Dear BHHS Families,

First and foremost, as we are reaching out to you with updates as we finish our third week of social isolation and sheltering in place, we hope that you, your family and student(s) are safe. If you have any needs that we can assist with, please reach out to any one of us or other BHHS staff.  

Today we wanted to share some important updates regarding school for your student and what school will look like moving forward after spring break.

Since the school closed on March 12, our staff has been working diligently to transition their classrooms to online platforms, preparing for Continuous Learning 2.0 (Mr. Watson sent an email last Friday and presented it to the board Thursday 4/2). We will begin the Continuous Learning 2.0 plan* on April 13 where your student will experience:

• Moving forward in the curriculum bi-weekly through engaging in five learning engagements per high school course that will be a combination of direct instruction, independent practice, and support. This schedule will mimic the current alternating block schedule.
• Office hours with teachers to provide feedback and support at least twice a week.
• More accountability for students and feedback from teachers on completed learning engagements.
• More frequent check-ins with students from teachers and support staff utilizing video-conferencing and other platforms.
• Continued resources to support social and emotional learning.

*Please see the bottom of this letter for more details on how to access this new curriculum plan.

We wanted to thank all our BHHS families for their support, considerate encouragement and patience throughout the last three weeks. It is hard to put into words the work it takes as well as the sheer magnitude of moving more than 200 courses to an entirely new platform in a few weeks. This has been difficult for you and your student, and we cannot thank you enough for helping us in this transition. We will continue doing everything we can to collaborate, identify new tools and resources to assist your student and innovate as quickly as we can to meet your student’s learning and social and emotional needs.

We also wanted to thank your families for all the work they are doing to support their student(s). Like you, many of us now have children at home and have found ourselves, in addition to trying to work from home in novel and often frustrating ways, having to support the at-home learning and be the go-to resource at times for our students. We know that you are balancing taking care of the health needs of your family, the worry of navigating this pandemic and the uncertainty of what tomorrow may bring. We pledge to continue doing all that we can to assist you in supporting your student and doing all that we can to minimize the impact of this shift to the new learning plan.

While we also really miss your kids, we know that you have many new burdens on your plate. Please make taking care of those needs and your family the top priority. We are providing the learning experiences to continue moving your student forward, to stay connected with your student and to help create as much stability and a semblance of normalcy as we can. And if your student just can’t do the work today, that is ok. Have them connect with their teacher during office hours or send an email to their counselor for help. 

When a student or family accesses the district website under High School, they will be able to select the department that their student’s course falls under. A student or family will see a document that looks like the example below. 

Once a student or family has accessed the department document they will be able to choose their particular course and a document like the one below will come up that will contain the learning engagements for that course.

We know you have other questions regarding events and policies associated with the end of this school year. To help families, we are in the process of finalizing a Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) document to help answer many of these questions you have. We will update this document on a frequent basis. We care deeply about our seniors and their final experiences. Our open letter to the Class of 2020 sent on April 2 outlines our commitment to try and reschedule as many of the year-end events as we can.  

Finally, a reminder to everyone in our school community that the moments of grace we extend to one another during trying times can make a tremendous difference to someone who is struggling. In today's world, kindness matters more. Forgiveness matters more. Community matters more. Let's take good care of ours, together. 
 
Please have a great spring break!
 
Charlie Hollerith, Principal
Jessica Lupone, Associate Principal
David Reed-Nordwall, Associate Principal
Cathy McDonald, Associate Principal

• View the BHHS Continuous Learning Plan 2.0

• Executive Order: Provision of K-12 Education During Remainder of the 2019-2020 School Year
• Executive Order 2020-21 (COVID-19)
• School Food Service Considered Critical Infrastructure
• Supplemental Fact Sheet
• Q&A Providing Services to Students with Disabilities

Dear BHHS Families,

We hope you are staying healthy and safe. This is a time of great uncertainty for all of us and the impact on families cannot be understated. Understandably, we know you have questions and wonderings about different aspects of school life, and we are working to keep you updated regularly as a BHHS administrative team. 

Accordingly, we wanted to connect with you on a few important pieces of information. By now your student should have heard from each of their teachers through their Bloomfield email or through the communication tool of each teacher’s learning platform. Students and families are encouraged to regularly view these updates and email teachers directly if they have questions or need additional support. Students may also use this time as an opportunity to complete any missing work prior to school closure. The Michigan Department of Education has provided guidance to teachers to allow them to support students with re-teaching, as needed, of content that was taught prior to the school closure. Due to MDE regulations, new instruction and teaching cannot happen during the school closure period. 

