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:
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.
The Western Mass Recovery Learning Community (RLC) creates conditions that support healing and growth for individuals and the community as a whole through learning opportunities, advocacy, peer-to-peer support and the development of regional and national networks.
The Boston Globe wants to hear from high school students:
Reporters from the Boston Globe's investigative team for education and inequality - The Great Divide - are hosting weekly virtual town halls to create space for students to share their experiences, connect with peers, pose questions to an adult support network. To stay in the know, students can join our text line by sending STUDENT to 1-833-335-2777 or by signing up for our free newsletter at globe.com/thegreatdivide.
Eyal Arkin, David Carmel, Anat Katz, Noah Schwartz, Benja Rosenzweig, Liam Smolyar - BHS students - working in combination with several other BHS students, has created a web-based service to take, purchase, and deliver grocery orders for people who are not able to get to the grocery store themselves (primarily the elderly and the immunocompromised). The website lists the current team and a link for others to join them, provides a way to order, explains how the team is complying with sanitary measures and cleanliness, and provides a page of other resources. Here is the link: https://projectdriveway.org/home If you know of anyone who might be in need of this service please consider sending this to them or publicizing this in some way.
3rd Annual Job and Career Fair will go live on Thursday April 30th at 10am as the BHS Virtual Job/ Career Fair page! Students will be able to access the page from the BHS website's home page. Explore different careers, companies, and opportunities that may interest you! Some participating vendors include: Skanska, City Year, Americorps, Stewards of the Future and many more! More information to come when the site goes live. It will be open from 4/30 through June 2020.
Career Conversations at Home… Check out these resources:
-- DreamWakers, a national nonprofit that connects students to real-world professionals via free video conferencing services is providing FREE online career exploration tools for high school students!
DreamWakers Daily: Career Conversations from Home continues this week with another all-star lineup of professional role models. Streaming on Facebook Live each weekday at 1pm ET, we'll feature Q&A sessions with inspirational role models in diverse careers, and you can help guide the conversation: each flashchat will highlight questions submitted by students, educators, and supporters from across the U.S.
For more information: https://mailchi.mp/dreamwakers.org/now-streaming-daily-dreamwakers-new-flashchat-series-launches-today-2627230?e=3dda1a086c
Check back next week for more interesting resources from DreamWakers!
-- Financial Literacy: Want to learn about balancing a check book? or how to open a credit card? Register for FREE Financial Literacy Courses on EverFi here: https://platform.everfi.net/.
-- Now is a great time to take 20 minutes out of your day and take a Career Interest Inventory to find out about different careers you may be interested in! You can use your results to research a number of careers!
To take an inventory sign into your Naviance account here: https://student.naviance.com/auth/fclookup (Links to an external site.), go to "About Me" in the top right corner, "My Assessments" and then chose "Career Interest Profiler". If you have any questions about your results PLEASE reach out to Ms Kate Kennedy, BHS Career Counselor, or your assigned guidance counselor.
Career Spotlights from BHS Career Counselor – Kate Kennedy
Public Policy/ Government: Are you interested in learning what careers relate to a degree in public policy or working in your local government?
To learn more contact:
Jill Harvey: Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Coordinator of Arlington, MA: jillian.harvey@alumni.brown.edu
OR
Caitlin Starr: Office of Diversity, Inclusion, and Community Relations - Town of Brookline, Assistant Director: cstarr@brooklinema.gov
- Museum/Science Education: Do you love science, but are you not sure what to do with this love? Working at a museum could be your answer! Museums need educators to help facilitate programming, and educational experiences for students and adults. Want to learn more?
To learn more contact:
Meghan Carter mcarter@mos.org
Education Associate II, School and Youth Programs
Museum of Science
- Law Enforcement: Are you interested in becoming a police officer or working in public safety? Want to learn more? Reach out to individuals in the Brookline community who know what it takes!
