Principal Update - BHS Families

• Upcoming Events
• 7th St. Construction Project - Currently in Progress
• Summer Office Hours - Please Note Adjusted Times
• Online Back to School Registration Completion - Your Action Needed
• Fueling Kids Futures Program
• Fall Sports Participation/Tryout Information - Please Check Dates ASAP
• New Staff Welcome
• Building and District Calendars for the Year
• Purchasing Athletic Passes for 2026/27 School Year
• Back to School Registration - Save the Date!

• 1st Day of School Schedule - New Schedule this Year

• 1st Day of School Transportation Schedule
• School Breakfast/Lunch Information for 2026/27 School Year

• Cell Phone/Electronic Device Policy (Recent Legislation)

• BHS PTO Meeting Information - This Year's PTO Officers
• Prospective New Families Newsletter
• Senior Specific Information
• **Senior Only Event Calendar and Information Sheet**
• Future Senior Parent Meeting Info - Presentation and Additional Information Included
• Senior Student and Family Guide to Preparing for Senior Year and Beyond
• Scholarship Opportunities
• Senior Questionnaire - Link Included
• Gates Scholarship - Application Now Open
• Opportunities to Meet with BHS Administration
• BHS Counseling Department - August Counseling Newsletter Included

• Veterans Appreciation Night - Thursday September 3rd (prior to opening home football game)

• Pink Week FAQ
• Official Pink Week Shirts Available Now!
• Pink Week Sponsorship and Raffle Donation Information
• Livingston County Community Alliance Parent Night
• Senior All Night Party - Volunteers Needed
• Save the Date! - Livingston County College Fair @ Cleary University
• Hailey's Trade Apprenticeship for Students
• Learn More About Radiation Therapy - U of M Flint
• Tall Cop Says Stop - August 2026 Newsletter
• Previous Resources - Links Included

• Monday, August 31st - Back to School Registration (Juniors and Seniors, times provided below)
• Tuesday, September 1st - Back to School Registration (Freshmen and Sophomores, times provided below)
• Tuesday, September 1st - Club Fair in Aux Gym (12 pm - 3 pm)
• Thursday, September 3rd - 1st Home Football Game (Veterans Appreciation Night and Youth Night)
• Tuesday, September 8th - 1st Day of School for 2026/27 School Year (Schedule)
• Friday, September 11th - Senior Sunrise Breakfast @ 6:30 am in the BHS Stadium
• Tuesday, September 15th - Open House from 6 pm to 8 pm (Open House Schedule)

In case you were not aware, there is a major construction project currently taking place on/around 7th St. that will last through the summer and require you to enter the parking lot differently than you may normally. For those of you who are not aware, 7th St. is the road you turn onto in order to enter the parking lot in front of the school. This will impact you or your student if either of you will be at BHS for any reason between now and the start of the school year. As a result, you will need to enter the parking lot via the light next to the football field. A press release including all of the details can be found here.

In case you need to stop by the office for anything this summer, we do have adjusted hours where the office is open and available for anything including pick ups of any needed items. The summer schedule is provided below. If you need something and these hours do not work for you, please reach out via email (evansm@brightonk12.com) and we will work with you to coordinate another option.

• Monday through Friday from 7 am to 3 pm

As in years past, there is an online component to back to school registration that we refer to as "re-registration." We will be sending a standalone email later this week with all necessary information. However, we wanted to give you a heads up that it will be coming so that you can be on the look out for it. We have also included a link to the Back to School Registration Packet here. Important details are provided below:

• Opens up on August 3rd and can be completed at that point in time. It will remain open until the start of school.
• Must be completed within your ParentConnect account (if you need assistance with log-in information, you must contact pc@brightonk12.com).
• In-person Back to School Registration cannot be completed until the online component has been completed in its entirety. This means without doing so, students would not have access to their schedules, be able to obtain their Student ID card, obtain parking passes, etc.
• If you are planning to pay for anything in-person at Registration, please bring exact change if paying with cash. Payments will also be accepted via check or credit card.

