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BHS Principal Sabrina Westdijk

Message from the Principal

September 8, 2025

Greetings, BHS students, families and community. I hope that this first newsletter for the 2025-2026 school year finds you well, and that the first weeks of class have felt positive. In just a few short days, on Sept. 11, we will be hosting our final Open House at our downtown location. You can find more details about that below, including the "class schedule". We really hope to see you there!

One important and timely reminder: Each year, BSD requires that all families complete the Annual Returning Student Registration for each of their students, grades PK-12. We have been making great progress on the completion of the annual returning student registration, but MANY caregivers have yet to complete these required forms via the PowerSchool Parent Portal. Please complete the Returning Student Registration forms at your earliest convenience, if you've not already. Staff in the main office and the counseling office are available to assist you if needed. The forms were initially due on August 26, 2025. You can complete the forms on a computer or download the PowerSchool Parent app on your mobile phone. Need help logging into your Parent Portal Account? Our “How To” document has the answers you need.

There are a variety of very important reasons we need these forms:

No student is allowed to go on a “walking” field trip unless the Agreements and Permissions form have been completed this year This currently applies to around 250 BHS students, and field trips are getting scheduled. We want them to be able to join!
From a healthcare perspective, we need to have students' updated medical and vaccine information in order to ensure we have up-to-date information regarding health needs, medications, allergies, and more. Vermont requires several vaccines to attend school, and we need annual verification in order for students to be permitted to continue attending. Nurses have been working on vaccine compliance.
Students are not guaranteed Chromebook access without having signed their annual device use agreement.

Thank you very much for your prompt attention to this important annual task! And as always, thank you for your support of BHS and the teaching and learning that happens here. It's my absolute pleasure to serve our students, staff, families and community, and I'm looking forward to a wonderful school year. If there is ever anything I can do to support you or your family, or to address any questions or concerns you may have, please don't hesitate to reach out to me directly.

With appreciation,

Sabrina Westdijk

ANNOUNCEMENTS & UPCOMING EVENTS

DtBHS Open House is THIS Thursday, 9/11

We're hosting our Open House this week! Doors open at 5:30 to pick up your schedule, advisory starts at 5:45, and classes run from 6-8pm. This is a great time to familiarize yourself with the school, connect with teachers, and get an overview of what your student(s) will be learning this year.

BHS School Picture Days on 9/8 & 9/9

School photos are being taken this week, on Monday and Tuesday. Students can turn their paper order forms in directly to the photographer, or families can order them online. Students should plan on taking their picture whichever day they have English class.

Student Activities Fair is Friday, 9/12

Want to learn about all of the different clubs and activities available afterschool at BHS? Students, during advisory (11:35 - 12:35) on September 12th, the upstairs escalators landing will be chock-full of tables and clubs. Sign-up for club email lists and get more information about opportunities this year. Clubs begin to meet after school on Monday, September 8, but students are welcome to join at any time.

Save the Date: BHS Parent Teacher Conferences on 10/3

We're providing advance notice that Fall Parent-Teacher Conferences with be held on Friday, 10/3 at BHS this year. Conference slots will be available throughout the day. Conference sign-up will open in late September, and detailed registration instructions will be provided to families at that time.

Interested in Joining the BHS Principal Family Advisory Panel?

Want to be involved in creating an even more equitable, open, welcoming, and successful school?

Please consider joining BHS's Family Advisory Panel, a way to give feedback on and shape the school's work alongside BHS's Principal and other school staff guests. The Advisory Panel will be made up of parents and caregivers who meet with me and staff representatives on a monthly basis during the school year to tackle a variety of topics, review and discuss school data, advise on an array of decisions, and broaden understanding of school-related issues.

We will meet monthly on the second Tuesday of each month, in the evening (typically from 6-7pm) ; our first meeting will be on October 14, 2025. We use a hybrid format so you can join in person or remotely, whichever you prefer.

If you are interested in joining this group, please complete this short form by Friday, Sept. 19. Thank you for your support of our school!

