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.