This Week at BMHS December 11 - 22, 2017

Athletic Awards' Night

We will be recognizing our fall athletes at the Athletic Awards' Night this Monday, December 11 beginning at 6:30 p.m. in the Auditorium. Please join us in celebrating the accomplishments of our fall sports teams.

Our Winter Choral Concert Presented by the Billerica Fine Arts Department

This Tuesday evening our Fine Arts Department will be presenting The Gift of Music, a Winter Choral Concert. The program will begin at 7:00 p.m. in the BMHS Auditorium. We hope you can find a moment to take a break from the hectic pace that the holiday season can create and enjoy an evening of wonderful music performed by outstanding musicians. 

Amnesty International

Amnesty International is going to be raising money for Puerto Rico relief through a raffle. First prize is two Club Level tickets to the Celtics vs. Hornets on February 28th, donated by the Billerica Federation of Teachers.  Second prize is a $75.00 gift certificate to Webber Restaurant Group (Gibbet Hill, the Bancroft, etc).  Tickets will be available at various school functions and additional information can be obtained via email at dadams@billericak12.com

Proceeds will go to Operation Agua, a teacher-led charity that is bringing water filters to homes and schools throughout Puerto Rico.  

Schedule Updates

Monday, December 18 - B Day (Friday)
Thursday, December 21 - Ugly Sweater Day
Friday, December 22 - SPAC Concert (Early Dismissal 10:22 a.m.)

BMHS Guidance: College Of The Week and Career Of The Week

The BMHS Guidance Department is now highlighting a college and a career each week.  In addition to a bulletin board in the Guidance area, we will share with parents and students highlights of each college and career featured.  If you are interested in the featured colleges and careers, you can check out Naviance for more information!  If you or your child needs the password reset, please contact our Guidance Office at 978-528-8760 or Ms. Sousa (Guidance Secretary) at: esousa@billericak12.com

College Of The Week: Salve Regina University (click HERE for more information)

Career Of The Week:  Actuary  (click HERE for more information)

1.  If you are applying to a college with a December 15 or January 1 deadline, your transcript request and payment is now due.  Please arrange for this ASAP by requesting your transcript through Naviance and following up with payment in the Guidance office.  Transcripts are $2 per college you are applying to. Transcripts will not be sent to colleges without payment. 

2.  Once you've decided where you will attend, please come to the Guidance office and fill out a pennant with your name and college. These pennants will be used in a bulletin board display of where BMHS students will be attending next year.  

3. Mark your calendar!!  The Scholarship Information Night will be held on February 13, 2018 at 6:30 PM in the BMHS Lecture Hall.  This event will feature information regarding Dollars For Scholars as well as scholarship information on Naviance.  Students are currently able to begin building their scholarship profile with demographic information; please click here to be routed to the DFS website to either log in or create an account.  If your student attended the College Boot Camp over the summer, they should have already started their profile, as we did a lesson on this. 

4.  Please make sure to access Naviance and check back frequently in the Scholarship List area.  These scholarships are updated regularly, and therefore, you will want to check back often as the list continues to expand between now and the springtime.  Click here for the Naviance website.  If you have forgotten your password, please contact your guidance counselor, and they will be able to assist you.

I'd like to share with you several points of information regarding the PSAT score release this week:

1.  CollegeBoard is releasing scores to Massachusetts students on Wednesday, December 13.  If you provided an email address when taking the PSAT, you will be emailed a message, telling you that your scores are ready.  If you didn't provide an email address, you can also log into CollegeBoard, create an account, and match demographic info in order to receive your scores.  We strongly suggest that students use their Billerica Gmail address when registering for a CollegeBoard account and that they put their username and password in a safe place.  Often students will make a note on their phone with this information, which is a great option.  Please click here for detailed information regarding receiving your scores, creating a CollegeBoard account, etc. ***PLEASE NOTE:  Most Juniors will already have a CollegeBoard account, as they received PSAT scores last year.  You will want to use the same account as last year to access this year's PSAT scores; don't make a new one this year if you already have an account. 

2.  Please click here for a sample score report, so you will know what information you can expect to see when scores are released. 

3.  Your PSAT scores will also be placed into your Naviance account to assist you with your college search. If you have forgotten your login or password for Naviance, please contact your counselor, and s/he will be able to assist you. 

4.  Please click here in order to view a short video on understanding your PSAT scores.  Also, CollegeBoard provides each student with a FREE, personalized study plan along with ample practice opportunities online through Khan Academy.  Click here to learn how to link your PSAT scores to Khan Academy for free SAT practice!  This is a wonderful resource!

5.  BMHS Guidance counselors will also host two PSAT/NMSQT Parent/Guardian Information Sessions. We will cover how to interpret PSAT results, as well as utilizing test prep resources. The two dates will be Friday, January 5th, and Friday, January 12th, and if you are interested in attending, please pick one day only, as both sessions will offer the same information. These sessions run from 7:15 a.m. - 8:00 a.m.  Please note that these are morning sessions.  If you would like to attend a session please complete the registration form by clicking here, as space is limited.

6. In January, guidance counselors will begin to meet with their sophomore students individually to discuss PSAT results and post-secondary planning, and in early spring counselors will meet with Juniors to discuss PSAT, SAT, and the college search & application process. To make for a more effective and meaningful appointment we ask that each student have their CollegeBoard login and password with them (preferably as a note in their phone).

7.  Please note that colleges do not see students' PSAT data.  See below for information on the SAT: 

Junior students should plan to take the SAT in the spring of 2018 (BMHS offers the test in May), and again in the fall of their Senior year (BMHS offers the test in October).  You can register for the Saturday, May 5, 2018 SAT test by clicking here. 

Sophomore students will take the PSAT again in October 2018, while in their Junior year, before taking the SAT in the spring of 2019. 

If you have any questions, please contact your child's guidance counselor through email or by calling the Guidance office at 978-528-8760.

Sincerely,

The BMHS Guidance Department

Where are they now?

Class of 2017 alumnus Anthony Nelson recently graduated from basic training and begins his journey as a Navy sailor. Anthony completed basic as a Division leader and earning the rank of E2.