Principal Update - BHS Families

• Upcoming Events
• Upcoming Day Off for Students - Tuesday, November 4th
• Make Up Testing Opportunity - Tuesday, November 4th from 1 to 4 pm
• LACASA Recognition of Senior Survivors
• NHS Food Drive for Gleaners Food Bank
• Reports Cards - Visible 11/7 in ParentConnect
• No Credit on Report Card Due to Attendance
• Academic Letter Lunch Invitations - To Be Held November 7th
• Senior Headshots Due - Friday, November 7th
• Senior Class Picture - Order Here
• Tutoring Options at BHS
• Career Chats (Previously Lunch N Learns)

• Upcoming College and Organization Visits - 7 Schools Over Next 2 Weeks

• Prospective Student Parent Meeting - Wednesday, 11/19

• Upcoming BHS Talent Show - Save the Date! (November 20th at 6:30 pm)

• Upcoming FAFSA Night - December 9th at 6 pm
• Senior Specific Information - Senior Meeting Slideshow Included
• Cap and Gown Ordering
• Brighton High School Instagram Accounts
• FAFSA Now Open!
• Opportunities to Meet with BHS Administration
• BHS Counseling Department
• Brighton Area Schools Student Wellness Information
• Weekly Wellness Tip from BAS - "Put Down the Glass"
• BHS PTO Meeting Information - Tuesday, November 11th

• SNAP/Pantry/Holiday Support & Resources

• Free Practice SAT Opportunity for Students
• BASE Foundation Parenting Series Workshops
• Tall Cop Says Stop October Newsletter
• Required Information on Michigan’s Safe Storage Law
• Previous Resources - Links Included

• Tuesday, November 4th - Records Day (No School for Students)
• Tuesday, November 4th - Make Up Exams in Media Center (1 pm - 4 pm)
• Friday, November 7th - 1st Quarter Grades Visible for Parents in ParentConnect
• Friday, November 7th - Academic Letter Lunch During All Lunches in Media Center
• Friday, November 7th - Fall Play at 7 pm in BCPA (Tickets)
• Friday, November 7th - Senior Headshots Due for the Yearbook (Requirements)
• Saturday, November 8th - Fall Play at 2 pm and 7 pm in BCPA (Tickets)
• Sunday, November 9th - Fall Play at 2 pm and 7 pm in BCPA (Tickets)
• Tuesday, November 11th - PTO Meeting @ 7:30 am in Main Office Conference Room
• Wednesday, November 12th - NHS Meeting @ 6:45 am in BHS Media Center
• Wednesday, November 12th - Senior Headshots by Portraits by Alex (must have signed up previously)
• Thursday, November 13th - Senior Headshots by Portraits by Alex (must have signed up previously)

As a reminder, the end of the 1st Quarter was on Friday, October 31st. As a result, Tuesday, November 4th will be a Records Day for teachers. This means there will be no school for students on this day. There will be school on Monday, November 3rd and school will resume for normal hours on Wednesday, November 5th.

As we have in the past, we will be offering make up testing for students who missed any of their 1st Quarter tests or exams. Make up testing will be offered from 1 to 4 on Tuesday in the Media Center. Students need to arrive by 2:30 if they have extended time available to them and may need to use it on their make up assessment.

In preparation for this make up testing, we would encourage students to confirm with their teacher that any missing assessments have been dropped off in the Main Office in advance of Tuesday. If they are not able to come in on Tuesday, they would need to work with their teacher to come up with a gameplan for when any missing assessments can be completed.

This year, LACASA's staff and board overwhelmingly voted to present their annual “Phoenix Rising: Youth Advocate of the Year” Award to the 2025 Brighton High School Senior Survivors. This is in recognition of their incredible advocacy and efforts on behalf of LACASA, We Walk the Line, and the Carl Nagy Foundation. The award was formally presented on Friday, October 24 at the LACASA Gala, accompanied by a video tribute at that time. Mr. Carney was able to accept the award on their behalf and it will be housed at BHS for all to see. We continue to be incredibly impressed with our students, and this group of graduates is no exception! We also know that these opportunities are not possible for our students without the tremendous support of our BHS and Brighton communities, so we would like to thank you all for the time, talents, and dollars you all poured into this special group of students!

