These BHS Counseling Dept Weekly Update emails are sent to all students and the 1st contact parent/guardian listed on the students’ X2 accounts. As I’ve done in the past, all NEW UPDATES will be highlighted in BLUE each week for easy scanning of newest info!
This week is a four day school week with Monday 10/10 off for Indigenous Peoples Day. Please see the 4 day week schedule on the attached document shared on this email.
Quarter 1 is almost 1/2 away done! IPRs (Interim Progress Reports) will be posted this Thurs 10/13 student and parent portals. These messages celebrate good student work and can note areas where a student needs to focus and make improvements before quarter 1 ends on November 7.
This week is a four day school week with Monday 10/10 off for Indigenous Peoples Day. Please see the 4 day week schedule on the attached document shared on this email.
Quarter 1 is almost 1/2 away done! IPRs (Interim Progress Reports) will be posted this Thurs 10/13 student and parent portals. These messages celebrate good student work and can note areas where a student needs to focus and make improvements before quarter 1 ends on November 7.
If a student has questions/concerns or just wants to say hello to their counselor, please encourage your student to stop by their counselor’s office when not in class. If the counselor is busy with another student or attending a meeting, advise your student to leave a note or send an email to their counselor.. We’re here and ready to support EVERY BHS student!
As the PSB Educational Equity team outlines on the PSB homepage, I’d like to highlight these 2 dates for this week:
10/10 – World Mental Health Day: This day promotes mental health awareness and education. All people have mental health, in the same way they have physical health. Hold a mental health workshop in your office to explore the importance of self-care and mental wellness.
10/10 – Indigenous Peoples' Day: Many people remember this holiday as “Columbus Day.” They even learned the rhyme “in 1492, Columbus sailed the ocean blue” to celebrate. However, Columbus couldn’t discover a land that already existed and was inhabited by the indigenous people of North America. This day now honors the original inhabitants of the Americas. [As Jessica Craven mentions in her Carry Wood, Carry Water blog -“I sit writing this email on stolen land, and you sit reading it on the same. Underscoring this today (and every day) isn’t about “feeling bad about ourselves.” It’s not, in fact, about us at all. It’s about acknowledging the past and current harms done to others so that we can both gain in compassion and work to amend said harms”.
A high quality short article on the Grown and Flown website - College Counselor: This Matters More Than Anything Else - https://grownandflown.com/high-school-college-mental-health/
FAMILIES
Green Line Transformation Program Update - First Closure Complete, 2nd of 3 Surges Begins Saturday, October 8
I am happy to share that the first of three 9-day closures of the D Branch was completed successfully. Regular service will operate until this Friday, October 7. The second closure will begin on Saturday, October 8, and will continue through Sunday, October 16. Shuttle buses will replace train service at the start of service on Saturday. Following the completion of that closure, regular service will resume for five days until the third and final full-access closure begins on Saturday, October 22 to Sunday, October 30. Please see the flyer from MBTA which outlines work to be done. https://www.mbta.com/projects/green-line-track-upgrades-2022
Snacks continue to be delivered! Thanks again for your generous donations so students continue to enjoy snacks in our counseling offices at both 22 Tappan and 115 Greenough! If you’d still like to donate by sharing your favorite snack from Amazon, please send the goodies to BHS Guidance/ 115 Greenough St/ Brookline 02445.
USDA continues free lunches for any Brookline student for this school year 2022-23, regardless of meal eligibility – go to https://publicschoolsofbrooklineschoolnutrition.com/
ALL STUDENTS
Come see some incredible student writers read their work this Thursday October 13 from 7-8:30 pm in our 22 Tappan Theater. The following students completed their Summer Writing Fellowship and will be sharing excerpts from their papers. If you can't make it in person to cheer them on, we will also be streaming the event via zoom. The webinar link is available on our website. Student Writer: Nate Hanaghan, Kyla Frey, Nate Parry Luff, Tali Lissai, Serena Ibanez, Alice MacGarvie Thompson, Sofia Hauser, Ava Varrell, Alejandro Gonzalez, Masha Balyakin, Tina Cheng, Stella Charbonneau
Wrestling is a fantastic Winter sport that pushes you to become the best version of yourself. If you want to challenge yourself and create your own success, wrestling is for you! We have varsity spots available, so there is an opportunity to grow into a leadership position quickly. If you have any questions, you can find us outside Tappan from 2:16-2:30 right after school on Wednesdays, and we will do a team workout afterward that you are welcome to join. Hope to see you there!
