​Updates from BHS Counseling/ Guid Dept – Week of October 21, 2019

​ALL STUDENTS/PARENTS- CARETAKERS
 
Here’s hoping these weekly BHS Counseling/Guidance email updates are helpful to students and adults.. Feel free to contact Darby Neff-Verre, Coordinator of Counseling/Guidance department, if you have any thoughts or feedback. Keep in mind that all new updates are highlighted in red each week for quick review. Have a wonderful week!
 
Lunch Lounge is now scheduled FOR ALL LUNCHES EVERY WEEKDAY in Room 277 at the 115 campus and LUNCHES on Wednesdays at the OLS campus.This alternative lunch space offers a place for fun conversation, a board game competition, or having a quiet lunch. BRING YOUR OWN LUNCH.
Any student can join for one lunch lounge or become a regular. Please join us!

The midpoint of Quarter 1 has arrived. 
Quarter 1 IPRs are now available on the Aspen portal. Need help accessing Aspen?
Official info for students to register and/or ​change the password (if you have not done so already) is here: http://bhs.brookline.k12.ma.us/netid-registration.html
This also links to instructions for accessing the parent portal.  

Academic Help Centers at BHS 115 and OLS campuses – see weekly Counseling/Guid Dept update for attached academic help centers and times

ACE of Greater Boston© is a program run by professionals in the design and construction fields working together to inspire high school students in all grades to pursue careers in the industry. ACE of Greater Boston is your local chapter within the ACE Mentor Program of America. Students just like you are participating all over the country. For more information- contact Ms. Cordner, BHS Career Counslor, at kate_cordner@psbma.org
Interested? Register here! at http://www.acementor.org/students/new-student-registration/

Attention current AP Students:
If you are not taking an AP course this year, and don't plan to take an AP exam this year, please disregard this information.
Important new information is now available for the May 2020 AP exams, and new available resources for teachers and students provided by the College Board.
AP exam registration period is from:
Wednesday, Oct. 9th - Friday, Nov. 8th. Students will register for their exams online with Total Registration and pay online using a credit card. 
www.TotalRegistration.net/AP/220445
The cost of each test is $98, and students on free/reduced lunch have a fee of $20. In order to access the new, free online resources provided by the College Board, all students (and teachers) must also register for their class on the collegeboard website.
Step #1 - Register for your exam via Total Registration
Step #2 - Join your AP Class Section - www.myap.collegeboard.org and use your College Board student account login, as well as your course join code, and fill out the information needed. (Join codes are given to you via total registration or via your teacher). 
Please contact Ms. Thomas and Ms. Cordner, AP exam coordinators
 
THE TRUTH ABOUT VAPING – UPDATED FOR FALL 2019
From nicotine addiction to life-threatening respiratory illness, the health risks of e-cigarettes (vapes, juuls) have been all over the news lately, and Brookline is not immune. In fact, vaping among our middle and high school students is on the rise. What do parents need to know? And what can we do to help our kids fully understand that these products are not harmless? Through the generosity of a Brookline community member in collaboration with PSB/ BHS Counseling-Guidance Department, Caron Treatment Centers will present a special informational parent event on October 28 at 7 p.m. in the Brookline High School Auditorium. Please join us for this free presentation. Registration requested at https://thetruthaboutvaping.eventbrite.com
 
For more information for parents on vaping and its dangers:
https://view.info.childrenshospital.org/?qs=bcdcce90ef50254511ab372d98d776a6f1ef5611442f741d4e725132c9bae4fe1094f3ef9cbee5620da0902ea761476ff8f2c5b983cce7accf9e5f7d0a661e1e6cf21c0d39dd05a6
 
Encourage your child to be in touch with their guidance counselor.  
With 9th grade students and staff at Old Lincoln, many 10th to 12th graders' guidance counselors and deans changed this year.  To find out who your student's guidance counselor is, log on to Aspen, click on "Family" tab and then on (one of) your student's name.  The middle column will list their 'administrator/dean and guidance counselor.  Most the counselors with students in Grades 10,11,12 have moved their offices to the new Counseling/Guidance HUB in Room 285. Kara Lopez (who also works with ACE students) will stay in her Room 248. Dan Bresman (SWS Counselor/ Program Director) is still in Room 400A. For more information on guidance and counseling support staff, contact info, and locations, see the attached PDF below.
Our goal is to offer BHS students support as they develop into caring, resilient, capable, and academically balanced young adults during their high school years and beyond.
 
BHS Club/Activities - http://bhs.brookline.k12.ma.us/clubs-and-activities-new.html
 
School Pictures/ ID Makeup Day – Scheduled on Wed, November 6.
 
SENIORS
 
Seminar #2 will be happening in your advisories either Thurs 10/24 or Mon 10/28.
A makeup seminar for both rounds of senior seminars is this Thursday, Oct 24th during X block 11:15 to 11:55 -MLK room.
Senior mentors with early deadlines should see also see their counselors individually to hand off transcript release forms and to make sure you are on track for your deadlines.
 
L Grade – This BHS policy is most impactful for seniors. If you are struggling in a course and considering moving to a different curriculum level, it is advisable to have this process completed by this Wed 10/23. If you wait until later in quarter 1, you will have an L grade on your transcript for colleges.  The L grade policy states:
L = If a course level change occurs within ten class periods of the end of a marking period the student will earn a grade of “L” (Late entry) in the new course for that marking period.
 
