Principal Update - BHS Families

• Upcoming Events
• Report Card Information
• Schedule Change Requests for 2nd Semester
• Student Enrollment for 2025/26 School Year
• BHS Kindness Month
• Brighton Band Boosters Chipotle Fundraiser
• Upcoming College and Organization Visits (This Week!)
• Grand River Lane Closures

• Upcoming Lunch N Learn - Nursing (This Week!)

• Unified Basketball Posters and Goodie Bags - Donations Requested

• Upcoming BASE Foundation Part of a Parenting Series

• Student Nutrition and Transportation Vacancies
• Tot Spot Early Childhood Center Staffing
• WHMI "Making the Grade" Contest
• Early College Informational Meeting - Current 9th and 10th Grade Families
• BHS Talent Show
• Discover Days: Healthcare
• Senior Specific Information - *Includes Senior Communication from Mrs. Richards
• Opportunities to Meet with BHS Administration
• BHS Counseling Department - *Includes January Counseling Newsletter
• Brighton Area Schools Student Wellness Information
• Weekly Wellness Lesson
• Michigan College Access Network's (MCAN) College Updates
• BHS PTO Meeting Information
• Brighton Area Schools Alumni Association - Helping to Have Better Conversations Using Improv Workshop
• Brighton Band Boosters Golf Outing
• Virtual Financial Aid Webinars
• Fostering Success Michigan - Free Virtual College Fair
• Previous Resources - Links Included

• Saturday, February 1st through Friday, February 28th - Kindness Month at BHS
• Monday, February 3rd and Tuesday, February 4th - Talent Show Auditions at 2:30 pm
• Tuesday, February 4th - Grades Visible in ParentConnect and StudentConnect
• Tuesday, February 4th - Douglas J Aveda Institute Visit (All Lunches Outside Cafeteria)
• Wednesday, February 5th - Olivet Nazarene University Visit (All Lunches Outside Cafeteria)
• Wednesday, February 5th - Nursing Lunch N Learn in Steam Center from 11 to 11:55 am
• Wednesday, February 5th - Helping to Have Better Conversations Using Improv Workshop (6:30 pm in Scranton Middle School Choir Room)
• Monday, February 10th through Friday, February 14th - Winterfest Week
• Tuesday, February 11th - PTO Meeting at 7:30 am in Main Office Conference Room
• Thursday, February 13th - BASE Foundation Part of a Parenting Series (Virtual from 7 to 8:30 pm)
• Friday, February 14th - Winterfest Assembly (Schedule)

Report cards will be visible in both ParentConnect and StudentConnect accounts starting on Tuesday, February 4th. Report cards will show a 2nd Quarter Grade, and Exam Grade, and a 1st Semester Grade. Hard copy reports cards will only be printed upon special request.

We will be posting 1ST SEMESTER grades to transcripts as quickly as we are able. Once this has taken place, any Seniors needing mid-year reports to be sent via Common App will have them sent to the appropriate schools.

If your student is interested in requesting a schedule change for the 2nd Semester, they can now do so electronically! Please have your student scan the appropriate QR code and fill out the information regarding the class change they would like to explore for next semester. To access the appropriate QR code, please use the links below. When accessing the correct form, students need to be signed in to their school email address. Students can also go to the Counseling Office and scan the correct QR code there too.

Current 9th Graders

Current 10th Graders

Current 11th Graders

Current 12th Graders

Student enrollment for the 2025/26 school year is now open! We would love for Brighton Area Schools to be your choice for your student for next school year. If your student is NOT CURRENTLY ENROLLED in Brighton Area Schools, please see the information below regarding the timelines for enrollment:

For Brighton Area Schools District Residents - Enrollment is open indefinitely, starting 2/1/2025. Early enrollment prior to the end of the current school year is strongly recommended, however, for scheduling purposes.

For non-Brighton Area Schools District Residents (School of Choice) - Enrollment is only open from 2/1 until 8/8.

Additional enrollment information can be found here.

This year at BHS, we are looking to expand Kindness Week into Kindness Month for the month of February! With this in mind, we will be celebrating the ideas of kindness and respect all month long! This is an opportunity to reflect on the power of small acts of kindness. While this month serves as a reminder, the core idea of treating others with kindness and respect shouldn’t be limited to just one month—it’s a practice we can carry with us every day, all year long.

Our message for BHS is that we should use this month as a starting point to cultivate a school community grounded in kindness, compassion, respect, inclusivity, and understanding. Here are some ways we can extend kindness beyond this month:

• Make It a Habit: Practice small, daily acts of kindness—whether through a smile, a kind word, or helping someone in need.

