The Weekly Update #4
August 13th, 2025
Dear Birmingham Parents and Guardians,
I'm thrilled to welcome you back to another school year at Birmingham Community Charter High School. Our team has worked extremely hard over the last 5 years to continually improve our programs, service, support, and the opportunities we're able to provide for students and families. We're grateful that you've recognized this in your choice of Birmingham as our waiting list has grown every year since re-opening after the COVID closure. Because it's critical that we respect the lottery process and waiting list, please know that increasingly, it has become necessary to conduct home visits to validate addresses in our attendance boundary. About 65% of our student population applied to Birmingham via the lottery and those that did not get in were patient and waited their turn on the waiting list. Unfortunately, as the demand for enrollment has increased so has the frequency of use of fake addresses to automatically enroll without needing to wait in line. I apologize in advance for any inconvenience this may cause.
As we embark on this new school year, I wanted to take a moment to share some new data and important information.
Academic Achievements:
99% Graduation Rate (unofficial rate that will be published by the CDE later this year)
95% A-G University Eligibility Rate: (unofficial rate that will be published by the CDE later this year)
44% of our School for Accelerated Studies (SAS) graduates were certified as IGETC completers meaning they completed all of their general education college requirements and will begin college as juniors.
614 students passed at least one Advanced Placement exam last school year
949 students participated in the Advanced Placement program matching athletic participation
38.6% of our 2025 graduating class passes at least one Advanced Placement exam during their high school career
48.9% of our 2025 graduating class completed a Career Tech Education pathway
Birmingham achieved a "Green" (good) or "Blue" (excellent) rating in every academic indicator on the California Dashboard.
Reminders:
The Birmingham Website Domain has changed to bcchs.net
Every staff member's email address now also ends with bcchs.net, so please make note of this change.
Using the former birminghamcharter.com "should" forward to the email address to bcchs.net, but we have noticed inconsistency with the forwarding.
Senior Contract and Schoolwide Attendance Policy:
Please remember that positive habits begin with attending school every day.
Please partner with us to limit the excessive absences we've seen in the past few years.
The State of California considers excellent attendance to be 96% (7 absences or fewer the entire year)
The State of California consider students with an attendance rate of 90% or lower to be chronically absent (or 18 absences for the entire year).
We will continue to implement our attendance intervention policy which will include support and accountability and could lead to removal from the school if no progress is demonstrated after multiple levels of support and a lack of adherence to a co-created attendance contract.
For seniors the consequences of poor attendance are severe.
Seniors that have 15 or more absences of any type for the entire school year will be ineligible to participate in the graduation ceremony.
Absences start accumulating on day 1, so please encourage your student to be responsible, attend every day, and finish their final year at Birmingham with positivity and pride.
Food Delivery to Birmingham is Prohibited:
Every Birmingham student has access to both a free breakfast and a free lunch every day regardless of income status.
In addition to the cafeteria lines in the covered cafeteria area and the pick up zone inside the covered cafeteria area there are 5 additional stations around campus to get lunch and/or snacks: end of J Building, end of C Building, end of E Building, outside of Counseling Center (quad side), and behind H Building (facing the quad).
It should take 5-10 minutes in line to get lunch.
Students can also bring their own lunch.
We will not hold/store food deliveries for students; and campus security is not authorized to accept food from delivery drivers/services.
Early Arrival: We've noticed that tardies have increased in the past couple of days during the first period of the day.
Please do your best to drop off your student at least 20 minutes before the 8:30 bell or strongly encourage your student to leave early enough to walk, drive, or bus to school with plenty of time to spare.
When fewer students and parents arrive within 10 minutes of the bell, the drop off is safer and less stressful for everyone.
Consolidation of Coffee with the Principal and PTSA Continues: Our first meeting will take place this Tuesday, August 19th at 9:00 am in the MPR.
The evening session is consolidated with PTSA and will take place concurrently at 7:00 pm in the MPR.
Dinner will be provided.
Please remember that PTSA membership funds allow the organization to fund the insurance to facilitate Grad Night for seniors.
Principal's Student Advisory Committee Will Continue: I will ask for applications to the 25-26 Principal's Student Advisory Committee on August 18.
The committee will meet 6 times during the year to ensure I'm getting feedback from the general student population on what's working at Birmingham and what areas we need to improve.
I will select two students from each grade level and ensure representation of students from a variety of programs with varied experiences.
Important Dates to Remember:
Friday August 29, 2025 is a school day at Birmingham despite this day being unassigned in LAUSD.
September 1, 2025: Labor Day - No School
Back-to-School Night: Thursday, September 18 (5:00-8:00)
School Calendar: https://www.birminghamcharter.com/staff-link/events-calendar
Staying Connected:
We encourage you to stay involved in your child's education by attending school events, volunteering, and communicating regularly with your child's teachers.
Please download and sign up to use our parent communication system: Parent Square for the latest news, announcements, and resources.
We also encourage students to download Student Square to have access to the same information and also, so they can click on the Calendar within Parent/Student Square to see if it is a Blue or Gold Day.
Every year our school and community get stronger. Thank you for choosing to partner with us in the education, growth, and development of your students. We look forward to a successful and rewarding year together!
