Issuu

Volume 44

Number 6

www.masca.org

February 2008

President’s Message: The School Counselor as Advocate

JENNIFER J. McGUIRE MASCA President

s it February already? Each year we celebrate National School Counseling Week during the first week of February. This year’s theme is “School Counselors: Creating Pathways to Success.” I hope you were able to take some time to promote school counseling in your school. Perhaps you used some of the resources made available to us through ASCA. As school counselors, we wear many hats. Our titles may be the same, but our jobs differ greatly because we work on different levels or in different types of schools. And we all know that the expectations of school counselors vary greatly from one school system to the next. The counselor to student ratio, for example, is one area of variation. The appropriate ratio is often a topic for discussion among counselors, especially when we are faced with new demands. Similarly, how the administration views the school counselor’s role in MCAS varies greatly from one school system to another. It is always interesting to meet counselors from other schools or states and find out what their typical day looks like (if you can even figure out what a typical day is for a school counselor). Despite our varying job descriptions, both written and implicit, there is one role we all play —ADVOCATE. You are

probably thinking of our task of advocating for our students. Clearly, this is a fundamental responsibility of school counselors. But in this case I am referring to our role as advocates for ourselves and for our profession. All of us — those currently in the field as well as those who have retired after long careers and those just embarking on our profession—have been asked, “What do school counselors do?” We must make our mission known to our stakeholders: students, parents, administrators, school boards, and community members. We must make them aware that we are partners in student achievement and that without us, our students would be at a disadvantage. Counselors working to implement the MA Model have learned that if our role

is to be viewed as absolutely necessary, we must demonstrate that what we do makes an impact. Collecting data is not something nice to do. It is necessary. Advocating for our profession means that we must go beyond what we normally do. It is in our nature, as school counselors, to help our students, to work on their behalf, and to contribute to our schools and school communities. We need to take this a step further. We must bring what we do for students to the attention of those not directly receiving our services in our communities, at the state level, and nationally. If you are interested in learning more about how you can get involved in advocacy at the state and national level, please contact any MASCA Governing Board member. ■

Congratulations, Bob Bob Bardwell, immediate past president of MASCA, has been elected to serve as Secondary Level Vice President on the 2008-2009 Governing Board of our national organization, the American School Counselor Association (ASCA). Currently, Bob serves as past president of MASCA and as president-elect of the New England Association for College Admission Counseling. Bob is director of guidance and student support services at Monson High School in Monson. Congratulations, Bob. ■

Inside . . . Advocating for School Counselors By Robert Bardwell ......................... 4 Recommendations for a New Age By Kim Gangwisch-Marsh ............... 8 The Time for Advocacy Is Now By Thom Hughart .......................... 18

Membership Form........................12 MASCA Awards 2008 .................. 13 Technology Safety....................... 15 Directory Order Form ................. 16 MA Model Institute .................... 17

Wiseman selected as Conference Keynoter

COUNSELOR’S NOTEBOOK 2007– 2008 PRESIDENT JENNIFER JUST McGUIRE Upper Cape Cod Regional Technical School 220 Sandwich Road, Bourne, MA 02532 Tel. 508-759-7711 x247 • E-mail: jmcguire@uppercapetech.org PRESIDENT-ELECT KAREN M. D’AMOUR Manchester Essex Regional High School 36 Lincoln Street, Manchester, MA 01944 Tel. 978-526-7641 • Fax 978-526-2044 E-mail: damourk@mersd.org PAST PRESIDENT ROBERT BARDWELL Monson High School, 55 Margaret St., Monson, MA 01057 Tel. 413-267-4589 x1107 • Fax 413-267-4157 E-mail: bardwellr@monsonschools.com VICE PRESIDENT ELEMENTARY AMANNDA BARTRAM Lynn Public Schools, Lynn, MA 01902 E-mail: bartrama@lynnschools.org VICE PRESIDENT MIDDLE / JUNIOR HIGH CELESTE CIANFRANI Gateway Regional High School 12 Littleville Road, Huntington, MA 01050 Tel. 413-685-1109 • E-mail: ccianfrani@grsd.org VICE PRESIDENT SECONDARY MATT COLEMAN Southeastern Regional Vocational Technical High School 250 Foundry Street, South Easton, MA 02375-1780 Tel. 508-238-4371 • E-mail: mcoleman@sersd.org VICE PRESIDENT POSTSECONDARY JAY LEIENDECKER Vice President Enrollment Services, Dean College Tel. 508-541-1509 • Fax 508-541-8726 E-mail: jleiendecker@dean.edu

