Burlington High School Guidance Department

2012/2013 BHS Program of Studies

2012-02-03T09:09:00.003-05:00

The BHS Program of Studies is now available on-line. You will notice a link on the right hand side of this blog titled “2012/2013 BHS Program of Studies PDF Version”. In addition to this version, an ipad BHS Program of Studies will also be available to students within the next few weeks. We also included link to the Burlington High School Academic Chart and VHS Guidelines and application. Next Thursday, February 9^th , students in grades 9, 10 and 11 will meet with their respective Guidance Counselor and given an overview of the program and the course selection process.

Burlington High School Buddy Program

2012-02-02T13:48:00.002-05:00

Last year Burlington Public Schools piloted a High School Buddy program matching juniors and seniors at the high school with an elementary student from one of the four BPS elementary schools as a buddy/mentor. Fox Hill is looking for some more students to volunteer as buddies for the program, Wednesdays or Thursdays from 2:30-3:30pm. Please contact Alexis Dwyer, Guidance Counselor at adwyer@bpsk12.org if you are interested in finding out more information.

FAFSA Day at BHS

2012-02-01T11:51:00.003-05:00

Thanks to all for sharing your time and energy on Sunday. This was a huge group effort that wouldn’t have happened without the help of volunteers. We had approximately 130 in attendance. The day proved to be worthwhile to so many families. We hope to make this an annual event at Burlington High School. Below are some pictures from FAFSA day at BHS

FAFSA Day Massachusetts at Burlington High School on Sunday 1/29 at 2 PM

2012-01-26T20:41:00.002-05:00

Senior Parents are reminded and highly encouraged to attend FAFSA Day this Sunday (1/29) at Burlington High School. FAFSA Day Massachusetts is a non-profit program that provides free information and assistance to Massachusetts families applying for financial assistance for higher education using the FAFSA form. The event starts promptly at 2:00 PM in the BHS auditorium. Parents are also reminded that you must enter the high school through the Cafeteria entrance and park behind BHS (faculty parking lot). The main entrance doors near the rotary will not be open. Parents MUST register on line BEFORE Sunday (1/29) at http://www.fafsaday.org/registration.php. This event is sponsored by MEFA.

Pratice SAT Postponed until 1/28

2012-01-20T17:31:00.003-05:00

Due to the inclement weather the practice SAT offered by KAPLAN tomorrow (1/21) will be postponed to Saturday January 28^th at BHS beginning at 9AM.

PSAT Results Breakfast on January 25th at 8:30 A.M.

2012-01-19T15:01:00.004-05:00

The Guidance Department at Burlington High School and KAPLAN test Prep will be hosting an “Understanding PSAT Results Breakfast” on Wednesday January 25th, beginning at 8:30 A.M. The event will be held in the new Guidance College and Career Center (room 106). The purpose of this breakfast is to give parents of students who took the PSAT on October 12^th the opportunity to ask questions and get clarification on how to interpret, understand and use the PSAT results. Please join us for this informative event on January 25^th. All parents are required to RSVP at 781-270-1780. We look forward to seeing you there.

Proposal To Do Away With Class Rank At BHS and other Program of Studies Changes

2012-01-17T17:57:00.000-05:00

http://www.patrickmlarkin.com/2012/01/proposal-to-do-away-with-class-rank-at.html

College Snap Shot Update- Holy Cross

2012-01-12T13:18:00.000-05:00

College Snap Shot Update: Holy Cross

Introducing College Snap Shots

2012-01-11T15:29:00.006-05:00

In an effort to provide the Burlington High School students and their families with relevant and up-to-date college information, the Guidance Staff will be visiting various colleges and universities and providing you with information. We plan to post two colleges or universities each week for the next several weeks on our blog.The colleges visited do not represent a preference on the part of the BHS Guidance Department towards any particular school.

In the college search process many things are taken into consideration. Things that are considered, but not limited to are: Campus size, location, student population, majors, tuition prices, distance from home, athletic programs, clubs and activities. When considering a college students must also make realistic decisions based on personal interest, grades, test scores, etc.

The department feels that the college visit is an integral part of the process. The information we provide is only a small snapshot into each respective college. We hope to add information about other schools in the future and as always we appreciate any feedback that you have that would help us provide our students and their family’s useful information in the sometimes overwhelming college search process.

Furthermore, we ask that you also research colleges by using your Naviance account and scheduling to meet with your counselor on a consistent basis. Please feel free to contact your son or daughters respective counselor if you have any further questions.

Please click here for the New Blog called " College Snapshots"

KAPLAN and BHS

2012-01-09T21:56:00.002-05:00

Kaplan Test Prep and BHS continue working together. We have added a KAPLAN section to our blog (on the right hand side) and recommend parents of Juniors check it out. Please remember that KAPLAN will be offering a Free PracticeSAT on Saturday January 21st at BHS beginning at 9 AM. Also KAPLAN has released the Schedule of test prep courses available at BHS to prepare for the upcoming spring SAT tests. The cost of the prep course is $249 for BHS students. Please call 1-800-KAPTEST to register. KAPLAN will also be hosting the upcoming PSAT Results breakfast on January 25^th at 8:30 AM.

Senior Financial Aid Night

2012-01-05T13:16:00.000-05:00

The 2012 Senior Financial Aid Night sponsored by MEFA was very valuable for parents. The night was well attended. Many topics pertaining to the financial aid process were covered. A few parents inquired about the College Cost Estimator on the MEFA Web-site. Click here for an additional College Cost Estimator that was posted by the New York Times. Parents are reminded about the previous blog post last month in regard to FAFSA Day.

FAFSA Day Massachusetts is a non-profit program that provides free information and assistance to Massachusetts families applying for financial assistance for higher education. This year the event will be here at BHS on Januarey 29th at 2:00. Please remember that parents MUST register online at http://www.fafsaday.org/index.php.

MEFA College Financing Seminar at BHS

2012-01-01T06:00:00.000-05:00

Senior Parents:
This is just a reminder to senior parents that the financial aid seminar will be held on Thursday January 5, 2012. The night will commence at 7:00 in the BHS auditorium. The organization sponsoring the workshop is the Massachusetts Educational Financing Authority . The presenter will be Carla Berg, Senior Associate Director at Bentley University. The BHS Guidance department highly recommends parents attend this session. If you have any further questions please feel free to contact the Guidance Office.

Happy Holidays from the BHS Guidance Department!!

2011-12-22T10:32:00.002-05:00

During the holiday season please be sure to check out the Naviance Guidance Software Program. The program now allows Guest Access to parents and students not signed up (since this is guest access all information is not available). Burlington High School continues to fully utilize the Naviance program. The Naviance program has certainly allowed the BHS Guidance staff to streamline the college application process for seniors. However, parents should be aware that Naviance not only provides a venue for a secure system for college applications, it allows students to develop college lists, research scholarships and provides links to valuable resources. In addition, the BHS Guidance Department has tied Naviance to the BHS Developmental Guidance Program. The counseling staff strives to ensure that each grade level is utilizing the program.

Grade 9 will be introduced to the program after the new year, grades 10 and 11 can complete a personality assessment tied to possible future careers. In addition the career portion allows students to watch short video clips of a variety of careers, find out about salary information, and courses to take in high school for a particular career.

The program also has a course planner section. The counselor and student together can develop a four year academic plan and have discussions on graduations requirements, rigor of schedule and finding courses that are of interest.

If you have any questions please feel free to contact us.

PSAT Scores to be released Friday

2011-12-08T15:56:00.003-05:00

PSAT Score reports will be mailed home to parents Friday December 9, 2011 to sophomores and juniors that participated in the exam. The PSAT/NMSQT exam is a measure of three key areas: critical reading, mathematics problem solving and writing skills. The exam prepares students for the same types of questions on the SAT exam. In addition, juniors who achieve high PSAT/NMSQT scores may qualify for National Merit competition and corporate scholarships.

The PSAT score report is very parent/student friendly. Parents should take notice of the section at the bottom of the score report called "Improve your skills”. This section gives specific data based on the student’s individual PSAT exam. Furthermore, Score reports show a numerical score for each area measured, as well as a range that extends from a few points below the score to a few points above. This range shows the extent to which a student’s score might differ with repeated testing, assuming that the student’s skill level remains constant.

More information can be accessed by going to the PSAT Fact Sheet . For the past ten years roughly 90 % or more of BHS seniors take the SAT exam. The Guidance department strongly recommends that juniors take the exam in May or June. SAT registration information can be accessed through collegeboard.com

The KAPLAN program offers SAT test prep courses at Burlington High School exclusive for Burlington High School Juniors only. Students will receive a subsidized rate of $249.00. The Kaplan course calendar and registration information will be mailed home to ALL Juniors on December 9. Parents can register beginning today by calling 1-800-KAP-Test.

Also KAPLAN will be offering a FREE SAT Practice test for Juniors on January 21, 2012 beginning at 9:00AM and ending at 1:30 P.M. You can register by going to http://www.kaptest.com/College/Home/college-practice-test.html test.

Upcoming Financial Aid Events

2011-11-30T10:46:00.006-05:00

Burlington High School will be hosting two upcoming financial aid events. We highly recommend senior parents attend ( Class of 2012 ). Since both events are in January we felt it was important to remind parents before the December vacation. Please be sure to check out the side bar on the Guidance Blog for links to more specific information in regard to financial aid and scholarship information. Below are descriptions of each event:

Event: M.E.F.A. (Massachusetts Educational Financial Authority) Financial Aid Seminar
Date: Thursday January 5, 2012
Description: This seminar covers the financial aid process in detail. Carla Berg, Financial Aid Advisor at Bentley University, will be the presenter beginning at 7:00 P.M. in the BHS auditorium.

Event: FAFSA DAY 2012- http://www.fafsaday.org/
Date: Sunday January 29, 2012 2 :00 P.M.
Description: This is a non-profit volunteer driven effort across the state. This is the first time that Burlington High School will host this event. Parents and students will receive:

• Free assistance completing the FASA

• Access to experienced financial aid administrators, and FAFSA experts, available to answer FAFSA questions.

• Guidance on the financial aid process and next steps after filing the FASA.

Parents MUST register at http://www.fafsaday.org/. Although computer labs are available, it is highly recommend that parents bring a laptop that day. Also if any parents are interested in volunteering as a Support Volunteer (registration tables, setup, cleanup, etc) please feel free to register at http://www.fafsaday.org/volunteer.php

Burlington High School Grade 10 Parent Breakfast

2011-11-10T07:47:00.001-05:00

The Guidance Department at Burlington High School will be hosting a Sophomore Parent Breakfast on Wednesday November 16, 2011, from 8:30-9:45 AM in the BHS lower Library. The purpose of this breakfast is to give parents of sophomore students the opportunity to have an open dialogue with all members of the guidance staff. The BHS Guidance Department has a variety of resources available for parents and students, and many topics will be covered that are relevant to sophomores, such as the MCAS, PSATs, career and college exploration, utilizing the Naviance program, and academic planning. Please join us for this informative event. We look forward to seeing you! Please RSVP at by calling 781-270-1780.

Burlington High School Principal's Blog: Finding The Perfect School for You - (Guest Post b...

