The Weekly Update #4
October 6th, 2026
Dear Birmingham Family Parents and Guardians,
As fall is upon us and families begin to explore options for their 8th grade students for 2027-2028, I wanted to provide information that you can share with family and friends who will soon make the important decision of where to send their student to high school.
The 2027-2028 Lottery Application Window opens 10/24/2026 and ends 1/22/2027.
We will have a Virtual Enrollment information Day on October 24, 2026, at 11:00 AM. During the event, we will review the application process, lottery, home school requirements, priority enrollment, waitlist and more. A zoom link will be posted on or just before October 24th .
The Public Lottery Administration will take place on February 1st.
Please know that the lottery has limited spots which results in a long wait list for those that don't submit their lottery application during the window.
We now have waitlists at every grade level and weren't able to admit hundreds of rising 9th graders this past year.
Because of the increasing demand to attend Birmingham, we will now validate addresses for those who apply as attendance boundary students to ensure the lottery process is fair for all.
If you don't live in our attendance boundary and you'd like to have a chance to attend Birmingham, please make sure you submit your lottery application during the window from 10/24 - 1/22. FAQs: https://www.bcchs.net/admissions/enrollment-faqs
For those families that aren't yet confident about where they want their 8th grader to attend, please find some additional information about Birmingham below.
Consider some of the unique opportunities and accomplishments of our school in just the past two years.
2026: 96.5% University Eligibility Rate
2026: 64% of 1,117 students that took an AP class last year earned a 3 or higher on an AP exam
2026: 73% of students earned college readiness status from scoring a standard met or exceeded on the grade 11 Smarter Balanced Assessment, this is the highest percentage for any comprehensive LAUSD High School or Independent Charter High School in the valley
97% of families indicated in the most recent Possip Pulse Check that they are very happy or mostly happy at Birmingham with (94% expressing very happy)
UCLA Early Academic Partnership Program Partnership School
One of two schools in Los Angeles to partner with The Academy Group offering $20,000 scholarships and mentorships for selected students from high school though career entry.
2024 California Distinguished School
2025 College Board AP School Honor Roll – Silver Award
National Education Equity Lab School of Excellence (Birmingham students have online course access to elite universities such as Yale, Penn, Brown, and Cornell)
We’re also blessed with award winning Theater, Music, Dance, and Band programs including opportunities to compete across the state and on occasion to travel to places like Orlando and New York City.
We offer 9 Career Technical Education Pathways including engineering/robotics/computer science
Students have three languages of study to choose from including Spanish, French, and ASL
900 student strong School for Accelerated Studies (SAS) with the only program in the valley that offers the opportunity to complete the entire IGETC college general education curriculum on campus at Birmingham.
26 Open Division City Championships in the last three years
Educare After School Enrichment Program and During the Day Achievement and Commitment to Excellence (ACE) Program to support student success.
250:1 student to counselor ratio
Free College Bound Summer Institute and Career Academic Preparation Academy including overnight stay during the summer in the UCLA dorms for 50 rising seniors and 50 rising juniors
Free Parent Ambassador Program for 25 parents including an overnight stay at UCLA to learn all about the college experience for students.
Full-time Activities Director
2 college counselors and a career counselor
7-person multi-disciplinary support team including a social worker for each grade level
Link Crew to support acclimation and building connections for all new students in grade 9 including peer tutoring
24/7 security on campus with over 160 cameras to ensure student safety and security
To learn more about Birmingham, please see the following Birmingham website links
Dream It. Do it: https://www.birminghamcharter.com/dream-it-do-it
Principal Message: https://www.bcchs.net/dream-it-do-it/meet-our-principal
Admissions: https://www.birminghamcharter.com/admissions
We take pride in partnering with families to provide an outstanding educational experience for every student.
Sincerely,
Principal Bennett
Senior Sunrise was a success! Seniors started with having a yummy breakfast that included a Mc Donald’s Big breakfast along with a private barista trailer company that provided a variety of warm and ice coffee drinks! It was great to see Seniors partake in this yearly tradition in which they come together before school to enjoy the festivities. Seniors participated in jumbo games, a “Selfie” photo booth, reminiscing to childhood games, Senior class Mickey ears & crown decor, slime making and lastly, they were able to write letters to their future self.
