HVCC to Host 2010 “Recipe for College Success” Student Conference

The 2010 “Recipe for College Success” student conference will be held at Hudson Valley Community College in Troy, NY on Tuesday, March 23, 2010 from 8:30 am to 1:30 pm. This interactive conference is open to high school students with disabilities, their parents, teachers and school staff. The conference is focused on preparing students with disabilities for the transition to college. Workshops will include sessions on college admissions, assistive technology, parent issues, and the differences between high school and college.

Pre-registration is required by March 3, 2010. For more information contact Amy Leifer, Albany District Office, VESID, 80 Wolf Road, Suite 200, Albany, NY 12205.

2010-11 High School Course Guide now available:

Students thinking about courses they may take in the future at the high school can download our Curriculum Guide for 2010-11 in pdf format. (Warning to dial-up users: This is a very big file.) Students receive a printed copy of this 36-page booklet from their guidance counselor. Parents should also take a look at the list on page 6 of the 32 courses that offer pupils a chance to earn college credits while still in high school.

H1N1 Vaccination Clinic was January 21  

BH-BL High School students, siblings, parents and staff were invited to receive free H1N1 flu vaccinations at a clinic at the Charlton Heights Elementary School on Thursday, January 21.  The clinic was held by Saratoga County Public Health for the three BH-BL schools located in Saratoga County. For all the details, go to the BH-BL Flu Updates page.

Driver's Education - Next session will begin second semester

Registration - Forms are available in Main Office from Jan. 4-13.

This program is open to students attending Burnt Hills-Ballston Lake High School who are age 16 or older and have their New York State Learner's Permit or Driver's License.  Students are accepted based on their grade, seniors first and/or a lottery draw if there are not enough seats for all in a grade.  There are two driving instructors, which will accommodate 40 students.  Cost of the program is $300 plus a $3 registration fee (checks payable to BH-BL Schools). All accepted students are required to purchase a textbook for $37.00.

Enrolled students receive 24 hours of classroom instruction, 18 hours of in-car observation and 6 hours of behind the wheel instruction.  Attendance at all sessions is mandatory to meet the State time requirements.  No make-up classes will be scheduled for missed classroom or driving time.  Parent/guardian assistance is needed to provide at least 20 hours of supervised driving time in the family car.

Upon successful completion of this course, the student will be issued an MV285 "Blue Card" allowing the student to obtain a senior license at age 17 and an insurance card to be presented to your insurance company to obtain any applicable premium discounts.

SPARTAN PRIDE

Large School Coach of the Year Honors
Matt Shell along with his coaching staff consisting of assistants Shawn Kline, Jason LaPietro, Pete Parisi, and Paul McDonnell were awarded Coach of the Year for large schools from the Times Union.  Coach Shell and his coaching staff guided the Spartans to a second straight Section II Class A title and another appearance in the State Championship.

Fall Sports - Championship Results

State Champions:  Boys Cross Country

State Finalist:  Football

State Semi-Finalist:  Boys Volleyball, Girls Volleyball, Girls Soccer

Sectional Champions:  Girls Tennis, Girls Volleyball, Boys Volleyball, Girls Swimming, Girls Soccer, Football, and Boys Cross Country

Sectional Finalist:  Girls Cross Country

Fall Sports - Results

Football:  State Finalist, Regional Champions, Sectional Champions

Girls Volleyball:  Third in the State, Regional Champions, Sectional Champions and Suburban Council Champions

Girls Tennis Team:  Class A Sectional Champions - fourth year in a row.

Boys Volleyball:  Suburban Scholastic Council and Sectional Champions.  Placed third at the Class A State Regional Tournament.

