Bulldog Bulletin

• Message from the Principal
• Important Dates
• Back to School Night
• Back to School Hub
• BHS Scheduling FAQs
• Transportation Updates
• Athletics Information
• Join the Cross Country Team!
• Join the Drama Club
• BHS Student Parking Passes On Sale Now
• Senior Parking Spot Contracts
• Fundraising Process at BHS
• BHS Fall Sports Interest Form
• Student Code of Conduct
• Updated Cell Phone Policy
• Update Technology/Personal Device Policy
• New Outside Food Policy
• Meet the Coaches Night
• Rank One Assistance
• BHS Fall Sports Interest Form
• Updated Cell Phone Policy
• Wellness Center
• BHS Baseball 5th Annual Golf Outing
• D.E.E.P. at BHS
• Schoology Access for Parents
• Volunteering at BHS

Welcome back Brandywine High School students and families!

We had the pleasure of welcoming back teachers and staff to Brandywine High School on Wednesday for their first day of the 2026-2027 school year. It was evident that the energy here is high and the staff is excited to welcome kids back. Our theme this year is around commitment and every Brandywine Bulldog educator was tasked with picking something they want to commit to getting better at. We worked through a research-based protocol to determine what that area of improvement is and how we will get better. It was motivating to read staff’s responses which focused on increased opportunities for student check-ins, desires to build stronger relationships with students, and take more data based approaches to improving instruction just to name a few. All of the responses circled around students and improving their educational and/or social-emotional experiences at Brandywine High School. The staff here are laser focused on providing your child with the best possible education and experience. We are optimistic and enthusiastic about what this school year holds.

We hope everyone joins us this Tuesday night from 4pm-7pm for our back to school night. Students can pick up physical copies of their schedules, tour the buildings, learn more about extracurricular opportunities like clubs and sports, and dine at one of several food trucks who will be on site. This event is a great opportunity to get more comfortable with the building and meet Brandywine High School staff.

The first day of school for 9th and 12th graders only is on Wednesday, August 26. All students report to school on Thursday, August 27. The first days of school will have a special schedule with a number of activities planned to help all of our students transition back to school. Students will be given their class schedules and go through the class rotation on the first day of school. Students will meet with Dr. Seemans and the administrative team to cover our Student Code of Conduct and establish clear expectations for the school year. Our district’s transportation department will be sending out bussing information over the next couple of weeks.

Your child’s support team is as follows:

Counseling:

Counseling Department Chair: Ms. Lisa Street lisa.street@bsd.k12.de.us

9th-11th Graders

Students with Last Names A-K: Mr. Kreig Joseph kreig.joseph@bsd.k12.de.us

Students with Last Names L-Z: Ms. Renee Kershaw renee.kershaw@bsd.k12.de.us

12th Graders

College and Career Counselor: Ms. Susan Hullman susan.hullman@bsd.k12.de.us

Administrative:

9th Grade: Dr. Eryn Smith eryn.smith@bsd.k12.de.us & Mr. DeAndre Hutt deandre.hutt@bsd.k12.de.us

10th Grade: Mr. John Norton john.norton@bsd.k12.de.us

11th Grade: Mrs. Jahsha Tabron jahsha.tabron@bsd.k12.de.us

12th Grade: Mr. Robert Holt robert.holt@bsd.k12.de.us

We are very excited for what the 2026-2027 school year holds for our Brandywine Bulldogs. BHS truly is the place to be! Should you need anything, please don’t hesitate to contact me directly.

All The Best,

Dr. Sterling H. Seemans

Principal

sterling.seemans@bsd.k12.de.us

26-27 BSD Calendar

• 8/25: Back to School Night 4pm-7pm
• 8/26: First Day of School for 9th and 12th Graders ONLY
• 8/27: All Students Report to School
• 9/4: Schools Closed. Offices Open
• 9/7: Schools and Offices Closed (Labor Day)
• 9/15: Schools Closed. Offices Open (PD Day for Staff and State Primary Election)
• 9/21: Schools Closed/ Offices Open (Yom Kippur)
• 9/24: Marking Period 1 Interim Ends
• 10/23: Schools Closed. Offices Open (Parent/Teacher Conferences)
• 10/30: Marking Period 1 Ends

🎉 Brandywine High School Welcome Back Event 2026 🎉

Join us as we kick off another exciting school year at Brandywine High School!

Whether you're a returning Bulldog or joining us for the first time, this event is the perfect opportunity for students and families to get connected, get informed, and get ready for an amazing year ahead.

📅 Tuesday, August 25, 2026

⏰ 4:00 PM – 7:00 PM

📍 Brandywine High School

During the event, you can:

✅ Pick up student schedules

✅ Meet coaches, club advisors, and student organizations

✅ Explore athletic and extracurricular opportunities

✅ Tour the building and locate classrooms

✅ Attend parent information presentations

✅ Meet Brandywine staff members

✅ Connect with the Brandywine High School PTO

✅ Enjoy a variety of local food trucks

✅ And much more!