In addition, you should have received an email from the Counseling department indicating times they are available to meet with students (using a variety of formats) and their office hours over this period of time. Our special education staff is also reaching out to students and families, including conducting virtual IEP meetings that were scheduled prior to school being closed. 

Teachers will continue to provide a variety of resources to help students stay active and engaged in their learning. We will continue to expand resources and opportunities for learning including posting additional resources on our website. Feel free to email us with any resources you might come across as well so we can review it and potentially add it to the list.  

Today it was announced that state assessments required by the federal government have been waived for this school year. This includes the SAT and M-Step testing in April. Next week, we will be discussing with district administrators potential changes to our marking periods, additional opportunities for grade improvements for students during this time period, and also the rescheduling of student events. 

Here is information from the College Board regarding AP Testing and from the International Baccalaureate Organization regarding IB assessments. Please know that these organizations are continuously updating their websites. Please check them frequently. 

During this period of time, our hope is that we can continue to strengthen our school community through support and grace for one another. Our teachers, like you, are taking care of their families at home while continuing to provide opportunities for our students. Our students have already begun to reach out and help one another as well as building new opportunities for school spirit. It also cannot be overstated the potential impact on our senior class as they conclude their high school experience. We will do whatever we can to mitigate the impact of this disruption and look at other ways to celebrate their legacy. They deserve it!

We thank you for your continued support and please stay healthy and safe!

-Charlie Hollerith, Principal
-Jessica Lupone, Associate Principal
-David Reed-Nordwall, Associate Principal
-Cathy McDonald, Associate Principal

Dear BHHS Students/Parents/Guardians,

Your Bloomfield Hills High School Counselors are all thinking of you each day and that our families are doing well and are safe.  We know that this is a difficult time and that you have a lot of concerns on your mind right now.  We realize the current situation brings challenges to many in the BHHS family, particularly members of the Class of 2020.  Knowing the abundant spirit and commitment of our community, we are confident we will resolve any challenge we face.  

To assist you, your high school counselor is available by phone or email throughout this time away from school.  Email your counselor to make an appointment; we are still here to support you even though we are also at home!

Please review this presentation regarding some helpful tips, ideas, and strategies for our Bloomfield Hills High School Black Hawks.

Counseling Information Presentation

We thank you for your resilience and your ability to make the most of this difficult situation. We will get through this together as a community.  

We are Bloomfield Strong!

-Bloomfield Hills High School Counselors

Dear Bloomfield Hills High School Families,

I hope this message finds everyone healthy and safe.  The next few weeks will certainly be a journey as we practice social distance and step away from routines and structured activities while trying to maintain the social fabric of our community. For teenagers, the lack of physical proximity to friends is most difficult.  Please remind them that this time of limited contact is short-term and a chance for them to contribute to the greater good. Acknowledge that the students have experienced loss and to allow them to express their grief at the loss of their normal high school experience.

>I wanted to reach out with a quick note to reassure families that our BHHS staff is here to support you during the next four weeks. We realize with the cancellation of school, after school sports and activities, religious gatherings, and family celebrations, we’ll all begin to feel somewhat adrift...and likely overwhelmed with cabin-fever. Support is on the way! Our staff is working on providing students with some structure through the provision of suggested learning activities along with opportunities to connect with teachers online. Some families may want to pursue these opportunities, others may prefer to go a different route depending on your family’s situation and needs. It will be completely up to you. The priority is the health and safety of our families.

Expectations for Students

• Use existing learning platform for each class to access teacher resources

• You can finish assignments (prior to no school) if you feel you have the resources and knowledge. You will not be penalized if you do not. 

• No grades or assessments to be given during this period of time

• Teachers will be sending you weekly communications including resources and activities you might engage in.

• Please email your teachers if you have questions regarding resources or subject-specific materials. 

• You are encouraged (optional) to keep a log or journal of your at-home learning experiences.

Whether or not you pursue the suggested learning opportunities, we do encourage you to try and get your kids into a daily routine. Structure and predictability will help keep them calm and give them a sense of control in a world that has very abruptly changed for them. Play and fun are essential in that routine for the health of all. Get outside as much as possible, especially if stress and tension seem to be building within or between your children. Remind them that by staying home and limiting social contact, your family is helping others. 

