Weekly Bulletin August 28 - September 1, 2017 | Week 1 |
MESSAGE FROM BAA HEADMASTER, MS. CLARK |
Welcome to Boston Arts Academy's 20th school year! It’s truly amazing to me to think about where we were 20 years ago and where we are today. I am very proud of the local, national, and international recognition we have received as a school...but I am most proud of our students and graduates. I can’t go to an arts event in Boston now without seeing a BAA student or alum: performing, exhibiting, working behind the scenes, or attending as an audience member. BAA is educating, and has educated, the next generation of Boston artists. My 20 years at BAA have been an honor and a joy for me; it’s certainly something to celebrate. And I am very happy to have our BAA community back together after an eventful summer. Many students and staff have had incredible opportunities (see the "Congratulations and Shout Outs" section below for examples). But many of us have also been troubled by the violence and tensions we've seen across the country. Our school was founded on the belief that artists have a special contribution to make to society, to our larger community. I know our Artist-Scholar-Citizens will have much to share about the summer, both about how they have grown through their experiences and about what they think and feel about current events. I'm looking forward to seeing you the first day of school, Thursday, September 7, beginning at 8:00am! |
CONGRATULATIONS AND SHOUT OUTS |
A huge congratulations to Mr. ADEkoje, Dr. Gaskins, and Mr. McLaughlin who directed unique summer arts experiences as a part of Summer at BAA. Over 70 students from BAA and all over the greater Boston area explored their passion in Dance, Film and STEAM (Science Technology Engineering Arts Math) for several weeks in July. A hearty shout out to the 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: Daniela Alarcon-Diaz, Shamari Banks, Angel Batista Dominguez, Tajazziah Booth, Sydnie Cooper, Johnny Del Jesus, Bianca Dias, Annalise Englert, Sophie Gemeinhardt, Kylie Grossman, Sydney Hershberg, Nyrie Nurse, Rosely Polanco, Kayla Ricketts Music: Taylor Correia-Podolske, Janayah Ebanks, Joseph Rodriguez, Irisbel Rojas Visual Arts: Theo Clark, Jessy Gonzalez, Mackenzy Jakaus, Tristen Nguyen, Ying Yu Yang Most of the students listed received scholarships; be sure to congratulate them on a job well done! Shout out to Jaleel Sanders and Ex Dorceus, and BAA alums Morgan Taylor and Seaburn Williams, for their roles in the film Detroit. |
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. BAA Student Handbooks will also be passed out on the first day of school. Handbooks have our school policies and other important school information. Students, please make sure your families receive the handbook. 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. 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.
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. 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. 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. Senior Family College and Career Night is on Thursday, September 21, 6-8pm at BAA in the Assembly Hall. Family Conference Day is on Tuesday, November 14. There will be no classes on this day. |
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. BAA Student Handbooks will also be given to your students on the first day of school. Handbooks have our school policies and other important school information. 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; 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.” |
Dance clothes on the first day of school. All students should be appropriately dressed for all dance classes on Thursday, September 7, which will be a Modern day. All Lower house female students on September 7 should have black leotards and black or tan convertible or footless tights; all female upper house students on September 7 can have black or burgundy leotards. All male students on September 8 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 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 |