Here’s hoping all BHS students are having positive, successful midyear exam experiences! And this week includes Week B Thurs and Friday schedules using the NEW VERSION of the BHS SCHEDULE FOR SEMESTER 2. Please see attached schedule. And we all celebrate the official opening of 22 Tappan for our 9th graders this week - Wed – Friday!
Midyear exams continue today – Monday 1/24 and Tuesday 1/25. Students are NOT required to attend full days of school on these midyear exams days BUT ARE REQUIRED TO COME TO ANY EXAM SCHEDULED BY THEIR TEACHER IN CERTAIN SUBJECTS.
Need a spot on campus to study? Take a break? Library Hours remain the same during exam week – see below for Mon and Tues times. And… They also have graphic calculators, books, and magazines to check out!
Monday 8AM-4:00 PM
Tuesday 8AM-3:00 PM
Reminder – No School on February 1 (Lunar New Year)
Midyear exams continue today – Monday 1/24 and Tuesday 1/25. Students are NOT required to attend full days of school on these midyear exams days BUT ARE REQUIRED TO COME TO ANY EXAM SCHEDULED BY THEIR TEACHER IN CERTAIN SUBJECTS.
Need a spot on campus to study? Take a break? Library Hours remain the same during exam week – see below for Mon and Tues times. And… They also have graphic calculators, books, and magazines to check out!
Monday 8AM-4:00 PM
Tuesday 8AM-3:00 PM
Reminder – No School on February 1 (Lunar New Year)
Intercession Day is now scheduled this Wed January 26. All students are expected to attend school. The schedules and event locations are attached to this email per grade. This day is focused on a “A Call to Action”. With our whole school reading Just Mercy as a starting point, the school community will reflect on what it means for all of us at BHS to individually engage and take action to create a more just school, community, and world. All students are expected to be in school for this day.
The 1st day of Quarter 3/ Semester 2 is now Thursday January 27, 2022. Students should be checking their Brooklinek12 email this Wednesday for their courses for Semester 2, including room numbers and teachers. Quarter 2 grades should be available on approximately Monday February 7.
Many of us – students, BHS staff, and parents-guardians -continue to feel tired, stressed, and burnt out. Here are some thoughts borrowed from the book Burnout – The Secret to Unlocking the Stress Cycle- “The problem is, the world has turned ‘wellness’ into yet another goal everyone ‘should’ strive for, but only people with time and money and nannies and yachts and Oprah’s phone number can actually achieve.” Here are some tips for unlocking the stress cycle:
- Realize that stress is not always bad for you. Being stuck in stress is.
- Physical activity is the single most efficient strategy for managing the “stress cycle”.
- Pursue these daily goals: Breathing, Positive Social Interactions. Laughter. Affection. (“Wellness is not a state of being; it is a state of action.”)
- Self-compassion and gratitude empower us to recognize the difference between who we are and who the world expects us to be.
- Take a “planful” approach to stressors you can change, and positively reappraise the things we can’t control (ie reframe difficulties as opportunities for growth and learning.)
- Focus on the healing connections with others – even your dog. Connections can create energy, renewing both sides. So when you feel sadness, rage – connect.
- Meaning is important in life. Make meaning by engaging with something larger than yearself.
- Get some rest.
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
The Public Schools of Brookline is offering a virtual event for parents and guardians of PreK-12 youth on Monday, February 7, 2022 from 5:30-6:30 p.m.
SOCIAL MEDIA’S IMPACT ON MENTAL HEALTH: OPTIMIZING THE CONNECTION
Instagram, Snapchat, and Facebook foster a culture of peer comparison and entice users to stay online longer than they intend, which can foster discouraging or negative feelings. Snapchat locations and Instagram stories cause FOMO (Fear of Missing Out), contributing to anxiety, depression, and loneliness. From this event parents/guardians and educators will learn individual and group strategies to optimize students' use of social media.
