This is Week A for BHS grades 9-12.
Wednesday 4/6 is a ½ day for students with BHS staff working together for professional development for the afternoon. Please note that morning includes LGBTQ+ DAY OF DIALOGUE, sponsored by the Brookline High GSA. The block schedule on Wed is:
B-BLOCK - 8:20-9:35 (75 min)
D-BLOCK - 9:40-10:55 (75 min
C-BLOCK - 11:00-12:15 (75 min)
AFTER-SCHOOL - 12:00-1:00 (1 hr): Pride Festival in the Quad at 115 Greenough; join if you’d like!
Wednesday 4/6 is a ½ day for students with BHS staff working together for professional development for the afternoon. Please note that morning includes LGBTQ+ DAY OF DIALOGUE, sponsored by the Brookline High GSA. The block schedule on Wed is:
B-BLOCK - 8:20-9:35 (75 min)
D-BLOCK - 9:40-10:55 (75 min
C-BLOCK - 11:00-12:15 (75 min)
AFTER-SCHOOL - 12:00-1:00 (1 hr): Pride Festival in the Quad at 115 Greenough; join if you’d like!
Reminder that Quarter 3 ends this Wednesday April 6 with grades being uploaded to the Aspen portals on approximately April 13. Any student with high level of concern in any course has received a “Critical Update” report which can be viewed on the portal. Please check the portal and talk to your student to develop a game plan to finish out the term with their best effort by 4/6.
Reminder- No School on Friday 4/15 and April School Vacation is from Monday 4/18-4/22.
Current Gr 9-11 student portal access for course selection for the 2022-23 school year ends tomorrow Tues 4/5. Please be sure your student has used attached steps to review their course recommendations by teachers and add their electives/wellness-team requests. Please include alternates for electives and wellness requests! Students should see their counselor NOW if they are unsure of this process or have questions about course load.
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
Brookline Public Health/ B-Pen is offering a free viewing of the new documentary “LIKE” – Teens and Screens: Finding Balance in the New Normal - with a virtual forum on Wednesday, April 6, 7:00 PM. Free stream of documentary “LIKE” can be found by going to the b-pen.org site and click the "eye-opening documentary “LIKE” link. A virtual forum for discussion is also being offered by B-Pen. This forum is moderated by “Mediatrician” Dr. Michael Rich, Director, Center on Media and Child Health, Boston Children’s Hospital. See attached flyer for more details.
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!
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
A BRYT Family Engagement team continues to offer free, weekly parent-to-parent virtual support groups are available for any parent-guardian to join. See the flyer with links here -BRYT Parent-to-parent supports. Again, open to ALL families of students who are navigating mental health difficulties.
ALL STUDENTS
All students grades 9-12 – Here’s a great short article from the website Grown and Flown called “Professor Offers Best Advice for College Freshmen”. Not only is this good advice for BHS seniors heading off to college, but these suggestions are good for all BHS Gr 9-11 students to consider, even in high school. Check it out - https://grownandflown.com/professors-advice-for-college/
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:
Fitness Center Intramurals started on Monday 3/14 and continue. Come join them on Monday's, Wednesday's, and Thursday's from 3 to 4:30. Open to all Brookline High students! Contact the BHS Athletics Dept for more info - Deborah Donaldson 617-713-5289
The yearbook staff is planning to feature student activism in the 2022 book but we need your help! Did you work to make BHS a better place this year? Did you attend a walkout or contribute to one of our “days of”? Are you in a club or student group that works on important issues? Share your experience!Please send us photos or share your reflections in the survey link - https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSfsQ_aQg-W9EufgqnVTwoN2hc1HmJHulutaT_Zd9XTzc1S2qQ/viewform
Thank you! Please email [email protected] if you have questions or if you’d like to help create these pages.
The Brandeis University club called Education for Students by Students (ESS) invites middle school and high school students from all places to come to Splash, an event where Brandeis undergraduates teach interactive classes to local youth. This learning extravaganza allows middle and high schoolers to learn and grow their interests about niche subjects. The best part is….IT’S FREE! Spring 2022 Splash will be held on Saturday, April 9th, 2022. This is a virtual event.
