BHS Counseling Dept Weekly Update

Q2 grades are posted to the portals as of Friday 2/7. Take a look at your grades and make a plan for the 2nd semester to finish your year strong.

Reminder - February 17-21: February Vacation — schools closed; BHS teachers and support staff are on vacation too so not available for contact until return to school on Monday 2/24.

College visits, applications, testing stresses -- junior year presents a unique set of challenges for students and parents alike. On Monday Feb. 10, 7-8:30 p.m. BHS Martin Luther King Room, B-PEN and the PTO present Dr. Deborah Offner, a clinical psychologist specializing in adolescent development and student mental health. She will offer helpful parenting strategies for supporting students as they explore the many options for life after high school. BHS senior class Peer Leaders will share powerful letters about what they found helpful from their parents as they navigated junior year.

February is Teen Dating Violence Awareness Month, which provides a timely opportunity to talk to our adolescents about respect and consent. B-PEN can get you started with information on our “Healthy Relationships” page. And don’t forget to reinforce the importance of consent in relationships via the FRIES mnemonic - Freely Given, Reversible, Informed, Enthusiastic, and Specific.

Self-care helps parents stay balanced, present, and set a positive example for their children -

https://childmind.org/article/self-care-for-parents-tips-advice/?utm_medium=email&utm_source=newsletter&utm_campaign=cmi-update-2025-02&utm_content=self-care-for-parents-tips-advice-read-more

Topic: Grants, Scholarships, Loans, Work-study...what does it all mean?

Grants, Scholarships, Loans, Work-study...what does it all mean? Join College Affordable as they review the different types of financial aid available and what makes a family eligible for each.

Thursday, February 13, 2025 at 6:30 PM

Webinar available to any family. Please register to get the webinar info at the link below.

All families who are new to College Affordable and their support, should click on this link and continue to our school icon to register. This page will house information related to different program aspects you can take advantage of.

If you previously registered with College Affordable and need to just sign up for these webinars, please follow this link.

All questions can be directed at College Affordable via email financialaid@collegeaffordable.org or call/text 781-343-1941.

The Warrior Cares Fund is a unique program designed to help all of our students not only survive, but THRIVE with dignity throughout their high school years. Our school community is so wonderful and unique in that we are able to educate students of all backgrounds. However, it is not well known that many of our students are struggling to get by on a daily basis.

The Warrior Cares Fund serves as a liaison between our social work/clinical staff and students in need to help provide them with necessities to help them daily. ALL STUDENTS REMAIN ANONYMOUS so as to protect their dignity. We work one on one with the team to make sure needs are met.

We are looking for volunteers to help us work with the clinical team to make sure that all of our kids are thriving daily. From helping to provide food, to finding appropriate clothing, to securing eyeglasses so the kids can participate in class-these are only a few of our asks.

Looking to help?

Tax deductible donations are always appreciated so that we can easily source emergency items.

https://secure.givelively.org/donate/brookline-teen-center-inc/the-warrior-cares-fund

We are so lucky to have a partnership with the Brookline Teen Center, so that we can be a source in multiple locations for our BHS teens.

Upgrade your phone recently? Donate an older phone. So many of our kids are without a means of communication; without a phone, they are unable to contact teachers, employers, family, or social workers in an emergency. In today's society-especially as teens-they are lost without this essential item.

Free time? Oftentimes we are looking for rides to the grocery store or food pantry for those students who can't get there on their own.

We'd love to have you on board. Please contact Dara Kelly at daracell2@yahoo.com for more information, and ways to help.

https://secure.givelively.org/donate/brookline-teen-center-inc/the-warrior-cares-fund

When your child is in the throes of a crisis, whether from drug overdose, alcohol poisoning, domestic/relationship violence, or mental health issues, it can be hard to know what to do. Where do you go for help? Who can you call? What are the protocols? B-PEN’s one-page tip sheet is an excellent resource to print out and have on hand.

https://www.b-pen.org/uploads/2/9/2/9/2929884/what_to_do_in_a_crisis.pdf

Some in school counseling support is available and another social worker joining our community soon.

Counselors have outside of school resources including possible referrals to virtual counseling Cartwheel Care, local mental health practitioners, and therapy referral support using Care Solace below.

- Talk to your child to support and find out what may be going on.

