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all of these reasons, licensure and professional language at the national and state levels have been changed from the outdated Guidance Counselor title to the more all-encompassing, School Counselor.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.

Guidance Department will offer its first College Application "Bootcamp" for rising seniors

Reminder

On Tuesday, August 20th, the Guidance Department will offer its first College Application "Bootcamp" for rising seniors. This event, held from 8am until noon in the Upper Library, will consist of a series of drop-in review sessions as follows:

     Getting Organized: tracking deadlines/specific college requirements - Ms. Minty

     Finishing (or starting!) Your Common Application - Ms. Diozzi
     Perfecting Your Activity List & Recommendation Requests - Ms. Leary
     Standardized Testing: test prep, sending scores & fall test registration - Ms. Smith
     Using Naviance/General questions - Mr. Attubato

Concurrently, Ms. Netishen will run drop-in workshops on College Essay Writing as follows:
    
      8-9am - Review college essay exemplars
      9-9:30am - Review Common App questions
     10-10:30am - Brainstorming
     10:30-noon - Check in/brief conferences

Students are encouraged to drop in for assistance in ANY area of the application process.

2019-2020 Burlington High School Schedules

Schedules will be mailed out on July 9th. 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” then it is incomplete and imperative that you call to schedule an appointment. The options to correct your schedule are below:

* Beginning Monday July 15th and continuing through July 25th, then again August 12th to August 22nd (Monday to Thursday only), Mr. Joseph Attubato, Support Services Coordinator, and several Guidance Counselors will be available (by appointment only) from 8:00 a.m. to 12 noon. Please call Mrs. Patty Lewis at 781-270-1780 to schedule an appointment. 

* Guidance Counselors will be available during the week of August 19th  through August 22nd  from 8 A.M. to 12 Noon. During this week, students will be helped on a first come first serve basis

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

College Application Bootcamp

SAVE THE DATE!!

On Tuesday, August 20th, the Guidance Department will offer its first College Application "Bootcamp" for rising seniors. This event, held from 8am until noon in the Upper Library, will consist of a series of drop-in review sessions as follows:

     Getting Organized: tracking deadlines/specific college requirements - Ms. Minty

     Finishing (or starting!) Your Common Application - Ms. Diozzi
     Perfecting Your Activity List & Recommendation Requests - Ms. Leary
     Standardized Testing: test prep, sending scores & fall test registration - Ms. Smith
     Using Naviance/General questions - Mr. Attubato

Concurrently, Ms. Netishen will run drop-in workshops on College Essay Writing as follows:
    
      8-9am - Review college essay exemplars
      9-9:30am - Review Common App questions
     10-10:30am - Brainstorming
     10:30-noon - Check in/brief conferences

Students are encouraged to drop in for assistance in ANY area of the application process.

Financial Aid Night

The BHS Guidance Department strongly recommends that junior parents attend a presentation on Thursday, June 13th 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. 

College Topics for the Summer

The Guidance Department will host a breakfast called “College Topics for the Summer”. The purpose of this breakfast is so the counseling staff can give a very brief overview of important tasks associated with the college selection and application process. Although this event is geared for parents of juniors, ALL parents are welcome to attend. Please join us for this informative event. We look forward to seeing you on June 13th at 9:30 AM in the Burlington High School Guidance Conference room. We ask that parents RSVP by calling 781-270-1780.

Upcoming College Fairs

Two key college fairs will be held within the next few days. Students at all grade levels are encouraged to attend with their families.

• The Colleges That Change Lives College Fair will be held tomorrow, Saturday May 18th from 10-11:30 at the Sheraton Boston, 39 Dalton Street, Boston.  Based on the 1996 book by Loren Pope, "CTCL was founded on a philosophy of building the knowledge, character and values of young people by introducing them to a personalized and transformative collegiate experience. Although the member colleges approach this challenge with varying perspectives, institutional missions, and pedagogical strategies, a student-centered mission is common to all campuses."  The program opens promptly at 10am with a 30-minute information session. If you're interested in attending, please register at ctclfair.org

• The New England Association of College Admissions Counselors (NEACAC) is hosting a college fair on the Merrimack College Campus on Tuesday, May 21st from 6:30-8:30pm. The fair will be held in Lawler Rink in the Athletics Complex, 315 Turnpike St. North Andover. More than 150 college and university representatives will be on site. Additionally, there will be access to financial aid and scholarship resources.

Guidance Breakfast Canceled

The Guidance Breakfast Scheduled for April 24th has been canceled. Our next breakfast will be held on Wednesday, June 13th. We apologize for any inconvenience.

FREE full-length practice ACT for Sophomores & Juniors

The SAT and ACT are the two tests used for college admissions. Students who are planning to apply for admission to four-year colleges and universities can choose to start test preparation during their junior year.  Burlington High School will be hosting a FREE full-length practice ACT for all interested sophomores and juniors on Saturday, April 13th at 8:00AM.  

This test is recommended for anyone who is interested in taking the ACTs as a junior or who is interested in figuring out whether they prefer the ACTs or the SATs. To sit for this free full-length practice test, students may sign up by clicking on the link below

Tests will be proctored, graded, and returned to you with a strengths and weaknesses assessment and a plan for improvement. The practice ACT will be provided and administered by Testive, a locally-based test prep agency. Students are asked to arrive at BHS by 7:45 a.m. and testing will begin promptly at 8:00 a.m. Students should bring two sharpened #2 pencils and an approved calculator.

Click Here to Register

Scholarship Program Reminder

This is a reminder to senior students and parents that the deadline for the vast majority of scholarships is Monday, April 1.  The scholarships that are to be turned into the guidance department are due by the end of the school day on April 1st.

BCSF Dollars for Scholars web applications must be submitted by midnight on April 1.  Please note that transcripts and letters of recommendation are NOT NEEDED for the Dollars for Scholars website.  

K-8 Early College Financial Planning

On Thursday March 28th at 6:00 P.M. the Burlington High School Guidance Department will sponsor an Early College Planning Seminar for parents in grades K through 8. A representative from the Massachusetts Educational Financial Authority , also called MEFA, will discuss saving for college, specific ways to do so and how that relates to financial aid. We look forward to see you at the Burlington High School Auditorium.