Nipmuc School Counseling Blog

We've Moved!

2017-01-12T10:06:00.005-05:00

Beginning in January 2017, please find all Nipmuc School Counseling information, updates, and resources at:

www.NipmucSCC.weebly.com

December Newsletter

2016-12-15T11:53:00.000-05:00

There is a lot going on in the School Counseling Center before vacation this December! There are college application deadlines, Wellness Week, Breakfast with the Counselors, and more. Read on for the details!

December 5-9: Wellness Week: The School Counseling Center and Student Health Services at Nipmuc have joined forces again to help students and faculty reduce stress, improve health, and learn about wellness. This week we will have an additional advisory session as well as themed days throughout the week and some fun give-aways. Click here to see a schedule of events. We’d also like to thank Nipmuc Together for their enthusiastic support of Wellness Week!

December 10: ACT

December 13: Breakfast with the Counselors, 8am-9am in the PDC: This workshop is for parents of sophomores. We will focus our discussion on supporting healthy decisions.

December 14: Intro to Post-Secondary Planning for Juniors: School Counselors will meet with juniors during advisory to begin post-secondary planning. Students will learn about a variety of pathways to take after high school in order to get to where they want to be in the future.

December 16: Transcript Request Forms Due: Any seniors who are applying to colleges with a January 15th deadline must submit Transcript Request forms by December 16.

December 21: Intro to the College Search Process or Post-Secondary Alternatives for Juniors: Juniors will meet with school counselors again during advisory to begin learning about the College Search Process. Any juniors interested in other post-secondary paths will meet with Mrs. Hennessy.

December 21: Deadline to register for January SAT (January 21st)

Ongoing in the month of December:

Scholarships on Naviance for seniors: Although we’re a few months away from the busy scholarship season, there are some scholarships available now. Seniors should check the scholarship list on Naviance once a week to see updated opportunities. Mrs. Hefez is the scholarship coordinator and she can answer any questions you might have.

December 24 - January 2: Holiday Break

We wish everyone a happy, healthy, and safe holiday and new year! See you in 2017!

Nipmuc School Counseling Center News - June

2016-05-31T13:43:00.000-04:00

We can’t believe it’s already June and another school year is coming to a close. With three weeks left for underclassmen, there’s still plenty of time to finish strong. Summer is a great time for students to take part in enriching experiences like jobs, internships, camps, sports, SAT/ACT prep, or pre-college programs. Students looking for ideas should see their counselors or Mrs. Hennessy.

As our seniors are gearing up for graduation in just a few days, we want to wish them the best of luck in their future endeavors! Congratulations, seniors!

Coming up in June…

June 1: Senior Banquet: click here for details

June 2: First Annual Senior Walk: Seniors will walk through Clough, Memorial, and Miscoe dressed in their graduation regalia to say goodbye to teachers and inspire the younger students in Mendon and Upton.

June 2: Awards Ceremony (1pm in the Nipmuc gymnasium)

June 3: Graduation (6pm in the Nipmuc gymnasium, tickets required)

June 4: SAT Test Day

June 11: ACT Test Day

June 21: Last Day of School!

Note to Parents of Juniors: All juniors need to complete the Counselor Letter of Recommendation Survey in Naviance before the end of the school year. There will also be a brag sheet survey for parents coming out later this week. Both surveys are extremely helpful to us when we are writing recommendation letters, so we appreciate your thoughtful responses. Now is a good time for juniors to check in with their counselors about their future plans to make sure they are on track going into the summer. Please feel free to contact your child’s counselor if you have any questions.

Tips for a Safe and Healthy Summer

2016-05-17T08:54:00.000-04:00

Summer will be here before we know it and the arrival of summer means warmer weather and more time spent outside. The arrival of summer also means an increased risk for dehydration, injury, and illness. But don't worry! The School Counseling Center is here to provide you with some tips on how to stay safe and healthy this summer.

1) Stay hydrated!
Did you know that dehydration can have a noticeable effect if you lose as little as 2% of your body's water content? Being dehydrated can lead to a decrease in physical performance, altered body temperature control, reduced motivation, and increased fatigue (authoritynutrition.com). To avoid becoming dehydrated, it is important not to wait until you are thirsty to start drinking water. Try drinking small amounts of water throughout the day and snack on foods that have high water content such as apples, watermelons, and strawberries.

2) Think before you swim.
Are you a good swimmer? Are you tired? Is the water moving rapidly? Is there a life guard on duty? These are just a few questions to ask yourself before diving into the water or participating in other recreational water activities. The highest drowning rates within any age group are found among teens and young adults (summersafetyforteens.pdf) but staying cautions when near water, knowing your limits and what safety precautions to take can ensure that all water activities stay fun and relaxing.

3) Protect yourself from bugs.
It is always a good idea to wear bug repellent when spending time outside during the warmer weather. When in the woods, doing yard work, or sitting by a fire at night, wear protective clothing such as long sleeves and long pants. If you are on a hike, stay towards the middle of the path and avoid over grown areas and sitting directly on the ground. Perform tick checks on you and your family members and be aware of the signs/symptoms of tick-related illnesses.

