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BHS Principal Sabrina Westdijk

Message from the Principal

March 17, 2025

Greetings, BHS students, families and community. This week will mark the official start of Spring, and while the weather will be as unpredictable as Spring in Vermont is known for, the reality is that we are building up momentum toward the end of the year. In the coming weeks, please stay tuned for detailed information about Spring standardized testing, athletics and academic award nights, commencement, and year-end concerts and other celebrations.

Spirits in the school are running high. In advisory, each grade level will be assembling the contents of time capsules that will be placed below a floating floor in the new building later this Spring. The Principals Advisory Group will be able to tour our new building in April, and the leadership team is starting to get into detailed relocation planning. Student government has a variety of fun events planned in the weeks ahead, and BHS students and clubs have received a variety of honors for academic, athletic, and artistic excellence.

And of course, we just brought home two state championship trophies in as many weeks.

On Friday, 3/7, the BHS Boys Varsity Basketball team faced off against defending champions Rice for the championship title. After a high-energy, nail-biter of a game, BHS prevailed. And then, on Saturday, 3/15 the BHS Girls Varsity Basketball team advanced to their championship game for the first time in 49 years, winning the game handily against defending champion St. Johnsbury. These well-deserved victories are a testament to both teams' hard work, determination, and sheer talent -- and the skill and dedication of their coaches. And it's given BHS much to celebrate! Go Seahorses!

Throughout the playoffs and the championship games, we were so pleased at how our community came together to support our athletes and school. Thank you all for the amazing turnout, the camaraderie, and the positive sportsmanship!

With appreciation,

Sabrina Westdijk

2025 Division 1 Boys Basketball Champions

2025 Division 1 Girls Basketball Champions

ANNOUNCEMENTS & UPCOMING EVENTS

NO SCHOOL on 3/31/25

All BSD schools will be closed on Monday, 3/31/25 in observance of Eid.

Mark Your Calendars

Please join us on the evening of April 17th to enjoy performances by our bands and choirs, as well as displays of student artwork representing an array of mediums and a year of learning together.

BHS 2025 Commencement is Thursday, June 12

BHS Graduation is scheduled on June 12, 2025 at 3pm at UVM's Patrick Gym. Rehearsal, which is required, will occur that morning. We want to highlight this date since it is a change from what was published in the BSD calendar at the start of the year.

Support BHS Student events (specifically free/reduced tickets for dances) by purchasing a $20 Calcutta raffle ticket for an April 11th student hosted Cabaret Night at Edmunds Middle School. Attending the event is FREE- all are welcome!

Tickets for the raffle can be purchased through the Student Gov’t Go Fund Me: gofund.me/a9ed549d. Any questions can be sent to the clubs advisor: Bowen Stephens bstephen@bsdvt.org.

Does your student have a talent that should be celebrated? Encourage them to sign up to perform at the Cabaret!

DATE CORRECTION: BHS 2025 PROM is on Saturday, MAY 24th. This date was misprinted in the BSD calendar. All other messaging has been correct!

BHS will be administering the YRBS/ Core Survey on Tuesday, March 25th. Keep an eye out for a parent letter with further information and an opt out form. Opt out forms will be due by Friday, March 21, 2025.

The YRBS was developed by the CDC in 1990 to monitor health risk behaviors among youth. Please check out the link above for more details. Reach out to Heather Washburn (BHS SAP Counselor) at hwashbur@bsdvt.org with any questions.

SEAHORSE CELEBRATIONS

BHS Advances to Poetry Out Loud Semifinals

Congratulations to Penelope deRosset for her performance at the Vermont state semi-finals in the Poetry Out Loud competition at the Barre Opera House on March 6th. Her hard word and dedication were truly commendable, and she’s made BHS proud with her recitations of “Buffalo Bill’s” by ee cummings and “Amor Mundi” by Christina Rossetti!

Thank you for sharing your passion for poetry outside of the walls of DtBHS!

BHS Engineering Students Explore Possibilities at BETA

Colby Skoglund’s Principles of Engineering II classes visited BETA Technologies this week. Students visited several labs, met with an electrical engineer, and got to fly in their flight simulator. Thank you to Sarah DeShaw for facilitating this visit!

