The Weekly Update #4
January 15th, 2026
Dear Birmingham Families,
January is National Thank You Month—a time to reflect on those who’ve made an impact in our lives and to express gratitude. We are so thankful for your dedication to our students and community. Your efforts inspire learning, growth, and compassion every day.
The practice of gratitude improves our overall mental well-being. Check out these articles to learn about the impact of gratitude on our brain:
"Gratitude Enhances Health" , Harvard Health
"How Gratitude Improves Your Health and Happiness", Science News Today
"How expressing gratitude can transform your work and life", AP News
This month, we encourage you to reflect on the support you’ve received and take a moment to say thank you to those who’ve made a difference. If you or a family member needs extra support, remember that Birmingham Community Charter High School partners with Care Solace to provide quick and confidential access to mental health resources.
Call 888-515-0595, available 24/7 in over 50 languages.
Visit caresolace.com/bcchs to connect with care providers.
Thank you for all you do to make Birmingham Community Charter High School a strong and caring community.
Now that we're in the second semester, I'd like to remind families about the ways we can maximize our partnership.
First, help your student develop a schedule that includes a bedtime, wake up time, and designated homework and study time.
Being organized and prepared helps mitigate anxiety and gives students the best chance for success each and every day.
- If at all possible, find a place in your home where your student can study or do homework without distraction.
- If you have not already done so, please register for and login to Aeries, Parent Square, and (optionally) Google Classroom, so you can monitor your student's progress including grades, missing assignment, attendance, and tardies.
- Finally, when your student is struggling with a class for any reason, your first step should be to reach out directly to the teacher. A strong relationship between parent and teacher can be the turning point toward greater academic success for students.
- If your problem or issue is not resolved, the next step would be to reach out to the supervisor of the teacher. Supervisors for teachers are organized by subject:
- Math/Counseling: Mr. Alatorre
- English/PE/Athletics:/Ms. Wilkins
Social Studies/BVA: Mr. Avarca
- Special Education/Visual and Performing Arts: Ms. Walker
- World Languages/English Learners/Career Tech Education: Mr. Climaco
Science: Mr. Elmore
- If your problem hasn't been resolved after speaking with the teacher and supervising administrator, I'd be happy to get involved and work collectively to address the issue.
On another note, for your planning purposes, please be advised of the following important dates that are upcoming:
January 19 - MLK Day - Holiday
February 16 - Presidents' Day - Holiday
March 19th is Open House.
As a result of the late-night Open House, the following school day (March 20) will be a minimum day with dismissal at 1:10.
March 27 - Cesar Chavez Day (Observed)
March 30 - April 3: Spring Break
I wish you all the best in 2026!
Sincerely,
Principal Bennett
Happy New Year and welcome back to the final semester for Seniors!
January was off to a great start! At the end of last semester, we had an outstanding number of Seniors that made the honor roll. There were 211 of our Seniors that completed their Fall Semester with a GPA of 3.0 - 3.59 earning them on the Silver Honors List. Another 136 students made the Gold Honors List by receiving a GPA of 3.6 - 3.99. The Platinum Honors List, with 207 Seniors achieving a 4.0 or above! Our Birmingham family is proud to recognize all the students who performed diligently in their academics during the Fall Semester. CONGRATULATIONS!
Jostens will be on campus on February 19th during lunchtime at the Quad for Seniors to place their cap, gown and tassel order, as well as the optional stole and any other Class of 2026 memorabilia. 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 are not on track to Graduate, accumulated 10 or more absences, 10 or more period by period absences, received 50% or more U’s, 8 or more tardies during periods 1 or 5 in the Fall Semester of 2025 will need to appeal for Prom. Students will be notified via their school email, letter to their mailing address on file and will also have a hardcopy delivered during one of their periods on January 20, 2025. At which point students will need to follow the detailed instructions that will be provided to them and must be returned no later than 3:00pm on Friday, February 3rd to Ms. Franco in H68A. NO LATE SUBMISSIONS WILL BE ALLOWED.
LET’S CONTINUE TO WORK HARD THIS LAST SEMESTER!
12th Grade Level Academy Team
Mr. Elmore - Administrative Director
Mrs. Franco - 12th Grade Coordinator
Ms. Piliposian - 12th Grade Dean
Mrs. Riusech - Counselor (A-F)
Ms. Aparicio - Counselor (G-N)
Ms. Vasquez - Counselor (O-Z)
Mr. Rodriguez - Psychiatric Social Worker
Ms. Sedani - 12th Grade Administrative Assistant
Mrs. Salvatierra - 12th Grade Clerk
Junior Students and Families,
Welcome back!
One semester is left of Junior year! There is a busy semester ahead preparing academically and mentally for senior year. Junior students and parents must be reading emails regularly as important opportunities and information is being sent. In addition, students must be looking at the Class of 2027 Google Classroom postings because there are many events happening starting from now through summer. Space is limited, and sign-ups are often required. Lastly, counselors will be meeting with every student in their history classes from February 9-20 to plan for Senior Year - don’t be absent!
During the Fall 2025 semester, 470 students made the Honor Roll! We want to congratulate everyone who had a part in making this happen, including parents, faculty and staff, and of course, our hard-working and dedicated students! Let’s keep this momentum going!
This semester, all of our 11th-Graders will take part in state mandated standardized testing. They will be taking the SBAC and CAST tests from April 20-23 for English, Math, and Science. More information will be released closer to the dates. In addition, our Emergent Multilingual students will be taking the ELPAC from March 9-17. Students will receive the support they need to succeed on these tests in their English, Math, and Science classes in the upcoming months.
