Welcome Back!

The First Week

"Buses and Lunch"

Buses - There is an expression among principals the first week of school often referred to as buses and lunch. These two important items represent the majority of concerns that arise during the opening week each year and this year is no different. The traffic pattern entering and exiting BMHS has changed significantly this year and will take a little while for everyone to become acclimated/comfortable. Last Wednesday was the first day of regular arrival involving all students arriving at the same time. The buses completed their drop off by 7:10 a.m. as they adjusted to the new stops on their routes. By Friday all buses had departed by 7:05 a.m. and the parent drop off line had dissipated by 7:10 a.m. After all buses have dropped off in the morning we will open the bus lane for parent drop off. We will continue to have people outside assisting everyone during both drop off and pick up. In the afternoon our buses arrive in waves because the high school is picked up after all Middle School students have been brought home. The first wave usually departs the high school by 2:10 p.m. while the second wave departs by 2:15 p.m. Bus #3 is typically the last bus to arrive because they have the Middle School run which transports students to the Pinehurst area before returning to the high school for pick up. Bus #3 usually arrives by 2:20 p.m. After all buses have picked up our students in the afternoon, we will again open the bus lane for parents.

Lunches - Last spring we experimented with the elimination of our second lunch sitting "B lunch." The experiment was well received as it eliminated the need to split class time and was the least attended lunch for that same reason. We decided we would continue with the experiment during the beginning of this school year. We worked in conjunction with Food Services to ensure that they could manage all the students in a timely manner and we had enough seats for all students. During the first week, we have had all administrators in the café during lunch time to make sure we had a first hand account of how things were running. The early returns have been mixed. The Food Service Department has done a terrific job with lunch lines and minimizing wait times. Currently, the wait times this year have been quicker than last year with three lunches. We verified that we would have enough seats for all students (with some extra), but the challenge has been students wanting to sit at certain tables that have limited seats available. By reducing from three to two lunches students have improved their chances of having lunch with their friends from 33% to 50%. We have not heard the typical concern of not having any friends at lunch. Instead we are hearing there are not enough seats. During each lunch we have had at least 1 table open. I fully acknowledge that students may have difficulty sitting next to people they may not know and some have spent the first few days trying to identify the best place to sit with friends. The courtyard (adjacent to the café) has been open for students to go during lunch as well as the Innovation Café (in the library/media center). We have increased the lunch time for students as well. The bell releasing the students to lunch provides them 5 minutes to arrive at the café before the lunch period officially begins. Some students may take the full 5 minutes to arrive, but the majority do not need the 5 minutes. The official lunch period is 25 minutes before the bell rings providing them another 5 minutes to travel back to class. Therefore the least amount of time students have is 25 minutes, while many others will have more than 30 minutes. We will continue to monitor the lunch period to make sure there are available seats and students have enough time to eat. We left the B lunch period in the schedule in case we need to implement during the school year.

Billerica Blast

For the new members of the BMHS Community the Billerica Blast is an all night event for our graduating seniors following Graduation. The Blast Committee raises funds throughout the year to support the events that take place during the evening. This year the committee will be selling lawn signs during Yankee Doodle Weekend. Feel free to stop by their table and support our Class of 2017.

 

$10 each....all four years available. Cash and carry what is in stock.  Then order.  

Any sport/club available. Orders will be taken at Yankee Doodle or can be sent to the BLAST box at the main office. 

New Security Protocols

The new security protocols implemented for BMHS have begun with minimal issues. Just a reminder that you need to enter through the main entrance (under the awning) nearest the Fire Station off Tom Glavine Way. The security officer on duty will require a state issued ID to allow entry into the building. We are also working to employ student guides since we know the building is not the most user friendly for those that visit infrequently.

Technology

If anyone has an AOL email account they may not be receiving email from the school district. If you have an AOL account, please contact the school to ensure you are able to receive email communication

The district will be moving away from Edline as an educational partner. A new web site has been under development and will be launching this fall. The goal is to minimize the number of locations parents and students will have to visit to access pertinent information for the academics, athletics, and co-curricular activities. Since most people access information through their smart phones I am providing some apps that may be helpful this year.