~ Sabrina Westdijk

FLEXIBLE PATHWAYS

Save the Date: 10/8 NEACAC College Fair

Wednesday, October 8th is the NEACAC College Fair at Saint Michael’s College. Over 100 colleges/universities/technical schools will be available for students to visit. This is a fantastic opportunity for students to attend during the school day, especially if they are unavailable or do not have transportation to the evening session. This is an opportunity for 11th and 12th graders.

Students will be assigned to one of two groups. Group A will depart BHS at 9:15 am and return at 11:30. Group B will depart at 10:20am and return at 12:30pm. Students will be required to have teachers sign permission slips and return them to Flexible Pathways Coordinator Kate Stein by 9/24. These slips can be found on the second floor on the events board and on the first floor near the counseling department. Students are also required to have their PowerSchool permission form completed for this school year.

BURLINGTON CITY & LAKE SEMESTER

BCL15 is off and running! We have spent our opening days getting to know each other, learning about our values and themes, beginning to explore the many layers of Burlington, meeting with our first community partners, and having fun! We are looking forward to a rich and engaging semester together.

BCL is a unique place-based experiential program that offers full BHS credit to Juniors and Seniors. In BCL, Burlington itself is both our classroom and our curriculum. It’s real-world, empowering, and fun!

To learn more about Burlington City & Lake Semester, watch this short video, check out our blog, or follow us on Instagram: @btvcityandlake

Annual School Safety Info & Drill Schedule

Please check out this year's drill schedule to get a sense of how and when fire drills and Run-Hide-Fight drills will occur over the coming months. As a reminder, while BSD has adopted Run-Hide-Fight as our state-required options-based approach, and we practice "Run" and "Hide", we do not actively practice "Fight".

For additional resources, please review the School Emergency Information Guide, published by te Vermont Agency of Education in partnership with the Vermont Department of Public Safety. Reach out to Assistant Principal Payea or Assistant Principal Win with any questions regarding our drills or school safety.

Courtesy Posts

Green Across The World: Japanese Exchange - Participate in a one week cultural exchange! Host families needed!

𝖶𝗈𝗎𝗅𝖽 𝗒𝗈𝗎 𝖻𝖾 𝖺𝖻𝗅𝖾 𝗍𝗈 𝗁𝗈𝗌𝗍 𝖺 𝗌𝗍𝗎𝖽𝖾𝗇𝗍 𝖿𝗈𝗋 𝖺 𝗐𝖾𝖾𝗄 𝗂𝗇 𝖮𝖼𝗍𝗈𝖻𝖾𝗋 𝖿𝗋𝗈𝗆 𝟣𝟢/𝟣𝟢-𝟣𝟢/𝟣𝟫? 𝖶𝖾 𝗇𝖾𝖾𝖽 𝟪 𝗁𝗈𝗌𝗍𝗌. 𝖲𝗈 𝖿𝖺𝗋, 𝗐𝖾 𝗁𝖺𝗏𝖾 𝗇𝗈𝗍 𝖼𝗈𝗇𝖿𝗂𝗋𝗆𝖾𝖽 𝖺𝗇𝗒 𝗁𝗈𝗌𝗍𝗌 𝖿𝗈𝗋 𝗈𝗎𝗋 𝗀𝗎𝖾𝗌𝗍𝗌. 𝖶𝖾 𝗇𝖾𝖾𝖽 𝗒𝗈𝗎!

