J1 Reporter Karis Simon

Three different counseling perspectives in three different years was the reality for Marian sophomores, juniors and seniors with last names O-Z. With Marian’s student body being slightly under 600 girls, it requires three counselors to be able to guide them all. The counselors jurisdiction is based on the last names of the students. Girls with the last names A-G have Mrs. Kathy DeWispelare, H-N have Mrs. Anna Sparwasser, and O-Z have Mrs. Amanda Losee. Marian counselors are meant to guide students along their academic journey.

Juniors, for example, started out at Marian by meeting with Mrs. Joanne Fisher who was well known for her service dog who came to school with her: McDuff. When Fisher stepped down at the end of August 2023, her temporary replacement, Mrs. Carole Carraher stepped up, starting from Sept. 13 until the end of the school year. Carraher took on the responsibility of counselor and offered what junior Grace Peklo described as “the chance to find what type of counselor and counseling method works best for you.” She was at Marian for eight months, but in that time, she made sure to be accessible to students.  

Mrs. Amanda Losee took on the full time position as O-Z counselor the summer before the 2023 school year. Girls recount seeing her at incoming freshman events and making it a priority to introduce herself. In her office, you will find weighted stuffed animals, sensory toys, and occasionally candy, as it is a great incentive to pop by for a chat. Losee describes Marian as being very friendly and inviting, and she wants the girls to know that she “hope[s] to stay at Marian forever.”