MASSACHUSETTS SCHOOL COUNSELORS ASSOCIATION SEPTEMBER 2012VOL. 49, NO. 1

MASCA

A Welcome from the PresidentBy JENNIFER LISK, MASCA President

Race to the Top Fall Summit • October 22, 2012MASCA Fall Conference • October 23, 2012Go to www.masca.org for information and registration.

Welcome back! As you read this, Ihope you are embracing the enthu-

siasm that comes with the beginning of theschool year, a new group of students, andif you are like me, new school supplies.

As president of MASCA this year, Iam excited to work with all of you as wetackle new challenges and new opportu-nities. We have done tremendous workin this state over the past couple of years,and we are building strong partnershipsto continue that work to help all students.I am grateful to the leaders who have comebefore me who have pioneered these ef -forts and continue to work on initiatives.

I believe it is important to acknowl-edge the accomplishments and ground-work that has been laid while we moveforward and change as an organizationand a profession. To do this effectively,

we need to strike that balance of neverforgetting where we have come from,but always being open to new ideas.Graduate students have as much to offeras do practicing school counselors as doveterans of our profession, and I wel-

come all of you to get involved or con-tact me with any ideas or questions.

There are openings on the GoverningBoard that we are actively looking to fill.Positions include VP Middle/Jr. High,VP Administrators, VP Counselor Edu-cators, and Graduate Student Liaison. Ifyou or any colleagues are interested inlearning more about taking on one ofthese positions, please contact me.

In addition to the MASCA websiteand the Counselor’s Notebook, we willbe using social media to share items ofinterest to school counselors and gatherfeedback. MASCA’s Facebook page canbe found at www.facebook.com/MassSchoolCounselor, and I invite you to“like” MASCA.

Best wishes for a productive and ful-filling school year. ■

JENNIFER LISK

Task Force Calls for Better Integration of Career ReadinessMALDEN, Department of Elementaryand Secondary Education, June 2012 —A task force of the state’s leading educa-tors, employers, and academic and laborexperts has called for a renewed focus oncareer readiness to better prepare studentsfor success beyond high school.

To achieve this goal, the Board of Ele-mentary and Secondary Education’s taskforce on Integrating College and CareerReadiness (ICCR) is recommending thecreation of a comprehensive statewidesystem comprised of structured, aligned,and strategic partnerships to support stu-dents’ “fluid movement” through elemen-

tary, secondary, and higher education intosuccessful careers.

“The failure to integrate college andcareer readiness in our public schools isan immediate and growing crisis,” saidBoard member and Year Up founder andCEO Gerald Chertavian, who chaired thetask force.

“Too often, teens can’t find work, col-lege students are underemployed, andbusinesses can’t find individuals withthe training, professionalism, and socialskills necessary to fill entry-level posi-tions. It’s imperative that we act now toexpand opportunities for all students to

lead successful lives and to help Massa-chusetts’s businesses grow.”

Elementary and Secondary EducationCommissioner Mitchell Chester says: “Weneed to do a better job of introducingstudents to multiple success pathwaysby exposing them—in middle and highschool—to career options and work-based learning experiences, and by moretightly linking academic achievement withcollege and career readiness standards.”

The task force’s report is available onthe Department’s website at http://www.doe.mass.edu/boe/docs/2012-06/item1_report.pdf. ■

2 COUNSELOR’S NOTEBOOK

2012 – 2013 OFFICERS

PRESIDENTJENNIFER LISKMedway High School, Medway, MA 02053Tel. 508-533-3228 x5107 • Fax 508-533-3246E-mail: president@masca.org

PAST PRESIDENTMICHELLE BURKEBeverly High School100 Sohier RoadBeverly, MA 01915-2654Tel. 978-921-6132 x11107E-mail: mburke@beverlyschools.org

PRESIDENT-ELECTTHERESA A. COOGAN, Ph.D.Bridgewater State UniversityBridgewater, MA 02325Tel. 508-531-2640E-mail: theresa.coogan@bridgew.edu

