BHS Parent/Student Newsletter
December 2019
2019-2020 Counseling Office Personnel
- Christine Bryan, Counseling Dept. Chair, Class of 2020
- Jackie Wilder, Class of 2021
- Marcus Lyons, Class of 2022
- Paige Swanson, Class of 2023
- Kim Garrott, Graduation Coach
- Marina Sadler, Counseling Registrar
- Carole Kasbee, Counseling Clerk
Website: https://bhs.rcschools.net/apps/pages/index.jsp?uREC_ID=546786&type=d&pREC_ID=1285475
Phone: 615.904.3850
Twitter: @blazecounseling
UPCOMING TEST DATES:
February 8 - register by Jan. 10 (or Jan 17th with a late fee)
March 17 - testing at BHS for all 11th graders - no registration needed
REGISTER AT http://act.org
Blackman Collegiate Academy Symposium
Thursday, Dec 12, 2019, 06:30 PM
BHS Cafeteria
Registration for RCS Online 2019-20 Quarter 3
Registration for RCS Online 2019-20 Quarter 3 classes ends on Monday December 16. The Quarter 3 term will be January 8 through March 4. Here is the link to register: https://rcso.rcschools.net/apps/pages/faq
Reminders and Course List
Students are allowed to take one online course per quarter during the school year. All students must meet the traditional prerequisite requirements for online classes. Examples: A student must complete Semester 1 of a course before enrolling in Semester 2. A student must complete the lower level of a course before enrolling in the higher level (e.g. complete English III before enrolling in English IV). So, if you have a student who needs/wants to graduate in May, he/she will need to take Semester 1 of the course during Quarter 3 and Semester 2 of the course during Quarter 4 instead of taking both semesters of the course concurrently. Here is a link to our complete course list: https://rcso.rcschools.net/apps/pages/courselist
If you have questions, please email Holly Hunter, Instructional Technology and RCS Online Learning Specialist for Rutherford County Schools @ hunterh@rcschools.net
ACT Resources for Parents and Students
ACT has some great resources available on their website for college and career planning!! Check them out here: https://www.act.org/content/act/en/students-and-parents/college-planning-articles.html
ARE YOU TAKING THE STEPS NECESSARY TO GET WHERE YOU WANT TO GO???
COLLEGE VISITS - coming to a Bistro near you!
See Ms. Bryan or Mrs. Sadler in the Counseling Office for an Impact Pass if you would like to talk with Madi about her Harvard experience.
DECEMBER HEART HEALTHY MESSAGE
It’s the most wonderful time of the year and possibly the busiest too. Mid-year testing, holiday programs, family events, and much more can zap your energy and your willpower. The next thing you know, you’re stress-eating Christmas treats. Yikes! Is there a way to have a happy, heart-healthy holiday season? You bet, and it’s easier than it sounds.
Research has shown that walking at least 30 minutes a day can help you: Reduce your risk of coronary heart disease and stroke, Improve your blood pressure, blood sugar levels and blood lipid profile, Maintain your body weight and lower the risk of obesity, Enhance your mental well-being, Reduce your risk of osteoporosis, and Reduce your risk on of non-insulin dependent (type 2) diabetes.
Thinking about DUAL ENROLLMENT for 2020-21?? Here's what you need to know:
Dual Enrollment (DE) courses allow students to participate in college level courses conducted during the school day on the BHS campus. Dual Enrollment courses use Middle Tennessee State University and Tennessee state standards. The tuition cost of a Dual Enrollment class is $166.00 per credit hour. This cost can be offset by the Dual Enrollment Grant, if the student is ruled eligible. For more information, please visit the MTSU Dual Enrollment page: https://www.mtsu.edu/dualenrollment/
To be eligible for the Dual Enrollment program, students must be:
1) A junior or senior
2) Have a minimum of a 3.0 GPA or 22 ACT score* and
3) Complete the MTSU Dual Enrollment Application and all other required paperwork.
