Principal's Newsletter
Some thoughts for the starting school year
March 28, 2024
From the Desk of the Principal
Dear Brunswick Families,
Today was a great day of celebrating our students, with 17 Railroaders participating in the Senior Student-Athlete Signing Ceremony. As I told our parents at the ceremony, it’s is always fun to watch student compete on the field of play, bring home wins and give their best effort. But what is more rewarding as principal is to know how well each of these students represent Brunswick – in the classroom, in the community AND in the sports arena. We will miss many of these seniors next year, but I’m happy to see so many of them will continue their athletic journey on the collegiate level.
Spring Break is upon us, even if the weather doesn’t actually feel like spring quite yet. My message this week is a simple one: enjoy the extended time you have with your student and other family members over the coming ten days. It is a positive gift to have time with our children that doesn't involve nagging about homework, rushing off to practices, events, or the next "thing". I hope next week is a little slower paced and perhaps allow you to go places or explore opportunities that don't normally happen during the normal school week.
Report cards will be issues the second day back from Spring Break on Wednesday, April 10. Be sure to ask your son of daughter to see the final grades, just to be sure it’s what you’re expecting.
When we return, we are down to the final month or so for seniors and 40 school days for underclass students. Enjoy the break, and let's make the most of the rest of this year!
With Railroader Pride,
Christopher Berry
Principal
The Week Ahead - Keeping You in the Know!
Only home athletic events listed. Check BHS Event Calendar for complete details of home and away contents.
All college recruiter visits are held during Connections (10:25am) unless stated otherwise. Sign-up in Naviance
Railroader News and Notes
Roader Readers,
We have a short edition for March for you from Kylie Lancaster & Ava Stiglicz right before break!
There's a few pieces from Baylin Hoffman and Michael Simpson as well. All music made my Michael!
Ava's Content:
POMS Dance Clinic Gallery
Influential Women
Kylie's Content:
Changing Lives One Bag At A Time!
Rebuilding Brunswick
Signing Day
Please join us in acknowledging our Senior Student-Athletes who have committed to the next step in their education and their sports careers!
- Tristan Attrill
- Logan Aldridge
- Grant Brown
- Morgon Corwine
- Payton Dean
- Gabby DeMarco
- Brock Harsh
- Carly Lindley
- Jaida Moody
- Luca Mosley
- Connor Mullaney
- Andrew Racosky
- Eden Smallwood
- Riley Teague
- Ben Wells
- Denise Yongbi
Kylie Lancaster of the Garnet & Gold Gazette put together a video of the event!
Enjoy: https://bhsgazette.org/10009/spotlights/class-of-2024-signing-day/
Prom Dresses Needed
As your do your spring cleaning, BHS welcomes donations of fashionable prom dresses and shoes for our Roader Closet. These items will be made available to BHS Juniors and Seniors who wish to attend prom looking their best. Items should be free of stains, rips, and odors. Drop them off in the main office, or have students bring them to Ms. McCord. - Thank you!
We've Got Annie!
Advanced tickets for our spring musical production are available NOW and are already selling fast. Get your tickets early if you want to skip the line or wish to purchase with a credit card. Cash sales will be made available at the door of each performance depending on availability.
https://www.showtix4u.com/event-details/81779
Additionally, at the 2pm show on April 20th, we will be hosting a "meet and greet" with the cast including photos and "autographs" with Sandy the dog (yes a real dog!!). Bring your kids for an incredible afternoon of live theater 😊
Note: FCPS staff, military veterans, and anyone 55+ may enter for free by presenting an valid ID. We do anticipate large crowds at the evening shows, so we recommend getting tickets online in advanced if you can.
Career Opportunities for Students
The 2023-34 BHS Yearbook is Now on Sale
All pre-orders online at: www.yearbookordercenter.com
and enter our job #5848
Congratulations, Commendations & Kudos
BHS Congratulates Carson Scholar
Students of the Week
Academic Student of the Week: Ronnie Ickes
Nominated by: Mrs. McCabe
Ronnie had one of the highest Term 3 grades in Mr. Brem's Algebra 1B class! Keep up the great work in Term 4! - Ms. McCabe
Outstanding Character Student of the Week: Edgar Escobar
Nominated by: Mrs. Ronk
Edgar is a pleasure to have in class! Just recently Edgar helped a classmate who had been absent catch up on the work missed. Edgar also helps other students in class! Thanks for being awesome! - Mrs. Ronk
Senior Class of 2024
Senior Event Calendar - Check Out All Senior Events!
