BHS - Bulldog Buzz 📚🐾

• Principal Connections
• Reminder of Our Top 5 Goals for Each Grade Level
• PSAT/SAT Prep
• Counseling Corner
• Upcoming Events

Hello Class of 2024 and Families!

What a great time for you to be a Senior at BHS! As you enter your last semester of high school, we are excited for you and the amazing opportunities we know lie ahead for you based on what we get to see at BHS each day! As you head into your 8th and final semester at BHS, there are a few things we would like to remind you of and encourage you to consider.

1. NOW is still the perfect time to engage and try something new. You still have opportunities to try something new, push yourself out of your comfort zone, attend an event you may not have the opportunity to in the future, and find ways to get involved. Take a chance! We would encourage you to never stop learning and never stop growing. Part of this mindset may require you to take a risk and put yourself out there. The last thing we want for any of you is to look back at the end of the year following your graduation and say “I wish I would have …” If you are interested in trying a new club or sport, club opportunities can be found here: Clubs and athletic team information can be found here: Athletics.

2. Finish strong! The end of your time at BHS is in sight. While it will be sad to see you go, we are excited for the opportunities that lie in front of you. We know you are prepared and will do well in whatever path you choose. It is important to have a strong finish this semester as we do have to send final transcripts to any college you may be considering. They do not want to see drastic changes to your academic performance in your final semester and we want you to have as many possibilities available to you as you can!

3. Don’t panic, there is still time. If you are still unsure of what your plans are for next year, we are here to help! Whether you have questions, need help weighing the pros and cons of different decisions, are thinking about a totally different path entirely, or just need someone to lend an ear while you talk things out, we are here. We encourage you to schedule an appointment with Mrs. Petit, or go see Mr. Evans. There are also some scholarship opportunities still available if you have questions about financial aid. Look here for more information. BHS Counseling is hosting another FAFSA workshop to help you work through filing if you have questions or concerns. On Tuesday, February 20th we will be in the BHS Media Center from 6 pm to 7:30 pm with financial aid professionals from Oakland University.

-Mr. Evans, Mrs. Richards and Mr. Grabowski

Hi 11th Graders and Families,

Another successful semester in the books and three more to go! Your growth and success continues to be impressive, and your junior year is shaping up to be very successful. I continue to enjoy our time together, and I'm always glad to help support your success in any way I can. As a reminder, here are some of my goals for your junior year.

1. Stay on top of your academics. Many of you have visited with either Ms. Grossfeld or myself if you need support. Your teachers are your best resource for help either during class, after school or during Advisory. However, we also have additional resources linked HERE.
2. Know and work on your PSAT score. Keep plugging away on the practice opportunities Khan Academy offers in school at at home. Your SAT is coming up in April!
3. Explore different career pathways! Electives exploration and Signing Day is coming up in a couple of weeks, so take advantage of learning about as many different electives as possible to see what piques your interest. Watch and listen for the opportunities to hear from and speak to professionals at our free Lunch N Learns. We are also trying to move some of these to Advisory.
4. Start thinking ahead to research your path: set up a college visit, a military interview, a job shadow, etc. And, start thinking about how to schedule effectively for your senior year, which begins in a few weeks. Consider looking at our Curriculum Guide to see what classes you may be interested in learning more about.
5. Take care of YOU - find a good balance between family, school, athletics, extra curricular activities, work and friends. Surround yourself with kind people that make you feel good about yourself and lift you up. Be that person for someone else!

BHS has the most kind, caring, and supportive adults and students! Thank you for making this an amazing place to work and learn every day!

~Mrs. Richards

Dear Class of 2026,

Three semesters down & five to go!! This summer you will be officially done with HALF of your high school career. I count myself lucky in lots of ways, but being hired as an administrator at the beginning of your freshman year makes me feel like we are all working together towards graduation!! I can assure you that time will continue to move quickly, so please take advantage of your time here. You have teachers who care about you, support staff who work hard for you every day, and a principal who has the best of intentions for each and every one of you. So many of you have shown so much growth over the last year and half, I could not be prouder of you all or more excited to see where life will take each of you!!

