Bristol County Agricultural High School: September 2021

Friday, September 24, 2021

Aggie Weekly-September 24th

Good Afternoon Students, Parents, and Community Members:

This week we welcomed over 300 families to our Parent Open House on Thursday night. It was great having everyone back on campus as it has been nearly two years since we have all come together. We appreciate all the positive feedback we received from last night and look forward to continuing our partnership with our school community. Please do not hesitate to contact your teachers with any questions regarding classroom questions. We are here to support you and your child to be successful.

Updated COVID Close Contact Flowchart:

In the Classroom: We have a new video segment titled “Teach Mr. Braga” where students will teach Mr. Braga whatever they are currently learning in the classroom. Click here for our first edition featuring Junior Landscape Design and Contracting Keegan Carr

Small Animal Science: Students were working with our hermit crabs, parakeets, and they also collaborated with Mrs. Fornari in Flori because they needed a working fish tank to propagate a plant hydroponically while students were learning how to establish a successful fish tank. Perfect timing!

Landscape Design and Contracting - The freshmen exploratories have been busy dividing plants in our nursery.

Floriculture: Flori seniors showcased their talent creating abstract contemporary pieces of art featuring birch trees.

Ag Mechanics: Senior Ag Mech student Hope Laplante made a shop towel holder. She created the design on the plasma table. #BAPride #CultivatingExcellence

Large Animal Science: Ms. Gagne's senior Equine Industry class exercising horses.#BAPride #CultivatingExcellence

2021 Congressional App Challenge

The Congressional App Challenge officially launched in 2015, and is a nationwide event intended to engage students’ creativity and promote their participation in STEM fields. This competition allows students to compete with peers from their district by creating and exhibiting their software application (also known as an “app”) for web, PC, tablet, mobile, raspberry Pi, or other platform of their choice. We accept any programming language, such as C, C++, Java, JavaScript, Python, Ruby, ‘block code,”etc.

Students may compete as individuals or in teams of up to four, as long as two of the teammates are eligible to participate in our district. To be eligible, students must either reside or attend school in the district. Students are encouraged to register online as soon as possible.

Submissions will be evaluated by a panel of local judges, who work within the academic, software, and entrepreneurial fields. The winning app from each of the congressional districts that hosted an App Challenge will be featured on the U.S. House of Representatives’ website (www.house.gov), and will be displayed in a U.S. Capitol exhibit. For additional details, you can visit https://www.congressionalappchallenge.us.

Employment Opportunities:

Transportation:

Transportation required Documents:

Please complete and return the Bus Transportation Response Form by September 30, 2021. All students are required to complete the Bus Transportation Response Form, return to the main office, even if not utilizing Bristol Aggie’s bus services.

EF Tours - Ireland, France, and Germany

with Mr. Chew

Dear Parents & Guardians,

I have been leading trips overseas since 2011 and I am excited to announce that students (and parents) from Bristol County Agricultural High School are being offered multiple international education experiences to:

Ireland: April vacation 2022 (There are a very limited number of spots available)

France: Late June 2022

Germany: April vacation 2023

By taking part in these opportunities, students will be given the chance to step outside their comfort zone, gain a new sense of confidence, experience a new culture, and see the world from a different perspective. These are excellent opportunities and I hope that you all attend one of the meetings to learn more about this once-in-a-lifetime program.

RSVP is mandatory: Please use these links to register for the meeting that you would like to attend. You only need to register for one meeting:

Note: If you are already enrolled on a trip, you do not need to attend unless you would like information on another trip. If you can’t make the meeting but want more information? RSVP and select “I can’t make it.”

If you have any questions about the opportunity, please reach out to Rich Chew at: rchew@bcahs.com

Thank you!

