BHS Bulldog Senior Bulletin

• Common App Reminder
• 24/25 Application Fee Waivers are Here! ($0 College Applications)
• Michigan Achievement Scholarship Update & Additional Scholarship Opportunities
• FAFSA Update
• Yearbook Reminders
• Counseling Update from Mrs. Grossfeld

• Senior Questionnaire
• College Essays, Parchment, Requesting Transcripts and more
• Letters of Recommendation
• Senior Events

Hi Seniors!

It's been a great start to your senior year! Thank you for helping to make this year's Pink Week a success! I have a few updates and items I want to put on your radar. I know that seniors can feel a wide range of emotions, including but not limited to stress, anger, fear, relief, and excitement. We want to alleviate the negative emotions and help you feel more positive ones! The beginning of this bulletin has updated information, but I've also included repeat information at the bottom so that it's all in one place for you. Mr. Evans has been sending out weekly family updates as well. We are trying to be as proactive as possible to help you have a successful year. We are here for you!

~Mrs. Richards

Common App opened on August 1st. Here is the link to sign in: https://www.commonapp.org/. After being through this process a couple of times, I would encourage you to take your time. It's not a race! Be aware of deadlines, but don't rush through the application. If you have any questions prior to applying, please don't hesitate to reach out to the BHS Counseling Department (see the support information below from Mrs. Grossfeld). Common App can be a great option depending on your application plans. You want to make sure your application is as strong as possible prior to submitting and we are here to assist with that to the best of our abilities.

During the Future Senior Presentation, we discussed ways to apply to colleges. Here is a reminder/clarification:

Ways to Apply:
– Regular Decision: non-binding, specified deadlines
– Early Action: non-binding, “early” deadline – “early” reply
– Early Decision: binding agreement, must attend the college.

October is Michigan College Month, and they have released the list of schools with free applications! See the link to the 24/25 Application Fee Waivers here. In addition, here is a link (Michigan Institution Updates) to a list of all public and private, 2-year and 4-year colleges in Michigan. You can find institution-specific information, such as admissions and financial aid. Some really great information if you are planning on attending a Michigan institution, so we hope you find this helpful!

Seniors, You could get a college or career school scholarship!

• A TUITION-FREE associate degree or skill certificate at a local community college with the Community College Guarantee. The scholarship also covers tuition for students attending community college before transferring to a four-year university. Plus, students receiving the Federal Pell Grant qualify for an extra $1,000 to help pay for living expenses. All Michigan high school grads are eligible and there are no GPA or household income requirements.
• Up to $27,500 for a private or public university through the Michigan Achievement Scholarship. 7 out of 10 students may qualify just by filling out the FAFSA, no matter their academic or athletic abilities.
• Up to $4,000 for a career training program with the Michigan Achievement Skills Scholarship. Students simply choose an eligible career training provider and complete their application through the MiSSG student portal (on the link above).

Filling out the FAFSA is as easy as 1, 2, 3.

1. Create your FSA ID. You’ll need: » Your Social Security number » Your email address

2. It takes three to five days for FSA IDs to become active, and you both students and parents must have active FSA IDs to complete the FAFSA.

3. Fill out the FAFSA. Take the first step and take control of your future, whatever your path! If you need any help completing the FAFSA or planning for college, see the Counseling section below!

We are regularly looking for potential scholarship for our students to help offset the cost of any type of postsecondary education our students pursue. One of these options is the scholarship directory. Within this directory, you can find scholarships available for a variety of different categories. Scholarships specific to this year's Seniors can be found here. You will find scholarship information for a multitude of scholarships dated as far out as August 31, 2025. You may also be interested in some of the Michigan-specific scholarships listed as a separate category. This page is one of many resources available for students when it comes to potential scholarship opportunities so we would encourage you to check it out! Our counseling website also includes pages for both local/state and national scholarships that your student may apply for.

Our Yearbook students are already busy capturing moments and memories to create a keepsake that you will look back on for many years to come. Get ahead now and order your yearbook today! Prices will begin to increase after October 1, so take advantage of this deal now!

