TOWNSHIP OF WASHINGTON, N.J.—From helping elementary students develop mindfulness techniques to guiding seniors through college and career decisions, counselors across the Westwood Regional School District spent the final months of the school year supporting students’ academic, social and emotional growth.
In a fourth-quarter update, the district’s counseling department highlighted initiatives spanning all six schools, with a focus on mental health awareness, school transitions, student leadership and academic planning.
Mental Health Awareness Month in May served as a central theme throughout the district. At Washington School, students explored neurodiversity through classroom lessons and discussions while practicing daily breathing exercises designed to promote mindfulness and self-regulation. By the end of the month, students had added 20 breathing strategies to their “toolbox” for managing stress and refocusing when needed.
At Berkeley School, students participated in Mental Health Awareness Month activities while focusing on empathy, self-care and healthy peer relationships. Counselors also helped prepare fifth-graders for their transition to middle school through presentations and small-group discussions, while welcoming incoming kindergarten students and families during orientation programs.
At Jessie F. George School, students learned about mindfulness, communication and coping strategies while participating in activities tied to Mental Health Awareness Month. Fifth-grade peer leaders organized a cereal drive benefiting local food pantries, helping collect more than 270 boxes of cereal through a schoolwide community service effort.
Brookside School paired Mental Health Awareness Month activities with lessons centered on empathy, kindness and resilience. Students also created welcome videos for incoming fifth-graders, introducing them to student leadership opportunities and ways to become involved in school life.
At Westwood Regional Middle School, counselors helped students complete New Jersey Student Learning Assessments and hosted a showcase for rising sixth-graders that highlighted student talents, extracurricular activities and life at the middle school. Incoming students also toured the sixth-grade wing as part of their transition planning.
Behind the scenes, counselors spent much of the spring building schedules and preparing students for the 2026–27 school year.
At Westwood Regional High School, counselors worked with members of the Class of 2026 to finalize post-secondary plans through Naviance and celebrated those decisions during the school’s annual Decision Day program on May 1.
The department also coordinated NJSLA and Advanced Placement testing. According to the counseling department, staff supported 188 students and coordinated the scheduling and proctoring of 344 Advanced Placement exams across 21 subject areas during the 2025–26 school year.
Several student wellness initiatives also took place at the high school. Ninth-grade students participated in teen Mental Health First Aid training, which teaches students how to recognize signs that a peer may be struggling and how to connect them with appropriate support. Students also viewed the Black Poster Project, a traveling exhibit focused on substance-use awareness and overdose prevention.
On June 10, seniors participated in the annual pre-prom safety program featuring police, fire and EMS personnel from Westwood and the Township of Washington. The live demonstration highlighted the dangers of impaired and distracted driving and was followed by a presentation titled “Steven’s Story.” (See our photos online.)
The counseling department also highlighted its partnership with InSite, which provides mental health services for students and families both during and outside the school day. Officials said services will continue through the summer for current participants and new referrals.
The year also marked a significant transition within the counseling department itself. School counselor Ms. Sparno and school counseling administrative assistant Ms. Maskin are retiring after more than 55 combined years of service to the district.
In its year-end message, the department thanked both women for the support they provided to generations of students, families and staff members throughout their careers.