Coronavirus information articles to help parents talk to and support their students (shared thanks to a parent email):
https://www.nasponline.org/resources-and-publications/resources-and-podcasts/school-climate-safety-and-crisis/health-crises/talking-to-children-about-covid-19-(coronavirus)-a-parent-resource
https://www.nytimes.com/2020/03/02/well/family/coronavirus-teenagers-anxiety.html
https://www.npr.org/sections/goatsandsoda/2020/02/28/809580453/just-for-kids-a-comic-exploring-the-new-coronavirus
After reading the excellent book Dear Parents: A Field Guide for College Preparation by Jon McGee, I have focused on various quotes for each high school grade level for you to consider below. Mr McGee has spent over 17 years of his career “studying the influence of economic and demographic trends in college enrollment and how students make their college choice”. He includes his thoughts as a parent, along with shared “letters” from a diverse range of college/university/ secondary school leaders who are also parents starting to consider the post high school planning process for their own children.
https://www.nasponline.org/resources-and-publications/resources-and-podcasts/school-climate-safety-and-crisis/health-crises/talking-to-children-about-covid-19-(coronavirus)-a-parent-resource
https://www.nytimes.com/2020/03/02/well/family/coronavirus-teenagers-anxiety.html
https://www.npr.org/sections/goatsandsoda/2020/02/28/809580453/just-for-kids-a-comic-exploring-the-new-coronavirus
After reading the excellent book Dear Parents: A Field Guide for College Preparation by Jon McGee, I have focused on various quotes for each high school grade level for you to consider below. Mr McGee has spent over 17 years of his career “studying the influence of economic and demographic trends in college enrollment and how students make their college choice”. He includes his thoughts as a parent, along with shared “letters” from a diverse range of college/university/ secondary school leaders who are also parents starting to consider the post high school planning process for their own children.
ALL STUDENTS/PARENTS- CARETAKERS
The new 2020-21 Brookline High Course Catalog is here! http://bhs.brookline.k12.ma.us/uploads/8/0/1/5/801512/bhscat_20_21_final.pdf
Check out the incredible amount of offerings in many areas for electives and wellness courses. See you counselor if you have any questions. Keep in mind the required BHS course credits needed for graduation and talk with your parents-caretakers about the best course load balance for you. The student portal will be open from March 3-24 for all Gr 9-11 BHS students to upload their elective and wellness course selections. Be sure students can access their portal now since students only can be uploading these courses to their student portal!
See the attached portal access directions.
Thoughts for Gr 9 students & parents-caretakers from educator Matt Malatesta (Vice President for Admissions, Financial Aid and Enrollment at Union College in New York):
“Kids need to know how to learn, to challenge themselves, to live a balanced life, to have fun – not how to get into college or a particular college. Strong colleges and universities across the country are interested in enrolling students from a variety of educational backgrounds and with different levels of academic achievement. Admission is not the goal or the endgame. The more important question for our children is,’Are you ready to stretch yourself and continue to grow once in college?’”
Thoughts for Gr 10 students & parents-caretakers from the author in his prologue: “Colleges features, images, and ‘brands’ are seductive. This is by design. But the images too often are limited to the sensory and struggle to get to the heart of the matter. Before our kids make their college choice or even begin the process, they need to understand first what makes them tick. ‘Who am I? What do I expect? What do I value most? What do I need?’ Parents play a significant role in guiding them to that self-understanding.”
Thoughts for Gr 11 students & parents-caretakers from the author in his prologue: “The lesson was clear: many paths, and often detours, can lead to success… More than half of all students will change majors at least once. Our children will not always get what they (or we) want, and they many not follow the straightest or simplest path, but that’s not always a bad thing. Encourage your child to chart their course and own their college search and choice process. Admission is not a grade on parenting.”
Thoughts for Gr 12 students & parents-caretakers from the author in the section called Fit and highlighting the price tag of colleges: As the author advised his own son about making choices between colleges he’d been accepted to, “[his son] wrestled with two choices, both schools that matched his interests and aspirations very well. In many ways, the schools were similar, but the incremental difference in net price was substantial: one school would have cost our family well over $100,000 more over 4 years than the other…. [We] asked him, ‘Could you tell us why you think this school is worth that much more than the other?’ … I knew he’d struggle with an answer. In the end, he chose the smaller price tag not because it cost less but rather because he could not (nor could I) define enough difference or value to warrant paying the higher price. Had the 2 finalists been different, where the value of the one clearly exceeded the value of the other, he perhaps would have made a different choice. He learned, as did I, that value is relative.”