4) Wear Sunblock!
Peak hours for sun-exposure are from 10am-4pm. If you plan on being outside during these hours it is extremely important to wear sunblock, protective clothing such as hats and sunglasses, and seek shade whenever possible. When buying sunscreen, look for products with UVA and UVB protection and an SPF of at least 15. The American Association of Dermatology advises people to apply sunscreen 30 minutes before going outside and to reapply every 2 hours or sooner if swimming or sweating.

The summer is a fun, exciting, and relaxing time of year...ensure that you are able to enjoy it by staying healthy and safe!

Nipmuc School Counseling Center News - May

2016-04-28T11:51:00.001-04:00

We’re in the home stretch! Term 4 is well underway and seniors are just a few weeks away from graduation. In the School Counseling Center, we are just about finished with course registration for next year and are looking forward to finalizing student schedules before the end of this year. Students who have concerns or questions about their classes for next year can feel free to schedule appointments with their counselors.

Coming up in May…

May 2: AP Exams begin - click here to see a schedule.

May 3: Breakfast with the Counselors for Parents of Seniors - Leaving the Nest: As a teenager graduates from high school and leaves for college, parents can feel numerous different emotions related to this and the upcoming transition to college or the workforce. Please join the Nipmuc School Counseling Staff in the PDC from 8:00am-9:00am for a discussion about changing family dynamics and the social emotional impact of this transition. Please RSVP to Janis Grady at jagrady@mursd.org if you plan to attend. Hope to see you then!

May 5: Deadline to register for the June 4th SAT: Click here to register.

May 6: Deadline to register for the June 11th ACT: Click here to register.

May 7: SAT Test Day

Reminder to seniors and parents of seniors: All scholarship opportunities are posted in Naviance. More are posted each day and deadlines are starting to come up. Please submit your applications to Mrs. Hefez by the Naviance deadlines!

For information about all senior events this spring, click here.

The Warm Weather is Here...It's Time to Get Outside!

2016-04-25T12:36:00.000-04:00

Now that the weather is getting warmer, it's time to dust off those sneakers and get outside!

Physical activity is a very important part of your overall wellness and it isn't just about lifting weights at the gym or running drills at practice, there are many different ways to be active outside this spring!

Betterhealth.gov suggests aiming for 30 minutes of physical activity every day. But what defines physical activity? The National Heart, Lung and Blood Institute (NHLBI) summarizes physical activity as "any body movement that works your muscles and requires more energy than resting." The NHLBI categorizes physical activity into four main types: aerobic, muscle-strengthening, bone-strengthening, and stretching.

The spring is all about the start of something fresh and new, so why not make this the perfect time to get outside and start moving?! Not every physical activity you do has to be high intensity. A short walk around your neighborhood after dinner or throwing a ball outside with your pet after school or work are great ways to start incorporating physical activity into your daily routine. And when you're outside, not only are you being active, but you are also breathing in the benefits of some fresh air!

Here in the School Counseling Center and the Student Health Office, we love to motivate each other through step challenges and hourly step goals, but here are some other ways we like to be active outside...

Mrs. Towne likes to walk to a park near her house and toss a Frisbee with her husband. She also loves to walk to her favorite cafe and read on their outside patio.

Mrs. Hefez just got a new puppy, so she has been enjoying taking him for walks and playing with him outside. She also likes to play games with her nephews outside...it's great to get them out of the house!

Mrs. Fagan enjoys going for long hikes on the weekends and she takes her dog for walks every evening. She also loves to garden and can't wait until she has fresh vegetables right in her backyard!

Ms. Pittsley also has two puppies that she likes to walk every afternoon, she likes to take bike rides and once the weather gets really warm, she loves to swim in her pool.

Mrs. Larrecey also likes to hike, garden, and travel during the warmer months.

Mrs. Gauthier also likes to walk every day, take hikes, and garden.

Mrs. Grady enjoys all activities that involve the outdoors...her favorites are walking, boating, and fishing.

While it is important to be active...it is also important to remember to wear sunscreen and bug spray when you are going to be spending time outside. The American Academy of Dermatology recommends wearing sunscreen that is at least SPF 30 and it should be reapplied every 2 hours. The sun's rays are strongest between 10:00am and 4:00pm so if you plan on being outside during those hours, it is especially important to reapply your sunscreen and seek shade when necessary.

Take advantage of the nice weather and be well!

Nipmuc School Counseling Center News - April

2016-04-01T14:17:00.000-04:00

The school year is flying by and spring is finally on its way...we think! In the School Counseling Center, we just finished up our spring Wellness Week and course registration for next year is ongoing. Springtime also means scholarship season for seniors who are going to college next year. Seniors should check the scholarship list in Naviance often as new scholarships are posted almost every day.

Coming up in April…

April 1: The last day of Spring Wellness Week: Students participated in advisory activities and therapy dogs were in the building! Click here to see some highlights from the week!

