September 2023 - Volume 4 - No. 2

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We are very excited about the start of the 2023-2024 school year! We spent some time during the first few days of school going through "Tiger School" with all students to discuss expectations and some new things that will be happening this year.

Our focus this year at BRHS is on believing that our students can achieve anything that they set their minds to and also on helping them believe as well. We want our school to be a place where students feel welcome, can learn and grow, and have a place to belong. We want to give our students the trust that they deserve and reward them for their good behavior, good grades, and good attendance. We want to grow and empower leaders in all areas of our school. We want to create opportunities for our students to connect with a group. We want to expose our students to opportunities beyond the walls of the school that will prepare them for college, a trade, the workforce, and/or the military.

One new initiative this year is the implementation of our advisory period. Advisory is a time for students to get help and tutoring in classes, to continue to grow in our Capturing Kids' Hearts character groups, to have designated time for club and class meetings, and to build teamwork and camaraderie with their classmates. The students have made a great transition into this time and we are already seeing success.

Our teachers are hard at work inside the classroom to help their students learn and grow. We have several new teachers and new course offerings this year that are going to greatly benefit our students. Be sure to check out our "Academic Spotlight" further down the page each month to learn more about what is happening in our classrooms.

Outside the classroom, fall is all about football, volleyball, marching band, cheer, cross country, FFA Leadership Development Events, and robotics. For more information about each of these programs, please see the links below.

• Football
• Volleyball
• Band
• Cheer
• Cross Country
• FFA
• Robotics

We are excited to see everything that our students accomplish this fall in the classroom, on the field, in the arena, and on the court. Please be sure to check out the other important information, dates, and news for BRHS below.

Blue Ridge High School is excited to announce that September 18th-22nd will be our first ever College & Career Week. Each day that week during advisory we will focus on a different aspect of being ready for college, career, and/or military ready. Monday we will discuss money matters with a "lifestyle reality check." Tuesday they will learn more about themselves and what careers might best fit them. Wednesday they will explore different colleges and careers. Thursday they will get a chance to learn about other post-secondary options. Friday they will get information about how to do their best on the SAT and ACT exams. We are encouraging students to wear their favorite college gear each day that week.

In addition to these topics, we are also hosting our College & Military Fair for all students on Tuesday, September 19th from 9:00-11:00am in the BRHS gym. Our students will have the opportunity to meet representatives from almost 40 colleges, universities, and members of the U.S. Armed Forces, including the University of Texas, Texas A&M, Texas Tech, Collin College, and many more.

Did you know that completing a Free & Reduced Lunch application does more than just qualify students for free meals? These applications can also provide students with SAT/ACT exam fee waivers, college application fee waivers, and even reduced tuition for college classes.

Last school year all students received free meals through funds from the federal government. This year only students who qualify are eligible to receive free or reduced meal prices. In order to qualify for meals and the other benefits, each household must complete a Free & Reduced lunch application annually. Visit bit.ly/BRISDLunchApp for an application today!

August 28th - FFA Parent Meeting

August 29th - Volleyball vs Sherman

August 31st - JV Football vs Collinsville at Van Alstyne

August 31-September 2 - Caddo Mills Volleyball Tournament - Varsity

September 1st - Football at Collinsville

September 2nd - Cross Country at Fort Worth

September 4th - No School

September 5th - Volleyball at Collinsville

September 6th - JV Football at Wills Point

September 7th - Pep Rally & Football vs Wills Point at McKinney

September 8th - Volleyball vs Bonham

September 9th - Cross Country at McKinney & JV Volleyball Tournament at Denison

September 11th - Senior Drape/Tux and Cap/Gown Pictures

September 12th - Volleyball at Bells

September 14th - JV Football vs Wolfe City

September 15th - End of 6-Week Progress Report Period, Cross Country at Pilot Point, Volleyball at Leonard, & Football at Wolfe City

September 16th - JV Volleyball Tournament at Sherman

September 19th - College Fair & Volleyball vs Howe

September 21st - JV Football vs Whitewright

September 22nd - Football at Whitewright

September 23rd - Cross Country at Denison

September 25th - FFA Parent Meeting

September 26th - Volleyball vs Gunter

September 28th - BR Cross Country Meet

September 29th - School Picture Day & Volleyball vs Pottsboro

September 30th - Aubrey Marching Band Contest

October 3rd - Volleyball at Bonham

October 5th - End of 9-Week Grading Period & JV Football vs Lone Oak

October 6th - No School, Volleyball vs Bells, & Football at Lone Oak

October 7th - Celina Marching Band Contest

October 9th-10th - No School

Welcome to the 2023-2024 School year! I am so excited to see everyone and get the new year started! The Counseling department has been very busy this summer making sure that student schedules were complete and ready to go, and that students are on track with graduation credits and requirements. We are excited to have several different events planned for this semester. Please see the attached flyers for both the upcoming PSAT test for sophomores and juniors, and our upcoming SAT School Day for seniors.

We have included a series of flyers and information for you to review about important information that is coming up this school year.

Please check out the wealth of information attached in this newsletter to assist your student in the months ahead.

Senior parents- It is important for you to know that completion of the FAFSA or TASFA, or an opt-out form is a graduation requirement for your student. The FAFSA process is in the process of being revamped by the Department of Education and will not be available until December. You can still create an FSA ID beforehand, but the form itself will not be open until that time. FSA ID's can be created here. This will put you one step ahead when it actually does open up in December. We have some FAFSA 101 nights schedule for later this year and will share information with you as it gets closer.

