Congratulations, BH-BL Class of 2013!

Graduation is Thursday, June 20 at SPAC

Maya Schank	Klara Widrig

Graduation ceremonies for 295 members of the BH-BL Class of 2013 will be held at noon on Thursday, June 20, 2013 at the Saratoga Performing Arts Center. Tickets are not required.

Speakers addressing the class will include valedictorian Maya Schank, salutatorian Klara Widrig, class president Lauren Carr, and class vice president Nico Angerosa, in addition to brief remarks from principal Maryellen Symer, superintendent Patrick McGrath and Board of Education president Elizabeth Herkenham.

Breakfast program exemption sought

Posted June 14, 2013 - The Burnt Hills-Ballston Lake school district has again applied for an exemption from the federal requirement that its schools offer breakfast to pupils in kindergarten through grade 6 in the coming school year. The district has been granted this exemption from the National School Breakfast Program every year for the past 18 years.

Assistant Superintendent Christopher Abdoo noted that, when surveyed again this spring, only 11% of BH-BL families with children currently in grades K - 5 indicate they would participate in a breakfast program. "There is a strong likelihood we would lose money on this if required to offer breakfast," he said, "because so few children would participate."

Only 6% of BH-BL children qualify for free lunches (a frequently used indicator of student poverty), compared to 43% of public school pupils statewide.

Dr. Rick Evans to lead Stevens elementary school

Posted June 10, 2013

BURNT HILLS: Burnt Hills-Ballston Lake superintendent of schools Patrick McGrath today announced that he has decided to appoint Dr. Richard "Rick" Evans as interim principal of the Stevens elementary school effective August 1, upon the retirement of Ralph Rothacker.  READ MORE

High school Honors Night includes announcement of merit scholarships valued at $4.17 million

The BH-BL High School Honors Night was held on May 22 this year. As  always, the evening included many surprises and excited students walking up to the high school auditorium stage to get their awards as their names were announced on the lengthy list of this year's prizes and scholarships. Guidance counselors calculate that members of the BH-BL Class of 2013 earned $4.17 million worth of scholarships based on their academic achievements. This figure represents the combined value of all merit scholarships over all four years of college.  SEE THE LIST OF HONORS NIGHT WINNERS

Stevens school principal Ralph Rothacker to retire

Posted May 31, 2013

BURNT HILLS: After 34 years as a professional educator, including the last 15 years as principal of the Stevens elementary school in the Burnt Hills-Ballston Lake school district, Ralph Rothacker has announced he will be retiring effective August 1.  READ MORE

Memorial Day Ceremony moved to Tuesday, May 28, 2013

The Memorial Day Ceremony originally scheduled for Friday, May 24 at the BH-BL High School has been postponed.  The ceremony will be held on Tuesday, May 28th at 9:15 a.m.

All veterans, active members of the armed services, and family members are invited to join members of the senior class at Freedom Circle directly in front of the high school as the Student Government Organization conducts a brief memorial ceremony.

Severe weather emergency puts district procedures to the test on May 22

At 2:30 pm on Wednesday, May 22, the weather emergency alarm in superintendent Patrick McGrath's office began beeping and a voice announced that the National Weather Service had placed our area under a Severe Thunderstorm Warning with the prediction of strong winds and significant cloud-to-ground lightning strikes in the Glenville and Burnt Hills area. READ MORE

Posted May 21, 2013

BH-BL Election Results for 2013:

Budget & Bus Proposition pass

Burnt Hills-Ballston Lake residents approved the proposed 2013-14 school budget of $59.0 million by a passing percentage of 64 percent at the district election on May 21, 2013. 

A proposition to borrow up to $450,000 to purchase seven school buses was also approved.

Board of Education incumbent Lee-Ann Mertzlufft and challenger Jennifer Longtin were elected to the two open Board of  Education seats. Incumbent William Farmer was defeated.

Here are the official voting results:

		2013-14 Budget of $59,016,106:   1,435 votes for      824 votes against
		Proposition to replace seven school buses for up to $450,000:   1,554 votes for      704 votes against
		Candidates for two seats on the Board of Education: Jennifer Longtin 1,282 votes. Elected to a three-year term of office. Lee-Ann Mertzlufft 1,292 votes. Elected to a three-year term of office. William Farmer 1,250 votes. Not elected.

There were a total of 2,264 residents voting, including 44 who voted by absentee ballot.

In the last five years, turnout for the annual budget vote has ranged from 2,227 to 3,063 voters. The highest ever voter turnout at BH-BL was 3,131 voters in 2003.