• Build Connections: Take time to get to know someone new and strengthen relationships within our school.

• Show Appreciation: Regularly express gratitude to peers, teachers, staff, and family members.

This month, we are encouraging staff and students to look for opportunities to participate in activities celebrating kindness and respect, but more importantly, think about how we can all make compassion a lasting part of our school culture. We will be sharing out more information with our students and staff each week. Together, we can create an environment where everyone feels valued, respected, and supported. We are looking for champions of kindness, not just this month, but every day as part of the way of life at BHS!

Brighton Band Boosters will be hosting a fundraiser night on Monday, 02/03/25, and your support would be greatly appreciated!

You can make dinner a breeze with dinner from Chipotle on Grand River. From 4-8 PM, you can present the informational flyer or order online using code YMC8P6R to signify you would like the order to benefit the Brighton Bands. Chipotle will donate 25% of sales. Feel free to share with anyone who may be interested!

The following colleges and organizations will be visiting Brighton High School next week. Please encourage your students to stop by their tables, located directly across from the Lunch Room for information and to have any questions answered.

• Washtenaw County Parks & Recreation - Monday, February 3
• Douglas J Aveda Institute - Tuesday, February 4
• Olivet Nazarene University - Wednesday, February 5

Please see the message below from the City of Brighton regarding upcoming lane closures that may impact your commute between now and March 14th.

INTERMITTENT LANE CLOSURES (Grand River Avenue at I-96)

In continued preparation for the I-96 Interchange Reconstruction Project, Michigan Department

of Transportation’s (MDOT) contractor will require intermittent one-lane closures on eastbound

and westbound Grand River between Challis Road and Conference Center Drive in Brighton.

These closures will occur between 9 am and 3 pm from January 28 through March 14, 2025.

For questions or concerns, please contact MDOT at 810-227-4681.

Our next Lunch N Learn will be on Wednesday, February 5th during Advisory on the topic of Nursing! We will have a speaker from Hurley Medical Center presenting to our students. Students should follow the process outlined below:

• Report to the STEAM Center immediately following 4th hour
• The speaker will be presenting material from 11 am - 11:55 am, then students will be released to go to C Lunch
• We will have light snacks and refreshments available
• Students do NOT need a pass to attend these.
• When students arrive, they will need to scan a QR Code for attendance, so they are not marked unexcused absent from Advisory.
• They may not come late or leave early to attend a different lunch.

We hope that our students take advantage of these opportunities to talk to professionals from various careers!

For the last several years, a few of our staff members have gone above and beyond to support Unified athletes from BOTH teams for the school-wide assembly basketball game taking place during Kindness and Respect Week enlisting the help of their students to make posters and goodie bags for each team/athlete.

While this year's game is an away game, the level of support is no different! Mrs. Bell, Mrs. Kippola, and Ms. Chandler are already working on posters and soliciting donations to make it happen. They have partnered with our staff, parents, and the BHS PTO to make sure they have everything they need. They have put together an Amazon Wishlist with the items they are looking for in case anyone is interested in making a purchase to support their efforts.

There will be a free Zoom presentation by Christine Rans on February 13th, 2025 from 7 pm to 8:30 pm sponsored by the BASE Foundation.

This presentation is titled Autism: Taking a Fresh Look - Learn the Signs and How to Get Help for Any Age. You can use the Zoom link on the flyer to register.

Two extremely important departments to the overall function of our district and the support of our students are currently short multiple staff members.

First, our Student Nutrition Department does a fantastic job taking care of our students and staff. On average, they are serving more meals daily (breakfast and lunch) than they ever have before. The have even started a Student Advisory Group to get information on what students are looking for and how they can improve what is offered. However, they are current short 4 staff members in order to best meet the needs of the department. Please help share this information online or with anyone who may be interested.

Second, our Transportation Department is also short a few drivers after the break. They currently have 2 open routes, as well as substitute positions available. Please share this information, as well as the details below, online or with anyone who may be interested. Interested individuals can call 810.299.3890

Position Details:

$20.37/hour

Full Driver Benefits

Additional $500/month if you take on a route

Please see the message below from the front office team at Tot Spot Early Childhood Center within Brighton Area Schools:

We're ramping up hiring to fulfill staffing needs for the Summer Program (accommodating Tot Spot + Friendship Center) students in addition to other staff positions needed for the current school-year programs.

If you know anyone who may be interested in one of the available positions within Tot Spot, please feel free to share this information with them. An informational flyer can also be found here.

The WHMI “Making the Grade” Contest is back for 2025! WHMI is seeking nominations of exceptional teachers that are currently working in the Livingston County area. They are encouraging you to tell them about your star teacher and they might win fun money, a special WHMI “Making the Grade” Trophy and a floral bouquet!

