BHS Counseling Corner

• First Quarter Grades
• Scheduling for 2026-2027
• Grade Level Updates
• Financial Aid, FAFSA, and Scholarship Information
• College Visits
• Resources for Those in Need
• Parenting Teens 101

First quarter grades are now available for review in Parent Connect and Student Connect! Please note that we no longer are sending paper copies home with your student.

To access your student's report card, log into Parent Connect and click on the option titled 'Documents' from the list of options on the left. The most recent report card will be the first document in the list. A copy can be viewed and/or printed by clicking the paper icon on the right. If you need assistance accessing Parent Connect, please email pc@brightonk12.com.

If you (or your student) are struggling academically, NHS Tutoring could be beneficial!

It is hard to believe, but it is already time to start thinking about the scheduling process for the 2026-27 school year. We want you to have the updated timeline for planning purposes. More details will be provided to you as they become available, but here is an outline of the schedule for you:

• Tuesday, December 2nd - Grade level scheduling meetings
• Friday, December 5th - Curriculum Day with students visiting possible electives
• Thursday, December 11th - Signing Day for classes requiring a signature and Course Numbers must be entered into StudentConnect
• Friday, December 12th - Individual student scheduling sheets due to English teachers
• January 2026 - counselors start individual meetings with students to discuss their course requests, graduation requirements, and answer questions! Remember - counselors can make changes to course selections during our individual meetings!

Hello Class of 2026,

I think it's appropriate for me to talk today about taking care of yourself and your friends after the very sad month we've had. School, grades, college apps, sports and clubs-they are all important, but they aren't as important as your physical and mental health.

Doing the basic things like eating right and getting enough sleep every night will help you feel better and allow you to be more capable of bouncing back after a bad day or bad news. Intentionally doing things you like with people you like also helps with your mood and your outlook on life. Spend more time with your friends and less time on social media.

There are so many people both inside and outside of school who care about you and would do anything in their power to help you with whatever is going on. Life is a roller coaster, and you guys are only going up the first hill at this point. There will be ups and downs, twists and turns, and a lot of excitement during your ride, and we want you to experience all of it.

By the same token, if a friend of yours says, texts, or posts something concerning, tell someone. Tell your parents, their parents, me, Mr. G, your pastor-whoever you trust. We care about you, and we want the seven months before graduation to be joyous ones.

Thanks,

Mr. Miner

Hi students and parents! It's hard to believe it's almost Thanksgiving!

First and foremost... on a personal note...

I want to start by reminding all of my amazing students to take care of YOU! When the nights get longer, the weather gets colder, and life gets busier...sometimes it's easy to forget your own self-care. Remember your emotional well being is of utmost importance. If you are struggling (or if you have a friend struggling), please let an adult know. It's ok to not be ok... seeking extra support is a strength!

On an educational note...

I've been starting to get many awesome questions about college and career planning, so I thought I would share some insight. As far as what students can do to bolster college applications... the best thing is to keep taking a rigorous schedule and keep excelling academically. Additionally, as far as leadership positions, sports teams or clubs, etc. the main thing they look for is commitment and follow-through. It's better to do 3 years of Spanish Club than go to 1 meeting of 10 clubs, for example. Admissions offices also look at extracurricular commitments - jobs, volunteer hours, helping with younger siblings, sports, clubs - colleges want to see that students are more than just students and can manage their time effectively in the midst of having extracurricular commitments.

Not sure what you want to do? Big Future's College Planning Tools and Career Planning Tools are a great place to start! And.... you can be eligible for College Board's Big Future Scholarships just by completing college and career research steps that will benefit YOU!!

I am always happy to sit down with you and/or your student to talk about your individual plans and aid you in finding the best path for you!

Finally, I will be pulling all 11th grade students from their Social Studies class to continue their career/college exploration process through Xello Nov 19th and/or 20th!

All the best,

Mrs. Caverly

Dear Sophomores,

This week, we’ll be turning our attention to career and college exploration! This is your chance to start thinking about your future goals, explore your interests, and learn about the many paths available after high school.

