Weekly Bulletin

September 3 - September 7, 2018  |  Week 1

MESSAGE FROM BAA HEADMASTER, MS. CLARK

Welcome to Boston Arts Academy's 2018-2019 school year! It's a year of great excitement and change for our community, and many great things are ahead! Over the summer, we successfully moved to our new home at 11 Charles Street, Dorchester in Fields Corner. We have received a warm welcome both from the neighborhood and from our neighbor school that shares the Cleveland Complex with us: the Community Academy of Science and Health (or "the CASH" for short).

I'm very much looking forward to seeing students on Wednesday, September 5. Please see the schedule below. We always have an orientation for new students; this year we wanted to orient all students to the new building. A few students have already seen the space and have been surprised and excited by what they saw. I can't wait to see everyone's reaction! On Wednesday you will get the full tour, an update on community standards and norms for the Cleveland complex, and you'll have a chance to connect with your teachers and your class.

Although we will only have two days of classes this week (Thursday, September 6 and Friday, September 7), those are crucial days. Teachers will begin teaching day one; please be prepared for academic classes (paper and writing utensil is all you'll need to start) and artistic classes (dance and theatre students in appropriate attire. Instrumentalists should also bring their instruments).

Finally, I want to offer a sincere thank you to those families who volunteered and helped during our re-location. I am really grateful for the generosity of the Boston Arts Academy community. We teach our students that true artists have a vision with integrity for themselves and their community. Thank you to our families for modeling just that.

Have a great week!

CONGRATULATIONS AND SHOUT-OUTS

A big shout-out to students who went to art summer programs far and wide. If your name isn’t listed for a summer program, let Ms. Marsh know and we’ll shout you out in subsequent bulletins.

Dance: Aurora Arntz, Shamari Banks, Rockisha Bartholomew, Angel Batista, Callie Demos, Antonio DePina, Bianca Dias, Carlos Hernandez, Kaydra Hopkins, Tambre Keene, Kayla Ricketts, Aniya Rodriguez, Raivin Smith

Music: Mayal Levy, Tuan Nguyen, Danny Rivera, Carolina Schott Olivo, Chavez Singletary

Theatre: Jonah Barricklo

Visual Arts: Henry Anderson, Jessy Gonzalez, Natalia Reyes, Elijah Wood

Most of these students received scholarships; be sure to congratulate them on a job well done!

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)

ANNOUNCEMENTS FOR ALL STUDENTS

Please also see the appropriate section below for information specific to your art major

School starts Thursday, September 6 at 8:10am. Students are expected to be in advisory by 8:10am.

Please join us in welcoming New Faculty and staff!

Administration: Ms. Yarima Ariza, Ms. Stacy Selman

Health & Wellness: Ms. Ashleigh Randolph, Ms. Stacy Selman, Mr. Kwame Dance (Intern), Ms. Esther Kim (Intern), Ms. Sheena McDaniels (Intern), Ms. Amber Villanueva Pittmann (Intern)

Dance: Mr. Brett Bell, Janelle Gilchrist, Ms. Heather Stewart

Theatre: Mr. Sean Gibbons, Ms. Chelsea Kerl

Visual Arts: Ms. Hart Rippe (Intern)

Humanities: Mr. Paul Edwards, Ms. Yejide Najee-Ullah, Ms. Shannon Daniels (Intern)

Learning Center: Ms. Colleen Considine, Ms. Barbara Ghartey

Library: Ms. Rose Marz

STEAM: Mr. William Barrett, Ms. Nadjya Facey-Castillo, Mr. Derrick James, Ms. Stephanie Loneck, Ms. Molly Pratt (Intern), Ms. Florence Wanjiku (Intern)

Student Orientation: On Wednesday, September 5, there will be a student orientation for each grade level. Student orientation will take place at BAA’s new location (11 Charles St., Dorchester, MA 02122).

Grade 9: 8-11am (meet in auditorium)

Grade 10: 1-3pm (meet in main lobby)

Grade 11: 1-3pm (meet in auditorium)

Grade 12: 9-11am (meet in auditorium)

There will be a Special Schedule for Day 1 (September 6) & Day 2 (September 7): Students start the day in advisory on Thursday and Friday. Advisors are calling students and families before the first day of school and will communicate advisory room numbers.

School doors will open every morning at 7:30am; breakfast will be served every morning.

If you get to school after 8:20am, please sign-in in the main office so you are not marked absent for the day. If you are absent, a note must be brought to the main office within 5 school days of the absence.

Lockers: Locker assignments can be found in your ASPEN account starting on the first day of school.

On the first day of school, you will receive an important packet of forms that your family must complete and return the following day - Friday, September 7. Completed forms can be returned to your advisor. Please be sure to have your parent/caregiver sign in all places that require a signature, otherwise forms will be returned to students and families for completion.

School supplies: Teachers will pass out syllabi the first few days of school that include school supply lists; students are asked to have materials by the second week of school. On the first day (Thursday, September 6), please be prepared for academic classes (paper and writing utensil) and dance and theatre students need appropriate attire. Instrumentalists should also have their instruments the first day.

Summer scholarship recipients: If you received a summer scholarship for an arts program, please join Ms. Marsh in the Library at 3pm on the first day of school (September 6) for a thank you writing session! Bring your gratitude and good adjectives.

