Superintendent's Gallery features student art

Superintendent Carol R. Johnson has launched the Superintendent’s Gallery, a rotating series of solo exhibitions designed to showcase the work of emerging high school student artists. Each artist’s work will be displayed in Dr. Johnson’s office at Boston Public Schools headquarters (26 Court Street) before traveling to the Boston Teachers Union Hall (Dorchester) and to the BPS Teaching & Learning department offices for six-week exhibitions. Steven Wong of the South End (pictured here), a junior at the Josiah Quincy Upper School in Chinatown, is the first student selected to exhibit his work. Six of Steven’s acrylic impressionist paintings are currently on display outside of Dr. Johnson’s office.

Great Gatsby alive and well in Boston, 83 years later

Today's New York Times features an article about how F. Scott Fitzgerald's classic novel The Great Gatsby is taught in urban high schools today. The reporter visited Fenway High School and Boston Latin School to interview students and teachers about the book's relevance, with a focus on how young readers think about the American Dream. Pictured here in English class at Boston Latin School are Shannon Murphy (left) and Maxson Izidore-St. Louis.

Earlier posting: "NY Times highlights Boston's college access work"

Abe Lincoln delivers pennies to Perkins students

Students, families and staff at the Michael J. Perkins Elementary School in South Boston welcomed a special surprise visitor today. Just a few days before a national holiday in his honor, and a few days after his 199th birthday, Abraham Lincoln stopped by to support the school's penny drive. The 16th U.S. President contributed to the fund-raising effort with a delivery of pennies that bear his face, as well as a stack of children's books about the penny.

The school community is trying to collect one million pennies to create a college scholarship fund for Perkins alumni. The One Million x .01 = Opportunity Scholarship Fund aims to raise $10,000, penny-by-penny, while serving as a hands-on math lesson to help elementary students conceptualize large numbers. Mr. Lincoln was portrayed by George Cheevers, himself a Boston Public Schools teacher at the Boston Adult Technical Academy. Pictured here, (top photo) third grader Aurore Ndayishimiye greets the special visitor, and (bottom photo), kindergarten students Cameron Lapaglia-Deane and Shakira Mathurin admire the pennies collected to date. See the complete web album.

Garfield students celebrate 100th day of school

Students at the James A. Garfield Elementary School in Brighton marked the 100th day of the 2007-2008 school year today with lessons and activities all about the number 100. Mrs. Rexrode's first grade class has been counting up to the big day, with each child collecting and displaying 100 everyday objects to learn about mathematics and counting.

Boston students declare "Next Stop, College"

Commuters on MBTA subways and buses are learning about Boston's efforts to prepare students for college and career success, thanks to a new public awareness campaign launched this month. “Next Stop, College” features recent graduates and current high school students describing how their high schools have helped prepare them to achieve their college and career goals. Later this spring, the campaign will be expanded to include print advertising, bus shelters, and movie theater preview screens.

The campaign is funded through grants from the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation and the Carnegie Corporation to support Boston’s high school renewal work, with no public funds used to develop or place the advertisements. Pictured here is one of three transit ads, this one featuring Antionetta Kelley of Roslindale, a 2007 graduate of Fenway High School, who is now at Smith College, studying Government with plans to run for public office.

Ken Still honored for work in school sports

The Massachusetts Secondary Schools Athletic Directors Association (MSSADA) has named Kenneth H. Still, Athletic Director of the Boston Public Schools, a winner of the Theodore “Ted” Damko Award for leadership in interscholastic sports. The award is presented annually to an athletic director in each of eight districts who has exemplified the highest standards of the profession. Mr. Still has been the Senior Program Director for Athletics in the Boston Public Schools since July 2003. A graduate of the English High School, Mr. Still began his career in the Boston Public Schools in 1973 as a History teacher, and has since worked as a teacher, coach and guidance counselor in several Boston middle and high schools.

Boston students mark "Super Tuesday"

Students and teachers throughout the Boston Public Schools seized the "Super Tuesday" Presidential primary elections in Massachusetts as valuable opportunities for teaching and learning about government, politics, elections and civics. At the Boston Adult Technical Academy, Advanced Algebra II students applied their lessons about linear equations to track candidates' progress and make predictions about the outcomes. Other schools held "mock elections" to give children a chance to cast ballots for their favorites candidates. Pictured here are Alisha Cooper and Samanta Miceus, fifth graders at the Haley Elementary School in Roslindale, greeting and checking in their classmates during the school's mock election. Senator Barack Obama (D-IL) earned the most votes at the Haley School polls. Students at the Hamilton Elementary in Brighton also held a mock election, as reported in the Allston-Brighton Tab.

Middle school students urged to "Think About Your Drink"

The City of Boston has launched a new campaign to encourage middle school students to make healthy beverage choices at local convenience stores. Mayor Thomas M. Menino recently announced the Boston Corner Store initiative, piloted in eight markets near BPS middle schools, where healthier beverages like low-fat milk, water and 100% juices will be prominently displayed to urge teenagers to "Think About Your Drink." Pictured here at the kickoff event at Fuller's Market in Dorchester, right to left, are Mayor Menino, Wilson Middle School student Babita Sammy, and Pat Patriot. Students at the Frederick Pilot Middle School in Dorchester produced a short video announcing the initiative.

Superintendent announces her academic agenda

At tonight's Boston School Committee meeting, Dr. Carol Johnson presented the beginning of her plan to reorganize and strengthen the district to ensure all students achieve at high levels. She outlined priorities for the first of two phases in "Proficiency, Opportunity and Efficiency: the Superintendent's Acceleration Agenda for the Boston Public Schools," with a focus on the academic agenda and restructuring of central offices to support schools. Phase II, scheduled to be presented in April, will focus on operations, family/community partnerships, and long-term fiscal and facilities challenges.