Student Registration is now open and course selection is available from March 10-April 7th.
To register as a student, cut and paste this link - https://brandeis.learningu.org/learn/register.html
If you have any additional questions feel free to email us at ess-club@brandeis.edu
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 Career exploration and community job opportunities:
The BHS Job + Career Fair is back this year in person! We will have over 30 vendors in the Quad on April 14th during X block from 11am- 12pm to showcase their companies, programs, and opportunities for our students across all grades! There will be FREE snacks, swag and more! More details to come!
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].
Ready to nerd out about math? Consider this club! If you want to participate, please submit the form - https://forms.gle/viNkZtDYssqbqvHH6
If you are still unsure, then feel free to read the rest of this info.
We feel the school focuses exclusively on preparing you for calculus, without providing an opportunity to talk about all the other interesting and applicable types of math. In our club, we provide an opportunity for students to learn exotic mathematics. Most of the stuff we'll talk about is just plain cool. Finally (and maybe most importantly) it's an opportunity to meet and talk to like-minded people. The club meets on the freshman campus (because it's a nice building not because we're freshmen) Thursdays from 3:15 to 4:15 in room 416 starting March 17th. Since we will talk about a wide range of topics, and likely will have a new topic each week, so you do not need to attend every meeting.
This club is not meant to prepare you for competitions but will develop your mathematical reasoning and problem solving skills. It will also expose you to math you wouldn’t otherwise see which could potentially help you with competition math.
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:
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:
– 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
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!
MEFA (MA Educational Financing Authority) will be offering free informative webinars that provide valuable guidance for high school seniors and their families who have received college acceptance letters and financial aid offers and are trying to decide on a college and make a plan to pay for college costs. Topics include different types of financial aid, how to calculate the balance due at each college, and methods for paying for the college bills. See attached flyer for more general info on MEFA. Go to this link to register for the webinar date/time (see below) that works best for you - https://www.mefa.org/events/category/how-to-pay-for-college?utm_campaign=Guidance2021&utm_source=MPSchoolCounselorWave27&utm_medium=email&utm_content=CTA1#
April 5, 2022 – 12-1 pm
April 13, 2022 – 6:30-7:30pm
Check out the March BHS Scholarship letter attached to this email.
The BHS Scholarship Application is still available for submission. All seniors should consider completing this process.
If you would like to be considered for one of the many scholarships awarded through the Brookline High School Scholarship Program, please complete the BHS Scholarship Application and submit your CSS Profile to the BHS Scholarship Program by April 15th. The application is easy to complete and is available online on the Brookline High School homepage. To make fair decisions, the Committee requires that families fill out the CSS Profile financial aid form, available at CollegeBoard.com. Please use the Brookline Scholarship Program code, which is 0424
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.
SENIORS AND JUNIORS
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
Gap Year interest? You can learn more by registering for these virtual Gap Year workshops offered by USA Gap Year Fairs – the organization that the BHS Counseling Dept collaborates with for our annual Virtual Gap Year Fair (offered January 18). Consider joining their dynamic gap year crash course and get the insider knowledge and insight necessary to research and plan the gap year adventure of your dreams.
· Apr 6: Virtual National Gap Year Fair
Hosted by USA Gap Year Fairs, the crash course is the perfect complement to the 10 national virtual USA Gap Year Fairs that help connect you with gap year program providers and expert gap year counselors. Here’s the link to register for the crash course workshops - https://www.eventbrite.com/e/how-to-take-a-gap-year-the-ultimate-crash-course-registration-253811114877?aff=Email&mc_eid=77284bec4e&mc_cid=c625362665
And here’s the link to the upcoming Virtual Gap Year Fairs - https://www.gooverseas.com/gap-year/usa-fairs/schedule?utm_source=GoOverseas&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=gyf2022&mc_cid=c625362665&mc_eid=77284bec4e
JUNIORS and SOPHOMORES
BHS PreACT registration is now closed. If you have registered, please arrive to Brookline High on Saturday, April 9th from 7:45-11:30 am.
