March 3, 2023
Dear West Hills School Community:
Thank you for quickly adjusting your schedules for our early dismissal and cancellation of events after school today. It's been a very interesting winter, oftentimes feeling like a rollercoaster through the seasons over the course of a week or two!
8th Grade: I appreciated the high attendance at our 8th-Grade Washington, D.C. Pre-Trip Meeting this past Wednesday evening. Forms are all due by the end of next week, so please be sure to reference the article below if you need the information. Additionally, this week the BHHS counselors met with their incoming high school students (yes, our current 8th graders) to go over course selections. Families, please see the article below to sign up for a scheduling meeting on March 14. Parents/guardians are invited to attend this 10 minute meeting with their child.
Beginning next week, students will be invited to participate in Social-Emotional Learning and Equity and Inclusion Surveys. Bloomfield Hills Schools is gathering key data to better understand the holistic needs of our students and staff in order to support their ability to work, thrive and achieve. Please read more about the process on our district website.
I wanted to also invite families to join our PTO meeting on this coming Thursday, March 9, at 9:30 a.m. in the WHMS cafeteria. Superintendent Watson will be joining us to engage in conversation with our families.
"Do the best you can in every task, no matter how unimportant it may seem at the time." - Sandra Day O'Connor
Stay warm! Stay safe! Enjoy the weekend!
Andy Gignac
Principal
West Hills Middle School
Bloomfield Hills Schools
Twitter: @AndyGignac
A/B Schedule: Click HERE for the A/B Calendar from Feb.-June!
Mon., March 6 - B Day
Tues., March 7 - A Day
Wed., March 8 - B Day
Thurs., March 9 - A Day
Fri., March 10 - B Day
KEY DATES
Fri., March 3 Progress Report 3
Mon., March 6 RESCHEDULED Group Pictures (School Clubs and Activities)
Tues., March 7 Bloomfield Sings-8th Gr Choir @ BHHS 7:00 p.m.
Thurs., March 9 PTO Meeting 9:30 a.m. (Superintendent Watson as our guest!)
Tues., March 14 8th-Grade Scheduling Meetings (BHHS & Families) 8:00 a.m-2:45 p.m.
Wed.-Sat., March 15-18 8th-Grade D.C. Trip (Departs at 4:00 a.m.; Returns 7:00 a.m. on March 18)
Mon., March 20 7th Grade Choir Concert 7:00 p.m. – 8:00 p.m.
Fri., March 24 ½ Day of School 11:40 a.m. Dismissal
Mon.-Fri., Mar. 27-Mar. 31 No School (Classes Resume April 3)
Fri., April 7 No School
Wed., April 12 PSAT Testing for 8th Grade - No School 4th-7th Grade
Updated Information for April 11-13
2022-23 BHS Calendar At-A-Glance (updated 1/26/23)
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On Monday, March 6, an outside photographer will be at WHMS to take group photos for the yearbook. This will include some fall and winter WHMS team sports, as well as all WHMS clubs, band, orchestra and choir. Groups will be called down as the photographer's schedule allows, so it is not possible to provide a schedule in advance. Group photos will be taken on this date only, so students must be in attendance on that day to be in the group yearbook photos.
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Students will be invited to participate in Social-Emotional Learning and Equity and Inclusion Surveys. Bloomfield Hills Schools is gathering key data to better understand the holistic needs of our students and staff in order to support their ability to work, thrive and achieve. Please read more about the process on our district website.
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Below are the dates for the transition activities for 8th graders moving on to Bloomfield Hills High School in the Fall of 2023. Please read the following information carefully, as action is required by both students and their parents/guardians.
Monday, February 27: Incoming Freshman Parent/Guardian Orientation Night
Parents/guardians of 8th-grade students are welcome to the BHHS Auditorium to learn about the International Baccalaureate Diploma Programme, as well as how everything works at BHHS, from counseling to academics to extracurriculars.