All 2012-13 BH-BL varsity teams achieve Scholar-Athlete status

For the third year in a row, the Burnt Hills-Ballston Lake High School students have shown that they excel both on the sports fields and in the classroom.

BH-BL is again on track to be named a state "School of Distinction" based on the fact that all 26 of its varsity interscholastic sports teams have been named "Scholar-Athlete" teams for achieving grade point averages above 90 percent. READ MORE & VIEW GPAs

Fourth graders present "Birth of a Nation" Living Museum

The year is 1775. There is unrest in the American colonies over the unfair treatment of the colonists by England's King George III and Parliament . . .

Fourth grade students at Stevens Elementary School enjoyed playing the parts of Patriots and Loyalists as they presented their annual "Birth of a Nation" Living Museum on May 10.

READ MORE & VIEW PHOTOS

Calling all BH-BL Alumni!  

Details posted for upcoming Class Reunions  Does your class have a reunion coming up? The Class of 1963 is preparing for their 50th Reunion on June 7 - 9, the Class of 1993 is celebrating their 20th Reunion on July 29, the Class of 1953 is celebrating their 60th Reunion on July 14, and the Class of 1983 is celebrating their 30th Reunion on August 16 - 18. You can read all the information we have about these and any other BH-BL reunions (or send us updated information for your class) by clicking the "Alumni" button on the left or by going directly to our Reunion Info page here. Also, check out and join the BH-BL Alumni Database and see who else has registered from your class.

Full day kindergarten approved for September 2013

School board adopts budget of $59.0 million

Posted April 18, 2013:  At their meeting on Tuesday, April 16, members of the Burnt Hills-Ballston Lake Board of Education voted to change to a full-day kindergarten program and to put a budget of $59,016,106 for the 2013-14 school year before district residents at the upcoming annual school election on May 21.

This represents a budget-to-budget increase of 3.7 percent or $2.1 million over the current year's budget of $56,912,454. The proposed budget will cause a tax levy increase of 2.47 percent in September.  READ MORE

April's state exams will reflect new Common Core Learning Standards

As many parents know, students in grades 3-8 are preparing to take the state English Language Arts (ELA) and math exams starting April 16. These tests mark a time of transition in our schools, since this is the first year that the state tests will be based on the new Common Core Learning Standards.

What does this mean for our children? Please go to our Understanding the Common Core page to learn more and to read a letter from assistant superintendent Rick Evans to parents. You will also find videos and many helpful materials there.

Updated April 11:  You will also enjoy this new two-minute video from the State Education Department

Final forum on April 9 will review nearly complete 2013-14 budget of $59 million

At 7:30 pm on Tuesday, April 9, BH-BL Board of Education members will hold the last of three community forums on developing the new school budget in the O'Rourke Middle School. The forum will focus on differences between the current year's and next year's spending plans.

Those who cannot attend in person can also participate online via a computer.

The Board of Education is considering a budget of $59,016,106 for the 2013-14 school year. This would represent a budget-to-budget increase of $2.1 million or 3.7 percent over the current year's budget of $56,912,454 and would cause a tax levy increase of 2.47 percent. READ MORE

Jazz Showcase coming to high school on April 11

The Burnt Hills-Ballston Lake High School Fine Arts Department will present a "Jazz Showcase" on Thursday, April 11th at 7:30 p.m. in the High School auditorium. 

Featured guest artists will be singer Kim Nazarian of New York Voices (right), and saxophonist Dave Pietro (below), who will perform along with the Burnt Hills-Ballston Lake Jazz Ensemble and the Select Jazz Choir.

Nazarian and Pietro will be working with BH-BL students and teachers for a two-day artist in residency program on April 10 and 11 using Arts in Education funding from the high school PTSA and the district budget.

There will be no charge for admission to the April 11 concert.

"Bringing two world-class musicians like this to the high school is a fabulous opportunity for our student musicians," says Fine Arts department head Mike Danis. "I hope many people can come to the April 11 concert. We've never done something quite like this before, and I anticipate some great music and an exciting evening."

