This is Week A for BHS grades 9-12. Be sure to download the NEW VERSION of the BHS SCHEDULE FOR SEMESTER 2. Please see attached schedule.
Reminder – No School on February 1 (Lunar New Year) and No School from 2/21 – 2/25 for Feb Winter Break
Quarter 3/ Semester 2 has now started. Students should check their Brooklinek12 email for their courses for Semester 2, including room numbers and teachers. Quarter 2 grades should be available on approximately Friday February 4.
See attached overview of Week A / Week B for remainder of 2021-22 SY.
Reminder – No School on February 1 (Lunar New Year) and No School from 2/21 – 2/25 for Feb Winter Break
Quarter 3/ Semester 2 has now started. Students should check their Brooklinek12 email for their courses for Semester 2, including room numbers and teachers. Quarter 2 grades should be available on approximately Friday February 4.
See attached overview of Week A / Week B for remainder of 2021-22 SY.
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 yourself.
- 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
From Mutual Aid Brookline (aka MAB - mutualaidbrookline.com; General Hotline: 617-651-1468):
- Lunar New Year Celebration - Starting Tuesday - Public Library of Brookline
Starting Tuesday 2/1
欢迎大家参与我们的网络贺岁活动！从今天起，我们会在 YouTube 频道上播放农历新年线上故事时间和手工示范制作视频。请匆错过！
Join us for a virtual Lunar New Year Celebration! Starting Tuesday, February 1, we’ll be featuring a unique lion dance performance from the Worcester Youth Nian Dancers, a Lunar New Year storytime, and craft-along videos on our YouTube Channel. Make sure to check them out here beginning on 2/1!
You can also visit any of our three libraries on Tuesday to pick up your Lunar New Year craft-along kit, fill out a wish slip for our library Wish Trees, and enjoy other Lunar New Year fun! Our Lunar New Year kits are intended for patrons of any age – but please, only pick up one kit per family as we have a limited supply. If you don’t get a kit, you can still celebrate with us! The craft instruction sheets included in the kits are all available on our website and you can watch fun Lunar New Year Celebration videos on our YouTube Channel.
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.
BHS Food Drive - Saturday Feb 5th - Brookline High School
Saturday, dropoff from 9am - 12pm
Food Drop Off: 2/5/2022 from 9:00 am - 12:00 pm in front of the main entrance of 115 Greenough Street, at the sign in the front. Please do not bring clothing or other home items. Thank you but we cannot accommodate these items at this time. For a list of encouraged items:
https://patch.com/massachusetts/brookline/calendar/event/20220205/1767531/updated-brookline-high-school-drive-through-food-drive.
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
ALL STUDENTS
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 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 their 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 has started 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.
Need a quiet and social place to enjoy your lunch at the 115 campus? Join Lunch Lounge!
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
BHS Career exploration and community job opportunities:
Interested in engineering careers? This Coffee Talk may be for you!
Coffee Talk #3 - Engineering Careers
Where? College/Career Center, Room 279
When? Thursday, February 10th, 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 engineering could look like? Come join our "Coffee Talk" to hear more about the range of opportunities in this field.
Come on over to the College and Career Center, Room 279, on Thursday 2/10 during X block to hear from the a Materials/Project Engineer for Pratt & Whitney, A Raytheon Technologies Company, Senior Mechanical Engineer at EPAM, and Principal Consultant and Founder of Cadoret Global.
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:
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
- Remember Anna Lin, one of the panel members from last Wednesday’s Intersession presentation? She would like to share more about the English nonprofit organization that she founded called Language Virtual. This is a group of high school students that provide free, virtual ESL English tutoring sessions to students in Thailand, Japan, Turkey, North Korean defectors- basically anyone around the world. (You do not need to know any other language to teach). Most students need help on the conversational aspect of English in addition to grammar and vocabulary. How it works is that once a student signs up, Language Virtual then pairs them with a high school peer teacher and the student can contact the peer teacher directly about scheduling/learning goals. Usually the teaching sessions are only 30min-1hour long once a week and you receive community service hours.
You can view our website for more details and the sign up pages: https://www.languagevirtual.org/
Or you can watch this youtube video to learn more: https://youtu.be/M9sXiU9KjF4
Teacher sign up page: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSfJ4whEp2tl9ZFt7W-6ZskGdF4sfKdYg7cLpEwZ2eN-Ws-U-w/viewform?usp=sf_link
If you have any questions, feel free to message us at: [email protected]
- 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
IMPORTANT FOR SENIORS – check your grades on 2/4 since BHS guidance will be sending out all Q1&2 grades to colleges you’ve applied to during week of Feb 7!
12th graders – One more semester to go until BHS graduation! Congratulations!
BE SURE TO KEEP GOING WITH YOUR CLASS ATTENDANCE AND WORK EFFORT now that semester 2 has started. College admissions decisions can be revoked or move towards probation if an applicant’s attendance or grades have dramatically changed on the final transcript.
Take a look at this short and sweet article – “Dear High School Seniors- What NOT to Do Spring of Your Senior Year” - https://grownandflown.com/high-school-seniors-not-do-spring-senior-year/ It’s hard not to do some of these things when senioritis strikes but be mindful of these points… They’re all true!
IMPORTANT – The BHS Scholarship Application continues to be available for submission – see below. ALL SENIORS SHOULD COMPLETE and SUBMIT THIS SCHOLARSHIP INFO so BHS can support many students with some amount of financial support for college!
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.
JUNIORS and SENIORS
Still wondering about a Gap Year? Learn more by registering for these 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.
· Feb 1: Is a gap year right for me?
· Feb 8: Gap Year Scholarships & Funding
· Feb 10: Gap Year Alumni AMA (Ask Me Anything)
· Feb 15: Gap Year Parents & Educators AMA (Ask Me Anything)
· Mar 1: Gap Year as Career Exploration
· Mar 3: How to Choose a Gap Year Program
· Mar 10: How to Win a $5,000 Gap Year Scholarship!
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
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
Save the date – BHS Virtual College Fair is scheduled for Tues evening March 8 from 6:30-8:30pm. More info to come about the over 100 colleges and programs represented at this year’s virtual fair.
Did you miss the virtual Junior Parent Event on Post High School Planning for BHS junior parents-guardians presented by the BHS Counseling Dept last Thursday? Here’s the recording to find out what you missed -
https://bhs.brookline.k12.ma.us/guidance/virtual-junior-parent-presentation-join-us
The BHS counselors have long term experience supporting any BHS junior to start sorting out their plans for life after BHS graduation. We’re here to help them and you!
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- click the link below to view 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.
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.
JUNIORS and SOPHOMORES
The PreACT will be administered at 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.
Registration info will be shared on this Weekly Update in March. Stay tuned! Also – please note - no alternative date will be offered at BHS.
Juniors and Sophomores- Please review your current unofficial transcript for any missing classes or errors. Contact your counselor with any questions or concerns.
You should be checking that you are on your way to earning all required credits towards graduation, especially with School Year 2022-23 course requests starting later in Feb/March.
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
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
Welcome all 9th graders, some upperclasspeople, and all BHS staff who are settling into their new classrooms and office spaces at 22 Tappan!
Please see the attached mini directory for office locations and phone numbers for 9th grade counselors and social worker.
Wifi has been working well at 22 Tappan, so don’t hesitate to contact your (student’s) counselor by email too.