Principal's Newsletter
Some thoughts for the starting school year
May 10, 2024
From the Desk of the Principal
Dear Brunswick Families,
The BHS Class of 2024 Seniors are down to just one days of class remaining! Hard to believe we are headed into the final countdown leading up to the graduation ceremony in just 11 short days! Senior parents should check out all of the reminders below to ensure that your student doesn't miss out and has taken care of all of those last-minute reminders. In particular, Chromebook collection for seniors will took place today. Students who do not return their Chromebook will have an obligation preventing them from receiving their graduation ceremony tickets.
Next week we begin our state-mandated testing in four main areas - math (mostly algebra), English, biology and National, State and Local Government. The testing involves all 9th and 10th graders with a few upper-class students taking these courses. The most important message I can impart with this testing is the importance of taking these exams seriously, as they all are graduation requirements once again. We are beyond the mantra of "you just need to take this test" that we find in middle school and that prevailed during COVID. A student's success on these exams is as important as successfully completing a course or finishing student service-learning hours. Please pay close attention to the testing directions listed below, and encourage your child to do their very best - coming prepared, using all of their allotted time, checking work and, persisting to the end of these long tests. We wish good luck to all of our Roader students who are testing.
Finally, allow me to thank all of the parents associated with the PTSA for allowing our teachers to feel so respected, loved and appreciated during this Teacher Appreciation Week. Every day brought a different treat and surprise, and our staff very much loved all of the special ways that they our community recognized their hard work. Want to make a teacher's day, week and year? Take a minute, choose a teacher or two who has made a difference in your student's life, and write them a brief note of gratitude. Speaking from experience, a personal note expressing how a teacher made your child's life better is like a bar of gold. The staff directory with email addresses is linked here. It's not too late; the five minutes that you take is the most impactful appreciation a teacher can receive.
With Railroader Pride,
Christopher Berry
Principal
The Week Ahead - Keeping You in the Know!
Only home athletic events listed. Check BHS Event Calendar for complete details of home and away contents.
All college recruiter visits are held during Connections (10:25am) unless stated otherwise. Sign-up in Naviance
Railroader News and Notes
End of Year Chromebook Procedures and BYOD Reminder
Beginning this year, FCPS will make changes to our Chromebook management procedures for secondary students regarding their collection and Bring Your Own Device (BYOD). Moving forward, secondary schools will only collect Chromebooks from students in 8th and 12th grades. Additionally, starting next school year, student's will be expected to use their FCPS issued device for instruction throughout the school day. As a reminder, the FCPS BYOD program will end on June 10, 2024.
Current 6th, 7th, 9th, 10th, and 11th grade students will keep their Chromebooks through the summer. This change will simplify end of year procedures for our students and staff. A physical inventory of each device will occur before students leave for summer, but this process should be significantly easier and less time consuming than the traditional collection. The physical inventory will ensure that FCPS has an accurate account of each device that is assigned to a student in the aforementioned grades.
As required by law, FCPS issued student Chromebooks will continue to have a restrictive internet content filter applied to them throughout the summer. Students will still be able to access FCPS approved educational programs. If a student has an issue with a Chromebook over the summer, the issue will need to be reported to the school's User Support Specialist at the beginning of the 2024-25 school year.
At the start of next school year, secondary schools will only need to issue devices to newly enrolled students, students who previously used BYOD, and 6th and 9th grade students. This change allows a majority of students to have their FCPS assigned devices for the first day of school.
Any family who will be unable to maintain their child's device over the summer or who knows they will be withdrawing from FCPS should contact the User Support Specialist Nicholas Bush: Nicholas.Bush@fcps.org or 240-236-8615 to coordinate a plan for Chromebook collection.
School Meals Available for Graduation Day!
Great news! High school students don’t have to miss school meals on graduation day! Graduation day is a virtual learning day for all high school students, but meals will be available for purchase on the day of graduation. The menu will be limited and is available online at www.fcpsnutrition.com. All high schools will have breakfast available from 7:00-8:00 a.m. and lunch available from 11:00 a.m.-12:30 p.m. The meals cannot be taken home; students must eat them at their high school. Students who want breakfast and/or lunch must come through the serving line and enter their student ID number to get meals.
End of Year Medication Reminders
Frederick County Health Department/ Frederick County Public Schools
The last day of school is June 7, 2024
- According to FCPS Regulation 400-23 students are not permitted to take their medications home at the end of the school year.
- A parent/guardian must pick up all medications in the health room by the end of the school day on June 7, 2024. To arrange for pick-up please contact health room staff directly.
- All non-emergency medication(s) and expired medication(s) of any kind remaining in the health room will be destroyed at the end of the school day, unless alternate arrangements have been made directly with health room staff.
