Knightly News
March 30, 2011
  

This Week's Headlines:
 

Conferences
Parent-teacher conferences are Friday, April 8, in the Haben Center from 1:30-6 p.m. Conferences are arena style, so there is no need to make an appointment. Please remember that report cards are not distributed at school, so be sure to print a copy from home if you would like to have it available at conferences.  

 

New News:

Jr. High Bake Sale
Jr. High Student Council members will sell baked goods to junior high students during homeroom on Tuesday, April 5. Proceeds from the event will support BSM's Relay for Life Teams, which raise money for the American Cancer Society. Parents willing to donate baked goods for this event should drop off two dozen goodies either on Monday, April 4, in the junior high office or on Tuesday, April 5, while dropping off your student(s) in the main parking lot. Sheila Jones will be out front after 7:15 a.m. to take your donations. Items should be put in individual bags (two small cookies in a bag or one large brownie in a bag). The Student Council members will price the items. If there are any questions, contact Sheila at 952-473-5037.
 
College Fair
The BSM College Fair will be held Tuesday, April 12, from 7-9 p.m. Attendance is mandatory for juniors. Sophomores are encouraged to attend, and parents are definitely welcome! Check out more information and a listing of the colleges and universities that will be in attendance. 

Tuition Balances for Seniors
Attention senior parents:  Have you received a tuition invoice recently? If yes, please remit payment to the finance office. Students with a balance due will not receive a cap and gown at graduation practice, so please take care of any outstanding balances as soon as possible. If you have questions, please call Shané Sisco at 952-767-3121.   

Presentation at Beth El Synagogue
Prolific author and scientist Deepak Chopra will be speaking at our neighboring Beth El Synagogue, on Monday, April 11, at 7 p.m. Chopra will discuss how "Healing, Transformation and Higher Consciousness" can enhance our collective commitment to global health, awareness, love and peace. As founder and chairman of the Chopra Foundation and founder and co-chairman of the Chopra Center for Wellbeing, Chopra is acknowledged as one of the world's greatest leaders in the field of mind body medicine and continues to transform our understanding of the meaning of health. Presented as part of Beth El's "Inspiring Minds" Speaker Series, this event is a wonderful opportunity for the BSM community. Tickets are available at www.bethelsynagogue.org/vip-deepak.

Self Defense Classes
There is still space available for the self defense class for the boys. The boys' class will be held Monday, April 18, from 7-9 p.m., in the library. The cost is $20 per person. Because of the sensitivity of the subject matter, the class is open to students in 9th-12th grades only. Any child participating must be accompanied by a parent/adult; it is suggested that the adult be of the same gender as the child. This class is also open to junior high parents. Click here to register. The self defense class is an excellent follow up to the presentation on personal safety that the seniors will hear on April 6. Jan Jenkins, author of the book "Footprints of Courage", shares her personal story of the death of her college age son and the lessons learned that can help other young people.

The self defense class for the girls is full. Because of the tremendous interest in this class, the Parent Association will schedule more sessions during the 2011-2012 school year.
 
Parents' Choice Award 
Cast your vote for an outstanding faculty or staff member at the spring conferences! Look for our table at the entrance to receive your ballot. Then nominate the individual who inspires, motivates or leaves a positive, lasting impression on you or your child. 

If you would prefer, you can also nominate using the online form. This is available on the BSM website on the Parents' Choice page in the Parents section. If you have any questions, please contact Caron Dwyer at clrdwyer@comcast.net or Kim Horton at tajalu@comcast.net.

Father-Son Golf Outing
Save the date for the Father-Son Golf Outing, taking place Friday, May 20. Watch for details in the coming weeks.

Thank You to Junior High Families
BSM would like to extend a huge thank you to all the junior high families who donated generously to the Guatemala mission trip at the Spring Party. We filled two extra large suitcases with a variety of hygiene items to be donated to the NPH Orphanage in Guatemala.

Retreats Follow Up
The month of February may have been the shortest month, but it held many long-lasting memories for the freshmen and sophomores who took advantage of the opportunities to attend their weekend class retreats. Read a reflection from Mike Jeremiah and view slideshows at www.BSMschool.org/retreats.  