This is WEEK A schedule
3rd Quarter IPRs (Interim Progress Reports) will be issued on the student and parent portals this Friday 3/13.
Please read the articles below:
- Relevance of trade careers for many young people, including some of our Brookline High students-
https://www.familycircle.com/teen/teens-need-know-they-can-make-money-trade-careers/?utm_source=facebook.com&utm_medium=social&utm_campaign=social-share-article&utm_content=20200108
- Colleges of some well-known people -
https://lookaside.fbsbx.com/file/Successful people and the college they attended.pptx?token=AWzzoGAKLvTON0lW9oFO4bV5CbihZ8bNLJr40yWlQcFGgVzShNV_LDmYeWJsvcNcXLI0eVsdHlIFq3MOhU3iofJT171oWkAI8eza9Vw0l79NV0245McBCjez7F3lmgYRd1d9m9jkH2zzcflFPzUsKssh_OkGp8yswF_tnddnEXh1Zslu6LPeSLuzVwwu4t7VqxS4ExlfDtbgNgF88czIwgsE
Parent Screening date this Tues 3/10 - IF THEY HAD KNOWN - On Friday March 13, all juniors will attend an assembly of a powerful documentary called “If They Had Known,” a 35-minute film focusing on the risks of the current party culture and the dangers of mixing alcohol and prescription drugs. On Tuesday, March 10 at 7 pm there will be a showing of the film for parents and the community, in the BHS Roberts/Dubbs Auditorium.
The documentary depicts a “typical party scene” many of our students have or will attend. This is not about a student struggling with a serious addiction, but an honest and emotional account of an accidental death that shouldn’t have happened, spoken by his friends and his little brother, all of whom were with him, and who did not react in time. The goal of this presentation is to help students take seriously the risks of overdose with prescription drugs and alcohol, and to encourage students to intervene and take action to save the life of a friend. The movie will be followed by Q&A as time allows.
Asian & Asian-American Students/Parents-caretakers - Please consider attending the Let's Talk! 2020 conference: Promoting the Success and Well-Being of Asian and Asian-American students on March 27-28 at Harvard Graduate School of Education. Great and FREE opportunity! See 3/8 parent email for more info.
BAGLY sponsored Trans Youth Summit for students, parents-guardians, and caretakers on Saturday April 18 from 9am-5pm, Heath School in Brookline – see 3/8 parent email for more info.
Consider attending Northeastern’s Spring Splash program this March!
Want to learn about city planning, calligraphy, and aliens, all in one day, for free? We are NEPTUN, an organization at Northeastern University that hosts events inviting high school students (grades 9-12) to campus for free classes. We’re writing to let you know about our Spring Splash Program! The event will take place on March 14th and 21st and we want you to be there! We have some incredible class offerings this year, including:
- The Philosophy of Anarchy
- From Newspaper Cartoons to Tiktoks: The Evolution of Political Satire
- Amateur Rocketry Basics: Manufacturing & Launch
- The Cat Conspiracy and Other Mind-Bending Parasites
- Check out our class catalog here!
Check out our program details and register here! You can register for up to 12 classes over the both Saturdays. The event will take place on Northeastern's campus in Ryder Hall, which is right next door to the Ruggles T-Station. And all students will receive a free T-Shirt, snack and a Pizza lunch!
Brookline Community Service Opportunity
A collaboration between Center Communities of Brookline and Wentworth Institute of Technology offers a chance for BHS students to participate in service to others and get community service credit. Details here:
Every other year, Brookline community partners join Center Communities of Brookline (the event sponsor) to organize a Senior Health Fair. This year’s event will be the 2020 Health Expo with a focus on Technology - innovations, resources and opportunities to support older adults. With an aging population growing faster than ever before, opportunities to highlight and demonstrate innovations for sight, sound, mobility, connectivity and transportation offer such a resoundingly positive experience for older adults in Brookline, as well as those families with older loved ones.
There may be an opportunity for 10 BHS students come to Wentworth (sometime in March) for a workshop and lunch with their students from different disciplines and attend the June 4 Expo to interact with the other Expo attendees. Any interested students should check in with Ms Lisa Gaffney, the BHS Community Service Coordinator, in Room 161.
It's time to think about your summer plans!
Please see the attached info sheet for many ideas (updated 3/8/20). Note that programs listed here are not all inclusive and do not suggest that Brookline High specifically endorses any program. Remember to read the intro at the top of the info sheet. See your counselor for more feedback or questions!
