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Burlingame High School
Monthly Highlights
Dedicated to the preparation of academically and socially responsible students.
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Principal's Corner
Dear Panther Families,
The month of October brings much to celebrate as we revisit our school mission of preparing academically and socially responsible students. We are proud to see our students rank among the highest in the Bay Area and California in their academic performance. A brief overview of our most recent student data, including the new state assessment results, can be found at
this link or under BHS Fact Sheet on the front page of our school website under BHS Data & Reports.
The highlights from this fact sheet show that our students are working hard to prepare for college and career:
- An increasing number of students at BHS are taking Advanced Placement exams, which are based on college-level courses offered at the high school level. In May of each year, students can take AP exams that might allow them to receive college credit with a qualifying score.
- With the Class of 2015, 97% of the graduates were headed off to college with 58% of the students planning to attend a 4-year college. Our students continue to score above the state and national mean on the SAT and ACT, which are assessments that colleges and universities use as one measure of college readiness.
- Another gauge of college readiness is the Early Assessment Program (EAP) through the California State University system. This past year, our juniors took the EAP as part of the new state assessment, CAASPP (California Assessment of Student Performance and Progress). On the EAP, our students performed at 86% ready & conditionally ready in English and 64% ready & conditionally ready in math. These results exceed our district, county, and state averages.
- Burlingame High School placed in the 2015 notable national and state rankings. Two well-respected organizations, US News & World Report and Niche, conducted independent, comprehensive ranking methodology and placed BHS above the other San Mateo Union High School District schools. (N.B., The practice of SMUHSD schools participating in the Newsweek ranking is inconsistent since it is based on a self-reported survey by contributing schools.)
These data points are a quick summary of multiple measures demonstrating our students' excellence in academics. Last week, for example, we also heard that 11 of our current seniors received commended recognition from the National Merit Scholarship Corporation. More details will be forthcoming in the weekly NewsAlert after we have a chance to notify these students in person.
Go Panthers!
Principal Di Yim
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Parent Group Corner
Please join us at a BHS Parents Group monthly meeting. This is a great way to stay connected to what's happening at school and to get involved in your children's education. This month's meeting will take place Wednesday, October 14 from 7:00-8:30 PM in the campus library. Marc Friedman, SMUSHD Board President, will be the featured speaker. Come hear an update on the district's activities!
The Parent Group welcomes membership from parents, staff, administration and teachers. If you would like join (for just $20/year), please
click here
for membership information and to sign up online. You can also mail your registration and dues to BHS, or drop them off in the main office.
We look forward to seeing you on campus!
Donna Colson and Jennifer Slaboda
Parent Group Co-Presidents
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Counselor Corner
The counseling department has worked diligently through the month of September. We visited all senior classes and gave curriculum on
Post High School options through a power point presentation. In addition, we also gave the Freshmen Parent Night presentation in conjunction with Back To School Night. Both of these power points are located on the
BHS website, along with every other grade level presentation in case you were wanting to look ahead or refresh your memory.
Next, in October we will be giving the
freshmen class presentations along with Senior Parent Night on October 8th in the Alumni room. We have attended the CSU and UC conferences so we have the most up to date statistics on the admissions process. We also continue to meet with seniors individually and other parents who have concerns and questions. Also, in October we host the
Personal Essay workshop on October 7th at 2:30 p.m. in the Alumni room, given by Elaine Caret a retired BHS English teacher who now reads for UC Berkeley admissions. She will give key points to include in your personal statement. In addition, the College and Career center will host a variety of colleges on campus, a complete list can be found both on Naviance and the BHS webpage.
Students will be receiving their first 6 week grades. Remember it is a progress report that states what your student currently has in their classes. If you have concerns, our recommendation is that you reach out to the teacher directly to ask your questions as they are assigning the grade and see your student daily. We also suggest you put your report card some place safe so that you can refer back to it should you need to for any reason in the future.
Assistant Principal, Mr. Lien, shows his Panther Pride at Crocker Middle School's Information Night.
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News from SMUHSD
Stadium lighting is the pressing topic for the next San Mateo Union High School District
Board of Trustees meeting... all are invited to join the discussion!
