MASCA Spring

Conference & MA Reach

Higher Convening

Making a Difference
Every Day

April 5, 2016
Holiday Inn, Boxborough, MA

Table of Contents
Spring Conference Program Overview...............................................................
Presidents Welcome.........................................................................................
Preconference Workshop...................................................................................
MASCA Presidents Opening Reception & Award Ceremony...............................
Sponsors...........................................................................................................
Morning Learning Sessions (8:05-9:00)..........................................................
Morning Learning Sessions (9:05-10:00)......................................................
Keynote Session..............................................................................................
Exhibitors........................................................................................................
Graduate Student Poster Presentation Session...........................................
Graduate Student Scholarship Winners...........................................................
Afternoon Learning Sessions (1:45-3:15)....................................................
Afternoon Learning Sessions (3:25-4:15).........................................................
MASCA General Session..................................................................................

Ads

ACT...............................................................................................................Inside Front Cover

American School......................................................................................................................
Cambridge College..................................................................................................................
CareerThesaurus...................................................................................................................

Dean College...........................................................................................................Back Cover

Healthy Futures.............................................................................................Inside Back Cover

Husson University..................................................................................................................
MEFA......................................................................................................................................
Wells Fargo Education Financial Services...............................................................................

Spring Conference Program Overview

Monday, April 4, 2016
2:00 6:00 pm

Registration Open

3:00 5:30 pm

Pre-Conference Workshop
Atty. Gini Tate Legal Issues for School Counselors

5:30 6:00 pm

Grade Level Sharing Sessions

6:00 8:30 pm

MASCA Presidents Reception

Sponsored by Bryant University

Tuesday, April 5, 2016

7:00 9:00 am

Registration

7:00 8:00 am

Breakfast & Exhibits

7:45 am

Presidents Welcome
Ruth Carrigan, MASCA President

8:05 9:00 am

Morning Learning Sessions

9:05 10:00 am Morning Learning Sessions

10:00 10:30 am Exhibits & Graduate Student Poster Sessions
10:30 11:30 am Keynote Address
Keith Westrich Career & College Readiness in MA
Dr. Scott Solberg Helping Students Reach Higher with
Individual Learning Plans
11:30 am 12:30 pm

Awards Luncheon

12:30 1:00 pm Exhibits & Graduate Student Poster Sessions

1:05 2:00 pm

Afternoon Learning Sessions

2:10 3:05 pm

Afternoon Learning Sessions

3:15 4:15 pm

MASCA General Session Meeting

Welcome
Ruth Carrigan, MASCA President 2015-2016
Welcome to the 2016 MASCA Annual Conference and MA Reach
Higher Convening. We have exciting workshops and keynotes
planned as well as a number of great exhibitors. Monday PreConference Workshop, Legal Issues for School Counselors, will be
led by Attorney Gini Tate. A wonderful President's Reception
sponsored by Bryant University featuring MASCA Tributes,
Graduate Student Awards, and Swing Dancing will be held on
Monday evening, and the full conference will begin on Tuesday.
As you can see in our conference program manual, our keynote speakers on
Tuesday include Keith Westrich, Acting Associate Commissioner of the Department
of Elementary and Secondary Educations Center for Vocational, Workforce, and
College Readiness Programs, and Dr. V. Scott Solberg from
Boston University. Dr. Solberg is an expert on Individual Learning Plans and will
share best practices and strategies that school counselors can use to help students
find success. In addition, we have over twenty five Learning Session options that
will provide excellent programming in the Academic, Personal/Social, and College
and Career Readiness domains. Please take time to visit our exhibitors while you
are attending the conference. Their support and sponsorship helps make our
conference possible.
As MASCA President, I want to thank you for your hard work and dedication. When
I think about the work we do, I like to remember the words of Michelle Obama
when she addressed school counselors at the 2014 American School Counselor
Association Conference, With every life you transform, with every life you safe,
you all have an impact that is truly beyond measure. Thank you for making a
difference in the lives of your students every day!

2016 Spring Conference Planning Team

Donna Brown, Executive Director &
Membership
Jennifer Bullard, Conference Booklet
Ashley Caron, Treasurer
Ruth Carrigan, President
Dr. Amy Cook, Programs
Maureen Garrett, Exhibitors & Sponsors
Chuck Gerlach, Printing
Sue Gill, Raffles & Door Prizes

Jennifer Jameson, Registrar

Tina Karidoyanes, Past President
Dr. Megan Krell, Graduate Student
Programs
Carrie Kulick-Clark, Awards
Donna Neary, Hospitality & Awards
Reception
Bill Stiles, Mobile Conference Program &
Social Media & Evaluations

Preconference Workshop
3:00 5:30 pm
Federal Room

Legal Issues for School Counselors

Atty. Gini Tate
*Note: there is no additional charge for attending the workshop. There will be a
small fee to obtain PDPs for this workshop. This process will be facilitated by the
Professional Development Coordinator and information will be provided upon
check-in for this event.