• Twitter - There a number of Twitter accounts for BMHS that provide timely information. @BMHSIndians is our main feed and @BMHS_Athletics provides timely coverage of games, practices, and results. There are more than 25 Twitter accounts for BMHS classes, clubs, and teams.
• ASMobile - this app is connected to rSchool Today and provides schedules for all athletic teams' as well as rosters and standings.
• Aspen X2 has a mobile platform, but does not have a separate app. If you use your phone's web browser it will load Aspen in a mobile friendly platform.
• Google Apps for Education (GAPE) - All students have a Google account that allows them to access email and the platform of Google apps available to the district.

School Picture Day

Monday, September 19 will be school picture day. Students will be receiving order forms in Advisory this Tuesday to bring home. Since I have a high school student at home I am aware that not everything that the school asks the students to bring home actually makes it there. There will be forms that can be downloaded from the BMHS web site - BMHS Picture Day

Summer Reading Discussion Groups

This Friday we will be hosting our annual summer reading discussion groups.

Students should go online to sign up for their summer reading group before the end of the day on Monday. The link was emailed to all students and is available on the school website. All students should sign up for a book that a teacher read, or should use the last sign up option if they read something else. Book discussion groups will take place on Friday, September 16. Students should speak with their English teacher or Mrs. Dyer if they have questions.

This Week In Athletics

Monday, Sep 12, 2016
Time	Event	Details
3:30pm	Golf: JV Match	vs. Burlington @ Billerica Country Club
3:30pm	Golf: Varsity Match	Lowell Catholic @ Pine Valley Country Club
Tuesday, Sep 13, 2016
Time	Event	Details
3:30pm	Swimming:Girls Varsity Meet	vs. Chelmsford @ Billerica Memorial High School
3:45pm	Soccer:Girls Varsity Game	vs. Chelmsford @ Billerica Memorial High School Alumni Field
3:45pm	Soccer:Girls JV Game	vs. Chelmsford @ Marshall Middle School
5:00pm	Soccer:Boys JV Game	Chelmsford @ Simonian Stadium, Chelmsford
6:30pm	Soccer:Boys Varsity Game	Chelmsford @ Simonian Stadium, Chelmsford
Wednesday, Sep 14, 2016
Time	Event	Details
3:30pm	Cross Country:Girls Varsity Meet	vs. Lowell @ Vietnam Veteran's Park Cross Country
3:30pm	Cross Country:Boys Varsity Meet	vs. Lowell @ Vietnam Veteran's Park Cross Country
3:45pm	Volleyball:Girls Freshman Game	Andover @ Andover High School
3:45pm	Volleyball:Girls JV Game	Andover @ Andover High School
5:00pm	Volleyball:Girls Varsity Game	Andover @ Andover High School
Thursday, Sep 15, 2016
Time	Event	Details
3:30pm	Golf: Varsity Match	vs. Haverhill @ Billerica Country Club
3:45pm	Football: Sophomore Game	vs. Central Catholic @ Marshall Middle School Calabrese Stadium
Friday, Sep 16, 2016
Time	Event	Details
3:30pm	Swimming:Girls Varsity Meet	Dracut Senior @ Greater Lowell Technical School
3:45pm	Football:Boys Freshman Game	vs. Andover @ Billerica Memorial High School Calabrese Stadium
4:00pm	Soccer:Girls Freshman Game	vs. Lowell @ Dutile Elementary School
4:00pm	Volleyball:Girls JV Game	vs. Chelmsford @ Billerica Memorial High School
4:00pm	Volleyball:Girls Freshman Game	vs. Chelmsford @ Billerica Memorial High School
5:00pm	Volleyball:Girls Varsity Game	vs. Chelmsford @ Billerica Memorial High School
5:15pm	Soccer:Boys Freshman Game	vs. Lowell @ Dutile Elementary School
7:00pm	Cheerleading: Varsity Game	Andover @ Lovely Field
7:00pm	Football: Varsity Game	Andover @ Lovely Field
Saturday, Sep 17, 2016
Time	Event	Details
9:00am	Cross Country:Boys Varsity Invitational	Tewksbury Memorial High School @ Livingston Street Fields
9:00am	Cross Country:Girls Varsity Invitational	Tewksbury Memorial High School @ Livingston Street Fields
10:00am	Soccer:Girls Varsity Game	vs. Woburn @ Billerica Memorial High School Alumni Field
10:00am	Soccer:Girls JV Game	vs. Woburn @ Dutile Elementary School

Welcome to the Summer

Welcome to the Summer of '16

We have unofficially closed the books on the 2015-2016 school year. There is still some annual work to be completed with the Department of Education before we can officially transition to the new school year. The completion date, or "rollover" typically occurs near the end of July. This is the moment that teachers, students, and parents can log into Aspen and see the schedule for the upcoming school year. Our custodial staff will be working on summer projects and classroom changes in preparation for September. We will send out an update in August that explains the changes that have occurred so students and parents will know where to find some of the offices that are changing.