To learn more contact:
Lieutenant Jennifer Paster
Crisis Intervention Team/
Community Service Division
Brookline Police Department
jpaster@brooklinema.gov
Did you know that Police Officers, on average, make $63,380 per year and in order to become a police officer you must be 21 years old with at least a High School Diploma. In Brookline, Police Officers are hired through the Massachusetts Civil Service System. To find out more information visit: http://www.brooklinepolice.com/166/Apply-for-Jobs
Help your Brookline neighbor! See this message from Brookline Strength in Distance - We are a small group of Brookline-ites who got together to create the “Strength in Distance” fundraiser to support the Brookline Food Pantry. The food pantry receives and distributes more than 12,000 pounds of fresh produce, frozen items, dry goods, and hygiene products to our neighbors EACH WEEK and has just opened a third location to help meet demand.
In order to ensure that all of us have the food we need to stay healthy and strong during this crisis, the Food Pantry needs your help! Please visit brooklinestrengthindistance.com to purchase a “Strength in Distance” t-shirt to support the Brookline Food Pantry as well as a local print shop. Or, if you prefer, you can donate directly to the Brookline Food Pantry or the Brookline Community Foundation’s Safety Net Fund (linked on our site).
If you know any students, friends or fellow community members who are in need of support in these difficult and uncertain times, please visit the Brookline Mutual Aid Google Doc to get plugged into Brookline’s community services network. Feel free to send this message to other Brookline community members as well!
Please reach out to strengthindistance2020@gmail.com with any questions. Thank you for all of your hard work during these times!
SENIORS
Deans Redding, Alexander, and Poon said it well – We celebrate you from our quarantine homes!
Dear Seniors,
By now we are sure that you have heard that Governor Baker announced today that all schools in Massachusetts will remain closed for the remainder of the school year. Even though we were not surprised by this announcement, it hit us hard. Not gonna lie: we shed some tears.
Our hearts go out to you. We imagine that you may feel a range of emotions -- anger, disappointment, sadness, despondency, indifference...all are valid.
As you process your reactions, please know that we are soliciting ideas as well as convening groups of staff, parents, and students who will plan aspects of Graduation 2020 and other possible end-of-the-year events. Though we don't know what the spring events look like yet, we are committed to finding ways to honor you and celebrate you, the wonderful BHS Class of 2020.
Next week we will be sending out an opportunity for you to give us your input on the design of these events, so compile your thoughts and be on the lookout for a canvas email.
We want you to continue to take care of yourselves and your families, and of course reach out to BHS staff if and when you need help. We are, and always will be, here for you!
Rejection and moving on.... - https://www.collegedata.com/en/prepare-and-apply/apply-yourself/your-final-answer/rejected-how-to-cope-and-what-to-do/
Koplik - The MA Dept of Education (DESE) is reworking both expectations and deadlines for the Koplik Scholarship process. The following tentative changes are in process at DESE in regard to the Koplik Certificate of Mastery With Distinction Tuition Credit:
** An extension of the submission deadline to October 1, 2020 to allow students enough time to take SAT subject tests and AP exams
** An extension of the usage deadline to Fall 2021 to allow students the opportunity to use the tuition credit
** Allowance of the tuition credit to be retroactive to the start of the fall 2020 semester for students that may receive certificates after the start of school
EXTENDED - Deadline for BHS Scholarship applications is tomorrow Friday 4/24 IMPORTANT REMINDER - Applications are available online at the BHS homepage under 2020 BHS Scholarship Application. The deadline for applying for BHS scholarships for students attending ANY college is Friday, April 24. To make fair decisions, the Committee requires that families fill out the CSS Profile financial aid form, available at CollegeBoard.com. Please use code #0424
MEFA Navigating the College Process resources, including virtual presentation of Paying the Bill, previously scheduled at BHS.
https://image.s1.sfmc-content.com/lib/fefc16747c6004/m/2/5074961b-f0bb-4ecd-bff8-062cc3028b12.pdf
SENIORS AND JUNIORS
A college counselor from another school district posted a link to a Google sheet that she created, listing information for hundreds of colleges nationwide about virtual tours, info sessions, etc by college. With her generosity, we have included the link below. It may be of use in directing seniors to find information on some of the colleges they are considering and juniors to find out virtual college visit strategies. If you have Google suite you can access the worksheet through Google docs. Please always check each college’s website for the most up-to-date information.