Speaker: Susan Reynolds, M.Ed. has over 20 years of experience in academic technology and digital wellbeing. In 2007 Susan founded ABC Legacy: Atoms to Bits Children's Legacy which generated the Look Up Foundation, committed to empowering teens and college students to join together to change their relationship to technology. As a teacher whose passion has always been to inspire her students to become change agents, she hopes to empower the next generation to find and implement these solutions.
To register: https://forms.gle/kL9MSSD1BAgERyDR7 The event is being brought to the PSB community through our membership to the Massachusetts Youth Partnership (MPY). The MPY membership has been generously sponsored this school year by the Brookline Education Foundation.
Public Schools of Brookline SEPAC continues to sponsor the “IEP for Home” Parent Workshop series through March! Thanks to a very generous collaboration with the Office of Student Services, SEPAC is able to offer four more 90 minute sessions with Developmental Pediatrician Dr. Erik Von Hahn. Dates (all Wednesdays) and topics are as follows;
Module #3 - Eating
February 2 from 8:30 -10:00 am
Module #4 - Schedules and Routines
February 16 from 7:00 - 8:30 pm*
March 2 from 8:30 -10:00 am
(* offered in conjunction with the Newton SEPAC)
All sessions also include an open Q&A. In previous sessions, these sessions offered excellent conversations about students of all ages. Parents across the age span are encouraged to attend.
The information flyer is attached to this weekly update. The registration link can also be found here - https://docs.google.com/forms/d/17IHj5_l0lbFS9a9LRIdUfWm4m_Vbd__MgN9DHjrcTNo/edit
Mutual Aid of Brookline reminders (aka MAB - mutualaidbrookline.com; General Hotline: 617-651-1468):
Free PCR Testing - Sundays in January - Town of Brookline
Sunday, January 30, 9am - 2pm
**LOCATION CHANGE** Brookline High School
Brookline DHHS will offer free PCR testing at Brookline High School, 115 Greenough St. Tests are available to Brookline residents, students and employees of businesses in Brookline. While walk-ins will be accepted, those planning to be tested are strongly encouraged to make an appointment. To sign up, click here: https://www.brooklinema.gov/DocumentCenter/View/28326/Town-of-Brookline-QR-Code?bidId=.
Those arriving for the clinic should enter the building at the entrance by the corner of Tappan and Greenough Streets. Parking is available on streets surrounding the school, and it is also accessible via the MBTA Green Line at the Brookline Hills stop. Testing is being offered through a partnership between the town and Transformative Healthcare. Masks are required at the testing site. Results are typically available 48-72 hours following testing via phone, text or email. More information at: https://www.brooklinema.gov/2050/COVID-19-Testing-Vaccine-Clinics.
ALL STUDENTS
Head of School Anthony Meyer writes….. As part of our Day of Action this Wednesday, we are reaching out to the BHS community to act in solidarity with our food insecure BHS families and Brookline neighbors. We honor the life and legacy of Martin Luther King, Jr., who called upon us to work for racial justice and class equity.
The Environmental Action and Food Justice club is partnering with Team Vendola for this important winter food drive. Collection boxes will be located in the atrium, starting Wednesday, and will remain there until Saturday. You may also drop off food on Saturday from 9:00 am - 12:30 at the 115 Greenough entrance to the Commons, as many of you have done in the past. There will be a large donation made to the Brookline Food Pantry on Friday as well as grocery deliveries distributed directly to some families on Saturday afternoon.
Make sure that donated goods have not expired and have not been opened or damaged. We will accept any non-perishable food items and toiletries (shampoo, soap, toothpaste, lotion) from Wednesday - Friday; however, these items can be dropped off on Saturday. Please also consider messaging your students and their families, reminding them of the opportunity to support the Day of Action food drive.
Check out the Summer 2022 Opportunities document!
This document will be updated regularly with more opportunities including jobs, internships, and summer programs. See the attached document for many opportunities.