Rich Chew

Student Services

Mindfulness Group

Student Services will be starting a “Mindfulness Group,” and we are looking for students interested in joining. The “Mindfulness Group” is a way for students to learn skills to cope with

anxiety and depression so they can be successful in school. The school counselors will meet with students once a week for 45 minutes for 8 weeks. By the end of the 8 weeks, we will discuss and practice keeping our thoughts in the now, responding skillfully to what is happening now, enjoy each moment, having purpose in what you do, not judging yourself about how you feel and think, and not thinking about the past or future. If you have a student that you think could benefit from this group or are a student who would like to join, please email Ms. Boudreau (bboudreau@bcahs.com) and Ms. O’Connell (aoconnell@bcahs.com) by Friday, October 1st.

SBIRT

Dear Bristol Aggie Families,

As a reminder, we are instituting a state mandated screening program in tenth grade related to the use of alcohol, marijuana and other substances. The Screening, Brief Intervention, and Referral to Treatment (SBIRT) program screening process is part of our annual state mandated screening program. All screenings are interview based and will be conducted in confidential individual sessions by our Student Services staff. The screenings will take place on September 27th and 29th. We will utilize the CRAFFT II screening tool which is the most commonly used substance use screening tool for adolescents in Massachusetts.

If you would like to opt your child out of this screening, please provide the school with written notification. You may opt out by sending in a note to my attention or by emailing me at bboudreau@bcahs.com. In addition, screening is voluntary and students may choose not to answer any or all of the screening questions.

We encourage all guardians to speak with their children about substance use. For ideas on how to begin these conversations and other helpful information, please refer to the Substance Use Screening portion of the Student Services page on the Bristol Aggie website for references and information. Please contact me if you have any questions.

Thank you

The Student Services Team

Ms. Anderson, Ms. Boudreau, Ms. Costa, Ms. Kochan, and Mrs. O’Connell

Suggestions for Mindfulness from Calm.com

*Create a positive affirmation for yourself. Write it down and keep it with you.

*Dedicate some time to something you’ve been neglecting that will support your wellbeing.

*In thought and action, treat yourself like you would a good friend.

*Schedule some “me time” in your day.

*Do one thing that will help you be more organized for the week ahead.

Want access to free audio books, online articles, and more?

Did you know you can get a free e-Card through the Boston Public Library?

Get started: Register or Renew an eCard

Boston Public Library eCard

(Text below by Anna Fahey-Flynn, Collaborative Services Manager for the Boston Public Library.)

Free Online Resources from the Boston Public Library

Anyone who lives, works, attends school, or owns property in Massachusetts can have a Boston Public Library card.

Many people begin with an eCard to gain immediate access to the BPL's digital resources. An eCard opens the door to free e-books and audiobooks; online database subscriptions; streaming music, television, and video; digital magazines; online language learning programs, career resources, and more.

Get a Boston Public Library eCard

Visit: www.bpl.org/ecard.
Click "registration form," located next to "Can I register for a library card online?"
Fill out the form.

Once you've signed up, access the BPL's Online Resources

Visit www.bpl.org.
Click on the "Electronic Resources" tab.

The Week Ahead-A Week-Home Games Posted ONLY

Monday, September 27

SBIRT Screening
EXTENDS: CSE RM 2206 from 2:45-4:00
Late Bus at 5:00 pm (Student Commons Circle)

Tuesday, September 28

Virtual Assembly @ 8:15 (report to 1st period)
Boys Soccer vs Upper Cape @ 3:30

Wednesday, September 29

JV Volleyball vs Upper Cape @ 3:30
Varsity Volleyball vs Upper Cape @ 3:30
Late Bus at 5:00 pm (Student Commons Circle)

Thursday, September 30-Early Release (Professional Development)

Period 1: 8:10-8:59
Period 2: 9:01-9:50
Period 3: 9:52-10:38
Period 4: 10:40-12:02

1st Lunch: 10:38-11:04
2nd Lunch: 11:07-11:33
3rd Lunch: 11:36-12:00

Dismissal at 12:00
PD Starts @ 12:30

Friday, October 1

Girls Soccer vs Diman @ 3:30
Late Bus at 5:00 pm (Student Commons Circle)