- Optional Meeting 6:00 - 6:30 pm: IB Diploma Programme Introduction (optional for interested IB students)
- 6:30 - 6:50 pm: Welcome by BHHS Principal Stroughter
- 7:15 - 7:45 pm: Orientation with Counselors
- Optional Informational Sessions 7:45 - 8:45 pm: Feel free to stick around for additional information, and hear from BHHS Student Ambassadors and Family Ambassadors who will share short presentations and answers to questions about various academic and extracurricular opportunities at BHHS.
Wednesday, March 1: High School Counselor Group Meetings for Students Only at West Hills
The BHHS counselors will be at West Hills at 10:15 a.m. to meet with our 8th-grade students and share information about the 8th-grade course selections. Course selection sheets and course description books will be passed out and students will be given instruction on how to enter their 9th-grade course request into MiStar. This must be done prior to the March 14 Individual Counseling Meeting for students and family members (see below).
Tuesday, March 14: High School Counselor Individual Meetings with 8th-Grade Families
The BHHS Counselors will be at West Hills to meet individually with 8th graders and a parent/guardian by appointment. Students should be prepared to turn in their completed 9th-grade course selection sheet, provide evidence that they have entered their courses in MiStar, and come with questions.
High School counselor assignments are broken down by the first letter of a student's last name.
- Mr. Brian Fitzgerald: A-C
- Mr. Jim Fogle: D-G
- Ms. Laura Hollyer-Madis: H-K
- Ms. Shayna Klein: L-O
- Ms. Melanie Brooks: P-Si
- Mr. Tony Midea: Sj-Z
Appointments will be available from 8:00 a.m. - 10:30 a.m. and from 11:45 a.m. - 2:45 p.m. Sign-up for counselor meetings will be done electronically. Look for the article for instructions on how to sign up. Students who do not have an appointment set up ahead of time will be assigned to a meeting with any available HS counselor on March 14, even if a parent/guardian is unable to attend. Students who are certain they will not attend BHHS do not need to sign up for an appointment.
Friday, May 26: 8th Grade Move-Up Day at BHHS
All 8th-grade students will spend this 1/2 day of school at Bloomfield Hills High School.
Please refer questions to the West Hills 8th grade counselor Ms. Christina Schlenker at cschl...@bloomfield.org
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INDIVIDUAL STUDENT/FAMILY/COUNSELOR MEETINGS: Tuesday, March 14
On Tuesday, March 14, students and parents will meet with their high school counselors to review their course selections in individual 10-minute appointments. Meetings will take place in the WHMS media center between 8:00 a.m. and 2:45 p.m. On March 1, students received a 9th-grade course selection sheet, a link to the online course description book, and instructions on how to enter their course requests into MiStar. Those courses should be entered by your student into MiStar BEFORE the face-to-face counselor appointment
Similar to conferences, we will be using PTCfast for families to sign up for these meetings. The detailed sign-up instructions are linked HERE or you can click on https://ptcfast.com/schools/West_Hills_Middle_School and you will be taken to a screen to select the counselor alphabet group you wish to register.
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On Wednesday, March 1 at 7:00 p.m., we hosted a pre-trip meeting for our 8th-grade students and their parent/guardian in the WHMS cafeteria. The March 15-18th trip is just under two weeks away! At the meeting we reviewed the itinerary and discussed what is needed to prepare for the trip. FORMS ARE DUE FRIDAY, MARCH 10. You can access the slideshow by clicking HERE. Questions? Email Andy Gignac at agi...@bloomfield.org.
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Friday, March 3, marked the halfway point of the third quarter. During the week of March 6, teachers will complete progress reports for sixth-, seventh-, and eighth-grade students. Once the reports are complete (usually around mid-week), you will be able to review the progress report in MiStar. As a reminder, progress reports and report cards are paperless and can be accessed online in your Parent Portal. To login, visit https://www.bloomfield.org/my-bloomfield and enter your username and password. Progress Report 3 can be found under the "Marks" category.
