BHS School Counseling Newsletter

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1 - PSAT Digital Readiness Check with your ILT

1 - Senior Photo on the Hill

2- Yom Kippur - No School for Students

13- PD Day/Columbus Day - No School for Students

14 to 17 - Spirit Week

17 - Pep Rally & Homecoming Football Game

22 - PSAT 9 and PSAT/NMSQT

23 - Picture Retake Day

24 - Deadline to pay AP Exam Fees

BHS School Counselors along with BHS Peers welcomed our new students with a New Student Mixer this week! Last week, we began our visits from College Representatives. Junior and Seniors interested in attending any of the upcoming visits must sign up in SCOIR. Upcoming visits include; SUNY, American University, Bentley University, WestConn, Post University, UCONN, Sacred Heart and the University of Massachusetts just to name a few! Sign up before spots fill up!

Mrs. Usher had the opportunity to attend this year’s National Association for College Admissions Counseling (NACAC) annual conference. She was able to connect with many colleges and obtained great information about scholarships, admissions, financial aid, and more! Please continue to review the Post Secondary Classroom for updated information, and please feel free to schedule an appointment by clicking this link.

If your child is experiencing thoughts of suicide or self-injury, feelings of depression, anxiety or hopelessness, or out of control behaviors, there are Urgent Crisis Centers available for walk-in de-escalation and evaluations.

Dyslexia Awareness Month

Dyslexia is the most common learning difference, affecting about 1 in 5 people. It does not reflect a student’s intelligence or potential. Many students with dyslexia excel as creative thinkers, problem-solvers, and innovators. We encourage you to promote understanding, and utilize resources. With the right support, students with dyslexia thrive and reach their goals.

Helpful Resources;

• International Dyslexia Association: dyslexiaida.org
• Understood.org: Parent guides and tools
• Yale Center for Dyslexia & Creativity: dyslexia.yale.edu

National Bullying Prevention Awareness Month

Bullying impacts students’ safety, mental health, and academic success. This month reminds us to promote kindness, inclusion, and safe spaces for all. Learn more at stopbullying.gov and pacer.org/bullying.

Positive Attitude Month

A positive outlook can boost resilience, relationships, and school success. This month encourages students to focus on strengths, practice gratitude, and spread optimism. Explore ideas at positivepsychology.com for simple activities.

World Teachers’ Day – October 5

World Teachers’ Day honors the dedication and impact of educators worldwide. It’s a chance to recognize the vital role teachers play in shaping futures and to show appreciation for their hard work and commitment. Students can celebrate by writing thank-you notes, sharing words of encouragement, or simply expressing gratitude to the teachers who make a difference every day.

Mental Illness Awareness Week - October 6-12

Each year millions of Americans face the reality of living with a mental health condition. Each year we fight stigma, provide support, educate the public and advocate for equal care. Mental health conditions, such as depression or anxiety, are real, common and treatable. And recovery is possible. Mental Illness Awareness Week

Click on the button below to read the introduction letter from Samantha Mei, LCSW, our therapist at the School Based Health Center (SBHC) at Brookfield High School.

Attention Seniors & Families: Community Service Hours Requirement

As we approach the end of Quarter 1 on November 6, we want to remind all seniors that you must complete 50 community service hours to graduate.

Any senior who has not yet completed a benchmark of 37.5 hours by November 6 will be invited to a graduation status meeting with their school counselor and assistant principal to review next steps and ensure they are on track for graduation.

If you have questions about your community service hours, please reach out to your counselor as soon as possible! If you need help logging them, please reach out to your ILT teacher!

Parents/Families: Your help in making sure students get these forms in when they return from an absence would be greatly appreciated.

HARD COPY: Request for Absence to be Excused - English

HARD COPY: Request for Absence to be Excused - Spanish

HARD COPY: Request for Absence to be Excused - Portuguese

SUNY Free App Weeks are being hosted from October 20-November 3, 2025. During this time period, students can apply to up to five SUNY schools with no application fee, including Stony Brook University.

Please note, while Free App Weeks go through November 3, we have a campus-specific Early Action deadline of November 1. Some academic and community enrichment programs also have either a final application deadline or a priority application deadline of November 1.

Students applying during Free App Weeks are encouraged to submit their application as early as possible to ensure access to their StartSBU Portal (application portal), which is required for applying to these additional programs by November 1.

You can learn more about this initiative on the SUNY website.

University of Connecticut Early College Experience (ECE) Registration information:

2025-26 UConn ECE Registration for fall, spring, and full-year courses will open September 16, 2025 for all students and will close on October 16, 2025.

Please remember that students who do not complete the student registration process on UConn.DualEnroll.com by October 16th will not be eligible for UConn credit.

A spring course only adjustment period will occur February 2 – February 6, 2026.

Courses for the 25-26 school year:

Biology 1107/1108 (AP Biology): 8 credits

English1007(English IV H): 4 credits

HIST1501/1502 (AP US History): 6 credits

HRTS 1007 (Intro to Human Rights): 3 credits

MUSI 1001 (Music Appreciation II): 3 credits

SPAN 3178/3179 (AP Spanish): 6 credits

Financial Aid Webinar on CSS Profile and FAFSA: TuitionCents 2025 Series

Topics include the following:

• What is the CSS Profile?

• Major differences between the CSS and FAFSA

• Asset and income methodology disparities

• Filling out and making changes to the CSS Profile

Students and families can register here

Families who missed our Financial Aid event with Barnum Financial can register to attend another evening presentation by signing up at their website. We will also be hosting an event in January about appealing your financial aid award.

There has been a lot of discussion recently about the job market and how AI may impact new graduates. The latest data from the Federal Reserve (2023) may surprise you. Some of the highest rates of unemployment include Computer Engineering (7.5%) and Computer Science (6.1%), while the fields with the lowest unemployment rates include Nutrition Sciences (0.4%), Civil Engineering (1.0%), and Special Education (1%). The full data can be found here.

AI BootCamp: AI Scholars Live Online is a 10 session (25-hour) artificial intelligence bootcamp that exposes high school students to fundamental AI concepts and guides them to build a socially impactful project. Taught by our team of graduate students from Stanford, MIT, and more, students receive a personalized learning experience in small groups with a student-teacher ratio of 5:1.

Who is AI Scholars for?

• High School Students from Grades 9 to 12

• No programming background required, though an interest in AI is appreciated.

• Advanced cohorts available for students with prior programming experience.

• Students with a variety of interests can explore the intersection of AI and healthcare, art and more.

Please visit the website for additional information.

Interested in research? Pioneer Academics offers programs for students in grades 9-12 to explore their interests.

For 11th graders: The Pioneer Research Institute

Students work with a professor mentor to develop original research papers in 10 weeks. Students can earn college credit through Oberlin College.

For 9th–11th graders: The Global Problem Solving Institute

Students work with a primary professor and two disciplinary professors to analyze and design frameworks for addressing a complex global problem in 12 weeks.

Free resources for all students: The Pioneer Academics Co-curricular Summit (online)