Panther Update

Save the Date!

BLHS is hosting a parent night for students in grades 9-11 on 2/23/23 @ 6:00pm in the PAC.

This is a good night for parents to get up to date information on;

• College Admission Planning
  
• Graduation Requirements and Pathways
  
• Advance Placement
  
• Career and Technical Education Classes and Pathways
  
• Dual Credit
  
• Pierce County Skills Center
  
• Running Start

BLHS will be hosting another Blood Drive Friday, February 24th from 8:00 am to 2:00 pm. Students who are 16 and older are eligible to participate. Please see the CIC for a Parent Permission Form.

Please note that parking might be difficult during this time as our Visitor parking will be reserved for the Blood Drive Buses. Make sure to plan ahead for the added congestion in our parking lots on Friday.

• Spring Sports Include:

• Softball, Baseball, Women’s Tennis, Men’s Soccer, Men’s and Women’s Lacrosse, Men’s and Women’s Track and Field.

• Sign-Up Go to: https://sumner-wa.finalforms.com/

• Get Cleared with Mr. Ferguson now

• Spring Sports Start 2/27/2023.

• Do you think you can’t afford college or training? Financial aid helps many students pay for education beyond high school, and more families in Washington are now eligible. You might qualify now even if you didn’t before!

• Myth #1: Financial aid only pays for four-year universities, not career or technical schools.

• The facts:

• Financial aid can be used for many types of full-time or part-time education or training, including career and technical schools, community colleges, some apprenticeships, and yes, universities too. There are options that get you into a career sooner or right away!

• Myth #2: My parents make too much money, so I won’t qualify for financial aid.

• The facts:

• Applying for financial aid is the only way to know for sure whether you qualify. For example, with the Washington College Grant, an eligible student from a family of four making up to around $107,000 per year can receive money for college or training.

• Myth #3: I can’t apply for financial aid because I don’t know what I’m going to do after high school.

• The facts:

• You can complete a FAFSA or WASFA financial aid application before applying for college or training. You can make your final choice about whether and where to go later, and you’ll know more about what you can afford.

• Applications are now available for fall 2023! Learn more and apply for financial aid on the Washington Student Achievement Council website.

• It’s time to start thinking about next year’s classes.
• Students are starting the process of evaluating where they currently stand academically, finding courses that they enjoy, and picking classes for next school year.
• Attendance is super important over the next four weeks, particularly on Mondays. Missing any of these days will make this process extra confusing.
• We will officially be selecting classes on Monday 3/6/23.
• Here is a link to our Counseling Department’s Registration Information Page. It also has a link to our current Course Catalog. Please look at the links on the left hand side.
• If you have any questions about your student please reach out to your student's counselor.

Our very own BLHS Band will be having a concert in our PAC. Please come out to support them March 16th, Admission is Free!

• Hey Panthers!! Are you a Senior and interested in being crowned the annual Mr. Bonney Lake? This is for ALL seniors so sign up! Use the link at the bottom of this email!
• Mr. Bonney Lake sign ups!
• We look forward to seeing all of our amazing contestants!

• See Clubs and Activities Meeting Schedules - In the process of being updated.

• See Sports Schedules

• Spring Sports Registration Starts January 30th Go to: https://sumner-wa.finalforms.com/

• Softball, Baseball, Women’s Tennis, Men’s Soccer, Men’s and Women’s Lacrosse, Men’s and Women’s Track and Field.

• Athletes can begin their final clearance tickets on February 13th.

• February 23rd / 6:00PM / Parent Information Night / BLHS PAC

• February 23rd / 7:00pm / Every School’s Choir All Grade Levels / All District Choir Festival / BLHS Gym

• February 27th / Spring Sports Begin / Softball, Baseball, Women’s Tennis, Men’s Soccer, Men’s and Women’s Lacrosse, Men’s and Women’s Track and Field

• February 28th / 7:00pm / Mr. Bonney Lake / BLHS PAC

• April 21, 22, 23 / Into the Woods Musical / BLHS PAC

With the weather changing, I want to share the link for the Inclement Weather information from the district.

• Senior Class Meeting Information

• Go to the Bonney Lake High School Hub.

• Order your Cap & Gown, Custom Announcements, Class Rings, Senior Memorabilia, School Apparel.

• Senior Prowler Newsletters

• Senior Night Information Presentations

• Scholarship Deadlines

• College Visits

• FAFSA / Financial Aid

• Cap and Gown Orders

• Monday June, 12th - 4:00pm @ the Tacoma Dome

• June 12th will be an early release day.

• Secondary: 12:20

• For those of us with kiddos in elementary

• CWE, DVE, LRE, MLE, VFE: 1:10

• SELC: 1:20

• BLE, DEE, EHE, THE 1:45

• More information to come. Stay Tuned!

• Lockdowns and Reasons for them.