Schedule changes: Students’ schedules can be seen in students’ ASPEN accounts this week, but there may be changes before the first day of school. If you feel you are scheduled for the wrong class, you can request a schedule change with your advisor using the schedule change form. All schedule changes must be signed by the advisor, and turned into Ms. Bautista’s box for academic classes, and Ms. Marsh’s box for arts classes. You must continue to go to the class on your schedule until you receive a paper copy of the new schedule from Ms. Chourafa or you can see it on Aspen. Please note that no schedule changes are made because of teacher preference.

Summer Reading assignments are due on Tuesday, September 11 at the beginning of Seminar class. If you do not submit your summer reading assignment by the deadline, you will get a zero and may be required to attend a make-up session. Students who are required to attend a make-up session will be notified.

Roxbury Community College is still accepting applicants for their dual enrollment program (high school students taking college courses). Juniors and Seniors are eligible to apply to take free college-level courses outside of their BAA schedule. Please see the course catalogue here, and information about applying here. Classes start this week, so interested students should apply ASAP. Applications for spring/2nd semester dual enrollment courses will be due in December. Please direct questions to Ms. Bautista, Academic Dean, jbautista@bostonartsacademy.org.

SAVE THE DATES

SEPTEMBER

Tuesday, September 18

Back-to-School Night for Grades 9-11

Location: Boston Arts Academy

6:00 - 7:45pm

Thursday, September 20

Senior Family College and Career Night

Location: Boston Arts Academy

6:00 - 8:00pm

Thursday, September 27th

Senior Financial Aid Workshop

Location: Boston Arts Academy

6:00 - 8:00pm

OCTOBER

Thursday, October 4th

BAA Open House

Location: Boston Arts Academy

8:00 - 3:00pm

Tuesday, October 30

Junior Night: College Admissions

Location: Boston Arts Academy

6:00 - 8:00pm

NOVEMBER

Wednesday, November 7

Boston Performing and Visual Arts College Fair

Location: Emmanuel College - Jean Yawkey Center (400 The Fenway, Boston)

6:30-8:30pm

Wednesday, November 14

Family Conference Day

Location: Boston Arts Academy

**There will be no classes on this day

For additional details, or for a listing of all events for the school year, please check our website calendar here.

INFORMATION FOR PARENTS, GUARDIANS, AND CAREGIVERS

Please also see the “SAVE THE DATES” section above for upcoming events, and the appropriate art section below for information specific to your student's art major

Advisors are calling students and families before school starts. Your advisors will introduce themselves, explain what will be happening the first few days of school, and give you some key initial dates. Advisors are the first point of contact for families, and you should feel free to contact your advisor throughout the year.

On the first day of school all students will receive an important packet of forms that families must complete and return to their student's advisor the following day: Friday, September 7. Your signature will be required in multiple sections; please be sure to sign the document in all sections that require a signature. Forms that are incomplete will be returned to you for completion.

Important information regarding T Passes: On the first day of school, all students will be issued an M7 pass. M7s allow unlimited travel on Bus, Subway, Express Bus, and Commuter Rail Zones 1A, 1, and 2 from September 1 to June 30.

School supplies: Teachers will pass out syllabi the first few days of school that include school supply lists; students are asked to have materials by the second week of school.

When a student is absent, the parent/caregiver must send a note explaining the reason for the absence within five school days of the absence. Notes sent after five school days will not be honored. Please make sure your note includes: student name, student ID #, date of absence, reason for absence, and parent/caregiver signature.

DANCE

These announcements are specific to Dance majors; for performances, see “SAVE THE DATES” above

Dance clothes on the first day of school. All students should be appropriately dressed for all dance classes on Thursday, September 6, which will be a Modern day. All lower house female students on September 6 should have black leotards and black or tan convertible or footless tights; all female upper house students on September 6 can have black or burgundy leotards. All male students on September 6 should have a white or black t-shirt or tank shirt, with heavy duty black tights that are footless and a dance belt.

FASHION TECHNOLOGY

These announcements are specific to Fashion majors; for exhibitions, see “SAVE THE DATES” above

Welcome back Fashion Family!

Upper house Fashion students will be volunteering at the CAPWALK Boston Fashion Show, by Verma Foundation.

Monday, September 10

6:00 - 9:00pm

Publico Street Bistro & Garden

11 Dorchester Street

*Parents please feel free to contact Ms. Polito (epolito@bostonartsacademy.org) for more information.

12 of our Fashion students will be presenting their designs, in a small collection, in the Fashion on Fire FASHION SHOW, by Project Smile.

Friday, September 28

7:00 - 10:00pm

Hilton Boston/Woburn

2 Forbes Road

Woburn, MA 01801

*To complete their work, students will have to stay during after school hours. Specific dates TBD. Parents/caregivers, Ms. Polito will be in contact within the next week. This is an exciting opportunity for the Fashion Technology students to showcase their work in a professional setting. Tickets are available for parents/caregivers. Additional tickets may be purchased here.

MUSIC

These announcements are specific to Music majors; for performances, see “SAVE THE DATES” above

Instrumental music majors: Please bring your instruments on the first day of school - Thursday, September 6.

THEATRE

These announcements are specific to Theatre majors; for performances, see “SAVE THE DATES” above

Theatre clothes on the first day of school. All students should be appropriately dressed for all Theatre classes on Thursday, September 6. This is an Acting, Film and Production concentration day. All students should have black sweat or yoga pants and a black, white, or gray t-shirt void of logos.   Auditions for the upper house main stage will take place the 11th-13th.

VISUAL ARTS

These announcements are specific to VA majors; for exhibitions, see “SAVE THE DATES” 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: jbaustista@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 Director, Blanca E. Bonilla: bbonilla@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