior students and parents are welcome)
Presenters:
Beth Cook - WSF (wsf1951.scholarship@gmail.com)
C.J. Hacker - WHJWC (scholarships@whjwc.org)
Kevin Fudge - MEFA (kevin.m.fudge@gmail.com)
Recording: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1zaC4yGWvxntrqg4ZvtDAudHmQd87ZJeI/view?usp=sharing
11/15 at 7pm Junior Parent Night
(WHS Counseling joined by representatives from Merrimack and Ithaca)
Slides: https://docs.google.com/presentation/d/1RVvoYoKulW4nGbpSNnqZZT4f5DYQilMqPBEPVb4BhkQ/edit?usp=sharing
Recording: https://drive.google.com/file/d/19wozrO1vlq6ZN-8VlBarr8okbtF_muEc/view?usp=sharing
1/10/24 7pm GAP Year Information Night (with Weston & Wayland)- Webinar with J2 Guides
*link to the event will be available closer to the date
Jane and Jason Sarouhan are the J2 behind J2Guides, a professional gap year consulting service that puts empowerment, expertise and affordability at the center of the gap year planning process. Jane and Jason have been leaders in experiential and gap year education for nearly 30 years. They are nationally accredited Gap Year Association Consultants and keynote speakers at the USA Gap Year Fairs. In this gap year presentation Jane and Jason will share their stories and expertise as they define and demystify the gap year, share effective gap year planning strategies, and answer your questions.
Youtube recording: https://youtu.be/oTtk_i7m2a0
1/24 8th Grade Parent Orientation
Slides: https://docs.google.com/presentation/d/1tfql6j3zSzhqZe6qn6xZhIukswyard_PVU2HXyX5ONo/edit?usp=sharing
**Due to technical difficulties, there is no video available. Please contact your assigned WMS counselor or Margaret Walendin (walendinm@wellesleyps.org), Interim Director of Counseling at WHS with any questions.
3/28 Fine & Performing Arts Night @ Wayland High School, 6 pm (tentative. This event is organized by Wayland High School)
4/11 College Guidance Network
*Please join us from 7-7:30 PM over zoom for an overview of this new resource (intended for 10th and 11th grade students and families).
Please use this Zoom Link
Articles/Videos/Books:
3 steps of anxiety overload -- and how you can take back control: Lisa Damour
NYT: What We Lose When We Push Our Kids to "Achieve" (article below)
Lisa Damour: How to show up for teens when big emotions arise
Smartphones & Teenage Mental Health
We're Too Tired to be Helicopter Parents
Yale Law School Leaving US News & World Reports Ranking
Colleges that promise no student loans
It Can Wait - a video for your teenage driver
The Broken College Ranking System
Don't forget that kids can thrive in so many places
Harvard announces test optional through 2026
(Book recommendation) Where You Go Is Not Who You Become by Frank Bruni
High Schools Are Posting Their College Lists: Don't Be Misled
Dear Therapist: I Staked My Identity on Attending an Ivy League School
Rethinking Anxiety ; When Worry Takes Over: Tips & Techniques for Parents & Kids
"Why specializing early doesn't mean career success"
Stop Trying to Raise Successful Kids
Open letter to students & families
Stigma of Choosing Trade Schools over College
when teens cyber-bully themselves
Calculator Seeks To Help Prospective Students Understand The True Cost Of College
Why the Myth of Meritocracy Hurts Students of Color
School Counseling Department
The School Counseling Department provides a variety of services in three areas: personal/social, career/college and academic counseling. Within these three broad areas are nine specific services: grade level seminars, counseling, teacher consultation, resource coordination, information delivery, parent education/consultation, placement, evaluation/planning and records/testing. While students are the primary focus of these activities, counselors also work closely with parents, teachers and administrators.
School Counselors spend the majority of their time working directly with students. Through individual counseling and grade level seminars, counselors address the developmental needs of students and provide crisis intervention. They are also in frequent communication with faculty, staff and parents in order to coordinate services and provide an optimum school experience for all students.
School Counselors work closely with the Special Education Department, serving as referral agents and as members of evaluation teams. School Counselors coordinate the 504 process and monitor the implementation of the plans. They also meet regularly with the Student Support Teams that are composed of the assistant principals, school psychologist and special educator to share information and develop strategies to meet the specific needs of individual students.
Any student who wishes to meet with his/her School Counselor individually should make an appointment in advance. In emergencies, however, a student should feel free to come in to see his/her counselor without advance notice. If the counselor is not available, the student should schedule an appointment or leave a note. Parents are encouraged to use the counseling services, calling their School Counselor with questions or requesting a conference when appropriate.
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