Boston Schoolyard Intiative earns national attention

Officials from cities across the country visited Boston recently to tour our unique outdoor classrooms: the schoolyards refurbished through the Boston Schoolyard Initiative. Since 1995, the program has helped reconstruct 71 schoolyards, with plans to invest in at least 16 more over the next two years. The Christian Science Monitor highlighted the initiative in a recent feature story, touting Boston as a national model for schoolyard design and construction. Pictured here, Isiah Davis (left) and Giovany Perez enjoy the refurbished schoolyard at John P. Holland Elementary School and Community Center (Photo by Ann Hermes for the Christian Science Monitor).

Shop at Whole Foods on August 20 to support kindergarten!

On Wednesday, August 20, the three Whole Foods Markets located in Boston will donate 5% of all net sales to Countdown to Kindergarten. Shop at the Whole Foods at 15 Westland Avenue (near Symphony Hall), 181 Cambridge Street (near Mass. General Hospital), or 15 Washington Street (Brighton), and a portion of your spending will support Countdown to Kindergarten's work to help families and students make a successful transition to kindergarten!

Boston principals gather for August Institute

The 143 principals and headmasters of the Boston Public Schools are gathered this week for professional development at the annual August Institute, held this year at the Boston Convention and Exhibition Center. Superintendent Johnson addressed the group this morning, reflecting on her first year in Boston and outlining goals for the year ahead. For the first time this year, school leaders were joined by other members of their administrative team and some teacher leaders. During the spring and summer, Dr. Johnson announced the appointment of new principals and headmasters in 27 Boston Public Schools.

Financial aid workshops for BPS graduates

The City of Boston and Boston Public Schools, in partnership with the Massachusetts Educational Financing Authority (MEFA), are hosting two workshops for BPS families and students about financial aid for college. Details about the forums (to be held on August 11 and 18) are posted on the district's new web page, "Paying for College," which includes a variety of resources about financing higher education. The workshops will include opportunities for participants to have personalized assistance from counselors about financial aid options.

MWRA honors BPS students' posters and essays

Several Boston Public Schools students were honored recently for outstanding entries in the annual poster and essay contest sponsored by the Massachusetts Water Resources Authority (MWRA). Pictured here is a poster by Samantha To, a second grade student at the Bradley Elementary School, whose entry earned an Honorable Mention (click to enlarge). Other winners include students from the Warren Prescott K-8, Boston Latin School, and Quincy Elementary School.

Students dance their way through summer

BU Today profiles students participating in the REACH summer dance camp at the Boston University Dance Theater, including Boston Arts Academy students Julie Jean and Fernanda Novelle Ruddy. Students will perform in Central Square, Cambridge, next week.

Margaret Angell named a White House Fellow

Margaret Angell is one of only 14 professionals from around the country selected for the 2008-2009 class of White House Fellows. Margaret is a former Broad Resident working in the Boston Public Schools as Special Assistant to the Chief Operating Officer, most recently with the Early Childhood Education Department. The White House Fellows Program, founded in 1964 by President Lyndon B. Johnson, offers exceptional men and women first-hand experience working at the highest levels of the Federal government.

Reuters highlights technology at the Frederick

The one-to-one laptop initiative and other technology innovations at the Lilla G. Frederick Pilot Middle School are highlighted in a recent Reuters feature, "Technology reshapes America's classrooms."

See earlier post: "Frederick Middle School launches 1:1 Wireless Learning Initiative."

Mildred Avenue theater troupe wins a gold medal

The theater troupe from the Mildred Avenue Middle School in Mattapan recently brought home a gold medal from the Massachusetts Middle School Drama Festival. The troupe impressed the judges with their performance of The Dancers, a one-act play by Horton Foote, at the competition held at the school. Among the 27 participating middle schools from throughout the state, Mildred Avenue was one of only nine schools to earn a gold medal.

Four students from the school also won "Excellence in Acting" awards: seventh graders Julie Vo and Jahmar Lewis, sixth grader Keturah Brewster, all of Dorchester, and eighth grader Ayesha Butler of Roxbury. Pictured, from left to right: Bunnett Bain, Jahmar Lewis, Wilberson Altidor, Theater Director Stephanie Fredericks, Elgino Jean, Diamond Burwell, Keturah Brewster, and Ayesha Butler.