Considering the tough economic times facing our area, we are attempting to help Brighton School families by making sure all our children have enough food. “Fueling Kids’ Futures One Meal at a Time” is a program designed to provide students on the free and reduced lunch program with enough food for three meals a day during the weekends. This program is a community-based program sponsored by Fueling Kids’ Futures, Community Foundation of Greater Rochester, Our Food Partner, and the Brighton Community.

If you agree to take part in this program, during the school year, your child will receive a bag filled with purchased food for the weekend. Bags will be dispensed in a discreet and caring manner. The simple meals may include food like mac and cheese, canned chicken, canned tuna, granola bars, peanut butter, soups, cereal, fruit cups, and other items. For you, there is no cost associated with this program.

To ensure, as to the best of our ability, to provide for a safe packing environment all volunteers will follow the guidelines established by the Brighton School District. All food will be sent home in disposable plastic bags.

If you would like to have your child participate in this program, please reach out to BHS Grade Level Principal Tracie Richards (richardst@brightonk12.com). If you have more than one child attending the school, share the names of all children in this school. Please be sure to indicate on the form if there are any food allergies. If your child has a food allergy, you as the parent are responsible for checking all food labels when the food arrives home. Brighton Area Schools as well as Fueling Kids’ Futures, Community Foundation of Greater Rochester, and the Food Partner will not be held responsible for any accidental food allergen exposure.

As you know, we will have our annual Club Fair on Tuesday, September 1st from 12 pm to 3 pm in the Aux Gym. Athletics are also another great way to get involved at BHS and it is important to know that fall sports (whether tryouts are required or not) started on Monday, August 10th. There are also certain registration and medical components that need to be completed before participation/trying out is able to occur.

For more information on what is required, as well as tryout/participation information, access the BHS/SMS 2026-27 Tryouts/First Day of Practice Information Sheet.

As we prepare for another exciting school year, we are thrilled to welcome several new staff members to the Brighton High School family! Each brings unique experiences, talents, and a genuine passion for supporting students both academically and personally. We know they will make a positive impact on our students, school, and community, and we look forward to the many ways they will contribute to Brighton High School.

Ms. Adams - BHS Bookkeeper

Ms. Hill - Business Teacher

Mr. Knittle - Social Studies Teacher

Ms. Dew - American Sign Language Teacher

Ms. Kerr - BHS Media Assistant

Ms. Sakalauskas - Spanish Teacher

Officer Bell - School Resource Officer (last at BAS in 2024-25)

Please join us in giving them a warm Bulldog welcome!

• Brighton High School Building Calendar
• Brighton High School Athletics Calendar
• Brighton Area Schools District Calendar

Support Brighton student-athletes all year long!

Purchase a 2026–27 Brighton High School (BHS) and Scranton Middle School (SMS) Sports Pass to enjoy home regular-season events while supporting our student-athletes. Sports passes are valid for home regular-season BHS and SMS-sponsored contests only. Passes are not valid for ice hockey, MHSAA tournaments, club sports, or fundraising events.

Otherwise, regular event tickets are electronic only and available through GoFan.co:

• BHS: $6
• Scranton: $3

Choose the pass that's right for you, scan QR code to purchase, or click here.

Option 1: Family Sports Pass – $225

• Admits two adults and children living in the same household to home regular-season BHS and SMS events
• Purchase before Student Registration so students in grades 7–12 receive a sports pass sticker on their Student ID and pick up the adult pass cards
• Students must bring their new ID and printed Zeffy receipt to the Brighton Athletics table at in-person Student Registration
• SMS Registration: Aug. 20 & 26
• BHS Registration: Aug. 31 & Sept. 1
• **Note: Children in 8th grade and younger must be accompanied by a responsible adult at all high school events

Option 2: BHS Student-Only Pass – $65 (student ID required to purchase, check ParentConnect)

• For one Brighton High School student (grades 9–12) only
• Purchase before registration so the pass sticker can be added to the student's new ID at Registration on Aug. 31 or Sept. 1. Students must bring their new ID and printed Zeffy receipt to the Brighton Athletics table at in-person Student Registration