I understand that there are a lot of questions regarding AP and IB testing, SAT testing, graduation, prom, and other important events.  We are keeping in contact with the College Board and the International Baccalaureate organizations on testing and changes to deadlines. I will keep you updated as soon as we receive information. I also realize the potential loss of senior activities and we are willing to make this a priority to honor once we return to school.

Staff miss the students and grieving the lost chance to say goodbye last week. They are eager to connect and check in. We hope students will take advantage of the opportunities to connect with them. Please expect the learning experiences to be posted on the teacher’s current learning platform by the end of the day on Wednesday, March 18. Information will be available soon about technology that will be available to families that need a Chromebook. 

Things may continue to evolve in the coming weeks as we adjust and readjust to our new normal. Our commitment to our students and families will remain firm throughout these tenuous times.  Bloomfield Hills High School is more than a building or a classroom, it’s a community. We are stronger together and encourage students to stay connected to their friends and teachers.

Sincerely,

Charlie Hollerith

Principal

Dear BHHS Class of 2020:

There are so many wonderful events that encompass senior year and so many things that we were looking forward to sharing with you. We had an entire spring ahead of us. We had classes, sports, plays, awards, paper drop, and celebrations that were planned. Closure, recognition, and proper “last goodbyes” are what was supposed to happen. They were what you have been working toward your entire schooling and what we had been working with you on for the last four years.

Suddenly, and without warning, it has been taken from you. The end of your Senior year, and all the wonderful celebrations, now in limbo. It is hard to even find words to express what this may feel like for the adults in your life, and we won’t pretend to articulate what this must feel like for you. And now without a proper ending to your senior year?  You have every right to experience feelings of anger, frustration, and grief. This was not how it was supposed to end.

We are writing this letter to share our grief, our frustration, as well as our pride in you. We are working to address these feelings with you and to share the commitment we are making to you. First and foremost, you will graduate!  We will not allow this pandemic to stand in the way of receiving the diploma that you worked so hard to earn. We are also working on plans to address other missed opportunities: prom, honors celebrations, the all-night party, and other events. We won’t lie and say we can fix it all, but we will try! There are things you have worked for that most likely will not happen in the format that was planned. However, we are making a commitment to fight as hard as we can to recognize you and your final semester of school. We will need your help; we will all need to be creative, but we can find meaningful ways to provide recognition and closure. There are many events and milestones that may look different, feel different, or occur in a different way or time, but rest assured, we will still celebrate.

Furthermore, your teachers, counselors and support staff share in our sentiments and miss you greatly! They are working right now transitioning their classrooms from the physical BHHS building to online. They are doing this so that they can meet with you and continue delivering learning experiences when we return from Spring Break. They are working to address content, tests, and grades. They are designing solutions to a problem none of us imagined we would be facing in order to help push you forward in your next steps. Over the next few weeks, keep in contact with your school community, including your teachers. Remember that they're working hard to provide you with quality instruction and curriculum...something they've always done.

We are very proud of the Class of 2020. You have given so much to the school, your community, your peers, and your teachers. Now you have given up the treasured activities and celebrations of your senior year in order to ensure the safety of the people you cherish. Not only is that remarkable, but that is so YOU.  That is the kind of thing you have always done, and that is one of the defining reasons we are so proud to be your administrators.  

It is ok to be sad. It makes sense to be frustrated. In that spirit, it is perhaps expected for you to need to change your mindset from what it once was just a few weeks ago. Things are different--so think differently. Use this unique time to enjoy life. Get outside, read, get online to play and connect, watch TV and movies, make podcasts, learn a new skill, take up a new hobby. There's no time like the present. Most importantly, try to document your time and thoughts. We are living through history, and you will become a primary source!

We have full confidence in your skills to be creative and innovative. As one of the BHHS Cornerstones says, continue to innovate. There is no event, whether it be a worldwide pandemic or Bluepoint event that will tear you down. The class of 2020 will certainly be remembered for your commitment to the greater good and for your leadership as Black Hawks.

Please stay healthy and safe,

Mr. Hollerith
Mrs. Lupone
Ms. McDonald
Mr. Reed-Nordwall

BHHS Students,

We wanted to check in with all of you as we hope you and your family are staying healthy and safe. This is a time of great uncertainty for all of us, and the impact to all of you can not be overstated. During this time, we know you have questions or wonderings about different aspects of school life.  