Nominate your exceptional teacher by visiting the nomination page.

Interested in learning more about the Early College programs available to BHS students? If your student is currently in 9th or 10th grade and is interested in learning more about the Early College programs they can enroll in during their 11th grade year, the will be an informational meeting at LESA in Howell (1425 W. Grand River). The meeting will be held on February 20th at 5:30 pm.

More information on the Livingston County Early College programs can be found here.

In case you missed it, Junior Class Council is bringing back the BHS Talent Show! Auditions will take place on February 3rd and 4th at 2:30 pm with the show taking place at 7 pm on February 26th in the BCPA. Students interested in participating need to sign up via the QR code on the flyer. Join us in encouraging your student(s) to participate or attend!

Through a collaboration of local healthcare businesses, Career and Technical Education (CTE) teachers, Workforce and Economic Development, and Livingston Educational Service Agency employees have created an event for 9th-grade students with an interest in health careers to participate in a unique and engaging event designed to explore opportunities in healthcare. This special event will provide valuable insights into careers that are typically difficult to experience through traditional job shadowing. Students will have the chance to hear from professionals across various healthcare fields, engage in hands-on activities, and gain a deeper understanding of the pathways available within this essential career cluster.

Here are the event details:

• Date - March 6th
• Location - Livingston EMS Building, 1911 Tooley Road in Howell
• Target Audience - 9th Grade students with documented interest in Healthcare/Human Services

We are limited to 20 spots for this event. Bussing and lunch will be provided. We are simply putting this opportunity on your radar now. Once it becomes available to us, we will be sending out the registration form in order to formally register for this event. An informational flyer can be found here.

Here are some important dates included below that you may want to put on your calendar now and your student may want to participate in.

Wednesday, February 5th - Lunch N Learn (Nursing)

Wednesday, February 5th - Junior vs. Senior Volleyball Game in the BHS Fieldhouse @ 7:30 pm

Wednesday, March TBD - Lunch N Learn (Law Enforcement)

Wednesday, March 5th - Senior Class Council 3 on 3 Basketball Tournament

Wednesday, March 12th - Lunch N Learn (Fire Authority)

Tuesday, April 1st - Senior Photos/Videos due for the Senior Video

Wednesday, April 16th - Mandatory Spring Senior Meeting during Advisory

Tuesday, April 22nd - Graduation Speech Tryouts 7 am and 2:30 pm in D47

Tuesday, April 22nd - Staff vs. Student Basketball Game

Wednesday, April 23rd - Lunch N Learn (Construction Trades)

Tuesday, April 29th - Graduation Song Tryouts 2:30 pm in LGI (Old Choir Room)

Friday, April 25th - BHS Lip Dub

Wednesday, May 7th - Lunch N Learn (International Business)

Wednesday, May 15th - Lunch N Learn (Clinical & Pediatric Psychology)

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

Hi Seniors!

This is YOUR year...welcome to 2025! Can you believe we are almost halfway through your senior year? It's amazing how fast time flies when you're having fun. As a reminder, I know that many of you have heard back from some colleges, college coaches, and recruiting offices already. I'd love to hear about your exciting news, whether you are going to college, into the military, a trade school, traveling, have an internship or going right into the workforce! Send me an email, stop by the Main Office, or stop by our table at lunch and share the excitement!

I have a few goals for you this month:

1. Complete your FAFSA, regardless of what your plans are next year.
2. Start filling out some scholarship applications. You'll be amazed at how much it can help pay for your future!
3. Stay on top of your academics. We will be sending 7th semester transcripts to colleges, so make sure you end the semester strong!

The beginning of this January Bulldog Bulletin is updated with information that is coming up, but I've also included repeat information at the bottom so that it's all in one place for you. Families can refer to Mr. Evans weekly communications 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. Have a great weekend!

~Mrs. Richards

A few items that you still have the option to complete include:

Senior Class Video Submissions - see slides 15-17 of Senior Meeting Presentation

• Click on this link to submit images & video

Baby Picture Submissions - see slides 18-19 of Senior Meeting Presentation

• Click on this link to submit baby pictures

Please see the following message from the Chair of the Senior All Night Party Committee:

ALL PARENTS!!! It's that time of year where we start recruiting parents that want to be a part of the planning committee for the Senior All Night Party (SANP). We have a few openings due to last year's members' kids graduating.

What has made the party so successful is having underclassmen parents be a part of the planning - so just because you don't have a Senior does not mean you cannot help. WE NEED underclassmen committee members to ease some of the burden on Senior parents and to help with consistency year to year.