See my 5 Goals for you that I shared at the end of the first quarter....... ask yourself 'it has been almost three months since then. What have I accomplished? What can I do better? What systems can I build to ensure this?

1. Find some balance! Make sure you are emphasizing your academics, but ALSO make sure you are finding some time for yourself as a learner and as a human. Find extracurriculars, find clubs, find things that you enjoy to make the most of your time at BHS!
2. 'Embrace the struggle': if things seem challenging, lean in. The growth comes from the struggle and it isn't a chance to fail, rather an opportunity for growth. Obviously, we don't want anyone to push themselves beyond what is healthy, but a good challenge in an exam, a project, assignments can all be beneficial down the road in our lives.
3. Long term: What are your goals? What are your plans? Start thinking about what classes you want to explore and learn more about! We have so many options at BHS with classes, programs, and people to help move you towards your goals!
4. Attendance: you have be here to be your best. It is simple, not easy. Attendance is one of the highest predictors of academic success and if you are late to class, if you skip class, if you are consistently absent, it is tough to be successful! Medical and other personal reasons do happen, so be open with your teachers, counselors, and administrators to be proactively supportive
5. Connect: relationships are so important to how much we enjoy school. Teachers & peers can be a part of a long standing memory. We don't always remember what we learn, but we do remember how felt in a class. This was a big reason I chose education as a career, I had some incredibly impactful educators in my life. Use advisory, clubs, teams, and put yourself out there!

-Mr. Grabowski

Hello 9th Graders and Families!

Congratulations on completing your 1st Semester of high school! We know transitioning to high school can be both exciting and challenging and I encourage you to make sure you are taking the opportunity to reflect on the hard work you have put in so far, the flexibility you have demonstrated when unfamiliar situations arose, as well as the perseverance you have shown when challenges presented themselves. These are the types of characteristics that will aid in your future success between now and graduation, as well as in the postsecondary plan you choose to pursue. This quarter, there are just a few pieces of advice I would recommend you consider moving forward.

1. Remember to consider ways in which you can get involved. Join clubs, organizations, or athletic teams that interest you. This is a great way to meet people and develop new skills. It helps us feel connected to our school and the students in it. Club opportunities can be found here: Clubs and Athletic team information can be found here: Athletics

2. Focus on positive relationships. This is a great opportunity for you to build positive relationships with peers, teachers, and mentors based on new experiences you are exposed to. Try to surround yourself with people who build you up, support you, and inspire you. Be open to new relationships with people who help your emotional tank feel full rather than find ways to make it feel empty. These are the types of relationships that can benefit both your academic and overall personal growth.

3. Consider setting realistic goals for yourself. As you reflect on your strengths and opportunities for continued growth, this is a great opportunity to start setting both long-term and short-term goals for yourself. These goals are great for guiding the next steps in both your academic and social life at BHS. Remember as you change personally, and as you develop new interests or find passions you want to pursue, to revisit and revise these goals to align with your understanding of yourself and the vision you have.

4. Start thinking about the future and what it could include for you. I know it is hard to believe, but we are already asking you to think about classes for next year. Consider what classes you would like to take that could align with something you would like to study in college or explore as a potential profession in the future. BHS has fantastic opportunities for our students and we want you to be able to experience them. February 13th, you will have the opportunity to visit four different class options that you would like to learn more about. Consider looking at our Curriculum Guide to see what classes you may be interested in learning more about.

5. Ask for help if you need it. Asking for help is a sign of strength, not weakness. If you find yourself having difficulties, academically or personally, ask for help. You have a team full of teachers, counselors, administrators, and friends that are here for you! We have support we can provide and can work with you if we know you are struggling.

We want you to consider high school as an opportunity to strive for your personal best in all that you do and as a chance for growth. I believe in each of you and your ability to be successful at BHS! I am looking forward to continuing to get to know you better, and am hopeful for a 2nd Semester full of nothing but positive experiences for you!