If you don't remember your login information, use the "forgot username and password" link, enter your email address on file, and the system will email it to you. If the email is incorrect or you are still unable to access the portal, please contact Mrs. Jones in the WHMS office for assistance. Instructions for how to view and/or print your student's progress report (which is the same as viewing a report card) after you have logged in to your Parent Portal are available HERE.
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Friendly reminder that our next choir concert (Bloomfield Sings) is on Tuesday, March 7, at Bloomfield Hills High School. The concert will start at 7:00 p.m. This is a combined choir event for BHMS, WHMS, and EHMS 8th-grade choir students across the Bloomfield Hills School district to come together and sing. The BHHS Jills and Chorale will be joining us for this event, under the direction of BHHS vocal music director (Jessica Riley).
IN-SCHOOL REHEARSAL/FIELD TRIP AT BHHS - Tuesday, March 7th 9:45 a.m. - 1:45 p.m.
On Tuesday, March 7th, the 8th grade students will be going to Bloomfield Hills High School for a rehearsal day. Students will leave class around 9:45 a.m. to take a district bus to the high school for rehearsal on the BHHS stage. Students will pack a lunch to eat at the high school. Students will return to WHMS after rehearsal concludes at 1:45 p.m. A field trip form is not required due to this being an in-district field trip.
EVENING PERFORMANCE AT BHHS - Tuesday, March 7th at 7:00 p.m.
Student report time at BHHS for Tuesday, March 7th is 6:15 pm to the BHHS auditorium stage. Students will wear all-black dress clothing for the performance. The Jills and Chorale will be in their tuxedos and formal concert gowns, so we want to also present in our best concert black attire. Concert black is black dress pants, black polo, black skirt, black tights, black dress, black dress shoes, black socks, etc. Please wear your hair “up” and out of your face.
Due to the amount of planning and preparation for this concert, it is extremely important that your child attends this performance. We have coordinated the 8th-grade choirs at East Hills MS, Bloomfield Hills MS, West Hills MS, and Bloomfield Hills High School Jills & Chorale choirs for this concert. Many students and directors are working hard to produce this concert, and we are certain that the students will feel successful with their participation in this event.
If you have any questions, please feel free to email Mrs. Pierre at epi...@bloomfield.org. Looking forward to seeing you at this fun concert.
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Friday, March 24 is a half day of school with dismissal at 11:40 a.m.
There is no school from Monday, March 27 through Friday, March 31. School resumes on Monday, April 3.
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Club Quotes and Pictures:
If you participate in a club. Please take a moment to fill out this google form. Your quote and/or picture may be included in the yearbook! Clubs Page in Yearbook
Pets of WHMS:
Click HERE to contribute a picture of your family's pet to be added to the Pets of WHMS yearbook page!
Attention 8th-Grade Families - Younger You Photos Needed:
The yearbook is including photos of our students at a younger age. Please send a photo of your 8th grader prior to age five if possible; baby photos are great too! Please send to agi...@bloomfield.org to be included in the yearbook. We have 94 of 99 submitted as of 3/3/23. Click HERE to check to see if you have submitted yours.
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Order your 2023 yearbook by clicking HERE or call 1-877-767-5217. See the yearbook flyer by clicking HERE.
Lists were updated on Thursday, 3/2/23, on the media center wall with the names of students who have purchased a copy. We currently have 297 students of 482 students have ordered a yearbook.
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Knowledgeable Bloomfield Hills High School students are offering free group tutoring sessions to middle school students once a week after school. The club is open to all students from 4th to 8th grade, and they are expected to bring class material with them in order to receive help from the high school tutors. Sessions will be held weekly in the West Hills Middle School media center from 3:30 to 4:15 every Tuesday starting January 17th. Middle school staff will be present to support this effort.
