Dear BMHS Community,
I am disembarking from my traditional weekly writing to draw attention to the upcoming holiday season and the challenges that many members of our community face during this time of the year. Many of our sophomores took part in "Challenge Day" this past October. The intent of the program was to help students build empathy and compassion. At the end of each of the days, it was clear that the goal was accomplished. This has translated into students being more aware of their classmates' struggles as well as members of our larger community. Tomorrow we begin our Spirit Week festivities. These days are meant to build class spirit through various activities, such as dressing up in a thematic manner, supporting our community through the Turkey Trot, and the Penny War to help our local food pantry. We also have school clubs that will be participating in activities to help others in need during this time of year. We are also acutely aware that some families struggle during the holiday season for a myriad of reasons. If you are aware of families that may be struggling, please let us know. Although you may be thinking that we are already aware, I would rather err on the side of caution and ensure we have supports in place. Below is an overview of some of the activities our students will be involved in during the next few weeks. I have also included some concerns that we have seen or heard that may become amplified during this time of the year.
- Key club will be conducting a clothing drive during Spirit Week and through the 1/2 week of Thanksgiving. They will be donating clothes to the Clothing Center at St. Francis House in Boston: It provides a change of clothes and other clothing needs like winter work boots, sneakers, winter jackets, jeans and backpacks. These last five items are desperately needed by folks living on the street and are the focus of the BMHS drive. If you would like to assist, please contact Mr. Peterson at cpeterson@billericak12.com or Mr. Molloy at jmolloy@billericak12.com
- Mr. Peterson's Foods Classes will be making food for the homeless during the week of Thanksgiving. The Turkey Terrific Sandwiches are made of slices of turkey, cheese, cranberry sauce, and stuffing all on toasted bread. Each sandwich is individually wrapped and contains an inspirational quote written by students. This year, the recipients of the sandwiches will be the House of Hope of Lowell, Lazarus House in Lawrence, Daybreak Shelter in Lawrence, and the Lowell Transitional Living Center.
- The freshmen, sophomore, junior and senior classes will once again be collecting pennies for the annual "Penny War." Our students have contributed over $100,000 to the Billerica Food Pantry over the last 20 years. The containers for the Penny War will be available in the cafeteria during both lunches all week. Start looking for any loose change in the sofa cushions.
- The Class of 2018 is sponsoring a Christmas Tree at the Billerica Public Library to support families in need. If you would like to support this cause please email Ms. Tewksbury ctewksbury@billericak12.com or Ms. Shrader nshrader@billericak12.com
- Our Student Government will be hosting a Toys for Tots drive from November 28 through December 15 for local families in need of support.
The Dangers of Risky Behavior
We are fortunate to have a great relationship with Billerica's first responders. The Billerica Police, Fire, and Emergency Services along with Michael Higgins, our Town's Substance Abuse Coordinator, allow us to have access to some of the specific challenges that may confront our students and their families. Over the last week, the BPD made us aware of a spike in fentanyl related overdoses. Although none of these directly involved any of our students, I thought it important to echo the concern of our first responders. Our nursing department also has an active ear with local hospitals, allowing us to ensure we are aware of what is happening in the local communities. This information is meant to foster a conversation with your child/ren regarding the risks they face during their early adult years, typically post high school as the average age for overdoses in our town is 31 years of age, when we as parents have less opportunity for these types of conversations.
Vaporizers and e cigarettes
However, of greater concern to students of high school age is the increase in the use of electronic cigarettes (e-cigarettes or vaporizers). I raise this issue because some parents may not be aware, or unsure of the appearance, or impact of these "vapes." These devices both violate Billerica Memorial High School's and the Massachusetts Interscholastic Athletic Association's (MIAA) chemical health rule. Vapes are being heavily marketed to two groups. The first is to those looking to quit smoking cigarettes and the sales pitch is that vaporizing is healthier than smoking. There is minimal scientific evidence for this (largely because they are still new enough that long-term studies have not been done) and what is getting inhaled plays a significant role in how accurate that could be. But the 'healthy' benefits are a big part of the pitch.