Grade Level Sharing Sessions

5:30 6:00 pm
Courtyard

MASCA Presidents Opening Reception

6:00 8:30 pm
Courtyard
Sponsored by

Thank You to Our

Sponsors!
Platinum
Bryant University
Dean College
Taco Bell Foundation
Gold
The College Board
MEFA
Silver
Discover at Wheaton Summer College for HS Students
Lasell College
New England College
Southern New Hampshire University
Bronze
ACT, Inc.
Admitster
BYU Independent Study
Discover Student Loans
Fuel Education
Kaplan Test Prep
MA Department of Higher Education
Suffolk University
University of Southern Maine

Wells Fargo Bank

Morning Learning Sessions

8:05 9:00 am
Financing a Postsecondary Education: It's More Than Just The FAFSA
Board
Mark Bilotta, Massachusetts Education and Career Opportunities, Inc. (MassEdCO)
Given the cost of college today, students need to select a school for both its
academic and financial fit. This interactive session will help build your confidence
and comfort level dealing with current financial aid strategies and tools. Ultimately,
it promises to help you guide students to make more informed financial decisions.
Bully Proofing Your School: What Works, What Doesn't?
Colonial
William Nicoll, Ph.D., Resilience Counseling & Training Center
This workshop will focus on what the research evidence now indicates regarding
the dynamics of bullying and social aggression as well as why most school antibullying policies and practices are ineffective.
A comprehensive, research based, model for reducing bullying and social
aggression will then be presented. Participants will learn practical strategies for
developing a comprehensive program to 'bully proof" schools and develop: positive
school cultures, supportive parent involvement, positive classroom climates, and
social-emotional competence in students.
The Adolescent Brain: Problem or Opportunity?
Cotillion
Donald Coverdale & Brad Toney, President and Past President of Urban Counselors
This session will provide you with an introduction to the new science of the
adolescent brain (neuroscience) including research, the process of maturation
(what is going on in the brain), "executive skills" (program for helping teens reach
their potential), why teenagers gravitate more toward peer influences and how we
support them through the challenges of these years. The session will conclude
with a Q & A segment.
Early College Co-Advising for High School Completion and College
Access
Deck
Austin Mirasolo, Bunker Hill Community College
Jacquelyn Corbaci, Chelsea High School
With 140+ students participating in our Early College program, it can be
challenging to meet the goals of high school guidance counselors and college

advisors keeping a focus on graduation requirements and college access. We will

share the co-advising model used by Chelsea High School and Bunker Hill
Community College.

10 Strategies for Integrating Career Development Education

Directors
You Can Use Immediately!
Beth A. Hennessy, Career and Community Coordinator, Nipmuc Regional HS
Helen O'Donnell, Ed.D., MA Model Institute Trainer; Fitchburg State University
Career Development activities are the responsibility of all educational
stakeholders. Use these easy to access tools, resources and activities to assist
with CDE and citizenship activities in your school community. Be the counseloreducator that drives positive measurable outcomes in your school.
Test Experts Review the New SAT, PSAT, & Enhanced ACT
Federal
Christopher Collette, Sherry Brass & Christine Lilley, Kaplan Test Prep
Were your students prepared for CollegeBoard's new SAT in March? Kaplan experts
will review the first administration of the new SAT, plus the PSAT/enhanced ACT.
Topics will include test anatomy, analyzing SAT/PSAT scores, student/counselor
feedback, "Coalition for Access, Affordability & Success", and planning for the
classes of 2017 & 2018!
Steps to Success: An Advising Based Model
Seminar
Will English & Cathy AuGuste, Steps to Success
Steps to Success (STS) serves students living in Brooklines Housing system.
Starting in grade 4 and continuing through high school STS provides individual
advising to students. While guidance counselors carry 200+ students, Steps
advisors carry a caseload of 50-65. This advising model has proven to be
extremely successful.