If you are interested in being on the planning committee, please either reach out to me (Michelle Letendre) via messenger or email at michelleletendre@gmail.com

Additional Info:

To order your senior's SANP ticket, click on THIS LINK.

To order the yard sign, click on THIS LINK. (*note - this yard sign is different from the one that you will receive as part of your senior fee. The senior fee yard sign will have their senior picture on it. This yard sign is a general "Class of 2025" yard sign, and is a fundraiser for the Senior All Night Party.)

NOTE - this is only recruiting people that want to be a part of the planning - not volunteer just the night of. That request will come out after Spring Break.

Hello Senior Families,

Financial Aid season is right around the corner! This means it's time to get ready to complete the 25-26 Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) as it is NOW OPEN. Regardless of what the plan for after high school is, we encourage every Senior family to fill out the FAFSA. This email includes many financial aid resources for your convenience.

Here's what you can start doing NOW in terms of financial aid:

• Each Senior and a parent should aim to create their FSA IDs prior to December 1st. (They take time to verify)

• Use this tool or this resource to find out which parent(s) needs to be part of the FAFSA process.

• Attend a financial aid webinar or watch this recorded webinar.

• Learn about the Community College Guarantee and Michigan Achievement Scholarship. Informational webinars can be found here.

• Look into scholarships offered at the schools you are applying to. Local scholarships are updated here throughout the year. National scholarships can be found at websites such as Going Merry, Fastweb, CollegeBoard Big Futures, and many more.

• Review Federal Student Aid video resources

• Reach out if you have questions. I am here to help students and families with anything college-related, including financial aid! (farinac@brightonk12.com)
  

Why should I fill out the FAFSA?

• Everybody is eligible for some amount of financial aid. You won't know what you qualify for unless you fill out the FAFSA.

• It is the only way to qualify for the Community College Guarantee, and is necessary to be considered for the Michigan Achievement Scholarship.

• You are planning to attend college OR a career training program after high school.

• It allows schools to consider you for more scholarships, grants, and other aid.

• It's FREE and you do NOT have to accept any of the aid that is offered to you.

Please feel free to reach out if you have any questions!

Best,

Clarice Farina

Brighton High School

College Adviser - Advise MI

Tuesdays, Wednesdays, & every other Monday

Click here to schedule a meeting with me

View the BHS college/career planning calendar here

If you need to meet with your student's Grade Level Principal for any reason, please don't hesitate to reach out. If your student has a 504 and returned to BHS this fall, you should have received an additional communication offering you the opportunity to have your student's support plan continue as written, or the chance to meet to address any necessary changes. If your student has a 504 and is a Freshman, you have received an additional communication asking you to set up a time to meet to discuss the plan in greater detail, in order to help facilitate a smooth transition to a new environment this year. To contact your student's Grade Level Principal, please see the information below:

Mr. Matt Evans (10th grade)

Phone: (810) 299 - 4101 (office)

(810) 852 - 9905 (evening)

Email: evansm@brightonk12.com

Schedule an Appointment Directly

Mrs. Tracie Richards (12th grade)

Phone: (810) 299 - 4114

Email: richardst@brightonk12.com

Schedule an Appointment Directly

Mr. Nate Grabowski (11th grade)

Phone: (810) 299 - 4103

Email: grabown@brightonk12.com

Schedule an Appointment Directly

Mrs. Jennifer Napuli (9th grade)

Phone: (810) 299 - 4112

Email: napulij@brightonk12.com

Schedule an Appointment Directly

The January Edition of the BHS Counseling Newsletter can be found here.

As a reminder, if you would like to meet with your student's counselor for any reason, you can reach the Counseling Office at (810) 299-4150. You can also schedule an appointment with their counselor using the following links below:

9th Grader: Mrs. Petit - https://bit.ly/MrsPetit

10th Grader: Mrs. Caverly - https://bit.ly/MrsCaverly

11th Grader: Mr. Miner - https://bit.ly/MrMiner

12th Grader: Mrs. Grossfeld - https://bit.ly/MrsGrossfeld

As a part of the BAS Strategic Plan, we are always trying to find ways to maximize and support student growth. One of many ways we do this is through the Brighton Area Schools App. This app can be downloaded for free on iTunes and Google Play. It is loaded with resources for students and parents. In addition, consider using the "Your Best, Your Growth, Your Future" part of the app to submit a goal and receive 1:1 support and feedback to help you achieve it! The app will also allow you to receive notifications on what is happening throughout BAS and be updated on future events and information.

As a district, we are increasing our efforts to support the mental health and wellness of our students, families, and the community by focusing on relationships, student wellness, and increasing a mindset for learning and growth. Additional resources and information can be found on our BAS Wellness & Mental Health website.