https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1sO7pVos0EvK0BvXoMbnyg00K6r7hXbOQE0HNXF4N4eM/htmlview
JUNIORS
WPI Admissions Dean’s Letter to Panicked Juniors - https://www.washingtonpost.com/education/2020/04/20/college-admissions-dean-writes-open-letter-panicked-high-school-juniors/?fbclid=IwAR2D_hi6NrTu8iSdFFkf0XclURlzsnpnR_xV8l1-Wu_OS-Tf41KiXMYJix0
Westborough HS conducted a College Admissions Webinar where several college admissions professionals answer common questions pertaining to applying to college next year. The Webinar can be accessed here (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uHmuHoh5kWg&feature=youtu.be). For the list of topics with the times when they are discussed, go tobit.ly/whscollegewebinar41320
Read this excellent quick read from an admissions representative at GA Tech. Admissions folks are genuinely understanding of the dilemma that high school juniors are worried about regarding college. This article may hopefully reassure you - http://pwp.gatech.edu/admission-blog/2020/04/02/being-seen-this-one-is-for-the-juniors/
BHS Junior College Search and Information letters – see attached
Virtual College Fair – May 4-6, 2020
https://virtual.gotocollegefairs.com/virtual/collegelist
https://virtual.gotocollegefairs.com/
JUNIORS AND SOPHOMORES
PreACT score update - PreACT score reports are only available in paper format and were delivered to the BHS building which no one has access to at this time. I have contacted ACT and they will be delivering another set of score reports to my home in the next weeks. I will be doing some envelope stuffing at my home and then send out these score reports by mail to student homes. We will also be offering a zoom score report presentation, led by BHS College Counselor Lenny Libenzon, likely during the middle of May – close to the time that score reports should be arriving by mail.
Thanks for your patience as we develop a new plan with PreACT score distribution.
FRESHMEN
Check out one of the first week of Hello Videos from the OLS Counselors. Fun! More to come every Monday and Thursday until June 23….
The Boston Globe wants to hear from high school students:
Reporters from the Boston Globe's investigative team for education and inequality - The Great Divide - are hosting weekly virtual town halls to create space for students to share their experiences, connect with peers, pose questions to an adult support network. To stay in the know, students can join our text line by sending STUDENT to 1-833-335-2777 or by signing up for our free newsletter at globe.com/thegreatdivide.
Eyal Arkin, David Carmel, Anat Katz, Noah Schwartz, Benja Rosenzweig, Liam Smolyar - BHS students - working in combination with several other BHS students, has created a web-based service to take, purchase, and deliver grocery orders for people who are not able to get to the grocery store themselves (primarily the elderly and the immunocompromised). The website lists the current team and a link for others to join them, provides a way to order, explains how the team is complying with sanitary measures and cleanliness, and provides a page of other resources. Here is the link: https://projectdriveway.org/home If you know of anyone who might be in need of this service please consider sending this to them or publicizing this in some way.
3rd Annual Job and Career Fair will go live on Thursday April 30th at 10am as the BHS Virtual Job/ Career Fair page! Students will be able to access the page from the BHS website's home page. Explore different careers, companies, and opportunities that may interest you! Some participating vendors include: Skanska, City Year, Americorps, Stewards of the Future and many more! More information to come when the site goes live. It will be open from 4/30 through June 2020.
Career Conversations at Home… Check out these resources:
-- DreamWakers, a national nonprofit that connects students to real-world professionals via free video conferencing services is providing FREE online career exploration tools for high school students!
DreamWakers Daily: Career Conversations from Home continues this week with another all-star lineup of professional role models. Streaming on Facebook Live each weekday at 1pm ET, we'll feature Q&A sessions with inspirational role models in diverse careers, and you can help guide the conversation: each flashchat will highlight questions submitted by students, educators, and supporters from across the U.S.
