Thank you to everyone who reads these updates from BHS Guidance! Moving forward, all new information and events coming up in the next week will be highlighted in red for easier reading.
 
ALL STUDENTS/PARENTS
This Wednesday April 3 is a ½ day for all BHS students. Please see the April 3 schedule on the BHS homepage.
 
Day of Silence - Wednesday, April 3rd
On this day, students and staff are invited to stay silent for the whole school day in order to bring attention to the millions of people worldwide who remain silent about their true sexuality and/or gender identity out of fear. This year, the Day of Silence will occur BEFORE Day of Dialogue, so that teachers can more easily discuss Day of Dialogue assemblies after the event.

Day of Dialogue - Thursday, April 4th
On this day, the GSA will sponsor assemblies on a range of LGBTQ issues. Teachers will be able to bring their classes to these assemblies in the auditorium, the MLK room, and will also have the opportunity to hold discussions in their classrooms. ​

​College Night for Students with Learning Differences:  On Tuesday, April 2rd, at 7 pm in the MLK room, BHS Guidance Department will present a panel of college admission professionals and BHS specialists who will answer your questions about specialized and general supports available at colleges for students with learning differences (including students with IEP, 504 or ICAP plans). This night is open for students and parents- caretakers. 
Click here for the ppt presented at the event.
 
After the College Acceptance Seminar:  Parents and students are invited to attend a free seminar on understanding financial aid award letters and making a plan to pay the college bill, which will be held on April 10 at 7:00 pm in the MLK room. This seminar is offered through MEFA, the Commonwealth’s authority on planning, saving, and paying for college. An experienced MEFA representative will provide an overview of the college payment process, including the details of financial aid award letters, using payment plans, different financing options, and how to minimize debt. Before the seminar, be sure to visit MEFA’s website — mefa.org — to download a copy of the seminar presentation in English or Spanish and explore other tools and resources to assist you in the college planning process. And make sure to bring your financial aid award letters to the seminar to get all of your questions answered after the presentation.  Download the Seminar Presentation here.

The recent college admissions scandal has shed some light on possible abuses and inequity in this often challenging process. BHS Guidance does its best to offer support and resources to all students in an ethical and caring way. Students have a responsibility to attend required seminars, reach out to BHS counselors and/or College Counselor Lenny Libenzon, and take ownership of their post-high school planning process. If any student or parent has concerns about this process, please feel free to contact Darby Neff-Verre  at darby_neff-verre@psbma.org. Please read this article for an important perspective -

http://www.parenttoolkit.com/college-and-career/news/4-year-college/what-the-college-cheating-scandal-says-about-modern-overparenting

Grade 9, 10, 11 Students  - If you have not added your elective and health/wellness requests and alternates for next year, please make an appointment with your counselor early this week.
 
Additional new course highlights for 2019-20
 
NEWLY ADDED THIS WEEK!  **CE/VA 7450 Brookline Lens
This course is a project-based visual arts and business class that is a fully-functioning, student-run production company that provides photo and video production services to Brookline High School and the greater Brookline community. Students in the course learn photography, videography and how to run a fully functioning production company. Students who have taken the following courses are eligible to register for the course: Digital Video 1, TV production 1, Documentary Filmmaking 1,Photography 1.  Interested students need to email or go to counselor office to request that this course replace one of their current requests or add as alternate.

Dear Juniors and their parents, 
​We would like to invite you to attend our annual College Fair, which will take place on Thursday, March 21st at 6:30 pm in the cafeteria.  We will host 110 colleges from around the country (click here for the list).  This will be a great opportunity for you to meet with the representatives from a great variety of schools. Please come early and with an open mind:  you might discover a great school you have never heard about!  ​

Attached is the latest Scholarship Bulletin for BHS Seniors

Grade 9, 10, 11 Students  - Course Request Information 
– STUDENTS - Add elective and wellness course requests to portal until end of day this Thursday 3/21
 
From Mr. Mason, Assistant Head of School: The student portal continues to be open for course registration for the 2019/2020 school year. The deadline for student course requests is Thursday, March 21. You can also watch a short video explaining the course selection process at: https://youtu.be/NksLUjRkWx8
Please spend some time until this Thursday March 21 reviewing these important decisions with your child to help choose a strong schedule for next year. Students should also speak to teachers and counselors for course selection advice. Again this year we have asked teachers to spend more time on the “comments” attached to the course recommendations. These comments should give you and your child additional information helpful in creating a balanced schedule. Please remember that students are responsible for knowing and meeting all our graduation requirements.
The course selections that you make this month determine how we staff the high school. Therefore choose courses carefully and commit to those courses for 2019-2020 as there is not always room to make changes and switches later. Students overriding teacher recommendations must do so by April 2, 2019. To proceed with an override please have your child contact the guidance counselor.

Thank you for attending our Junior Post High School Planning Night.  A copy of Lenny's powerpoint presentation is attached here.

If you've missed the night, below is a recording of our presentation from last year.  

​Grade 9, 10, 11 Students  - Course Request Information
 
From Hal Mason, Assistant Head of School
The student and parent portals are now open for course registration for the 2019/2020 school year. The deadline for student course requests is Thursday, March 21. You can also watch a short video explaining the course selection process at: https://youtu.be/NksLUjRkWx8
Please spend some time until March 21 reviewing these important decisions with your child to help choose a strong schedule for next year. Students should also speak to teachers and counselors for course selection advice. Again this year we have asked teachers to spend more time on the “comments” attached to the course recommendations. These comments should give you and your child additional information helpful in creating a balanced schedule. Please remember that students are responsible for knowing and meeting all our graduation requirements.
The course selections that you make this month determine how we staff the high school. Therefore choose courses carefully and commit to those courses for 2019-2020 as there is not always room to make changes and switches later. Students overriding teacher recommendations must do so by April 2, 2019. To proceed with an override please have your child contact the guidance counselor.