*some courses do not have a required score for admission but ALL STUDENTS must have taken the PreACT, the ACT or the PSAT in order to enroll in Dual Enrollment.
Sophomores and Juniors will receive more information when registration begins after the holidays - in the meantime, if you have questions that are not answered on the MTSU Dual Enrollment page, see Mr. Lyons or Mrs. Wilder for more information.
Parent/Teacher Conferences
EPSO (Early Postsecondary Opportunities)
Blackman High offers the following EPSOs:
- Advanced Placement (AP) Courses (Cost: $94 per exam)
- Dual Enrollment (DE) Courses (Uses the DE Grant to pay tuition)
- Industry Certification (IC) (Cost varies)
- Armed Services Vocational Aptitude Battery (ASVAB) (Free to all students)
- CLEP (Cost - Exam Fee)
- Local Dual Credit (LDC) (Cost: Exam Fee)
For more detailed description and a list of current EPSOs, visit www.bhs.schools.net for the 2019-29 course catalog.
Graduation Requirements
English = 4 credits
Math = 4 credits
Science = 3 credits
Social Studies = 2 credits
Government/Economics = 1 credit
Fine Art = 1 credit
Personal Finance = ½ credit
Wellness = 1 ½ credit
Foreign Language = 2 credits
Elective focus (pathway) = 3 credits
Elective = 1 credit
*A total of 23 credits are needed for graduation.
Graduating with Honors and Distinction
To graduate with honors students must meet the following ACT benchmarks:
English: 18
Math: 22
Reading: 22
Science: 23
Distinction
To graduate with distinction students must attain a 3.0 GPA and meet one of the following criteria:
- Participate in at least one Governor’s School
- Participate in one of the TN’s all State musical organizations
- Be selected as a National Merit Finalist or Semi-Finalist
- Attain a composite score of 31 or higher on the ACT
- Attain a score of 3 or higher on at least 2 Advanced Placement Exams
- Earn 12 or more semester hours of transcripted postsecondary credit
- Earn a nationally recognized industry certification
*Seniors must let their counselor know by December if they are graduating with distinction.
6 Ways to Set Some Awesome Goals
As the New Year approaches, do you need to set new goals or rethink some you may not have met??? If so, use these tips!!
- Break your goal into smaller tasks or action steps. These smaller steps make progress on the goal more manageable and give you a sense of accomplishment as you move closer to your goal.
- Make goals with others (friends, family members, coworkers). If other people know about your goals or share the same goals, you create accountability for yourself.
- Anticipate possible challenges. Obstacles and setbacks are part of life. For each of your goals, try to anticipate some of the challenges you may face. Generate a list of resources that might help you overcome these challenges.
- Visualize your achievement. What will completing your goal feel like? Visualizing your accomplishments can help motivate you to make progress toward your goal.
- Reward yourself. Having an incentive can be a fun way to motivate you to work hard to achieve your goal.
- Manage your time. Use time management tools to help you organize your tasks, set aside time to work towards your goal, and track your progress.
Attendance Matters!
Check your grades online!
Click the Skyward link at the top of the BHS or RCS homepage.
Parents: Use the login information that you were emailed earlier in the year. If you did not receive an email, contact your child's grade level counselor or the attendance office to get your login information.
Launch My Career
- Need help searching for colleges, majors, and jobs while evaluating salaries and what matches your goals?
- Launch My Career makes it possible to help you cut through what can be confusing and overwhelming information.
- Click here to check out the Launch My Career TN website and use their tools to help you learn more about your future career!
Freshman Orientation - Class of 2024
Thursday, Mar 12, 2020, 06:00 PM
Blackman High School Main Gym
FOCUS ON FRESHMEN (CLASS OF 2023)
As we approach the end of semester one - take a minute to reflect - it's not too late to make some changes and get involved if you haven't already.
1. Make good impressions, especially on teachers. What kind of impression are you making on your teachers and peers?? Are you going to look back and wish you had done something differently?
2. Find a group of people to sit with at lunch – as soon as possible. Did you pick your table wisely? Are you positively affecting those around you?
