ALL STUDENTS/PARENTS- CARETAKERS
You will receive weekly updates from BHS Guidance each week, sent to all students, parent/guardians (listed as “1st contact” on Aspen), and also fully uploaded to the BHS Guidance website. After today’s update, any new information and events coming up in the next week will be highlighted in red for easier reading.
Save the date—Oct. 28 – for THE TRUTH ABOUT VAPING – UPDATED FOR FALL 2019
From nicotine addiction to life-threatening respiratory illness, the health risks of e-cigarettes (vapes, juuls) have been all over the news lately, and Brookline is not immune. In fact, vaping among our middle and high school students is on the rise. What do parents need to know? And what can we do to help our kids fully understand that these products are not harmless? Through the generosity of a Brookline community member in collaboration with PSB/ BHS Counseling-Guidance Department, Caron Treatment Centers will present a special informational parent event on October 28 at 7 p.m. in the Brookline High School Auditorium. Save the date! Please join us for this free presentation. Registration requested at https://thetruthaboutvaping.eventbrite.com
You will receive weekly updates from BHS Guidance each week, sent to all students, parent/guardians (listed as “1st contact” on Aspen), and also fully uploaded to the BHS Guidance website. After today’s update, any new information and events coming up in the next week will be highlighted in red for easier reading.
Save the date—Oct. 28 – for THE TRUTH ABOUT VAPING – UPDATED FOR FALL 2019
From nicotine addiction to life-threatening respiratory illness, the health risks of e-cigarettes (vapes, juuls) have been all over the news lately, and Brookline is not immune. In fact, vaping among our middle and high school students is on the rise. What do parents need to know? And what can we do to help our kids fully understand that these products are not harmless? Through the generosity of a Brookline community member in collaboration with PSB/ BHS Counseling-Guidance Department, Caron Treatment Centers will present a special informational parent event on October 28 at 7 p.m. in the Brookline High School Auditorium. Save the date! Please join us for this free presentation. Registration requested at https://thetruthaboutvaping.eventbrite.com
Encourage your child to be in touch with their guidance counselor.
With 9th grade students and staff at Old Lincoln, many 10th to 12th graders' guidance counselors and deans changed this year. To find out who your student's guidance counselor is, log on to Aspen, click on "Family" tab and then on (one of) your student's name. The middle column will list their 'administrator/dean and guidance counselor. Most the counselors with students in Grades 10,11,12 have moved their offices to the new Counseling/Guidance HUB in Room 285. Kara Lopez (who also works with ACE students) will stay in her Room 248. Dan Bresman (SWS Counselor/ Program Director) is still in Room 400A. For more information on guidance and counseling support staff, contact info, and locations, see the attached PDF below.
Our goal is to offer BHS students support as they develop into caring, resilient, capable, and academically balanced young adults during their high school years and beyond.
The annual Club/Activities Fair happened last Thursday 9/12 in the Schluntz Gym during SuperX block. Many students joined in the organization, celebration, and introduction of over 100 clubs and extracurricular activities that exist at Brookline High. Never fear… If a student did not attend or wasn’t sure about signing up for any activities, a student can join most of these wonderful opportunities at any time throughout the school year. An updated list of activities with contact information will be published soon.
School Pictures/ ID – Scheduled on September 24,25,26 out of students’ Social Studies classes.
SENIORS
Welcome to Senior Year! We look forward to supporting you in your planning for life after BHS. It is important that you attend ALL required senior events – including Senior Seminar #1, starting in Advisories tomorrow 9/23 and also Monday 10/7. Thursday, Oct 24th from 10:40 to 11:55, MLK room for Junior Mentor AND make-up seminars - both T block and X block.
The "Post High School Planning" presentation for senior parents/guardians was well attended last Tues, Sept 17.
An overview of the resources in place to support all BHS seniors was discussed. BHS College Counselor Lenny Libenzon presented an overview of post high school planning, with particular focus on the "nuts and bolts" of applying to college from BHS. Topics included: "releasing" transcripts from BHS, Early Action and Early Decision, college essay tips, and more.