Hopefully, you have been in communication with your teachers. As you know, teachers are using their existing learning platforms to post learning activities you can access during this time at home. Please make sure to check your bloomfield.org email regularly as well as the learning platform teachers are using. We want to make sure that you stay as up to date as possible. 

We realize the stress of trying to figure out what you should be doing to keep up with the learning experiences that your teachers are providing to you. We have included the Expectations for Students below. Just do the best that you can to complete the things that will help you continue to challenge you and stay focused. Please try to stay in regular contact with your teachers the best that you can. We encourage you to develop a routine, get outside as much as possible (maintaining a safe distance from others), and remember that by practicing social distancing you are helping others. 

Expectations for Students

• Please use the existing learning platform for each class to access teacher resources.
• You can finish assignments (prior to no school) if you feel you have the resources and knowledge. You will not be penalized if you do not. 
• No grades or assessments to be given during this period of time.
• Teachers will be sending you weekly communications including resources and activities you might access.
• Please email your teachers if you have questions regarding resources or subject-specific materials. 
• You are encouraged (optional) to keep a log or journal of your at-home experiences.

We will be using our website www.bloomfield.org/bhhs to post communications and resources for students and families. This will include additional learning resources you can access as well as a place for students to connect. The Hawkeye newspaper will be online as well sharing student communications and activities. We hope this will give you a chance to stay connected.

For seniors, we realize the potentially devastating impact on senior activities, and we will try to reschedule as many activities as possible or look at other ways to honor your accomplishments. You certainly deserve it! Here is information from the College Board regarding AP Testing and from the International Baccalaureate Organization regarding IB assessments. Please know that these organizations are continuously updating their websites. Please check them frequently. 

Please take care of yourself and do not hesitate to reach out anytime. We will keep you updated as things continue to evolve over the next few weeks.

Most sincerely,

-Mr. Hollerith
-Mrs. Lupone
-Mrs. McDonald
-Mr. Reed-Nordwall

Look for new @thehawkeyenews content coming soon on http://bhhstoday.org!

Student Leadership is asking families and students to participate in what we are calling “Virtual Spirit Week!”

During this time, we want you to post pictures of yourself doing the things on this flyer each day using #BHSVirtualSpiritWeek. That way, we can brighten up our social media feeds during this time!

Eventually, some of these pictures will be added to a collaborative video to be shared with all Bloomfield Hills families. We hope to “see” you during Spirit Week.

The logistics for yearbook distribution are currently being assessed. When distribution plans have been finalized, we will share those plans on the BHHS website and social media pages. Thank you for your patience!

• Web Resources
• Database Resources
• Learning Express Library
• EBSCO High School ebook Collection
• EBSCO Academic ebook Collection
• EBSCO Read It! (ELL)

• Khan Academy
• Discovery Education Virtual Field Trips
• Educational Opportunities from Home
• Virtual School Activities
• Scholastic Learning At Home
• 20 Sites for Students with Free Time on Their Hands
• Smithsonian Learning Lab
• Google Arts and Culture
• Smart Fun for Kids
• Learn at Home from Youtube
• Ivy League Free Online Courses
• Common Sense Media Resources for Families
• Home Office Ergonomics
• Coronavirus Map & School Closures

• Bloomfield Youth Assistance
• Stop, Breathe & Think
• Virus Anxiety
• Managing Stress and Anxiety
• Child Mind Institute-COVID-19 Support

• Code.org
• Carnegie Mellon Online Resource
  Registration Code VG51-VQ90 

• Kaplan (free month along with on-demand lessons)

• May 2020 IB Exam Cancellation

• How Fiveable Can Prepare AP Students
• Free AP Review Classes

We understand that during this time of virtual learning, students may find it hard to get help with homework and educational content when needed. Helping Hands:

A Students for Students Movement and Bloomfield Student Leadership have organized a free tutoring service for students to use if they need help with their homework or content. This Google Form asks students about what subject they need help with, their grade, and the requested date of tutoring, allowing us to properly assign your student with a tutor to help them.

If your student would like to sign up to be a tutor, they can sign up for a subject or multiple subjects with this SignUp Genius. During this time in our community, we understand that there may be some difficulties with learning, but we hope that this platform will serve as a means to help alleviate this struggle.