Boys Cross Country Team: 
NXN (Nike Nationals) New York Regionals:  Individual Champion: Otis Ubriaco (running as Deluge XC), leading his team (Scott Maughan, Chris Fernandez, Sean Pezzulo, and Dan Fernandez) to a second place finish. 
NYS Federation Championships:  finished second (169) to North Rockland (132) for the second year in a row.  Otis Ubriaco finished second.  Other members of the team are Scott Maughan, Sean Pezzulo, Chris Fernandez, Dan Fernandez, Kevin Terbush, and Joe Chapman.
State Class A Champions - second straight state title.  The team was led by Otis Ubriaco who won the Individual Championship.
Sectional Champions
Suburban Council Champions for the second year.  Team members:  Otis Ubriaco, Scott Maughan, Sean Pezzulo, Chris Fernandez, and Dan Fernandez. 

Girls Swimming:  Sectional Champions (fourth straight sectional title)

Girls Soccer:  Regional Champions and Sectional Champions

Girls Cross Country:  Sectional Finalists

Local Author speaks to classes on November 6, 2009

Capital District resident Ryan Smithson held discussion sessions on his book Ghosts of War on Friday, November 6. Mr. Smithson met with four different classes to discuss his writing and experiences in Iraq.

Health requirements to play a sport

Please contact the school nurse with questions or concerns. High School: Mrs. Fredericks, ext. 3102,  Middle School: Mrs.Greco, ext. 4035.

BH-BL sports program ranked #1 in New York

Ever heard the saying "you can't hide that Spartan pride" ??

Well, here's one more reason why. The New York State Sportswriters Association has ranked Burnt Hills-Ballston Lake as having the # 1 interscholastic sports program in the state for the 2008-09 school year.  Way to go, Spartans!!!   Read more

Spartans shine at Graduation on June 24, 2009

Just under 300 members of the BH-BL Class of 2009 crossed the stage of the Saratoga Performing Arts Center on Wednesday, June 24, when the High School celebrated its 90th Annual Commencement.  Speeches were given by the Class Valedictorian, Christa Walsh; Class Salutatorian, Remy Cawley; Class President, Marissa Mastroianni; Mrs. Symer, Principal; Mr. Schultz, Superintendent; and our own Kate Snow from Good Morning America, Weekend Edition.

   "It's time now to sing out though the story never ends.  Let's celebrate, remember a year in the life of friends."

Global 10 Classes Adopt a School in Ghana

Students in Global 10 classes at the high school have adopted the Akuffo Tom School in Ghana this year.  Burnt Hills residents, Joan and Harry Thornhill, who lived and taught in Ghana, were guest speakers recently and spoke with students about their experience teaching Ghana.  The students recently completed their first fundraiser and sent $688.64 to the school for school supplies and other items needed at the school.  The classes plan on continuing to raise funds for the school throughout the year.  The Global 10 classes are taught by Mrs. Ferris-Fearnside, Mr. Turner, Mrs. Tolan, Mrs. Wang, and Mrs. Austro.

Fine Arts:  Please refer to the quick link on the right to view the Fine Arts updated web page.

School Report Card posted:  On August 11, 2008, the NY State Education Department made the 2006-07 Report Cards for all NY schools public on its website. You can view or download this compilation of 2006-07 test scores, graduation data, class size, attendance and other data for the BH-BL High School here (pdf format). More information and the report cards for all the schools in our district can also be viewed on the State Ed. website by clicking on "Saratoga County" at New York State Report Cards.

High School Time Capsule readied   What local photos and other materials can convey the current spirit of BH-BL to those who come to our school 50 years from now?? Go to Time Capsule to see how high school students have answered this question.

Safety measure: High School pupils should have identification at sports events   Burnt Hills-Ballston Lake parents and students are advised that 8th grade and younger pupils may not attend evening varsity interscholastic sports contests without an adult. This policy means that older (high school) pupils may need to show identification to document that they may attend without an adult. The change was made due to a growing number of youngsters being left unsupervised at games and more incidents of fighting, belligerence and other inappropriate behavior. Read more

Clarification  The "BH-BL Spartan Cards" that provide card holders with discounts at local merchants are being sold by our many sports booster clubs, not the school district. For more information, contact booster club presidents, many of whom are listed on page 11 of the printed district calendar. The school district appreciates the many efforts that various groups make to support our kids, athletes and programs.