BHS Counseling Dept Weekly Update

As Head of School Anthony Meyer writes......BHS is excited to be hosting our fourth annual Day of Disability Education on Wednesday December 18th, 2024.

Day of Disability Education (DoDE) is an event that provides opportunities for students to learn about various disabilities in greater detail and to think about how our community in Brookline can continue to improve its approach to equity, inclusion, and accessibility. The event includes lessons about disability planned collaboratively by students and teachers, outside speakers, interactive displays and booths, and “telling our stories” assemblies.

Most of the weekly schedule remains the same on Mon, Tues, Thurs, Fri. The Wednesday schedule is slightly different and is included below.

The midpoint of Quarter 2 has passed. Quarter 2 IPRs (Interim Progress Reports) were uploaded to the portals last Wednesday. If you are concerned about any of your courses, follow the suggestions on your IPR, talk to your teacher and/or see them during their office hours, and get extra help in Academic Extra Help Centers (times/locations posted further down in this Weekly Update).

Quarter 2 ends on January 24, 2025. Midyear report cards will likely be uploaded to the portals on approx Feb 4, 2025.

The upcoming holidays provide lots of opportunities for connecting with family and friends. But holiday celebrations can contribute to increased alcohol and marijuana consumption, and for teens on school vacation with time on their hands, it can lead to all kinds of substance use experimentation. Be aware -- Brookline students say that their number one source for obtaining alcohol and pills are from their parents’ cabinets. And with the legalization of marijuana, adolescents also may be drawn to pot under the impression that it offers a safe high. B-PEN’s “Safe Holiday Tip Sheet” at www.B-PEN.org offers ideas on how to talk to your kids about substances and set a good example on the home front.

B-PEN WISHES EVERYONE A SAFE & HEALTHY HOLIDAY SEASON!

link for refreshing if needed: https://www.b-pen.org/uploads/2/9/2/9/2929884/safeholidayhsrev19.pdfThe upcoming holidays provide lots of opportunities for connecting with family and friends. But holiday celebrations can contribute to increased alcohol and marijuana consumption, and for teens on school vacation with time on their hands, it can lead to all kinds of substance use experimentation. Be aware -- Brookline students say that their number one source for obtaining alcohol and pills are from their parents’ cabinets. And with the legalization of marijuana, adolescents also may be drawn to pot under the impression that it offers a safe high. B-PEN’s “Safe Holiday Tip Sheet” at www.B-PEN.org offers ideas on how to talk to your kids about substances and set a good example on the home front.

Please help the Warrior Cares Fund to provide gift cards to some of our most vulnerable teens. So many of our families will experience food and shelter insecurity during this break while many more of us relax and enjoy luxuries such as warm homes and clothing, unlimited food, and gifts for all over the holidays. If you are able, please help us with a gift card to Target or Amazon for our teens who could use a bit of joy this season.

Donate here, or feel free to drop any gift cards at the Brookline Teen Center, 40 Aspinwall Ave. Pickups are also available-contact daracell2@yahoo.com

Because every teen deserves to thrive!

Your TAX DEDUCTIBLE DONATION can be made here:

Donate Now | The Warrior Cares Fund by Brookline Teen Center

Use the QR code above to to download the new information booklet for Immigrants, Refugees, and New Residents to Brookline.

The holidays are upon us—a time for joy, connection, and creating meaningful memories with loved ones. It’s also a season that can bring its own pressures, like planning visits, managing gift budgets, and organizing events. With everything on your plate, it’s easy to feel overwhelmed.

While traditions and celebrations are meaningful, it’s just as important to care for your mental well-being. National Stress-Free Family Holidays Month reminds us to be mindful of stress and take steps toward self-care. Here are a few tips to help make your holidays more manageable and joyful:

• Modify traditions if needed. It’s okay to adjust traditions if they feel overwhelming. Your mental health takes priority.
• Learn the power of saying "no." If a commitment feels too much, give yourself permission to decline.
• Plan ahead. Use a calendar to stay organized and avoid last-minute tasks that can create unnecessary stress.
• Share your feelings. Talk to someone you trust if you're feeling anxious or missing a loved one. You are not alone.
• Take time for self-care. Make sure to rest and recharge, even as you care for others.

If you’d like professional support, Care Solace is available to help connect you or your loved ones to mental health services. This is a complimentary, confidential service provided by Public Schools of Brookline.

Access Support:

• Call: 888-515-0595 (Multilingual support 24/7/365)
• Visit: www.caresolace.com/brookline Search for a provider or click “Book Appointment” for assistance via video chat, phone, or email.