BPS alum reading at Borders this week

Boston Public Schools alumnus Raffi Yessayan will read from his first novel, Eight in the Box, at Borders Books in Downtown Crossing this Wednesday at 12:30 p.m. The West Roxbury native is a 1986 graduate of Boston Latin School who attended BPS from kindergarten through grade 12. He was recently featured on parkwayboston.

BLA student wins first Turner Broadcasting scholarship

Connie Y. Chan, who graduated this spring from Boston Latin Academy, is the first recipient of the City of Boston / Turner Broadcasting System Inc. Media Communications Scholarship. Ms. Chan, a graphic and web designer, earned $2,500 to pursue higher education at Simmons College in the fall. The scholarship is part of a citywide partnership with Turner Broadcasting to support media communications education in the Boston Public Schools. Pictured here, Mayor Thomas M. Menino (left) and Superintendent Carol R. Johnson (right) present the scholarship to Ms. Chan in a ceremony at City Hall.

School's out for summer!

The 2007-2008 school year has come to a close. Thank you to the students, staff and families for making the year such a success. The Family Resource Centers have begun operating on a summer schedule, and free summer meals for children are available throughout the city. Remember, classes resume for students in grades 1-12 on Thursday, September 4, and for kindergarten students on Monday, September 8. Continue to visit the blog throughout the summer for the latest news!

Congratulations, Boston Educators of the Year!

Fifteen remarkable educators were honored this week as the 2008 Boston Educators of the Year. Mayor Thomas M. Menino, School Committee Chair Elizabeth Reilinger, Superintendent Carol R. Johnson and Boston Teachers Union President paid tribute to these outstanding educators in a ceremony at the Taj Hotel, along with the honorees' families, friends, colleagues and students. Four other BPS employees also were honored at the ceremony with Service Excellence Awards.

Keyla Veloz wins Payzant Scholarship

Keyla Veloz, a recent graduate of Boston Community Leadership Academy, has been awarded the Dr. Thomas W. Payzant Public Service in Education Scholarship. The $2,000 prize, named in honor of the former Superintendent, is awarded annually to a student graduating from a Boston public high school with a record of academic progress who has made significant contributions to improving education. Keyla, who will attend Emmanuel College next year, has been teaching in the after-school program at the Gardner Pilot Academy. Pictured here, School Committee Chair Elizabeth Reilinger (left) and Superintendent Carol R. Johnson (right) present Keyla with a citation.

Harvard-Kent welcomes Dr. Johnson to a "Tea Party"

The Harvard-Kent Elementary School recently hosted a "Boston Art Tea Party" to acknowledge Superintendent Carol Johnson’s continued recognition of the importance of the arts in the Boston Public Schools. Over tea and scones, Dr. Johnson discussed the importance of art with students and teachers, and accepted a framed drawing, "Two Pears Stil Life," from Sophia Liu, a Grade 5 student. Student artwork from teacher Patricia Wilson's Grade 5 class is now on display in the Superintendent's Gallery. Pictured here (left to right) are Ms. Wilson; Sophia's mother, Ms. Liu; Sophia; Dr. Johnson; and Richard Martin, principal of the Harvard-Kent.

Mayor's School Awards honor top students

Nearly 300 Boston Public Schools students were honored with Mayor's School Awards in six ceremonies held recently at Faneuil Hall. Every school in the district was invited to select an academic award winner and a school spirit winner. This is the 24th consecutive year that Mayor Thomas M. Menino has hosted a school awards program, a tradition he began in 1985 when he was a district City Councilor. Pictured here from the Tobin K-8 school are, left to right, Evelyn Perez Landron (school spirit award), principal Cheryl Watson-Harris, and Pedro Pitre (academic award). The complete list of winners is posted on the BPS website.

Blackstone students get lessons in dentistry

Third grade students at the Blackstone Elementary School, including Valeria Alvarez (left) and Angie Carmen, became "Dentists for a Day" through a partnership with the Boston University Goldman School of Dental Medicine. Learn more at Science Metropolis.