- Reach out to someone on your student's BHS school support team - counselor, dean, if appropriate - program coordinator, special education liaison, school clinician

- Consider outside of school counseling support using either:

* Cartwheel Care - Virtual counseling for adolescents and/or parent guidance (contact your child's school counselor)

* Care Solace - therapy referral resource to find a provider that meets your child's needs in the Boston area. See below for more information

Cartwheel Care is a virtual counseling resource available to both BHS students and parents-caregivers. Virtual counseling can be a helpful support if a student:

- has a busy schedule during and outside of the school day

- would prefer to have counseling outside of school

- would like to work with a clinician with different background or who speaks another language than English

Parents and caregivers can also receive parenting support and guidance separately via Cartwheel Care.

BHS counselors can provide more info to interested students/families, plus directly help with connecting to this resource.

This organization also offers monthly free webinars on mental health topics. You must register to get the webinar links. See the webinar calendar below for topics and additional info.

Please email Darby Neff-Verre - Coordinator of the BHS Counseling/Guidance Dept - individually for feedback on the Weekly Update.

And always check out the BHS Counseling Dept "Guidance Blog" on the BHS website for past Weekly Updates and info on career exploration, job finding, shared guidance documents and other great resources.

Thank you!

** BHS does not promote any specific test prep organization. Be aware that you may be asked to sign up for their paid test prep but you can say no and still take advantage of this FREE AP test prep. **

SUMMIT test prep is offering FREE digital AP Practice Tests.

They have 12 test types available and a student is welcome to opt in to as many test types as they would like. Students will receive comprehensive score reports, including scoring and feedback on their free-response questions.

Students can choose a specific date and time to test at home independently. Tests will be available starting in mid February.

Here are the test types we have available:

English:

- AP English Language and Composition

- AP English Literature and Composition

History & Social Sciences:

- AP U.S. History

- AP World History

- AP European History

- AP Human Geography

- AP U.S. Government and Politics

Math:

- AP Calculus AB

- AP Calculus BC

- AP Statistics

Sciences:

- AP Biology

- AP Chemistry

** This is not a BHS specific event **

BTC is organizing some college and career trips that you could join!

You can use the QR code to the left to let BTC know you may be interested in joining. The trips will be affordable and the groups will put together small fundraising events to cover expenses.

From Math Coordinator Josh Paris and the relevant math teachers:

In order to test out of an advanced level math course you need to take an assessment covering the material from the course you wish

to test out of. The dates of these tests are as follows:

Algebra 2 Advanced and Precalculus Advanced: April 9

BC Calculus: May 21

If students are interested in taking one of these tests they should speak with their math teacher directly. More information and sign up information can be found on the Math Department page on the BHS website.

ACE (www.ACEHighSchoolYourWay.com) is open for enrollment for next September 2025 for rising 10th, 11th and 12th graders.

ACE, is a project-based, experiential learning program within BHS with a total of 55 students in grades 10-12. It provides a rigorous college-preparation pathway with honors-level classes in which students can go at their own pace and graduate when they complete their content and skill competencies. ACE graduates have been admitted to a wide range of colleges across the country, including some of the most competitive colleges.

If your child is interested in exploring ACE, they should email ACE Secretary: Christine_Carruthers@psbma.org to attend an ACE information meeting and classroom visit which are mandatory steps in the application process. Admission is based on a first come, first serve basis until each grade level is full (approx. 18 per grade).

Parents who are interested in learning more about ACE should attend an ACE Parent Information Meeting on Wed. Feb. 12th from 6:30-8pm in the MLK room. ACE Program Coordinator, Amy Bayer, and current ACE parents will talk about the program and answer questions that you may have.

ACE Program Coordinator, Amy Bayer, can be reached at Amy_Bayer@psbma.org for questions.

SWS Admissions Info Packet

Please take the opportunity to see if SWS could be a good fit.

School Within a School, located on the fourth floor of BHS, is an alternative, democratic community for a diverse group of approximately 115 sophomores, juniors, and seniors. Goals for students include taking as much responsibility for their education as possible, sharing decision-making in running SWS, and contributing to building a caring community. For over 50 years, SWS has provided students with the opportunity to participate actively as leaders in their own educations and develop meaningful relationships with teachers based on mutual respect. Admission to SWS is based on a lottery, the criteria of which are determined by the SWS Town Meeting. In addition to Town Meeting, SWS students take at least two classes in the program, including English. They take the rest of their classes in the mainstream of BHS. More information about the program, and the admissions process, can be found at swsbrookline.org.