VICE PRESIDENT ELEMENTARYJACQUELINE BROWNEast Somerville Community School42 Prescott Street, Somerville, MA 02143Tel. 617-625-6600 x6517 • Fax 617-591-7906E-mail: jbrown@k12.somerville.ma.us

VICE PRESIDENT MIDDLE / JUNIOR HIGHTBA

VICE PRESIDENT SECONDARYCARRIE KULICK-CLARKBraintree High School128 Town Street, Braintree, MA 02184Tel. 781-848-4000 ext 2273 • Fax 781-848-7799E-mail: jd02375@aol.com

VICE PRESIDENT POSTSECONDARYJOHN MARCUSDean College99 Main Street, Franklin, MA 02038Tel. 508-541-1509 • Fax 508-541-8726E-mail: jmarcus@dean.edu

VICE PRESIDENT ADMINISTRATORSTBA

VICE PRESIDENT COUNSELOR EDUCATORSTBA

VICE PRESIDENT RETIREESJOSEPH D. FITZGERALD, Ed.D.5 Progress Street, Weymouth, MA 02188Tel. 781-264-3426E-mail: jdfitz02188@comcast.net

EXECUTIVE DIRECTORDONNA M. BROWNAdjunct Professor, UMass BostonP.O. Box 366, 779 Center StreetBryantville, MA 02327Tel. 781-293-2835E-mail: executivedirector@masca.org

TREASURERASHLEY CARON25 Belmont Ave., Stoughton, MA 02072Tel. 508-212-0676E-mail: ashcicero@hotmail.com

SECRETARYJENNIFER JUST McGUIREUpper Cape Cod Regional Technical School220 Sandwich Road, Bourne, MA 02532Tel. 508-759-7711 x247 • Fax 508-759-5455E-mail: jmcguire@uppercapetech.org

MEMBERSHIP COORDINATORDEBORAH CLEMENCEP.O. Box 805, East Dennis, MA 02641E-mail: membership@masca.org

COUNSELOR’S NOTEBOOK EDITORSALLY ANN CONNOLLY19 Bayberry Road, Danvers, MA 01923Tel. 978-774-8158 • Fax 978-750-8154E-mail: sallyconnolly@att.net

SEPTEMBER 2012 3

FOCUS ON HEALTH AND SAFETY

Moving to Curb Distracted DrivingBy SALLY ANN CONNOLLY, Counselor’s Notebook Editor

T he facts are sobering. Each year,distracted driving causes approxi-

mately 6,000 fatalities and a half millioninjuries. The number one distraction iscell phone use. The National Safety Coun-cil says that cell phone use by drivers hasjoined speeding and drinking as a majorcause of accidents.

At any time of the day, according toes timates of the National Highway TrafficSafety Administration, 11 percent of dri-vers are talking on cell phones. Thesedrivers are four times more likely to causecrashes that involve injury. While talkingon a cell phone, whether handheld orhands-free, a driver misses both auditoryand visual cues. The impairment—inatten -tion blindness—is equivalent to drivingwith a blood alcohol concentration of 0.08percent. In other words, driving drunk.

In response to what he calls an epi-demic, U.S. Transportation Secretary RayLaHood has initiated a Blueprint for End -ing Distracted Driving. Part of his nationalcampaign encourages the passage of morerestrictive laws. Handheld cell phones arealready banned in California, Connecticut,Delaware, Maryland, Nevada, New Jer-sey, Oregon, Washington, West Virginia,and the District of Columbia. Massachu-setts needs to follow their lead.

Until then, and until all cell phone useby drivers is banned, educators need toinform drivers about what constitutesdistraction, why distraction is dangerous,and how distraction can be managed.

