11/27/22 BHS Tiger News

CONGRATULATIONS to our BHS students and coaches on their 2nd Division 1 Football Championship win at Ford Field yesterday! We would also like to give a special thanks to our Athletic Department (Mr. Brodie, Mrs. Kiessel, and Ashley Snyder - Athletic Trainer), office staff, custodial and maintenance staff, students (especially the "student section"), teachers, parents, and alumni and community supporters who have tirelessly worked together to get the team to where they are today. We appreciate you all. Below are just a FEW pictures of our community at work. Please continue to visit our Facebook page for pictures and updates - @bellevillehighschool. Go Tigers!!

Greetings BHS Families, this is Week #13 of the school year, and we're back to learning this week! If you haven't done so already, please check Parent Connect/MiStar to support your student's learning. Be sure to check their attendance as well, as we will be addressing students with multiple tardies this week. Being on time for class ensures that ALL students are learning and minimizes distractions. Thank you for you support with this.

On behalf of administration, teachers, and building staff, thank you for your attention to the information below. Have a productive week, and GO TIGERS!!

~ Principal Crockett, AP Mrs. Green, AP Mr. Roberson, AP Ms. Slingerland, BNT Director Mr. Wilsey, and AD Mr. Brodie

• 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

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.

Here are just a few pictures from last weekend's theater production - The Importance of Being Earnest. Our students did an excellent job learning and performing their parts. DID YOU KNOW that they also design and BUILD the sets? Our BHS students are multi-talented and hard working. Another shout out to Mrs. Carlin, Mr. Tedaldi, and the ENTIRE cast and crew. Go Tigers!

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

• Belleville Football wins Back to Back State Championships with their 35-17 victory of Caledonia. Congratulations Tigers!

For all Athletics Information, including upcoming practices and game schedules, click the LINK below. GO TIGERS!

BHS Athletics Homepage | Belleville High School (vanburenschools.net)

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

Belleville High School Student Council is sponsoring a BHS Student Council Toy Drive beginning Wednesday, November 30, 2022 through Wednesday, December 14, 2022. All donations will be used to provide gifts for students who attend our district who may not have gifts for the holidays.

BHS Student Council is looking for parents who are available to volunteer for upcoming events. If you are interested in volunteering, please complete this form.

SENIORS:

If you were unable to attend the Senior Parent meeting which was held September 28, 2022, here is the link to the Class of 2023 presentation.

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, 2022. 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.

Application will open on Thursday, December 1st!

Application Link: www.capturedqueening.com/college-and-career-prep-application PW: GTR2023

College Boot Camp will be returning on Thursdays during the month of December. This is an opportunity for seniors to receive assistance with their post secondary planning. Students will receive assistance with college applications, FAFSA, scholarships, essays and MUCH MORE! Our first College Boot Camp will be held on Thursday, December 1st, 2:15pm-3:15pm. Location TBD.

1. Never Assume

Depending on specific schools, your eligibility for financial aid may be more than you realize, especially if your family has multiple children in college. Every school has a different policy regarding EFC (Expected Family Contribution) and/or the CSS Profile (not required by all schools) to calculate financial need. NONE of these policies are published. Your results may surprised you. Make sure you’re not leaving FREE money behind!

2. Some States Require FAFSA Completion to Graduate High School

Mandatory FAFSA policies exist in some states because FAFSA completion is the strongest predictor of college enrollment. Students are more likely to attend if they have access to more financial resources. As of February 2022, Alabama, California, Colorado, Illinois, Louisiana, New Hampshire, Tennessee, and Texas are mandatory (some have alternative opt-outs) FAFSA states. Maryland obligates schools to encourage and assist as many students as possible in completing the FAFSA. At least seven other states are considering a mandatory FAFSA policy.

3. Merit Scholarship Programs May Require the FAFSA

Furthermore, many merit aid programs request completion of the FAFSA as part of their application process.

4. Federal Work-Study Requires the FAFSA

Unlike need or merit-based awards, federal work-study programs provide jobs for students, on and/or off-campus. The FAFSA is required for these programs which are awarded on a first-come, first-served basis.

5. Federal Student Loans Require the FAFSA

All three types of federal loans (Direct Subsidized, Direct Unsubsidized, and Direct PLUS loans) are only available to those who’ve completed the FAFSA. These loans usually have lower initial fees and lower interest rates than private loans. You may also be eligible for payment pauses or forgiveness programs not available with private loans.

6. Covid-19 Emergency Grants Require the FAFSA

Many colleges provide emergency grants to cover college costs related to coronavirus disruptions, including housing, food, and health care.

7. Covid-19 Stimulus Checks May Require the FAFSA

Individual colleges determine how to distribute their share of the American Rescue Plan and many start with FAFSA applications. Dependent students’ checks would be sent to eligible parents/guardians. You’ll want to be eligible for future stimulus checks if they occur.

Whether you think you have financial need or not, filing a FAFSA is the single most important thing you can do to get money for college. With more than $150 billion in college grants, work-study funds, and federal student loans, plus some state-based aid on the table, it’s worth your time to complete one more application.

Because circumstances change at your house, your school, and at the federal level, file the FAFSA every year you are in college.

The easiest and fastest way to file the FAFSA is online. Expect your application to be processed within 3-5 days. Don’t delay, because some FAFSA-required awards are first-come, first serve. Consequently, the best time to file your FAFSA is in October beginning senior year of high school; the next best time is November.

Aveda Institute Cosmetology Scholarship - Natural Talent Cosmetology Scholarship -12th grade - March 1, 2023

All scholarship information can be found on our scholarship page. Please visit our scholarship page for the most up-to-date opportunities. Scholarship Opportunities

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.

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!

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!

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.

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.

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

Email: ncrockett@vanburenschools.net
Website: https://www.vanburenschools.net/o/belleville-high
Location: 501 West Columbia Avenue, Belleville, MI, USA
Phone: 734.697.9133