Guidance 9-12
Course Selection for the 2023-24 School Year
Current Grades 8-11
Directions to Students:
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Review the 2023-24 BHS Course of Study Guide. There you will find important information about promotion and graduation requirements, special programs, course offerings, and course descriptions. The guide includes important information about promotion and graduation requirements, special programs, course offerings, and course descriptions. Elective Course Lists are also available to view below by grade level.
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Students who are currently in Grades 9, 10, and 11 will add their course request selections directly to the Student Portal of Infinite Campus.
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Students will be meeting with their guidance counselors to discuss and finalize their core academic, elective, and special program selections in March and April.
Contact Us
MELISSA SHEPARD
Coordinator of Guidance 6-12
508-580-7477
Fax: 508-580-7499
melissaashepard@bpsma.org
Green Guidance Office: 508-580-7415
Red Guidance Office: 508-580-7425
Azure Guidance Office: 508-580-7435
Yellow Guidance Office: 508-894-4405
The Guidance Department at Brockton High School offers a variety of resources and programs to ensure the success of each student during their high school career and beyond.
- Guidance Resources
- College/Career Preparation
- Guidance Newsletters
- Seal of Biliteracy Program
- Guidance Department Contact Info
- Guidance Curriculum
- Access Center
- Freshmen Transition Information
Guidance Resources
Student Portal Instructions
Guidance Forms
Transfer of Student Records Form
This form is used during the summer to transfer an active student to another high school or private school.
When filling out this form please include as much information as possible.
Transcript-Records Release Form
This form is used for the following:
1. To have a transcript sent to a college.
2. To request a transcript for any other purpose.
3. To request a full set of records for a graduate, an inactive student or an active student that is not leaving Brockton High School.
When filling out this form, be very specific. The more we know the faster we can locate your records.
Transfer Student Records Form - from Brockton High School to another school
Authorization for Release of Records - from another school to Brockton High School
College/Career Preparation
MEFA Pathway Registration Instructions
College and Career Education is of great importance for students, overall during high school as it allows students to make the best of their high school career and begin developing, as early as grade nine, plans for life after high school. For this purpose, Brockton High School uses MEFA Pathway, a free on-line college and career education platform provided by the Commonwealth of Massachusetts. MEFA Pathway is interactive in nature and offers students the opportunity to learn about themselves and to develop a personal Career and Academic Plan (MCAP). Indeed, counselors and teachers can use this tool all throughout high school to help you gain self-awareness, explore careers and find post-secondary educational options that match your interest and skills.
That is why we encourage you to complete the activities recommended for your grade level. They will help you identify personal, academic and career goals for yourself and help you identify electives you should be requesting for next year. In addition, you will earn 1.5 credits for completing each list of activities.
Let’s get started!
- Follow the link and watch an introductory video. It will help you understand the benefits of using MEFA Pathway.
- If you have already created your account, go directly to the list of activities for your grade level.
- If you have not completed the previous grade level, complete those activities first.
- If you have never used Mefapathway.org before, please do the following:
1. Register for MEFA Pathway and make sure to SAVE your log in information.
2. On your browser go to Mefapathway.org
- Click on “I am a Student”
- Click on “First time User”
- Enter the requested information (first name, last name, date of birth, city, school)
- Click “Submit”
- Complete the next registration information: first name, last name, date of birth, address, school, and expected year of graduation
- Click “Register”
3. Create your Username and password
REMEMBER: SAVE your LOG IN information in a word document. Name the document as MY CAP (My Career and Academic Plan).
- Tips for creating a username (use your first and last name as one word, no spaces)
- Enter your school email address.
- Tips for creating a password: use your first and last names initial letters followed by the # symbol and your school ID number.
- For example, student John Doe with ID # 121300 PASSWORD: JD#121300 IMPORTANT: Save your log in information. Passwords are case sensitive.
- Select the two Security questions (Please remember to record this information in the MEFA login document as well.)