For immediate support:

• Call 911 and request a Crisis Intervention Trained (C.I.T.) response.
• Text “Hello” or “Home” to 741741 to connect with a crisis counselor.
• Call or chat with the Suicide & Crisis Lifeline at 988: suicidepreventionlifeline.org
• Trevor Lifeline (LGBTQ+ support): www.thetrevorproject.org/get-help

Some in school counseling support is available and another social worker joining our community soon.

Counselors have outside of school resources including possible referrals to virtual counseling Cartwheel Care, local mental health practitioners, and therapy referral support using Care Solace below.

- Talk to your child to support and find out what may be going on.

- Reach out to someone on your student's BHS school support team - counselor, dean, if appropriate - program coordinator, special education liaison, school clinician

- Consider outside of school counseling support using either:

* Cartwheel Care - Virtual counseling for adolescents and/or parent guidance (contact your child's school counselor)

* Care Solace - therapy referral resource to find a provider that meets your child's needs in the Boston area. See below for more information

Cartwheel Care is a virtual counseling resource available to both BHS students and parents-caregivers. Virtual counseling can be a helpful support if a student:

- has a busy schedule during and outside of the school day

- would prefer to have counseling outside of school

- would like to work with a clinician with different background or who speaks another language than English

Parents and caregivers can also receive parenting support and guidance separately via Cartwheel Care.

BHS counselors can provide more info to interested students/families, plus directly help with connecting to this resource.

This organization also offers monthly free webinars on mental health topics. You must register to get the webinar links. See the webinar calendar below for topics and additional info.

Please email Darby Neff-Verre - Coordinator of the BHS Counseling/Guidance Dept - individually for feedback on the Weekly Update.

And always check out the BHS Counseling Dept "Guidance Blog" on the BHS website for past Weekly Updates and info on career exploration, job finding, shared guidance documents and other great resources.

Thank you!

"I realized that too much college talk was not healthy for any of us"

Click here for more info!

Come to Lunch Lounge!

The Counseling and Social Work dept will start offering quiet spaces for lunches during a few lunch blocks each school week. For now, Lunch Lounge will be offered on Thurs 1st lunch @ the 115 main campus. Stop by and check it out!

More Lunch Lounge opportunities will be announced when we return from December break.

Ron Lieber, author of The Price You Pay for College: An Entirely New Road Map for the Biggest Financial Decision Your Family Will Ever Make, shares his list of favorite questions when shopping for undergraduate education.

Click this link.

SEE THE COUNSELOR PERMANENT OFFICE LOCATION (with office numbers, work phone numbers, emails and QR codes) below.

Of course, counselors will be in their offices whenever possible... and let's keep working on students leaving a note on the counselor's/social worker's door if they stop by and no one is available at that time. The counseling staff won't know if a student stopped by and they are in another meeting, etc if a note is not left by the student!

Just a reminder that BHS counselors are here if a student has questions/concerns or just wants to say hello to their counselor. Students are encouraged to stop by their counselor’s office when not in class. Students can be in touch with their counselor for any questions or concerns – school related, post high school planning related, extracurricular activities related, or life related.

We’re here and ready to support EVERY BHS student!

High Sierra Pools Human Resources Department.

We operate many swimming pools in various locations in and around the Brookline High School area.

We are offering fun summer employment opportunities and lifeguard certification for those who are fifteen years of age and older. Our team knows that the Company’s greatest resource is our amazing staff, and we strive to build strong teams that will make each workday safe, memorable, and enjoyable for themselves as well as the patrons of the pools they work at.

Lifeguarding for High Sierra Pools is more than just a job: it’s the chance to be an integral part of a community, learn lifelong skills, and be a role model for the kids that swim there. High Sierra Pools’ lifeguards and staff ensure the safety of hundreds of pools and thousands of patrons. We employ year-round professionals as well as qualified seasonal staff who are focused on our core values of safety, service and teamwork.

** NOT BHS AFFILIATED **

The School of Business at Stevens Institute of Technology invites high school sophomores and juniors to participate in Stevens Trading Day 2025. This free event features both virtual and live trading components, along with educational webinars led by our finance faculty. Topics covered include understanding the stock market, the impact of inflation on financial markets and the dynamics of cryptocurrency.
The trading competition is designed as an engaging game, allowing students to explore investing in the equities markets in a fun, interactive way. All students who register and participate in the trading game will receive a certificate, which they are encouraged to include in future college applications.

