The Digital Dragon
Student, Family & Community
NEU's Khoury School of Computer Science Field trips!
The Khoury School of CS is proud to offer another field trip opportunity to our students!
Northeastern’s Khoury College of Computer Sciences is hosting FREE field trips for high school classes in grades 10-12.
Learn about 3 different areas in CS, hear from college students in a Q&A panel, and have lunch (provided) on campus!
Capacity is limited, so teachers should apply for their spot now!
WHO: High School students, 10th - 12th grade
WHEN: 4 dates offered (Thursday, Dec 7; Friday, Dec 8; Monday, Dec 11; Tues, Dec 12)
WHERE: Khoury School of Computer Science
APPLICATION: https://forms.gle/BqQPne1CuB7oeGbQ7 (application is for TEACHERS ONLY)
MIT Beaver Works
MIT Beaver Works is excited to announce their Fall Program (virtual) for 10th and 11th Grade female students starting in October. The program is completely free, all students need are laptops and wifi to be a part of the program. If a student does not have a laptop they can reach out to us for a loaner so make sure that doesn't stop anyone from signing up.
We are offering the following programs:
Girls Who Program Autonomous Cars!
Girls Who Design, Build and Fly Model Aircraft!
Girls Who Want to Learn Many Interesting Things (MIT)!
Girls Who Program Cognitive Assistants!
Girls Who Want to Learn Back to bASICs!
Girls Who Program Racing Drones!
WHO: High School 10th and 11th Grade Female Students (9th grade students can apply as well, but first spots will be given to those in 10/11th grade)
WHEN: Saturdays 11am-2pm (EST): October 14, 21, 28, November 4, 11, 18, December 2, 9, 2023
WHERE: Virtually, through Zoom!
REGISTER: https://mit-bwsi.formstack.com/forms/bwsi_fall2023 (students must register themselves)
BosNOMA
A free field trip opportunity that BLA students may be interested in, see details and links for sign-up below. It’s a full day field trip on Saturday Oct 7 introducing students to architecture. Please share with students and any other faculty or staff who could help spread the word.
BosNOMA is the Boston chapter of a national organization focused on welcoming and supporting minorities in architecture and related design professions, which historically have had low numbers of minority groups, especially people of color, in the workforce. In August I volunteered in a 3-day summer program by BosNOMA introducing middle school students to architecture; it was a great experience for the kids (and us volunteers) - I can share information on that next spring for students who may be interested for next summer.
YOU Boston
We are happy to announce our Fall cohort offerings here at YOU Boston. Young people will have the opportunity to select from an array of exciting cohorts and earn $16.25 an hour.
Fall Cohort Cycle
-10 Weeks (10/16/2023- 12/22/2023)
-Monday-Thursday 3:30pm-6:30pm
In Person Cohorts (Subject to change)
-Photography
-Culinary Arts
-Intro to Cosmetology
-Health and Wellness
Virtual Cohorts
-Barista and Customer Service
-Senior Peer Leader
-Creative Expression
Eligibility:
Open to Boston residents ages 14-24. Placement is prioritized for those with a history of justice-involvement, gang-affiliation/association, safety issues in the community, housing instability, or other barriers to employment and educational attainment
Intake and payroll paperwork must be submitted prior to a cohort placement, those under 18 will be required to submit a work permit
We are scheduling in person and Zoom intake appointments and can also coordinate meetings at your office/school as needed
If you would like to make a referral you can use this link: Program Application Form (google.com)
The referral submission deadline is Thursday, September 28th. The required document submission deadline is Thursday, October 5th.
Museum of Fine Arts
September 21
In honor of Latinx Heritage Month, join us for an evening of live music, dance performances, talks in the galleries, and a look at art from North, Central, and South America.
We're offering $5 admission from 5–10 pm. No advance tickets needed—just grab yours at the door!