Your science teachers will be bringing you down to the media center to meet me where we will work on a Skills Lab in Xello. This lab will direct your attention to...

• Your identified skills and how they might be used in a future career

• Considering how different careers align with your skills, personal values, future aspirations, and lifestyle goals

• Understanding why careers are assigned certain match levels

You will be picking your junior classes in the new year, and ideally I want you to start experiencing courses that will match your skills. So, please be ready to take advantage of this opportunity with me in the media center.

Lastly, as we just wrapped up marking period 1, and I want to make sure you understand that 40% of your grade is complete and that you just started marking period 2 - the next 40% of the final grade. If you need to step up your game, take advantage of the free tutoring every Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday in B1 at 2:30 to 3:30. You can take your homework there and get help before taking it home. Also, please utilize advisory for some extra help when needed. Don't be afraid to advocate for yourself.

Best regards,

Jody Petit

10th grade Counselor

Mrs. Feliks

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!

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

Educate yourself about the financial aid process, awards, and other pertinent financial aid information. Here is a link to virtual financial aid presentations.

High school students and families interested in learning more about the Michigan Achievement Scholarship are encouraged to attend an informational webinar provided by MI Student Aid.

Participants will be able to gather the following information:

• Information about the Community College Guarantee
• Michigan Achievement Scholarship eligibility requirements
• Michigan Achievement Scholarship award amounts
• Important action items for students and families
• Additional resources and program information

All sessions are free of charge and open to the public. Register for one session only, as space is limited.

REGISTER HERE!

• Keep an eye on this page for local scholarships that are added throughout the year.
• Other places to look for scholarships are your colleges' websites, Going Merry, FastWeb, and College Board Big Futures.

Juniors and Seniors.... You have an awesome opportunity to attend college visits from admissions reps at BHS. You will get up-to-date admission information as well as other insight into what is unique about colleges in our area. Register today for these informational sessions!

• Do you need food assistance?
• Do you need extra help during the holidays?

• Are you looking to give back to the community?

There are some opportunities to get and give help in Livingston County. See below for information.

Here are some resources for different food programs and Holiday support. 2025 Holiday Food and Gift Programs and Food Programs and Pantry List. Links to these resources can also be found on the Livingston County Resource page and our BAS website.

Parent Guidance is a wonderful resource for parents in our community. They offer various supports such as: Mental Health Series, Parent Coaching, On-Demand Courses, and Ask a Therapist! ParentGuidance.org

As the holiday season approaches, many families start to feel the mix of excitement and pressure that comes with Thanksgiving and year end busyness. Between school projects, sports/activities, college applications, and family gatherings, it can be easy to overlook the simple but powerful practice of gratitude.

Research consistently shows that gratitude strengthens emotional well-being, reduces stress, and helps build stronger relationships — not just for teens, but for us parents too. Practicing gratitude doesn’t have to mean writing long lists or journaling every day (though that can help!). It can start with something as small as pausing to appreciate a shared laugh, a car ride, or a family meal together.

Here are a few easy ways to bring gratitude into your family’s November routine:

• Share one good thing each day. Around the dinner table, on the way to school, or before bed, take turns naming one thing you’re grateful for. It sets a positive tone and encourages reflection.
  
  

• Model appreciation out loud. When you thank your teen for helping out or acknowledge their efforts — even small ones — you’re teaching them how to express gratitude themselves.
  
  

• Make space for calm connection. Sometimes gratitude is less about words and more about being present. Setting down phones during meals or planning a short family walk can help everyone slow down and reconnect.
  
  

• Focus on progress, not perfection. Parenting teens can be hard and unpredictable. Gratitude reminds us that even small steps forward matter.
  
  

We know how hard (and rewarding) parenting can be - let's try to focus on the positive as we head into this season of Thanksgiving. If you are concerned about your student, please do not hesitate to reach out to us. We can assist and support you in finding resources in our community.

Mrs. Jennifer Harper (BHS Social Worker)