2011-11-10T07:43:00.000-05:00

Burlington High School Principal's Blog: Finding The Perfect School for You - (Guest Post b...: Image via CrunchBase Thanks to Noah Greenberg from Findthebest.com for this guest post As college application season approaches, stud...

College Fair on Tuesday October 25th, 2011 - 6:30 P.M - 8:30 P.M.

2011-10-18T14:55:00.000-04:00

On Tuesday October 25th, 2011 from 6:30 -8:30 p.m., a college fair will be held at the Shriner's Auditorium in Wilmington, MA. The Burlington High School Guidance Department co-sponsors the event with many other Middlesex League High Schools. Usually over two-hundred colleges 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 list of FAQs. We also recommend bringing a pre-determined list of schools. Make it a priority to visit the schools on your list, then time permitting check out some other schools. Please click here for a full list of colleges and universities attending the college fair.

Breakfast for Senior Parents on 10/19 at 8:30 A.M.

2011-10-14T09:59:00.002-04:00

On Wednesday October 19^th at 8 30 A.M. in the BHS Lower Library the Guidance Department will host a breakfast for senior parents. The purpose of the breakfast is so the counseling staff can give a very brief overview of the college application and selection process, but our hope is to spend most of the time answering any questions or concerns from parents about the college process. Please join us for this informative event. We look forward to seeing you on October 19th at 8:30 AM in the BHS Lower Library. Please RSVP at 781-270-1780.

PSAT Exam on 10/12/2011

2011-10-11T15:11:00.000-04:00

Sophomores and juniors taking the PSAT are reminded to bring three sharpened number 2 pencils and a calculator. Burlington High School has a very limited amount of calculators on hand. Although the math sections can be completed without the aid of a calculator, having one can be very helpful. Testing assignments for juniors have been posted and sophomore assignments will be announced in homeroom. Students will report to their assigned testing room after homeroom.

Senior College Planning Night

2011-10-06T09:01:00.002-04:00

Senior College Planning Night was well attended with roughly 100 parents. Many aspects of the college planning and application process were covered. For parents that missed the event, BCAT will be streaming the event within the next week. For those that would like to view the powerpoint, please click here. College informational packets were distributed as well. If you would like to pick up a packet please feel free to stop by the Guidance Office.

In terms of financial aid, two very important forms were mentioned. The FAFSA and the CSS profile. We encourage parents to investigate both applications ASAP. Please remember that the BHS Guidance Department will host a Financial Aid Night on Thursday January 6, 2012 and BHS will be a location this year for FAFSA Day on January 29th.

Senior College Planning Night on 10/5 at 6:30P.M.

2011-10-03T15:35:00.000-04:00

Senior Parents and Seniors are reminded that College Planning Night will be held on Wednesday October 5, 2011 at 6:30 in the Burlington High School Auditorium. The evening will cover a variety of topics in regard to the college selection and application process. The entire guidance staff 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.

PSAT Exam on 10/12/2011

2011-10-03T06:54:00.002-04:00

The PSAT Exam and National Merit Scholarship Qualifying Test will be administered to sophomores and juniors on Wednesday October 12, 2011 at Burlington High School. Although the Class of 2013 took the PSAT Exam last year, the BHS Guidance Department highly recommends students take the exam junior year as well. Sophomores do not need to pay for the exam. However, Juniors do have to pay a $25.00 fee.

In addition, juniors who achieve high PSAT/NMSQT scores may qualify for National Merit competition and corporate scholarships. The PSAT exam offers your son/daughter an additional opportunity to take a practice test prior to taking the American College Test (ACT) or the SAT Test in the spring. Please visit www.collegeboard.com for more detailed PSAT information.

In order to register for the PSAT/NMQT your son/daughter must complete the form that was mailed home three weeks ago and submit the form with a $25.00 fee to the Guidance Secretary. Each student will receive a 2011 Student Bulletin when they register. It is important that your son/daughter 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.

Sophomores do NOT have to pay for the exam. However, juniors must pay a fee of $25.00. Please remember that the regular registration period ends Wednesday, October 5th at the close of school. If you miss the registration period, you may check with the Guidance Secretary to see if there are available test booklets and space to accommodate a late registration. If spots are available there will be an additional charge of $5.00 ($30.00 total) after October 5th .

Burlington High School Grade 9 Parent Breakfast

2011-09-30T10:13:00.002-04:00

We appreciated your positive feedback and are looking forward to keeping you apprised of changes based on your continued input.

One question that came up was about the scholarship points which can be earned over four years and submitted as part of senior scholarship applications. Scholarship points are part of the Adopt-a-Class program which is part of the Burlington Community Scholarship Foundation. Students can begin to earn these points during their freshman year, and events are well publicized throughout the building on flyers and on the daily announcements. The advisor to Adopt a Class is Mr. Mark Sullivan.

Please check out this link from the Burlington Community Scholarship Program which explains Adopt-a-Class in detail. http://www.burlington.org/BCSFAdopt.htm

In addition other information that was distributed is listed below:

BHS Guidance Department Informational Sheet
BHS Guidance Breakfast Series
BHS Guidance Events for the 2011/2012 school year

Again, thank you for your continued engagement and look forward to working with your children and with you for the next four years.

Service Academy Night- November 2, 2011

2011-09-29T16:08:00.000-04:00

The Danversport Yacht Club will be hosting the annual Service Academy Night on Wednesday November 2, 2011 beginning at 6:30 P.M. A congressional staff member will be on hand to discuss the federal academy appointment and nomination process.

School and service representatives attending:
Naval Academy
Military Academy
Air Force Academy
US Merchant Marine
US Coast Guard
Mass. National Guard
Mass. Maritime Academy
Maine Maritime Academy
SUNY Maritime Academy
Navy ROTC
Army ROTC
Air Force ROTC
Norwich University
The Citadel
Valley Forge Military Academy
Virginia Military Institute
US Marine Corps

Please click here for more specific information.

G.P.A and Class Rank

2011-09-26T10:09:00.001-04:00

Attention Class of 2012, 2013 and 2014,

Please be advised that student GPA’s have been updated on your Naviance account. For those that aren’t familiar with the Grade Point Average (G.P.A) process, please go to page 11 in the BHS Program of Studies for a detailed explanation of the calculation process. Colleges and Universities require students to submit a G.P.A (along with many other pieces of information) when applying to college (usually in fall of senior year). Please remember that when grades are reported to colleges and universities only FINAL grades are submitted from each year (with the exception of senior year). The cumulative record of final grades is called the, “transcript”. Rank is available for the class of 2012 and 2013 only.

Grade 9 Parent Breakfast

2011-09-23T14:19:00.001-04:00

The Burlington High School Guidance Department will be hosting a breakfast for all parents of freshman students on Wednesday, September 28, 2011 in the Lower Library from 8:30 am to 9:45 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. You can RSVP by calling 781-270-1780. Thanks

BHS Guidance Events scheduled for the 2011/2012 school year

2011-09-20T14:58:00.002-04:00

The Guidance Department is excited to inform parents of all the guidance related events that we will be hosting throughout the 2011/2012 school year. Whether you are a parent of a freshman, sophomore, junior or senior, we have something for all grade levels. Since our Guidance Breakfasts were so well attended last year, we have added to our Guidance Breakfast series. Please be sure to check out the FULL schedule of all Guidance events by clicking here. Also to see our Guidance Breakfast schedule click here.

Two Guidance events have been re-scheduled
The first event that has been re-scheduled is the Senior College Planning Night. The Senior College Planning Night was originally schedule for 9/29 at 6:30 P.M. The new time for Senior College Planning Night will be Wednesday 10/5 at 6:30 P.M. in the BHS Auditorium. All seniors and senior parents are welcome to attend.

The second event is for grade 9 parents. The Freshman Parent Breakfast is moving from Wednesday 9/21 at 8:30 A.M. in the BHS Lower Library to Wednesday 9/28 at 8:30 A.M. in the BHS Lower Library We apologize for any confusion this may cause you.

As always please feel free to e-mail or call us with any questions. Our contact information can be found on the right hand side under “contact us".

KAPLAN FALL COURSE OFFERING

2011-09-09T07:20:00.003-04:00

Seniors:
You still have time to register for KAPLAN SAT prep. offered at Burlington High School. KAPLAN will be offering two fall courses. The first course begins this Saturday (9/10), and the second course begins on 9/27. You may enroll in the Kaplan Course by calling 1-800-KAP-TEST. Please make sure to say you are from BHS so that you can get your discount. The cost of the course with a discount is $249.00.

Summer Update from the BHS Guidance Office

2011-08-10T17:27:00.004-04:00

We hope you summer is going well. The start of the school year is fast approaching. The Guidance Department would like students and parents to be aware of some Guidance related changes in terms of staff and also some updated information in regard to schedules.

Guidance Personnel Changes:
Molly Leary returns for the 2011/2012 school year.

Leisel Smith will continue her leave of absence for the 2011/2012 school year. Her replacement will be Amanda Magnan. We are confident that Amanda will be ready to serve Mrs. Lesiel Smith’s caseload. Amanda worked in the Burlington High School Guidance office last school year

Chrissy Robinson is staying on board as our School Adjustment Counselor/ Social Worker. We are lucky to have this added resource to our Guidance services at BHS. Part of her role will include home visits, conducting group work with students and coordinating our new work study program.

Please note that due to re-structuring in the Guidance office many members of the class of 2013 have been assigned a different counselor. Please remember that your updated Guidance Counselor can be found in the upper right hand corner of your schedule.

Schedules:
The second round of schedules will be mailed out this week. The schedules include teacher name and room number for each class. Study hall room assignments will be given out the first day of school. The Guidance Office is still taking appointments the week of August 15th for incomplete schedules. Also the Guidance Office will be open the week of August 22nd for walk in appointments only. Please contact 781-270-1780 to schedule an appointment.

Bay Path Course for the Fall

2011-07-20T10:41:00.002-04:00

Do you have a schedule conflict?
Do you want to take a college course and receive high school AND college credit?

If you answered yes to either of these questions please consder taking a fall course at the Bay Path College, Burlington High School campus. As many know we share a campus with Bay Path College. Bay Path is offering a business course called “Dynamics of Management” available to juniors and seniors. Students can take one less course during the school day and receive college credit. We have been offering this course for the past three years and the benefit here is students leave BHS with 3 college credits. Applications need to be dropped off at the Guidance Office August 15th. Click here for an application.

Schedules are in the Mail

2011-06-28T10:22:00.002-04:00

On Wednesday June 29 the 2011-2012 class schedules will be mailed. Please remember that all students must carry six academic courses each semester plus physical education and/or health.

Also if there is an error or omission in the schedule you need to make arrangements to correct the problem. If your schedule reads “Please Schedule an Appointment with Guidance” at the bottom then your schedule is invalid and it is imperative that you call to schedule an appointment. There are several options available:

• Beginning Monday July 11th and continuing through July 28th, then again August 15th to August 18th, 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 beginning on July 5th to schedule an appointment.

• Guidance Counselors will be available during the week of August 22nd through August 25th from 8 A.M. to 12 Noon. During this week, students will be helped on a first come first serve basis.