The top 25 students with the best-performing portfolios at the end of the month-long virtual competition will be invited to our campus in Hoboken, New Jersey for a live trading competition at the Hanlon Financial Systems Center. At this event, students will hear from our finance faculty about the latest financial trends and gain hands-on experience with the 24 Bloomberg terminals available in our trading labs.

The virtual trading competition will run throughout February, and the live trading event will take place in late March.

To register for Trading Day 2025, please sign up here. All registered students will receive instructions on how to use the trading simulator and the complete rules of the game.

Check out the Youth Connections program for great resources!

Contact Kate Kennedy (Kate_Kennedy@psbma.org/ office 285D in the 115 building) for more information.

More detailed teacher extra help availability for 9th graders listed in "9th grader" section below

Keep in mind that students can join most clubs during any point in the school year, not just on the sign up day at the Club Fair. The current list of clubs has been updated. Take a look - https://bhs.brookline.k12.ma.us/clubs-and-activities-list.html

Student volunteers provide basic 1:1 tech assistance for seniors at the Brookline Senior Center. This could be help with iPhone/android general settings/instructions, help with email, setting up computer/phone accessibility, basic web navigating instructions, setting up video calling, etc. This is a weekly 1 hour commitment at the Senior Center for the school year and in the summer if possible. Students usually do this after school (we are not open on the weekend) in the 3-4pm or 4-5pm range. Please contact Valerie Graf, Brookline Senior Center Volunteer Coordinator, at vgraf@brooklinema.gov for more information.

Community service hours are not a requirement to graduate from Brookline High, but there is great research that confirms that "giving back" is a great way to promote your positive mental health.

In this NACE (Natl Assoc of Colleges and Employers) article, Susan Albers, Psy.D - psychologist for the Cleveland Clinic - says that volunteering can be great for a person’s mental health, too. According to Albers, when you help other people, it activates the reward center in your brain and releases serotonin, dopamine, and endorphins, which is why many people often feel better after volunteering.

Think about experiences you may know of in Brookline or check out this TeenLife Boston area community service info. See your counselor for BHS Community Service talk about possible opportunities. And here's the link to the Community Service page with more options and the required form to get service experiences approved for possible BHS credit.

Read the fine print carefully. There are certain restrictions to the BHS community service for credit options, so read the fine print.

- Take the time NOW to look at your college list. Do you have other colleges in your list that you would be happy to attend that fit in your reach/target/likely range of schools? If not, see your counselor and/or Mr Libenzon (BHS College Counselor) this week to discuss next steps since Jan 1 deadline is over upcoming school vacation and BHS counselor support will not be available during this time.

Maybe applying ED II to another school makes sense. Keep in mind that ED is a BINDING agreement and, if admitted, you will be attending there...so make these choices for ED II carefully.

Be sure you understand what being deferred for admission means for these colleges.

- There are important steps you can take if you still want to be considered for a college that deferred your admission. Most importantly, READ THE ADMISSIONS LETTER CAREFULLY TO FOLLOW EACH COLLEGE'S DIRECTIONS TO NOTIFY IF YOU WANT TO BE CONSIDERED IN THE REGULAR DECISIONS POOL.

- It's time to think about the good "fit" and good "match" for you with other colleges. Being deferred is a toss up about potentially getting admitted to most colleges in their regular decision round... and it is best to assume you will not be accepted. Hard advice to hear but seniors need to consider other colleges that they'd be happy to attend instead of assuming they will be accepted in the regular decision round at that college.

- See the advice flyer below for steps suggested by the BHS Counseling Dept for these situations and use your BHS resources including making an appointment with your counselor and/or stopping by BHS College Counselor Lenny Libenzon's office 280 for some consultation.

https://www.collegedata.com/resources/prepare-and-apply/deferred-heres-what-to-do-next?utm_source=dotdigital&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=newsletter&utm_term=deferred&dm_i=50NV,O8J2,2HLH1D,2U250,1

-- Thinking about a job? Contact Ms Kate Kennedy (kate_kennedy@psbma.org), BHS Career Counselor

-- Considering the trades - plumbing/HVAC/Electrical/Construction? Contact Ms Kennedy too

-- Looking at 2 year certification programs - Cosmetology? Vet Tech? Pharmacy Tech? Paralegal? Check out this article (https://www.indeed.com/career-advice/finding-a-job/two-year-degree-jobs-in-demand_ and see Ms Kennedy too

-- Military - Talk to your counselor, Mr Libenzon (280) , or Darby Neff-Verre (285F)

-- Gap Year experience? Attend the BHS Gap Year Fair (see below), talk to your counselor. Gap Year can be working and living at home, traveling, your own community service plan, or a program that is structured for you. If you plan to attend college after a Gap Year, it is best to apply to some colleges now while you have direct access to your counselor and college support at BHS.