All-City Baseball Classic tomorrow

If the rain holds off, the all-stars from Boston public high school baseball teams will take to the field tomorrow at historic Fenway Park for the 6th Annual All-City Baseball Classic. The game begins at 3:00 p.m. and is free and open to the public. Enter at Gate D and take your pick of great seats behind home plate and the dugouts. Students will be honored with scholar/athlete and sportsmanship awards. Check this blog in the morning for news about the weather.

UPDATE: As of 10:00 a.m. on Tuesday, the game is still on!

Edutopia profiles visually-impaired BLS musician

Edutopia features a video about Boston Latin School student Albano Berberi, who is visually impaired but excels in academics, violin, and video gaming with help from assistive technology.

Harvard welcomes Conant Fellows

The Harvard Graduate School of Education has selected four Boston Public Schools educators as James Bryant Conant Fellows for the upcoming school year. The fellowship is named in honored of a former President of Harvard University. Every year, educators from the Boston and Cambridge Public Schools are awarded fellowships to earn full tuition scholarships during their one-year leave of absence from the district while pursuing advanced degrees.

Pictured here in a ceremony on campus yesterday, left to right, are Patricia Lampron, Murphy K-8 School; Eugene Roundtree, Madison Park Technical-Vocational High School; and Jalene Tamerat, Quincy Upper School. Not pictured is Kathryn Meyer, Hernandez K-8 School.

BDEA alum meets filmmaker Ken Burns

Kafre Nurse (right), a 2007 graduate of Boston Day and Evening Academy (BDEA), recently met Emmy award-winning documentary filmmaker Ken Burns. A professor at Bunker Hill Community College, where Kafre was enrolled this year, introduced the two as Kafre prepares to transfer to Mr. Burns' alma mater, Hampshire College in Amherst, Massachusetts. Kafre, who will enter the James Baldwin Scholars Program at Hampshire College in the fall, returned to BDEA to address members of the Class of 2008 at the school's graduation ceremony last night.

Schools raise money and have fun at the Nike 5K

Hundreds of Boston students, families and teachers participated in the second annual Nike 5K for Kids run/walk last Saturday at Franklin Park. Runners and walkers of all ages completed the 5K course and the 1-mile “Let Me Play” walk/run.

For the second year in a row, the Dearborn Middle School in Roxbury earned recognition for fielding more participants and raising more money than any other school. With 57 runners, the Dearborn raised $1,140 to support physical education programming at the school. Six other Boston Public Schools were among the top ten: Haley Elementary School; Fenway High School; Otis Elementary School; Irving Middle School; Roosevelt Elementary School; and Lee Elementary School.

Student volunteers from Boston International High School (BIHS) provided support at the event handing out water along the route and giving out medals and prize packs at the finish line. Pictured here, BIHS students take a break from their volunteer duties to pose with their teachers who completed the 5K.

Meet the Boston University Scholars, Class of 2012

Forty graduates from 13 Boston public high schools have been awarded four-year, full-tuition college scholarships through the Boston University Boston High School Scholarship Program.

BTR a national finalist for innovation award

The Ash Institute at the Kennedy School of Government has selected the Boston Teacher Residency (BTR) program as one of 15 national finalists for the Innovations in American Government Award. The district's teacher preparation program, a partnership between the Boston Public Schools and the Boston Plan for Excellence, had been named one of 50 finalists for the prize in April. A national selection committee will review the finalists and award $100,000 to each of six winners in September. BTR's innovative approach also has been recognized by Edutopia magazine and the Massachusetts Board of Education.

Elementary students enjoy Special Olympics at White Stadium

Nearly 500 students from 20 Boston public elementary schools participated today in the Special Olympics at White Stadium. The athletes included students with disabilities from special education programs as well as children from inclusion classrooms in early education centers. Pictured here, left to right, are Christopher Brum, special education teacher at the Richard J. Murphy K-8 school; Jeron Perez of Dorchester, third grade student at the Murphy; and Carolyn Riley, Senior Director of Unified Student Services, Boston Public Schools. See coverage on New England Cable News.