**10th Grade Field Trip**
On January 30, 2026, we will embark on an inspiring field trip to Cal State Long
Beach (CSULB). We will be taking ~100 students to Cal State Long Beach on 2
buses. This opportunity will give our sophomores a firsthand experience
exploring this beautiful Campus and their futures.
Information regarding the trip:
Date: January 30th, 2026
Time: 8:30 a.m.-3:30 p.m.
Transportation: Provided by BCCHS
Lunch: School Lunch, or students can purchase lunch with their own money.
Requirements:
Students must have a 2.0 GPA
No Less than 7 Absences
No new Discipline issues
Process to sign up:
1. January 14-16: Students fill out the Google Form Link - We will take the
first 100 marked by Timestamp.
2. January 21: Students will receive a notification Email they have been
selected or wait-listed.
3. January 21-23: Selected students will pick up a Field trip slip to be signed
by Guardian & Teachers.
4. January 23: Field Trip slip is Due by 3:27 p.m.
5. January 30: Meet at the Circle @ 8:15 a.m. to board the buses.
Any questions or concerns please stop by H-68 A and speak to Ms. Fitzpatrick
**10th Grade Honor Roll Certificate Distribution**
We will be celebrating Next Month in February - 415 remarkable Sophomores
who achieved Honor Roll status based on their Fall Semester 2025 GPAs. Each
student will receive a Certificate during their 6th-period class in February.
Here’s the breakdown:
- **Silver (GPA 3.00 - 3.59)
- **Gold (GPA 3.60 - 3.99)
- **Platinum (GPA 4.00 and above)
Congratulations to all our Honor Roll students for their dedication and
exceptional achievements!
Sincerely,
Amanda Fitzpatrick
10th Grade Level Coordinator
(818)758-4428
Office H-68 A
Class of 2028 Student Senate Advisor
Birmingham Community Charter High School
Dear 9th grade families,
Welcome to the spring semester of your student's freshman year! As we begin spring semester, your 9th grade team has a couple reminders for you and your students.
9th Grade Tips for Success
Here are some key tools to help you stay up to date on your student's education
Making use of tutoring
General tutoring in B71 : M, T, TH, F (7:30-8:20AM), W (8:30- 9:30 AM), M-Th (3:30-4:30pm)
IEP/ 504 Tutoring in B73: M-F (3:30-4:30pm)
EL Tutoring in B75: M, T, TH, F (7:30-8:20AM), W (7:30- 9:20 AM), M-F (3:30-4:30PM)
Link Crew after school in 406: starting 9/25 from 3:45-4:45pm
Setting Expectations with your student
What is your expectation of your student? (Ex. Grades of Cs or better)
What is the consequence if your student’s grades drop? (Ex. taking cell phone away, removing video game console)
Using Aeries
Having access to Parent Square
Accessing Google Classroom
Checking the teacher's syllabus for their contact information
Remember that you used Aeries to do data confirmation, and Aeries is one of the best ways to stay up to date with your child's education. You can use it to check grades and attendance. If you need assistance using Aeries, please contact our Parent Center for help!
ATTENDANCE MATTERS
Attendance is essential to academic success! Please contact Ms. Mirzakhanian to address your student's absence. 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. Mirzakhanian if you need to clear your child's absence at (818) 758-4484. You can also contact Ms. Aparicio (Attendance Counselor) at (818)758-4402 if you need any support with attendance issues.
As always, please reach out to anyone on our team if you have any questions or concerns.
Leila Haghi
9th Grade Coordinator
The 9th Grade Team
Edwin Avarca- 9th Grade Administrative Director
Leila Haghi- 9th Grade Coordinator/ Lead Teacher
Sami Brown, Ana Palacios, and Veronica Perez- 9th Grade Counselors
Taylor Ermoian -Psychiatric Social Worker
Joe Granish- 9th Grade Dean
Anne Mirzakhanian- 9th Grade Office Clerk/ Primary Parent Contact (818) 758-4484
Coffee with the Principal!
PTSA Meeting!
If your student could benefit from these services, please reach out and we’ll be happy to help connect you.
The Hub & Local Food Resources
Our Hub (on-campus food pantry) is open Monday–Friday, 8:00 AM–4:00 PM. Located right on campus in the Parent Center, it offers canned and shelf-stable food to anyone in need. No appointment is necessary—just stop by and take what you need!
The Hub is available to all BCCHS students and families in a welcoming, judgment-free space.
Possip Update
Thank you for sharing your feedback! In our latest Pulse Check, 97% of families were happy or mostly happy with BCCHS.
Parents shared:
Appreciation for supportive staff and a safe, welcoming school environment
Interest in new food options and ongoing campus improvements
Suggestions for family engagement and recognizing student achievements
We value your input and are reviewing your ideas to make BCCHS even better. Please don’t forget to respond to future Pulse Checks!
Get Involved – Community School Advisory Council (CSAC)
We invite parents, students, and community members to join our Community School Advisory
Council (CSAC). This is a great opportunity to share your voice, collaborate, and help shape programs and priorities at BCCHS.
Thursday, January 22, from 3:45–4:45 PM
Counseling Conference Room
If you’d like to be added to the invite list, please reach out.
Stay Connected
Follow us on Instagram for updates, resources, and upcoming events:
@bcchs.supports
As always, please remember that BCCHS is here for you. If you have questions, need support, or want to get involved, don’t hesitate to reach out.
-Cecilia Macias
c.macias@bcchs.net
818-758-4411