Pirate Scroll

Dear Parents, Guardians,

It is with serious concern that I write to inform you about the recent and repeated damage to the restrooms in our 300 Hall. Over the past week alone, we have experienced significant vandalism, including bathroom partitions broken beyond repair and three sinks ripped off the wall.

Let me be absolutely clear: this behavior is completely unacceptable and will not be tolerated.

Effective immediately, any student found responsible for damaging school property will face the following consequences:

• 10 days out-of-school suspension (OSS)

• Referral for a disciplinary hearing

• Juvenile referral to law enforcement

• Full financial responsibility for all repairs and replacements

This is our school, our home, and everyone's responsibility to treat it with the respect it deserves. We are working hard to brand our school as a place of excellence—a space where students, staff, and families can feel proud to belong. Our focus should be on academics, leadership, and building a future—not on repairing destruction.

We ask for your partnership in reinforcing this message at home. We need the support of our families to ensure that all students understand the seriousness of this issue and the impact their choices have on our school community.

Thank you for your attention to this matter and for continuing to support the positive culture we are building at BHS

With urgency and commitment,

Principal Allen

Parents and Students,

We are in the final stretch of the school year! With spring in full swing, April is packed with important events, testing, and celebrations. Seniors, the countdown to graduation is on! Please check your senior packet and ensure you are fulfilling all graduation requirements.

Please see important information below.

Calendar Update

To account for the large number of snow days we experienced this year, the Board of Education has approved an updated 24-25 school year calendar. CLICK HERE to access.

Attendance & NCs (No-Credits)

Research supports a correlation between good attendance and high academic achievement. 95% attendance or higher is the goal for BHS students, this is also the minimum attendance requirement for the Missouri A+ Program. The Missouri Department of Education sets a minimum attendance goal of 90%. The BHS No Credit policy is in place to reinforce the state goal.

• More than four (4) periods of unexcused absences per class per semester will be considered excessive
• Students who accumulate more than 4 unexcused absences in a class will be in danger of losing credit and earning a "No Credit" (NC) transcript grade
• Students can "make-up" attendance hours in the Student Success Center (SSC)
• Documentation for "excused" absences must be turned into the front office
• "Make-up" attendance hours must be addressed by the end of the school year
• To see if you owe any attendance hours or to see if NCs are risking your chances of graduation, please see your Anchor Teacher, Academy Counselor, or Academy Principal

Class of 2025

Seniors, graduation will be here before you know it! Please review the 2025 Senior Packet to ensure you are aware of all important events and deadlines that will quickly approach. If you have any questions, please reach out to your Counselor or Administrator for more information.

Summer School

The Belton School District will be offering free summer school in June. If your BHS student failed a core class (English, Math, Science and/or Social Studies) they will be recommended to attend summer school. Core credits are essential Missouri graduation requirements and students failing any core class need to 'catch up' on high school graduation requirements. Summer school provides the best opportunity for students to recover core class requirements and stay on pace to meet graduation requirements with their class.

Please note: students may only recover 2 semesters (1 full credit) over the summer. Additional summer school information (registration, dates, location) will be available later this spring.

After Prom

Want a safe after prom party option for your student? This year After Prom is only $5 and will take place at the high school! There will be swimming, games, music, laser tag and more. Students who register and pay ahead will be entered into a prize drawing. All BHS juniors and seniors are welcome even if they don't attend prom. Anyone who attends prom is welcome, including approved outside guests.

Geometry Tutoring: AM & PM Sessions Available

Students enrolled in Geometry who are in need of extra help are invited to attend Geometry tutoring.

AM Tutoring

Monday-Thursday, 6:55-7:25 am with Mr. Linhart, Room 217

Students will need to enter via the front office. Ring the doorbell & let the secretary know that you are here for tutoring.

