Bloomington High School Newsletter
November 2019
Timothy Moore, Principal
Dr. Barry Reilly, Superintendent
District 87 School Board:
James Almeda-President
Brigette Beasley
Elizabeth Fox Anvick
Kiasha Henry
Tammy Houtzel
Charles Irwin
Mark Wylie
Message from Principal Moore
Advisory Period at BHS: As you know, we implemented an Advisory period last spring, and continue to have this period this semester. Our Advisories meet every Tuesday and Thursday after 2nd hour for 23 minutes. One day of Advisory is used for a grade check with students and the other day is used for lessons based on ISBE's Social Emotional Standards. We started our Advisory for one main reason - to strengthen the relationships with have with our students. Based on the data that we have gathered from student and staff surveys, we believe that this connection with our students is happening. Our staff is working very hard to find ways to connect with students and provide them with another adult advocate at BHS. I encourage you to talk to your student about their Advisory and what takes place. Please don't hesitate to share any feedback, questions or concerns you have with me. Our staff believes that this Advisory period will only continue to improve the school culture and climate at BHS.
Drop off and Pick Up at BHS: For those of you who drop your student off or pick them up after school in either of the parking lots on the south side of BHS, please use patience and extreme caution. There are many students and staff who are walking through the lots before and after school, so we ask that everyone be cautious and drive slowly through our parking lots. We also ask that you be patient as other students are getting into and out of their vehicles as well.
Final Exams in December: Below is the schedule for Fall Semester Final Exams:
Wednesday, December 18th
Study Period from 12:31-12:45
7th Period – 12:45-2:15
Dismissal - 2:15
Thursday, December 19th
1st Period -7:30-9:00
3rd Period – 9:10-10:40
5th Period – 11:25-12:55
(Including lunch)
Announcements – 12:55
Dismissal – 1:00
Friday, December 20th
2nd Period -7:30-9:00
4th Period – 9:10-10:45
6th Period – 11:25-12:55
(Including lunch)
Announcements – 12:55
Dismissal – 1:00
I will end with this note: As I enter my 23rd year at BHS, I continue to be very proud to be a Purple Raider. While we have challenges that we face daily as a public school of 1500 students, our district and our school continues to do all we can provide for our students. We take great pride in providing support for our students and families. Please do not hesitate to ever ask for anything that you may need. We will continue to make every effort to help out. As I remind our staff all the time - It's Great to Be in D87!
Also as a reminder, our last of school before Thanksgiving Break is Tuesday, November 26th. We wish everyone a Happy Thanksgiving Break!
Go Purple Raiders!
Add Mr. Moore on Social Media
Follow Mr. Moore on Snapchat-mooret86
Follow Mr. Moore on Twitter-@MrMooreBHS
(Mr. Moore will not follow students.)
College Visits
College Visitations: Normally these visits should be confined to times when school is not in session, such as teacher institutes, spring vacations, etc. All college visits that require a student to miss a day of school, must be pre-approved by BHS Administration prior to the visit. If the college is located out of state, approval will be given for travel (one day preceding and one day following the visitation). For each visitation day thus granted, the student must present to the Attendance office written verification of the visit from the school visited. If a local college visitation is taken during a school day and is over before the end of the high school day, the students shall be expected to return to school. Failure to present written verification of the college visit or not returning to school when it applies will result in the absence being judged unapproved. BHS Handbook, pg. 36
BHS Marching Raiders
The BHS Marching Raiders earned third place in Class 3A and the Crowd Appeal Award at the State of Illinois Marching Band Championships on Saturday, October 19. Their score in prelims qualified them for a spot in the state finals, where they finished in 12th place overall. This is the third year in a row that the Marching Raiders have qualified for finals. Congratulations to the students for their outstanding performance!
BACC Application information for 2020-2021
The BHS Guidance department is now accepting applications for admission to Bloomington Area Career Center (BACC) for the 2020-2021 school Year.
