"Deep Freeze" Hockey Tournament starts tonight

Students from Boston area schools will face off in a two-day hockey tournament to raise money for the Boston Medical Center (BMC) Breast Cancer Research Center. The East Boston High School Jets will host the fourth annual Deep Freeze high school hockey tournament, sponsored by East Boston Savings Bank, tonight and tomorrow. Founded by East Boston High School’s hockey coach, Robert Anthony, the tournament donates funds raised to the BMC Breast Cancer Research Center as a tribute to Mr. Anthony’s wife, Jacki, who is a breast cancer survivor. Student athletes from East Boston High School wear pink hockey shirts in honor of loved ones both present and past who have been affected by breast cancer. A player from each team will receive a $200 scholarship.

No school Monday and Tuesday

Mayor Thomas M. Menino and Superintendent Carol R. Johnson have announced that due to weather and road conditions, all Boston Public Schools will be closed on Monday, December 22 and Tuesday, December 23. All after-school activities, evening events, and athletic games are also cancelled on Monday and Tuesday.

All BPS central offices, including Family Resource Centers, will remain open for business. The City of Boston "Know Snow" website provides valuable information for residents about staying safe and warm this winter.

All schools closed on Friday, December 19

Mayor Thomas M. Menino and Superintendent Carol R. Johnson have announced that due to a snow storm expected tomorrow, all Boston Public Schools will be closed on Friday, December 19. All after-school activities, evening events, and athletic games are also cancelled on Friday. All BPS central offices, including Family Resource Centers, will remain open for business.

The City of Boston "Know Snow" website provides valuable information for residents about staying safe and warm this winter.

Bone marrow donor needed for 4-year-old boy

Four-year-old Alexander Phan has a rare bone disease and is in need of a bone marrow transplant. Alexander is a former student at the Ellison-Parks Early Education School, and his father Steve is a paraprofessional at the Murphy K-8 School.

A donor drive will be held Saturday, December 20, at St. Mark's Church in Dorchester (1725 Dorchester Ave.), from 10 a.m. - 2 p.m., to try to find a matching donor. Any healthy individual aged 18-60 may be tested at no cost to determine if the bone marrow is a match, but donors of Asian descent are more likely to be a match. Read about Alexander in this week's Dorchester Reporter. For more information, call 617-472-1109 or 1-800-MARROW-2.

Hosts needed for "Groundhog Job Shadow Day"

The Boston Private Industry Council (PIC) is seeking employers to host Boston public high school students for the annual Groundhog Job Shadow Day. On Friday, January 30, teens from various Boston Public Schools will spend a half-day learning about various careers and industries. The PIC welcomes hosts from all industries but is particularly interested in identifying employers from the fields of information technology, biotechnology, web design and graphic design.

BLS junior reflects on studying abroad

Today's Boston Globe features a guest column by Annie Osborn, a junior at Boston Latin School studying abroad in Beijing, China.

It's time to choose schools!

The start of the 2009-2010 school year may be nine months away, but now is the time for families to start making school choices for next year. School Preview Time is already underway, and this weekend, families will have a chance to learn more about every school under one roof, at the citywide Showcase of Schools: Saturday, December 13, 1-4 p.m., at the Reggie Lewis Track and Athletic Center.

The Showcase provides valuable opportunities for students and parents to meet principals and teachers from every school in the city, pre-kindergarten through high school, and learn about what each has to offer. To find out the schools where your child is eligible to apply, enter your home address and student's grade into the "What Are My Schools?" application, now updated with 2009 choices. Registration begins in January for students entering kindergarten and grades 6 and 9. To learn more about what's new this year, including six new K-8 programs and three new pilot schools, visit the BPS website.

BLA senior earns youth leadership award

At the third annual "We Are Boston" event celebrating Boston's diversity, Mayor Thomas M. Menino (right) presented the We Are Boston Youth Leadership Award to DanThuy Chu (left) of Dorchester, a senior at Boston Latin Academy and a member of the Mayor's Youth Council. DanThuy serves as her community's Girls' Coordinator, helping to organize a variety of events to support and engage young women. She has been a student in the Boston Public Schools since 1995, when she first enrolled as a K1 student.

Liz Reilinger to end her tenure as School Committee Chair

After serving 11 consecutive years as Chairperson of the Boston School Committee, Dr. Elizabeth Reilinger announced today that she will not seek re-election next month. Mayor Menino first appointed her to the School Board in 1994. Her fellow members have elected her Chairperson every year since 1998, making her the longest-serving Chairperson in the school district's history. Dr. Reilinger will remain a member of the School Committee to complete a four-year term that expires in January 2010.

NLC salutes "Partners for Student Success"

The National League of Cities has highlighted Boston and four other cities that are expanding out-of-school time learning opportunities. A report (PDF) released this week features Boston's "Partners for Student Success" initiative, led by Mayor Thomas M. Menino and administered by Boston Beyond in partnership with the Boston Public Schools DELTAS office. Boston's PSS initiative provides 15 elementary and K-8 schools with additional supports aimed at expanding, enhancing, and coordinating key services for struggling students during and after the school day.

Celtics visit the McCormack Middle School

Members of the World Champion Boston Celtics basketball team visited the McCormack Middle School yesterday as part of the team's "Stay in School" program. At a special assembly, players Leon Powe, Rajon Rondo and Gabe Pruitt congratulated students who have good grades and perfect attendance. See coverage on NECN and in the Boston Globe.

NABSE names Dr. Johnson "Superintendent of the Year"

The National Alliance of Black School Educators (NABSE) has named Dr. Carol R. Johnson the 2008 Joseph E. Hill Superintendent of the Year. The organization honored Dr. Johnson at its recent annual conference in Atlanta.

A celebration for Coach Sybertz

After a distinguished 32-year career coaching for the Boston Public Schools, Leo Sybertz was honored recently in a special halftime ceremony at White Stadium. Mr. Sybertz served as the varsity coach of the former Roslindale High School and West Roxbury High School, leading the West Roxbury Raiders to five Super Bowl titles.

The Parkway Transcript cited some impressive statistics about Coach Sybertz:

· 202 wins, still a record in the City League
· 5 Super Bowl wins
· 13 league championships
· 10 playoff appearances

· 2 players who went on to NFL careers

Boston schools making headlines

Students and educators from many Boston Public Schools have been featured in the media recently. Here is just a sample of BPS in the news:

The Trotter Elementary School's "Dads Club" was featured on page one of yesterday's Boston Sunday Globe.

The Boston Herald celebrated the undefeated O'Bryant School of Math and Science football team (pictured here: Coach Kevin Gadson and players). See results from other Thanksgiving Day games.

A Boston Globe editorial highlights dual enrollment at The Engineering School.

Read about the Dorchester Education Complex football team in the Dorchester Reporter.

The "Technology Goes Home @ School" program at the Frederick Middle School was featured on Channel 7's Parent to Parent segment.

Stories about Steven Berbeco's Arabic language class at Charlestown High School have aired on Channel 5 and on Emily Rooney's "Greater Boston" (WGBH).

The Harvard Education Letter describes Boston's work to expand pre-school programs.

The West Roxbury Transcript reports on the new K-8 program for the Ohrenberger and Beethoven Schools.

The Bulletin Newspapers highlight Boston's newest pilot schools.