BHS Counseling Dept.

waiting on spring, working towards success...

As winter drags on, thoughts of spring and warmer days aren’t far from anyone’s mind. Across the Midwest, our students are bundled up, focused, and putting in the work to keep their grades strong. The lessons learned during first semester are now being put into practice; managing time effectively, staying ahead on assignments, using the many resources available throughout the building, and keeping summer school off the radar. Meanwhile, our seniors are already looking beyond high school, imagining the next chapter of their lives and the independence that comes with it. Until those brighter days arrive, we’ll keep pressing forward, much like the groundhog, pushing through winter while eagerly anticipating the sunshine ahead.

Respectfully,

Your BHS Counseling Team

Career Readiness Platform

We encourage you to sit down with your student and help explore their future. Use their Chrome Book, or sign into Google on your computer using their student log in. Then go to app.schoolinks.com and click the button "Sign in with Clever".

College Guidance Newtork

College Guidance Network brings the top experts on the college admissions process into the homes of students and families across the country. After activating your account using the instructions below you will be able to tailor a roadmap outlining processes and key dates for your students specific future path.

In order to introduce you to the network, please watch this short overview video.

CGN video overview: Click here to access video

Activate your account.

Go to: https://www.cgnroadmap.com/activate/140367
When asked for a PIN number, enter 715432

Activation only takes a minute -- literally! Once you have activated their account, you'll be able to customize a College and Career Roadmap for your student according to the factors that matter to them and to you.

More detailed instructions can be found at: https://www.cgnroadmap.com/guide/140367

Whats happening this month...

Seniors should be finishing up their FAFSA's and scouring Schoolinks for Scholarships. Our General Interest Scholarship packet comes out soon and is being given to all seniors in their senior English classes. This packet can be turned into our counseling office in B111. Think of it like the Common App for local scholarships; one application, many opportunities for local scholarships.
Juniors are encouraged to continue to explore their post-secondary options using Schoolinks and review their courses for Senior year. With the start of second semester, Juniors need to focus on maintaining and creating good habits of being active in class, keeping up with their coursework and going to tutoring if needed.
Sophomores will continue to meet one-on-one with their counselors. The purpose of the meeting is to make sure they have everything they need academically and they are working towards identifying a career or two of interest this year. They will also be encouraged to get involved in sports or clubs on campus, and even volunteering in the community.
Freshman The freshman are going to be doing a Mock College Admissions lesson. They will be looking at their 1st semester grades/transcript and comparing it to local university admissions requirements. The goal of this lesson is to help them understand how grades, starting as early as freshman year, translate to future success with college admissions.

Presidents Day February 16th

School Closed.

Parent Teacher Conferences

Thursday, February 26th in the evening. 5:00pm to 7:30pm
Friday, February 27th in the morning. 8:00am - 11:00am

No School for Students on 2/27/26

Whats Happening Next month...

Spring Break

March 30th - April 6th. School resumes Tuesday, April 7th.

BHS Annual College/Career PArent Night

March 5, 2026 5:45pm to 8:00pm in the BHS Cafeteria.

BHS College/Career Fair

March 6, 2026, during the regular school day. Students only. We will have a variety of colleges, trades, military branches, etc. onsite for students to meet with.

college and career center happenings

Spring College Representative Visits

Spring season is starting to move with colleges signing up to speak with our students here on campus. The visits will pick back up starting again near teh end of February and continue through April. Encourage your student to sign up and meet with them. Students can register in SchooLinks under the Events link on the main page.

Joliet Junior College Next Steps Day for Seniors

Wednesday March 18, 2026

You must have already applied to JJC, we are not doing applications at this event.

Joliet Junior College will be coming to BHS to help all JJC Applicants understand what their next steps are for admissions. This event will have representation or information from the following JJC departments:

Testing Services
Academic Advising
Scholarship Office
Admissions Office

These departments will be available so students will know exactly where they are in the process and what their next steps are to ensure they are ready to start their college journey at JJC this fall. Students can sign up in SchooLinks.

*****Registration for this event closes on February 9th.*****

*Students can register for the College Rep visits through their SchooLinks accounts, reach out to your counselor for any question's.

Interesting Reads...

HOW TO TELL WHETHER YOUR ANGRY TEENAGER IS ACTUALLY DEPRESSED

When we think of depression, we tend to imagine a person who is sad for an extended period of time. And although it’s true that sadness is often a key symptom, depression can also present itself as irritability. The same is true for your teenager, although in their case, because they are also experiencing mood swings as a result of the shifting hormones that accompany puberty, determining whether their irritability is normal or something more worrisome can be a little more complicated. (Click here for the article)

what is seasonal affective disorder

Seasonal affective disorder, or SAD, is type of depression. It happens during certain seasons of the year—most often fall or winter. It is thought that shorter days and less daylight may trigger a chemical change in the brain leading to symptoms of depression. Read the article here from John Hopkins Medicine (Click here for the article)

Complete Guide to Managing Behavior Problems

When children struggle with their behavior, it can have a negative impact on everyone in the family. Parents know they need to respond, but they often aren’t sure what’s the best strategy, especially if a child is frequently acting out and nothing seems to work. This guide offers parents a comprehensive look at problem behavior. It covers a variety of topics, including what may be triggering problem behavior, how to improve the parent-child relationship when it becomes strained, what to do if kids are struggling with behavior in school and how to get professional help if you need it. (Click here for the article from Child Mind Institute)

February

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