The Weekly Update #4
September 22nd, 2025
Dear Birmingham Family Parents and Guardians,
As fall is upon us and families begin to explore options for their 8th grade students for 2026-2027, I wanted to provide information that you can share with family and friends who will soon make the important decision on where to send their student to high school.
The 2026-2027 Lottery Application Window opens 10/25/2025 and ends 1/23/2026.
We will have a Virtual Enrollment information Day on October 25, 2025, at 11:00 AM. During the event, we will review the application process, lottery, home school requirements, priority enrollment, waitlist and more. A zoom link will be posted on or just before October 25th .
The Public Lottery Administration will take place on February 5th.
Please know that the lottery has limited spots which results in a long wait list for those that don't submit their lottery application during the window.
We now have waitlists at every grade level and weren't able to admit hundreds of rising 9th graders this past year.
Because of the increasing demand to attend Birmingham, we will now validate addresses for those who apply as attendance boundary students to ensure the lottery process is fair for all.
If you don't live in our attendance boundary and you'd like to have a chance to attend Birmingham, please make sure you submit your lottery application during the window from 10/26 - 1/24. FAQs: https://www.bcchs.net/admissions/enrollment-faqs
For those families that aren't yet confident about where they want their 8th grader to attend, please find some additional information about Birmingham below.
Consider some of the unique opportunities and accomplishments of our school in just the past two years.
2025: 99% Graduation Rate and 93% University Eligibility Rate
2025: 64.7% of 949 students earned a 3 or higher on an AP exam last year.
2025: 75% of students earned college readiness status from scoring a standard met or exceeded on the grade 11 Smarter Balanced Assessment.
97% of families indicated in the most recent Possip Pulse Check that they are very happy or mostly happy at Birmingham with (91% expressing very happy)
UCLA Early Academic Partnership Program Partnership School
One of two schools in Los Angeles to partner with The Academy Group offering $20,000 scholarships and mentorships for selected students from high school though career entry.
2024 California Distinguished School
2024 College Board AP School Honor Roll – Silver Award
National Education Equity Lab School of Excellence (Birmingham students have course access to Stanford, Penn, Brown, and Yale courses online)
We’ve also been blessed with award winning Theater, Music, Dance, and Band programs including opportunities to compete across the state and on occasion to travel to places like Orlando and New York City.
We offer 9 Career Technical Education Pathways including engineering/robotics/computer science
Students have three languages of study to choose from including Spanish, French, and ASL
800 student strong School for Accelerated Studies (SAS) with the only program in the valley that offers the opportunity to complete the entire IGETC college general education curriculum on campus at Birmingham.
24 Open Division City Championships in the last three years
Educare After School Enrichment Program and During the Day Achievement and Commitment to Excellence (ACE) Program to support student success.
250:1 student to counselor ratio
Free College Bound Summer Institute and Career Academic Preparation Academy including overnight stay during the summer in the UCLA dorms for 50 rising seniors and 50 rising juniors
Free Parent Ambassador Program for 25 parents including an overnight stay at UCLA to learn all about the college experience for students.
Full time Activities Director
2 college counselors and a career counselor
7-person multi-disciplinary support team including a social worker for each grade level
Link Crew to support acclimation and building connections for all new students in grade 9
24/7 security on campus with over 160 cameras to ensure student safety and security
To learn more about Birmingham, please see the following Birmingham website links
Dream It. Do it: https://www.birminghamcharter.com/dream-it-do-it
Principal Message: https://www.bcchs.net/dream-it-do-it/meet-our-principal
Admissions: https://www.birminghamcharter.com/admissions
We take pride in partnering with families to provide an outstanding educational experience for every student.
Principal Bennett
Senior Sunrise was a success! Seniors started with having a yummy breakfast that included various breakfast burritos along with a private barista trailer company that provided a variety of warm and ice coffee drinks! It was great to see Seniors partake in this yearly tradition in which they come together before school to enjoy the festivities. Seniors participated in jumbo games, a “Selfie” photo booth, dancing, Senior class denim making and “Senior sign-in” hand print and lastly, they were able to state where their future self will be in 10 years.
Another BIG event that we is quickly approaching is, HOMECOMING and this year's theme is "Fire Flies at Midnight”. You do not want to miss the float parade at our Homecoming Game on Friday, October 17th. The Senior Class Senate will be decorating their float train based on “Dumbo” and the Halftime Show will include performances by marching band, dance, cheer and Senior Royalty Court reveal along with a firework show! The Homecoming Dance will be held at our Gym on Saturday, October 18th from 6:00 pm - 10:00 pm. Tickets are on sale at the Student Store before school, at lunch and after school. However, the Homecoming kick off celebration begins 4 days prior with the HOCO Spirit Week beginning on Monday, October 13th.
Enjoy the Start of the Fall Season!
The 12th Grade Team
Mr. Elmore - Administrative Director
Mrs. Franco - 12th Grade Coordinator
Ms. Piliposian- 12th Grade Dean
Mrs. Riuech - Counselor (A-F) Ms. Aparicio - Counselor (G-N) Ms. Vasquez - Counselor (O-Z)
Mr. Rodriguez - Psychiatric Social Worker
Ms. Sedani - 12th Grade Administrative Assistant
Mrs. Salvatierra - 12th Grade Clerk
Happy October, Junior Families!
We are nearing the halfway point of the semester, and are thrilled with the hard work and progress you are making.
Over 520 students have earned a spot on the Honor Roll for the 1st Progress Report. This is an incredible achievement, and we are very proud of your dedication! Keep up the great work! The next progress report will be released at the beginning of November.
