Kaplan Test Prep

Once again KAPLAN will be offering SAT and ACT test prep courses this winter/spring to BHS juniors. Information will be mailed in the next few weeks to all juniors, but we wanted to post the schedule for students/parents that wanted to get an early jump on test prep registration. Registration must be completed as soon as possible. Burlington students only pay $279, which is a reduced price. To register please call 1-800-KAP-TEST. The schedule of classes can be found here. 

***For on-line and phone registration please use code:  BURLHS2018
This code allows you to receive the discounted rate. 

KAPLAN test prep will also offer a FREE ACT/SAT Test at BHS on January 13th at 9AM. We recommend juniors take this diagnostic free test as it can help to determine if you should take the SAT or ACT. Click here for registration information. 

As a reminder all sophomores and juniors will have an assembly on January 5th during period 8 to review how to interpret PSAT results AND the Guidance Department and Kaplan will host a PSAT results breakfast on January 24th for any interested parent. 

2017 PSAT Score Release

PSAT on-line score reports will be available on-line via collegeboard on Wednesday December 13th for Massachusetts students. It will be the responsibility of each student to access their free on-line college board account to view scores and the score report. The Guidance Department will mail home the test book before the December vacation week so students may review questions.

Included in the PSAT mailing will be information on Kaplan test prep for juniors. During period 8 on January 5th the BHS Guidance Department will give an overview of how to interpret the PSAT scores, For parents, Kaplan test prep will host a Guidance breakfast on Thursday January 24th in the BHS Guidance Conference room. Please see below for helpful links:


CLICK HERE IF YOU NEED TO CREATE A COLLEGEBOARD ACCOUNT

CLICK HERE IF YOU ALREADY HAVE A COLLEGBOARD ACCOUNT

CLICK HERE FOR A SAMPLE SCORE REPORT, HELPFUL VIDEOS AND OTHER RESOURCES

Stress and Anxiety Breakfast

The Guidance Department at Burlington High School will be hosting a Parent Breakfast on Wednesday 11/29, from 8:30-9:30 AM in the BHS Guidance College and Career Center. The purpose of this breakfast is to give parents of Burlington High School students the opportunity to have an open dialogue around stress and anxiety with Burlington High School staff members. Stress and Anxiety impacts all students in a variety of ways. The breakfast is aimed at providing insight into stress and anxiety in adolescents and effective coping strategies.  We look forward to seeing you! Please RSVP by calling 781-270-1780.

Pre-ACT at Burlington High School

The Pre-ACT, a practice test for the ACT, will be offered to any interested juniors on Saturday November 18, 2017 at Burlington High School. Most colleges require either the ACT or the SAT and do not show preference to one or the other. This Pre-ACT exam offers your son/daughter an opportunity to take a practice test prior to taking the American College Test (ACT) in their junior or senior year. Please visit www.actstudent.org for more detailed information.

Registration information for the Pre-ACT was mailed home to all parents/guardians of juniors the week of October 23rd. In order to register for the Pre-ACT, your son/daughter must create an account and complete the online registration form at www.RegiSmart.net by Monday, November 6th. The cost of the exam is $34.00. Once the payment has been submitted, students should print their registration confirmation.

If your son/daughter misses the November 6th online registration deadline, he/she may check with the Guidance Secretary to see if there is space to accommodate a late registration.  There will be an additional charge of $5.00 ($39.00 total) after November 6th.   

On Saturday morning, November 18th your son/daughter should arrive to school by 7:45 a.m. and testing will begin promptly at 8:00 a.m. Room assignments will be publicized prior to testing.  Your son/daughter should bring two sharpened #2 pencils and an approved calculator.  

An Evening with Admissions Expert Mark Montgomery

How Not To Apply to College:
Avoiding Big Mistakes on the Road to Acceptance


An Evening with Admissions Expert Mark Montgomery, PhDOctober 24, 2017, from 6:30 to 8:00 pm
Mark Montgomery, a national college admissions expert, offers his advice on how to avoid the pitfalls and pain of applying to college.

Burlington HS

Filled with good humor, a healthy dose of reality, and concrete examples of real students who avoided these mistakes, the presentation addresses these crucial questions and more:

          • How do you calculate “return on investment” in higher                                          education?