𝖧𝖾𝗋𝖾'𝗌 𝖺 𝖻𝗋𝗂𝖾𝖿 𝗈𝗏𝖾𝗋𝗏𝗂𝖾𝗐: 𝖠𝗌 𝖺 𝗁𝗈𝗌𝗍, 𝗒𝗈𝗎 𝗉𝗋𝗈𝗏𝗂𝖽𝖾 𝗍𝗁𝖾 𝗌𝗍𝗎𝖽𝖾𝗇𝗍 𝗐𝗂𝗍𝗁 𝖺 𝖻𝖾𝖽, 𝟥 𝗆𝖾𝖺𝗅𝗌 𝖺 𝖽𝖺𝗒 𝖺𝗇𝖽 𝗍𝗁𝖾 𝖡𝗎𝗋𝗅𝗂𝗇𝗀𝗍𝗈𝗇 𝖾𝗑𝗉𝖾𝗋𝗂𝖾𝗇𝖼𝖾! 𝖯𝖺𝗌𝗍 𝖺𝗋𝗋𝖺𝗇𝗀𝖾𝗆𝖾𝗇𝗍𝗌 𝗁𝖺𝗏𝖾 𝗂𝗇𝖼𝗅𝗎𝖽𝖾𝖽 𝖺𝗂𝗋 𝗆𝖺𝗍𝗍𝗋𝖾𝗌𝗌𝖾𝗌 𝗂𝗇 𝗌𝗁𝖺𝗋𝖾𝖽 𝖻𝖾𝖽𝗋𝗈𝗈𝗆𝗌, 𝖾𝗆𝗉𝗍𝗒 𝗋𝗈𝗈𝗆𝗌 𝗈𝖿 𝗈𝗅𝖽𝖾𝗋 𝗌𝗂𝖻𝗅𝗂𝗇𝗀𝗌 𝖺𝗐𝖺𝗒 𝖺𝗍 𝖼𝗈𝗅𝗅𝖾𝗀𝖾, 𝗈𝗋 𝖺 𝗉𝗎𝗅𝗅 𝗈𝗎𝗍 𝗌𝗈𝖿𝖺. 𝖨𝗇 𝖩𝖺𝗉𝖺𝗇, 𝗀𝗎𝖾𝗌𝗍𝗌 𝖺𝗋𝖾 𝖺𝖼𝖼𝗎𝗌𝗍𝗈𝗆𝖾𝖽 𝗍𝗈 𝗌𝗅𝖾𝖾𝗉𝗂𝗇𝗀 𝗈𝗇 𝖺 𝗍𝖺𝗍𝖺𝗆𝗂 𝗆𝖺𝗍 𝖿𝗅𝗈𝗈𝗋 𝗆𝖺𝗍𝗍𝗋𝖾𝗌𝗌. 𝖸𝗈𝗎 𝖽𝗈𝗇’𝗍 𝗇𝖾𝖾𝖽 𝗍𝗈 𝗁𝖺𝗏𝖾 𝖺 𝗁𝗎𝗀𝖾 𝖾𝗆𝗉𝗍𝗒 𝖻𝖾𝖽𝗋𝗈𝗈𝗆 𝗍𝗈 𝗁𝗈𝗌𝗍! 𝖣𝗎𝗋𝗂𝗇𝗀 𝗍𝗁𝖾 𝗌𝖼𝗁𝗈𝗈𝗅 𝗐𝖾𝖾𝗄, 𝗍𝗁𝖾 𝖩𝖺𝗉𝖺𝗇𝖾𝗌𝖾 𝗌𝗍𝗎𝖽𝖾𝗇𝗍𝗌 𝗐𝗂𝗅𝗅 𝖼𝗈𝗆𝖾 𝗍𝗈 𝗌𝖼𝗁𝗈𝗈𝗅 𝗐𝗂𝗍𝗁 𝗒𝗈𝗎 𝗍𝗈 𝗌𝗍𝖺𝗋𝗍 𝗍𝗁𝖾 𝖽𝖺𝗒 𝖺𝗇𝖽 𝗅𝖾𝖺𝗏𝖾 𝗐𝗂𝗍𝗁 𝗒𝗈𝗎 𝖺𝗍 𝗍𝗁𝖾 𝖾𝗇𝖽 𝗈𝖿 𝗍𝗁𝖾 𝖽𝖺𝗒. 𝖣𝗎𝗋𝗂𝗇𝗀 𝗍𝗁𝖾 𝗐𝖾𝖾𝗄, 𝗍𝗁𝖾𝗒 𝗀𝗈 𝗈𝗇 𝖿𝗂𝖾𝗅𝖽 𝗍𝗋𝗂𝗉𝗌 𝗈𝖿𝖿 𝖼𝖺𝗆𝗉𝗎𝗌. 𝖸𝗈𝗎 𝖺𝗋𝖾 𝖺𝖻𝗅𝖾 𝗍𝗈 𝗀𝗈 𝗍𝗈 𝗌𝖼𝗁𝗈𝗈𝗅 𝖺𝗌 𝗇𝗈𝗋𝗆𝖺𝗅, 𝗈𝗋 𝖼𝗁𝗈𝗈𝗌𝖾 𝗍𝗈 𝗍𝖺𝗄𝖾 𝗉𝖺𝗋𝗍 𝗂𝗇 𝗌𝗈𝗆𝖾 𝗈𝖿 𝗍𝗁𝖾 𝖾𝗏𝖾𝗇𝗍𝗌.