The first day of the 2016-2017 school year for students is Tuesday, September 6, 2016

Freshmen Orientation

Save the date: Thursday, August 25 from 9 a.m. until noon. The orientation will begin in the Auditorium. The easiest way to access the Auditorium is from the 35 River Street entrance.

Summer Reading

All students are required to read just one book. Staff members at BMHS have each chosen a book to read over the summer. The attached list of those books includes a variety of genres ranging from classics to contemporary fiction and nonfiction designed to spark interest in adolescent readers. We encourage students to choose one of the books on the list to read in preparation for the first full day of school. However, students are not limited to books on the list. Regardless, in their English classes they will be expected to have read a book and have completed the attached note taking form. Students will then be expected to complete a written assessment which will count as 5% of their term 1 grade. Summer reading assignments will be assessed based on the school-wide writing rubric. Additionally, staff members will lead book discussion groups with students during an extended advisory in September. The note-taking form, list of books, and the link to sign up for a discussion group, are all available at the BMHS website: http://bmhs.billerica.k12.ma.us. Please sign up as soon as possible for your preferred discussion group.

Scheduling Update

Schedules for incoming freshmen will be released on Monday, June 27. You will receive an email update and a phone call alerting you when the system is accessible. The email will also include guidance counselor availability. Although every guidance counselor is not scheduled every day, there will be a guidance counselor available to assist students with scheduling questions.

Summer Hours

The high school will be open from 8:00 a.m. until 3:00 p.m. during the summer. Please use the main entrance, which is located behind Town Hall (accessible via 1 Tom Glavine Way). The main phone number for the high school is 978-528-8700.