PM Tutoring

Tuesday: Lewis, Room 309, 2:55-4:10 pm, activity bus is available

Wednesday: Sumler, Room 308, 2:55-4:10 pm, activity bus is available

Thursday: Lewis, Room 309, 2:55-4:10 pm, activity bus is available

End of Course Exams (EOC)

EOC testing is just around the corner! To help your family prepare, we’re sharing the testing schedule so you can plan accordingly.

• April 29-May 2: English II (Sophomores)
• April 29-30: Government (Juniors + a few Seniors)
• May 5-6: Biology (Sophomores)
• May 12-14: Algebra I (Freshmen)

The Missouri Department of Education requires EOC exams in Algebra I/II, Biology, English II, and Government. If your student is testing this year, please support them by:

• Scheduling doctor’s appointments outside of testing days
• Encouraging on-time arrival to school
• Ensuring their laptop is fully charged
• Promoting a good night’s sleep the night before testing
• Packing snacks for extra energy
• Motivating them to do their best. We have exciting incentives for students who score Proficient or Advanced!

Student Driving

We want to bring to your attention a concern that has been shared with us by our neighbors at St. Sabina regarding student driving behavior after school. Kris Larkey, the Business Manager at St. Sabina, reached out to inform us that there has been an increasing number of student drivers using their parking lot as a shortcut to avoid traffic at the roundabouts during dismissal. More concerning is the speed at which some of these vehicles are traveling through the lot, creating a serious safety issue for their staff, students, and parishioners. As a school community, we take these concerns very seriously. We want to be good neighbors and model responsible behavior for our students both on and off campus. I am asking for your partnership in reminding your student drivers to avoid using the St. Sabina parking lot as a cut-through route and to practice safe, respectful driving at all times. We are also reviewing this with our School Resource Officer and will take appropriate steps to reinforce expectations with our student body. Thank you for your support in helping us maintain strong relationships with our community partners and ensure safety for everyone.

Thank for your your continued support of our students and school community.

Have a great month,

BHS Administrative Team

April 8: Big Test Day | Click Here for more information

April 10: Spring Play, 7 pm | Girls Soccer vs Chrisman

April 11: Spring Play, 7 pm

April 12: Prom at Stoney Creek, 8-11 pm | Spring Play, 7 pm

April 16: Boys Varsity Baseball vs Ray Pec

April 17: No School- Teacher Professional Development

April 18: No School

April 21: School is in session

April 22: Boys Volleyball vs Winnetonka

The Hispanic Development Fund (HDF) visited BHS to celebrate and recognize our seniors who actively participated as part of the Cambio para Cambio team. These students helped raise scholarship funds, applied for the HDF scholarship, and earned the distinguished status of official HDF Scholars. This year, out of 1,100 applicants, 13 of our Latino students were awarded the HDF scholarship. Belton High School remains the only high school in the area participating in this competitive program!

Mrs. Trofimoff's class visited the KC Rep to view a showing of Broke-ology describe as a perfect blend of humor and pathos, Broke-ology invites audiences to witness the strength of familial ties and the enduring power of hope

9th grade Honors American History students got to experience the White House Decision Center's simulation titled: "Ending the War with Japan" to wrap up their unit over WWII. Each student was given a role as either one of Harry S. Truman's advisors or Mr. President himself. Students learned the process of effective decision-making, collaboration, and most importantly had fun!

Congratulations to Juniors Kiahna Bryant, Alyssa Herrera and Alexus Scott who were selected to attend the Missouri Girls State Program for 2025! The American Legion Auxiliary Girls State is a fun and exciting way to compete with the best and brightest high school students in Missouri. It’s an opportunity to learn new leadership and citizenship skills through an interactive, hands-on approach. It will be an epic event for nearly 1,500 students. The event will take place this summer at Lindenwood University in St. Charles, MO.

There will be a senior class meeting on March 12th during Anchor.

All Seniors must make plans to attend.

