Counselor's Notebook, February 2010

MASSACHUSETTS SCHOOL COUNSELORS ASSOCIATION FEBRUARY 2010VOL. 46, NO. 6

MASCA

2010 Leadership ForumBy BOB BARDWELLMASCA Past President

MASCA Government Relations Chair

MASCA Needs Youand the Time is Now

By CHRISTINE EVANSMASCA President

CHRISTINE EVANS

H ave you given any thought to be -coming involved in the activities

of MASCA? Please consider the possi-bilities available in the coming months.There are many options, and your talentsare very much needed.

Are you willing to step up and takeaction to meet the ideals expressed in ourmission statement? One of our themesthis year is Moving All Counselors Ahead:Making Accountability and ReadinessCount. You are an important part ofbringing this about; in fact, it will nothappen without you.

Now that you are all fired up andready to go, this is a good time to lay outthe options.

How about becoming an officer? Thenominations for elected office are due byFebruary 27, and the nomination form isavailable on the MASCA website as wellin this issue of the Notebook. Serving asan officer is a wonderful vehicle for pro-fessional development as well as a fan-tastic opportunity to serve your peers inthe field of school counseling.

When I was asked to consider accept-ing a nomination, I was flattered but alsofearful that I might not be able to do what

BOB BARDWELL

A ll school counselors, directors of gui -dance, counselor educators, gradu-

ate students, and others interested inschool counseling in Massachusetts areinvited to participate in the 2010 Lead-ership Forum for Massachusetts SchoolCounselors on Beacon Hill on Wednesday,March 10 from 10:00 a.m.-3:00 p.m.

The program is sponsored by MASCA,the New England Regional Office of theCollege Board, and the New England Asso -ciation for College Admission Counseling.

Participants will hear from state leg-islators, educators, and others who areimpacted by school counselors. And at -tendees will receive training in how to ad -vocate for the school counseling profes-sion with administrators, school boards,and policy makers. MASCA, College

Board, and NEACAC leaders will alsobe participating.

Legislators, legislative aides, and DESEstaff will be invited to hear about theschool counseling profession and whatwe need to do to improve student well-being, career planning, and academic per-formance in the Commonwealth. An up -date on the two school counseling-relatedbills filed in 2009 will be given.

In addition to the speakers and conver-sations around the importance of schoolcounseling, participants will meet withtheir State Representative and Senator toeducate them about what school coun-selors do and why we make a difference.We need a large turnout of school coun-selors and their supporters to show policymakers how vitally important school coun-selors are. Please bring data that showshow your school counseling program hasmade a positive impact on student per-formance, well-being, and achievement.

Registration information is included inthis issue of CN as well as on MASCA’swebsite, www.masca.org. Registrationforms must be completed and returnedto me by March 1.

For more information, contact meat 413-267-4589 x1107 or [email protected]. ■

Come out and supportthe school counseling profession

March 10, 2010 • 10:00 a.m. – 3:00 p.m.

Massachusetts School Counselorson Beacon Hill

(continued on page 18)

2 COUNSELOR’S NOTEBOOK

2009 – 2010MASCA OFFICERS

PRESIDENTCHRISTINE A. EVANSEast Bridgewater High School11 Plymouth Street, East Bridgewater, MA 02333Tel. 508-378-5851 • Fax 508-378-8236E-mail: [email protected]

PRESIDENT-ELECTCAROLYN RICHARDSSomerville High School81 Highland Avenue, Somerville, MA 02143Tel. 617-625-6600 x6120 • Fax 617-628-8413E-mail: [email protected]

PAST PRESIDENTKAREN M. D’AMOURManchester Essex Regional High School36 Lincoln Street, Manchester, MA 01944Tel. 978-526-7641 • Fax 978-526-2044E-mail: [email protected]

VICE PRESIDENT ELEMENTARYTBA

VICE PRESIDENT MIDDLE / JUNIOR HIGHRICHARD WHITEGateway Regional Middle School12 Littleville Road, Huntington, MA 01050E-mail: [email protected]

VICE PRESIDENT SECONDARYJENNIFER LISKMedway High School, Medway, MA 02053E-mail: [email protected]

VICE PRESIDENT POSTSECONDARYJAY LEIENDECKERVice President Enrollment Services, Dean CollegeTel. 508-541-1509 • Fax 508-541-8726E-mail: [email protected]

VICE PRESIDENT ADMINISTRATORSRUTH CARRIGANWhitman-Hanson Regional High School600 Franklin Street, Whitman, MA 02382Tel. 781-618-7434 • Fax 781-618-7098E-mail: [email protected]

VICE PRESIDENT COUNSELOR EDUCATORSTHERESA A. COOGAN, Ph.D.Bridgewater State College, Bridgewater, MA 02325Tel. 508-531-2640E-mail: [email protected]

VICE PRESIDENT RETIREESRALPH SENNOTTP.O. Box 1391, Westford, MA 01886Tel. 978-692-8244E-mail: [email protected]

EXECUTIVE DIRECTORDONNA M. BROWNAdjunct Professor, UMass BostonP.O. Box 366, 779 Center StreetBryantville, MA 02327Tel. 781-293-2835E-mail: [email protected]

TREASURERTINA KARIDOYANESP.O. Box 1007, Monument Beach, MA 02553Tel. 508-759-3986E-mail: [email protected]

SECRETARYCARRIE KULICK-CLARKBraintree High School, Braintree, MA 02184Tel. 781-848-4000 x2273E-mail: [email protected]

MEMBERSHIP COORDINATORDEBORAH CLEMENCEP.O. Box 805, East Dennis, MA 02641E-mail: [email protected]

COUNSELOR’S NOTEBOOK EDITORSALLY ANN CONNOLLY19 Bayberry Road, Danvers, MA 01923Tel. 978-774-8158 • Fax 978-750-8154E-mail: [email protected]

FEBRUARY 2010 3

February 2010

www.masca.org

inside

Published by:Massachusetts School Counselors Association10 issues per year, September through June. The yearlysubscription rate is $30.00. Individual copies are $3.00.