SBEC students honor veterans on Memorial Day

More than 40 Army JROTC cadets from the South Boston Education Complex spent Memorial Day helping members of the Saunders American Legion Post and the Fitzgerald VFW Post place over 1,100 flags on the graves of South Boston veterans at area cemeteries. This was their 11th consecutive year helping with this task. Cadets from the battalion also participated in other Memorial Day activities, including the Town of Rockland parade, the annual Dorchester Heights ceremony and several rededication ceremonies at squares in South Boston. Pictured here, left to right, Houng Nguyen, Yen Nguyen and John Gregorio place a flag at the headstone of a South Boston veteran.

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.

Boston schools ready for the Marathon

Tomorrow is Patriots Day in Massachusetts -- or "Marathon Monday." Students and staff from the Boston Public Schools are participating in the Boston Marathon in various ways -- running, volunteering and cheering on the runners. On Friday the Marshall Elementary School held its annual "Marshall Marathon" (pictured here), with more than 100 students and staff competing for the victory wreaths. Tommy Ozbolt, a City Year corps member at the James P. Timilty Middle School, is running his first marathon in memory of Steven Odom, a Timilty 8th grader who was killed in October while walking home from a basketball game. Ozbolt hopes to raise $12,694 (in honor of Steven’s birthday of January 26, 1994) to create two college scholarships for graduating 8th grade students this year.

Philbrick teacher surprised with $10,000 prize

When science teacher Erin Flynn reported to the Philbrick Elementary School auditorium on Friday, she thought she was on her way to a school-wide "Reading is Fundamental" assembly. Then principal Laurie Carr announced the big surprise: Ms. Flynn was the winner of a 2008 Amgen Award for Science Teaching Excellence. The recognition earned the teacher $5,000 and another $5,000 for the school to advance science education. Officials from Amgen joined Ms. Flynn's colleagues, family and students at the assembly. The award commended her innovative approach to teaching science to elementary school students, including lessons at the Boston Nature Center. Pictured here are Ms. Flynn (left) and Ms. Carr.

McKay School to be featured on CBS Sunday Morning

Tune in to CBS Sunday Morning this weekend for a segment about the McKay K-8 School in East Boston. Students wrote to the show about their work with Wendy Booker, a woman with multiple sclerosis (MS) who is on a mission to climb the world’s Seven Summits, the highest mountain on each continent. (See earlier post: McKay students learn to "keep climbing" to reach their goals.) The story is scheduled to air this Sunday on WBZ-TV, Channel 4 in Boston, beginning at 9:00 a.m.

UPDATE: The segment aired on Sunday, May 4. Watch the video.

"10 Boys" groups gather from across the city

More than 900 Black and Latino boys from many Boston Public Schools assembled yesterday at UMass Boston for the "10 Boys Initiative Goes to College." Mayor Menino, Superintendent Johnson, UMass Boston Chancellor Keith Motley and other dignitaries honored the young men, as well as their principals and teachers, for their work to achieve proficiency on MCAS and to prepare for college. The initiative, providing additional support and encouragement to small groups of boys of color, began in Triad A schools but expanded citywide this year. Watch the event on BPS-TV!

Pictured here at the celebration are Dever Elementary School student Jose Morales and principal Guadalupe Guerrero. The boys from the Dever -- wearing team jerseys from the new elementary basketball league -- attended with their teachers Geoff Rose, Donnie Lucente, and Matt Hamilton, who volunteer after school to provide coaching, mentoring, tutoring and other supports.

Gardner students unpack the "Ultimate Science Classroom"

Students in Dean Martin's fourth grade science class at the Gardner Pilot Academy got a special treat recently, with the delivery of the “Ultimate Science Classroom.” Mr. Martin won the model classroom, which includes more $43,000 worth of science teaching materials, at the National Science Teachers Association (NSTA) Conference on Science Education, held here in Boston last month. The conference featured workshops and presentations by dozens of Boston Public Schools science teachers, sharing their innovations in science instruction, as well as a performance by the Boston Arts Academy Jazz Ensemble. Read more at the National Science Teachers Association website.

* Akamai Technologies donates $6,000 to Madison Park's Robotics Team.

* Four Boston debaters compete in Chase Urban Debate National Championships in Chicago.

* Entire Quincy Elementary School marches from Chinatown to the Big Apple Circus at City Hall Plaza.

* Boston 8th Graders outpace urban peers on national Writing exam.

UPDATE: ETV wins the Fox25 newscast contest!