CLICK HERE for more information

Contact your school counselor for more information

Graduation: May 9, 2025, TIme: 6:30 pm

Location: Cable Dahmer Arena, 19100 E Valley View Pkwy, Independence, MO 64055

The Student Success Center is open Monday-Thursday:

• 3:00-4:15 pm
• Room 412/414
• A free after school snack will be provided for students
• Activity bus will provide transportation at 4:15 pm

The Student Success Center (SSC) provides a quiet study atmosphere for all students to receive tutoring, work on academics, serve attendance hours for NC removal and serve detention hours. Math tutoring will also be provided.

Traction Conference: Students presented their safe driving practices projects

If your student has an NC on their Semester 1 grade report, it means they successfully completed the course but did not earn credit due to excessive absences. CLICK HERE for more information about NCs and how to have them removed from your transcript.

90% attendance is the minimum acceptable attendance level at BHS

The Missouri Department of Education sets a minimum attendance goal of 90% for students. The BHS “No Credit” (“NC”) policy is in place to reinforce this state goal.

• More than four (4) periods of unexcused absence per class per semester, will be considered excessive.

• Please see the BHS Student Handbook for guidelines regarding “unexcused” versus “excused” absences.

• Students who accumulate 4 or more unexcused absences in a class will be in danger of losing credit and earning a “No Credit” (“NC”) transcript grade.

• Students can “make-up” attendance hours in the Students Success Center to avoid “NC’s”.

• Documentation for “excused” absences must be turned into the front office in a timely manner.

• “Make-up” attendance hours must be addressed by the end of the school year, otherwise summer school and the Attendance Recovery Course will be required to earn back credits.

• More information on this policy can be found in the BHS Student Handbook pages 8 - 10 or visit the BHS website and the related “Why” paper.

All families who submit the Free & Reduced Lunch Application by will have their technology fee waived, regardless of program acceptance.

Negative Impacts of Cell Phones on the Learning Environment:

• Distractions: Cell phones can significantly distract students from lessons, leading to decreased attention and engagement during class.

• Cheating: The presence of cell phones can facilitate cheating during exams and assessments, undermining academic integrity.

• Cyberbullying: Cell phones can be a medium for cyberbullying, which negatively affects students' mental health and the overall school climate.

Benefits of Not Having Cell Phones at School:

• Improved Focus: Without cell phones, students are more likely to concentrate on their studies, leading to better comprehension and academic performance.

• Enhanced Social Interaction: Students engage more with peers and teachers, fostering stronger relationships and a more cohesive school community.

• Reduced Anxiety: The absence of cell phones can alleviate the stress and anxiety associated with constant connectivity and social media pressures.

We appreciate your support in reinforcing this guideline to ensure our students thrive in a productive and positive educational environment. If you have any questions or concerns, please do not hesitate to contact us.

• Restroom Behavior: Bathrooms are intended for personal use only and should not serve as gathering spaces.
• Vandalism: Any vandalism to school property will result in immediate consequences. Incidents will be reported to the Belton Police Department, and students will face juvenile referrals, school disciplinary actions, and restitution for damages.
• Vaping: The use of vapes or any other prohibited substances on campus violates our school policies and will be met with appropriate consequences.

We appreciate your ongoing support in creating a safe learning environment for our students.

Due to recent incidents and injuries, we are taking a hard stance against fighting on school grounds. Our priority is student and staff safety. We believe in a proactive approach to ensure a positive and secure educational environment.

Effective immediately, school resource officers will arrest students if they are fighting. In addition to legal repercussions, we will follow our policies and procedures prohibiting fights. Please review Board Policy JG-R1: Student Discipline for more information.
We believe open communication is important and encourage you to discuss these changes with your child. Please emphasize peaceful conflict resolution and respectful behavior.

Thank you for your ongoing support and partnership.

Email: bhsoffice@bsd124.org

Website: beltonschools.org
Location: 801 West North Avenue, Belton, MO, USA
Phone: (816) 489-7500