ROSALIND WISEMAN Rosalind Wiseman will be the keynote speaker at the MASCA Spring Conference in Hyannis. Wiseman is cofounder of the Empower Program, a nonprofit organization that empowers youth to stop violence. She is the author of the New York Times bestseller Queen Bees & Wannabes: Helping Your Daughter Survive Cliques, Gossip, Boyfriends, and Other Realities of Adolescence (Crown, May 2002), which was the inspiration for the hit movie

Mean Girls. Wiseman speaks to children, teens, parents, and educational professionals throughout the world. She has been profiled in the New York Times, People, USA Today, Oprah, Nightline, Today Show, CNN, Good Morning America, and many other outlets. She lives in Washington, D.C., with her husband and two sons. ■

VICE PRESIDENT ADMINISTRATORS THOMAS HUGHART Wellesley High School, Wellesley, MA 02481 Tel. 781-446-6305 x5142 • Fax 781-446-6308 E-mail: thom_hughart@wellesley.mec.edu VICE PRESIDENT COUNSELOR EDUCATORS REBECCA A. SCHUMACHER UMass Boston, Boston, MA 02125 Tel. 617-287-7651 • Fax 617-287-7667 E-mail: Rebecca.Schumacher@umb.edu VICE PRESIDENT RETIREES RALPH SENNOTT P.O. Box 1391, Westford, MA 01886 Tel. 978-692-8244 • E-mail: ralphsennott@hotmail.com EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR ROBERT QUIST 34 Clovelly Street, Lynn, MA 01902 Tel. 781-842-1645 • Fax 978-740-1122 • E-mail: bobqui@aol.com TREASURER TINA KARIDOYANES P.O. Box 1007, Monument Beach, MA 02553 Tel. 508-759-3986 • E-mail: tkaridoyanes@gmail.com SECRETARY ANN HOURIGAN North Reading High School, North Reading, MA 01864 Tel. 978-664-7800 • E-mail: annhourigan@yahoo.com Questions concerning membership in the Massachusetts School Counselors Association should be addressed to: MEMBERSHIP COORDINATOR DEBORAH CLEMENCE P.O. Box 805, East Dennis, MA 02641 E-mail: DeborahClemence@verizon.net The Counselor’s Notebook is published by the Massachusetts School Counselors Association, Inc. 10 times a year, September through June. The yearly subscription rate is $20.00; individual issues are $2.00. Opinions expressed in the articles published herein represent the ideas and/or beliefs of those who write them and do not necessarily reflect the views or policies of the Massachusetts School Counselors Association, Inc. The acceptance of an advertisement for publication does not imply MASCA endorsement of the advertiser’s programs, services, or views expressed. © 2008 by the Massachusetts School Counselors Association. All rights reserved. Questions concerning submission of articles, publication deadlines, advertising rates, etc., should be addressed to: SALLY A. CONNOLLY, Editor 19 Bayberry Road, Danvers, MA 01923 Tel. 978-774-8158 • Fax 978-750-8154 E-mail: sallyconnolly@att.net

COUNSELOR’S NOTEBOOK

School Counselors celebrate National School Counseling Week

ational School Counseling Week, sponsored by the American School Counselor Association (ASCA), will be celebrated from February 4–8 to focus public attention on the unique contribution of professional school counselors in U.S. school systems. National School Counseling Week highlights the impact that counselors can have in helping students achieve school success and plan for a career. And the week recognizes the vital role they play in helping all students meet the challenges of the 21st century. More than 21,000 school counselors nationwide will be participating in the week’s festivities. Many counselors will host special events and activities to call attention to the benefits of a comprehensive school counseling program. Specifically, school counselors: • help students examine their abilities, strengths, interests and talents, • work in partnership with parents as they encounter the challenges of raising children in today’s world, • focus on positive ways to enhance students’ social/personal, educational and career development; and • work with teachers and other educators to provide an educational system where students can realize their potential and set realistic and optimistic aspirations for themselves. They are certified, experienced educators with a master’s degree in guidance and counseling. Their training and experience makes them an integral part of the total educational program as they work “to enable all students to achieve success in school and to become responsible and productive members of our society.” (Eric Sparks, ASCA President). Congratulations, School Counselors! ■

FEBRUARY 2008

Save the date! 20th Annual Conference for Guidance Counselors and Administrators “Creating a Welcoming and Positive School Environment” Thursday, March 20, 2008 • Regis College Sponsored by the Guidance Administrators Forum (GAF), an affiliate of MASCA

Look Forward To Your Future

With Mitchell College’s outstanding 4 and 2-year academic programs, along with the Thames Academy pre college experience , we can provide you with the education and support you need for the future you envision. SM SM

New Programs and Highlights for 2007-2008: • Thames Academy, an innovative • New Bachelor Programs: one-year certificate Post-Grad/ Communications, Tourism & Pre-College experience Hospitality, Homeland Security and Environmental Science • Mitchell’s Learning Resource Center is one of the nation’s premier programs for students • NCAA Division III Athletics with documented learning disabilities and AD/HD