          • What is the right way to shop for colleges?

          • What are the 12 factors in the admission process?

          • What are the “hidden” parts of the Common Application?

          • Why is it so important to start early in this process?

          • How can you develop a personal strategy for success?

          • How do you preserve sanity in your household?

Dr. Montgomery earned his BA at Dartmouth College and his Masters and Doctorate at Tufts University. He has been an instructor at Harvard and a consultant at Yale. He specializes in demystifying the ways in which colleges recruit and admit students. His views and advice have appeared in US News & World Report, Money, USA Today, Forbes, The Apple Daily (Hong Kong), The Huffington Post, The Chronicle of Higher Education, and The Denver Post. He also writes a popular blog on university admission at GreatCollegeAdvice.com.

Montgomery Educational Consulting is a full service educational firm that assists students and their families as they select and apply to the best and most appropriate universities. With offices in New Jersey, Hong Kong, Oregon, and Colorado, Mark works one-on-one with students to guide them in their choices in secondary school, to articulate which educational environments lead to academic success, and identify how personal and family needs, preferences, and ambitions can be combined to help them pick the right universities—and get in.

College Topics Breakfast for Senior Parents

The Guidance Department will host a breakfast called “College Topics for Senior Parents” on 10/25/17. The purpose of this breakfast is so the counseling staff can give a very brief overview of important tasks associated with the college selection and application process. This event is geared for parents that missed the Senior College Planning Night on 9/28/17. Please join us for this informative event on October 25th at 8:30 AM in the BHS Guidance College and Career Center. Parent's MUST RSVP by calling 781-270-1780.

Financial Aid Night Review

                                                                   

Financial Aid Night for Senior parents was well attended with roughly 50 parents. Many aspects of the financial aid process were covered by Amy Staffier from Harvard University. We encourage parents to get familiar with the MEFA web-site. MEFA provides a wealth of free, accurate and up to date information. Amy encouraged parents to try the MEFA tools page, which has a number of tools you can use such at the EFC Calculator. The EFC calculator can estimate the figure that colleges will use to determine eligibility.

Two very important forms were mentioned. The FAFSA and the CSS profile. We encourage parents to investigate both applications ASAP. Don't forget you can take advantage of  a FAFSA on the web work-sheet. This can be helpful as you navigate through the FAFSA process. 

Please remember that the BHS will be a host site for FAFSA Day on Sunday January 28th beginning at 1PM. Parents MUST register for this event in advance. FAFSA Day is a volunteer driven effort which allows parents to get free assistance on how to complete the FAFSA form.

        

College Fair at the Shriners Auditorium

On Wednesday October 18th from 6:30 -8:00p.m., a college fair will be held at the Shriners Auditorium in Wilmington, MA. The Burlington High School Guidance Department co-sponsors the event with many other Middlesex League High Schools. Usually over one-hundred colleges will attend. A college fair can be a very overwhelming experience for parents and students. The National Association for College Admissions Counseling (NACAC) has developed a very helpful tips. We also recommend bringing a pre-determined list of colleges. Make it a priority to visit the schools on your list, then time permitting check out some others. Please remember you are not obligated to stay the whole time, many students spend about an hour at the event.  Below is the most up to date list of colleges attending:

Albany College of Pharmacy

Albertus Magnus College

Anna Maria College

Assumption College

Babson College

Becker College

Benjamin Franklin Institute

Bentley College

Boston University

Brandeis University

Bridgewater State University

Bryant University

Caselton University

Catherine Hinds Institute

Champlain College

Clark University

Clarkson University

Colby-Sawyer College

Colgate University

College of Mount St. Vincent

College of Our Lady of the Elms (Elms College)