The graduation date for BHS has finally been announced! The BHS Class of 2024 will be hold its graduation ceremony on Tuesday, May 21 at 9:00am at the PNC Arena on the campus of Mount St. Mary's University in Emmitsburg. What are the other major events throughout the year and related to graduation that you need on your calendar now? Check out this newly updated link below with all of the important dates for the Class of 2024.
Seniors - Need Assistance with the College Process?
Here are all the answers to the many questions you have about your college applications! Here are the "4-Year-College-Bound Senior" resources from the Connections Assembly on September 6.
Slideshow - College Application Things to Know
Handout - Naviance for Seniors - Requesting Transcripts & Recommendations
These items are also available at www.bhs.edu - click “Counseling” (top right)
Athletics
Railroader Athletic Events for the Coming Week
Staff
- The link above will give you the schedule of events for BHS this week
- Please come support our Student-Athletes!
Coaches
- Please double check your scheduled start time / location for games.
- Please make sure you have received a bus slip in your mailbox – double check departure times.
- Bus Policies
Officials and Opposing School ADs - Please let me know if our schedules do not agree.
Tickets and Video
- Fans can purchase tickets online for regular season contests and skip the line at the gate at https://gofan.co/app/school/MD24761
- Games can be watched live on the NFHS Network
- Please familiarize yourself with this information for the Winter Season.
Booster Organizations
The Class of 2024 Safe and Sane News
BHS PTSA News
We welcome all Parents, Students, and Teacher to join the PTSA!
If you or your student have not had an opportunity to join the PTSA, or just want to make a donation, print a membership/donation form from the link below:
https://edu.fcps.org/bhs/sites/bhs/files/PTSAMembershipForm.pdf
The PTSA does little to no fundraising, so most of the income comes from memberships and donations. You or your student can deliver the completed form and $10 membership and/or donation to the school office (cash or check). Please mark the envelope - PTSA. Electronic payment for membership is now available through PayPal. Choose @BHSPTSA1 or scan the QR code below. In the comments, include your name, email, contact number, whether you are a BHS staff member, your student’s name and grade. If you have any questions please email the PTSA at brunswickptsa@gmail.com. We are excited for this school year and we hope to see you at a future meeting!
Railroader Reminders
Important Attendance Reminders
The State of Maryland has set the attendance goal for each school at 96%.
How can you help BHS achieve that goal? Send your healthy child to school every day on time. Also, plan vacations around the FCPS calendar. Thank you for your support!
Parents and guardians are reminded of these important basic guidelines regarding attendance:
- When your student is absent, please notify BHS.attendance@FCPS.org or turn in a written note immediately after the absence. Please provide physician's notes when applicable.
- Student's who drive to school must have parent/guardian authorization to dismiss early, and must sign-out upon their departure through the main office.
- If a student will be dismissed early, please e-mail the attendance office, BHS.attendance@fcps.org no later than 7:30 am on the day of the early departure or provide your student with an early dismissal note for the attendance office. The student will receive a pass to leave their classroom early, signing out in the main office before leaving. If a note has not been sent in advance, parents must enter the building to sign their student out.
- Student's who arrive to school late anytime after 7:30 must obtain a pass to enter any area of the school. The student must have a parent note in order for the absence to be excused. Any student who arrives late without a parent absence note will be assigned consequences from their administrator based on the frequency of these late arrivals.
Being Prepared for School - Chromebooks
Being prepared every day for school means many things, but perhaps most importantly, it means having your Chromebook fully charged and ready to go. Do you have a place at home where you charge your Chromebook each night? Is this part of your daily routine? Loaner Chromebooks are available on an emergency basis ONLY, and must be returned to the Media Center at the end of each day. Chromebook chargers are not available to be lent out. Most classrooms do not have outlets for charging. Be prepared - charge your Chromebook at home each night!
TutorMe.com, a Free Student Online Tutoring/Homework Help Service
TutorMe.com is a secure, online resource easily accessible through the FCPS Clever Portal and offers on-demand assistance. The TutorMe.com service provides assistance that aligns with the FCPS curriculum, including knowledge of new curriculum tools being implemented. The service maintains rigorous standards providing high-quality, diverse tutors, screened for excellence (including a criminal background check). The service is available 7 days a week, 24 hours a day. Features include:
An online lesson space with a virtual whiteboard
Text editor and chat space
Audio/video chat (although you do not have to use this feature or turn on your camera)
A function to allow sharing of screenshots of work examples to assist tutors as they provide support
More than 300 subjects from math to science, social studies and languages
Students can access TutorMe through the FCPS Bookmarks, when logged in to Google Chrome through their FCPS account, and click on the Clever Portal, then TutorMe. More information is available at the vendor website, www.tutorme.com and this Student Support Document.