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Principal's Newsletter
Some thoughts for the starting school year
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June 7, 2024
From the Desk of the Principal
Dear Brunswick Families,
And just like that, summer is upon us! You could feel the excitement, as the weather turned sunny and the buses rolled out for the last time.
On Tuesday of next week, BHS will begin our summer hours. Please check out the full details below. While we will be open for summer programs, our summer office staff will be limited. Offices will be open most days 7:00 - 4:30 pm, by appointment 2:00-5:00pm, and are closed on Fridays, per FCPS policy. We are happy to receive returned equipment, fulfillment of financial obligations and assist with questions. The counseling office works by appointment, as counselors work a limited schedule. When in doubt, give us a call!
I've listed some key summer/early school dates for you below. This will be the last weekly newsletter for a while, but we will push out important information at a couple of points this summer. Our school website is always the best source of up-to-date information. In addition, a single page flier with important summer dates and info, suitable for refrigerator posting, will be in the mail along with report cards.
Please note that our school phone numbers will be changing on July 3rd. The old numbers will be good for a few weeks, but please plug the new numbers into your mobile phone contact lists.
Thank you for being our partners this year at Brunswick, and making my year serving as your principal a terrific one. I am proud of the achievements and culture of our school community, and appreciate your support and assistance. May the summer be a relaxing one, with perhaps fewer places to go and activities to attend. And we'll see you back here in the fall!
With Railroader Pride,
Christopher Berry
Principal
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
Summer Office Hours
BHS Phone Number Change
Beginning on July 3, 2024, Brunswick High School's phone number will be changing as all of FCPS transitions to a new telecommunications system.
The phone number change is necessary for two primary reasons: (1) The current telecommunications system is being modernized to allow more system functionality and reduce maintenance and service costs; and (2) the phone number change allows for the standardization of FCPS phone numbers with a common area code and initial three digits for all schools.
Middletown High School's new phone number for the main office will be (227) 203-3200. School based staff can be reached by calling the school's main number and choosing the appropriate option from the call menu or by dialing a staff member's extension at any time.
Brunswick High School has been preparing for this change by ensuring that we are updating all contact information on the school website, school messaging and other school documents. We are committed to making this transition with a minimal impact on school communications.
Senior Portraits
This summer Victor O'Neil Studios will again be taking portraits of BHS seniors July 29th & 30th, with a make up Session Scheduled for Sept 11th. Watch for a Find Out First Message to schedule your appointment.
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 Winner: Xin Yi Gao
Nominated by: Mrs. McCabe
Xin is one of the top performing students in Ms. Zumbach's Geometry Honors class! Congrats on a great semester of math! ~ Mrs. McCabe (Math Specialist)
Most Improved Winner: Maddy Wagerman
Nominated by: Ms. Young
Maddy has improved a lot this semester. Keep up the good work. - Mrs. McCabe
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.