The on-line voters have spoken, and English High School's "ETV" was selected over nine other schools as the winner of Fox25's "My High School Newscast" contest. Congratulations!

See earlier post.

East Boston's Ventre commended for sportsmanship on the ice

East Boston High School's Christopher Ventre is the recipient of the 2008 Boston Bruins Ice Hockey Sportsmanship Award for the Boston City League. A senior left wing, Christopher served as Assistant Captain for the Jets this year. During his four-year career, Christopher has never received a major penalty or game disqualification. “Chris is one of the biggest supporters during the games and makes sure that players coming to the bench know they are doing a good job on the ice," said Coach Robert Anthony. "He is a team leader for the East Boston Jets. Chris is always the first person in line to shake hands after each game.”

ETV a finalist in Fox 25 "My High School Newscast" Contest

English High School Television -- better known as "ETV" -- is one of 10 finalists in Fox 25's "My High School Newscast" Contest. Viewers can vote online for their favorite entry until this Thursday, April 10, at 12 noon.

Male Engagement Conference this Saturday

BPS fathers, grandfathers, uncles and other adult male role models will gather tomorrow for the second Male Engagement Conference hosted by the Office of Family and Community Engagement. The "Rules of the Game" conference will provide men with strategies to support the academic success of children in their lives -- especially in the areas of character development, communication, addressing challenges and college access. The conference will take place at the Lilla G. Frederick Pilot Middle School, 270 Columbia Road, Dorchester, from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m., with breakfast and registration beginning at 9:15. For more information or to RSVP, call 617-635-9661.

Winter sports roundup

It's been an exciting winter sports season for Boston Public Schools teams and athletes. These are just some of the highlights. For complete tournament results, visit the Massachusetts Interscholastic Athletic Association (MIAA) website.

Student-athletes from many Boston high schools (some pictured above) participated in the All-City Basketball Classic on March 29 at Northeastern University, celebrating students’ achievements on the court and in the classroom. The South Division, led by New Mission coach Cory McCarthy, captured the girls’ title, beating North 68-58. Among the boys, Snowden coach Drew Hughes Brock led the North Division to victory, 97-94.

Congratulations also to the Middle School Basketball City Champions. In the girls’ division, the Timilty beat the Lewis, 17-10, and the boys from Orchard Gardens outscored the Edwards 55-47.

Two Boston players have been nominated for the “All FOX 25 Girls Basketball Team”: Bianca Flores from New Mission High School and Shari Martinez from Brighton High School. The results of an on-line poll will be announced tomorrow.

The Boston Globe has named the Winter 2008 All-Scholastics. O’Bryant’s Jose Ortega was selected Boys’ Track Coach of the Year. BPS student honorees include: Girls’ hockey: Kathleen Roche and Ann-Marie Elvin, both Boston Latin; Boys’ basketball: Gerard Coleman, West Roxbury, and Greg Hackett, Charlestown; Boys’ track: Omar Aden, Charlestown, and Enoch Mills, English.

At the State finals last month, the MIAA presented the Charlestown High School Girls’ Basketball Team with a Sportsmanship Award.

The MIAA also presented a 2008 Distinguished Service Award to Chris Lane, Chief Administrative Officer for the Hyde Park Educational Complex.

As a great winter of BPS sports comes to an end, the spring season now gets underway, with golf, tennis, baseball, softball, volleyball and track all beginning their schedules this month.

Nominate BPS employees who go "above and beyond"

We all know people who go the extra mile to make a difference in the lives of Boston's children and families. This is your chance to say "thank you" to those special Boston Public Schools employees -- teachers, principals, secretaries, custodians, cafeteria workers, central office staff, and others -- who go out of their way to help and serve.

Every year, Mayor Menino, the Boston Public Schools and the Boston Teachers Union honor an impressive group of Boston Educators of the Year. For information about how to nominate a teacher, paraprofessional, nurse, or other BTU member, visit the BPS website. The deadline is April 15. You can also read about last year's winners, including Ismael Valenzuela from the Irving Middle School, pictured here.

The district has reinstated the Service Excellence Awards this year to acknowledge the outstanding contributions of both school-based and non-school-based employees. Any member of the BPS community -- colleagues, parents, students and others -- may submit nominations by April 30.