Opinions expressed in the articles published herein representthe ideas and/or beliefs of those who write them and do notnecessarily reflect the views or policies of the MassachusettsSchool Counselors Association, Inc.

The acceptance of an advertisement for publication does notimply MASCA endorsement of the advertiser’s programs,services, or views expressed.

Questions concerning submission of articles, publi cationdeadlines, advertising rates, etc., should be addressed toSally Ann Connolly, Editor.

©2010 by the Massachusetts School Counselors Association.All rights reserved.

4 Lesson Plans 101By Donna Brown

6 Leadership Forum Registration

7 Connecting with Colleagues: Sharing a Best PracticeBy Ruth Carrigan

8 MASCA Call for Nominations

11 MASCA Professional Development NewsBy Helen O’Donnell

12 MASCA Spring Conference Registration

15 A Sense of StyleBy John Steere

16 Dropout Prevention: Tips for CounselorsBy Nicolas Dillman and Suzanne Morris

MASCA

Lesson Plans 101By DONNA BROWN

MASCA Executive Director


I n October, there was a very interest-ing discussion in ASCA Aspects about

how to develop lesson plans. The initial,somewhat panicked discussion was start -ed by a graduate student who had beenasked to produce several lesson plans aspart of her program. She was concernedbecause she didn’t know what she wasexpected to do, and consultation with herclassmates had made matters even worse.

I empathized with her because whileteaching both the school counseling prac -ticum and internship courses online atUMass Boston, I had similar reactionsfrom some of my students when they wereasked to create lesson plans.

Some thought they were actually goingto try to teach sections of the ASCAModel /MA Model to their students;others understood that the Models wereproviding areas for development withinthe curriculum framework. Most of themneeded a template, and happily, at theend of the semester, all had produced ap -propriate, teachable lesson plans.

There really is no great mystery tocreating lesson plans for the guidancecurriculum. All you are doing is makinga map for your classroom presentation.

Initially you need to provide a detailedoutline of what you hope to accomplish,explain how you are going to presentyour material, and indicate how you willknow if students “got” it. As you becomemore comfortable, you will make the les-son plans your own.

In some districts, lessons to supportthe school counseling curriculum are de -signed in-house; others choose to not“re-invent the wheel” and purchase readymade materials or take advantage of thelessons posted on the internet. How ever,usually everyone has to tweek the indi-vidual lessons to customize them fortheir own situation.

So, how do you begin? First, think about your goals. What do

you want students to learn? How willstudents be better as a result of what youdo? How will you evaluate the students’learning? Will you design a pre/post test?Will students write a story or submit areport? Will they work as a group orindividually?

Next, take a look at what you al readydo. Is character education the focus ofsecond grade? Are cliques addressed ingrade five? Do you use an introductorycareer program in seventh grade? Areyou completing four-year plans for highschool? Are the programs sequential?Are any interdisciplinary? Organize yourinformation using the three domains:Aca demic, Career and Personal/Social.

Next, decide what concepts in the do -mains support your goals. What shouldstudents know or be able to do? Deter-mine how you will present the material

and how you will engage students. Willyou make a PowerPoint or use a story orpoem or share a short DVD clip to in -troduce the material? Will you need tomake worksheets? What will students do?Will they play a game? Ask and answerquestions? Engage in role play? Conducta web quest? Will there be follow-up?How will you evaluate your lesson?

This is a very, very simple description,but it covers those items that should beincluded. There are lesson plan templatesfor school counseling lessons online. Youmight like to check out some school andstate sites featuring guidance curriculumand/or lesson plans supporting that cur-riculum to see how others have designedtheir plans. Be sure you’re already fa -miliar with the MA Model; it will makeyour planning much easier.

ResourcesMissouri Guidance and PlacementLessonshttp://missouricareereducation.org/curr/cmd/guidanceplacementG/lessons/index.php

School Counseling Program,TucsonUnified School Districthttp://instech.tusd.k12.az.us/counseling/index.asp

North Carolina Standard Course ofStudy, Guidancewww.ncpublicschools.org/curriculum/guidance

Rhode Island School CounselorAssociation (Resources, Toolkit)www.rischoolcounselor.org

American School Counselor Associationwww.schoolcounselor.org

Massachusetts Department ofElementary and Secondary Educationwww.doe.mass.edu

Massachusetts School CounselorsAssociationwww.masca.org

National Center for School CounselingOutcomeswww.umass.edu/schoolcounseling ■

DONNA BROWN

50YEARS

1961

2011

Golden Past,Platinum Future:

MASCA 50thBirthday CelebrationThe MASCA 50th Birthday Com-mittee has been meeting regu-larly to make plans for a celebra-tory luncheon at the MASCAAnnual Spring Conference. Forinformation or to volunteer,con tact Mary Westcott at [email protected].

FEBRUARY 2010 5


2010 Leadership Forum for Massachusetts School Counselorson Beacon Hill

Wednesday, March 10, 201010:00 a.m. – 3:00 p.m.