April 7: Community iFair at Nipmuc (5:45-8pm): The Community iFair is designed to bring the entire Mendon and Upton communities together to get excited about technology! All technology sessions and showcases are offered this evening by Mendon-Upton educators, staff, supporters, and students. Technology sessions are a combination of presentation and practice and will be held in classrooms. Our technology showcases will be set up throughout the lobby, hallways, and the media center. These showcases allow you to experience hands-on technology, see best practices in action, and have your technology questions answered.

April 8: Deadline to register for the May SAT: www.collegeboard.org

April 9: ACT: Good luck to those students taking the test! There will be another ACT given on June 11. Visit www.actstudent.org to register.

April 15: Counselors will be wrapping up individual meetings with students for course registration. Students should take a look at the Program of Studies and the course selection sheet before meeting with their counselors. Both documents are available on our School Counseling blog. Individual meetings will also include starting a Wellness Plan.

April 18-22: April Vacation - have fun and be safe!

What Does it Mean to Be Well?

2016-03-21T10:00:00.000-04:00

With Wellness Week coming up next week, the School Counseling Center wanted to take an opportunity to breakdown what it means to be well.

To put it simply, personal wellness is the act of taking care of your mind and body. It is important to remember that wellness is a process and it takes a deliberate effort. In order to kick off your own personal wellness journey, you first have to ask yourself, “What am I already doing well?” and “Where would I like to see a change?”

The National Wellness Institute developed a model for wellness that is referred to as the Six Dimensions of Wellness. The dimensions are occupational, emotional, spiritual, intellectual, social, and physical. Here is what you need to know about each dimension…

Physical: Paying attention to and maintaining overall health through nutrition, physical activity, sleep, and positive healthy habits to maintain a healthy quality of life. Being physically well requires being able to take charge of your health by making conscious decisions to be healthy.

Social: The idea of being able to develop meaningful interpersonal relationships. A main aspect of being socially well is having the ability to move through various social situations while appreciating the similarities and differences between people.

Intellectual: Developing the mind as an instrument for decision making as well as learning and interpreting experiences. Intellectual wellness involves critical thinking, creativity, and curiosity. Being open to new experiences and ideas contributes to growth.

Spiritual: Developing your own personal beliefs system and adhering to that system. Spiritual wellness involves seeking purpose and meaning in life while appreciating the beliefs and perspectives of others.

Emotional: Getting in touch with feelings and emotions regarding yourself and others. Concepts such as, self-confidence, love, and trust for others are key parts of being emotionally well. Maintaining your emotional wellness will help in coping with emotional challenges in life.

Occupational: The ability to achieve a balance between work and leisure time. Being occupationally well involves addressing workplace stress and building relationships with co-workers.

Activities during Wellness Week will focus on giving students the opportunity to explore different activities and wellness practices that they can incorporate into their own lives to begin enhancing their personal wellness!

For more information on personal wellness and the Six Dimensions of Wellness, visit these links.

8 Components of Personal Wellness 6 Dimensions of Wellness Personal Health & Wellness

Be Well!

Nipmuc School Counseling Center News - March

2016-02-26T14:41:00.002-05:00

Course registration for the 2016-2017 school year is underway, so we’ve been doing a lot of future planning with juniors. It’s a great time to consider what comes after high school. Will your child go to college? Start working? Join the military? Learn a trade? The opportunities are plenty, but planning ahead will be important. There’s no time like the present to start thinking about and planning for the future!

Coming up in March…

March 2: Counselors will meet with freshmen in groups to talk about graduation requirements, transcripts, and the course registration process.

March 4: 21st Century Learning Conference: This full day conference for students will run just like the half-day one last November. Students will be able to sign up through Sched.org next week for a variety of sessions created to foster development of professional college and career-related skills. Workshops will be run by professionals from the field as well as Nipmuc faculty.

March 4: Deadline to register for the April ACT: www.actstudent.org

March 5: SAT: Good luck to those students taking the test! Upcoming test dates are in May and June. Visit www.collegeboard.org to register.

March 9: Counselors will begin individual meetings with sophomores for course registration. Sophomores should take a look at the Program of Studies and the course selection sheet before meeting with their counselors. Both documents are available on our School Counseling blog. Individual meetings will also include starting a Wellness Plan.

March 23: Counselors will begin individual meetings with freshmen for course registration. Freshmen should take a look at the Program of Studies and the course selection sheet before meeting with their counselors. Both documents are available on our School Counseling blog. Individual meetings will also include starting a Wellness Plan.

March 28 - April 1: Spring Wellness Week: The School Counseling Center and Student Health Office have been hard at work planning this year’s second Wellness Week. This Wellness Week will kick-off with a “no homework weekend” on Thursday, March 24th (no school on Friday, March 25th.). In addition to activities during two advisory days, there will be a Wellness Fair during lunches on Monday and therapy dogs in throughout the week! Visit www.nipmucwellness.weebly.com for more information.

March Wellness Week Update

2016-02-09T11:41:00.001-05:00

Before we leave for February break, the School Counseling Center and Student Health Services wanted to give a quick update on the March Wellness Week!

The second Wellness Week of the year will be taking place from March 28-April 1, with advisory schedules happening on Wednesday, March 30 and Friday, April 1 for wellness activities!

