The Weekly Update #4
August 11th, 2026
Dear Birmingham Family,
Happy New School Year! It's been an extremely positive beginning to the school year, and we're excited for what's ahead.
Thank you to all parents and guardians who have been dropping off students early to help them arrive on time. Arriving to school and class on time every day is the foundation of success. Please also help your student build strong habits early in the year:
- Creating a daily schedule
- Checking and clearing their school email
- Doing homework at a scheduled time each day
- Going to bed and waking up at consistent times
- Bringing a charged Chromebook and all school materials every day
These may be simple habits for some, but for others they're the first step toward taking control of their own success.
For our new Grade 9 parents: talk to your student about getting involved in a club or student council. Club Rush Day is September 3rd during lunch — a great way to meet new people and get connected to the school community.
Get Involved:
Birmingham's community is strengthened by parent engagement. The following committees currently have open parent seats. Contact Angie Diaz at a.diaz@bcchs.net to learn more:
- Student Services Committee — addresses student welfare, safety, discipline, attendance, and activities. (1 parent seat, alongside the Administrative Director, Dean, certificated staff, a student rep, a social worker, and a board member.)
- Curriculum and Instruction Committee — leads schoolwide curricular and instructional initiatives, including the school calendar. (1 parent seat, alongside department chairs, the Administrative Director, a student rep, and a board member.)
- School Site Council — manages the Categorical Programs budget and ensures alignment with school priorities. (3 parent seats, alongside teachers, staff, and students.)
We also have a Parent, Teacher, Student Association (PTSA), led by Mr. Carlos Urbina:
- Learn more: https://www.bcchs.net/fs/pages/585
- Join here: https://jointotem.com/dashboard/memberships/0005c2b1-e1e2-dac0-aa43-9219c44b38ac
One final request: if you haven't yet downloaded the Parent Square app, please do so.https://parentsquare.zendesk.com/hc/en-us/articles/115005259266-Register-for-ParentSquare-from-the-App
Parent Square is our primary way of communicating with you, and it lets you comment on posts and ask questions. Contact the Parent Center if you need help getting it set up.
I hope the beginning of the school year has started smoothly for your student and your family.
Warmly,
Mr. Ari Bennett
BCCHS Principal
WELCOME BACK !!!
Seniors are off to a great start this new school year!
I am excited to announce that 459 Seniors are recognized for their excellent achievement as they ended their Junior year. On our Platinum list we have 184 Seniors with a GPA of 4.0 or higher, 107 Seniors on the Gold list with a 3.6-3.99 GPA and on the Silver list we have 168 Seniors with a 3.0-3.59 GPA. On September 2nd these students will receive their Honor Roll Certificates during their period 6 class. Keep up the AWESOME work Seniors!
Our first Class of 2027 Student Senate meeting will be held on Monday, August 17th 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 18th 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 30, 2026
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
Ms. Franco - 12th Grade Coordinator
Mr. Halic - 12th Grade Dean
Mrs. Gazarian - Counselor (A-F)
Ms. Galvez - Counselor (G-N)
Ms. Rocha - Counselor (O-Z)
Ms. Montoya - Psychiatric Social Worker
Ms. Sedani - 12th Grade Administrative Assistant
Mrs. Constanza - 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 2026! There were 149 Platinum students (4.0+), 84 Gold students (3.6-3.99), and 194 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 18-20. The application was sent on August 17 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:
- NO School: September 4th & 7th
- Club Rush (During Lunch): September 5th
- Back-to-School Night: September 17th
-Minimum Day: September 18th
- No School: September 21st
- Homecoming Week: October 12th-16th
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, before or after school, for free.
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 in
with 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) 758-442
Welcome to our Class of 2030 students and families! We are so happy to have you as part of our Birmingham community.
Key Updates
This year is off to a great start. Keep an eye out for the 9th grade Parent Night. Learn how to support your student as they begin their high school journey!
One of our goals as a 9th grade team is to ensure that all of our students are passing their classes, with a special focus on math and English. Students who pass math and English are much more likely to be successful in high school. When you hear from our team, you'll likely hear us discuss this goal.
One way to ensure that your students are successful is to monitor your child's progress on Aeries. Please reach out to the Parent Center if you need help setting up your Aeries account. There are two progress reports leading up to the final semester grade. Students will receive their progress reports on September 18th and October 30th. Another way to ensure that your student is on top of their classwork is to follow up with your student teachers via email or parent square.
We look forward to working with you to ensure your students pass their classes and are at Birmingham all four years.
Back to School Night, on Thursday, September 17, 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 3, at lunch. The Class of 2030 Student Senate is meeting 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 reach out to l.haghi@bcchs.net! Clubs are a great way to meet new people, enhance leadership skills, and boost college applications.
ATTENDANCE MATTERS
Attendance is essential to academic success! 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. Salvatierra if you have any questions about your child's absence at (818) 758-4443. 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. Thank you for your support and excitement as the Class of 2030 begins their freshman year, and we look forward to a wonderful year with you!
Sincerely,
Leila Haghi
9th Grade Coordinator
The 9th Grade Team
Edwin Avarca- 9th Grade Administrative Director
Leila Haghi- 9th Grade Coordinator/ Lead Teacher
Judith Riusech, Stephanie Scherrer, and Mercedes Vasquez- 9th Grade Counselors
Horacio Rodriguez -Psychiatric Social Worker
Angela Piliposian- 9th Grade Dean
Maria Salvatierra- 9th Grade Office Clerk/ Primary Parent Contact (818) 758-4443
Welcome Back, BCCHS Community!
Welcome to a new school year! For our returning families, welcome back, and for our new students and families, I would like to take a moment to introduce myself. My name is Cecilia Macias, and I am the Community School Coordinator at BCCHS. My role is to help connect our students and families with resources, programs, and community partners that can support student success and strengthen our school community. Whether you are looking for food and basic needs support, health and wellness resources, mental health services, family resources, community programs, or opportunities to get involved at BCCHS, I am here to help connect you with the right support.
Where Can You Find Me?
My office is located in the Parent Resource Center, where you can stop by to ask questions, learn about available resources, or get connected to support. You can also find updates, resources, and upcoming events on our Instagram: @bcchs.supports
The Hub – Our School Food Pantry
The Hub, our on-campus food pantry, is available to all BCCHS students and families. Families are welcome to access pantry items as needed. No questions asked. The Hub is located in the Parent Resource Center and is open Monday through Friday, 8:00 AM – 4:00 PM.
Community School Advisory Council (CSAC)
One of the ways we work together to make BCCHS a stronger community school is through our Community School Advisory Council (CSAC). CSAC brings together students, families, staff, and community members to share feedback, identify needs, and help shape our community school programs and priorities. Our first CSAC meeting of the 2026–2027 school year will be:
Wednesday, September 2
3:30 PM – 4:30 PM
Counseling Conference Room
Everyone is welcome, and we would love to have your voice at the table! I am looking forward to another great year of working alongside our students, families, staff, and community partners. Please do not hesitate to reach out if there is something you need or if you are not sure where to start. If I don't have the answer, I will help you find the right person or resource.
Let's have a great school year, BCCHS!
Cecilia Macias
Community School Coordinator
818-758-4411