All applications must be submitted to the BHS Guidance department by 3:00 p.m., Friday, December 6th, 2019.
Please encourage your student to see their advisor as soon as possible in order to meet the deadline. Applications are available in the BHS Guidance office and online at http://bhs.district87.org.
Spots fill up fast, so please do not delay. If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to contact the BHS Guidance department at 309-828-5201.
Guidance
November Newsletter 2019 – Guidance Department
Our entire Guidance Department is dedicated to helping our students be successful at BHS. Please feel free to contact our department if we may be of assistance with academic and future planning, social/emotional needs of students, and college/career planning.
Online Course Selection
Beginning in November 2019, all BHS students in grades 8-11 will select and request courses for the 2020-21 school year through Skyward until the end of January. (Students previously completed this process on paper and a copy was sent home.)
This year’s timeline is November 1, 2019 - February 1, 2020:
- 9th graders make selections/requests during November 2019
- 10th graders make selections/requests during December 2019
- 11th graders make selections/requests during November-January 2019-20
- 8th graders make selections/requests during January 2020
After the designated period of time, the selections/requests will be locked. Advisors will check them and ensure accuracy so that students meet graduation requirements and next year’s schedule may be determined.
BHS advisors, office assistants, and IEP case managers will help students select/request courses at school in English classes and individual conferencing. Parent/Guardians will be able to view the choices in Skyward through the Family Access Center by clicking on the Schedule tab. We encourage you to review the selections/requests with your student and, if needed, contact your student’s advisor at (309) 828-5201 or email her.
Year-Round Annual Review IEP Conferences
Annual review conferences for students receiving IEP services has begun and will continue throughout the school year. Your student's case manager will contact you with regard to scheduling the meeting at a time that works for all involved. You will also be notified, in writing, as to the date and time of the meeting as a follow up from the initial contact. Please contact your student’s case manager with questions regarding the annual review process, including requests for changes. Please feel free to contact Mrs. Michels, School Social Worker and Annual Review Coordinator at 828-5201 extension 5116. We look forward to meeting with each parent and student during the 2019-2020 school year.
Bloomington Area Career Center (BACC)
It’s that time of year again for the BACC application process to begin! The BACC provides an opportunity for our students to gain workplace skills and knowledge. High School is a perfect time to explore their programs and even receive college credit while doing so!
Once counselors receive applications from the BACC, an announcement will inform all interested students to pick up an application in Guidance. Once students and parents complete their portion of the application, the application will need to be returned to Guidance for the final step before going to the BACC. Applications are due in December.
To find out more about the BACC programs, plan to attend their Open House on November 14th from 5:30-7pm. Teachers and students will be available to answer questions.
4-year plan classroom visits
Advisors have been in ninth grade English classes over the past two weeks and worked with students to complete their four year plans. The purpose of the four year plan is to help students map out their high school courses to ensure they are meeting graduation requirements and taking the appropriate classes to prepare them for life beyond high school. Students have digital copies of these plans in their Google Drive accounts. Please take some time to review the plan with your student in preparation for course selection, which will begin next month.
HEARTLAND COMMUNITY COLLEGE PARTNERSHIP
Our partnership with Heartland Community College continues for another year. We welcome Morgan Lord as the new representative for Bloomington High School. Morgan will be here to assist students in the application process, answer any questions regarding the college as well as making students familiar with the scholarship opportunities. She will meet with students in the library twice a month. Below are the dates that she will be available this semester. Morgan will be at BHS from 8:00 AM-1:45 PM on these dates:
· October 31st
· November 14th
· December 5th
ISAC
ISAC (Illinois Student Assistance Commission) will also be in the LMC every Monday from 11:00-2:00 each week. They are a financial aid and college/educational access agency in the state of Illinois that administers scholarship, grant, and other financial aid programs. Their mission is to make college accessible and affordable for Illinois students. Patrick Capalad will be the representative at BHS and will be here in the LMC on Mondays from 11:00-2:00 each week. He will also be providing presentations at various times throughout the school year.