Current 9th, 10th, 11th graders –
** SWS applications are now being accepted for the 2022-23 school year…. Consider applying to be in SWS (School Within a School) next year! Check out our website (https://www.swsbrookline.org/) to learn more about this small democratic community that exists within BHS. Application link - https://docs.google.com/document/d/15qK-ANdn4liPhGZ9kFvLXYvNsaFvXwzc-SQCbXFpjzU/edit
** ACE is now starting its 2022-23 application process too – Interested students should take the first step by coming to an ACE information session and to review the ACE website:
www.ACEHighSchoolYourWay.com
We will be offering these info sessions during all the upcoming X blocks in the ACE office (room 257) and more times will be added, as needed. Students who would like to attend an info session should contact ACE secretary [email protected] to schedule and to find out location. Once a student has attended an info session, they will be scheduled for a classroom visit.
The weather is getting chillier… Need a quiet and social place to enjoy your lunch at the 115 campus? Join Lunch Lounge!
9th grade Social Lunch has begun at the OLS campus every Wednesday too!
Social Lunch/ 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
Need some extra help in your science class for Grades 10-12?
The Science Help Center is starting Monday 11/15! If you're looking for some extra help, 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.
BHS Career exploration and community job opportunities:
Interested in the Health Sciences? This Coffee Talk may be for you!
Coffee Talk #2 - Health Sciences Careers
Where? College/Career Center, Room 279
When? This Thursday, January 27, 2022, during X Block
Are you interested in exploring ALL your options after high school? Not sure what career you want to pursue? Are you curious what a career in health sciences could look like? Come join our "Coffee Talk" to hear more about the range of opportunities in this rapidly growing field.
Come on over to the College and Career Center, Room 279, on Thursday 1/27 during X block to hear from a panel of wonderful guests including, President-Elect of the American Public Health Association, Senior VP at Partners Health Care in Boston, and Physician of Internal Medicine and College Health Doctor at Harvard Vanguard Kenmore.
See attached flyer.
Questions? Email Ms. Fazio at [email protected].
Know a teen looking to earn some extra money this winter? Join the Shovel Our Snow program through Brookline Recreation! Residents of Brookline in need of shoveling help will contact students directly to set up jobs and work out payment. This is a great way to help out our community while earning money! To sign up visit www.brooklinerec.com or call 617.730.2069
Ms Kate Kennedy, the BHS Career Counselor, is out on leave until March 2022. One of the BHS counselor interns, Analisa Fazio, is covering many of the duties of this role while Ms Kennedy is out. Please contact Ms Fazio at [email protected] if you have any questions about career exploration, job seeking and interviewing, and resume writing. She is able to set up an appointment to help you.
BHS Club Info:
- Always wanted to interview famous people around the world on major issues? Join The Global Voice! We're an online, student-run newspaper seeking to see the world from a different perspective by interviewing people from all around the world. Join us to learn and discuss modern issues and increase awareness around school! We meet every other Tuesday during Faculty Collaboration time at 8:45 in room 381. If interested, please fill out this google form: https://forms.gle/eTt4NQbba8Ka1shr5 and check out our website: https://www.globalvoice.news/. Contact Brian Ly ([email protected])
or Serena Ibanez ([email protected]) if any questions arise.
- The Do Something Club is back! Our club focuses on doing little things that help our society. Some examples of this are: donating books to Boston Public Schools, compiling and distributing a list of scholarships available to undocumented students, as well as writing kind notes to other students struggling with mental health issues. To learn about "Do Something" you can go to their website: www.dosomething.org. This club will meet Tuesdays of Week A during X-block in room 305. This club does not require too much of your time and our goal is to develop a tight-knit community that can support you throughout this year.
- BHS Club Fair info is available here: http://bhs.brookline.k12.ma.us/clubs-and-activities-list.html This list is for 21-22 clubs. The Club Fair slideshow has also been released via Canvas to students. Students can access/re-access more information on how to join, etc. As more clubs update, we will update the presentation.
