BHS October 2023 Newsletter

Principal's Message

We are officially one month into the 2023-2024 school year! Students are settling in nicely to their daily routines and our building is bursting with Bulldog spirit. Great things are happening at Bunnell - our extracurricular activities, student leadership groups, athletics, and fine arts programs are in full swing. We are excited for the new Advance primary person model, which we hope will provide students with an opportunity to connect with peers and staff outside of a traditional academic setting. We are also busy preparing for a host of upcoming school-wide events, including the PSAT on October 12th, the 43rd Annual Cavalcade of Bands on October 21st, and our Homecoming dance on November 4th.

Thank you to everyone who attended our Open House last week - we had record-breaking attendance and it was wonderful to see so many of our families at Bunnell. As I emphasized on Thursday evening, parental involvement is paramount to our school’s success. Please consider getting involved in one of our many parent groups - the PTSA, Bulldog Club, and Post Prom are always looking for additional support! Getting involved will help strengthen the bond between you and your child and make everyone’s high school experience more enjoyable!

Please be sure to visit our website regularly and follow us on Instagram (@bunnellbulldogs) or Twitter (@drkgraf) to keep up-to-date with Bunnell’s latest news and events. As always, please do not hesitate to contact me with any questions or concerns you may have. Thank you for your continued support.

With Bulldog Pride,

Dr. Graf

Guidance

BHS School Counseling Team

Mrs. Alyce Borgersen - borgersena@stratk12.org

Ms. Patty Costa - costap@stratk12.org

Mrs. Amanda Ferrara - amandaf@stratk12.org

Mrs. Carrie Gettings - gettingsc@stratk12.org

Mrs. Francesca Koebbe - koebbef@stratk12.org

Mrs. Candice Parauka, Secretary - paraukac@stratk12.org

College Application Process

School Counselors presented to senior English courses the next steps in the college application process. The BHS School Counseling Team is here to guide students who need assistance with college applications. Seniors who are applying to college should fill out the forms listed in Google Classroom (Class of 2024 BHS School Counseling) under "Classwork". Students should then make an individual appointment with their School Counselor at least 10 days before their application deadline. Priority appointments will be given to students who have Early Action Deadlines.

College Planning Workshop

On Thursday, October 5th at 9:00am we will be having a Virtual Senior College Planning Workshop for parents. Please click here to register for the event no later than October 3rd.

PSATs

PSATs will be administered at Bunnell High School to students in grades 9, 10, and 11 on October 12th. Students must come to school with a fully charged chromebook! It is important that students are in school on time at 7:30am. Students will be learning more about the PSAT during Advance - click here to view the informational slidedeck.

FAFSA

We will be holding 2 FAFSA College Planning Financial Workshops. Please click on the date you wish to attend and fill out the form.

In addition to the FAFSA Workshops, Ms. Chelsea DeLucia of Conntac Inc. will assist seniors with setting up their FSA ID and eventually assist families with filling out the FAFSA application. The FSA ID should be completed in order for students to complete their FAFSA form beginning December 1st. Sign up information will be sent to seniors and reminders will be posted in the Class of 2024 School Counseling Google Classroom.

Scholarship Bulletin

Parents of students in grades 9-12 are encouraged to view the Monthly Scholarship Update highlighting several opportunities for BHS students to earn college financial support or pursue internship and career training.

Winter Sports registration is open on FinalForms now through 12/1/23.

If you require any support during the process, scroll to the page bottom and click "Use Support". Please register at: FinalForms and follow the prompts to create your account, create your students and sign your forms.

Tryout dates and time can be found here: https://www.stratfordk12.org/o/bhs/page/winter-sports

A valid physical is required for participation in tryouts. If needed, please contact the School Based Health Clinic for more information about securing a sports physical before tryouts begin. Please contact Angela Matera - materaa@chc1.com to schedule a sports physical examination.

Thank you for your assistance in streamlining our paperwork process at Bunnell High School.

Athletics

If you have any questions, please contact our Athletic Director, Mr. Wayne Thrall at thrallw@stratk12.org

Bulldog Undergound

Check out the Bulldog Underground, Bunnell's Podcast series, hosted by Baeram Alfreh, Kevin Bravo, Daphne Grijalva, Madson Thomas-Ferguson, and Producer Julia Murphy. The podcast can be found on Spotify, Youtube or Apple Podcasts by searching bulldog underground.

All Bunnell students have been assigned a district-owned chromebook and charger. The district expectation is that all students will fully charge their chromebooks each night and bring them to school every day. There are many assessments that cannot be completed on personal devices. Please carefully review the district's Chromebook Protection Policy and consider purchasing the low-cost insurance which will cover accidental screen breaks, liquid spills, and other claims. Students experiencing technology issues, please email Bunnell's librarian, Mrs. Pellegrino, at pellegrino@stratk12.org for assistance.