We are excited to bring back some of our most popular activities such as therapy dogs, yoga, and singing your heart out. After taking some student and teacher feedback into consideration, we will also be offering some new wellness activities that include more games, snacks, and crafts. Keep an eye out for an e-mail about sign ups in March...students don't want to miss out on these wellness events! There will also be another "No Homework Day" on Thursday, March 24. This means that students will not have any homework due, tests, or quizzes to study for on Monday, March 28. Planning this day for the Thursday before Easter will give students an opportunity to spend time with their family and friends during the long weekend. It will be a great way to kick off the week!

We want Wellness Week to be fun and relaxing, but it is important to remember why we do it. Taking time to focus on building skills to regulate emotions, learning how to practice self care, and managing stress improves student performance in the classroom and overall well-being. If a student is feeling stressed or overwhelmed with emotions, they will not be able to focus on learning. Having a tool box of coping strategies, knowing how to stay healthy, and participating in enjoyable activities is the key to being well!

Post-Graduate Planning for Juniors

2016-02-03T10:05:00.004-05:00

Yesterday, the school counselors met with parents of juniors to go over the post-graduate and college planning process. We had a great turn out, and it's clear to us that the junior class and their parents are excited to start thinking about these future plans! If any parents missed the presentation, it is accessible here:

Some of the website resources mentioned during our presentation:

www.collegeweeklive.com – sign up with a parent account and check out the Expert Presentations tab

www.cappex.com - this site has Scattergrams with national data and student reviews for different colleges

www.connection.naviance.com/nipmucrhs - our Naviance log in page for students

A Comprehensive Nipmuc Guide for Seniors: How to Apply to College – our detailed guide to the college application process that students follow during the fall of their senior year

Nipmuc School Counseling Center News - February

2016-01-28T07:27:00.002-05:00

We hope you’re enjoying the “warm” weather this week! We’re busy in the School Counseling Center with the tail-end of college applications, scholarships for seniors, post-graduation planning with juniors, and the start of Term 3. We’re also looking forward to our next Wellness Week at the end of March and starting course registration with students between February and April vacations.

Coming up in February…

February 2: Breakfast with the Counselors for Parents of Juniors: The topic of discussion will be post-graduation planning. We’ll talk about a variety of options and then dive into the details of the college search process.

February 2: Junior Parent Night: This evening presentation will be a reprise of the morning’s Breakfast with the Counselors.

February 3: Freshman Advisory: Counselors will meet with freshmen during advisory. Students will complete the StrengthsExplorer inventory in Naviance and then discuss how their strengths match up with different career options.

February 5: Deadline to register for the March 5th SAT: Register for the SAT on collegeboard.org.

February 6: ACT

February 15-19: February Vacation: Have a safe, happy break!

February 21: FAFSA Day at Quinsigamond Community College (670 West Boylston Street Worcester): FAFSA Day Massachusetts, a College Goal Sunday Program, is a non-profit, volunteer-driven program providing free assistance to students and families seeking to complete the FAFSA, the Free Application for Federal Student Aid. Check fafsaday.org for more information.

February 22: Course Registration: School counselors will begin to meet individually with students to request courses for next year. This process will continue through March and into April.

Tips for Achieving Your New Year's Resolution

2016-01-07T13:14:00.000-05:00

A new year is upon us and with that comes a lot of talk about resolutions, goals, and aspirations. Setting small goals that are realistic and achievable is a great way to build towards making a bigger change and fulfilling that resolution set on January 1^st.

But what exactly is a resolution? It can most simply be defined as the act of determining upon an action, course of action, or procedure (dictionary.com). Basically, it is making the decision to take the necessary steps to reach a goal. Resolutions do not have to be all about making a drastic change, such as losing 50lbs. They can be about working towards something smaller you want to achieve, such as living a healthier lifestyle, saving money for a vacation, meditating for 10 minutes every day, or spending more time with family.

Betterhealth.gov states that in order to successfully achieve goals, it is important to be realistic, be specific, and to choose a goal that is meaningful and important to you. You don’t want to choose something that is going to add more stress to your life or that is so daunting you feel overwhelmed when planning how you will achieve it. Also remember not to be too hard on yourself!! No one is perfect and everyone has set backs; move at a pace that is right for you and celebrate little victories. So you were exercising every day for a week but then you took a week off…you have not failed! Changes cannot be made overnight. Research has shown that it takes anywhere from 21-66 or more days before a new behavior becomes automatic (huffingtonpost.com). Try keeping a log of how long you have been working towards a goal and if you have a setback, check how many days it has been since you started. Only 23? It’s still early! Commit to the process and stay confident.

Here in the School Counseling Center we have become determined to reach individual daily step goals. By tracking our steps we have developed a little healthy competition and are able to support each other in reaching our goals. Having other people involved in a goal can help you stay on track and provide you with some cheerleading when you need some extra motivation.

Be well!!