𝖨𝖿 𝗒𝗈𝗎 𝖽𝗈 𝖺𝖿𝗍𝖾𝗋 𝗌𝖼𝗁𝗈𝗈𝗅 𝖼𝗅𝗎𝖻𝗌 𝗈𝗋 𝖺𝖼𝗍𝗂𝗏𝗂𝗍𝗂𝖾𝗌, 𝗍𝗁𝖾𝗒 𝖼𝗈𝗎𝗅𝖽 𝗉𝖺𝗋𝗍𝗂𝖼𝗂𝗉𝖺𝗍𝖾 𝗍𝗁𝖾𝗋𝖾 𝗍𝗈𝗈.𝖥𝗈𝗋 𝖾𝗑𝖺𝗆𝗉𝗅𝖾, 𝗈𝗎𝗋 𝖾𝗑𝖼𝗁𝖺𝗇𝗀𝖾 𝗌𝗍𝗎𝖽𝖾𝗇𝗍𝗌 𝗐𝗂𝗅𝗅 𝗁𝖺𝗏𝖾 𝖿𝗋𝖾𝖾 𝗍𝗂𝖼𝗄𝖾𝗍𝗌 𝗍𝗈 𝗍𝗁𝖾 𝗁𝗈𝗆𝖾𝖼𝗈𝗆𝗂𝗇𝗀 𝖽𝖺𝗇𝖼𝖾 𝖺𝗇𝖽 𝗐𝖾 𝖾𝗇𝖼𝗈𝗎𝗋𝖺𝗀𝖾 𝗒𝗈𝗎 𝗍𝗈 𝗌𝗁𝖺𝗋𝖾 𝗍𝗁𝗂𝗌 𝖾𝗑𝗉𝖾𝗋𝗂𝖾𝗇𝖼𝖾 𝗐𝗂𝗍𝗁 𝗍𝗁𝖾𝗆. 𝖳𝗁𝖾𝗋𝖾 𝗂𝗌 𝗈𝗇𝗅𝗒 𝗈𝗇𝖾 𝗌𝗁𝖺𝖽𝗈𝗐 𝖽𝖺𝗒 𝖺𝗍 𝖡𝖧𝖲 𝗐𝗁𝖾𝗋𝖾 𝗌𝗍𝗎𝖽𝖾𝗇𝗍𝗌 𝗐𝖺𝗅𝗄 𝗍𝗁𝗋𝗈𝗎𝗀𝗁 𝗒𝗈𝗎𝗋 𝖡𝖧𝖲 𝗌𝖼𝗁𝖾𝖽𝗎𝗅𝖾. 𝖶𝖾 𝗐𝗂𝗅𝗅 𝗁𝖺𝗏𝖾 𝖺 𝗐𝖾𝗅𝖼𝗈𝗆𝖾 𝗉𝖺𝗋𝗍𝗒 𝖺𝗇𝖽 𝖺 𝖿𝖺𝗋𝖾𝗐𝖾𝗅𝗅 𝗉𝖺𝗋𝗍𝗒 𝗐𝗁𝖾𝗋𝖾 𝗐𝖾 𝖼𝗈𝗆𝖻𝗂𝗇𝖾 𝗈𝗎𝗋 𝗀𝗋𝗈𝗎𝗉 𝗐𝗂𝗍𝗁 𝖤𝗌𝗌𝖾𝗑 𝖧𝗂𝗀𝗁 𝖲𝖼𝗁𝗈𝗈𝗅’𝗌 𝗀𝗋𝗈𝗎𝗉. 𝖮𝗍𝗁𝖾𝗋𝗐𝗂𝗌𝖾, 𝗍𝗁𝖾 𝗐𝖾𝖾𝗄𝖾𝗇𝖽𝗌 𝖺𝗋𝖾 𝖿𝗋𝖾𝖾. 𝖳𝗁𝗂𝗌 𝗂𝗌 𝖺 𝗀𝗋𝖾𝖺𝗍 𝗍𝗂𝗆𝖾 𝗍𝗈 𝗌𝗁𝗈𝗐 𝗍𝗁𝖾 𝗌𝗍𝗎𝖽𝖾𝗇𝗍𝗌 𝗐𝗁𝖺𝗍 𝗒𝗈𝗎 𝗅𝗈𝗏𝖾 𝗆𝗈𝗌𝗍 𝖺𝖻𝗈𝗎𝗍 𝗅𝗂𝗏𝗂𝗇𝗀 𝗂𝗇 𝗍𝗁𝗂𝗌 𝖼𝗈𝗋𝗇𝖾𝗋 𝗈𝖿 𝖵𝖳. (𝖥𝖺𝗋𝗆𝖾𝗋'𝗌 𝗆𝖺𝗋𝗄𝖾𝗍, 𝖼𝗁𝗎𝗋𝖼𝗁 𝗌𝗍, 𝗐𝖺𝗍𝖾𝗋𝖿𝗋𝗈𝗇𝗍, 𝗁𝗈𝗆𝖾𝖼𝗈𝗆𝗂𝗇𝗀 𝖽𝖺𝗇𝖼𝖾, 𝖴𝖬𝖺𝗅𝗅-- 𝖺𝗅𝗅 𝗍𝗁𝖾 𝖿𝗎𝗇 𝗍𝗁𝗂𝗇𝗀𝗌!)