The PreACT is a shorter practice version of the ACT college admissions test, normed for sophomores in high school. The PreACT also offers a built-in career interest inventory. Each student taking the test will have the opportunity to:
· Identify current academic readiness for college and career using the PreACT report
· Predict how you’ll perform on the ACT after an additional junior year of learning (predictive quality of test is different for juniors since they already are having that “additional year” of curriculum as defined by the ACT)
· Determine skills you can improve based on your performance (using your results to guide use of the free online ACT Academy prep program)
· Explore how your career aspirations align with your interests.
9TH GRADERS
Lunch at 22 Tappan – NEW!
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!
9th Grade School Counselors continue to be busy supporting your students! They continue to join 9th grade Hub advisories to facilitate conversation about Goal Setting and thinking ahead to Gr 10. Counselors will continue to be rotating through each 9th grade Hub over the next 2 months to discuss this important topic.
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!
Reminder- No School on Friday 4/15 and April School Vacation is from Monday 4/18-4/22.
Current Gr 9-11 student portal access for course selection for the 2022-23 school year ends tomorrow Tues 4/5. Please be sure your student has used attached steps to review their course recommendations by teachers and add their electives/wellness-team requests. Please include alternates for electives and wellness requests! Students should see their counselor NOW if they are unsure of this process or have questions about course load.
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
Brookline Public Health/ B-Pen is offering a free viewing of the new documentary “LIKE” – Teens and Screens: Finding Balance in the New Normal - with a virtual forum on Wednesday, April 6, 7:00 PM. Free stream of documentary “LIKE” can be found by going to the b-pen.org site and click the "eye-opening documentary “LIKE” link. A virtual forum for discussion is also being offered by B-Pen. This forum is moderated by “Mediatrician” Dr. Michael Rich, Director, Center on Media and Child Health, Boston Children’s Hospital. See attached flyer for more details.
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!
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
A BRYT Family Engagement team continues to offer free, weekly parent-to-parent virtual support groups are available for any parent-guardian to join. See the flyer with links here -BRYT Parent-to-parent supports. Again, open to ALL families of students who are navigating mental health difficulties.
ALL STUDENTS
All students grades 9-12 – Here’s a great short article from the website Grown and Flown called “Professor Offers Best Advice for College Freshmen”. Not only is this good advice for BHS seniors heading off to college, but these suggestions are good for all BHS Gr 9-11 students to consider, even in high school. Check it out - https://grownandflown.com/professors-advice-for-college/
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
Fitness Center Intramurals started on Monday 3/14 and continue. Come join them on Monday's, Wednesday's, and Thursday's from 3 to 4:30. Open to all Brookline High students! Contact the BHS Athletics Dept for more info - Deborah Donaldson 617-713-5289
The yearbook staff is planning to feature student activism in the 2022 book but we need your help! Did you work to make BHS a better place this year? Did you attend a walkout or contribute to one of our “days of”? Are you in a club or student group that works on important issues? Share your experience!Please send us photos or share your reflections in the survey link - https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSfsQ_aQg-W9EufgqnVTwoN2hc1HmJHulutaT_Zd9XTzc1S2qQ/viewform
Thank you! Please email [email protected] if you have questions or if you’d like to help create these pages.
The Brandeis University club called Education for Students by Students (ESS) invites middle school and high school students from all places to come to Splash, an event where Brandeis undergraduates teach interactive classes to local youth. This learning extravaganza allows middle and high schoolers to learn and grow their interests about niche subjects. The best part is….IT’S FREE! Spring 2022 Splash will be held on Saturday, April 9th, 2022. This is a virtual event.
Student Registration is now open and course selection is available from March 10-April 7th.
To register as a student, cut and paste this link - https://brandeis.learningu.org/learn/register.html
If you have any additional questions feel free to email us at ess-club@brandeis.edu
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 Career exploration and community job opportunities:
The BHS Job + Career Fair is back this year in person! We will have over 30 vendors in the Quad on April 14th during X block from 11am- 12pm to showcase their companies, programs, and opportunities for our students across all grades! There will be FREE snacks, swag and more! More details to come!
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].
Ready to nerd out about math? Consider this club! If you want to participate, please submit the form - https://forms.gle/viNkZtDYssqbqvHH6
If you are still unsure, then feel free to read the rest of this info.