REGISTRATION FORM

Complete and return this form by March 1 to:Bob BardwellMonson High School55 Margaret StreetMonson, MA 01057(Or e-mail to [email protected], Fax: 413-267-4157)

Name:______________________________________________________________________________________________________

Title: _______________________________________________________________________________________________________

School /College /Organization: _________________________________________________________________________________

Business Address: ____________________________________________________________________________________________

City/State /Zip: ______________________________________________________________________________________________

Phone: __________________________________________________ Fax: ______________________________________________

E-mail: _____________________________________________________________________________________________________

The event is free. Lunch and materials are included.

As a Leadership Day participant, you will visit the offices of your State Senator and State Representative in the MassachusettsState Legislature on Wednesday, March 10. Please call the offices of your State Senator and State Representative as soon aspossible and schedule appointments with each of your legislators. Try to make the appointments between 1:15 p.m. and 2:30p.m. Allow at least 20 minutes for each appointment and give yourself at least 15 minutes between appointments. If you areattending with someone from the same Senate or House District, make your appointments together. Try to meet with yourlegislator, but if he or she is not available, ask to meet with an aide who deals with educational issues. If you have any ques-tions or concerns about making the appointments, please contact Bob Bardwell at [email protected] or JonWestover at [email protected].

Tell Us About You

Work Home Residence

Who is your State Senator?

Who is your State Representative?

What is your 9-digit zip code?

To find legislators’ names and contact information, go to www.wheredoivotema.com and enter your home/voting address. Clickon the “Find my election information” button, and this will bring you to the “My election information” page. Then click inthe name next to “Senate in General Court” for your Senator’s information page. Arrow back to the “My election information”page, and click in the name next to “Rep in General Court” for your Representative’s information page.

Connecting with Colleagues: Sharing a Best PracticeBy RUTH CARRIGAN

MASCA VP Administrators

RUTH CARRIGAN

O ne of my favorite posters fromASCA’s Lesson for Life series fea-

tures the slogan “Life is a Journey, You’llNeed a Guide.” I think about those wordsoften when I consider the important workthat we do as school counselors.

This month I am happy to showcasea best practice from Donna Neary, oneof our professional colleagues and thecurrent president of the South Shore Gui -dance Association. Every day she helpsto guide her students at Brockton HighSchool and is very willing to share herex pertise about the program “Ask YourTeacher about College Day,” which shedeveloped and implemented at her school.

For the past fourteen years, in an effortto get students from her city high schoolof 4300 students to start thinking aboutcollege, to open a dialogue about post-secondary education, and to expose themto the myriad of college options, Donnahas spearheaded “Ask Your Teacher aboutCollege Day.” The premise of the programis simple: engage teachers, staff, and schooladministrators, enlist them to wear ap -parel promoting their alma mater, andencourage them to share their thoughtsabout their experiences at colleges anduniversities across the country.

This fall nearly sixty percent of teach -ers, counselors, and administrators atBrock ton High School participated inthe program and more than 100 insti-tutes of higher learning were represent edthrough college t-shirts and sweatshirts.

In addition to promoting theirschools, many teachers brought pro mo -tional bro chures and college yearbooksto class, and some even incorporatedcollege aware ness and college planninginto their lessons for the day. Accordingto Donna, many colleges are happy toshare admission materials and even someapparel with alums after a quick call tothe college admissions office and an ex -planation of the benefits of the programto students.

Brockton High School Assistant House -master Matt Beals was happy to sharehis Ohio State school spirit with his stu-

dents at BHS. “Usually, the first questionis about football, but then I tell them thatOhio State has a medical school, a lawschool, and a veterinary school. They havean airport, a golf course, and over 7,000majors. It’s almost a city within a city,”Beals said. “This day is a great opportu-nity to talk to kids about the great thingsabout college because it keeps the con-versation going, and it keeps kids head-ing toward school.”

Donna feels that exposure to colleges

and universities is very important to herstudents. Over the years, she has seenstudents make mistakes like applying tocolleges that they have never visited orlimiting their choices to only local schools.She feels that the “Ask Your Teacherabout College Day” is a great way tohelp guide students. It encourages themto start thinking about college, to get ex -pert advice from educational profession-als they know and trust, and to under-stand that college can be a reality.

If you’d like more information aboutimplementing this program at your school,please contact Donna Neary at [email protected]. If you have a bestpractice that you would like to sharewith professional colleagues in Massa-chusetts, please contact me at [email protected], so that we cancontinue to spread the word about pro-grams that make a difference in the livesof our students. ■

FEBRUARY 2010 7


MASCA Call for Nominations 2010-2011Elected PositionsThe following elected positions need tobe filled in 2010. Each elected position isfor a two-year term, with the exceptionof President-Elect, which is a three-yearcommitment.

• President-Elect

• Vice President Jr. High/MiddleSchool Counselors

• Vice President Administrators

• Vice President Counselor Educators

• Vice President Retirees

Descriptions of the positions and a list ofduties can be found on the MASCA web-site. If you are interested or know some -one who is, please submit a nominationform. For your convenience, a nominationform has been included in this issue ofthe Notebook. A copy is also available onMASCA’s website, www.masca.org.

Send the completed nomination form byFebruary 27 to Karen D’Amour, Man-chester Essex Re gional High School, 36Lincoln Street, Manchester, MA 01944,or you can e-mail nominations [email protected].

Candidates will be elected by a ballot voteat the annual spring conference in April.

