High School News

New in 2008 is our FRESHMENtoring program whereby senior NHS students will serve in a mentoring capacity for 3 - 5 freshmen during the school year. This new initiative kicks off next Monday, August 25th at 12:00 noon with an orientation theme. Freshmen should report to the Auditorium by noon for a school welcome before splitting into their respective groups. The activities conclude with an ice-cream social before the 2:30 pm dismissal. Bus transportation is available, but with limited stops (see the orientation letter for details).

At 7:00 pm in the evening (same day, Aug. 25th), the administration and guidance department will conduct an Orientation Session for freshmen and new students to the high school. This session provides information pertinent to parents as well as new students--so again, parents are encouraged to attend. Topics include: scheduling, graduation requirements, eligiblity, dress code requirements, etc. Freshmen are invited to attend this session as well; and, after the program concludes, students can tour the building with parents/guardians if they choose!

Brecksville-Broadview Heights High School's own Josh McAdams (Class of 1998) will compete in the Steeplechase in the 2008 Olympics in Beijing, China on Friday, August 15th--and if he qualifies for the finals, he'll run again on Monday morning, August 18th. Josh graduated in 1998 with an impressive athletic record: 12 Varsity Letters (4 in Cross Country and All-Ohio status, 4 in Wrestling--including a 3rd-in-state finish in 1998, and 4 in Track). BBHHS wishes him the best in this unforgetable experience--we'll 'bee" cheering him on! Here's an excerpt from a recent communication from Josh as he reflects on the 2008 Olympic Games Opening Ceremony--this follows a meeting and hand shake from President Bush, and autographs from LeBron James and the NBA Superstars--what a day for Josh!

"USA was #140 in line to enter the stadium.  We left the comforts of the AC and began the long slow winding walk to the stadium.  It was probably an hour before we even got to the tunnel.  Leo, Lindsey, and I made sure we were next to each other, which was no small task when everyone is trying to get to the front or be next to a buddy.  When we got to the tunnel, we could just see a section of seats and they were full.  It had been 5 hours and 5 water bottles since we’d started our journey.  It was so hot and humid.  Wearing a Ralph Lauren suit and tie and cap isn’t exactly the dry fit or bio cool action you’re used to in such conditions, but it didn’t matter because everyone was just soaking it up…the excitement that is.  The clothes were soaking up the sweat, which made for an international potpourri of BO.  Just letting you get an idea of the senses. Just before we came out onto the track, we began cheering, “U S A.”  Great pride filled each of us.  The highlight of my night was coming out from under the tunnel and looking into the stadium.  Every seat was full!  People were on their feet cheering, waving flags, calling out country names or people, and just having a great time.  I had to do a 360 to  soak it in.  Actually, I had to do a 720 while looking up and down to really soak it all in.  There’s just so much going on.  As we walked, we saw the American flag up in the stands and clusters of  fellow countrymen.  It filled our hearts with the feeling “That’s my country, and I’m here representing it!”  We pointed to those clusters of Americans and give them a thumbs up to let them know we appreciate their support.  We continued around the track and then were corralled into the infield."

Due to the rising costs of food, a price increase has been approved for student lunches and milk effective with the start of the 2008-09 school year. The new prices for students are as follows:

Elementary Schools (Chippewa, Highland, Hilton and Central)
Lunch: $2.75 and Milk (if purchased separately) $.50

Middle School and High School
Lunch: $3.00 Type A or $3.25 Type A Optional
Milk (if purchased separately) $.50

The annual "back-to-school letter" from the high school principal, Mr. Brian Wilch, is expected to be mailed during the week of August 4th. This packet includes several forms and handouts that require attention before the start of school (August 27th). If students/parents are anxious--or perhaps bored, simply open the Summer Letter (by clicking here) and  read the pdf version--sorry, no forms available in this format.

New this year is a special mentoring/orientation program for incoming freshmen scheduled for Monday, August 25th at 12:00 noon and ending at 2:30 pm. BBHHS National Honor Society students are serving as freshmen mentors this year (FRESHMENTORING) and will help introduce 9th-graders to the high school. Incoming freshmen should expect an invitation with more information in the coming weeks.

Last fall, Brecksville-BroadviewHeightsHigh School was nominated by the Ohio Department of Education to the No Child Left Behind—Blue Ribbon Schools Program in 2008! We've completed an extensive application process and have received word that our high school has made it through the "application cut." This means that we have met all qualifications and are still in the running for the Blue Ribbon recognition (awarded in the fall of 2008 in Washington, D.C.), provided we meet our AYP (Adequate Yearly Progress) goals this year--and those results are due by mid-July. Preliminary analysis of our subgroup scores look positive!  AYP targets reflect the proficiency level of select subgroups within our high school population and according to NCLB, they're set to increase each year: Special Education and Economically Disadvantaged (77.4% in Reading and 68% in Math).

This program originally dates back to 1982 and was tweaked back in 2002 to reflect the accountability measures in the No Child Left Behind Act. It honors both public and private elementary, middle and high schools that are either academically superior or that demonstrate dramatic gains in student achievement over time. ODE and Susan T. Zelman, Superintendent of Public Instruction were allotted 14 nominations for the state of Ohio—and our high school was selected to enter the program. Achievement-wise, we set the bar pretty high two springs ago (Class of 2009) with our outstanding OGT scores (Ohio Graduation Tests)—recording the 6^th highest Performance Index in the state fo 111.1 (and the largest school scoring that high), and an impressive 90.4 passing percentage rate on all five sections of the test—12^th in the state! Just last spring, our 10th-graders (Class of 2010) posted another solid performance with a Performance Index of 110.5 and 89.8% passing all five parts! Needless to say, we’re honored by the nomination and congratulate the students, parents and staff for a job well done! Stay tuned for the official announcement after Labor day.