3. Do not procrastinate. Are you turning in assignments promptly? Do you plan projects out over a period of time or "cram it in" at the last minute?
4. You need your friends for survival. Are your friends someone you can lean on and someone who cares. Do they like you for who you are?
5. Accept change. Change is not always easy - Are you growing or sitting still??
6. Study! What study skills have you learned this year? Are you making studying a habit - the same time and place each day?
7. Be involved in some sort of extracurricular activity. What extracurricular activities are you involved or interested in? Have you made an effort to find out more information about them?
8. Eat lunch. Whether you eat in the cafeteria or bring your lunch your brain/body needs energy to perform.
If you need assistance with any of the above or anything else at school - please feel free to come by my office!!
#GoBlaze
Mrs. Swanson
SOMETHING FOR SOPHOMORES (CLASS OF 2022)
Believe it or not, it is time to begin planning for your junior year!! As you do that, check each of the following and ask yourself if you are doing your best at each. If not, get to work on finishing this year strong. When thinking about your classes next year, be sure to check out the information earlier in the newsletter on Dual Enrollment courses we offer through MTSU.
1. Be Present- don’t waste this year waiting for the next.
2. Challenge yourselves- set goals and become disciplined.
3. Get out there and be involved- if you want to try new things, now is the time.
4. Stay on top of your academics.
5. Start Now- it’s never too early to start getting ready for college.
6. Check with 3 potential colleges websites for entrance requirements.
7. Start keeping a resume of your accomplishments, service hours, etc.
8. Be proactive- If you need anything at all just come by the counseling office, our doors are always open.
Mr. Lyons
JUST FOR JUNIORS (CLASS OF 2021)
How is your junior year so far? Are you preparing as you should be? Not sure? Check out the questions below and if you need assistance - let me know!!!
1. Classes and Grades:
- Are you on track to graduate?
- Are you challenging yourself?
- Are your grades where they need to be for scholarships, etc?
2. Standardized Tests:
- Juniors take the ACT on March 17 - are you ready?
- EOCs - are part of your final grade - are you doing your best to prepare for those?
3. College Planning:
- Are you researching colleges??
- What are some areas to consider when you do this research?
4. Career Research:
- Are you researching any careers?
- Have you taken an online career assessment?
- What colleges offer a major in the area where I'm interested?
5. Start a "Brag Sheet":
- Have you started your Brag Sheet???
- What should you include?
CAN YOU BELIEVE ITS ALMOST TIME TO REGISTER FOR YOUR SENIOR YEAR??? I'll be coming to English classes in January!! Get ready to finish your high school years strong!
As I have said before - the more you accomplish in your junior year, the more you can relax and enjoy your senior year!!
Mrs. Wilder :)
Spotlight on Seniors (CLASS OF 2020)
December is here and in just five short months you'll be graduating!! Here are a few things for you to do this month...
1. Make a list & check it twice... Santa Claus makes a list and so should you! What do you still need to work on? Have you finished all of your applications? What about those scholarships? You can't create a schedule if you don't have a list so do this first!
- Applications .... check!
- Scholarships.... check!
- FAFSA....check!
- TN Promise students: started volunteering...check!
2. Time management tools are personal: What works for one student may not for another. I personally like the "hour by hour" method. This where I set a timer for an hour and work on one thing then when that hour is up, I do something else. Being quite ADHD, I found this keeps me focused so I can check off the things on my list. Be sure to schedule in time for rest and play, both are important! allows me to feel accomplished when I get to check something off my list. Find out what works for you and make a plan to get your list done!
3. Focus on what you can control: Make your list, do what you need to and don't worry about the rest! It will all fall into place, if you do what you need to.
4. Stay calm & don't forget to Breathe!!
5. Submit early and then "drop the mic": Complete all college and scholarship applications early. By completing them early, you can avoid possible mishaps such as servers crashing, etc. So submit early and drop the mic! & Don't forget to Celebrate!!