Option 3: Individual-Only Adult Pass – $105

• Admits one adult to home regular-season BHS and SMS events. Adult pass cards will be mailed to the address provided at checkout
• Ages 62+ and children 5 and under are admitted free
• This pass is not intended for BHS students who are 18 years old; those students should purchase the BHS Student-Only Pass

Using Your Pass Before It Arrives

• If you need to attend an event before receiving your pass, bring a printed Zeffy receipt showing the purchaser's name and email address. Photo ID may be required. Printed receipts will be accepted for admission through September 11, 2026

• Incoming Seniors - Monday, August 31st from 8 am to 11 am
• Incoming Juniors - Monday, August 31st from 12 pm to 3 pm
• Incoming Sophomores - Tuesday, September 1st from 8 am to 11 am
• Incoming Freshmen - Tuesday, September 1st from 12 pm to 3 pm (Club Fair will also be at this point in time)

This year, we have adjusted our schedules for both the 1st day of school and the last day of school. The new 1st day of school bell schedule can be found here. Highlights of the changes to the 1st day of school schedule can be found below:

• 9th grade students need to be in their 1st hour class at the normal start time (7:30 am). Students in grades 10 through 12 will start at 11:19 am.
• All students will have the same amount of time in each class on the 1st day (26 minutes).
• 9th graders will all have lunch together on the 1st day of school at 10:48 am. Their regular lunch schedule will start on the second day of school.

There is no change to the bus schedule for 9th grade students on the first day of school. We WILL have transportation for our students with a late start on the first day of school (incoming 10th through 12th graders). Pick up times are currently visible in StudentConnect/ParentConnect online. Per the Transportation Department, on the first day of school only, students in grades 10 through 12 should plan on bus pick up 4 hours later than usual to accommodate their late start. Pick up at the normal indicated time will resume on the second day of school.

We have been getting a handful of questions on if breakfast and lunch will be free again for the 2026/27 school year. At this point in time, we are anticipating the following (although it is always subject to change). We will let you know if any changes to the follow information take place.

For the 2026–2027 school year, Michigan's universal free school meals program is continuing, so students can continue to receive one free breakfast and one free lunch each school day if they so choose.The program is funded through a combination of federal reimbursements and state funding.

An important note:

• À la carte items, second meals, and some extra snacks or beverages are not included and would still require payment

Background:

On February 10, 2026, Governor Gretchen Whitmer signed a bipartisan legislative package, consisting of Senate Bill 495 and House Bill 4141, designed to minimize classroom distractions and improve student focus across Michigan schools. This new law mandates that all public school districts implement a formal policy prohibiting the use of personal wireless communication devices during instructional time, effective for the 2026-27 school year.

Luckily, Brighton High School put a cell phone policy into place several years ago, putting us ahead of the curve and setting us up for success in meeting this new legislation. Our policy is outlined in our BHS Student Handbook on page 50. Below is a summary of our policy and procedures.

Brighton High School Personal Device Policy and Procedures:

Brighton High School prioritizes a focused learning environment by having students "Pouch" their personal devices as they enter the classroom and during instructional time. This ensures consistency within all classrooms while maintaining student agency during specific and flexible times (before school, after school, during passing times, and during lunch). Every student will be provided with a school-issued device to ensure equitable access to digital curricular resources during instructional time.

Definitions:

• Personal Electronic Devices: Includes, but is not limited to, internet-capable cellular phones, personal computers, iPads or tablets, smart watches, earbuds, headphones, and smart glasses.

• “Pouch” your phone: At BHS, “pouching” your phone means to put it in the phone pocket on the wall as the student enters the classroom.

1. Classroom Expectations (The "Pouch" Standard):

• Immediate Pouching: Upon entering any classroom, students are required to place their phones in the designated classroom pouch.

• Wearables & Accessories: Smart watches must be stored in the student's backpack/bookbag or pouched, and earbuds must be removed from ears entirely and also must be stored or pouched.

• Duration: Devices must remain in the pouch for the duration of the period. To ensure instructional consistency, mid-class "phone breaks" are not permitted.

2. Device Usage:

• School-Issued Devices: BHS is equipped with student chromebooks in the classrooms to ensure equitable access to the digital curricular resources during instructional time.