Mitchell College • 437 Pequot Avenue • New London, Connecticut 06320 (800)443-2811 • www.mitchell.edu

Advocating for School Counselors

he school year is more than half over, and our sights are set on the spring and even the end of the school year. However, before we get to that point, there is much work to be done. I am pleased to provide an update regarding exciting advocacy efforts. As you know, advocacy is one of my priorities as a school counseling association leader. It’s not that I like to do the work (not many of us do), but I realize that the view of professional school counselors will not change without advocacy efforts. We will continue to do the things we shouldn’t be doing, and we won’t make the impact on student achievement that we know we are capable of making. Recently I had the opportunity to meet with New England members of the College Board, including Peggy Cain, a school counselor at Andover High School; and Don Honeman, Associate Vice Chancellor of Enrollment Management at UMass/ Dartmouth. The College Board has designated two areas (New England and California) to participate in advocacy projects.

ROBERT BARDWELL MASCA Past President I know that some folks have issues with the College Board, particularly around some of its policies and the fees associated with its products. I, too, share in some of these concerns, but this project is one that I totally support. It is good for both school counselors and the students we serve. The College Board will use some of its resources to give back to our profession with no strings attached. Even more exciting is that the project will include partners like MASCA, the New England

We offer Degrees and Certificates in

Association for College Admission Counseling (NEACAC), and TERI (The Education Resource Institute), among others. Additional groups will be brought in as the project unfolds. The plan is to build a coalition of associations with similar goals and interests and to ensure success through collaboration. Three areas of concentration in New England have been the focus: the role of the school counselor and educating the various constituencies about what we do; working with low-income, first-generation college students, and looking at ways to increase state-funded, need-based financial aid. All of these areas significantly impact our students, but I get most excited about the first. In my fifteen years as a school counselor, this will be the first time that efforts are being made to advocate for school counselors in Massachusetts. In the next few months, we will choose the specific methods to accomplish our goal. Some possibilities include a public relations ad campaign, an event at the state capitol with policy makers (in particular, members of the Joint Committee on Education), and activities with school administrators and superintendents to help them understand the role of a professional school counselor. I am sure other ideas will surface as well. In addition to being good for MASCA, this project will help us to learn how to continue with this type of work. Lori Fresina, senior vice president and director of the New England office of M+R Strategic Services, the consulting group hired by the College Board, will teach us advocacy, public relations, and lobbying skills. She has a wealth of experience in public awareness campaigns in both education and public health initiatives, and she is most eager to work with us. The time is ripe, she feels, for effective advocacy. I want to thank Peggy, Don, and Arthur Doyle, New England Region Vice President of the College Board, for inviting MASCA to participate. Brad MacGowan, MASCA’s Government Relations Chair, will also be involved. Please contact me for more information or to join the effort. Your help is needed! ■ COUNSELOR’S NOTEBOOK

FEBRUARY 2008

EXEC’S MESSAGE

ROBERT QUIST MASCA Executive Director

s we enter the cold month of February, I am impressed by how such a short month can seem to last so long. I think that is how we feel in our day-today positions. For many of us — from those who are newest in our field to the most senior veterans contemplating retirement — the excitement of September has been replaced with worry about limited resources and budgets (sometimes in frozen accounts) and concerns about the issues confronting our students and their

families (often made more difficult by lack of adequate heat, clothing, and food). That is why I find it more important than ever to be in touch with other school counselors. I have found that the work of our affiliates has been instrumental in providing mutual support and professional development to me personally and to our members. I am fortunate to belong to the Middlesex Directors Association and the North Shore Guidance Directors Association. The folks in these groups and our sometimes endless e-mails between monthly meetings have been very valuable. We find that those issues that we feel alone in are not so unique after all. It helps to have people who have been there and who are willing to share what has worked and not worked in order to help us work through issues. During this short month of February, which includes National School Counseling Week, I strongly recommend that we provide support and guidance to our own fellow counselors. Using the e-mail lists of affiliates is one great way.

