Happy Friday!

Dear Community,

 Well, we're really starting to wind down now.   The lockers are cleaned out, books returned, and we are engaging the final preparation for final exams which began today for students in grades 10 and 11.     Yesterday, we held our year's end awards ceremony. One new feature of this event was the election for representatives on the student leadership team. Student leadership team is a representative group of young scholars who work with school leadership to create change.   As much as I enjoy recognizing our students for improvement, demonstration of citizenship, and top performance, as we did during the awards, I thoroughly enjoyed the speeches and the election process.   Of course, I already know that students care deeply about their educational experience. I just hadn't seen it demonstrated in such an articulate and powerful way as I did during the ceremony.   What a special occasion!

 As we prepare to wrap up, guidance counselors are identifying students who did not earn a passing score and core classes.   They will be reaching out to students and you to discuss summer school options.   It is extremely important that students register for and take summer school courses in cases where they did not pass.  In some cases, a student's promotion to the next grade is hinged on completion of a summer school course.   If you have any questions or concerns, please do not hesitate to contact your students guidance counselor at 617-635-9873.

That's all for now. Make sure that you're young scholar is studying this weekend, but also taking breaks and enjoying themselves at the same time. Sounds like a tall order but it can be done – it has to be done.

Happy Father's Day to the dads in the audience.

Best,
Dr. T

Brown Bag Series - Supporting LGBT Bengals - Thursday!

Dominic J. Bruno Library

Presents

The Brown Bag Talks 2014-2015

Supporting LGBT Bengals

Special Guests from GLSEN and HGBC, along with our Bengal Community

Tips on coming out as LGBT or as an ally, and a discussion of how to make Brighton a proactively supportive place for ALL of our BHS Bengal family

Join us during all three lunches(10:30am - 12pm)

Thursday, June 18^th

Feel free to join us for any portion of the talk.

Bring your own your lunch.

All are welcome!

Happy Friday!

Dear Community,

The countdown is on! On Wednesday we officially wrapped up our final MCAS administration of the year.   This time it was science. Our ninth graders did us proud.   They showed up in impressive numbers and worked diligently. I'm expecting good outcomes on this one.

As I mentioned last week, students should really be focused on preparing to finish strong. This includes checking in with teachers about missing assignments or assessments  as well as preparing for final exams.   Next Friday, June 19th, is  the first day of final exams for students in grades 10 and 11.  It is a review day for students in grade 9.   All students will be released at noon. Lunch will be served.  Please follow this link for the full final exam schedule.

Lastly, you're young scholar will be bringing home a letter from the superintendent today.   The letter identifies a very strong and passionate educator, Emily Bozeman, to replace me on an interim basis as headmaster next year.  News on these things travels fast, but if you did not know, I accepted a position as Deputy Superintendent in the City of Lynn.

This was a tough decision! The Brighton High School community has been extremely good to me. In a short time, I have developed strong relationships with my students, their families and staff alike. In many ways, Brighton is home - and it is hard to leave home. That said, the opportunity in Lynn allows me to continue to push hard for deserving students and families, but on a broader scale. This particular decision, albeit untimely, reflects the right challenge in the right place.

No matter what, know that your student is in very good hands with a capable and committed faculty and staff along with the skillful leadership of Ms. Bozeman.   BHS will march on!

Best,
Dr. T

P.S.  A reminder:  School IS in session on June 17th.

Happy Friday!

Dear Community,

Alas, it's beginning to look like spring again. This makes me happy.   Other things that make me happy:

1. Graduation!   Yesterday evening we celebrated the accomplishments of the 182 students  comprising the class of 2015.   They will be sorely missed! Two things set them apart from previous classes:
1. They are so tight-knit.   This class seems to be together in a way that we have not seen in recent years.
2.  College-bound: the class of 2015   has more college-bound members than in recent memory.
2. The BHS Drama club's adaptation of Shakespeare's  A Midsummer's Night Dream.  Our  budding actors/actresses created a cozy performance space and delivered beautifully. I'm so proud. Pictures below.
3. The BHS  faculty. They seem to come up with the most wonderful and beneficial ideas. One of which  is to host a Junior Parent Coffee. This is happening next Friday, June 12 at 8:00am at BHS.   Please come and learn more about preparing for senior year and the college application process.

There are more things that make me happy, but these are fresh on my mind.   Looking ahead to next week, in addition to the junior parent coffee, our 9th graders will take on the science MCAS on Monday and Tuesday (6/8 and6/9).   They've been working hard and we have been working hard with them. They're ready! How can you help?   Please have your 9th grader go to bed at a reasonable hour wake early and arrive to school on time.  We'll take care of the rest.  

Lastly, as we round the final corner of the school year, students should be checking in with teachers to make sure that they are up-to-date on assignments and ready for final exams.   The final exam schedule is on the calendar on the school website.

That's all for now.

Have a great weekend!

Best,

Pat