After months of beta testing, the new FAFSA for 2025-2026 is available.

Completing your FAFSA as early as possible is the best way to help ensure that you don’t miss financial aid deadlines or the best financial aid and scholarship opportunities, so it’s time to get started if you haven’t already.

To help, we’ve rounded-up some of the most common FAFSA errors people make when completing their FAFSA forms so you can avoid any issues and finish your FAFSA as quickly and painlessly as possible.

Check this article for some important reminders re: FAFSA too!

MEFA financial aid events are held online throughout the year. Please visit https://www.mefa.org/events to research upcoming webinars.

This includes upcoming FAFSA completion 1:1 support too. Register for one of these sessions using the QR codes by date below.

- Seniors will be getting reminders on their college portals about missing documents now.

- If missing Q1 grades are mentioned, please know that the BHS Counseling Dept automatically sent your Q1 grades in the period between 11/20-11/26. You gave us permission to send your Q1 and sometimes Q2 grades to colleges when you signed your transcript release form.

Example message from MIT admissions-

- Also, please know missing documents are not any one person's fault, and we are all doing the best we can. Applicants will not be penalized for documents that we process after our application deadline.

Check the Financial Aid link for each college:

- Many colleges require the CSS Profile Financial Aid form to be completed by certain dates - USUALLY RIGHT NOW FOR STUDENTS WHO APPLIED EARLY ACTION OR EARLY DECISION. Be sure to check these deadlines!

- Every college - even community college - requires students (and guardians) complete the FAFSA, federal financial aid form to be considered for aid. Although these forms are not due to December 1, the time is now to start this process by getting a FAFSA ID.

Seniors -

-- If you missed a senior seminar or haven't reviewed your transcript, see your counselor now!

-- It is your responsibility to be sure your transcript is accurate before giving BHS permission to send to any colleges or post HS grad programs.

You should be checking that you are earning all required credits towards graduation this June 2023 too.

English- 4 credits

Science - 3 credits

Social Studies/History - 3 credits including US History

Math - 3 credits (4 years required for UMass State colleges/universities)

World Language - 2 credits (same language)

Elective - 3 credits distributed across Visual Arts, Performing Arts, Career/Tech, Community Service

Wellness - .5 Lifetime Wellness, 3 - .25 wellness credits

+ additional credits to earn minimum total credits of 22

-- See your Naviance account for your current BHS GPA

- Set up a meeting with your assigned counselor (If you are a senior who has Kate Kennedy, contact Darby Neff-Verre or Lenny Libenzon).

- Follow the steps listed on the BHS College Application Guide - see below for digital version

- Be sure to complete the transcript release form link FOR YOUR COUNSELOR and include ALL of the information requested on this link. See the digital BHS College Guide below for these links or contact your counselor. You can add one school at a time or up to 5 schools that you know you're applying to. Use this link again if you apply to more colleges later on.

By completing this link, you are giving BHS permission to send all of your needed school documents to these colleges - transcript, BHS school profile, counselor recommendation and 1-2 teacher recommendations. In addition, you are agreeing that BHS guidance will send your 1st and 2nd term grades to these schools when available (usually starting around Nov 18). Last, you will inform us which college you are planning to attend in May and this permission link allows us to send your final transcript after graduation to that college.

- Be sure to do the FERPA waiver and the "Matching" steps (see the BHS College Application Guide for easy instructions) to allow BHS guidance to send your BHS documents - transcript, school profile, counselor recommendation and teacher recommendations. WE CANNOT SEND YOUR DOCUMENTS TO COLLEGES UNTIL YOU DO THESE STEPS!

- Reminder - students cannot add to the "Colleges I'm Applying To" section on Naviance. This step is done by the counseling dept secretaries after a transcript release form has been shared.

- BHS College Counselor Lenny Libenzon is available for additional support after the student has met with their assigned counselor.

This is a great deal for many students who don't want to accrue financial burden and want a good education option for an Associates degree ( 2 years of college) or Certification program.

Here's some details and the link

* Earn an Associate Degree

Finish strong! Your GPA can increase your benefits:

• Finish with a 2.0 or higher
  • application essay and fees are waived
• Finish with a 2.5 or higher
  • admission to your major is guaranteed on a "space permitted" basis.
  • *work with your academic advisor to plan: some majors require a higher GPA or additional steps like auditions or portfolio submission.