The other group the companies are marketing to is adolescents and, while they are playing up the 'healthy' aspects, the real pitch here comes down to being 'cool'. This effort to get young users early is made all the easier by vapes' convenience and ability to be used quickly and without detection, with very little residual odor (it is usually a little sweet and not like cigarettes or marijuana). As you can see from some of the images below, vapes come in a wide range of designs, all of which easily fit into a pocket or bag. Some versions are designed to avoid notice by looking like other common items, such as inhalers, computer pen drives, and even small gaming systems. A quick Google image search will provide additional pictures if you would like to investigate further.
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| Vapes that mask as inhalers |
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| Vaporizers |
The liquid being vaporized and inhaled is usually referred to as the 'juice' and comes in small containers and in a very wide array of flavors. Some are simply flavored liquid. Many, though, have nicotine and other addictive elements to them. The juice is also easily - and often - infused with THC, the key chemical in marijuana.
The result of this ease of access is that students across the country are being encouraged to take part in behavior that is unhealthy, illegal, and, specifically, against the rules at BMHS. This reality, mixed with a culture that is becoming increasingly tolerant of marijuana use in general, also means our students have greater access to ways of getting high that are difficult to detect, while having fewer concerns about the detrimental impact of marijuana use on their still-developing brains.
I strongly encourage you to talk with your children about the dangers of vaping and the problems that can occur from it. Honest and straightforward discussions about issues such as these can have a very significant impact on their choices. In the conversation, it may be helpful to remind students that being in possession of tobacco or nicotine, tobacco/nicotine products, and paraphernalia are against our rules as well as the MIAA's, if your student is also an athlete. Being in possession of drugs, items infused with drugs, and drug paraphernalia also are against our rules, the MIAA and will typically result in a 10 day suspension and a hearing to determine if an expulsion from BMHS is appropriate. I will be reminding our students of the concerns over these choices and the potential consequences and would appreciate your reiteration of those points as well. I also appreciate your attentiveness to items your child may have in their possession that look like vapes or the related aspects.
Grief Over the Holidays
All across the
nation, Thanksgiving and the December holidays are a special time for families,
schools and communities. Everywhere we look, we see signs of celebration. In
schools, there may be pageants, food drives, decorations and parties. In
stores, we hear familiar music. On the streets, people wish each other happy holidays
and talk about getting together with extended family and close friends.
During these
times, most of us also think about people we miss, including loved ones who have
died. These memories can be especially acute for children and teens who have
lost a loved one. They may experience periods of deep sadness, a renewal of
their grief, or sudden and unexpected reactions of anger, despair or fear.
These responses
may happen the first or second year after a death, or many years later. Educators
spend a lot of time with students and are uniquely poised to observe grief
responses over time. They can take steps to anticipate challenges. The support and
understanding they offer grieving students over the holidays can be especially
helpful.
News from the Guidance Department
The Armed Services Vocational Aptitude Battery (ASVAB) is an assessment that measures abilities and helps predict future academic and occupational success. It is administered annually to more than one million high school and post-secondary students. Although it is the entrance exam used by the military, students do NOT have to be interested in the military in order to take it. ASVAB also offers access to an online career exploration tool that can help you identify potential career paths that match your interests and abilities. The ASVAB is FREE and will be held here at BMHS on Friday, December 1 in the morning. This opportunity is open to students in grades 10-12, and please note that students will be responsible for making up missed work in classes. If your son or daughter would like to take the ASVAB, please come to the Guidance Office to sign up by November 27. If you have questions, you may check in with Ms. Coia or your guidance counselor. You can also learn more about the ASVAB test at: www.asvabprogram.com
Billerica Memorial High School Athletic Association (BMHSAA)
Support student-athletes and enjoy a yummy dinner at Wicked Cheesy Pizza Restaurant on November 15, 2017 from 5-9 p.m. Print/show the Wicked Cheesy flyer or mention the BMHSAA to your server and a percentage of the proceeds with be donated to our organization. Wicked Cheesy is located at 240 Nashua Road in Billerica, MA.
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Sports Boards & Spirit Gear Special
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We have lots of new Spirit Gear to show your school and town pride. The new items will be available to students during Spirit Week at the high school next week and at the Thanksgiving day football game. New long-sleeve shirts, warm ups and card holders for your cell phone will be on hand. In addition we have hats, gloves, t-shirts, lanyards and more. Stop by and pick up your gear to #GoGreen!
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Our BMHS Cheerleaders earned 2nd place in Division II at the State Championships at Worcester State University this past Sunday. The 2nd place finish earns the team a berth in the National Championships in Orlando, Florida in February 2018.