Are you interested in a career in Real Estate? Do you want to learn how to become a real estate agent and own your own brokerage?

Come by the College and Career Center room 279 X block on Wednesday 2/12 to hear from two BHS Alums about their career journey in real estate and how they opened their own brokerage, Block Realty.

Apply to the Journalism I class today to join The Cypress, BHS's independent, award-winning school newspaper and gain a wide range of valuable skills, join a close-knit community, and develop leadership experience!

The Journalism I course is the first of an elective pathway, where students learn the essential skills of journalism and the steps involved in creating a newspaper. Students receive instruction in reporting, interviewing, writing, editing and layout, as well as in the history and ethics of journalism. Taking the Journalism I class is the only way a student can join The Cypress's staff. Only current freshmen and sophomores may apply.

Apply now!

SAMHSA is the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration.

This is NOT a specific BHS sponsored event.

Join the Virtual Youth Forum: Beyond the Likes - Social Media, Mental Health & You, hosted by the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) Center of Excellence on Social Media and Youth Mental Health.

This two-day event, happening March 1 and March 8 from 10:00 AM to 2:30 PM CST, invites young people (ages 14-24) from diverse backgrounds to explore how social media impacts mental health through fun, meaningful conversations. The forum features interactive sessions led by youth from the Center’s Youth Advisory Panel, mental health experts, and social media leaders. You’ll learn tips for managing your social media feeds, understand how it affects your mental health, and build confidence to have open discussions with peers, parents, and others in your community.

You will have the opportunity to:

• Hear directly from social media researchers about the impacts of social media on mental health and be able to ask them questions.

• Receive training in how to use your voice to make change.

• Learn how to spot when a friend may be struggling (and what to do!)

Sign up at the link below to receive updates, including the registration link!

Beyond the Likes: Social Media, Mental Health & You - A Virtual Youth Forum by the Center of Excellence on Social Media and Youth Mental Health Survey

Tired of eating lunch alone? Too loud in the 115 and 22 cafeterias? Want to meet some new friends?

UPDATE. Come to Lunch Lounge on Thurs 2nd lunch @ 115 - Room 317C or Tues 1st lunch @ 22 Tap - 231 Counseling Suite

The Counseling and Social Work dept has started offering quiet spaces for lunches during a few lunch blocks each school week. For now, Lunch Lounge will be offered on Thurs 2nd lunch @ the 115 main campus and starting this week of 1/27 - Tues 1st lunch @ 22 Tappan. See above for locations and stop by to check it out!

Another Lunch Lounge opportunities will be announced after February vacation too.

• Mood. Not getting enough sleep can cause teens to be irritable and moody all day. Controlling their moods can be an issue, and they can find themselves frustrated or upset more easily.

• Behavior. Teens who are not getting enough sleep are more prone to risk-taking behaviors such as drinking alcohol and driving recklessly.

• Thinking. Sleep deprivation can result in attention problems, memory problems, lead to bad decision-making, slow down reaction time and stunt creativity. These are all important for academic success.

• Academic performance. Teens who are sleep deprived are more likely to do poorly in school, fall asleep during class, have multiple school absences or be consistently tardy.

• Athletic performance. Sleep deprived teens are more likely to perform poorly in after-school sports due to slower reaction times.

• Driving. Teens are the most prone to fall asleep while behind the wheel. This can be highly dangerous, especially combined with other negative effects such as slower reaction times and being easily distracted.

Looking for something interesting and different this coming summer?

Check out these guides to Summer Programs!

The BHS Summer Opportunities document is now available! Click here.

This document will be updated on a regular basis through the end of the school year.

"Learn more about the value of pre-college programs, the benefit of programs for neurodiverse teens, why summer's the perfect time to learn another language....

[This] 90+ page guide is chock full of exciting, memorable experiences and unique offerings that appeal to all ages and interests. Want to let the programs you see in this guide know that you’re interested? You can fill out a quick form for Online Summer Programs and Main Summer Programs".

Do you want to learn how to become a real estate agent and own your own brokerage?

Come by the College and Career Center room 279 X block on Wednesday 2/12 to hear from 2 BHS Alum about their career journey in real estate and how they opened their own brokerage, Block Realty.

The Rubin team is excited to once again host a FREE, national competition that spotlights CTE students across all career pathways.

REGISTER FOR THE CONTEST HERE

TOP PRIZE: Virtual job shadow with the National Basketball Association!