Nipmuc School Counseling Center News

2015-12-18T10:52:00.001-05:00

Wellness Week: One of the goals in both the School Counseling Center and Student Health Office is to work with students to create individualized wellness plans and live healthy lifestyles. Recent Metro-West Health data shows that school-related issues (grades, homework, and tests) are the biggest source of stress for Nipmuc students. This year’s wellness programming got underway with our first Wellness Week, which was a huge success! From December 7 - 11, students and faculty participated in a variety of activities to promote wellness practices, including a “no homework day.”

Take a look at the video below to see Wellness Week in action!

Feedback from students has been overwhelmingly positive. Over 90% of the students surveyed believe that wellness programming in school is important. We’re all looking forward to the next Wellness Week in March. If you have any ideas or want to get involved, please get in touch with one of the school counselors or nurse by calling 508-529-2140.

Coming up in January…

January 6: Scholarship Presentation for Seniors: During Advisory, seniors will attend a presentation to learn about college scholarships and how to apply for them. Some scholarships are already available on Naviance (“colleges” tab → “scholarship list”).

January 12: Incoming 9th Grade Informational Night: The evening will begin with a 30 minute presentation highlighting key points about our school. After that session we will introduce students and parents to Nipmuc through a fair, tours, and a feature of student work.

January 13 & 20: Counselors Begin College Search Process with Juniors: Counselors will meet with juniors on their caseloads during two advisory sessions. We will discuss how to start the college search process and what goes into applications and decisions for next year. A similar presentation for parents will take place on February 2nd (more information to follow).

Wellness Happenings Around Nipmuc

2015-12-01T14:14:00.000-05:00

Wellness Week starts on Monday (Dec. 7) and

The School Counseling Center and Student Health Services

are buzzing with excitement and anticipation!

We would like to give you a quick overview of what to expect next week so you can share our excitement about all the wellness happenings around Nipmuc...

This Wednesday (Dec. 2) during advisory sessions, students will take a quick survey that will gauge how well students are managing their stress and what wellness practices they are currently using. One of the goals of Wellness Week is to help students identify one or more wellness practices that they can use to help manage their stress and regulate their emotions.

Students will be using Sched.com to sign up for an activity of their choice which they will attend during advisory sessions on Wednesday and Friday of next week (Dec. 9 & Dec. 11). The School Counseling Center has worked hard to organize sessions that include a wide range of wellness practices that highlight art, exercise, finding inspiration, music, nutrition, and relaxation/stress management.

Activities in these categories include:

Making a Worry Stone

Regulation Emotions with Glitter

Relaxation through Coloring

Cardio Dance/Active Stretching

Weight Lifting

Recreational Games

Walking Outside

Yoga

Zumba

Motivation Speaker: Michael Wilson

TED Talks

Listening to Music

Jam Session

Singing

Making Healthy Smoothies

Therapy Dogs

Meditation

Reading

Video Games

and Writing

To gain more information on these activities, please visit our Wellness Week website!

Along with attending these activities on Wednesday and Friday there will be wellness events happening other days of the week:
Monday: Peer leadership will be starting Wellness Week with a Positivity Day where positive post-its will be placed around the school.
Tuesday: Free granola bars will be provided in the lobby during breaks as a healthy snack option
Wednesday: No homework day!
Thursday: A guided meditation will be offered during both breaks in the Gathering Room.

Students should be on the lookout for an e-mail asking them to sign up for Wellness Activities on Sched.com and as always, please feel free to contact/visit the School Counseling Center or Student Health Services with any questions!

Be Well! #WarriorWellness

Nipmuc Schooling Counseling Center - December News

2015-11-23T12:47:00.000-05:00

For a short month, we have a lot going on in the School Counseling Center this December! There are college application deadlines, resume work, Wellness Week, Breakfast with the Counselors, and more. Read on for the details!

December 1: ASVAB: Nipmuc is administering the Armed Services Vocational Aptitude Battery (ASVAB). Students thinking about joining the military should definitely take the test, but any other students are welcome as well. Interested students should see Mrs. Grady in the School Counseling Center by November 24th.

December 5: SAT

December 7-11: Wellness Week: The School Counseling Center and Student Health Services at Nipmuc have joined forces to help students and faculty reduce stress, improve health, and learn about wellness. This week we will have an additional advisory session as well as a number of other small activities dedicated to wellness.

December 8: Breakfast with the Counselors, 8am-9am: This workshop is for parents of sophomores. We will focus our discussion on supporting healthy decisions. Katherine Ware from Family Continuity will be joining us to give a clinical perspective.

December 9: Transcript Request Forms Due: Any seniors who are applying to colleges with a January 1st deadline must submit Transcript Request forms by December 9.

December 12: ACT

December 28: Deadline to register for January SAT (January 23rd)

Ongoing in the month of December:

Resume building for juniors: On November 18th, counselors met with all juniors to talk about the importance of creating a resume. Student can use the resume builder on Naviance to help them get organized. Mrs. Hennessy in the 21st Century Learning Center is available by appointment to help perfect completed resumes. By the end of junior year, students should have their resumes ready for use.