31 BPS students earn Posse Scholarships

Thirty-one students from 13 Boston public high schools have earned a full tuition scholarship from the Posse Foundation. Posse Scholars also receive pre-college preparation and support during their college careers at six top-ranked liberal arts colleges across the country: Bryn Mawr College (Pennsylvania), Bucknell University (Pennsylvania), Centre College (Kentucky), Denison University (Ohio), Hamilton College (New York) and Union College (New York). They will join diverse teams of graduates from five other major U.S. cities at these colleges to help promote academic excellence and cross-cultural communication on campus. Since 2000, 147 Boston Public Schools students have become Posse Scholars.

Boston named one of the "100 Best Communities for Young People"

The America's Promise Alliance has named Boston one of the 100 Best Communities for Young People. The annual competition highlights cities and towns nationwide that have made the well-being of children and youth a top priority -- including ensuring that young people receive the resources necessary to stay in school and succeed. The City of Boston was recognized for innovative projects to keep children motivated and in positive environments such as Camp Harbor View, which provides four weeks of transportation, meals and programming to 600 campers during the summer.

Boston explores wind turbines on school grounds

Mayor Thomas M. Menino recently announced plans to advance wind power development in the City of Boston, including installation of wind turbines at Boston Public Schools sites and a small-scale wind turbine on the roof of Boston City Hall (artist's rendering shown here). The City and school district will embark on an extensive community process to select the best sites to advance these wind power projects, beginning with a preliminary list of six schools well situated for wind power generation. Officials hope the turbines also will serve as valuable learning tools, with teachers able to incorporate them into the curriculum to bring science lessons about energy and the environment to life.

Senator Kennedy visits the Edwards to highlight ELT success

Senator Edward M. Kennedy, Mayor Thomas M. Menino and other officials recently visited the Clarence R. Edwards Middle School in Charlestown to celebrate the success of the Massachusetts Expanded Learning Time (ELT) Initiative, the first-in-the-nation state initiative to redesign schools with substantially more time for learning. Senator Kennedy called for a national expansion of the initiative through the Elementary and Secondary Education Act (ESEA) reauthorization.

The Edwards, one of four Boston schools participating in the program (along with the Timilty Middle School, Umana Middle School Academy and Boston Arts Academy), began implementation in September 2006. The redesigned school day allows more time for innovative academics and includes a wide range of enrichment activities. In addition to regular math classes, students at the Edwards now participate in Math Leagues, a competitive and socially engaging way to learn and practice math. As a result, math scores rose across all grades. The Edwards School increased the percentage of students scoring proficient on the math MCAS at more than twice the rate of the district and also of the state. The school also was highlighted in a recent Education Week story about the initiative.

Madison Park raises $2,800 for fire victims

When students and staff at Madison Park Technical Vocational High School in Roxbury learned about the late December fire in Dorchester that took the lives of two young members of the Zizi family and left the family homeless, they decided they had to do something to help. Two surviving members of the Zizi family attend Madison Park, and their fellow students and staff wanted to support the family in their time of need. Students organized a fundraiser and collected $2,800 in just one week.

Remembering Dr. King

Students from fourteen Boston Public Schools paid tribute to Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. last week at the district's annual MLK celebration at John Hancock Hall. The theme of this year's celebration was One Voice: Igniting Change, Transforming Humanity, with students from kindergarten through high school displaying their talents in poetry, singing, instrumental music, dance and other performing arts to commemorate Dr. King's legacy. Pictured here are students from the Marshall Elementary School in Dorchester. See coverage on Fox-25 Boston.

NY Times highlights Boston's college access work

Today's New York Times features a front-page story about making college a priority for urban high school students and highlights efforts in the Boston Public Schools. The reporter cites Excel High School in South Boston and Brighton High School as models for encouraging and supporting students in the college application process. Pictured here is John Travers, head of counseling at Brighton High, with students. The article also commends Boston's annual College Month activities.

Registration underway for 2008-09 school year

The school registration process for next year has begun, with families of students entering kindergarten and grades 6 and 9 in September encouraged to register before February 1. The registration period for all other students takes place from February 6 - March 14. Families may register at any of six registration sites, including special hours at City Hall this week. Be sure to visit the BPS website for important information about what documentation to bring, and save time by completing pre-registration online. Questions? Call the family hotline at 617-635-9046.

School Committee elects officers, sets meeting schedule

At its annual organizational meeting, the Boston School Committee re-elected Dr. Elizabeth Reilinger to her eleventh term as Chairperson and elected Rev. Dr. Gregory G. Groover, Sr. to his first term as Vice-Chairperson. The Committee also approved a calendar of 2008 public meetings, including a series of community hearings about the development of the district's budget for the 2008-2009 school year.

Snowden students advise Governor on youth issues

Several students from the Snowden International School at Copley have been helping to plan community forums throughout the Commonwealth about youth issues, sponsored by Governor Deval Patrick's Office of Civic Engagement. Pictured here, left to right, are Snowden U. S. History Instructor/Advisor John Garner, students Flavio Marchan, Katherine De La Cruz, and Emmanuel Jiminian, and Ron Bell, Director of the Governor's Office of Civic Engagement.

Mayor Menino appoints two School Committee members

Mayor Thomas M. Menino began the new year with the important task of appointing members to the Boston School Committee. On Monday, the Mayor will swear in new member Claudio Martinez (pictured here) and reappoint Marchelle Raynor to her third term. Mr. Martinez is Executive Director of the Hyde Square Task Force, and Ms. Raynor is Program Director for the Gertrude E. Townsend Head Start Learning Center. The Mayor selects School Committee members from candidates recommended by a 13-member Citizens Nominating Panel.