Important Dates |
- 11/06 Quarter 1 Ended
- 11/19 Qtr 1 Grades on Aspen Portal.
- 11/19 Innovation Fund New BHS Parents Event.
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Reminder for Hybrid: In-person days, students should always carry::
- Two masks with multiple layers of fabric (no gaiters, bandanas, balaclavas or valved masks),
- Personal hand sanitizer
- Charged chromebook or laptop and charger
- Headphones (with mics, if at all possible)
- Sit upon (e.g. a towel)
- Their course and school materials
Students will eat lunch outside. When there is serious inclement weather, a safe inside space to eat will be provided.
FROM THE BHS HEAD OF SCHOOL
11.15.20
Dear Brookline High School Parents, Guardians, and Caretakers,
Happy mid-November. Tomorrow we will have been in school for two months--mid-September. As some School Committee members remarked last week, last week featured the "last first days" of the 20-21 school year. We started hybrid throughout Brookline High School, with the MT (Monday/Tuesday) and RF (ThuRsday/Friday) cohorts beginning at 115 Greenough Street. )ur ninth graders began cohorted travel to give them a connection to our larger BHS campus and experience. While there is always more work to do and improvements to make, the launch of hybrid has gone incredibly well thanks to huge efforts by students, staff, administrators, and teachers.
One of the things I love about working with adolescents is how they balance candid critique of us adult characters and the institutions we serve (ie, school, home/family, etc.) with an enduring and endearing sweetness, appreciation, and gratitude. I probably had 200 short conversations with kids throughout our 115 campus last week. I wanted to check in, hear how kids were doing, and how they were feeling about being back in school. Overwhelmingly, students were happy to be with peers and with their teachers, even as we all donned masks, tried to keep our distances, and engaged in new routines and rituals. My favorite moment of the week was talking to three boys from the cross country team as they sat on their sit upons and enjoyed lunch. One of the young men, who I know mostly because of how many items he has managed to lose during his three-plus years ar BHS, leaned back in his portable chair, clutching a sandwich, and enunciated, "Fabulous." For him, I'd argue, it was simple: outdoor lunch with friends during a break from school, with a class or two remaining in his new, in-person schedule.
Hal and I will continue our weekly Aspen X2 messages to students reminding them of the schedule for this week and forecasting how our schedule will look during Thanksgiving (11/23-25) and Winter Break (12/21-23). We want to make sure we are balancing in-person learning time for our MT and RF cohorts. We will also tell the young folks how terrific we think they are. I, for one, felt like all the work we have done since last spring to improve and tighten our educational program, ready our buildings, support the health and safety of all, and navigate remote, in-person, and hybrid learning as separate and intermingled models came together.
Thanks for all your support and for trusting us with your kids,
Anthony |
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HYBRID WEEK 2
Do you have questions or concerns for the BHS Administration?
Students have completed the first week in which all BHS students had the opportunity to attend in person or remain completely remote. We know that families have questions and concerns for the Administration. Please use this form (as many times as you would like) to ask questions or make comments. This information will be shared with Administration and questions/themes will be addressed in future Blasts. We look forward to hearing from you. We are a better community with everyone involved!!!
For the updated Hybrid daily schedule, including new lunch schedules, go to the BHS website.
Reminder: In-person days, students should always have at school:
- Two masks with multiple layers of fabric (no gaiters, bandanas, balaclavas or valved masks),
- Personal hand sanitizer,
- Charged chromebook or laptop and charger,
- Headphones (with mics, if at all possible)
- Sit upon (a towel );
- Their course and school materials.
Students will eat lunch outside. When there is serious inclement weather, a safe inside space to eat will be provided. |
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BHS INNOVATION FUND WELCOMES NEW PARENTS
Welcome Event for BHS Parents and Caregivers of 9th Graders and New BHS Students
Thurs. Nov 19th, 7:00-8:00 pm
Hosted by the BHS Innovation Fund
Parents and caregivers of freshmen and new BHS students are invited to join an online event to learn how the Innovation Fund supports a culture of academic innovation at our school. Hear directly from Anthony Meyer and Jenee Uttaro, “experience" Experiential Physics and connect with fellow BHS parents. The BHS Innovation Fund is a community-supported non-profit that provides grant funding for BHS teachers to develop curriculum that is innovative and forward-thinking to prepare our students to thrive in a rapidly changing world.
The Zoom link will be shared following registration. RSVP today.
PTO SEEKS ASSISTANCE TO EDITOR FOR BHS BLAST
The PTO is looking for someone to assist the editor of the BHS PTO Blast (THIS weekly e-newsletter). Currently, minimum role is proofreading a draft every Saturday. Other tasks available if desired. In 21/22, there is the opportunity to be the Editor of Blast and a PTO board member. Interested? Please contact the PTO Co-presidents-- Jenifer, Jamie or Jennie--at copresidents.bhs.pto@gmail.com.
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BACK TO SCHOOL NIGHT 2
Check your inbox for emails from each of your students' teachers. Teachers sent short videos introducing themselves and their class. These videos are Back to School Night 2.
BACK TO SCHOOL NIGHT 1
You can view the Back to School 1 presentations here (passcode: KS?xh7cS). BHS administrative and academic leaders address hybrid and remote learning at the high school. It is different model than K-8. It allows students in the hybrid model to to go remote at any time without any penalties if they or family members are ill or need to isolate due to exposure to the COVID virus. They also address the school's healthy and safety procedures for COVID-19.
CAUTION: TEEN GATHERINGS AND SPREADING COVID
Anecdotally, we are hearing of many teen parties in Brookline, often with parental consent. In light of Governor Baker's press conference Friday and ongoing health agency warnings reiterating the dangers of COVID being spread via gatherings -- often in private homes – parents are urged to reinforce safety messages and set limits for their teens. B-PEN offers some strategies for helping teens through this. And for the latest parenting news and information, check out our facebook for the latest news and info on parenting concerns.
While your family, especially your teen(s), may be tired of social distancing, the number of cases in Massachusetts continue rise every week. COVID-19 doesn't care if we're tired of it.
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STEPS TO SUCCESS UPDATES
To view Steps to Success's Impact Report and donate to this valuable Brookline youth-serving organization, go here.
THE TEEN CENTER IS NOW OPEN
The Brookline Teen Center is open! Go here for more information.
GUIDANCE INFORMATION
For information from guidance, go here. Individual student information can be viewed on the Aspen Portal.
INFORMATION FROM PSB's CENTRAL OFFICE
Go here to find the latest information about the Public Schools of Brookline switch to hybrid and other related issues. Remember: BHS hybrid/remote model is different from the pre-K to 8 models.
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SCHOOL COMMITTEE MEETING
The Brookline School Committee will meet on Thurs. Dec. 3 at 6 pm. Agenda and Zoom link will be here.
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MONTHLY QUIZ ON BROOKLINE
The Brookline Office of Diversity, Inclusion, and Community Relations has released a new Monthly Quiz! The Monthly Quiz is a great way to test what you know about Brookline and learn new things about your community! If you score a 10/10 your name will be entered into a year-end raffle! The November Quiz is a great way to test your knowledge on local Civic Engagement!
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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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