You are encouraged to correct any problems in your course schedule as early as possible. Doing so will insure a smooth opening of school for you. Also, please be advised that specific teacher requests cannot be honored.

Great Opportunities for BHS Students

2011-06-15T15:34:00.002-04:00

We are so excited to inform students of some “new” outstanding opportunities available at Burlington High School for the 2011/2012 school year. Each summer the Guidance Department meets with many students in order to choose available alternate elective courses. Over the years we have been limited to what is listed in our program of studies. However, for the 2011-2012 school year, we have some new and exciting opportunities as part of the course offerings that students need to be aware of. We believe students and parents should strongly consider some of these options. Below are the highlights and details for each unique option. Please don’t hesitate to email or call your son or daughters respective counselor for more details.

This “New” Course just added two weeks ago called “Student Help Desk”. This will be an elective course in the 500-900 range and will be open to students in grades 10-12 to start the year. Students who sign-up for BHS help desk are expected to have an interest in technology and an ability to problem solve and interact with others. Details on registering for this course can be found by clicking here.

A “New” work study program:
CAREER/COMMUNITY SERVICE INTERN PROGRAM!!!!!The Career/Community Service Intern program is a volunteer or paid work experience program offered by Burlington High School for Juniors and Seniors in good academic standing. In this program, students get a chance to gain real-world experience in a career or community service area of interest, assume adult responsibilities, and develop outstanding work habits at volunteer or paid internship sites located in the community. Students will receive quarterly evaluations from their site supervisor and high school coordinator. Students are expected to turn in required paperwork, time sheets and evaluations to the high school coordinator on a regular basis. Students will be expected to complete a resume and cover letter at the completion of the program and will be required to participate in on-line discussion groups. Please see Ms. Robinson in Guidance for more information and program application.

As many know we share a campus with Bay Path College. Bay Path is offering a business course called “Dynamics of Management” available to juniors and seniors. Students can take one less course during the school day and receive college credit. We have been offering this course for the past three years and the benefit here is students leave BHS with 3 college credits. Click here for an application.

Lastly, for juniors and seniors, many students take advantage of the VHS program. The VHS (Virtual High School) Program offers many unique and interesting courses NOT offered at BHS. We have had students take courses such as AP Psychology, criminology, contemporary Irish literature, screenwriting and forensic science. In order to take VHS course students should complete an VHS application by clicking here.

Guidance Breakfast Wednesday June 15th @ 8:30 A.M.

2011-06-13T09:48:00.001-04:00

The BHS Guidance Department cordially invites junior parents to join us for our last Guidance Breakfast of the 2010/2011 school year. The topic will be about the "College Topics for the Summer". The breakfast will be held in the BHS Lower Library at 8:30am on Wednesday June 15th. Please RSVP by calling 781-270-1780. We look forward to seeing you!

Grade 9 and 10 Naviance Presentation

2011-06-06T21:25:00.000-04:00

The Naviance Program is a college and career software program. This software program is critical to the BHS Guidance Developmental Model. Not only can students conduct college and career research, they can track graduation requirements, complete a personality assessment to identify possible careers, complete a four year plan, find out information about volunteer work, and connect with their guidance counselor via e-mail. As part of the first step of using the Naviance program we are requiring ALL freshmen to complete the “BHS Class of 2014 Freshmen survey” which can be accessed using the Naviance program. The Guidance Department asks parents to encourage their son or daughter to complete the registration and survey ASAP. Again the name of the survey is the “BHS Class of 2014 Freshmen survey” and can be found under the “about me” tab on your son or daughters Naviance Homepage. The information gathered will help the BHS Guidance Department gain valuable information and help us improve our Guidance services.

College Financing Seminar May 12th

2011-05-10T12:40:00.000-04:00

Sophomores, juniors and their parents are invited to attend a free presentation on college financing this Thursday, May 12th at 6:30 p.m. in the BHS cafeteria.

This seminar is offered through the Massachusetts Educational Financing Authority (MEFA), the Commonwealth's resource for planning, saving and paying for college. An experienced MEFA representative, Carla Berg of Bentley University, will provide an overview of the financial aid process, including types of financial aid, how to apply, and determining financing options for your family.

Families will receive a seminar booklet which serves as a year-round resource. Time is allowed for questions and answers. Please contact the BHS Guidance Department at 781-270-1780 if you have any questions.

" Race to Nowhere" at BHS

2011-04-14T19:24:00.004-04:00

Burlington High School will be a host sight for the movie" Race to Nowhere" on Thursday April 28th at 7:00 P.M.The movie offers insight into the high stress environment our students are faced with everyday. We highly recommend students and parents attend. Please click here for registration information.

“Featuring the heartbreaking stories of young people across the country who have been pushed to the brink, educators who are burned out and worried that students aren’t developing the skills
they need, and parents who are trying to
do what’s best for their kids, Race to Nowhere
points to the silent epidemic in our schools: cheating has become commonplace, students have become isengaged, stress-related illness, depression and burnout are rampant, and young people arrive at college and the workplace unprepared and uninspired.”

The Dan Whitehead Memorial Scholarship

2011-04-08T11:28:00.000-04:00

Seniors
We have extended the deadline on the Dan Whitehead Memorial Scholarship to May 2nd. We encourage you to apply. The award is for any BHS senior that is majoring in a service related industry (included, but not limited to, education, social services or criminal justice). You may download the application from your Naviance account or feel free to swing by the Guidance office and pick up a copy of the application.

BHS Guidance Breakfast- Wednesday April 13th @ 8:30 A.M.

2011-04-04T10:57:00.004-04:00

The BHS Guidance Department cordially invites parents of underclassmen ( grades 9, 10 and 11) to join us for the next Guidance Breakfast. The topic will be about the "Naviance Program". Naviance is our college and career software planning program that we utilize for all students throughout the course of their high school career. We encourage parents to be involved in secondary planning with their son or daughter. The Guidance department feels that advanced planning allows for better post secondary decisions. Statistics show the majority of new students entering higher education leave their initial college of choice without completing a degree. We have found this statistic to be true nationally and locally as well. This is why we feel proper research and planning is increasingly important.
The breakfast will be held in the BHS Lower Library at 8:30am on Wednesday April 13th. Please RSVP by calling 781-270-1780. We look forward to seeing you!

Burlington High School Scholarship Program

2011-03-18T08:49:00.007-04:00

Attention Seniors,

March 28th is the deadline for the Burlington High School General Scholarship Application. All general scholarship applications must be delivered directly to the Guidance secretaries. A receipt will be given for the General Scholarship Application indicating that the Guidance Department has received the General Scholarship application. This application takes approximately 5 to 10 minutes.

Filling this scholarship automatically places your name in the running for over 90 scholarships. We encourage ALL students to apply, whether four year, two year, trade school, etc.

Please click here for a full description of the BHS Scholarship Program, application Info. and deadlines.

As a reminder all applications can be downloaded on the Naviance program, however all applications must be submitted in paper format ONLY to the Guidance Department. Please do not e-mail any completed applications.

On-Line Course Selections

2011-03-08T09:02:00.006-05:00

We uncovered a small bug in the online request portal.
After logging in, when a student clicks on the Request Side Tab it is important that they only click on this button ONCE. It might take a few seconds for the page to load.
Please be patient, because clicking on this button more than once will cause an issue with your course requests.

The on-line course selection process begins today. All students will be responsible for selecting courses on-line. Students are reminded that helpful links can be found on the right hand side of this blog. Also please remember that your log-in information was provided in homeroom. If you don't have your information please see your Guidance Counselor.
After you sign in you will be prompted to change your password. The student portal will be open beginning today and will close day ending March 14th. BHS Counselors will be available during the school day every period and until 2:15 beginning March 8th until March 14th in the BHS lower library. Guidance Counselors will also be avilable for on-line chats. Dates and links for the on-line chats are also on the right hand side of this blog.

BHS Guidance Breakfast- March 2nd at 8:30AM

2011-02-28T15:58:00.005-05:00

The BHS Guidance Department cordially invites parents to join us for the next Guidance Breakfast. The topic will be about the "Course Selection Process". The breakfast will be held in the BHS Lower Library at 8:30am on Wednesday March 2. Please RSVP by calling 781-270-1780. We look forward to seeing you!

2011 BHS Program of Studies Finalized

2011-02-08T09:45:00.001-05:00

The 2011 Program of Studies has now been finalized. On the right hand side you will notice three different formats for the on-line BHS Program of Studies. Students and parents are reminded that the Program of Studies will only be available on-line. We have listed some notable changes to the 2011 Program below:

New courses:

Advanced Placement Studio Art- Grade 12

Advanced Placement Statistics- Grade 12

Spanish for Health Care Careers- Grade 11 and 12, and two years of Spanish

Introduction to Health Occupations- Seniors and juniors (space permitting)

Italian IV- This course already exits; we are just adding a level

Other Changes:

Change of senior health requirement:
Seniors are required to enroll in one of the following courses. Each course meets the BHS Senior Health Graduation Requirement:
                                    Introduction to Sports Medicine
                                    Introduction to Health Occupations
                                    Senior Wellness

AP Program Change for seniors ONLY:
Seniors are allowed to enroll in 29.5 credits, if enrolled in two or more AP courses.

The following change applies to the INCOMING Freshman class (class of 2015).
The below chart is the new weighting system used for BHS courses.

Mark                  AP                        Honors                          CP I & CP II

A or A +           5.0                           4.5                              4.0

A-                     4.7                           4.2                               3.7

B+                    4.3                           3.8                               3.3

B                      4.0                           3.5                               3.0

B -                    3.7                           3.2                               2.7

C+                    3.3                           2.8                               2.3

C                      3.0                           2.5                               2.0

C-                     2.7                           2.2                               1.7

D+                    2.3                           1.8                                1.3

D                      2.0                           1.5                                1.0

D-                     1.7                           1.2                                0.7

F                       0.0                           0.0                                0.0

New Facebook Application for the College Admissions Process

2011-02-08T09:27:00.001-05:00

Facebook is jumping into the college search and selection process. Since most BHS students and parents have facebook accounts, we recommend taking a look at this new feature. Please click here for access to the article discussing the rationale for creating this new feature. Also please click here for the “Admission Splash” feature on facebook. Although we utilize Naviance for the college search and selection process, we recommend trying other college searches on a variety of web-sites ( some are on the right side of this blog under "College Planning Resources").

PSAT Breakfast

2011-02-07T13:27:00.000-05:00

The Fourth Guidance Breakfast turned out to be a very informative session for those parents that attended. Please see the PowerPoint below for the information that was presented. If you have any questions in regard to interpreting PSAT results please do not hesitate to contact your son or daughters respective guidance counselor. Also please mark your calendar for the next Guidance Breakfast. It will be held on March 2, 2011 and the topic covered will be the course selections process. Again feel free to RSVP at 781-270-1780. Thanks

PSAT powerpoint

View more presentations from Burlington Public Schools.

Reminder for Tonight 2/3/2011

2011-02-03T09:59:00.003-05:00

Just a reminder that tonight the Guidance Department will host an event called "Smart Buys in Education". Mark Montgomery presented last year and gave BHS parents some very useful, relevent and current information. We are glad to see him back in Burlington this year.