Powerpoint presentation and BHS Quick College Application Guide links from the Tuesday, September 17 presentation are here:
Powerpoint presentation
BHS Quick College Application Guide
Seniors – Please note that college representatives are coming to BHS daily starting last week through mid-November. Check your Naviance homepage for a full listing of all reps and the date/time they will be available in the College-Career Center to meet you! You must have a signed pass from your teacher if you plan to attend during one of your classes. See Mr Libenzon (Room 279/280) or your counselor if you have any questions.
Transcript release / Teacher-Counselor Recommendation Deadlines
To best support every senior in their college admissions process, we require that all seniors meet the deadlines below for communicating to both teacher and counselors re: recommendations. UPDATE: If you have college applications with October 15 deadlines – your transcript release form and other important documents are now overdue. See you counselor and teachers on Monday!
Upcoming due dates:
College deadline BHS Deadline
November 1 Monday, October 7
November 15 Monday, October 21
December 1 Monday, November 4
December 15 Friday, November 15
The BHS PTO sponsored College Essay Writing Workshop will be this Saturday, September 28, 8:30am to 12:30 pm at Brookline High! Seniors who haven’t started their application essay to seniors that are almost done should attend!
See attached flyer for information and registration link.
SENIORS AND JUNIORS
Great Opportunity for BHS students……FREE STEM College and Career Fair in Boston – Sunday 10/7, 1-4pm, Northeastern Univ, Cabot Physical Education Center. Open to the public, the fair is for college-bound students interested in college majors and careers in engineering, medicine, computer science, and other STEM fields.
Students will meet face-to-face with hundreds of college representatives and industry professionals — all in one place. They'll get their questions answered about majors, degree programs, campus visits, internships, scholarships, financial aid, and much more. Plus, they can take advantage of STEMinars on topics such as writing a winning college essay and standing out in the admission process.
https://www.nacacfairs.org/attend/stem-college-and-career-fairs/boston-stem-college-and-career-fair/
Not sure if you should be taking the essay portion of the SAT or ACT? Most college admissions do NOT require the essay as part of their application process. Please read the link below from Compass Prep. Save yourself money and time by only taking the college admission testing you need for the colleges you are considering. As always, see your counselor or Lenny Libenzon, BHS College Counselor Room 279/280 if you have any questions.
https://www.compassprep.com/act-writing-and-sat-essay-requirements/
Interested in Architecture / Design majors? Consider attending this College Fair (free for students):
Saturday, September 28, 2019
BSA Space – Congress St, Boston MA
10:00 AM - 2:00 PM
https://www.architects.org/events/6648/2019/09/28/college-fair-2019
JUNIORS
The PSATs are coming to BHS…. We are excited to again offer the PSAT – practice for the College Board SAT college admissions test – to all juniors on Saturday, October 19. Information will be shared during tomorrow’s Monday 9/23 Advisory and online registration will begin on Tuesday 9/24 and end Wednesday 10/9. See attached information and registration link/timelines flyer. All juniors will be getting this flyer in tomorrow’s advisory also.
SOPHOMORES
The Sophomore Parent Guidance Meet and Greet scheduled for this Wed 9/25 has been CHANGED to Tues Oct 8 from 8:30-9:30 AM, Location TBD. This meeting was rescheduled due to the combination of senior seminars starting this week and the end of the 2 week scheduling freeze for counselors.
Please join this informal opportunity for parents of sophomores to have time to introduce (or re-introduce) yourself to your student’s 10th grade counselor while enjoying some coffee and muffins. All counselors – including SWS counselor Dan Bresman and ACE/mainstream counselor Kara Lopez will be there.
Two important notes:
-- any need for more detailed conversations with counselors should be scheduled for another time
-- a few tips on the importance of communication between your 10th grader and counselor will be shared
FRESHMEN
Welcome to Brookline High School!
9th grade students have been introduced to their assigned guidance counselor in the first week of school during advisories. Counselors will continue getting to know their students by presenting CTO (“Counselors Taking Over”!) seminars during HUB through October. You can contact your student’s counselor at the following numbers and please encourage your 9th grader to stop by their counselor’s office between classes or during HUB or X block if needed. Students can also email their counselor to set up a meeting time - [email protected]
NOTE - Students assigned to Ms Sara Aggeler should be contacting Mr Larry Allen ([email protected]) at this time. Ms Aggeler returns from maternity leave on Tuesday 10/2. Thank you!