BHS Bulldog Senior Bulletin

• Mandatory Fall Senior Meeting!
• Common App Reminder
• Upcoming College Visits
• Upcoming College Fairs

• U of M Society of Women Engineers Shadow Day

• 24/25 Application Fee Waivers Reminder ($0 College Applications)
• Michigan Assured Admission Pact - Guaranteed College Admission
• Michigan Achievement Scholarship Update & Additional Scholarship Opportunities
• Yearbook Reminders
• Senior Picture for Yearbook
• Counseling Update from Mrs. Grossfeld
• Upcoming Senior Presentation 11/6 - Fentanyl Fathers

August Newsletter items included at the bottom:

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

Hi Seniors!

It's been a busy but exciting start to your senior year, and I hope you enjoyed Homecoming week. We will have a mandatory senior meeting during 1st and 2nd hour on Wednesday, 10/23 in the BCPA, then we'll walk over to the fieldhouse for our Senior Class Composite (portrait). Wear your black senior class shirt on Wednesday!

I have a few reminders that I want to put on your radar. 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, so there is some overlap of information. We are trying to be as proactive as possible to help you have a successful year. We are here for you!

~Mrs. Richards

Many of you have already completed your applications in Common App, but if you haven't it's not too late! Here is the link to sign in: https://www.commonapp.org/. 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 you!

BHS hosts several college visits with representatives to answer your questions. Check out THIS LINK to sign up for any upcoming College Visit that interests you!

In case you missed the College Fair at Cleary University this past week, there are a number of additional college fairs coming up between now and the end of the school year. The Michigan Association for College Admission Counseling and the Michigan Association of Collegiate Registrars and Admissions Officers keeps a list of upcoming, accredited College Fairs that they post for anyone who is interested. The list can be found here.

The High School Outreach Officer of the Society of Women Engineers at U of M has reached out to us with a unique opportunity for our 11th and 12th grade female students who may be curious about studying STEM fields in the future. They are hosting a Shadow Day in which students will get the opportunity to shadow SWE members for a day and experience a day in the life of a Michigan engineer.

Please use the links provided to access the Registration Form and Informational Flyer.

If you have any questions or would like any additional information please reach out to swe.highschool@umich.edu.

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!

The Michigan Assured Admission Pact (MAAP) was developed in 2023. The goal was to remove uncertainty from the college admissions process for students.

10 of the 15 public universities banded together and are guaranteeing admission for students who have a 3.0 GPA or higher; all the student needs to do is apply.

For more information, a list of participating schools, as well as an updated FAQ, visit the MAAP website.

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 (which opens on December 1st) is the key to unlocking funding. The newly simplified FAFSA has only 36 questions. It costs nothing to complete, and you could be eligible for more than you think.

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.

The American Legion Department of Michigan offers high school students several opportunities to gain valuable experience that will last a lifetime. At the same time, students can earn money for college or earn the needed community service points required on many college entrance applications, including the West Point Military Academy. They are currently offering over $75,000 in scholarships for both college, as well as skilled trades. For more information, check out their information here!

There is a Brighton-based construction company, Schafer Construction, offering $2000 scholarships through their Build Better Foundation. Students may use this money for tuition, certification, PPE and other equipment. The deadline for this scholarship is December 31, 2024. For more information about this scholarship opportunity, and how to apply please see the link in your email.

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 November 8th. 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. Here is the sign up for this photographer -the student, must access the Google Form linked HERE to sign-up. This form is not available to emails outside of the brightonk12 domain. Parents can sign up for they if they are logged into your student account.

Hello, seniors!

If your Common Application has a November 1st deadline, you have to add me as a counselor recommender by October 25th. The sooner the better if any of your colleges require a letter of recommendation.

Reminder: If you are applying via Common App, I will upload your transcripts after you add me. If you're NOT applying to college via Common App and are applying directly through individual college applications, make sure you request your transcripts via Parchment .

Please note that you can submit your Common App before my counselor portion is completed. You do not have to wait for me.

Take advantage of the help that Mrs. Farina provides in the media center each week during lunch, and don't hesitate to come by and see me if you need support or have any questions.

See below in the newsletter for college fee waiver codes.

Don't forget that College Reps come to BHS almost every day! Swing by counseling to scan the QR code to sign up!

Take a look at the upcoming job shadow day information, as well :)

Hope you had a great time at homecoming!

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.

On November 6th, Seniors will be attending a presentation by the organization Fentanyl Fathers in the BCPA beginning at 11 am. Students will report directly to the BCPA after 4th hour (at the beginning of Advisory) and will attend C lunch this day. Fentanyl Fathers is a national 501(c)(3) non-profit organization on a mission to prevent illicit fentanyl poisoning and overdose deaths among America's unsuspecting youth. The crisis of fentanyl and counterfeit pills is claiming far too many young lives, and we are committed to making a difference. Fentanyl Fathers Story

They provide assemblies all across the country to schools and their team of passionate bereaved parents travel across the country to directly educate students about the dangers of fentanyl, counterfeit pills, and the critical steps for recognizing and responding to an overdose. Through impactful presentations, they aim to empower youth with knowledge and resources, helping them make informed decisions and stay safe.

Parents and students can view all of the components of their presentation on their landing page by clicking Presentation Detail. This includes:

• Presentation Slide Deck - They use the Orange Deck
• Seaholm High School Presentation
• Dead on Arrival Video
• Student Survey Summary Sample
• School Reference Letters

The orange slide deck is the one that they will be showing at BHS. You can learn more at fentanylfathers.org. You can also see over 300 of their videos by going to YouTube and typing Fentanyl Fathers into the search box. We plan to record the presentation at BHS so that we can share it out with all BHS families

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, November 6th - Fentanyl Fathers presentation in the BCPA during Advisory at 11 am

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