SpEdPAC
Please find the SpEdPAC general meetings and September meetings flyers below:
23-24 | SpEdPAC General Meetings Flyers
9/28/23 | SpEdPAC September Meeting Flyers
"Bridging Talents and Opportunities"
With great pleasure, I address you to extend a warm invitation to Boston Latin Academy's Latinx students with interests in continuing higher education in STEAM fields to participate in our event organized by MIT, Harvard, the Colombian Consulate at Boston, and Fundación ConEducación.
The "Bridging Talents and Opportunities" event will occur at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) on October 13th and 14th, 2023, in Cambridge, Massachusetts.
In case you find this interesting for your students, we would like to ask Science teachers to share the invitation with their Latinx students, especially in years 9-11th, and give them 10 min from their class to complete this registration form. There are limited seats per school, so registering is the first step in the process and closer to the event’s date we will confirm which students will be selected.
Youth Sports Fair
Sunday, September 24, 2023
Almont Park Mattapan
1pm-4pm
This fall, the City of Boston is hosting a free Youth Sports Fair for youth ages 9-14 where kids can explore sports they haven’t been able to try before and register for local youth sports opportunities! Enjoy clinics, activities, food, and music for everyone!
https://www.boston.gov/calendar/youth-sports-fair
FREE VIRTUAL MENTORING SUPPORT FOR BPS STUDENTS!
The Independent Learning Support (ILS) program at Boston Partners in Education connects experienced mentors with students to support academics and build confidence. All BPS students in 1st-12th grade are eligible to be matched with a mentor. Mentors meet with students afterschool, online, for one hour/week. To learn more and to sign your student up for the 2023/2024 school year, visit: bit.ly/IndependentLearningSupport
These are the links to purchase tickets for your home games. Please share them with school staff, students, and parents/guardians. We are moving towards no cash and online ticket purchasing only.
Feel free to email me if you have any questions or concerns.
Have a great week!
BLA vs BLS: https://gofan.co/event/1121412?schoolId=MA86961
BLA vs Oakmont: https://gofan.co/event/1121413?schoolId=MA86961
BLA vs English: https://gofan.co/event/1121415?schoolId=MA86961
BLA vs Brighton: https://gofan.co/event/1121416?schoolId=MA86961
Cell Phone and Tardy Policy
Both the cell phone and tardy policy will begin to be fully enforced this week. Please see the cell phone policy and student handbook for clarity on either policy. No cell phones means that no cell phones should be visible in the hallway and the same goes for headphones.
Chromebook distribution
Chromebook distribution will be happening throughout this week for any student who is in need of new chromebooks. We will be sharing new details around the distribution over the course of the next few days as tomorrow's distribution has been postponed. We do expect to move forward with distribution and password resets on Tuesday and Wednesday of this week.
Schedule Update
We continue to make adjustments to classes students have asked to add or drop and make a few minor adjustments to schedules. Our team will be communicative of any important changes to the schedule for your student.
Syllabi
Each student and family should receive an updated syllabi before Back to School night which will take place on 9/27. Please check the syllabi for each classroom to be sure of specifics and assignments.
BLA Grading Policy
Please pay attention to the specifics of the BLA Grading policy as written in the BLA student handbook as we start the school year. We have worked over the two years to create a fair grading policy for students and staff that relies heavily on feedback and opportunities for students to demonstrate growth.
Coffee with the Leadership Team
Coffee with the Leadership team will be held in person Thursday, September 14th at 7:20am. This is an opportunity for families to meet members of the leadership team and ask any questions. The meeting will last from 7:20 - 8:16. Please use the following link to sign up.
AP Study Sessions
Our first AP Study Session for English (Lang & Lit) will be on 9/23 from 9-12. This session is virtual and attendance is expected. Zoom links will be provided by your teacher.
Equity Roundtable
BLA will be hosting our first equity roundtable of the year on Tuesday 9/19. All BLA stakeholders are welcome to attend. If you are interested please email Ms. Medina. We will share a registration/zoom link soon.
