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.