September 2021 Updates From the AHS Counseling Office

We're back!!!!!!!!!

We hope everyone had an outstanding summer full of rest, relaxation, and fun.  For those of you who had jobs over the summer, we hope it was a good experience and you made some good money! We are so happy to be back to school, and we hope you are too.  School is so important to your learning and development as productive and successful adults, but we also hope you are able to enjoy it too!  Maybe you won't enjoy all of it all of the time, but it is important to find those aspects that you do find enjoyable!  Maybe it is a certain class, a teacher you really enjoy learning from, a sport you play, a club you are a member of (or one you are about to join!).  Really anything that will help make your time at Ashland High School special.  


As a reminder: here is information regarding the AHS Counseling staff:

https://www.ashland.k12.ma.us/Page/2626

Cory McGann - Counseling Department Liaison: cmcgann@ashland.k12.ma.us

Beverly Chase - Counselor: bchase@ashland.k12.ma.us

Julie Hamilton - Counselor: jhamilton@ashland.k12.ma.us

Jennifer McMahon - Counselor: jmcmahon@ashland.k12.ma.us
 
Jennifer Pavia-Shiels - School Adjustment Counselor: jpaviashiels@ashland.k12.ma.us
 
Jessica Blank - Counseling Department Secretary: jblank@ashland.k12.ma.us


Each student has a counselor assigned to them when they are first enrolled at Ashland High School, and that counselor stays with them right until graduation!  We are your go-to person if there is anything you need help with relating to academics, college/career, or personal/social issues.  


  • PSAT's will be held this year on Saturday, October 16th at Ashland High School.  The PSAT's are a practice test for the SAT's, which is a standardized test accepted (but often not required) by four-year colleges.  For juniors who take the PSAT, they are automatically entered in the National Merit Scholarship Qualifying Test (NMSQT) scholarship competition.  The PSAT's are strongly recommended for juniors to take, and are optional for sophomores (and not open to freshmen). Registration will open next week and the deadline to register is Friday, October 1st.  The cost is $30 and can be purchased online.  We will share the link in the morning announcements when it is live.

  • For seniors looking to take the SAT, the deadline to register for the October 2nd test is Friday, September 3rd.  If you are intending on applying early to any college that has a November 1st early deadline date, it is recommended that you take the test on October 2nd.  If you are applying regular decision to any schools, the November or December test dates work well.  For juniors, it is recommended that you take the SAT's at the end of this year (either the March, May, or June tests).  Click the below link to see all of the dates, deadlines, and how to register to take the SAT.

  • The forms seniors need for high school materials to be sent to colleges are now available in all seniors' Google Drives (if you do a search for "College Forms" the folder will come right up).  There are four forms that you will need: 
    • Teacher Recommendation form - for any teacher writing you a letter of recommendation
    • Counselor Recommendation form - for your counselor if they are writing you a letter of recommendation
    • Parent Recommendation form - for parents to submit to counselors (optional)
    • Transcript Request form - requesting that your transcripts and materials get sent to the college; this is the most important form.  Nothing gets sent to colleges without this form submitted!
Here's the folder with the forms:

We will review all of this with seniors in your senior seminars!

  • Senior Seminars will be starting right around the week of September 13th.  Your counselor will contact you about what block your seminar group is meeting.  We will review with you the college application process, financial aid process, updating resumes, and work with students who are choosing an alternative plan to college for after you graduate so that you have an excellent plan in place!
  • Freshmen Seminars will be starting right around the week of September 13th as well.  For freshmen seminars we join the freshmen wellness classrooms once a rotation to deliver our (award winning!) counseling curriculum.  For freshmen seminars we get you into your Naviance account, we discuss career planning, high school planning, study skills, and mindfulness.  Important skills to have as you embark on your four-year high school journey!
  • We hope students are settling in to your classes and you are satisfied with your schedule, but please know we do have a 10 day add/drop period in case something needs to be corrected in your schedule.  See your counselor if there are any issues!  The last day of the add/drop period is Wednesday, September 15th.  However, we strongly recommend that changes are made sooner than this!  
  • As we return this year to hopefully a much more "normal" year than last year, we want to make sure students develop excellent habits when it comes to their academics.  Proper study habits can make all the difference both for grades as well as stress and mental health.  Here are some of our favorites!
    • Set a specific time each day for homework and studying.  Have it be a consistent time where your phone and other electronics are off, distractions are minimized, and you are able to focus on the task at hand. You'll get your homework done more efficiently without distractions.
    • Find a location where you will do your best studying.  Bedroom, kitchen table, public library, outside in a park (when the weather is nice) are all good options but only you will know which space really allows you to be comfortable and focused.
    • When starting your homework, start with the material that is the hardest for you.  Don't avoid it!  When you start your homework you have the most energy, so that is when to take on the tough stuff.  Push the easy stuff off until the end.  
    • Be proactive rather than reactive.  If you have a study hall, start working on homework that is due tomorrow, rather than scrambling to get the work done that is due next period.  Try to stay ahead of your work instead of constantly playing catch up.
    • Be in school every day and on time, whenever possible.  The benefits of outstanding attendance is huge and can make a big difference in academic performance. If being in school is impossible due to illness, reach out to your teachers and possibly friends in the class to find out what was missed and what assignments you need to catch up on.  
    • Get a proper amount of sleep.  Eight hours is ideal. Lack of sleep can make it harder to pay attention in class during the day and keeps you from being at your sharpest. 


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