Weekly Bulletin June 3 - June 7, 2019 | Week 37 |
MESSAGE FROM BAA HEADMASTER, MS. CLARK |
This past week, some teachers have been piloting a cell phone storage system in their classrooms where students have individual designated spaces to store and charge their phone away from their seat. Teachers participating in the pilot--and many students, too--reported an increase in attention, focus, and learning in class. Because the pilot was successful, the teaching staff is now discussing whether to roll the system out school-wide next year. I look forward to working with student government and Family Council to hear their ideas and response. We implemented this pilot because, frankly, we have a community challenge with cell phones. Ms. Brown, the teacher who led the pilot, describes the challenge this way: "Our school policy is that students do not have their phone or electronics out during class unless by teacher permission. However, we see daily how many students, when they keep their phone on them, struggle during class with that. Some frequently check their social media, some text, some are distracted by notifications that come in, some take a bathroom break just to use their phones, etc. All of this is distracting and taking away from their learning. In fact, there’s been a lot of research lately, that shows students who have their phones on or near them during class do a lot worse on tests and when they’re learning something new than students who store their phones away from them." We hope that families can support these efforts going forward. I strongly suggest that families talk to their students about the effect of cell phones on their learning and consider instituting "phone free" times at home. If families would like to be part of the conversation, please consider coming to a Family Council meeting. The next meeting is this Tuesday, June 4 at 6pm. Have a great week! |
CONGRATULATIONS AND SHOUT OUTS |
Congratulations to Marianelys Tejeda and Natalia Reyes for being selected to participate in the Bloomberg Arts Initiative this summer. Marianelys and Natalia will participate in a paid eight-week internship in a Boston arts or cultural institution this summer. The Bloomberg Arts Internship program seeks to develop the professional skill sets of students in Boston public schools. Each year, every state university selects one person for the Annual Educator Alumni Award. This year, MassArt's Art Education Department selected our very own Barrington Edwards for his incredible long-term dedication to education in his role as an artist-educator. Congratulations Mr. Edwards! Congratulations to Ms. Green-Hill and the string instrument students on their concert last week. The concert featured a wide variety of music from the classics of Vivaldi and Dvorak to film scores and culminated in a performance of "Go Down Moses" and "Purple" written or arranged by Darin Atwater and included wind, brass and rhythm section students as well as the Spirituals Ensemble. Congratulations to Ms. Polito, Mr. Mendoza, and fashion tech majors for their participation in Boston Fashion Week’s "Open Runway". Fashion students presented their designs, but the best part about this process was the collaboration with student models from other majors. ALL BAA Majors were represented today at this year’s “Open Runway”! Have someone(s) to congratulate or shout out? Please email Ms. Booth --> tbooth@bostonartsacademy.org (be sure to include name and reason for the shout out) |
CALENDAR OF EVENTS |
JUNE Tuesday, June 4 - Wednesday, June 5 - Science MCAS Testing for 9th Graders Tuesday, June 4 - Family Council Meeting, 6:00-7:30pm Wednesday, June 5 - Senior Graduation Rehearsal, 11:00am @ Shubert Theatre Wednesday, June 5 - Spring Piano Recital, 6:30-8:00pm | Seully Hall, Boston Conservatory @ Berklee (8 The Fenway) Thursday, June 6 - Informal Dance Showing Tuesday, June 6 - BAA Film Festival (BAAFF), 7:30pm @ Paramount Center Friday, June 7 - Prom, 7:00-11:00pm @ Holiday Inn-Brookline Monday, June 10 - Graduation Day, 2:00-4:00pm at the Shubert Theatre; No Regular Classes Friday, June 14 - Last Day of Classes and Sign-out for Gr. 9-11 Friday, June 14 - End of Year Fashion Show: IN.FORM. 3:30pm & 7:30pm Monday, June 17 - RICO Conferences, Day 1 Tuesday, June 18 - RICO Conferences, Day 2 (morning) | Junior Step-Up Ceremony (afternoon) Wednesday, June 19 - Breakfast BBQ in the park For additional details, or for a listing of all events for the school year, please check our website calendar here. |
ANNOUNCEMENTS FOR ALL STUDENTS Please also see the appropriate section below for information specific to your art major |
*NEW* SENIORS: MBTA Youth Pass Program. While graduating seniors are no longer eligible for M7’s, they may be eligible to receive the Youth Pass. The Youth Pass program offers eligible young adults between the ages of 12-25 discounted transportation pass. This pass allows the participants to ride the T & bus for only $30 dollars a month. To receive an MBTA Youth Pass, applicants must a Boston resident, have already graduated from high school, and meet the MBTA Youth Pass Program guidelines and follow the following steps: Step 1: Review program qualification & guidelines Step 2: Complete Intake Form If you have any questions, or would like more information, please click here. *NEW* Free Summer Memberships for Teens at the YMCA! Join Boston’s ultimate place for teens and experience full access to any of the YMCA of Greater Boston’s 13 locations. Activities include:
Visit your local branch to sign up and for activity schedules! Or click here for more information. Return your library books to get candy! Every student has received an email in their BPS email account with the library books they need to return by the end of the year. You can return books you've taken out and receive candy! Books must be checked out for at least 1 week, please see the library staff for more information. Change the Game. Wanna be a game changer? Change the Game is an initiative from Google Play to support women in the gaming industry and improve representation in the mobile gaming world. Teens are invited to tap into their imagination and share their own game idea to the Change The Game Design Challenge. Winners will have their game ideas built and launched on Google Play, receive scholarship money (up to $15,000), and more. If you're between 13 and 18 years old and have an idea for a mobile game, submit it here! The submission deadline is Friday, June 7th. Fashion Tech Sewciety is excited to present IN.FORM. Annual Fashion Show of Student Designs and Collections. Friday, June 14 | 3:30pm & 7:30pm Location: BAA/CASH Auditorium | 11 Charles St. | Dorchester, MA 02122 Tickets will go on sale SOON! For more information please contact fashiontech@bostonartsacademy.org. *NEW* Explore STEAM! ESTEAM is a no-cost 4-week program designed for high school freshmen and sophomores interested in STEAM subjects. Workshop modules explore each of the six elements of STEAM with a focus on personal development, mental health and sustainability. The goal of the program is to inspire students to learn about STEAM subjects as a means to personal and professional development in a creative way. The workshops will take place on Saturdays from October 5th - October 26th. Rolling applications will be accepted between July 1st and September 1st. Click here to learn more and to apply! *NEW* If you were unable to attend the music department’s Spring Choral Concert, A Tribute to the Queen of Soul: Aretha Franklin, video of the event is now available. Click here to watch! |
COLLEGE AND CAREER |
SOPHOMORES AND JUNIORS: Boston Public Library is holding *free* 4-week SAT classes this spring in various locations. View their events calendar for more information. JUNIORS, are you looking for free SAT Prep? Let’s Get Ready is a 9-week curriculum administered by trained college student Coaches that includes SAT prep, college application guidance, college visits, and more. The program is provided at no cost to high school seniors and juniors with qualifying financial need. College Access Students:
Click here for more information and to apply! The Houda Hage Memorial Scholarship | Amount: $1,000 | Deadline: Sunday, June 9. The Houda Hage Memorial Scholarship, established in 2019, is a tribute to the memory of Houda Hage. Houda grew up in Lebanon and Haiti and passed away in June of 2018; In Houda's honor, this scholarship will be awarded to one graduating Haitian or Lebanese high school senior in support of his/her efforts to pursue a given passion or aspiration. Click here to apply. The Friends of the Dudley Branch Library Memorial Scholarship Fund | Amount: $1,000 | Deadline: June 15. Two scholarships will be offered to two deserving high school seniors who are residents of the Roxbury/Dorchester communities (zip codes 02119, 02120, 02121, 02122, 02124 and 02125) and are slated to graduate in June 2019. The applicant should be accepted to attend a college or any institution of higher learning in the fall of 2019. Click here for scholarship details and to apply. Ocean Awareness Contest | Amount: up to $1,500 | Deadline: Monday, June 17. This contest is a call for young artists, thinkers, and activists who are concerned about the future of our human and natural communities to use their creative voices to explore, express, and advocate for issues related to climate change and our oceans. Create a piece about a coastal/marine species, place, or system in 2019 that will be threatened, altered, or lost due to climate change. Submissions accepted in: Visual Art, Poetry, Prose, Music, Film. Click here for additional details and to apply. The ALKU Scholarship | Amount: $20,000 | Deadline: Friday, June 28. Created in 2015 by ALKU CEO and Founder and MMP Board Member, Mark Eldridge, the ALKU Scholarship is a $20,000 college scholarship for rising high school seniors. Through Mark's leadership and generosity, the scholarship provides youth the opportunity to apply for financial support to achieve their full potential as they pursue their college careers. Click here for more information and to apply. Kearns Louis-Jean Memorial Scholarship | Amount: 2 Awards for $1,000 | Deadline: Sunday, June 30. The Kearns Louis-Jean Memorial Scholarship is awarded to students of color within Boston, and neighboring cities/town, who are entering their first year of college, and pursuing a degree within STEM. KLJ Way will be awarding TWO $1,000 scholarships for the 2019-2020 academic year. $500.00 will be awarded per semester. Click here for more information and to apply. Scholarships: Going Merry is an awesome new scholarship website. It makes it simple to find and apply for scholarships, just like the Common App has done for college applications! Click here to check it out! MEFA Scholarships for the New Year: www.mefa.org/scholarships-for-the-new-year. Here’s an additional resource for scholarships: studentscholarships.org. |
