The Weekly Update #4

Dear Birmingham Families,

Amidst the challenges of fires early in the semester and the recent walkouts and protests, I hope you and your family are managing productively and finding opportunities for peace and joy where you can find them. February is a busy and exciting time at Birmingham, and I want to take a moment to highlight a few important upcoming events and reminders.

Key Dates & Events:

Love Song Concert: Women's Choir and Chamber Singers are performing on Thursday, February 13th, 2025, at 7:00pm at the Sally Field Performing Arts Center. Tickets are only $5.00 and can be purchased at the door. Don't miss this fun night of music!

Valentine’s Day Reminders – While we love celebrating friendship and kindness, please remind your student to be mindful that any gift giving or other Valentine's Day related activities should not disrupt classroom instruction or prevent students from getting to class on time. Let’s keep the day fun and respectful for everyone!

Presidents' Day – No School (Monday, February 17) – Please remember that school will be closed in observance of Presidents’ Day. Enjoy the long weekend!

Parent-Teacher Conferences/Open House – will be held on Thursday March 20, 2025. This is a great opportunity to check in with your student’s teachers about their progress. Details on scheduling will be sent next month. Please note that the following day, March 21, will be a minimum day.

Course Selection for Next Year – Counselors will begin meeting with students this month to discuss course options for the 2025-26 school year. Encourage your student to think about their academic and career goals as they make their selections.

Winter Sports & Playoffs – Our winter sports teams are wrapping up their seasons, and we are incredibly proud of their hard work! Keep an eye on our website for playoff schedules. Some of the results are as follows:

• Boys' and Girls' Wrestling Teams won the Dual Meet City Championship. The City-wide meet will take place this weekend at Roybal.

• Cheer won another city title, earned second in state and placed 6th at the national championship in Orlando!

• Girls' Water Polo is seeded first going into the playoffs.

• Girls' and Boys' Soccer Teams are finishing up their seasons. Playoff seedings are coming next weekend.

• Girls' and Boys's Basketball are also finishing up their seasons. Playoff seedings are coming next weekend

Senior Activities & Graduation Updates – Seniors should be finalizing their graduation plans with their counselors to make sure they remain on track with graduation and university requirements. If they haven't done so already, they should complete their FAFSA or California Dream Act Application (CADAA) as soon as possible to be eligible for grants and financial aid. Also, please keep an eye out for announcements about prom, senior trips, and other upcoming events. Please note that the deadline to order cap, gown, and tassle is February 20th. See Parent Square posting for more information. https://www.parentsquare.com/feeds/45535464?school_id=3646

As always, thank you for your continued engagement and support. If you have any questions, don’t hesitate to reach out.

Best regards,

Principal Bennett

Five months until Graduation! Cap, Gowns and tassel units must be purchased by February 20th! For student convenience Jostens will be on campus on February 20th during lunchtime at the Quad for Seniors to place their cap and gown order, as well as any other Class of 2025 memorabilia using Zelle, Venmo or cash. Don’t miss this last opportunity to speak to our school's representative from Jostens. Any ordering questions and/or concerns pertaining to graduation ordering can be clarified at this time.

Seniors that had 10 or more (non COVID related) absences, 10 or more period by period absences, received 50% or more U’s, 6 or more tardies in the Fall Semester of 2024 will need to appeal in order to attend Prom. Students were notified via their school email, sent through the US postal service to their mailing address on file and were also hand delivered to them through their 2nd Period on January 17, 2025. At which point students will need to follow the detailed instructions that were provided to them and must be returned no later than Friday, February 21st to Ms. Franco in H68A no later than 3:00pm. NO LATE SUBMISSIONS WILL BE ALLOWED.

Just a reminder that February is Black History Month and so, we take the time to acknowledge our fierce African Americans’ roles in our U.S. history. This annual celebration recognizes the achievements of these leaders who have brought forth change, fought for rights and desegregation. “The time is always right to do what is right.” - Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.

LET’S CONTINUE TO WORK HARD THIS LAST SEMESTER!

12th Grade Level Academy Team

Mr. Elmore - Administrative Director

Mrs. Franco - 12th Grade Coordinator

Dr. Garnish - 12th Grade Dean

Mrs. Brown - Counselor (A-F)

Mrs. Perez - Counselor (G-N)

Mrs. Palacios - Counselor (O-Z)

Mr. Ermoian - Psychiatric Social Worker

Ms. Sedani - 12th Grade Administrative Assistant

Mrs. Mirazakhanian - 12th Grade Clerk

Junior Students and Families,

The outstanding progress of our 11th Grade students has resulted in 476 students making the Honor Roll! Teachers are currently distributing award certificates and pins to students during their second period class. Parents, please congratulate your students for remaining so diligent and dedicated throughout the Fall Semester! Students, please keep up the hard work and remember to put your pins away for safekeeping so that you can proudly display them on your gown during your Graduation Ceremony.