 

Reminders:

Parenting and Faith
The next Parenting and Faith topic is "When Bad Things Happen to Good People; Helping Our Kids Make Sense Out of Suffering." Campus Minister Mike Jeremiah and Guidance Counselor Amanda Anderson will share insights and tips to help teens with loss, serious issues and difficult experiences. How can we guide our children to the resources they need as well as encourage them to keep their faith?

The session will be held in the Moore Library on Wednesday, April 6, from 11:30 a.m.-1 p.m. A light lunch will be served. Questions? Contact Cathy Kruse, Parent Association Spirituality Chair, at ckruse1@comcast.net.

Personal Safety Presentation for Seniors
With the end of high school looming and the start of college around the corner, the senior class will be attending a presentation on personal safety on Wednesday, April 6, from 9-10 a.m. Jan Jenkins, author of the book Footprints Courage (www.legacyofcourage.com), shares her personal story of the death of her college-age son and the lessons learned that can help other young people. Her message of “stick together-stay alive” will provide students with personal safety skills as they head out on their own. The presentation is one of the Community Wellness events sponsored by the BSM Parent Association. If you have any questions, please contact Deann Speltz at 952-938-0252 or Sheila Jones at 612-801-8214.

Depression Presentation for Juniors 
Juniors will attend a presentation on “depression” on Wednesday, April 6, from 9-10 a.m. Toni Flaherty, a licensed independent clinical social worker from West Suburban Teen Clinic, will be the featured speaker. The event is a Community Wellness initiative sponsored by the BSM Parent Association. If you have any questions, please contact Deann Speltz at 952-938-0252 or Sheila Jones at 952-473-5037. 

Mother-Son Event Photos
Pictures purchased at the Mother-Son event are available for pick up in the Spirit Shop.... ..

Guidance News
Registration deadlines for upcoming SAT and ACT tests:
• May 7 SAT – regular deadline is April 8 and late deadline is April 22
• June 4 SAT – regular deadline is May 6 and late deadline is May20
• June 11 ACT – regular deadline is May 6 and late deadline is May 20
• For a complete listing of SAT and ACT deadlines for the 2010-2011 school year, go to www.collegeboard.com and www.actstudent.org, respectively.
• Remember to list BSM’s school code, 242-202, when registering for these exams.

Benilde-St. Margaret’s will host a College Fair on Tuesday, April 12, from 7-9 p.m. in the Haben Center. All juniors are required to attend as a part of their Building Your Future portfolio, and all other BSM students and parents are welcome to attend. Over 110 colleges and universities will be available to talk with prospective students and parents. They will be available to answer questions about the college admissions process, and provide information about their particular college or university. As a reminder, the junior Building Your Future portfolio is due to the guidance office by 3 p.m. on April 12. For more information about the fair, contact Amanda Anderson (aanderson@bsm-online.org) or Amy Desmond (adesmond@bsm-online.org) in the guidance office.

Extended Time on the ACT/SAT/PSAT:  If you meet all of the following three criteria, you may qualify for extended time on standardized tests. The eligibility criteria are: 1) have an assessment done by a licensed professional in the past three years; 2) have a 504 accommodation plan on file at BSM that states the need for extended time on tests; and 3) must be currently using extended time in at least one class at BSM. It is recommended to begin the process towards the end of sophomore year. In any case, please start the application at least one month before the application deadline. Contact Dave Herbst, Head Learning Specialist, to receive application materials for extended time and/or for more information – 952/915-4358, ext. 2491 or dherbst@bsm-online.org.

Summer Pre-College Programs for High School Students
Students who are currently in grades 9-11 are eligible to participate in summer learning experiences at various colleges and universities. These programs range from one week to seven weeks, with varying costs and curriculum. One of the many benefits of participating in a pre-college summer program is the opportunity to live on a college campus and take courses, and meet students from around the U.S. In the past few years, BSM students have participated in pre-college summer programs at several colleges, including University of Notre Dame, The George Washington University, Carleton College, Harvard University, and Washington University in St. Louis. Information and/or applications are available in the BSM College and Career Center or on the sponsoring college’s website.  In addition, general information and web links for numerous colleges offering summer opportunities can be found in the “Guidance/College and Career” section of the BSM website, by clicking on “summer opportunities"  (http://www.bsmschool.org/academics/guidance-college-and-career/summer-opportunities/).