Friday, September 17, 2021

Aggie Weekly- September 17th

Good Afternoon Students, Parents, and Community Members:

Significant Cultural & Historical Milestones:

Constitution Day September 17 (Links to an external)

The Library of Congress American Memory site provides numerous resources on the Constitution: http://memory.loc.gov/ammem/amlaw/lawhome.html

National Hispanic Heritage Month (Links to an external site)

MORE INFO:

LATINO AMERICANS Documentary: LATINO AMERICANS is a landmark six-hour documentary featuring interviews with nearly 100 Latinos and more than 500 years of History

complete episode descriptions, AND videos of the full series

Hispanic Heritage Month Pinterest Boards

In the Classroom:

LD+C: Freshman in Mr. Ryan’s exploratory class are learning to use hand held leaf blowers in our annual Leaf Blower Challenge.

Physics: On Tuesday, students in Mr. Surdi's physics class were working in groups while learning about the metric system.

Flori: Flori hosted a bud vase competition on proportions this week. #BAPride #CultivatingExcellence

In the Classroom: Always enjoy walking the campus to pop in to check in what is happening in our classrooms and witnessing rigor and student engagement. #BAPride #CultivatingExcellence

Arbor: In Mr. Cook’s senior class students were learning how to operate the school’s mini skid steers.

Mr. Cook’s sophomore class learned how to properly start their chainsaws.

Student Services

Mindfulness Group

Student Services will be starting a “Mindfulness Group,” and we are looking for students interested in joining. The “Mindfulness Group” is a way for students to learn skills to cope with

SBIRT-Substance Use Screener

Dear Bristol Aggie 10th Grade Families,

This year we will continue to institute a state mandated screening program (Screening, Brief Intervention, and Referral to Treatment-SBIRT) in tenth grade related to the use of alcohol, marijuana and other substances. Screenings are interview based and will be conducted in confidential individual sessions by Student Services staff. We will utilize the CRAFFT II screening tool which is the most commonly used substance use screening tool for adolescents in Massachusetts. A copy of the screening tool is attached here for you to review.

Students who are not using substances will have their healthy choices reinforced by the screener. The screener will provide brief feedback to any student who reports using substances or is at risk for future substance use. If needed, we will refer students to our counseling staff for further evaluation. This program focuses on harm prevention and does not generate disciplinary action. Results of the screening will not be included in your student’s school record. Please be aware that the screening results are confidential unless the information disclosed leads to the student being at risk for imminent medical harm or the information requires the screener to fulfill the obligation of a mandated reporter.

If you would like to opt your child out of this screening, please send in a note to my attention or email me at bboudreau@bcahs.com. In addition, screening is voluntary and students may choose not to answer any or all of the screening questions. Screenings will be conducted on Monday September 27th and Wednesday September 29th.

We encourage all parents/guardians to talk with their child about substance use. For ideas on how to begin these conversations and other helpful information, please refer to the Substance Use Screening portion of the Student Services page on the Bristol Aggie website for references and information.

Sincerely,

Beth Boudreau

School Adjustment Counselor

508-669-6744 x.1213

bboudreau@bcahs.com

Ideas for Mindfulness From the Calm.com Calendar

*Where could you benefit from setting boundaries in your life? Take 5 minutes to think about this.

*Make an effort to step away from social media for a day. Instead, focus on something that makes you feel good.

*Cultivate an awareness of how others impact you.

*Reflect on what you need from the day rather than what the day needs from you. Prioritize your needs.

*Instead of judging yourself or slipping into self-criticism, offer yourself compassion and understanding.

Media Center News:

Stay tuned for more information on when we will be doing print library book check outs. Mrs. Noel is working to implement our new system for students to have access to book circulation. Thank you for the many students who have inquired about it and shown interest in the new Media Center! Swing by sometime to see the new space.

In the meantime, we still have access to our Digital Bookshelf from last year.

Here is some information for that; here is the link to begin reading from the digital collection

Or scan the QR code: