Weekly Bulletin September 4 - September 8, 2017 | Week 2 |
MESSAGE FROM BAA HEADMASTER, MS. CLARK |
These past few weeks we have been busy making our final preparations for school to start on Thursday, September 7th at 8:00 am. I was inspired by the energy and enthusiasm of the adults in our community. Teachers, administrative staff, foundation staff, and custodial staff have been working hard and are raring to go. But I was even more inspired by the energy and enthusiasm of our students. We had a large contingent of student leaders as part of student orientation two weeks ago; these students donated their time to make sure our new students understood BAA norms, values, and expectations. This week we had a group of music students volunteer their time to clean and paint the practice rooms. These student leaders wanted to make sure the space they work in reflected their seriousness of purpose. All of these students have started the 2017-2018 school year off right by demonstrating two of our shared values: vision with integrity and community with social responsibility. One of our major goals at BAA is to foster student leadership. BAA is not just what the adults make of it, it's what our young people make of it. We are the school our students want us to be. As we approach opening day, I encourage all of students to think about their intentions for the year ahead and what they can contribute to Boston Arts Academy so we remain a focused, positive, inclusive community. Students, I'm looking forward to seeing you all! It's going to be a great year! |
CONGRATULATIONS AND SHOUT OUTS |
Continuing the arts summer program shout outs: A big shout out to Sierra Morgan who attended a visual arts summer program. Shout out to Aaron Dingle Diamond, Jasmine Gandy, Siobhan Hayes-Keane, Tatiana Holley-Ramos, Savannah Koplow, Amanda Laboy, Briana Laboy, Mayal Levy, Ravia Pantojas, Kaiyla Pritchard, Danny Rivera, Andre Robinson, Jr., Joseph Rodriguez, Brandon Volel, and Shayla Weekes who volunteered to paint the walls in our music practice rooms! The rooms look great. Thank you, Danny, for organizing! Congratulations to Ms. Mandell and Mr. Sullivan who got married this summer! |
ANNOUNCEMENTS FOR ALL STUDENTS Please also see the appropriate section below for information specific to your art major. |
School starts Thursday, September 7 at 8:00am. Students are expected to be in advisory by 8:00am. Please join us in welcoming New Faculty and staff! Ms. Kenechukwu Abajue Umeh (World Language), Ms. Denella Clark (BAA Foundation), Mr. Sam Dreyfus (Humanities), Ms. Meredith Eppel Jylkka (BAA Foundation), Mr. Michael Jugenheimer (BAA Foundation), Ms. Sarah Kroesser (Health & Wellness), Mr. Kareem Lewis (Dance), Ms. Melissa Mills (BAA Foundation), Ms. Margaretta Olton (Design and Visual Communication/Visual Arts), Ms. Molly Jo Rivelli (Music), Ms. Helen Waters (BAA Foundation). There will be a Special Schedule for Day 1 (September 7) & Day 2 (September 8): 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 available starting at 7:45am. If you come to school after 8:45am, 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 days of the absence. 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 8. Completed forms can be returned to your advisor. Please make sure to have your parent/guardian sign in all places that require a signature, otherwise forms will be returned to students and families for completion. Summer scholarship recipients: If you received a summer scholarship for an arts program, please join Ms. Marsh in the Alaska Lab at 3pm on the first day of school (September 7) for a thank you writing session! Bring your gratitude and good adjectives. Attention 9th grade students and families: On Tuesday, September 12, all 9th grade students will take part in a community building event on Thompson Island. Students will get to Thompson Island via ferry. This ferry will leave from the dock promptly at 8:00am. To ensure that students do not miss the ferry, we ask that they arrive at the Silver Line Terminal in South Station by 7:15am – Teachers will meet and direct students from there.
PARENT/GUARDIANS: In order to participate in this event families must complete Medical and Liability Release forms. Students without these forms will not be allowed to participate in the event. Please complete these forms and return them to the main office by Friday, September 8.
STUDENTS: A water bottle, appropriate clothing (for being athletic and outside), and closed-toed shoes are mandatory. It is also recommended that you bring a backpack with extra layers of clothing, sunscreen, sunglasses, and a raincoat. Summer Reading assignments are due on Tuesday, September 12 at the beginning of Seminar (Writer’s Workshop) 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. **CORRECTION** The BAA Student Handbook is an important resource for the BAA community as it includes information about our schedule, courses, school policies, and community standards. This handbook will be available online. If, however, you or your family would like a physical copy of the handbook, please see Ms. Gomez in the main office. 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. 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. Lockers: See your advisor for your locker assignment and combination. Are you interested in working as a Teen Arts Council member at the Museum of Fine Arts, Boston? The Teen Arts Council (TAC) is the MFA’s leadership development program and paid job opportunity for Boston-area teens. The TAC offers participants the opportunity to engage with art, culture, and history; develop workplace and team building skills; and learn about a range of professional options and career paths. Participants create and implement programs and events for their peers and the general public, and advise the MFA on engagement strategies for local teens and their families. We are currently accepting application for Fall 2017. Applications are considered on a rolling basis. Application deadline is September 22, 2017.
Schedule: During the school year (Oct-June): Wednesdays, 4–7 PM The MFA TAC is looking for teens (age 15–18) who:
Apply here: http://www.mfa.org/node/525746 |
SAVE THE DATES |
For additional details, or for a listing of all events for the school year, please check our website calendar here. Tuesday, September 12 9th Grade Community Building Day, 8:00am-3:00pm on Thompson Island. (Please see the student or family announcements section for details and requirements.) Monday, September 18 The National Association for College Admissions Counseling (NACAC) is pleased to announced its 2017 Boston Performing and Visual Arts College Fair on Monday, September 18, 6:30-8:30pm at Emmanuel College - Yawkey Center (400 The Fenway, Boston). This program is an important resource for students interested in pursuing undergraduate and graduate programs of study in the areas of music, theatre, dance, visual arts, graphic design, film production, and other related disciplines. More information can be found on BAA’s website calendar, or on NACAC’s website. To register, please visit: www.gotomypvafair.com. Thursday, September 21 Senior Family College and Career Night, 6-8pm at BAA in the Assembly Hall. Representatives from area colleges and universities will be presenting information on applying to college, definitions of admissions options, what colleges look for in an applicant, and scholarships. Parents and students will have the opportunity to ask questions and receive valuable information on the admissions process. Tuesday, November 14 Family Conference Day. There will be no classes on this day. Families and students are expected to attend. |
ANNOUNCEMENTS FOR FAMILIES Please also see the appropriate section below for information specific to your student's art major. |
Advisors are calling students and families before schools 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 8. Your signature will be required in multiple sections; please make sure you sign the document in all sections that require a signature. Forms that are incomplete will be returned to you for completion. Attention 9th grade students and families: On Tuesday, September 12, all 9th grade students will take part in a community building event on Thompson Island. Students will get to Thompson Island via ferry. This ferry will leave from the dock promptly at 8:00am. To ensure that students do not miss the ferry, we ask that they arrive at the Silver Line Terminal in South Station by 7:15am – Teachers will meet and direct students from there.
PARENT/GUARDIANS: In order to participate in this event families must complete Medical and Liability Release forms. Students without these forms will not be allowed to participate in the event. Please complete these forms and return them to the main office by Friday, September 8.
STUDENTS: A water bottle, appropriate clothing (for being athletic and outside), and closed-toed shoes are mandatory. It is also recommended that you bring a backpack with extra layers of clothing, sunscreen, sunglasses, and a raincoat. **CORRECTION** The BAA Student Handbook is an important resource for the BAA community as it includes information about our schedule, courses, school policies, and community standards. This handbook will be available online. If, however, you would like a physical copy, please contact Ms. Gomez in the main office at mgomez@bostonartsacademy.org or 617-635-6470. Important information regarding reduced T Fares and Department Fees On the first day of school in advisory, BAA students will be issued M7s or S-Cards. M7s allow unlimited travel on Bus, Subway, Express Bus, and Commuter Rail Zones 1A, 1, and 2 from September 1 to June 30; S-Cards allow students to travel on Local Bus, Subway, Express Bus and Commuter Rail at a ‘Pay As You Go’ 50% reduced rate. In the past, as an acknowledgement of BAA’s curriculum which asks students to go to exhibitions and performances all over the city, the Boston Public Schools has issued all BAA students M7s. This year the Boston Public Schools has changed its policy, and students who live close to BAA will be issued S-Cards. We understand that this is an additional cost for BAA’s families. To support families, we will not be asking students who receive S-Cards to pay department fees this year. Rather than dedicating $30 to department fees, we ask that families of students with S-Cards load $30 over the course of the year to cover the cost of transportation to exhibitions and performances. For students who receive an M7 card, please submit your arts department fee by Friday, September 15. 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/guardian must send a note explaining the reason for the absence within five 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/guardian signature. |
DANCE These are announcements that are specific to the dept; for performances see “SAVE THE DATES.” |
**CORRECTION** Dance clothes on the first day of school. There will be a ballet placement audition the first day of school. All dancers should arrive to school with full ballet attire, including ballet slippers on Thursday, September 7. |
FASHION TECHNOLOGY These are announcements that are specific to the dept; for performances see “SAVE THE DATES.” |
All Fashion Technology students, please remember that your Fashion Technology summer assignment is due on the first day of school. |
MUSIC These are announcements that are specific to the dept; for performances see “SAVE THE DATES.” |
Instruments on the first day of school. Instrumental music majors, please bring your instruments on the first day of school - Thursday, September 7. |
THEATRE These are announcements that are specific to the dept; for performances see “SAVE THE DATES.” |
Theatre clothes on the first day of school. All students should be appropriately dressed for all Theatre classes on Thursday, September 7. This is an Acting, Film and Production concentration day. All lower house (9th and 10th grade) students should have black sweat or yoga pants and a black, white, or gray t-shirt void of logos. Upper house students in the acting concentration should have gray (light or charcoal) sweat or yoga pants and a black, white, or gray t-shirt void of logos. |
VISUAL ARTS These are announcements that are specific to the dept; for exhibitions see “SAVE THE DATES.” |
All VA students, please remember that your VA summer assignment is due on the first day of school. |
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 |