Please Note: Procedures for Excused Late Arrival & Early Dismissal

We know that sometimes students need to leave early for an appointment or other special circumstance. Please note, though, that students are not permitted to excuse themselves, and they cannot just tell the main office that they have their parent's permission or a handwritten note. This is a matter of school safety, and connects to our legal responsibility to ensure that all students are safe and accounted for while in our care during the school day.

Required Procedure for excused late arrival or early dismissal: A parent or guardian must contact the school if their student will not be coming to school, will be late, or needs to leave early. Please call the school the day of any unplanned absence and in advance of any planned absences. Families must provide a reason for absences. For late arrivals and needing to leave school early, students who arrive after the start of the school must check into the main office. If your child is going to be late or absent, please call the school to let us know. Students must remain on school grounds during school hours. Students who have parental permission to leave during the school day must be dismissed by the administrative assistant in the main office and released to the pre-approved adult unless the school has received parent/guardian permission to allow the student to leave school on their own.

Procedure for excused dismissal due to health concerns: To go to the Health Office, a student must have a release slip signed by the class teacher unless the student has a free block. Our nursing team determines whether a student needs to be sent home early due to health concerns or illness. A student who is given an Early Dismissal by the Health Office must sign out in the Attendance Office before leaving the building after the Health Office notifies their parent/guardian. Under no circumstances should a student leave school without parent/guardian permission and an Early Dismissal from the Health Office. In other words, students cannot dismiss themselves, and parents and guardians should not bypass the Health Office to do a direct call-out based on talking or texting with their child; that approach cannot be counted as an excused absence.

An Update from the BHS Counseling Department

The BHS School Counseling Department is partnering with The JED Foundation to conduct an online survey about student well-being, challenges they may face, and their sources of support. Beginning the week of November 11th, we will invite students to take the JED High School Student Survey as part of our commitment to support the well-being of our community through student-centered and responsive strategies. The answers from the survey will be used to improve access to refine interventions that address students’ mental health needs effectively at school.   

We understand that talking about mental health, and specifically about suicide, can bring up questions and concerns. For more information, including details on how to opt your student out of this survey, please check your email the “Jed Foundation Initiative- Survey Opt Out Consent Form”.

Consider Burlington City & Lake Semester for Spring 2025

We’re reaching out with a rare opportunity. A few students’ schedules have shifted, and there are now a few spots available for Burlington City & Lake’s upcoming spring semester! If they want to learn more about whether BCL would fit into their schedule, consider mentioning the program! It would need to work with their overall schedule, they should reach out to their Counselor. 

If you want to get a sense of what BCL’s learning environment is like, check out recent blog posts about our  approach to student writing, our study of how the housing crisis connects to Burlington's "downtown dilemma," and our investigation of local climate impacts.  

Flexible Pathways @BHS

Technical Center season is fast approaching.  

Important Dates!

November 12 - CTE and BTC Virtual Presentation (10th grade advisory)

November 19 - BTC and CTE Info Session (during advisory - classroom tbd)

December 4 - BTC and CTE Table in Cafeteria (during lunch)

December 20 - Permission slips for CTE Visit Day are DUE!

January 6 - CTE Visit Day

January 7 - CTE Pre-Tech Virtual Presentation (9th grade advisory)

January 9 - Permission slips due for BTC Visit

January 23 - BTC Visit Day

January 24 - Permission slips due for CTE Pre-Tech Visit

January 30 - BTC Make-Up Visit Day

February 7 - Pre-Tech Visit to CTE

Earning College Credit, Early

Attention Juniors! Have you thought about spending your senior year earning college credit? The Class of 2026 is the last class of students who will be eligible to participate in the Free Degree Promise from the McClure Foundation. Learn more about Early College at CCV by attending their Virtual Info Session.