The Nexus

On Monday, Westview’s counseling team plans to unveil a new addition to Family Connection: an online system for course request forms. This will be the first year that Westview will process course requests online.

Counselors anticipate that the change will be received well and will give class time orientations for students and night orientations for parents.

If the system runs smoothly, the online forms will completely replace the previous paper forms for class requests.

“[Online course requests] are something the counselors have always wanted to do,” Area Administrator Todd Cassen said. “This year, it’s a reality. I think it definitely has strong benefits for both students and the administration.”

In comparison with the previous system of printed request forms, Guidance Technician Kathy Bloomfield said that the online system will be more economical and convenient.

“There is a cost-effective piece to switching to online, with all the paper that we wouldn’t have to print and distribute,” Bloomfield said. “The cost of the old system adds up, in addition to demanding a lot of time from the administrative staff. All in all, the online system is quicker and cheaper. “

Online, counselors can easily track who has or hasn’t turned in forms and e-mail such students reminders.

In the past, students would occasionally not designate enough classes to fill the schedule, leaving the counselors to do the guesswork. The advantage with the online system is that it prevents students from submitting forms unless they have been completed correctly, preventing secretarial problems.

Bloomfield said this system was ultimately designed with the students in mind, providing an ease of use and access. Students will no longer have to hang on to an extra paper form and can fill out the online form at home, where their parents can give advice with more ease.

Throughout the past few months, the entire counseling team gradually developed the program and smoothed out any potential glitches. Through trial and error, the counseling team ensured that once the program was be ready for student and parent use in the spring, there would be minimum difficulties.

In addition, Bloomfield and counselor Christine Querques have worked extensively on data entry. Querques was mainly responsible for inputting course descriptions for every class Westview offers. Bloomfield, in addition to providing her expertise with Family Connection, uploaded additional resources such as flowcharts that detail suggested curriculum paths for students to follow.

“The counselors are always thinking ahead,” Cassen said. “The way Family Connection is used to get information out to students on a regular basis is matched nowhere else. Online forms are an extension to Family Connection and, personally, I can’t wait to see it go.”

The online system will be open for use March 13-31.

“The whole thing just made sense,” Cassen said. “The technology is there, so let’s use it.”