Open House
Please mark your calendars for Open House this Wednesday evening (9/14/22). We will begin at 6:00pm with parents reporting directly to their students 1st period class. We will follow the schedule below. We will have bells and helpers in the halls to help you find your way.


Red Bird Productions 6th Annual 24 Hour Plays
This is the 6th year of the 24 hour plays at Bellaire High School! Come watch 10 short plays written, acted and directed by Bellaire HS Theatre students! Tickets are available at www.bhsauditorium.ludus.com. $7 for students/staff and $10 general admission. All proceeds support theatre department productions throughout the school year. 
Save These Dates:
Financial Aid Parent Meeting - Wednesday, Sept. 21
Senior Parent Meeting - Wednesday, Sept. 28
College Fair - Tuesday, Oct. 11
*Update -Freshmen Parent Meeting* - Wednesday, Oct. 12
Important:
Returning Student Verification Form.

Beginning Tuesday, September 6, 2022, HISD will launch our Annual Student Verification via the PowerSchool Parent Portal.

The online application allows parents to verify their home address, phone number, email address, complete annual forms and add/update emergency contacts, which will be auto-delivered directly to HISD Connect.

HISD families are asked to complete the online Student Verification form. The Student Verification form includes annual acknowledgments and general updates, such as contact information and student health information.

For current students returning to HISD for the 2022-2023 school year, Student Verification forms will be completed via the HISD Connect Parent Portal Account.
Tutorial and Testing Schedule
Students are encouraged to attend tutorial sessions and reach out to teachers for student conferences and retakes during Cardinal Hour. Students, remember there is a bell that rings between the Red and White blocks to help you manage your time.

Club Meeting Schedule
Parents, it's important for students to join and connect with at least one organization on campus; please follow up with your student and ask them what they are interested in and what they have signed up to try. Click here to reference our Club Guide from last year. A new guide will be published in September with additional clubs and updated information.

Students can also find a club to join by looking at the meeting schedule for the rest of Cycle 1 Click here to view the schedule!

Please see Ms. Chapman in room 2712 or email her at echapman@houstonisd.org with any questions about getting involved with clubs!
Home Lunch Permits
We updated the procedure to exit and enter the building this week for 11th and 12th graders during Cardinal Hour.

Juniors and Seniors, who have approved Home Lunch Permits, may visit their Assistant Principal to receive their permit. If you are a Junior or Senior and you have not submitted an application, Click here.

Once a Home Lunch Permit is submitted, the Assistant Principal will check the student's academic/discipline status and verify permission with the parent. Students should monitor their HISD email for an approval notice from their Assistant Principal. Once approved, students will receive an ID that indicates that they can leave campus during Cardinal Hour. A student must show their ID to leave campus.
New Policy - No Food Deliveries
Beginning Monday, Sept. 12th, no food deliveries will be accepted on campus*. Students will not be allowed to meet delivery drivers. Bellaire High School is not responsible for any orders that are placed and not picked up. Students should plan ahead and bring their lunch or eat the meal provided by the school. Only 11 and 12 grade students with home lunch permits will be allowed to leave campus during Cardinal Hour.
*Administrative approval is needed for any delivery.
CIEE Study Abroad Scholarships
Ninth, tenth, and eleventh graders are invited to apply for study abroad scholarships through the Council for International Educational Exchange. We will be hosting a representative from CIEE during Cardinal Hour on Tuesday, September 13. Please check out her table to learn more about this opportunity or email Ms. Chapman at echapman@houstonisd.org.
From the Bellaire Counseling Office:
September is Self-Care Awareness Month. Linked here is a monthly calendar to check out ideas for gaining new coping skills and help reduce burn-out. Over the weekend, try to find at least one activity that brings you joy.

Remember, while on campus, your School Counselor and/or our Social Worker are here to help if students need someone to talk to. Parents and staff members can utilize the HISD SAF (Student Assistance Form) to refer a student: https://houstonisd.force.com/saf/s/ to the Counselors, Social Worker, or Wrap Around Specialists. Referrals will be routed to the correct person on campus to assist the student.  