Our goal is to provide middle school students with individualized assistance for their schoolwork. We will guide the students through their work using our knowledge and experience in order to help them become more capable and independent students. Our main focus is not just completing assignments or preparing for tests, but also allowing the students to grow as learners. The club offers a non-intimidating group environment in which middle school students can learn while still being surrounded by their friends. Specifically, our main subject areas include math, science, social studies, English, and Spanish.
If you are at all interested in your child joining the West Hills Tutoring Club, please let us know by filling out the following form. Click This
If you have any questions, please feel free to contact us.
Ben Saperstein — 248-918-8903 — saperstein...@bloomfield.org
Arun Nagappan — 248-977-8096 — nagappa...@bloomfield.org
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IB Learner Profile of the Month of March: Open-Mindedness
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As an IB student, I recognize that all people are different.
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I listen to the points of view of others and consider many possibilities before making a decision.
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I respect, appreciate and celebrate the differences that make all people unique.
How can caregivers help to develop this Open-Minded trait at home?
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Encourage your student to try new things-new foods, new games and new activities.
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Expose your student to different festivals, celebrations and traditions and be sure to present them in a non-judgmental way.
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Encourage your student to really listen to others when they speak.
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Introduce literature about many different cultures into your home library.
We appreciate your efforts at home to help support the Learner Profile Traits!
March SEL Focus - Diversity & Inclusion
Throughout the month of March we focus on Social Awareness: The abilities to understand the perspectives of and empathize with others, including those from diverse backgrounds, cultures, and contexts. This includes the capacities to feel compassion for others, understand broader historical and social norms for behavior in different settings, and recognize family, school, and community resources and supports.
Kristen Vigier
IB Teacher Leader and k-12 Social Studies Teacher Leader
kvi...@bloomfield.org
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This is a reminder for students who plan to attend home athletic games and other school events after school must go home and come back to school for the event. This message excludes students participating in the actual game or event who are under the supervision of their coach or other adults associated with the event.
7th grade volleyball generally starts at 4:30 p.m., and 8th grade volleyball starts at approximately 5:30 p.m. As we head into the Spring sports season (yes, spring is coming), we still ask that students attending home athletic events first go home before returning to school.
Additionally, if your child participates in a club or sport, students must be picked up immediately after the meeting or practice has ended. Students will not be allowed to wait at the front/back of the school, to go down to the gym to wait for a sibling, or to watch a sporting event without supervision. For their own safety and your peace of mind, we want our students to be under supervision at all times.
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Saadia Faruqi is a Pakistani American author, essayist, and interfaith activist. She writes the children’s early reader series “Yasmin” and other books for children, including middle-grade novels “A Place At The Table” co-written with Laura Shovan (a Sydney Taylor Notable 2021), and “A Thousand Questions” (a South Asia Book Award Honor 2021). Her new book “Yusuf Azeem Is Not A Hero” details the experiences of the Muslim American community twenty years after 9/11. Saadia is editor-in-chief of Blue Minaret, a magazine for Muslim art, poetry, and prose. Saadia will be visiting West Hills on March 14th and 15th.
Please visit our WHMS Author Page for details
If your family is interested in the Author Night Event on March 14th please register here:
WHMS Author Night Registration
The first 50 registered will receive a free book from the author.
Laura Amatulli, MLIS
Middle School Teacher-Librarian
Bloomfield Hills Schools
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Please be advised that effective immediately, ALL volunteers, including parents assisting with events and/or attending field trips, need to have a background check completed prior to volunteering. Click HERE for the Bloomfield Hills Schools Volunteer Background Check form. Forms need to be completed and submitted at least one week prior to volunteering. Please email completed forms to our Human Resources department, attn. Debbie Steaban at dste...@bloomfield.org.