BHS Multilingual Department & Students Take to the Slopes

On Friday, 3/14 the MLL Department hosted its second annual day on the slopes at Cochran’s Ski Area for our multilingual learners. Thanks to the Athletic Department and Alpine Ski Team for their support in making this day memorable! One of the goals (in addition to having fun and building community) is to connect students with a sport and activity that may be new to them, and could become a lifelong interest (not to mention enlisting new talent for our Alpine Ski team!).

Big thanks to our amazing staff, all chaperones, and Cochran's for making this amazing day possible -- and to Vermont for providing a perfect day and clear blue skies.

BSD Orchestra Program Shines at Annual Orchestra Night

Bravo to the members of the BHS Orchestra who performed at the 14th Annual Orchestra Night this past Wednesday! Pictured is the combined 8th-12th grade students (left) and the graduating class of 2025 (right)!

Flexible Pathways Updates

Career Technical Education

If your student received an invitation to the CTE (Center for Technology Essex) step up day they should be prepared to be at BHS at 9 am on Thursday, March 20th. CTE is providing bussing to and from the tech center.

CCV Access Days - Save the Date!

Please see the attached flyer for details about a CPEP-focused Access Day at CCV Winooski on April 4. Any interested high school students are invited. Students must register for this event by March 31 to attend. Please contact dana.oliver@ccv.edu with any questions.

From the Health Office

Measles cases are on the rise in the U.S. and worldwide, and the first case in Vermont was reported this week. Measles is one of the most contagious and dangerous viruses - it’s not just a rash! Between 1 and 3 of every 1,000 cases in children are fatal as a result of respiratory and neurologic complications; children younger than five years old are most at risk. The best way to protect your family against serious illness is with the measles, mumps, and rubella (MMR) vaccine. MMR is safe and effective. Two doses of MMR vaccine are about 97% effective at preventing measles; one dose is about 93% effective. Check with your primary care provider to make sure your family is up-to-date, especially if you plan to travel outside of the U.S. Schedule required vaccines today! Learn more at HealthVermont.gov/measles

BURLINGTON CITY & LAKE SEMESTER

BCL 14 has been out and about in the city, exploring its history, getting to know our non-human neighbors, and sharing their voices and perspectives on Burlington’s present and future with community leaders. This week we were at HULA Lakeside, meeting with representatives from several local businesses and learning about the complexities of running a values-driven company. Check out our recent Instagram posts to learn more!

PLEASE NOTE: At this point, all Sophomores and Juniors have made course requests for next year. Whether or not they requested BCL, any interested student is still welcome to apply! An application will indicate to the student's Counselor that they should work to build a schedule that includes BCL. It's best to apply as soon as possible--even if the student doesn't know if BCL will fit! Find the application here!

Now Available: Corporate Sponsorships for BHS

Support Our Students - Become A Corporate Sponsor!

If you own a business in the area, please consider becoming a corporate sponsor. A corporate sponsorship supports school events, athletic programs, STEM initiatives, scholarships, and more, all while enhancing your brand presence and strengthening corporate social responsibility efforts. We offer flexible sponsorship packages tailored to your company’s goals and budget, starting at $250.

Why Sponsor Burlington High School?

Community Impact: Support safe, supervised student events.
Exclusive Perks: Receive access to family-friendly sports events all year long.
Brand Visibility: Leverage our social networks, website, and newsletters to showcase your brand to hundreds of families, alumni, and community members.
Direct Engagement: Connect directly with local families and fans with logo and brand exposure.
Fun Mascot Interactions: Boost community connection with appearances by the beloved Ace Seahorse mascot!

Contact Seahorse Pride today at Seahorsepride@gmail.com to learn more about the corporate sponsorship program.

BHS Seahorse Pride - Seahorse Strong!

Proudly Supporting Students in Academics, Athletics & The Arts

How You Can Contribute to Seahorse Pride:

Method 1: Venmo to @BHSSeahorsePride or use the QR code below.

Method 2: Send cash or check and short note to:

Downtown BHS

Attn: Shannon Roesch/Seahorse Pride

67 Cherry Street

Burlington, VT 05401

ALSO: Stay Connected with Seahorse Pride!

Complete this quick form to opt-in and start receiving occasional messages from Seahorse Pride about upcoming events, and ways you can help support our students and teachers through much needed and valuable donations.

Courtesy Posts: Free, Local Well-Being Events

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