DOE update A new commissioner of the Department of Education will be announced at their January 22 meeting. This information will be posted on the MASCA webpage, along with the recommendations/decisions made by the Board of Education on the statewide graduation rate and how it impacts schools and districts. A plea for help As we go forward with the MASCA Directory of School Counselors, we have put an updated version on our webpage, http:// www.masca.org. Please check the listing for your school / district, and e-mail any needed changes to me by clicking on my name on the contact page of the website. Or you can fax the changes to me at 978-740-1122, Attention: Bob Quist. Our goal is to make the online directory as up to date as possible. That way the hard copy printed in September will have few, if any, errors. In addition, if you notice that something is missing from the Directory, please let me know. A lot of work is needed to make the Directory a useful resource, but with your help it can be done! Have a great, short month and until next time . . . ■

COUNSELOR’S NOTEBOOK

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FEBRUARY 2008

Recommendations for a New Age By KIM GANGWISCH-MARSH MASCA Human Rights Committee Chair

reetings. This New Year and my many resolutions obviously haven’t brought me any closer to being timely and organized with my article submissions, though you do not see this. This is the province of Sally Connolly, Notebook editor, who has to figure out how to squeeze the articles (of us delinquent writers) into an already balanced and ready-

to-print Counselor’s Notebook. I’d like to publicly acknowledge Sally’s especially hard work and dedication. Not only does the Notebook share information and ideas among MASCA members; it provides an important source of MASCA income—without her, there would be no avenue for public communication to and from MASCA members. Thank you, Sally!

That important acknowledgement aside, what I would also like to share with you this month are two terrific Web sources. One is an amazingly thorough human rights website from the University of Minnesota. The other, a thoughtprovoking video clip from YouTube. Upon viewing the latter, I hope that you will be prompted to employ the many resources available in the former. YouTube: Did You Know; Shift Happens—Globalization; Information Age (Karl Fisch, Scott MacLeod, XPlane) http://www.youtube.com/watch?v= pMcfrLYDm2U&NR=1 This is an illuminating and significant picture of the world we now inhabit (especially for those of us mired to the immediate one). If you haven’t seen it, please take the eight minutes or so required to view it. My guess is that it just might set you a tad on edge. It represents the world we live in but our children inhabit. I hope it will cement your understanding of how different this world is compared to the one in which we (baby boomers and the handful of cusp stragglers) grew up. The video solidifies how understanding and acceptance of diversity in all forms is no longer an option, but a necessity, in order to compete and survive in this exponentially expanding world. Human Rights Resource Center at the University of Minnesota http://www1.umn.edu/humanrts/edumat/ activities.shtm Bookmark this site. It is vast and contains activities, publications, studies, materials, topics, lessons, and trainings—online as well as site-based — on a variety of human rights subjects. I have directed you to the activities page, but be sure to click on Home to view the extensive array of possibilities. I hope both of these sites will provide you with many hours of thoughtful consideration and conversation. I also hope that one or the other will prompt you to explore creative avenues to ensure that all of our students are being exposed to the information and instruction they will need to succeed when ‘shift’ happens. ■

COUNSELOR’S NOTEBOOK

FEBRUARY 2008

MASCA 2008 Spring Conference

USNAA honors Bryant

Four Points Sheraton, Hyannis Thursday – Saturday, April 10 -12, 2008 Register online at www.masca.org. Special rates for MASCA members!

ED BRYANT MASCA Life Trustee MASCA Armed Services Liaison OCTOBER 24, 2007—The United States Naval Academy Admissions Office would like to thank Captain Edward C. Bryant, U.S. Coast Guard (Ret.), for his twentyone years of service as Area Coordinator for areas covering the Commonwealth of Massachusetts and his continued twentytwo years of service as a Blue and Gold Officer. His dedication has been unparalleled as an Area Coordinator. Covering over 9500 miles of geographic territory, Captain Bryant effectively managed over thirty BGOs during his tenure with outstanding results. His standard of excellence and professionalism set the bar for other Area Coordinators to follow. He has expertly mentored and guided over 1050 candidates in their pursuit of an appointment to the United States Naval Academy. His outstanding contributions to the United States Naval Academy have produced the finest officers that serve the Navy and Marine Corps today. Captain Bryant reflected great credit upon himself and upheld the highest traditions of the United States Naval Academy and the United States Naval Service as a whole. Given this 24th day of October 2007, S.B. Latta Captain, U.S. Navy, retired Dean of Admissions, United States Naval Academy ■

COUNSELOR’S NOTEBOOK

FEBRUARY 2008

COUNSELOR’S NOTEBOOK

MASCA Awards 2008 By KATHLEEN BARRETT, Ed.D. MASCA Public Relations /Awards Committee Chair

assachusetts school counselors have the chance once again to recognize those who model and inspire excellence in our profession. The MASCA Awards Committee encourages you to nominate a colleague this year for the annual MASCA awards. The nomination process is quick and easy, and it offers an invaluable opportunity to recognize someone who has made a meaningful contribution to the field. Those nominated are honored by the act, and those selected as recipients are doubly honored. Here’s what you need to know. MASCA members may nominate a candidate for any of the organization’s four traditional annual award categories: Counselor of the Year, Leadership, Administrator of the Year, and Special Award.