Each week, we will be sharing out a weekly tip/resource with our families. This week's tip:

"The Power of Optimism"

The Michigan College Access Network has assisted in the creation of this website, which contains up-to-date info on each college/university in Michigan and their admissions requirements, financial aid/scholarship info, academic programs, and contact info.

No matter what grade your student is in, this website can be a one-stop resource to valuable information on Michigan colleges/universities that can help you narrow down your focus in the college selection process.

The next PTO Meeting will be on February 11th @ 7:30 am in Main Office Conference Room. All are welcome!

BHS PTO is an active part of our students' overall high school experience. In addition to others, the BHS PTO proudly supports the following activities throughout the school year: educational student assemblies, Academic Letter and Academic Letter Lunches, the Academic Wall, Freshmen class activities, staff appreciation events, financial support for student-run after school clubs and organizations, and the Senior Picnic.

The Brighton Area Schools Alumni Association is excited to again host PJ Jacokes, actor and former Head Instructor at The Second City Detroit for the Helping to Have Better Conversations Using Improv Workshop on Wednesday, February 5th, at 6:30pm at the Scranton Middle School Choir Room.

The focus of the workshop will be finding a fun way to talk about some really important concepts in a safe and supportive environment--a major step toward handling difficult conversations with others.

Topics to be covered include

• Active Listening: Focusing on what others are really saying (reading subtle clues and subtexts)
• Recognizing and Meeting others where they are to find common ground
• Developing/Practicing Teamwork and Patience using Improvisation and Laughter.

A $35 non-refundable registration donation sponsors student scholarships of the Brighton Area Schools Alumni Association. Class size is limited to give participants maximum practice and Registration is available at http://www.BrightonMIAlumni.com/Events or via the informational flyer.

The Brighton Band Boosters are excited to host the return of our Golf Scramble Fundraiser (the first since 2019)! I am attaching both our Event Flyer and the Sponsorship Menu, as we are seeking the support of area businesses, from Dinner Sponsorship to Hole Sponsors and Silent Auction Items.

On May 17, 2025, we will host a Golf Outing (with Lunch and Dinner) and Silent Auction at Mystic Creek Golf Course inside Camp Dearborn in Milford. Registration is now open for both Two-somes and Four-somes via our Zeffy Link (registrants can set the percentage over event cost to ZERO and pay no additional fees for processing).

The goal of this specific fundraiser is to lower the overall cost to every Marching Band Member for Marching Band Camp, which is held at YMCA Camp Nissokone in Oscoda in August.

We look forward to seeing the BAS Community (and extended family and colleagues) of Golf Enthusiasts on the beautiful grounds of Mystic Creek Golf Course to enjoy this Golf Scramble and Silent Auction while helping our students gain strong skills more affordably.

Event Flyer

Sponsorship Menu

Students and families interested in learning about financial aid basics are encouraged to register for a virtual financial aid presentation provided by the MI Student Aid team.

Participants will be able to gather information on the following financial aid topics:

• FAFSA application information
• Federal financial aid programs
• State financial aid programs
• Scholarship searching resources

There are multiple dates and times to choose from and all sessions are free of charge and open to the public. Register for one session only, as space is limited.

Fostering Success Michigan is hosting a FREE Virtual College Fair on Tuesday, February 18th from 4:00 PM-6:00 PM! Join them to learn all about college in Michigan including how to choose where to go, how to apply, how to pay for college, and what types of support are available on campus to help you succeed. Not sure about what you want to do after high school? That's okay, they will talk about that too! If you are interested in registering, you can do so here.

More information on this FREE Virtual College Fair can be found below:

List of Participating Schools

Fostering Success Michigan Virtual College Fair Toolkit

Fostering Success Michigan Website

• Prospective Student Building Tours Informational Flyer
• 2024/25 Brighton High School Tutoring List
• BHS National Honor Society Tutoring
• Updated Lunch and Learn Schedule
• 2025/26 Student Scheduling Presentation
• Order a Yearbook
• Student Scholarship Directory
• BHS Career and College Event Calendar
• Upcoming College Fairs
• Fentanyl Fathers Presentation to BHS Seniors
• McKinney-Vento Homeless Education Assistance Act Information
• County-Wide Mental Health Network Resources
• County-Wide Mental Health Network Newsletter

Matt Evans, Lead Principal, Grade Level Principal Class of 2027

Website: https://www.brightonk12.com/Domain/465
Location: Brighton High School, Brighton Road, Brighton, MI, USA
Phone: (810)299-4100
Twitter: @BrightonHS