Another BIG event that we are quickly approaching is, HOMECOMING and this year's theme is "Entering & Unknown Dimension". The Senior Class Senate will be decorating their float train based on “Spidey-Verse” and the Halftime Show will include performances by marching band, dance, cheer and Senior Royalty Court reveal along with a firework show! The Homecoming Dance will be held at our Gym on Saturday, October 17th from 6:00 pm - 10:00 pm. Tickets are on sale at the Student Store before school, at lunch and after school. However, the Homecoming kick off celebration begins 4 days prior with the HOCO Spirit Week beginning on Monday, October 12th.
Enjoy the Start of the Fall Season!
The 12th Grade Team
Mr. Elmore - Administrative Director
Mrs. Franco - 12th Grade Coordinator
Mr. Halic- 12th Grade Dean
Mrs. Gazarian - Counselor (A-F)
Ms. Galvez - Counselor (G-N)
Ms. Rocha - Counselor (O-Z)
Ms. Montoya - Psychiatric Social Worker
Ms. Sedani - 12th Grade Administrative Assistant
Mrs. Constanza - 12th Grade Clerk
Here are some important updates, events, and tips to help you stay
successful.
1. Key Dates to Remember:
- Pep Rally: October 14th (Period 3- 11th grade)
- Homecoming Spirit Week: Oct. 12-17
- Homecoming Football Game vs. Granada: October 16th
- Homecoming Dance: October 17th (Buy tickets in the student store)
- Red Ribbon week: October 23rd
- Progress Check 2 Grades - October 29th (sent home in period 2/6)
2. Academic Tips:
- Set Goals: Take some time to set academic and personal goals for this year.
Focus on what you want to achieve in your classes and extracurricular
activities.
- Stay Organized: Use a planner to keep track of assignments, tests, and
important dates. BCCHS Planners are available for free in the Parent Center.
Staying organized will help you manage your workload effectively.
- Ask for Help: If you're struggling with a subject, don't hesitate to reach out to
your teachers or counselors for help/support. Tutoring is offered every day
except Friday for free before or after school.
3. Extracurricular Activities:
Get involved! Join clubs, sports, or volunteer opportunities to meet new
friends and explore your interests. Here are a few clubs to consider:
- Student Senate: Be a voice for your peers and help organize school events.
- Debate Club: Improve your public speaking skills and engage in
thought-provoking discussions.
- Art Club: Express your creativity and participate in fun art projects/animation
design.
- Skate or Surf Club: Learn to or enjoy your favorite outdoor activity. Activities
are done outside school hours.
4. Important Reminders:
- Dress Code: Remember to adhere to the school's dress code policy. Please
refer to our school website for details.
- Digital Responsibility: Be mindful of your online presence and practice safe
social media habits.
- Mental Health: Take care of your mental well-being. Reach out to school
counselors or our PSW counselors if you need support.
- Cell Phone Policy - Schoolwide policy: Students are to check cell phones into
the teacher's office upon class entrance and pick them up at the end of class.
5. Get to Know Your Teachers:
Take the time to talk with your teacher in person or via email. They are here to
help you succeed and are excited to get to know you better!
Moments from the Junior College Overnight Field Trip (Below)
Hope you have a Great October ahead!
Best Wishes,
Amanda Fitzpatrick
10th & 11th Grade Level Coordinator
Office # H-68 A
(818) 758-442
Here are some important updates, events, and tips to help you stay successful.
1. Key Dates to Remember:
- Pep Rally: October 14th (Period 3- 11th grade)
- Homecoming Spirit Week: Oct. 12-17
- Homecoming Football Game vs. Granada: October 16th
- Homecoming Dance: October 17th (Buy tickets in the student store)
- Red Ribbon Week: October 23rd
- Progress Check 2 Grades - October 29th (sent home in period 2/6
2. Academic Tips:
- Set Goals: Take some time to set academic and personal goals for this year. Focus on what you want to achieve in your classes and extracurricular activities.
- Stay Organized: Use a planner to keep track of assignments, tests, and important dates. BCCHS Planners are available for free in the Parent Center. Staying organized will help you manage your workload effectively.
- Ask for Help: If you're struggling with a subject, don't hesitate to reach out to your teachers or counselors for help/support. Tutoring is offered every day except Friday for free before or after school.
3. Extracurricular Activities:
Get involved! Join clubs, sports, or volunteer opportunities to meet new friends and explore your interests. Here are a few clubs to consider:
- Student Senate: Be a voice for your peers and help organize school events.