Scholarships on Naviance for seniors: Although we’re a few months away from the busy scholarship season, there are some scholarships available now. Seniors should check the scholarship list on Naviance once a week to see updated opportunities. Mrs. Hefez is the scholarship coordinator and she can answer any questions you might have.

December 24 - January 3: Holiday Break

We hope you all have happy and safe holidays and look forward to a great 2016!

It's Time to Get Excited for Wellness Week!

2015-11-02T13:25:00.000-05:00

The Counseling Center and The Student Health Office have been hard at work planning TWO Wellness Weeks for the current school year! The first one will be held December 7-11, 2015 and the second will be March 28-April 1, 2016. We’re getting very excited as the week quickly approaches and we hope you will be too! The purpose of Wellness Week is to spread an awareness of wellness practices, promote healthy lifestyles, and learn ways to cope with and decrease stress. Our hope is that spreading awareness of wellness practices will result in healthier minds and bodies for our Nipmuc community. The Center for Disease Control's Division of Adolescent and School Health provides evidence that shows a strong link between the health of students and academic success. Healthy students are better learners, and successful students create healthy communities in the future!

During the week, different activities will be available for students to attend during advisory sessions and teachers will be able to do a quick wellness exercise at the beginning of their classes. The activities will cover aspects of wellness such as nutrition, exercise, mindfulness, relaxation, and more! The Counseling Center and Student Health Office want to offer a wide range of activities so that every student can find something they are interested in or that they will find helpful towards improving their individual

wellness. In order to do this, we need your help! We are looking for enthusiastic and creative students to sign up to be Wellness Week Ambassadors. Ambassadors will be responsible for advertising the December Wellness Week, and creating, implementing, and running activities during advisory sessions. If you are interested in becoming a Wellness Week Ambassador, please stop by the School Counseling Center to sign up on Thursday (11/5) or Friday (11/6) during breaks.

Wellness Week is an opportunity to relax and have some fun while learning skills to improve individual wellness. If you have any ideas for activities or a wellness practice you would like to share with students and faculty during the December Wellness Week, please contact the Counseling Center or The Student Health Office.

College Planning and Financial Aid

2015-10-07T08:10:00.000-04:00

Throughout the past few weeks, the School Counseling Center has hosted sessions for both senior students and their parents regarding college planning and the financial aid application process. Below is the presentation we gave to seniors.

There is also a more detailed document available about the Nipmuc College Application process.

For more information about financial aid, please go to www.mefa.org.

Breakfast With the Counselors

2015-10-01T08:06:00.000-04:00

On September 22, the Nipmuc School Counseling Center held our first “Breakfast with the Counselors” with the parents of freshmen students. It was a great success! Not only did we enjoy some delicious muffins, but we also enjoyed great conversation. The Breakfast with the Counselors series is a great opportunity for parents to connect with their students’ counselor and to discuss some of the joys and challenges of parenting a student in high school. Here are some highlights from the discussion during the breakfast…

· Keep communication open
Even a simple question such as “How was your day?” can result in a one word response from your teenager. Teenagers are striving for independence and are naturally turning to peer relationships for social interaction, advice and connection. It’s very easy for teenagers to feel as though their parents are pushing for information or being intrusive in their lives. Although it is sometimes hard to connect and talk to your high schooler, finding your own way to communicate with each other is key to keeping a close relationship. Strategies that may help with keeping communication lines open include asking open ended questions, talking about your own day, offering advice or problem-solving suggestions sparingly while validating their experiences will show them you’re interested in what they’re saying, but not hungry for information or wanting to take charge.

· Create meaningful time with your teen

Learning about their interests and their passions can help strengthen your relationship with them. Find a TV show you both like or let them plug their IPOD into the car radio so you can rock out to some songs together. These little moments are meaningful to them, even if they don’t show it!

· Your kids want to please you!

Generally speaking, kids want to please their parents. When mistakes and disappointments happen in high school, kids are managing not only their responses to the situation, but they are worried about their parents’ response as well. As parents, we can model how you can grow from these setbacks so students recognize failures and challenges are not the end of the world.

· Collaborative Problem-solving

The adolescent brain goes through a tremendous amount of development during the high school years. Cognitive skills and capacities often develop in fits and the last part of the teen brain to develop is the pre-frontal cortex; the part of the brain responsible for planning, prioritizing and other executive functions. The good news is that the neural connections responsible for these activities can be strengthened by active use. Parents can support this process by staying calm, listening and when collaborating on problem solving, ask questions to stimulate your teens decision-making and critical thinking skills. Telling your student the “right” decision will often go in one ear and out the other, so support them to work through decisions and develop these skills independently

· Encourage your student to get involved

Engagement in school or community activities offers opportunities to build competence, connections with others as well as a variety of college and career readiness skills. There are many opportunities to join such activities throughout the year. Students can learn about different opportunities at the Nipmuc High School through their counselors and peers or they can stop by Mrs. Hennessey’s office, our Career and Community Coordinator, to see what opportunities are available outside of school.

These are just a few of the discussion points from the workshop on September 22. Please do not hesitate to contact your students’ counselor at the Nipmuc School Counseling Office, with any additional questions or concerns.

