The Guidance Department at West Springfield High School offers twenty-two student discussion groups which focus on enrichment opportunities, personal issues, and educational concerns. The Group Selection Guide , a groups publication issued by the Guidance Department, is updated and distributed to each student every fall. Students are self referred and participate with parent permission. Each group meets once or twice a week during school or after school for six to eight weeks. Groups that meet during the school day are scheduled for a different period each week.
Some groups continue all year.
This is a motivational program designed to increase the academic achievement of underachieving minority students, sustain accomplishments of the academically successful minority students, and increase aspirations for post secondary education of all participants. At West Springfield High School two College Partnership advocates and two counselors, Mrs. Carol Belkin and Mrs. Esther Pincus, work with a group of 43 minority students, meeting both individually and in monthly group gatherings. Students work with either a school or community mentor, and attend programs and leadership activities planned by the administrative office and the 23 colleges and universities that support this program. Parents work with students to plan a Saturday supplemental learning program. The Guidance Department and the Career Center sponsors a Career Fair in the spring.