6. Show Gratitude! Tis the season to remember those who have helped you and show your appreciation. Often times just a simple thank you note goes a long way.
Remember I am here for you! You got this!!
Toys For Tots Volunteer Opportunity (This would go towards your TN Promise Volunteer Hours!!)
1.) The Event is Sunday 12/15/19 from 1pm -6pm at the Destiny Centèr.
2.) Volunteers will arrive at 1pm to get their assignments before families are served beginning at 2pm.
3.) Volunteers will either help with sign-in, help families shop, carry toys to vehicles, or help in the food and clothing give away.
4.) Volunteers are encouraged to wear any of their church t-shirts or identifiers, jeans and comfortable shoes.
To volunteer please sign up at the following link:
https://www.jotform.com/destinycenter/T4Tvolunteer
Deadline for Senior Credit Recovery classes
Wednesday, Jan 8, 2020, 03:30 PM
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FAFSA
If you need help, come by the Counseling Office to see Ms. Bryan.
College Acceptance Pennants
As you complete your college applications and start getting your letters(or emails) of acceptance, be sure to let Ms. Bryan know. We want to celebrate this huge accomplishment! For each college you are accepted to, a mini pennant will be created and will line the glass hallway!
Congratulations to the following seniors on their college acceptances this past month!
Ariana Bennett - Austin Peay, MTSU
Jonathan Burks - Alabama, Ole Miss, MTSU
Alexander Buttram - MTSU
Olivia Carpenter - Alabama, MTSU
Sam Chumney - TTU
Grady Cox - TTU
Andrew Hawkins - ETSU, MTSU
Kyle Kigar - UT Martin, University of Oklahoma
Colby Offutt - Chattanooga State
Malachi King - UTC
Mansi Patel - MTSU
Kaylee P - Cleveland Community College
Shalyn Maynard- Motlow
Kelsi McGregor - MTSU
Kennedy Moore - MTSU
Brennan Reed - Harding
Shamani Salahuddin - MTSU
Gracey Strevel - MTSU
Jayda Summers - UT Martin, MTSU, UTC
Max Tidwell - MTSU
N. Webber - UT Martin
Julian Young - MTSU
Money, Money, Money.... (Scholarship Information)
The key is to APPLY, APPLY, APPLY!
TN Promise Checklist
- Complete College applications
- Complete FAFSA by February 1st
- Complete 8 hours of Volunteer work by the end of June
- Attend Mandatory meeting on Monday, March 16th at 5:30 - BHS Cafeteria
Need Help with College Applications and Scholarships....
TN Promise
FAFSA
Eric Farmer from Tennessee Student Assistance will be at Blackman Thursday, October 17 from 2:30-6:30 pm to help our senior students and parents of seniors complete their FAFSA. The library computer lab has been reserved.
HOPE Scholarship
College Visits
Transcript Requests
Colleges and universities will ask that your student send an official transcript when they apply. This is the process they should follow:
- Go to the counseling office and fill out a Transcript Request Form located beside Mrs. Sadler’s desk.
- Pay $2.
- It will be ready to pick up in 3 days or Mrs. Sadler can mail it for you.
Planning to play sports in college?
Graduation Information
Blackman High School Graduation Frequently Asked Questions
General Information
- When is graduation?
Blackman High School’s 2019 Graduation ceremony will be held on Sunday, May 17, 2019 at 7:00 p.m., at Middle Tennessee State University’s Murphy Center
- Do guests have to have tickets in order to attend graduation?
There are no tickets for guests.
- Is my senior limited on the number of guests he/she may invite?
There is no limit to the number of guests a senior may invite.
- Do seniors have to participate in graduation in order to graduate?
No. Participation in graduation is not a requirement for graduating from high school.
- Who do I contact for more information?
Information will be sent home with your senior in November, March, and late April. You may also contact Mr. Weeks, our graduation coordinator, if you need any assistance. His email address is weeksm@rcschools.net or you may leave him a message at (615)904-3850 ext. 22978