Some suggested summer pre-college opportunities with financial aid available - http://blog.collegegreenlight.com/blog/summer-pre-college-programs-2019/
Please note that attending a pre-college program at any particular college does not usually offer any special consideration during future admissions at that school.
Bill of Rights Institute sponsors the 2019-2020 We the Students Essay Prompt - What does civil discourse mean to you? DEADLINE APRIL 15, 2020 - Civil discourse is a concept that goes beyond a simple dictionary definition, and understanding it involves a combination of personal experience and ‘big ideas.’ Perhaps it is something you recognize from an occurrence in your own life. Maybe you can easily recognize when it is missing. Differing perspectives are a key part of learning, of democracies, and of civil society. For this essay, we ask you not only share your comprehension of what civil discourse is meant to be but to also relate what it looks like when it works – and when it doesn’t – and why. Perhaps you will choose to include mention of a time when you, yourself, were part of an exchange intended to understand something – how did you go about it? We encourage you to bring emotion, creativity, specific examples (including current events), and well-researched facts into what you write. A good essay will demonstrate how civil discourse is not just an abstract idea, but is, in fact, action inspired by constitutional principles, and demonstrated through civic virtues. We want to know what you think civil discourse truly means.
The winners of this year’s contest will receive:
1st Place – $7,500 and a scholarship to our 2020 Constitutional Academy in Washington, D.C.Runners Up – 5 prizes at $1,500 eachHonorable Mentions – 8 prizes at $500 eachhttps://billofrightsinstitute.org/engage/students-programs-events/scholarship/we-the-students-rules-and-regluations/
Lunch Lounge happens ALL LUNCHES EVERY WEEKDAY in Room 277 at the 115 campus. LUNCH LOUNGE AT OLS happens every Wednesday all lunches in the Fireplace room that can be entered through the OLS Nurse’s Office.
Both alternative lunch spaces offer a place for fun conversation, a board game competition, or having a quiet lunch. BRING YOUR OWN LUNCH. Any student can join for one lunch lounge or become a regular.
4 Spring/ Summer STEM Career Exploration Opportunities for High School Young Women in Greater Boston Area-
** Twelfth annual SET in the City - A Day of Career Exploration in Science, Engineering & Technology for High School Girls will take place on Saturday, April 4th, 2020. Students begin the day at Boston University, and then travel in separate groups to area venues that include Biogen, Emmanuel, Harvard, Northeastern and Simmons for lunch and laboratory activities. Everyone will end the day with a keynote address and college student panel at Merck in Boston. The program will begin at 9:30 am and conclude at 5:00 pm.
Participating students will take part in hands-on activities, hear from and interact with students and professionals in SET fields, learn about cutting edge research, and find out how to prepare for careers in Science, Engineering, and Technology. The cost of attending is $30.00. Interested students may pre-register for the event online at www.bostongirlsstem.org/setinthecity/apply.html. Students who are enrolled in SNAP, TAFDC or MA Health are eligible to attend for a reduced fee of $10.00.
This event is sponsored by the Boston Area Girls STEM Collaborative, which includes representatives from the following organizations and institutions: Boston University, Emmanuel College, Harvard University, M.I.T., MoS, Northeastern University, Simmons College, UMass Boston, Wentworth Institute of Technology, and WGBH, as well as industry partners such as Biogen, Merck and IBM.
** Girls STEM Summit-Statewide 2020
DURING THE SUMMIT STUDENTS WILL:
Hear an inspirational keynote speech by a local female leader in a STEM field.
Meet successful women working as experts in STEM fields, and work directly with them in hands-on career-specific workshops.
Expand knowledge of STEM industries and emerging career paths.
Be inspired to continue taking STEM high school courses applicable to college STEM programs.
Date: Sunday, April 5, 2020
Fee: $70.00 (Scholarship available to students with limited resources to cover fee – please see your counselor or Counseling Coordinator Darby Neff-Verre in Room 285 for more info)
Location: Wentworth Institute of Technology
Time: 8:00 am–4:00 pm (lunch included)
https://juniortech.org/2020-girls-stem-summit-statewide/
** Apply to the Girls Who Code Summer Immersion Program! The Summer Immersion Program is a FREE 7-week summer program for 10th–11th grade girls and gender nonconforming students (rising juniors and seniors) to learn the computer science skills they need to make an impact in their community while preparing for a career in tech. Classrooms are hosted at influential tech companies and corporate offices, like Goldman Sachs, AT&T, and Disney, where girls will be exposed to mentors and role models. Stipends of up to $1200 to cover transportation and living costs are available to those who qualify. All applications are due March 13th by 11:59PM PST.