• Instructional Exceptions: Advisory and/or courses requiring specialized technology (e.g., Video Production, Yearbook, etc) may allow personal electronic device use to complete projects only with explicit principal/teacher approval.

3. BHS Student Handbook:

• Discipline / Expectations Development: With this plan, students are required to follow the school policy and procedures. Progressive discipline will be utilized for infractions based on the steps outlined in the student handbook.

The next PTO Meeting will be in September. However, at May's PTO meeting, the PTO Officers were elected for the 2026-27 school year. The 2026-27 PTO Officers are provided below:

President - Deanne Ferrell

Vice President - Tracie Nord

Treasurer - Karen Nicholson

Secretary - Jessica Custer

As a reminder, BHS PTO is an active part of our students' overall high school experience. In addition to others, the BHS PTO proudly supports the following activities throughout the school year: Registration, educational student assemblies, Academic Letter and Academic Letter Lunches, the Academic Wall, Freshmen class activities, staff appreciation events, financial support for student-run after school clubs and organizations, and the Senior Picnic.

You may or may not be aware, but the enrollment and school of choice windows are now open for the 2026-27 school year! It is important to keep our enrollment steady, or even increasing to allow us to maximize our offerings for our students and set them up for future success. If you know of anyone who will be new to BHS next year or who may be considering BHS as an option for enrollment next year, we have an excellent resource you can share with them. It is provided below. Also, feel free to connect them with us if they have any questions or are looking to set up an opportunity to tour the building!

Prospective New Families Newsletter

Each year we release a Senior Information Sheet highlighting a number of important items that pertain to members of our Senior Class. It highlights important contacts, dates, social media accounts to follow, etc. This year's Senior Information Sheet can be found here.

We also have a Calendar of Events for Seniors that highlights all of the events that you/they will want to add to their calendars so that they don't miss anything throughout the year.

As always, please don't hesitate to reach out if you have any questions.

Hello Class of 2027 Students, Parents, and Guardians,

It was a pleasure to see so many of you at the Future Senior Parent Night in the spring. To ensure that everyone has access to the information shared, we’ve included a voiceover slide show and a PDF of the slideshow, as well as some other important information.

Additionally, all Class of 2027 Seniors should have heard the voiceover slide show in their English class at some point over the last two weeks of school.

Below are some important links for Senior year:

Voiceover Slide Show

PDF Slide Show (with active links)

Parchment (transcripts if not using Common App)

Common App

Senior Questionnaire (only needed if letters of recommendation are required)

We know this time can be exciting and nerve-racking. Please know that we are here to help! Mrs. Caverly will be in the office at the beginning of August and Mr. Evans will be in the office throughout the summer.

We are excited to navigate Senior year with all of you!

Feel free to reach out with any questions.

All the Best,

Jennifer Caverly (caverlyj@brightonk12.com) and Matt Evans (evansm@brightonk12.com)

• BHS Counseling Page
• Michigan Achievement
• College Board
• Fast Web
• Scholarships.com
• Niche
• First-year scholarships at college

Senior Questionnaire Google Form

Senior Questionnaire Digital Copy (can print or you will need to make a copy if you intend to type directly on it)

If you need to meet with your student's Grade Level Principal for any reason, please don't hesitate to reach out. If your student has a 504 and will be returning to BHS in the fall, you should have recently received an additional communication offering you the opportunity to have your student's support plan continue as written, or the chance to meet to address any necessary changes. If your student has a 504 and will be a Freshman this year, you should have received an additional communication asking you to set up a time to meet to discuss the plan in greater detail, in order to help facilitate a smooth transition to a new environment next year. To contact your student's Grade Level Principal, please see the information below:

Mr. Matt Evans (Lead Principal, Grade Level Principal for 12th Grade)

Phone: (810) 299 - 4101 (office)

(810) 852 - 9905 (evening)

Email: evansm@brightonk12.com

Schedule an Appointment Directly

Mr. Nate Grabowski (Grade Level Principal for 9th Grade)

Phone: (810) 299 - 4103

Email: grabown@brightonk12.com

Schedule an Appointment Directly

Mrs. Tracie Richards (Grade Level Principal for 10th Grade)