Links to materials on kindergarten options

BH-BL task force recommends change to full-day kindergarten 

Posted March 29, 2013:  The task force of 14 Burnt Hills-Ballston Lake staff and parents charged with studying the district's kindergarten program has recommended switching to a full-day program starting in September 2013. The Board of Education is expected to make a decision on this at their next regularly scheduled business meeting on April 16. READ MORE including answers to questions asked at the forum

Pashley and High School

Two BH-BL schools to be sites for police training during the April break

Posted March 28, 2013:  Don't be alarmed or surprised if you see a number of police cars or other emergency vehicles at Pashley elementary school or the BH-BL high school next week. Both schools will be the sites of police training drills on specific days while the schools are closed for the April break week. READ MORE

Planning for NEXT school year:  2013-14

For those of you who have asked about vacation days in the upcoming 2013-14 school year: The Board of Education approved those dates at their March 26 meeting.

	The list of  2013-14 School Vacation Days at a Glance can be found here. This includes holidays, half days, Regents exam days, and all days with an abnormal schedule.
	If you prefer, we also have a one-page printable version of the 2013-14 district calendar (pdf format)

Recognized by NAMM Foundation

BH-BL honored for outstanding commitment to music education

Press release of March 25, 2013

BURNT HILLS:  The Burnt Hills-Ballston Lake School District has been ranked among the "Best Communities for Music Education" in the country by the National Association of Music Merchants (NAMM).

BH-BL is one of 307 school districts in the nation recognized by the NAMM Foundation in 2013 for its unwavering commitment to providing an excellent music education program. READ MORE

"Of Snow Days and Musicals"

Ever wonder what the superintendent goes through in deciding whether or not to call a "snow day"?  Especially after the difficulties we have had with the weather and this topic recently, you will enjoy reading Mr. McGrath's latest Spartan Thinking blog post called Of Snow Days and Musicals.

State trooper to teach parents at March 27 session

Parents:  Is your child's online behavior safe?

Posted March 11, 2013:  Parents of Burnt Hills-Ballston Lake students are invited to attend a district-wide information meeting on Cyber Safety on Wednesday, March 27th, from 7:00 to 9:00 pm in the O'Rourke Middle School cafetorium at 173 Lakehill Road.  READ MORE

Two BH-BL Board of Education seats up for election in May

Farmer & Mertzlufft to run again

Posted March 12, 2013:  Two of the seven seats on the Burnt Hills-Ballston Lake Board of Education will be up for election on May 21 this year, and both incumbents — Will Farmer and Lee-Ann Mertzlufft — have announced that they intend to seek re-election.  READ MORE

Residents & staff invited to share questions & concerns

Public forum will discuss draft 2013-14 school budget on Tuesday, March 5

Posted March 1, 2013: On March 5, Burnt Hills-Ballston Lake Board of Education members will hold the first of three evening community forums on developing the new school budget.  READ MORE & GET LINK FOR ONLINE PARTICIPATION

Will consider question of full-day kindergarten

2013-14 budget talks get underway

Posted February 14, 2013:  Burnt Hills-Ballston Lake Board of Education members are starting their budget deliberations in a more optimistic place than has been true for several years. After three years of cuts to district programs and staffing, early projections for the district's 2013-14 revenues and expenses are more positive. A recent analysis of enrollment projections also uncovered the fact that, should the Board of Education so choose, the district may have the opportunity next fall to do what many parents have been requesting -- offer full-day kindergarten for all students.  READ MORE

Is your child in our database?

Kindergarten registration is underway

The school district has mailed forms and information about its kindergarten program to the parents of all BH-BL children known to be eligible to enter kindergarten in September. Children must be BH-BL residents and five years old on or before December 1, 2013, to enter kindergarten this fall.

New parents and anyone whose child is not already in the district's database of preschool children is urged to contact Jackie Martini at 399-9141, ext. 85002. Mrs. Martini can add your child to our records so that you receive the information and forms.

The annual information meeting for pre-K parents will take place at 7:00 pm on Monday, March 4, at the Pashley Elementary school on Pashley Road, Glenville. At parents' request, actual kindergarten registration has been moved to the evening this year. Registration will take place at Stevens Elementary on the evenings of March 11 and 12 and will involve only parents, not the children.

Opinions sought on a better website

BH-BL working to redesign & improve its website

Press release of Jan. 24, 2012:  Burnt Hills-Ballston Lake residents and staff are invited to share their opinions on redesign of the district’s website, which is taking place over the next several months. “These days a website is a vital tool for any school district," says BH-BL superintendent Patrick McGrath. "It's our virtual presence in the world and a tool for both learning and communications. Parents, students, teachers, residents: everyone relies on the website. So it's something that needs to undergo a periodic overhaul and upgrade." READ MORE & ANSWER SURVEY

Are you helping to prevent the spread of flu?

We need everyone's help to prevent the spread of flu and flu-like illnesses.

