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BHS Principal Sabrina Westdijk

Message from the Principal

March 31, 2025

Greetings, BHS students, families and community. I hope your family are enjoying these early spring days, and that our community is seeing better health, more fresh air, and time outdoors as daylight hours lengthen and the days ever-so-gradually warm.

April is a very busy month in our schools, and this is especially true at BHS. I encourage you to take a few minutes to read through this issue, because it is packed with very important and timely information about:

Graduation 2025
Standardized Testing on April 8 & 9
YES Program 2025
Big April events

In other news, you might have seen that next year's academic calendar was approved in Superintendent Flanagan's recent Community Newsletter. Please review it to plan any August trips, so that you can be sure that your student(s) are able to make it to the first days of school.

Finally, on Thursday of this week we will be administering the BSD Annual Survey schoolwide in the morning. We also want to hear from our families! Please take a moment to complete the Family Annual Survey. BSD values your feedback and perspective on you and your child’s experience in our district and at our school. If you need language support to access the survey, please contact your Multilingual Liaison. Responses are used to measure our progress on our district Strategic Plan, inform professional development and training, and to identify bright spots and areas of need. Thank you for taking the time to complete this survey!

With appreciation,

Sabrina Westdijk

ANNOUNCEMENTS & UPCOMING EVENTS

Standardized Testing on April 8 & 9

BHS will be completing spring standardized testing (VTCAP, Pre-ACT, ACT) next week. Please see a detailed overview below. Important: School will start at 8am on testing days!

Senior PLP Conferences on April 8-9

Lost Something?

We have acquired dozens of lost winter items in the lost and found; these are set out in the main lobby. Encourage your student to come look for lost belongings before April break! All items that remain will be donated.

BHS Talent Show & Culture Potluck on 4/11

Celebrate the Arts!

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 on June 12, 2025 at 3pm at UVM's Patrick Gym. A detailed overview of everything grads need to know is below.

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.

BHS Standardized Testing Information

Next week, on Tuesday, April 8th and Wednesday, April 9th most BHS students will engage in one or more of the following tests. Please see the detailed testing assignments for each grade level, each day, in the image at right:

Vermont Comprehensive Assessment Program (VTCAP)
American College Testing (ACT)
Pre-American College Testing (Pre-ACT)

We encourage students and families to monitor your student's email closely to stay informed of your student’s testing plans. It is important to note that students are scheduled to arrive earlier than our typical school-day start and should arrive on campus beginning at 7:45 am in order to begin testing promptly at 8 am.

Though not testing, 12th graders’ attendance is required, as they will be engaged in work on their presentations of learning for their Personal Learning Plans (PLP) each day. PLP presentations are scheduled for the afternoons on April 8 & 9.

Attention Class of 2025: Graduation Info & FAQs

Can you believe it’s only 10 weeks away until graduation for the Class of 2025?!

The start of the 4th quarter means it’s time to start getting serious about deadlines and the fun that lays ahead. Please encourage your senior to review their email at least twice weekly to ensure they don’t miss out on important opportunities. Please review the Graduation FAQ Sheet 2025 for more details on all the important senior things!

Over the next few days, please support your 12th grader with the completion of the following important tasks:

Diploma order: survey linked here .
Personal learning Plan (PLP): review the PLP Checklist linked here and the PLP Conference expectations here. All students are required to complete a presentation of learning and PLP as part of their graduation requirements. Please reach out to our PLP Coordinator, Kim Fankhauser, with any additional questions or concerns related to this process.
Senior yearbook survey linked here. This is where seniors get to shine! Each student has the opportunity to submit their senior feature in the Yearbook, including a quote, dedication, and special high school memories. Please reach out to Colby Skogland with any additional questions or concerns related to this process.

Tickets for graduation: each Graduate will receive ten (10) tickets. If you would like to request a limited number of additional tickets, please fill out this form by May 30th.

YES 2025 is Coming!

We are just 8.5 weeks away from the start of YES, which is Thursday, May 29th! Students will learn about their YES assignments in late April. Assignments will be posted at BHS and students will have an opportunity to meet their YES teachers in a “meet your teacher day” in mid-May during Advisory.

Some important reminders for students and families about YES:

YES course assignments are final.
- There is no “add/drop” window like we have for our traditional academic scheduling.
Attendance is mandatory.
- Personal appointments--such as seeing your doctor or dentist--should be scheduled for OUTSIDE of class time (9:30am - 2:15pm).
- If students miss more than two classes for their YES courses, then they will not earn credit.
- Students will need to make-up this credit in order to graduate.
- Options for how to make-up credit will be communicated at the start of the next school year from the YES Coordinator.
Credit is earned on a Pass/Fail basis.
The Presentation of Learning (POL) Day is mandatory.
- This is on Wednesday, June 11, 2025.
- If students miss this day, then they will not earn credit for their YES class until they complete a make-up presentation at the start of the following school year upon return.
- If a senior misses the POL Day, then they will not be able to participate in graduation.
Independent studies are not an option.
- We do not offer independent studies as an option for the YES Session.
- All students must participate in a YES course offered at BHS.

