MASSACHUSETTS SCHOOL COUNSELORS ASSOCIATION MAY 2012VOL. 48, NO. 9

MASCA

An Educator’s Dream: “Free”By DONNA BROWN, MASCA Executive Director

MASCA 51st Annual Spring ConferenceIt Is Our Time to Shine:

For Our Students, Our Stakeholders, and Our ProfessionApril 29 – May 1, 2012

CoCo Key Hotel and Water Resort • 50 Ferncroft Road, Danvers, MAConference Inquiries: Helen O’Donnell, Conference Chair, pdchair@masca.org

(continued on page 6)

Free. The word is music to an educator’sear, especially when what is free can

be used to enhance a lesson or program. Last month I received an e-mail from

Edutopia describing a new downloadablebooklet entitled A Parent’s Guide to 21st-Century Learning. What a gem.

Designed to help parents of studentsof all ages, the guide gives parents a clear,concise overview of 21st century skillsand the methodology used by educatorsto implement them. It points out thatdifferent schools are at different pointson the teaching-learning continuum.Access to technology and willingness toinnovate influence the speed of change.

While the guide is only nine pages long,it covers a lot of educational ground. The“Skills for Tomorrow” introduction offersan explanation of 21st century skills, de fin -ing them as the competencies students needto be successful at all stages of their lives.

Known as the “4Cs”—a term cre-ated by the Partnership for 21st CenturySkills—the competencies include: Col-laboration, Creativity, Communicationand Critical Thinking. In concert withcore academics, the 4Cs help studentsdevelop the navigation skills to cope suc-cessfully with their ever-changing world.

The rest of the guide shows examplesof applications of 21st century skills andthe 4Cs at the elementary, middle school,and high school levels. Exemplary pro-grams, projects, and lessons are highlight-ed and references to websites accompany

each example. I was interested, as a professional school

counselor, to learn that virtually all ofthese programs could be used to imple-ment the MA Model. The 4Cs are just adifferent expression of the skill sets pro-moted by the Model. Counselors lookingfor classroom lesson suggestions can eas-ily find direction in this guide.

On the elementary page, for example,is the description of a project called TheWorld Peace Game, which is designed tohelp students develop critical thinkingskills. At the middle school level, Downthe Drain looks at how we use water.Creativity and collaboration are encour-aged in this project. This is also the typeof project that can encourage collabora-tion between counselors and classroomteachers. At the high school level, MoneyCorps: Finance Experts as Guest Teach-ers addresses the need for teenagers tolearn to manage their personal finances.This project allows educators to connectwith the community, bringing “experts” into be guest teachers who will share theirknowledge and experience with students.

The last three pages of the guide pro-vide a treasure trove of website informa-tion and suggestions for helping childrendevelop positive skill sets. Edutopia haswritten an informative guide for parentsthat also provides some excellent ideasfor educators. To get your own copy, goto www.edutopia.org and set up a freeaccount.

Another wonderful, practical, free re source is produced by the SouthernPov erty Law Center. Teaching Tolerance(www.tolerance.org) is a program thatproduces a twice-a-year magazine, class-room activities and materials, and a website.

According to the Southern Poverty LawCenter, “Our Teaching Tolerance programis working to foster school environmentsthat are inclusive and nurturing—class-rooms where equality and justice arenot just taught, but lived. The programpoints to the future, helping teachers pre-pare a new generation to live in a diverseworld.” The Teaching Tolerance programhas a myriad of resources for professionalschool counselors.

Bullied is a classroom kit that includesa 40-minute film, Bullied: A Student, aSchool and a Case That Made History,that follows a gay student who is harassedand taunted by a group of anti-gay bulliesand finally takes legal action to survive.

The kit includes an excellent guide thatprovides both pre- and post-activities thatprepare students for the film and providesuggestions for reflection after viewing.Included are a survey, scenarios for dis-cussion, and a reference section. Thereis alignment to standards as well. This kitprovides a series of lessons and activities toaugment (or even begin) a school anti-bullying program.