Below are event details.

Thursday February 3, 2011 Smart Buys in Education ( Click Here )

6:30 P.M. - 8:00 P.M - Families can learn how to get the most out of their higher education dollars.

Location : BHS Auditorium

For parents of students in grades 8 through 11.

No RSVP Necessary

Hosted by Mark Montgomery, Independent College Consultant

Upcoming BHS Guidance Events

2011-01-24T12:36:00.004-05:00

The BHS Guidance department hopes you take full advantage of all the great opportunities to gain valuable knowledge for academic and college planning. Please call us with any questions.

Wednesday, February 2, 2011 PSAT Parent Breakfast- (Snow Date 2/4/2011)
8:30 A.M. - 9:15A.M. This breakfast is to help parents understand PSAT results
Location: BHS Cafeteria .
For parents of students in grade 10 and 11.
Parents must RSVP at 781-270-1780.

Thursday February 3, 2011 Smart Buys in Education ( Click Here )
6:30 P.M. - 8:00 P.M - Families can learn how to get the most out of their higher education dollars.
Location : BHS Auditorium
For parents of students in grades 8 through 11.
No RSVP Necessary
Hosted by Mark Montgomery, Independent College Consultant.

Thursday February 10, 2011 Sophomore/Junior Parent Planning Night
6:30 P.M. – 8:00 P.M This presentation is about academic and college planning.
Location: BHS Auditorium
For parents of students in grade 10 and 11.
No RSVP Necessary

Wednesday March 2, 2011 Course Selection Process Breakfast
8:30 A.M. - 9:15A.M. This breakfast is designed to give parents an overview of the course selection process.
Location: BHS Cafeteria
For parents of students in grade 9, 10, or 11.
Parents must RSVP at 781-270-1780

Burlington High Staff Members visit Shawsheen Technical Valley High School

2011-01-11T09:52:00.046-05:00

Today Burlington High School staff members attended an informational luncheon at Shawsheen Valley Technical High School. Shawsheen is a most impressive school for students interested in pursuing one of many possible trades:

Arts & Communications(Design and Visual Communication, Graphic Design, Business Technology, Computer Science and Internet Technology)
Construction (Carpentry, Electrical, HVAC, and Masonry)
Electro/Mechnical (Drafting, Machine Shop, Electronics, Metal Fabrication)
Services (Bakery, Cosmo, Culinary, Health)
Transportation (Automotive, Autobody)
Health Sciences( Health Assisting, Dental Assisting, Medical LabTechnician)

The application deadline for current 8th graders is February 1, 2011. The deadline for current 9th, 10th and 11th graders is in the late spring. If you are interested in attending the upcoming career night please click here.

MEFA College Financing Seminar at BHS

2011-01-03T08:08:00.002-05:00

Senior Parents:
This is just a reminder to senior parents that a financial aid seminar will be held on Thursday January 6, 2011. The night will commence at 7:00 in the BHS auditorium. The organization sponsoring the workshop is the Massachusetts Educational Financing Authority . The presenter will be Carla Berg, Senior Associate Director at Bentley University. The BHS Guidance department highly recommend that senior parents attend this session. If you have any further questions please feel free to contact the Guidance Office at 781-270-1780.

In addition on Wednesday February 2, 2011, parents are invited to attend College Goal Sunday. This is a volunteer driven effort to provide FREE assistance to students and families seeking to complete the FAFSA. The Massachusetts Educational Financing Authority sponsors the event with the assistance of many community based organizations. This year one of the sponsoring locations is in Wakefield, MA on Wednesday February 2, 2011 begin at 6:00. The location will be at the Northeast Metro Technical School. Click here for directions.

PSAT Exam Results Mailed Home

2010-12-14T13:12:00.004-05:00

PSAT Score reports were mailed home to parents Tuesday December 7, 2010 to sophomores and juniors that participated in the exam. The PSAT/NMSQT exam is a measure of three key areas: critical reading, mathematics problem solving and writing skills. The exam prepares students for the same types of questions on the SAT exam. In addition, juniors who achieve high PSAT/NMSQT scores may qualify for National Merit competition and corporate scholarships.

The PSAT score report is very parent/student friendly. Parents should take notice of the section at the bottom of the score report called "Improve your skills”. This section gives specific data based on the student’s individual PSAT exam.

More information can be accessed by going to the PSAT Fact Sheet . For the past eight years roughly 90 % of BHS seniors take the SAT exam. The Guidance Department strongly recommends that juniors take the exam in May or June. SAT registration information can be accessed through collegeboard.com

The KAPLAN program offers SAT/ACT test prep courses at Burlington High School. Burlington juniors receive a subsidized rate of $249.00. Please click here to see the KAPLAN schedule and enrollment instructions. In addition we recommend that BHS juniors take advantage of the free ACT/SAT Combo practice test on Saturday January 22, 2011. Please call 1-800-KAPTEST for registration. For information on all KAPLAN programs at BHS please click here.

* Also New this year is Free Online Preparation for all students. Choose from SAT, ACT and PSAT prep. Log into Kaptest.com, and use the following discount codes to activate the course for your student for free.
SAT Course: Code SATKAS

ACT Course: Code ACTKAS

PSAT Course: Code PSATKAS

Bay Path College Spring 2011 Course Offering

2010-12-02T07:40:00.004-05:00

Burlington High School in conjunction with Bay Path College is happy to offer a spring business course for Burlington High School students. This is an excellent opportunity for selected seniors (and juniors) to receive dual credit. Dual credit gives BHS students the opportunity to receive college credit and high school credit. Given that Bay Path has a satellite campus at BHS travel requirements are minimal. Below are specific details about the course and requirements.

1. In order to be eligible to apply the student must be a Burlington High School junior or senior. Seats will be given on a first come, first served basis and Seniors will be given priority.

2. Students must have a strong academic background, proven attendance and excellent discipline in order to be eligible for the course.

3. The course begins Thursday March 3, 2011.

4. Three Bay Path credits and five Burlington High School credits will be awarded to those students who successfully complete the course.

5. Applications should be returned to the Guidance Department ASAP, but no Later than January 7th, 2011.

6. Students do NOT have to pay for the course, but will re required to pay for the required text.

To obtain an application stop by the guidance office or click here.

Scholarship and Merit Aid at Boston University

2010-10-20T18:10:00.003-04:00

Seniors applying to BU should pay special attention to the some excellent opportunities to receive scholarships and merit aid. Although very competitive we recommend any student applying to Boston University should explore this option. To research more information please click here

Naviance and the Common Application

2010-10-20T07:45:00.002-04:00

Seniors:
As discussed at the school assembly yesterday, BHS is now a Naviance/Common Application high school. ALL seniors applying to any college or university should create an account with the common application. In addition, you need to follow additional steps to complete this process. Please click here for a step by step process on the entire Naviance College Application Process.
Completing these steps will ensure that the colleges in which you are applying to will receive your transcripts in a timely manner. As always please see your Guidance Counselor with any questions or concerns.

PSAT Exam on 10/13/2010

2010-10-12T10:13:00.002-04:00

The PSAT Exam will be offered to ALL Sophomores and registered Juniors. All room assignments have been posted throughout the school. Please be sure to bring three sharpened # 2 pencils and a calculator. If you have any further question please contact the Guidance Office at 781-270-1780.

Adopt A Class

2010-10-08T13:14:00.000-04:00

Adopt A Class Opportunities – Sign up to earn your points needed for Adopt A Class scholarships. All high school students need to volunteer a minimum of 2 hours per year to qualify for an Adopt A Class Scholarship. Sign ups in BHS Main Office.
• October 12, 13, & 14 BCSF Annual Telethon

• October 15 Fox Hill Pumpkin Fair

• October 22 Memorial School Annual Halloween Party

• October 23 Adopt A Class Fall Family Harvest Fest

• December Lions Club Christmas Tree Sale

You must sign up for the event and sign with Mr. Sullivan at BHS in order to receive credit. Please wear your BCSF tee-shirt when volunteering.

PSAT Exam on 10/13/2010

2010-10-04T09:35:00.003-04:00

The PSAT Exam and National Merit Scholarship Qualifying Test will be administered to sophomores and juniors on Wednesday October 13, 2010 at Burlington High School. Although the Class of 2012 took the PSAT Exam last year, the BHS Guidance Department highly recommends students take the exam junior year as well. Juniors are reminded that the PSAT registration deadline is Wednesday October 6th, 2010. Sophomores do NOT need to register for the test, only Juniors.

The PSAT exam measures, critical reading skills, Math problem-solving skills and Writing skills AND prepares students to take the SAT exam Each student will receive a very useful score report with details on strengths and weaknesses. In addition recommendations are made on how students may improve. Registration information was mailed home. However, if you would like another copy of the registraation please click here.

Senior College Planning Night

2010-09-30T07:14:00.002-04:00

Senior Parents and Seniors are reminded that College Planning Night will be held on Thursday September 30, 2010 at 6:30 in the Burlington High School Auditorium. The evening will cover a variety of topics in regard to the college selection and application process. The entire guidance staff 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.

"New Counselor Hired for Barbara Malatesta"

2010-09-22T15:20:00.002-04:00

The following is a post from Ms. Minty:

I hope you haven't been too nervous in awaiting your new counselor, but here I am. My name is Ms. Minty and I just started at Burlington High School today. Prior to this year, I was a guidance counselor at Belmont High School. For seniors I am ready to help you navigate through the college application process whether you've already got your list all set or you're still trying to figure out what you want to do.If you are planning to apply to a college early action or early decision I would strongly encourage you to make an appointment by the first week of October. If you plan to apply for regular decision deadlines (such as January 1st), we can meet as late as mid-November, though you're welcome to come sooner.

For all other students please feel free to come to the guidance office to sign up for an appointment with me during one of your study halls.

For the next week or so, please be patient with me if all my systems are not yet up and running, but I am still very much available to answer your questions and give you general advice.

~Ms. Minty

College Visits at BHS

2010-09-14T09:15:00.002-04:00

The Guidance Department will continue having a variety of colleges and universities come to BHS to speak with interested seniors over the next few months. Below is the list of colleges and universities that will be attending BHS this month. Seniors are reminded that they MUST sign up for a visit in advance and also get teacher approval. For seniors that miss, please inform your guidance counselor so she may pick up any information that you need. Seniors can sign up through Naviance. Meeting with college reps can be very beneficial; in many instances the college representative at BHS is also the representative that reviews BHS applications.

Salve Regina 9/15 1:00 p.m.

Becker College 9/16 8:00 a.m.

Newbury College 9/16 9:30 a.m.

Fisher College 9/16 1:15 p.m.

Assumption 9/17 10:15 a.m.

Univ. of Connecticut 9/20 11:00 a.m.

St. Anselm College 9/20 1:00 p.m.

Mt. Holyoke College 9/21 10:00 a.m.

Johnson State College 9/21 1:00 p.m.

Salem State University 9/22 11:00 a.m.

Thomas College 9/22 12:30 p.m.

Mass College of Pharmacy 9/23 9:00 a.m.

Wheelock College 9/24 10:00 a.m.

University of Rhode Island 9/24 1:00 p.m.

