Dear Student and Parents,
Welcome to Burnt Hills-Ballston Lake High School and the 2024-2025 school year! You are about to embark on what we hope is an amazing experience for you. I am looking forward to seeing you all in a few weeks. There is some important information contained in this letter regarding the start of the school year. Feel free to reach out to me with your questions or concerns as well.
School will be open for all students on Thursday, September 5, 2024. Be sure to report to your Advisement Period / Homeroom at our new start time – 7:45 am. Regular bus transportation will be provided. If you are transporting your child to school, please use the Lakehill Road entrance and drop your child off in the rear of the building at the gymnasium entrance. We will be running one bus dismissal again this year. All buses will be at the High School at 2:16 pm daily, and will exit the campus by 2:23 pm before proceeding to the Middle School for pick-up. Additional information regarding this dismissal will be distributed electronically to students on the first day of classes. Parents, visitors, and student drivers are prohibited from using the Kingsley Road entrance between 7:00 am – 7:50 am and 2:00 pm – 2:40 pm to accommodate our arrival and dismissal needs. Information regarding parking passes for student drivers will be distributed prior to the start of the school year.
Communication between school and home is an important part of student success at the High School. We will continue to utilize eSchoolData as our student management system. Please reach out to me with any questions or concerns regarding this system. In addition, parents can expect communication via email from my office on a regular basis. Our Back-to-School Night is scheduled for Thursday evening, September 26, 2024 at 6:30 pm. Additional information will be sent via email as we approach this date. I am hopeful you are able to attend the program.
In our continued efforts to maximize student success and to integrate technology into our curriculum, each student in grades 9-12 will continue to use the chromebook assigned to them during the 2023-2024 school year. Additional information on the expectations, care, and appropriate use of this device will be reviewed with students and provided for parents. Information regarding the District’s Acceptable Use Policy can be found in our Code of Conduct and through the District website.
Security procedures for adult entry into our building will remain in place. All parents and visitors should continue to utilize the Main Entrance and be prepared to show a photo ID for entry. Visitation to the school will depend on the protocols outlined on the District website. It is recommended that parents call ahead to schedule meetings and to check on the current protocols for visitors. Your cooperation on this matter is greatly appreciated. Feel free to reach out to me with any questions or concerns.
Mailed home earlier this summer was information concerning your homeroom, Guidance Counselor, and locker. All students are required to use the locker and lock assigned to them. Please review this information closely. In some cases, your locker and your Advisement period / Homeroom assignments may have changed. Locks for hallway lockers are provided – no other locks are permitted on these lockers without specific administration approval. Locker questions can be directed to my secretary, Mrs. Scrivener (ascrivener@bhbl.org). Academic Assistance Period is scheduled from 2:21 pm to 3:08 pm each Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday afternoon. Activity bus transportation begins on Tuesday, September 17, 2024.
Our Student Code of Conduct is being updated and will be available both electronically and in the student agendas distributed at the start of the school year. It will include information on our updated cell phone policy for the 2024-2025 school year which was shared with students last year. This policy will be reviewed with students again this fall. Students will be asked to complete a Google form indicating and acknowledging that they have received this information. A listing of important dates is included with this mailing for your convenience. We have made an adjustment to our daily schedule for 2024-2025 – our school day now begins at 7:45 am. Students will receive an electronic version of the new schedule prior to the start of the school year. Additional information regarding the high school – programs, events, and our daily announcements – can be found on the District’s website (www.bhbl.org).
Additionally, the following information has been added to Section XII (pages 12-13) of the Student Handbook / Code of Conduct:
The use of cell phones in the classroom setting and during instructional time (including study halls) is not permitted. Cell phones will be collected and stored by teachers in each individual classroom. Failure to comply with these requests will be considered insubordinate conduct and students will report to an administrator for consequences.
Cell phones will remain in classroom storage areas for the entirety of the block. Students may not take their phones with them when leaving class for the bathroom or another temporary location such as the cafeteria, library, Counseling Center, the Nurse’s Office or the Wellness Center.
Cell phones should only be used in hallways between classes and the cafeteria during lunch periods only. In addition, cell phones will not be collected during Homeroom / Advisement period. Students are reminded that their phones should not be a distraction during this time.
The use of earbuds / headphones / smartwatches in a classroom setting is not permitted unless it is directly related to instruction (classroom video, for example). Otherwise, these items should not be seen or used. These items may be collected and stored by teachers in individual classrooms. Failure to comply with these requests will be considered insubordinate conduct. Students may also be asked to remove ear buds / headphones in the hallway. It is important that students are able to hear announcements, instructions, and/or directions.
Failure to follow the protocol described above will result in the confiscation of the device(s) by Building Administration. At the discretion of the Administration, confiscated devices may be held until a parent comes in to pick it up.
Any exceptions to the above procedures and protocol based on medical requirements or accommodations listed in IEPs or approved 504 Accommodation Plans (with the approval of Building Administration), will be communicated directly to teachers.
Feel free to call or email me with any questions or concerns you may have about the upcoming school year. The administration, faculty, and staff are excited about the start of the school year and look forward to working with you. Take care – see you soon!