College Expo in Newton This Weekend!

2015-09-29T10:01:00.001-04:00

Saturday, October 3, 2015

Boston Marriott Newton

10am-1pm

Event is free to attend and there is free parking!

PSAT Registration for October 14

2015-09-14T12:45:00.002-04:00

Click here to register now for the PSAT!

On October 14, we will be administering the redesigned PSAT/NMSQT for sophomores and juniors. You can access the practice test at http://collegeboard.org/psatpractice, where you will also find accessible versions of the test and a complete set of answers and explanations.

The redesigned PSAT/NMSQT, which is representative of the actual exam in content, scope, and design, will help students taking the SATs feel confident and prepared.

This preparation will increase students' chances of receiving scholarship money through the National Merit Scholarship Corporation and their visibility to the over $180 million inscholarships offered by partners.

Students can access Khan Academy’s personalized instruction built in collaboration with the College Board for the redesigned SAT. Because of the tight alignment between the redesigned SAT and the redesigned PSAT/NMSQT, practice on Khan Academy will help students successfully prepare for the PSAT/NMSQT this October and the SAT in the spring.

Students can register for the PSAT/NMSQT in the School Counseling Center with Mrs. Grady, or online. Click here to register now! The cost is $20. The deadline is October 9^th.

Please contact Mrs. Larracey at klarracey@mursd.org if you have any questions.

School Counselor Summer Adventures!

2015-09-10T09:14:00.001-04:00

After a busy first week, the school counselors are starting to get into our regular routines. We have already met with many new students and gotten reacquainted with some upperclassmen, but there are still a lot of students we haven’t yet had the chance to catch up with. For those of you who haven’t met your counselor or haven't seen her yet this year, I thought I’d do some quick introductions by way of recapping our summers.

I’ll start with Mrs. Towne, who most of you knew last year as Ms. McNamara. Yup, you guessed it - Mrs. Towne got married in June! After school ended, she went on her honeymoon with her husband. They went to Jamaica for a week where they enjoyed lots of sunshine and white sandy beaches. Mrs. Towne also spent time with her two-year-old niece, and went to a couple of Red Sox games with her family. She is relaxed and excited for a new school year!

Ms. Larracey also did some traveling this summer. She was pretty much all over the Southeastern US with the baptism of her 7th granddaughter in Atlanta, the 4th of July in Williamsburg, and a trip to Tennessee. In Chattanooga Ms. Larracey explored an underground waterfall at Lookout Mountain. Back in New England, Ms. Larracey went to Maine with her family where they stayed in a cottage on Great Pond and did a lot of swimming, boating, kayaking, canoeing, and hiking.

Ms. Fagan started her summer off with some professional development by taking an awesome course in Positive Psychology. She also spent a lot of time out in the wilderness hiking. Ms. Fagan climbed three 4,000ft peaks in the White Mountains and went remote camping at Lake Umbagog in New Hampshire. There was lovely weather and beautiful sunsets throughout her camping trip, but the best part was the technology-free quality time she spent with her family.

We have a new face in the School Counseling Center this year and that is Ms. Pittsley. Ms. Pittsley is our School Adjustment Counseling Intern this year as she begins her Masters program at Simmons. After her graduation from Emmanuel College in May, Ms. Pittsley went on some great vacations. She went to Florida twice this summer, once to visit family in Boynton Beach and once to go to Disney World. In August, Ms. Pittlsey went on a 10 day, 16 state road trip. Her favorite cities were Chicago and Washington DC. Later in August, she went on a camping trip in North Conway, NH where the resident bear took a walk through her campsite one night, leaving some gigantic tracks right next to her tent! She is excited to start her year with us at Nipmuc!

I guess summer really is the time to travel because, like my fellow counselors, I did some traveling of my own! My husband graduated from business school in July and to celebrate, we went on a trip to Iceland and Ireland. In Iceland we had great food, saw lots of waterfalls, got sprayed by a huge geyser, and swam in a natural hot spring called the Blue Lagoon. In Ireland we drove along the southern coast and stopped in cities like Kilkenny, Kinsale, Cork, Killarney, and Dingle before heading back to Dublin for a night. All that driving on the “wrong” side of the road made for quite the adventure! For the rest of the summer I spent a lot of time with family and friends, did some home improvement projects, and relaxed, relaxed, relaxed!

We're all well-rested and ready for a great year with you. Please feel free to come see your counselor in the SCC whenever you’d like! Also, don't forget to follow us on Twitter @NipmucSCC for important School Counseling Center information and updates!

Welcome Back!

2015-09-02T14:26:00.000-04:00

"So, how was your summer?" was a frequent greeting as school staff returned to school over the last several days. Answers ranged from "Great!", "Good!", "Too short!", "Relaxing!" ... you get the picture. At the start of summer, a two month break from the hectic school year schedule, the ability to sleep a bit later, and spend more time on leisure and relaxing activities feels amazing!

Personally, I always plan to accomplish a million tasks around my home and I usually only get to a small fraction of what I actually plan! When we leave school for the summer at the end of June, the first day of the next school year seems light years away!