For more information: https://mailchi.mp/dreamwakers.org/now-streaming-daily-dreamwakers-new-flashchat-series-launches-today-2627230?e=3dda1a086c
Check back next week for more interesting resources from DreamWakers!
-- Financial Literacy: Want to learn about balancing a check book? or how to open a credit card? Register for FREE Financial Literacy Courses on EverFi here: https://platform.everfi.net/.
-- Now is a great time to take 20 minutes out of your day and take a Career Interest Inventory to find out about different careers you may be interested in! You can use your results to research a number of careers!
To take an inventory sign into your Naviance account here: https://student.naviance.com/auth/fclookup (Links to an external site.), go to "About Me" in the top right corner, "My Assessments" and then chose "Career Interest Profiler". If you have any questions about your results PLEASE reach out to Ms Kate Kennedy, BHS Career Counselor, or your assigned guidance counselor.
Career Spotlights from BHS Career Counselor – Kate Kennedy
Public Policy/ Government: Are you interested in learning what careers relate to a degree in public policy or working in your local government?
To learn more contact:
Jill Harvey: Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Coordinator of Arlington, MA: jillian.harvey@alumni.brown.edu
OR
Caitlin Starr: Office of Diversity, Inclusion, and Community Relations - Town of Brookline, Assistant Director: cstarr@brooklinema.gov
- Museum/Science Education: Do you love science, but are you not sure what to do with this love? Working at a museum could be your answer! Museums need educators to help facilitate programming, and educational experiences for students and adults. Want to learn more?
To learn more contact:
Meghan Carter mcarter@mos.org
Education Associate II, School and Youth Programs
Museum of Science
- Law Enforcement: Are you interested in becoming a police officer or working in public safety? Want to learn more? Reach out to individuals in the Brookline community who know what it takes!
To learn more contact:
Lieutenant Jennifer Paster
Crisis Intervention Team/
Community Service Division
Brookline Police Department
jpaster@brooklinema.gov
Did you know that Police Officers, on average, make $63,380 per year and in order to become a police officer you must be 21 years old with at least a High School Diploma. In Brookline, Police Officers are hired through the Massachusetts Civil Service System. To find out more information visit: http://www.brooklinepolice.com/166/Apply-for-Jobs
Help your Brookline neighbor! See this message from Brookline Strength in Distance - We are a small group of Brookline-ites who got together to create the “Strength in Distance” fundraiser to support the Brookline Food Pantry. The food pantry receives and distributes more than 12,000 pounds of fresh produce, frozen items, dry goods, and hygiene products to our neighbors EACH WEEK and has just opened a third location to help meet demand.
In order to ensure that all of us have the food we need to stay healthy and strong during this crisis, the Food Pantry needs your help! Please visit brooklinestrengthindistance.com to purchase a “Strength in Distance” t-shirt to support the Brookline Food Pantry as well as a local print shop. Or, if you prefer, you can donate directly to the Brookline Food Pantry or the Brookline Community Foundation’s Safety Net Fund (linked on our site).
If you know any students, friends or fellow community members who are in need of support in these difficult and uncertain times, please visit the Brookline Mutual Aid Google Doc to get plugged into Brookline’s community services network. Feel free to send this message to other Brookline community members as well!
Please reach out to strengthindistance2020@gmail.com with any questions. Thank you for all of your hard work during these times!
SENIORS
Deans Redding, Alexander, and Poon said it well – We celebrate you from our quarantine homes!
Dear Seniors,
By now we are sure that you have heard that Governor Baker announced today that all schools in Massachusetts will remain closed for the remainder of the school year. Even though we were not surprised by this announcement, it hit us hard. Not gonna lie: we shed some tears.
Our hearts go out to you. We imagine that you may feel a range of emotions -- anger, disappointment, sadness, despondency, indifference...all are valid.
As you process your reactions, please know that we are soliciting ideas as well as convening groups of staff, parents, and students who will plan aspects of Graduation 2020 and other possible end-of-the-year events. Though we don't know what the spring events look like yet, we are committed to finding ways to honor you and celebrate you, the wonderful BHS Class of 2020.