** GROW (Greater Boston Research Opportunities for Young Women)
• Dates: June 25-26 (orientation) and July 6– August 14, 2020 M-F from 9:30-4:30
• Grade Level: Young women from greater Boston high schools who will be entering their senior year in fall 2020
• Must be 16 years old by July 1, 2020
• Must live within 30 miles and be able to commute to BU every day
• Deadline for Applications: April 15, 2020
GROW is a six-week paid research internship for young women who are seriously interested in STEM careers. Participants can earn a stipend of up to $1500 for completion of all program requirements. Accepted students will be placed in a biology, chemistry, physics, engineering or computer science lab where they will participate in cutting edge research in a collaborative group session. Participants will be part of a cohort that meets several times a week with a Program Manager who will coach them on how to reach their research goals and help prepare them to present their research at a summer symposium. Participants will also visit local pharmaceutical or biotech companies and learn about careers in STEM fields. For more information and to apply, go to: www.bu.edu/lernet/grow.
SENIORS
IMPORTANT REMINDER - Applications are available online at the BHS homepage under 2020 BHS Scholarship Application. The deadline for applying for BHS scholarships for students attending ANY college is April 17. To make fair decisions, the Committee requires that families fill out the CSS Profile financial aid form, available at CollegeBoard.com. Please use code #0424
The February BHS Scholarship is now available. See in earlier blog post.
Thinking about an alternative plan to 4 year college? You are not alone! Almost 10% of last year’s BHS graduates planned to attend a 2 year technical or community college, work full time, or considered the military. Please see Kate Cordner Kennedy, the BHS Career Counselor in Room 279 or 280 for more info. If she is not available when you stop by (since she is also working with 9th graders at the OLS campus), please leave her a note!
SENIORS, JUNIORS, and SOPHOMORE FEMALES
Summer 2020 STEM Sampler Workshops at MassBay Community College - MassBay Community College is excited to offer the Summer 2020 STEM Sampler Workshops for *underserved female (*underserved-Must be one of the following: Eligible for free or reduced lunch, will be the first in their family to attend college, or are under-represented in college admissions) high school students who identify as female. The workshops are a five-day exploratory in Science (biotechnology lab work), Technology (robotics and web design), Engineering (engineering design), and Math (interactive, contextualized in STEM). Preference will be given to rising juniors and seniors, and graduating seniors. Program dates are July 13th-17th, 2020; 9AM-3PM at the MassBay Wellesley Hills campus. This program is FREE and funded through STEM Starter Academy. For more information and to apply, please visit: https://www.massbay.edu/stem-summer-sampler
JUNIORS
Ready to sign up for Kaplan SAT Prep starting March 19 at BHS (Class Code: SMKS20014P)? Enrollment is low so this class may be cancelled if more students do not register by this Friday 3/13. If this is the class that you are going to register for, please enroll immediately at:
www.kaptest.com/class/SMKS20014P
Remember to use promo code: 20MAR200PC to get your $300 discount
Coming soon for junior students and parents-caretakers - Thursday, March 19 – BHS College Fair, 6:30-8:30pm, Café
Boston National College Fair – April 30, 2020 to May 1, 2020 | Boston, MA
Junior Seminars Round 2 have ended in advisories. Seminar Round 3 is scheduled during ELA MCAS mornings on either March 24th or 25th. Be sure to attend these sessions to get the most updated information from your counselor. More information on date/location in next week’s guidance update.
Starting to research colleges? Wondering how to use Naviance for college searches? Wondering whether to take the SAT, ACT, or go test-optional? Thinking about when you should take these tests?
Make an appointment with your counselor (email or leave a note, if needed) OR see Mr Libenzon, BHS College Counselor, in College-Career Center 279 or office 280.
College Admissions Testing Prep suggestions:
** BHS Librarians are offering FREE online test prep tutorials every Thurs after school from 3-4pm in the Library.
** SAT? Go to Kahn Academy on the College Board website for specific help related to your individualizes PSAT score results… and it’s free!
ACT? Check out the ACT Academy on their website.
SOPHOMORES and JUNIORS
The PreACT at BHS occurred Saturday 2/29. The PreACT score reports will be available in April. A score report presentation will be scheduled during an X block with report distribution happening afterwards. More details to come!
2020 Post-Secondary Fair, for students who learn differently - attendees will meet representatives from college and university admissions and student support services, gap year programs, technical schools, and other non-traditional options.
