TRANSPORTATION UPDATE: Students on Route 1, bus 7, Arnold will be arriving 30 minutes late due to mechanical issues. - Bret Harte Union High School District
Important Student Safety Reminder Regarding Highway 4 Bus Stops \\ "We would like to bring an important safety concern to your attention regarding student transportation practices. It has come to our attention that some students are crossing Highway 4 to access earlier bus stops. While we understand that students may be trying to optimize their transportation times, it is our district's established practice that students should not cross Highway 4 to reach a bus stop. Highway 4 is a high-traffic area, and crossing it on foot poses significant safety risks. Student safety is our highest priority, and while we cannot practically enforce this restriction at all times, we strongly urge parents and students to adhere to our guidelines to ensure everyone's well-being. Our district follows guidance outlined in California Code of Regulations Title 13, Section 1238, which mandates that bus stops be placed in safe locations and prohibits students from crossing major highways like Highway 4. This regulation emphasizes the importance of minimizing exposure to hazardous traffic areas and ensuring that bus stops are accessible without the need for dangerous crossings. Compliance with these regulations is critical to reducing risks and safeguarding our students. We ask for your cooperation in discussing this with your child and reinforcing the need to use designated, safe bus stops that do not require crossing such dangerous roadways. Thank you for your attention to this critical matter. If you have any questions or need further information, please do not hesitate to contact me." - Deanna Tipton, transportation director
REMINDER: "Due to staff collaborative planning, Wednesday October 16th is a Minimum Day. Release time is 1:10PM - Bret Harte Union High School \\ Debido a nuestra junta colaborativa, el Miercoles 16 de Octubre es dia minimo. La hora de salida es a la 1:10PM. -Bret Harte Union High School"
"Have you downloaded the Bret Harte App yet?! Do you want a way to quickly get information related to Bret Harte? Needing the school calendar to keep up with the last two weeks of the school year? Hungry and want to know what is on today's lunch menu? Bret Harte Union High School District has a mobile app to assist students, parents/guardians, staff, and community members know what is happening on campus from their phones. As most use their phones as a primary means of communication, the District has an app that is custom-built to our District for smartphones. On the App, you can read the latest announcements, review weekly student bulletins, find forms and documents, locate the staff directory, and subscribe to and quickly add events or athletic contents to your phone calendars. If you have not downloaded the Bret Harte App yet, use an App Store link below. Be sure to keep up with our App updates! >>> Apple App Store: https://apple.co/3iFCL0t >>> Google Play Store: https://bit.ly/3CLGLnc
--> BHHS Users: To customize your App, navigate to Menu > Settings / "Gear" Icon > Default Organization and select "Bret Harte Union High School" to ensure you experience. While in Settings, ensure your Notification Preferences include "Bret Harte Union High School." Push notifications on your mobile devices must be allowed and on to fully experience the Bret Harte App. --> Vallecito Users: To customize your App, navigate to Menu > Settings / "Gear" Icon > Default Organization and select "Vallecito Continuation High School" to ensure you experience. While in Settings, ensure your Notification Preferences include "Vallecito High School." Push notifications on your mobile devices must be allowed and on to fully experience the Bret Harte App. Additional details regarding App settings and selecting notifications can be found in an introductory video on the District's YouTube channel, https://www.youtube.com/@bretharteUHSD." -Bret Harte Union High School District
Principal's Message - October 2024 can be viewed at https://www.brethartebullfrogs.org/o/bhhs/page/principals-messages.