Morning Learning Sessions

9:05 10:00 am
Implementing an Evidence-based Suicide Prevention Program:
Colonial
The SOS Signs of Suicide Prevention Program
Meghan Diamon & Laura Steele
This session will explore how to keep your kids safe in and outside of school. We
will review common risk factors and warning signs of depression/suicide and action
steps to take when concerned about a student. We will also review an evidencebased curriculum that teaches youth to recognize and respond to signs of
depression or suicide in themselves or in a friend, encouraging student-adult
communication. Finally, we will discuss the Massachusetts state mandate for
suicide prevention training in schools and how this evidence-based program can be
used to complete requirements.
School Counselor Roles in Promoting Successful Postsecondary
Transitions:
Cotillion
Conclusions from a 4-year Longitudinal Study in Massachusetts
Richard Lapan, UMass Amherst & Tim Poynton, UMass Boston
Learn findings and implications for comprehensive school counseling practice from
a recently completed 4-year longitudinal study of adolescents in Massachusetts
who transitioned into postsecondary education. Results can be used to increase
and enhance college and career readiness collaborations between school
counselors, students, families, K12 educators, and policy makers.

Exploring Career Paths for Students with Autism: How Can School
Counselors
Board
Advocate and Enhance Vocational Attainment
Laurie Dickstein-Fischer, PhD, LMHC, NCC, Salem State University
Students with Autism encounter a variety of barriers that impede their career
development and college access. Research is lacking on how school counselors can
advocate for these students regarding career and post-secondary opportunities.
Discover new career theories and interventions that are effective in promoting
diverse opportunities for students with Autism.
Reaching Higher: From the Ground Up
Directors
Katie Gray, Unique Potential Consulting

This session will focus on how the Reach Higher Initiative has served as a catalyst
for school counselors to be able to introduce new CCR initiatives. Participants will
hear about the nuts and bolts of what it takes to get a variety of different
interventions up and running. Come and get some ideas about what you can do at
the elementary, middle and high school levels to promote a CCR culture in your
school. Leave with an idea for a "pledge" of your own.

Get Excited about College Applications! The GEAR UP/MCAC Model

Deck
Robert Dais, GEAR UP MA Statewide Director MA Dept. of Higher Education
Krista Cosco, GEAR UP Scholarship and School Initiatives Coordinator MA Dept. of
Higher Education
Christopher Wystepek, Director of Undergraduate Admissions, Western New
England University
Vivian Irrgang, GEAR UP Program Director, Lawrence High School, MA Dept. of
Higher Education
Elizabethe Plante, Education Advisor, Talent Search, South High School, MA EdCo
Bob Bardwell, School Counselor and Director of School Counseling, Monson
Innovation High School
Learn how Massachusetts College Application Celebration (MCAC) participants
energized the application process and had fun! Join us for this interactive session
and see how 20 schools gave thousands of seniors the opportunity to submit 5,000
applications and how you can too!
State University Admissions Update
Federal
Mary Dunn, Salem State University
Sean Ganas, Fitchburg State University
Joseph DiCarlo, Worcester State University
Presented and facilitated by the admission deans and directors of the nine state
universities, this session will include topics on college readiness, the state
admission guidelines and standards, the admission process at a state university,
and campus updates. Aimed to be interactive, questions from the audience will be
welcomed.
Supporting College and Career Readiness: Promising Practices in Three
Districts
Seminar
Chad d'Entremont, Rennie Center for Education Research & Policy
Scott Solberg, Boston University
LaVonia Montoute, Rennie Center for Education Research & Policy
The Massachusetts Institute for College and Career Readiness (MICCR) promotes
the use of education research in the design, implementation, and evaluation of
programs to enhance students pathways to postsecondary opportunities. Based
on three district models in the MICCR, this session will highlight promising
practices in individualized learning plans, academic support, and early college
design.

Keynote Session
10:30 11:30 am
Parade Room/Exhibit Hall
Keith Westrich
Acting Associate Commissioner of the Department of
Elementary and Secondary Educations Center for
Vocational, Workforce, and College Readiness Programs
As Acting Associate Commissioner, Mr. Westrich manages
and oversees Career/Vocational Technical Education, College
and Career Readiness and Adult Community Learning Services, all organized
around giving students the knowledge, skills and experiences necessary for future
success.
Most recently, Keith led the Departments College and Career Readiness unit to
advance the statewide efforts to help prepare all students for "Success After High
School."
Previously, Mr. Westrich was responsible for the Departments Connecting Activities
initiative providing resources and technical assistance to the 16 local Workforce
Investment Boards and local School to Career Partnerships supporting the
development and implementation of the states work-based learning agenda for
districts/schools participating in school to career programs across the
Commonwealth.

V. Scott Solberg, PhD

Associate Dean of Research at Boston University
Dr. Solberg is an active member in the Society for Vocational
Psychology, a Section in Division 17 (Society for Counseling
Psychology) of the American Psychological Association. He is
also a member of International Association for Educational and
Vocational Guidance, National Career Development Association
and currently serves on the editorial boards of the Career Development Quarterly
and an ad-hoc reviewer for the Journal of Vocational Behavior and Journal of Career
Development. Dr. Solberg has published more than 40 professional articles,
chapters, monographs and technical reports that focus on career development for
youth including how to promote optimal youth development and college and career
readiness through the use of individualized learning plans and resiliency-based
curriculum. He has served in leadership roles with the Milwaukee Partnership
Academy and Milwaukee Public Schools Small Schools reform movement and is
author of Success Highways, a proven resiliency development curriculum for
middle and high school students.