This event is designed to help students and families feel confident, connected, and prepared for the start of the 2026-2027 school year.

We can't wait to welcome our Bulldog community back to #ThePlaceToBe!

Hosted by the Brandywine High School PTO 💙🐾

Brandywine School District’s Back-to-School Hub is live at www.brandywineschools.org/BackToSchool. The site provides families with central, convenient access to important information for the upcoming school year, including calendars, schedules, dress code information, school supply lists, technology resources, transportation information, and more. A link to the hub has also been placed on the front page of each school’s website.

With the school year right around the corner, students and families will want to know their schedules for the upcoming school year and may have questions regarding possible next steps or changes. Please refer to the attached FAQ sheet regarding schedules at Brandywine High School. Please reach out to your child's school counselor with any questions or requests for change:

Counseling:

Counseling Department Chair: Ms. Lisa Street lisa.street@bsd.k12.de.us

9th-11th Graders

Students with Last Names A-K: Mr. Kreig Joseph kreig.joseph@bsd.k12.de.us

Students with Last Names L-Z: Ms. Renee Kershaw renee.kershaw@bsd.k12.de.us

12th Graders

College and Career Counselor: Ms. Susan Hullman susan.hullman@bsd.k12.de.us

Families, as a reminder, bus information is now available through Infinite Campus and the WheresTheBus app. Physical bus cards will not be mailed home this school year. Families are encouraged to review their child’s bus stop location, pickup time, and transportation information before the first day of school.

Infinite Campus information, including login and access resources, is available at www.brandywineschools.org/InfiniteCampus.

Transportation information and details about the WheresTheBus app are available at www.brandywineschools.org/Transportation.

For information around our athletics department please visit https://www.bulldogssports.com/ or reach out to Athletic Director, Darren Schulke darren.schulke@bsd.k12.de.us.

Our cross country team, particularly our Girls team, are looking for students to join. Whether you’re an experienced runner or have never laced up before, we welcome everyone to be part of our team. XC is about more than just running--it’s about building friendships, supporting one another, and pushing yourself to achieve new goals. No experience is needed. Come run with us, make lasting memories, and show your Bulldog Pride!

Please use this link to complete the contract:

https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSdNqThVUvMjNKWkaR5gZ4omgwcZuWAjrSnu277qG3VSBTR8DQ/viewform

Please use this link to pay for your pass:

https://go.delaware.gov/apps/s/department-of-education/bsd/brandywine-high-school

Please complete this form for any fundraiser associated with clubs and organizations associated with Brandywine High School. Approval for the fundraiser will be sent via email by Dr. Seemans or Ms. Schiavino.

Any student interested in trying out or participating in a Fall sport is encouraged to complete the following form: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLScmkgNV76h2EffJKITAhSN9nnDLe3uwM3AQ7vB9Zop08z2GtA/viewform

If you have any questions, please reach out to our Athletic Director Mr. Darren Schulke at Darren.Schulke@bsd.k12.de.us

The Student Code of Conduct serves as a guide for creating safe, respectful, and inclusive learning environments where every student can succeed. It outlines the expectations for student behavior, promotes positive relationships, and helps students understand their rights, responsibilities, and the importance of making responsible choices. The Code also describes the procedures used to address behavioral concerns in a fair, consistent, and supportive manner.

We encourage all families to review the Student Code of Conduct with their child each school year. By working together, families and schools can foster a positive school climate that supports student learning, well-being, and success. To view the complete Student Code of Conduct, please select the link below.

The District’s Student Code of Conduct is an official policy of the Brandywine School Board. The primary goals in discipline are improving behavior and protecting the welfare of all students.

Provisions in the Student Code of Conduct apply to all students in grades K-12 as well as those in the District’s 18 to 22 year old program, unless noted otherwise. Each student holds responsibility for their own behavior. It is noted that differences in age and maturity are recognized as staff, students, and families make decisions about appropriate disciplinary action.

Brandywine High School's Updated Cell Phone Policy

As we prepare for the 2026-2027 school year, Brandywine High School is implementing our updated cell phone expectations to create an environment where students can stay engaged, minimize distractions, and maximize learning.

Our goal isn't to punish students—it's to help them succeed by ensuring classrooms remain focused on instruction while still allowing students to access their phones during appropriate times.

📱 Students may access their phones:

✅ Before & After School

✅ During Class Transitions

✅ During Lunch

🚫 During Instructional Time:

• Phones must be turned off or silenced.

• Phones may be stored in a teacher-designated location.

• Phones may not be accessed during class unless directed by staff.

Progressive Consequences:

📌 1st Offense: Phone taken for the day & parent/guardian contacted.

📌 2nd Offense: Phone taken for the day & parent conference.

