Motion Detector Activity
Students in Jane Bowdler’s AP Calculus classes are collecting and analyzing real-world motion data. The students connect CBR 2 motion sensors to TI-Nspire graphing calculators and then walk back and forth toward a wall to match graphs of position and velocity. The students must analyze the graphs displayed on their calculators and adjust their position, direction, and speed of their walk as they attempt to get the perfect match.
Rochester Area Colleges visit BHS
Several local colleges were in the HS atrium from 11:30-12:15 on Tues. 9/21 to meet with juniors and seniors. Students were able to ask questions and gather information from each of the colleges represented.
BHS Counseling Making Strides to go Paperless
During Open House, Brockport High School Counselors were on hand in the Library to help parents get logged onto Naviance: Family Connection. Naviance is a college and career tool, which allows for on-going communication with our student body and their parents through e-mail communication. Our goal is twofold: to maintain easily accessible resource information to help our students make important career and college decisions, and; to communicate more frequently with students and parents by sending timely information and quick reminders.
Naviance has: Career Tools: ”Do What You Are” personality assessment and the Career Interest Profiler College Tools: search, research and match colleges updated information Updated Information: scholarships, college/military visitation schedules Links: SAT/ACT, NCAA, FAFSA, Common Application, SUNY Application, Military
Get logged on today; it’s fast and easy. Go to the Quick links on the District’s website and click on Naviance, followed by “I need to register”. Use the activation code we sent in August as a part of the advisement notification letter. If you have lost your activation code or need assistance, please contact our Career Center Specialist, Mrs. Wegman, for additional assistance- Kathleen.Wegman@bcs1.org.
Special Education
The 2011-2012 school year will see the addition of a wonderful program in our Special Education Department. In order to better help our incoming freshmen, we have created what is currently referred to as the Freshman Program. This consists of a mentor teacher working closely with a group of students in both their English and Math classes, while supporting them during the Advisement period as well as the Resource Room period. During this time, they are working on academic strategies. The ideal aspect of this program is the amount of time the students are seen by one teacher who understands the content and level of support required for student success.
We are also diligently working to develop a support program for students who are not showing success in one or more of their classes. Sometimes the pace of the class, the amount of content needed to be learned in a small amount of time and/or the absence of required background knowledge pose complications for every learner. Because our Special Education teachers are trained strategists, we want to provide every opportunity for our students to develop the skills necessary for successful completion of their individualized program goals and objectives, as well as New York State graduation requirements leading to a high school diploma. Stay tuned for further details as we continue to develop this wonderful program.
Our Transition Department continues to grow. We have a number of students in Work Study programs that teach basic employment skills along with food service, clerical, cleaning, landscaping or assembly work experience. We offer guidance in application processes for agency support services along with service coordination. Students participate in college and work exploration activities, use Special Education resources for employment planning and meet with representatives from community agencies.
This school year will be a very busy, but exciting one for the Special Education Department of BHS!
Staying Current in English Class
We are using news articles in order to enhance comprehension of an informational narrative, to learn vocabulary as we encounter it in actual use, and to get a deeper understanding of our world’s events and developments. Student interest has been inspiring. One young man told me that “he doesn’t usually read the paper, but he likes finding out what’s going on.” Also, these are almost entirely self directed studies in which students choose vocabulary to focus on, annotate the articles, and then share their findings with the class while documenting it using cutting edge smartboard technology. They are doing a terrific job!
A Long Walk To Water
As part of our district initiative to expand global awareness, students in the High School, as well as the Hill and Oliver Schools, will be reading Linda Sue Park’s book A Long Walk to Water, a poignant, true story of one of the lost boys of Sudan who ultimately settles in Rochester. In addition, this Newberry Award winning author will be presenting at our schools on October 19, the event is sponsored by the BCSD PTSA. Ms. Park will also be presenting at the Seymour Library that evening, students and families are invited to attend.
The Greater Brockport Community is working to support our global neighbors.
Our goal is to raise enough funds to sponsor a well in Southern Sudan through
Salva Dut’s organization, Water for Sudan. The hope is that the program will help raise concern for villages in Africa that lack the basic necessities that many take for granted- clean water and educational opportunities for young children. We hope that through fundraising efforts, Brockport’s name will be engraved on a well in Sudan so students, especially girls, can spend their time in school, rather than walking 12 miles a day gathering water for their families.
Currently, the high school is selling t-shirts and books to raise funds for Water for Sudan. The t-shirts have been designed by Mrs. Warth’s Drawing and Painting II class. They are for sale through the PTSA at a cost of $10. Copies of A Long Walk to Water are also available for sale both in hard cover ($16) and paperback ($6) and can be signed by the author. For more details call Mrs. Jaccarino in the HS Library, 637-7449 ext. 7845. There will be additional fundraising throughout the year.
Brockport wish…one more well!
Hello Parents of BHS students!
Dear Parents,
Welcome to our first posting of our BHS parent newsletter. We have had a great start to our new school year and would like to thank all of you for your support with the success of our opening. Parental involvement is important to us at Brockport High School. I encourage you to stay involved and to check our website to access various links that will keep you informed. We hope you also enjoy this monthly newsletter as we will be sharing all of the exciting happenings of Brockport High School.
Our family-school connections and on-going communication will help to support all students to stay involved and reach their learning goals. If you have any additional questions, feel free to contact us. I am looking forward to an exciting and fulfilling 2011-2012 school year.
With sincere appreciation,
Dana Boshnack, HS Principal