After hours, keep these numbers handy in case you need to talk to someone: 
-Crisis Text Line: Text HOME to 74741. Connect with a crisis Counselor for 24/7 free crisis support via text messaging. 
-Texas Youth Helpline- Call or text- 1-800-989-6884. Free confidential help to youth in crisis who need help finding a Counselor, shelter, or someone to just talk to. 
-Teen Line: Call 1-800-852-8336 or Text TEEN to 839863. Provides peer-based emotional support before problems become a crisis. 

Regarding Schedule Changes: 
The final day to submit a course change for the 1st semester is: Monday, September 12, 2022. Approval to join a different course is based on space availability and priority.
Level Changes: The Level Change Window opens next week, September 12, 2022-September 30, 2022
Here is a link to the level change form. Parent and teacher signature are required before the level change will be processed by the Counselor. 
 (Example- A student wants to drop HADV World Geography and add Academic World Geography.)
No level changes will occur in the first 3 weeks of school, with exceptions listed below. Once the level change window is open, changes can occur until the end of the first six weeks. Also, there will be no level changes the days teachers are verifying grades for the first six weeks. Students are still able to turn in the level change form during that time and it will be applied to the second six weeks, once grades are published.
 Exceptions:
1. The incorrect level was placed onto your schedule. (You did not request the level.)
2. You are a new student to BHS (any grade level) in the 2022-2023 school year.
3. If a student is recommended to move up a level, parent approval is required.
4. If in 9th grade, to be considered for a level change after October 3rd, it must be reviewed and approved by a committee consisting of the Counselor, AP, and teacher.
 Important:
-All schedule changes must be submitted using the schedule change/level change form.
-Counselors will not grant a schedule change request through email.
-When making schedule changes, Counselors do attempt to cause the least disruption to the schedule as possible. However, that is not always possible. By submitting the schedule change or level change form, you are authorizing your counselor to change your entire schedule if necessary (including teacher changes) to accommodate your requests. Keep in mind that prerequisites must be met prior to enrollment in a course.
We are Looking for a Golf Cart!
As you dig around your garage or help a friend declutter, keep an eye out for a usable golf cart that could find a new home within the Bellaire parking garage. Your treasure could help us supervise around campus as we near the completion of our 2012 construction project. We look forward to hearing from you via email Mr. Lloyd.
College Center Update
College Affordability Meeting- Wednesday, September 21st from 6:30 to 8 PM
On Wednesday, September 21st from 6:30 to 8 PM, The BHS College & Career Center will meet in the auditorium to discuss what all makes up the cost of attendance at colleges, how to research affordable colleges, and the financial aid application all in anticipation for the opening of the 2023-2024 FAFSA, TASFA, and CSS Profile. We will also have time for questions and answers at the conclusion of this presentation. Please come prepared to engage, take notes, and ask questions.
 
Save The Date
September 16th- Deadline to sign up for the October 22 ACT
September 21st at 6:30- College Affordability Meeting 
October 1st- 2023-2024 FAFSA/TASFA Opens
October 11th at 6:00- 2022 BHS College Fair
October 12th- NMQST PSAT for 9th-11th grade
October 15th- Priority Deadline for Texas A&M University (especially for Business, Engineering, Sciences)
Reminders
  • Complete the Senior Entrance Survey from the Senior Meeting.
  • MANDATORY HISD Socioeconomic Form: PLEASE COMPLETE THIS ASAP. This is in your PARENTS HISD Connect on the left side under FORMS. It is very important that we get that information for scholarships, SAT/ACT waivers, college info, and waivers for college applications. The form also helps for discounted internet prices. I must have this on file before I issue testing fee waivers or college application fee waivers.
  • Join the College Center Senior Remind. Text @BHSCC23 to 81010
  • Your GPA is on a weighted 4.0 scale. If you need to calculate your unweighted rank, use this worksheet (Shout out Mrs. Boynton for putting this together for us). Your rank is NOT WEIGHTED. At Bellaire, our rank is EXACT.
  • We are not reporting college credits/hours. This is an additional step that requires more hassle to report this information to each university you are applying to. Instead, you will only report that information to the ONE school you decide to attend next Fall. We’ll revisit this in May.
  • Review the College Application Meeting
  • Brag Sheet (for counselors, possibly teachers) & Resume Template (teachers, applications, jobs)
  • Adding schools to “Colleges I’m Applying To…” (video)
  • Requesting Letters of Recommendation on Naviance (video)
  • Requesting Transcripts on Naviance (video)
  • Apply for college admissions before you apply for financial aid (FAFSA and TASFA). Apply for scholarships all the time.
  • [Tinyurl.com/BHSCash4Cards]Cash4Cards: Scholarship Listing- this is a one-stop shop for all the scholarships that come through the College Center. This is a living document, so please ensure that you are checking it regularly. If you search through all the active scholarships and you don’t find anything for you, let me know and I can provide you search engines for independent research. (Tinyurl.com/BHSCash4Cards)
 