It is time for National Honor Society's annual food drive for Gleaners Community Food Bank. With Thanksgiving coming up, we want to give families the opportunity to enjoy a meal together. By donating just $1, you can provide three meals for someone in need. Please help support our community by donating! The BHS Food Drive is running now through November 21st. Money can be donated to 1st Hour classrooms or donations can be made using this link: https://fooddrives.gcfb.org/event/2025-brighton-high-school-virtual-food-drive

Thank you,

NHS Food Drive Committee

With the end of the 1st Quarter last Friday, 1st Quarter Report Cards will be coming out this week! Hard copy report cards are no longer printed, but will be made available in ParentConnect on Friday, November 7th. The instructions for how to view your student's report card is linked HERE for you. Once they are made available online, if you are unable to locate their report card or need a printed copy for any reason, please reach out to your student's grade level principal.

As has been shared previously students are allowed 9 absences in each class for the semester. Documented absences, such as absences for school business, field trips, athletics, or medical/dental appointments do not count toward this total. If you are reviewing your student's report card and they receive an "NC" in any class, it stands for "No Credit." This means they have exceeded the allowable number of absences in that class and are required to make up time in order to have their grade reinstated. If this is the case, you and your student will be receiving additional communication on how time can be made up if you have not received it already. Please don't hesitate to reach out if you have any questions.

Invitations have been sent out for the Fall Academic Letter Lunch that will be taking place on Friday, November 7th during all lunches. Parents of Academic Letter recipients will have the ability to come in (we will be in the Media Center) and have lunch with their student if they would like. We will have pizza available for recipients, or parents are more than welcome to bring in something of their student's choosing.

As a reminder, students need to achieve a grade point average of 3.5 or higher for two consecutive semesters to earn their Academic Letter. This means only students in grades 10 through 12 are eligible to earn their Academic Letter at this point in time.

*Note: If your student is having their Senior Headshot taken by Portraits by Alex on November 12th or 13th, they (Portraits by Alex) will submit the picture to us directly, so you do NOT need to worry about the November 7th deadline.

Formal Senior Headshots must be submitted online for the yearbook no later than Friday, November 7th! Visit https://www.yearbooknerds.com/brighton-high-school or contact Ms. Christiansen at christk@brightonk12.com for more information. You may also purchase a Senior Recognition Ad at the same link--early bird price breaks end November 30th!

The Senior panoramic photo (class picture) took place on Wednesday, October 22nd. If you would like to order a copy of the Senior panoramic photo, you can do so here. You can also order via a QR code on the informational flyer.

National Honor Society's After School Tutoring is underway! If your student is in need of extra help, we encourage them to reach out to the teacher first, as they will be the best resource, but have shared this option with them as well, so please feel free to do the same. NHS students will be available to tutor students in room B-1 from 2:30-3:30 on Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Thursdays. Tutoring is free of charge. For more information about after school tutoring or for a list of NHS students who are willing to tutor, go to https://bit.ly/BrightonNHSTutoring Please note: our after school tutor will leave at 2:45 if no students have arrived by then.

In addition to After School Tutoring, we have another tutoring resource available for our students. Every year, the BHS Counseling Office generates a list of adult tutors that can be shared with students and families as an additional option if After School Tutoring doesn't work for them for any reason. These tutors have reached out and asked to be on our tutoring list as a resource to BHS students and families. They have self-reported their qualifications. All adults who are not BAS teachers have passed a background check. It is the responsibility of the students and families to find the best tutor for them, arrange meetings, and make payment.

The 2025-26 Tutor List can be found here.

With moving Advisory out of lunches, we changed the name, but the idea for Lunch N Learns is back, just with a new name! We will be hosting Career Chats this year during Advisory and could use your help. If you, or anyone you know, may be interested in connecting our students with more information on potential career opportunities, we would love it if you could review the information below or share the following information with anyone who may be interested!

Brighton High School is looking for community partners!

We are seeking volunteer presenters to share their careers and experiences with students during our 2025-26 Career Pathways Presentations. Our "Career Chats", previously known as Lunch N Learns, are a great opportunity to inspire the next generation and help students explore future career options.

When: During Advisory on Wednesdays from 9:18-10:16 am (dates vary)
Where: Brighton High School
Who: Individuals from all career fields welcome!

If you are interested in volunteering, please reach out to Tanya Clark at clarkt@brightonk12.com for more details.

Together, we can help students connect their education to real-world opportunities!