Kickin’ around the idea of a career in the armed services? If not, why not take the ASVAB anyways?! The ASVAB will be administered on Thursday, October 17 at 8:00 AM in RM 27. Sign up using this form, and don't forget to press submit! https://forms.gle/Ag1bBJJqtqBzYDMC8. Questions, contact Ms Godfrey. “What is the ASVAB? The Armed Services Vocational Aptitude Battery (ASVAB) is a multiple-aptitude battery that measures developed abilities and helps predict future academic and occupational success in the military. It is administered annually to more than one million military applicants, high school, and post-secondary students.” - https://www.officialasvab.com/
ANNUAL PORTAL UPDATE: During the month of October, all parent/guardians are encouraged to complete the Annual Portal Update on the Campus Parent Portal. Completion will greatly assist faculty and staff stay in communication with your student and their contacts. The process takes no more than 10 minutes to complete. You will be asked to confirm addresses, phone number, notification preferences, emergency contacts, and more. First, log into your Campus Parent Portal account on a desktop browser or on the mobile app. Second, navigate to Menu > More > Annual Update and Registration. Third, select the 2024-25 Annual Portal Update and follow the prompts. Instructions are attached. You can find the Campus Portal link on the District’s webpage, www.brethartebullfrogs.org. Learn more about the mobile app at https://www.brethartebullfrogs.org/page/technology. If you need assistance with Portal access, please contact Technology at igrycel@bhuhsd.k12.ca.us. Include the student and parent/guardian name in correspondence. – Bret Harte Union High School District
COUNSELING + WELLNESS: Check out the BH Buzz: Family Connections Newsletter for October 2024! It includes tips on how to support your student at home along with blurbs about our new math teacher, Mr. Hatfield and our Student Support Counselor, Mrs. Labuga. Read the entire newsletter at https://5il.co/2xpwl.
"Dear Bret Harte Families and the Community, Bret Harte Union High School District leaders continue working through a strategic plan to reduce behavioral incidents on our campus. Over the past two years, we have experienced a 72 percent decrease in events. We will continue the hard work to improve student safety. Considering the recent incidents and as we work toward strengthening school safety, we want to provide updates on the work being done. \\ Social Media Threats: Our school communities are not immune to social media threats. However, we have seen an uptick in the number of such threats nationwide, growing concern for our district leaders, staff, teachers and families. We want to emphasize this behavior is illegal and has serious consequences. Please explain to your student that these actions are harmful to themselves and their families. At the beginning of each year, Bret Harte teachers talk to students about social media behaviors, including cyberbullying, and sexual harassment. Then the students are tested on that material. \\ Restroom Incidents: We have implemented changes to address recent restroom incidents on our campus. Staff will now be stationed outside of restroom doors as a means of preventing group gatherings and violence. We are researching the installation of new sensor systems that will detect vaping, smoking, or other activities that are illegal on a school campus. These sensors would be tied to cameras located outside of the restroom doors. \\ Electronic Hall Passes: We are evaluating the implementation of electronic hall passes that will limit the number of students out between classes and prevent known affiliations from being out at the same time. \\ Staffing: Over the past 2-years we have added two staff to our Wellness Team, bringing the total to five. We have continued to contract with Angels Camp Police Department for an SRO, and we have added an additional administrator. The changes have been successful and is shown through the drop in incidents mentioned above. \\ Reporting Suspicious Activity and Bullying: If you or your child sees or hears anything suspicious or concerning, please report it to a teacher or administrator immediately. Or use the StopIt system on the website https://www.brethartebullfrogs.org/page/student-safety. // Thank you for your cooperation and support. We all have a responsibility to keep our schools safe and secure." - Bret Harte Administration
"The Calaveras County Sheriff's Office has been made aware of a school threat that has been circulating on social media nationwide. It recently began circulating in our area, and after being investigated, it was found to be non-credible. We will continue to communicate with our school districts, increase our campus presence, and monitor social media." - Calaveras County Sheriff 9/20/24 12:15 PM
REMINDER: Due to staff collaborative planning, Wednesday September 18th is a Minimum Day. Release time is 1:10PM - Bret Harte Union High School \\ Debido a nuestra junta colaborativa, el Miercoles 18 de Septiembre es dia minimo. La hora de salida es a la 1:10PM. -Bret Harte School Office
NOTICE: Construction in the Theater parking lot will conclude next week. Beginning next Thursday, September 19 and completing Friday, September 20, the lower half of the parking lot will be inaccessible. This will directly impact students' drop-off and pick-up arrangements. To minimize any inconvenience, we kindly request those be made in the horseshoe parking lot, located below the school office at 364 Murphys Grade Road. Your cooperation and understanding are greatly appreciated. - Bret Harte Union High School District
