
Hall's Corner
January 7, 2022
Afternoon BHS Students and Families:
HAPPY NEW YEAR TO ALL! Wishing you a safe, healthy, and happy 2022.
This past week, we have experienced much higher than normal student absentee levels due to issues related to COVID-19. After having conversations with teachers, department coordinators, and our administrative team this past week, we are cancelling the formal midterms scheduled for January. Assessments for some courses may be rescheduled for later in the 3rd quarter depending on the circumstances at that time.
We want students who are missing school due to quarantine, being sick, or awaiting test results, to take the time they need to get better and not stress about midterm exams at school or feel they have to ZOOM into classrooms if they are not feeling well. We also want to ensure that ALL students have the instruction, review, and materials they need to perform well on midterm assessments. With the continued rise in COVID-19 cases and subsequent student and staff absences in our area, we do not feel that we can properly meet these expectations.
While regular end of quarter assessments, essays, and projects may still go on, teachers are giving students a lot of latitude to make adjustments for ending quarter 2. We are looking to simply move forward with as much flexibility as possible with the understanding that teachers may be issuing extensions, incompletes, and making other alternative arrangements with students to move them successfully through the remainder of the quarter/semester and into third quarter/second semester. Students should reach out to their teachers with any questions or concerns. WE ARE ALL IN THIS TOGETHER. We will get through this.
Go BRUINS!
Be well!
T. Hall
TOPICS COVERED IN TODAY'S HALL'S CORNER
Students in the News
In Counseling
Course Selection and EMCC
Say Yes to the Dress
SAT Prep Classes
Athletic News
Calendar of Future Events – Check this out!
FEV Tutoring Support
Snow Days are going Remote
Peak Experience Adventure
Safe Schools Helpline
Students in the News, Making BHS Proud!!
ESSPA Trapezoid Awards
Best Feature Story
Pigeons are people too by Nadia Alzoubi, Brighton High School
Honorable Mention:
Trapezoid - Brighton’s eSports Club is eLectrifying by David Lusignan
Best Editorial
We need systemic change to combat anti-Asian hate crimes by Elizabeth Norris, Trapezoid, Brighton HIgh School
Why are we still waiting for Whole Foods? by Marlena Berger, Trapezoid, Brighton
Honorable Mention:
Reopening Schools Requires Change by Kurt Hahn, Trapezoid, Brighton High School
Best Illustration
Nadia Alzoubi, The Pigeon Man of Rochester, Trapezoid, Brighton
Best Overall Layout Design
Trapezoid’s Quarantine Pastimes, Brighton High School
Best Overall Newspaper/Honorable Mention (ESSPA gave 1st place only to newspapers that had a PRINT edition last year. Because we could not meet for layout, we published only online.)
Trapezoid, Brighton High School
Best Sports Story/Honorable Mention
Pandemic Makes Square Dancing a Do-Si-Do by Jadon Wagner, Trapezoid, Brighton High School
Best Written Work in a Newspaper/Honorable Mention
Trapezoid, Brighton High School - Superintendent McGowan uses push poll Trapezoid
Brighton High School - Free School Meals for Everyone
DECA Regional Business Competition at RIT
- In December, BHS Business Education Department brought 45 students to compete in a regional Business Competition Organized by the DECA Business Club. Hosed by RIT.
- BHS students competed in 24 events, individually and in teams, covering Entrepreneurship, Merchandising, Finance, Hospitality, and other business topics.
- 4 teams won trophies.
- Nick Gray and Jiang Shiado – Financial Services
- Isaac Gray and Ben Levitsky – Business Law and Ethics
- Charlie McGowan and Brendan Mariano – Entrepreneurship
- Julia Heurtley and Sophia Thrall – Business Law and Ethics
Former Graduate Releases His First Album
Agathya Visveswaran recently shared with his former math teacher, Evan Brauer, that he just released his first album! Agathya was a 2020 graduate. Here is a link to an article written about his album in the Rochester City Newspaper:
“Rochester native Agathya Visveswaran studied classical and jazz guitar at Hochstein School of Music and Eastman Community Music School, respectively, but you wouldn’t necessarily know it from his new album “A Portal Inside.” Creating pop soundscapes under the moniker Agaaze, Visveswaran has transformed himself into an electronic maestro.”
Check it out on the You Tube link
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5e_r-CQLl68&list=OLAK5uy_lpIMMfubIfnFhlrtvemrT3NYrW3KzjpHA
Go Bruins!
IN COUNSELING
Counseling Groups are Back
January Counseling Corner
Course Selection and EMCC
9th, 10th, 11th GRADE STUDENTS- SIGN UP FOR YOUR COURSE SELECTION APPOINTMENT!
Teachers are now making course recommendations for the 22-23 school year, which you will be able to review starting January 26th on SchoolTool. Program packets were mailed home this week to each family including a letter explaining the process, how to access course recommendations on SchoolTool, and a grade-level specific course selection worksheet.
Full time enrollment requires a minimum of five classes plus physical education per semester. For a balanced lifestyle, it is highly recommended that students enroll in six classes plus physical education per semester, which allows for a daily free period for lunch.