Coastal Carolina Univsity 9/28 9:00 a.m.

Lasell College 9/28 10:00 a.m.

Fitchburg State University 9/28 11:00 a.m.

Franklin Pierce University 9/29 8:00 a.m.

Suffolk University 9/29 9:30 a.m.

Mount Ida College 9/29 1:00 p.m.

Boston University 9/30 10:00 a.m.

Maine College of Art 9/30 12:30 p.

"Academy Night 2010 "

2010-09-09T08:35:00.000-04:00

Congressman John F. Tierney invites all high school students in Massachusetts’s 6th Congressional District who have an interest in learning more about the admissions process for one of the nation’s service academies, to attend Academy Night 2010 at 7 p.m. Tuesday, Sept. 14, on the Danvers campus of North Shore Community College.

Students who wish to attend the U.S. Naval Academy, U.S. Air Force Academy, U.S. Military Academy or the U.S. Merchant Marine Academy must send a completed application packet to Tierney’s Peabody district office by Nov. 1. During November, Tierney's Academy Review Board will evaluate each application, conduct interviews and make recommendations for names to be submitted for nomination to the respective academies in December.

In order to be considered eligible, all applicants must be citizens of the United States, legal residents of the 6th District of Massachusetts, unmarried with no children and at least 17 years of age but no older than 23 as of July 1, 2011.

Representatives of the U.S. Coast Guard Academy, Maine Maritime Academy, Massachusetts Maritime Academy and Norwich University will also be on hand.

For more information about applying to any of the service academies, contact Claudia Neidhardt in Tierney’s office at 978-531-1669

Burlington Partners with Bay Path College Again

2010-09-03T10:17:00.001-04:00

Burlington High School in conjunction with Bay Path College is happy to offer a fall course for Burlington High School Seniors. This is an excellent opportunity for selected seniors (and juniors) to receive dual credit. Dual credit gives BHS students the opportunity to receive college credit and high school credit. Given that Bay Path has a satellite campus at BHS travel requirements are minimal. Below are specific details about the course and requirements.
1. In order to be eligible to apply the student must be a Burlington High School junior or senior. Seats will be given on a first come, first served basis and Senior will be given priority
2. Students must have a strong academic background, proven attendance and excellent discipline in order to be eligible for the course.
3. Wednesdays 6 pm – 9 pm; September 29, 2010 – December 15, 2010 (No class 11/24 & 12/1)
4. Three Bay Path credits and five Burlington High School credits will be awarded to those students who successfully complete the course.
5. Applications should be returned to the Guidance Department ASAP, but no later than 9/15/2010.
6. Students do NOT have to pay for the course, but will re required to pay for the required text.

For an application click here.

KAPLAN FALL COURSE OFFERING

2010-08-31T13:36:00.000-04:00

Once again KAPLAN will be offering SAT test prep courses to BHS students. Information was mailed home to members of the class of 2011 this past June, this mailing included registration information and a fall schedule. Registration must be completed as soon as possible. Burlington students only pay $249, which is a reduced price.

There is a money-back guarantee for students who have already completed a Kaplan course if they attended all classes, utilized the full program (including homework) and their SAT scores did not improve from their previous scores (PSAT or SAT – whichever is the latest set of scores). Please For further information and registration please call 1-800-KAP-TEST. Additionally KAPLAN is offering a free on-line prep Prep service.

BHS Schedules are in the mail

2010-07-09T08:54:00.000-04:00

Schedules for BHS students have been mailed home on July 9th, 2010. Please remember that all students must carry six academic courses each semester plus physical education. If there is an error or omission in the schedule you need to make arrangements to correct the problem. If your schedule reads “Please Schedule an Appointment with Guidance” at the bottom, it is imperative that you call to schedule an appointment. There are several options available:

• Beginning Wednesday July 14th and continuing through July 29th, then again August 16th to August 20th, 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 beginning on July 13th to schedule an appointment.

• Guidance Counselors will be available during the week of August 23rd through August 26th from 8 A.M. to 12 Noon. During this week, students will be helped on a first come first serve basis.

You are encouraged to correct any problems in your course schedule as early as possible. Doing so will insure a smooth opening of school for you. Also, please be advised that specific teacher requests cannot be honored.

KAPLAN and BHS continue working together

2010-07-06T13:09:00.002-04:00

Once again KAPLAN will be offering SAT test prep courses to BHS students. Information was recently mailed home to members of the class of 2011, this mailing included registration information and a fall schedule. Registration must be completed as soon as possible. Burlington students only pay $249, which is a reduced price.

There is a money-back guarantee for students who have already completed a Kaplan course if they attended all classes, utilized the full program (including homework) and their SAT scores did not improve from their previous scores (PSAT or SAT – whichever is the latest set of scores). Please For further information and registration please call 1-800-KAP-TEST. Additionally KAPLAN is offering a free on-line prep Prep service.

The Common Application

2010-07-06T08:37:00.002-04:00

The Burlington High School Guidance Department highly recommends that seniors create a student account on the Common Application Website.
What is the Common Application?

The Common Application allows a student to complete ONE application which can be sent to multiple colleges.

How many colleges and/or universities subscribe to the Common Application?

Currently nearly 400 colleges and/or universities are Common App members

Why use it?

Once completed online or in print, copies of the Application for Undergraduate Admission can be sent to any number of participating colleges. The same is true of the School Report, Midyear Report, Final Report and Teacher Evaluation forms. This allows you to spend less time on the busywork of applying for admission, and more time on what's really important: college research, visits, essay writing, and senior year coursework.

Please note, that when using the Common Application, you must complete Teacher Evaluation forms and ask your teacher(s) to fill them out. Other forms apply to other types of applications, such as Early Decision, the Arts supplement, etc. Please review these forms carefully.

Senior year is fast approaching

2010-07-06T08:30:00.001-04:00

The college selection process can make the senior year very stressful for both parents and students.

This pressure can be reduced with advanced planning and research. Much can be accomplished during the summer months. Prospective colleges and universities can be visited and toured. Testing plans can be formulated. Additional test preparation can also be conducted during the summer months.

One additional method to reduce stress is to fully utilize our comprehensive guidance website, TCCi Family Connection. Students and parents will find extensive collegiate information designed to help in making decisions about courses, colleges and careers. All members of the Class of 2011 have been granted access to the Naviance.

If you notice the link on the right under " College Planning Resources" you have access to a variety of resources and information. Please be sure to take full advantage of these resources over the summer.

Post high school planning is an important and often complicated task for students and parents. The Guidance Counselors look forward to serving as a resource for students and parents as well as assisting in the decision-making process this upcoming fall. Please call or e-mail your son’s or daughter’s counselor for help and support.

Class of 2005

2010-06-15T14:24:00.002-04:00

You were informed when you left Burlington High School that your academic records would be held for five years. After five years, all but your high school transcript would be destroyed

Beginning now and ending June 18, 2010, you may call Mrs. Cavanaugh, Guidance Secretary at 781-270-1827, to arrange pick-up of your academic records. Proper identification will be necessary and only the 2005 graduate is authorized to pick up the records.

All records, excluding your high school transcript, will be destroyed beginning on June 21st.

2010 Susan Alterisio Cardelle Memorial Scholarship Fund Classic

2010-05-10T09:02:00.001-04:00

Over the past thirty 15 years the Susan Alterisio Cardelle Memorial Fund has contributed over $200,000 to the Burlington Scholarship Program. Due to the generous support of S.A.C. charities, many BHS seniors have been given a financial reward for all their hard work. On June 28th, S.A.C. charities will host the Susan Alterisio Cardelle Memorial Scholarship Fund Golf Classic. Registration information can be found by clicking here. All community members are highly encouraged to take part in this annual event.

MEFA College Financing Seminar at BHS

2010-04-29T10:22:00.002-04:00

Junior parents are encouraged to attend a financial aid seminar that will be held on Thursday May 13, 2010. The night will commence at 7:00 in the BHS auditorium. The organization sponsoring the workshop is the Massachusetts Educational Financing Authority . The presenter will be Carla Berg, Senior Associate Director at Bentley University. The BHS Guidance department highly recommends parents attend this session. If you have any further questions please feel free to contact the Guidance Office. Although the presentation is designed for Junior parents, all BHS parents are welcome to attend.

Seniors we need your help??

2010-04-09T14:28:00.000-04:00

Seniors,
Since the Candidates Reply Date (May 1st) is almost here, most members of the Class of 2010 have finalized their after graduation plans.

Please complete the Graduation Survey as soon as possible. The Graduation Survey is very easy to complete. Please respond to all questions pertaining to your plans (Scholarship questions can be omitted). The Guidance Department needs to know the school/college you are attending, your intended major, and the final status of each of your college applications (i.e. accepted, denied, waitlist, withdrawn, etc.). If you are entering the workforce or joining the military please supply that information as well.

The survey is located on your naviance acount. Thanks for your help.

Grade 9 Students Introduced to Naviance

2010-03-17T16:27:00.002-04:00

The Naviance Program is a college and career software program. This software program is critical to the BHS Guidance Developmental Model. Not only can students conduct college and career research, they can track graduation requirements, complete a personality assessment to identify possible careers, complete a four year plan, find out information about volunteer work, and connect with their guidance counselor via e-mail. As part of the first step of using the Naviance program we are requiring ALL freshmen to complete the “BHS grade 9 survey” which can be accessed using the Naviance program. The Guidance Department asks parents to encourage their son or daughter to complete the registration and survey ASAP. Again the name of the survey is the “BHS Grade 9 survey” and can be found under the “about me” tab on your son or daughters Naviance Homepage. The information gathered will help the BHS Guidance Department gain valuable information and help us improve our Guidance services.

The value of a college degree

2010-03-16T14:03:00.000-04:00

New England Patriot Ty Warren values education. He is foregoing his workout bonus in order to pursue his college degree. Read all about this impressive "athlete/scholar" at ESPN Boston.

2010 Burlington Scholarship Program

2010-02-22T07:58:00.002-05:00

Dear Seniors and Senior Parents:

This year, please be advised that all available local scholarship applications will be posted directly on the BHS Guidance College Website ( Naviance).

The scholarship listing will be updated throughout the month of March as the scholarships are renewed. A limited number of paper applications will also be available at the Guidance Office.

Included in the postings is the General Scholarship Application for the 2010 Burlington High School Scholarship Program. Completion of this general scholarship application places the student's name in competition for well over ninety (90) local scholarships.

The general application must be completed in its entirety and returned to the Guidance Department by the close of school, Monday, March 29, 2010. No application will be accepted after March 29, 2010. Incomplete applications will not receive consideration. All general scholarship applications must be delivered directly to the Guidance secretaries or to Mr. Joseph Attubato. A receipt indicating that the Guidance Department has received the general scholarship application will be given to each student.

The available applications posted online are quite extensive. The listing includes the Burlington Community Scholarship Foundation applications, the 2010 Adopt- A – Class scholarship application as well as applications for numerous Burlington civic and fraternal organization scholarships.

Each senior should check the scholarship link on the college website on a weekly basis to ascertain if there are any new scholarships available. It is the responsibility of each senior to meet all specific scholarship deadlines.