📌 3rd Offense: Student will receive a cell phone pouch and be required to secure their phone each morning for a minimum of one marking period.

Thank you to our students and families for partnering with us as we work to create classrooms where everyone can learn, participate, and thrive.

Focused on Learning. Respectful of Instruction. Ready for Success.

UPDATED TECHNOLOGY POLICY | 2026–2027

As we prepare to welcome our Bulldogs back, we want families and students to be aware of an important update to our technology expectations.

Personal devices are not permitted for use in class. This includes personal laptops, iPads/tablets, and other personal technology devices.

Students are expected to use their Brandywine High School-issued 1:1 Chromebook for all classroom technology needs.

Need a school-issued device? Students who need a 1:1 Chromebook should pick up a Technology Agreement Form, have it signed and completed by a parent/guardian, and return the completed form to Mr. Holt to receive their device.

Please make sure your school-issued Chromebook is charged, ready, and brought to school each day.

Thank you to our students and families for helping us create consistent learning environments where technology supports instruction and keeps our Bulldogs focused and ready to learn!

As we begin the new school year, we want to remind all students and families that no outside food or beverages are permitted in the building after 7:30 AM.

This is especially important for students arriving late to school. All students arriving after 7:30 AM are required to enter through the Main Office. Students who arrive with outside food or beverages—including coffee, breakfast, fast food, or energy drinks—will be required to throw those items away before being admitted to class.

Our goal is simple: students should arrive at school on time, prepared, and be IN CLASS by 7:30 AM ready to learn.

This also includes DoorDash, Grubhub, and other food delivery orders during the school day. Parents/guardians may still drop off lunch for a student who has forgotten one at home.

Our baseball team will be hosting their 5th annual golf tournament at Deerfield Golf Club on Monday, September 21. Players can sign up as an individual or foursome. The team is also looking for hole sponsors. All proceeds go directly to the Brandywine High School baseball team. Please email Coach Julian (Michael.Julian@bsd.k12.de.us) with a any questions.

Brandywine high is the home of D.E.E.P. @ BHS. The dance elective education program can only be found at Brandywine high. It allows our students the opportunity to study and train in dance for credit. Current courses include: Exploration of Dance for the student who is unsure of which genre of dance to study. Exploration of dance takes a semester long look at ballet, modern, jazz and hip hop.

Ballet/Modern/Lyrical I, II, III & IV progresses through all three styles. Each level challenges the student to take a deeper look into his or her own artistic perspective as they are given additional projects and assignments to foster artistic growth.

Jazz/HipHop/Tap/Funk I, II, III, IV is grounded in these American born dance artforms. Each level challenges the returning student to discover his or her own artistic perspective as they too complete additional assignments to foster artistic growth.

The benefits of participating in performing arts are numerous and quite robust. Creativity, collaboration and communication skills are developed. Confidence is built. Additionally, dance students can anticipate gains in coordination, flexibility, strength and stamina.

While it is important to be mindful of meeting all of your requirements for graduation, D.E.E.P. @ BHS fulfills your elective credits and more. Check and see if you can fit a dance course into your schedule today.

📘 Getting Started with Schoology (for Parents)

These guides explain how to log in, view assignments, and track upcoming work:

• Schoology Parent Guide (PDF)
Step-by-step instructions for setting up a parent account and viewing assignments
https://uc.powerschool-docs.com/en/schoology/latest/parents

• How Parents Can Use Schoology (Video)
A short overview showing what parents can see and how to navigate the platform
https://www.powerschool.com/video/how-parents-can-use-schoology/

📬 Staying Informed & Organized

These tools help parents stay aware of assignments and deadlines:

• Schoology Parent Communication Tools
Learn how to turn on email notifications and weekly summaries for assignments and due dates
https://www.fcps.edu/schoology/parents/communication-tools

🗣️ Supports for Students with Communication or Processing Challenges

These resources highlight tools that can make written directions easier to understand:

• Text-to-Speech & Immersive Reader Tools (Video)
Shows how students can have instructions read aloud, which can help with comprehension
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cB1CVfUftSc

• Schoology Accessibility Features
Information about accessibility options teachers may use to make content clearer and more student-friendly
https://uc.powerschool-docs.com/en/schoology/latest/accessibility-checker

🧠 Supporting Executive Functioning at Home

These strategies can be used alongside Schoology to help students stay organized and reduce frustration:

• Visual schedules or checklists for daily schoolwork
• Breaking assignments into smaller steps
• Using timers or reminders to support task initiation and completion

Families may also find these assistive technology resources helpful:
https://www.fcps.edu/academics/curriculum/special-education/services-and-programs/assistive-technology-services

Brandywine High School relies on the generosity of time from our great families within the community. We welcome those who want to help be apart of our village and have a plethora of opportunities for volunteers to engage with our students and staff to better the middle school experience of our youth.

Background checks are good for 1 calendar year