Appointed PositionsAs per the MASCA By-laws, we seek to fillthe annual slate of appointed positions:

• Executive Director

• Secretary

• Treasurer

• Coordinator of Membership

• Counselor’s Notebook Editor

• Technology Coordinator

• Coordinator of ProfessionalDevelopment

Job descriptions for each position canbe found at www.masca.org. To apply,send a resume and letter of intent nolater than March 1 to Christine Evans,East Bridge water High School, 11 Ply-mouth Street, East Bridge water, MA02333, or you can e-mail your informa-tion to [email protected].

Applicants will be interviewed by ascreen ing committee. Upon completionof the in terview process, the screeningcommittee will then make recommenda-tions to the Executive Council and theGoverning Board.

Government RelationsAs per the MASCA By-laws, we seek tofill the position of Govern ment RelationsChair. A job description can be found onMASCA’s website, www.masca.org. Ifyou are interested in ap ply ing, send a res -ume and letter of intent no later than April1 to Carolyn Richards, Somerville HighSchool, 81 Highland Ave nue, Somer -ville, MA 02143, or you can e-mail yourin for mation to [email protected]. ■

FEBRUARY 2010 9

MASCA Officers Nomination Form2010-2011

DEADLINE FOR RECEIPT OF NOMINATIONS: FEBRUARY 27, 2010

Nominations may be submitted by either of the following:1) An affiliate association with authorized signature, or2) The signatures of ten (10) MASCA members.

Mail to: Karen D’AmourMASCA Past PresidentManchester Essex Regional High School36 Lincoln StreetManchester, MA 01944

Or e-mail nominations to: [email protected]

Nomination submitted by: ___________________________________________

Affiliate association: ________________________________________________

Authorized signature: _______________________________________________

Date: ____________________________________________________________

Telephone number: _________________________________________________

• Nominees must be paid-up members of MASCA and have indicated awillingness to serve.

• The President-elect automatically becomes President.• The slate will consist of President-elect, VP Middle /Jr. High, VP Adminis-

trators, VP Counselor Educators, VP Retirees.

MASCA Members: School Address:

__________________________________________________________________

__________________________________________________________________

__________________________________________________________________

__________________________________________________________________

__________________________________________________________________

__________________________________________________________________

__________________________________________________________________

__________________________________________________________________

__________________________________________________________________

__________________________________________________________________

Duties for each position can be found at www.masca.org. Election by ballotvote will be held at the Annual Spring Conference in April.

H appy New Year. Do you believe inmaking New Year’s resolutions?

Maybe we as MASCA members shouldresolve to make our 50th anniversary in2011 a full-year celebration that endswith a “bash.” And a leap forward.

Ideas are welcome. We need some crea -tive thinking about teamwork with affil-iates, helping those who are having prob-lems, and motivating leadership in ourmembers.

Do we have sponsors for our 50th cel-ebration? I understand that Dean Collegeand MA Maritime Academy are joiningforces in some way. How about engagingservice clubs such as Rotary?

The 50th Anniversary Committee isprob ably saying, “We can’t do it alone.”For developing teams, a good source isStephen Balzac of Stow, Massachusetts.He knows how to build teams. For in -formation, go to www.7stepahead.com.

Are some of us addicted to the Inter-net? Not me. I need to learn to check mye-mails more often. If you are addicted,what is the reason? Maybe you need toreturn to some face-to-face connections.We can build friendships beyond thecomputer.

What is the danger to teens of con -stant ly using the cell phone for text mes-sages? Is this a good topic for MASCA’sconference?

Remember Dr. Ed Colozzi’s advice(June 2005): Achieve success with the“Four Fs”: focus, fellowship, faith, andfun.

Here is a thought from Jane Howard,writer: “Call it a clan, call it a network,call it a tribe, call it a family. Whateveryou call it, whoever you are, you needone.” Is MASCA part of your tribe? Forme, yes, since about 1962.

Happy New Year. ■

ED BRYANT

ED’S VIEWSBy ED BRYANT, NCC

MASCA Life Trustee


MASCA Officers Nominee Information Sheet 2010-2011

Educational background: ___________________________

____________________________________________________

____________________________________________________

____________________________________________________

____________________________________________________

Experience in school counseling: ____________________

____________________________________________________

____________________________________________________

____________________________________________________

____________________________________________________

Professional affiliations: ____________________________

____________________________________________________

____________________________________________________

____________________________________________________

____________________________________________________

Please attach a recent photograph of the candidate.

Office:_________________________________________________

Nominee: ______________________________________________

Position now held: ______________________________________

School address: _________________________________________

_______________________________________________________

_______________________________________________________

Home address: _________________________________________

_______________________________________________________

_______________________________________________________

MASCA Professional Development NewsBy HELEN O’DONNELL, Ed.D.

MASCA Professional Development Committee ChairMASCA Conference Committee Chair

G reat news. Registration fees forMASCA’s Annual Spring Confer-

ence have been frozen at 2009 rates. Want to save more money? Take ad -

vantage of the Super Saver or Early BirdRegistration opportunity.

Are you bringing your family, arrivingearly, or staying late? The hotel will ex -tend the $89/night MASCA conferenceroom rate for your entire stay. This is anopportunity for some great golf, NorthShore sightseeing, and a visit to the hotel’sCoCo Key Water Park.

On MASCA’s website you can findup dated conference materials includingagenda, programs, registration materials,keynoter information, and driving direc-tions. Credit card payment available.

If you have not received your per-sonal invitation to register online, pleasee-mail the MASCA webmaster at [email protected]. If your MASCA member-ship is paid and current, your personalin vitation will allow you to register atmember rates. Others who are not cur-rently paid MASCA members will haveaccess to non-member registration.