The following colleges and organizations will be visiting Brighton High School in the next two weeks. Students can sign up here. Please encourage your students to stop by their tables, located directly across from the Lunch Room for information and to have any questions answered. Through these visits with college admissions reps, students can learn more about the schools, their academic programs, and scholarship opportunities.

• University of Michigan Dearborn - 11/3 from 10:30 to 12:15
• Madonna University - 11/5 from 10:15 to 11:45
• Savannah College of Art and Design - 11/6 from 10:30 to 12:15
• Central Michigan University - 11/10 from 10:30 to 12:15
• Washtenaw Community College - 11/12 from 9:18 to 10:16 in the Collab Lab
• Western Michigan University - 11/12 from 10:15 to 11:45
• U.S. Navy - 11/13 from 10:30 to 12:15

Each year, we hold a meeting for 8th grade families as well as families of other prospective students. Administration and counseling work together to create a presentation that highlights many of the fantastic things going on at BHS, including our curricular offerings, as well as elements of the BHS experience that are particularly positive for our students in assisting in a smooth transition. This year's Prospective Student Parent Meeting will take place on Wednesday, November 19th. The night will start at 6 pm with a Curriculum Open House in the lobby of the BCPA, with the presentation kicking off at 6:30 pm in the BCPA. If you would like to attend, mark your calendars now!

The informational flyer can be found here.

Our Junior Class Council is holding the 2nd Annual "Brighton's Got Talent" talent show! We would love for you to attend our show on November 20th at 6:30 pm in the BCPA to support and witness all of our school's amazing talent! Admission is $5, and children 3 and under are free. There will even be a drawing for free prom tickets upon entry. Please help us spread the word - thank you in advance for your support!

An informational flyer with audition information can be found here.

Thank you!

- Olivia Chandler and Amanda Bell (Junior Class Council Advisors)

On December 9th at 6pm in the Media Center at BHS, we are hosting a workshop to help seniors and parents complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) to apply for financial aid for their first year in college. As a public service, a financial aid representative from Oakland University is facilitating the workshop. Please register using the link below and follow the instructions to prepare.

Please register HERE by 11/17/25! (*If we do not have at least 15 registrations by this date, the FAFSA Night will take place virtually rather than in-person)

Before you attend the FAFSA Workshop:

• Student applicants and each parent contributor should each create their own FSA ID at studentaid.gov (if a user does not have a social security number, they will need to create their account at least three days in advance.)

• Determine which parent(s) will contribute information to the FAFSA if there are multiple households to consider- https://studentaid.gov/sites/default/files/is-my-parent-a-contributor.jpg

• Record each studentaid.gov login in a secure location or on Step One of the FAFSA Worksheet.

• Review the FAFSA Checklist to gather information necessary to complete the FAFSA.

• If you are unable to join the workshop on the date/time selected, you can access OU hosted workshops open to anyone regardless of college choice on the Financial Aid Events website.

Here are some important dates included below that you may want to put on your calendar now and your student may want to participate in (Note: *Dates for Senior Survivor and Senior Scholarship Banquet are currently TBD)

Friday, November 7th - Senior Headshots Due for the Yearbook (Requirements)

Wednesday, November 12th - Optional Senior Portraits Taken by Portraits by Alex @ BHS ($50, Sign Up to Follow)

Thursday, November 13th - Optional Senior Portraits Taken by Portraits by Alex @ BHS ($50, Sign Up to Follow)

Friday, January 9th - Deadline to Purchase Senior Recognition Ads in Yearbook

Wednesday, March 4th - Senior Class Council Sponsored 3 v 3 Basketball Tournament

Wednesday, April 15th - MANDATORY Spring Senior Class Meeting During 3rd Hour

Tuesday, April 21st - Graduation Speech Tryouts @ 7 am or 2:30 pm in Room D47 (Ms. Lundy)

Tuesday, April 28th - Graduation Song Tryouts @ @ 2:30 pm in Choir Room

Saturday, May 9th - Prom @ Suburban Showplace in Novi (7 pm - 10 pm)

Friday, May 22nd - Seniors Last Full Day

Tuesday, May 26th - Senior Exams (5th and 6th Hour)

Wednesday May 27th - Senior Exams (3rd and 4th Hour)

Thursday May 28th - Senior Exams (1st and 2nd Hour)

Thursday, May 28th - Senior Sunset in the BHS Stadium @ 8 pm (Donation/Volunteer Sign Up to Follow)

