Blog Archives

Updates from BHS Counseling/Guid Dept – Week of April 21, 2020

4/23/2020

The BHS Counseling/Guidance department and the school community continues to encourage students to try their best in school while keeping their stress levels as low as possible. These COVID19 challenges continue to test our patience, our anxiety about the unknown, and our strength. The MOST IMPORTANT MESSAGE CONTINUES TO BE THE IMPORTANCE OF TAKING CARE OF YOURSELF. REACH OUT IF YOU NEED SUPPORT! BHS COUNSELORS AND OTHER STAFF ARE HERE FOR YOU… AT A DISTANCE BUT WITH AS MUCH CARE AS EVER! PLEASE DO NOT WORRY ALONE.

CDC Guide to Taking Care of Your Emotional Health lists the following common signs of distress:

Feelings of numbness, disbelief, anxiety or fear.
Changes in appetite, energy, and activity levels.
Difficulty concentrating.
Difficulty sleeping or nightmares and upsetting thoughts and images.
Physical reactions, such as headaches, body pains, stomach problems, and skin rashes.
Worsening of chronic health problems.
Anger or short-temper.
Increased use of alcohol, tobacco, or other drugs.

College Updates for Juniors

4/16/2020

Dear Juniors,

The College Board is canceling the June SAT administration. Please read the update from the College Board below:

“Right now, public health officials have made clear it is not safe to gather students in one place. Many states have closed school for the rest of the academic year, and globally there are widespread school closures across 192 countries. As such, we will not be able to administer the SAT and SAT Subject Tests as planned on June 6, 2020. Students will have opportunities to take the SAT to make up for this spring’s lost administrations. If it’s safe from a public health standpoint, we will provide weekend SAT administrations every month through the end of the calendar year, beginning in August. This includes a new administration in September and the previously scheduled tests on August 29, October 3, November 7, and December 5.Students will be able to register for these administrations beginning in May. We’ll communicate directly with students when the exact date is available. Students who were registered for June and those in the high school class of 2021 who do not have SAT scores will have early access to registration for the August, September, and October administrations.”

Updates from BHS Counseling/Guid Dept – Week of April 13, 2020

4/15/2020

ALL STUDENTS/PARENTS- CARETAKERS

The goal of the BHS Counseling/Guidance department and the school community overall is to encourage students to try their best in school while keeping their stress levels to a healthy level. This time with COVID19 challenges all of our stress levels, our patience, and our strength. There are important messages in this week’s update but the MOST IMPORTANT MESSAGE TODAY IS TAKE CARE OF YOURSELF! REACH OUT IF YOU NEED SUPPORT! BHS COUNSELORS AND OTHER STAFF ARE HERE FOR YOU… AT A DISTANCE BUT WITH AS MUCH CARE AS EVER! PLEASE DO NOT WORRY ALONE.
Some BHS students are working to put together an easily accessible resource list for our social/ emotional well-being and basic needs. That resource will come soon. In the meantime, please check out the resources listed below and do not hesitate to contact your counselor, dean, or caring BHS adult. We are here to help and support every BHS student!

College Updates for Juniors

4/9/2020

Updates for Juniors from the Brookline High College & Career Center*
*We have adapted the Newton North High School document for BHS students. In addition, some of the information above is adapted from https://www.advancedivyprep.com/

As always, please reach out to your assigned counselor at their email address or BHS College Counselor Lenny Libenzon at lenny_libenzon@psbma.org or phone (617-388-8913) with questions, concerns,and/or support.

STANDARDIZED TESTING UPDATE
It remains to be seen if June test dates of SAT or ACT will be cancelled. If you registered for June, you should be able to transfer the registration to a future date.

The good news is that many colleges have already gone test-optional (at least temporarily) for the Class of 2021 and possibly beyond due to ACT/SAT test cancellations: Middlebury College, Amherst College, Williams College, Hamilton College,Tufts University, Boston University, all University of California universities, and Davidson College to name several. For a complete list of test-optional colleges please refer to this website - https://fairtest.org/university/optional

Please be prepared to have to take the ACT or SAT in August, September or later. ACT updates are here and SAT updates are here. Please plan to check for updates regularly, as things have changed very recently.

College Updates for Seniors

4/9/2020

Information for Seniors from the Brookline High College & Career Center
*We have adapted the Newton North High School document for BHS students.

We miss the opportunity to personally be there to share your achievements and support you in disappointment in college decision messages over the past few weeks. As always, please reach out to your assigned counselor at their email address or BHS College Counselor Lenny Libenzon at lenny_libenzon@psbma.org or phone (617-388-8913) with questions, concerns,and/or support.

Due to COVID-19, colleges have temporarily closed and are developing virtual learning platforms for their current students. If you were planning on visiting colleges that you were accepted to, you will now need to make an informed decision using alternative methods. Below we have listed ways for you to learn more about the colleges to which you have been accepted. Click HERE for a great article to get started.

We are also learning that some colleges have postponed their May 1 deposit deadline. Click HERE for a list of the colleges who have adjusted their deposit date so far.

Updates from BHS Counseling/Guid Dept – Week of April 6, 2020

4/5/2020

The goal of the BHS Counseling/Guidance department and the school community overall is to encourage students to try their best in school while keeping their stress levels to a healthy level. This time with COVID19 challenges all of our stress levels, our patience, and our strength. There are important messages in this week’s update but the MOST IMPORTANT MESSAGE TODAY IS TAKE CARE OF YOURSELF! REACH OUT IF YOU NEED SUPPORT! BHS COUNSELORS AND OTHER STAFF ARE HERE FOR YOU… AT A DISTANCE BUT WITH AS MUCH CARE AS EVER! PLEASE DO NOT WORRY ALONE.

Some BHS students are working to put together an easily accessible resource list for our social/ emotional well-being and basic needs. That resource will come soon. In the mean time, please check out the resources listed below and do not hesitate to contact your counselor, dean, or caring BHS adult. We are here to help and support every BHS student!

The Brookline High School’s United Mind Worker learning platform continues. Please go to the UMW page on the BHS homepage for information.

MA Dept of Mental Health: Maintaining Emotional Health & Well-Being During the COVID-19 OutbreakResources and tips to help boost emotional health and well-being during the COVID-19 outbreak.
Taking care of your emotional health and well-being during this time is important. Decreasing stress can help bolster your immune system and can help keep you and others around you healthy. Below are a list of resources and tips for staying emotionally healthy and well - https://www.mass.gov/info-details/maintaining-emotional-health-well-being-during-the-covid-19-outbreak

Updates from BHS Counseling/Guid Dept – Week of April 21, 2020

College Updates for Juniors

Updates from BHS Counseling/Guid Dept – Week of April 13, 2020

College Updates for Juniors

College Updates for Seniors

​Updates from BHS Counseling/Guid Dept – Week of April 6, 2020

Brookline High School Guidance

Archives

Updates from BHS Counseling/Guid Dept – Week of April 6, 2020