Mr. Bennett, Principal
SENIORS WELCOME BACK!!!
Seniors are off to a great start this new school year!
I am excited to announce that 477 Seniors are recognized for their excellent achievement as they ended their Junior year. On our Platinum list we have 209 Seniors with a GPA of 4.0 or higher, 104 Seniors on the Gold list with a 3.6-3.99 GPA and on the Silver list we have 164 Seniors with a 3.0-3.59 GPA. On August 20th these students will receive their Honor Roll Certificates during their period 6 class. Keep up the AWESOME work Seniors!
Our first Class of 2026 Student Senate meeting will be held on Monday, August 18th during lunch in room OA1. We have a lot to plan, discuss, design and simply enjoy this final high school year! ALL Seniors are welcome to join! We are currently working on planning our first Senior event, SENIOR SunRISE, which will take place on Friday, September 19th from 6:00 a.m. to 8:10 a.m. This is a yearly traditional event in which Seniors come together before school to enjoy their class festivities as the sun rises.
Senior Portraits! If you have not done so already, please schedule your Senior Portraits with White Studios ASAP! You may set up an appointment at either the North Hollywood or Northridge locations. See appointment link below.
Visit White Studios NO LATER than September 29, 2025
https://www.whites-studios.com/book-your-appointment/
IMPORTANT: There is at least a 2 week advance wait time, so YOU MUST BOOK 2 WEEKS before your desired date.
Have a wonderful first month of school!
The 12th Grade Team
Mr. Elmore - 12th Grade 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
Dear Juniors and Families,
Welcome back to another year at Birmingham!
Congratulations to everyone that made the Honor Roll in the Spring of 2025! There were 119 Platinum students (4.0+), 103 Gold students (3.6-3.99), and 163 Silver students (3.0-3.59). We are so proud of all the hard work and dedication you have shown in your studies!
The Northern California College Trip will be happening September 20-22. Information has already been sent out through ParentSquare/StudentSquare and to student emails. The application will be sent on August 18 to student emails. As a reminder, to be eligible, a student must have a 2.5+ GPA, good attendance, and good citizenship.
It may seem like your senior year is far away, but it will be here very soon. Start considering what you would like to do after high school and explore your options. In the Blue and Gold Center, the College and Career Counselors can help begin your search.
Planning for a career (or getting a job right now):
Angela Zook: (818) 245-5297, a.zook@birminghamcharter.com
Planning for college:
Erika Lopez: (818)253-9556, e.lopez@birminghamcharter.com
Wendy Quinonez: (818)233-0193, w.quinonez@birminghamcharter.com
Welcome back, everyone! We hope you had a fantastic summer and are ready to dive into an exciting sophomore year. Here are some important updates, events, and tips to help you get started on the right foot this year.
1. Key Dates to Remember:
- First Day of School: August 7th
- Back-to-School Night: September 18th
- Fall Sports Tryouts: August 4 - September 10
- Homecoming Week: October 13-18th
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 upon class entrance and pick up at the end of class.
5. Get to Know Your Teachers:
-Take the time to introduce yourself to your teachers during the first week of school. 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) 758-4428
Welcome to our Class of 2029 students and families! We are so happy to have you as part of our Birmingham community.
Events and Updates
This year is off to a great start. One of the ways we welcomed our freshmen was Freshman Orientation. Many of our 9th grade students attended our Orientation, during which they were introduced to our campus as well as their peers, teachers, and our Link Crew upperclassmen. Keep an eye out for other back to school activities like the 9th grade Parent Night. Learn how to support your student as they begin their high school journey!
Back to School Night, on Thursday, September 18, is an important part of your child's time here at Birmingham! Please come meet your child’s teachers and see all that our amazing school has to offer. Parent involvement is key to your child's success and the parent-school partnership is just as important, if not more, during a child’s high school years.
Club Rush will take place on Thursday, September 11, at lunch. The Class of 2029 Student Senate is meeting every Monday in room F41, and we would love to welcome more members. If your child is interested in planning events for the 9th grade class, tell them to check it out! Clubs are a great way to meet new people, enhance leadership skills, and boost college applications.
ATTENDANCE MATTERS
Attendance is essential to academic success! Please check the parent square update from Mr. Climaco to review attendance procedures and contact Ms. Mirzakhanian to address your student's absence. It is important that we partner together to make sure our students are always at school except for valid reasons as established by the State of California Education Code and Birmingham’s Attendance Policy.
You can contact Ms. Mirzakhanian if you need to clear your child's absence at (818) 758-4484. You can also contact Ms. Aparicio (Attendance Counselor) at (818)758-4402 if you need any support with attendance issues.
9th Grade Team
Each grade level has a team to support the 9th grade students. Our counselors support the students academically and help them navigate their time at Birmingham. They work with students based on last name so Ms. Brown works with last names A-F, Ms. Perez works with G-N, and Ms. Palacios works with O-Z. Mr. Ermoian supports students' emotional and social needs. Dr. Granish is responsible for discipline and guidance. Mr. Avarca and Ms. Haghi help support all 9th grade students and staff.
We thank you for your support and excitement as the Class of 2029 begins their freshman year, and we look forward to a wonderful year with you!
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
