Panther Update
Hello Panther Families,
Yesterday was the first day of the 2nd Semester. It is the perfect time to restart and recommit. Congratulations on finishing the 1st Semester strong. I know that each of you were working hard to get your grades as high as possible to finish the semester. This can be extremely stressful and a whole lot of work. Freshman congratulations on finishing your first semester of high school. For the first time in your life, these credits mattered.
For any of our students who may have fallen short, please reach out to your teachers about the possibility of course contracts or incompletes. These options can make the difference between being on track for graduation or not. You’ve got this!
Students and parents, we know that students tend to let up at the start of the 2nd Semester and it often results in a drastic increase in the number of students failing courses. This is just human nature. We call this the “2nd Semester Slump” and it happens every year. If we can anticipate it, we can prevent it. When refocusing this semester, please work on the habit of putting time aside regularly to work on homework, check-in on your classes, and to study. It’s the smallest habits done consistently that make for great change. If we can limit the 2nd Semester Slump, we can have a big impact on the rest of the semester and on your overall experience.
Jostens 2024 Leadership Conference
Now Go Be Present
Our amazing Leadership Students showed out last week. BLHS hosted about 600 students from all over Western Washington for a Regional Student Leadership Conference. BLHS Students worked with Jostens Renaissance to develop a theme, plan and host guest Nationally recognized authors and guest speakers, coordinate and lead breakout sessions, and to do all of the logistics and promotions surrounding this event. It was a huge undertaking and our leadership students really put BLHS on the map once again. They walked away with so many new connections, extra motivation, and new ideas to make BLHS the best school possible. Way to go BLHS Leadership!
Congratulations - National Board Certified Teachers
I want to make sure that everyone was able to see this from last week, congratulations to our amazing National Board Certified Teachers. Please give these teachers a pat on the back for their hard work in sharpening their saw and growing professionally.
New Certification
Tracy Brennan
Renewal
Anastacia Caswell
Bonnie Jackson
Chad Johnson
Kristi Martinez
Important Levy Information
We have much to be proud of at BLHS and in the Sumner-Bonney Lake School District. This year we have truly begun to Build the Hill in a way that has never happened at BLHS. Our students, teachers and staff are off to a great start of the 2023-24 school year. Just see some of our accomplishments below;
We continue to maintain record high graduation rates - 92% surpassing the state average for the 6th year in a row.
BLHS has been recognized as one of America’s Best Schools by US News and World Report for the past eight years.
BLHS is one of 32 schools in the entire nation to be recognized as a School of Distinction for the development of our student leadership and school culture. We have even been requested to lead breakout sessions at the National Conference and we will be hosting this year’s Regional Conference.
The College Board has named BLHS on the AP Honor Roll for high levels of student achievement in Advanced Placement courses and exams.
The BLHS Robotics program places in the top 5% in the World.
Culinary Arts, FCCLA, DECA are often ranked, participate and placed in the State and National Level competitions.
Our district is ranked fourth in Pierce County for math and ELA scores.
We have seniors getting jobs with Boeing right out of high school.
BLHS regularly has students admitted to some of the most rigorous schools in the nation, military academies, Ivy League, and so forth.
We watch with pride as our kids continue to grow in the classroom, on the sports fields, in the arts and in their extracurricular activities including athletics, the arts, career and technical education and so much more.
Our students, staff members, and our community never cease to amaze me.
One of the goals at BLHS is to Build the Hill in an effort to build a school that our students and our community can be proud of. A major way we are doing this is by “growing roots” in our community and with our Alumni. All of the opportunities and achievements previously mentioned have been possible thanks to our community. It takes caring and committed families and it takes all of us as a community to help every child succeed. You help us know, value and support every student. Thank you in the most sincere way imaginable.
So much of what we are proud of is thanks to the community’s willingness to renew their commitment to expiring levies every four and six years.
My goal with sharing this information is to help share some facts and information regarding two renewal levies that you will soon be getting information about and that will be on the February Ballot. We use the phrase renewal because they are not new levies but are renewal of prior levies that the SBLSD uses to provide the aforementioned opportunities.
