BHS Parent/Student Newsletter
April 2020
Greetings from the Counselor's Office!!
We hope whenever you read this you and your family are doing well and staying safe in the midst of all the uncertainty. We know this decision to close school is not what most of you wanted. None of us would choose it either, but we definitely know that our government leaders have our best interests at the forefront of decisions that are made. So we move on and do the best we can with the situations we find ourselves in.
We know there are still many unknowns (getting personal belongings from lockers, returning textbooks, summer school information, and others!) and as soon as these decisions are made - we will post them to social media, send reminds, and email students and parents. In the mean time feel free to email your grade-level counselor if you have questions - if we don't have answers, we will do our best to get answers for you!!
Be sure to communicate with your teachers about grades and coursework. Check their websites for extra learning opportunities as well!! Please continue spending time each day on all your academics. We have ACT practice information later in the newsletter; spend some time preparing for that in addition to you school subjects.
Once you finish your daily learning routine, here are some suggestions to help you stay busy:
- Check your email. (Your teachers and counselors will be emailing.)
- Make a list of three things you're thankful for everyday (it helps fight the blues away.)
- Laugh! Laughter truly is the best medicine.
- Exercise at least 30 min - You will feel better both physically and mentally. It doesn't have to be strenuous - take a walk outside, turn up the music and dance, play outside with your siblings (not your buddies in the neighborhood - remember social distancing)
- Get dressed! While being in PJs all day might seem fun, getting yourself showered and dressed does wonders.
- Put your phones down for a bit and get some fresh air or read a book!! (yes-READ)
- Try something new. (try a new recipe, look up a you tube "how-to" video)
- Make a list of things you want to accomplish each day (you will find that you get way more done when you have a list and can check off items as you finish them)
- Look for the good! I know there is a lot going on but if you look for the good, you'll find it. In fact, why not be the good? What can you do to make someone's day a little brighter?
- Reach out to one another... stay in contact! (while remembering to social distance)
Lastly, we hope you all are spending your time with family and enjoying this unexpected break from school! However, if you are struggling with the extra "down time" or find yourself anxious - know that you are not alone - we are all having these same feelings. Throughout the newsletter, we have links to articles to read as well as some simple things you can do to help you relax and get through this unprecedented time. If you need us, please email (our emails are at the bottom of the newsletter); we are checking email often and would love to hear how you guys are spending your time.
Hang in there!! We can do this!!
Ms. Bryan, Mrs. Garrott, Mr. Lyons, Mrs. Swanson, and Mrs. Wilder
Classroom in Your Living Room Podcast
Registration for RCS Online summer classes was originally set to begin on April 13. The start of registration has been postponed.
Information will be posted as soon as we have it.
covid 19 updates at BHS
- Check out the most up to date information on Rutherford Co. Schools website at: https://www.rcschools.net/
- Follow @bhsjustus and @rucoschools on twitter
- Check your school email for daily updates
- RC schools are closed for the remainder of the school year.
- Graduation has been postponed - more information later
- Special Olympics rescheduled for May 31st
- Prom is postponed - more information later
- Dual Enrollment Courses are continuing online
- Charter Communications and Comcast are offering assistance to low-income households who need internet access. For Charter, call (844) 488-8395. For Comcast, visit https://internetessentials.com/covid19
Seniors- Cap & Gown Pickup
do your GRADES need improvement??
Students: Please contact your teacher if you currently have a failing grade for Q3 and would like to do some credit recovery while we are in the COVID shutdown.
Need a good read??
https://hbr.org/2020/03/that-discomfort-youre-feeling-is-grief
TDOE Announces Partnership with PBS to Deliver Daily Instructional Content for Tennessee Students
New Prom date - saturday, May 9
Feeling Anxious or Stressed?
(from WebMD) Relaxation techniques. Relaxation techniques can help reduce anxiety and negative thoughts and help you manage stress. Common relaxation techniques include deep abdominal breathing, meditation, listening to calming music, and activities like yoga and tai chi.
Some people find that chanting (even a single word) or singing, praying, or focusing their vision on an object or flickering light source (like a candle or fireplace) also helps them achieve a more relaxed state of mind.
Here is one breathing technique that can help when you are stressed:
Take a Breath: One quick way to calm yourself quickly is to breathe. Often when you’re anxious you breathe from your chest rather than from your abdomen. When you breathe from your chest your breath is shallow and you don’t get the full benefit that a deep breath provides. Try this: Lie on the floor and put one hand on your chest and the other on your stomach; now take a breath like you normally would. Do you feel your chest rise and fall or do you feel your abdomen inflate like a balloon? The goal is to have your abdomen inflate and deflate. Keep practicing taking deep, slow abdominal breaths. You should feel yourself start to relax.