With its Torch awards MASCA recognizes a newcomer to the field as well as a retiring counselor. You can, thus, honor a colleague on both sides of the practice continuum. Each award category has its own criteria, and candidates must provide evidence of meeting a minimum of two criteria. The Counselor of the Year, Leadership, and Torch Awards require MASCA membership, licensure, and current employment as a school counselor. The retiring / retired Torch Award is an exception to the current employment criterion.

Making a nomination To nominate your candidate, complete the MASCA Awards Nomination Form, provide two letters of recommendation, and include desired supporting informa-

tion. Supporting information could include the candidate’s resume, articles written about their programs, letters of support from their principal, etc. Be creative and include whatever best demonstrates why your candidate should be selected as a MASCA Award winner. Send materials electronically to kathleen barrett@comcast.net. Or mail to MASCA Awards Committee, c/o Dr. Kathleen Barrett, 77 Emerson Road, Longmeadow, Massachusetts. Nominations must be received by March 1, 2008 to be considered for this year’s awards. The MASCA Awards Committee will select winners in each category and presentations will be made, according to our tradition, at the spring conference in Hyannis. ■

Awards Criteria Counselor of the Year Award • Has made outstanding contributions to the school community • Demonstrates excellent rapport with pupils, parents, and school personnel • Is a highly respected counselor of students

Leadership Award • Demonstrates able leadership in the counseling profession on the local, state, or national level • Provides extensive service to the community in youth activities and community service initiatives • Has made innovative contributions in research, publications, presentations, or workshop leadership • Actively participates in organizations at local, state, and or national levels

Administrator of the Year Award • Has made an outstanding and significant contribution to the guidance and counseling movement • Developed a new program • Implemented an innovative program • Initiated unusual improvements of guidance service in his / her area of responsibility Special Award • Made a contribution of unusual significance that substantially affects the guidance and counseling profession • Made a contribution that directly affects counselors • Made a contribution that directly affects students • Made a contribution that directly affects a school program

Nomination form is found on page 14. DEADLINE FOR NOMINATIONS: MARCH 1, 2008 FEBRUARY 2008

The MASCA Torch Award . . . Passing the torch (You may nominate in one or both categories)

Retiring Counselor • Retiring this year or has retired within the last five years (mandatory) • A model for new counselors, demonstrating highest standards of professional competence • Has made outstanding contributions to the school community and/or profession • Demonstrated excellent rapport with students, parents, and school personnel Rising Star • A newcomer to the profession, who has entered the field within the last five years (mandatory) • A model for new counselors, demonstrating highest standards of professional competence • Has made outstanding contributions to the school community and/or profession • Demonstrated excellent rapport with students, parents, and school personnel ■

MASCA Awards 2008 Nomination Form Person nominated: ____________________________________________________________________________________________ Place of employment: _________________________________________________________________________________________ Position held:______________________________________________________________________________________________ Superintendent: ____________________________________________________________________________________________ Is the nominee a member of MASCA?

___ Yes

___ No

Award for which this person is nominated: ___ Counselor of the Year ___ Leadership Award

___ Administrator of the Year ___ Special

___ Torch: Rising Star ___ Torch: Retiring

In your nomination packet, consider the criteria listed for the award category and offer specific examples to demonstrate how your candidate met the criteria and contributed to the school and professional community. Person making the nomination: ______________________________________________________________________________ Address: __________________________________________________________________________________________________ ___________________________________________________________________________________________________________ Telephone: ________________________________________________________________________________________________ Mail to: MASCA Awards Committee c/o Dr. Kathleen Barrett, Chairperson 77 Emerson Road Longmeadow, MA 01106

E-mail: kathleenbarrett@comcast.net E-mail: (Put “MASCA Award Nomination” in the subject line)

DEADLINE: MARCH 1, 2008

Institute Trainers MA Model Implementation Institute Trainers are available for site visits, department reviews, curriculum day-training, and consultation. To discuss your needs and financial arrangements, contact Jan Tkaczyk at jantkaczyk@comcast.net or Katie Gray at uniquepotential@comcast.net.