The spring 2012 edition of Teaching

2 COUNSELOR’S NOTEBOOK

2011– 2012 OFFICERS

PRESIDENTMICHELLE BURKEBeverly High School100 Sohier RoadBeverly, MA 01915-2654Tel. 978-921-6132 x11107E-mail: mburke@beverlyschools.org

PAST PRESIDENTCAROLYN RICHARDSSomerville High School81 Highland Avenue, Somerville, MA 02143Tel. 617-625-6600 x6120 • Fax 617-628-8413E-mail: crichards@k12.somerville.MA.US

PRESIDENT-ELECTJENNIFER LISKMedway High School, Medway, MA 02053Tel. 508-533-3228 x5107 • Fax 508-533-3246E-mail: lisk@medway.k12.ma.us

VICE PRESIDENT ELEMENTARYJACQUELINE BROWNEast Somerville Community School42 Prescott Street, Somerville, MA 02143Tel. 617-625-6600 x6517 • Fax 617-591-7906E-mail: jbrown@k12.somerville.ma.us

VICE PRESIDENT MIDDLE / JUNIOR HIGHALBERT MERCADOStacy Middle School66 School Street, Milford, MA 01757Tel. 508-478-1181 • Fax 508-634-2370E-mail: amercado@milfordma.com

VICE PRESIDENT SECONDARYTBA

VICE PRESIDENT POSTSECONDARYJOHN MARCUSDean College99 Main Street, Franklin, MA 02038Tel. 508-541-1509 • Fax 508-541-8726E-mail: jmarcus@dean.edu

VICE PRESIDENT ADMINISTRATORSRUTH CARRIGANWhitman-Hanson Regional High School600 Franklin Street, Whitman, MA 02382Tel. 781-618-7434 • Fax 781-618-7098E-mail: ruth.carrigan@whrsd.org

VICE PRESIDENT COUNSELOR EDUCATORSTHERESA A. COOGAN, Ph.D.Bridgewater State College, Bridgewater, MA 02325Tel. 508-531-2640E-mail: theresa.coogan@bridgew.edu

VICE PRESIDENT RETIREESRALPH SENNOTTP.O. Box 1391, Westford, MA 01886Tel. 978-692-8244E-mail: ralphsennott@hotmail.com

EXECUTIVE DIRECTORDONNA M. BROWNAdjunct Professor, UMass BostonP.O. Box 366, 779 Center StreetBryantville, MA 02327Tel. 781-293-2835E-mail: browndonnamarie@gmail.com

TREASURERASHLEY CARON25 Belmont Ave., Stoughton, MA 02072Tel. 508-212-0676E-mail: ashcicero@hotmail.com

SECRETARYJENNIFER JUST McGUIREUpper Cape Cod Regional Technical School220 Sandwich Road, Bourne, MA 02532Tel. 508-759-7711 x247 • Fax 508-759-5455E-mail: jmcguire@uppercapetech.org

MEMBERSHIP COORDINATORDEBORAH CLEMENCEP.O. Box 805, East Dennis, MA 02641E-mail: membership@masca.org

COUNSELOR’S NOTEBOOK EDITORSALLY ANN CONNOLLY19 Bayberry Road, Danvers, MA 01923Tel. 978-774-8158 • Fax 978-750-8154E-mail: sallyconnolly@att.net

MAY 2012 3

MASCA President Michelle Burkethanks sponsors

MASCA owes much gratitude to the following for their continued support ofMassachusetts school counselors. Their generosity to and respect for our pro-fession is much appreciated and should not go unnoticed.

These institutions and companies have provided MASCA leadership groupswith impressive meeting spaces, meals, and hospitality for our meetings through-out the year. We truly value our ongoing partnership.

ACT New England OfficeThree Executive Council meetings

Dean CollegeFour Fiscal Oversight Committee meetings

Governing Board meeting, March 2012

Salem State UniversityGoverning Board meeting, June 2012

Springfield CollegeGoverning Board meeting, December 2011

Stonehill CollegeOvernight Leadership Development Institute, August 2011

The College Board New England OfficeTwo Executive Council meetings

4 COUNSELOR’S NOTEBOOK

A Department Head’s ViewBy MARIE ANDERSON, MASCA Member Services Chair

The major benefit to a School Coun-seling Department for having a de -

part ment head is to help create consis-tency for ALL students in a proactiveprogram with a standardized, data-based curriculum. Having been a schoolcounseling department head for twenty-five years, I believe that a student’s abil-ity to access and benefit from their schoolcounseling department should not bedependent upon who their assigned coun-selor is. A strong school counseling de -partment with a de partment head pro-vides services equitably and cares aboutall its students.

