Welcome Mrs. McLaughlin

We would like to congratulate Mrs. Amanda Padden on the birth of her baby girl, Riley June Padden! While Mrs. Padden is out on her maternity leave, we would like to welcome Mrs. Jenna McLaughlin to the MHS Guidance Department. Mrs. McLaughlin is a graduate of Assumption College, and earned her Master's in School Counseling from Northeastern University. Most recently, Mrs. McLaughlin has been working as a Guidance Counselor at Bishop Feehan High School. We are excited to have Mrs. McLaughlin join our department. Please welcome Mrs. McLaughlin to MHS!

Welcome Mrs. DiLuzio!

We are pleased to share that Mrs. Kathy Mahoney had a baby boy on Monday, January 21, 2019! Mrs. Mahoney will be out on maternity leave until May 28, 2019. Mrs. Alyse DiLuzio will be covering Mrs. Mahoney's leave. Mrs. DiLuzio is an experienced guidance counselor, having worked for many years with the students at Framingham High School. Most recently, Mrs. DiLuzio worked at Boston College as a program manager for their City Connects program. Mrs. DiLuzio earned her Bachelor of Arts degree from Providence College, and her Master of Arts in School Counseling from Boston College. 

Please welcome Mrs. DiLuzio to MHS! She can be reached at adiluzio@email.medfield.net. 

Medfield Schools Attend D.A. Morrissey’s Collaborative Problem Solving Seminar

Press Release from the Norfolk County District Attorney's Office

Nationally acclaimed speaker and author Dr. J. Stuart Ablon, a Psychologist at Massachusetts General Hospital, was the guest of Norfolk District Attorney Michael W. Morrissey at an all-day training to help school districts deal with and find durable solutions to the most challenging and disruptive behaviors.

“The year after New York Police began training their school safety officers in Dr. Ablon’s ‘Think:Kids’ Collaborative Problem Solving® model in 2013, there was a 58 percent decrease in arrests made at school and 20 percent decrease in the reports of major crimes,” District Attorney Morrissey said. “Norfolk County schools may have different issues than any metropolis, but the solutions he offers work across demographics.”

More than 110 educators, school nurses, psychologists and adjustment counselors – including 40 school resource officers – took part in the September 20 event including Russ Becker, the adjustment counselor for Blake Middle and Medfield High School.

“Dr. Ablon’s methods are simple, but not easy. They start from the premise, rooted in research, that most kids ‘do well if they can’,” Morrissey said. “When they act out in school, the adults around them can be trained to work with them to identify, then teach the skills they need to succeed.”

The “Think: Kids” method is the opposite of permissiveness, but also avoids ineffective punishment models, Morrissey said. Instead, educators and school resource officers are trained in Collaborative Problem Solving – meaning the students are strategically engaged in coming up with resolutions to the conflict. In doing so, they improve skills that will prevent the problem from recurring.

“The new criminal justice reform act changes the role of school resource officers, removing them from enforcing school rules and discipline,” District Attorney Morrissey said. “Our training today provides information on research-based interventions being used across the country to address challenging student behavior without resorting to police powers or punitive steps.”

The research shows that collaborative problem solving creates more durable solutions to problematic behavior than either permissiveness or punitive action, and the District Attorney also sees benefits for the students as they age into adulthood.

“Helping students overcome poor impulse control, inability to manage irritability or disappointment, or help them learn to manage conflict – all while still in the safe environment of a school – can only help their future,” Morrissey said. “Spend a morning in any district courtroom and you will see petty assaults, property destruction and other crimes that arise from the same skill deficits.”

The conference was held in seminar space donated by the Bank of Canton at its corporate headquarters.

Contributed Photo info: Medfield Middle and High School Adjustment Counselor Russell Becker, left, joined more than 100 of his colleagues from across Norfolk County at the all-day training on effectively dealing with challenging behavior in schools hosted by Norfolk DA Michael W. Morrissey, right

Welcome Ms. St. Jean

We would like to congratulate Mrs. Anne Lodge on the birth of her baby boy, Thomas Edward Lodge! While Mrs. Lodge is out on her maternity leave, we would like to welcome Ms. Julia St. Jean to the MHS Guidance Department. Ms. St. Jean is a graduate of Boston College and was a Mater's Level Research Assistant at Northwestern University. Most recently, Ms. St. Jean has been working as a Guidance Counselor at Bishop Fenwick High School. We are excited to have Ms. St. Jean join our department. Please welcome Ms. St. Jean to MHS!

The Role of the School Counselor

by Amanda Padden

After reading Stephanie Worthley’s recent blog post about National School Counseling week I took a moment to reflect on how much I love my job. As Mrs. Worthley mentioned, at any time of day each counselor might be doing something completely different ranging from scheduling, to supporting a student with a mental health problem, to teaching a vocational unit in a classroom. I love the excitement and variety that comes along with being a school counselor- I never know who will walk through my door next.

When people learn that I’m a school counselor, they often ask if that means I help students apply to college. While this is certainly a part the role, it doesn’t describe the job fully. NPR Ed recently interviewed the School Counselor of the Year, Terri Tchorzynski, about her experience as a school counselor. Tchorzynski broke down the role of a high school school counselor into three different domains: future planning, social/emotional support, and academics (attendance, grades, and scheduling). Tchorzynski notes that one of the most challenging part of the job is to provide students with social and emotional support. There are times when I feel like I want to fix or change something for one of my students and I’m unable to. I am grateful that Medfield has expanded its support services so that students have access to an adjustment counselor and the RISE transition program. Although this part of the job can be challenging, it can also be very rewarding. Any counselor in the district can tell a story about working with a student who has anxiety or depression and watching them make positive progress as a result. It’s stories like these that keep me going and remind me of how valuable and important the work of a school counselor can be.