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Does your family have a 5th or 6th grader who loves to read? Or are you seeking ways to encourage your student to engage more with books, and discover a love of reading? For the first time ever, Bloomfield Hills Schools students are offered the unique opportunity to take part in a reading competition hosted by our school libraries in collaboration with our local libraries, involving book trivia around six books. Student teams participate in virtual and in-person activities from February through March, and participate in a preliminary Kahoot Battle the week of March 13. The top nine teams will be asked to the final in-person battle on Tuesday, March 21, at 6:30 p.m. at the Bloomfield Township Public Library. Emphasis is placed on the fun of participation and reading. Registration for teams to sign up ends on Sunday, February 12, so if you’re interested in joining the literary fun, sign up now! Learn more about the program and register on the Bloomfield Township Public Library website.
This optional reading program provides students with a series of challenges and events such as creating fun team names, posing for a photo in team costumes, creating a Flipgrid to talk about the team’s favorite books, and participating in Google MeetUps to practice answering questions, in preparation for the Book Battle. Students can create teams from other Bloomfield Hills schools, with teams of three to eight people. Each team needs an adult mentor, which can include high school age students. The final Battle of the Books at the Bloomfield Township Library involves two 25-question sessions, in which the answers to the questions are always the title of one of the six books.
The Battle Books include:
- A Place at the Table, by Saadia Faruqi and Laura Shovan
- Fins, by Randy Wayne White
- Glitch, by Laura Martin
- Quintessence, by Jess Redman
- The Swag is in the Socks, by Kelly Baptist
- The Total Eclipse of Nestor Lopez, by Adrianna Cuevas
After a visit to their 6th grade Language Arts classroom by Media Center Specialist Laura Amatulli, students shared why they’re excited about the Battle of the Books!
- Diya Chandran: “I’m excited because I love reading, and I finally get to do a fun activity, have something to look forward to, and shine my light.”
- Amelia Ainsworth: “I’m excited because you get to use a lot of teamwork, and I’m new here so I can make a lot more friends. We might even team up with different schools, because we’re combining schools next year!”
- William Porter: “I’m excited because I want to participate in a reading challenge. I have a decent collection of books, and like to read!”
- Nayla Gorelkin: “I want to do the Battle of the Books because I think I can relate a lot to some of the books. I’m excited to read these because I like how Mrs. Amatulli described them.”
Good luck to all of the students who choose to participate in this fun, new event!
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Ready, set, label!
Support West Hills PTO and stay organized with labels from Label Daddy. Sports equipment, winter wear, school supplies, clothing ... these labels will keep you from having to visit the lost and found! Visit www.labeldaddy.com and choose West Hills in the school menu listing. Contact karend...@gmail.com with questions.
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If you qualify for free or reduced lunch, your pay to participate fee may be waived. We do not want any student to miss the opportunity to participate in athletics or clubs due to financial hardship. Please contact Mr. Gignac, West Hills Principal, at agig...@bloomfield.org
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Join us this maple sugaring season for a tour of our Sugarbush! Discover how to identify and tap the perfect sugar maple tree and enjoy the sights, smells, and tastes of the sweet syrup-making process in our Sugar Shack and Log Cabin.
Events are held on March 4th, March 11th, and March 18th
March 11th will feature a "Friendsraiser" event with Chriscakes Pancake breakfast with real maple syrup from the sugarbush.
Self-guided tours begin every half hour from 9:30 am - 2:30 pm, with numerous activities available at your own pace. Explore the log cabin, experience tree tapping, work on your tree identification skills, and much more with our staff and volunteers there to assist. Meet in front of the Visitor Center Building at your scheduled time slot to enter. The price per person is $12 for the day.
Learn more and register on the Johnson Nature Center website.
Adopt-a-Tree
Our sugar bush is ageing. In order to continue popular community programs like maple sugaring, we need to address the ecological needs of the bush, including planting a succession on new maples.
Adopt a Tree today
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Public Hearing
Please take notice that on March 23, 2023, at 6 p.m., Bloomfield Hills Schools will hold a public hearing to consider the draft recreation master plan. The public hearing will be held during the Board of Education meeting and may be attended in-person at 7273 Wing Lake Road, Bloomfield Hills, MI 48301.