Students are welcome to check out books before school, after school, and during study hall with a pass from an academic teacher. For book recommendations, help with research and citation, and access to our databases, please see our library website.

Are you looking for a particular book? Check out our Destiny Library Catalog or explore our newest books on Bunnell's LibraryThing. You can also make a recommendation for purchase of titles we don't own!

Free ebooks and digital audiobooks are available through the Stratford Library's Hoopla and OverDrive platforms. All you need is a Stratford Library card. The Stratford Library is now loaning wifi hotspots and chromebooks for home use.

Library News

Mrs. Pellegrino, Bunnell High School Librarian, can be reached at pellegrino@stratk12.org.

Yearbook News

Email Mrs. Martire for any Yearbook questions at martireh@stratk12.org

Reminder:

We are exceedingly proud of the magazine quality of our 200+ pages of text and photographs. Yearbook students learn the basics of publishing including: online design, photography, interviewing, copy writing and editing, and sales. This is a student produced publication and created as part of an in-school course. In the event that there are misspellings and errors in our publication, we apologize in advance. It is a year-long project put together by hard working students, and mistakes are bound to happen.

SENIORS:

118 Seniors will NOT be in the senior section of the yearbook, unless portrait appointments are made at Robert Taylor Photography in Stratford. Students will make their own appointments by prepaying the $25 sitting fee for their session to secure their time slot. After your portrait is taken, a notification email of the active gallery will go to the email that you typed into "signup genius" to view, order, and choose your yearbook selection by Bunnell's deadline: November 19. Dress is business casual. Robert Taylor has button down shirts, ties, jackets and the drape if students would like to borrow.

Please select your appointment carefully, if you absolutely need to cancel/change your appointment. Please email roberttaylorstudio@gmail.com (1 free cancel/change, additional changes will require another payment. Phone number: (203)377-0739. Senior Portraits Appointment Sign Up Genius Link

UNDERCLASSMEN:

Juniors, sophomores, and freshmen will be photographed by Robert Taylor for PowerSchool records and the Yearbook in the Library Media Center on October 19 or 20 during English class.

School prepay is now active until October 27.

If there are underclass siblings in the same school, then you may enter the next child's name after placing the first child's package in the cart. Also note, Robert Taylor offers the underclass 3rd child free package (seniors are not eligible) for the same school You may prepay the first and second child's orders in the school's prepay. This is a special only available through the end of the prepay period (Oct. 27) and at the same school.

Please click on the Bunnell Underclass Photo Prepay code "bun23" for more information and instructions.

SALES:

No photo-sharing app can rival the historical value of a hardcover text-and-photograph-filled yearbook. Bunnell High School yearbooks are on sale now and can be purchased for a $10 discount at YearbookForever. This is our lowest and best price of the year. The discount will end January 1, 2024. Personalization options like name stamps are only available until January 24. After that date, books cannot be personalized. Order early to make your student's book even more special. Once you buy the yearbook, add a note or reminder to your calendar so you don't panic and buy another one in April. Print out your receipt and put it in a holiday card for your student.

AD SALES are OPEN!

Ad sales are open online at YearbookForever. We sell to businesses and to senior parents. Businesses can upload cards, contact information, and photos online or send information to Mrs. Martire. We will have a senior ad night in February to help interested parents create a beautiful tribute to their graduate. Online ads can be made at any time. Ad sales will close February 29. More information to come at a later date.

CANDID UPLOADS:

Please share your photos with us! We know you have great photos of orientation, first day, sporting events, and so much more. Send us your photos via Yearbook Snap access code: bunnell.

Cavalcade of the Bands

Please join us on October 21 when "The Cavalcade of the Bands" returns to Bunnell High School. See our State Champs compete. Showtimes to be announced. See you there for a great night of family fun! Visit our Band Website for more information.

Other News

Free & Reduced Lunch

Stratford Public Schools is pleased to announce our participation in the State of Connecticut’s State Transition Assistance for Breakfast and Lunch (STABLE) program. Please click here to read the letter from Mrs. Pamela Mangini. The school lunch online payment system of the Stratford Schools is myschoolbucks.com. Parents may use this system to make payments online and/or to check student balances. If you experience any problems with this or have other questions, you may contact Myschoolbucks toll free at 1-855-832-5226. Of course, students may make cash or check deposits directly into their accounts at any time. Cash/check deposits must be placed in an envelope accompanied by the student’s name and ID number (to keep your child’s ID number confidential, do not write the student’s name on the outside of the envelope). If there is more than one student in a family in any Stratford school, one student may enter the deposit to their siblings account as long as each student’s ID number is indicated as well as the amounts to deposit to each account. Cash/check deposits should be given directly to the cafeteria supervisor. Other information regarding the automated “Point of Service” in the BHS cafe may be found on the district website by clicking here. All parents are strongly encouraged to fill out the online Free and Reduced Lunch Application. Paper versions are available in the main office.