College of the Holy Cross

Curry College

Dean College

Dickinson College

Eastern Nazarene College

Emmanuel College

Endicott College

Fashion Institute of Design & Merchandising

Fisher College

Fitchburg State University

Framingham State University

Franklin Pierce University

Gordon College

Hamilton College

Hampshire College

Hartwick College

High Point University

Hofstra University

Husson University

Johnson and Wales University

Keene State College

Lasell College

LeMoyne College

Lesley University

Marist College

Mass College of Pharmacy & Health Sciences

Massachusetts College of Art & Design

Massachusetts Maritime Academy

Merrimack College

Middlesex Community College

Mount Holyoke College

Mount Ida College

New England College

New England School of Photography

Newbury College

Nichols College

North Shore Community College

Northern Essex Community College

Northern Vermont University--Johnson

Northern Vermont University--Lyndon

Norwich University

Pennsylvania State University

Pine Manor College

Plymouth State University

Quinnipiac University

Regis College

Rivier College

Roger Williams University

Rutgers University--New Brunswick

Sacred Heart University

Saint Anselm College

Saint Joseph's College - Maine

Saint Leo University

Saint Michael's College

Salem State University

Salve Regina University

Savannah College of Art & Design

School of Fashion Design

Simmons College

Smith College

Southern New Hampshire University

Springfield College

Stonehill College

Suffolk University

SUNY Stonybrook University

SUNY-Geneseo

SUNY-University at Albany

Syracuse University

Temple University

Thomas College

Unity College

University of Connecticut

University of Maine-Farmington

University of Maine-Orono

University of Massachusetts - Boston

University of Massachusetts-Amherst

University of Massachusetts-Dartmouth

University of Massachusetts-Lowell

University of New England

University of New Hampshire

University of New Haven

University of Rhode Island

University of Saint Joseph's

University of Scranton

University of Southern Maine

University of Vermont

Vermont Technical College

Villanova University

Wentworth Institute of Technology

Western New England University

Westfield State College

Wheaton College

Worcester State University

Financial Aid Night

The BHS Guidance Department strongly recommends that senior parents attend a presentation on Thursday, October 12th, 2017 beginning at 6:00 PM in the BHS Auditorium. MEFA will host and give an overview of the financial aid process, specifically in regard to completing the FAFSA. The FAFSA is an on-line form that must be completed for seniors to be eligible for state and federal loans and grants (https://fafsa.gov/). This form is NOW available.

Freshman Parent Breakfast

The Burlington High School Guidance Department will be hosting a breakfast for all parents of freshman students on Wednesday October 4th in the BHS Guidance Conference Room from 8:30 to 9:30 am. The Guidance Department at BHS has recognized that it often takes a full year for students and parents to understand and access the numerous programs, resources, and committed staff we have at Burlington High School. Our goal is to expedite this process for you by discussing topics important for the transition to high school. Please join the Guidance Department for this informative and open dialogue. Parents must RSVP by calling 781-270-1780.

Senior College Planning Night

Senior Parents and Seniors are reminded that College Planning Night will be held on Thursday September 28, 2017 at 6:00 in the Burlington High School Auditorium. The evening will cover a variety of topics in regard to the college selection and application process. Several Guidance staff members will be at this event and we look forward to seeing you.

If you cannot make the event, it will be televised on BCAT. The showtimes will be posted soon.

Burlington High School Offering the PSAT/NMQT on 10/11/17

Burlington High School will be a national testing center for the administration of the PSAT Exam and National Merit Scholarship Qualifying Test on Wednesday, October 11, 2017. For the several years 85% or more Burlington High School seniors take the SAT exam. The PSAT is an excellent opportunity to prepare and gain an understanding of the SAT exam. Juniors are also eligible for a National Merit Scholarship depending on the score. The Guidance department highly recommends juniors take the exam again this year.

All sophomores will take the PSAT free of charge on 10/11.

Juniors MUST register for the PSAT in order to take the exam at Burlington High School. The fee for juniors is $26.00.  Upon completing payment students will need to print the registration form verifying they have officially registered. Students MUST bring their registration form to Guidance in order to receive a 2017 Student Bulletin.  It is important that juniors register early in the registration period to adequately prepare for the test. By reading the student bulletin thoroughly, paying particular attention to test directions, test taking tips and doing the sample practice test students will have a much better understanding of what to expect.

PSAT Registration for juniors  can be found by clicking here 

The on-line regular registration period ends Wednesday, October 4^th.  If a Junior misses the registration period, he/she 

may check with the Guidance Secretary the following day to see if there are available test booklets and space to 

accommodate a late registration. There will be an additional charge of $5.00 ($31.00 total) after October 4th.   