COUNSELOR’S NOTEBOOK

Technology Safety and Security Among Children: What Caretakers Need to Know By RUSSELL A. SABELLA, Ph.D. Practical tips for caretakers: 1. First and foremost, develop an ongoing relationship with your child that supports collaborative exploration and learning about technology. Also, help your child to trust you and communicate potentially problematic activity by not “flipping out.” That is, stay calm and rational when dealing with technology related problems. 2. Support your child’s school in teaching the skills, knowledge, and attitudes included in technology/media literacy. In partnership with your school, instruct your children to: • never arrange a face-to-face meeting with someone they met online; • never upload (post) pictures of themselves onto the Internet or online services to people they do not personally know; • never give out identifying information such as their name, home address, school name, or telephone number; • never download pictures from an unknown source, as there is a good chance there could be sexually explicit images; • never respond to messages or bulletin board postings that are suggestive, obscene, belligerent, or harassing; • be suspicious of whatever they are told online which may or may not be true. (Source: http://www.fbi.gov/publications/ pguide/pguidee.htm) 3. Learn the lingo or language of technology (e.g, check out http://www.alliance com.net/internet_lingo.php). 4. Keep your home computer in a location that is easily viewable. 5. Talk with other parents who have a computer, internet access, and/or other related technologies in their homes. They may be the “weakest link” in child technology safety. 6. Turn on the Safe Filtering mode on your search engines. In addition, use other filtering/blocking software such as Cybersitter (which I use and highly recommend). http://www.cybersitter.com/ 7. Investigate and choose a “Family Friendly” Internet Service Provider (ISP) (read more by visiting http://tinyurl.com/ f2zxd). 8. If you choose to give your child a FEBRUARY 2008

cell phone, choose one that is “child friendly.” That is, users of this phone can only call friends approved by parents. For example: • TicTalk. http://www.mytictalk.com/ LeapFrog/ • Firefly. http://tinyurl.com/gsjb6 9. If you allow your child to have his/ her own e-mail account, make sure to screen all incoming e-mail messages. Many free online e-mail services (e.g. Microsoft Hotmail) allow you to set up an account which only allows you to receive e-mails from addresses appearing in your Contacts, service announcements from the provider, and messages you have consented to receive from the provider. Here is another tip: if you own your own website, you can set up an e-mail account for your child that allows him/her to send out messages although any incoming mail can automatically get forwarded to your account for screening. (I set up Joe@schoolcounselor.com which forwards

all mail to my account, sabella@school counselor.com). 10. Learn how to use the V-Chip settings on your television. Relatedly, use websites to help you review movies and other programming to determine appropriateness for your child. For instance, websites such as http://www.familystyle .com/ and http://movies.yahoo.com/mv/ moviemom/ provides parents with the information they need to decide which movies, DVDs and videos are best for kids from ages 2 through 18. 11. Usually the only way to stop popups is to close the browser (in Internet Explorer, hold the Alt key and press F4 very quickly to close these windows at a rapid pace). Another more effective way to prevent pop-ups altogether is to install a program (usually free) called a pop-up blocker. Here are several: • The Google toolbar (http://toolbar .google.com/) includes a pop-up blocker (continued on page 16)

Massachusetts School Counselors Association

Order Form 2008 DIRECTORY OF MASSACHUSETTS SCHOOL COUNSELORS The Directory lists school counselors in K-12 public, private, parochial, regional and technical high schools. Phone, fax, and e-mail information is included. Each MASCA member will receive one (1) complimentary copy of the Directory. Any additional questions may be sent to Janice M. Tkaczyk at jantkaczyk@comcast.net. PLEASE USE THE ORDER FORM BELOW TO ORDER YOUR COPIES, order online and use your credit card, or download the form at www.masca.org.

DIRECTORY OF SCHOOL COUNSELORS 1-5 copies @ $30.00 each . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . # ______

$_________

Additional Copies 6 or more @ $25.00 each . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . # ______

$ _________

Shipping and Handling @$3.50 each . . . . . . . . . . # ______

$_________

5.00 P. O. Processing Fee (per order) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $ _________ Checks payable to: MASCA

TOTAL ENCLOSED: . $ _________

If paying by credit card, please check this box ■ and forward to Jan Tkaczyk. If mailing the form, please send to: Janice M. Tkaczyk P.O. Box 318 East Dennis, MA 02641

Your name and contact information: Name: ______________________________________________________________ School District/Business: _______________________________________________ Mailing Address: _____________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________ E-mail Address: ______________________________________________________ Phone: _____________________________________________________________

(continued from page 15) for the Internet Explorer browser; • If you’re using Windows XP and have the Service Pack 2 (SP2) installed, you have a pop-up blocker. When you install SP2, Pop-up Blocker is turned on in Internet Explorer and set to the medium setting, which means it will block most automatic pop-ups. The default settings for the pop-up blocker allow you to see pop-ups that are opened when you click a link or button on a Web site. Pop-up Blocker will also play a sound and show the Information Bar when a pop-up is blocked. You can adjust these settings so that Pop-up Blocker works the way you want it to (http://www.microsoft. com/windowsxp/using/web/sp2_popup blocker.mspx); • Another popular pop-up stopper that works with Internet Explorer is called Pop-Up Stopper® Free Edition (http://www. panicware.com/product_psfree.html). The Professional version works with other browsers such as the increasingly popular Firebox, AOL, MSN, Mozilla Firefox, Netscape 4.x, 6.x, 7.x, Opera 6.x - 7.x, SBC Yahoo, WMConnect, CompuServe, Juno, NetZero, Mozilla 1.7.3 or older. Other free pop-up blockers can be found at http://www.popuptest.com/software/ freeware_popblock.html. 12. Gain personal and practical experience of various technologies so you can listen and talk with your children with authority. That is, become more technologically literate yourself. For example, set up your own MySpace.com account and learn how it is used. Relatedly, check out these chatrooms as an example of children chatting. I encourage you to log in (as a guest user if possible so that you don’t have to bother registering for an account) and just read (without interacting) for a while to get a better sense of what some kids may be up to: • http://www.ecrush.com/ • http://www.chat-avenue.com/kid chat.html • http://www.kidchatters.com/ (This one requires parental registration and is monitored as well as filtered). • http://www.kidscom.com/chat/kids chat/kidschat.html • http://www.kidzworld.com/ Editor’s note: For the full article, which can be shared with parents and appropriate others, but not children, go to http:// coe.fgcu.edu/faculty/sabella/safety.pdf ■ COUNSELOR’S NOTEBOOK

