ALL STUDENTS/PARENTS
Thanks again to everyone who reads these updates from BHS Guidance! As BHS Guidance/Counseling Coordinator, I plan to continue these weekly updates for the 2019-20 school year. f you have any constructive feedback about these updates, please feel free to contact me individually at darby_neff-verre@psbma.org.
Another engaging opportunity for BHS students was offered on Tues 4/23 – Day of Mental Health Awareness. Many students joined workshops to build their understanding of mental health issues including the relationship between mental health and school, education around eating disorders, recognizing the impact of mental health in different communities, and overall understanding of and breaking down stigma of mental health concerns. Lastly, the important topic of how to support a friend or family member who you are worried about was emphasized. Important points were noted including finding at least one trusted adult in or out of school to talk to and the importance of letting an adult know if you have concerns about a friend. Never worry alone!
Thanks again to everyone who reads these updates from BHS Guidance! As BHS Guidance/Counseling Coordinator, I plan to continue these weekly updates for the 2019-20 school year. f you have any constructive feedback about these updates, please feel free to contact me individually at darby_neff-verre@psbma.org.
Another engaging opportunity for BHS students was offered on Tues 4/23 – Day of Mental Health Awareness. Many students joined workshops to build their understanding of mental health issues including the relationship between mental health and school, education around eating disorders, recognizing the impact of mental health in different communities, and overall understanding of and breaking down stigma of mental health concerns. Lastly, the important topic of how to support a friend or family member who you are worried about was emphasized. Important points were noted including finding at least one trusted adult in or out of school to talk to and the importance of letting an adult know if you have concerns about a friend. Never worry alone!
URGENT….ALL STUDENTS ENTERING GR 10,11, 12 – If you have not requested your electives or health/ wellness classes for next school year 2019-20. PLEASE EMAIL YOUR COUNSELOR TONIGHT TO LET THEM KNOW YOUR CHOICES, otherwise you may not get any requests for your schedule next year and will be automatically placed in courses to meet your graduation requirements.
Student discussions will again be facilitated on the topic of “Truth about Vaping” to approximately 300+ students on Monday 5/20 (rescheduled from 4/22) in Wellness and other classes. Thanks to the Caron Center and a Brookline community member for generously donating the funding for these important conversations offered by BHS Guidance and B-Pen!
Lunch Lounge continues FOR ALL LUNCHES EVERY FRIDAY (Room 277) AND TUESDAYS (Room 279) THROUGH MID-MAY! These alternative lunch spaces offer a place for fun conversation, a board game competition, or having your own quiet lunch. Thanks again for the support from a small group of BHS faculty, interns and our BHS nurses. BRING YOUR OWN LUNCH ON TUESDAYS!
Any student can join for one Tuesday or Friday lunch or become a regular. Pizza will continue at the Friday lunches only. Please join us!
SENIORS
Decisions Made! If you’re not going to your 1st choice school, please read this -
https://www.nytimes.com/2019/04/30/magazine/almost-all-the-colleges-i-wanted-to-go-to-rejected-me-now-what.html You’re going to be fine!
ONLY 4 WEEKS OF SCHOOL AT BHS REMAINS FOR YOU– Please consider these things-
What are your next steps? See attached article from the College Board.
JUNIORS and SENIORS
As many seniors finalize college decisions and juniors are thinking more about their plans for one year from now, please read the attached article on Application Ethics from the College Board’s Big Future website.
Free/ less expensive ways to prepare for College Admissions Tests:
College Board offers eight official SAT practice tests available for free, both online and on paper - https://collegereadiness.collegeboard.org/sat/practice/full-length-practice-testsSFMC_cid=EM122966-&rid=46930439
JUNIORS
Opportunity to take either SAT or ACT practice for free……Test prep company Cotter Simplified will be hosting an SAT practice test at Waltham High School on Saturday, May 18th from 8am-12pm. All students will receive a comprehensive score report with detailed feedback about their specific strengths & weaknesses.
Students can register at the website….cottersimplified.com/satpracticetest
This event is free for students. Students will also have the option of taking an ACT practice test with a score report if they’d rather.
BHS does not endorse any test prep company.
Researching colleges? Wondering whether to take the SAT, ACT, or go test-optional? Thinking about when you should take these tests? Make an appointment with your counselor (email or leave a note, if needed) OR see Mr Libenzon, BHS College Counselor, in College-Career Center 279 or office 280
Student discussions will again be facilitated on the topic of “Truth about Vaping” to approximately 300+ students on Monday 5/20 (rescheduled from 4/22) in Wellness and other classes. Thanks to the Caron Center and a Brookline community member for generously donating the funding for these important conversations offered by BHS Guidance and B-Pen!
Lunch Lounge continues FOR ALL LUNCHES EVERY FRIDAY (Room 277) AND TUESDAYS (Room 279) THROUGH MID-MAY! These alternative lunch spaces offer a place for fun conversation, a board game competition, or having your own quiet lunch. Thanks again for the support from a small group of BHS faculty, interns and our BHS nurses. BRING YOUR OWN LUNCH ON TUESDAYS!
Any student can join for one Tuesday or Friday lunch or become a regular. Pizza will continue at the Friday lunches only. Please join us!
SENIORS
Decisions Made! If you’re not going to your 1st choice school, please read this -
https://www.nytimes.com/2019/04/30/magazine/almost-all-the-colleges-i-wanted-to-go-to-rejected-me-now-what.html You’re going to be fine!
ONLY 4 WEEKS OF SCHOOL AT BHS REMAINS FOR YOU– Please consider these things-
What are your next steps? See attached article from the College Board.
- If you do not plan to attend college next year and do not have a productive plan post-graduation, we are here to help! Please see your counselor, Lenny Libenzon – College Counselor, and/or Kate Cordner – Career Counselor for ideas on next steps.
- While finishing your BHS career, be sure to keep up with your work and attend classes! Senioritis is very real at this time of year. Read this article for some ideas on getting through and focusing positively on yourself -
https://www.nytimes.com/2019/04/04/well/family/senioritis-high-school-transition-college.html - Stop by your counselor’s office or the Main Guidance Office (Room 161) to pick up your green final release form, letting us know which college you plan to attend and giving us permission to send your final transcript to that school.
- Consider saying thank you to those BHS faculty members who supported you and/or wrote recommendations for you as you worked through your post high school planning process.. and your BHS experience overall. A short, caring note goes a long way!
JUNIORS and SENIORS
As many seniors finalize college decisions and juniors are thinking more about their plans for one year from now, please read the attached article on Application Ethics from the College Board’s Big Future website.
Free/ less expensive ways to prepare for College Admissions Tests:
College Board offers eight official SAT practice tests available for free, both online and on paper - https://collegereadiness.collegeboard.org/sat/practice/full-length-practice-testsSFMC_cid=EM122966-&rid=46930439
JUNIORS
Opportunity to take either SAT or ACT practice for free……Test prep company Cotter Simplified will be hosting an SAT practice test at Waltham High School on Saturday, May 18th from 8am-12pm. All students will receive a comprehensive score report with detailed feedback about their specific strengths & weaknesses.
Students can register at the website….cottersimplified.com/satpracticetest
This event is free for students. Students will also have the option of taking an ACT practice test with a score report if they’d rather.
BHS does not endorse any test prep company.
Researching colleges? Wondering whether to take the SAT, ACT, or go test-optional? Thinking about when you should take these tests? Make an appointment with your counselor (email or leave a note, if needed) OR see Mr Libenzon, BHS College Counselor, in College-Career Center 279 or office 280