05/04/2025 BCHS Weekly Newsletter

This week is Teacher Appreciation week!

As we celebrate Teacher Appreciation Week, I want to take a moment to recognize and honor the extraordinary educators who make our school a place of learning, growth, and inspiration.

Our teachers do far more than deliver lessons. They shape the minds and hearts of our students, nurture their potential, and create classrooms where critical thinking is encouraged and dreams are possible. Whether it's staying late to help a student, designing engaging lessons, or offering a comforting word during a tough day, our teachers go above and beyond every single day.

This week is an opportunity for all of us—parents, students, and community members—to express our deep gratitude. A note, a kind word, or even a simple “thank you” can mean the world to a teacher.

On behalf of the entire school leadership team, I extend my heartfelt appreciation to our teachers. Your dedication, creativity, and compassion are the foundation of our school’s success. We are incredibly fortunate to have such a talented and committed team guiding our students.

Let’s join together to celebrate them—not just this week, but every week.

With gratitude,

Julie Hummel

Principal, Bear Creek High School

Advanced Placement (AP) students can visit the Bear Creek Counseling webpage for their room assignments and other important information. If they have any questions, they can see Mr. Sosa or Ms. Figueroa in the Counseling Office.

As a reminder, the district will be covering the cost of AP exams for all students this year. For families who have already paid for AP exam fees, refunds are currently in the system to be processed. You will receive a check mailed to the address on record.

Thank you for your continued support of our students’ academic success. If you have any further questions, please contact our vice principal, Ms. Waters

As many of you know, the music program has been busy this year! We have been preparing for one of the biggest performances the program has ever done, which was a two-year process to achieve. Last Friday (04/25), our symphonic band performed at the California Music Educators Association's State Festival this year. We were one of six high school bands to be invited to represent the entire state of California. Because so many of you have music students in your classes, I thought I would share a video of their performance so that you could see them representing our community. Attached is a photo of the group following the performance with their state pins. We are so proud of our musical students and their continued success.

Join us at our end-of-year Showcase, where students will perform some of their best pieces from the season. You won’t want to miss this powerful display of talent and passion!

✨ Don’t forget to bring cash if you’d like to grab a treat from our snack bar.

We hope to see you there!

All students who placed at the District show are having their work shown and judged at the County art show. If you'd like to attend, attendance is free, and it will be held on Monday, May 5th from 6:30-8:00pm. Award recognitions will begin at 7:15pm.

20 BC photo students are having their photos shown at the Lodi Community Art Center in Downtown Lodi (110 Pine Street). We were invited to show alongside Marilyn Eger who I'm sure most of you fondly remember as BC staple! Their photos will be up for the month of May,

Helium balloons and flowers/leis of any kind are not allowed inside the Spanos Center. However, you may place an order with the vendor below and pick them up immediately after the ceremony.

We warmly invite the Class of 2025 to participate in San Joaquin County's Black Graduation Ceremony. This is a meaningful opportunity to celebrate your achievements during a culturally authentic and empowering ceremony, surrounded by family, friends, and the broader community.

• 📍 Location: Chavez High School
  
• 📅 Date: Sunday, June 1, 2025
  
• 🕒 Time: 3:00 p.m.

Join us as we honor your hard work, resilience, and success!

Ms. Twilla Cancilla is a great support to our ELD department. She consistently seeks the best for her students. She encourages them to acquire essential language skills necessary for reclassification, stay on track for graduation, and become successful English language professionals. She is very kind and always willing to help her students. Her kindness and compassion is what make her a stellar staff member here at Bear Creek.

Ms. Dianne Bennett is a new member to the Bear Creek family. She stepped into the Social Science department running full speed. She is part of designing our Ethnic Studies course, was a lead speaker at the School District Community Presentation and has attended a School Board meeting as a representative of the committee. Ms. Bennett is a lifelong learner, all about continued growth as a teacher and historian. She continuously shares professional development opportunities with colleagues and is a collaborative department member.

Bruins, when you see Ms. Cancilla and Ms. Bennett, please congratulate them on being Staff Member of the Week and thank them for all they do for the Bear Creek Community.