MA Model Summer Institutes2010 OpportunitiesMA Model Institute 1 or the MA ModelAdvanced Institute

DatesJuly 14, July 15, and November 18 plusmandatory attendance at the MASCAFall 2010 and MASCA Spring Confer-ence 2011

Site hostDean College, Franklin

45 PDPs will be issued for successfulcompletion. Fitchburg State College offersthree graduate credits for an additional fee.Details are available at www.masca.org.For more information, contact me at [email protected].

of professional development training,send your completed forms as directed.MASCA PDP protocol is posted on theMASCA website under Professional Dev -elopment. Send inquiries to [email protected]. ■

MASCA PDPsIf you have been registering and payingfor MASCA PDPs, don’t forget to com-plete the Certificates of Attendance/Evi -dence of Learning Forms that were in -cluded in your conference packets. Onceyou accumulate a minimum of ten hours

FEBRUARY 2010 11

Massachusetts School Counselors Association Annual Spring Conference

April 11-13, 2010 Crowne Plaza Boston North Shore, Danvers, MA

(formerly Sheraton Ferncroft) Conference Inquiries: Helen O’Donnell, Conference Chair, [email protected]

CONFERENCE REGISTRATION FORM

• Member registration rates: MASCA membership must be current (PAID by credit card or check) by March 17. Purchase orders in process are NOT considered paid. Check membership status at [email protected].

• Paper registration: Print clearly, one registration form per person. Mailed form must be accompanied by check or PO. • If you are employed as a full-time professional school counselor, you may not register at the graduate student rate. • To request online CVENT registration, e-mail Ron Miller, [email protected]. Confirmations by e-mail only. • Payment options: (1) online with credit cards (M/C or Visa, no debit), (2) offline with check or purchase order. • Refund policy: Send requests in writing by March 30 to [email protected]. A $20 processing fee will be charged.

No refunds after March 30 without written approval by conference chair (Ex., bereavement). Payment expected for registrant non-attendance.

• Registrant name and work mailing address will be shared with select sponsors. To opt out, send e-mail to • Hotel reservations ($89 MASCA rooms), 978-777-2500, http://www.ichotelsgroup.com/h/d/cp/1/en/hotel/bosns • If you have special needs or require an accommodation, please notify us by April 2.

FIRST NAME _______________________________ LAST NAME__________________________________________

Elementary Middle School High School Administrator Retired Grad Student Counselor Educator

E-mail address (required for automated electronic confirmation): _____________________________________________

Preferred mailing address: Home Work/School name: ___________________________________ Street address: __________________________________________________________ City/town: __________________________________________ State: ______________ Zip: ________________

Requesting vegetarian meals Yes First MASCA Conference? Yes No

MASCA Professional

Member by 3/17

Non-MASCA Member

Retiree or Graduate Student* (*not employed as a school counselor) Member Non-member

INCLUSIVE REGISTRATION includes ALL conference days and attendee events. Sunday: First-Timers/Graduate Student Reception, Graduate Student Events, Poster Sessions, Workshops, Keynoter, Welcome Reception Monday: Breakfast, Keynote, Workshops, Exhibits, Poster Sessions, Snack Breaks, Luncheon, Afternoon Reception, Evening Party Tuesday: Breakfast, Keynote, Workshops, Exhibits, Poster Sessions, Snack Breaks, Luncheon, Administrator Partnership events SUPER-SAVER: CK/CC, no POs, ends 3/1 $225 $280 $145 $160

EARLY BIRD ends 3/17 $240 $299 $155 $170

REGULAR registration begins 3/18 $265 $315 $165 $180

OTHER REGISTRATION OPTIONS: Sunday only - Early Bird ends 3/17 $ 90 $105 $50 $ 65 Sunday only - Regular registration begins 3/18 $100 $145 $60 $ 70 Monday only - Early Bird ends 3/17 $115 $165 $70 $ 85 Monday only - Regular registration begins 3/18 $135 $185 $80 $ 95 Tuesday only - Early Bird ends 3/17 $115 $165 $70 $ 85

Tuesday only - Regular registration begins 3/18 $135 $185 $80 $ 95

Sun. & Mon. - Early Bird ends 3/17 $200 $265 $115 $145

Sun. & Mon. - Regular registration begins 3/18 $230 $305 $135 $160

Mon. & Tues. - Early Bird ends 3/17 $225 $305 $135 $165

Mon. & Tues. - Regular registration begins 3/18 $265 $345 $150 $180

SUBTOTAL

WALK-IN registration: Add $20 to total $20 $20 $20 $ 20 MASCA PDPs: Add $25 to total $25 $25 $25 $ 25 PO processing fee: Add $10/invoice $10 $10 $10 $ 10

TOTAL TOTAL PAYMENT ENCLOSED $____________ CHECK No.____________ PURCHASE ORDER #_______________

[email protected].


Connecting Counselors in the 21st Century50YEARS

1961

2011

Registrants using POs will be electronically sent an invoice, which should be submitted for payment via school/business protocol.List registrant names on PO.

Make checks payable to MASCA and mail to Joe Fitzgerald, Registrar, 5 Progress Street, Weymouth, MA [email protected]

FEBRUARY 2010 13

MASCA NEWS

MASCA selects conferencekeynoterLaurie Young of [email protected] will be the keynote speaker atMASCA’s Annual Spring Conference.Laurie is a professional counselor withmore than twenty-five years of experi-ence in Michigan schools. She is also anadjunct professor for Western MichiganUniversity’s Holistic Health program,and she has served as keynoter for con-ferences sponsored by the counselingassociations in Louisiana, Indiana, andMichigan and presenter to over 1000other organizations.