SUMMA Award Recipients

Seniors

Jean Goldsmith           

Jessica Harmon           

Owen Kelly    

David LaPusata          

Jillian MacEachern     

Roshan Nair   

Stephanie Perrier        

Andrea Marie Ponte

Victoria Sharaga         

Raymond Soeun         

LeeAnn Spector          

Brian Sullivan 

Summer Thurlow        

Tyler Tribou

Juniors

Christopher Comeau   

Mackenzie Conant      

Kelsey Leverone         

Nicole Morris 

Jonathan Raymond     

Victoria Scarfo           

Brooke Sorensen        

Scott Young

Sophomores

Megan Aquavella        

Vanessa Attaya           

Olivia Chiasson          

Clare Conway 

Alyssa Eakman           

Sophia Green  

Grant Milliken

Samantha Murgo        

Megan Poole   

Emily Rand    

Jacqueline Santana     

Madhumathi Sekar     

Benjamin Souza

Freshmen

Camryn Brothers        

Ian Castro-Martinez   

Philip Cataldo 

Stephanie Chavarria   

Jacqueline Crusco       

Maddison Jacques       

Ethan Knight 

Jacquelynn Schwalm   

Alie Thurlow  

Petya Todorova          

Michael Williams        

Alex Yeh

Students of the Term

Juniors

Gaurang Amonkar

Jessica Bowen

Keri Bruso

Madison DeChristoforo

Madison Ellis

Alyssa Harris

Elizabeth Jenkins

Kayla Livingston

Jeremy Mancini

Jenna Oliva

Vidhee Rana

Maya Thompson

Shannon White-Smead

Sophomores

Christopher Abrahamson

Ryan Acone

Catherine Aliperta

Megan Aquavella

Shawn Belden

Jordan Borges

Kishara Cerelus

Clare Conway

Madison Corcoran

Orion Doyle

Andrew Farmer

Kyla Gaudet

Isabelle Grise

Sydney Hall

Catherine Loguidice

Edward MacDonald

Matthew Marini

Adina Marshall

Aidan McCarthy

Gillian Menezes

Jennifer Nachatelo

Alexa Palino

Emily Rand

Kristen Riley

Jacqueline Santana

Sarah Smith

John Stanton

Matthew Young

Freshmen

Victoria Bones

Ashwin Chitoor

Jenna Hill

Sean Hinchliffe

Ryan Hoyt

Erin Kelley

Cory LaFleur

Jacob Loftin

Caitlin MacLeod

Matthew McDonnell

Bradley McMullen

Lindsay Mitchell

Laura Molina

Jessica Panaligan

Alexandra Rahill

Jenna Reed

Haley Reinhold

Alandra Rich

Firas Rimawi

Brian Sardella

Catherine Sjostedt

Savana Spellman

Duy Vo

Rachel Wagner

Vivian Wholey

Kathryn Wiggins

Building Update

The next Building Committee meeting is Tuesday, July 21 at Town Hall beginning at 6:30 p.m. There are weekly working group meetings to address various parts of the project as move through Design Development. Once Design Development is completed and approved by the MSBA, the site work will intensify as we prepare for ground breaking in early spring. Updates on the project will be available on Aspen https://ma-billerica.myfollett.com, Facebook https://www.facebook.com/BMHSbuild/ and Twitter @NEWBMHS

This Week at BMHS June 13 - 20 2016

Down the Home Stretch

We are closing in on the end of the 2015-2016 school year. Schedules for next year will be available on Monday for students currently enrolled in the high school. Incoming freshmen will be able to access their schedules approximately a week after the high school students. This week's rotation is B-A-B-A. We will be recognizing our Students of the Term for Quarter 4 this Thursday, June 16 during Advisory. Our final exams begin on Friday. The final exam schedule is 1A/1B on Friday, 2A/2B on Monday, 3A/3B on Tuesday and 4A/4B on Wednesday. Thursday, June 23 will be an early release day for all students in the district and the high school will be dismissed at 10:15 a.m. We will begin planning for the 2016-2017 school year with our Leadership Retreat on Friday, June 24.

Scheduling Update

Schedules will be available for students in Aspen by 3:00 p.m. Monday afternoon. Parents/Students may log into their accounts to download a copy of their schedule for the 2016-2017 school year. Students may begin to set up appointments with their guidance counselors for exam week, which begins on Friday, June 17 and runs through Wednesday, June 22, 2016. Counselors will also be available during the summer. The Guidance Department schedule will be posted on our web site before the end of the school year.

Final Exams

Final exams will begin on Friday, June 17 with two exams each day. There is a make-up session each day in case a student is out sick and needs to make up their exam. If your child is going to be out of school, please contact your child's Assistant Principal as early as possible on the day of the exams.

Students are expected to attend all classes (except study halls) during the exam period.

Thursday, June 24 is the last day of school for the year and is an early release day for students (dismissal around 10:30 a.m.).

Student Tutoring Center

Tutoring schedule for the remainder of 2016

Junior Daniel Hannon has worked diligently to create a student tutoring center at BMHS to support all students who may need some additional support during the end of the year. The Tutoring Center's main purpose will be to provide assistance to all students in a welcoming and encouraging environment. The center will be operational in the fall as well although the schedule of student availability will be updated. 

Building Committee

The next Building Committee meeting is Tuesday, June 21 at Town Hall beginning at 6:30 p.m.

MIAA Tournament Time

Connor Finnegan continued his dominance in the javelin event by taking home the New England title this past weekend in Connecticut. Connor finds himself in rarefied air as a BMHS New England Champion.

_________________________________________________________________________________

Monday, June 13, 2016

• B Day (Friday) Schedule
• BMHS History  Subcommittee - 8:00 a.m. @ Principal's Conference Room
• BMHS School Council - 3:00 p.m. @ Principal's Conference Room
• School Committee Meeting - 6:00 p.m. @ Parker Elementary School

Tuesday, June 14, 2016

• A Day
• Community Based Justice Meeting - 8:00 a.m. @ Principal's Conference Room
• PLC/Faculty Meeting - 2:15 p.m. - 3:45 p.m. @ BMHS

Wednesday, June 15, 2016

• B Day

Thursday, June 16, 2016

• A Day
• Student of the Term Assembly - 8:45 a.m. @ BMHS Auditorium

Friday, June 17, 2016

• Exam Day 1 - 1A/1B - 7:15 a.m. - 11:20 a.m.

Saturday, June 18, 2016

• Shriner's Football Game - 4:00 p.m. @ Cawley Stadium, Lowell

Sunday, June 19, 2016

• Father's Day

This Week at BMHS June 6 - June 12, 2016

Billerica Blast

The BLAST is still in need of raffles, food items, help during the BLAST, and cleanup at 5 a.m. Senior parents cannot help during the BLAST but it would be great if we could have senior parents there at 5am to clean up and drive their sleepy teens home.