Next just refer to the Activities by Grade Level suggested by the Brockton High School Guidance Department (linked below).
Guidance Newsletters
Seal of Biliteracy Program
Guidance Department Contact Info
BRIAN AHL
OFFICE HOURS:
Tuesdays 10 a.m. - 12 p.m.
Thursdays 11 a.m. - 1 p.m.
KATHLEEN ANDERSON
OFFICE HOURS:
Tuesdays 9 a.m. - 11 a.m.
Thursdays 12:30 p.m. - 2:30 p.m.
HEATHER ARRIGHI
OFFICE HOURS:
Tuesdays 9 a.m. - 11 a.m.
Thursdays 12 p.m. - 2 p.m.
Guidance Curriculum
Guidance Curriculum
The Guidance Department creates structured lessons and programs designed to assist students in achievement, and the knowledge and skills necessary for their development.
A variety of resources are used to plan and implement these programs. Listed below are the outlines for just a few of the lessons that are presented to the students throughout the 4 years of high school. Other topics may include but are not limited to: Preparing for the PSAT, Understanding the PSAT, Getting Back on Track through Project Diploma, Career Advisement and College Access Workshops, Anger Management, Social Skills Development, Health Awareness Topics and much, much more.
Freshmen Orientation:
• Guidance Offices- Counselor recognition activity
• Types of services offered through Guidance
• Support Services-Adjustment counselors, academic supports (Access Center, Peer Tutoring and mediation
• The Successful Student
• Attendance, How to do your best
• Graduation Requirement
• A typical 9th grade schedule
• Academic Levels
• Summer School
• GPA/Class rank
• Extra Curricular Opportunities-Clubs and Sports
• Community Service
• Life Line
• Student Advisement Plan
Sophomore Presentation:
• How to monitor academic progress?
• Homework
• Attendance/waivers
• Make-up work
• Extra help
• Graduation Requirements
• Summer School
• MCAS Requirements/Individual Student Success Plans/Appeals
• Preparing for college-Inside the classroom, outside the classroom
• Long range planning/Student advisement plan
• Grades/ levels
• Minimum Requirements for college
• College Entrance Exams
Junior Workshop CLICK HERE
SENIOR WORKSHOP
I. Introduction
• Student as a Consumer
• Relationship w/ Guidance Counselor
• Graduation Status
• Post Secondary Goals
II. Official Transcript
• Grades
• Test Scores
• GPA
• Rank
• Counselor Recommendation
MUST BE SENT BY GUIDANCE
III. Release of Records Request Form
• Signed by Student if 18 or over
• Signed by Parent if under 18
IV. What should I be doing now?
• Four Year College Requirements
• Choose 4-6 schools
• Register for SAT's / Send scores
• Register for ACT or SAT II's
• Bilingual Students - ELPT, TOEFL
• Get Applications and Begin Filling Out
• Essays/ Personal Statements/ Teacher
• Recommendations
• Interview
V. State College/University Requirements
• College Preparatory Course Requirements
• GPA requirements
• SAT Score Requirements
• Community College Alternative
VI. Other Options
• Technical Schools
• Armed Services
• Full Time Employment
VI. Financial Aid
• FAFSA
• Paper Application/ On-line Application
• Student Aid Report (SAR)
• Estimated Family Contribution (EFC)
• Types of Student Aid
• CSS Profile
• Financial Aid Nights
• Scholarship Binder
• Local Scholarship Book
VII. Activity Sheet
VIII. Questions/Answers
Access Center
"Desire, determination and discipline"
The Access Center/ Tech Center at Brockton High School is part of the BHS Guidance Department effort to implement the vision of the American School Counseling Association (ASCA) adopted by the Massachusetts School Counselors Association (MASCA). The vision of the Access Center is "to ensure that every student at BHS has the opportunity to access personalized peer-academic support and to receive customized information that can help them in the decision making process for their post-secondary plan". In order to fulfill this vision the Access Center provides both human and technical support.