Laurie will share with MASCA con-ference attendees her expertise in the areaof learning and the brain. Plan now toattend the spring conference for profes-sional enrichment and networking op -portunities.

Conference hotel offersamenities

• Location: Crown Plaza, BostonNorth Shore (formerly the SheratonFerncroft), Danvers

• An upscale, modern, first-class hotelwith first-class amenities. Convenientlylocated five miles from historic Salem,nineteen miles north of downtownBoston, and a picturesque ride to manypopular North Shore attractions.

• Room Rates: $89 for up to 4 regis-trants /room available pre- andpost- conference

• Newly appointed guest rooms withhigh-speed Internet access and voice-mail in all rooms.

• Starbucks on site, a 24-hour businesscenter, and swimming pool for guests.

• Discount CoCo Key Water Parkpasses available via on-line store

• Health Club and full-service spa ser-vices (hair, nails, massage, etc.) on site

• Priority Club® hotel loyalty program

• Website:http://www.ichotelsgroup.com

MASCA QR Code

MASCA now has a QR code for theMASCA website, www.masca.org.Simply scan the image with a free appon your smartphone, and you will betaken to MASCA’s website.

MASCA facilitates connections


MASCA DIRECTORY OFMASSACHUSETTS SCHOOL COUNSELORS

The Directory lists school counselors in K-12 public, private, parochial, and re gionaland technical high schools. Phone, fax, and e-mail information is in cluded. EachMASCA member will receive one (1) complimentary copy.

PLEASE USE THE ORDER FORM BELOW to order more copies. Download theform at www.masca.org or order online and use your credit card.

1-5 copies @ $30.00 each . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . No. ____ $_________

Additional Copies6 or more @ $25.00 each . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . No. ____ $_________

Shipping/Handling @$3.50 each copy . . . . . . . . No. ____ $_________

P.O. Processing Fee (per order) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $_________

Make checks payable to: MASCA TOTAL: . . $ __________

If mailing this form, send to:Ms. Marla Schay, Weston High School, 444 Wellesley St., Weston, MA 02493

Questions? E-mail [email protected]

Your name and contact information:

Name: ______________________________________________________________

School District/Business: _______________________________________________

Mailing Address: _____________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________

E-mail Address: ______________________________________________________

Phone: _____________________________________________________________

5.00

Teaching a Healthy Lifestyle“The school environment is a key setting for influencing chil-dren’s food choices and eating habits . . . . By ensuring that onlyhealthy food options are available, schools can model healthyeating behaviors, help improve students’ diets, and help youngpeople establish lifelong healthy eating habits.”

— Dr. Howell Wechsler, Director, CDC division of Adolescent and School Health

RESEARCH NOTES

Teenage Obesity Linked toIncreased Rate of MSST. PAUL, Minn. –Teenage women whoare obese may be more than twice as like -ly to develop multiple sclerosis (MS) asadults compared to female teens who arenot obese, according to a study publishedin the November 10, 2009, print issueof Neurology®, the medical journal of theAmerican Academy of Neurology.

The research involved 238,371 womenfrom the Nurses’ Health Study and Nur -ses’ Health Study II who were 25 to 55years old. The women answered a ques-tionnaire about their health behavior andmedical information every two years.Over the course of 40 years, 593 devel-oped MS.

Participants reported their weight andheight at age 18. Scientists then calcu-lated their body mass index (BMI). Thewomen were also asked to choose one ofnine body silhouettes, ranging from verythin to extremely obese, to describe theirbody size at five, 10 and 20 years old.

The study found that women who hada BMI of 30 or larger at age 18 had morethan twice the risk of developing MScompared to those with a BMI between18.5 and 20.9. A woman with a BMI of25 to 29.9 kilograms per meter squaredwas considered overweight whereas awoman who was considered obese had aBMI of 30 or more kilograms per metersquared. The disease risk among womenwho were overweight but not obese at age18 was only somewhat increased. The re -sults were the same after accounting forsmoking status and physical activity level.

Women who had a larger body size at20 years of age, represented by the useof silhouettes in the study, also had twicethe risk of MS compared to women whoreported a thinner body size. Larger bodysizes at ages five and 10 were not asso-ciated with MS risk.

“Our results suggest that weight dur-ing adolescence, rather than childhoodor adulthood, is critical in determining therisk of MS,” said study author Kassan-dra Munger, ScD, of Harvard School ofPublic Health in Boston. “Teaching andpracticing obesity prevention from thestart, but especially during teenage years,may be an important step in reducing therisk of MS later in life for women.” ■

FEBRUARY 2010 15

A Sense of StyleBy JOHN STEERE

MASCA Emerging Leader

A few days ago, my wife and I wereout at dinner when she asked me if

I would accompany her to a local cloth-ing store to help her look for some newfashion items for her wardrobe. Being agood husband, I went along.

As we were browsing through theracks, with all the amazing colors andnew est fashion trends on display aroundme, I found myself thinking about workand the individual students I had seen thatday as well as the ones I had to track downthe next day. All the students that I hadseen or wanted to see were across differ-ent grade levels, and all were dealing witha wide variety of issues and situations.

As I continued to shift through theracks and walk up and down the aisles,my mind shifted from the style of theclothing to my style of school counseling.

I would describe my style of schoolcounseling as serious with a touch of flex-ibility and humor, but there are some dayswhen a little bit of improvisation comesinto play as well. I believe that I am stillcontinuing to develop and evolve my styleof counseling as I approach my fifth yearas a professional school counselor.