Please visit our Exhibitors!

ACT, Inc.

MA Dept. Higher Education

Admitster

MASFAA

Bay State College

MEFA

Bryant University

Merrimack College

BYU Independent Study

New England College

Celtic Art Store

Salve Regina University

The College Board

Screening for Mental Health

Dean College

Southern New Hampshire

Discover at Wheaton Summer

University

College for HS Students

Suffolk University

Discover Student Loans

Summit Educational Group

Fuel Education

Taco Bell Foundation

Future Ready MA

UMass Summer Programs

Ithaca College

Universal Technical Institute

Kaplan Test Prep

University of Southern Maine

Lasell College

Walden Center for Education

MA Dept. Elementary &

and

Secondary
Education

Research
Wells Fargo Bank

Graduate Student Poster Presentation

Session
10:00 10:30 am & 12:30 1:00 pm
Parade Room/Exhibit Hall
Increasing Scholarship Application Rates
Jeremie Bateman, University of Massachusetts Boston
This MARC Jr. project will identify the perceived barriers on the part of students and seeks
to ameliorate those challenges to increase the number of scholarships applied for as a
class cohort for the Class of 2016 and as individuals, as compared to the Class of 2015.
The specific interventions utilized will be determined by an initial survey. Data will be
collected over time, identifying areas of need that affect student progress. This pre and
post intervention analysis will demonstrate the use of measureable data and the overall
effectiveness of this intervention.
Self-Regulation development in a girls group
Vanessa Brea, University of Massachusetts Boston
This poster will focus on a self-regulation curriculum focusing on 7th and 8th grade girls.
The girls group will teach self-regulation skills by using self-regulation goals and using a
curriculum to teach these skills. This intervention is being piloted at the McCormack
Middle School, Boston. The goal for this program is to give 12 girls, academically and
socially challenged seventh and eighth grade girls, abroad perspective about learning and
using techniques relating to self-regulation. Data will be collected by using a pre and posttest questionnaire to see how their responses are changed, and conduct and grades will
also be looked at. The goal is to increase self-esteem, confidence, personal development,
interpersonal relations, impulse control, and mood swings. In the form of a MARC Jr, I will
compare the students pre and post score outcomes to the aforementioned goals and to
test out the programs effectiveness.
A Call for Practical Idealism: Social Entrepreneurship as a Resource for
Secondary Education
Eliza Chappell, University of Massachusetts Amherst
Social Entrepreneurship is a collaborative perspective that combines management and
capacity-building strategies with creative and sustainable use of existing resources to
solve social problems. Instead of depending on outside funding, social entrepreneurship
aims to develop self-sustaining solutions from innovations and values within a community.
This presentation will combine my education at UMass with training at the Mason Center
for Social Entrepreneurship to explore ways in which incorporating social entrepreneurship
concepts can be a resource for strengthening schools as organizations, as well as
contributing to a meaningful educational experience for students and equip students to
enter society confident in creative problem-solving.
Advantages and Disadvantages of High School AP Courses
Kerrie Drushella
, University of Massachusetts Boston

Given the rising enrollment in the high school AP program, this presentation will cover
research on both the advantages and disadvantages of students taking AP courses. It will
also cover case studies of how different schools across the country have handled the
issue.

Will You Remind Me Again?