"[The fair] was incredible! Both my daughter and I left feeling less stressed and better prepared to make a college list. We even started to plan our trips/visits." -2019 parent attendee
Save the date for Thursday, March 26, 2020, 6-8 p.m.
447 Hale Street, Prides Crossing, MA
Landmark School Alice Ansara Athletic Center
This event is FREE and open to the public.
High school students, parents, guardians, guidance counselors, and educators are all encouraged to attend.
SOPHOMORES
Rotary Youth Leadership Awards – Leadership Training for Sophomores – RYLA participants meet in early summer for a 3 day conference (June 26-28 at Fitchburg State Univ) that includes presentations, activities, and workshops on:
- Leadership Fundamentals
- Ethics
- Communication Skills
- Problem Solving
- Conflict Management
- Community & Global Citizenship
Check out more at https://rotary7910.org/page/ryla-for-students-and-parents
If you are interested, please see your counselor!
The new 2020-21 Brookline High Course Catalog is here! http://bhs.brookline.k12.ma.us/uploads/8/0/1/5/801512/bhscat_20_21_final.pdf
Check out the incredible amount of offerings in many areas for electives and wellness courses. See you counselor if you have any questions. Keep in mind the required BHS course credits needed for graduation and talk with your parents-caretakers about the best course load balance for you. The student portal will be open from March 3-24 for all Gr 9-11 BHS students to upload their elective and wellness course selections. Be sure students can access their portal now since students only can be uploading these courses to their student portal!
See the attached portal access directions.
Thoughts for Gr 9 students & parents-caretakers from educator Matt Malatesta (Vice President for Admissions, Financial Aid and Enrollment at Union College in New York):
“Kids need to know how to learn, to challenge themselves, to live a balanced life, to have fun – not how to get into college or a particular college. Strong colleges and universities across the country are interested in enrolling students from a variety of educational backgrounds and with different levels of academic achievement. Admission is not the goal or the endgame. The more important question for our children is,’Are you ready to stretch yourself and continue to grow once in college?’”
Thoughts for Gr 10 students & parents-caretakers from the author in his prologue: “Colleges features, images, and ‘brands’ are seductive. This is by design. But the images too often are limited to the sensory and struggle to get to the heart of the matter. Before our kids make their college choice or even begin the process, they need to understand first what makes them tick. ‘Who am I? What do I expect? What do I value most? What do I need?’ Parents play a significant role in guiding them to that self-understanding.”
Thoughts for Gr 11 students & parents-caretakers from the author in his prologue: “The lesson was clear: many paths, and often detours, can lead to success… More than half of all students will change majors at least once. Our children will not always get what they (or we) want, and they many not follow the straightest or simplest path, but that’s not always a bad thing. Encourage your child to chart their course and own their college search and choice process. Admission is not a grade on parenting.”
Thoughts for Gr 12 students & parents-caretakers from the author in the section called Fit and highlighting the price tag of colleges: As the author advised his own son about making choices between colleges he’d been accepted to, “[his son] wrestled with two choices, both schools that matched his interests and aspirations very well. In many ways, the schools were similar, but the incremental difference in net price was substantial: one school would have cost our family well over $100,000 more over 4 years than the other…. [We] asked him, ‘Could you tell us why you think this school is worth that much more than the other?’ … I knew he’d struggle with an answer. In the end, he chose the smaller price tag not because it cost less but rather because he could not (nor could I) define enough difference or value to warrant paying the higher price. Had the 2 finalists been different, where the value of the one clearly exceeded the value of the other, he perhaps would have made a different choice. He learned, as did I, that value is relative.”
This is WEEK A schedule
3rd Quarter IPRs (Interim Progress Reports) will be issued on the student and parent portals this Friday 3/13.
Please read the articles below:
- Relevance of trade careers for many young people, including some of our Brookline High students-
https://www.familycircle.com/teen/teens-need-know-they-can-make-money-trade-careers/?utm_source=facebook.com&utm_medium=social&utm_campaign=social-share-article&utm_content=20200108
- Colleges of some well-known people -
https://lookaside.fbsbx.com/file/Successful people and the college they attended.pptx?token=AWzzoGAKLvTON0lW9oFO4bV5CbihZ8bNLJr40yWlQcFGgVzShNV_LDmYeWJsvcNcXLI0eVsdHlIFq3MOhU3iofJT171oWkAI8eza9Vw0l79NV0245McBCjez7F3lmgYRd1d9m9jkH2zzcflFPzUsKssh_OkGp8yswF_tnddnEXh1Zslu6LPeSLuzVwwu4t7VqxS4ExlfDtbgNgF88czIwgsE
Parent Screening date this Tues 3/10 - IF THEY HAD KNOWN - On Friday March 13, all juniors will attend an assembly of a powerful documentary called “If They Had Known,” a 35-minute film focusing on the risks of the current party culture and the dangers of mixing alcohol and prescription drugs. On Tuesday, March 10 at 7 pm there will be a showing of the film for parents and the community, in the BHS Roberts/Dubbs Auditorium.
