Dear BHS Students and Families,

Today we welcomed Debbi Coltin from the Lappin Foundation to address all of our students on antisemitism, as part of our response to the Swastikas that were found in the school before the holidays. I am proud of the students for being so receptive and mature during these assemblies. My hope following this assembly is that our community is better informed about antisemitism and the history of the swastika, and that, individually and collectively, we are able to push back when we encounter hate speech. I let students know that we will be using our March community day to address some of the other hate speech and bias that is occurring around the building. With this in mind, I have asked everyone to commit to using the bias/bullying reporting form when encountering bias or hate. This enables us to have a better idea where and what bias is showing up at BHS.

Today was also our annual student-led course fair, marking the start of our course sign-up process for next year. I will be sending out more information on course selection next week.

Isaac Taylor
Principal 

Belmont Public Schools is exploring new pathways to graduation.
Pathways are ways for students to take a connected sequence of courses around an area of interest—such as engineering, media production, or other fields—while still meeting all graduation requirements. These pathways would also include opportunities to apply learning in real-world ways, such as internships, projects, or research.

Right now, most students follow a similar set of required courses and electives that don’t always connect to a specific theme or future interest. We want to explore how high school could offer more options—pathways that are academically strong, engaging, and help students see how what they’re learning connects to college, careers, and life after high school.

All courses in the Program of Studies would continue to be open to students. Pathways would simply offer an option to follow a specific sequence of courses connected to a particular area of interest, along with hands-on learning experiences.

Your feedback is an important part of this work.
This survey is designed to understand what types of pathways and learning experiences would interest you. Your responses will help guide future planning for high school programs. 

This survey should take about 5 minutes. Please respond by January 30. 

Pathways Feedback Student Survey

Junior Future Planning Night - Save the Date! 

On the evening of January 29, 2026 at 6:30pm, BHS Guidance will be hosting a Junior Future Planning Night webinar for the students and caregivers of the Class of 2027. We will provide information on the college process, as well as other pathways for students to consider. The evening will end with a panel of 3 college representatives, including Bentley University and Syracuse University, in which you will hear about their respective schools and be able to ask questions. Given the nature of the platform and to be considerate of time, we are asking that you submit questions you have prior to the meeting. Please use the following link to submit your questions by Monday, January 26th:  https://docs.google.com/forms/d/1CkyCkA2m8uk7TziD6cukQRr4_Q5amn0gPWS5ayS3Taw/preview

Link for Webinar:

Junior Future Planning Night

Thursday, January 29 · 6:30 – 8:00pm

Time zone: America/New_York

Google Meet joining info

Video call link: https://meet.google.com/iet-jnni-uzk

Or dial: ‪(US) +1 352-571-2147‬ PIN: ‪770 933 007‬#

More phone numbers: https://tel.meet/iet-jnni-uzk?pin=7430018450656

SAT Practice Exams

Exam Details: 

SAT Practice Exam: Saturday, January 31, 2026 | 9:00 AM -12:00 PM | Proctored online via Zoom

SAT Practice Exam: Saturday, February 7, 2026 | 9:00 AM -12:00 PM | Proctored online via Zoom

*Please note that these live exams are proctored in standard time only. If you have been approved for an extended time accommodation, go ahead and register for the exam, then use this self-proctoring guide to walk you through the process of using our on-demand video proctor with extended time.

Step 1: Register here: www.revolutionprep.com/partners/belmonths/     

Step 2: Schedule a free 30-minute score report review with a Revolution Prep testing expert to help you interpret the results and develop a customized plan to prepare. Please schedule this appointment for the few days after the exam. You can pre-schedule this Score Report Review here: https://www.revolutionprep.com/vasilios-kostakis  

Step 3: Attend the mock exam and instantly receive our best-in-class score report, illustrating three high-impact areas to focus on for each section of the test.

Questions? If you have questions or want to learn more about Revolution Prep, you can reach out to Vasilios Kostakis at (781) 916-8668 or by email at vasilios.kostakis@revolutionprep.com.

Snow Shoveling

With the upcoming snowstorm this weekend, keep an eye out for senior neighbors who may need assistance with shoveling or snow removal.

Students: you can also get matched with an older adult in your neighborhood who could use a hand with snow removal. Receive community service credit and help your community.

For details reach out to Aimée LeBrun at the Beech Street Center: alebrun@belmont-ma.gov 

Discover Your Gap Year!

Tuesday, February 10, 7-8 p.m., Zoom

Find out why more students are taking a Gap Year between high school and college. Many teens want to increase college and workplace readiness by exploring interests, traveling, improving professional skills, and engaging in other experiences that increase confidence, independence, and maturity. Join Katherine Stievater, founder of Gap Year Solutions for a presentation and Q&A about why students choose to take a Gap Year, and how to plan transformational and purposeful Gap time on any budget. 

Register at https://forms.gle/Wat832wRyMY3Xk5A6

New! Gold Service Award

With the federal government putting the Presidents Volunteer Service Award program on hold, the PTSO is happy to sponsor a Gold Service Award to recognize motivated students who have completed a high level of volunteerism and service. Any Belmont High student may earn this award by completing more than 100 hours of community service by Sunday, April 26, 2026; submitting the hours through MobileServe; completing the application found here; and meeting with the PTSO in the spring for a brief meeting to verify the hours. 