In April of 2014, the SMUHSD Board of Trustees held a study session regarding the challenges and opportunities of installing permanent lights on each school's stadium fields. On Thursday, October 8th at 7pm, the Board will vote on staff's recommendations regarding the installation of lights for Aragon, Capuchino, Hillsdale, Mills and San Mateo high schools by the 2016/2017 school year.
Meeting Details:
Thursday, October 8
th
Starting at 7pm
San Mateo Adult School,
789 E Poplar Avenue, San Mateo
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Parent Ed Night:
San Mateo County Narcotics Task Force At BHS
On September 3rd, BHS hosted the San Mateo County Narcotics Task Force for a presentation to parents about current drug use trends in our community. The detectives discussed the dangers of drugs such as marijuana, methamphetamine and heroin, as well as the warning signs of teen drug use. Many parents had questions about the prevalence of drugs in schools and the community at large, and the detectives reported that alcohol and marijuana are the most common drugs used by high school students. The agents encouraged parents to talk with their teens about the dangers and addictive nature of drugs. They stressed the importance of setting expectations for behavior and open communication. The event was well attended and very well received with parents reporting that they appreciated getting this information from those who work in the field.
Lynn Ryan, Deborah Leon, and Begoña Lozano, Parent Education Coordinators
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"How to Raise an Adult: Break Free of the Overparenting Trap and Prepare Your Kid for Success"
with Julie Lythcott-Haims
Tuesday, November 10, 2015 at 7:00 p.m.
San Mateo Performing Arts Center
600 N. Delaware, San Mateo (next to San Mateo High School)
$5 in advance/$10 at the door
In How to Raise an Adult, Julie Lythcott-Haims draws on research, on conversations with admissions officers, educators, and employers, and on her own insights as a mother and as a Stanford freshmen student dean to highlight the ways in which over-parenting harms children, their stressed-out parents, and society at large. While empathizing with the parental hopes and, especially, fears that lead to overhelping, Lythcott-Haims offers practical alternative strategies that underlie the importance of allowing children to make their own mistakes and develop the resilience, resourcefulness, and inner determination necessary for success. For more information and to purchase tickets:
https://smuhsd-ca.schoolloop.com/peninsulaparentspeakerseries
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Music Department Corner
COMING SOON
Choir Concert: Tonight, October 1st at 7:00 PM is the first Choir Concert of the year. Music will be Disney-themed at the San Mateo Performing Arts Center where tickets are $10 at the door and $5 for students. We'd love to see you there!
PLAY-A-THON: Our department's biggest fundraiser is merely three weeks away! On October 24th from 9:30 AM - 4:00 PM you will be entertained with jazzy jazz selections, concert and pep band songs, and beautiful choral music to soothe your soul! Wander down to the train station and buy some cake and cookies to share with your family and neighbors. For a coffee break, you can follow our marching band down the avenue and duck into your favorite coffee shop. Raffle tickets and band merchandise will be available, so meet your friends on the avenue and be happy!
Spring Choir Tour:
With your support, the combined SMHS/BHS Choirs hope to go on tour this spring to pursue their musical dreams. Learn more and donate via their
gofundme.com page
.
RECENT EVENTS
AYSO Opening Ceremony: On September 12 the BHS Concert Choir performed a beautiful rendition of the National Anthem at the AYSO Opening Day Ceremony. The Pep Band entertained with toe-tapping hits from "Ain't No Mountain High Enough" and "Locked Out of Heaven" to "It's Alright Now" and "Party in the USA". The band also accompanied the BHS Varsity Cheerleaders in their performance of "Cheer." The live music added a festive mood to this annual Burlingame AYSO tradition.
Football Games: Our BHS Pep Band supports school sports, and are shown below playing at the September 4th home game against Capuchino High School.
Pet Parade: Last weekend Marching Band added their spirit to Burlingame's fun, pet-friendly event on Broadway. They sounded amazing!
Choir singing the National Anthem at AYSO
Opening
Day
Pep Band musicians rocked the AYSO soccer fans! Pictured above are Cameron Peña on saxophone, Jacob Cohen on trombone, and Thomas Masterson on euphonium.
The Pep Band at our September 4th Football Game
Bryan Bodenlos, Matt Balestrieri, and Anton Bobrov team up in the tuba section of the Pep Band.