If you have any questions concerning available scholarships please see your respective counselor. For more specific information including a listing of all local scolarships offered please click here.

Seniors and Senior Parents are reminded that mid-year grades will be sent out to all colleges.

2010-02-12T13:08:00.004-05:00

The Guidance Department will be mailing out all mid-year grades for seniors on Tuesday 2/16/2010. The process we follow is to send out an updated transcript to all colleges and universities in which each senior has applied. The report includes an updated G.P.A and rank. In addition, rank and G.P.A.’s will be reflected on your Naviance account by 2/26/2010.

Mr. Joseph Attubato, Guidance Director, will be available next week if parents have any questions or concerns about sending out semester grades.

The BHS Guidance Department will host a Junior Planning Night.

2010-02-04T14:27:00.002-05:00

Juniors and Junior parents are reminded that the Junior "Post Secondary Planning Night" will be held on February 11, 2010 ( snow date will be February 25, 2010). The evening will commence at 6:30 in the Burlington High School Auditorium. The evening will cover a variety of topics in regard to planning for senior year, college planning and other topics related to post-secondary planning. Although the presentation is geared for juniors any parent is welcome to attend this event.

BHS Course Selection Announcement Reminder

2010-02-03T13:36:00.002-05:00

Reminder:
Tomorrow, February 4, 2010 Guidance Counselors will meet will their respective students to discuss the course scheduling process. Members of the class of 2011, 2012 and 2013 will receive the Burlington High School Program of Studies and all supplemental course scheduling materials on that day. Students will have then have opportunity to discuss course selections with counselors, teachers, parents and administrators. The finalized course selection sheets must be received in Guidance by Tuesday, February 9, 2010.

Please don’t feel as if you have to wait until that time to start thinking about courses for next year. If parents or students wanted to get a head start please feel free to look at the 2010 -2011 BHS Program of Studies.
Please see below information for specific location information:

Juniors – Period 2 (day 2 bell schedule)

Area                     Counselor

Auditorium           Mrs. Malatesta

Cafeteria A (front) Mrs. Leary

Cafeteria A (back) Ms. Diozzi

Cafeteria B (front) Mrs.Wojtaszek

Cafeteria B (back) Mrs. Smith

Sophomores– Period 3
Area                       Counselor

Auditorium              Mrs. Malatesta

Cafeteria A (front)   Mrs. Leary

Cafeteria A (back)   Ms. Diozzi

Cafeteria B (front)   Mrs.Wojtaszek

Cafeteria B (back)   Mrs. Smith

Guidance Office       Mr. Attubato

Freshmen Period 4
Area                     Counselor

Auditorium            Mrs. Malatesta

Cafeteria A (front) Mrs. Leary

Cafeteria A (back) Ms. Diozzi

Cafeteria B (front) Mrs. Wojtaszek

Cafeteria B (back) Mrs. Smith

Guidance Office Mr. Attubato

2010 Burlington Scholarship Program

2010-02-02T09:49:00.002-05:00

Attention Seniors and Senior Parents:

This year, please be advised that all available local scholarship applications will be posted directly on the BHS Guidance College Website (Naviance). Each senior has his or her secure access to the college website. The listing will be updated throughout the month of February and March as the scholarships are renewed by the donors. A limited number of paper applications will also be available at the Guidance Office.

Each senior should check the scholarship link on the college website on a weekly basis to ascertain if there are any new scholarships available. It is the responsibility of each senior to meet all specific scholarship deadlines. Parents have also been granted access to the program and I encourage you to monitor the scholarship list as well. If you are having problems logging in please feel free contact your son or daughter's counselor.

Summer Opportunities Fair

2010-02-01T12:57:00.000-05:00

Phillips Academy in Andover will host a Summer Opportunities Fair this Sunday, February 7 from 12-2 p.m.

Representatives from 90 local, national and international programs will be in attendance to discuss academic enrichment, community service, arts, camps, sports, travel, internships, outdoor adventure, international home stays and gap year opportunities. This is a great opportunity for high school and middle school students to check out numerous summer enrichment programs all in one place.

Phillips Academy is located at 180 Main Street in Andover, MA, and the fair is being held in the Case Memorial Cage. (GPS Parking: 9 Highland Rd. or 99 Dwight St.) This event is sponsored by Parents of Students of Phillips Academy (PSPA), is free and open to the public with local restaurant food available for purchase.

The BHS listing of summer enrichment programs is listed on Naviance under "college" and "enrichment."

Reminder to Senior Parents

2010-01-29T09:23:00.001-05:00

Senior Parents:

This is just a reminder that on Wednesday February 3, 2010, parents are invited to attend College Goal Sunday. This is a volunteer driven effort to provide FREE assistance to students and families seeking to complete the FAFSA. The Massachusetts Educational Financing Authority sponsors the event with the assistance of many community based organizations. This year one of the sponsoring locations is in Wakefield, MA on February 3,2010 begin at 6:00. The location will be at the Northeast Metro Technical School. Click here for directions.

2010 Course Selection Process

2010-01-22T13:02:00.000-05:00

On Thursday February 4, 2010 Guidance Counselors will meet will their respective students to discuss the course scheduling process. Members of the class of 2011, 2012 and 2013 will receive the Burlington High School Program of Studies and all supplemental course scheduling materials on that day. Students will have then have opportunity to discuss course selections with counselors, teachers, parents and administrators. The finalized course selection sheets must be received in Guidance by Tuesday, February 9, 2010.

Please don’t feel as if you have to wait until that time to start thinking about courses for next year. If parents or students wanted to get a head start please feel free to look at the 2010 -2011 BHS Program of Studies.

Sophomore Parent Breakfast hosted by the BHS Guidance Department

2010-01-19T14:08:00.002-05:00

The Guidance Department at Burlington High School will be hosting a Sophomore Parent Breakfast on January 27, 2010, from 8:30-9:45 AM in the BHS lower Library. The purpose of this breakfast is to give parents of sophomore students the opportunity to have an open dialogue with all members of the guidance staff, as well as several members of the administration. The BHS Guidance Department has a variety of resources available for parents and students, and many topics will be covered that are relevant to sophomores, such as the MCAS, PSATs, career and college exploration utilizing the Naviance program, and academic planning. Please join us for this informative event on January 27th, and RSVP to: guidancebreakfast@burlington.mec.edu.

We look forward to seeing you!

Senior Financial Aid Night

2010-01-13T18:18:00.002-05:00

The 2010 Senior Financial Aid Night sponsored by MEFA was very valuable for parents. The night was well attended with over 130 parents. Many topics pertaining to the financial aid process were covered. Numerous parents inquired about the College Cost Estimator on the MEFA Web-site. Clicke here for an additional College Cost Estimator that was just recently posted by the New York Times. Parents are reminded about the previous blog post last month in regard to College Goal Sunday. College Goal Sunday is a non-profit program that provides free information and assistance to Massachusetts families applying for financial assistance for higher education. This year the event will be held in Wakefield, MA on February 3, 2010.

For parents that missed the presentation Financial Aid Night will be televised on BCAT On-Demand ( schedule will be released soon). Also you can find the PowerPoint by clicking here. Please stop by the Guidance office if you would like a hard copy of the powerpoint presentation.

Please don't fret if you are a parent of a grade 9, 10 or 11 BHS student. The BHS Guidance Department will sponsor another Financial Aid Seminar on May 13, 2010.

KAPLAN and BHS continue working together

2010-01-07T08:58:00.003-05:00

Many Juniors will take the SAT exam this coming spring. Once again this year BHS has teamed up with KAPLAN to offer SAT test prep courses at Burlington High School. Burlington juniors receive a subsidized rate of $299.00. The Kaplan course calendar and registration information were mailed home to ALL juniors on December 8. Parents can Still register by calling 1-800-KAP-Test and then press option # 4.

For those students who are already enrolled in the PSAT/SAT Classroom program and participated in the 5 PSAT sessions this past fall, you must contact Kaplan to let them know which SAT session you would like to participate in this winter/spring

Please note the KAPLAN Schedule that was mailed home to parents in December has been changed. Please see the changes below:

*Revisions have been made from the flier that was previously mailed out*

To prepare for the May SAT

SABS10130 Mondays starting January 25th

SABS10131 Wednesday starting January 20th

SABS10132 Saturdays and Tuesdays starting February 6th

SABS10133 Saturdays and Thursday starting February 27th

To prepare for the June SAT

SABS10134 Mondays and Wednesday starting April 5th

For those students who are already enrolled in the PSAT/SAT Classroom program and participated in the 5 PSAT sessions this past fall, you must contact Kaplan to let us know which SAT session you would like to participate in this winter/spring.

For those students who did not yet enroll and are looking to participate in the upcoming SAT sessions, please contact Kaplan to enroll.

Price for Burlington High School students: $299

To receive more schedule information or to enroll in a course please call: 1-800-KAP-TEST and press option #4

For any other questions about the Kaplan programs at Burlington High School, please contact Melissa Binette at 978-388-1805.

Gearing Up For College- December 10th at 6:00 P.M.

2009-11-30T11:30:00.008-05:00

The college search and selection process is an ever increasing challenge for parents and students. In an effort to assist parents, the Burlington High School Guidance Department is sponsoring a "Gearing up for College Night", presented by Mark Montgomery. The event will take place on December 10th in the BHS Auditorium beginning at 6:00 P.M. and finishing up at 7:30 P.M . The Guidance Department encourages parents of underclassmen to attend this session because many important, relevant and useful topics will be covered. Below is information that the evening will cover.

Gearing Up for College: For most parents, the college admissions process is a great source of anxiety and worry. This workshop gives parents of secondary students an overview of the college admissions process in the United States. Mark Montgomery offers great college advice in an entertaining, informative format that will take some of the stress out of college planning. He arms parents with the information they need to help their student find the perfect college fit. With a bit of organization, a dose of skepticism, and a willingness to do a bit of research, all families can ensure a happy outcome.

Topics include:
o Admissions Selectivity: Is It Really That Difficult?
o Elements of a Great College Fit
o College Priorities: What Do They Want?
o How Admissions Decisions Are Made
o Admissions “Hooks”

So join Mark Montgomery for insight into how to help your son or daughter play the college admissions game in way that will ensure success!

Who is this workshop for?

Any parent with school-age children considering how best to help their kids through the college maze. High school juniors and their parents of juniors may find it especially helpful to find ways to calm down and focus on what’s important. Families of sophomore and freshmen will learn how to best prepare for college. And even middle school parents might want to consider how best to help their students focus on learning, ignite their passions, and prepare for college—and life.

Mark A. Montgomery, Ph.D., is a former high school teacher, college professor, and associate dean. His former employers include the University of Denver, Hong Kong University of Science and Technology, and Harvard University. He earned his BA from Dartmouth College and his PhD from Tufts University. Mark was also a Fulbright teacher in France. He now guides high school students and their families through the college admissions process. His clients include students bound for selective colleges, as well as late bloomers, under-achievers, and students with learning differences. Based in Denver, Mark works with clients all over the country and all over the world.

If you have any further questions please call Joe Attubato, BHS Support Services Coordinator, at 781-270-1856.