MA Model Implementation Institute Congratulations to the following schools /districts and participants in the first Implementation Institute. As a result of demand, a fall session was offered. Fifty-one school counselors and one school principal from 31 school districts in the Commonwealth were enrolled in the first, year-long Institute. Both groups will complete all course expectations by late April. SCHOOL / DISTRICT Agawam Robinson Park Elementary School Agawam High School Agawam Junior High School

Amesbury Middle School Ashland High School Ayer Middle School Attleboro, Bishop Feehan High School Barnstable Barnstable High School Barnstable Middle School Horace Mann Charter School Boston, Brighton High School Cape Cod Regional Technical High School

Chicopee Comprehensive High School Dighton, Bristol County Agricultural High School East Bridgewater High School Harwich High School Hatfield, Smith Academy Holliston, Robert Adams Middle School Hopkinton High School Huntington, Gateway Regional Littleton High School Lunenburg High School Methuen High School New Bedford, Greater New Bedford Regional Vocational Technical Norfolk County Agricultural High School North Easton Junior High School North Quincy High School Norwood Schools Norwood High School Dr. Phillip Coakley Middle School Pembroke High School Pioneer Valley Regional School

Plymouth South High School Sandwich High School Stoneham Schools Walpole High School Whittier Regional Vocational Technical FEBRUARY 2008

REGISTRANTS Sue Schoenburger, Director Donna Mendonca Stacy Wright Sue Galereave Sandy Sherry-Pitzer Jeanne Trinque Kathleen Scott Brian Garrigan, Director Cynthia Esielionis Rhonda Laliberte Gina Hurley, Director of Student Services Marie Anderson Jennifer Clark Keith Clarke John Travers Alice Howe John Lynch Cheryl Mador Barbara Rodricks David Castonguay Mark Dufresne Steve Terceira Cindy McKay Chris Evans Jonathan Bennett Chris Soverow John Powers Lee Greco Cheryl Elder Celeste Cianfrani Rich White Jan Nolan Mike Barney, principal Karma Tousignant Val Viscost Martha Tatro Jimmy Owens Deb Perez Amy Meehan Helena Skinner Beth Sylvia Diane Regan Crystal Mims Wendy Farley Eleanor Derby Kilfoyle Grad Student Intern Maureen Metta Christine Carroll Beth Thayer Justine Croteau Jen Dolan Kyleigh Lundberg Maureen Lynch

MA Model Implementation Institute Offers a 45-PDPs certificate from MASCA Optional (for additional fee): 3 graduate credits from Fitchburg State College For course description, requirements, and registration, go to www.masca.org/ Trainers: Katie Gray Jan Tkaczyk Helen O’Donnell

SAVE THE DATES! 2nd MA Model Implementation Institute 2008-2009 Wednesday, July 16 Dean College (Lodging arranged at Dean College)

Thursday, July 17 Dean College Thursday, October 23 (MASCA Fall Conference) Wednesday, November 19 Dean College Implementation sharing at the MASCA Spring 2009 Conference

The Time for Advocacy Is Now

THOM HUGHART MASCA VP Administrators

CURRY COLLEGE

1071 Blue Hill Ave. • Milton, MA 02186 www.curry.edu curryadm@curry.edu Since its founding in 1879, Curry College has been a forward-looking institution that emphasizes individualized education and personal development. Curry is a private, four-year, co-educational college offering programs in the liberal arts and professional fields leading to bachelor’s and master’s degrees.