Guidance Events for 2017-2018

The Guidance Department is happy to announce a full schedule of BHS Guidance Events for the 2017/2018 school year (links can be found on the right hand side of this blog). In addition to ALL the BHS Guidance Events, we have the schedule for the Guidance Parent Breakfast Series. Based on parental feedback the Guidance Department has identified a variety of topics to cover throughout the school year for any interested parent.

Boston National College Fair

The Boston National College Fair will be held at the Boston Convention and Exhibition Center on Sunday, September 17 from 1-4 p.m. This year's fair will be exceptionally large, because it occurs the day after the annual conference of the National Association of College Admissions Counselors (which this year is being held in Boston).

Because so many representatives from colleges and universities are in town for the convention, close to 400 of them will be in attendance at this fair. This presents a unique opportunity for students and families to explore colleges and meet with admissions staff from institutions all over the United States, Canada, and the United Kingdom. Students at all grade levels are welcome to attend.

Click HERE for more information.

Guidance Parent Council

The Guidance Department is continuing with Guidance Parent Council. The purpose of this council is so the guidance department can meet with parents and/or students to discuss how Guidance Services function, get parental feedback on guidance services and possibly implement or review current guidance services. The dates and times still need to be finalized, but meetings will start in late-September and held after 2:00 on Thursdays. Any interested parents or students please contact Joe Attubato, Guidance Director at attubato@bpsk12.org

Free SAT or PSAT

Burlington High School students can take either a free practice SAT or PSAT test at BHS on Saturday 9/16 beginning at 9AM. In order to take either of these free tests students MUST register (registration information below).

We would recommend that seniors that missed the SAT last spring, or seniors that want to brush up on skills, take the free practice SAT test. 

Juniors and sophomores will take the collegeboard sponsored PSAT on 10/11 The test on 10/11 is a full scale PSAT,  and If students score high enough they can potentially qualify for national merit. So for students in grades 10 and 11, the practice PSAT gives them a chance to prepare for the upcoming PSAT at BHS on 10/11. The PSAT on 10/11 is NOT free for juniors, but is free for sophomores. 

For either practice test on 9/16 it gives students a chance to practice under test conditions which hopefully reduces test day stress.

Free Full Practice SAT Exam for class of 2019 and 2020

For the PSAT, students can register at:
http://bit.ly/psat_burlington17

For the SAT, students can register at:
https://kaplan.formstack.com/forms/burlington_sat_2017.

KAPLAN Test Prep

Once again KAPLAN will be offering an SAT Prep course at BHS this fall. The fall prep course offered are designed for seniors only. Click here for the schedule. Seniors should call 1-800-KAP-TEST to enroll.

ALL students are able to access free on-line practice opportunities by clicking here.

Burlington High School students can take either a free practice SAT or PSAT test at BHS on Saturday 9/16 beginning at 9AM. In order to take either of these free tests students MUST register (registration information below).

As a reminder BHS will offer the PSAT/NMSQT exam on Wednesday, October 11, 2017 for all sophomores and registered juniors.

Seniors that want one more chance to take a free practice test OR a senior that has NEVER taken an SAT exam should strongly consider registering for this free opportunity. The SAT exam will be offered at BHS on 10/7, 11/4 and 12/2.

For the PSAT, students can register at http://bit.ly/psat_burlington17

For the SAT, students can register at  https://kaplan.formstack.com/forms/burlington_sat_2017

Schedules are in the mail

Schedules were mailed out on July 5th. Please remember that all students must carry six academic courses each semester plus physical education and/or health. The one exception to this is if a junior or senior is enrolled in two or more AP courses. As a reminder the schedules mailed on July 5th will only include the course names. A follow-up schedule will be mailed out in early August which includes teacher name and classroom number.

If there is an error or omission in the schedule you need to make arrangements to correct the problem. If your schedule reads “Incomplete Schedule" you must call to schedule an appointment. There are several options available:

 

*   Beginning Monday July 10th and continuing through July 20th, then again August 7th to August 24th, Mr. Joseph Attubato, Support Services Coordinator, and several Guidance Counselors will be available (by appointment only) Mondays through Thursdays from 8:00 a.m. to 12 noon. Please call Mrs. Patty Lewis at 781-270-1780 to schedule an appointment.

