School Committee approves FY2010 budget

The Boston School Committee last night unanimously approved Superintendent Carol R. Johnson's $812 million budget proposal after extensive public testimony in the packed auditorium of the Frederick Middle School. The Boston Public Schools budget now becomes part of Mayor Menino's budget submission for the entire City of Boston to the Boston City Council. Today, the Mayor and Superintendent joined hundreds of BPS parents in a rally at the State House to urge Governor Patrick to award State Stabilization Fund dollars from the federal stimulus package to Boston.

C-o-n-g-r-a-t-u-l-a-t-i-o-n-s!

Boston 4th through 8th grade students participated last weekend in the Boston Centers for Youth and Families' (BCYF) 2nd Annual Spelling Bee at Faneuil Hall. Pictured here are student participants and special guests, left to right, Superintendent Dr. Carol Johnson, Boston Public Library President Amy Ryan, Bruins Foundation Director of Development Bob Sweeney, School Committee Vice-Chair Marchelle Raynor, and BCYF Executive Director Daphne Griffin. The winner of this year's bee, J. Rexon Apurado of Brighton, a fifth grader at the Hamilton Elementary School, will now go on to the Scripps National Spelling Bee in Washington, D.C. in May. Watch him spell the winning word in the video below...

Youth leaders learn that "Art is Action"

More than 200 students from dozens of Boston public middle and high schools gathered recently at the Massachusetts College of Art for "Art is Action," a youth leadership conference sponsored by the Pilot / Horace Mann Schools Network and hosted by Boston Arts Academy. Through workshops and performances, students learned how art can be used for social change.

Recognize an outstanding Boston educator!

April 3 is the deadline for school communities to submit nominations for 2009 Boston Educators of the Year. The program recognizes outstanding teachers, paraprofessionals, guidance counselors, school nurses and other Boston Public Schools educators who have made a unique contribution to their students, their classrooms, and their schools. Winners will be honored at a special ceremony on June 8.

UPDATE: Deadline for nominations extended to April 7.

Madison students earn vocational honors

Eight students from Madison Park Technical Vocational High School earned medals in the recent SkillsUSA District Competition, which tests vocational students' knowledge of their trade area, employability and understanding of Occupational Safety & Health Administration (OSHA) procedures. The eight medal winners were among 22 Madison Park students who competed against students from 12 area vocational high schools. The winners (listed below) will compete at the State tournament in April.

• Jennifer Pena of Roslindale, Gold Medal in Dental Assisting
• Melvin Colon of Brighton, Gold Medal in Collision Repair
• Gerson DePina of Dorchester, Silver Medal in Dental Assisting
• Wilber Calderon of East Boston, Silver Medal in Internetworking
• Natasha Rivera of Roxbury, Silver Medal in Collision Repair
• Jessica Dormeus of Roslindale, Bronze Medal in Dental Assisting
• Chany Peguero of Roxbury, Bronze Medal in Web Design
• Carlos Ramirez of Jamaica Plain, Bronze Medal in Web Design

Dr. Johnson goes to Washington

Superintendent Johnson this week joined urban school district leaders from across the country in a meeting with key Obama administration officials about public education. The Council of the Great City Schools, the coalition of the nation’s largest urban public school systems, led some 30 urban school superintendents and board members to a roundtable discussion with Secretary of Education Arne Duncan (pictured here) and other Obama administration officials at the White House to discuss how best to use the economic stimulus package to improve and advance urban public education.

Edison School students celebrate "Pi Day"

The entire sixth grade class at the Thomas A. Edison Middle School in Brighton today celebrated the eve of “Pi Day” with a special assembly to demonstrate their learning in mathematics. Students created a “living Pi,” lining up in matching T-shirts, each with a different digit, to represent the irrational number Pi (3.14…) to nearly 125 digits. Led by math teacher Alice Ruais, the students created colorful posters, recited facts, and performed songs and poems to demonstrate their knowledge of Pi. After the assembly, students joined staff and special guests for a celebration in the cafeteria featuring, of course, fresh-baked pie!

Grant supports international writing projects

Primary Source has awarded the Boston Public Schools a grant to develop model college preparatory writing assignments that integrate international topics. Superintendent Johnson said, "In a world that demands 21st century skills and global literacy, our students will benefit greatly from this opportunity."

Communications Office welcomes BCLA intern Shawn Wiggins, Jr.

The BPS Communications Office is hosting a student intern this week. Shawn Wiggins, Jr., of Dorchester, is a senior at Boston Community Leadership Academy (BCLA). The internship is part of a capstone project in which all BCLA students compile research, gather data, and conduct interviews to complete a 40-page paper about subjects of concern to students. Shawn is examining the role of the achievement gap in the school choice process. Shawn is also the captain of the school's Debate Team and a self-taught alto saxophone player. He aspires to attend college next year and become a high school English teacher. In his first day of the internship, Shawn met Superintendent Carol R. Johnson and will meet other central office leaders throughout the week.

"Mass High Tech" features Tech Apprentice program

The latest edition of Mass High Tech: The Journal of New England Technology features a story about TechBoston's Tech Apprentice program, which places BPS high school students in paid internships with local tech employers.

Winter Sports Roundup

Another exciting season of winter sports is coming to a close, and once again, Boston public high school student/athletes have demonstrated hard work, skill and sportsmanship. Congratulations to the players, coaches and supporters, and best of luck to the teams continuing into post-season competition. The New Mission High School girls' basketball team competes this Saturday in the Division 4 North State Championship game against Georgetown High School. The game takes place at Emmanuel College at 4 p.m.!

City Champions:

Boys' Basketball - Madison Park

Girls' Basketball - New Mission

Girls' and Boys' Indoor Track - O'Bryant (pictured here, Jade Arnold-Scott)
Boys' Hockey - Latin Academy
Boys' and Girls' Swimming - Latin Academy

Special congratulations to Charlestown High School, Division II State Champions in Indoor Track!