BHS LIBRARY HOURS
Monday 8:00am-4:00pm
Tuesday 8:00am-3:00pm
Wednesday 8:00am-4:00pm
Thursday 8:00am-4:00pm
Friday 8:00am-3:00pm
Interested in getting certified as a Lifeguard? See the attached Lifeguard flyer.
Good article about Friendship Changes in high school - offered by Grown and Flown website - High School Counselor Has Advice for Teens who have Friend Problems - https://grownandflown.com/teens-sometimes-struggle-to-keep-friends/
School Photo make up day is in Schluntz Gym on Nov. 9th, between 7:30 am and 3:00 pm. This is the only make-up day for both staff and students.This is also the time for picture retakes, if needed. Students should go to the Schluntz Gym on their own during the day but not miss any class time.
Taking an AP course at BHS? AP Registration is now open until Nov 15, 2022-
The 2023 AP Registration will opened Monday September 19th. Please see the attached letter below with details about how to register. PLEASE NOTE: THERE ARE TWO STEPS TO REGISTER, YOU MUST COMPLETE BOTH STEPS! Registration ends on Nov 15, 2022.
PSB can offer financial assistance for school activities to qualified families -
- Go to this PSB link - https://www.brookline.k12.ma.us/Page/2210
- The form can be filled out on your computer and, with the supporting documents, emailed to [email protected]. We accept photos and scans of all the documents.
- You can contact your school's secretary if you need help emailing the documents.
- This application procedure covers most school fees in the full school year: fees for Athletics, Instrumental Music, and other program and field trip fees.
- This application procedure covers Brookline Early Education Program Tuition.
- This application procedure does not cover optional field trips or programs and school lunch, which require a separate application for Free/Reduced fees
- In order to maintain your eligibility for this school year, you MUST submit a new application, along with current supporting documents.
Lunch Lounge is back at BHS - 115 campus! It’s getting chilly outside. Join other students for a quiet, peaceful spot to eat and get to know other students.
All students in Grades 9-12…..Social Lunch/ Lunch Lounge is offered for all students who may or may not have some social connections in classes, including new to BHS students. It is a welcoming, inclusive drop-in lunch community that engages kids with the “social scaffolding” of friendly conversation, other kids interested in making friends, and a warm and familiar staff member. Games, drawing materials and fun is offered… Just bring your own lunch!
Lunch Lounge is offered for these lunch blocks in Room 277 @ the 115 Greenough campus:
Every Monday E block - both lunches
Every Wednesday C block - both lunches
Every Friday E block - both lunches
Clubs at BHS:
BHS Outdoor Adventure Club activity- Tuesday October 11th - Tour de Boston Bike Ride - with delicious cannolis at Mike's Pastries in the North End.
You'll need a bike and helmet for this one. (If you don't have one but want to come, let me know and I can try to find one to use). We'll meet at 2:10pm at the BHS green line train stop next to 22 Tappan. We'll take a nice route towards downtown, seeing the Charles river, the waterfront, and more. We'll pit stop at the famous Mike's Pastry - recommend bringing ten bucks to treat yourself. Then we'll ride back. Should be back at BHS around 530 or 6pm.
EMAIL Paul Epstein (BHS Social worker) @ [email protected] or TEXT him (617-291-0415) to get a spot on this adventure.
IT'S TIME TO THINK GLOBAL. Join the Global Initiatives club. We meet every Wednesday at 7:45 am. If that time doesn't work for you, just complete this survey and we'll reach out to you. During our meetings, we partake in global issues discussions, interviews with international activists (posted here: www.globalvoice.news), and host yearly trivia nights! Please complete this 30 second survey so we know who'll join us - https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSeqjtvGDSEXdP2ohhCkX_0D89D6ly1inutGWNpzg5yvJnAXMA/viewform
Interested in computer science? Join the Women in Computer Science club! We meet during X Block (and possibly after school) in room 261. This year, we are doing projects, hackathons, small lessons, game nights, speakers, and more. We welcome all levels of experience! Join here: https://forms.gle/AwHEJByXRFFCsye99
Website: https://tinyurl.com/bhswicsweb
Email: [email protected]
Are you proficient at an instrument and want to use your skills to help an elementary or middle school student? The Brookline Music Program pairs volunteer BHS student musicians with Brookline elementary/middle school students to provide free music instruction. Your job would be to provide musical support and foster a mentor/mentee relationship. Here is the link to our instructor application: https://forms.gle/U3QHAUktgTaqESK1A. Please email us with any questions or concerns at [email protected].
