This Week at BMHS February 29 - March 5, 201

Parent Conferences

We will be hosting the spring parent conference on Thursday, March 10 from 6 - 8 p.m. We will once again be using the PTC Wizard program for scheduling purposes. The window for selecting conferences will begin at 6:00 p.m. on Thursday, March 3. We will send out a link prior to March 3, allowing you to set up an account. If you have already completed that process for the fall conferences, you will only need to select appointments for this conference.

PTC Wizard This link will take you to the PTC site for Billerica.

Each conference is only 5 minutes in length. If you are unable to schedule a time to meet with your child's teacher, please email them directly at firstinitiallastname@billericak12.com

Please follow this link for a listing of the staff directory BMHS Staff Directory

We have included floor plans for the building in an effort to assist your scheduling of conferences. For those of you that may be new to the building, I would like to provide some guidance.

• Rooms that begin with a 1 are located in the Memorial Building (Original building adjacent to River Street)
• Rooms that begin with a 3 are located in the New Addition (the main entrance is directly in front of you as you enter down Tom Glavine Way)
• The second number in the room number informs you which floor the room is on. (3202 = New Addition on the second floor, while 1307 is in the Memorial Building on the third floor).
• Try to schedule conferences that allow you travel time from one class to the next. Do not schedule conferences at 6:00, 6:05, 6:10 in different parts of the building. Please build in travel time. Travel time from one end of the building to the other is approximately 5 minutes if you are between the ages of 14-18, please adjust accordingly.

Progress Reports

Progress Reports will be available on Tuesday, March 8 after 3 p.m.

Program of Studies

The Program of Studies will be available by the end of the week. We will email a copy of the Program of Studies to each of you and our students in preparation of the opening of the course selection window. Students will be able to choose courses beginning on Tuesday, March 15 with the window closing on Friday, March 18.

Scholarship Night

On Thursday, March 3, 2016, the BMHS Guidance Department will host a Scholarship Night for senior students and their families.  This event will take place in the BMHS Lecture Hall, beginning at 6:30 p.m.  During Scholarship Night, you will learn about the Billerica Dollars For Scholars program and how to apply, as well as a refresher on how to access scholarship opportunities and applications through Naviance.  If you have a student heading off to post-secondary education, this is an event you won’t want to miss!

College Fair

BMHS will be hosting our first annual college fair on Wednesday, March 16 from 6:30 p.m. - 8:00 p.m. Currently there are 83 colleges set to attend. The fair is open to students and parents from the high school and middle schools. If you have any questions, please contact our guidance office at 978-528-8761.

Monday, February 29, 2016

• Spring Musical Rehearsal - 2:30 - 5:30 p.m. @ BMHS Auditorium
• BMHS School Council Meeting - 3:00 - 4:30 p.m. @ Principal's Conference Room
• New BMHS Community Presentation - 7:00 p.m. @ Town Hall
• Billerica Blast Committee Meeting - 7:00 p.m. @ BMHS Library

Tuesday, March 1, 2016

• Presidential Primary - BMHS Student Mock Primary
• Spring Musical Rehearsal - 2:30 - 5:30 p.m. @ BMHS Auditorium
• MIAA Tournament Boys' Varsity Basketball vs. St. John's Prep - 7:00 p.m. @ St. John's Prep

Wednesday, March 2, 2016

• Spring Musical Rehearsal - 2:30 - 5:30 p.m. @ BMHS Auditorium
• MIAA Tournament Girls' Varsity Basketball vs.Masconomet - 7:00 p.m. @ Ed James Gym BMHS

Thursday, March 3, 2016

• Student Government Meeting - 8:45 a.m. @ Science Lecture Hall
• Spring Musical Rehearsal - 2:30 - 5:30 p.m. @ BMHS Auditorium
• New BMHS Community Presentation - 7:00 p.m. @ BMHS Auditorium

Friday, March 4, 2016

• Cap & Gown Measurement - 8:45 a.m. @ BMHS Auditorium
• Spring Musical Rehearsal - 2:30 - 5:30 p.m. @ BMHS Auditorium

Saturday, March 5, 2016

• Town vote on new Billerica Memorial High School @ Elementary schools
• MIAA Tournament Girls' Varsity Ice Hockey vs.TBA - 7:00 p.m. @ Hallenborg

This Week at BMHS February 22 - 28, 2016

Town Meeting

There will be a special Town Meeting this Tuesday, February 23 at 7:30 p.m. in the Buck Auditorium at Town Hall to determine if the new BMHS building project will move forward. Two-thirds of the Town Meeting Members need to vote in favor of the project. If the project receives the support of 2/3rds of the members, then the entire community would vote on the proposal Saturday, March 5.

