MASSACHUSETTS SCHOOL COUNSELORS ASSOCIATION MAY 2015VOL. 51, NO. 9

MASCA

An Invitation to ParticipateBy KATE SALAS, Ed.D.

School Counselor, Pembroke Community Middle School

Lessons Learned,the Hard Way

By SALLY ANN CONNOLLYMASCA Counselors Notebook Editor

(continued on page 3)

MASCA has approved a committeeto study our current MA Modeland its alignment with the new ASCANational Model. The ASCA NationalModel now contains the ASCA Mindsets& Behaviors for Student Success: College-and Career-Readiness Standards for EveryStudent that guide the development ofeffective school counseling programsaround three domains: academic, career,and social/emotional development. TheMA Model was created in 2006 and con-

tains the CDE Benchmarks. This committee would investigate the

ASCA Mindsets and Behaviors as well asMASCAs CDE Benchmarks and deter-mine if changes are necessary to ensurecomprehensive school counseling pro-gram implementation for the students ofthe Commonwealth.

Please consider joining this commit-tee. We will be meeting virtually at yourconvenience. Contact me at drkatesalas@gmail.com.

Attention, South Shore CounselorsBy DONNA BROWN, MASCA Executive Director

T his September, a very useful resourcewill become available for studentson the South Shore.

Joannas Place is a new organizationthat is dedicated to promoting resiliencein children who are facing some of lifesmost stressful events. It was founded inmemory of six-year-old Joanna Mullin,who was murdered in August of 2007.Working with Maria Trozzi, M.Ed, herparents and their young family were guidedfrom this devastating loss, and they havetransformed their tragedy into strengthand support for others.

Three unique programs are being offeredby the organization to South Shore fami-lies at no cost.

1. Talking Points. This program offersparents and/or guardians a one-hour ses-sion designed to help them talk to theirchild or children when facing a life-threat-ening illness, separation or divorce, ordeath of a loved one.

2. Circle Support Groups. The groupsprovide comprehensive family supportgroups for children facing the death of aparent or sibling, their parents separationor divorce, or the challenges of being atypical sibling. Throughout sixteenweekly sessions, children are surroundedby others who are their age and stage andfacing the same challenges. The childrenlearn to master coping skills and prob-lem-solving, while sharing their stories.At the same time, their parents participatein their own circle, which encouragesgrowth and offers parenting strategiesand experience.

3. Resources and Referrals. South Shorecommunity resources are provided, andre ferrals are made for families lookingfor counseling, programs, and caringprofessionals.

To learn more or to make a referral, e-mail info@joannasplace.org or call 781-413-5141.

T he winter of 2015 turned out to beboth the best of times and the worstof times. With a one-two punch, Old ManWinter inflicted property damage on tensof thousands of New Englanders as wellas extensive personal injury, from whichmany individualsmyself includedare still recovering.

My humble abode, tested by the his-toric snowfalls, failed miserably. Majes-tic ice dams and four feet of compactedsnow on the roof thawed sufficiently toleave water stains throughout the house,a storm window that hangs precariouslyout of its frame, and a denuded kitchencabinet, still shedding the effects of avoluminous cascade of water.

Lady luck, however, was in my cor-ner. My insurance company respondedquickly, dispatching an adjuster and,then, a team of diligent workers, fromMinnesota, to steam-melt the ice dams,clear the roof, shovel paths to my doors,and spread recently-purchased ice melt.

Another team from the land of10,000 lakes sported moisture detec-tors, and they unanimously decided thatmy kitchen could be salvaged without

2 COUNSELORS NOTEBOOK

CONNOLLY (continued from page 1)

2014 2015 OFFICERS

PRESIDENTTINA KARIDOYANESMansfield High School250 East Street, Mansfield, MA 02048E-mail: president@masca.org

PAST PRESIDENTTHERESA A. COOGAN, Ph.D.Bridgewater State UniversityBridgewater, MA 02325Tel. 508-531-2640E-mail: theresa.coogan@bridgew.edu

PRESIDENT-ELECTRUTH CARRIGANWhitman-Hanson Regional High School600 Franklin Street, Whitman, MA 02382Tel. 781-618-7434 Fax 781-618-7098E-mail: Ruth.Carrigan@whrsd.org

VICE PRESIDENT ELEMENTARYVERONICA KNIGHTLowell Elementary School175 Orchard Street, Watertown, MA 02472Tel. 617-926-2666E-mail: veronica.knight@watertown.k12.ma.us

