Warrior Update

8th-9th Grade Transition for the Class of 2028

The communication below provides important information from Brookline High School.

Translations and accessibility options are available at the top of the page.

Dear Parents, Guardians, and Caregivers,

We are re-sending the BlackBoard message from Friday 3/8. This version utilizes Smore, which facilitates translation into the many different languages our BHS and PSB families speak. This format also breaks our messages into more digestible pieces. Plus, the photo of 22 Tappan inspires

Anyway, please note the many updates about our eighth to ninth grade transition events and process. We hope to see many of you at Athletics at BHS. Thanks to Athletic Director Kyle Williams and Assistant to the Athletic Director Amanda Mortelette, we have changed the format for this event: there will be a brief presentation by Kyle and Amanda and then an open house with coaches and some student-athletes.

Onto the repeat message from Friday 3/8:

Dear Class of 2028 Parents, Guardians, and Caregivers,

Happy March. We write to check in on the eighth to ninth-grade transition, especially as your students navigate the course recommendation and selection process. While we are in the midst of preparing our seniors for Commencement in early June, many school-based and district staff members and teams are already planning for the Class of 2028 to join our Brookline High School community in September.

Transition Events

On Tuesday 2/6, we held Curriculum Night. You can find relevant documents from each department on our 8th-9th grade transition webpage.

During the week before February Break (2/12-16), we had both our World Language Road Show and Arts at BHS visit from PSB eighth graders.

This past Monday 3/4, next year’s ninth-grade administrators hosted Life at BHS, which featured a panel of current ninth graders.

Our next and final transition event, Athletics at BHS, will be Thursday 3/14 at 7 pm in the 115 Greenough Street Commons. Athletic Director Kyle Williams will present our athletic offerings and then all in attendance will be encouraged to attend an Open House with BHS coaches and student-athletes.

Ninth Grade English Course Offerings

As some of you might have followed, our School Committee voted last Thursday 2/29 to continue the unleveled English pilot for 2024-25 and to continue to offer Standard and Honors level Responding to Literature courses to incoming ninth graders. We believe strongly in our Ninth Grade Responding to Literature Humanities course and have made changes to Aspen X2 so that Standard and Honors level Responding to Literature courses are English options for next year.

Scheduling Timeline and Process

You heard from Dr. Matt Dubois, our Senior Director of Clinical Services and Social and Emotional Learning, last weekend about the BHS scheduling timeline and process. I am quoting a key section of his letter here to reinforce dates and areas of focus:

“Beginning Tuesday, March 19, 2023, you will be able to review your child’s core course recommendations and select electives through the Aspen Parent Portal. The deadline for entering electives and requesting level changes is Tuesday, April 2, 2024. Please note that the April 2nd deadline to enter electives and request level changes is firm. The scheduling process at BHS is complex and requires a series of activities that each have a sensitive deadline. If the deadline is missed, your child will have an opportunity to speak to their 9th-grade School Counselor in August.

Instructions on how to review recommendations and select electives can be found here. If you experience difficulty in completing this task or if you have trouble accessing a computer, please contact your child’s School Counselor.”

Parent/Guardian Override

By School Committee policy, families have the right to override teacher course recommendations. While I generally trust our teachers to make well-informed recommendations, our district and school-based practices are far from perfect and not without bias. Both Dr. Dubois and I felt - and feel - the need to remind you of this important right.

Most of all, we are excited for the Class of 2028 to engage in course selection and continue to prepare for the 2024-25 school year at Brookline High School.

Sincerely,

Anthony Meyer, Hal Mason, Summer Williams

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Anthony Meyer

Head of School

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Hal Mason

Assistant Head of School

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Summer Williams

Dean of Students