Dear Birmingham Parents and Guardians,

Now past Halloween, we have completed two-thirds of semester one. Although it's important for students to stay on top of their work throughout the entire semester, the final month of is often the most critical for students in earning the grade they want. Teachers are looking for either consistency in quality student performance or for growth and improvement. For students that haven't yet given their best effort, this is an important time to get serious, make-up missing work (if a teacher will accommodate), and put in their best effort through the end of the semester. Finishing a semester strong is critical for student success. Please encourage your student to use their time wisely, stay current with all of their assignments, and participate in class discussions. Their effort will make a difference for their final grades in December. Please also strongly encourage them to attend every day. Students who miss class are much more likely to fall behind and struggle to catch up. Daily, on time attendance is another critical component of student success.

As we approach Thanksgiving and Winter Break, please keep the following in mind. While traditions and celebrations are meaningful, it’s just as important to care for your mental well-being. From our partners at Care Solace, here are a few tips to help make your holidays more manageable and joyful:

• Modify traditions if needed. It’s okay to adjust traditions if they feel overwhelming. Your mental health takes priority.
• Learn the power of saying "no." If a commitment feels too much, give yourself permission to decline.
• Plan ahead. Use a calendar to stay organized and avoid last-minute tasks that can create unnecessary stress.

• Share your feelings. Talk to someone you trust if you're feeling anxious or missing a loved one. You are not alone.

• Take time for self-care. Make sure to rest and recharge, even as you care for others. Make sure to rest and recharge, even as you care for others.

Finally, please the following important dates that are fast approaching:

• Thursday, November 14 at 3:45 in the Parent Center: Community Schools Advisory Council

• Friday, November 15 at 7:00 home game: Football Open Division Playoffs vs Gardena

• Monday, November 18 Mobile Health Clinic on campus all day

• Tuesday, November 19 at 4:30 in the MPR: Board Meeting

• Tuesday, November 19 at 9:00 am and 7:00 pm Coffee with the Principal in the MPR (special guest Special Education Administrative Director Cindy Walker)

• November 25-29 No School - Thanksgiving Holiday

• Tuesday, December 10 at 4:30 pm in the MPR: Board Meeting

• Tuesday, December 10 at 9:00 am and 7:00 pm Coffee with the Principal in the MPR

• December 10-13 Finals Schedule - Dismissal at 1:10 each day.

Have a wonderful Holiday season!!

Seniors are almost halfway through their last year of high school!

Last month, our Homecoming was a success! The week-long celebration continued into Friday night's football game against Cleveland. Before the start of the game, Birmingham clubs paraded around the football stadium flaunting their beautifully decorated floats. At the Halftime Show, we were entertained with awesome performances by both JV and Varsity Dance Teams, and Band. Before the end of the show, Seniors Viviana Carassco and Josiah Miranda were crowned as the 2024 Homecoming Queen and King! Congratulations to them and all those who were nominated! At the Homecoming dance, students mingled with their friends and also had a blast participating in games and most of all the music kept the students on their feet as they danced the evening away.

November is an important month for Seniors as they put their finishing touches and submit their College Applications. Our awesome College and Career Counselors have been working diligently with all our Seniors and we truly appreciate them! As the College Seminar class comes to an end, we would like to give a BIG SHOUT OUT to our College and Career Counselors Erika Lopez, Wendy Quinonez and Angela Zook for their endless dedication to our students.

In recognition of Thanksgiving, students will have a one week break from November 25th through November 29th to be with family and celebrate this special holiday.

December is around the corner, which means our Fall Semester is almost over. All students should continue to focus on striving to complete all their classes successfully and communicate with their teachers on any concerning issue as soon as possible.