If you can help, please contact Jenn Marino at volunteerfortheblast@outlook.com

BMHS Honors Banquet

We will be hosting our inaugural Honors' Banquet to recognize the academic accomplishments of the top ten students in the graduating class. Each of these students has invited a teacher they identified as having a significant impact on them. The students and their teachers will be joining their parents Monday night in our library for a special recognition in their honor. The students and their invited guests are as follows:

Lawrence Tang - Dr. Cardella

Eric Tang - Mrs. Hines

Spandana Jarmale - Ms. Jensen

Samantha White - Mrs. Durand

Roshan Nair - Mr. Flood

Tyler Tribou - Mrs. Roper

Kierra Walsh - Mr. Carroll

Aishwarya Chitoor - Ms. Bergeron

William Moore - Mr. Beckford

Andrea Marie Ponte - Mr. Landry

Class of 2016 Graduates

The 2016 Graduation Ceremony will take place at the Tsongas Arena this Tuesday, June 7 at 6:30 p.m. Parking is available in the adjacent lot and the typical parking fee is $10.  We encourage our students to carpool. Students need to arrive at the Tsongas by 5:00 p.m. They received additional information during the Graduation rehearsal Monday morning at 7:15 a.m. in the cafeteria.

The Seniors Return to their Elementary Beginnings

Seniors at the Hajjar

I think Cam Climo has grown a bit
since his days at the Vining

Members of our graduating class returned to their elementary roots this past Friday and were met by their "first" teachers in a celebratory and nostalgic environment. Each building created posters, provided food, and shared stories both old and new as teachers and students reconnected.The teachers were amazed how much the students have changed physically, but how similar they were to their younger selves. 

Scheduling Update

Guidance Counselors will be working on adjustments to students schedules during the upcoming week in anticipation of releasing schedules to students through Aspen next Monday, June 13.

Final Exams

Final exams will begin on Friday, June 17 with two exams each day. There is a make-up session each day in case a student is out sick and needs to make up their exam. If your child is going to be out of school, please contact your child's Assistant Principal as early as possible on the day of the exams.
Thursday, June 24 is the last day of school for the year and is an early release day for students (dismissal around 10:30 a.m.).

Student Tutoring Center

Tutoring schedule for the remainder of 2016

Junior Daniel Hannon has worked diligently to create a student tutoring center at BMHS to support all students who may need some additional support during the end of the year. The Tutoring Center's main purpose will be to provide assistance to all students in a welcoming and encouraging environment. The center will be operational in the fall as well although the schedule of student availability will be updated. 

Building Committee

The next Building Committee meeting is Tuesday, June 21 at Town Hall beginning at 6:30 p.m.

MIAA Tournament Time

Connor Finnegan won the State Title for the javelin this past weekend in Westfield, MA. Connor's throw of 199 feet 7 inches. His throw beat the second place finisher by more than 15 feet and placed him in the top 16 in the nation. Our softball and Girls' lacrosse teams lost tough games over the weekend, dropping games to Lexington and Andover respectively.  The boys' lacrosse team defeated Westford Academy on Saturday 8-6 and will take on #2 Reading on Wednesday night at 5 p.m. in Reading. The #2 boys' baseball team will be taking on #7 Malden Catholic today, Monday, June 6 at Hall of Fame Field at 4 p.m.

Monday, June 6, 2016

• Graduation Rehearsal - 7:15 a.m. @ BMHS Cafe
• Weekly BMHS Design Meeting - 10:00 a.m. - Principal's Conference Room
• District Attorney Marian Ryan - 11:30 a.m. 
• Professional Development Committee Meeting - 3:15 p.m. - Parker Elementary School
• Honors' Banquet - 6:00 p.m. @ BMHS Media Center

Tuesday, June 7, 2016

• SUMMA Awards Ceremony Grade 9 - 7:30 a.m. @ BMHS Auditorium
• Graduation - 6:30 p.m. @ Tsongas Arena
• Billerica Blast - 11:00 p.m. - 5:00 a.m. @ BMHS