Janake Christensen, University of Massachusetts Boston
"Be here. Be responsible. Be respectful," is the Dolphin Way at DYRHS. Past experience
and research consistently support the school community's belief that students who are
punctual with good attendance have higher achievement in high school. REMIND is a
communication tool designed to communicate with students/their parents through groupbased text or email to remind students to be present and punctual. Traditionally used by
teaching staff to connect about assignments and important events, this expanded use of
REMIND evaluates its effectiveness with impacting attendance. It is an initiative striving to
meet students' and parents' needs on the devices close at hand!
"You just can't sit with us" How to intervene with mean girls.
Brittany Dwyer, University of Massachusetts Boston
Bullying amongst high school females is at an all time high. From jealousy to betrayal the
need to be on the top is the ultimate goal for a teenage girl. Through Snap chat wars,
Instagram fights, and Facebooking, females are tormenting one another in any way they
can. How do staff members intervene when girls just can't seem to get along? This
presentation high lights the need for the implementation of bullying prevention programs
targeted to high school females. Themes such as modeling, peer mentoring and team
building are all explored.
Helping Students with the Transition from Middle School to High School
Mary Eugenia Espinosa, University of Massachusetts Boston
The transition from middle school to high school is a critical time for students as it is the
beginning of a four year journey. With this transition comes excitement, as well as anxiety,
frustration, and possibly isolation. The incoming freshmen at Quincy High School face
learning the logistics of the building, getting acclimated to a new schedule, and being held
accountable for their grades, actions, and attendance. For my MARC Jr. I plan on co-leading
an organizational group for freshmen who are struggling with transition into high school.
There will be a pre-test, an intervention, and a post-test to see if the intervention was
successful. The intervention will consist of strategies to assist the students with their
organization and time management skills, and a better understanding of the tools needed
to be successful in high school.
Bridging the Gaps in the Individualized Education Process
Nicole Frazier, University of Massachusetts Boston
As the number of students receiving special education services continues to rise so does
the need for a connection between educators and families/students in the Individual
Education Plan process. School Counselors role in the school allows them the unique ability
to facilitate collaboration with all stakeholders in the process. This presentation will
demonstrate ways to ease tension and confusing in the IEP process by providing: direct
services to students for individual counseling aimed to address academic, social, and
emotional concerns; home-school collaboration; a restructured the Individualized
Education Plan process to fit a strengths based approach.

Protective Factors Index

Amy Gallanter, University of Massachusetts Amherst
Protective factors index instrument that can be used as part of a report card for school
counselors to give to teachers to fill out about students. The index asks teachers to rate
where students are on constructs of motivation, self-knowledge, self-direction, and
relationships. The index focuses on observable behavior, as that will be used to fill out the
information on the rubric.
Can 9th grade attendance rates improve?
Michelle Gill, University of Massachusetts Boston
Excel High School strives to achieve a 95% attendance rate for all students. Attending
school on a daily basis is essential for students to receive enough instructional time in
order to meet the requirements for graduation. At Excel we have found that our 9th grade
students often have the lowest attendance rates. In order to try and increase the
attendance rate of 9th graders I will work with the English teacher on a four-week lesson
plan about attendance. Before the first lesson students will take a pre-intervention survey
that will assess their feelings on the importance of attending school. Each week we will
introduce a new lesson regarding attendance and have a weekly check in. After the four
weeks we will give a posttest to see if feelings about attending school have changed. I will
also use data from before the intervention and after to see if attendance rates have
improved.
Individualized Interventions within the High School Academic Curriculum
Sarah Guselli, University of Massachusetts Boston
No two individuals in this world are exactly alike. No two individuals function the same
way, think the same way, or learn the same way. Considering this, why are public school
students expected to learn and succeed in mainstream, traditional high school academic
settings? This poster will analyze individualized interventions for high school students. It
will examine evening classes, online classes, specialized day programs, and other specific
academic programs that help students access curriculums in nontraditional ways. The
benefits and disadvantages of alternative approaches are analyzed as well.
Positive Mental Health in School Settings
Brittany Hanna, Assumption College
Mental health is part of overall health and therefore has a tremendous impact on our
students and their learning. The main focus of this poster presentation will be to provide
information and resources on creating and sustaining an environment of positive mental
health at all levels of a school system. Topics included will be self-care and stressmanagement, mindfulness, healthy coping skills, a healthy work-life balance, and in
addition to this - strategies for effectively communicating with school staff to support them
in promoting this environment.
Implementing Adventure Based Counseling in Schools
Michael Hillman, Fitchburg State University
My poster is going to highlight how the school counselor can team up with the physical
education teacher in providing adventure based counseling. The will be general

