
Patriot News
BCCHS Parent & Family Newsletter | December 2020
Dear Birmingham Family,
I wish you and your family a happy and healthy holiday season. Despite our obstacles, there is a lot to be proud of.
When I reflect back on this historic year, I stand in awe of what our students and families have had to endure. Despite the need for us to do something that's never been done before, we stuck together, listened to one another, and worked hard to support the success of our students.
It pains me, our leadership team, and our teachers that the number of students struggling has increased by 8 percentage points compared to last year. However, it is a tribute to an entire school community working together that the number isn't even higher. My heart warms when I remember that the majority of our students are doing well despite the enormous obstacles faced.
Thank you to every parent and student that called or emailed during the semester to let us know how we can help and serve. Reaching out and advocating for oneself is a life skill we're trying to promote to our students. Showing up every day to class and advocating (even a little bit) can be the difference between success and failure and opportunity and prohibition. Our students are living a life lesson that I hope they will leverage into semester 2 and beyond.
The future is unlimited. Let's continue to work together to help our students see the possibilities through the haze of COVID-19 and leverage all they've learned to build a better future.
From all Birmingham employees and Board Members, we wish you a wonderful holiday season and look forward to the possibility of being able to connect in person during 2021!
All the best,
Ari Bennett
Healthy Holidays!
Finals and winter break are here so I wanted to share a few tips on staying healthy. I have also included some resources to hotlines at the end of this message in case you need support regarding general assistance, suicide hotline, domestic violence help and other resources.
You have heard it before but the importance of wearing your mask (over your nose and covering the chin), maintaining a 6-foot social distance, and hand washing cannot be overstated. Your annual flu shot is available also.
Stress is high so don’t underestimate taking care of the basics such as a well-balanced diet, exercise, and getting enough sleep. It may take creativity but finding a moment or two to just be quiet by oneself can be restorative. Green light such as that found under trees has also been shown to calm anxiety. Breathe. Take a mental vacation and visit a museum or national park virtually!
A link to virtual tours of many museums: https://artsandculture.google.com/?hl=en
A link to virtual tours of a few national parks at:
https://www.nps.gov/subjects/npscelebrates/find-your-virtual-park.htm
Technology has been developed which will contact you if you have been with or near someone who has tested positive for Covid-19. If you own an android phone download the app ‘CA Notify’. Apple iPhone users can go to settings and turn on their ‘exposure settings’. If you are interested in how vaccines are developed and approved visit the Centers for Disease Control: https://www.cdc.gov/vaccines/vpd/vpd-vac-basics.html
Resources:
- 211: Housing assistance, insurance, food, medical care and other LA County resources
- MEND: Emergency food, family support and clothing assistance. Phone: (818) 897-2443 or (818) 896-0246. https://mendpoverty.org/services
- 24/7 National Suicide Hotline: 1-800-273-TALK (8255)
- 24/7 Text Crisis Line: 741741
- Teen Line: 1-800-TLC-TEEN (1-800-852-8336), in LA 310-855-HOPE (4673), in The Valley (818-432-2266); Sat-Sun, 6:00 PM-10:00 PM; a confidential telephone helpline for teenage callers.
- Domestic Violence Hotline:1-800-799-SAFE (7233). Website: https://www.thehotline.org
For Los Angeles County Residents:
- Call Los Angeles County Department of Mental Health’s (LACDMH) 24/7 Access Line at (800) 854-7771 to get mental health support.
- Additional mental health resources are also available on the LACDMH’s COVID-19 page
- To report suspected outbreaks or other reportable diseases or conditions, contact the LACDPH Communicable Disease Reporting System: (888) 397-3993
Stay Safe,
Your BCCHS Health Office