Friday, May 29th - Cap and Gown Pick Up Starting @ 8 am in Aux Gym

Friday, May 29th - Senior Walk at BHS Starting @ 9:45 am (family and friends encouraged to attend)

Friday, May 29th - Senior Picnic in the BHS Stadium after the Senior Walk @ approx. 10:30 am (Food provided for Seniors)

Friday, May 29th - Senior Elementary Walk (more information to come) @ approx. 11:30 am

Wednesday, June 3rd - Summa Cum Laude Breakfast (invite only) in the BHS Cafeteria @ 8 am (parents invited)

Wednesday, June 3rd - MANDATORY Graduation Practice in the BHS Fieldhouse @ 10 am

Friday, June 5th - Brighton High School Commencement Ceremony in the BHS Stadium @ 7 pm

Saturday, June 6th - Rain Date for Brighton High School Commencement Ceremony (Time is 2 pm)

Saturday, June 6th - Senior All-Night Party at BHS @ 10 pm (Check-in @ BCPA)

Whether your student was in attendance at Wednesday's Senior Class Meeting or not, we would like to share the slideshow presentation with all members of this year's Senior Class and their parents/guardians. The slideshow includes information on a number of different items related to Senior year, including how to order a cap and gown online, submitting pictures/videos for the Senior Book, submitting pictures for the Baby Picture Contest, etc. If you have any questions about any of the items located within the slideshow, please don't hesitate to reach out to Mr. Grabowski (grabown@brightonk12.com) for more information.

In addition to our various social media accounts, one of the ways in which we share important information with the Senior class is through the use of the Remind App. We will share the same information with parents via weekly emails, however, students seem to do a better job receiving the information through Remind. Please help us by encouraging your student(s) to join the correct Remind group using the join codes below (alphabetical by last name):

Last Name A - E: @bhssr26a-e

Last Name F - L: @bhssr26f-l

Last Name M - P: @bhssr26m-p

Last Name R - Z: @bhssr26r-z

In-person cap and gown ordering is now complete, but you can still make purchases online!

If your student is planning on using a sibling's previously used cap and gown, and are only seeking this year’s tassel and medal, you can purchase these items separately online. There is also an opportunity in May at Cap & Gown Distribution Day, where cash/check can be accepted.

The website for any purchasing can be reached here. Please reach out to the grade level principal for the Class of 2026, Mr. Grabowski (grabown@brightonk12.com), if you have any questions!

In addition to your students checking their email for announcements, here are some of the many accounts on Instagram that will provide them/you with news and information about all things BHS.

BHS: @brightonhs_bulldogs

Exec Board: @bhsexecboard

Class of 2026: @bhsseniorcouncil26

Class of 2027: @bhsjuniorcouncil27

Class of 2028: @bhssophomorestuco

Class of 2029:@bhs.freshmanstuco

BHS Video: @bhsvideo

The Paw: @brightonpaw

BHS Yearbook: @brighton_yearbook

BHS Leadership: @bhsleadership26

Ruff n Rowdy: @bhsruffnrowdy

Senior Survivor: @brightonseniorsurvivor

The U.S. Department of Education has announced that the 2026-27 Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) is officially open! As always, we encourage as many students as possible to submit the FAFSA form just to know what options may be available to them in the future by maximizing their aid possibilities. We will have additional opportunities to learn more about financial aid coming up. There are also a number of resources available on the MI Student Aid web site, including the FAFSA Awareness Toolkit.

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 recently 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 11th Grade)

Phone: (810) 299 - 4101 (office)

(810) 852 - 9905 (evening)

Email: evansm@brightonk12.com

Schedule an Appointment Directly

Mrs. Tracie Richards (Grade Level Principal for 9th Grade)

Phone: (810) 299 - 4114

Email: richardst@brightonk12.com

Schedule an Appointment Directly

Mr. Nate Grabowski (Grade Level Principal for 12th Grade)

Phone: (810) 299 - 4103

Email: grabown@brightonk12.com

Schedule an Appointment Directly

Mrs. Jennifer Napuli (Grade Level Principal for 10th Grade)

Phone: (810) 299 - 4112

Email: napulij@brightonk12.com

Schedule an Appointment Directly

The October Edition of the BHS Counseling Newsletter can be found here.