VICE PRESIDENT MIDDLE / JUNIOR HIGHKATHLEEN SCOTTE-mail: scottk@amesburyma.gov

VICE PRESIDENT SECONDARYJOHN S. STEEREWellesley High School50 Rice Street, Wellesley, MA 02481Tel. 781-446-6290 x4653 Fax 781-446-6308E-mail: john_steere@wellesley.k12.ma.us

VICE PRESIDENT ADMINISTRATORSTBA

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

VICE PRESIDENT COUNSELOR EDUCATORSMEGAN KRELL, Ph.D.; AMY L. COOK, Ph.D.E-mail: vpcounselored@masca.org

VICE PRESIDENT RETIREESJOSEPH D. FITZGERALD, Ed.D.5 Progress Street, Weymouth, MA 02188Tel. 781-264-3426E-mail: jdfitz1831@gmail.com

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

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

SECRETARYKATIE KOZAKE-mail: secretary@masca.org

MEMBERSHIP COORDINATORDONNA BROWNE-mail: membership@masca.org

WEBMASTER/TECHNOLOGY COORDINATORROSS WOLFSONE-mail: webmaster@masca.org; info@masca.org

COORDINATOR OFPROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENTHELEN ODONNELL, Ed.D.E-mail: pdchair@masca.org

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

MAY 2015 3

demolition and reconstruction. Hooray!Moderate remediation was what Isorely needed to hear, because through-out this morass, winters second blowhad left me incapacitated.

A wet, wooden floor, stripped of itssoggy mat, took advantage of my momen-tary distraction. I was down for the count.The force of the fall broke my wrist inthe most common of ways, and suddenlyI had a disability (a Colles fracture) forwhich I was ill-prepared.

The school of hard knocks, however,was ready with a few lessons. I wouldlike to pass these along to my healthcare providers:

Keep in mind that although youdeal daily with scores of patients, this isa first for me. Please use both care andempathy.

Take aside the patient who needshelp completing the four-page registrationform and cannot respond sotto voce.Affording her privacy and confidential-ity avoids embarrassment for all of us.

Provide cap-less pens! Upon initial intake at the urgent care

facility/emergency room/doctors office,remove all rings from my injured handso that they dont act as a tourniquet.

When you do grind off my diamondand gold rings, please offer a word ofsympathy. And give me time to safelystore these treasures (a challenging ma -neuver with one hand).

Offer to carry my coat, purse, orsplint as we move from the holding areato exam room to x-ray to exam room tocasting to waiting room.

Without my asking, offer a protec-tive, lead apron and collar every time Iget x-rays.

Offer a paper drape to protect myclothing from casting dust.

Provide information on dealing withlimitations of movement. How do I handlepersonal hygiene and daily routines forfour weeks and not lift anything heavierthan a piece of paper with the injured arm?

Provide recommendations for phys-ical activity and diet. Calcium and vita-min D, I know, are essential for bonehealth. I have heard that elderly patientsdeficient in protein have more compli-cations after a fracture, including loss ofindependence, institutionalization, andeven death. Anything else?

Offer suggestions on how to re ducefrustration and discouragement. Above all,be aware that as a senior, living alone, Imay need extra guidance and assistance.

I also have a few suggestions for fel-low sufferers:

Food: Consume extra caloriesduring the first few weeks because yourbody needs the fuel. Avoid cans and jars.Buy low-salt, low-fat, prepared entres,divide them into smaller portions, andcook in a microwave or toaster-oven. Buyfruits and vegetables that dont requirecutting. Buy small containers of milk,juice, etc. And dont forget a special treat.

Clothing: Bypass your tight-sleevedcardigans and opt for a shawl or cape.Keep your housecoat slightly zipperedand step into it. Underwear: You CANwear a bra. Fasten the snaps first and slipit over your head. Practice patience.

Personal hygiene: Sponge baths dothe trick. Think about getting a profes-sional pedicure. Loosen caps on lotionbottles, toothpaste, etc. Hair: Lower yourexpectations. No way can you style yourhair with one hand. Have a hairdresseror volunteer wash/blow dry/set accord-ing to your normal procedures. Whenyou are able, use a lightweight, travelhair dryer.

Medicines: The pill caddy, forgetabout it. You cant refill it. The most dex-terous toes and knees are no match forchildproof caps. Have a volunteer loosenthem or set up a several-weeks supply.

Emotional well-being: Stay engagedwith friends, family members, and neigh -bors. Listen to your favorite music andwatch LOL movies or TV programs toyour hearts content.

At my colonoscopy, two days beforethe accident, I smugly replied that I hadntfallen in years. One careless slip later, andI am forced to think outside the box. For-tunately, new challenges are good foraging brains. And the kindness ofstrangers? Its most welcome as I con-tinue to fight the good fight.