CHECK OUT POLICY: "Good Afternoon, Please see our student checkout policy below, as part of our student safety protocols. Student Check Out Policy: • Students must be checked out by a parent/guardian or emergency contact listed on the Infinite Campus Summary and they must be positively identified at the window. • Notes or phone calls for early check out may be verified by the attendance office. • Students may not leave with other students during the course of the school day with the exception of siblings with parent permission." - Bret Harte Union High School District
"Bret Harte Union High School District takes student safety very seriously. We are aware of a fight that took place on Friday afternoon and immediately took action to ensure the safety of all students. We are working closely with local law enforcement as we continue our investigation." - Scott Nanik, superintendent
REMINDER: "This is just a reminder that we will not have school on Monday, September 2nd in observance of the Labor Day Holiday. Classes will resume as scheduled on Tuesday, September 3rd." -Bret Harte Front Office
SATURN APP - NOT BHUHSD AFFILIATED "Good Afternoon, It has been brought to the attention of several staff, administrators, and our technology team on campus that an app called "Saturn" has been growing in popularity and is being utilized by a number of our students. While we have no control over apps that our students use on their personal devices and phones, we would like to formally notify parents/guardians that this app has no affiliation with Bret Harte Union High School District in any way. In fact, our position as a district is that this app has too many security flaws and may not be safe for students to use. A link to an Ed Week article, outlining the security flaws and potential risks with using the app can be found below. https://www.edweek.org/technology/saturn-is-a-new-app-for-high-schoolers-heres-why-it-has-educators-concerned/2023/11." - Bret Harte Union High School District
NOTICE: "Bret Harte Families, Construction will commence next week beginning Monday, August 26 in the THEATER PARKING LOT. Consequently, the lower half of the parking lot will be inaccessible during the construction period, which is expected to complete by Monday, September 9, 2024. This will directly impact students' drop-off and pick-up arrangements. To minimize any inconvenience, we kindly request that students’ drop-off and pick-ups be made in the horseshoe parking lot, located below the school office at 364 Murphys Grade Road. Your cooperation and understanding are greatly appreciated." - Bret Harte Union High School District
CLASS OF 2025: "Calling all Seniors interested in going to Columbia College next fall - Sept 26th we will be attending the Claim Jumper Day -leaving around 8:30 am and returning between 1-2pm. During this event you will get a school wide tour, free lunch! and have the opportunity to chat with an advisor about future planning, as well as learn about the dormitories, sports, etc. Fill out the permission slip located on my google classroom and return to me in room 27, or the main office to Ms. McCamey. Looking forward to having you along!" - Ms Godfrey, academic/college/career counselor
REMINDER: This year's Back to School Online Forms are due this Friday, August 23! Required annual forms historically mailed over the summer, are now available on the Campus Parent Portal. Online review of forms by parents/guardians will take less than 30 minutes and your progress will be tracked. Below is a list of all documents to be viewed, completed and/or signed: Back to School Newsletter; Freshman & New Student Orientation Information; Picture Day Information; School Calendar; Bell Schedule; Attendance Procedures; Dress Code; Housing Questionnaire; Student Purchases Order Form; Student Vehicle Application; Household Income Survey Information; Yearbook Information; Title I Parent Engagement Policy; Robo-Doc Telehealth Program Authorization; Bus Application and Schedule; And, more! // Parents/Guardians, log into your Campus Parent Portal account on a desktop browser or on the mobile app. Navigate to MENU > DOCUMENTS for each student enrolled in the District. Review each online form. Forms listed as Need Attention require completion and a signature. To review but opt out of submitting your signature, simply select Decline and Submit. The deadline to complete online forms is the second Friday of the school your or Friday, August 23, 2024. After August 23, forms will not longer be available on the Campus Parent Portal. Services are available to assist parent/guardians in completing online forms. Contact the school office at 209 736-2507 or rmccamey@bhuhsd.k12.ca.us for assistance. Contact Technology for an Activation Key and/or Campus Parent Portal assistance at igrycel@bhuhsd.k12.ca.us. -Bret Harte Union High School District
"Dear Parents, Guardians, and Students, I hope this email finds you well! I wanted to take a moment to express our gratitude for your support and partnership this week as we began another exciting school year. Thanks to you, we've had a smooth and successful start, and we're looking forward to all the wonderful experiences ahead. As a reminder, our school website is a great resource for staying informed about important dates, events, and other relevant information. We encourage you to visit it regularly to stay up-to-date. Additionally, please note that any requests for course changes need to be submitted by Friday, August 23rd. If you feel a change needs to be made, please reach out to Ms. Godfrey at sgodfrey@bhuhsd.k12.ca.us. We want to ensure that all students are settled into their classes as soon as possible, so please don't hesitate to reach out if you need to make any adjustments. Thank you again for your continued support. Here's to a fantastic year ahead!" -Jacob Holt, Principal