Summer School
If your child will be attending a summer FCPS program and medication must be administered during summer school hours, contact the health room for additional guidance.
Preparing for the 2024-25 School Year
- All medication/treatment authorization form(s) must be renewed at the beginning of each school year. Ensure that the appropriate authorization form is completed by your healthcare provider. Forms are available online at www.fcps.org.
- Verify the expiration dates on your child’s medication(s). Code of Maryland Regulations (COMAR) 10.34.23.07, dictates that we determine expiration dates as follows:
- one year from the dispensing date on the pharmacy label (OR)
- expiration date on the medication package, whichever comes first.
- If the instructions on the pharmacy label states, “see attached”, you must provide the pharmacy attachment. Medication will not be accepted without the required attachments.
- To ensure your child’s medication/treatment needs are met at the start of the school year contact the health room on or after August 12, 2024, to arrange a drop off time for medications/supplies and completed forms. Health room staff will review medication/treatment authorization forms and medications with the parent/guardian to ensure compliance with state regulations. If the medication/treatment authorization forms and/or medications do not meet compliance, it is the responsibility of the parent/guardian to follow up with their health care provider.
- Per FCPS Reg 400-23, it is the responsibility of the parent/guardian to deliver medication/treatment authorization form(s) and medications directly to health room staff. Please do not send your child to school with medications.
Thank you for your cooperation,
Health Room Staff, Brunswick High School
Health Room Phone # 240-236-8558
BHS Yearbooks Have Arrived
Preordered yearbooks will be available for pick-up during all lunch shifts starting. There will be a few extra copies for sale on a first come basis only, in room 600. Cash or Check, $70.00. No phone or email requests accepted at this time.
BHS Roaderettes Auditions
Congratulations, Commendations & Kudos
Students of the Week
Academic Winner: Delaney Yablon
Nominated by 2 teachers!
Mr. Johnson- "Delaney has created a study group that will meet at the public library in Brunswick to prepare for the AP Gov test. She invited all members of both 3rd and 4th block classes. "
Ms. Romanek- "For helping Ms. Romanek with mental health awareness week, sharing input on activities and making future suggestions as well as creating a PowerPoint to be showed during May's SEL on her own (without me asking). Great job taking initiative, Delaney!"
Outstanding Character Winner: Chanta Naylor
Nominated by Ms. Robinson- "Chanta has been working hard all semester on AP Lang! Good luck on your exam next week!"
400th Win for Brunswick Baseball
Brunswick's High School Baseball's Coach Roger Dawson recently celebrated his 400th winning game as head coach. Dawson has been at BHS for 32 years as head coach. His teams over the years have won three state championships.
Senior Class of 2024
Graduating Seniors Lunch Accounts
As the school year comes to a close, you have some decisions to make regarding your student’s lunch account balance in Linq Connect. You are being asked to:
- Check your Senior’s Lunch account balance on Linq Connect.
- Make sure Auto Payments on Linq Connect are disabled for Seniors.
If your Senior’s lunch account has a positive balance please contact Brandie Hite at Brandie.hite@fcps.org or call 240-236-8562 with the Senior’s name and ID number along with what they would like done with the remaining money.
Any remaining funds can be managed in one of three ways:
- They can transfer the money from the Senior’s account to younger siblings if possible. Both students’ names and ID numbers are required.
- They can donate the remaining money to the School account that is used to cover lunch costs for students that are short on funds next year. Senior’s name and ID number required.
- They can have the remaining money refunded back to them by check that will be sent in the mail. Senior’s name and ID number required as well as the name and address of the recipient of the check.
Senior Event Calendar - Check Out All Senior Events!
The graduation date for BHS has finally been announced! The BHS Class of 2024 will be hold its graduation ceremony on Tuesday, May 21 at 9:00am at the PNC Arena on the campus of Mount St. Mary's University in Emmitsburg. What are the other major events throughout the year and related to graduation that you need on your calendar now? Check out this newly updated link below with all of the important dates for the Class of 2024.
Seniors - Need Assistance with the College Process?
Here are all the answers to the many questions you have about your college applications! Here are the "4-Year-College-Bound Senior" resources from the Connections Assembly on September 6.
Slideshow - College Application Things to Know
Handout - Naviance for Seniors - Requesting Transcripts & Recommendations
These items are also available at www.bhs.edu - click “Counseling” (top right)
Athletics
Railroader Athletic Events for the Coming Week
Staff
- The link above will give you the schedule of events for BHS this week
- Please come support our Student-Athletes!
Coaches
- Please double check your scheduled start time / location for games.
- Please make sure you have received a bus slip in your mailbox – double check departure times.