Students-volunteers
Academic support is offered by upper class students (juniors and seniors), who have successfully passed MCAS and who excel in one or more academic areas. These students who are handpicked by their guidance counselors based on their academic and personal characteristics and are encouraged to volunteer part of their time peer-tutoring students in need of extra help. Peer-tutors receive credits for this service.
Volunteers are trained for about two weeks at the beginning of each term by the Access Center Coordinator. During this time they discuss strategies and psychological aspects aimed to enhance both their services as tutors and the academic skills of their assigned students. They also learn to maintain records of the work they do with each student. Peer-tutors have regular debriefing sessions monitored by the Access Center Coordinator where they assess their student's progress and exchange experiences and strategies which allow for the use and development of their critical thinking skills.
In addition, the Access Center peer-volunteers are trained in the use of career exploratory- career planning software. This allows them to help students develop career technical literacy and assist counselors in the registration process for the use of these tools. Peer tutors are also trained and updated periodically regarding scholarship opportunities, college testing registration procedures and deadlines, and similar matters. Summarizing, the Access Center volunteers are well prepared to help any BHS students to locate and use post-secondary career information resources. Throughout the semester each volunteer chooses an area or topic related to post-secondary options for students and develops a portfolio that is left for interested students to use as an additional career exploratory/planning tool.
Staff:
The Access Center is staffed with a full time guidance counselor and a teacher. The guidance counselor acts as the Access Center Coordinator and is under the direct supervision of the Guidance Department Head. This individual is responsible for the generation, organization and coordination of academic support and career oriented activities taking place at this center. Additional responsibilities are to recruit, train, and supervise peer-tutors, to lead and coordinate the delivery of services imparted at this center according to students' developmental needs, to assess the effect of tutoring services on the academic progress of students, and to maintain records and collect data for all activities.
The Technical Support:
Besides helping students strengthen their academic skills by supporting their learning process, the Access Center at BHS is also devoted to helping students strengthen their technical literacy skills. Staff and peer-tutors assist students in gaining the necessary knowledge and skills to take advantage of software and web-based career exploratory and career planning programs. These programs which are purchased by the guidance department offer students and parents support throughout the decision making process involved in the exploration and identification of appropriate post-secondary alternatives. Programs such as Choices Explorer, Choices Planner, and MassCis allow for the personalization of the career related counseling services. Parents are encouraged to take advantage of these programs which are free of charge. To learn more about how to register for these programs go to the links and resources page of the Guidance website.
Contact Information:
The Access Center is located on the first floor in the Azure Building at BHS (former Azure IRC). It is open Monday Through Friday from 7:32 A.M. to 3:00 P.M. Students can be referred to the Access Center by their guidance counselors, teachers or parents. They can also request services on their own at any time during the year by reporting to the AIRC during a Directed Academic period, their lunch, or when a teacher is absent. However, students must have a valid pass signed by a teacher. Parents are welcome to contact the Access Center by calling at 508-894-4597 or by e-mailing Mrs. Rubilar, the Access Center Coordinator, at gloriarubilar@bpsma.org
Freshmen Transition Information
WELCOME TO BROCKTON HIGH SCHOOL!
The following videos, all created by the students and staff of Brockton High School, will welcome you, orient you and guide you through the wonderful school that Brockton High School is.
Join Keenan Thomas, BHS Senior in the Yellow Building, Alaina Boucher, Senior in the Azure Building, Jesus Alvarez, Junior in the Red Building and Sely Monterio, Senior in the Red House as they help you navigate and learn who's who at Brockton High School!
Please view each video, and if you have any questions, please see your House Master, Assistant House Master, Guidance Counselor, Floor Teacher or any other staff member in your House.
VIDEO 1 - Who's Who in Your School, Part I
VIDEO 2 - Who's Who in Your School, Part II
VIDEO 3 - Navigation & Transportation