If students are participating in an external program, such as Aspirnaut, then the student must reach out to the YES Coordinator (yes@bsdvt.org) and Principal Westdijk (swestdij@bsdvt.org) for approval. This entails the submission of an alternative YES proposal form. Approval of external programs are rare.

SEAHORSE CELEBRATIONS

BHS Advances to Poetry Out Loud Semifinals

On 3/21, the BHS Poetry Club held its third annual Open Mic Night. Students, staff, parents and community members were in attendance. Performances included singing, readings of original works, and the recitation of favorite pieces of writing. A good time was had by all! Club Advisor Tammie Ledoux would like to extend a thank you to faculty members Timony Norris, Shannon Walters and Paul Jones for attending and reading poems at the event.

BHS Math League Wraps up a Successful Season

The BHS Math League team had a great season! We finished 4th overall for the year out of 13 schools. Top 20 individuals for the year were:

Tank Chandler (6th)
Gus O'Neil-Dunne (9th)
Duncan Shaver (13th)
Kaz Skalka (14th)
Max Reif (19th).

BHS Advisories Create Time Capsules for New Campus

This month in advisory, students are working together to engage in the BHS Time Capsule Project! We have been delivered four time capsules, one per grade level, to be buried in a floating floor section of our new BHS campus. There will be a plaque placed there to indicate when the four time capsules are to be opened-- which will be in 25 years-- 2050! Advisories have proposed some really creative items to create for their time capsule contribution. We will have a sealing ceremony for each grade level at the end of April. We are excited to see everyone’s finished products!

Flexible Pathways Updates

CCV’s Early College (EC) program allows rising Vermont high school seniors to spend their entire senior year at CCV earning college credits, finishing their high school diploma, and getting a jump on a college degree, tuition free! After EC, the Free Degree Promise covers a second year at CCV, allowing students to earn an associate degree at no cost.

We encourage currently enrolled 11th graders to attend the CCV Open House event on Thursday, April 17 at 4:00 PM at CCV Winooski. This is a great opportunity to hear more about these programs, explore the application process, learn about financial aid, and get inspired by these amazing opportunities!

To register your student, visit https://admissions.ccv.edu/portal/ECopportunities

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 with community leaders. This week we have been consulting with city planners about the future of the New North End, and making collages with our artist-in-residence! 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!

BHS Afterschool Programming

Remember, students are welcome to drop in to any club -- it's never too late to try something new.

However, students are not permitted to remain in the school after hours unless they are participating in afterschool programs. So we do insist that if students are done at school for the day, they exit the building by 3:30pm. Thank you for abiding by these rules, which are in the interest of student and school safety.

Seahorse Pride Raises Funds to Enrich Learning

Seahorse Pride funds and supports arts and academic programming at BHS, in addition to athletics, and other extra-curricular clubs that fall outside the normal school budget. We raise funds through donations from area businesses, families, concession stand sales, and apparel sales run by parent volunteers at events throughout the school year.

Supported programs include Model UN, Fall Welcome events for all students, the library, graduation celebrations, teacher appreciation events, Open House activities, teacher-requested funding for workshops and materials, educational field trips, academic group funding, travel needs to/from events, spirit weeks, homecoming, and much, much more.

All donations go directly to support these programs. No donation is too small, or too big!

Thank you - We are grateful for your support!

The Seahorse Pride Team

seahorsepride@gmail.com

How You Can Contribute to Seahorse Pride:

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

Method 2: Send cash or check payable to “Seahorse Pride” and short note to:

Downtown BHS

Seahorse Pride

67 Cherry Street

Burlington, VT 05401

Courtesy Posts: Trip Fundraising & Wellness

April is Sexual Assault Awareness Month, a time for people and communities to raise awareness and take action against sexual assault. In recognition of this, The Safety Team will host a FREE and informative presentation, Fostering Safety in an Unsafe World, at the Main Street Landing Performing Arts Center, Monday, April 14. We are thrilled to have Emily Bush, Director of the Vermont Women’s Fund, introducing this event!

The evening will feature a powerful presentation by The Safety Team highlighting the social, health, and economic impact of sexual violence in our state. The presentation will include a compelling video and a demonstration by Certified Empowerment Self-defense instructors of practical, effective, easy-to-learn safety strategies and boundary-setting techniques. The event will conclude with a Q&A session, providing an opportunity for deeper discussion and engagement.

Please join us in supporting this informative and empowering evening focused on increasing awareness and fostering personal safety in our community. You can RSVP here.

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