https://docs.google.com/presentation/d/1xFO5v5lCc98EKmbjhicDnZZ5HBRqhlj9Is1VWLqoE58/edit?usp=sharing
- Interested in Public Health and the right to global health? Join Partners In Health Engage Brookline! During our club meetings, we educate our members on the current status of Global Health, how Partners In Health is involved, hold fundraising events, and advocate Global Health equality legislation to our members of Congress. We meet virtually on Week A Mondays through Zoom at 8:00 PM. If interested, fill out this google form: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSclGf8eTx3VbLuTzDZmuFndW7yn_dkjg2vlIW9a45hmkbwDQQ/viewform
Community Service Opportunities for BHS Students:
- ResilientHer is a sports medicine and social justice organization dedicated to promoting education, empowerment, and equity in sports. Our team of 17 students from across the world write articles, create infographics, launch social media campaigns, and organize interviews/collaborations to combat health misinformation, break mental health stigma, and promote social justice within sports. We are recruiting content creators, social media managers, marketing managers, and website designers to join our team.
If you are interested in joining our team, please apply at https://forms.gle/QgJiFNtkzQgJdKqE7. You can find us at @resilienther.blog on Instagram, at resilientherblog.com, or email us at [email protected].
- Become a tutor on Mondays after school! The Brookline Literacy Program will be running a tutoring program at the Mather School on Mondays after school, beginning today, January 24th. BHS tutors will leave BHS around 3:20 every Monday and return by 6pm. Transportation will be provided there and back each day. This is a great opportunity to get community service hours, including time spent in transport. If you are interested in becoming a tutor with us, please apply at the link below: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/1WBlpDL3Td2r791vBVeNSYo17pQmd8cW6MU_NqCdABY4/edit?usp=sharing (Links to an external site.) If you have any questions, feel free to email [email protected] or Ms. Knightly [email protected]
- Brookline Community Fridge - Ongoing - Brothers & Sisters Café, 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. Siracusa hopes to recruit more donations and volunteers for the project. 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.
- Tech Buddies Help Brookline community members by troubleshooting technology questions! The Tech Buddies program provides a tablet and 12 months of free internet access to low-income elders or adults with a disability living alone. They also provide technology education as well as tech support for our participants. Tech Buddies is in desperate need of volunteers to help us make the Tech Buddies program a success and we are actively recruiting volunteers for the following roles: tablet delivery/set-up/basic education (in-person) or become part of our Tech Squad (remote). Please email Sophie Gordon at [email protected] with your interest or questions. CORI background check required.
- BHS National Honor Society is looking for JUNIORS to volunteer their time with the NHS peer tutoring program - NHS has a student tutor match program, which pairs students who need extra support with student tutors. They are currently looking to add juniors to the tutor list. If you are strong in certain subjects and would like to earn some community service hours, NHS hopes you sign up! https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSetVIKmrqcbTcjD2F4i6k1WfwPqVsfcWhIRjDZ25M2ntFQMpw/viewform
- The Brookline Food Pantry needs more volunteers to continue helping our community in the wake of increased food insecurity because of the pandemic. All students ages 15+ that are fully vaccinated are eligible. Here is the link: https://annelisegross3141.wixsite.com/bfp-bhs
- 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. As the holiday season approaches, Siracusa hopes to recruit more donations and volunteers for the project. 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.
- Brookline Thrives Volunteer Opportunities
Brookline Thrives has many volunteer opportunities available to BHS students. Pack bags, restock inventory, or even help with Friday distribution. View and sign up at this link - https://www.signupgenius.com/go/70A0E45A8A722A5FD0-december
All volunteers must be at least 15 years old.
– 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
Please find the January 2022 Senior Scholarship letter attached to this email.
IMPORTANT – The BHS Scholarship Application now available for submission:
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. 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
If you would like to be considered for the BU or Northeastern scholarships, please apply by January 10th and submit your CSS Profile by then too.
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.
College Application Reminders:
Help the BHS counselors and teachers support your application process by meeting 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.
Seniors – When submitting your transcript release forms electronically, please:
● use the updated transcript release 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.