Empty Bowls

Our Fine Arts and Family & Consumer Science Departments have teamed up to support the community and raise funds for those in need. The Empty Bowls fundraiser is open to the public and begins at 5 p.m. this Tuesday, February 23. Our students have created ceramic bowls that they will be filling up with their favorite homemade soup recipes. The money raised will directly support local families through our monthly food market. Please consider coming by before Town Meeting and enjoy some food before the vote.

FIRST Robotics 

Tuesday is proving to be a very busy day around here. Aside from the Special Town Meeting and Empty Bowls, Team 4909, the Billerica Bionics will be finishing up the build season for the 2016 competition. This year's event is called Stronghold and provides elements of past competitions. I receive a lot of questions about robotics and our team. Since the build season is coming to a close with the official bagging and tagging of our robot on Tuesday, I thought this might be a good time to share what has happened and how you can witness what robotics is all about. http://www.team4909.org/  Please follow this link FIRST Stronghold 2016 to watch a video of this year's competition. The video is just over 3 minutes, but provides an extensive overview of the competition and, I believe, demonstrates why FIRST Robotics is considered the academic equivalent to athletics.

This is Who We Are

Mr. Murphy,

My name is Jeff Avigian and I am teacher at Danvers High School.  I just returned from a trip to Greece with eight kids and we were fortunate enough to be paired with Billerica Memorial High School.  I just wanted to take this opportunity to tell you how wonderful your kids were.  You should be really proud of the way they acted and accepted my group of kids as one of their own.  I have heard horror stories about other trips with the groups they were paired with and I am so glad we were paired with Billerica.

As far as staff, Jessica and Joanne were beyond amazing.  This was my first trip and Jessica led me through the whole process.  Without her, I don't know if the trip would've been successful.  Joanne was amazing as well, always greeting my kids in the morning asking them how they slept like they were from Billerica.  These two made my time on the trip so much fun.

I will go back to my principal and let her know anytime Danvers High school can travel with Billerica we shouldn't hesitate to do so.

Once again you should be proud of they way the students and staff handled and treated us as one of their own.

Sincerely,

Jeff Avigian

Students of the Term(2)

At the conclusion of each quarter, teachers recognize those students that have consistently excelled, or significantly improved, while demonstrating exemplary effort on a daily basis within their classroom. During the past term these recipients have represented the best of BMHS.

Seniors

Ritamarie Bruno, Sean Buckley, Darija Dilba, Tialyn Eakman, Rachael Hamwey, Emily Jewer, Jack Kemp, Deanna Lauro, Jaqueline Lopez, Molly Lyons, Haley Morris, Catherine Napoli, Stefanie Silva, Tyler Tribou, John Zero Jr.

Juniors

Natalia Alvarez, Gaurang Amonkar, Caitlin Boermeester, Shelby Broughton, Devan Chokshi, Christopher Comeau, Dylan Coppinger, Victoria Crandal, Kiera Duggan, Brenda Guerrero, Alyssa Harris, Tristan Honnellio, Samantha Jacques, Kelsey Leverone, Patrick McGinnity, Christopher McLaughlin, Kayla Michaud, Donna Park, Brett Perrier, Jonathan Raymond, Allina Retana, Emily Scurka, Emily Sok, Brooke Sorensen, Rachel Warren

Sophomores

Vanessa Attaya, Shawn Belden, Alannah Biancuzzo, Jade Bishop, Jillian Carbone, Olivia Chiasson, Ronald DeSilva, Kyra Desmaratte, Patrick Dunlap, Alyssa Eakman, Andrew Farmer, Rachel Fitzgerald, Kyla Gaudet, Sydney Hall, Albert Lai, Samuel Lapusata, Grace Lemire, Amanda Malnati, Matthew Marini, Mykaylah Marquez, Sarah Elizabeth McDermott Samantha Murgo, Jennifer Nachatelo, Batul Nomani, Hannah O'Neil, Vrutti Patel, Joshua Pimentel, Megan Poole, Emily Rand, Madhumathi Sekar, Daniel Smith, Carly Staff, Benjamin Souza, Michael Sweeney, Michelle Tran, Jessica Walton

Freshmen

Kaitlin Barnes, Nicholas Breault, Hannah Burns, Collin Cameron, Erin Cann, Helena Cerullo, Jacqueline Crusco, Anthony Diecidue, Cameron Dodge, Libbey Hawkins, Jana Laurendeau, Shannon McCormack, Samuel Morin, Emma O'Leary, Paige Roderick, Jordan Rogers, Devin Salter, Stella Sampson, Savana Spellman, Alie Thurlow, Corban Walsh, Sreyas Yennampelli

Monday, February 22, 2016

• Robotics Team 4909 Build Season - 3:30 - 7:30 p.m. @ BMHS Robotics Shop
• BMHS School Council Meeting - 3:00 - 4:30 p.m. @ Principal's Conference Room
• School Committee Meeting - 6:00 p.m. @ Parker Elementary School
• Boys' Varsity Ice Hockey vs. Bishop Guertin - 7:00 p.m. @ Hallenborg