The following include major compo-nents of what a department head offersyour counseling department.

Communication Informs school and greater communitythrough newsletters, website, announce-ments, mailings, bulletin boards, all-callphone system, mass e-mails, press releases,and participation on leadership teams torepresent school counseling.

Curriculum and DataAnnually develops and reviews depart-ment programs and curriculum.

• Regularly schedules meetings withdepartment to devise curriculum withMA Model

• Sets annual goals and devises waysof measuring success of programs

• Maintains consistency in program-ming for ALL students

• Develops Annual MARC (Massa-chusetts Accountability Report Card) forwebsite and to share with school anddistrict leaders

Professional Development• Keeps Department updated with

current professional practices• Serve as liaison with MASCA (attend

conferences)• Serves as liaison with local affiliate

(attend meetings)• Plans In-Service Days for depart-

ment to keep current• Uses department meetings for train-

ing, teaching, sharing best practices

• Does three-minute walkthroughs toascertain curriculum consistencies

• Informs department about relevantprofessional development opportunities

Administrative ResponsibilitiesAvoids all counselors doing the same tasks.

• Circulates relevant informationcoming into the department such as col-lege mailings

• Provides an important liaison withprincipal and department heads alongwith superintendent; collaborates on an-nual goals

• Oversees departments tasks such asscholarship process, standardized testing,school’s college application process, useof software such as Naviance and stu-dent database

• Supervises and evaluates counselorsusing MA Model guidelines

• Acts as liaison regarding schoolcounseling for businesses, nonprofits,community agencies, parents, scholar-ship donors, foreign exchange programs,community college initiatives such asCollege Connection, etc.

• Creates or consults for the masterschedule each year

• Monitors and updates departmentprocedures and policies

• Oversees student records

School Counselor SupportProvides Catalyst /Leadership for a suc-cessful, positive department to betterimpact work with students, faculty, andcommunity.

• Recognizes and works within thedynamic of the department for contin-ual team building

• Recognizes and publicizes depart-ment successes

• Responds to counselor personalneeds to promote sense of well-beingwhen working with students

• Advocates with school and districtleadership team for department’s needs

• Utilizes School Counseling Calendarto maintain understanding of timeline fortasks, accomplish department goals, andset reasonable standards of what can an -nually be accomplished.

It is a privilege to work with schoolcounselors in this wonderful profession,having had the opportunity to do so withthe counselors at Barnstable High Schoolfor twenty-four years. ■

MAY 2012 5

THE INTERN’S TALEA New Perspective for Counselors

By BETHANY GRANDFIELDMaster’s Student in School Counseling, Bridgewater State University

E very school system is unique, espe-cially in the tasks performed by fac-

ulty members and the ways in which in -dividuals are utilized. While each schoolhas its own combination of school coun-selors, adjustment counselors, and schoolpsychologists, the roles they play differfrom district to district.

At the high school in Fall River, whereI am completing my practicum experience,we have five school guidance counselors,a guidance director, and an At-Risk Coun-selor. After several years of the studentdrop-out rate increasing, it was decidedthat a void in services needed to be filledand an at-risk counselor was added.Currently, this counselor works withstudents who have academic issues thatrequire more attention than the coun-selors can offer.

Since this is the first full year that thisposition has been in place, there is stillsome discrepancy as to what “at-risk”means and what role the At-Risk Coun-selor plays. The role is often mistakenlyseen as a final effort to reach a difficultstudent who has discipline issues ormental health needs that lie outside thescope of the school counselor. In ourschool the At-Risk Counselor’s role is tohelp students who are struggling withacademic or personal issues that mightprevent them from graduating highschool. The counselor designated to thesestudents offers interventions on an indi-vidual basis and assists the student bymeeting more frequently and arrangingmeetings with mental health counselorsand other agencies, while—at the sametime—overseeing their academic success.