Parents: Please read and follow the Seasonal Flu Guide for Parents - a factsheet from the NYS Department of Health. For more information of health topics, including when to keep a sick child home from school, see our Health & Safety webpages.

High school art "All Stars" on exhibit in Saratoga

Twelve works of art by 11 Burnt Hills-Ballston Lake high school students will be featured in the annual Saratoga Arts Council High School All Stars Exhibition from January 12 - 26. 

The artists -- Morgan Almy, Vanesa Chen, Nate Coffey, Rachel Dotterweich, Kaylee Gillespie, Aubrey Kamppila, Kelly Lavoy, Katrina Little, Sara Potter, Makenzie Riley, Madilyn Sausville -- are students of teachers Regina Capobianco, Wendy Corrigan and Christine Layden.

The show is on display at the Saratoga Arts Center gallery, 320 Broadway, in Saratoga from 9:00 - 5:00 weekdays and 11:00 - 5:00 Saturdays. The opening reception is Saturday, Jan. 12 from 3:00 - 5:00 pm

Go to the FINE ARTS HOMEPAGE for photos and attributions of all 12 BH-BL works.

Online opinion survey

Community input & committee members needed to study BH-BL school renovations

Press release of Jan. 4, 2013

BURNT HILLS:  Burnt Hills-Ballston Lake school district residents and staff are needed to help identify the district's most important infrastructure needs.

As it has done every five to six years since 1978, the Board of Education has begun work toward a possible renovations referendum in October or November 2013.

Residents are needed to serve on a study committee and to answer an opinion survey. READ MORE & VIEW SURVEY

Students' coin drive raises $2,933 for Toys for Tots

December 2012:  In only one week's time, students at the O'Rourke Middle School managed to raise $2,933.07 to purchase new toys for needy families.

The coin drive is an annual event to benefit Toys for Tots and is sponsored by the middle school's chapter of the National Junior Honor Society. The amount collected this year is nearly three times last year's total, and 6th grade classes alone raised an amazing $1,649.74.

Honor Society members counted all the money and rolled the coins. With their advisor, teacher Monica Hills, they also had the fun of visiting the local Target store to purchase the new toys, before these were delivered to Toys for Tots.

A great job, kids!

A special message from Superintendent Patrick McGrath

Monday, December 17, 2012

District takes immediate safety steps in response to shooting in Connecticut

BURNT HILLS:  After a weekend spent in communication with his administrative team, today in a letter to district parents and staff superintendent Patrick McGrath outlined several safety improvements to be taken district schools.

The letter cites several changes he is instituting immediately as well as "medium-term" and "long-term" improvements that are being researched.

"There is a growing field of expertise on school security and best practices that can be implemented to increase the safety of our students and staff," he says.

READ MORE including tips on talking to children about scary news

Preparing for October 2013 vote

School district begins work to prioritize facilities needs

Press release of December 11, 2012

BURNT HILLS:  Burnt Hills-Ballston Lake school district residents and staff are invited to participate in the process of identifying the district's most important infrastructure needs over the coming year.

The process is expected to conclude with a public renovations referendum in October 2013, and work has already begun on several fronts to collect information related to this multi-faceted topic. Presentations related to the renovations process are taking place on Dec. 11 and 13, and a district-wide renovations study committee will be formed in January. READ MORE

All Scholar-Athlete Teams

Fall teams win two State & six Section 2 championships

The girls volleyball team celebrates winning the Class A state championship on Nov. 18 in the Glens Falls Civic Center. Photo by Daily Gazette photographer Patrick Dodson.

BURNT HILLS:  The final fall interscholastic sports game has been played, and there is no doubt that this was a great season to be a Spartan.

During Thanksgiving week, BH-BL won two state championships -- in girls volleyball and football. Earlier, the Spartans also won Section 2 championships in six different sports. And to top it off, all 11 fall varsity teams were named "Scholar-Athlete Teams" due to their achievement in the classroom.

READ MORE

Pirates and treasure fill the high school stage as Drama Club presents Treasure Island, Nov. 16 and 17

Billy Bones, Old Blind Pew, Jim Hawkins, Long John Silver, and all the other characters from Robert Louis Stevenson's classic tale Treasure Island will fill the stage in the BH-BL high school auditorium on Nov. 16 - 17.

The High School Drama Club production will start at 7:30 pm on Friday, Nov. 16 and at 12 Noon on Saturday, Nov. 17

Please note that there is NO Saturday evening performance -- that has been moved up to a noon matinee in hopes that more children can attend.

