Welcome, Ms. Slingerland!
We would like to welcome Ms. Paula Slingerland as the newest edition to the Administrative Team! She has been one of our devoted English instructors in Belleville New Tech and is taking over as the Acting Assistant Principal for Mr. Dan Wright. Mr. Wright has been assigned to an Interim District Safety and Security position. We would like to say "Congratulations" to them both in their new roles!
Important Dates and Upcoming Events:
November 23rd-25th: No School, Thanksgiving Break
Dec 3rd: Belleville Holiday Parade, 5:15pm - 7:15pm
Dec 7th: Early Release, 12:04pm Dismissal
Dec 8th: Course Test Out - Students MUST arrange a time with their Counselor BEFORE the 6th
Dec 26th - Jan 6th: NO SCHOOL, Winter Break
Jan 16th: NO SCHOOL, Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Day
Jan 18th: Tiger Parent Meeting for ALL Grade Levels
Behavioral/Mental Health Service @ BHS
Did you know that your child can get behavioral health services at school? The Corner Health Center has a satellite office at Belleville High School located in the counseling office, thanks to a grant from the state of Michigan. The E3 (Enhancing, Expanding Emotional Health) Program allows Corner Health to staff the office with a licensed mental health therapist and an office manager five days per week. Therapy is available for students and youth ages 10-21 that reside in the Van Buren School District.
In person and virtual appointments are available. Program hours are:
- Monday & Tuesday 7:30am - 3:30pm,
- Tuesday 7:30am- 2:30pm,
- Wednesday 7:30am - 7:30pm and
- Friday 7:30am - 12:30pm.
The E3 Program is hosting a Holiday Self-Care Workshop on Monday, November 28th from 2:15-3:15 at Belleville High School in Room 86. Please encourage your child to attend this workshop for a chance to meet the E3 staff, hear more about the program and learn some strategies for taking care of themselves during the holiday season.
Please contact the E3 office manager, Aminah Jefferson with any questions: (734) 740-6492 or bellevillee3@gmail.com.
SEEKING ACTORS: Tiger Drama is seeking actors who are interested in auditioning to perform in our Random Acts of Theater. Auditions are on November 28th, 2022, and are open to all grades. Please sign up for your audition time slot on the Tiger Drama Google Classroom. All auditions will be cold reads so no need to prepare anything. Come with your energy and prepare to have fun on stage.
ATHLETIC UPDATES
- FORD FIELD here we come. BHS Football has made it to the State Championship game at Ford Field in Back to Back seasons. They will take on Caledonia at 1pm on Saturday. Tickets will be sold through Ticketmaster or at the gates of Ford Field. Wear your ORANGE as we are planning to "Orange Out" Ford Field.
For all Athletics Information, including upcoming practices and game schedules, click the LINK below. GO TIGERS!
BHS Athletics Homepage | Belleville High School (vanburenschools.net)
BHS Clubs and Activities!
Did you know that BHS has a wealth of clubs and activities?! For high school students, belonging to at least one group and forming healthy relationships with adults and other students with similar interests proves beneficial - both during their high school years as well as in future years. Encourage your student to GET INVOLVED!
THIS is the Link to Club/Activities on the Website: https://www.vanburenschools.net/o/belleville-high/page/clubactivities
THIS is another link for students which includes days & times: https://docs.google.com/document/d/19Q3SAXA2wtlE9ElDarD3n5hW1EE2phQJFprMKZdeLsQ/edit?usp=sharing
From the Counseling Team
Coming Soon!
Girls That Rock Mentoring Program -January 17, 2023-February 21, 2023
Girls That Rock Mentoring Program will be retuning to BHS in January 2023. Girls That Rock offers two programs for young ladies at BHS to be mentored by current and recent college graduates. Applications will be available on December 1, 2023. Please see program descriptions below:
Girls That Rock Mentorship (5th grade/ 12th grade)
Program Description: In this program we focus on the exchange of wisdom from generation to generation through mentorship. BHS Seniors travel to Owen Intermediate School to receive mentorship from college graduates. Seniors will spend their first 40 mins receiving mentorship that they will then apply to the 5th grade students through group discussions and team building activities. Young women will spend time reflecting on topics such as self-respect and esteem, developing healthy relationships, social media etiquette and more. This is an in-person, after-school program meeting on a weekly basis.
Girls That Rock College & Career Prep (11th/ 12th grade) Program Description: Our College & Career Prep program aims to educate 11th and 12th-grade girls on the variety of options in the career force and the road to education. We focus on providing information on transitioning that focuses on setting SMART goals for applications, financial plans, networking, organization, and time management.
Participants of this program can look forward to discussing common topics such as:
Time-Management
Budgeting
College selection & application process
Scholarship selection and application process
Trade schools & programs
Professional Identity Development
This program will use SMART goal-setting techniques to aid in progress tracking and includes incentives for those who participate. This is an in-person, in-school program.
College Boot Camp Round 2
College Boot Camp will be returning on Thursdays during the month of December after school, 2:15pm-3:15pm. More details to come!
Current 10th and 11th Grade students
Telluride is a summer opportunity for you to consider. Please click on the links below to learn more. If you are interested in being nominated, please let your counselor know ASAP!
The Telluride Association Summer Seminars (TASS) study how power and privilege shape social structures through courses in humanities and social sciences.
TASS-CBS (Critical Black Studies) offers seminars that explore topics within history, politics, literature, art, and other intellectual and cultural contributions from people of African descent.
