On-Line Course Selections

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.

2011 BHS Program of Studies Finalized

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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.