Wednesday, June 8, 2016

Thursday, June 9, 2016

• SUMMA Awards Ceremony Grade 10 - 7:30 a.m. @ BMHS Auditorium

Friday, June 10, 2016

• SUMMA Awards Ceremony Grade 11 - 7:30 a.m. @ BMHS Auditorium
• Billerica Friends of Music Awards' Ceremony - 7 p.m. @ Billerica Country Club

Saturday, June 11, 2016

Sunday, June 12, 2016

This Week at BMHS May 30 - June 5, 2016

MCAS Biology

The freshmen class will be participating in the MCAS Biology assessment on Wednesday June 1 and Thursday June 2. The assessments are scheduled to take place from 7:15 a.m. to 10:30 a.m. each day. However, students may take additional time if needed as the MCAS assessments are untimed. Please remind your students of the importance of these assessments and a reminder that this assessment is now counted towards the eligibility for the John and Abigail Adams Scholarship upon graduation. Please make every effort to ensure your child arrives on time on these days.

Scheduling Update

The Coordinators and Guidance Department have been working diligently to develop the master schedule for the 2016-2017 school year. Our goal is to have the students' schedules in their hands (available through Aspen) the week before final exams. This will allow them time to review and schedule time with their guidance counselors before the summer break mitigating major concerns when school opens in the fall.

Clothing Drive

The Billerica Memorial High School's Winter Guard wants to help you clean out your closet. This June 4 from 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. please consider donating your used clothing to support our Winter Guard. The collection site will be in front of Town Hall. If you have any questions, please email Diana at diandbud@aol.com

The Seniors Return to the Elementary Beginnings

The graduating Class of 2016 will be returning to their elementary schools this Friday, June 3 at 9 a.m. to meet their first teachers that helped them begin their educational journey in Billerica. Their elementary teachers will be welcoming the graduates with some breakfast and stories of their younger days. This is open to all graduating seniors and their return will make the graduation season extra special for their elementary teachers.

Class Day

Members of the senior class will be spending the day at Six Flags in Agawam for their Class Day festivities. The students and their chaperones will be leaving BMHS on Tuesday morning around 8 a.m. and returning around 7 p.m. Their tickets allow them to return to the park at any time during the 2016 season for no charge.

Senior Prom

The Senior Class will be celebrating their senior prom at the Danversport Yacht Club on Friday, June 3 from 6:00 p.m. to 11:00 p.m. Just a reminder that all students entering the prom will be breathalyzed and may  not leave until 10;30 p.m. unless we have direct communication with their parents.

 Class of 2016 Senior Bulletin

Scholarship Awards

Wednesday, June 1 we will be hosting the annual Scholarship Awards Night. The program will begin at 7:00 p.m. in the Auditorium. The Billerica Scholarship Foundation will be handing out almost $100,000 to graduating seniors pursuing their post secondary plans in the fall. We will be coordinating the evening a little differently than in the past. You would have received a sneak preview if you attended the Student Academic Awards. Billerica Access Television will be recorded and broadcasting the awards ceremony for the first time. We are asking that student recipients sit on the left hand side of the auditorium to help with the orchestration of the evening. If you are presenting an award we ask that you check in backstage as you have in the past.

Building Committee

The next Building Committee meeting is Thursday, May 26 at 6:30 p.m. at Town Hall. The test borings have been completed allowing our geotechnical contractor to complete their soil analysis of the site for the new building. One of the major questions/concerns that arose during the discussion of the building's location was parking. This concern resonated with us because of the impact on our current staff and students. We have been working to address and mitigate to the best of our ability the loss of spots for staff, visitors, and students. Based upon our current schedule, parking will be impacted before the conclusion of the 2016-2017 school year, but we are working to minimize the impact as much as possible. Although I do not believe we will be able to maintain the same number of parking spots, we are hopeful that we can reduce the potential losses and potentially save some student parking moving forward.

MIAA Tournament Time

The MIAA playoffs for the spring season will begin this week with Billerica well represented. The Boys' and Girls' Lacrosse teams will begin play by hosting their opening game at Calabrese Stadium at the Marshall Middle School. The Boys' and Girls' Outdoor Track teams will be competing in the All State Meet this weekend at Westfield High School. The baseball and softball teams are still waiting for the selection committee to complete the pairings this Tuesday. Both teams should begin opening round play this week.