Please review the Course Selection timeline below:
1/19 - PTSA Meeting with the Principal and Counselors
- Join Dr. Hall and counselors as we review the Program Planning process for 2022-2023
- 12 PM & 7 PM via Zoom: https://zoom.us/j/99326855403
1/26 - Student course recommendations are available to view on SchoolTool
1/31 to 3/11 - Counselors meet 1:1 with students to finalize course selections.
- Students will be asked to schedule a 15-minute meeting with their counselor via Calendly.
- If additional time is needed, another appointment can be made.
- Counselors and students will review their course recommendations and make final decisions on their course selections for the 22-23 school year.
- Please have your child come prepared with possible course choices and alternative options.
- Many decisions integral to the operation of our school, including staffing allocations, are made as a result of your child’s course selection. Please choose carefully!
Sign up for a meeting with your counselor!
www.calendly.com/kevin_donohue
www.calendly.com/courtney_stern
www.calendly.com/jennie_viggiani
SAT Prep Classes
Are you taking the SAT exam in March? After taking a BHS college exam preparation class, walk into the exam with confidence! The SAT Prep class will help you become comfortable with the exam format and style and provide tips for achieving your most successful outcome. You will practice the three sections of the exam, Reading, Writing & Language, and Math, and complete at least one practice exam in class. Each class session meets for a total of twelve hours. There are various class times to choose from – with the first class starting February 19th. Ms. Mary Jo Jepson, a retired BHS teacher who has led PSAT, SAT, and ACT Exam Prep classes at Brighton High School for more than 20 years, will teach this class remotely using Zoom. The fee for the class is $99. Financial assistance is available through the BHS Counseling Office. Complete class details and registration are available at brightonschools.revtrak.net.
ATHLETICS
Check out this website for the most up to date athletic schedules
Follow Brighton Sports on Twitter at: https://twitter.com/BCSDSports
CALENDAR OF EVENTS
FEV Tutoring Support for 3-12 grade students
Does your child need support with school work outside of the school day? Is homework a challenge at times? Does your child wish that their teacher was available for a quick instructional question?
Great news! This school year, Brighton has chosen to partner with FEV Tutor to provide you with free, school-sponsored, 1:1 online tutoring as a support. This virtual service will be available to students from 3pm-10pm daily and also on weekends as needed. By logging in to student accounts through Class Link, students will be able to request to work with a tutor in minutes for an On-Demand session. On the FEV platform, students will be able to upload and share files directly with their tutors so that they can provide support with specific assignments or projects.
If you have any questions about this free virtual tutoring program, please contact FEV Tutor directly at: support@fevtutor.com or call 855-763-2607. FEV's Support Team is happy to answer any questions and work with you to create a personalized tutoring experience that best suits your learner! Are you wondering how to help your child get started? Click this link to learn more: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1CQd96eSEuYLIhdszrn4AM18mpz4GKxCq/view
Snow Day Schedule
There will be NO regular Snow Days with cancelled classes/closed buildings this year in Brighton Schools. If inclement weather warrants the Superintendent of Schools to close in-person schooling, students, faculty, and staff will follow the Remote SNOW DAY Schedule (note below) and attend classes remotely via ZOOM or Schoology. Teachers have already communicated their SNOW DAY Zoom or Schoology links with students. An e-news message, robocall, and e-mail will be sent to all families in the event school buildings are closed. If students signed up for REMIND, they will also get a REMIND message from Dr. Hall.
The following EXPECTATIONS are for all high school students:
· Bring home computer devices if we suspect a possible snow day may be called.
· Check teacher’s Schoology pages for a SNOW DAY ZOOM link ready to go for SNOW DAYS.
· Sign onto ZOOM links and attend all classes for the entire class period as per the SNOW DAY Schedule.
· Turn on Cameras so that proper attendance can be taken.
· Actively participate during the lesson.
Click the link to see open the Snow Day Schedule:
Peak Experience Adventure. Gunnison National Forest, Colorado
This summer, from July 5th through July 12th, Brighton students will have an opportunity to travel to Gunnison National Forest in Colorado for an eight-day adventure. Over the course of the trip, students will white water raft, rock climb, participate in low and high ropes course activities, and backpack. Rope course activities include zip lines, power poles, repelling, and “The Screamer”. The three-day backpack traverses through the Gunnison National Forest where we will climb mountains over 13,000 feet high. Weather permitting, one of our peak ascents will be at dawn, which is a truly amazing experience. Current eighth graders through juniors are eligible for the trip, and spots are limited. If you are interested in joining the group and would like more information on the activities and cost of the trip, please contact Jamie Porta (the Outdoor Club advisor) at jamie_porta@bcsd.org.
SAFESCHOOLS HELPLINE 1-800-418-6423 ext. 359
Examples of safety concerns that you may want to report anonymously include:
- potential acts or threats of violence
- weapons
- sexual harassment/abuse/assault
- bullying/cyber bullying
- concern for someone’s mental or emotional health and well-being
- concerns about suicide/students making concerning comments about hurting themselves
- drug or alcohol use/abuse
- theft
You may also submit an anonymous report through the Safe School website at www.safeschoolhelpline.com or via text by messaging 66746 and
then typing “TIPS” to begin the reporting process.