SUMMER OPPORTUNITIES These announcements include summer jobs and arts enrichment opportunities |
*NEW* PopHealthExperience - A Summer Enrichment Program for Rising 7th - 10th Graders - June 24-28 and July 8-12. What do homelessness, green space in cities, and the flu vaccine have in common? These are issues that public health professionals tackle every day. The PopHealthExperience offers rising 7th-10th-graders an engaging and immersive introduction to the field of public health. Students will learn from Boston University School of Public Health faculty and graduate students about a range of public health topics, participate in hands-on research activities, discover career choices, and develop leadership skills. For more information and to register, click here. Students and families, please click here to explore additional summer opportunities such as arts programs, academic programs, volunteer and paid positions, and internships. Deadlines vary, but the sooner you apply, the better. Note: this document will be updated as new opportunities become available, so be sure to check back frequently. |
INFORMATION FOR PARENTS, GUARDIANS, AND CAREGIVERS Please also see the “CALENDAR OF EVENTS” section above for upcoming events, and the appropriate art section below for information specific to your student's art major |
*NEW* If you were unable to attend the music department’s Spring Choral Concert, A Tribute to the Queen of Soul: Aretha Franklin, video of the event is now available. Click here to watch! Seasonal allergy tips. If you know your child has severe seasonal allergies and needs to take medication, please try to give it to them at home to avoid worsening of symptoms at school. Seasonal allergy symptoms can include red/itchy eyes, watering of eyes, eye swelling, sore throat, runny noses, and sneezing. There are many over the counter medications that can help with Symptoms. The doctor can help you with a good medication option. Oftentimes, a doctor may also recommend using allergy relief eye drops to help with eye itching/irritation. If you have any questions, please feel free to contact the nurse's office! We would like to wish our Muslim students, families, and staff Ramadan Mubarak! Our school looks forward to supporting those who are observing the holiday by fasting, and to honoring the cultural importance of Ramadan. Ramadan began on May 5. Please see attached for an outline of supports we will provide to our students during the month of Ramadan. Donations needed for Nurse's Office. Please consider donating the following items if you are able. You can drop these items off at BAA - Attn: Nurse Jocelyne. You can also order them directly through AmazonSmile (select Boston Arts Academy Foundation) and BAA will get a % of the purchase donated as well. Here are the needed items: cough drops or throat lozenges, Lysol wipes, Lysol spray, hand sanitizer, hand cream, tissue boxes, sandwich bags, sanitary napkins/tampons, Advil (200mg). Do you shop at Amazon.com? Begin your visit at smile.amazon.com and AmazonSmile will donate to Boston Arts Academy! |
DANCE These announcements are specific to Dance majors; for performances, see “CALENDAR OF EVENTS” above |
Thursday, June 6 - Dance Showing and Departmental Awards, 6:00-7:30pm in the Auditorium. |
FASHION TECHNOLOGY These announcements are specific to Fashion majors; for exhibitions, see “CALENDAR OF EVENTS” above |
Fashion Tech Sewciety is excited to present IN.FORM. Annual Fashion Show of Student Designs and Collections. Friday, June 14 | 3:30pm & 7:30pm Location: BAA/CASH Auditorium | 11 Charles St. | Dorchester, MA 02122 For more information please contact fashiontech@bostonartsacademy.org. Fashion families: In order to prepare for our end of year fashion show, Ms. Polito will be staying after 4pm on Wednesdays and Thursdays for the following weeks to come. Students are encouraged to use this time to complete their work. Please do not hesitate to contact Ms. Polito at epolito@bostonartsacademy.org. |
MUSIC These announcements are specific to Music majors; for performances, see “CALENDAR OF EVENTS” above |
No announcements. |
THEATRE These announcements are specific to Theatre majors; for performances, see “CALENDAR OF EVENTS” above |
June is right around the corner and we are sending these dates as a heads up.
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VISUAL ARTS These announcements are specific to VA majors; for exhibitions, see “CALENDAR OF EVENTS” above |
No announcements. |
Questions or Concerns? For artistic concerns, contact Artistic Dean, Kathleen Marsh: kmarsh@bostonartsacademy.org For academic concerns, including special education and support for English language learners, contact Academic Dean, Joy Bautista: jbautista@bostonartsacademy.org For safety and school culture concerns, contact Dean of Students, Edgar Vasquez: evasquez@bostonartsacademy.org For health concerns, contact Nurse Jocelyne Aboujaoude: jaboujaoude@bostonartsacademy.org For admissions information, contact Admissions Manager, Christina Rodríguez: crodriguez@bostonartsacademy.org For any concerns, feel free to contact Headmaster, Anne Clark: aclark@bostonartsacademy.org Helpful Links: School Calendar, SIS Login, BAA Handbook for Students & Families |
Boston Arts Academy
11 Charles Street, Dorchester, MA 02122
bostonartsacademy.org | 617-635-6470
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