𝖥𝗈𝗋 𝖺 𝗆𝗈𝗋𝖾 𝖽𝖾𝗍𝖺𝗂𝗅𝖾𝖽 𝗅𝗈𝗈𝗄, 𝗐𝖾 𝗁𝖺𝗏𝖾 𝖺𝗍𝗍𝖺𝖼𝗁𝖾𝖽 𝖫𝖠𝖲𝖳 𝗒𝖾𝖺𝗋'𝗌 𝗌𝖼𝗁𝖾𝖽𝗎𝗅𝖾 𝗈𝖿 𝖾𝗏𝖾𝗇𝗍𝗌, 𝖺𝗌 𝗐𝖾𝗅𝗅 𝖺𝗌 𝖺𝗇 𝖥𝖠𝖰 𝖿𝗈𝗋 𝗁𝗈𝗌𝗍 𝖿𝖺𝗆𝗂𝗅𝗂𝖾𝗌. 𝖶𝖾'𝖽 𝗅𝗈𝗏𝖾 𝗍𝗈 𝗍𝖺𝗅𝗄 𝖺𝖻𝗈𝗎𝗍 𝗍𝗁𝗂𝗌 𝗉𝖾𝗋𝗌𝗈𝗇𝖺𝗅𝗅𝗒 𝗐𝗂𝗍𝗁 𝗒𝗈𝗎 - 𝖾𝗆𝖺𝗂𝗅 𝗆𝖾 𝖿𝗈𝗋 𝖺 𝗍𝗂𝗆𝖾 𝗍𝗁𝖺𝗍 𝗐𝖾 𝖼𝖺𝗇 𝖼𝗈𝗇𝗇𝖾𝖼𝗍 𝗈𝗏𝖾𝗋 𝗍𝗁𝖾 𝗉𝗁𝗈𝗇𝖾. CD Sheffy - csheffy@bsdvt.org | Bowen Stephens - bstephen@bsdvt.org

Burlington Rotary Club Youth Exchange Program Looking for Host Families

The Burlington Rotary Club is looking for Host Families for the Rotary International Youth Exchange Program. The Burlington Rotary Club has sponsored many youth exchange students both outgoing to other countries and incoming from all over the world. This is a fun, enriching, and educational program for all involved. We have an incoming student from Brazil who will attend Burlington High School this fall as a Junior. Host Families are responsible for Housing (Bedroom), 3 meals @ day, and transportation to school for 3 months. Parents with students at BHS are encouraged to apply and others may also apply. Host Families will be vetted as per Rotary International requirements. Rotary provides the student with a small monthly cash stipend for spending money for their enjoyment and items they may need.

If interested in more details please call or text Alyssa Birkett at 802-864-6844 or Jesse Beck at 802-355-3810.

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