Seniors - Intent to Graduate Form
We honestly can't wait to celebrate each of you as you walk across that stage! With us not currently being able to get in the building, I'm asking if ALL of you guys wouldn't mind filling out this online Intent to graduate form. It won't take two minutes, I promise!
ACT Resources for Students and Teachers:
ACT is offering digital learning and workforce resources to assist students, teachers, schools and workers impacted by COVID-19. You can either follow the link provided or go to act.org and click on COVID-19 updates.
Included in this are some free Online ACT Test Prep classes:
- ACT Prep Class – April 18, 2 pm to 3:30 pm ET
- ACT Bootcamp – April 29, 7 pm to 8:30 pm ET
There are several more resources that ACT is offering for free that are normally paid resources. Please check out the link above for more information.
ACT UPDATE
*information about our BHS date will be shared as soon as a decision is made*
FUTURE DATES:
JUNE 13 (rescheduled from April 4)
JULY 18
REGISTER AT http://act.org
The Blackman High School code is 431636.
DUAL ENROLLMENT UPDATE for 2020-21
From MTSU's Dual Enrollment Office: April ACT cancellation - With our new admissions policy for Dual Enrollment and for placement purposes, we are recommending that current and prospective Dual Enrollment students take the June ACT test so that there will be time to get scores back. Additionally, students can take the placement test here at MTSU in lieu of a standardized test score. The scores from the placement test can be used to meet course requirements. We are seeking out more information on how the university working remotely will impact placement testing currently and will share any information we receive.
Dual Enrollment (DE) If you have chosen a DE course for 2020-21 and have not registered, please visit the MTSU Dual Enrollment page: https://www.mtsu.edu/dualenrollment/checklist-firsttime.php and complete the registration process ASAP.
After completing the online process, please print and fill out the CONSENT form (both pages), then email to wilderj@rcschools.net. Mrs Wilder will send those, along with your transcript to MTSU.
For a printable brochure click the following link: https://www.mtsu.edu/dualenrollment/DE_Proof2.pdf
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???
Need an Attendance Form for Driver's Permit???
This is the process we will follow until we return to school:
- Email Mrs. Elliot at elliotttjo@rcschools.net
- Attendance Forms can be picked up in the main office on Mondays from 9-11 AM beginning on April 6.
Graduating with Honors and Distinction
During Cap & Gown pick up on April 14th, Ms. Bryan will be there to check the following:
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
ALIVE HOSPICE OFFERING THE FOLLOWING SERVICES
Alive is also offering a day camp program for grieving children ages 6-14; the flier for Camp Forget-Me-Not is below or you may use this link to begin the application process: http://alivehospice.org/camps
Transcript Requests
This is the process students should follow until we return to school:
- Email Mrs. Sadler at sadlerm@rcschools.net
- Transcripts can be picked up in the main office on Mondays from 9-11 AM beginning on April 6.
TN Promise For Seniors
The deadline to watch the video has been extended to May 15th. Below is the link and it's only 37 minutes:
https://tnachieves.org/high-school-class-of-2020/cancellations
Be sure to do this! Failure to watch the video will result in the loss of your TN Promise
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!
College Signing Day!!
Once we get back we still want to celebrate you guys. Before we left, I asked each of you to fill out this quick survey, the link is below. This will help me plan our Signing day to celebrate each of you no matter what your next step is. So if you haven't, please do so. If your plans have changed, you can fill it out again or if you are unsure if you did or not, you can always do again.
GRADUATION PRACTICE
Friday, May 15, 2020, 01:00 PM
Murphy Center, Middle Tennessee Boulevard, Murfreesboro, TN, USA
Money, Money, Money.... (Scholarship Information)
The key is to APPLY, APPLY, APPLY!
https://bhs.rcschools.net/apps/pages/index.jsp?uREC_ID=909234&type=d&pREC_ID=1251404
College Acceptance Pennants
We may not be in school but still let me know about your acceptance! Send me a picture and I'll still make your pennant for when we come back! 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!
Need Help with College Applications and Scholarships....
Planning to play sports in college?
Graduation Information
Blackman High School Graduation Frequently Asked Questions
General Information
- When is graduation?
Information will be posted as soon as graduation is rescheduled.
- 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?
You may contact Mr. Weeks, our graduation coordinator, if you need any assistance. His email address is weeksm@rcschools.net
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.
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 2020-21 course catalog.
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