Embedded Files
BHS Principal Sabrina Westdijk
BHS Principal Sabrina Westdijk
Message from the Principal
Message from the Principal
May 19, 2025
Greetings, BHS students, families and community. Amazingly, this is our second-to-last newsletter for the 2024-2025 school year, so it makes sense to summarize all the special schedules and dates heading our way. The regular academic year will be ending on Wednesday, May 28, and we will run shortened days on May 27 and May 28 to reserve time each afternoon for makeup work. Regular classes will dismiss at 12:35pm each of those two days (you can find the detailed schedule in the Announcements & Upcoming Events section below).
Our beloved Year End Studies (YES) Program will begin the following day, May 29, and Credit Recovery (which is available only for eligible students) will begin on May 30. Please be mindful that we will be running a modified schedule during the YES Program; students who are not enrolled in Credit Recovery will have a shortened school day, while students in CR may start their days earlier than usual. Here is that schedule:
YES Program Schedule (May 29 - June10)
8:00-9:20 Credit Recovery
9:30-11:30 Morning YES Session
11:30-12:15 Lunch
12:15-2:15 Afternoon YES Session
2:20-3:30 Credit Recovery
June 11 is our YES Presentation of Learning Day; attendance on that day is required for full YES credit, and that schedule will be shared as we get closer to the date, in our final newsletter. Finally, we will run a half day (11:30am release) on June 12 for our 9th-11th graders. We are still finalizing those plans, but we expect it to be a morning of celebration, fun, and community connections.
A couple other things to highlight:
Our Academic Awards Night is on Wednesday, 5/28 at 6:30pm. All families of honorees should have received a personal invitation, but all students and families are welcome to attend to celebrate our students' achievements.
We are actively hiring for our Credit Recovery Summer School, which is scheduled to run from July 7 - August 1 this year. (We are still seeking applicants with mathematics and science endorsements.) This small morning program is designed just for rising 10th graders who still need to earn credit in one or more core academic area (English, Mathematics, Social Studies, or Science) after finishing their 9th grade year. As we begin to calculate final course grades for the year, we will be reviewing our 9th graders for eligibility, and plan to reach out to students and families with summer school invitations in early June. Participation is strongly encouraged, but obviously not required.
As you can see, there's a lot going on this time of year. Please don't hesitate to reach out to the school if you have any questions. Also, as always, if you have any concerns about your child's progress in classes, especially as we are reaching the end of the year and final course grades, please contact their teacher(s) or counselor directly. We're here for you!
With appreciation,
Sabrina Westdijk
ANNOUNCEMENTS & UPCOMING EVENTS
ANNOUNCEMENTS & UPCOMING EVENTS
BHS Small Ensemble Concert on 5/19
BHS Small Ensemble Concert on 5/19
The BHS Chamber Choir, Chamber Orchestra and Jazz Band will all be performing at 7pm at St. Paul's Cathedral on Cherry Street.
BHS Prom is Saturday, May 24
BHS Prom is Saturday, May 24
The BHS Prom will be hosted at Hula again this year, from 8-11pm.
Tickets are currently on sale during the school day in the BHS Cafeteria. Students wishing to bring guests must complete a form and seek the Principal's approval.
BHS Academic Awards Night on 5/28
BHS Academic Awards Night on 5/28
You are cordially invited to the annual BHS Academic Awards Night on Wednesday, May 28th, 2025, at 6:30 PM. We are proud to recognize students for their academic achievements during the ceremony, held in the HMS Auditorium. All are welcome to attend!
Special Education Info Night for Rising 9th Grade Families
Special Education Info Night for Rising 9th Grade Families
It's Time to Order Your Yearbook!
It's Time to Order Your Yearbook!
The 2025 edition of the BHS Yearbook is now available for purchase from Jostens.com through June. It will be completed next school year and be available for pick up in spring of 2026. Please email oread@bsdvt.org with any questions.
For those who ordered a 2024 edition, the staff is finishing it up, and it will be available for pickup at BHS this summer.
Early Releases on 5/27, 5/28 & 6/12
Early Releases on 5/27, 5/28 & 6/12
May 27 and May 28 will both be early release days, following our end-of-semester "Makeup Day" schedule. This means that students can stay until 3:15 to make up work, but classes end at 12:35pm. This matches what we did at the end of Semester 1 in January. Lunch will be served as usual on these days. The YES Program begins on May 29th.
Thursday, June 12 will be a half day for 9th-11th grades (12th graders will spend that morning at Graduation Rehearsal). We are developing a fun end-of-year celebration schedule. School will start at 9am and end at 11:30am that day. Grab n' Go lunch will be available.