*   Guidance Counselors will be available during the week of August 21st through August 24th from 8 A.M. to 12 Noon. During this week, students will be helped on a first come first served basis.

If you did not get placed into your first choice elective please feel free to call the Guidance Office and ask to have your name added to the wait-list. You are encouraged to correct any problems in your course schedule as early as possible.  Doing so will ensure a smooth opening of school for you. Also, please be advised that specific teacher requests cannot be honored.

Advice to the Class of 2021

Each spring, we ask grade nine students to reflect on the past school year and share advice about the transition to high school with the current eighth grade. Here is advice from the class of 2020 to the class of 2021.

Starting in a new place:

1. It's a little scary at first, but once you know your way around and all the teachers, it's easy.
2. Don't stress over the changing of buildings. It's easy to navigate (BHS) and teachers are supercool.
3. High school is more fun than what it seems. All of the classes are interesting.
4. Be prepared for new experiences and looking forward to what you want to do later in life.
5. Just be yourself.
6. Be open to making new friends.
7. Don’t stress out too much. It’s a big change, but you get used to it fast.

Getting around:

1. Don't worry about being lost in the beginning of the year. The teachers will help you.
2. Ask for directions!
3. Know cut-throughs between the library and art rooms when going to classes. And don’t be afraid to talk to or ask older students for help! (we're not as scary as we seem)
4. Walk around the school before the year starts. If you get lost, just ask someone. They’re very helpful.
5. YOU WILL FIND YOUR WAY AROUND THE SCHOOL.

Academics:

1. I say be prepared for the tests. Studying effectively is important, more in high school.
2. Don’t slack, even on easy assignments.
3. Keep focus in class and take notes.
4. Stay organized.
5. Do not wait until the last hour to study or do your work.
6. Don’t miss any homework and respect your teachers.
7. Don’t stress too much about a few tests; there’s always time to do better.
8. Don’t play games on your iPad and don’t give teachers a hard time.
9. Don’t stress out a lot because it will just go downhill from there.
10. School comes before sports.
11. Pick a subject that you enjoy for high levels. For subjects you enjoy less, pick lower levels.
12. Really take homework seriously. It’s helpful for quizzes and tests.
13. Ask for help as soon as you need it. Don’t wait until the end of the year.
14. Even if you don’t finish an assignment, turn it in for partial credit.
15. Take advantage of extra credit.

Getting involved:

1. Do whatever clubs you want- even if you only show up once and find out you don’t like it still try it.
2. Don’t only focus on school; save time for hobbies, friends, extracurriculars, and family.
3. Try new things; it pays off.
4. Don’t feel bad if you’re not as good at sports compared to the older students.
5. Doing a sport and trying new things is helpful. You don’t always need prior experience- give it a shot.
6. Relax and have fun!
7. If you plan to do extracurriculars, make sure you have rides.
8. Don’t try to force yourself into a group. You’ll just naturally form a group of friends without noticing it.
   

Financial Aid Workshop

Many families focus on the college search, selection and admission process. We believe that figuring out how to pay for college is also an important part of this process. The BHS Guidance Department will sponsor a Financial Aid Workshop hosted College Funding Services on:

Thursday June 8th at 6:30 in the BHS Auditorium. 

This seminar will provide information on:

         (1)   Overview of the entire financial aid process

(2)   What you can do to minimize your family contribution, and maximize your eligibility for need-based financial aid

(3)   Why you should apply even if you WILL NOT qualify for need-based aid

(4)   Fin Aid deadlines i.e. FAFSA/CSS profile

(5)   How to value different assets – Home, 529’s, retirement, etc.

(6)   Which colleges give the most money

(7)   How to leverage colleges against one another

(8)   How to appeal your financial aid package

(9)   Pros and Cons of different borrowing options

Sponsored by

College Topics for the Summer

The Guidance Department will host a breakfast called “College Topics for the Summer”. The purpose of this breakfast is so the counseling staff can give a very brief overview of important tasks associated with the college selection and application process. Although this event is geared for parents of juniors, ALL parents are welcome to attend. Please join us for this informative event. We look forward to seeing you on June 7th at 8:30 AM in the Burlington High School Guidance College and Career Center. We ask that parents RSVP by calling 781-270-1780.