The winning student will receive a 1-on-1 conversation and mentorship from Scott Kaufman-Ross who oversees media and gaming for the NBA.

Mr. Kaufman-Ross is responsible for the NBA's 2024 media rights deal worth $76 billion. That's "billion" with a "B"!

KEY INFO: Rubin, the leader in employability skills, challenges students to demonstrate important work readiness skills like email etiquette and research.

DATES: The contest submission period is February 3, 2025 to March 7, 2025.

WHO IS ELIGIBLE: Any middle school, high school or post-secondary student who participates in a CTE or project-based (hands-on) class or program.

You will find complete contest information here.

Questions? Reply back and ask!

We'll see you in the competition :)

Check out the Youth Connections program for great resources!

Contact Kate Kennedy (Kate_Kennedy@psbma.org/ office 285D in the 115 building) for more information.

Camp Sewataro is currently hiring high school students (ages 16 and up) to join our incredible team for the 66th summer at Camp Sewataro.

Working at Sewataro is more than just a summer job—it’s a chance to grow, connect, and make lasting memories. Our participants and staff not only achieve their goals but also gain confidence, build lifelong friendships, and collaborate as part of an inspiring community. Many of our staff return year after year because of the unparalleled experiences they’ve had at camp. You can learn more about our program on our staff page here.

At this time, we’re looking to fill the following positions for high school students:

• Group Assistants

• Lifeguard/LGT Swim Instructors

• Activity Assistants (Fishing, Pottery, and Crafts)

• Photography Assistant – Outdoor Activities

We also offer free transportation from your town to camp!

See the flyer for more info!

See the flyer for more info!

More detailed teacher extra help availability for 9th graders listed in "9th grader" section below

freshman at Babson College, and I run CyberAware, a non-profit organization that empowers senior citizens with the skills to protect themselves on the internet. We've educated over 3,000 senior citizens across more than 30 senior homes and condominiums on how to avoid cybercrime in my community.

Under our guidance, it would be incredible if Brookline High students could start a chapter, gain volunteer hours and experience, and educate senior citizens in Brookline. They would not only acquire public speaking experience that will enhance their college applications and résumés, but they would also make a dramatic impact on the Brookline community by working directly with the elderly to protect them from cybercrime.

Is this something you’d be interested in emailing to the students?

Thank you so much!
Jake Davidson
CyberAware
203-988-7502

Keep in mind that students can join most clubs during any point in the school year, not just on the sign up day at the Club Fair. The current list of clubs has been updated. Take a look - https://bhs.brookline.k12.ma.us/clubs-and-activities-list.html

Community service hours are not a requirement to graduate from Brookline High, but there is great research that confirms that "giving back" is a great way to promote your positive mental health.

In this NACE (Natl Assoc of Colleges and Employers) article, Susan Albers, Psy.D - psychologist for the Cleveland Clinic - says that volunteering can be great for a person’s mental health, too. According to Albers, when you help other people, it activates the reward center in your brain and releases serotonin, dopamine, and endorphins, which is why many people often feel better after volunteering.

Think about experiences you may know of in Brookline or check out this TeenLife Boston area community service info. See your counselor for BHS Community Service talk about possible opportunities. And here's the link to the Community Service page with more options and the required form to get service experiences approved for possible BHS credit.

Read the fine print carefully. There are certain restrictions to the BHS community service for credit options, so read the fine print.

QUARTER 2 GRADES WILL AUTOMATICALLY BE SENT TO ANY COLLEGE IF YOU STILL HAVE A PENDING APPLICATIONS ON FEB 10.

IF A COLLEGE CONTACTS YOU ABOUT NEEDING THESE GRADES, PLEASE REACH OUT TO YOUR COUNSELOR OR LENNY LIBENZON (Office 280).

YOU WILL NOT BE PENALIZED BY THIS LATER GRADE SHARING TIMELINE FROM BHS!

When you completed your transcript release links a while ago, you gave us permission to send your midyear grades (Q2) to colleges.

The Brookline High School Scholarship Committee is now accepting scholarship applications.

The application is available on the right hand side of the BHS homepage and at this link. Students who wish to be considered for the many scholarships offered through the BHS Scholarship Fund should submit their application by April 1st, but the application is easy to complete so we recommend submitting it ASAP. Students who wish to be considered for the BU and NU scholarships, must submit their applications ASAP.

