School Counseling

Home | Counseling Events | HHS Career Technical Education Program | School Counseling K-8 | School Counseling 9-12 | Mental/Behavioral Health Resources

Haverhill Public Schools Counseling Department

Jami Dion, Director of Guidance, Counseling & Student Support Services

Megan Arivella, Supervisor of School Counseling

Connect with our schools and counselors! (click here for an email list)

HHS School Counselor Caseload by alphabet/grade

Counselor Connection Grades 9-12 Live Updates

Competency Determination & Local Graduation Requirements Policy

Competency Determination Policy FY26

Competency Determination Policy FY26-Spanish

Competency Determination Policy FY26-Portuguese

Competency Determination Policy FY26-Haitian Creole

Competency Determination Policy FY26-Arabic

This policy was approved by the School Committee on December 11, 2025.

Haverhill High School Scholarship Portal

*Scholarship Portal for the class of 2026 will be open at the end of January and will close on March 10, 2026- access provided only through Haverhill Public Schools accounts. Graduating members of the Class of 2026 should use portal form to apply to all scholarships that are specific to Haverhill High School which is internal to HHS students. This will be available to students at the end of January 2026. Outside scholarships from other organizations will be posted in the Naviance portal for all students to access. The scholarships are typically awarded at the Night of Stars and/or Graduation. If you are chosen to receive a scholarship, you will receive an invitation to attend the Night of Stars scholarship event which is held at the end of May. Decisions on scholarship recipients will be made by April vacation with invites provided thereafter. There will be other scholarships coming out at a later date that will have their own links and/or essays to complete. Stay tuned! This application has closed.

Our Mission

Haverhill Public Schools Counseling Department is committed to cultivating a growth mindset in every student through a holistic and inclusive approach to navigate challenges, build self-awareness, and achieve full potential. We aim to provide all students a safe and nurturing environment to gain essential resources, guidance and comprehensive support to make informed decisions about their own well-being and college, career and post secondary choices.

Components of our school counseling program that is integral to our mission

The work of school counselors is essential to meet all the Commonwealth’s goals for preparing more students to be college and career ready. Part of this work includes a partnership with the Massachusetts School Counselors Association (MASCA). Among DESE’s goals is to collaborate with MASCA to support and expand the use of the Mass Model for Comprehensive School Counseling Programs in order to repurpose the role of school counselors and position them as a primary resource to lead students in college and career readiness. This partnership is designed around the Massachusetts Definition of College and Career Readiness.  A counselor’s responsibility to help each student develop their academic, career, personal, and social abilities through a comprehensive developmental guidance program.  A school counselor works in different capacities depending upon their licensure but all counselors work as a team with staff, parents, and the community to create a successful atmosphere for students.

School Guidance Counselors and School Adjustment Counselors collaborate and provide support for all students. Haverhill Public School Counselors are guided by the MASCA Model: A Framework for School Counseling Programs, ASCA Model and the MyCAP Plan. Four sets of school counseling standards define the school counseling profession. These standards help school counselors develop, implement and assess their school counseling program to improve student outcomes

Students can access school (guidance) counselors and/or school adjustment counselors:

• Visit the school counseling office and/or individual counselor’s office
• Email the counselor
• Ask a teacher for a pass to the counselor’s office
• Utilize the PULSE platform (on the launchpad) 

Comprehensive School Counseling Program

The guidance curriculum, responsive services, individual planning system, and system support are essential components of a comprehensive school counseling program. Overall, these components work together to create a well-rounded school counseling program, helping students succeed academically and personally while supporting the wider school community. Here’s a breakdown of each area:

The Massachusetts School Counselors Association (MASCA) used The American School Counselors Association (ASCA) National Model as a guide in designing and developing the Massachusetts Model for Comprehensive School Counseling Programs, which guides the Haverhill Public School Counseling Department in developing best practices.  The American School Counselors Association (ASCA) Standards for Students provides a map of standards to “prepare today’s students to become tomorrow’s adults.”

The Massachusetts Model Mission Statement

Massachusetts school counselors will develop and deliver counseling programs and services that provide all students with the requisite knowledge and skills for success in the academic/technical, workplace readiness, and personal/social domains.

The Massachusetts Model Vision Statement

To implement standards-based school counseling programs statewide in order to ensure that every student has the necessary academic/technical, workplace readiness, and personal/social knowledge and skills for school and future success. Specifically, the Model envisions school counseling programs that:

• Advance each school’s mission by operating from a recommended student to counselor ratio of 250:1 with school counselors also acting as leaders and coordinators of program delivery.
• Support high standards for all students as a means of eliminating the achievement gap by having counselors attend to students’ developmental needs in ways that enable them to achieve success in their endeavors in education, the workplace and society.
• Implement school counseling interventions in accordance with the Massachusetts Career Development (CDE) Benchmarks by having counselors evaluate, modify, and develop their programs for alignment with the CDE Benchmarks.
• Are data-driven and accountable by having counselors implement evidence-based interventions, measure student outcomes, and document results regularly.

My Career and Academic Plan (MyCAP Model)

My Career and Academic Plan is a comprehensive framework designed to help students become active participants in their own postsecondary planning and success. By focusing on individual interests, skills, and talents, MyCAP empowers students to connect their education directly to their future career goals. Ultimately, MyCAP offers students a structured yet flexible pathway to achieving their educational and career goals, empowering them to take ownership of their future while being well-prepared for the challenges and opportunities ahead.

Vision of a Massachusetts Graduate

The Healey-Driscoll Administration released its Vision of a Massachusetts Graduate, an aspirational outline for how a Massachusetts high school diploma can prepare students—regardless of zip code, identity, or background—for success after graduation. The vision is the first step in creating a new statewide graduation standard to ensure all students leave high school with the skills necessary to succeed in college, careers, and civic life. Governor Healey created the Statewide K-12 Graduation Council in January through Executive Order. The Council has met multiple times throughout the spring and summer to study and review current graduation standards across the country, assess existing graduation requirements in local school districts, and gather feedback from a diverse group of stakeholders, including students, families, educators, administrators, higher education experts, and business leaders.  As Haverhill Public School develops its own Vision of a Haverhill Graduate, it will align with the Massachusetts vision to emphasize real-world skills and core competencies that will prepare students for whatever career path they choose.

Massachusetts graduates will be: 

Thinkers 

• Academically Prepared: Graduates have a strong foundation across academic disciplines, equipping them with both the knowledge to thrive in college, career, and civic life and the skills to be lifelong learners.
• Critical Problem-Solvers: Graduates critically examine information to draw connections, question assumptions, infer meaning, and shape solutions.

Contributors 

• Self-Aware Navigators: Graduates understand themselves, their strengths, and their opportunities and can effectively leverage their unique skills to navigate a variety of paths and environments.
• Intentional Collaborators: Graduates engage respectfully and productively with diverse individuals and groups, recognizing the value of their unique perspectives, identities and experiences as well as those of others.

Leaders 

• Effective Communicators: Graduates confidently and clearly express their ideas to diverse audiences across a variety of mediums.
• Responsible Decision-Makers: Graduates can set and pursue personal goals, make healthy and financially sustainable choices, and demonstrate confidence and competence in shaping their lives.