background information provide as well as strategies and tips for implementing a program
at your school. There will also be connection to state and national benchmarks and
standards.
Academic Impact Model, A.I.M. for Success!
Peter Robert Legere, University of Massachusetts Boston
A.I.M. for success is a strategy for designing and implementing an integrated model
incorporating (1) School-Wide Positive Behavior Intervention and Supports (SW-PBIS), (2)
Character Education, and (3) Abraham Maslows psychological theoretical frameworks of
hierarchy of needs in a comprehensive school counseling program. Accountability is linked
to data-driven problem solving and support of school improvement. Schools' mission and
vision statements are considered along with Adequate Yearly Progress (AYP) reports. The
data measure of A.I.M. aligns with The ASCA National Model and MASCA frameworks for
evaluating ethical and foundation best practices supporting systemic change and holding
stakeholders responsible.
Breaking the Language Barrier
Jennifer Mathews, Bridgewater State University
School Counselors who are fluent in Spanish are needed to close the multicultural gap. Our
nation currently serves 5 million ELL students, with nearly 85% of them being native
Spanish speakers (NCELALIEP, 2010). Culturally responsive school counseling programs
are critical because Hispanics/Latinos traditionally have not performed as well in school as
their White peers (Bernal & Knight, 1997). Benefits of having a Spanish speaking School
Counselor will be discussed. Additionally, strategies for schools and suggestions for School
Counselors to inform intentional programming will be presented. First hand experiences
will also be introduced.
1st Generation College Bound Students with Non-English Speaking Parents: A
How-To Guide to the College Application Process in Various Foreign Languages
Meaghan Monahan & Dimitri Kamberidis, University of Massachusetts, Boston
In order to accommodate non-English speaking parents and guardians of 1st generation
students who are unfamiliar with the college application and financial aid process, a
curriculum was created in a step-by-step format, in various foreign languages. The
curriculum includes a how-to guide to the Common Application, College Board Website,
FASFA and CSS Profile, differences between the SAT and ACT, and factors in the college
choice process such as public and private schools, location, and size of school. Finally,
information on the components that are required for a college application is provided,
including transcripts, teacher and counselor recommendations, and college essays.
Digital Footprint: Is anyone safe?
Jessica Montefusco, Westfield State University
As counselors, we are mentors, leaders and above all advocates for our students. We need
to make our students fully aware of the benefits and dangers about utilizing social media,
uploading photos, and putting their lives on the internet for all to see. With a collaboration
of videos, research, lesson plans and handouts; counselors will become fully aware of how

a student's digital footprints can change their future and what tools they will need to assist
in this pandemic.
Responding to Student Needs in Urban Areas Facing Community Violence
Sarah Ross, University of Massachusetts Boston
This poster presentation will examine the role of school counselors in responding to
student needs in urban communities where violence is pervasive. The presentation will
examine best practice and current research for how school counselors can effectively
support student needs when violence is present in the community.

Summer Melt
Nicole Moore, University of Massachusetts Amherst
The main focus of my poster will be to inform conference attendees about the
phenomenon known as "Summer Melt" and various interventions associated with it. This is
a major issue that is relevant to the work of school counselors because a large percentage
of college-intending students (in particular, students from low-income households) are
failing to enroll in college in the fall after high school graduation. This work is worth being
educated about because research is showing that various interventions can make a
remarkable impact on alleviating this phenomenon and increasing college enrollment.
Do students new to a school feel more connected when they participate in an
eight session new student peer leader group?
Jessica Ormsby, University of Massachusetts Boston
High school students who are new to a school often have trouble feeling connected to the
school. Research has shown that the more students feel connected to their school, the
better their academic and social-emotional outcomes. One solution is to hold a new
student peer leader group that can empower students to become more connected to their
school. Pre-interventions and post-interventions will be introduced to the students in the
group and measurable outcomes will be taken. In the form of a Marc Jr., I will be able to
compare and contrast outcomes to see if the group intervention was successful.
Beautify Your Stress!
Tinamarie Piscatelli, University of Massachusetts Boston
Stress is ugly. Caught between childhood and adulthood, many students in late
adolescence face grown-up problems and stressors. Socioeconomic status, peer
pressure, relationships, family conflict, and parental stress are just a few. These stressors,
and others, can lead to depression or other harmful coping mechanisms such as substance
abuse or suicide. Coloring can help. Really! Often associated with childhood, which is
usually a less stressful time in a persons life, coloring allows a person to make beautiful
something that feels so ugly. Beautify Your Stress! is an initiative designed to help
students conquer grown-up stress with coloring. Feeling stressed? Beautify!
Teen Dating Violence: Perceptions and Practices of School Counselors, the need
for education, policy, and programs, and Implications for School Counselors
Ryan Sacco, Salem State University
This poster will highlight research surrounding School Counselors' perceptions and
practices of teen dating violence, school policy, education, program offerings, and
implications for future practice. Focus will be put on the lack of awareness, and lack of
formal training that school counselors have in managing teen dating abuse situations, and
the lack of awareness of schools' polices (if they have one) on this topic. Strategies and
programs Melrose High School has instituted to curb teen dating violence, and my current
work with the Expect Respect curriculum in a boys counseling group will also be
highlighted.