Seniors are now able to order their Caps and Gowns for their graduation and so please remember to do so with time! Yearbooks can still be ordered and purchased through Jostens website, as well as graduation announcements, class rings. letterman jackets and other Senior Class of 2024 memorabilia. There will be a preview day on campus on Tuesday, December 3rd during lunch so that students may ask questions and/or place orders directly with a Josten representative. The BCCHS home page to pre-purchase any or all the items mentioned above is at https://www.jostens.com/apps/store/customer/1007993/Birmingham-Community-Charter-High-School/

Fall Semester Finals begin Tuesday, December 10th through Friday, December 13th. A detailed period by period schedule of Finals Week will be posted as we get closer to the week.

Winter Break will begin after school on December 13th and will end on Monday, January 6th. Students' first day of Spring Semester will begin at 8:30 a.m. on Tuesday, January 7th.

BEST OF LUCK ON YOUR UPCOMING FINALS SENIORS...LET’S FINISH WITH A BANG!

We wish you all Safe and Happy Holidays!

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,

We are so proud of the hard work and dedication you have shown this semester. 491 students made the Honor Roll for the second progress report (that is nearly 67% of the entire Junior Class!!!!) Well done to all of you!

It is also important to note that if you want to make a change, now is the time to do it! There are only five weeks left of the semester (and remember, the last of these is Finals Week, leaving only four weeks of instruction and assignments). Reach out to your teachers if you need help! They are your best resource to improve your grades.

Tutoring: Tutoring is available every day in B71 before and after school. Take advantage of it if you need extra support as we move into the last part of the semester.

College Road Trip:

From November 16-18 we will be taking 96 students on a trip to visit 7 colleges in Central and Northern California. Over 200 students applied to be part of the trip, and we are so sad that we are unable to bring all of our students. However, every year, the Blue and Gold Center offers multiple chances for students to learn about and visit schools. Be sure to stop by and see what schools you can learn more about. Follow their Instagram (@bcchs.college) to learn more about summer programs that allow you to stay on campus for several days!

Hey Everyone!** We hope you had an amazing October! Here’s a little recap: Homecoming Week kicked off with a fun Grade Level Pep Rally on October 14th. It was a blast!

Our Homecoming Float Parade showcased the Class of 2027 Senate and our fabulous HOCO Royalty, Ashley Hernandez & Chloe Aguilar. They did a fantastic job representing our class!

The Homecoming Dance on October 19th, themed “Once Upon a Night,” was a night to remember! Students enjoyed tasty food, played video games, and danced the night away! We also had our Fall Food Fest on October 24th. Thanks to everyone who supported our fundraiser by buying El Pollo Loco Burritos. They were a hit!

Don’t forget, report cards for Progress Check 2 were sent home on October 28th.

**Looking Ahead to November!** November 1st marked our last home football game of the season before the playoffs. Let's cheer on our team!

A quick reminder about November holidays:

**November 11th: Veterans Day—NO SCHOOL!

**November 25-29: Thanksgiving Break—time to relax and enjoy!

**December is Coming! From December 2nd to 9th, it’s study time for finals!

**FINALS will be held from Dec. 10-13:

December 10th: Periods 1 & 2 - Minimum Day

December 11th: Periods 3 & 4 - Minimum Day

December 12th: Periods 5 & 6 - Minimum Day

December 13th: Periods 7 & 8 - Minimum Day

Don’t forget, Winter Break is from December 16 to January 6th. We’ll see everyone back on January 7th! We wish you all a wonderful holiday season filled with joy and laughter!

Warm wishes from the 10th-grade level team!

Amanda Fitzpatrick 10th Grade Level Coordinator

Class of 2027 Student Senate Advisor

Birmingham Community Charter High School

Dear 9th grade families,

We are almost done with the first semester of your student's high school career! We hope that they have enjoyed Birmingham so far and we look forward to helping them grow.

Events

Homecoming week was themed around fairy tales! Students got to dress up during the week and attend a Shrek themed pep rally put on by ASB. The homecoming game and dance were also very fun! See some of the photos from our Homecoming week below:

The Visual and Performing Arts Department has many events coming up. Check out their newsletter for all the details. Here are a few highlights!