- Mr. Evans

BHS took advantage of preparing our students early for the SAT Digital Test by having our juniors take the PSAT digitally. This is just another way that we are giving you tools for success. Scores from our October PSAT are available for students to view in their College Board accounts. Here are some additional tools to aid in your success as we prep for the upcoming tests in April:

• Take advantage of the practice provided to you by your English teachers in Khan Academy.
• Don't forget that you have the opportunity to take FREE tests in Khan before taking the SAT in April. More information on this linked HERE
• Set aside some time periodically to work on sample questions at home.

You may not think this score is important now, but the SAT score follows you your whole life. It may be important to you in the future, so take advantage of what BHS and Khan Academy has to offer!

Our Counseling Department puts together amazing resources for you through their newsletters that are emailed out. Below are links to their newsletters so far this year:

October 2023

November 2023

December 2023

January 2024

Reach out to our Counseling Department for support!

• Friday 1/26 - 2nd Quarter Exams (hours 1, 3, 5)
• Monday 1/29 - No School (Records Day)
• Tuesday 1/30 - 2nd Quarter Exams (hours 2, 4, 6)
• Wednesday 1/31 - 3rd Quarter Begins
• Wednesday 1/31 - PowerBuff Volleyball Game 7:30 pm in the Fieldhouse
• 1/30 - 2/2 - Winterfest Spirit Week
• Tuesday 1/30 - PJ Day
• Wednesday 1/31 - Monochromatic Color Day (9th - black, 10th - orange, 11th - blue,

  12th - grey)

• Thursday 2/1 - Winter Gear

• Friday 2/2 - Wear White and Winterfest Assembly 6th Hour

• Friday 2/2 - Skills USA Auto Competition
• Wednesday 2/7 - Curriculum Videos during Advisory
• Wednesday 2/7 - Class of 2026 10th Grade Parent Night 7 pm in the BHS STEAM Center
• Thursday 2/8 - PAWS Student and Staff Recognition Breakfast for 2nd Quarter
• Thursday 2/8 - Civil Engineering Lunch N Learn
• Tuesday 2/13 - Curriculum Fair/Signing Day (Course Selection)
• Wednesday 2/14 - Count Day (no Advisory - regular schedule day)
• Wednesday 2/14 - Individual student scheduling meetings begin with Counselors
• Monday 2/19 - No School for Students - Professional Development for Staff
• Tuesday 2/20 - Friday 2/23 - Kindness and Respect Week
• Tuesday 2/20 - PTO Meeting 7:30 am BHS Main Office Conference Room
• Tuesday 2/20 - FAFSA Night 6:00 pm BHS Media Center
• Thursday 2/22 - Pre-Festival Band Concert 7 pm BCPA
• Friday 2/23 - Unified Basketball Assembly 6th Hour
• Wednesday 2/28 - Business Management Lunch N Learn during Advisory
• Friday 3/8 - Sunday 3/10 - BHS "High School Musical" Performance Days
• Monday 3/11 - No School for Students - Professional Development for Staff
• Wednesday 3/13 - Trades Lunch N Learn during Advisory
• Thursday 3/14 - County-wide Mental Health Event "Bullying - Stop the Cycle"
• Friday 3/15 - Sunday 3/17 - BHS "High School Musical" Performance Days
• Tuesday 3/19 - PTO Meeting 7:30 am BHS Main Office Conference Room
• Saturday 3/23 - Sunday 3/31 - No School Spring Break
• Thursday 4/4 - 3rd Quarter Exams (hours 1, 3, 5)
• Friday 4/5 - 3rd Quarter Exams (hours 2, 4, 6)
• Monday 4/8 - No School (Records Day)
• Tuesday 4/9 - 4th Quarter Begins

12th Grade / Class of 2024, Evans/Richards/Grabowski

11th Grade / Class of 2025, Tracie Richards

10th Grade / Class of 2026, Nate Grabowski

9th Grade / Class of 2027, Matt Evans

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