BHS School Counseling Newsletter

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10 ... Screenagers: Next Chapter at 6:00PM CLES

24 to Jan 2 ... Holiday Recess - No School

In honor of Veteran’s Day, the School Counseling Department hosted a community service opportunity for students to write letters to Veterans. In total, 40 letters were sent out to Veterans and Active Duty members. Thank you, BHS Students!

Through the month of November and into early December, School Counselors have been working with all 9th and 10th grade ILT classes to reflect on quarter one progress, and to set goals for the year moving forward. Please ask your child to share their copy of these completed slides, or reach out to your child’s School Counselor so we can share with you!

1. Start with calm, not panic.

A failing grade feels huge, but it’s rarely permanent. Teens shut down fast when they sense freak-out energy, so keep the tone steady.

2. Ask what they think is going on.
Skip the interrogation lamp. Go with:
“Hey, I noticed your grade in ___. What do you think is getting in the way?”
Teens are far more honest when they don’t feel cornered.

3. Check the portal together- just once.
Not every night. Not every hour. Just a quick look so you both understand what’s missing, what’s low, and what’s still possible.

4. Focus on one fix, not fifty.
Pick a single starting point:

• One missing assignment
• One conversation with the teacher
• One plan to study differently

5. Encourage them to talk to the teacher.
Emailing for them is tempting, but it sends the wrong message. Guide them on what to say if needed, but let them take the wheel.

6. Loop in your school counselor when needed.
If the pattern keeps repeating, or if the “why” seems bigger than schoolwork, reach out. That’s literally our lane- academics, motivation, and stress, all of it.

7. Celebrate progress, not perfection.
A jump from a 52 to a 62 deserves applause. Kids don’t need cheerleaders for straight A’s; they need cheerleaders for effort.

Anxiety and disengagement are deeply connected. While it's natural to want to shield your teen from pain, true development often happens through challenge. By supporting them to face discomfort, with empathy, patience, and a growth mindset, you're helping them build strength, autonomy, and resilience that will serve them far beyond school.

Reflect on your support style.

Are you more likely to push for accommodations (excusing your child from stressful tasks) or encourage them to face challenges? Ask yourself: is my concern about safety or growth?

Shift from repeated reminders to coaching.

When school is a struggle or your teen seems “checked out,” try asking open questions (“What do you think would help?”) instead of directing (“You must study more”).

Model discomfort.

Show your child that it's okay to lean into tasks that feel hard. Share a time you felt nervous but did something anyway, or involve them in a new, slightly scary experience and talk through how you handled it.

Celebrate small exposures.

When your child does something that makes them anxious (even in a small way), acknowledge the effort. Growth isn’t about never feeling afraid — it’s about doing things despite feeling afraid.

Partner with the school.

Talk with teachers/counselors about how the school handles anxiety. Are there safe but structured ways for your child to “face” stressors (presentations, group work, timed tasks) with support? Suggest or advocate for exposure-based practices. School psychologists / social workers / counselors provide support and coping strategies. We can also assist in connecting families with community behavioral health supports if student anxiety starts to affect their quality of life. Teachers can scaffold tasks so that students don’t avoid them altogether, but also don’t feel overwhelmed.

The Still River Greenway has an infrared counter to record the number of users. The program is run by a group at UCONN. They periodically need to manually check the accuracy of the counter. This is done by stationing a volunteer across from the counter and recording various information requested by UCONN. They need to do this process for 10 hours across a few weeks and at different days/hours of the day. This link ( below) provides a more in depth look at what is required and how to perform the necessary functions. If this opportunity interests you, please reach out to Mr. Jay Annis at 203-223-7583.

Mrs. Usher has been on the road! She visited the campuses of Hobart and William Smith Colleges, Ithaca College, Cornell University, Eastern Connecticut State University, and Merrimack College in November. Please feel free to reach out with any questions about these universities!

Ithaca College has had alumni in all of these Broadway shows (and many more) on opening night. Ithaca College was featured in Dream School, and is a great option for students looking for a mid-size college.

Hobart is an amazing liberal arts college that also was featured in Jeff Selingo’s new book,

Dream School

Merrimack has completed a revamp of their academic program and has created tiered pricing. Some majors (with various concentrations) are offered at a price of $17K, which is cheaper than UCONN, and close to the tuition at WestConn and other CSCU schools. It is a great option for students looking for an opportunity for small classes; located about 2.5 hours from Brookfield.

Check your score in your College Board account or on your PowerSchool documentLOK.

Helpful PSAT Score Report Release resources below;

Contact Us at (203) 775-7725

Mrs. Gioglio (A-DI) extn. 4023 (gioglioj@brookfieldps.org)

Ms. Nesello (DO-K) extn. 4026 (nesellob@brookfieldps.org)

Ms. Cordes (L-Q) extn. 4022 (cordesj@brookfieldps.org)

Mrs. Johnson (R-Z) extn. 4025 (johnsonk@brookfieldps.org)

Mrs. Usher (College & Career) extn. 4027 (ushern@brookfieldps.org)