Attention Class of 2025: Graduation Info & FAQs
Attention Class of 2025: Graduation Info & FAQs
Commencement is only weeks away, on June 12 at UVM's Patrick Gym (3-4:30pm)!
Please be reminded that seniors in the graduating Class of 2025 must submit documentation of completed community service hours by 3:30 PM on Wednesday, May 28th, 2025 (the last day of the final academic quarter). Candidates for graduation will not be permitted to participate in the commencement ceremony without a recorded completion of their community service requirements.
More details about what qualifies as community service can be found in these slides and this information sheet. Students can find blank Community Service Forms in the Counseling Office in room 113 or print it using this link.
For more information about graduation related activities and expectations, please review our Graduation FAQ Sheet 2025.
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.
Updates from BHS Student Government
Updates from BHS Student Government
THE BHS STUDENT GOVERNMENT ELECTION is being held Monday 5/19- Wednesday 5/21.
Please remind your student(s) to participate in electing next year’s student president and vice president team! #VotingMatters!
SPIRIT DAYS:
Celebrate the last full week of academic classes with THREE spirit days
Wednesday 5/21- Outdoor Day
Thursday 5/22- Sun’s Out Fun's Out
Friday 5/23- Superfan & College Merch Day
Saturday 5/24 PROM @ Hula (TICKETS ON SALE till 5/22)
SEAHORSE CELEBRATIONS
SEAHORSE CELEBRATIONS
Fresh from the...Library?
Fresh from the...Library?
We’re excited to share that the Burlington Food Service Project has harvested its latest batch of fresh greens from the Library grow tower! These vibrant, healthy greens are now making their way into the BHS school salads—bringing hyper-local produce straight to our cafeteria trays.
A big shoutout to Sara Huesner for her incredible support in setting up the grow tower and nurturing the starts. Her dedication helped this project take root and thrive! This is just the beginning of what we hope will be a sustainable, student-connected food cycle right here at BHS. Stay tuned for more harvest updates!
Flexible Pathways Updates
If you are a rising senior or rising junior (as of 6/13/2025) and are interested in taking a college class using a dual enrollment voucher this summer. Please email Ms. Stein at kstein@bsdvt.org to set up an appointment.
University of Vermont: Flexible, 4-week online courses for college credit...perfect for high school students with jobs, sports, or travel plans. Sessions 2 (beginning June 30th) and 3 (beginning mid-July) are still accepting applications.
Saint Michael’s College: Session 2 begins June 30th.
BURLINGTON CITY & LAKE SEMESTER
BURLINGTON CITY & LAKE SEMESTER
We couldn't be more proud of BCL14 students and the public event they hosted on May 14th to unveil our mural, "Hands of Hope: One Community” on Church Street! The party featured delicious food, great music courtesy of DJ Harper Kenney, and live screen printing provided by Brittany Mae, our artist-in-residence. So many members of our community showed up to celebrate – from city leaders, to BHS administrators, teachers, and students, to parents, siblings, and friends. The city estimates that there were over 200 attendees!
The mural is a visual culmination of the learning students have undertaken this semester as they sought answers to BCL’s essential question, what does it take for a community to thrive? Over the past few months, and alongside dozens of community partners, students have explored sustainability, values-based businesses, third spaces, the housing crisis, urban planning, logos and branding, and the role of public art in fueling social change. The mural, a testament to the ideas of community care and belonging, will remain on Church Street until it moves to the new high school in the fall of 2026.
Check out NBC5’s coverage of the event here, and WCAX’s coverage here!
BHS Afterschool Program
BHS Afterschool Program
Remember, it's never too late to try something new - even in May! Students are welcome to visit or try out a club at any time.
We encourage students to take advantage of the Homework Center as the semester draws to a close. It's open to all students Monday-Thursday, and we welcome drop-ins.
Seahorse Pride Sponsorships Support BHS
Seahorse Pride Sponsorships Support BHS
Thank You to Our Sponsors!
We sincerely appreciate the support of Great Harvest Bread, New World Tortilla, and CrossFit Burlington for their generous contributions to Seahorse Pride and Burlington High School. Their partnership is essential in enhancing our students’ educational experiences, supporting extracurricular activities, and fostering a strong BHS community.
We are truly thankful for their dedication to our students and their investment in the future of our school!
If you're interested in becoming a corporate partner, please contact Seahorse Pride at seahorsepride@gmail.com.
Courtesy Posts
Courtesy Posts
Page updated
Report abuse