School Committee impressed with SHS Guidance Department initiatives
Published on November 19th, 2008
STONEHAM, MA - More than one School Committee wished he could do it over again as Director of Guidance Justine Croteau gave an enlightening presentation on what her department offers to high schoolers who are just getting started on the process of thinking seriously about their future.
At its meeting last Thursday, the School Committee listened as Croteau explained the options available to high school students to help them decide on interests after high school, post secondary education, and financial aid, along with the more traditional ideas associated with guidance from years back of academic motivation and troubleshooting.
"The goal in the guidance department is that every student has a plan by the time they graduate," Croteau said.
And for many of us of a certain age, the internet makes the experience an entirely new one from the one we knew. Students today have immediate access to so much information to help them investigate where their interest and talents could be put to good use, how those interests could result in careers, what type of education would be needed, how to secure that education both financially and geographically, and much more.
Specifically, Croteau pointed out that the Stoneham High School Guidance Department web site has a wealth of information for students and parents to access. She directed the School Committee as well as students and parents to regularly check out the Guidance Department calendar on the web site which contains great information regarding anything that is going on including financial aid work shops which parents are always interested in. She credited Ellen Willard for conscientiously keeping the site up to date and newsworthy.
Other helpful web sites can be accessed through the High School Guidance site for more specific information. One of those sites, in particular, is Mass CIS (Career Information System) which is a career center featuring an interest inventory where students can look at various occupations that match their interests and values.
For Stoneham High School Freshmen and Sophmores, the Guidance Department has other great tools showing students the importance of the courses they take and their grade point average, along with what various schools and colleges require in these areas. If a student has had his heart set on attending Dad's alma mater since age two, for example, the Guidance Department can easily show him if he is on track on getting accepted, or what he must do and how hard he must work, to get there.
In response to committee member Marc Grimaldi's concern about reaching all high school students, Croteau responded that reporting to the Guidance Office is not mandatory, but that passes are sent to all students and guidance counselors seek out students if they have not yet met.
"We do a lot of outreach," Croteau said, adding that philosophically, she did not agree with making it mandatory for students to report to the Guidance Department, but had not found it a problem in getting students to attend either. She further assured that Guidance's focus not want only for students to go on to four-year colleges.
"We reach out to all students."
If a student has a question about a trade that the Guidance department is unfamiliar with, a counselor investigate that trade with the student. The Mass CIS website is helpful in a wide variety of jobs, not just those requiring the traditional college route.
The School Committee suggested, and Croteau agreed, that getting Middle School students involved in the process of beginning to think about their futures and interests was a worthwhile one, and something she plans on talking to Middle School Principal Chris Banos about.
In other School Committee news, Superintendent Dr. Les Olson reported that two additional teachers will likely be added to the School Committee budget request for next year as enrollment projections suggest that both South and Robin Hood Schools will be facing large first grade classes next September. About 50 first graders are expected in each school.
"You don't want (classes of) 25 when students are developing basic literary skills."
Other high enrollments that the budget will have to address are at the Middle School in Social Studies and Science classes.
The School Committee accepted a $1,000 scholarship from the Central School PTO in the name of former Central School Principal Kathleen Windisch which will be provided to a Stoneham High School graduating senior each year.
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