Monday, May 30, 2016

• Memorial Day

Tuesday, May 31, 2016

• Seniors' Class Day @ Six Flags New England - 8:00 a.m. - 7:00 p.m.
• Girls' Varsity Softball (scrimmage) vs. Tewksbury Memorial - 3:30 p.m. @ Tewksbury

Wednesday, June 1, 2016

• MCAS Biology Assessment for Freshmen - 7:15 a.m. - 10:30 a.m.
• Girls' Varsity Lacrosse vs. Lowell - 4:00 p.m. @ Calabrese Stadium (Marshall)
• Scholarship Awards Night - 7:00 p.m. @ BMHS Auditorium

Thursday, June 2, 2016

• MCAS Biology Assessment for Freshmen - 7:15 a.m. - 10:30 a.m.
• New BMHS Building Committee Meeting - 6:30 p.m. @ Town Hall Buck Auditorium

Friday, June 3, 2016

• Senior Prom 6:00 p.m. - 11:00 p.m. @ Danversport Yacht Club
• Girls' Ultimate Frisbee vs. Newton North - 3:30 p.m. @ Locke Middle School

Saturday, June 4, 2016

• Boys' and Girls' Outdoor Track Varsity All State Meet - 3:00 p.m. @ Westfield HS
• Girls' Varsity Softball vs. Lexington - 4:00 p.m. @ Lexington HS
• Boys' Varsity Lacrosse vs. TBA- 6:00 p.m. @ Calabrese Stadium (Marshall)

Sunday, June 5, 2016

This Week at BMHS May 23 - 30, 2016

Term 4 Progress Reports

Term 4 Progress Reports will be available after 3:00 p.m. on Monday. These reports are for the freshmen, sophomore, and junior classes. As you might imagine the seniors are preparing for the final exams, grades, and graduation eligibility. The reports are available on Aspen and appear as Published Reports on your main page. If you have any difficulty accessing Aspen, please contact portalhelp@billericak12.com or call the high school at 978-528-7900.

Trebuchet Day

We will be launching our 3rd annual Trebuchet Day on Monday, May 23. Our engineering students have been working diligently the past few weeks building their team trebuchet. The students will be transporting their trebuchets to school in the morning and preparing for the final assessment just after lunch time. The final assessment is to launch a water balloon from their trebuchet into a castle manned by their teacher(s). The grade earned is based upon the performance of their trebuchet. We have continued to augment the day by adding medieval poets and costumes. This year, our food services department has added some new items to commemorate the day.

School Committee

The Billerica School Committee will be meeting Monday, May 23 at 6:00 p.m. at the Parker Elementary School. They will be recognizing the tremendous success of our DECA program under the leadership of John Magliozzi and Nancy Lydon.

There will also be an update on the Building Project in preparation for the next Building Committee Meeting on Thursday, May 26 at 6:30 p.m. at Town Hall.

There are a number of important dates that will be shared including Student Awards' Night, Scholarship Night, and Graduation. There are a number of other important dates that are pertinent to our graduating class and their families which have been emailed and will be discussed below.

The Final Countdown (Class of 2016)

We met with the Senior Class on Friday to discuss the end of the year requirements and festivities. Seniors have been attempting to maintain focus during the last few weeks, but clearly the end is within reach. During our meeting we spoke about the importance of making good choices during this time of the year. Recognizing that making good choices is important for all students throughout the year, there are times, such as these, when the proclivity for risky behaviors is heightened. Our goal is to ensure that all of our students enjoy these final few weeks with classmates culminating with crossing the stage to receive their diploma. There are certain misbehaviors that could prevent a student from participating in the Graduation Ceremony. Any violation of the chemical health policy (alcohol and/or drugs) will prevent a student from participating as would any type of vandalism/disruption to the school day. Please reinforce these concerns with your child. The Graduation Exercise is always a significant event and the participation of all our students is what makes it special.  I have included the Senior Bulletin as it contains all the relevant information regarding the final few weeks before Graduation.

 Class of 2016 Senior Bulletin

Student Awards

Tuesday, May 24 we will be hosting the Student Academic Awards. The program will begin at 7:00 p.m. in the Auditorium. This evening celebrates the academic success of our graduating seniors and some of our top rising seniors.

Building Committee

The next Building Committee meeting is Thursday, May 26 at 6:30 p.m. at Town Hall. The test borings should be completed by this Tuesday allowing our geotechnical contractor to complete their soil analysis of the site for the new building. One of the major questions/concerns that arose during the discussion of the building's location was parking. This concern resonated with us because of the impact on our current staff and students. We have been working to address and mitigate to the best of our ability the loss of spots for staff, visitors, and students. Based upon our current schedule, parking will be impacted before the conclusion of the 2016-2017 school year, but we are working to minimize the impact as much as possible. Although I do not believe we will be able to maintain the same number of parking spots, we are hopeful that we can reduce the potential losses and potentially save some student parking moving forward.

