Why is Wilson's college counselor out the week applications are due?

[Anonymous]

Did he quit? I haven't heard back from anyone at the school.

[Anonymous]

Assume the worst if they're silent.

[Anonymous]

Whatever the reason is, its not your business why a person takes leave.

[Anonymous]

First, this is a terrible disservice to seniors and their families. These kids left school as sophomores and came back to submitting college applications. The college counselor is new this year after the long time college counselor left for Prep matters, a for profit testing/placement company located within a block of Wilson. There are many long-term counselors at Wilson who might be able to help but honestly they too are exhausted.

So, in case you missed it, WILSON IS A MESS.

The Admin and teachers are barely keeping it together. Many students are out of control, which is why the following was the lead message in the weekly email:

At the beginning of each year, grade-level support teams would meet with all students by having large, grade-level meetings in the auditorium. At these meetings, each support team would introduce themselves to their grade-level class and review school policies, rules, and graduation requirements. This annual ritual allowed school administrators to center students and to start the year with one clear message. Due to the pandemic and the need for mask wearing and social distancing, we had to abandon these large meetings and instead administrators crafted a PowerPoint video for students to watch on their laptops during a class period. Communicating to students using this method was necessary, but after going through a year and a half of virtual learning, it may not have resonated like the large group settings of the past. On Wednesday and Thursday of this week, school administrators will be visiting second period classes to re-center students. We will discuss academic tips for term one, school policies, grade-specific updates, the disciple ladder, and upcoming events. After the presentation, students will be allowed to ask follow-up questions. I hope that this in-person approach will help our community re-center and reconnect to the school’s ROAR values: respect, ownership, attendance, and responsibility.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:First, this is a terrible disservice to seniors and their families. These kids left school as sophomores and came back to submitting college applications. The college counselor is new this year after the long time college counselor left for Prep matters, a for profit testing/placement company located within a block of Wilson. There are many long-term counselors at Wilson who might be able to help but honestly they too are exhausted.

So, in case you missed it, WILSON IS A MESS.

The Admin and teachers are barely keeping it together. Many students are out of control, which is why the following was the lead message in the weekly email:

At the beginning of each year, grade-level support teams would meet with all students by having large, grade-level meetings in the auditorium. At these meetings, each support team would introduce themselves to their grade-level class and review school policies, rules, and graduation requirements. This annual ritual allowed school administrators to center students and to start the year with one clear message. Due to the pandemic and the need for mask wearing and social distancing, we had to abandon these large meetings and instead administrators crafted a PowerPoint video for students to watch on their laptops during a class period. Communicating to students using this method was necessary, but after going through a year and a half of virtual learning, it may not have resonated like the large group settings of the past. On Wednesday and Thursday of this week, school administrators will be visiting second period classes to re-center students. We will discuss academic tips for term one, school policies, grade-specific updates, the disciple ladder, and upcoming events. After the presentation, students will be allowed to ask follow-up questions. I hope that this in-person approach will help our community re-center and reconnect to the school’s ROAR values: respect, ownership, attendance, and responsibility.

It’s possible this person (or a family member) is having a medical emergency. They might have gotten jury duty.

[Anonymous]

The person in question is out on personal matters that were not anticipated. A team of 10 staff members including other counselors are working over the weekend to get the recommendations out on time for students with applications with a Nov 1 deadline. No this is not an ideal situation, but nothing for the past 2 years at DCPS has been ideal. Staff are doing their best with the resources provided.

[Anonymous]

Email from Wilson yesterday - we have implemented an urgent plan of action to ensure the November 1st deadline is met for all seniors with an early action college application

[Anonymous]

Yet another reason to hire your own college counselor and to collect your own recommendations for a Wilson senior.

[Anonymous]

There is only one????

[Anonymous]

There are two. One is out, the other is part of the effort to complete recommendations for the other.

Two counselors for a class of 400 is still pretty insane.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:First, this is a terrible disservice to seniors and their families. These kids left school as sophomores and came back to submitting college applications. The college counselor is new this year after the long time college counselor left for Prep matters, a for profit testing/placement company located within a block of Wilson. There are many long-term counselors at Wilson who might be able to help but honestly they too are exhausted.

So, in case you missed it, WILSON IS A MESS.

The Admin and teachers are barely keeping it together. Many students are out of control, which is why the following was the lead message in the weekly email:

At the beginning of each year, grade-level support teams would meet with all students by having large, grade-level meetings in the auditorium. At these meetings, each support team would introduce themselves to their grade-level class and review school policies, rules, and graduation requirements. This annual ritual allowed school administrators to center students and to start the year with one clear message. Due to the pandemic and the need for mask wearing and social distancing, we had to abandon these large meetings and instead administrators crafted a PowerPoint video for students to watch on their laptops during a class period. Communicating to students using this method was necessary, but after going through a year and a half of virtual learning, it may not have resonated like the large group settings of the past. On Wednesday and Thursday of this week, school administrators will be visiting second period classes to re-center students. We will discuss academic tips for term one, school policies, grade-specific updates, the disciple ladder, and upcoming events. After the presentation, students will be allowed to ask follow-up questions. I hope that this in-person approach will help our community re-center and reconnect to the school’s ROAR values: respect, ownership, attendance, and responsibility.

“Students will be allowed to ask follow-up questions” 😂. “The disciple ladder” —is that a mentoring program?

[Anonymous]

Counseling team and assistant principals pulling together to get all recommendations and transcript requests due Nov. 1 finished. Only ED and EA applicants are affected. Real crunch comes leading up to Jan. 1 when RD applications are due. I pray Wilson puts someone reliable in that second senior counselor spot so this doesn't occur on a larger scale in a few months. So unfair to the kids.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Counseling team and assistant principals pulling together to get all recommendations and transcript requests due Nov. 1 finished. Only ED and EA applicants are affected. Real crunch comes leading up to Jan. 1 when RD applications are due. I pray Wilson puts someone reliable in that second senior counselor spot so this doesn't occur on a larger scale in a few months. So unfair to the kids.

For schools with rolling admissions, getting a RD application in sooner tends to be a good thing.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Yet another reason to hire your own college counselor and to collect your own recommendations for a Wilson senior.

You are allowed to do this?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Whatever the reason is, its not your business why a person takes leave.

This is DCUM, we're all about rights for women, unless they work in education. Then we think they should be treated like indentured servants. How dare someone get sick, or have a baby, or get called for jury duty!!!