Quarter 3 grades are uploaded to student and parent portals. Please check these grades and develop a plan to finish out this Quarter 4 so this year’s grades are strong.
Reminder from Head of School Meyer from 4/13-
Warrior Adults Available
A lot has been happening within and around our school and community over the past several weeks. … I want to remind all of you that there are many helping people at BHS. In addition to your teachers, there are guidance counselors, social workers, psychologists, advisors, nurses, paraprofessionals, librarians, deans, program coordinators and leaders, and many more folks who wish to hear from and help you.
Please check in with a high school adult…..if you need to; we will be here.
IMPORTANT NOTE – As always, thank you to students and family members for reading this weekly BHS Counseling/Guidance Dept Weekly Update. This weekly BHS Counseling/Guidance Dept update will continue to be sent out during the earlier weekday of each school week, but not over the weekend/Sunday. Your understanding and support are greatly appreciated!
These BHS Counseling Dept Weekly Update emails are sent to all students and the 1st contact parent/guardian listed on the students’ X2 accounts.
All NEW UPDATES will be highlighted in BLUE each week for easy scanning of newest info.
FAMILIES
Immigrant Advancement Committee Resources
Brookline's Immigrant Advancement Committee (part of the town's Commission for Diversity, Inclusion & Community Relations) would like to share two important updates:
(1) FREE Citizenship Clinic - May 7 at 11am at the Brookline Main Library: we are collaborating with the library and the MIRA Coalition to host a free citizenship clinic to provide citizenship application assistance. Individuals interested in receiving assistance must register by calling 617-350-5480 x200 or emailing [email protected]. Flyers in multiple languages are attached. If you are interested in volunteering at the event, please fill out this form - you will receive training before the event!
(2) Resource document: The IAC has created a resource document for immigrants new to Brookline. This is a live document and continues to be in progress - we are open to suggestions and additions, and are also committed to adding translations. Please share widely!
ALL STUDENTS
Interested in doing the “Info Time” BHS announcements next year? Current “Info Time” announcer senior Claire Gallion is looking to find a rising sophomore, junior, or senior for the next voice for Info Time! If you think you have what it takes, fill out this form - https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSeypV6ykF92JV-bom_xxNzwY-lVdnUok9ZwGYvZ9cjNUzZavQ/viewform - by FRIDAY, MAY 6TH at 3 PM.
Are you interested in telling your story at the Day of Jewish Identity and Fighting Antisemitism on May 19th? Let us know! We are looking for volunteers (students and teachers) to share their or their family's story regarding anti-Semitism or Jewish identity. Our goal is to showcase the wide spectrum of Jewish experiences (positive and negative) and show that despite our experiences being unique, they are all connected. While we wish everyone could speak, we may need to make cuts if there are too many applicants or if someone is not a good fit. If you are interested in telling your story, please fill out this form (https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLScJ1Qak2_a_gvaaLRFX5IGS8lCk4Ge5A1IsqMfwLZuh68_5sg/viewform ) ASAP, and attend JSU's meeting tomorrow (Tuesday April 26) during X block in room 392.
Each year, one student is elected to serve on the school committee. The position is open to any grade 9-11 student who wishes to serve. This is one of the most significant student advocacy leadership roles in the Town of Brookline. This 1 student is charged with bringing reports to the school committee from the perspective of BHS students. This position is a significant time commitment and you should spend time reading our detailed and informative FAQ about this position: https://bit.ly/FAQschoolcommitteerep
In addition to attending School Committee meetings 2X per month on Thursdays evenings and preparing for those meetings through research and writing reports, the student elected to this position is also a member of the Student Council and Legislature which is an X block commitment every week of the school year.
If you think you would like to run for this position please submit your name and a short statement of interest by Monday, May 2, 2022, and attend a student council meeting to give a 2 min speech on your candidacy during Faculty Collab time on May 3rd in room 403. Student Council members are charged with reading statements and electing a representative following that meeting. Application is here - https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSdRNnGxYSy-5dbg4jyDCaGrjAbkPxPG_Yaxjft2Seqe744jFQ/viewform
Direct questions to [email protected]
In the wake of ongoing violence/racism against the AAPI Community, APAC (BHS' Asian Pacific American Club) wants to get more information from AAPI students and faculty about their experiences at BHS as an AAPI student or faculty member. This is the first step in making long-term, systemic change in our school community. We would appreciate any and all AAPI identifying BHS community members filling out this form. https://forms.gle/JJKWF3QmRnVCaVni7
Thank you for using your voice and being brave. Together we can make change.
