HS Counselor's Corner: HS Counselor's Corner

New High School Counseling Structure for 2025–26
This new approach reflects our continued commitment to providing holistic, personalized support for your child’s social-emotional development and college readiness.

Counseling Pairs

Grades 9 & 10: Arina Mei and Natasha Tavares   
Grades 11 & 12: Kit Archbold (joining WAB as a new counselor, see her bio below)  and Michelle Chow-Liu.

Each counseling pair will be responsible for the Social Emotional Learning (SEL) and University & College Counseling (UCC) curriculum for their respective grade levels. This structure allows for greater ownership, flexibility, and a more personalized approach to programming, ensuring that our students receive the best possible support. At the end of the school year, a handover meeting will be held for Grade 10 students from the Grade 9 & 10 Counseling Pair to the Grade 11 & 12 Counseling Pair.

Student Choice and Booking Appointments
We know that strong relationships are at the heart of effective counseling. Just as last year, students are encouraged to reach out to the counselor with whom they feel most comfortable speaking. In the future, this choice will be within their assigned grade-level counseling pair. Students can continue to book appointments directly using the counselors’ online booking links.

Key Benefits of the Restructure:

Holistic Support: Counselors will continue integrating Social Emotional Learning and University & College Counseling, fostering personal growth and academic success. Focused Expertise: By concentrating on two grade levels, each team can dedicate more time and attention to the unique needs of their students.
Collaboration: The teams will work closely with the Whole School Social Emotional Learning & Belonging Lead to ensure a cohesive and aligned approach across all divisions. We are confident that this new structure will enhance our ability to guide and support each student academically, socially, and emotionally, empowering them to thrive in all aspects of their high school experience.

Thank you for your continued partnership and support. If you have any questions, please don’t hesitate to contact the counseling team or the school leadership.

Welcoming Ms. Kit Archbold
Ms. Archbold is joining WAB from the International School of Phnom Penh, Cambodia. She has 11 years of experience in high school counseling and future pathways guidance in the USA, UAE, and Cambodia. Ms. Archbold is a Third Culture Kid herself, who grew up in a whirlwind of cultures—Egypt, Thailand, Pakistan, and Ethiopia (where she graduated from high school as an IB courses candidate).

2025-2026 Course Add/Drop Procedure

Course Change Requests are to be completed in this order: 

1) The student is to consult with their current subject teacher. 

2) The student is to consult with their counselor. Only requests that fit the current schedule or with minimal disruption to the current schedule will be considered. 

Deadline for Grade 9 and 10 students to request changes for MADTF and other classes is August 29. 
Deadline for Grade 11 students to request changes is SEPTEMBER 19. 

3) Complete the Add/Drop form and return it to the counselor to make the switch officially. Official change will be reflected in PowerSchool and MyTime. 

- Your HS Counselors