Q UICK FACTS

ABOUT

C URRY C OLLEGE :

• Curry serves over 2,000 full-time, traditional undergraduate students from 40 states and 32 countries • Curry’s wooded, 137-acre New England campus is locatedjust minutes from downtown Boston • Approximately 1400 Curry students reside on campus • Curry offers 20 majors and 50-plus minors and concentrations • Curry’s student/faculty ratio is 12:1. The average class size is 20 students • Approximately 70% of undergraduate students receive some form of financial aid • Students can choose from a wide array of extra-curricular activities including 13 NCAA Division III athletic teams

ACHIEVE EXCELLENCE IN ALL THAT YOU DO (800) 669-0686 or (617) 333-2210

2008 is still pretty new, and I am becoming increasingly concerned about the pressures in our guidance departments. Of course, I am always concerned about the students, who are dealing with academic demands and who may be in over their heads and sort of college greedy. Those students listened to the college reps who advised them to take the most challenging courses but didn’t emphasize that they must get all A’s and B’s. There are also the students who are still struggling with the adjustment and transition to a new school. Social and competitive issues affect many of our students. As counselors we help these students navigate the turbulent seas of adolescence. In some instances the parents need as much assistance as their children, and we must address these issues. Add that to our student load of between 150 and 500 students. And this is only part of our job. Add to the mix our work with the juniors and seniors around career development and planning and college and postgraduate options. These issues are both time-consuming and anxiety-ridden for students. They know they can’t stay in high school forever, but don’t know what they want to do. Most settle for college as a way of buying more time before having to commit to a career or focus. Society (defined as somewhere between U.S. News and World Report and their parents) has convinced them that they have to attend either “the right college” or at least a “good college.” And one more thing. We are being overrun by “plans”: IEP’s, 504’s, schoolbased plans, district curriculum accommodation plans, individual student success COUNSELOR’S NOTEBOOK

plans, and the newest one, the educational proficiency plans. Oh, I almost forgot. The DOE is supposed to be sending another one our way this year: the RTI plans (Response to Intervention plans). And there are others: the individual professional development plans of our staff (and our own, as well). The above is not intended to be a complaint list but, rather, a simple inventory of some of our tasks as counselors and directors. I am sure I have missed some plans (like the School Improvement Plans from School Councils). You can add these to the list. You can also add accommodations for English Language Learners as well as regular education students. And how about the regular parent, student, and teacher meetings. And, of course, our work with students who end up in disciplinary situations. There are so many aspects of our job that it’s almost impossible to list them. And I have avoided the inappropriate duties that befall us: standardized testing (APs, SATs, ACTs, MCAS), proctoring school-based exams, lunch duty, bus duty, playground duty, hall duty, study halls, clerical work (i.e., stuffing college envelopes, building and changing schedules, working on transcripts and report cards, etc.) What is this rambling article really all about? It’s about our role as administrators and one of the most important aspects of our role: advocacy. Now more than ever, we must advocate for our counselors (and by doing so, advocate for our students). We need to sit down with our superintendents, principals, assistant principals and teachers. We need to educate everyone who will listen because we are not just “guidance counselors” anymore. We are school counselors. For those who don’t, won’t, or can’t listen, we need to find other ways to get through. We must write articles for the school newsletters and the parents’ newsletters. We need to be represented on school councils, faculty senates, and teachers’ unions. When it is time to negotiate contracts, we must encourage counselors to be on the negotiating teams. Write articles for your local newspapers, the big newspapers, journals, and magazines. Prepare PowerPoint presentations for all who will listen. FEBRUARY 2008

If we don’t define our roles and responsibilities, someone else surely will. If we are to continue to be effective in our schools on behalf of our students, we must commit ourselves to advocating for our profession. I know that sounds so impersonal, but our profession is what we do. It is who we are as school counselors. The call to advocacy is now. The NCLB legislation, although up for reauthorization, is not getting notice in the press. The candidates for the U.S. presidency are not addressing education as an issue. And the

Massachusetts DOE in Massachusetts is not addressing our issues. The DOE, rather, is focusing on what school counselors can do to assist them in accomplishing their goals, which might not always be ours. The timing is right. Over the next year or so, MASCA will advocate for our profession in a planned, strategic way. MASCA needs your involvement to be effective in its advocacy for you. And you need MASCA’s resources to assist you in your advocacy locally and beyond. ■

SAVE THE DATES!

MASCA 2008 Spring Conference Four Points Sheraton, Hyannis Thursday – Saturday, April 10 -12, 2008 KEYNOTE SPEAKERS including Rosalind Wiseman, author of Queen Bees

3 full days of professional development activities, networking, and hospitality. For exhibitor information or to plan a program, suggest an activity, or join the Conference Committee, contact Helen O’Donnell, Conference Chair, at helenod@att.net.

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When you renew your membership, return both the application and your check made payable to “MASCA” to the Membership Coordinator. To receive an acknowledgement of your membership, please include your e-mail address.

Massachusetts School Counselors Association, Inc. COUNSELOR’S NOTEBOOK Sally A. Connolly, Editor

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February 2008