Adults: $8.00

Students w/ID, Senior citizens, military, and children are $5.00

All person 18 need to accompanied by an adult if not a BCHS student

Lodi USD Nutrition Services is proud to offer free meals to all children ages 2–18 this summer at multiple locations across the district. The Summer Meals Program will run during June and July, providing nutritious breakfasts and lunches to help keep kids healthy and fueled all summer long.

Please help spread the word to families in your school community.
You can find a full list of participating meal sites linked below:

Beginning next school year, students will be required to keep their smartphones turned off and stored in their backpacks during the regular school day. This practice, already in place at many of our elementary and middle schools, aligns with Lodi Unified School District’s Board Policy 5131: Student Conduct.

This Board of Education approved change is designed to reduce distractions, support student mental health, minimize instances of cyberbullying and support student academic discourse throughout the school day. Research strongly supports limiting phone use during the school day, and similar policies are being adopted in schools across the state. In fact, California’s Assembly Bill 3216 will require school districts to adopt such policies by July 1, 2026. Please note that exceptions will be made for students with medical needs or accommodations outlined in their IEPs.

We understand that this may change how you communicate with your child during the day, even though they will be able to retrieve messages or return calls at the end of the regular school day. Our school offices are always available to relay important messages, and students can use office phones if needed. In the event of an emergency, it's essential that students stay focused on staff instructions. First responders recommend limiting phone use to ensure safety and clear communication.

We’ll share more information as the school year approaches, but we appreciate your support in preparing your student for this shift. Please take a moment to discuss these expectations with your child.

Thank you for partnering with us to create a safe and focused learning environment

Bear Creek High School is committed to maintaining a safe, secure, and focused learning environment for all students. In alignment with LUSD nutritional guidelines and due to safety concerns and limited school resources, we do not allow food deliveries to campus from outside sources such as friends, family, or delivery services (e.g., DoorDash, Grubhub, Uber Eats, etc.).

Students are expected to either bring their lunch with them in the morning or eat the lunch provided on campus. Food deliveries will not be accepted, and students are not permitted to exit campus gates or approach passing vehicles to receive food. This behavior presents a safety risk and disrupts the school day, and we are addressing it as an increasing concern.

Additionally, we do not accept deliveries of balloons, flowers, or similar items for students. These deliveries interrupt instructional time and detract from our academic environment. We kindly ask that all personal deliveries be made to students at home.

Thank you for your understanding and cooperation as we continue to prioritize the safety and success of our students and staff.

As the weather warms up, we’d like to take a moment to remind everyone of our Dress Code Policy to ensure we maintain a safe and respectful learning environment for all students.

All students are expected to dress appropriately for a school setting. Please note the following key points:

• Clothing must fully cover undergarments and the torso, including the chest, midriff, and back.

• Tops must not be overly revealing — crop tops, strapless tops, and spaghetti straps are not allowed. Tank and halter tops must have straps at least 1 inch wide and provide full coverage.

• Shorts, skirts, dresses, and pants must be of modest length and fit, and should be worn at the waistline.

• See-through clothing is not permitted.

• Headgear such as durags, bonnets, picks, and hair nets is not allowed on campus, except for approved medical, religious, or school-sanctioned reasons.

• Hoods are not to be worn in class.

• Clothing, accessories, or jewelry with inappropriate, profane, discriminatory, or unsafe content (including references to drugs, alcohol, weapons, or gang affiliation) are strictly prohibited.

Final decisions on dress code violations rest with the building administrator or their designee.

We are pleased to share that the district will be covering the cost of Advanced Placement (AP) exams for all students this year. Any students who have not yet signed up due to fees will now have their costs covered.

For families who have already paid for AP exam fees, refunds are currently in the system to be processed. You will receive a check mailed to the address on record.

All AP examinees will receive information about date, time, and location of their exams within the next two weeks.

Thank you for your continued support of our students’ academic success. If you have any questions, please contact our vice principal, Ms. Waters with any questions.

Campus safety and security is our priority. Admin and Campus Security check that all students have their physical ID card in order to enter campus. If a student doesn't have their ID card upon entering campus, we will print them a new one and charge their student account $5 for the replacement. Students who have forgotten their ID card more than twice will be placed on contract.