All tickets are $5 and can be purchased either at the door or Online

Veterans honored with breakfast & ceremony on November 8

Area veterans from any branch of the military are invited to attend the annual BH-BL Veteran's Day Ceremony that will be held at Freedom Circle in front of the BH-BL High School, 88 Lakehill Road, Burnt Hills, starting at 9:15 AM on Thursday, November 8.

The ceremony will be followed by a free breakfast to further honor our veterans in the school cafeteria. Both events are sponsored by the high school Student Government Organization.

Veterans who plan to attend are asked to RSVP so that adequate food can be prepared. Please contact SGO co-advisor Renee Tolan at 399-9141, ext. 83236 or rtolan@bhbl.org with your questions or to RSVP.

Project Chinese classes will offer 4 half-days of fun & learning to elementary pupils

Deadline to register has been extended to November 1

BH-BL students in grades 1 - 5 will explore Chinese language and culture with BOCES teachers at the Charlton Heights elementary school from 12:30 - 3:00 on the four November half days. (That is, on the four afternoons that regular elementary classes are suspended so that BH-BL teachers can hold parent conferences.) These four half days are November 13, 14, 27 and 28.

Class size is limited, so parents should click on the link below and submit their student's application as soon as possible.  Stevens and Pashley students taking Project Chinese will be transported by school bus to Charlton Heights on the four half days.  All parents should plan to pick up their children at Charlton Heights at 3:00 and transport them home after class on these dates. The cost of the program is $75.

For more details and a copy of the BH-BL registration form, go to WSWHE BOCES Project Chinese.

Posted Oct. 11, 2012:

"Taste of Burnt Hills" is Monday, Oct. 15

Did you know . . .

that over the past 13 years, the BH-BL Education Foundation has funded 125 grants to enrich classrooms all over our school district. They have donated more than $110,000 for specific equipment, books or pilot programs that were requested by teachers and administrators to provide a big or little extra boost to make school programs more effective.

The Foundation's biggest annual fundraiser is Monday evening, October 15, in the high school cafeteria from 6:00 - 8:00 pm.

And if love of learning isn't enough to make you want to participate, here's the best part. It's called the "Taste of Burnt Hills" because it gives you the chance to sample food from a dozen local restaurants!

Yummy food, music, a silent auction, lots of Burnt Hills folks, AND a chance to provide extras for your favorite students -- all for $25.

Tickets are available at the door and at Mail 'n More. See the Education Foundation's website for a list of participating restaurants.

Salary steps to continue at same levels as in 2010-11

BH-BL adopts new contract with Teachers Association

Posted Oct. 10, 2012:  At their business meeting on October 9, the Burnt Hills-Ballston Lake Board of Education approved a new three-year negotiated agreement with its Teachers Association, concluding a bargaining process that began two years ago.

Members of the Teachers Association voted in late September to ratify the agreement, which covers the period of July 1, 2011 - June 30, 2014. There are approximately 280 members of the BH-BL teachers bargaining unit.

The contract includes no salary schedule changes for steps 1 to 19 in any of the three years of the contract. READ MORE

BH-BL student's book for sale on Amazon & elsewhere

There aren't many high school students who can say that copies of their novel are available at local bookstores. But BH-BL junior Erin Billings can.

Her novel Sincerely about a girl with cerebral palsy was published this year by Open Door Publishers in Malta. It is now for sale for $14.95 on Amazon. Locally, the Open Door Bookstore at 128 Jay Street, Schenectady, is a holding a book signing party featuring Erin on Saturday, Oct. 20 from 1:00 - 2:30.

You can read all about Erin and her book in this story by Daily Gazette reporter Michael Goot. (The district thanks the Gazette for permission to share this story.)

Average increase of 1.96 percent

School tax bills mailed Aug. 30

BURNT HILLS:  BH-BL Board of Education members have approved a September 2012 total tax levy of $35,085,477. This is the same amount as was projected last May, but increased property assessments in all four of the district's towns mean that tax rates will increase slightly less than had been projected to generate the same number of tax dollars. In fact, Ballston residents will see a small tax rate decrease. SEE DETAILS

Schools receive cash or free equipment from Target, Price Chopper & Hannaford  

New & ongoing corporate promotions benefit BH-BL

BURNT HILLS:  Anyone with a Facebook page can use a new "Give with Target" program to make a donation to any of the five Burnt Hills-Ballston Lake schools at no cost to themselves.