Family Welcome Survey
Please fill out the Family Welcome Survey so that we can best serve and understand the needs of our students and families. We have a variety of resources available to our students and families and want to continue to develop and expand those resources to meet family needs.
BLA Operations
Football Game Tickets
Here is the link to tickets for tomorrow, please keep sharing!!
BLA vs BLS: https://gofan.co/event/1121412?schoolId=MA86961
Massachusetts is moving toward an "access for all" model in which anyone with any presenting issue can access mental health services reliably. To that end, here's the states "Roadmap" as well as CBHC programs and an important resource for LGBTQ teens/youths:
Behavioral Health Road Map in MA
Connect with qualified professionals for mental health assessments, crisis services, substance use treatment, referrals, and more, with options in all communities. Help Line staff will remain on the line until callers are connected to their next step. Call or text 833-773-2445 (BHHL). Start a chat at masshelpline.com/chatCommunity Behavioral Health Centers: A network of Community Behavioral Health Centers (CBHCs) in communities across the state serve as an entryway to timely and quality mental health and addiction treatment. All crisis services offered by CBHCs are open 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, 365 days a year (including holidays). HUGE!
BLU Foundation: Making medical and mental health awareness a priority while uplifting voices of LGBTQ+ folks. They have wrap-around services for ages 17-24, classes on how to make healthy meals for less money and a successful trans men's zoom group.
Click here if you wanna know more about how "recent research has found that 40% of adults in the U.S. are struggling with behavioral health issues related to the pandemic" and how MA hopes to combat it.
BPS DAILY HOME HEALTH CHECKLIST
Please use the BPS daily checklist everyday. The checklist is available in many languages and found HERE
Please remember that we are still strongly recommending students mask up and stay home if they are feeling sick. Please reference my messaging last week particularly these points:
Wash your hands–Perform frequent hand washing and cover your mouth and nose when coughing or sneezing.
Don’t come to school if you’re sick–use our home health checklist to monitor your symptoms.
Get vaccinated and boosted! Visit the City of Boston’s Vaccine Clinics or your medical provider.
Wear your mask indoors! Wearing your mask is always a safe bet!
Use your free Covid-19 rapid test before you go to school–Use the free rapid antigen test provided to each student. Test even if you’re not experiencing any symptoms.
Call your student’s school to report a Covid-19 positive case–If your student tests positive for Covid-19, please report it immediately.
Refrain from sharing food and/or drinks with others.
TRANSPORTATION UPDATES & SAFETY
Please have your child ready for the bus at their assigned pickup location ten minutes before the stated pickup time. Please also be prepared for bus delays. If you would like to know where your child’s bus is in real time, check out Where’s My School Bus online at schoolbus.bostonpublicschools.org.
If your child needs way-finding help, please encourage them to call the BPS Transportation Helpline at 617-635-9520. If your child becomes lost, they should call 9-1-1. The Boston Police Department's school unit coordinates with Boston Public Schools to locate missing children and return them to their parents and/or guardians or school as quickly as possible.
MORNING SAFETY
Please follow the signs posted near the school and watch your speed during school arrival times.
Please avoid blocking traffic by stopping in the middle of the road, parking in the spots designated for buses, making U-turns and dropping students off in the teacher parking lots.
Nursing/COVID Protocol
Hi all, as we continue to deal with COVID, we are including the BLA google form to be shared with any student who may report a positive case to you. Feel free to reach out for any further care/guidance.
Protocol for Employees Impacted by Coronavirus.pdf
This form is to be shared with positive students:
CATIE'S CLOSET
We have partnered with Catie's Closet to end clothing insecurity. Feel free to bring any gently used or new clothes. We will have boxes on each floor (near front Office, rooms 242, 343 of the building). Questions? Contact Ms. White and Ms. Medina.