We feel the school focuses exclusively on preparing you for calculus, without providing an opportunity to talk about all the other interesting and applicable types of math. In our club, we provide an opportunity for students to learn exotic mathematics. Most of the stuff we'll talk about is just plain cool. Finally (and maybe most importantly) it's an opportunity to meet and talk to like-minded people. The club meets on the freshman campus (because it's a nice building not because we're freshmen) Thursdays from 3:15 to 4:15 in room 416 starting March 17th. Since we will talk about a wide range of topics, and likely will have a new topic each week, so you do not need to attend every meeting.
This club is not meant to prepare you for competitions but will develop your mathematical reasoning and problem solving skills. It will also expose you to math you wouldn’t otherwise see which could potentially help you with competition math.
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:
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
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!
MEFA (MA Educational Financing Authority) will be offering free informative webinars that provide valuable guidance for high school seniors and their families who have received college acceptance letters and financial aid offers and are trying to decide on a college and make a plan to pay for college costs. Topics include different types of financial aid, how to calculate the balance due at each college, and methods for paying for the college bills. See attached flyer for more general info on MEFA. Go to this link to register for the webinar date/time (see below) that works best for you - https://www.mefa.org/events/category/how-to-pay-for-college?utm_campaign=Guidance2021&utm_source=MPSchoolCounselorWave27&utm_medium=email&utm_content=CTA1#
April 5, 2022 – 12-1 pm
April 13, 2022 – 6:30-7:30pm
Check out the March BHS Scholarship letter attached to this email.
The BHS Scholarship Application is still available for submission. All seniors should consider completing this process.
If you would like to be considered for one of the many scholarships awarded through the Brookline High School Scholarship Program, please complete the BHS Scholarship Application and submit your CSS Profile to the BHS Scholarship Program by April 15th. The application is easy to complete and is available online on the Brookline High School homepage. To make fair decisions, the Committee requires that families fill out the CSS Profile financial aid form, available at CollegeBoard.com. Please use the Brookline Scholarship Program code, which is 0424
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.
SENIORS AND JUNIORS
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
Gap Year interest? You can learn more by registering for these virtual Gap Year workshops offered by USA Gap Year Fairs – the organization that the BHS Counseling Dept collaborates with for our annual Virtual Gap Year Fair (offered January 18). Consider joining their dynamic gap year crash course and get the insider knowledge and insight necessary to research and plan the gap year adventure of your dreams.
· Apr 6: Virtual National Gap Year Fair
Hosted by USA Gap Year Fairs, the crash course is the perfect complement to the 10 national virtual USA Gap Year Fairs that help connect you with gap year program providers and expert gap year counselors. Here’s the link to register for the crash course workshops - https://www.eventbrite.com/e/how-to-take-a-gap-year-the-ultimate-crash-course-registration-253811114877?aff=Email&mc_eid=77284bec4e&mc_cid=c625362665
And here’s the link to the upcoming Virtual Gap Year Fairs - https://www.gooverseas.com/gap-year/usa-fairs/schedule?utm_source=GoOverseas&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=gyf2022&mc_cid=c625362665&mc_eid=77284bec4e
JUNIORS and SOPHOMORES
BHS PreACT registration is now closed. If you have registered, please arrive to Brookline High on Saturday, April 9th from 7:45-11:30 am.
The PreACT is a shorter practice version of the ACT college admissions test, normed for sophomores in high school. The PreACT also offers a built-in career interest inventory. Each student taking the test will have the opportunity to:
· Identify current academic readiness for college and career using the PreACT report
· Predict how you’ll perform on the ACT after an additional junior year of learning (predictive quality of test is different for juniors since they already are having that “additional year” of curriculum as defined by the ACT)
· Determine skills you can improve based on your performance (using your results to guide use of the free online ACT Academy prep program)
· Explore how your career aspirations align with your interests.
9TH GRADERS
Lunch at 22 Tappan – NEW!
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!
9th Grade School Counselors continue to be busy supporting your students! They continue to join 9th grade Hub advisories to facilitate conversation about Goal Setting and thinking ahead to Gr 10. Counselors will continue to be rotating through each 9th grade Hub over the next 2 months to discuss this important topic.
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!