Yet, here we are. As I hear my colleagues talk about their summers, the next comment is often, "It's good to be back!" It seems as much as we enjoy the down time of summer, we welcome the structure and routine of the school year and the opportunity to get to know new students and new colleagues. There's an excitement in the air, a sense of anticipation... and yes, some amount of nerves as well. It kind of goes with the territory! As students and staff adjust to the new routine and schedule, the nerves settle down a bit and we get down to the business of learning. It's the start of an exciting and wonderful journey for all of us, and today we take our first step together.

Welcome back from the Nipmuc School Counseling Center! We're looking forward to a great year!

Thinking about the Summer...What Are Your Plans?

2015-06-03T14:29:00.001-04:00

Although it doesn’t really feel like it this week, summer is right around the corner! Summer vacation can mean many different things for high school students. For some, it’s nine weeks of freedom, hanging out with friends, trips to the beach, or family vacations. For some, summer is filled with many hours at full- or part-time jobs. For some, summer is filled with athletic practices and games, or academic programs and summer camps. For most, it’s some kind of combination of these plans.

As high school counselors, we hope that whatever students choose to do with their two month hiatus from Nipmuc provides some kind of meaningful experience. This post will focus on the benefits of summer employment. Summer jobs come in all shapes and sizes from babysitting neighborhood kids to doing administrative tasks in an office setting to serving diners at a restaurant. No matter the job responsibilities, working over the summer has many benefits for high school students.

Here are some of those rewards:

Building Up Soft Skills: Soft skills include things like time management, confidence, conversational skills, eye contact, phone etiquette, and maturity. These skills are often not gained from a specific class in school or job training orientation. They are skills that many people pick up along the way as they hold jobs and gain experience. When employers are making decisions about who to hire and who to pass on, they are often looking for soft skills. Having a summer job can help to build up these elusive skills in order to have them at the ready when looking for a full-time job after high school or college.

Broadening Social and Professional Networks: Having a summer job is a great way to meet new friends and make make professional connections. Very often, connections you make in one job can help lead to the next job and other opportunities down the road. It’s always a good idea to keep in touch with coworkers, supervisors, and employers because you never know who may be able to help you out in the future.

Making Money: Although it seems obvious, making money is worth adding to this list. Not only does making money mean you have cash to spend, but working to earn money can teach the the true value of money. Once teenagers work hard to earn their own wages, it becomes motivation to save. Money can later be used to pay for college, a car, or maybe even a fun vacation with family or friends.

Gaining Experience to Add to a Resume: It is not uncommon for adults to be turned down from jobs because they do not have experience or because another candidate had more experience. Being able to show that you have had job responsibilities, whatever they may be, will make future employers see you as someone they can rely on to maintain the duties of the job for which they are hiring. The more experience young adults can add to their resumes, the better!

Finding a job may be easier said than done. Keep in mind that summer employment doesn’t have to be traditional. Many high school students create their own employment by offering skills and talents to their local communities. Doing yard work, babysitting, or tutoring younger children can be considered jobs. Just be sure to stay organized by tracking your time and money and be reliable by following through on your commitments. Also, make sure to take a little time to relax and have fun. It will be September before we know it!

Senior Breakfast with the School Counselors

2015-05-14T09:00:00.000-04:00

April showers may bring flowers, but at Nipmuc, like many area high schools, May also heralds the departure and graduation of our senior students. The month seems a blur of exams, projects, activities, celebrations and emotional goodbyes. In the midst of all of this, the Nipmuc School Counseling Center’s senior parent breakfast, held on May 12, 2015 focused on “Leaving the Nest” or supporting students as they transition to college or other post-secondary options. Senior parents were given the opportunity to discuss issues related to college academics and residential life; changing dynamics in family relationships as children become adults; emotional and physical health; finances; communication, to name just a few of the discussion points. Parents who were sending their first child off to college were able to receive support from parents who had been through this transition with older children.

Regardless of the topical area being discussed, parents were encouraged to keep lines of communication open between children and themselves. As high school students transition to college, parental roles are changing as well; parents are becoming more of a consultant or coach to their young adults. The idea of supporting students to solve their problems on their own and seek appropriate campus resources, as needed, was highlighted. This sends a message of confidence and support to young adults and reinforces the belief that parents trust their ability to handle any challenges that come their way. Parents were encouraged to make agreements with their children about how to stay in touch, financial responsibilities, academics and any other issues related to college life.

The discussion was informative and feedback from parents who attended was very positive. For parents who were not able to attend, I have included links to the handouts from the breakfast as well as to a website entitled College Parent Central which has a number of educational and timely resources for parents of students transitioning to post-secondary education.

http://www.collegeparentcentral.com/

http://www.greatschools.org/college-prep/planning/304-letting-go-new-college-students.gs

http://www.nacacnet.org/studentinfo/articles/Pages/Relationships.aspx

http://www.westga.edu/parents/index_9138.php

Thank you to all who attended the School Counseling Center's senior parent breakfast. We would like to wish all of our graduating seniors the best of luck as they pursue their future endeavors!