* Finish at a State University or UMass Campus

You have so many choices to complete your bachelor's!

• Four UMass campuses: UMass Amherst, UMass Boston, UMass Dartmouth or UMass Lowell
• Seven comprehensive state universities in Bridgewater, Fitchburg, Framingham, Salem, Westfield, Worcester, and North Adams
• Two special-mission colleges: the Massachusetts College of Art & Design and the Massachusetts Maritime Academy

with your counselor 3 weeks before your 1st college deadline date. See below for a copy of that questionnaire or complete a digital version by going to your Naviance account and look under "school surveys".

YOUR COUNSELOR CANNOT WRITE A RECOMMENDATION FOR YOU WITHOUT THIS QUESTIONNAIRE BEING COMPLETED AND SHARED WITH THEM IN A REASONABLE TIME BEFORE YOUR APPLICATION DUE DATE.

See below for this form. When done, please share directly with your senior's counselor or have your student drop it off to the counselor's office.

This Brag Sheet is available in other languages if needed. See your counselor or Lenny Libenzon for more info.

The BHS Counseling Dept has resources for you too!

- Make an appointment with Career Counselor Kate Kennedy (kate_kennedy@psbma.org)

- See your assigned counselor to get more info about resources to explore the trades and other job/career options that either don't require college or only require 2 year associates degrees (community colleges) or certification programs.

A worthwhile and positive Gap Year experience can be anything from working full time while livein at home to volunteering in your community to participating in City Year in Boston/throughout the US to traveling abroad with a structured gap year program.

Check out this list of accredited Gap Year programs - https://www.gapyearassociation.org/accredited-gap-year-programs/

The BHS Gap Year Fair will is scheduled for January 14, 2025 - see the flyer here for more info

1) Inaccurate upfront budgeting due to misleading available info

2) Confusing Financial Aid Forms

3) Misleading Award Letters and Failure to Appeal

4) Missed Opportunities for Merit Aid

5) Predatory Lenders in Student Loan Market

Every BHS family should be registering for the FREE College Affordable resource!

See below for more info....

Please view the College Affordable information sheet below.

To access this critically important resource, please register with College Affordable!

We’re excited to continue our partnership with College Affordable for the 2024-25 academic year. For those of you who are not familiar with the program, they offer financial aid support for our members of our community. In addition to being your resource for all questions related to the FAFSA, CSS Profile, and financial aid eligibility, they also hold monthly webinars specifically designed to support families where they are in the financial aid process.

Monthly Webinar topics (need to registered with College Affordable to get link to attend) -

November webinar topic: Your Outside Scholarship Search

Starting your search for outside scholarships can be daunting. Join College Affordable as they help you explore the best approach to starting your search to achieve the best results.

Thursday, November 14, 2024 at 6:30 PM

All families who are new to College Affordable and their support, should click on this link and continue to our school icon to register. This page will house information related to different program aspects you can take advantage of.

If you previously registered with College Affordable and need to just sign up for these webinars, please follow this link.

All questions can be directed at College Affordable via email financialaid@collegeaffordable.org or call/text 781-343-1941.

You're working hard for the 1st third of your junior year...

-- Quarter 2 IPRs are coming out later this week. Confirm the good news of your hard work in your classes, plus find out the areas that you could improve before Q2 ends on Jan 24 and Q2 grades are shared on approximately Feb 5

-- Jr Student Assembly this Wednesday 12/11 in Advisory. All juniors are required to attend with their advisory! The assembly will be in the auditorium in the main 115 building. Learn about next steps in the post high school planning process.

-- If you took the PSATs, check your account on the College Board website to get your scores.

-- Did you take the PreACT last year in Gr 10? Look back at your practice scores and compare with your Practice SAT (PSAT) scores? Should you go test optional or take the ACTs or SATs?

-- Make an appointment with your counselor to start your own individual conversation about your next steps, including the college search process and/or considering a 2 year college or certification program, working or the military. Email your counselor or stop by to schedule a meeting time. Be sure to leave a note at your counselor's door if they are not available.

December 14, 2024 - Paper ACT

February 8, 2025 - Paper ACT
March 8, 2025 - Digital SAT
April 5, 2025 - Paper ACT
May 3, 2025 - Digital SAT
June 7, 2025 - Digital SAT
June 14, 2025 - Paper ACT
July 12, 2025 - Paper ACT

Stop by your counselor's office either in the 22 Tappan or 115 Greenough counseling suites. Grab a snack and say hello. Ask a question that's on your mind or set up an appointment about something happening academically, socially, or otherwise.

Click here