Tuesday, February 23, 2016

• Community Based Justice (CBJ) Meeting - 8:00 a.m. @ Principal's Conference Room
• Spring Musical Rehearsal - 2:30 - 5:30 p.m. @ BMHS Auditorium
• Robotics Team 4909 Build Season - 3:30 - 7:30 p.m. @ BMHS Robotics Shop
• BMHS Building Committee Meeting - 6:00 p.m. @ Room 210 Town Hall
• Town Meeting - 7:30 p.m. @ Buck Auditorium Town Hall 
• Boys' Freshmen Basketball vs. Dracut - 4:00 p.m. @ BMHS Ed James Gym
• Girls' Freshmen Basketball vs. North Andover- 4:00 p.m. @ North Andover High School
• Boys' JV Basketball vs. Dracut - 5:30 p.m. @ BMHS Ed James Gym
• Girls' JV Basketball vs. North Andover- 5:30 p.m. @ North Andover High School
• Boys' Varsity Basketball vs. Dracut - 7:00 p.m. @ BMHS Ed James Gym
• Girls' Varsity Basketball vs. North Andover- 7:00 p.m. @ North Andover High School

Wednesday, February 24, 2016

• Spring Musical Rehearsal - 2:30 - 5:30 p.m. @ BMHS Auditorium
• BMHS Building Committee Public Forum - 7:00 p.m. @ Parker Elementary School
• Boys' Varsity Basketball vs. Concord-Carlisle- 7:00 p.m. @ Concord-Carlisle High School

Thursday, February 25, 2016

• Student Government Meeting - 8:45 a.m. @ Science Lecture Hall
• Spring Musical Rehearsal - 2:30 - 5:30 p.m. @ BMHS Auditorium
• Winter Percussion - 7:00 p.m. @ BMHS Back Gym #2

Friday, February 26, 2016

• Spring Musical Rehearsal - 2:30 - 5:30 p.m. @ BMHS Auditorium
• Girls' and Boys' Indoor Track New England Championships - 4:00 p.m. @ Reggie Lewis Center

This Week at BMHS February 8 - 13, 2016

Course Selection and the Program of Studies

We are working on the final touches of the 2016-2017 Program of Studies. The program will be distributed electronically to all students and their families on February 23. Although each department will be offering new selections for the upcoming year, the biggest change will occur in the physical education and health offerings and requirements. During our recent Coordinated Program Review by the Department of Elementary and Secondary Education (DESE) it was noted that Billerica Memorial High School must require all students to enroll and pass four years of a combination PE/Health course. Specifically, every student must take an offering each year and not "doubling up" during a previous year to fulfill the requirement for a subsequent year. In simple terms, students cannot take two courses during their junior year and count the second one as their senior year requirement. This means ALL students will have to meet this requirement each year, including rising seniors. We have been working with DESE and other area high schools to identify the multiple avenues available to meet this requirement. One change will be the name of the department. The Physical Education and Health Departments will be referred to as the Wellness Department beginning in the 2016-2017 Program of Studies. Freshmen and Sophomores will be taking a Wellness I and Wellness II course. We will still have a myriad of electives for upperclassmen to choose from, but there will also be other avenues for students to be able to fulfill this requirement, although some may not be credit bearing courses. Additional information will be included in the Program of Studies, but I wanted to bring this to your attention at this time, since this will represent a departure from our past practice.

Student Travel

BMHS is going to Cuba in April of 2017. Mr. Adams is organizing a tour through Explorica travel to this historic country.  We are able to offer this trip through the high school’s status as an educational institution.  Cuba is gradually opening up to American tourism, but this trip really is a once in a lifetime opportunity to see Cuba while it is still, in many ways, a time capsule.   Despite America’s complicated history with Cuba, it is a very safe country that welcomes American tourists.   A number of local high schools have recently organized tours, including Somerville High School.

On February 23rd at 6:30 p.m., there will be a meeting in the lecture hall of the high school for students and parents who are interested in the Cuba trip.  Please attend this meeting if you are interested in the trip, or email Mr. Adams at dadams@billericak12.com.  We have a special price for the trip locked in through March 1, 2016.

Career Exploration Day at BMHS

The Guidance Department is hosting Career Exploration Day this Wednesday, February 10th from 9 a.m. - 1 p.m. Mrs. Coia and Ms. Luciano are spearheading the Career Exploration Day Committee, and they have outdone themselves this year with recruiting fantastic participants for our students' benefit. This event is for all students in grades 9-12. Teachers will also be promoting their department's elective courses that align with these career pathways.  The goal is that students will learn about new and exciting careers, and then learn what elective choices may facilitate exploration in their field of interest.