Graduation Checks are currently underway. Every student is meeting with a counselor to receive updates on their graduation and college status. Parents and guardians should have received the updated Graduation and College Eligibility Status Letter via mail and email.
Attached are several photos from the Northern California College Trip. Ninety-six students toured seven colleges and had the opportunity to speak with BCCHS alumni at several of the schools. It was a fantastic chance to explore college options beyond Los Angeles.
While we couldn't accommodate all interested students, remember that you can arrange your own college tour. Please refer to the attached flyer for more details and directions on how to do this.
Here are some important updates, events, and tips to help you stay
successful.
1. Key Dates to Remember:
- Pep Rally: October 13th (Period 1- 10th grade)
- Homecoming Spirit Week- Oct. 13-17
- Homecoming Football Game vs. Taft: October 17th
- Homecoming Dance: October 18th (Buy tickets in the student store)
- Red Ribbon week: October 23rd
- Progress Check 2 Grades - October 31st (sent home in period 2)
2. Academic Tips:
- Set Goals: Take some time to set academic and personal goals for this year.
Focus on what you want to achieve in your classes and extracurricular
activities.
- Stay Organized: Use a planner to keep track of assignments, tests, and
important dates. BCCHS Planners are available for free in the Parent Center.
Staying organized will help you manage your workload effectively.
- Ask for Help: If you're struggling with a subject, don't hesitate to reach out to
your teachers or counselors for help/support. Tutoring is offered every day
except Friday for free before or after school.
3. Extracurricular Activities:
Get involved! Join clubs, sports, or volunteer opportunities to meet new
friends and explore your interests. Here are a few clubs to consider:
- Student Senate: Be a voice for your peers and help organize school events.
- Debate Club: Improve your public speaking skills and engage in
thought-provoking discussions.
- Art Club: Express your creativity and participate in fun art projects/animation
design.
- Skate or Surf Club- Learn to or enjoy your favorite outdoor activity. Activities
are done outside school hours.
4. Important Reminders:
- Dress Code: Remember to adhere to the school's dress code policy. Please
refer to our school website for details.
- Digital Responsibility: Be mindful of your online presence and practice safe
social media habits.
- Mental Health: Take care of your mental well-being. Reach out to school
counselors or our PSW counselors if you need support.
- Cell Phone Policy - Schoolwide policy Students are to check cell phones into
the teacher's office upon class entrance and pick up at the end of class.
5. Get to Know Your Teachers:
Take the time to talk with your teacher in person or via email. They are here to
help you succeed and are excited to get to know you better!
Here's to a great sophomore year ahead!
Best Wishes,
Amanda Fitzpatrick
10th Grade Level Coordinator
Office # H-68 A
(818) 758-442
Dear 9th Grade Families,
We are midway through our fall semester!
It was a pleasure meeting so many of you at our Back-to-School Night a few weeks ago, and we hope to see you on campus again soon. Birmingham offers many opportunities for parents to engage, and you can read more about that and view our Parent Calendar here:
https://www.bcchs.net/our-community/parent-center
Our students also have many available opportunities to network, meet new people, and get involved in campus activities. Encourage your student to join clubs, seek out tutoring before and after school, and come to Freshman activities like the Freshman Movie Social, Screams and Screens, that Link Crew is hosting on October 30th. Please encourage your child to attend at least one event or club meeting this semester!
Lastly, please remind your child to continually check their Birmingham email. Counselors and teachers send emails often, and it is important that students check their emails daily so they do not miss out on important information.
As always, please reach out to anyone on our team if you have any questions or concerns.
Leila Haghi
9th Grade Coordinator
The 9th Grade Team
Edwin Avarca- 9th Grade Administrative Director
Leila Haghi- 9th Grade Coordinator/ Lead Teacher
Sami Brown, Ana Palacios, and Veronica Perez- 9th Grade Counselors
Taylor Ermoian -Psychiatric Social Worker
Joe Granish- 9th Grade Dean
Anne Mirzakhanian- 9th Grade Office Clerk/ Primary Parent Contact (818) 758-4484
Hello BCCHS Families,
Happy October! I hope the month is off to a great start for you and your family. Thank you for being part of our ongoing efforts to support every student and family at Birmingham.
💬 Possip Update
Thank you for sharing your ideas through Possip!
In our most recent Pulse Check, 97% of you said you were happy or mostly happy with Birmingham Community Charter High School.
Here’s some of what we heard from our community:
Praise for our strong academic support and commitment to student success
Appreciation for our dedicated, caring staff described as professional, empathetic, and engaged
Gratitude for a welcoming, safe, and organized school environment
Feedback about academic placement, course sequencing, and requests for more leadership and enrichment opportunities
Comments about campus operations and safety measures, including bathroom access, lunch lines, and dress code enforcement
Suggestions for adjusting tardy policies and discipline practices
We’ll share your praise with staff and are thoughtfully considering all feedback. Thank you for taking the time to share your thoughts and help us continue improving!
The Hub
A restock is coming soon! We’ll send a ParentSquare post once items are available again.
Attached is a list of local food pantries for anyone in need of additional support.
Get Involved
We invite all parents, students, and community members to join our Community School Advisory Council (CSAC). Help us shape programs and priorities at our school! Your voice matters!
Stay connected and follow us on Instagram for the latest news and updates:
@bcchs.supports
For questions or to get involved, Contact Cecilia Macias at c.macias@bcchs.net.
