Counselor's Corner

​Welcome to the 2026–2027 academic year. As we settle into our routines, the School Counseling Department is dedicated to partnering with you to support your child’s academic success, post-secondary ambitions, and personal well-being.

Meet Your 2026–2027 School Counseling Team
To ensure consistent and personalized support throughout your child's academic journey, counselor assignments are structured by grade level and student last name:

Counselor	Grades 5, 6, 7, 9, 10	Grade 8	Grade 11	Grade 12
Mrs. Nelson	A – He	A – Gr	A – J	A – Hi
Mr. Allen	Hi – Po	Gu – Pa	K – Pa	Hu – P
Mr. Whitlatch	Pr – Z	Pe – Z	Pe – Z	Q – Z

Recent Outreach & Senior Updates
We have already hit the ground running! Over the past couple of weeks, our counselors have visited all 5th and 9th-grade advisories to introduce ourselves and help our newest students transition smoothly. At the same time, counselors are actively working with 12th graders during Senior Seminar class. These dedicated sessions provide direct support for navigating college application portals, finalizing personal statements, organizing recommendation requests, and staying ahead of early decision and early action deadlines. Expect more updates on financial aid and application deadlines soon!

The Attendance Corner
A successful school year starts with showing up! Academic success relies on consistent, full-day engagement. Missing instruction disrupts momentum and limits classroom participation. We need every student in the building, every single day, on time. We count on your support to make sure students show up daily, prompt and ready to learn. Let us know if you are experiencing challenges around attendance.

Prioritizing Student Well-Being: Managing Stress & Anxiety
In a high-performing academic environment, maintaining a healthy balance between drive and mental wellness is vital. Rigorous workloads and competitive goals can sometimes lead to anxiety. Peak performance is unsustainable without proactive stress management to help students regulate their nervous systems. Here are some techniques that you can try.

• Box Breathing & Micro-Meditation: Encouraging students to practice simple 4-second breathing cycles (inhale 4s, hold 4s, exhale 4s, hold 4s) before exams or study blocks reduces acute anxiety and lowers cortisol levels.
• Daily Mindfulness Practice: Even 5 to 10 minutes of daily guided meditation (via tools like Headspace, Calm, or simple quiet focus) helps improve sustained attention and prevents cognitive overload.
• Separating Work from Rest: High achievers often struggle to "turn off." We encourage setting strict time limits on late-night studying and maintaining tech-free periods before sleep to promote genuine recovery.

Mark Your Calendars:
Attention all Middle School families! The High School Fair is coming up on September 19, 2026, at the PA Convention Center. Middle School families are strongly encouraged to attend!  This event offers critical insight into high school programming, specialized pathways, and admissions requirements.

Warmly,
Counselors Nelson, Allen and Whitlatch

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