Are you interested in robotics and want to do it on a competitive level? Apply here to be on either the Brookline Bots, an all girls/gender non-conforming team, or a newly forming co-ed robotics team. By joining a team, you will get the opportunity to not only learn how to build and program competition robots, but work towards a larger goal of the Brookline Robotics Initiative non profit to expand robotics in Brookline. To learn more about our community, check out our website (brooklinerobotics.org) or email us with any questions at [email protected] or [email protected]
In 2020, as a high school senior, Kaya Vadhan (BHS Class of 2021) founded a nationwide research journal for law and the social sciences: The High School Journal of Law & Society. The journal operates as a collective of talented high school students dedicated to promoting and highlighting excellence in their peers’ law and social science writings. Submission offers an opportunity for students to have their papers edited by seasoned scholars, compete for the Whipple Prize ($100), an excellence-in-writing award offered to the top submission of each issue, and bolster college applications through publication in a national journal. We are currently seeking submissions for our 4th Issue and are hosting a series of information sessions during this week of April 11th. Check out this website link for more information - https://www.hslawandsociety.com/
Checking in on your mental health…..
BHS counselors, social workers, school psychologists are here to support you! If you are worried about yourself, a friend, a family member, please don’t worry alone. Please talk to a trusted adult, including a BHS support staff person.
Here are other resources to consider:
- Youth Mobile Crisis Intervention Worcester Team: 1-866-549-2142
- Emergency Mental Health Services (EMH): 508-334-3562 - UMass Memorial Hospital
- National Suicide Prevention Lifeline: 1-800-273-8255
- Crisis Text Line - Text HOME to 741741
Science Help Center Open for grades 9-12
If you're looking for extra help in any of your science class (physics, chemistry or biology) the center will be open every morning (except Tuesdays) during Z Block in room 204. Please reach out to [email protected] or [email protected] with any questions.
Check out the UPDATED Summer 2022 Opportunities document! Copy and paste this link for the most updated programs - https://docs.google.com/document/d/1LZJQoWB4C-JLr13sXkUqEcBvCBraUo3eWYtMG_DUDac/edit
This document is being updated regularly with more opportunities including jobs, internships, and summer programs.
Thinking about a summer camp counselor job? There are a number of camp organizations looking for counselors NOW! See the BHS Guidance website / Career Counseling link à summer jobs 2022 for more info - https://docs.google.com/document/d/1LZJQoWB4C-JLr13sXkUqEcBvCBraUo3eWYtMG_DUDac/edit#heading=h.i9miodlpjya
Lunch Lounge is offered for all of the 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 friendly conversation, other kids interested in making friends, and a warm and familiar staff member. At this time, Lunch Lounge is offered for these lunch blocks in Room 277:
Week A - Monday E -Lunch B only
Wednesday C - Lunch A and B
Friday D - Lunch A and B
Week B - Monday E - Lunch B will start week of 9/20
Wed C - Lunch A and B
Friday D - Lunch A and B
Lunch at 22 Tappan –
Does the cafeteria sometimes feel too loud or too crowded? Does it sometimes feel difficult to make friends with new people during the lunch block?
Come join Lunch Lounge on Fridays in room 206, a dedicated space to form positive relationships with peers! Games will be provided. Fun is optional and encouraged!
BHS Club Info:
Check out the latest issue of GreenZine Brookline!- https://greenzinebrookline.wordpress.com/
This issue includes articles by BHS writers about racial justice and its intersection with climate change, as well as illustrations and more. GreenZine highlights environmental and climate change writing and illustrations by PSB's K-12 students. We offer students an opportunity to publish news, opinion, storytelling, poetry, art, and photography about climate change, outdoor education and the environment. We highlight the excellent work being done by students, staff and parents in our school community, as well as the need for more. Greenzine is a platform to amplify the voices and passion of students in order to catalyze conversation about climate change and outdoor education in our schools so that our students will be more resilient and prepared to lead in a climate-disrupted world. Interested in submitting? Visit the site or contact [email protected].