These awards will be presented at a joint ceremony on June 23.

Murphy students' imaginations earn honors

Third grade students from the Richard J. Murphy K-8 School (pictured here with coach Catherine Pienta) represented Boston well in the recent Destination ImagiNation Tournament. The team earned Third Place in the annual competition held this year at Beverly High School. Destination ImagiNation is a national program that challenges teams of students to work together in a short period of time to apply creativity, critical thinking and talent to solve a problem. Students do not know in advance what challenge they will face and have only eight minutes to develop a solution using limited materials.

At this year’s competition, the Murphy School team had to create and present a theatrical performance with an original story about a myth, urban legend or folk tale and create a “myth-ecol” replica from recyclable materials. Learn more about the Murphy students' project.

Raise money for your school at the "Nike 5K for Kids"

NIKETOWN and the Boston Public Schools have teamed up again this year to promote the "NIKE 5K for Kids" Run/Walk Fund-Raiser: Saturday, May 31, beginning at 8 a.m. at Franklin Park, Playstead Field. Entrants can run or walk the 5K (3.1 mile) or 1 mile course. Parents, grandparents, children, educators, and community members are invited to participate in this family-friendly event. Assemble a team or run as an individual. Proceeds from every entry fee will support physical education and athletic programs at the Boston-area school of your choice.

Register by May 23 online or at the NIKETOWN store on the corner of Newbury and Exeter Streets in the Back Bay.

Orchard Gardens to be featured on "Word Generation" website

The Strategic Education Research Partnership (SERP) is working with the Boston Public Schools to improve reading comprehension among middle school students. Several BPS schools are serving as pilot sites for SERP's Word Generation vocabulary program, including the middle school academy at Orchard Gardens K-8 Pilot School in Roxbury.

SERP has begun to create an online professional development website that features videos of classrooms, interviews with teachers, students, and administrators, samples of student work, teacher lesson plans, research about Word Generation, and more. SERP has selected the middle school academy at Orchard Gardens to be featured on the site. Matt Ellinger, Director of Multimedia Development (and former teacher and administrator), will visit Orchard Gardens next week to videotape Word Generation in action in classrooms. Once posted on the web, the work will serve as a model for teachers and students around the world.

What are you doing this summer?

Now is the time to register for summer programs for your child. Programs throughout Greater Boston offer children of all ages safe, fun academic, enrichment and recreational activities. To learn more, pick up a copy of the popular BPS publications Summer Stuff (for students in grades 6-12) and Summer Stuff Jr. (for K-5). These publications list hundreds of summer camps, classes, activities, internships and job opportunities for the coming summer. They are available in all Boston Public Schools and Family Resource Centers, as well as City Hall, public libraries, YMCA branches, and Boston Centers for Youth and Families (BCYF) community centers, and on-line.

22 BPS students earn Boston Globe Scholastic Art Awards

Twenty-two Boston Public Schools students have won Boston Globe Scholastic Art Awards. The winning artists attend five Boston schools: Boston Arts Academy, Boston Latin Academy, Boston Latin School, New Mission High School and Orchard Gardens K-8 Pilot School.

The program honors student artists from middle and high schools throughout the Commonwealth in twelve different art media, including painting, drawing, photography, and design. A panel of judges reviewed the students’ work and presented Gold Key, Silver Key and Honorable Mention awards. All individual pieces receiving a Gold Key in Massachusetts continue on to New York for national judging with the other Gold Keys for the United States in their respective age group and category.

NEHRA awards scholarships to two Boston students

The Northeast Human Resources Assocation (NEHRA) recently presented two Boston Public Schools students with college scholarships in recognition of their leadership and academic achievement.

Maria Robles of Roxbury, a senior at the Jeremiah E. Burke High School, received the $2,500 Norma Kornegay Clarke Scholarship Award. Ms. Robles is the senior class president and an active participant in many student clubs, including the JROTC program. She volunteers her time in school, tutoring other students, and outside of school with several local organizations.