- On November 14-17th, Romeo and Juliet is playing

- On November 21st, the Winter Band concert is happening

- On December 5th, there is the Winter Choir Concert

BSU is having a toy drive! Join the BSU Nutcracker Toy Drive and spread the holiday cheer by donating new, unwrapped toys for 2nd and 3rd graders. Drop-off locations include the main office, parent center and blue/gold center, with collections running through November 22-24.

Link Crew is offering tutoring for freshmen! Here is a summary of their upcoming program from Ms. Galvez, a Link Crew advisor:

Link Crew leaders and advisors are working with 9th-grade students who have received non-passing grades in a 5-week program that promotes tutoring and mentorship from upperclassmen. During this time, 9th-grade students will attend tutoring sessions for 5 weeks, with the opportunity to earn points that can be redeemed at the student store. The objective is to help upperclassmen connect with freshmen by reminding them that it’s not too late to make a change and that academics are important in their high school career.

Upcoming Field Trips

The freshmen have several upcoming field trips to look forward to:

- On November 14th, several freshman biology classes are going to the LA Zoo. Students will apply their biology knowledge to exploring wildlife with their classmates.

- On November 15th, many 9th grade students are visiting UCLA. Students will get a chance to tour the campus and learn more about the opportunities available to them at UCLA.

- On November 18th, students from all grade levels are visiting CSUN. Students will get to participate in geo-caching, an exciting way to explore the CSUN campus.

Progress Report Two Information

All students received their second progress report on Monday, October 28th. If you haven't gotten to see your student's grades yet, please check Aeries to view their most recent grades. Students must receive a C or higher in order to avoid repeating a class. If a student earns a D or an F, their counselor will likely schedule them to retake the class.

Please encourage your students to attend tutoring, ask their teachers for help, and stay organized about their work. Their final grades are determined by all of their work through the semester plus their final exam. The final exams are often worth a lot of points so please also encourage your students to study diligently. Final grades directly impact your student's GPA and their college options.

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

Hiyas Mutia, Sabrina Marquez, and Cindy Martinez- 9th Grade Counselors

Brooke Lopez-Psychiatric Social Worker

Melissa Reisbord- 9th Grade Dean

Rebeca Venegas - 9th Grade Office Clerk/ Primary Parent Contact (818) 758-4481

Hello Patriot Family,

As a Community School, Birmingham is dedicated to providing essential resources, support, and opportunities to help every student and family thrive. Here are some highlights of our offerings this month:

The HUB is our On-Campus Food Pantry: Open Monday - Friday from 8:00 am to 4:00 pm, our food pantry is available for any families in need of grocery support. No appointment necessary—just come by and take what you need.(see below for current inventory)

Red Ribbon Week: This year, we are celebrating Red Ribbon Week from November 12th through the 15th! Join us in raising awareness and promoting a healthy lifestyle. Throughout the week, we’ll have various activities and resources to support students in making safe choices. Let’s work together to inspire healthy, substance-free lives. Birmingham has also partnered with local community agencies to host virtual workshops where families can learn more about prevention and substance abuse resources. (See flyer for dress-up days and activities.)

Community School Advisory Council: Our Next Meeting is on Thursday November 14 at 3:45 pm in the Parent Resource Center. We invite all parents, students, and community members to join our Advisory Council. Help us shape programs and priorities at our school! Your voice matters, and we welcome your input.

Mobile Clinic Services: Our mobile clinic in collaboration with Comprehensive Community Health Center (CCHC) visits regularly, providing convenient access to basic healthcare services for students. Our next clinic is scheduled for November 18th. If you’d like your child to visit the clinic on that day, please complete the necessary forms linked here.

Thank you for being an essential part of our Community School! At Birmingham, we are committed to building a supportive, inclusive environment for all. Whether you need a helping hand, want to get involved, or simply wish to learn more, our doors are always open. We look forward to seeing you at our events this month and continuing to grow together as a community.

-Cecilia Macias

Community Schools Coordinator

818-758-4411

c.macias@birminghamcharter.com