- Bus Policies
Officials and Opposing School ADs - Please let me know if our schedules do not agree.
Tickets and Video
- Fans can purchase tickets online for regular season contests and skip the line at the gate at https://gofan.co/app/school/MD24761
- Games can be watched live on the NFHS Network
- Please familiarize yourself with this information for the Winter Season.
Booster Organizations
The Class of 2024 Safe and Sane News
Safe and Sane's last three fundraisers are in motion, and we're also planning for our last virtual meeting of the school year! Details are below and in the flyers. Thank you to everyone who has supported our fundraising efforts this year!
Class of 2024 Virtual Meeting, Monday 5/13: Parents whose children are attending the Adventure Park Celebration: PLEASE join our virtual meeting on Monday, May 13 at 6:30 pm. We will be discussing all the details that you and your child(ren) need to know, such as bus departure times, etc.
Monday, May 13 · 6:30 pm - 7:30pm
Google Meet - Video call link: https://meet.google.com/dgd-ohmw-mnm
Krispy Kreme Fundraiser ends May 10. Buy your donuts digital certificate no later than May 10, and pick up your delicious treats at your convenience. Maybe donuts for graduation morning? Or for a celebration later this year? Your certificate never expires AND friends and family across the country can also buy certificates for Krispy Kreme in their location. Please include your email address in the Venmo comments section, as well as the # of certificates you are ordering.
BHS PTSA News
We welcome all Parents, Students, and Teacher to join the PTSA!
If you or your student have not had an opportunity to join the PTSA, or just want to make a donation, print a membership/donation form from the link below:
https://edu.fcps.org/bhs/sites/bhs/files/PTSAMembershipForm.pdf
The PTSA does little to no fundraising, so most of the income comes from memberships and donations. You or your student can deliver the completed form and $10 membership and/or donation to the school office (cash or check). Please mark the envelope - PTSA. Electronic payment for membership is now available through PayPal. Choose @BHSPTSA1 or scan the QR code below. In the comments, include your name, email, contact number, whether you are a BHS staff member, your student’s name and grade. If you have any questions please email the PTSA at brunswickptsa@gmail.com. We are excited for this school year and we hope to see you at a future meeting!
Railroader Reminders
Important Attendance Reminders
The State of Maryland has set the attendance goal for each school at 96%.
How can you help BHS achieve that goal? Send your healthy child to school every day on time. Also, plan vacations around the FCPS calendar. Thank you for your support!
Parents and guardians are reminded of these important basic guidelines regarding attendance:
- When your student is absent, please notify BHS.attendance@FCPS.org or turn in a written note immediately after the absence. Please provide physician's notes when applicable.
- Student's who drive to school must have parent/guardian authorization to dismiss early, and must sign-out upon their departure through the main office.
- If a student will be dismissed early, please e-mail the attendance office, BHS.attendance@fcps.org no later than 7:30 am on the day of the early departure or provide your student with an early dismissal note for the attendance office. The student will receive a pass to leave their classroom early, signing out in the main office before leaving. If a note has not been sent in advance, parents must enter the building to sign their student out.
- Student's who arrive to school late anytime after 7:30 must obtain a pass to enter any area of the school. The student must have a parent note in order for the absence to be excused. Any student who arrives late without a parent absence note will be assigned consequences from their administrator based on the frequency of these late arrivals.
Being Prepared for School - Chromebooks
Being prepared every day for school means many things, but perhaps most importantly, it means having your Chromebook fully charged and ready to go. Do you have a place at home where you charge your Chromebook each night? Is this part of your daily routine? Loaner Chromebooks are available on an emergency basis ONLY, and must be returned to the Media Center at the end of each day. Chromebook chargers are not available to be lent out. Most classrooms do not have outlets for charging. Be prepared - charge your Chromebook at home each night!
TutorMe.com, a Free Student Online Tutoring/Homework Help Service
TutorMe.com is a secure, online resource easily accessible through the FCPS Clever Portal and offers on-demand assistance. The TutorMe.com service provides assistance that aligns with the FCPS curriculum, including knowledge of new curriculum tools being implemented. The service maintains rigorous standards providing high-quality, diverse tutors, screened for excellence (including a criminal background check). The service is available 7 days a week, 24 hours a day. Features include:
An online lesson space with a virtual whiteboard
Text editor and chat space
Audio/video chat (although you do not have to use this feature or turn on your camera)
A function to allow sharing of screenshots of work examples to assist tutors as they provide support
More than 300 subjects from math to science, social studies and languages
Students can access TutorMe through the FCPS Bookmarks, when logged in to Google Chrome through their FCPS account, and click on the Clever Portal, then TutorMe. More information is available at the vendor website, www.tutorme.com and this Student Support Document.