Yearbooks are available for order at https://www.yearbooknerds.com/brighton-high-school

Senior parents, consider purchasing a personalized yearbook ad for your student to allow for a personal message with your favorite photos! Yearbook ads can be purchased from the same site listed above. Click on the BHS Senior Yearbook Flyer for more information.

Senior Headshots

Seniors must submit their portraits to the yearbook by October 31. Everything you need to know about submitting your portrait can be found on our website HERE. If you do not have a photographer submitting pictures on your behalf, you will have the opportunity to have Portraits by Alex take your senior picture on either 11/13 or 11/14 for $50. This photographer is available after the deadline to catch any seniors who have not submitted a portrait and/or those who do not have a photographer and would like them to take their picture. A Google Form will be sent to student school email addresses at the end of October to sign up.

Hello Seniors! I hope you've had a wonderful start to the year!

If you are applying to college, please make sure you complete the senior questionnaire, if you haven't already: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSdzUwVK53ANVmsnQI4tDttGKfneqsHYwC-tlZSxoc3bZRPGtw/viewform

Even if you do not have letters of recommendation that are required, I will need the information to complete other areas of your applications, including the counselor report.

I am currently working on Common Apps in order of submission, and I appreciate your patience during this time. Now that the counseling department has concluded scheduling, I should be caught up in the next few days :)

Make sure you take advantage of one of the several college fairs in the area, if you are looking to speak with an admission representative directly, get more information, etc.

Please don't hesitate to stop by with questions or just to say hi!

Mrs. Grossfeld

Meet Brighton High School's college adviser, Ms. Clarice Farina! Ms. Farina is a graduate of Michigan State University who can help students navigate planning for life post-high school, from university and community college to trade school, apprenticeship program, gap year, and joining the workforce. Her goal is to walk students through all their options and support them in planning for success after high school based on their interests. Ms. Farina can help with finding a program, making a plan, filling out applications, the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA), searching for scholarships, and more. Ms. Farina is in the BHS counseling office Tuesdays, Wednesdays, and every other Monday.

Seniors and senior families can now keep an eye on the 2024-25 BHS College/Career Calendar, which includes upcoming career- and college-related events and information. This will be updated regularly throughout the year. You can reach her at: farinac@brightonk12.com. See above if you want to make an appointment with Ms. Farina.

If you have not completed this year, please do as soon as possible. These were due by 8/26! This Senior Questionnaire is helpful to the Counseling Office, as well as sharing it with any teachers, coaches, employers, etc whom you may request a letter of recommendation from.

Senior Questionnaire - Class of 2025 - Once you have submitted it, you will receive a copy of your responses. Keep that email so that you can forward it to a recommender.

The University of Michigan recently sent out some great information on writing the Common App essay. You can find that information here:

The Common Application Personal Essay

The essay demonstrates your ability to write clearly and concisely on a selected topic and helps you distinguish yourself in your own voice. What do you want the readers of your application to know about you apart from courses, grades, and test scores? Choose the option that best helps you answer that question and write an essay of no more than 650 words, using the prompt to inspire and structure your response. Remember: 650 words is your limit, not your goal. Use the full range if you need it, but don't feel obligated to do so. (The application won't accept a response shorter than 250 words.)

1. Some students have a background, identity, interest, or talent that is so meaningful they believe their application would be incomplete without it. If this sounds like you, then please share your story.
2. The lessons we take from obstacles we encounter can be fundamental to later success. Recount a time when you faced a challenge, setback, or failure. How did it affect you, and what did you learn from the experience?
3. Reflect on a time when you questioned or challenged a belief or idea. What prompted your thinking? What was the outcome?
4. Reflect on something that someone has done for you that has made you happy or thankful in a surprising way. How has this gratitude affected or motivated you?
5. Discuss an accomplishment, event, or realization that sparked a period of personal growth and a new understanding of yourself or others.
6. Describe a topic, idea, or concept you find so engaging that it makes you lose all track of time. Why does it captivate you? What or who do you turn to when you want to learn more?
7. Share an essay on any topic of your choice. It can be one you've already written, one that responds to a different prompt, or one of your own design.

