FAQs

Current BMHS students can request a transcript from their school counselor.

Graduates of BMHS may request a transcript in person by visiting the BMHS School Counseling Department or emailing Ms. Tavella at tavellaa@norwalkps.org.

Download the Transcript Request Form

Click here for more information about Obtaining School Records from Norwalk Public Schools.

Naviance Student is a web-based college and career portfolio that helps you plan and organize your high school career, as well as keep track of your post-secondary application process. Naviance allows students to learn about their strengths and reflect on their interests. Assessments provide suggestions on how to apply personality traits and learning styles in class, in addition to helping students discover career options based on their interests and strengths.

Click here to access Naviance. To reset your Naviance password, email your counselor. 

Students are encouraged to email their counselor. Counselors have appointment calendars in their Google Classrooms where students can self schedule a meeting.

School Counselors work 7:30 AM to 2:30 PM. The School Counseling Office is open from 8:15 AM until 3:00 PM. on most school days. School Counselors cannot receive walk-in appointments unless it is a dire emergency.

College and Career Access and Affordability planning should begin as soon as 9th grade. Families should become aware of four-year colleges and universities, community colleges, career and technical Schools and online education including duration, preparation and cost.

Ideally, all students will be prepared to apply to post-secondary institutions and complete the FAFSA by October of their senior year.

Visit the College & Career Planning page.

Several Advanced, IB, Honors and College level courses are available to all grade levels. Please see the Program of Studies for specific requirements.

Students can check “Scholarships and Money” in their Naviance account for a scholarship list.

There are also a plethora of other scholarship websites including:

• www.fastweb.com
• www.finaid.com
• www.collegenet.com
• and many more!

If you have more specific questions about scholarships, please see your school counselor. As soon as freshman year, students can join Raise.Me and begin to raise college scholarship money for their accomplishments. 

Seniors and juniors can sign up for information sessions with College Admissions Representatives on Naviance. Upcoming visits are listed on the homepage and the entire list can be found through the “College” tab under “College Research”. 

In order to get working papers you must first get hired. Your new job will provide you with a promise of employment, a letter that contains information regarding specifics about the job. Once you have the promise of employment bring this document in to Mrs. Ball in the Guidance Office who will help you in obtaining working papers. 

Teachers are available for after school help in every subject area. Students should speak with their own teachers to find out when after school help is offered.

Peer Tutoring takes place after school in the career center. 

All students are welcomed and encouraged to participate in extracurricular activities. Click here for a full list of clubs offered at Brien McMahon High School.

Students need to listen for club announcements regarding meetings. Students are always encouraged to participate in clubs that are related to the courses that they are enrolled. Flyers for clubs are posted around the school building for various clubs, sports and activities.

Your student record contains much valuable information that includes standardized test results, SAT scores, and CAPT results, along with any interest inventories or other specialized evaluation instruments.

The following are the letter marks, which make up the marking system with a description of the academic performance corresponding to each mark.

Grading Glossary:

• Marks: Estimates of the student’s work as determined by the teacher of a particular subject.

• Weights: Numerical expression of Mark of A, A-, B+, B, B-, C+, C, C-, D+, D, D-, P, F.

• Units of Credit: Points earned for subjects taken in grades 9, 10, 11 and 12 are used for graduation requirements, admission to college, and determining scholastic honor roll.

• Quality Points: Result of multiplying the weight times the unit.

• Grade Point Average: A numerical average arrived at by dividing the quality points by the units.

• Incomplete: A rank of incomplete makes one ineligible for the Honor Roll until the mark is changed to a letter grade at which time the pupil will become eligible.  A student has ten school days to make up incomplete work or an incomplete becomes an “F” grade.

• Advanced Placement Program: Qualified highly-motivated students may take college-level subjects. Students are expected to take the Advanced Placement exam. More detailed information is available in the Guidance Office and through the school counselors.  Advanced Placement courses carry one additional point.  Advanced Placement courses may be open to underclassmen with special approval.

• Honors Courses:  An honors program for highly motivated and academically talented is available to all students in grades 9, 10, 11 and 12. It is generally recommended that students who elect this program a) demonstrate a high level of motivation for learning, b) have achieved A’s and B’s in related subject areas, and c) be recommended by a team consisting of teachers, counselors, and department chairpersons.

• Grade Level:  In order to be promoted to the next grade level students must accumulate a set number of credits per year.

• Semester:  An academic session constituting half of the academic year.

• Required Subjects:  Subjects necessary for graduation from high school.

• Elective Subjects:  Subjects selected in addition to required subjects in order to earn sufficient credits for graduation.

• Prerequisite Subjects:  Subjects that must be taken to qualify a student for more advanced subjects in the same area.

• Co-requisite Subjects:  Subjects that may be taken concurrently with sequential subjects.

Confidentiality is an important aspect of counseling. This is how the counselor builds trust with the student. What the child says during counseling is to remain between the counselor and the child unless:

1. The child is in imminent danger.
2. The child is threatening to harm him/herself or someone else.
3. The child reports an incident of abuse and/or neglect.
4. The child gives permission to disclose.

When a breach in confidentiality is necessary, the counselor would make a report to the appropriate agencies, support staff and/or parents depending on the situation.

Note: Our highest priority is to keep your student safe. School counselors and other school staff members are mandated reporters. Mandated reporters are required by law to report to CPS any time a student is suspected of being in danger.

The counselor is available Monday through Friday from 7:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. If you would like a meeting, please contact the counselor ahead of time to make an appointment. The counselor schedule is not open to immediate walk-in meetings, however parental involvement is a priority for us and the counselor will try to schedule a meeting for as soon as possible.

Parents are always encouraged to communicate with teachers and counselors through email/ParentSquare about their child's progress. Please make sure that your phone number and email address is up to date in PowerSchool. If you make any changes, please email your student’s Assistant Principal. This will ensure that teachers and staff can contact you about your student’s progress and other school activities.

You can monitor your student’s progress through the NPS Parent Portal.

PowerSchool Parent Portal offers parents the ability to access their child(ren)’s grades and attendance.  

• One parent portal account can be linked to all of your children
• You can set up notifications to be sent to your email
• The district will also be sending forms that you can complete via the parent portal
• Once your account is set up, you can use the mobile app for added convenience
• You can also see fee balances and lunch account balances

Reach out to your school(s) to receive the Access Information needed to link your child(ren) to your account.

Click here to sign into the Parent Portal