The Freshman FUNdamental
News and Updates from Team 2021
Dangerous Trend
It seems as though “vaping” or the use of electronic cigarettes/vaporizers has become popular with teens. The newest vaping device is known as Juul and is pictured below.
A Juul is a small vaporizer that looks like a USB flash drive. The device heats a nicotine juice up to create a vapor which is then inhaled by the user. These devices have become very popular with teens. They are discreet, and the cloud that they produce can be hidden by a shirt sleeve. The vapor smells sweet and fruity. Some popular scents include, creme brûlée, mango, fruit medley and cucumber.
It's very important to know that each Juul pod contains as much nicotine as 1 pack of cigarettes or the equivalent of 200 puffs. Some teenagers have figured out ways to double the nicotine or replace the juice with some other substance such as marijuana.
Nicotine as we know is very addictive. At first the person may feel a high when using it, but over time that wears off. The person is then left with the need to continue consuming it, not for the high but because of the craving. Use of nicotine has been shown to cause long-term affects with concentration, memory and the ability to learn. Now imagine these affects on a brain that is still developing.
Consumption of e-cigarette products have also shows a higher rate of bronchitis, increased coughing and respiratory issues. Not only are these devices dangerous to your health, but they are also illegal for anyone under the age of 18 to possess.
Scheduling Update
Important Reminders
- Changes to course requests will not be made after May 1st which includes summer and the beginning of the school year. The time to think about your courses for next year is RIGHT now.
- Students only have requests in PowerSchool, not schedules. Schedules will not be available until registration following summer break.
- If your son/daughter wishes to make a change to his/her course requests, he/she should get the Course Request Change Form that is available in the team office; it's copied on pink paper, so it's hard to miss.
Work Permits
Driver Education
Passwords
Several students have been having trouble logging in to PowerSchool. Students need to remember that their username is their student ID number with a capital “S” (for student) at the end. If they need help with their password, please direct them to Mrs. Birkofer . If you need help with your parent account, Mrs. Birkofer can assist you as well. If you’d like to download the app or access PowerSchool through our BCSC app, our school code is “NZQQ
It is a great idea to find a password app to help track all of the passwords around BHS. Team 2021 does not have access to many of the passwords that are used in the building.
Interesting Read About Indiana Youth
High School Vocabulary
· Cumulative GPA- The cumulative average of all semester grades while in high school. This number either increases, decreases, or stays the same at the end of each semester. The higher the better for college admittance and scholarships.
· Current Weighted GPA- This is the GPA for ONLY the given quarter and is visible to parents in PowerSchool. This number is often mistaken for the Cumulative GPA.
· Class Rank- Mathematical summary of a student’s progress as compared to his/her peers. This number is based on Cumulative GPA and is updated each semester. The higher a student’s Cumulative GPA the higher he/she is ranked.
· Semester Grades-These are the grades visible on student transcripts and the basis for determining a student Cumulative GPA. The semester grade is determined below:
ü 40% Q1/Q3
ü 40% Q2/Q4
ü 20% grade earned on final exam
· Credits- The required units necessary to earn a diploma. Some credits are mandatory while others are optional (electives). Students must pass the course to earn the credit.
· Transcript-The document that contains a student’s academic record. The transcript includes ACT/SAT scores, semester grades, cumulative GPA, class rank, attendance, and more. Post-Secondary institutions use transcripts as a means to make admittance decisions.
· Dual Credit Courses- Dual Credit Courses are courses that allow students to earn both high school credit and college credit while in high school. The high school teachers who teach dual credit courses are viewed as adjunct professors at the institution offering the credit and are required to follow the guidelines dictated by that institution. Within certain guidelines, the grade students earn in the course is the grade that appears on the college transcript. There are prerequisite requirements for these courses
· Advanced Placement Courses (AP)- These are rigorous, college level courses offered through College Board. Students taking AP courses will take an AP test at the end, and colleges and universities grant placement and credit options when certain scores are earned. There are prerequisite requirements for these courses.
· Grade Weights- Students taking rigorous coursework are offered additional weight that is factored into their Cumulative GPA. This is the method by which many students will build their cumulative GPA thus increasing class rank. See the Program of Studies for a complete list of grade weighted courses.
The freshman year makes up 1/3 of what colleges see when they make admittance decisions. Senior year grades are not on transcripts when students apply to college. Freshman Year COUNTS….a lot!
Parent Meeting
Team 2021 welcomes parents to join us for parent meetings. We are available to discuss any concern or topic desired with some common topics listed below.
Common topics include:
-Academic progress
-College Career counselling
-Q and A
-High School Transition
-Four Year Planning
Contact Mrs. Birkofer to schedule a meeting
Building Confident and Self-Reliant Adults
- Unless it's an emergency, you should discourage your teens from "constant dialogue" texting during the school day.
- If your teen does. a helpful response to him/her is "I trust you to handle this on your own".
- In order to help teens manage school independently, they need to know their resources: teachers, coaches, school nurses, school counselors, administrative assistants, administrators and more are available to help students.
- Always encourage your teens to attempt to solve problems on their own and coach them with ways to resolve issues in a positive way.
- If your teen is having difficulty finding a resolution, it may be time for you to step in and help.
Team 2021 Contact Information
Mrs. Lori Mehrtens Counselor ext. 1603 lmehrtens@brownsburg.k12.in.us
Mr. JB McCallum Academic Coach ext. 1608 jmccallum@brownsburg.k12.in.us
Mrs. Celestine Birkofer Admin Asst. ext. 1601 cbirkofer@brownsburg.k12.in.us