Virtual High School

Virtual High School is an opportunity for students to take courses online that count for high school credit.  Students enroll in these classes in the guidance office and work closely with Ms. Mellen in the library to stay on track to complete course work.  As students complete assignments, Quaboag is notified of the progress made.  These courses are offered free of charge.  Students that are often most successful in these classes are able to manage time well in order to to stay on track as there is less structure then a traditional high school course. 

Check out the link below to learn more about VHS and the courses that are offered!

http://www.govhs.org/

College Essay Writing Tips

Here are some tips for working on your college essay:

1.  Review all the essay topics for all schools you are applying to.  Many schools will have topics that will overlap, you may be able to use the same essay for multiple schools.
2.  Decide what you want to write about.  The topic you choose is important but overall admission offices are looking to see the quality of your writing.
3.  Create an outline.
4.  Complete your first draft with your ideas from your outline.  Keep in mind most essays have a limit of 500 words.

5.  Share the draft of your essay with your someone.  You want to get some good feedback to improve.  Some great resources are your guidance counselor, teacher and parents.  Some students also find success with peers.

6.  Allow yourself enough time to revise your draft a minimum of 2 times before your deadline.  

For many students applying to college, the college essay can be the hardest part.  Allow for enough time to plan, outline, write and edit.  Don't add additional stress to the application process by putting the essay off until the last minute.

Remember, Ms. Goldthwaite and Mrs. Paschenko are available during the day or after school on Wednesdays until 3PM for students that need help with college essay writing.

First Quarter Grades

Report cards for the first quarter went out last week.  Are you happy with what you earned?  If not there are some steps you can take to get better grades for Quarter 2. 

For any class you feel you did poorly in complete the following:

-Ask your teacher what you can do to improve.  Are you struggling with homework? Are you having trouble with tests?

-Schedule a time to get extra help with your teacher after school
-Find a quiet place to study at home
-Use an agenda to plan for all assignments
-Ask your peers if you have questions in a class
-Make your school work a priority!

If you are failing a class please get extra help and remember the graduation requirements from Quaboag.  Students must earn 24 credits and the amount of credits below to earn a high school diploma.

Math - 3 credits (4 credits starting with the Class of 2015)
Science - 2 credits (3 credits starting with the Class of 2013)
Social Studies - 3 credits
English - 4 credits
Computer Applications - .5 credit
Electives - Minimum of 5 credits
Physical Education and Health - 1.5 credits
Foreign Language - 2 credits starting with the Class of 2017.  Students are encouraged to take 2 years of the same foreign language as most colleges will require these classes for admission.

Remember, you can control your success in class.  Take positive steps to reach your goals!

Your Plan for College

What is your plan for the future? This year Quaboag Regional Middle/High School will be working with a new college and career program. Your Plan for College is a great site, provided to our school by MEFA. MEFA is an excellent source for families to discuss college planning and making college affordable. Students and families will be able to access this site from home at the end of December.

Yourplanforcollege.org has many activities that can help students navigate the college and career process. Not sure what you want to do for a career? Complete the interest survey. Upon completion of the survey, students will be provided with a list of jobs that are a good fit based on the student's personality, strengths and interests. Each career highlighted offers beneficial information such as education needed, job description, salary range and how many of the specific job are available in the state. Check out this site to research colleges, create a resume and much more!

College Admissions

This is a very busy time of year for the Class of 2012. Ms. Goldthwaite and Mrs. Paschenko have been meeting with all seniors to create a plan for after graduation. Many students will be applying to college while others plan to serve our country or enter the workforce. For those applying to college, it is time to get those applications completed!


College admissions deadlines vary from late fall through the winter. At this point most seniors know where they are applying, when to apply by and have made progress completing the application. Students are encouraged to stop by the guidance office with any questions about the college admissions process. In addition to stopping by during the school day, the counselors are available after school on Wednesdays until 3PM for additional help with the applications and essay writing.

Welcome to the Quaboag Guidance Blog!

To continue communicating well with the Quaboag community, the guidance department has created a blog. This blog will be used to cover a variety of topics that include: college admissions, financial aid, career development, course selection and study tips for student success. Please feel free to check back for more updates.