30 Day Review Period
Please take notice that there will be a 30 day review period on the draft recreation master plan from February 20, 2023, until March 23, 2023, at 6:00 pm. A copy of the draft recreation master plan and an opportunity to provide feedback is available online from February 20, 2023, until March 23, 2023, at 6:00 pm at www.bloomfield.org/draftrecreationplan.
If you would like to view the draft recreation master plan in person and provide written feedback, you may visit Enrollment Services at 7273 Wing Lake Road, Bloomfield Hills, MI 48301 from February 20, 2023, until March 23, 2023, Monday-Friday, between 8:30 am - 4 pm.
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We are happy to be restarting this program, including a 5th/6th grade team and a 7th/8th grade team!
Practices and Home games will be hosted at Fox Hills (1661 Hunters Ridge Dr, Bloomfield Hills, MI 48304). Practices will be Monday/Wednesday/Friday from 5:30-7:00 pm, starting the week after spring break on Monday, April 3rd.
Coaches are Zoya Banash and Natalie Lindstrom, current Oakland University lacrosse athletes. There will be a parent/player information meeting in the next few weeks to discuss the season and meet the coaches, done in correspondence with the high school team so the middle school girls can meet some of the players and coaches at that level.
Sign-Up Online
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Is your child interested in building LEGO robots? Or loves taking things apart to see how they work? Are they curious about programming? Do you want to be part of an exciting program that brings people together and helps build STEM communities?
Join Bloomfield FIRST Robotics!
FIRST LEGO League introduces science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM) to children ages 7-14 through fun, exciting hands-on learning. Participants gain real-world problem-solving experiences through a guided, global robotics program, helping today’s students and teachers build a better future together.
Do you want more information about the program? Sign up to receive the latest updates, including registration information. Join the Bloomfield Robotics Email List
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All current and future BHHS football players will train together with their high school coaches for off-season conditioning. All players in the program (9th-11th grade) are expected to be there everyday. Future Black Hawk 8th graders and 7th graders (with coach approval) are encouraged to come.
Contact BHHS Coach Dan Loria with questions at dlo...@bloomfield.org.
Wear workout clothes and gym shoes. Bring a water bottle.
Boosters will provide a light breakfast Friday and T-shirts will be given to those in attendance.
When: Every morning March 6-10 6:15 a.m.-7:00 a.m.
Where: BHHS Gym
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No School for Kindergarten on May 12, 2023
On Friday, May 12, the Bloomfield Hills Schools elementary schools will host an orientation for the incoming kindergarten students and their parents & guardians (Class of 2036). We are excited to showcase our kindergarten experience and in order to host incoming kindergarten students, our current kindergarten students will not attend school on this day.
Standardized Test Schedule April 11-13, 2023
April 11, 2023
- Kindergarten through Grade 8 regular school day
- Grades 9, 10, 12 - late start at 12:15 p.m.
- Grade 11 - M-STEP testing in the morning, classes in the afternoon
April 12, 2023
- Kindergarten through Grade 7 - no school
- Grade 8 - PSAT testing arrival 8:20 a.m. - dismissal 1:25
- Grade 9 PSAT testing arrival at 7:45 a.m; dismissal 11:30
- Grade 11 SAT testing arrival at 11:30 a.m.; dismissal 1:30 p.m.
- Grades 10 and 12 - no school
April 13, 2023
- Kindergarten through Grade 8 regular school day
- Grades 9 and 12 - late start at 12:15 p.m.
- Grade 10 PSAT testing in the morning, classes in the afternoon
- Grade 11 ACT Work Keys in the morning, classes in the afternoon
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National Honor Society students from BHHS are hosting a bottle drive on March 1-4. Returnables can be dropped off at the BHHS Main Entrance. All donations will be donated to the Greening of Detroit!
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March 9, 2023 9:30 AM - 10:30 AM |
March 16, 2023 9:30 AM - 10:30 AM |
What's Happening at Other Schools
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