Seniors- If you are looking for scholarships, check out: CCMR with Mrs. Thrash's Website. There is a ton of great info there for you to sift through.

The 2024 application for the Coca-Cola Scholarship (open to high school students who will graduate during the 2023-2024 academic year) will be available online. Note that they have an earlier deadline this year! APPLY HERE

The Gates Scholarship (TGS) is a highly selective, last-dollar scholarship for outstanding, minority, high school seniors from low-income households. Each year, the scholarship is awarded to exceptional student leaders, with the intent of helping them realize their maximum potential.

Selected Scholars will receive funding for the full cost of attendance to earn a bachelor’s degree, that is not already covered by other financial aid and the expected family contribution, as determined by the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA), or the methodology used by a Scholar’s college or university. Costs covered include tuition, fees, books, and room and board, and may include additional personal costs.

Deadline is September 15. For more info and to apply go to: https://www.thegatesscholarship.org/

I am looking forward to a great year with our family here at BRHS! As always, please feel free to call or email with any questions you may have.

Mr. Shanlian's U.S. History students spent a day learning about the importance of urban planning in our nation's history. Mr. Shanlian demonstrated this through an activity where he had students draw important buildings like homes, schools, markets, hospitals, and transportation on paper. Students drew these items in groups and the teacher continued to add items to the list after they were finished drawing. If students didn't plan well, they wouldn't have enough room to add structures.

Health Science students in Mrs. Calender's class are learning directional terms of the body. By drawing the body form on paper, students can see the body anatomically then label each part. Anatomical regions are areas of the human body defined by the landmarks provided by evident structures that are easily palpable or visible. Major regions are the head, neck, thorax, abdomen, pelvis, upper extremity, and lower extremity. This will help the students in the future when they begin to build prosthetics for each body part.

Students or parents in the school community can anonymously submit any suspicious activity, bullying, or other student-related issues to a school administrator(s). We encourage you to report important issues. Once you complete the contact form below, you will receive a confirmation that your information has been submitted to the school district.

https://www.anonymousalerts.com/blueridgeisd/

Stress and emotional situations can be overwhelming for teenagers. Many young adults don’t know how to react and may act out. If you’ve noticed certain problematic behaviors with your teen, Children’s Health can help. Your teen can connect with a licensed behavioral health provider — right from school, right from a tablet. Together, we can identify and resolve small problems before they become big ones.

Welcome back to News from Collin College. Read on to get the latest information about Collin College and the Farmersville Campus.

Q. Did you know the Farmersville Campus will offer a dual credit Medical Assisting Advanced Practice class?

A. This fall, the first dual credit medical assisting class for Farmersville ISD will start on Aug. 21. Students will attend class four days a week at the Collin College Farmersville Campus. Sixteen students were chosen for this cohort after applying with essay questions and participating in an interview. These students will spend their junior and senior years in the program. Upon completion of the Medical Assisting Advanced Practice certificate program, graduates can earn up to four certifications in the medical field including Registered Medical Assistant, Registered Phlebotomy Technician, EKG Technician, and Medical Scribe.

Q. Did you know?

A. Kinesiology and geology courses are available at the Farmersville Campus for Fall 2023.

Q. Have you registered for fall classes?

A. Registration for fall courses is now open for all. Click here to view the schedule of classes.

Administrator Highlight: Dr. Kyle Bellue

Farmersville Campus Associate Dean of Academic Affairs Dr. Kyle Bellue has worked at Collin College since March 2021.

After serving 28 years in the U.S. Air Force, Dr. Bellue decided to retire in February 2021 and pursue a career in higher education. He holds a Bachelor of Science and a Master of Science in Meteorology, both from Texas A&M University. He earned his doctoral degree in Higher Education from the University of Memphis.

Dr. Bellue was a meteorological officer in the U.S. Air Force until 2015 when he switched careers and began working in higher education for the military. In 2015, he was selected to be the U.S. Air Force ROTC commander at the University of Memphis which is where he says he fell in love with higher education and then began his doctoral work. In 2018, Dr. Bellue moved to Air University at Maxwell Air Force Base, in Montgomery, Alabama, where he finished his military career as a deputy department chair in the Joint Warfighting Department of Air Command and Staff College.

What do you love most about your job?

Dr. Bellue: The best part about my job is watching students who may have struggled academically in the past work hard to achieve their academic and professional goals at Collin College. It is why I come to work every day and why I love to serve students in this community.

What would you like parents and students to know about Academic Affairs at the Farmersville Campus?

Dr. Bellue: The Farmersville Campus continues to grow, offering more general education courses, workforce programs, and continuing education courses. Come visit and learn more about all the new offerings this coming fall.

To find out more about the Farmersville Campus, visit www.collin.edu/campuses/farmersville.

To learn more about Collin College, visit www.collincollegenews.com or www.collin.edu.

Blue Ridge High School is a 3A public school located in the northeast corner of Collin County in North Texas.

Email: trent.hamilton@brisd.net
Website: https://www.brisd.net/Page/9
Location: 11020 County Road 504, Blue Ridge, TX, USA
Phone: (972) 752-5554
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/blueridgehighschool
Twitter: @brhs_tigers