Scheduling in a paperless society

The X2 Scheduling Portal was opened today allowing students from grades 8-11 to choose classes for next year.  Steven Bottari, Director of Guidance, and I were able to visit both the Locke and Marshall today to watch their presentations to the students and answer any questions from the students.  The guidance counselors at both schools were terrific, not based solely on their knowledge of the system, but their genuine concern to ensure the students had a good understanding of the process and the importance of selecting the appropriate courses for next year. These counselors as well as those at the high school will be tremendous assets for the students going through the process for the first time.  Although I anticipate some "bumps" this year, our goal is to provide schedules for students before the end of the school year.

Students/parents can access X2 at https://ma-billerica.myfollett.com/aspen/logon.do

The scheduling window will close on Monday, March 31 at midnight.

Sometimes we lose sight of everything happening

In the last two weeks we have:

• won a Division 1 State Title (Girls' Cheerleaders), 
• won three awards at our inaugural FIRST Robotics competition (Granite State Regional)
• won the Gold Mickey Award at the Walt Disney Festival for the highest scoring Orchestra
• received a Superior (highest rating) for our Chamber Singers at the WDW Festival
• been recognized as a Superior vocalist (Caitlin Sampson)
• finished 2nd at the New England Wrestling Championships (Nick Derosa - 120)
• won 2 awards at the Salem Film Festival (Corey Farrow, Colin Rugg, Cassie LaPointe, Erica Spector, Alli Steele, and Julia Wholey)
• Signed 2 National Letters of Intent (Katie Mulkerin - UMASS Lowell, Kylie Reardon - Merrimack)
• earned a semifinal bid to the Massachusetts Educational Theatre Guild (Angels in America)
• earned 28 spots to the DECA Internationals in Atlanta, Georgia
• earned 2 spots for the ARML Math Competition (Eric and Larry Tang)
• placed 5th in New Englands for the 1000 meters (PJ Garmon)

Excelling in the classroom and beyond.  Making it difficult to recognize one student/group as the Indian(s) of the Month.

Indian Salute of the Month

Team #4909 Billerica Bionics unveiled their robot this past weekend at the Granite State Regional at Nashua South High School.  They will be traveling to Worcester Polytechnic Institute this March 13 and 14 for their second qualifier.  Starting any program can be fraught with difficulties, both planned and unforeseen.  Mr. Beckford and Mr. Flood have navigated their initial foray into the world of robotics with a steady hand, providing guidance to the students and latitude for them to develop their own path for success.  Expectations were not set high for the young squad as they entered their first event, but the upstart team impressed veteran teams and the judges alike.  Our team concluded the 2-day qualifier with three trophies: Highest Seeded Rookie Team, Industrial Safety Award, and the Rookie All-Star Award.  Each of these recognitions is significant on its own, but combined are a true testament of the teamwork, leadership, and community investment that makes a venture such as this so successful.

Congratulations to Team #4909

Team Members: Amy Comeau, Zaineb Abdulmagid, Jonathan Sanchez, Kelly Gibbs, Christopher Souza, Christopher Comeau, Nicholas Barbas, Matthew Moore, Edmond Behaeghel, Thomas Wiggins, Nilay Patel

March Madness

Typically the month of March feels like a slow progression toward spring because there are no scheduled days off from school and the only holiday is the unofficial date when everyone celebrates their Irish heritage whether or not their families ever came from the Emerald Isle.  The days start off cold and dark and by the end we are about thinking about spring weather and longer days.  This type of change is significant, but we come to rely on our experience that although the transition may be challenging, the change is worth the wait.  We are about to begin our transition to change at BMHS.  The first is our scheduling procedure.  We are transitioning to a complete on-line experience in an effort to expedite the process, ensuring our students and staff have a completed schedule before the end of the school year.  The second is the schedule itself.  We will be transitioning to a 5-day schedule versus a 7-day schedule.  The impetus for the change was a review and evaluation process of our current practice, culminating in the plan to implement a new schedule for the fall of 2014.  Our students will have the ability to enroll in 8 classes, opening up the opportunity to access additional electives.  Each class will meet three times a week.  Every class will meet on Monday for approximately 45 minutes and then either Tuesday and Thursday, or Wednesday and Friday.  Classes that meet Tuesday-Friday will be approximately 90 minutes.  The longer periods Tuesday-Friday will allow our students to focus on the depth of their learning and experience different approaches to demonstrate their understanding.  We currently have three courses taught in an extended block (Engineering, Geometry/Algebra II, and the American Experience).  These teachers along with additional supports will be utilized to support our teachers during this transition.  Class meetings will be taking place over the next two weeks to introduce the schedule, Program of Studies, and answer any questions.

Think warm thoughts.

Tom