Scholarships 101

2009-11-17T09:27:00.013-05:00

Lately, the guidance department has been getting questions from parents and students regarding scholarships. While at this time of year seniors are encouraged to focus their energy on applying to college, here is a general explanation and timeline of what families can expect as they apply for financial aid.

November - December:

1). Complete the CSS/Profile on line if your college requires it. This fee-based service allows students to apply for merit aid via the College Board. It generally applies to students who are applying Early Action or Early Decision, but should be completed for any college that requires it. Check out this link for more information: https://profileonline.collegeboard.com/prf/index.jsp

2) Check out national or statewide scholarships. Although they are far more competitive, specific national scholarships are worth applying to if they are specific to your interests, major and/or level of need. Here are some resources to look at, in addition to checking out a few currently posted on Naviance.

http://www.fastweb.com/
http://www.googlescholarships.com/

*Please remember to check Naviance on a regular basis for scholarship updates, downloadable applications, and deadlines.

January - February:

3) Complete and submit the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA). All students, regardless of need, should complete a FAFSA because some aid which is merit-based does require this form. Like a tax form, however, it is not available for submission prior to January 1, 2010. http://www.fafsa.ed.gov/

4) Save the date for Financial Aid Night at BHS! This information session, led by a financial aid counselor from Bentley University, will be held on Thursday, January 7 beginning at 7:00 p.m. in the BHS auditorium. Students and their parents are encouraged to attend. (Snow date: Jan. 14)

March - April:

5) Apply for local scholarships. The Burlington High School General Scholarship and Burlington Community Scholarship Foundation applications are generally available to students by March 1st. These applications, similar to a "common application," provide students with the opportunity to apply for many scholarships by completing only two forms. In addition, many other local scholarships will posted on Naviance as they come in (and will require additional forms). Again, updates will be posted on Naviance on an ongoing basis.

The College Esssay

2009-11-05T10:36:00.004-05:00

Seniors,

As many seniors are preparing their college essay please be sure to use your English teacher as a resource through the process. The Guidance Department is also here for ideas and advice throughout the process. The following are some ideas when writing your essay:

• Respond to the question asked!

• Be specific!

• Pick subjects that highlight your personality.

• Be yourself!

• Write about a familiar idea or subject!

• Admissions officers look for “passion” when reading essays

• Avoid the ‘laundry list’ of accomplishments!

• Have your English teacher read your essay

Please click here for some tips from actual admissions reps on, “What should students never write in their essay”.

The BHS Guidance Department does not necessarily support all the viewpoints from the Washington Post, but we certainly feel that the Post ( along with many other sources of information) serves as a resource for students that are looking to gather information to make a decision on the college process. As always please feel free to contact your Guidance Counselor with any questions.

Early Action vs. Early Decision vs. Regular Admission

2009-11-05T10:16:00.003-05:00

There are many different admission options. It is important for you to understand the various options and deadlines and to discuss with your parents and counselor which one is appropriate for you. Many seniors have already had these conversations; others are still in the process. Just for clarification below are the various admissions options. If you have further clarification or questions please feel free to contact your Guidance Counselor.

Early Decision:
This is a plan for the student who has a first choice college and is a reasonably STRONG CANDIDATE FOR THAT INSTITUTION. Many colleges have more than one early decision deadline; however, if admitted you are expected to attend the college and withdraw other regular admissions that you have filed. You are asked to sign a statement of intent. You should only pursue this option if you are absolutely certain about your choice. It should not be used as a means to simply complete the process early. Obviously, you cannot file simultaneously more than one early decision application. Again, deferred students will be reconsidered in the later rounds.

Early Action:
This is a plan for the STRONGEST ACADEMIC STUDENTS to apply to one or more Early Action college (s), usually by November. The decision will be made by December 15, but the student does not have to commit to the college until the common reply date of May 1, at which time he or she may choose to go elsewhere (colleges applied to on regular decision plans). This option is particularly competitive, and some colleges reject some students whom they foresee as being weak in the later, regular admissions pool. Generally, it is the most selective colleges that have this type of plan. Students who are deferred in the early round will be considered later in the context of the entire regular admission.

Two noticeable trends the Guidance Department has observed in regard to EA/ED:
Trend # 1: We are starting to notice a trend of colleges and universities going single choice early action, meaning the College does not permit students to apply under our Early Action program if they are applying to a binding Early Decision program at another college. Students are free to apply to other Early Action and Regular Decision programs (Boston College is one example).

Trend # 2: We are noticing that colleges/universities are more frequently telling us that they no longer, as a standard practice, defer students not accepted through EZ/ED to regular admissions.

We strongly encourage parents and students to ask admissions reps (and also your Guidance Counselor) what the policy is on EA/ED admission process.

Regular Decision:
This is the most common plan. Typically, students will apply to a college sometime before the deadline, which may range from January 1 to May 1. After the deadline, the college reviews all the applications and chooses those students it wants to admit, giving those students usually until May 1 to reply to the offer of admission.

Rolling Admission:
This term is used to describe the application process in which an institution reviews applications as they are received and offers decisions to students soon after they are made. If you are applying for financial aid, you will follow aid application deadlines set by the school. You may apply to other colleges and you will not be required to make a decision regarding enrolling before May 1.

Wait List:
This term is used by institutions to describe a process in which they may initially delay offering or deny you admission, but rather extends to you the possibility of admission in the future. Colleges offer admission to wait list candidates if insufficient numbers of regularly admitted candidates accept their offers of admission.

Whatever decision you choose, the guidance department asks that you adhere to the deadlines for your applications.

The Guidance Department requests that particular attention be paid to application deadline dates. Notification of electronic applications and paper applications must be submitted to the Department at least two weeks prior to any stated application deadline. Remember to use your college application check-off sheet for ALL applications. This will insure that all required credentials reach the college prior to the application deadline.

The following is a guideline for submission of college applications to the

Guidance Office:

December 1 to December 15 Deadlines-------------------November 6

January 1 to January 15 Deadlines------------------------ November 20

February 1 to February 15 Deadlines--------------------- January 8

March 1 Deadline----------------------------------------- February 5

College Visits for November

2009-11-04T12:54:00.001-05:00

Seniors,
The Guidance Department will continue having a variety of colleges and universities come to BHS to speak with interested seniors. Below is the list of colleges and universities that will be attending BHS. Seniors are reminded that they MUST sign up for a visit in advance and also get teacher approval. For seniors that miss, please inform your guidance counselor so she may pick up any information that you need. Seniors can sign up through Naviance.

Southern New Hampshire College Mon, Nov 9th 8:00 a.m. JA

Saint Anselm College Friday, Nov. 13th 1:00 p.m. SD

John Cabot University Monday, Nov. 16th 10:00 a.m. ML

Becker College Wed, Nov. 18th 8:00 a.m. BM

Harvard University Wed, Nov. 18th 10:00 a.m. LS

Daniel Webster College Tues, Nov. 24th 11:00 a.m. GW

University of Hartford Tues, Dec. 1st 9:30 a.m. JA

Middlesex Partnership for Youth.

2009-10-30T12:46:00.004-04:00

The pressures and challenges students face today are ever increasing. The Burlington High School Guidance staff is seeing more students requiring social/emotional guidance. We are fortunate to have a newly added staff member this year. Mary Clare Hayes, School Psychologist, will be assigned to the high school full time. This is an excellent service that will certainly add to Guidance services offered to the families of Burlington.
Mary Clare attended a conference and is very eager to share the below information with the community.

I went to a conference on bullying and cyber-bullying sponsored by the Middlesex Partnership for Youth. The keynote speaker was Rosalind Wiseman, a well-known author in this field. This little biography comes from her website: "For more than a decade, Rosalind Wiseman has been an internationally recognized expert on teen girls, relational aggression, social justice, and ethical leadership. Her books, Family Circle column, and other writings, are founded on the belief that every person has the responsibility to treat themselves and others with dignity."

I'm passing along the link to her website because it is full of useful information about all kinds of topics that adolescents face. Some of her videos are responses to emails she receives from parents and teenagers.
www.rosalindwiseman.com
Enjoy!
Mary Clare Hayes
BHS School Psychologist

College Fair on Tuesday October 27, 2009

2009-10-23T09:18:00.004-04:00

Dear Parents and Students,

On Tuesday October 27th, 2009 from 6:30 -8:30 p.m., a college fair will be held at the Shriner's Auditorium in Wilmington, MA. The Burlington High School Guidance Department co-sponsors the event with many other Middlesex League High Schools. Usually over two-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 list of questions that you can bring to the fair. We also recommend bringing a pre-determined list of schools. Make it a priority to visit the schools on your list, then time permitting check out some other schools. Below is the most up to date list of colleges attending.
College Responses as of 10/16/09

Albertus Magnus College

American International College

Anna Maria College

Assumption College

Bay Path College

Bay State College

Becker College

Benjamin Franklin Institute

Bentley College

Berklee College of Music

Binghamton University

Bloomfield College

Boston Architectural Colllege

Boston University

Bowdoin College

Brandeis University

Bridgewater State College

Bryant University

Bunker Hill Community College

Castleton State College

Catherine Hinds Institute

Chester College of New England

City Year

Clark University

Colby-Sawyer College

College of Mount St. Vincent

College of Saint Joseph

College of the Holy Cross

Connecticut Culinary Institute

Curry College

Daniel Webster College

Dean College

Drew University

Eastern Nazarene College

Elms College

Emerson College

Emmanuel College

Endicott College

Everest Institute

Fairfield University

Fisher College

Fitchburg State College

Florida Institute of Technology

Framingham State College

Franklin Pierce University

George Washington University

Gordon College

Green Mountain College

Hair's How School of Beauty

Hamilton College

Harvard College

Hawaii Pacific University

Hesser College

High Point University

Hofstra University

Ithaca College

ITT Technical Institute

John Cabot University

Johnson State College

Johnson and Wales University

Keene State College

Lasell College

Lawrence Memorial/RC Nursing & Med. Radiography

LeMoyne College

Lesley University

Lincoln Technical Institute

Long Island University

Lyndon State College

Lynn University

Manhattan College

Manhattanville College

Marian Court College

Marietta College

Massachusetts College of Liberal Arts

Massachusetts College of Pharmacy & Health Sciences

Massachusetts Maritime Academy

Merrimack College

Middlesex Community College

Mitchell College

Mount Holyoke College

Mount Ida College

National Aviation Academy

Nazareth College

Newbury College

New England College

New England Hair Academy

New England School of Photography

Nichols College

Northeastern University

Northern Essex Community College

North Shore Community College

Northwestern University

Norwich University

Paul Smith's College

Pennsylvania State University

Personal Financial Management Plus

Pine Manor College

Plymouth State University

Polytechnic University

Providence College

Purdue University

Quinnipiac University

Randolph-Macon College

Regis College

Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute

Rivier College

Roanoke College

Rochester Institute of Technology

Roger Williams University

Sacred Heart University

Saint Anselm College

Saint John's University

Saint Joseph's College - Maine

Saint Lawrence University

Saint Mary's College of Maryland

Saint Michael's College

Saint Thomas More

Salem State College

Salve Regina University

Seton Hall University

Siena College

Simmons College

Smith College

Southern New Hampshire University

Southern Vermont College

Springfield College

Stonehill College

Suffolk University

Stonybrook University

SUNY - Cobleskill

Susquehanna University

The Art Institute of Boston @ Lesley University

Thomas College

Tufts University

United States Air Force Recruiting Office

Massachusetts Air National Guard

United States Army Recruiting Station

United States Marine Recruiting Office

United States Navy Recruiting Office

Unity College

University at Albany

University of Bridgeport

University of Connecticut

University of Hartford

University of Maine-Orono

University of Maine-Farmington

University of Maine-Machias

University of Massachusetts-Amherst

University of Massachusetts - Boston

University of Massachusetts-Dartmouth

University of Massachusetts-Lowell

University of New England

University of New Hampshire

University of Rhode Island

University of Southern Maine

University of Tampa

University of Vermont

Utica College of Syracuse University

Vermont Technical College

Villanova University

Wellesley College

Wells College

Wentworth Institute of Technology

Western New England College

Westfield State College

Wheaton College

Wheelock College

Worcester Polytechnic Institute

Worcester State College

Reading Scholarship Foundation

Reading Cooperative Bank

Grade Point Average ( G.P.A.)