Are you interested in creating artwork, writing letters, helping senior citizens or getting community service hours? Join the The Letters for Rose Brookline Team
See this slideshow for information on how to get involved: https://docs.google.com/presentation/d/1vgbNMoolkoRo5diJsISagvgNyQBhKwu3oL51Q2PdTuA/edit?usp=sharing
Community Service Opportunities for BHS Students:
Are you interested in food equity and hope to combat food security? Join Mutual Aid Brookline! We are an organization started during the pandemic to address the urgent needs of the community right here in Brookline, including grocery delivery, language access, and financial support. We are short on volunteers, donations, and need help as much as we can! Sign up here to join: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/1YunqZkNG7cKLvp9FSb2UAJPUESM_bxTLNMixzfsD0u0/viewform
Brookline Community Fridge - Ongoing - Brothers & Sisters Cafe
15 Station St
The way the system works is that a business will host a space for the fridge and pay for electricity. The fridge is run by volunteers who perform tasks like removing expired food, keeping the fridge clean, donating food, and keeping a running list of what the fridge could use. Anyone interested can find more information on the Brookline Community Fridge Instagram (https://www.instagram.com/brooklinecommunityfridge/) or sign up to volunteer via this form: https://www.signupgenius.com/go/10c0c44a9af28abfdcf8-volunteer1.
BHS COMMUNITY SERVICE INFO - Even though Brookline High does not have a community service requirement for graduation, many BHS students become involved in their school or greater Brookline community through service. These opportunities provide a chance for students to better understand and give back to those in need, plus offer a direct strategy to deal with emotions and stress by making connections with others and becoming engaged with something larger than one’s self. Adding community service activities can be beneficial to your college applications down the road too!
You do NOT have to have community service officially listed on your BHS transcript for credit to have its impact be noted for your own sense of self or to colleges. If you do want to have community service hours count for BHS credit, please be aware of these important criteria:
- must be a service within BHS or Brookline or greater Brookline community
- any service hours beyond 50 MUST be approved by the BHS Community Service Coordinator ([email protected]) – see attached form
- 50 hours = .25 credit; 100 hours = .5 credit; 150 hours = .75 credit; 200 hours = 1.0 credit
- hours must be logged and verified by the service organization supervisor and Ms Gaffney at BHS
– Check out Teen Life by copying and pasting this link- https://www.teenlife.com/category/volunteer/?keyword=&location=boston&program-type=volunteer
- The BHS Community Service info on the school’s website has been updated with BHS specific community service opportunities plus opportunities in the Brookline/Boston area - http://bhs.brookline.k12.ma.us/community-service.html
SENIORS
Don’t miss out on the many need-based scholarships available through the BHS Scholarship Program! To apply, follow the three easy steps below. If you have already completed these steps, please disregard this email. Let me know if you have questions.
1. Complete the BHS Scholarship Application found on the link below (It’s easy to complete and is also on the home page of the BHS website): https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSdxuMBFxf34QTnthYozkKVxjD8Z94VS8DhQIgNr27uroqcRmg/viewform (Links to an external site.)
2. Submit your CSS Profile to the BHS Scholarship Program. The CSS Profile application is on the College Board Website. You must complete the CSS Profile and then submit it to the Brookline Scholarship Program – code 0424. Submitting the CSS Profile to a college does not mean that you have submitted it to the BHS Scholarship Program. You need to send it specifically to the BHS Scholarship Program – code 0424
3. Once you know what college you will attend, you will need to submit the financial aid letter you receive from that college.
The Scholarship Committee would like students and parents to know that three criteria are used for choosing award recipients: academics, contributions and activities at BHS, and most importantly, unmet financial need. There are no merit scholarships per se given out through this program.
Every year, BHS Guidance relies on our seniors to enter their college admissions results in Naviance. This helps our juniors and sophomores to then have updated scattergrams for each university. So we need you help now.
Please log in to your Naviance account and update your results for every college you have heard from (admit, deny, waitlist, etc). Here is how: Go to Naviance account and click "Colleges I Am Applying to," then click on the little pencil (Edit), and update your results.
PLEASE HELP US NOW! Juniors will be grateful!