SNOWBOUND: Bayberry Road, Danvers,February 2015

The Winterof My Discontent

4 COUNSELORS NOTEBOOK

Arlington, VA, March 24, 2015Stu-dents who speak with a counselor aboutlife after high school are more likely tosay they will attend college and thatthey plan to apply for federal financialaid, according to a new study from theNational Association for College Ad mis -sion Counseling (NACAC).

Conversations with counselors alsoincrease the likelihood that students willsearch for college options and visit collegecampuses by the spring of their junioryear, data show.

The study A National Look at theHigh School Counseling Office: What IsIt Doing and What Role Can It Play inFacilitating Students Paths to College? draws on recently released, nationallyrepresentative data.

Its findings underscore the critical rolecounselors play in helping high schoolstudents plan for the transition to college,noted Jeff Fuller, NACAC president anddirector of student recruitment at the

University of Houston (TX). NACAC continues to invest a great

dealincluding research, training andadvocacyinto the development andsupport of college-readiness counseling,Fuller said. Our objectives are to ensurethat counselors receive the recognitionthey deserve, and that policymakers andadministrators understand the scope ofwork that is needed to adequately supportstudents for equitable access to postsec-ondary education.

Other key study findings show:

School leaders consider counsel-ing crucial: More than half (55 percent)of principals identified helping studentsprepare for postsecondary schooling astheir top priority.

Counselors are stretched: Fifty-four percent of counselors reported thattheir counseling department spent lessthan 20 percent of its time on collegereadiness, selection and applications.

Some services are underused:While 90 percent of counselors indicatedthat their schools offered college appli-cation assistance, the percentage of stu-dents who benefited from this assistancewas far lower.

Schools could do more to trackgraduates: Despite the fact that moststates possess longitudinal databases andthat data from the National Student Clear-inghouse are available, more schools reliedon student surveys (49 percent) than astate or national database (22 percent) totrack student outcomes after high school.

The study is the second in a series ofreports examining factors that influencecollege enrollment. The first segment ana-lyzed the effects of early college counsel-ing. NACAC will begin work in 2016 onthe third installment, which will exploredata on students who have gone throughthe college application process.

http://www.nacacnet.org/research/Publica-tionsResources/bulletin/2015Bulletin.

Conversations with Counselors Prompt Studentsto Prepare for College

MAY 2015 5

Ensuring Smooth TransitionsBy TINA KARIDOYANES

MASCA President

I n late February, I had the opportu-nity to attend a one-day workshop atBridge water State University about tran-sition planning for schools. Dr. PatrickAkos of the University of North Carolinaat Chapel Hill presented both the theoriesbehind the importance of transitions fromelementary school to middle school andmiddle school to high school as well aspractical steps that schools can implementto improve their transition plans.

Dr. Akos started the presentation withthe idea of taking advantage of the chal-lenges that transitions bring to schools andturning them into opportunities. Whilecovering the Who, What, Where, Why,and How, he incorporated the obstaclesand opportunities that schools have inorder to create a meaningful transitions.

I was fortunate to have in attendancewith me school counselors from both themiddle school and high school as well asan administrator from each building.Throughout the day we learned valuableinformation, and at least two reoccurringthemes resonated with me:

(1) Smooth transition requires aschool-wide effort. Although counselorshave a huge role in the process, engagingfaculty and students can help to improvethe adjustment of incoming students totheir new environment.

(2) District-wide transitions plans arevital, so that themes and practices arecarried consistently through K-12 and, asa result, students and parents know whatto expect.

Many ideas and evidenced-based sug-

gestions were made that may or may notbe appropriate for your district, but hereare a few that should benefit all:

Create a district, vertical team thatis committed to transition planning andinclude administrators, counselors, teach-ers, and support personnel.

Have older students create videos,where they can share their experiences atthe next level and welcome the incomingclass.

Have a cross-level exchange. Haveteachers from different buildings (such asgrades five and six or grades eight andnine) swap places for a day so that theycan better understand where students are

coming from and where they are going. Create common language across

buildings. Conduct professional development

for teachers and support staff on transi-tions and incorporate the staff in the out -comes and processes to assist students.

At the end of the workshop day, ourteam left with a to do list, some ques-tions to be answered, and motivation toimprove our school transitions plans. Ifyou have solutions and ideas that workfor your school, I would love to hearfrom you and share your ideas with ourMASCA community. Please e-mail me atpresident@masca.org.

Smooth transition requires a school-wide effort, and schoolcounselors can lead the way.