All distractions are dangerous. Safe dri-vers keep their eyes on the road. And un -like everything else, safety can’t wait. ■

Information on Distracted DrivingSponsored by the U.S. Department of Transportation

www.Distraction.gov

Preventing Injury from MagnetsWashington, D.C., July 25, 2012 — TheU.S. Consumer Product Safety Commis-sion took rare ac tion to prevent ongoingharm to children from powerful, small mag-nets. Maxfield & Oberton were issued anorder that the firm stops selling Bucky ballsand Bucky cubes, notify the public of thedefect, and offer consumers a full refund.

Since 2009 dozens of injuries causedby powerful, small magnets have beenreported, and despite the attempts towarn purchasers, warnings and educa-tion are ineffective and cannot preventinjuries and incidents with these rareearth magnets.

CPSC has received reports of toddlersfinding loose magnets left within reachand placing them in their mouths. It canbe extremely difficult for a parent to tellif any of the tiny magnets are missingfrom a set. In some of the reported inci-dents, toddlers have accessed loose mag-

nets left on a refrigerator and other partsof the home.

Use of the product by tweens and teen -agers to mimic piercings of the tongue, lipor cheek has resulted in incidents wherethe product is unintentionally inhaled andswallowed. These ingestion incidents oc -cur when children receive it as a gift orgain access to the product in their homesor from friends.

When two or more magnets are swal-lowed, they can attract to one anotherthrough the stomach and intestinal walls,resulting in serious injuries, such as holesin the stomach and intestines, intestinalblockage, blood poisoning and possiblydeath. Medical professionals may notdiagnose the need for immediate med-ical intervention in such cases, resultingin worsening of the injuries.

— http://www.cpsc.gov/cpscpub/prerel/prhtml12/12234.html ■

4 COUNSELOR’S NOTEBOOK

Let’s Get Cooking! Preparing for the New YearBy THERESA A. COOGAN, Ph.D.

MASCA President-Elect

THERESA COOGAN

For those of you who know me, youknow that one of my passions is

cooking. And I see this passion and myupcoming journey in MASCA as blend-ing nicely together.

As I take my first steps into a “newkitchen” as President-Elect of MASCA,I am filled with excitement, energy, andcourage, ready to engage in the process.There have been many incredible stridesin recent years putting MASCA at thelarger education table and strengtheningher voice. Thank you to our past presi-dents and MASCA leaders who helpedto forge the way! I know this leadershiphopes to continue on that journey.

I am suited up as “Sous Chef” ready toembark on this upcoming academic yearwith our President (“Executive Chef”)Jennifer Lisk. She is a positive and dy -namic person, and I am very excited tocontinue working together moving intothe academic year.

Jenn’s vision is focused on growth forthe organization and its members. Op -portunities for involvement at variouslevels of MASCA are available for schoolcounselors, graduate students, and schoolcounselor educators to come and join usin “the kitchen.” There is a place for every -one to share ideas, get involved, and giveback to the Massachusetts school coun-seling community.

One way that everyone in the MASCA

membership can get involved right nowis by supporting the tremendous workand effort by our Advocacy Committee.A big THANK YOU goes out to BobBard well and Shannon Doran, specifi-cally, for their recent efforts. Currently,there is a bill proposing a pilot study on6-year career plans (H. 3931) that needsyour support. Additional informationabout this and other related efforts areposted in the Advocacy Works section ofthe MASCA website. To make a call, getinvolved on this committee, or learn moreabout the process, contact me or Shan-non Doran.

A message for graduatestudentsI would like to extend a hand specificallyto all graduate students to join us in “thekitchen.” As a school counselor educa-tor, I am partial to your involvement,and I want to see even more students getinvolved.

MASCA is not exclusive to practition-ers in the field. Many resources and sup-ports are in place for you during yourprofessional training. For example, “TheIntern’s Tale”— a column specifically forgraduate students—is included in almostevery issue of the Counselor’s Notebook.Publications are a great addition to yourresume for when you begin job hunting.See the “Student Counselor Resources”tab on the MASCA website for more de -tails and “Author Guidelines” or contactme directly.

