Guidance & Counseling
Our goal at Turners Falls High School is not to simply graduate students but to truly prepare them for life beyond high school. Whether they choose to enter the workforce, go to a community college, or attend a four-year university, we walk them through the process every step of the way. Starting with his or her first day of high school until graduation day, our guidance staff works tirelessly to ensure that every child meets or exceeds his or her potential.
School Counseling Mission Statement: Great Falls Middle School and Turners Falls High School
The school counseling program’s shared mission is to deliver a comprehensive program to all students that promotes lifelong learning and active citizenship for grades six through twelve. In partnership with the school and greater community, we provide a safe and supportive environment for students to discover their interests, pursue their goals, succeed academically, explore postsecondary options, and develop and improve their interpersonal and workplace readiness skills.
Our Vision
Empowering all students to be college and career ready.
Our Beliefs
We in the guidance department believe that:
- All students are unique individuals with unique needs
- All students have the capacity to achieve
- All students need 21st century skills
- All students have dignity and intrinsic value
- Learning involves the education of the whole person and is a life-long process
- All students should have access to a comprehensive school counseling program delivered by state-certified, master’s degree level counselors
The school counselor should:
- Advocate for all students and be student-centered
- Adhere to the ethical standards set forth by the American School Counselor Association
- Be proactive and data driven
- Draw upon the knowledge of and collaborate with family, school, and community partners
- Utilize a team approach for planning and management purposes
- Use technology to enhance program delivery
- Participate regularly in professional development activities to remain up to date on best practices
High School Timelines
PSAT/SAT/ACT Information
- ACT Registration & Test Dates
- ACT Test Prep Booklet
- ACT Test Prep Resources
- SAT Registration & Test Dates
- SAT Test Prep Resources
Scholarships
- College Scholarship Guide
- Available Scholarships 24-25
- 24-25 General Scholarship Application will be available in 2025
MCAS
Financial Aid
- FAFSA - Free Application for Federal Student Aid
- MEFA - Massachusetts Educational Financial Authority – Resources to plan for and pay for college.
- Students Basics for Financial Literacy
Common Application
- Common Application – Over 400 schools participate with and use the Common Application. If applying to more than one of those schools, you can submit one application, and they will submit it to each of the schools you indicate. Available online – a real time saver!
College & Career Planning
- BigFuture™ by the College Board - A free, comprehensive website for college planning. Research, explore, compare colleges, majors, and much more.
- My College QuickStart™ by College Board - A free online college and career planning tool available to students who take the PSAT/NMSQT.
- MassCIS College & Career Resource
- Tuition Break for Massachusetts students attending NE public colleges and universities.
- Virtual Campus Tours
- CampusReel More than 10,000 Student made videos to help students picture themselves on campus and research colleges
Military Recruiter Opt out Form
Section 9528 of the No Child Left Behind Act of 2001 requires schools to release students’ contact information to military recruiters, upon request. As parents/guardians, you have the opportunity to “opt out” of this requirement by completing the following form and returning it to the Guidance Department. As a student, 18 years of age or older, you also have the right to sign your own “opt out” form.