Billerica Memorial High School Athletic Association fundraiser

Every Monday night in February Newtowne Grill will donate a portion of your bill back to the BMHSAA to support our athletic programs. Simply mention to your server that you are dining in support of the BMHSAA. Please visit the www.bmhsaa.org for more information.

Monday, February 8, 2016

• No School

Tuesday, February 9, 2016

• Spring Musical Rehearsal - 2:30 - 5:30 p.m. @ BMHS Auditorium
• Robotics Team 4909 Build Season - 3:30 - 7:30 p.m. @ BMHS Robotics Shop
• Boys' Freshmen Basketball vs. Tewksbury - 4:00 p.m. @ BMHS Ed James Gym
• Girls' Freshmen Basketball vs. Andover- 4:00 p.m. @ Andover High School
• Boys' JV Basketball vs. Tewksbury  - 5:30 p.m. @ BMHS Ed James Gym
• Girls' JV Basketball vs. Andover- 5:30 p.m. @ Andover High School
• Boys' Varsity Basketball vs. Tewksbury - 7:00 p.m. @ BMHS Ed James Gym
• Girls' Varsity Basketball vs. Andover- 7:00 p.m. @ Andover High School
• Billerica Friends of Music General Membership Meeting - 7:00 p.m. @ BMHS Cafe

Wednesday, February 10, 2016

• Career Fair - 9:00 a.m. - 1:00 p.m. @ BMHS Ed James Gym
• Spring Musical Rehearsal - 2:30 - 5:30 p.m. @ BMHS Auditorium
• Robotics Team 4909 Build Season - 3:30 - 7:30 p.m. @ BMHS Robotics Shop
• Boys' JV Hockey vs. Burlington- 3:40 p.m. @ Burlington Ice Palace
• Boys' & Girls' Varsity Indoor Track Meet - 5:00 p.m. @ Reggie Lewis Center
• Wrestling vs. Andover (Senior Night) - 6:30 p.m. @ BMHS Ed James Gym
• Girls' Varsity Ice Hockey vs. Acton-Boxborough - 7:00 p.m. @ Hallenborg
• Boys' Varsity Ice Hockey vs. Acton-Boxborough - 8:10 p.m. @ Acton-Boxborough Regional High School

Thursday, February 11, 2016

• Student Government Meeting - 8:45 a.m. @ Science Lecture Hall
• Spring Musical Rehearsal - 2:30 - 5:30 p.m. @ BMHS Auditorium
• District Tech Committee Meeting - 3:00 p.m. @ Parker Elementary School
• Robotics Team 4909 Build Season - 3:30 - 7:30 p.m. @ BMHS Robotics Shop
• Boys' Freshmen Basketball Game vs. Haverhill - 4:00 p.m. @ Haverhill High School
• Boys' JV Basketball Game vs. Haverhill - 5:30 p.m. @ Haverhill High School
• Boys' Varsity Basketball Game vs. Haverhill - 7:00 p.m. @ Haverhill High School
• High School Committee Building Meeting - 7:00 p.m. @ Dutile Elementary School

Friday, February 12, 2016

• Student of the Term Assembly - 8:45 a.m. @ BMHS Lecture Hall
• Spring Musical Rehearsal - 2:30 - 5:30 p.m. @ BMHS Auditorium
• Girls' Freshmen Basketball Game vs. Lowell- 4:00 p.m. @ BMHS Ed James Gym
• Boys' Freshmen Basketball Game vs. Chelmsford - 4:00 p.m. @ Chelmsford HS
• Girls' JV Basketball Game vs. Lowell- 5:30 p.m. @ BMHS Ed James Gym
• Boys' JV Basketball Game vs. Chelmsford - 5:30 p.m. @ Chelmsford HS
• Girls' Varsity Basketball Game vs. Lowell- 7:00 p.m. @ BMHS Ed James Gym
• Boys' Varsity Basketball Game vs. Chelmsford - 7:00 p.m. @ Chelmsford HS

 Saturday, February 13, 2016

• Robotics Team 4909 Build Season - 9:00 - 2:00 p.m. @ BMHS Robotics Shop
• Wrestling vs. Agawam, Burlington, Marlboro - 10:00 a.m. @ Agawam High School
• Boys' JV Ice Hockey vs. Chelmsford - 3:50 p.m. @ Hallenborg
• Girls' Varsity Ice Hockey vs. Beverly - 5:00 p.m. @ Hallenborg
• Boys' Varsity Ice Hockey vs. Chelmsford - 7:00 p.m. @ Hallenborg

 Sunday, February 14, 2016

• Girls' Varsity Basketball Game vs. Revere - 3:45 p.m. @ St. Mary's High School (Lynn)