I hope you find this information helpful.
Propositions on February Ballot includes measures that support Student Learning
Prop 1: Replacement EP&O Levy
Four-year replacement levy to continue funding staff, educational and extracurricular programs, safety and day-to-day operations not covered by the state. Learn more about the Prop 1 replacement levy.
Prop 2: Replacement Instructional Technology Improvements & Security Upgrades Levy
Six-year replacement levy to continue to provide technology access for all K-12 students, up-to-date tools for teaching and learning, and safety, security and privacy protections. Learn more about the Prop 2 replacement levy.
Please remember to vote in the Feb. 13 election. If you’re not yet registered or if you’ve recently moved, register or update your voter information. Find detailed information about the District’s ballot measures at www.sumnersd.org/vote.
IMPORTANT INFORMATION
Upcoming Dates
2/19 - No School
Presidents Day
2/20 - No School (Emergency Make-Up Day)
Emergency Make-Up Day
If Needed
Attendance
Attendance is particularly important as we make our final push to the end of the Semester. When students are not here, they do not learn. Therefore, attendance is a major factor in student success in school and beyond. We start to worry when students approach 10% absenteeism. All research shows that this is a benchmark where students start to have a hard time. Please keep students home when they are sick, but also please encourage them to be at school when possible. Chronic absenteeism affects grades, grades affect anxiety and depression, anxiety and depression affect grades and attendance. It is a vicious cycle that, by working together, we can help our students to avoid. Please do not hesitate to reach out if you need support or if you have any questions.
Dark outside & Icy Roads
Also, with the changing weather comes icy conditions. Despite having a deicing protocol, roads and parking lots can become slippery.
Please take extra care when dropping students off in the morning.
It is getting dark in the mornings and students and staff members can often be hard to see.
Please share this information with your new drivers.
Parking Lot & Inclement Weather Info
Dark Outside and Icy Roads
Please take extra care when dropping students off in the morning.
It is getting dark in the mornings and students and staff members can often be hard to see.
Also, with the changing weather comes icy conditions. Despite having deicing protocol, roads and parking lots can become slippery.
Here is a Link to our district webpage that describes the Inclement Weather Procedures.
Please share this information with your new drivers.
If you have a parking permit please review the Student Handbook pages 9-10 to ensure that we avoid as many issues as possible.
Third, please review this flow map for drop off and pick up.
Blue = Entrance Red = Exit
Club Meetings Days and Times
Athletic Game Schedules
Link to the Website https://blhspanthersathletics.com/events
Wednesday Jan. 31
Boys Basketball vs. Stadium (4:00 / 5:45 / 7:30) SENIOR NIGHT
Friday Feb. 2
Girls Basketball vs. Silas (5:45 / 7:30) SENIOR NIGHT
Boys Basketball @ Auburn Riverside (7:00)
Gymnastics @ North Thurston
Boys Swim @ WCD Meet
Saturday 2/3
Wrestling @ Sub-Regional
Boys Swim @ WCD Meet
Boys Dive @ WCD meet
Dance & Drill @ Kentlake Comp.
Cell Phone Policy
Students are free to use their cell phones before/after school, during passing times, and during lunches.
Students are not allowed to use their cell phones and headphones or have them out during class time.
The goal of our cell phone policy is to maximize the safety and the learning of our students in our classrooms while reducing inappropriate and unsafe behavior on electronic devices including; buying and harassment.
The goal is not to be a barrier for parent to student communication.
- Parents can message their students and they can respond during passing period, during lunch, or before or after school.
- In the case of an urgent message, please call the BLHS Main Office at 253-891-5700 and we will coordinate connecting you with your student.
We know this will be unpopular with many students but we care too much to ignore this important need.
Watch Dogs
Fathers, if you would like to be a part of keeping BLHS Safe while engaging with BLHS, please consider joining our Watch DOG Program at BLHS. See the QR Code below.