Stay Connected with the BHS College Center
It is very important that all students check their HISD email regularly.
·         Instagram: @BHSCollegeBound
·         Twitter: @BHSCollege
·         Remind: @BHSCC23

Library News & Events
As the School year gets into full swing, Here are some of the amazing happenings at the Bellaire HS library. The BHS Library was in the top 5 high schools in books checked out in the month of August. Keep it up Cardinals! Since Ms. Carpenter started visiting English classes, We have had 146 eBooks and Audiobooks checked out via MackinVia our digital book platform. The Library Canvas course went LIVE on Wednesday 9/9. If your student has not accepted the invitation to join the library course then they are missing out. We have daily programming going on to help students with brain breaks, health & wellness, and learning. On Monday, we will have our first Make it Monday where students will get the chance to learn how to make friendship bracelets and get the supplies via the library during Cardinal Hour. Lastly, swing by the future library during Open House 9/14 @ 6pm to learn more about how the library can help your student in academics, personal inquiry, and Social Emotional Learning. 
Stronger Together Membership Drive
Our Fundraising Campaign Stronger Together is BHS PTO main source of funds.
Our sole purpose is to support the school administration to bridge the gap deficit between the funds provided by HISD and the needs required to support our school.
Such needs include professional development for teachers and staff, teacher appreciation events, teacher grants, student activities, student summer scholarships, among others.
Support today by clicking here.

Questions? Email: membership@bellairepto.org
PTO Corporate Sponsors
Become a Bellaire HS partner. Support our school and get the word out about your business!
Support BHS When You Shop Minted and AmazonSmile
We are partnering with Minted this holiday season!  Make your holiday card & gift purchases count this year by shopping at Minted using our unique code FUNDRAISEBELLAIRE at checkout. You’ll get a 20% discount and Minted will donate 15% of every purchase made using our code back to BHS PTO at the end of the year.  Spread the word and happy shopping!  https://www.minted.com/

Register with AmazonSmile and every time you make an eligible purchase, Amazon will donate 0.5% to BHS PTO.  All donations generated through AmazonSmile support the programs at BHS directly.  Choose "Bellaire High School Parent Teacher Organization" as your charity and bookmark the link.  Email the link to family, friends and neighbors and have them register too!  Please remember to use AmazonSmile every time you shop!  

Remind Messaging App
All parents and students are encouraged to join their BHS Class Remind Group. Remind is a communication tool that will deliver important communications through text message or email. You can download Remind for IOS here and Android here. Once you download the app, simply text the class code you belong to above to the number 81010.

Remind can also be accessed by clicking on the links below to join a group.






In addition to the class codes above, students will have the opportunity to receive communication and correspond with their teachers through the Remind App.
It Takes A Village...
"Bellaire Share" is new this year. Please help us collect important information and get student and staff accomplishments out to our school community. Share with us Bellaire HS activities and student achievements. You can upload your pictures of any event easily. Together we can accomplish a lot. You can submit information anytime on the homepage on the right side of the page or bookmark this link.
BECOME A CORPORATE SPONSOR 
BHS PTO is seeking corporate sponsors to partner with us to meet the needs at our new campus. Your tax-deductible contribution will make a positive impact on the lives of Bellaire students, and in return your business will be recognized throughout the year.  Learn more here. 
Thank you to the Bellaire PTO Corporate Sponsors for 2021-2022