2025 Admitted Student Days

Lodi USD is still negotiating the high school schedule for 25-26 school year. The latest proposal for a 7-period schedule can be found in the document linked below and found on the Lodi USD website.

https://resources.finalsite.net/images/v1741118617/lodiusdnet/rgrdndj3gezsq2ox4hyr/LodiUSDLEANegotiations-ComprehensiveDistrictProposal030320251257002-ada.pdf

CodeStack Academy is Stockton’s first immersive and accelerated code school offered by the San Joaquin County Office of Education.

As a non-profit, our $5,000 tuition is a fraction of the cost comparable to for-profit code schools. Many students qualify for tuition assistance. Register to find out more.

Courses run from June 2 – July 27

• June 8 - Last day to drop WITHOUT a “W”
• June 9 - Census date (no more late adds; students receive letter grades for courses)

• June 30 - Last day to drop WITH a “W”

  
  

All Key Dates for Summer term are available here.

Open Registration for summer begins March 31. Some students may be able to enroll earlier, so encourage them to check their enrollment appointment in MyDelta.

The Steps to Join are here: https://pdcdeltacollege.com/ces/dual-enrollment/

• Current high school Delta students with an active DEP form on file can just log into MyDelta on 3/31 to enroll
• Students new to Delta and DEP can begin with Step 1 now so they can get cleared in time for registration

Classes run from August 25 – December 12

• September 15 - Last day to drop WITHOUT a “W” and Last day to late add
• September 16 - Census date (students receive letter grades for courses)
• October 20 - Last day to drop WITH a “W”

The Key Dates for Fall term are available here.

Priority Registration for DEP students is April 25 and Open Registration begins April 28. The Steps to Join are here: https://pdcdeltacollege.com/ces/dual-enrollment/

• Students with an active DEP form on file can just log into MyDelta on 4/25 to enroll.
• Students new to Delta and DEP can begin with Step 1 now so they can get cleared in time for registration.
• Students should register early in online classes to ensure they get a spot in class. Seats in district shared online classes are first-come, first-served, and allotments can shift as seats are moved based on demand or released to waitlisted public students.

The Lodi USD High School Course Catalog is now available online! We encourage families to review the electronic version using the link below and discuss course selections with their students. When planning, it’s important to consider A-G requirements, which are the courses students need to complete to be eligible for admission to UC and CSU schools. These include:

• A: History/Social Science (2 years)
• B: English (4 years)
• C: Mathematics (3 years, 4 recommended)
• D: Science (2 years, 3 recommended)
• E: Language Other Than English (2 years, 3 recommended)
• F: Visual & Performing Arts (1 year)
• G: College-Preparatory Elective (1 year)

Current 8th-grade students will receive a hard copy of the course catalog through their middle school. High school students may request one from the school office if needed. Click the link below to access the electronic version and start planning for a successful school year!

Dates: June 9, 2025 - July 10, 2025

PRIORITY REGISTRATION Opens: February 3 – 28, 2025

Priority ONLY available to students in Need of Credit Recovery:

(See your Counselor to determine if you Qualify for Priority Registration)

OPEN ENROLLMENT REGISTRATION: March 3 – May 12, 2025

Open to ALL students Seeking Credit Recovery or Advancement:

REGISTRATION DEADLINE: MAY 12, 2025

For more information on H.S. Summer School, see program flyer below:

California Opportunities Workbook

• English - https://issuu.com/ecmc_outreach/docs/2024-2025-ca-opps-book?fr=xIAEoAT3_NTU1
• Spanish - https://issuu.com/ecmc_outreach/docs/2024-2025-ca-opps-book-sp?fr=xIAEoAT3_NTU1

For College-Bound Seniors:

What to do when you get to campus

• English - https://www.ecmc.org/media/sobnpglv/what-to-do-when-you-get-to-campus.pdf
• Spanish - https://www.ecmc.org/media/tgsllchr/what-to-do-when-you-get-to-campus-spanish.pdf

Financial Aid Resources
The FAFSA and CADAA are scheduled to open on December 1, 2024 for the 2025-26 academic year. The delay from the customary October 1 opening day is to allow the US Department of Education time to perform beta testing and eliminate issues.