11th Grade Counselors will be pushing into students’ US History classes this month in order to program their classes for Senior year. At this time, counselors will also be reviewing A-G eligibility and graduation status. Students interested in taking an A.P. class during their Senior Year MUST fill out an A.P. Contract (links can be found in students’ school email) prior to their counselors enrolling them. Parents, please encourage your students to challenge themselves with one of these rigorous courses. They will earn college credit and be better prepared to meet the academic demands they will surely face at a university level. Students, please advocate for yourselves and let your counselors know what you are passionate about learning in your last year of high school.

Reminder: Next month, our Emergent Multilingual students will be taking the ELPAC (from March 10-14). Students will receive the support they need to succeed on this test in their English class. We will be practicing all four domains of language, getting students motivated to succeed at redesignating.

On Tuesday, February 18, we will have Spring Club Rush on the quad at lunch. Students, with over 50 clubs represented on our campus, you are sure to find one you like! We encourage you to come out and explore your options. Not only will belonging to a club enhance your high school experience, but it will also look great on your college applications!

**10th Grade Field Trip**

On January 27, 2024, we embarked on an inspiring eld trip to Cal State Long Beach (CSULB). The response was extraordinary, with over 250 trip slips submitted for just 150 available slots. Amanda Fitzpatrick, our dedicated GLA 10 Coordinator, noted how our students thrived during their college experience. A heartfelt thank you to the entire 10th GLA team for their unwavering support and enthusiasm in promoting this event! Witnessing our students’ excitement for college and their future aspirations was truly uplifting.

**10th Grade Honor Roll Certicate Distribution**

We will be celebrating 394 remarkable Sophomores who achieved Honor Roll status based on their Fall Semester 2024 GPAs. Each student will receive a Certicate and an Honor Roll Pin during their 2nd period class in the month of February . Here’s the breakdown: - **Silver (GPA 3.00 - 3.59):** 171 students - **Gold (GPA 3.60 - 3.99):** 105 students - **Platinum (GPA 4.00 and above):** 118 students Congratulations to all our Honor Roll students for their dedication and exceptional achievements!

Sincerely, Amanda Fitzpatrick

10th Grade Level Coordinator

(818)758-4428 Class of 2027

Student Senate Advisor

Birmingham Community Charter High School

Dear 9th Grade Parents and Students,

We are about halfway done with your freshman year at Birmingham!

HONOR ROLL CERTIFICATES

Freshmen who earned a GPA of a 3.0 or higher in the fall will be receiving an honor roll certificate and pin to celebrate their accomplishments.

If a student had a GPA of a 3.0-3.59 for the fall semester, then they will receive a silver honor roll certificate.

If a student had a GPA of a 3.6-3.99 for the fall semester, then they will receive a gold honor roll certificate.

If a student had a GPA of a 4.0 or higher for the fall semester, then they will receive a platinum honor roll certificate.

Please encourage your student to study hard this semester so that they can receive an honor roll certificate for the spring!

BLACK HISTORY MONTH

February 1 - March 1

Happy Black History Month! Supporting Black-owned businesses during Black History Month is crucial to celebrating culture, fostering economic empowerment, and promoting diversity, equity within our communities.

Visit www.supportblackowned.com to find shops to support.

Hello Patriot Family!

As we move into February, our Community School continues to provide valuable resources, support, and opportunities for all students and families. We appreciate your engagement and look forward to another great month together!

The HUB – Our On-Campus Food Pantry

The HUB remains open Monday–Friday from 8:00 am to 4:00 pm, offering canned and shelf-stable food to anyone in need. No appointment necessary—just stop by and take what you need! (See below for the current inventory.)

Know Your Rights – Red Cards Available in the Parent Center

All people in the United States, regardless of immigration status, have certain rights and protections under the U.S. Constitution. Red Cards are a valuable tool to help individuals assert their rights and defend themselves in various situations.

We now have Red Cards available in English, Spanish, Ukrainian, Russian, Tagalog, and Arabic. If you or someone you know needs a language not listed, please reach out to me so I can order additional translations. Protecting your rights starts with knowing them!

Community School Advisory Council

Our next meeting is on Thursday, February 27, at 3:45 pm in the Parent Resource Center. Your voice matters! Parents, students, and community members are all encouraged to join us in shaping the support and services available at our school.

Mobile Clinic Services

The Mobile Clinic, in partnership with Comprehensive Community Health Center (CCHC), will be on campus Thursday, February 27. If you’d like your child to receive medical services, please complete the necessary forms [linked here].

Upcoming Events

Know Your Educational Rights Workshop – February 28th at 4:30 pm via Zoom

Hosted by LACOE, this Spanish-language webinar will outline key educational rights for students and families. Topics include access to education, student protections, and available resources to ensure all families understand their rights within the school system.

Save the Date! Wellness Fair – Saturday, May 17th

Join us for our 4th Annual Wellness Fair in honor of Mental Health Awareness Month! This event will feature community resources, wellness activities, and more. [Linked here is last year’s video.] Stay tuned for more details—we look forward to seeing you there!

Thank you for being an essential part of our school community. Whether you need assistance, want to get involved, or simply want to learn more, we’re here for you. We look forward to seeing you at our events and continuing to grow together!

-Cecilia Macias

Community Schools Coordinator

818-758-4411

c.macias@birminghamcharter.com