Three criteria are used for choosing award recipients: academics, contributions and activities at BHS, and most importantly, unmet financial need.

There are no merit scholarships per se given out through this program. To make fair decisions, the Committee requires that families complete and submit the CSS Profile financial aid form, available at CollegeBoard.com. The CSS Profile must be submitted to the Brookline Scholarship Fund, which is code 0424.

DEFERRED to REGULAR DECISION? Be sure you understand what being deferred for admission means for these colleges.

- There are important steps you can take if you still want to be considered for a college that deferred your admission. Most importantly, READ THE ADMISSIONS LETTER CAREFULLY TO FOLLOW EACH COLLEGE'S DIRECTIONS TO NOTIFY IF YOU WANT TO BE CONSIDERED IN THE REGULAR DECISIONS POOL.

- It's time to think about the good "fit" and good "match" for you with other colleges. Being deferred is a toss up about potentially getting admitted to most colleges in their regular decision round... and it is best to assume you will not be accepted. Hard advice to hear but seniors need to consider other colleges that they'd be happy to attend instead of assuming they will be accepted in the regular decision round at that college.

- See the advice flyer below for steps suggested by the BHS Counseling Dept for these situations and use your BHS resources including making an appointment with your counselor and/or stopping by BHS College Counselor Lenny Libenzon's office 280 for some consultation.

https://www.collegedata.com/resources/prepare-and-apply/deferred-heres-what-to-do-next?utm_source=dotdigital&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=newsletter&utm_term=deferred&dm_i=50NV,O8J2,2HLH1D,2U250,1

-- Thinking about a job? Contact Ms Kate Kennedy (kate_kennedy@psbma.org), BHS Career Counselor

-- Considering the trades - plumbing/HVAC/Electrical/Construction? Contact Ms Kennedy too

-- Looking at 2 year certification programs - Cosmetology? Vet Tech? Pharmacy Tech? Paralegal? Check out this article (https://www.indeed.com/career-advice/finding-a-job/two-year-degree-jobs-in-demand_ and see Ms Kennedy too

-- Military - Talk to your counselor, Mr Libenzon (280) , or Darby Neff-Verre (285F)

-- Gap Year experience? Talk to your counselor! Gap Year can be working and living at home, traveling, your own community service plan, or a program that is structured for you. If you plan to attend college after a Gap Year, it is best to apply to some colleges now while you have direct access to your counselor and college support at BHS.

After months of beta testing, the new FAFSA for 2025-2026 is available.

Completing your FAFSA as early as possible is the best way to help ensure that you don’t miss financial aid deadlines or the best financial aid and scholarship opportunities, so it’s time to get started if you haven’t already.

To help, we’ve rounded-up some of the most common FAFSA errors people make when completing their FAFSA forms so you can avoid any issues and finish your FAFSA as quickly and painlessly as possible.

Check this article for some important reminders re: FAFSA too!

MEFA financial aid events are held online throughout the year. Please visit https://www.mefa.org/events to research upcoming webinars.

This includes upcoming FAFSA completion 1:1 support too. Register for one of these sessions using the QR codes by date below.

- Many colleges require the CSS Profile Financial Aid form to be completed by certain dates - USUALLY RIGHT NOW FOR STUDENTS WHO APPLIED EARLY ACTION OR EARLY DECISION. Be sure to check these deadlines!

- Every college - even community college - requires students (and guardians) complete the FAFSA, federal financial aid form to be considered for aid. Although these forms are not due to December 1, the time is now to start this process by getting a FAFSA ID.

This is a great deal for many students who don't want to accrue financial burden and want a good education option for an Associates degree ( 2 years of college) or Certification program.

Here's some details and the link

* Earn an Associate Degree

Finish strong! Your GPA can increase your benefits:

• Finish with a 2.0 or higher
  • application essay and fees are waived
• Finish with a 2.5 or higher
  • admission to your major is guaranteed on a "space permitted" basis.
  • *work with your academic advisor to plan: some majors require a higher GPA or additional steps like auditions or portfolio submission.

* Finish at a State University or UMass Campus

You have so many choices to complete your bachelor's!

• Four UMass campuses: UMass Amherst, UMass Boston, UMass Dartmouth or UMass Lowell
• Seven comprehensive state universities in Bridgewater, Fitchburg, Framingham, Salem, Westfield, Worcester, and North Adams
• Two special-mission colleges: the Massachusetts College of Art & Design and the Massachusetts Maritime Academy

with your counselor 3 weeks before your 1st college deadline date. See below for a copy of that questionnaire or complete a digital version by going to your Naviance account and look under "school surveys".