Project OZ
Bloomington extends their partnership with Project Oz another year by having School Youth Specialist, Matt Coates in the building next to guidance. This is Matt’s second year working within Bloomington High School in the Youth Empowered Schools Program. He will continue to be a resource for all students to help in areas of emotional, academic and family support to help students reach their goals. Matt will also continue conducting restorative peace circles (Raider circle) with students experiencing conflict. This is an evidenced based practice to prevent conflict and improve the culture here at BHS. Matt will also serve as Assistant Varsity Basketball coach for the second season. Matt also will be the facilitator again of HYPE. HYPE is a student led leadership group that meets after school and helps plan projects for the community and student body.
CHS
McLean County Center for Human Services has partnered with District 87 to have embedded outreach counselors during the school week at BHS. Kim Molitor, Ashleigh Fogarty, and Francesca Davis are currently meeting with students with emotional and behavioral needs from all backgrounds and socioeconomic statuses. Counselors from MCCHS have been working with students from BHS since the Outreach program was initiated, but this is the first year with their own office :) They also provide outreach services to clients and their families outside of the school setting. For more information or how to get your student help, please contact their guidance counselor or Outreach Coordinator, Nona Waller at 309-827-5351.
Tips from your Friendly Neighborhood School Psychologist: Crisis Resources
**Pro Tip: Take a picture of this on your phone for quick access.**
Suicide Hotline: If you’re thinking about suicide, worried about a friend or loved one, or
need emotional support, then talk to someone now.
· Local Hotline: 211
· Crisis Text: 741741
· National Prevention Hotline: 1-800-273-8255
· Hotline in Spanish/Español: 888-628-9454 (Si está usted preocupado por una persona que usted sabe que está pasando por una crisis o que piensa en suicidarse, nuestros centros pueden ayudarle.)
PATH: Your 24-hour source for information, referrals, and crisis response.
· 827-4005
· 800-570-PATH
Bullying Hotline: Bullying is not so cool, so do something about it. Make a report to the
school’s anonymous hotline.
· 309-273-1042
Sexual Assault: Medical and legal advocacy and counseling.
· YWCA Stepping Stones: 309-662-0461
· PATH at 211 or 309-827-4005 (Ask for Stepping Stones)
LGBTQ+Support: Building a sense of community, fostering respect, and ending
discrimination against LGBTQ people.
· Prairie Pride Coalition: www.PPC-IL.org
· PFLAG: 309-828-5554
· Trevor Lifeline: 866-488-7386
Project OZ: Walk in for runaways. 24 hour crisis intervention for runaway youth ages
10-17. Family and individual counseling.
· 309-827-0377
Senior quotes and Activity lists
Dear Seniors:
It’s time for Senior Quotes and Activity Lists! This senior tradition allows students to leave their final mark on their high school career. To meet our deadline, we will need your quote and list no later than Friday, December 20th! Please make sure your quote is appropriate. Any quote that is not appropriate will not be printed in the yearbook!
Please fill out the bottom of this sheet and return to Mrs. Grundman in room 201 or send to her email: grundmanv@district87.org
Please put Senior Quote on the subject line when emailing to Mrs. G
Example Senior Quote:
“Live life to the fullest.”
Senior Quote (no more space than the allotted lines, 3 lines of space):
____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
Example Activity List:
Football (1, 2, 3, 4)
Speech (2, 3)
Homecoming Court (3)
*An Activity List is a list of clubs, sports and honors you received during all 4 years of your high school career. Please list everything you have done, followed by the years in which you did them. 1-Freshman Year, 2-Sophomore Year, 3- Junior Year and 4-Senior Year. Our goal is to have almost all seniors fill out a list!
Senior Activity List:
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.
9.
10.