For the details on this and other promotions from Price Chopper and Hannaford, click here.

School board hires new assistant superintendent Christopher Abdoo, approves contract with Administrators Organization

At their annual reorganization and business meeting on July 10, members of the Burnt Hills-Ballston Lake Board of Education:

Elected new board officers for the 2012-13 school year, Appointed Christopher Abdoo to be the district's next assistant superintendent for support services, Approved a new negotiated contract with the BH-BL Administrators Organization, Accepted two grants totaling $29,500, and Voted to rename the high school library the "James L. Schultz Library Media Center" to honor former superintendent Jim Schultz, who retired on June 30.

See the July 12 press release for details on all the above items.

BH-BL shines again in ranking of 85 regional school districts

For the third year in a row, Burnt Hills-Ballston Lake has been ranked 5th overall out of 85 Greater Capital Region public school districts in an analysis of student achievement done by the Business Review newspaper.

BH-BL students' scores ranked 3rd in the region on state Math tests and 4th on state Science tests.

BH-BL was ranked as the highest performing district in Saratoga County, and our spending per pupil ranked 74th in the region, creating a combination of high achievement with low costs that is hard to beat.  READ MORE

Graduation held June 21, 2012 at SPAC

Sarah Read, Valedictorian	Aquilla Chase, Salutatorian

Once again on Thursday, June 21, the auditorium of the Saratoga Performing Arts Center was filled with young adults in burgundy and white as 309 members of the Burnt Hills-Ballston Lake Class of 2012 received their diplomas.

Speakers at the ceremony included four students: Class of 2012 president Morgan Seber, vice president Craig Maughan, valedictorian Sarah Read, and salutatorian Aquilla Chase.

Board of Education honors retirees & outstanding students

As they do each June, at their meeting on June 5, 2012, members of the Burnt Hills-Ballston Lake Board of Education honored outstanding students from each of the district's five school as well as all staff retiring during the 2011-12 school year. READ MORE

BH-BL students shine at Honors Night on May 23

The high school auditorium was packed on the evening of May 23, 2012, as an 8-page list of honors won by our students was announced. Awards were made to all types of students for their academic, civic and/or athletic accomplishments. Announcements included more than $4 million worth of college scholarships for members of the BH-BL Class of 2012, and many individual awards sponsored by local businesses, families and organizations. The evening is a microcosm of BH-BL culture and values, including many inspiring stories of people past and present associated with this school district and community. See the complete list of 2012 awards and this year's recipients.

Breakfast program exemption sought

The Burnt Hills-Ballston Lake school district has again applied for an exemption from the federal requirement that its schools offer breakfast to pupils in grades K through 6. The district has been granted this exemption from the National School Breakfast Program every year for the past 17 years.

Assistant Superintendent Jacqueline St. Onge noted that, when surveyed, fewer than 10% of BH-BL  families indicate they would participate in a breakfast program. "There is a strong likelihood we would lose money on this if required to offer breakfast," she said, "because so few children would participate."

Only 7% of BH-BL children qualify for free lunches (a frequently used indicator of student poverty), compared to 42% of public school pupils statewide.

11 new BH-BL Founders' Day Award winners are honored

February 2, 2011 saw a celebration of BH-BL values and culture at the annual PTA Founders' Day dinner.

To view a larger photo with names and more details, go to Founders' Day 2012.

BH-BL High School named a "Grammy Signature School"

BURNT HILLS:  The Burnt Hills-Ballston Lake High School has been named a "2012 Grammy Signature School Semi-finalist" by the Grammy Foundation.

Only 125 public high schools in the nation received this honor, including two schools in the Greater Capital Region: BH-BL and Guilderland. Finalists in the annual competition will be announced in March. READ MORE

Spartan "Iron Chefs" show off their skills

The Burnt Hills-Ballston Lake High School Family and Consumer Sciences (FACS) department held their 1st Annual Spartan Iron Chefs competition on December 1, 2011. Three teams of students who had taken at least one foods course participated.

The student chefs submitted their lab plan and vegetarian recipes beforehand. They were required to use fresh ingredients and at least one locally grown ingredient. 

SEE STORY & MORE PHOTOS  

Special website feature:
"Policy Search" feature is live  The Burnt Hills-Ballston Lake Board of Education Policy Manual has literally hundreds of policies that describe and control how all aspects of our schools will operate. All these policies are available on this website. We also have a simple way to search through them instantly using key words or phrases that interest you. At BH-BL Policy Manual, you can view both the list of all policy titles and our policy search feature.