Principal's Newsletter
Some thoughts for the starting school year
May 24, 2024
From the Desk of the Principal
This has been the most wonderful of weeks to be part of our school community. The Graduation Ceremony for the Class of 2024 was a meaningful celebration of the hard work and effort of all 192 graduates. There is nothing better for me, as principal, than to shake the hands of each graduate and see the happiness on their faces as I hand them their diploma. It truly is my favorite day of the school year. It is an honor to see our students begin the next chapter of their lives. Congratulations to our graduates, who are "Forever Railroaders!"
While Memorial Day weekend is viewed by many as the kickoff to the summer season, celebrated with cookouts and the opening of pools, it is also a weekend of commemoration for our fallen heroes. I hope that, along with family and friends, you take a moment to recognize those American who gave their "last full measure" on the battlefield and in service to our country. We are a free people thanks, in part, to the sacrifices of many.
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.
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
Congratulations, Commendations & Kudos
Students of the Week
Academic Student of the Week: Ava Higgins
Nominated by Mr. Tuel
Ava has maintained a consistently superior grade (and attitude) in American Studies. I am very pleased with her academic performance. Way to go! - Mr. Tuel
Outstanding Character Student of the Week: Xiomara Ramos
Nominated by: Mrs. Pfaltzgraff
Xio did a great job working hard on her MCAP last week.- Mrs. Pfaltzgraff
"Full Steam Ahead" with BHS's Adventure Racers
You may hear the word Adventure Race when walking around the halls of Brunswick High School. To explain, An "adventure race" is an orienteering event in which participants are given a topographic map with marked checkpoints. Each checkpoint has an orienteering flag hung there and participants are given a time limit to find as many as they can using map/compass; via paddling, biking, and trekking. An outdoor "scavenger hunt." Many of our students have joined the club and raced in events at our local high school and bike park. In addition, a few of our students have ventured into racing larger events. Want to know more, check out the link to read an article written by the National Adventure Racing Association's News paper that features BHS's Full Steam Ahead Adventure Race Club.
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.
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
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.