Questions? Please email bhsptsoservice@gmail.com

We are coming up on midterm week which marks the end of the second quarter. As you may know, we run out of classroom supplies very fast, and our teachers end up having to buy these materials for their classrooms out of their own pockets. 

As a result, the SuppliED club is running a classroom donation over the course of the next few weeks. It would be most appreciated if parents send their kids to school with some of the following supplies and drop them off in the marked box outside of the main office. 

Our teachers most need tissues, Clorox wipes, dry erase markers, pencils, and colored pens. Thanks for making a difference in our community.

Belmont Wellness Coalition’s Parent Group meets next (over zoom) on Wed., Jan. 28 at 7:00 PM.
Topic: How to talk (so teens will listen – and listen - so teens will talk) about substance misuse: its impacts, risk/protective factors, refusal skill strategies. Please share what’s working well for you and also what’s concerning you.
All are welcome!

Zoom link: https://waysideyouth-org.zoom.us/j/81523616493?pwd=d2hPPy44DhRc3OZbGgcVkrFBrz6XQQ.1

CONGRATULATIONS SOPHIA!

With Mid-Term exams and the way the schedule worked out, The Girls Hockey Team only had one game this week.  On Monday, the girls travelled to the Canton Ice House to take on the Defending Division 2 State Champs in Medfield.  At the end of the first period the team was down 2-0……and Sophomore Mia Smith scored her first goal of the season on the power play to cut it to 2-1 after the second.  Freshman Mackenzie Tierney tied the game up late in the third period to send the game to Overtime.  Just over a minute and half into OT, Mia Smith threw the puck towards the net and it deflected off of a Medfield players skate and into the net.  Wicked funny things can happen when you put the puck on net, especially when Mia was almost in the corner and had really no other options at the time.  Sophomore goalie Elinor Dorn had some key saves late in the third period to keep us in the game.  The Lady Marauders are at Stoneham on Saturday 6:00 pm. 

The JV track team headed to New Balance Track on MLK Day Monday for the Middlesex League JV Championship. We had many outstanding performances, with several Belmont athletes earning points in their events. Jimbo Kenneally scored in the 300m, while Jack Moriarty placed third in the 1,000m. Arka Anand added a fifth-place finish in the 55m hurdles and also earned points in the long jump. Our relay squads finished fourth in both the 4x200m and 4x400m relays, and Carder Lloyd scored points in the high jump. A freshman/sophomore meet will take place this Saturday at Reggie Lewis Track in Boston, where many boys will be competing. Looking ahead, training will continue next week as we prepare for Varsity Championships on 2/2. 

This Week, …The Boys team had two OT games vs tough opponents. Losing by two points to undefeated Winchester in front of a packed house here in Belmont and then bounced back at home vs a tough Stoneham team to win in overtime. Varsity is now 6-5 and headed to play @ Reading tonight at 7pm. Freshman Boys hoop remain undefeated- and JV boys are 4-5on the year.

The Girls Indoor Track team finished up the JV season with the JV Championship on Monday. The coaches were thrilled to see the majority of athletes set season Personal Records in the final meet of their season. Next up for the Varsity athletes is the Middlesex League Championship on February 2nd.

Girls basketball is on a roll, with both JV and Varsity teams remaining undefeated this month.

Varsity: Our “Big 3” - Sophia McClendon, Becca Christensen, and Sarah Geller - continue to set the tone offensively and as leaders on the floor. In an exciting 42-41 win over Winchester on January 16, the trio powered the offense, combining for 34 points. Senior Captain Erin Attridge provided a huge spark off the bench, knocking down 2 clutch three-pointers in key moments.

A special highlight of the Winchester game came when senior captain Sophia McClendon scored her 1,000th career point, a remarkable milestone and a testament to years of dedication in the gym. A big shout-out to the Marauder Basketball Association (MBA) and Belmont Youth Basketball Association (BYBA) for organizing Belmont Basketball Night and creating an electric atmosphere for this memorable moment. Congratulations, Sophia!

The momentum continued with a strong 53-41 league win over Stoneham on January 20, led by Sophia’s 23 points, including 5 three-pointers, as the “Big 3” combined for 43 points. 

Varsity followed that up with a dominant 56-37 non-league victory over Brockton on January 22, powered by an energized, hard-working bench.

JV: our team has continued its impressive January run with three strong wins over Winchester, Stoneham, and Brockton, showcasing teamwork, grit, and relentless effort from start to finish. Every player contributed, with the bench providing constant energy and support in key moments. This latest stretch extends the team’s winning streak to 7 straight games, including a perfect 6-0 record in 2026, and brings our overall record to 8-3. Giuliana Elia delivered standout performances with back-to-back 11-point games, hitting 3 three-pointers in each and continuing to be a force on the defensive end. The team looks to keep the momentum going tonight at Reading Memorial.

Varsity now stands at 8-4 overall and 6-3 in the Middlesex League and looks ahead to another league matchup against Reading tonight. Come cheer us on!

Please Attached a flyer for the All Night Party Fundraiser here.

Caregiver guidelines about Belmont High School math course placement can be found here.