Next week we will be sending out an opportunity for you to give us your input on the design of these events, so compile your thoughts and be on the lookout for a canvas email.
We want you to continue to take care of yourselves and your families, and of course reach out to BHS staff if and when you need help. We are, and always will be, here for you!
Rejection and moving on.... - https://www.collegedata.com/en/prepare-and-apply/apply-yourself/your-final-answer/rejected-how-to-cope-and-what-to-do/
Koplik - The MA Dept of Education (DESE) is reworking both expectations and deadlines for the Koplik Scholarship process. The following tentative changes are in process at DESE in regard to the Koplik Certificate of Mastery With Distinction Tuition Credit:
** An extension of the submission deadline to October 1, 2020 to allow students enough time to take SAT subject tests and AP exams
** An extension of the usage deadline to Fall 2021 to allow students the opportunity to use the tuition credit
** Allowance of the tuition credit to be retroactive to the start of the fall 2020 semester for students that may receive certificates after the start of school
EXTENDED - Deadline for BHS Scholarship applications is tomorrow Friday 4/24 IMPORTANT REMINDER - Applications are available online at the BHS homepage under 2020 BHS Scholarship Application. The deadline for applying for BHS scholarships for students attending ANY college is Friday, April 24. To make fair decisions, the Committee requires that families fill out the CSS Profile financial aid form, available at CollegeBoard.com. Please use code #0424
MEFA Navigating the College Process resources, including virtual presentation of Paying the Bill, previously scheduled at BHS.
https://image.s1.sfmc-content.com/lib/fefc16747c6004/m/2/5074961b-f0bb-4ecd-bff8-062cc3028b12.pdf
SENIORS AND JUNIORS
A college counselor from another school district posted a link to a Google sheet that she created, listing information for hundreds of colleges nationwide about virtual tours, info sessions, etc by college. With her generosity, we have included the link below. It may be of use in directing seniors to find information on some of the colleges they are considering and juniors to find out virtual college visit strategies. If you have Google suite you can access the worksheet through Google docs. Please always check each college’s website for the most up-to-date information.
https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1sO7pVos0EvK0BvXoMbnyg00K6r7hXbOQE0HNXF4N4eM/htmlview
JUNIORS
WPI Admissions Dean’s Letter to Panicked Juniors - https://www.washingtonpost.com/education/2020/04/20/college-admissions-dean-writes-open-letter-panicked-high-school-juniors/?fbclid=IwAR2D_hi6NrTu8iSdFFkf0XclURlzsnpnR_xV8l1-Wu_OS-Tf41KiXMYJix0
Westborough HS conducted a College Admissions Webinar where several college admissions professionals answer common questions pertaining to applying to college next year. The Webinar can be accessed here (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uHmuHoh5kWg&feature=youtu.be). For the list of topics with the times when they are discussed, go tobit.ly/whscollegewebinar41320
Read this excellent quick read from an admissions representative at GA Tech. Admissions folks are genuinely understanding of the dilemma that high school juniors are worried about regarding college. This article may hopefully reassure you - http://pwp.gatech.edu/admission-blog/2020/04/02/being-seen-this-one-is-for-the-juniors/
BHS Junior College Search and Information letters – see attached
Virtual College Fair – May 4-6, 2020
https://virtual.gotocollegefairs.com/virtual/collegelist
https://virtual.gotocollegefairs.com/
JUNIORS AND SOPHOMORES
PreACT score update - PreACT score reports are only available in paper format and were delivered to the BHS building which no one has access to at this time. I have contacted ACT and they will be delivering another set of score reports to my home in the next weeks. I will be doing some envelope stuffing at my home and then send out these score reports by mail to student homes. We will also be offering a zoom score report presentation, led by BHS College Counselor Lenny Libenzon, likely during the middle of May – close to the time that score reports should be arriving by mail.
Thanks for your patience as we develop a new plan with PreACT score distribution.
FRESHMEN
Check out one of the first week of Hello Videos from the OLS Counselors. Fun! More to come every Monday and Thursday until June 23….