• Lockdowns involve the school doing exactly that, locking down or securing the building.

• There are a number of reasons why our school might go into lockdown, only one of them is an active shooter situation.

• In a real lockdown, our primary objective is safety. It may not be possible to coordinate getting students for pick-up due to the reason for the lock down.

• The school and district will share information as soon as we are able to.The primary goal is to keep our students and staff members safe. I want each of you to know that the drill is coming and it is a good opportunity to talk with your students.

• Our Parking Lots
• Be prepared for long lines for pick-up and drop off. Traffic can be tough so please plan ahead in your transportation plans.
• Please avoid parking in parking stalls when dropping your student off in the morning. Often the parking stalls are assigned to students. When someone is in their parking space they often get confused and park in another student’s space. It quickly becomes an issue. Thank you for understanding.
• It’s Getting Dark
• As the days go by, the sun is rising later and setting earlier. This means students are walking to school when there is less visibility.
• Please drive carefully, keep your eyes out for students walking to school, remind your students to use crosswalks and to be vigilant.
• As always please remember, if you “See Something, Say Something.” This mindset has already helped to keep our school safe and has helped to get support to students in need. To report, anonymously or otherwise, you can use the district’s Report It link. Another way to report concerns is through the BLHS’s Incident Report link found in every teacher’s Google Classroom. Also, you can always call the school if you have any questions.
  

Find links to the many services that our amazing Counselors provide.

• Please keep your eyes open and take care of eachother. Below are some resources that may be helpful during this season.

• SBLSD Mental Health & Wellness Resources Page.

• SBLSD Suicide Prevention Page

• Youth Suicide Prevention Lifeline 1-800-273-TALK OR 1-800-273-8255

• GLBTQ hotline -1-866-4TREVOR OR 1-866-488- 7386

• 24 hour Crisis Line -1-866-4CRISIS OR 1-866-427-4747

• BLHS Counseling Page and Resources

• Community Resources

• Northeast Pierce Resource Guide

• Bonney Lake High School Web Page : Daily Announcements, Clubs & Activities, Sports, Parking, Upcoming events, etc.

• All of our previous Panther Updates are also available online

• Please see the Connect with Us Page for links to the BLHS Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, Youtube, and Remind 101 Links.

• Remind Codes

• Class of 2023:

• Text @blhs2023 to 81010

• Class of 2024:

• Text @blhs2024 to 81010

• Class or 2025:

• Text @blhs2025 to 81010

• Class of 2026:

• Text @blhs2026 to 81010

• Teachers will have other information about their Google Classroom Information.

• Get your Family Access Skyward Information to check grades, make payments, see student specific information, etc.

• Get Students Connected

• Clubs and Activities

• See clubs, their meeting times, and advisors.

• Panther Athletics

• If you and your family are up for it, let’s try to fill the stands with staff members this year.

• School / Parent Communication:

• Roughly 95% of our communication home is electronic.

• Please make sure your email address is correct in our system (Skyward) so you receive the communications we send out!

• If you need to update your contact information, please contact the BLHS Main Office at 253-891-5700 to be connected to someone who can help you.

• Letters we send out will also be available on the BLHS home page.

• I plan to continue sending out regular “Panther Update” emails to families. These emails will contain upcoming events and important information.

• Student attendance is a major factor in student learning and success in school.

• Students who miss 10% (or more) of school are at high risk of failing courses and research shows they have a significantly decreased chance of graduating.

• Please help your students by getting them to school every day!

• If your student is going to miss school please contact our attendance office at 253-891-5860 within 48 hours of the absence. Late Arrivals must be cleared the same day.

• Attending a medical appointment (Dr., Dentist, Orthodontist, Ect.) during school hours? Ask them to provide you with a note and your student can turn that in to clear their attendance and to check back in school

• Please see the following link for SBLSD Bus Transportation Information

• Find your school and bus stop: Use this tool to find your specific bus route information.

• Please have your child at the bus stop 5 minutes before the scheduled bus arrival time.

• Waivers: While a condition of waivers is that District transportation is not provided, we have made exceptions in the past if a bus is not full. This year, however, our buses will be full and we are unable to accommodate students on waivers. Families will need to provide their own transportation to and from school.

• Bus passes: We are unable to allow students to ride a different bus when wanting to, for example, go home with a friend or be dropped off at a grandparent's house.

• If you need assistance with the online bus stop search tool or have other transportation-related questions, please call the Transportation Department at (253) 891-6400.
  

• Lunch / Food Service

• Please see the Child Nutrition Link to see; the price of meals, the monthly menus, add money to your student’s account, and to sign-up for free and reduced lunches if needed.

I hope you have found this information helpful.

Take Care of eachother Panthers

In Servitude,

Anthony Clarke

Principal - Bonney Lake High School

253-891-5727

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