6 COUNSELORS NOTEBOOK

The Value of HumorBy DONNA BROWN

MASCA Executive Director

A few weeks ago, I looked at my copyof Edutopia and was delighted to seean article entitled Laughter and Learning:Humor Boosts Retention by Sarah Hen-derson, a high school English teacher.Ever since I read Norman Cousins book,Anatomy of an Illness, Ive been inter-ested in the relationship between mindand body.

Cousins had become sick with an

extremely serious illness, and his doc-tors immediately hospitalized him. Aftera short time, Cousins realized he was notgetting better. He thought he needed adifferent treatment and started looking forother ways to heal himself. Laughter, hethought, might make him feel a littlebetter. Against his doctors advice, he leftthe hospital, rented a hotel suite, andordered a movie projector and a bunchof funny movies. Amazingly, he began tofeel better, and he started to heal. Cousinsliterally laughed himself well.

I loved the story and became fascinatedwith the many things humor and laughtercould do to the human body. Thus, anarticle that indicated that humor andlaughter could enhance learning reallycaught my eye.

In her article, Henderson makes sev-eral interesting points.

She cites a Harvard study that foundthe contagious nature of humor naturallybuilds a sense of community by loweringdefenses and bringing individuals toge -ther. She goes on to say:

Neuroscience research reveals thathumor systematically activates the brainsdopamine reward system, and cognitivestudies show that dopamine is impor-tant for both goal-oriented motivation andlong term memory, while educationalresearch indicates that correctly-usedhumor can be an effective interventionto improve retention in students fromkindergarten through college.

Sesame Street took the lead on this.We learned to count with the Count. Welearned about friendship with Grover.And we learned to handle difficult peoplefrom Oscar. Virtually all us of can citespecific episodes that we (or our chil-dren) remember; and, with that remem-brance, the lesson learned.

Humor does have a place in educa-tion, but keep in mind: it needs to en hancelearning, be content-related and age-appropriate, and have as its goal thedevelopment of community and theincrease of retention.

The Mission ofMASCA

The mission of MASCA is toadvocate for school counselors

in the Commonwealth ofMassachusetts by providing

leadership, collaboration, andprofessional development.

Stay informed by visitingMASCAs website regularly.

You can share your views withfellow MASCA members by

joining in the Forum.

www.masca.org

MAY 2015 7

S pread throughout Massachusettsare sixteen MASCA affiliate organi-zations. As the MASCA Affiliate Liai-son, it has been my pleasure to workwith all of these groups, helping tocoordinate information and improvecommunication with the MASCA Gov-erning Board.

My initial task as liaison was to reachout to the leaders of each affiliate and up -date contact information for the MASCAwebsite. The main goal was to improveattendance at our Governing Boardmeetings by increasing participation byaffiliate members. I am pleased to reportthat we have been successful.

Each year, new officers take controlof their affiliate organization, and theybegin a busy year of planning meetingsand professional development opportu-nities for all of their members. Affiliatepresidents or assigned representatives,also, are invited to participate in theMASCA Governing Board meetings. Thisis an important obligation, and I encour-age all affiliates to have a voice in thedecision-making process. This year, theGoverning Board began its activities withthe annual MASCA Leadership Confer-ence, hosted by Dean College. Recently,the Board voted to accept the proposedbudget for the 2015-2016 fiscal year.

As a current member of South ShoreGuidance Association (SSGA) and a for-mer member and past president of Cape& Islands School Counselor Association(CISCA), I know the amount of workthat goes into planning and organizing abusy affiliate calendar. Building relation-ships with college representatives andcommunity organizations is an integralpart of having a successful year. Thankyou to all of the hard-working affiliateleaders, who spend countless hours oftheir time planning, organizing, hosting,and attending these meetings.

Affiliate members have many ongo-ing opportunities to get more involvedin efforts to support our profession.Step one: join MASCA. Although affili-

ate meetings are fun and informative, allof us should join together to supportour state (MASCA) and national (ASCA)associations.

I look forward to seeing many familiarfaces at the upcoming MASCA SpringConference. And I urge you to get involved

with the Reach Higher initiative or towork on improving the implementationof the MA Model at your school.

If you have ideas to improve affiliateparticipation with the MASCA organiza-tion, please send me an e-mail at gforgue@newbedfordschools.org. Thank you.

A Message for MASCA AffiliatesBy GLENN FORGUE

MASCA Affiliate Liaison

PRSRT STDU.S. POSTAGE PAIDNEWBURYPORT, MA

PERMIT NO. 96

Massachusetts School Counselors Association, Inc.COUNSELORS NOTEBOOK

Sally Ann Connolly, Editor

IN CASE OF NON-DELIVERY, RETURN TO:Donna M. BrownP.O. Box 366Bryantville, MA 02327

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