Name Change for the BHS Guidance Department

This is week is National School Counselors week. The counselors at BHS feel this is a great time to share this information. The Burlington High School Guidance Department will rebrand the department name to the Burlington High School Counseling Department.

For quite some time the Massachusetts Association of School Counselors Association (MASCA) and the American School Counselor Association (ASCA) have been advocating for a change in title nationwide to more accurately and holistically represent the role that our counselors have served for many years. This change in job title was recently implemented by DESE as well. Counselors are vastly more than college and career coaches.  Traditionally, counselors set schedules, ensured graduation requirements were met and helped students to pursue post-secondary plans. Over time, these primary responsibilities remained, while encompassing a whole child/whole student approach to supporting our young people. Students speak with their counselors about their own health and wellness, their social lives and home lives, areas of challenge and growth, as well as their passions and strengths.  They gain access to resources and enrichment opportunities, and connect with the community through service initiatives and extracurricular activities. When in crisis, their counselors meet with them, ensure their safety and get them connected to the appropriate level of care, be it the school nurse, a social worker, a mobile crisis unit, or even emergency services if necessary. Counselors spend more time collaborating with families to surround students with caring adults who are aligned in purpose and working as a team.  For all of these reasons, licensure and professional language at the national and state levels have been changed from the outdated Guidance Counselor title to the more all-encompassing, School Counselor. You will begin to see us use this language in our emails and around the offices. The school Counseling Department members at Burlington High School support and embrace this change and ask you to join with us as we adjust to the new title, which more appropriately captures the many roles that play day-to-day.

Guidance Parent Breakfast

The Guidance Department at Burlington High School will be hosting a Parent Breakfast on Wednesday 11/20, from 9:00 AM-10:00 AM in the BHS Guidance Conference Room. The purpose of this breakfast is to give parents of Burlington High School students the opportunity to have an open dialogue around stress and coping strategies with Burlington High School staff members. Stress and Anxiety impacts all students in a variety of ways. The breakfast is aimed at providing insight into stress and anxiety in adolescents and effective coping strategies.  We look forward to seeing you! Please RSVP by calling 781-270-1780

The BHS Guidance Department has a new blog and web-site. Please see links below:

BHS Guidance Blog

The BHS Guidance Department has a new blog and web-site

The BHS Guidance Department has a new blog and web-site. Please see links below:

BHS Guidance Blog

Financial Aid Night

The BHS Guidance Department strongly recommends that Senior parents attend a presentation on Thursday, October 3, 2019 beginning at 6:00 PM in the BHS Auditorium. MEFA will host, and give an overview of the financial aid process. Although this is geared for junior parents, any parent is welcome to attend. 

The BHS Guidance Department has a new blog and web-site. Please see links below:

BHS Guidance Blog

BHS Guidance Web-Site

Freshman Parent Breakfast

The Burlington High School Guidance Department will be hosting a breakfast for all parents of freshman students on Wednesday October 2nd in the BHS Guidance Conference Room from 9:15 to 10:00 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. Parents must RSVP by calling 781-270-1780.


The BHS Guidance Department has a new blog and web-site. Please see links below:

BHS Guidance Blog

BHS Guidance Web-Site

College Planning Night

Senior Parents and Seniors are reminded that College Planning Night will be held on Thursday September 26, 2019 at 6:00 in the Burlington High School Auditorium. The evening will cover a variety of topics in regard to the college selection and application process. Several Guidance staff members will be at this event and we look forward to seeing you.

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


The BHS Guidance Department has a new blog and web-site. Please see links below:

BHS Guidance Blog

BHS Guidance Web-Site

BHS Guidance Department has a new blog and web-site

Dear Students and Parents,

The BHS Guidance Department has a new blog and web-site. Please see links below:

BHS Guidance Blog

BHS Guidance Web-Site

PSAT Exam and National Merit Scholarship Qualifying Test on Wednesday, October 16

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 16, 2019. For the several years 90% or more Burlington High School seniors take the SAT exam. The PSAT is an excellent opportunity to prepare and gain an understanding of the SAT exam. Juniors are also eligible for a National Merit Scholarship depending on the score.

All sophomores will take the PSAT free of charge, however juniors MUST register and pay a fee of $30.00. The Guidance department highly recommends juniors take the exam again this year. Registration materials are being mailed on 9/16/19, and students will also receive information in homeroom. You can also find registration materials by clicking here. We ask that Juniors register ASAP so they may pick up a PSAT study guide which provides valuable testing information.

New Guidance Web-Site

Dear Students and Parents,

The BHS Guidance Department has a new blog and web-site. Please see links below:

BHS Guidance Blog

BHS Guidance Web-Site

Free Practice SAT and PSAT's

Attention 10th, 11th and 12th grade students:

Kaplan Test Prep and Burlington High School will be hosting TWO separate, private practice tests in the Burlington High School Cafeteria. Please see details below:

PSAT PRACTICE TEST (Juniors or younger ONLY)

Class of 2021 or younger

Free Full Practice PSAT Exam

Saturday 9/14/19 from 9AM to1PM

REGISTRATION DEADLINE:  Thursday. Sept.12, 2018

To register go to: 

 https://www.kaptest.com/class/PKKA190002 

SAT PRACTICE TEST (Seniors ONLY)

Class of 2020 

Free Full Practice SAT Exam

Saturday 9/21/19 from 9AM to 1PM

To register go to: 

REGISTRATION DEADLINE: Wed. Sept.19, 2019 

https://www.kaptest.com/class/SKKA190015

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

Juniors and sophomores will take the collegeboard sponsored PSAT on 10/16 The test on 10/16 is a full scale PSAT,  and If students score high enough they can potentially qualify for national merit. So for students in grades 10 and 11, the practice PSAT gives them a chance to prepare for the upcoming PSAT at BHS on 10/16. The PSAT on 10/16 is NOT free for juniors, but is free for sophomores. 

Either practice test gives students a chance to practice under test conditions which hopefully reduces test day stress.