Missed the BHS College Essay Writing Workshop? Need some more help with your essay now? Consider this opportunity-
Free College Essay Writing Workshop - 826 Boston:
Student registration is OPEN for 826 Boston's College Essay Boot Camp at Northeastern! College Essay Boot Camp is a FREE, one-day only event open to ALL high school juniors and seniors. You can register for a morning or afternoon session (or both!) and receive one-on-one support with your college essay from 826 Boston's writing tutors. Breakfast and lunch will be provided, as well as an optional tour of Northeastern University's campus. 
Date: Saturday, October 26 
Location: Northeastern University, West Village H, 440 Huntington Ave.
Morning Session: 9:00 AM - 12:00 AM
Afternoon Session: 1:00 PM - 4:00 PM
Students can register here for either session. 
 
Online College Admissions Test Prep ideas…. FREE! – see weekly Counseling/Guid Dept update for attached powerpoint
 
Please note that college representatives are coming to BHS daily through mid-November. Check your Naviance homepage or stop by the College-Career Center Room 279 for a full listing of all reps and the date/time they will be available in the College-Career Center to meet you! You must have a signed pass from your teacher if you plan to attend during one of your classes. See Mr Libenzon (Room 279/280) or your counselor if you have any questions.
 
Transcript release / Teacher-Counselor Recommendation Deadlines
To best support every senior in their college admissions process, we require that all seniors meet the deadlines below for communicating to both teacher and counselors re: recommendations.
UPDATE:  If you have college applications with a November 1 deadline – your transcript release form and other important documents are now overdue. Counselors and department staff are working hard during and outside of the school day to get your documents ready for these deadlines. If you got your completed transcript release to your counselor by BHS deadlines and did FERPA and “matching” steps with your Naviance and Common App accounts, then we will meet your deadlines. If you did the steps after BHS deadlines, we will do our best to meet your deadline whenever possible. Thank you!
 
 
Upcoming due dates (attachment of dates below):
College deadline                                         BHS Deadline                                              
November 15                                               Monday, October 21
December 1                                                 Monday, November 4
December 15                                               Friday, November 15
 
 
SENIORS AND JUNIORS
 
Thanks to all who attended the Financial Aid Information for BHS Seniors, Juniors and their parents/guardians last Wednesday, Oct 16. This seminar, offered through MEFA, the state’s authority on planning, saving, and paying for college, provided an overview of the college financing process, including types of financial aid, how to apply, and financing options. If you could not attend, please check out MEFA’s website — mefa.org — to download a copy of the seminar presentation in English or Spanish.
 
Great Opportunity for BHS students……FREE STEM College and Career Fair in Boston – Sunday 10/27, 1-4pm, Northeastern Univ, Cabot Physical Education Center. Open to the public, the fair is for college-bound students interested in college majors and careers in engineering, medicine, computer science, and other STEM fields.
Students will meet face-to-face with hundreds of college representatives and industry professionals — all in one place. They'll get their questions answered about majors, degree programs, campus visits, internships, scholarships, financial aid, and much more. Plus, they can take advantage of STEMinars on topics such as writing a winning college essay and standing out in the admission process.
https://www.nacacfairs.org/attend/stem-college-and-career-fairs/boston-stem-college-and-career-fair/
 
International College Options Evening College Fair – NOT SPONSORED BY BHS but great opportunity!
Admission representatives from 40 colleges & universities outside the U.S. will present information about their schools and application
processes. To view the list of institutions attending, click here: https://www.internationalcollegeoptions.org/boston-participants-2019

College Fair for Students and Families:
Thursday, November 21
- 7:00-9:00PM
- Embassy Suites Waltham
- 550 Winter Street
- Waltham, MA 02451 

The fair is free and we encourage students to pre-register here: https://ico.gotocollegefairs.com/. For further questions about the college fair, please contact us at internationalcollegeoptions@gmail.com.
 
Not sure if you should be taking the essay portion of the SAT or ACT? Most college admissions do NOT require the essay as part of their application process. Please read the link below from Compass Prep. Save yourself money and time by only taking the college admission testing you need for the colleges you are considering. As always, see your counselor or Lenny Libenzon, BHS College Counselor Room 279/280 if you have any questions.   
https://www.compassprep.com/act-writing-and-sat-essay-requirements/
 
JUNIORS
 
Congratulations to the 350 students who took the PSAT on Saturday 10/19! Please pay attention to the email you provided with your online registration since scores will be directly reported to you via that email around mid December. The BHS counselors and College/Career Counselors will begin focusing on the post high school/college planning with juniors in December and January.

• Junior Assembly with Lenny Libenzon and counselors on Dec 12 advisory – REQUIRED for all juniors to attend
• Junior Seminar Round 1 will happen through January/early Feb in advisories
• Junior Seminar Round 2 will happen in March during MCAS mornings. More details on times/dates to come soon!

 
FRESHMEN
 
Freshman Parent night w/BPEN – this Tues evening 7-8pm, OLS Cafeteria – Info Sharing and Round Table Discussion. Please come!
 
Save the Date! Next 9th grade parent/Counselor Meet and Greet is tentatively scheduled for Wed November 20, 8:30-9:15 am, OLS Auditorium
 
We encourage all 9th grade students to meet their assigned guidance counselor. Please encourage your 9th grader to stop by their counselor’s office between classes or during HUB or X block if needed. Students can also email their counselor to set up a meeting time - CounselorFirstName_LastName@psbma.org