The documentary depicts a “typical party scene” many of our students have or will attend. This is not about a student struggling with a serious addiction, but an honest and emotional account of an accidental death that shouldn’t have happened, spoken by his friends and his little brother, all of whom were with him, and who did not react in time. The goal of this presentation is to help students take seriously the risks of overdose with prescription drugs and alcohol, and to encourage students to intervene and take action to save the life of a friend. The movie will be followed by Q&A as time allows.
Asian & Asian-American Students/Parents-caretakers - Please consider attending the Let's Talk! 2020 conference: Promoting the Success and Well-Being of Asian and Asian-American students on March 27-28 at Harvard Graduate School of Education. Great and FREE opportunity! See 3/8 parent email for more info.
BAGLY sponsored Trans Youth Summit for students, parents-guardians, and caretakers on Saturday April 18 from 9am-5pm, Heath School in Brookline – see 3/8 parent email for more info.
Consider attending Northeastern’s Spring Splash program this March!
Want to learn about city planning, calligraphy, and aliens, all in one day, for free? We are NEPTUN, an organization at Northeastern University that hosts events inviting high school students (grades 9-12) to campus for free classes. We’re writing to let you know about our Spring Splash Program! The event will take place on March 14th and 21st and we want you to be there! We have some incredible class offerings this year, including:
- The Philosophy of Anarchy
- From Newspaper Cartoons to Tiktoks: The Evolution of Political Satire
- Amateur Rocketry Basics: Manufacturing & Launch
- The Cat Conspiracy and Other Mind-Bending Parasites
- Check out our class catalog here!
Check out our program details and register here! You can register for up to 12 classes over the both Saturdays. The event will take place on Northeastern's campus in Ryder Hall, which is right next door to the Ruggles T-Station. And all students will receive a free T-Shirt, snack and a Pizza lunch!
Brookline Community Service Opportunity
A collaboration between Center Communities of Brookline and Wentworth Institute of Technology offers a chance for BHS students to participate in service to others and get community service credit. Details here:
Every other year, Brookline community partners join Center Communities of Brookline (the event sponsor) to organize a Senior Health Fair. This year’s event will be the 2020 Health Expo with a focus on Technology - innovations, resources and opportunities to support older adults. With an aging population growing faster than ever before, opportunities to highlight and demonstrate innovations for sight, sound, mobility, connectivity and transportation offer such a resoundingly positive experience for older adults in Brookline, as well as those families with older loved ones.
There may be an opportunity for 10 BHS students come to Wentworth (sometime in March) for a workshop and lunch with their students from different disciplines and attend the June 4 Expo to interact with the other Expo attendees. Any interested students should check in with Ms Lisa Gaffney, the BHS Community Service Coordinator, in Room 161.
It's time to think about your summer plans!
Please see the attached info sheet for many ideas (updated 3/8/20). Note that programs listed here are not all inclusive and do not suggest that Brookline High specifically endorses any program. Remember to read the intro at the top of the info sheet. See your counselor for more feedback or questions!
Some suggested summer pre-college opportunities with financial aid available - http://blog.collegegreenlight.com/blog/summer-pre-college-programs-2019/
Please note that attending a pre-college program at any particular college does not usually offer any special consideration during future admissions at that school.
Bill of Rights Institute sponsors the 2019-2020 We the Students Essay Prompt - What does civil discourse mean to you? DEADLINE APRIL 15, 2020 - Civil discourse is a concept that goes beyond a simple dictionary definition, and understanding it involves a combination of personal experience and ‘big ideas.’ Perhaps it is something you recognize from an occurrence in your own life. Maybe you can easily recognize when it is missing. Differing perspectives are a key part of learning, of democracies, and of civil society. For this essay, we ask you not only share your comprehension of what civil discourse is meant to be but to also relate what it looks like when it works – and when it doesn’t – and why. Perhaps you will choose to include mention of a time when you, yourself, were part of an exchange intended to understand something – how did you go about it? We encourage you to bring emotion, creativity, specific examples (including current events), and well-researched facts into what you write. A good essay will demonstrate how civil discourse is not just an abstract idea, but is, in fact, action inspired by constitutional principles, and demonstrated through civic virtues. We want to know what you think civil discourse truly means.