2009-10-19T11:33:00.006-04:00

Dear Parents and Students of the Class of 2011 and 2012.

Please be advised that student GPA’s have been updated on your Naviance account. For those that aren’t familiar with the Grade Point Average (GPA) process we have included below the process of how it is computed annually. Colleges and Universities require students to submit G.P.A (along with many other pieces of information) when applying to college (usually in fall of senior year). Please remember that when grades are reported to colleges and universities only FINAL grades are submitted from each year (with the exception of senior year). The cumulative record of final grades is called the, “transcript”. Some colleges and universities also require a Rank, which is simply the ranking of G.P.A's from highest to lowest. Rank is available for the class of 2012.

For parents of the class of 2011, 2012 and 2013 The Guidance Department will be co-hosting a very valuable planning night called “ Gearing up for College” The main presenter will be Mark Montgomery of Montgomery Educational Consulting. More information will soon be following in regard to this event.

Class Rank Computation

A student’s grade point average (GPA) will be based on student performance in all courses having a level designation and graded using the traditional A, B, C, etc. grading system. Rank in class will be a ranking of student GPAs. The GPA will be developed according to a weighted formula. Class rank will be computed annually commencing at the conclusion of sophomore year. Transfer students will not have their G.P.A. included in the class rank unless the transfer student has attended BHS for two full academic years. Furthermore, only courses completed at Burlington High will be utilized in the calculations for class rank and G.P.A.

Letter Grade                      Equivalent Percent                Definition

A+                                       97-100                                      Excellent
A                                         93-96
A-                                       90-92
B+                                      87-89                                      Above Average
B                                         83-86
B-                                        80-82
C+                                      77-79                                       Average
C                                         73-76
C-                                        70-72
D+                                       67-69                                       Below Average
D                                         63-66                                       Passing
D-                                        60-62
E                                          50-59                                       Failure (Make-Up Allowed)
F 49                                     Or Below                                 Failure (No Make Up)

Weight used in levels program to determine rank in class:
Mark         AP/Honors              College Prep I                  College Prep II

A+             4.0                               4.0                                        3.7
A               4.0                                3.7                                       3.5
A-              3.7                               3.5                                        3.3
B+              3.5                               3.3                                        3.0
B                3.3                               3.0                                        2.7
B-               3.0                               2.7                                        2.3
C+              2.7                               2.3                                        2.0
C                2.3                               2.0                                       1.7
C-               2.0                               1.7                                       1.3
D+              1.7                               1.3                                       1.0
D                1.3                               1.0                                        0.7
D-               1.0                               0.7                                        0.3
E                 0.0                              0.0                                        0.0
F                 0.0                               0.0                                        0.0

Senior College Visits

2009-10-19T09:24:00.001-04:00

Seniors and Parents,
The Guidance Department will continue having a variety of colleges and universities come to BHS to speak with interested seniors. Below is the list of colleges and universities that will be attending BHS this month. Seniors are reminded that they MUST sign up for a visit in advance and also get teacher approval. For seniors that miss, please inform your guidance counselor so she may pick up any information that you need. Seniors can sign up through Naviance.

Bentley Mon, October 19th 8:30 a.m.
Middlesex CC Mon, October 26th 11:00 a.m.
State Univ. of New York Tues, October 27th 9:00 a.m.
University of NH Tues, October 27th 11:00 a.m.
Nichols Tues, October 27 12:30 p.m.
MCLA Wed, Oct. 28 8:00 a.m.
Fisher College Wed, Oct. 28 9:00 a.m.
St. Joseph’s College-ME Wed, Oct. 28 9:30 a.m.
Wheelock college Thursday, Oct. 29 8:00 a.m.
Sacred Heart Univ. Thursday, Oct. 29 10:30
Providence College Thursday, Oct. 29 11:15 a.m.
Western NE Friday, Oct.30 8:30 a.m.
Framingham State Friday, Oct. 30 9:45 a.m.
MCPH Friday, Oct. 30 1:00 p.m.
Westfield State Mon, Nov. 2 9:30 a.m.
Connecticut Culinary Mon, Nov. 2 11:00 a.m.
Emmanuel College Thursday, Nov.5 10:00 a.m.

Senior College Planning Night

2009-10-14T16:58:00.003-04:00

Dear Senior Parents and Students,
A few weeks ago the BHS Guidance Department hosted a College Information Night for seniors and parents. Many topics were covered pertaining to the college search, selection and application process. The college information night will be televised Saturday October 17, 2009 at 8:30 A.M. on BCAT. You also have access to the program 24/7 through a live feed . You can access the feed by clicking here, then select education specials, then select senior college planning. Please feel free to listen to the entire presentation or just a portion.

Freshman Parent Breakfast Follow-up

2009-10-09T13:12:00.002-04:00

A big thank you to all of the parents who turned out for our first "Breakfast with Guidance." We were happy to provide you with an overview of BHS Guidance with the hope it helped to ease the freshman transition and answer your questions.

We appreciated your positive feedback and are looking forward to keeping you apprised of changes based on your continued input.

One question that came up was about the scholarship points which can be earned over four years and submitted as part of senior scholarship applications. Scholarship points are part of the Adopt-a-Class program which is part of the Burlington Community Scholarship Foundation. Students can begin to earn these points during their freshman year, and events are well publicized throughout the building on flyers and on the daily announcements. The advisor to Adopt a Class, for all grades, is Mr. Sheldon Bishov.

Please check out this link from the Burlington Community Scholarship Program which explains Adopt-a-Class in detail. http://www.burlington.org/BCSFAdopt.htm

If you have any further questions about the program, please contact Mr. Bishov at the high school.

Another question that came about was in regard to being able to comment on blog posts. We think we fixed that problem, so please feel free to submit a comment and let us know for sure!

Again, thank you for your continued engagement in the goings-on at Burlington High. We look forward to working with your children and with you for the next four years.

New and Improved Naviance!

2009-10-06T12:38:00.001-04:00

If you log on to your Naviance account, you will notice that everything is in a new format. Naviance has made the site much more user-friendly and clear. For example, new emails and college visit alerts are much more obvious, and college search information is much more streamlined.

We know this is a change for the seniors, but since Naviance is implementing the new format regardless, the counselors agreed that it was best to go with the new format immediately in order to give seniors plenty of time to become familiar with it. Don't worry. All student data, including college lists, test scores, GPAs, etc. was successfully transferred.

Please use this as an opportunity to log on to your account and update it. Remember your guidance counselors can answer any questions about the new format.

The web address again is http://connection.naviance.com/burlington

(Freshmen, you will be given Naviance accounts during an assembly later on in the year.)

Log on and tell us what you think!

Deadline Reminder for the SAT's

2009-09-30T08:33:00.000-04:00

Parents and students are reminded that the deadline for the November 7, 2009 SAT test is Thursday October 1, 2009. October 2 - 15 is the LATE registration deadline. You can register at collegeboard.com.

Activity Fair to be held tomorrow 9/30

2009-09-29T10:10:00.003-04:00

The annual BHS Activity Fair will be held at the end of the day tomorrow, Wednesday, 9/30, in the high school cafeteria. Most BHS clubs and activities will have tables set up so that students of any grade, but freshmen and new students in particular, can learn about and ask questions of the officers of each club. Some clubs play music, offer candy, etc., which creates a lively, welcoming atmosphere for new members. Freshmen will be dismissed from 7th period ten minutes early, in order to fully enjoy the activities among themselves.

Joining a club can offer students a chance to connect to the school community through an area of common interest. There are clubs in every area: academic (ex. Factathalon, Poetry, Math League), cultural (French Club, Multicultural Club, African Students Association), political (Students for Environmental Action, Debate, Spectrum), service (OPEN, Students Against Destructive Decisions, Adopt-a-Class) or just plain fun (Anime, Hip Hop Dance, Idle Hands Improv). In total, there are 45 clubs and activities at BHS, so there is something for everyone.

During recent small group meetings with their counselors, all freshmen were given a list of every BHS club, along with the advisor's name and room number. Club meetings are publicized through morning announcements and on the Daily Bulletin, which is listed daily on Mr. Larkin's blog.

So get involved! Join a club and have some fun!

Attention Class of 2011 Juniors and Parents

2009-09-23T07:46:00.013-04:00

Dear Juniors:

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 14, 2009. For the past nine years 90% or more Burlington High School seniors take the SAT exam. The PSAT is an excellent oppurtunity to prepare and gain an understanding of the SAT exam. Juniors are also eligible for a National Merit Scholarship depending on the score.

Registered juniors can take the PSAT/NMSQT exam on Wednesday October 14, 2009. Testing will begin immediately after homeroom. The class of 2011 registration form was given to all junior’s during home room. The registration form can also be found by clicking here. Room assignments will be posted prior to test day.

Although you took the PSAT exam last year, the Guidance department highly recommends juniors take the exam again this year. The PSAT will identify acquired verbal reasoning, critical reading, math problem solving, and writing skills. The PSAT also measures knowledge and skills developed through years of study in a wide range of courses. The test offers a critical reading, mathematics and writing questions section. The information gained from the test can help assist in deciding on future courses and indentify areas of strengths and weaknesses. You may also find more information at by clicking here.

When you register you will receive a 2009 PSAT/NMSQT Student Bulletin which should be very helpful in answering many of your questions. Again the registration form can be found on the BHS Guidance web-site. Please feel free to make an appointment with your Guidance Counselor if you have any questions or concerns.

Sincerely,

BHS Guidance Department.

Grade 9 Parent Breakfast

2009-09-22T12:18:00.002-04:00

The Burlington High School Guidance Department will be hosting a breakfast for all parents of freshman students on Wednesday, October 7, 2009 in the Lower Library from 7:45 am to 9:00 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. You can RSVP at guidancebreakfast@burlington.mec.edu.

College Planning Night for Seniors and Parents on 9/24

2009-09-22T12:16:00.002-04:00

Parents and Seniors are reminded that College Planning Night will be held on September 24, 2009 at 6:30 in the Burlington High School Auditorium. The evening will cover a variety of topics in regard to the college selection and application process.