The impact of a uniform concussion protocol on students

Julia Seymour, University of Massachusetts Boston
Concussions are becoming an increasingly significant issue within the high school setting.
As the number of diagnosed concussions is on the rise, more students, parents, teachers,
and counselors are coming into contact with this medical issue and the complications that
accompany it. One way to help students and schools better handle concussions is to
design and implement a clear and comprehensive concussion protocol that can be
followed by all involved parties uniformly. Pre-interventions and post-interventions will be
used and outcomes measured. A MARC Jr. on this topic will allow me to compare and
contrast the effectiveness of such a measure on the Wakefield school community.
The impact of stress management and coping strategies on test anxiety
Sarah Stevenson, University of Massachusetts Boston
Over the past decade there has been an increased emphasis on high stakes testing for
high school students. Students often feel extreme pressure to do well on tests that can
seemingly decide their future. For many students, these tests are a source of anxiety and
stress and, as a result, struggle to perform to the best of their ability. The educational
forecast suggests that high stakes testing is here to stay, which means that educators are
in a position to support students by providing strategies that will help students to cope
better and prevent testing anxiety. This session will explore successful strategies to reduce
the impact of stress and anxiety on students during high staked testing.
Many students at the Community Charter School of Cambridge, a high performing charter
school, feel the weight of high stakes tests throughout the year. By meeting with our
students, and adopting an RTI model, we will be able to meet their needs, both individually
and in group settings, to provide a test anxiety curriculum. Students will have the
necessary tools to successfully take tests while staying healthy. Pre-interventions and post
interventions will be introduced to these students in order to measure success of the
intervention.
Google Classroom: How School Counselors can use it
Elizabeth Vassallo, University of Massachusetts Amherst
Google Classroom is a very effective way to get your caseload of students on the same
communication network- students can submit documents, counselors can send updates
straight to students' phones with deadlines and also share resources. Learn how to set up
a Google Classroom and about some of the benefits as a counselor. I will also talk about
the limitations and some challenges counselors face with using this type of technology.

Congratulations!
Graduate Student Scholarship Winners
Peter Legere, University of Massachusetts Boston
Janake Christensen, University of Massachusetts Boston
Jennifer Mathews, Bridgewater State University
Elizabeth Vassallo, University of Massachusetts Amherst
The Massachusetts School Counselors Association offered a $100.00 stipends to
four (4) selected graduate students. Stipends are provided to be used to
supplement costs of conference registration or lodging to provide additional
financial support to encourage graduate student involvement in the MASCA
Conference. The scholarship opportunity was available to any student matriculated
in a School Counseling program. Students needed to prepare an essay that
summarized how this professional development opportunity would inform their
training as a School Counselor. The winners received their stipend and certificate of
recognition at the Presidents Reception.

Afternoon Learning Sessions

1:05 2:00 pm
Accessing Workforce Development Resources to Bolster Career
Board
Development Education
Donna DuSell, Franklin Hampshire Regional Employment Board
Shannon N. Doran, College Internship Program
In order to provide our students with comprehensive and effective career
development education, it is recommended that school counselors collaborate with
community organizations as well as state and federal agencies. If you are not
already accessing state and federally funded staff and resources, which are
dedicated to supporting the work readiness of adolescents and young adults in
your area, this workshop will orient you to: YouthWorks, Connecting Activities, the
Massachusetts School to Career Program, and Workforce Investment Act (WIA)
Youth Councils. It will also clarify how to access these resources. Additionally, there
will be a forum on best practices for utilizing the resources, which are available
through the Massachusetts Workforce Investment System.
Increasing Opportunity: College Lists for First-Generation, Low-Income
Students Colonial
Ann Helfman & Cinque Dunham-Carson, Bottom Line
According to the Pell Institute, only 1 in 10 low-income, first-generation college
students will complete a bachelors degree in 6 years. Counselors can positively
impact this growing student population by supporting students in creating college
lists that balance fit, match, and affordability.
Emotional Literacy: Application in Classroom Management and Practice
Cotillion
Mary Ni & Carl Johnson, Salem State University
Emotional literacy involves understanding and using our emotions to the benefit of
all. Emotionally literate people deal more successfully with stress, better handle
conflict, and have higher life/work satisfaction. This session addresses how the
teaching and application of emotional literacy skills enhances classroom
management and practice.
Best Practices for Exploring Self-Identity and Future Careers in Group
Settings
Deck
Jennifer Applebaum & Anne Berrigan, Commonwealth Corporation

This session will review key methods to effectively help high school students
explore interests, strengths, work styles and career plans in classroom settings.
Participants will also have the opportunity to review effective materials and
resources for moving beyond interest assessments to reflection, application, and
planning for careers in a group.