The winners of this year’s contest will receive:
1st Place – $7,500 and a scholarship to our 2020 Constitutional Academy in Washington, D.C.Runners Up – 5 prizes at $1,500 eachHonorable Mentions – 8 prizes at $500 eachhttps://billofrightsinstitute.org/engage/students-programs-events/scholarship/we-the-students-rules-and-regluations/
Lunch Lounge happens ALL LUNCHES EVERY WEEKDAY in Room 277 at the 115 campus. LUNCH LOUNGE AT OLS happens every Wednesday all lunches in the Fireplace room that can be entered through the OLS Nurse’s Office.
Both alternative lunch spaces offer a place for fun conversation, a board game competition, or having a quiet lunch. BRING YOUR OWN LUNCH. Any student can join for one lunch lounge or become a regular.
4 Spring/ Summer STEM Career Exploration Opportunities for High School Young Women in Greater Boston Area-
** Twelfth annual SET in the City - A Day of Career Exploration in Science, Engineering & Technology for High School Girls will take place on Saturday, April 4th, 2020. Students begin the day at Boston University, and then travel in separate groups to area venues that include Biogen, Emmanuel, Harvard, Northeastern and Simmons for lunch and laboratory activities. Everyone will end the day with a keynote address and college student panel at Merck in Boston. The program will begin at 9:30 am and conclude at 5:00 pm.
Participating students will take part in hands-on activities, hear from and interact with students and professionals in SET fields, learn about cutting edge research, and find out how to prepare for careers in Science, Engineering, and Technology. The cost of attending is $30.00. Interested students may pre-register for the event online at www.bostongirlsstem.org/setinthecity/apply.html. Students who are enrolled in SNAP, TAFDC or MA Health are eligible to attend for a reduced fee of $10.00.
This event is sponsored by the Boston Area Girls STEM Collaborative, which includes representatives from the following organizations and institutions: Boston University, Emmanuel College, Harvard University, M.I.T., MoS, Northeastern University, Simmons College, UMass Boston, Wentworth Institute of Technology, and WGBH, as well as industry partners such as Biogen, Merck and IBM.
** Girls STEM Summit-Statewide 2020
DURING THE SUMMIT STUDENTS WILL:
Hear an inspirational keynote speech by a local female leader in a STEM field.
Meet successful women working as experts in STEM fields, and work directly with them in hands-on career-specific workshops.
Expand knowledge of STEM industries and emerging career paths.
Be inspired to continue taking STEM high school courses applicable to college STEM programs.
Date: Sunday, April 5, 2020
Fee: $70.00 (Scholarship available to students with limited resources to cover fee – please see your counselor or Counseling Coordinator Darby Neff-Verre in Room 285 for more info)
Location: Wentworth Institute of Technology
Time: 8:00 am–4:00 pm (lunch included)
https://juniortech.org/2020-girls-stem-summit-statewide/
** Apply to the Girls Who Code Summer Immersion Program! The Summer Immersion Program is a FREE 7-week summer program for 10th–11th grade girls and gender nonconforming students (rising juniors and seniors) to learn the computer science skills they need to make an impact in their community while preparing for a career in tech. Classrooms are hosted at influential tech companies and corporate offices, like Goldman Sachs, AT&T, and Disney, where girls will be exposed to mentors and role models. Stipends of up to $1200 to cover transportation and living costs are available to those who qualify. All applications are due March 13th by 11:59PM PST.
** GROW (Greater Boston Research Opportunities for Young Women)
• Dates: June 25-26 (orientation) and July 6– August 14, 2020 M-F from 9:30-4:30
• Grade Level: Young women from greater Boston high schools who will be entering their senior year in fall 2020
• Must be 16 years old by July 1, 2020
• Must live within 30 miles and be able to commute to BU every day
• Deadline for Applications: April 15, 2020
GROW is a six-week paid research internship for young women who are seriously interested in STEM careers. Participants can earn a stipend of up to $1500 for completion of all program requirements. Accepted students will be placed in a biology, chemistry, physics, engineering or computer science lab where they will participate in cutting edge research in a collaborative group session. Participants will be part of a cohort that meets several times a week with a Program Manager who will coach them on how to reach their research goals and help prepare them to present their research at a summer symposium. Participants will also visit local pharmaceutical or biotech companies and learn about careers in STEM fields. For more information and to apply, go to: www.bu.edu/lernet/grow.