I look forward to meeting new folksthis year and reconnecting with oldfriends. I’m easily reached via e-mail:theresa.coogan@bridgew.edu. Please feelfree to contact me at any time. Now, let’sget cooking! ■

MASCA Advocacy Committeeseeks volunteers

New committee members or short-term volunteers are needed so thatthe Advocacy Committee can fulfill its mission. Projects include:

• Planning the annual advocacy event at the State House,

• Tracking bills relevant to the field,

• Keeping MASCA membership in formed,

• Organizing e-mail and call campaigns to legislators,

• Organizing speakers for legislative hearings,

• Organizing and/or providing written and oral testimony at legislativehearings,

• Staffing the Advocacy Table at MASCA conferences.

Involvement in the Advocacy Committee is an exciting way to gain in sightinto cutting-edge educational issues and influence proposed legislationin support of students in your town and across the state. Essentially, thegoal is to create a communication network among MASCA members sothat we can join in the conversation at the legislative level as well. Allare welcome.

If you are interested, please write ShannonDonanEdu@gmail.com. ■

Renew your MASCAmembership online at

www.masca.org

SEPTEMBER 2012 5

6 COUNSELOR’S NOTEBOOK

Mission of MASCAThe mission of MASCA is to advocate for

school counselors in the Commonwealth ofMassachusetts by providing leadership,

collaboration, and professional development.

The expiration date of your membership can be found on theback page of your Counselor’s Notebook.

Keeping MASCAin Mind

By MARIE ANDERSONMASCA Membership Services Chair

MARIE ANDERSON

Welcome back to the 2012-2013school year. I encourage you to use

the benefits of your MASCA member-ship to improve your professional skillsand enhance your effectiveness. Impor-tant membership benefits include:

• Networking opportunities• Professional development opportu -

nities• Professional conferences• Reduced fees on events• Members-only content on website• Directory of School Counselors in

Massachusetts• Important e-mails from MASCA to

stay current in your profession• The Counselor’s Notebook• MA Model for Comprehensive

School Counseling programs• Advocacy and legislative actionMembers are reminded by e-mail thirty

days and fifteen days before membershipexpires. An e-mail is also sent after mem-bership has expired. The Counselor’sNote book mailing label lists memberex piration dates. Be sure to go to theMASCA website to make any neededchanges to your contact information, sothat you can be part of the MASCA mem-bership communication network. If youare a member and have not been receiv-ing MASCA e-mails or the Counselor’sNotebook, your contact information mayneed updating.

If you have questions or commentsabout becoming a member, please con-tact me at marieganderson@yahoo.com.

Have a great year. ■

SEPTEMBER 2012 7

Effective Collaboration Equals SuccessBy TRICIA PLEISS, Master’s Student in School Counseling, Bridgewater State University

THE INTERN’S TALE

I n order for a school department toachieve the best outcomes for its stu-

dents, the internal entities must collabo-rate. The success of students can be mea-sured by their academic excellence as wellas their emotional and social well being.A balance in these areas requires collab-oration and ongoing cooperation amongschool teachers and school counselors.

As an intern during the past eightmonths, I have seen this ongoing collab-oration result in student success, and Iwant to share some of the effective col-laboration.

One effective technique was the com-munication of information about stu-dents that could be provided withoutbreaking confidentiality. This kept linesof communication open with teachers andmade teachers aware that keeping themupdated was a priority. This also allowedteachers to ensure that extra work wasprovided to students who needed it, as inthe case of absence due to issues at home.

I also observed weekly meetings be -tween counselors and teachers, wherethey could check in on the students andhow they were doing. If a student wasstruggling and a meeting was scheduledwith the student’s parents, both the teacherand school counselor would attend. Thatway everyone could understand and haveinput on the plan for the student mov-ing forward.

These meetings helped counselors buildrelationships with the teachers, while alsogetting more information on the students.The meetings also enabled them to havea voice in the student’s plan.