It’s a privilege to be able to work with students at Medfield every day and there are certainly students here who I can see becoming school counselors in the future!

Article:
http://www.npr.org/sections/ed/2017/01/06/492874846/9-questions-for-the-nations-top-school-counselor

National School Counseling Week

by Stephanie Worthley

February 6-10, 2017

National School Counseling Week is celebrated each February to focus attention on the unique contribution of professional school counselors within U.S. school systems. National School Counseling Week, sponsored by the American School Counselor Association (ASCA), highlights the tremendous impact school counselors can have in helping students achieve school success and plan for their future.

We are fortunate in Medfield to have Guidance Counselors from the elementary level through high school. As a district, we have established a comprehensive school counseling program addressing the academic, career, and personal/social development of students. The Guidance Counselors are in place to work directly with students to offer support to students at various times in their lives. Guidance Counselors work with students to resolve interpersonal problems, behavioral problems, improve organization skills and time management, and at the high school level, advise on career and college planning. In many cases, Guidance Counselors do not work with just students. Guidance Counselors often involve a student's teachers or parents in the counseling process. Guidance Counselors may also refer students to external agencies that are equipped to dealing with a student's concerns.

With that said, the role of the Guidance Counselor is ever-changing and depends on a variety of factors within the school. For example, while I am writing this blog post, Erik could be preparing for the ACT test administration; Anne could be writing a college letter of recommendation; Amanda could be meeting with a parent; Gennie could be working on schedule changes; Russ could be counseling a student; Matt could be teaching "Embracing Diversity"; Tracy could be working with her class on mindfulness strategies; Jen could be attending a cluster meeting; Lindsey could be teaching an Empathy workshop; and Kathy could be facilitating a leadership group. No
day is ever the same.

As the K-12 Content Specialist, I would like to publicly thank the Guidance Counselors for their hard work and dedication to the Medfield Public School community. Medfield is fortunate to have devoted counselors whose primary focus is the support and well-being of our students.

Welcome Mrs. Guellnitz!

We would like to congratulate Mrs. Kathy Mahoney on the birth of her baby girl, Aisling Rae Mahoney! Mrs. Mahoney will be on maternity leave until mid-February. In the meantime, we would like to welcome Mrs. Genevieve Guellnitz to the MHS Guidance Department. Mrs. Guellinitz is an experience guidance counselor, most recently working with the students at Belmont High School. Mrs. Guellnitz earned her Bachelor of Arts degree from Stonehill College, and her Master of Education in School Counseling from Cambridge College. Please join me in welcoming Mrs. Guellnitz to Medfield High School!

Welcome Ms. Warner!

We are pleased to introduce our new full time Guidance Counselor at the Dale St School! We are thrilled that Ms. Lindsey Warner has joined the Guidance Department.  Ms. Warner was a counselor at Saint Columbkille Partnership School in Brighton for five years. She earned both her Bachelor of Arts degree in Psychology and her Master of Arts in School Counseling from Boston College. Ms. Warner loves working with 4th and 5th grade students! We are excited that she is joining us at Dale St. 

Elementary Guidance Program Update

by Kathleen Bockhorst

I am very excited that there will be substantial growth in the  Elementary Guidance Program in Medfield next year.  There will be a full time guidance position at the Dale St. School, a half-time position at the Wheelock School and a half-time position at the Memorial School.  This will be 233% growth in elementary guidance counselor staffing!  During the thirteen years I have been a part of the Medfield Elementary Guidance Program, I have been fortunate to have the support of administrators, teachers and parents in developing and implementing a variety of individual, small group and whole class services geared toward further developing the emotional intelligence of our students.  Included in these services have been programs focused on empowerment,  developing self-calming strategies for managing anxiety & frustration and developing skills to increase impulse control.  It is with much enthusiasm I look forward to the expanded opportunities the increased staffing will allow  for Medfield students to further develop their emotional regulation skills.

#CollegeSigningDay

By Stephanie Worthley

The Reach Higher initiative is the First Lady Michelle Obama's effort to inspire every student in America to take charge of their future by completing their education past high school, whether at a professional training program, a community college, or a four-year college or university. One initiative of the campaign is to highlight College Signing Day. College Signing Day is a chance to rally around students and show them support. May 1st is National College Decision Day, as it is the deadline for students to make deposits to attend the college of their choice. Therefore, on Friday, April 29, 2016, MHS teachers and faculty wore t-shirts from their alma maters or a local college or university. It was great to see so many teachers and staff showing their support for our students!

Welcome Russ Becker!

The Guidance Department has a new addition to the office. Russell Becker has been hired as the Adjustment Counselor for Blake and Medfield High School.  He will be sharing time between the two buildings. Russ earned his undergraduate degree from the College of Charleston, and his masters degree in social work from the University of Pennsylvania. Russ has an exuberant amount of knowledge, energy, and enthusiasm, and is a welcome addition to the department.

Welcome Kathy Mahoney!

I am pleased to introduce your new Guidance Counselor! We are thrilled that Kathy Mahoney has joined the Guidance Department. Mrs. Mahoney comes to us from the Basking Ridge School District in Basking Ridge, NJ. Mrs. Mahoney earned her Bachelor of Arts degree in Psychology from Villanova University, and her Master of Arts in School Counseling from Seton Hall University. I am confident that she will bring a wealth of knowledge, perspective, and enthusiasm to our office.