Dear MASCA Colleagues-

As we enter month two of the school year, I am reminded how quickly the days fly by. I do hope that you had a great opening to your school year and that you are finding time to relax and enjoy yourselves. Here's what is happening this month:

· Fall Conference Update
· Update on MCAS Science tests
· Important MIAA reminder
· Federal Mental Health Care Grants
· Committee chair profile

MASCA Fall Conference Update
Hurry! There is still time to register for the fall conference at the Sturbridge Host Hotel on Tuesday, October 10. This is shaping up to be a historic gathering with DOE Commissioner David Driscoll, Dr. Carolyn Stone, ASCA President, school administrators and school counselors. We will unveil the final draft of the MA Model, hear from Dr. Stone about how school administrators and school counselors partner together to eliminate the achievement gap and choose from over 14 breakout sessions. Details can be found at www.masca.org. This promises to be a historic conference, so don’t miss out. Massachusetts School Counselors are Advocating To Change History!

MCAS Science tests Update
The Massachusetts Department of Education has released a memo regarding the High School Science and Technology/Engineering MCAS tests. The purpose of this memo is to provide information about the Competency Determination in science and technology/engineering for the class of 2010, and details regarding the participation and administration requirements for the spring 2007 high school (grades 9 and 10) Science and Technology/Engineering (STE) tests in Biology, Chemistry, Introductory Physics, and Technology/Engineering.
The memo can be found at http://www.doe.mass.edu/mcas/2006/news/0725hssciencetest.html. If you have any questions, please feel free to email or call Katie Bowler at cbowler@doe.mass.edu or 781-338-3464.

MIAA Reminder
I have been asked to share the following information with you from the Massachusetts Interscholastic Athletic Association.

The MIAA Football Committee wants to let school counselors know of a potential conflict for students in schools that will be participating in the MIAA annual Superbowls. This year's games will take place Statewide on Saturday, December 2nd. You are requested to advise student-athletes of potential Superbowl teams to be attentive to this date and schedule their SAT's accordingly. The first Saturday in December has been the established date for MIAA Superbowls for over 30 years and through dialogue with Princeton (SAT's) alternate dates for College Board exams have been made available.

Federal Mental Health Care Grants
The U.S. Department of Education's Office of Safe and Drug-Free Schools has announced new FY 2006 grants to state and local educational agencies and Indian tribes intended to increase student access to quality mental health care by developing innovative approaches that link school systems with local mental health systems.

Grantees under this program will:
· Enhance, improve, or develop collaborative efforts between school-based service systems and mental health service systems to provide, enhance, or improve prevention, diagnosis, and treatment services to students.
· Enhance the availability of crisis intervention services.
· Provide training for school and mental health professionals.
· Provide consultation to school systems, mental health agencies, and families participating in the program.
· Provide linguistically appropriate and culturally competent services.
To obtain further information and access a list of the FY 2006 new grant awards, visit http://www.ed.gov/programs/mentalhealth/fy2006awards.html.

Committee Chair Profile
Kate Salas, M.Ed - Membership Committee Chair
Kate has been both a school adjustment counselor and guidance counselor in grades pre-k-8 since 1993. While she worked as an elementary guidance counselor in Foxboro, Kate assisted in creating and implementing a Snack Guidance Program. The program was so successful that Kate, along with her co-workers, presented "Snack Guidance: An Innovative Approach to Handling Large Caseloads in Elementary Schools" at the 2005 ASCA Conference in Orlando. 200 counselors were in attendance. Kate is presently working as the guidance counselor at the Whitman Middle School for Whitman-Hanson Regional School District. In October, Kate will be accompanying her administrative team to the Massachusetts Secondary School Principal's Conference to present on how their school made AYP through restructuring.

On her free time, Kate enjoys spending time with her family (husband Steve, mechanic for USAirways, and children Jennifer 13 and Andrew 10). As a family they like to go to Walt Disney World, Duxbury Beach and Cape Cod. The USAir flight benefits also come in handy for attending ASCA conferences.

Kate is both a member of MASCA and ASCA. Last year she was a member of the Membership Committee and this year has has found herself in the position of chairperson. Kate feels that the strength of an organization lies within its members and she plans on increasing membership during her time as Membership Committee Chair. This year the Membership Committee will be working on creating a new brochure, offering incentives to join MASCA and incentives to renew membership.

Thanks Kate for your hard work and dedication.

Bob Bardwell
School Counselor & Director of Guidance & Student Support Services
President, Massachusetts School Counselors Association
Monson High School
55 Margaret Street
Monson, MA 01057
413.267.4589x1107
413.267.4157 (fax)
bardwellr@monsonschools.com

www.monsonschools.com/guidance
The Monson Public Schools provide Equal Educational and Employment
Opportunities without regard to race, color, sex, religion, national
origin, sexual orientation, and disability.