TASS-AOS (Anti-Oppressive Studies) considers systems of power and oppression including white supremacy, patriarchy, and classism, and possibilities of social transformation. Seminars titles and descriptions will be available in the spring. (Those who have heard from us before may notice significant changes from our 2020 and earlier programs.)
All accepted students receive a full scholarship, with no charge for tuition, books, or room and board. Although students are responsible for arranging travel to and from their program, travel subsidies are available. We also offer funding to replace lost wages for students who would otherwise be working over the summer to support their families.
The 2023 application will also be available in mid-November on their website:.tass.tellurideassociation.org
MICHIGAN ACHIEVEMENT SCHOLARSHIP-NEW!
On October 11, 2022, Governor Whitmer signed Public Act 212 of 2022 to establish the Michigan Achievement Scholarship.
Starting with the high school Class of 2023, students will be eligible for more financial aid from the State:
- Up to $2,750 if they attend a community college, per year
- Up to $5,500 if they attend a public university, per year
- Up to $4,000 if they attend a private college or university, per year
Students will be eligible if their family demonstrates financial need* when they complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA).
*Financial need is defined as an Expected Family Contribution (EFC) of $25,000 or less.
Things High School Seniors can do right now to prepare:
- File the FAFSA.
- Create a MiSSG Student Portal three to five business days after filing your FAFSA.
FAFSA is NOW OPEN!
Still have questions about the FAFSA? Click here for more information.
Virtual College Financial Aid Nights
Variable dates, November
MI Student Aid is hosting virtual college financial aid nights every Tuesday in November. The webinars are intended for students and families looking for college financial assistance. Topics include FAFSA application information, federal financial aid programs, state financial aid programs, and scholarship search tools. The webinars begin at 6:30 p.m. on their respective dates.
Have you checked out our Student Opportunities page? Go there NOW! Learn about the new opportunities available to students.
Check out the updated scholarships below:
Scholarships:
All scholarship information can be found on our scholarship page. Please visit our scholarship page for the most up-to-date opportunities. Scholarship Opportunities
College Application Checklist- Check out this great resource to make sure you don't miss a step
HBCU Search Tool- Interested in an HBCU but not sure where to look? Check out this search tool that allows you to search by major Search Tool
Need Support Now?
As the seasons change and the holiday season approaches, individuals and families coping with mental health issues can be a lonely and stressful time, filled with anxiety and/or depression. If you know someone who is struggling or in crisis, help is available. Call or text 988 or visit the Lifeline Chat to connect with a trained crisis counselor.
GREAT NEWS! In addition to our Tuesday/Thursday Homework Lab and Tutoring options for after school, we are now introducing the teacher-led Tutoring schedule. Students report directly to the designated teacher's classroom after school. CLICK HERE for the Tutoring Schedule, and revisit often for updates.
DRESS CODE - By now, some of you have received an email saying that your student has received a Dress Code violation. While these are minor infractions (typically for wearing a hood in the building or wearing a crop top or pajama pants), they can add up! Please be sure to speak with your student if they are receiving multiple of these emails. Besides academics, we are also teaching employability skills - which in many cases includes following a workplace dress code. Thank you for your support!
SCHOOL SAFETY
BUILDING, STUDENT, AND STAFF SAFETY
In light of recent events, and as a firm reminder of a couple of our safety basics please be intentional about discussing these two with your student(s).
Building Entrances/Locked Doors: All entry doors in the building lock at 7:10am. After this, the only doors that may be utilized are at the Main Entrance. Students are not to open, leave from, nor prop open building doors. Failure to follow these safety protocols results in immediate suspension.
Metal Detecting Wands: BHS began last year and continues this year utilizing wands as a metal detection option. These wand searches will take place in randomly selected classrooms during randomly-selected hours. Our goal is to continue to build upon our swift, yet thorough process to help detect anything that could be deemed as potentially dangerous. We believe that the random selection process will be more effective than announced, routine, or predictable searches. These "wanding" events will be attended and supervised by our local law enforcement.
TRUANCY - 5 Day Letters
NOTICE: Any family who receives a 5 Day Truancy Letter has a student who is at risk of failing the semester, and has a higher risk of not completing high school. PLEASE reach out to your student's counselor or assistant principal if your student is having issues with attendance. There may be solutions that haven't been considered yet. Don't let it turn into a 10 day problem...
Per the Student Handbook, any student who is absent from school for all or any part of the day without a legitimate excuse will be considered truant. All students and parents are subject to the truancy laws of the State. If a student, under the age of eighteen (18), is truant for more than ten (10) total days during a semester, he/she may be reported to the appropriate authorities. As a courtesy, BHS will send letters for any student who has been absent for 5 days.
ABSENCE NOTIFICATIONS:
ATTENTION PARENTS AND GUARDIANS: If you receive an attendance notice via phone or text, this means your student MISSED AT LEAST ONE CLASS that day. If it was not approved by a parent/guardian, this is cause for a follow up with them. Tardies will be handled through the general discipline policy checklist as a minor infraction.
STUDENT HANDBOOK AND DRESS CODE
An excellent educational experience is always undergirded by a safe and orderly environment. Please take the time to review the Student Handbook, which includes the BHS Student Dress Code. For a quick review of items to avoid, please click the link for COMMON DRESS CODE VIOLATIONS.
In particular, students will not be wearing:
- Hoods
- Crop Tops
- Ski Masks
- or any bedwear or grooming attire, including pajamas or pajama bottoms, hair scarves or durags.
Link to Student Handbook: https://docs.google.com/document/d/1NJVkEanO8w2Yu6-V7QVP6snU0M1YCviWpn5G61hrmZ8/edit?usp=sharing
Belleville High School