Phone: (810) 299 - 4114

Email: richardst@brightonk12.com

Schedule an Appointment Directly

Mrs. Jennifer Napuli (Grade Level Principal for 11th Grade)

Phone: (810) 299 - 4112

Email: napulij@brightonk12.com

Schedule an Appointment Directly

Here is our August Counseling Newsletter which contains information on:

• Registration (8/31 and 9/1)
• Schedule Change Requests (available 8/31 - 9/11)
• How to Make an Appointment with Your Counselor (starting 9/14)
• Grade Level Updates
• Upcoming Events in the Area
• Parenting Teens 101

As a reminder, if you would like to meet with your student's counselor for any reason, you can reach the Counseling Office at (810) 299-4150. You can also schedule an appointment with their counselor using the following links below:

9th Grade: Mr. Miner - https://bit.ly/MrMiner

10th Grade: Mrs. Feliks - Mrs. Feliks' Appointment Calendar

11th Grade: Mrs. Petit - https://bit.ly/MrsPetit

12th Grade: Mrs. Caverly - https://bit.ly/MrsCaverly

This year, National Honor Society will be holding their annual Veterans Appreciation Night on Thursday, September 3rd. Veterans will be recognized prior to the home opener football game. Whether you are a veteran yourself or know a veteran, please feel free to share out the informational flyer and encourage attendance for this very important recognition.

The football game starts at 7 pm, but participants are encouraged to arrive by 6:15 pm to be recognized prior to the game. Free admission for veterans & a guest! For more information contact NHS@brightonk12.com

*As a reminder, this is also Youth Night. We anticipate it being very crowded, so please plan to get there early if you are planning to be in attendance on the 3rd!

We know each year, the are questions asked about Pink Week both internally and by other members of the community. Most commonly, questions like What is it?, Where do the funds go?, and How will the funds be used? You are always more than welcome to direct those questions to BHS Administration, or to Mrs. Armstrong and our Leadership Class. However, if you are wondering those things yourself, or want to answer those questions directly, please see our Pink Week FAQ that answers these most common questions you may be asked.

Please don't hesitate to reach out if you have any additional questions or need any clarification on anything!

This year’s Pink Week apparel is available now. One hundred percent of the proceeds are donated to the Pink Week initiative — not a portion, not the margin. All of it.

**Orders will not be fulfilled until the week prior (September 14-18) to Pink Week which is September 21–25. Your order is confirmed right away — it simply won’t ship until then, so everyone receives their gear in time to wear it all week!**

Where every dollar goes

•Cancer care services

•Transportation to and from appointments

•Oncology counseling

•Services for patients and their families

•Support that eases cancer’s effect on a patient’s daily experience

Thank you for showing up for this every year. Order early if you can, and please forward this to anyone who’d want to wear pink with us.

- BHS The Paw Staff

As mentioned above, Pink Week run from September 20th through September 25th this year. While this may seem like it is a long way away, students and staff have already begun their preparations to ensure everything runs smoothly and there are opportunities for everyone to come together and get involved. A few of the ways the community can support our Pink Week efforts are through sponsorships and raffle donations. Our students will be out in the community in the coming weeks sharing this information with them as well, but if you know of anyone who may be interested, feel free to share this information with them.

• There are multiple different sponsorship levels, and information on each level can be found here.
• Individuals/Local businesses can also provide raffle donations and can either create their own baskets, or our students will collect donated items and create a basket for them! More information on raffle items can be found here.

Parents, Caregivers and Community Members:

Join us for an evening of education, conversation, and hope as we explore youth mental health and substance use prevention.

Tuesday, August 25, 2026, from 6:00 to 8:00 PM.

Dinner provided at 5:30 PM.

Location: Livingston Educational Service Agency (LESA), Howell.

Hear:

• Cindy Gresham of Haley's Helpers share her family's powerful journey.

• Corey Warren and Jacque Liebner of STR8TALK during a LIVE podcast discussing their personal experiences with substance use.

• Participate in a live Q&A and gain practical tools to support the young people in your life.