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Theater Corner
The BHS theater department has been busy preparing for the fall musical,
How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying,
under the direction of Mrs. Skelton, with Mr. Kimura directing the student orchestra and Mr. Reifschneider serving as the vocal director.
We hope you will join the amazing cast, crew, and orchestra for this fun farce. Set in the early 1960s, the show is a frothy musical satire of office politics and romance.
Show Dates:
October 23, 24, 30 at 7:30 and October 25, 31, November 1 @ 2:00
Tickets:
Mari Pietro experiments with 1960's hair and make up on Sydney Kaufman.
Stage manager, Sam Hale, is assisted in building office desks for the fictional World Wide Wicket Company by Ben Howley and Jenna Beressi.
Choreographer Jim Ambler directs a dance number in the mail room where Augustin Ortiz gets the ride of his life... on a mail cart.
Drama teacher and director, Mrs. Skelton, runs a scene with John Peceimer, Ben Howley, Jenna Beressi, and Edward Phillips.
Need your mail sorted? Cast members of How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying can now sort mail and dance simultaneously... almost without really trying ;-).
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Library Corner
The Book Café is returning to Burlingame High School!
The first Tuesday of every month the Burlingame Public Librarian and the BHS Librarian will team up to give book talks to students around a casual atmosphere of snacks. Students are welcome to bring their lunches and share their favorite reads. The Book Cafe will be held during lunch in the Alumni room.
All are welcome!
Liza Wardell
Teacher/Librarian
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Athletics Corner
News from Panther Athletic Booster Club (AB):
The fall sports season is underway and the Panthers are showing their talent and pride!
We thank the administration and the district for supporting Burlingame High School's effort to offer even more Freshman teams. For the 2015-16 school year, BHS has the following Freshman sports: Football, Girls Volleyball, Girls Basketball, Boys Basketball, and for the first time, BHS plans to have Freshman Girls Soccer and Boys Soccer!
It is worth noting that the Athletic Booster Club, not the District, financially supports ALL Freshman sports. The AB pays Freshman coach stipends, expenses for officiating games and other expenses, and, when needed, uniforms. This season, the Freshman Football team is sporting new uniforms paid for by the AB!
If you have already become a member and/or donated this year, we thank you! If you have not, please consider doing so now. Your generous donations enable the AB to provide extensive financial support to our sports teams. By donating to AB, you will help our student athletes excel!
Amanda Miller sets the ball to Siobhan Healy.
Kyra Novitzky hits the ball for a kill against Sequoia.
Siobhan Healy and Natalie Ballout set up a block against Sequoia
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Robotics Corner
Here is just a quick update on the Burlingame Robotics Team! This year, we have created another FTC team, the Iron Kittens (#10336), to join our current Iron Panthers FTC team (#7316). These two teams have already attended the FTC kickoff, where they found out this year's mission, Res-Q! You can find out more about it
here
.
The Iron Panthers FRC team also attended two off-season events, Chezy Champs and Cal games! You can find pictures from these events on
our website
or
our Facebook page.
We are looking forward to an exciting season for our FTC and FRC teams!
If you would like to donate to Burlingame Robotics, please send any cash or checks to Mrs. Wade's room, C106, or to the mailbox in the main office. Any checks should be made out to Burlingame Robotics. Thank you so much to those who have already donated!
We would also love more sponsors, mentors, and volunteers! If your company is able to sponsor us, or you are able to mentor or volunteer, please contact Mrs. Wade at cwade@smuhsd.org.
Thank you!
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Club Week
This week is club week at BHS! Tuesday, interested clubs hosted tables in the quad to showcase their club and attract new members. Wednesday, interested clubs competed in a poster contest, and all posters will be displayed around campus. Today, interested clubs will partake in a school-wide scavenger hunt. Students must use present and past knowledge of the school to succeed in the hunt. The week ends with a club craft fair where clubs will be selling hand-made items. All students are encouraged to check out the various clubs the entire week.
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Paella Party
Olè, Olè, Olè! Don't miss this chance to be taught by Chef Alberto Solis. On Friday, October 16th you will be hosted by KitchenTown in their professional makers' kitchen and learn how to make Spain's most legendary dish. Paella isn't your thing? There's a vegetarian option as well. The evening will inlcude a sit down dinner while enjoying friends, tapas, beverages and the fruits of your labor. What are you waiting for? Go to the website as fast as you can and sign up. Go to Paella Party to sign up and find out more. Checks only, please.