SENIORS AND JUNIORS
Happening on Monday, May 2nd at 6:30 pm on zoom – The BHS Counseling and Special Education Departments will host the virtual "College Supports for Students with Learning Differences" panel (zoom link below). We will talk about support available at colleges and then answer questions from the audience. At present, the panel includes Ms Neff-Verre and Mr. Libenzon (BHS Counseling Dept), Ms. April Zyirek (BHS Special Education Coordinator), Mr. Brandon McCarthy (BHS Transitions Program) and Admission Counselors from several Mass colleges. Zoom link:
https://psbma-org.zoom.us/j/95737099391?pwd=Wkh5Z2JLS1JBVWNQUUFRZXhCVW56QT09
Meeting ID: 957 3709 9391
Passcode: 089962
Save the date…. Nationally known author and speaker Harlan Cohen is back to talk about –
17 Things You Need to Do Before Going to College
Program: 17 Things You NEED To Do Before College (for students and parents)
Date: May 4, 2022 at 7pm ET (Wednesday night)
Registration Link: https://us02web.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_I7mJg-ghTDGzMN_y3iZBew
Program Details: Join New York Times bestselling author Harlan Cohen with this info-packed interactive live virtual event. Harlan will deliver tips and strategies that are foundational for college success. Learn about the latest research, trends, and plans college campuses are making to welcome the class of 2026. This event is perfect for high-school seniors, parents, and juniors in the college planning process. Visit www.HarlanCohen.com to learn more.
JUNIORS
The Junior Semi is Friday, April 29th from 7-11pm! Don't miss it!
You can only buy tickets from a parent/guardian aspen account.
If you tried to purchase tickets and weren't able, please go to this link - https://ma-brookline.intouchreceipting.com/ - and reset your password. It can take a few hours to reset. If your account still won't work, please email Dean Allen and your school counselor for help. If your family does not currently have a Aspen Portal account and you wish to use the online payment portal, please email: [email protected]
The 22 Tappan Commons Space will be transformed to include festive lighting, an LED dance floor, and a photo booth, among other surprises. There will be live music spun by DJ Lifted. Food will be provided from the following restaurants: Bon Me, Anna’s, Raising Cane’s and JP Licks. This is a semi-formal event, which means dress to impress! If you have questions or need assistance with your attire, please contact your Counselor or Dean.
New this week, in order to streamline the financial aid process, please contact Dean Allen and your school counselor directly so that we can add you to our support list. You are still required to complete the contract (https://docs.google.com/document/d/1BDW1bbV8FNTCLslVH_RPU_m__-O2Ydn1AjWyLbFybR4/edit) and submit while we are processing your financial assistance request.
Contracts are due by this Wednesday, April 27, 2022. As a reminder, if you can’t attend Junior Semi due to Covid-19, a doctor’s note or communication from the school nurse will be required to consider a refund.
Please note: Only current juniors may purchase a ticket to the Junior Semi. Each junior can purchase a maximum of two tickets. Only current BHS students are allowed to attend as a guest. No outside students will be permitted. BHS School ids and/or photo ids will be required to enter. We reserve the right to refuse your entry if you do not have a photo id.
The Junior Semi is considered a school event. All school rules of conduct apply. While we are planning a mask-friendly event, we will follow PSB mask guidance up to the moment, which may mean a change from mask-friendly to mandatory masks.
Want to be considered for BHS National Honor Society as a senior?
Here’s what you should be doing:
- maintain an overall 3.3 or better BHS GPA
- complete minimum of 15 hours of community service (Sept 2021 – August 2022) - If you'd like a tool for keeping track of your community service, you can use this google doc organizer - https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1OStrm_4nJw0_rheAZVLYJpWGwsTO1IHSXMfBbtWFJQI/edit#gid=0. Make and save a copy of it to maintain your own record. You'll be able to submit this as part of your application in your senior year.
- NHS info blast shared to all eligible seniors in May and applications completed in early Sept 2022
9TH GRADERS
Lunch at 22 Tappan –
Does the cafeteria sometimes feel too loud or too crowded? Does it sometimes feel difficult to make friends with new people during the lunch block?
Come join Lunch Lounge on Fridays in room 206, a dedicated space to form positive relationships with peers! Games will be provided. Fun is optional and encouraged!
As always, 9th graders should reach out to their counselor if they have any questions or concerns about current classes, future course selection, and life in and out of school. The counselors don’t want any 9th grader to worry alone!