Elementary Students Reach Higher

Directors
Sandra Collins, Springfield Public Schools
Attendees will learn how an elementary school program is teaching K-5 students to
reach higher towards college and career readiness in Springfield. Handouts,
sample lesson plans and resources will be provided to all attendees.
The Redesigned PSAT/NMSQT and SAT: Using the College Board and Khan
Academy Federal
Resources for Students and Educators
Jenny Caccavale, The College Board
The new PSAT/NMSQT and SAT launched in the fall of the 2015-16 school year, and
this presentation will focus on what counselors need to know regarding these new
assessments. This workshop will cover how to use your schools PSAT/NMSQT and
SAT test results to inform instruction and also cover the resources that are
available for students. Counselors will leave this presentation with strategies to
help their students and faculty members utilize the PSAT/NMSQT resources and the
latest information on the SAT practice and skill development available through
Khan Academy.
An Introduction to College and Career Readiness Data
Seminar
Nyal Fuentes, Dept. of Elementary and Secondary Education
This session will provide an overview of college and career readiness data tools,
including the Early Warning Indicator System (EWIS) and Postsecondary Outcomes
reports in Edwin Analytics, the Success After High School DART, and Profiles.

Afternoon Learning Sessions

2:10 3:05 pm
Learning How to Think: A Metacognitive Skill Building Curriculum for
Board
Middle School Students
Irene Duros, Ed.D. & Jessica Goldberg, M.Ed., Masconomet Regional School District
Do your students have trouble with organization, remembering information, notetaking, and test-taking? This session will introduce you to the Learning How to
Think school counseling program which uses classroom content to teach
metacognitive strategies that promote flexible thinking and enhance executive
functioning skills in middle school students.
Conducting Hope-Focused Group Counseling with LGBTQ Youth
Colonial
Catherine Griffith, UMass Amherst
The It Gets Better Project has had a profound impact on the lives of LGBTQ youth.
Given the evidence-based success of this movement, the goal of this session is
twofold: (1) to review the impact of building hopefulness, and (2) to provide
attendees with skills to conduct their own hope-focused group counseling.
Connecting Undocumented students to College Access Opportunities
Cotillion
Andrea Navarro & Jodi Then, American Student Assistance
Participants will learn how to differentiate between immigration statuses (including
D.A.C.A.) and their impact on Financial Aid eligibility. We will explore how
undocumented students can effectively enter post-secondary education without
wasting time or money by identifying state-specific public and private university
policies, advocacy groups, private scholarships, and joint admissions programs.
College & Career Readiness Contextual Learning Initiatives
Deck
Lisa Fedy & Dale Fornoff, Dennis-Yarmouth Regional High School
This session will focus on expanding College and Career Readiness initiatives
school wide. Highlights will include exploring interdisciplinary programming
throughout the high school curriculum while collaborating with academic
departments. Ideas on start up, implementation and evaluation will be discussed.

WATCH D.O.G.S. (Dads Of Great Students)

Directors
Eric Snow, WATCH D.O.G.S. (Dads Of Great Students)
This program is a one of a kind school-based initiative building on the personal
capital already availablefathers and father-figures of students. Every attendee
will walk away with the 7 Steps to Success for launching the WATCH D.O.G.S.
program in their school(s) to support education and school safety through positive
male role models. Women and Men should attend this workshop.
Reaching Higher Building a Successful College Bound Culture in Urban
School
Federal
Allison Cumming-McCann, Springfield College
Deidre Cuffee-Gray, Springfield Renaissance School
Kayleigh MacFarlane, Springfield College/Springfield Renaissance School
Springfield Renaissance School has made headlines with 100% college admissions
since 2010. Explore the structures and rituals designed to support its 1st
Generation and underrepresented students with college planning. Time will be
spent exploring the barriers and critical next steps needed to increase access and
ensure matriculation for all students.
Individual Learning Plans and Labor Market Information
Seminar
Lisa Harney and Shailah Stewart, Mass Department of Elementary and Secondary
Education
To prepare students for Success after High School, the Individual Learning Plan
(ILP) maps the students' preparation for post-secondary choice and success. Labor
Market Information (LMI) can influence career interests and support a student's
post-secondary path. ESE will offer an overview about structures supporting ILPs
and LMI research, plus effective practices for their use.
Calling All Retirees and Wannabees: Staying Connected with Technology
Terrace
Helen O'Donnell, Ed.D., MASCA, VP Retirees
Maxine Rawlins, Ph.D., Professor, Department of Counselor Education, Bridgewater
State University
Joe Fitzgerald, Ed.D., MASCA, former VP Retirees and Technology Trainer
Join us and have FUN getting and staying connected. Since this will be a handson workshop, BYOD (bring your own devices) or partner with a colleague to explore
technology resources. Don't forget to also bring your "wish list", apps & online
favorites, experiences, and questions. All are welcome!

MASCA General Session

3:15 4:15 pm
Federal

All MASCA members are welcomed to join in this general session

meeting. Note, to vote, meeting attendees must have active
membership as a professional member or retiree with MASCA in good
standing.

Thank you for your participation in the 2016

MASCA Conference
~Safe Travels Home~

Notes