Thao Nguyen of Dorchester, a senior at Excel High School, was selected for the NEHRA 2008 Medallion Scholarship Award, worth $1,000. Ms. Nguyen arrived from Vietnam in September 2004, quickly mastered English and recorded the highest grade point average of all freshmen, sophomores and juniors in her school. She has been active in many student clubs and was the first female company commander of Excel’s JROTC program. She volunteers her time outside of school assisting Vietnamese children and adults with English acquisition and started a support group for her fellow students in school to help with the transition to American culture.

Both students are the Valedictorians of their school's Class of 2008.

Jim McIntyre named Superintendent of Knox County Schools

Dr. James McIntyre, Chief Operating Officer for the Boston Public Schools, has been named the next Superintendent of the Knox County Schools in Tennessee. The School Board voted last night to appoint Jim to lead the 53,000-student district. Congratulations!

Earlier post: Jim McIntyre completes Urban Superintendents Academy.

BPS officials trying to close $30 million budget gap

Faced with rising costs and declining federal, state, and private/philanthropic resources, the Boston School Committee and Superintendent Carol Johnson are trying to close a gap of $30.7 million in the Boston Public Schools budget for the 2008-2009 school year.

At last night's School Committee meeting, Dr. Johnson described an array of strategies already adopted to reduce costs and generate savings of nearly $15 million, but the district must identify another $15 million in reductions to balance the budget. The School Committee is required by law to vote on a final budget proposal at its March 26 meeting. To match expected expenditures with expected revenue, officials have said "everything is on the table," including staff layoffs and school closures if necessary.

Boston students showcase their science projects

More than 350 Boston middle and high school students participated recently in the 62nd annual BPS Citywide Science Fair at Northeastern University. Judges awarded first, second, and third prizes, as well as honorable mention, in both the junior and senior divisions, and more than 50 special awards. Pictured here, Joseph Phan of Dorchester, a sixth grade student at the Richard J. Murphy K-8 School, demonstrates his project, “The Eggs That Can Bounce.”

BPS introduces "Family Matters" quarterly newsletter

BPS families will find a new publication delivered to their homes beginning this month. The district's new quarterly newsletter, "Family Matters," is designed to strengthen home-school connections and provide families with important information and tips to help their children succeed in school. The four-page, full-color newsletter will be available online and at Family Resource Centers. The first issue focuses on MCAS testing, and also contains information about summer programs for children and BPS workshops for families. The newsletter is produced by the Communications Office and printed and mailed at no cost to the district through a partnership with 1stHour Communications. To defray costs, the firm includes in every mailing a series of commercial advertisements approved by the school district.

Easy as Pi!

Students and teachers at the John D. O’Bryant School of Math & Science joined math enthusiasts around the world today in celebrating "Pi Day" -- March 14th, or 3/14. The Greek letter Pi (shown here), which equals 3.14159… and continues without stopping or repeating, is the mathematical symbol for the ratio of the circumference of a circle to its diameter. Sporting Pi Day t-shirts (pictured below), O’Bryant teachers organized special classroom activities, including a Pi recitation contest to see how many digits of Pi students could memorize. The winning student's prize? A pie, of course!

Gov. Patrick announces Reville appointment at Monument High School

Governor Deval Patrick chose Monument High School in the South Boston Education Complex as the site of a press conference today to announce the appointment of the new Secretary of Education for the Commonwealth. The Governor has appointed Paul Reville (pictured here), who currently serves as Chair of the Massachusetts Board of Education, to oversee the new Executive Office of Education. Mr. Reville is president of the Rennie Center for Education Research & Policy and the editor of A Decade of Urban School Reform, a collection of studies about the Boston Public Schools.

Submit entries for the "National Night Out" Poster Contest

The Boston Police Department's Neighborhood Crime Watch Unit invites students between the ages of 5 and 18 to submit entries for the 20th annual National Night Out Poster Contest. This year, young artists are asked to create posters that promote the BPD "Text for Peace" program, which enables residents to send crime tips via text message. Winning entries may win up to $500 in savings bonds, with divisions for various grade levels. The submission deadline is May 2.

Recent good news in the Boston Public Schools...

* Ten Boston teachers have been selected for environmental research fellowships.

* Natalie Bellevue, a senior at the Horace Mann School for the Deaf, was featured on Channel 5 as an A+ student.

* Six BPS teachers have earned National Board Certification.

* AARP has awarded Community Academy $10,000 to support arts programming.