For me, as a counseling graduate stu-dent, this emphasis provides a new per-spective on what the role of a schoolcounselor can be. Although the At-RiskCounselor is a licensed school counselor,it is questionable whether or not anLMHC is necessary. The range of respon-sibilities shows all the possibilities foran M.Ed. degree in school counseling and

all the different “hats” worn by a schoolcounselor throughout the course of a typ-ical school day. As a counseling intern, Iget daily insight into the work of theschool counselor—a view that I hadn’tbeen able to see previously. ■

MASCA StatewideMA Model/College & Career

Readiness Research Study

During May and June,have eligible seniors complete

the online student survey.

www.emergentfutures.org/signup

6 COUNSELOR’S NOTEBOOK

BROWN (continued from page 1)

Tolerance (www.tolerance.org/magazine/number-41-spring-2012) provides mate-rial for any number of classroom/smallgroup lessons. One of the featured articles,“Possession Obsession,” looks at datingabuse and violence. It also referencesanother free resource, the Liz ClaiborneInc.’s Love Is Not Abuse (www.loveisnotabuse.com), which provides additionalac tivities and information.

Another excellent article, “The PovertyMyth,” encourages reflection about thedifferences in expectations between haveand have not students. There is a portfo-lio activity that follows as well as otherreferences.

“Out of Bounds” takes a look at therole of sports rivalries and how to “keepthe lid on,” so that athletes and fans canbe respectful while being enthusiastic.

An abundance of free resources areavailable to support the MA Modelcompetencies we hope to help studentsdev elop. Many are well-researched andtested. “Free” doesn’t necessarily meanpoorly de signed or ineffective. Mostly,“free” is good. ■

PEOPLE, PLACES, ANDPROGRAMS

UNE offers scholarshipsThe University of New England in Bidde -ford, Maine, is pleased to announce thata limited number of merit scholarships areavailable for its Early College Programsfor high school students this summer.

Students presently in their sophomoreor junior year of high school can earnthree college credits in Coastal MarineEcology, Neuroscience, Creative Writing(Poetry), and Pre-Law/Trial Advocacy.

Applicants who wish to be consideredfor these merit scholarships should re -quest consideration on their applicationforms. Program dates are: Creative Writ-ing: Poetry, July 8-20; Coastal MarineEcology, July 8-20; Neuroscience, July15-August 3; and Pre-Law/Trial Advo-cacy, July 22-August 3.

Courses are taught by UNE faculty andare intensive in nature, with lab/field ex -

periences, academic fieldtrips, and re -search projects. Programs include infor-mational workshops with Admissions andFinancial Aid representatives. Participantsenjoy UNE’s many recreational facilitiesand exciting activities, including a whalewatch out of Kennebunk port, a visit tothe historic Portland “Old Port,” andMovie Night.

For more details or to apply, go towww.une.edu/oce or call 207-602-2802.

DOE offers ESSCP GrantThe U.S. Department of Education re -cently announced the FY 2012 Elemen-tary and Secondary School CounselingProgram grant competition. Granteesunder this competition will use funds tosupport counseling programs in targetelementary, K-12, or secondary schools.Schools will establish or expand schoolcounseling programs through hiring qual-ified school counselors, school socialworkers, and school psychologists, witha goal of expanding the range, availability,quantity, and quality of school counsel-ing services. School counseling serviceswill use a developmental and preventativeapproach. This is a 3-year grant programand each annual award ranges from$250,000 – $400,000. The deadline forapplications is May 25. For further prior-ities and details, see the announcement inthe Federal Register.

— ASCA, www.schoolcounselor.org

MASCA appoints new MemberServices ChairMarie Anderson, retired School Counsel-ing Department Head at Barnstable HighSchool, has been appointed Member Ser-vices Chair. Her responsibilities include:

• Promote membership• Devise plans for recruiting of new

membership• Supervise membership records• Advise the Governing Board at each

meeting on membership• Participate with Coordinator of

Membership in review of membershipprocedures

• Attend MASCA conferences andstaff the table for membership

• Prepare an annual statement for thepresident

• Make recommendations about duesand policies to Governing Board

To contact Marie, write to marieganderson@yahoo.com. ■

MAY 2012 7

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 Clemence, P.O. Box 805, East 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.

MASCA AnnualSpring Conference

April 29 – May 1,2012

CoCo Key Hoteland Water Resort

Danvers, MA

“It Is OurTime to Shine:

For Our Students,Our Stakeholders,

and Our Profession”

This professional developmentopportunity is designedespecially for you with

• Outstanding speakersand workshops

• Exhibits

• Networking opportunities

• Hospitality events