A few helpful links for the financial aid process this year:

• FAFSA updates - https://studentaid.gov/announcements-events/fafsa-support
• Create and FSA ID video - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iTb7hMVtzco
• FAFSA Parent Wizard - https://studentaid.gov/fafsa-apply/parents
• Is my parent a contributor graphic - https://studentaid.gov/sites/default/files/is-my-parent-a-contributor.jpg
• ​​​​​​CADAA resources - https://www.csac.ca.gov/post/resources-california-dream-act-application

Middle Income Families

• Middle Class Scholarship - https://www.csac.ca.gov/middle-class-scholarship
• Some college aim financial aid at a declining market: Students in the middle class
• -https://hechingerreport.org/some-colleges-aim-financial-aid-at-a-declining-market-students-in-the-middle-class/
• New programs offer financial aid for Middle-Income Families
• https://www.road2college.com/financial-aid-middle-income-families/

2025-26 Free Application for Federal Student Aid(FAFSA) or CA Dream Act Application(CADDA) is OPEN! Do not delay and fill it out today!

All Seniors are required to fill out one of the applications. Don't miss out, Priority Deadline is March 3, 2025.

In California, completing either a FAFSA (Free Application for Federal Student Aid) or a CADAA (California Dream Act Application) is required by law for all graduating high school seniors, meaning it is mandatory to submit one of these applications to the state unless a formal opt-out waiver is filed; this requirement is enforced through state legislation, specifically the California Education Code Section 51225.7.

Please use the resources below to learn more about FAFSA or CADDA and what form would be best for you.

Dear Lodi USD Parent/Guardians,

Every year, California students take several statewide tests. When combined with other measures such as grades, class work, and teacher observations, these tests give families and teachers a more complete picture of their child’s learning. You can use the results to identify where your child is doing well and where they might need more support. Your child may be taking one or more of the following:

• California Assessment of Student Performance and Progress (CAASPP)
• English Language Proficiency Assessments for California (ELPAC)
• Physical Fitness Test (PFT)

To see the full information on the above assessments, please visit our Assessment, Research, and Evaluation (ARE) Department website. Please select the Annual Notification of Testing, 2024-2025 link.

We want to inform you about the 988 National Suicide Prevention Lifeline, a new, free, 24/7 helpline for anyone in emotional distress or facing a mental health crisis. If you or your child ever need support, simply call or text 988 or call 1-800-273-8255 to connect with trained professionals who can help.

This is an important resource for your family’s well-being. Please save this number.

Have you ever lost it for no apparent reason? Do you ever feel overwhelmed and completely shut down? That's your stress response system going off too often.

Built-up emotions like anxiety, anger, and sadness are all connected to your stress response. These emotions and unhelpful thought patterns can build up until you hit a breaking point.

Learning to pause when things start to feel overwhelming can help you feel in control of your emotions.

• Download the RaiseRight APP – Google Play Store or Apple App Store
• Press Join a Program on the first screen of the App.
• Enter the - Enrollment Code - FZICN3HEICRZ -for you to purchase for yourself you will create an account with a PERSONAL email.
• Create an account with Name, Phone, and personal email address..
• It is that easy and you can start ordering instantly.
• On the APP go to SHOP at the bottom left or SEARCH your favorite retailers at the top.
• A personal bank account can be linked. RaiseRight partners with Plaid. This must be done before you place an order in the CART.

Go to the bottom right of the App press ACCOUNT>SETTINGS>PAYMENT OPTIONS

• If you are paying with a credit card or debit card, you will enter that at the CART when checking out.
• An eGift card when purchased will be INSTANTLY sent to your WALLET on the App.

• Chaperone (Dances, Field Trips, Co-Curricular Events...)
• Fundraising
• Teacher Appreciation Events
• Special School Events (Bruin Way Awards, Block BC Awards, International Rally...)
• Athletic Events
• Office Assistance
• College & Career Center
• Classroom Assistance
• Donations
• Love BC Campus Beautification Events

CLICK HERE to view the Athletic Calendar

CLICK HERE to see important Dates for 2024-2025

SAYSOMETHING picture is a link to the website

https://www.sandyhookpromise.org/say-something-tips/

Click Here to see past BCHS newsletters that were released