For Parents/Guardians

The Wellesley School Counseling Department is committed to fostering a strong working relationship with the families we serve. We encourage you to attend our informative evening presentations throughout the year as will as the bi-monthly Coffee with the Director of School Counseling. A calendar of these events are listed below. Wherever possible PDF's/videos of presentations are posted at the bottom of the page.

Further helpful articles and resources are posted for your reference.

Evening Presentations for Parents/Guardians: 2023-2024

School Counseling Evenings ‘23/’24

(All evenings begin @ 7:00pm virtually unless otherwise noted. Links will be available the week of the event. Those events that are recorded can be found below)

9/13 Standardized Testing Night

recommended for junior students & parents/guardians

College Admissions Testing: Your Road Map to the SAT & ACT

Wednesday, September 13, 2023

7:00 - 8:15 pm EST

Registration link for families: https://register.gotowebinar.com/register/4532870160083487067

Summit Educational Group is pleased to partner with Wellesley High School to provide this informational webinar about the college testing landscape. In this webinar, Summit's Drew Heilpern will share the latest information about these standardized tests, talk about what's on the tests and how and when to prepare for them.

Wellesley High School's Janet Sozio will provide specific testing details for junior year students.

Session topics include:

- SAT vs. ACT, how they differ and how to choose

- Components of a good Test Prep Plan

- The new digital adaptive PSAT and SAT

- Preparing for these tests

- The role of standardized tests in the college admission process

The goals of this session are simple: to reduce anxiety, increase clarity, and impart confidence to families about the college admissions testing process. To learn more about Summit, visit mytutor.com

Please note: If you cannot make it on this date, register anyway and we'll send a link to the webinar recording.

Slides: https://docs.google.com/presentation/d/14dnHCmp7ExdpAWUAqmn1nW6LQHQvfhan/edit?usp=sharing&ouid=101285483249608291050&rtpof=true&sd=true

9/20 Senior Parent Night

Department of School Counseling

Senior Parent Night

September 20th, 7-8:15pm

Join Zoom Meeting

https://wellesleyps.zoom.us/j/89187364987?pwd=bkxHVkVVSmZWaXVlRGg1ODNzazJjQT09

Meeting ID: 891 8736 4987

Password: 963008

Please join School Counselors John Steere and Annis Chwalek for an information session on the college admissions process as it relates to the Class of 2024.

Link to Slides

10/4 Grade 9: Executive Functioning Skills & the Transition to High School,

hosted by Revolution Prep

Wellesley HS Partner Page and Registration Link: https://www.revolutionprep.com/events/70083/

Presentation Description:

Is your child about to make the transition from middle school to high school? The high school years can be exciting and transformative, but they can also be challenging and stressful. As the importance of standardized tests, grades, course rigor, and extracurricular activities increases, it's crucial to be prepared and equipped to succeed. There is one key underlying skill area that can better predict a student’s academic performance in high school and beyond. And no, it’s not IQ. It’s executive function! In this webinar, we'll provide you with practical tips and strategies to help you and your child navigate the transition from middle school to high school successfully.

Please note: If you cannot make it on this date, register anyway and we'll send a link to the webinar recording.

Here is the recording: Navigating the High School Transition

10/18 at 6pm Navigating the College Process with Students w/LD

recommended for junior/senior students & parents/guardians

Join Zoom Meeting

https://wellesleyps.zoom.us/j/88038941387?pwd=dmFDc3dBWXdKK3dZTEsyL0J5S3FBdz09

Meeting ID: 880 3894 1387

Password: 997707

Slides: https://docs.google.com/presentation/d/1apN5rGd7CIjlctAIYXOCThrAjVai-dj6LE4fW2aaOVM/edit?usp=sharing

10/19 Wellesley Education Foundation (WEF) event with Harlan Cohen

Program: Happy, Healthy, Almost Stress-Free College Planning & Success: For Parents and Students

Date: Thursday, October 19, 2023

Time: 7:00 p.m.

Place: Wellesley High School Auditorium, 50 Rice Street, Wellesley, MA

RSVP: https://www.wellesleyeducationfoundation.org/

Want to make college planning a more positive, healthier, and less-stressful experience? Join New York Times bestselling author, Harlan Cohen, (The Naked Roommate: And 107 Other Issues You Might Run Into in College and The Naked Roommate: For Parents Only!) for a live in person event for high school students and their families. Harlan will help you rethink college search and selection using strategies that have helped countless other students and families. Harlan uses personal anecdotes, humor, and an interactive style to engage audiences while sharing essential information. For more about Harlan visit: www.HarlanCohen.com. Follow him on Instagram @harlancohen and TikTok @helpmeharlan.

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)

Slides: https://docs.google.com/presentation/d/1mA4NGaGgwtORtVZJNhsuRSjBf6t_nsez/edit?usp=sharing&ouid=101285483249608291050&rtpof=true&sd=true)

C.J. Hacker - WHJWC (scholarships@whjwc.org)
Kevin Fudge - MEFA (kevin.m.fudge@gmail.com)

Slides: https://docs.google.com/presentation/d/1IKYKxyofT1m7n86mT0Z6UVQf3NclWWAc/edit?usp=sharing&ouid=101285483249608291050&rtpof=true&sd=true

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 (w/ Weston, Wayland, Needham)- Webinar with J2 Guides

https://us02web.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_FFbwUhgbTVyYtwN95ffxVA

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 in WHS Auditorium *In person

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).

video recording

Coffee w/ The Director of School Counseling 2023/2024

*All meetings will be in the Faculty Dining Room from 9-10am

Friday, October 13th - Topic: Naviance and SCOIR

Friday, December 15th

Friday, February 16th - Topic: Course Selection

Friday, April 5th - Topic: College Guidance Network

The WHS Parent/School Counseling Advisory meets monthly with the Director of School Counseling to discuss ways in which the counseling department can promote a positive school culture and meet the social, emotional and academic needs of WHS students and families. Your feedback is important to us!! Please feel free to contact one of the parents named below if you have ideas or suggestions.

The members for the 2023-2024 school year are:

Tory Moore

Carrie Aronson

Evelina Taber

Amiee Munro

The Human Relations Service

11 Chapel Place Wellesley MA 02481

781-235-4950 www.hrshelps.org 781-235-7176 (fax)

Adult/Parent Groups At HRS

As the community mental health agency for Wellesley, Weston, and Wayland, HRS is committed to supporting parents in the many challenges they face. The following are short-term support groups running for 8-10 sessions at various times throughout the year. If you don’t see a group that you’d like, let us know—we may be able to develop one.

Mothers Managing Toddlers,Mothers of Challenging Children,Parents and Middle School Adjustment,Surviving Your Adolescent,Technology and Parenting, Dealing with Your Anxious Child, Parenting on Your Own for Single Parents, Parenting Your Adopted Child, Parents Coping with Divorce, Dealing with the College Crunch, Making the Best of your Empty Nest, Fathers’ Group, Middle-Aged Men’s Group

If you are interested in any of these groups, please contact HRS @

781-235-4950, info@hrshelps.org

Parent Controls for Home Computers

This Link is a guide to parent controls for their home computer. They work best when used openly and honestly in partnership with your student." Also, this link shares other types of controls other than just computer restrictions as computer controls can be limiting in what they can do.