In addition, here are a few more resources to help you craft a college essay:

College Board - https://bigfuture.collegeboard.org/plan-for-college/apply-to-college/application-process/6-tips-for-crafting-your-best-college-essay

Harvard Summer School - https://summer.harvard.edu/blog/12-strategies-to-writing-the-perfect-college-essay/

The Princeton Review - https://www.princetonreview.com/college-advice/college-essay

When thinking about who to ask for a college letter of recommendation, College Board suggests that this person should be able to describe your skills, accomplishments and personality.

1. Give teachers plenty of time to complete your letter. We receive several requests, and you don't want us to have to rush through it or not have enough time to complete it by your deadline.

2. Be sure to ask teachers who know you best, especially if they know you on some level beyond the classroom.

3. Coaches, employers and advisors are also good sources for letters.

4. Give positive, detailed information to who you are requesting letters from. Sharing your Senior Questionnaire is a great start.

5. Write thank you notes to anyone who completes a letter or is a Recommender for you on Common App.

For additional details pertaining to these tips, click on this LINK.

You may not be able to apply to some schools via Common App, or you may make the decision to apply directly to a certain school via their website. You will, however, still need to submit a copy of your transcript as part of the application process. For prospective college athletes, you will also need to send a copy of your transcript to the NCAA Eligibility Center to ensure you are eligible to compete. If you need to send a copy of your transcript to a school for any reason, you have the ability to submit a request via Parchment. All schools have the ability to receive transcripts through this method. Directions for how to create an account and request a transcript be sent via Parchment can be found here. Please do not request transcripts be sent to a personal email address via Parchment. We can get your student a copy of their transcript, but we do not utilize Parchment to do this. They can stop in the Counseling Office at any point in time to receive a copy of their transcript directly.

Senior Class Council has put together a 1-page document with important information for the upcoming year that will be made available to all students at Back to School Registration. However, there are some dates included below that you may want to put on your calendar now and your student may want to participate in. We would encourage you to follow the social media accounts listed and also join the Remind App listed at the bottom of the page based on your last name to receive updates over the course of the year. These Remind groups are for BHS senior students only!

Wednesday, October 23rd - Senior Meeting in the BCPA during 1st and 2nd Hour

Wednesday, February 5th - Junior vs. Senior Volleyball Game in the BHS Fieldhouse @ 7:30 pm

Wednesday, March 5th - Senior Class Council 3 on 3 Basketball Tournament

Tuesday, April 22nd - Staff vs. Student Basketball Game

Friday, April 25th - BHS Lip Dub

Monday, May 19th to Friday, May 23rd - National Honor Society's Senior Survivor Week

Tuesday, May 27th - Seniors' Last Full Day

Wednesday, May 28th to Friday, May 30th - Senior Exams

Thursday, May 29th - Senior Sunset in the BHS Stadium starting @ 8 pm

Friday, May 30th - Cap and Gown Pick Up starting @ 8 am

Friday, May 30th - Senior Walk at BHS starting @ 9:45 am (family and friends encouraged to attend)

Friday, May 30th - Senior Picnic in the BHS Stadium following the Senior Walk @ approx. 10:30 am

Friday, May 30th - Senior Elementary Walk (more information to come) @ approx. 11:30 am

Wednesday, June 4th - Summa Cum Laude Breakfast (invite only) in the BHS Cafeteria @ 8 am (parents invited)

Wednesday, June 4th - MANDATORY Graduation Practice in the BHS Fieldhouse @ 10 am

Friday, June 6th - Brighton High School Commencement Ceremony in the BHS Stadium @ 7 pm (rain date is Saturday, June 7th @ 7pm)

Saturday, June 7th - Senior All-Night Party at BHS from 10 pm - 4 am

I'm here to support you throughout your senior year!

Email: richardst@brightonk12.com

Office: (810)299-4114

To schedule a meeting: https://calendly.com/richardst_bhs/scheduling-meetings