The Women in STEM club are looking for any female identifying student who interested in science and who would like to be a part of a community where they have speakers, run fun activities, and plan events for the community. If at all interested stop by room 308 during X block!
- The WiSTEM Leaders
Keep in mind that students can join most clubs during any point in the school year, not just on the sign up day at the Club Fair. The current list of clubs can be found on this link - https://bhs.brookline.k12.ma.us/clubs-and-activities-list.html - from the BHS website homepage. An online Club Fair slideshow will also be available soon!
Community Service Opportunities for BHS Students:
New leadership positions available at Letters for Rose Brookline!
Letters for Rose is a volunteer organization that aims to reduce loneliness and isolation among senior citizens at local nursing homes by collecting and distributing personalized letters, art, and cards made by local volunteers.
The Administrative Board does all the behind-the-scenes of running our chapter! This includes recruiting volunteers, sending emails, communicating with senior homes, collecting and photographing the letters and art from volunteers, running our social media platforms, and much more!
If you are interested, please fill out this form!! For more info, please see this document: Letters for Rose Leadership Positions. If you have any questions, please contact [email protected] or [email protected]
We are looking for students to help plan and execute this year's Ability Event happening at BHS on November 16th!
Opportunities include:
-Planning interactive tables for the event
-Creating a lesson on Ability/Ableism for advisory
-Running a table on the day of the event
-Sharing your voice if you are an individual with a disability
If you are interested or have any questions, please reach out to Ms. Gray at [email protected] See below for more information about last years ability event:
Last year's Ability Event consisted of a lesson during advisory introducing ableism, a video featuring staff and students at BHS sharing about their experiences as individuals with different abilities, and an interactive experience in the atrium with a host of tables dedicated to a variety of educational and hands-on activities in connection to learning more about the disability community and promoting inclusion. These activities included a table with fidgets, learning how to use communication devices, a hearing simulation, a color blindness test-hosted by the library.
Brookline Thrives, is a program of the Brookline Food Pantry that works in partnership with the Public Schools of Brookline to provide free weekend meals to school children to reduce the number of students starting the school week hungry. Brookline Thrives is always in need of help with packing bags and making school deliveries. Please consider signing up to volunteer! Bag packing/Delivery of Food Bags Sign Up at this link - https://www.signupgenius.com/go/70a0e45a8a722a5fd0-september
MA Partnerships for Youth 2022-2023 Poster & Public Service Announcement (PSA) Competition -
The Theme for This School Year’s Project is: THE EARTH LOVES YOU. LOVE IT BACK.
Suggested Topics for Posters and PSAs include:
● Reduce Paper Consumption
● Save Electricity
● Save Water
● Bring Reusable Bags to the Grocery Store
● Walk to School or Take a Bike. Carpool when Possible
● Download an Environmental App
● Start an Environmental Club
● Educate Others on Sustainable Development Goals (SDG’s)
● Recycle, Recycle, Recycle
● Buy a Water Bottle and Fill it at
Fountains
● Turn Off Your Phone
● Don’t Send Chemicals into our Waterways
● Plant a Tree
● Protect Our Environment and Safeguard our Natural Resources
This year’s theme is based on the continued movement to be Green and Sustainable. Our Earth depends on YOU to educate and help others become more environmentally friendly and conscientious.
The deadline for POSTER submissions is Friday, January 20, 2023. The deadline for PSA submissions is Friday, April 28, 2023.
- Poster Project Student Application link: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1v4kUEoxQP0zkZhk-9pc4sXDN2rlEVw9K/view
- PSA Student Application link: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1P2b2AJ0KzNEl09DHOu0Gg_5rOHJUuSdE/view
For additional information, please contact Margie Daniels, Executive Director at [email protected]
Career Exploration info for BHS students:
BHS Career Counselor - Career Exploration is here!