FRESH FOOD PICK-UP
This will be happening the 2nd Saturday of every month. The registration form will be sent out a week in advance for families to register to pick up a box of fresh food. Questions or interested in volunteering? Contact Ms. Medina at mmedina5@bostonpublicschools.org
Student Support
Academic Supports Available to Students:
Please see below for a list of academic supports available to all students.
Youth Virtual Learning Programs: Check out this spreadsheet which has over 200 programs available to students to support with academics in the virtual world.
Pie R Squared: Pie R Squared offers live math tutoring after school.
826 Boston: 826 Boston’s after-school tutoring program operates Monday-Thursday for students ages 6-18. We serve the highest-need students in our community and give priority enrollment to students from low-income families and English Language Learners.
Upcoming Events
A BLA Calendar will be released for all families and students in the upcoming weeks.
STUDENT OPPORTUNITIES
*Flyers with more opportunities found below*
Asian Community Development Corporation (ACDC)
My name is Meika Shuman and I work with the Asian Community Development Corporation (ACDC). This upcoming school year I will be leading a youth leadership program called Asian Voices of Organized Youth for Community Engagement (AVOYCE) in Chinatown. Here is some information on the program as well as the application. I would greatly appreciate if you passed this along to any youth that may be interested!
What: To sum it up, a FREE youth leadership program that equips youth to be community advocates who design spaces for collective dreams, joy, and power. Throughout the school year youth focus on identity exploration, team building, social justice issues, and community development. More details are available in the application, and on the ACDC website.
When: Program runs from October 13th, 2023 to May 27th, 2024, and meets for workshop once a week.
Where: Community Room at 66 Hudson St, Boston, MA 02111 (5 mins from Chinatown/Tufts T stop!).
Who: High school aged youth interested in Asian American history.
Why: This is a wonderful opportunity for young people who are interested in exploring the history of Chinatown, and Asian American identities. Youth have given lots of positive feedback about the program and many return for a second or third year. It is a great way to directly engage with the community and promote youth empowerment!
Application: Applications are currently being accepted on a rolling basis and are due September 22nd. LINK
There is also a flyer for the application which I attached as a JPEG file in this email!
If you have any questions, please reach out to meika.shuman@asiancdc.org.
Thank you!
True Colors Troupe Devising Ensemble
Hope you had a wonderful Summer! We are currently recruiting creative and talented queer youth and allies between the ages of 14-18 for our Fall 2023 True Colors Troupe Devising Ensemble. True Colors Troupe is a program at TTO for LGBTQIA+ youth and allies who work with teaching artists to create and develop skills in performance, social justice, and community activism. Can you help us spread the word?
OUR THEME
This year's theme is "Lineage and Time Travel: The Beautiful Collision." We will be honoring, remembering, revisiting, celebrating, and amplifying QTBIPOC stories to fight erasure and cultural amnesia.
DATES/CRITERIA
This ensemble will be fully in-person starting October 24 - December 21, 2023, from 6pm-8:30pm, Tuesdays and Thursdays. Rehearsals will take place at the Boston Center for the Arts (BCA.) To be eligible, youth need to be a LGBTQIA+ youth or ally between the ages of 14-18. We are accepting eight (8) ensemble spots this Fall 2023. Youth will be compensated for their time and participation, as well as receive virtual grubhub gift cards for the dates involved. Applications will be accepted based on information entered in the application and first come first serve basis. Applications are due by Friday, September 22, 2023. To apply, please have youth fill out our survey monkey application HERE.
TTO'S MISSION
The Theater Offensive's mission is to present liberating art, for, and about queer and trans people of color that transcends artistic boundaries, celebrates cultural abundance, and dismantles oppression. For more information about our programs, please visit our website to learn more about what we offer.
If you know of any potential candidates who may be interested in joining, please feel free to share this email along. We are accepting applicants until July 15. Interested youth can submit their inquiry in the required fields here.
QUESTIONS?
Please reach me at ricky@thetheateroffensive.org.