After the weekly meetings, school coun-selors and teachers created a list of stu-dents who were excelling in their classes,and they sent letters home to their par-ents to inform them. Students were veryappreciative of the letters and felt thattheir progress was being acknowledged.

During all the collaborations that Iobserved, the school counselors were ableto listen to the teacher’s point of view,and, at the same time, they were able toadvocate for the students and find a wayto reach a common agreement.

I saw how the collaboration betweenthe teachers and the school counselorshelped earn mutual respect and trust.

And I learned that going the extra mileand helping out a teacher with an errandor a phone call home to arrange a meet-ing for a teacher, can appear minor, butit can open the door to a great workingrelationship.

I recommend that other interns be

open to working with and collaboratingwith teachers. Be open to hearing theteacher’s point of view and suggestionsfor the student’s plan. A complete pictureof the student can be presented and thebest plan of action can be formulated. Ef -fective collaboration can ensure success. ■

8 COUNSELOR’S NOTEBOOK

A New Role, A Familiar FaceBy JOE FITZGERALD, Ed.D.

JOE FITZGERALD

Last June I was elected MASCA’s VicePresident Retirees, and I want to in -

troduce myself. Over my career in publiceducation, I have worked as a teacher inBoston, a guidance counselor in Randolphat all levels, and Director of Guidance inMilton until my retirement.

I am not a new face in MASCA, hav-ing served on the Conference Committeefor a long time and as VP Secondary. Mostrecently I have been Chair of the Tech-nology Committee and Registrar for theMASCA conferences. Now I am workingwith the MASCA leadership on what myrole will be as the representative for re -tirees. I have some ideas and will writeabout them in upcoming columns.

For a few years before I retired, I begantaking technology-related courses at mylocal community college and became veryinterested in this area. While there, I dis-covered the SeniorNet Program, whichintroduces technology to 50+ adults. Ivolunteered to coach and teach in that

program, and last year we formed theSenior Computer Learning Center (SCLC)in Abington, which essentially has thesame goal.

In this new program I am doing cur-riculum and teaching. In both programs,I have taught basic and introductory com-puter courses to older adults and havefound it to be very rewarding. For themost part, the courses use Windows per-sonal computers and the programs thatgo with the Windows 7 operating system.Al though it is voluntary on my part, ithas been a great experience for me. I getto work with adults who are apprecia-tive of the learning experience, and I getto do something that I love.

Last spring I wrote about the StudioVisual Steps program (www.visualsteps.com), which publishes books on com-puters and computer programs specifi-cally for seniors. We are using more andmore of their books and the teachingmethodology that goes with it. To see myarticle in the CN, go to the www.masca.orghomepage and check back issues.

This is the program that we have beenusing in the SCLC program. More in for -mation about the various programs beingoffered can be found at their website:www.seniorcomputerlearningcenter.org.

I bring this up because they recentlypublished a great book, iPad for Seniors.It has everything you need to use youriPad more effectively. When I bought myiPad2, I thought it was a wonderful deviceand I still do. I never thought, however,that I would attempt to use it with a classof eight-ten seniors. Last spring one ofthe instructors (almost 80 years young)asked me if I thought a two-day work-

shop on the iPad at SCLC would be pos-sible. Although I was a little hesitant, wescheduled it. Initially only two peoplesigned up. When the class started, tenpeople were there and nine had theirown iPads! This fall we are running asix-week course using the book. The fol-lowing is the course description:

- - - - - - - - - - - - - - -

Exploring the iPadThis hands-on course will help you

get up and running with your iPad andbecome more comfortable in using itin your daily life. In each session, youwill use a book designed for seniors en-titled iPad for Seniors, which is a won-derful guide for everything necessaryto use the iPad effectively. It covers allthree versions: iPad 1, iPad 2, and iPad(the most recent one). If you have aniPad, it is suggested that you bring itto each class.