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Panther Pay Day is in one week!
Panther Pay Day is Friday, October 8th!
Your dollars will be DOUBLED on this day. For a second year in a row, a generous donor has offered up to $25,000 to match your donated amounts. Donate early! Bring your check to drop off or donate online. Each and every dollar directly benefits the students and teachers.
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BHS Excellence Fund
THANK YOU Excellence Fund Donors!
Thank you, generous Excellence Fund donors, for helping us surpass the $85,000 donation mark!
I
f you have not yet donated, please take a moment to meet our
100% BHS family participation goal
by donating today - no amount is too large or too small!
- Or -
To learn more about what your donations to the Excellence Fund support, click here.
2015-16 Excellence Fund Donors from July 1, 2015 - September 25, 2015:
Premier $10,000 & above
Passion $7,500 - $9,999
Prestige $5,000 - $7,499
Scott and Sherry Haber
Hans and Aida Kedefors
Steve and Melissa Macko
Liz and Dale Schenk
Pioneer $4,000 - $4,999
Deniz and Lissa Teoman
Partner $3,000 - $3,999
Haitham and Linda Ballout
Pride $2,000 - $2,999
Gary & Lynn Goodman
The Kamb-Wang Family
Alexandra and Felix Shapiro
Jonathan and Maarit Visbal
Jerry and Terry Yee
Power $1,000 - $1,999
Michael and Gretchen Barber
Elizabeth Battat and Children
Ron and Felicia Bellanti
John and Diane Bellizzi
Sheila and Atul Bramhe
Missy and Rob Chiesa
Kerry Fitzpatrick and Charlie Cosovich
Paul and Bernadette Durazzo
Lisa and Mike Edwards
Simon and Leah Greenwood
Joe and Rita Howard
Stephen and Ida Hsu
Stephanie and Henry Hu
Steven & Gail Karp
Paul and Lisa Karson
Lisa Winston and Phil Kennedy
Karen and Fady Malik
Brendan and Davina Murphy
Stanley Parker
Carol Pereira
Leo and Monique Redmond
Bruce and Stefanie Rodriguez
Kimberly & Mark Rosales
Garrett and Jenny Smith
Petr and Kim Utrata
Manny and Carla Ventura
Han-Jie Zhou and Yuette Meng
Principal $500 - $999
Gerard and Karen Arquero and Family
Bruce and Lori Bainton
Ward and Heidi Carey
David & Arleen Cauchi
Robert and Gina Chapman
Jeffrey K. and Mary G. Eliason
Thomas and Laurie Giammona
Isao and Nobuko Hayami
The Kall Family
The Levitan Family
Robert and Selina Lim
Frank Mak and Kim Pak
Chris Metzcus and Elizabeth Byrne
Jim and Barbara Millett
Ken and Teresa Post
Stefano and Laura Pucci
John and Lynn Ryan
Steve and Eileen Schefsky
Holly Rogers & Rich Schoustra
Toma Family
Deborah Leon and Phil Wang
The Wilson Family
Thi-Sau Migone and Doug Woods
Patron $1 - $499
Anonymous
Irina Betina
Gustavo and Vicky Cardenas-Pereira
Jackie Cheung
Trevor & Frances Collins
Joe and Laura Coric
Brad and Beth Dominik
The Freedman Family
Kirsten Garen
Yuri Goda
Michael Guerra
Stacey and Scott Hawley
Peter and Karen Hirschmann
Austin Hsieh and Jennifer Liu
Dean Kamaka
Terris Linenbach and Pamela Yee
Jennifer Lo
Daniel and Karen Masterson
Cheryl Mori
The Prather Family
Shelley Rintala
George Ryan and Danielle Le Gear
Jennifer Serran
Frederick Siy
Michelle Smith
Paul and Monica Smith
Patrick and Laura Somers
Peter and Jane Stevenson
Ty Family
Adine Varah
Michael Voigtlander
Wenchang Yan
Matching Corporate Contributors
Amgen
Genentech
PG&E
TPG Global
We apologize for any errors or omissions. Please send corrections to Claudia Jenkins at
claudiaejenkins@gmail.com. Thank you!
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