Bus Transportation

All students who are eligible for bus transportation will be issued a bus pass on Monday, October 2nd. On Wednesday, October 4th, Durham bus drivers will start enforcing the bus passes. Students must take the bus they are assigned to and have their pass at all times. If your student does not have their bus pass or tries to take a different bus, the driver will not allow them on the bus and students will be responsible for finding their own transportation home. If your student should lose their bus pass, they must see Mrs. Sabia in the main office before Block 4 of the school day. There is a $2.00 fee for a lost pass.

Campus Parking

There are still spaces available for licensed drivers who are Juniors and Seniors to park on campus. The fee is $50. If you would like to have your student park on campus, please fill out a Parking Application form. Please email Mrs. Sabia at sabiam@stratk12.org with any questions.

PowerSchool Portal Access & ECollect Forms

In order to maintain up-to-date student records, we are asking parents and guardians to review and update their information in PowerSchool under ECollect on the left-hand side of the navigation toolbar.

- Part 1 Student Emergency Contact Form (Student/Parent Information)

- Part 2 Student Emergency Contact Form (Emergency Contact)

- Stratford Public Schools - Media Release (Consent/Declination of District Media Policy)

- Stratford Public Schools - No Child Left Behind Act (Military Opt In/Out)

- Stratford Public Schools - Pesticide Notification

Once you have updated the Student Emergency Contact Forms (Parts 1 & 2), please make sure you opt-in for emails and phone blasts by clicking the correlating boxes. If you have any concerns, please contact the main office at 203-385-4250.

PTSA

Ice Cream Social/Town Hall - Please join us for an opportunity to meet with Dr. Graf, Bunnell administration and other Bunnell families while enjoying some ice cream! Ice cream is free to Bunnell HS PTSA members and their household; $3 per bowl if you're not a member.

PTSA Meeting - The Ice Cream Social will be in place of our October meeting. Our next regular meeting will be Monday, December 4, 2023. Please contact the PTSA with any questions at bunnellhsptsa@gmail.com.

Holiday Fair - We are looking for vendors and crafters for our first ever Holiday Fair! It will take place on Saturday, December 9 from 10am-1:30pm. Cost is $25 for a 10x10 space, bring your own table. Interested? Please email bunnellhsptsa@gmail.com by December 1st to reserve your spot!

Bunnell Bulldog Car Magnets and Stickers - We now have Car Magnets ($4) and Vinyl Stickers ($2) available! Please visit our online store for details and to purchase with a credit card or email bunnellhsptsa@gmail.com to order with cash or check.

Please join the Bunnell PTSA! We hope to help the school community and we need your help to do that! Please join the PTSA by visiting our online store!

Post Prom

The first Post Prom meeting is Tuesday, October 3rd at 7:00pm in room B111. Hope you will come and join us.

$24 for the Class of '24 - our campaign to raise $24 for each senior of the Class of '24 has begun! If you have a senior, or if you would like to sponsor one, cash or check can be sent into the main office or mailed to Jessica DeManche at 20 Fairfax Dr, Stratford, CT 06614

Clothing Drive - We'll be running our 2nd Annual Clothing Drive on November 11th and 12th. Drop-off will be in the Bunnell parking lot from 9:00am -12:00pm both days. Please support this event and get ready to clean out your closets!

Contact the Post Prom Committee at bunnellpostprom@gmail.com.

October 3 - Post Prom Meeting - 7pm
October 5 - Save-a-Life Tour
October 9 - PTSA Ice Cream Social
October 9 - BHS Town Hall
October 12 - PSAT Day
October 18 - 1/2 Day PLC
October 19-20 - Underclassmen Pictures
October 21 - Marching Band & Color Guard Cavalcade
November 2 - Last Chance Senior Photos
November 4 - Homecoming Dance
November 7 - Election Day - No School
November 10 - Veterans Day Observed - School in Session
November 15 - 1/2 Day - Parent/Teacher Conference
November 16 - 1/2 Day PLC
November 22 - 1/2 Day - Holiday
November 23 - Thanksgiving Day Football Game BHS v SHS - HOME
November 23-25 - No School - Thanksgiving
November 27 - Return to School
November 30 - Blood Drive

Important Dates

blocks with letters spelling upcoming events

Bunnell High School Newsletter