SENIORS
IMPORTANT REMINDER - Applications are available online at the BHS homepage under 2020 BHS Scholarship Application. The deadline for applying for BHS scholarships for students attending ANY college is April 17. To make fair decisions, the Committee requires that families fill out the CSS Profile financial aid form, available at CollegeBoard.com. Please use code #0424
The February BHS Scholarship is now available. See in earlier blog post.
Thinking about an alternative plan to 4 year college? You are not alone! Almost 10% of last year’s BHS graduates planned to attend a 2 year technical or community college, work full time, or considered the military. Please see Kate Cordner Kennedy, the BHS Career Counselor in Room 279 or 280 for more info. If she is not available when you stop by (since she is also working with 9th graders at the OLS campus), please leave her a note!
SENIORS, JUNIORS, and SOPHOMORE FEMALES
Summer 2020 STEM Sampler Workshops at MassBay Community College - MassBay Community College is excited to offer the Summer 2020 STEM Sampler Workshops for *underserved female (*underserved-Must be one of the following: Eligible for free or reduced lunch, will be the first in their family to attend college, or are under-represented in college admissions) high school students who identify as female. The workshops are a five-day exploratory in Science (biotechnology lab work), Technology (robotics and web design), Engineering (engineering design), and Math (interactive, contextualized in STEM). Preference will be given to rising juniors and seniors, and graduating seniors. Program dates are July 13th-17th, 2020; 9AM-3PM at the MassBay Wellesley Hills campus. This program is FREE and funded through STEM Starter Academy. For more information and to apply, please visit: https://www.massbay.edu/stem-summer-sampler
JUNIORS
Ready to sign up for Kaplan SAT Prep starting March 19 at BHS (Class Code: SMKS20014P)? Enrollment is low so this class may be cancelled if more students do not register by this Friday 3/13. If this is the class that you are going to register for, please enroll immediately at:
www.kaptest.com/class/SMKS20014P
Remember to use promo code: 20MAR200PC to get your $300 discount
Coming soon for junior students and parents-caretakers - Thursday, March 19 – BHS College Fair, 6:30-8:30pm, Café
Boston National College Fair – April 30, 2020 to May 1, 2020 | Boston, MA
Junior Seminars Round 2 have ended in advisories. Seminar Round 3 is scheduled during ELA MCAS mornings on either March 24th or 25th. Be sure to attend these sessions to get the most updated information from your counselor. More information on date/location in next week’s guidance update.
Starting to research colleges? Wondering how to use Naviance for college searches? Wondering whether to take the SAT, ACT, or go test-optional? Thinking about when you should take these tests?
Make an appointment with your counselor (email or leave a note, if needed) OR see Mr Libenzon, BHS College Counselor, in College-Career Center 279 or office 280.
College Admissions Testing Prep suggestions:
** BHS Librarians are offering FREE online test prep tutorials every Thurs after school from 3-4pm in the Library.
** SAT? Go to Kahn Academy on the College Board website for specific help related to your individualizes PSAT score results… and it’s free!
ACT? Check out the ACT Academy on their website.
SOPHOMORES and JUNIORS
The PreACT at BHS occurred Saturday 2/29. The PreACT score reports will be available in April. A score report presentation will be scheduled during an X block with report distribution happening afterwards. More details to come!
2020 Post-Secondary Fair, for students who learn differently - attendees will meet representatives from college and university admissions and student support services, gap year programs, technical schools, and other non-traditional options.
"[The fair] was incredible! Both my daughter and I left feeling less stressed and better prepared to make a college list. We even started to plan our trips/visits." -2019 parent attendee
Save the date for Thursday, March 26, 2020, 6-8 p.m.
447 Hale Street, Prides Crossing, MA
Landmark School Alice Ansara Athletic Center
This event is FREE and open to the public.
High school students, parents, guardians, guidance counselors, and educators are all encouraged to attend.
SOPHOMORES
Rotary Youth Leadership Awards – Leadership Training for Sophomores – RYLA participants meet in early summer for a 3 day conference (June 26-28 at Fitchburg State Univ) that includes presentations, activities, and workshops on:
- Leadership Fundamentals
- Ethics
- Communication Skills
- Problem Solving
- Conflict Management
- Community & Global Citizenship
Check out more at https://rotary7910.org/page/ryla-for-students-and-parents
If you are interested, please see your counselor!