Participants will learn how to setup and customize their iPad to theirparticular needs and for ease of use.The classroom text will serve as a guide,and we will cover such topics as the lo -cation and use of the home button, theon-screen keyboard, installing iTuneson your computer, downloading freeapps, synchronizing your iPad with yourcomputer, establishing a wireless con-nection for web browsing and email,and some of the many other functionsof this user-friendly device.

- - - - - - - - - - - - - - -

There is a reason that I have includedthis book and course for your perusal.This book is a wonderful introduction tothe iPad for anyone and particularly forthose of us of a certain age. It also is re -lated to what I want to do as the MASCArepresentative for retirees. The book is$23.00 but you can buy it on Amazon forabout $15.00. If you live on or near thesouth shore, you can take the course. In -formation is on the SCLC website. Emailme at jdfitz02188@comcast.net with yourconcerns or ideas. ■

SEPTEMBER 2012 9

MASCA Seeks to FillLeadership RolesGoverning BoardThe Governing Board has openings forprofessionals at the following levels torepresent their colleagues:

• Vice President Middle /Jr. High• Vice President Administrators• Vice President Counselor Educators

The Board is also looking for one ormore graduate students to work withthe Governing Board and graduate stu-dent colleagues around the state:

• Graduate Student Liaison

Emerging Leaders ProgramThe Emerging Leaders (EL) programseeks to identify potential leaders in theschool counseling profession in Massa-chusetts and to get them involved withMASCA. Emerging leaders have to be aprofessional school counselor in Massa-chusetts and a MASCA member. Theycan not have served previously as anelected or appointed Governing Boardmember, and they must have a desire togive back to our profession.

ELs must join and participate in at leastone MASCA committee, present at abreakout session at either the fall orspring conference, and attend a MASCAGoverning Board meeting. ELs also mustattend an affiliate meeting and write ar -ticles periodically for the Counselor’sNote book. In addition, they must attendtraining sessions throughout the year.

In return, ELs receive a free, one-yearMASCA membership, reduced confer-ence registration, leadership training, anassigned Governing Board mentor, andaccess to a network of colleagues.

If you would like to become an EmergingLeader, send a letter of interest, resume,and letter of recommendation from yoursupervisor by September 21, 2012 to JennLisk, MASCA President, Medway HighSchool, 88 Summer Street, Medway, MA02053; Fax 508-533-3246; E-mail, lisk@medway.k12.ma.us.

To apply for an opening on the Govern-ing Board or for Graduate Student Liai-son, e-mail lisk@medway.k12.ma.us. ■

MARK YOUR CALENDARfor Professional Development

October 22, 2012 RTTT Fall 2012 College and Career Summit(Monday) Boxboro

October 23, 2012 MASCA Fall Conference(Tuesday) Boxboro

April 7-9, 2013 MASCA Annual Spring Conference(Sunday-Tuesday) Hyannis

April 9, 2013 RTTT Spring 2013 College and Career Summit(Tuesday) Hyannis

10 COUNSELOR’S NOTEBOOK

PEOPLE, PLACES, ANDPROGRAMS

MASCA leaders offer assistanceIn early May, sixteen MASCA membersmet at the historic Colonial Inn in Con-cord to reminisce about MASCA’s pastfifty-one years and to discuss its future.In attendance were six past presidentsand six O.S.C.A.R. recipients. Attendeesincluded Oscar Krichmar and his wife,Babs; John Gould and his wife, Barbara;Donna Brown and her husband, Kevin;Carol Ryan-Tarka and her husband, Andy;Mary Chouinard; Lillie Davis; FlorenceAthanasia and her husband, Charles; SallyAnn Connolly; Judith Josephs; and MaryWestcott and her escort, George Hickey.

Not satisfied to rest upon their laurels,attendees decided to volunteer their ser-vices to the MASCA Executive Board inany capacity that was deemed to be pro-

ductive. MASCA Executive DirectorDonna Brown agreed to carry this mes-sage back to the Board for discussion.