Find Ms Kennedy, the BHS Career Counselor, at both BHS buildings:
Ms. Kennedy’s Schedule 2022/ 2023
@ 22 Tappen rm 237 Monday, Tuesday, Friday ALL DAY AND
Wednesdays 8:20- 10am (A & T block), Thursdays 1-3pm (E & F block)
@ 115 Greenough Street rm 280/ 279 (The College and Career Center)
Wednesdays 10am- 2:15pm (X, D and E block) AND
Thursdays 8:20- 1pm (A, B, D and G block)
This week…..Come one! Come all! X block October 13 at 9:20am-
Check out the Brookline High College and Career Center Open House on October 13th during x block to learn about what we have to offer! Meet our College Counselor, Lenny Libenzon and Career Counselor, Kate Kennedy. Candy will be provided! We hope to see you there!
Are you interested in getting a job this school year? Check out the BHS Job Opportunities on the BHS Career Counseling website! This page will be updated throughout the year!
https://bhs.brookline.k12.ma.us/career-counseling1.html
Questions? Email Ms. Kennedy at [email protected]
SENIORS
Missed the October 2nd BHS/ PTO College Essay Writing Workshop? Other options to support you-
- Check in with your counselor or Mr Libenzon (BHS College Counselor) for essay support too!
- We continue to recommend the College Essay Guy website for lots of great FREE advice for seniors and essay writing suggestions - https://www.collegeessayguy.com/
- Here’s a specific FREE online webinar with College Essay Expert Ethan Sawyer:
7 Ways to Improve Your College Essays and Applications Right Now
Oct 13 @ 4-5pm PT (7-8pm Eastern)
- 3 resources you can use to up-level 3 oft-overlooked parts of the college application
- Practical ways to reduce stress leading up to the Early Action/Decision deadlines
- How to see "the whole picture" of your application and prioritize your time (more) effectively
We'll also get into:
- How do you know when your personal statement is finished?
- How do you know if your application is doing its job—and what is its job anyway?
- What if your essays and application just aren’t ready by the early deadline?
- Live Q&A
Join us this Wednesday @ 6:30pm …. Wed October 12 from 6:30-8pm on Zoom
BHS Parents and Seniors are invited to participate in the virtual panel discussion of college admissions, sponsored by the BHS Counseling Dept. Admission representatives will give updates about their schools and then answer audience questions. This fall, we have five colleges in attendance: Boston University, Northeastern, Mass Bay Community College, UMass Amherst, University of Vermont. Zoom info below:
https://psbma-org.zoom.us/j/97192408856?pwd=K1J4YVVzUGdHWXlMRmxCcVNoVk5GQT09
Meeting ID: 971 9240 8856
Passcode: 827670
It’s time to think about financial aid for college…
Helpful Grown and Flown website article with financial aid tips and a walk-through to complete the FAFSA (Free Application for Federal Student Aid). - https://grownandflown.com/how-to-complete-fafsa-css-profile/
The starting date in which the FAFSA can be submitted is October 1, 2022. BHS will be joining with MEFA (MA Educational Financing Authority) to offer the FAFSA Festival on Tues 10/25/22 from 4-8pm - virtual 1:1 FREE support for seniors/families to work with a qualified financial aid advisor to complete the FAFSA form. More details coming soon!
Massachusetts Educational Financing Authority will host multiple web seminars that explain the financial aid and merit aid process, under
the title "Financial Aid 101." We recommend choosing one of the following dates: 10/11, 10/20. All seminars start at 6:30. To sign up,
go to https://www.mefa.org/events
In addition, BHS is partnering with MEFA to host the FAFSA festival, where MEFA volunteers will help families fill out FAFSA. Help will be available in several languages. This event will take place on Tuesday, October 25, 2022, from 4:00pm - 8:00pm. To sign up,
go to https://www.mefa.org/events
Ms. McIntosh, the Gr 12 Deans Secretary, is asking all of you to fill out the mandatory Cap& Gown form for the graduation.
Here is the link: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSfu5q1OIaW3z3SNOwJBz558Ily11DQrJoUAn3Dm7Sj9Tt_4ow/viewform?usp=sf_link
BHS seniors and families are invited to the Nashoba Regional High School's MA State College Fair, open to all local families and students - Tuesday Oct 18, 2022, 6-8pm.
See attached flyer for more info.
The essential BHS College Application Guide is attached to this email too.