- Debate Club: Improve your public speaking skills and engage in thought-provoking discussions.
- Art Club: Express your creativity and participate in fun art projects/animation design.
- Skate or Surf Club: Learn to or enjoy your favorite outdoor activity. Activities are done outside school hours.
4. Important Reminders:
- Dress Code: Remember to adhere to the school's dress code policy. Please refer to our school website for details.
- Digital Responsibility: Be mindful of your online presence and practice safe social media habits.
- Mental Health: Take care of your mental well-being. Reach out to school counselors or our PSW counselors if you need support.
- Cell Phone Policy - Schoolwide policy: Students are to check cell phones into the teacher's offi ce upon class entrance and pick them up at the end of class.
5. Get to Know Your Teachers:
Take the time to talk with your teacher in person or via email. They are here to help you succeed and are excited to get to know you better!
Hope you have a Great October ahead!
Best Wishes,
Amanda Fitzpatrick
10th & 11th Grade Level Coordinator
Office # H-68 A
(818) 758-4428
Dear 9th Grade Families,
We are midway through our fall semester!
It was a pleasure meeting so many of you at our Back-to-School Night a few weeks ago, and we hope to see you on campus again soon. Birmingham offers many opportunities for parents to engage, and you can read more about that and view our Parent Calendar here:
https://www.bcchs.net/our-community/parent-center
Our students also have many available opportunities to network, meet new people, and get involved in campus activities. Encourage your student to join clubs, seek out tutoring before and after school, and come to Freshman activities like the Freshman Tail Gate that happened in September. Please encourage your child to attend at least one event or club meeting this semester!
Check your student's grades! Students need to pass with Cs or higher to avoid repeating classes. Students that pass math and English as freshmen are much more likely to graduate high school than students who fail their freshman year.
Lastly, please remind your child to continually check their Birmingham email. Counselors and teachers send emails often, and it is important that students check their emails daily so they do not miss out on important information.
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
Judith Riusech, Stephanie Scherrer, and Mercedes Vasquez- 9th Grade Counselors
Horacio Rodriguez -Psychiatric Social Worker
Angela Piliposian- 9th Grade Dean
Maria Salvatierra- 9th Grade Office Clerk/ Primary Parent Contact (818) 758-4443
Hello Patriot Families!
Happy October! As we continue through the school year, I want to remind our families that the Community School is here to support you and your students. We will continue to connect families with resources, wellness services, workshops, and opportunities to be involved in our school community.
Red Ribbon Week
This month, we will be celebrating Red Ribbon Week from October 23–31!
Red Ribbon Week is an opportunity for our school community to focus on healthy choices, making positive decisions, and staying drug-free.
Be on the lookout for ParentSquare posts throughout the month with more information about activities and events planned for both students and families.
We hope you will join us in supporting our students and promoting a healthy and positive school community!
Thank You for Sharing Your Voice Through Possip!
Thank you to all of our families who took the time to respond to our first Possip Pulse Check! We received 279 responses, and we appreciate you sharing your feedback, ideas, and experiences with us. We were happy to hear that 97% of respondents were happy or mostly happy with BCCHS.
Families shared positive feedback about:
Helpful and supportive teachers and staff
Communication through daily reports, text reminders, emails, and event updates
A welcoming school community
Families also shared areas where we can continue to improve, including:
More academic support and communication when students are struggling
More opportunities for family engagement
Increased security
Concerns about substance use during school hours and in restrooms
Additional opportunities and resources for students
Thank you for being honest and taking the time to share your thoughts. Your feedback helps us understand what is working and where we can continue to grow. We will continue sharing your feedback with our school team and using it to help guide our work.
Join Us for CSAC!
Families are invited to join our Community School Advisory Council (CSAC) meetings throughout the school year!
CSAC is a space for families, students, staff, and community members to come together, share ideas, provide feedback, and help shape the programs and supports offered through our Community School.
All families are welcome! You do not need to attend every meeting. We would love to have you join us when you can and be part of the conversation.
See the meeting dates below and be sure to mark your calendar!
We hope to see you at one of our upcoming meetings. Your voice and ideas matter!
Thank you for being an important part of our Patriot Family. We appreciate your partnership and look forward to continuing to work together to support our students and families!