Monday, May 23, 2016

• Trebuchet Day 
• Term 4 Progress Reports Available - 3:00 p.m. (Freshmen - Juniors)
• BMHS School Council - 3:00 p.m. @ Principal's Conference Room
• School Committee Meeting - 6:00 p.m. @ Parker Elementary School
• Boys' Freshmen Lacrosse vs. Andover - 3:30 p.m. @ Dutile Elementary
• Girls' Varsity Lacrosse vs. Andover - 4:00 p.m. @ Alumni Field BMHS
• Boys' Varsity Baseball vs. North Andover (Spinner's Cup) - 5:00 p.m. @ LeLaucher Field (Lowell)
• Boys' JV Volleyball vs. Haverhill - 5:00 p.m. @ Haverhill HS
• Boys' JV Lacrosse vs. Andover - 5:30 p.m. @ Andover High School
• Girls' JV Lacrosse vs. Andover - 5:30 p.m. @ Alumni Field BMHS
• Girls' Varsity Softball vs. Wakefield Memorial - 6:00 p.m. @ Wakefield Memorial High School
• Girls' JV Softball vs. Wakefield Memorial - 6:00 p.m. @ Wakefield Memorial High School
• Boys' Varsity Volleyball vs. Haverhill - 6:00 p.m. @ Haverhill HS
• Boys' Varsity Lacrosse vs. Andover - 7:00 p.m. @ Andover High School

Tuesday, May 24, 2016

• Community Based Justice Meeting - 8:00 a.m. @ BMHS
• Boys' Varsity Baseball Spinner's Cup Round 2 - TBD
• Girls' Ultimate Frisbee vs. Newton South - 3:30 p.m. @ Locke Middle School
• Boys' Ultimate Frisbee vs. Winchester - 3:30 p.m. @ Winchester High School
• Girls' Freshmen Softball vs. Dracut - 3:30 p.m. @ Barbara Hood Field (Marshall)
• Boys' Freshmen Baseball vs. Shawsheen Tech  - 3:30 p.m. @ Hall of Fame Field (Marshall)
• Boys' Varsity Tennis vs. Wilmington- 3:30 p.m. @ Wilmington High School
• Girls' JV Softball vs. Dracut- 6:00 p.m. @ Dracut High School
• Girls' Varsity Softball vs. Dracut- 7:00 p.m. @ Dracut High School
• Student Awards' Night - 7:00 p.m. @ BMHS Auditorium

Wednesday, May 25, 2016

• Lst Day of Classes for Seniors - BBQ 1:00 p.m.
• Boys' Varsity Tennis vs. Wilmington - 3:30 p.m. @ Sam Colangelo Courts (Lampson)
• Girls' Varsity/JV Tennis vs. Lowell - 3:30 p.m. @ Shedd Park (Lowell)
• Boys' Freshmen Lacrosse vs. Xaverian - 4:00 p.m. @ Dutile Elementary
• Boys' JV Lacrosse vs. Xaverian - 5:00 p.m. @ Xaverian 
• Boys' Varsity Lacrosse vs. Xaverian - 7:00 p.m. @ Xaverian 

Thursday, May 26, 2016

• Seniors' Final Exams Day 1 
• Boys' Freshmen Baseball vs. Malden Catholic - 4:00 p.m. @ Hall of Fame Field (Marshall)
• Boys' JV Baseball vs. Malden Catholic - 4:00 p.m. @ Malden Catholic
• Boys' Varsity Baseball vs. Malden Catholic - 4:00 p.m. @ Malden Catholic
• New BMHS Building Committee Meeting - 6:30 p.m. @ Town Hall Buck Auditorium

Friday, May 27, 2016

• Seniors' Final Exams Day 2
• Girls' Ultimate Frisbee vs. Newton North - 3:30 p.m. @ Locke Middle School

Saturday, May 28, 2016

• Boys' JV Baseball vs. Methuen - 11:00 a.m. @ Methuen High School
• Boys' Varsity Baseball vs. Methuen - 11:00 a.m. @ Methuen High School

Sunday, May 29, 2016