A few questions about counseling stylebegan to creep into my mind.

Why is counseling style so importantin the development as a professionalschool counselor? For example, my back-ground outside of school counseling is inathletics and coaching, but many of mystudents have never been in any type ofvarsity athletic competition in their lives.How do I connect with my students sothat the non-athletic student will feel thatI am one of his or her strongest advocateswithin the school?

As I write this, I continue to see howdifferent styles of counseling are used toteach students. A colleague sent me ahilarious YouTube video of a group ofteachers and counselors in a charterschool in Brooklyn, New York. Theywere dressing up as recording artists andrapping in order to help their studentsprepare for the SAT the following Sat ur -day. This video had a touch of flare toit, but I also thought that the style thatthe teachers and counselors used wasamazing. It showed their students how

willing they were to make themselves lookgoofy and take a risk in an attempt to getthe students prepared for a standardizedtest. And it showed how willing the coun-selors were to counsel and teach studentsoutside of the guidance office.

A counseling style allows the counselorto connect with a student, and it showsthat the counselor is operating with the

best interests of the student in mind. Ibelieve that a counselor’s style has to besolid in its foundation, but it needs to en -compass a wide variety of interests andideas. There will be times when the foun-dation is rocked, but so long as the foun-dation is solid and the mind is open, thecounselor will be effective in connectingwith the students. ■


Dropout Prevention: Tips for CounselorsBy NICOLAS DILLMAN and SUZANNE MORRIS

Boston College Counseling Interns

NICOLAS DILLMAN andSUZANNE MORRIS

D ropout prevention has become thehot topic in schools today. It is be -

coming increasingly important to obtaina high school diploma since students whodrop out have an ever-dwindling numberof career options. Now more than everwe need to address this issue.

While it often seems to be a dauntingsystemic problem, there are certain warn-ing signs school counselors can be aware

of and steps that we can take to minimizestudent dropouts.

Early intervention is a key componentto helping at-risk students. One earlywarning sign is a student’s failure of mul-tiple subjects or repetition of a grade level.Students who fall into these categoriesshould have regular check-ins with theirschool counselor and have their prog ressmonitored.

Collaboration within the school systemcan increase awareness of at-risk students.Teachers, counselors, psychologists, men-tal health counselors, nurses, administra-tive staff, and parents can keep an openflow of communication to fully supportstudents.

Communication with elementary andmiddle schools can also help identify stu-dents with risk factors before they arriveat high school. At Somerville High School,a pilot program takes ninth graders iden-tified by their elementary school as po -tential at-risk students and places themtogether in one period of a resource class.In this class they receive homework helpand learn valuable organizational andstudy skills. Repeating freshmen werealso interviewed individually by coun-seling interns to assess reasons why theywere held back and how the school canhelp them succeed.

Assisting students at risk of droppingout is a valuable opportunity for profes-sional school counselors to utilize theirinterns. The interns in your departmentare all current school counseling students,steeped in the MASCA and ASCA modelsand eager to learn all facets of your dailyjob. Allowing them to intervene with at-risk students provides valuable experience

FEBRUARY 2010 17

that they will be able to use post-gradu-ation in their own careers. It is also agreat opportunity, as a supervisor, tolead an intern through a more sensitiveside of the profession. Most importantly,your interns most likely have a smallercaseload and more free time during theday, allowing them to work with at-riskstudents on a more individual basis.

When working with this populationof students, counselors need to be multi-culturally aware and competent. Is the at-risk student a new arrival to the UnitedStates? Is their family’s legal status anarea of concern? If the student displayslimited English proficiency, is he or sheenrolled in an ELL/ESL program?

Counselors also need to explore if afrequently truant student comes from afamily that does not understand compul-sory secondary education in the UnitedStates. Sixty-five countries, many withhigh numbers of immigrants in Massa-chusetts, require eight or fewer years ofschooling. It may be helpful to connectthese students with an ELL counselor andwith resources in the community.

There may be additional factors thatmay cause school to not be your student’smain priority. The student may have towork to help support their family, havea poor home life, have drug or alcoholprob lems, have a learning disability, orsimply not be able to understand thema terial in class.

In order to prevent students from drop-ping out, we must figure out what prob-lems they face and work with them toovercome these factors, whether throughweekly check-ins, counseling sessions, orgroup sessions. Many well-documenteddropout prevention strategies and cur-ricula are available online. Researchingthese options or collaborating with fel-low counselors can help greatly.

Dropout rates in Massachusetts, acrossall demographic areas, have remainedfairly steady for the past ten years. Andalthough dropout rates have not signifi-cantly increased over this period of time,being complacent is simply not goodenough. Schools must work to under-stand what puts students at risk in orderto implement individualized interventionsand systemic change.

If your school has developed a uniqueway of addressing students who are atrisk of dropping out, please contact us [email protected] or [email protected]. ■

Measuring the Valueof a High School Diploma

Dropping out of high school wasn’t al ways an irrational act. As lateas the 1960s and ’70s, dropouts in Massachusetts could find decent-paying jobs in manufacturing plants. But a high school diploma isnow the rock-bottom minimum requirement to establish an inde-pendent life.

— “Raise dropout age to 18,” editorial, Boston Sunday Globe,November 15, 2009, K8.

__________________________

Northeastern University’s Center for Labor Market Studies estimatedthat each dropout costs Massachusetts almost a half million dollarsover his or her lifetime . . . . In these dire economic times, we cannotafford to be complacent. All students must graduate from a Com-monwealth high school with a diploma in hand, well prepared toembark on postsecon dary education or a viable career.

