Important Dates |
- 10/08 Junior Parent Meeting
- 10/09 Careers in the Music Industry
- 10/17 PSAT
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FROM THE BHS HEAD OF SCHOOL
10.04.20
Dear BHS Parents, Guardians, and Caretakers,
I hope you are enjoying a beautiful Sunday in early October. This is prime New England time, even without an afternoon Patriots game.
Monday 10/5 BlackBoard Update
Tomorrow, we will send a fairly comprehensive update to high school parents and guardians via BlackBoard. Within this communication, we will share target dates for transitioning to hybrid, a pithy curriculum document that summarizes our various departments' foci, and a bit about tents, Remote Plus, and other areas where families seek more specific information and answers.
For this weekend, I want to spotlight some excellent learning and teaching and re-express gratitude for the BHS Innovation Fund's COVID-19 Teaching and Learning Response Grant and offer more specific information about it for those who want to dive deeper.
Spotlight: Culinary Exploratory
I do worry that in all the (understandable) desire along with the level of social media clamoring for in-person instruction (and a shift to hybrid), we might lose sight of the excellent work our students and teachers are doing in the present remote environment. I'd like to use the Weekly Blast to spotlight instructional excellence with some first-hand accounts of remote learning at BHS. First up is our Career and Technology Education department and Culinary program. Huge thanks to Dave Ford for sharing this description.
This week in Culinary Exploratory, Mr. Ford, Ms. Saler, Ms. Ricardelli, and their many students began the cookie unit of their baking module. On day one, teachers introduced students to a wide variety of cookies such as drop, rolled, spritz, sheet, icebox, and bar. Students teams were provided with a list of ingredients and then sent to breakout groups. Each group researched a particular style of cookie and a recipe they could make with the ingredients they were given. On day two, students worked independently in their home kitchens to bake the recipe they selected. Teachers monitored, coached, and supported student-bakers in real-time via Zoom. The tasty result: Congo bars, Lady Fingers, Brownies, Blondies, Snickerdoodles, and a bunch of demo cookies hanging around the Unified Arts Building (UAB). Next up in the baking module: cakes.
BHS Innovation Fund's COVID-19 Teaching and Learning Response Grant
I have written several times about the incredible support our high school received from the BEF, PTO, and Innovation Fund last spring and this summer. To better understand the specific purposes, approaches, and successes of the Innovation Fund work, check out this Fall Update from Board Chair Ellen Rizika.
The COVID-19 grant was a model for how our faculty and administration work best together. Curriculum coordinators and senior high school leadership met in the spring to discuss our goals, needs, and a potential approach - both on our own, internally, and with Innovation Fund leaders. When the Fund voted to support this expensive grant, we developed teams of teachers and administrators and the real work began to reimagine teaching and unify our faculty around critical best practices. While the grant focused on curriculum, instruction, and assessment, these teams also rightly pushed us to articulate and support policy and practice changes, including school-wide use of Canvas.
Most importantly, our students are receiving excellent instruction and engaging learning opportunities thanks to the Innovation Fund, BEF, PTO, and our incredibly talented and dedicated faculty, staff, and administration. As we say at BHS, "We're not done yet." Still, I'm proud and grateful for our institutional efforts thus far, knowing the challenges will intensify as we prepare to shift to a hybrid model in the coming weeks. As pledged, I will offer more specifics on that tomorrow.
Thanks and take care,
Anthony
Anthony Meyer
Head of School
Brookline High School |
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JUNIOR PARENT/CAREGIVER MEETING
Please join us for a virtual parent meeting on Thurs. Oct. 8 at 6:30 pm. Dean Lisa Redding will begin the parent/caregiver Zoom meeting. The Guidance Department's College Admissions Panel will follow at 7 pm. More details to follow.
BHS FAMILY DIRECTORY UNIOR PARENT/CAREGIVER MEETING
BHS Family Directory has been updated! Please click here to access the directory in Membership Toolkit. Upon first use for this school year, you will need to verify your information and confirm which data you want to be available to others on the directory. Please use the same email account you used when filling out the registration survey with the town this year.
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CAREERS IN THE MUSIC INDUSTRY SERIES
X Block series Careers in the Music Industry Talk and Question sessions.
Through a generous grant from the Innovation Fund, I have assembled a collection of music industry professionals to talk about their crafts. Some are even BHS alums.
The first is this Fri. Oct. 9 from 10:45 am -11:30am. All are welcome. For the Zoom link, email Carolyn_Castellano@psbma.org.
Joe Paul Slaby will give the talk this week. He has worked in the touring live event industry for over 30 years, primarily with touring rock bands in a wide variety of venues from clubs to arenas to large festivals all around the world. His focus is supporting professional musicians on the road, both onstage and off. Joe has toured with a diverse collection of musical artists including Tool, Jack White, Sting, Norah Jones, Rage Against the Machine, Jane's Addiction and Primus.
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BHS INNOVATION FUND COVID-19 GRANTS
The BHS Innovation Fund announces an update on the COVID-19 Teaching and Learning Grant awarded to 30 BHS faculty members for collaborative work this past summer to prepare for the current school year. Read about the impact of this special grant as well as all the program investments the Innovation Fund is making this year to support academic innovation in the Fall Newsletter. Didn't receive the newsletter? Sign up here or learn more about the BHS Innovation Fund at www.bhsinnovationfund.org.
GUIDANCE INFORMATION
For information from guidance, go here. Individual student information can be viewed on the Aspen Portal.
The PSAT for juniors will be administered on Sat. Oct. 17th. Registration begins on Oct. 29th.
STEPS TO SUCCESS UPDATE
Go here to learn what is happening with Steps to Success this year.
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NEED HELP WITH BALANCING BACK-TO-SCHOOL EXPECTATIONS?
This year, back-to-school is mostly “stay-at-home” for now, and that can put quite a strain on family life as everyone juggles needs and expectations. B-PEN (Brookline Parent Education Network, an outreach organization of Brookline Public Health and BHS) wants to help.
While each child’s school is your best choice for academic issues, B-PEN can help with developmental and wellness needs. We want to know your top concerns are -- what expert advice, resources, tips, and presentations might make your life a little easier? Please let us know via ParentNetwork115@gmail.com. And follow us on facebook for the latest on parenting concerns, from developmental milestones to substance use.
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SCHOOL COMMITTEE MEETING
The Brookline School Committee will meet on Thurs. Oct. 8 at 6 pm. Agenda will be here.
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MOVIE ON VOTER SUPPRESSION
Please join the Brookline League of Women Voters, the Public Library of Brookline, and the Office of Diversity, Inclusion, and Community Relations at a free virtual showing of RIGGED: The Voter Suppression Playbook on Tues., Oct. 6 from 7 PM - 9 PM. RSVP here to get a link to the event on Zoom
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Sports and Extracurricular Events
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| FALL SPORTS: Find the schedule and up-to-date news here. |
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Support BHS
The Brookline High School Parent Teacher Organization is committed to supporting important communications between school and home. It sponsors a variety of events each year designed to show support of the school and to keep parents informed about how to help their children make the most of the BHS experience.
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