A follow-up meeting was tentativelyscheduled for the fall of 2012, and anothermini-reunion will be held at the same timenext year at the same location. Everyoneis welcome to attend.

NECA honors counselorsNortheast Counselors Association heldits final meeting of the year in May atDanversport Yacht Club. Dean Collegesponsored the Awards Night. Receivingrecognition were:

Administrator of the YearVal Viscosi, Methuen Schools

Counselor of the YearMelinda Loosian, Beverly High School

Rising Star AwardJillian Lingel, Whittier RegionalTechnical School

Torch AwardNancy Maravelias, Bishop FenwickHigh School

Special Award Roberta Bixby, Amesbury High School

Diversity Challenge plannedThe Institute for the Study and Promo-tion of Race and Culture at Boston Col-lege is pleased to present the 12th annualDiversity Challenge, “WHAT TO DOABOUT RACE AND CULTURE ANDVIOLENCE.”

The Institute will consist of two daysof presentations and workshops. Invitedparticipants include teacher educators,researchers, mental health professionals,community members, and students.

Date: October 19-20, 2012.For more information and registration,

go to isprc@bc.edu.

Free DVDs for veterinarystudentsThe American Veterinary Medical Asso-ciation, with the help of GlaxoSmithKline,is providing free veterinary DVDs to stu-dents who are interested in the veterinaryfield.

The Agency for Instructional Technologyis distributing these DVDs. To benefit fromthis offer, go to http://avma.ait.net. ■

Visit MASCA onthe Web

Current announcementsand articles found on

the home page:

• Emerging Leaders Program

• Walk to Prevent Suicide

• 2013 National Conferenceon Bullying

• 2012 Diversity Challenge

• MASCA signs on!

• and more

www.masca.org

SEPTEMBER 2012 11

PRESORTEDSTANDARD

U.S. POSTAGEPAID

NEWBURYPORT, MAPERMIT NO. 96

Massachusetts School Counselors Association, Inc.COUNSELOR’S NOTEBOOK

Sally Ann Connolly, Editor

CHANGE OF ADDRESS:

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . NAME

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ADDRESS

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . CITY ZIP CODESTATE

Send this form to:Deborah ClemenceP.O. Box 805East Dennis, MA 02641

YOUR MEMBERSHIP RENEWAL DATE IS INDICATED BY YEAR AND MONTH ON YOUR ADDRESS LABEL ABOVE.To renew your membership, go to MASCA’s website, www.masca.org.

SAVE THE DATES!

Monday, October 22, 2012RTTT Fall 2012 College and Career Summit

Holiday Inn, Boxboro, MA

Tuesday, October 23, 2012MASCA Fall 2012 Conference

Holiday Inn, Boxboro, MA

Keynoter: Sirdeaner Walker,Gay, Lesbian & Straight Education Network

Afternoon Extended Session,Counselor Evaluation Rubric: Katie Gray

Programming information, registration, andExhibitor /Ad/Sponsorship forms can be found on

MASCA’s website, www.masca.org.

MASCA ConferenceKeynoter

SIRDEANER WALKER

S irdeaner Walker will be the keynoter atthe MASCA Fall Conference. Walker’s

son, Carl, committed suicide in 2009 dueto relentless bullying. A board memberand spokesperson for the Gay, Lesbianand Straight Education Network (GLSEN),Walker has testified before Congress, ad -vocating for the Safe Schools Im prove -ment Act, which would provide schoolswith resources to deal with bullying.

Walker says that bullying is “a na tionalhealth crisis that is facing our youngpeople…. Now with the Internet andsocial networking sites, bullying is takingplace 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.”

Walker was instrumental in lobbyingMassachusetts legislators to pass bullyinglegislation in Massachusetts. In additionto sharing her and Carl’s story, Ms. Walkerwill discuss the role school counselors havein eradicating and dealing with bullyingbehaviors in our schools. ■