• Check out the Hidden in Plain Sight (HIPS) Mock Teen Bedroom.

FREE to attend! Registration recommended (not required)

Hosted by the Livingston County Community Alliance and Livingston Educational Service Agency (LESA).

Scan the QR code on the flyer to register or Click Here! An informational flyer can also be found here.

We are in need of volunteers for both Senior All Night Party Board Positions and Team Leaders! A sign up for general volunteers to assist with set up and running the party will come out later this school year. Details on positions currently being sought are provided below:

• Senior All Night Party Lead (replacing Michelle Letendre)
• Senior All Night Party Board Treasurer
• Senior All Night Party General Board Member
• Senior All Night Party Spa Team Leader

Livingston County's Annual College Fair will once again be taking place at Cleary University in Howell! This year's Annual College Fair will be held on Thursday, September 24th from 6 - 8 pm. Please see the attached flyer for more information or to register to attend!

They are anticipating 50+ colleges and universities to be in attendance and will also be sharing information related to both military recruitment and financial aid opportunities.

Please see the information below regarding an upcoming with Hailey’s Trade Apprenticeship, a virtual program that trains students in furniture repair — a skilled trade with strong demand and immediate earning potential:

We are excited to announce that we have recently completed another successful course and are now accepting enrollment for our next class beginning 08/31/2026 from 11:00 AM–12:30 PM EST. We would love for your students to be a part of this opportunity and gain hands-on knowledge in a high-demand skilled trade.

Students learn:

• Wood and structural repair
• Upholstery basics
• Color and finish matching
• Motion furniture diagnostics
• Customer service and in-home repair skills

There is a current shortage of trained technicians in the furniture industry, creating consistent work opportunities for individuals with these skills.

Registration is now open:
https://learnhta.com/enrollment

Radiation therapy is a career a lot of students (and families) have simply never heard of, even though it's in high demand and leads to a strong-paying, hands-on healthcare career right out of a four-year program.

See the attached flyer with the basics: what a radiation therapist actually does day to day, the numbers behind the field, and why UM-Flint's small, close-knit program might be a great fit for the right student.

The flyer includes information on how to schedule a tour of the lab or set up a meeting with the program director to learn more about this potential postsecondary option.

Tall Cop Says Stop™ is an organization dedicated to education and resources for the detection and prevention of substance abuse to help keep young people, families and communities safe. Officer Galloway has been educating and fighting drug and alcohol abuse for almost 30 years! He is a highly respected and internationally recognized instructor on trends in drug/alcohol culture and enforcement methods.

Officer Galloway’s motto is, You can’t stop what you don’t know™. He has worked with parents, educators, city leaders and many others to understand and reduce the harm caused by drinking and drugs in their communities.

A copy of the August 2026 Tall Cop Says Stop Newsletter can be found here.

• Building Calendar
• District Calendar
• Daily Announcements
• New Student Information Guide
• Prospective Student Building Tours Informational Flyer
• Building Volunteer Approval Form
• BAS Wellness & Mental Health website
• Student Scholarship Directory
• Juniors - College and Career Planning Document
• Upcoming College Fairs
• McKinney-Vento Homeless Education Assistance Act Information
• County-Wide Mental Health Network Resources

• Student Sign In/Sign Out Procedures

• Student Attendance Guidance Sheet

• AI Do's and Don't Guide

• Therapy Dog and Service Dog Information

• Fentanyl Fathers Presentation

• Suicide Prevention Resource Fair
• OK2Say Links
• Parental Guide to OK2SAY
• A Parent's Guide to Understanding Threats
• Online Resources
• Online Discussion Questions and Action Plan
• Bullying: How Parents Can Help
• Holding on to Life Toolkit

• Michigan's Public Universities Guide to Admissions
• Michigan College Guide Fall 2025
• BHS Post Secondary Planning Smore Page
• Junior Class Post Secondary Plan/Xello Presentation
• Scheduling Presentations
• Fall Senior Class Meeting Slideshow

Website: https://bhs.brightonk12.com/
Location: Brighton High School, Brighton Road, Brighton, MI, USA
Phone: (810)299-4100
Twitter: @BrightonHS