Parents of Seniors - Help out your student and complete the Parent “Brag” Sheet to share with your student’s counselor. This info will help the counselor write an even stronger college recommendation for your senior! And you can share your pride in your student’s achievements! See attached Parent Brag form
Students - Be sure to complete the Self-Questionnaire Form to hand off to your counselor. This info will also help your counselor write the most thorough and supportive recommendation letter for you. See attached sheets #1 and #2
Reminder - College Representatives are now virtually meeting with BHS Seniors.
Every fall, BHS hosts admission counselors from many of our top universities. They come specifically to talk to you and answer your questions. It is a great opportunity for you to connect to colleges without traveling! This year, the visits will be virtual, and after school (starting at 4 pm). You will need to sign up for visits through Naviance (https://student.naviance.com/colleges/visits). Please take a look at this list and sign up. If you need help logging in to Naviance, email Lenny Libenzon or your counselor.
Rep visits at BHS have started – Seniors can attend any and all college sessions of schools they plan to or are interested in attending. The schedule and REQUIRED zoom link registration can be found on your Naviance homepage. This is a wonderful way to learn more about colleges, ask important questions, and show demonstrated interest!
SENIORS– READ YOUR EMAILS! Especially if you are applying to college this Fall!
Seniors - You will be asked to review your unofficial transcript for any missing classes or errors in your upcoming senior seminars. Contact your counselor with any questions or concerns.
It is your responsibility to be sure your transcript is accurate before giving BHS permission to send to any colleges or post HS grad programs.
You should be checking that you are earning all required credits towards graduation this June 2023 too.
English- 4 credits
Science - 3 credits
Social Studies/History - 3 credits including US History
Math - 3 credits (4 years required for UMass State colleges/universities)
World Language - 2 credits (same language)
Elective - 3 credits distributed across Visual Arts, Performing Arts, Career/Tech, Community Service
Wellness - .5 Lifetime Wellness, 3 - .25 wellness credits
+ additional credits to earn minimum total credits of 22
We will not be sharing any GPA information with colleges on official transcripts. See your Naviance account for your current “working” BHS GPA.
College Application Reminders:
Help the BHS counselors and teachers support your application process by meeting these deadlines. Submit your electronic transcript release forms, your self-questionnaire, your parent/caregiver’s “brag” sheet, and give notice to your teachers who have agreed to write recommendations for you.
College Deadline BHS Deadline
November 15 Monday, Oct 19
December 1 Tuesday, Nov 1
December 15 Tuesday, November 15
January 1 Wednesday, November 30
(includes no school December break)
January 15 Monday, December 12
February 1 Tuesday, January 3
February 15 Wednesday, January 18
These important deadline dates are also on the document shared with seniors.
Seniors – When submitting your transcript release forms electronically, please:
- use the updated link shared by your counselor
- be sure to list your college names and addresses CORRECTLY AS THEY APPEAR OFFICIALLY ON THE COLLEGE’S WEBSITE OR NAVIANCE. The processing of your request is slowed down by not including the official name of the college or putting in wrong information.
SENIORS AND JUNIORS
BHS National Honor Society update - NHS is currently between advisors. The new advisor or team of advisors will be named/announced very soon.
In the meantime…. The most common question for kids at this point in the year is "How do I join NHS? Should I have heard something already?"
The answer that will likely remain the same under new advisors: In early October, an email with an application will go out to the school email address of all seniors who meet the NHS eligibility requirements of GPA and have a clear record with no academic dishonesty or conduct violations. That application will include space for them to report their completion of 15 hours of community service.
Juniors wondering about NHS are advised to keep working hard in their classes to maintain that GPA and to get involved with some community service opportunities that will help them complete 15 hours of service during their Junior year (including the summer months before senior year).
Some of the details may be subject to change under the leadership of new advisor(s) but this information is also shared with your student’s counselor as our seniors begin to apply to EA/ED colleges with November deadlines.
9TH GRADERS
Hope your school year has started off well!
Stop by the 231 Counseling Suite at 22 Tappan when you have a free minute to say hello to your counselor - Ms Kennedy, Ms Young, Ms Bent, Mr Gorman, and Ms Neff-Verre (subbing for Ms Aggeler until her return from maternity leave in early November). Ms Figueroa is a counselor and dean for some 9th graders too!
Counselors have started spending time in 9th grade T block Hubs for introductions and a guidance seminar in circle format. The theme will be “What Motivates You?” See you soon!