This newsletter contains information on:

• Grade level updates.
• Financial Aid Presentations, Scholarship Information ***Seniors ....pay close attention to Fee Waivers for College Apps this month!!!!***
• Upcoming Events at BHS
• 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: Mrs. Feliks - Mrs. Feliks' Appointment Calendar

10th Grade: Mrs. Petit - https://bit.ly/MrsPetit

11th Grade: Mrs. Caverly - https://bit.ly/MrsCaverly

12th Grade: Mr. Miner - https://bit.ly/MrMiner

As a part of the BAS Strategic Plan, we are always trying to find ways to maximize and support student growth. One of many ways we do this is through the Brighton Area Schools App. This app can be downloaded for free on iTunes and Google Play. It is loaded with resources for students and parents. In addition, consider using the "Your Best, Your Growth, Your Future" part of the app to submit a goal and receive 1:1 support and feedback to help you achieve it! The app will also allow you to receive notifications on what is happening throughout BAS and be updated on future events and information.

As a district, we are increasing our efforts to support the mental health and wellness of our students, families, and the community by focusing on relationships, student wellness, and increasing a mindset for learning and growth. Additional resources and information can be found on our BAS Wellness & Mental Health website.

Each week, we will be sharing out a weekly tip/resource with our families. This week's tip:

"Put Down the Glass"

The next PTO Meeting will be on Tuesday, November 11th @ 7:30 am in Main Office Conference Room. All are welcome!

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.

As we head into the holiday season, we wanted to share information on a number of opportunities and resources for families in need.

2025 Holiday Food and Gift Programs

Food Programs and Pantry List.

Links to these resources can also be found on the Livingston County Resource page and our BAS Mental Health & Wellness website.

Academic Approach is offering access to a free digital SAT practice test. Students will receive detailed feedback on their performance, including recommended areas to study to improve their scores. An informational flyer can be found here.

If your student would like to access this free resource, they should:

1. Visit https://bit.ly/sat-practice-sets

2. Enter the practice test code AA5FULL

3. Enter their information to create an account.

4. Start practicing! They can log back in after 2 business days to view your results.

As mentioned previously, students will receive detailed information on performance, explanations for all missed items, and targeted skills for improvement but will not receive a scaled score.

During the school year, the BASE Foundation will host six different events as part of a parenting series. The presentations are given virtually and will run on Thursdays from 7 - 8:30 pm. More information on the BASE Foundation can be found here. For the specific topics for each one of these events or to sign up to attend, see the informational flyer.

On October 16th, from 7 - 8:30 pm the BASE Foundation held the first session of their Part of a Parenting Series. This session was entitled "Life Balance: How to Help Balance School Expectations, Self-Care, and All the Extras Without Feeling So Overwhelmed." This session was held via Zoom and the informational flyer with the Zoom meeting information can be found here. It was led by Kirstie Wyler, MA, LLP. The informational flyer also includes information on additional upcoming presentations (next presentation is November 20th).

For nearly three decades, the team at Tall Cop Says Stop has been on the front lines of drug and alcohol prevention, helping families, schools and communities “see what we don’t know.” Founded by law-enforcement veteran Jermaine Galloway (widely known as the “Tall Cop”), the organization offers trainings and insights into trends in substance use, concealment methods and youth culture. Their resources can help you stay one step ahead of emerging drug and alcohol threats both within our community and across the nation.

A link to October's Tall Cop Says Stop Newsletter can be found here.

Please see the required information below from the Michigan Department of Education:

Dear Parents and Caregivers,

In accordance with state law, we are required to share information from the Michigan Department of Education regarding Michigan’s Safe Storage Law (MCL 28.429, 380.1313a, and 380.1313b).

The materials linked below are provided by the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services:

• What is the Secure Storage Law in Michigan.
• Safe Storage Notice.

Additional information is available on the MDE Safe Storage Law webpage. Questions may be directed to MDE-OHS@Michigan.gov

• Building Calendar
• District Calendar
• Daily Announcements
• New Student Information Guide
• Prospective Student Building Tours Informational Flyer
• Building Volunteer Approval Form
• Senior Questionnaire
• Student Scholarship Directory
• BHS Career and College Event Calendar
• Juniors - College and Career Planning Document
• Upcoming College Fairs
• McKinney-Vento Homeless Education Assistance Act Information
• McKinney Vento Informational Flyer
• 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

• 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

Matt Evans, Lead Principal, Grade Level Principal Class of 2027

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