— Making the Connection: A Report of the MassachusettsGraduation and Dropout Prevention and Recovery Commission,October 2009


Joining together to promote collegeawareness

Donna Neary, center, South Shore Guidance Association president and counselorat Brockton High School, promotes college awareness along with BHS Englishteachers, William Callahan and Oriana Packer.

EVANS (continued from page 1)is required. A good friend and men torpromised to be there to help. After muchconsideration, I agreed to give it my besteffort. What I discovered immediately(thank goodness!) is that one is not ex -pected to know everything in order todo the job and that MASCA and ASCAboth invest an incredible amount of re -sources to provide the training and sup-port needed. The running of the boardis truly a team effort, and the networkof friends extends far beyond the bor-ders of Massachusetts.

If serving as an officer is not a com-mitment you are able to make at thispoint, I urge you to think about how elseyou might pitch in to help. There are anumber of committee chair positions aswell as appointed positions that will beopen and in need of someone willing tolearn and serve; the specific openings areposted in this issue of the Counselor’sNotebook.

Suppose you have decided serving onthe board is too much right now, but youstill want to be involved? There are plentyof opportunities to participate. You couldserve as a committee member, meetingtwo or three times a year to work on aproject. Or you could submit a proposalto present at the upcoming conference.Or you could agree to help stuff bags be -fore the conference. If you have moretime in the summer, Jenn Lisk, VP forSecondary Counselors, is serving as thesite coordinator for the ASCA NationalConference to be held in Boston in July.She is looking for volunteers to help withthe hospitality duties. Jenn’s contact in -formation can be found on page 3 of thisissue of the Notebook.

Another option is to join us on March10 as we speak with legislators at the“Day on the Hill” in Boston. Surely, thereis some thing you can do. In some wayyour talents are exactly what MASCAneeds. ■

MASCA Connects Counselors

FEBRUARY 2010 19

MA Model Summer Institutes 2010

MA Model Institute or theMA Model Advanced Institute

July 14, July 15, and November 18 plus mandatoryattendance at the MASCA Fall Conference 2010

and MASCA Spring Conference 2011

Dean College, Franklin

45 PDPs will be issued for successful completion.Fitchburg State College offers three graduate credits

for an additional fee.Details are available at www.masca.org. For more

information, contact Helen O’Donnell at [email protected].

New England Tech offersMaster’s Degree in OccupationalTherapyThe Master of Science in OccupationalTherapy (MSOT) program at New Eng-land Tech allows certified occupationaltherapy assistants to expand on their aca -demic and clinical experience to becomeleaders in their profession.

This program is designed to be a bridgefor professionals to move to the next levelof responsibility as registered occupationaltherapists. The program is offered in aweekend format that requires studentsto be on campus five (5) weekends ineach ten-week academic quarter.

A student following the MSOT pro-gram as outlined will complete the degreein ten (10) quarters. Each academic quar -ter has at least one course delivered online.Registered occupational therapists (OTRs)assist people of all ages, with varying abil-ities or handicaps, to become independentin their day-to-day activities. Because everyclient has a unique set of circumstances,OTRs evaluate, develop, and help carryout a unique treatment plan for each one.

Accreditation StatusThe Occupational Therapy Program hasreceived Developing Program Status fromthe Accreditation Council for Occupa-tional Therapy Education (ACOTE) of theAmerican Occupational Therapy Asso-ciation (AOTA).

Upon successful completion of the ac -creditation process, graduates of the pro-gram will be able to sit for the nationalcertification examination for the occu-pational therapist administered by theNational Board for Certification in Oc -cupational Therapy (NBCOT). After suc -cessful completion of this exam, the in -dividual will be a Registered OccupationalTherapist (OTR). Most states, includingRhode Island, require licensure in orderto practice. ■

PEOPLE, PLACES, ANDPROGRAMS

PRESORTEDSTANDARD

U.S. POSTAGEPAID

NEWBURYPORT, MAPERMIT NO. 96

Massachusetts School Counselors Association, Inc.COUNSELOR’S NOTEBOOK

Sally Ann Connolly, Editor

CHANGE OF ADDRESS:

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . NAME

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ADDRESS

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . CITY ZIP CODESTATE

Send this form to:Deborah ClemenceP.O. Box 805East Dennis, MA 02641

YOUR MEMBERSHIP RENEWAL DATE IS INDICATED BY YEAR AND MONTH ON YOUR ADDRESS LABEL ABOVE.To renew your membership, go to MASCA’s website, www.masca.org.

Massachusetts Coalition forSchool Counseling Advocacy Day

March 10, 2010 • State House, Boston

Advocate for our students,our schools, and our profession

MASCA, NEACAC, and The College Board have joined together to sponsor the 2010 Advo-cacy Day on Beacon Hill.

School counselors and others who believe in quality school counseling programs in ourschools will spend a day at the State House advocating for issues that are important to schoolcounselors and the young people we serve.

Participants will receive training on legislative issues and advocacy and will talk in personwith our elected legislators and other policymakers to inform them about who we are andwhat we do, and about the importance of quality school counseling in our students’ educa-tion and lives.

YOUR PARTICIPATION IS CRUCIAL FOR THIS TO WORK!All of our voices are needed for this effort to be effective.

WE CAN MAKE A DIFFERENCE!For information, contact Bob Bardwell at [email protected].

Documents

Counselor's Notebook, February 2010