Boston celebrates Class of 2008 Valedictorians

The top graduates of the Class of 2008 from 38 Boston public high schools were honored yesterday at the 10th Annual Valedictorians Luncheon at the Boston Harbor Hotel. Community leaders, educators and families gathered to pay tribute to the young men and women graduating at the top of their class. Pictured here, left to right, are School Committee Chair Elizabeth Reilinger; John Denzel Nwabugwu, Valedictorian of McKinley Preparatory High School; Mayor Thomas M. Menino; and Superintendent Carol R. Johnson.

In a first for the Boston Public Schools, siblings were named Valedictorians of two different high schools in the same year. See press coverage of sisters Faith Nwaoha (Burke High School) and Chioma Nwaoha (English High School), originally from Nigeria, in the Boston Herald and on New England Cable News and Fox-25 News.

ReadBoston selects best read-aloud book

ReadBoston recently held a competition for the 2007 Best Read Aloud Book Award. A panel of judges selected Those Shoes by Maribeth Boelts. Pictured here, ReadBoston's Sarah Farbo reads The Jewel Box Ballerinas by Monique de Varebbes. Sarah is also the host of ReadBoston's "Read TV" program, produced by David Burt of Boston City TV. "Read TV" and "Cooking With Kirk" were nominated for Emmy Awards.

Holmes student's sculpture featured in national exhibit

"Spotted Cat," a clay sculpture created by Holmes Elementary School fifth-grader Kaitlynn Nee, is on display in the nation's capital. Kaitlynn's work was selected to represent the state of Massachusetts in the “All Kids Can…CREATE!” exhibition, which opened this week in Washington, D.C. The exhibit, organized by VSA arts and the CVS Caremark All Kids Can program, seeks to advance the role of the arts in inclusive education.

Students shine at TechBoston Robotics Olympics

Boston Public Schools students competed recently in TechBoston's annual Robotics Olympics at the Wentworth Institute of Technology. Pictured here, left to right, Kayla Mendez from Hamilton Elementary School watches future engineers Diana Long, Sylvie Stoloff, and Leila Erbay from the Josiah Elementary School as their robot successfully drops a tennis ball into a paper bag. For more photos, visit the slideshow.

Commissioner Chester sworn in at Hurley School

In a ceremony today at the Joseph Hurley K-8 School in the South End, Mitchell Chester was sworn in by Governor Deval Patrick as the Commonwealth's 23rd Commissioner of Education. Read his inaugural remarks.

School Committee nomination deadline extended

The Citizens Nominating Panel that recommends candidates for the Boston School Committee has extended the application deadline to Friday, May 30. The panel is seeking candidates to replace Michele Brooks, who resigned last month to become the district's Assistant Superintendent for Family & Student Engagement. Mayor Menino will appoint a successor from among the candidates recommended by the panel. Download an application online.

BDEA leader Meg Maccini wins national award

The MetLife Foundation has named Boston Day and Evening Academy (BDEA) Headmaster Meg Maccini an “Ambassador in Education” for her work to connect the school and community. Officials from the foundation will present Meg with the $5,000 prize in a special ceremony at the school tomorrow. The awards program recognizes the most collaborative public school principals in 25 cities. Meg, who has been Headmaster of BDEA since 2001, is stepping down from the position at the end of this school year to pursue a Ph.D. in Cultural Anthropology and Social Justice Education at UMass-Amherst.

Gardner Pilot Academy hosts Friendship Feast

The Gardner Pilot Academy recently welcomed families, staff and neighbors for a Friendship Feast to celebrate the school's new name and the opening of the Joseph Smith Health Center at the school. The school-based health center is one of two such clinics recently opened in Boston Public Schools (along with the Jackson-Mann School) in conjunction with the Joseph Smith Community Health Center. Learn more about the district's newest pilot school at the Friends of the Gardner website.

Vote for your favorite South End T-shirt design

CitySquares.com is sponsoring a "CommuniTee" Art Program to select the design for a T-shirt celebrating the South End. Students from the Hurley and McKinley schools submitted original art work for the contest. Proceeds from sales of the T-shirt will benefit art programs at the schools. You can vote on-line for your favorite among the ten finalists.

It's National Teacher Appreciation Week

May 4-10, 2008 is National Teacher Appreciation Week, a great opportunity to thank and congratulate the thousands of men and women who educate the children of Boston every day. The National Education Association has declared tomorrow (Tuesday, May 6) National Teacher Day, and invites students from across the country to participate by contributing to the giant thank-you card or sending teachers electronic greeting cards.