YOUR COUNSELOR CANNOT WRITE A RECOMMENDATION FOR YOU WITHOUT THIS QUESTIONNAIRE BEING COMPLETED AND SHARED WITH THEM IN A REASONABLE TIME BEFORE YOUR APPLICATION DUE DATE.

See below for this form. When done, please share directly with your senior's counselor or have your student drop it off to the counselor's office.

This Brag Sheet is available in other languages if needed. See your counselor or Lenny Libenzon for more info.

1) Inaccurate upfront budgeting due to misleading available info

2) Confusing Financial Aid Forms

3) Misleading Award Letters and Failure to Appeal

4) Missed Opportunities for Merit Aid

5) Predatory Lenders in Student Loan Market

Every BHS family should be registering for the FREE College Affordable resource!

See below for more info....

Please view the College Affordable information sheet below.

To access this critically important resource, please register with College Affordable!

We’re excited to continue our partnership with College Affordable for the 2024-25 academic year. For those of you who are not familiar with the program, they offer financial aid support for our members of our community. In addition to being your resource for all questions related to the FAFSA, CSS Profile, and financial aid eligibility, they also hold monthly webinars specifically designed to support families where they are in the financial aid process.

Monthly Webinar topics (need to registered with College Affordable to get link to attend) -

Topic: Grants, Scholarships, Loans, Work-study...what does it all mean?

Thurs Feb 13 @ 6:30pm - Financial Aid Webinar - Grants, Scholarships, Loans, Work-study...what does it all mean? Join College Affordable as they review the different types of financial aid available and what makes a family eligible for each.

All families who are new to College Affordable and their support, should click on this link and continue to our school icon to register. This page will house information related to different program aspects you can take advantage of.

If you previously registered with College Affordable and need to just sign up for these webinars, please follow this link.

All questions can be directed at College Affordable via email financialaid@collegeaffordable.org or call/text 781-343-1941.

Junior Counselors are now cycling through all junior advisories.

Attending your advisory's seminar is important for all juniors. The focus of the info sharing is starting the college research and application planning process. Other resources will be shared for juniors interested in FREE community college options, 2 year certification programs, job searches (including connecting to the high paying trades professions), Gap Year and the military.

--Should you go test optional or take the ACTs or SATs? If you took the PSATs back in October, check your account on the College Board website to get your scores. If you took the PreACTs last school year, look back at your practice scores and compare with your Practice SAT (PSAT) scores? If you plan to take either the SAT or ACT, now is the time to register for a test date. FYI - BHS is currently for all SAT test dates through June 2025 but we're working to possibly add more seats.

-- Make an appointment with your counselor to start your own individual conversation about your next steps, including the college search process and/or considering a 2 year college or certification program, working or the military. Email your counselor or stop by to schedule a meeting time. Be sure to leave a note at your counselor's door if they are not available.

- Review your current unofficial transcript for any missing classes or errors. Contact your counselor with any questions or concerns.

March 8, 2025 - Digital SAT

April 5, 2025 - Paper ACT
May 3, 2025 - Digital SAT
June 7, 2025 - Digital SAT
June 14, 2025 - Paper ACT
July 12, 2025 - Paper ACT

The 2nd semester of your 10th grade year is starting this Thursday 1/30.

If you haven't found an activity outside of school work to make you happy and excited about your daily routine, now's the time!

Put down that device and try one of these suggestions:

- Get some exercise and fresh air! Take a walk, even when it's cold.

- Consider checking out one of the many BHS clubs, even at this point in the school year. Here's the link to the clubs for this year. If you want to talk more about this, set up an appointment with your counselor.

- Community service - Scroll to the Community Service section above in this Update to check out lots of interesting opportunities. There are options at BHS as well :

--Volunteer at one of the BHS libraries during a free block (see one of the librarians)

-- Help to get support dogs to visit BHS - contact Darby Neff Verre (darby_neff-verre@psbma.org)

- Join one of the Lunch Lounges to have some fun. Bring a friend! (See the Lunch Lounge info earlier in this Update.)

Stop by your counselor's office either in the 22 Tappan or 115 Greenough counseling suites. Grab a snack and say hello. Ask a question that's on your mind or set up an appointment about something happening academically, socially, or otherwise.

Click here