JUNIORS and SENIORS
If you missed the co-sponsored BHS Counseling Dept annual Virtual USA GAP YEAR last Tuesday, you can register for other FREE Virtual USA Gap Year Fairs: https://www.gooverseas.com/gap-year/usa-fairs/schedule
Why take a gap year? The best way to learn about gap year options and connect with gap year program providers is to connect face-to-face at a USA Gap Year Fair virtual or in-person event. With more and more students choosing to take gap time this year, there is a growing need for students, parents, and educational professionals to become aware of the advantages of taking “time out” from traditional education and “time on” for experiential learning.
USA Gap Year Fairs is an annual circuit of 40+ events that bring together reputable gap year organizations, interested students and parents, educational professionals, and gap year experts. For the past 15 years, the circuit has crossed North America each winter; this year, the events have been redesigned to meet a virtual format. As the premiere event series of its kind, the fairs have provided students with a broad exposure to gap year programs that encourage active learning through travel, cultural immersion, service, work experience, and mentorship.. Opportunities for face-to-face conversations with gap year program providers, trip leaders, advisors, and gap year alumni offer attendees a personal and individualized experience. Each event begins with a presentation by gap year advisors and alumni. These gap year experts provide attendees with a rich overview of the gap year option, share relevant data, highlight authentic student experiences, and provide tips and resources to help guide families through gap year research.
Brookline SEPAC (Special Education Parent Advisory) suggests this virtual opportunity - added below - to hear about student support differences between high school and college for students with IEPs and 504s. BHS Guidance will also be offering a virtual panel to share information and answer questions regarding college support for students with learning differences on March 30, 2022 @ 7pm. More info to come on this event….
JUNIORS
Changes to this plan….
Junior “Night” for BHS junior parents-guardians has been rescheduled to a virtual presentation this Thursday, January 27 from 8:20-9:20am. This event will be recorded. Webinar link will be shared very soon.
The BHS counselors have long term experience supporting any BHS junior to start sorting out their plans after BHS graduation. We’re here to help you!
In late October 2021, the BHS Guidance department offered a virtual presentation to junior parents and students about the Junior Timeline and College Admissions Testing. To review this information, go to the BHS Guidance link - https://bhs.brookline.k12.ma.us/guidance - and scroll down to the Junior Timeline heading posted on 10/29/21.
Post High School planning activities started for juniors on Thursday 1/6 with a required Junior Assembly during T block. If you are unable to watch the webinar through your advisory, please use the information below to log in to the College Process Webinar presented by Mr. Libenzon- Please click the link below to join the webinar:
https://psbma-org.zoom.us/j/95214040506?pwd=dDgrczQ0NXh3cjhCMGdLdUJMRDd5dz09
Passcode: 842225
Counselors will start rotating through junior hub/advisory blocks to share information about post high school planning steps and resources during the months of February/March 2022. Juniors can also reach out to their counselor to set up an individual meeting on this conversation, after we return from break.
REMINDER - SAT Prep Class offered by the Brookline Adult Education program is an excellent prep course at lower cost than many other private companies. This course begins tomorrow, Tuesday January 25, 2022. Please see the attached flyer for more info.
BHS Librarians are again offering TEST PREP THURSDAYS for Juniors and Seniors from 3-4pm in the BHS Library! Please stop by the library to find out the support, resources, and direct tutoring that is available for our students.
SOPHOMORES
Parents of 10th graders – Thank you to the parents-guardians who joined the Jan 12 Gr 10 PTO Parent zoom meeting with BHS 10th Grade Counselors with an introduction to the Junior Year Timeline and Course Request suggestions. Here is the information you missed…..
Powerpoint slide presentation - https://bhs.brookline.k12.ma.us/uploads/8/0/1/5/801512/2021_sophomore_breakfast.pdf
Recording of event - Zoom Recording is available below (Passcode: +D0&$S%u)
https://psbma-org.zoom.us/rec/share/mRkAbbvS_u7oYo_83BdhXHlV2VmExJbHkj_L95m-V0I7nbJTmSFqSrWSJRZTgHCe.HXbPcc4guaTuKxg9
9TH GRADERS
9th grade counselors and support team members are excited to support all 9th graders in the move to 22 Tappan officially this Wednesday January 26! This will be the entire BHS community’s Intercession Day – “Call to Action”.