The Digital Dragon




Student, Family & Community

Indigenous People's Day recognizes and celebrates the heritage of Native Americans and the history of their Nations. There will be no school on Monday, October 11 in observance of Indigenous People's Day.

BLA is celebrating National Hispanic Heritage Month and welcomed Boston City Councilor At-Large, Julia Mejia at the 12th grade assembly. Councillor Mejia is the first Afro-Latina to sit on the Boston City Council. She spoke to students about the importance of bringing their full selves with a little dose of joy into every space they walk into. Mejia poses with our Family Liaison, Ms. White (below).

The Student Council planned several events to celebrate Hispanic Heritage Month. Below are some pics of our BLA community learning bachata and merengue.

Members of the School Culture & Climate team alongside Mr. Doherty

BLA Operations

EXCUSED ABSENCES/TARDY & EARLY DISMISSAL

Families of BLA can now request excused absence, excused tardy, or early dismissal on this form: https://latinacademy.org/attendance

Dropping off your excuse note at the office is still a valid option. Feel free to reach out to Mr. Chen for any questions (ychen2@bostonpublicschools.org) regarding attendance.

COMMUNITY PARTNERSHIPS RECRUITMENT

Every Wednesday, BLA will host Community partners who will be providing After school informational sessions and registration during lunch periods.

This week BLA featured two community partners, Junior Achievement, a nonprofit that inspires and prepares young people for success, and "Lights, Coding, Action!" Workshop from the Hawthorne Youth and Community Center (HYCC). Junior Achievement recruited students for their entrepreneurship programs and HYCC recruited for their paid coding, electronics, microcontroller programming workshop.

Mark Schafer and Yvon Augustin (above) meets with BLA students during lunch periods to recruit students for paid after school positions in coding, computers, and/or electronics.

Next week's Community Partner will be BUSM STEP, an annual free intro to medicine mentoring program open to all high school sophomores. If interested, submit application HERE by October 12.

BPIE (Boston Partners in Education) will also recruit for their after school activities.


For after school support, anyone is able to nominate students for a mentor using the nomination forms:


Accelerate: Available to students in grades K-8. Accelerate can assist any students in grades K-8 identified by their teacher as needing extra academic or social-emotional support.

Aim High: Available to all high school students. Aim High supports students in grades 9-12 who have small gaps in skills and knowledge and just need that extra push to find success.

ILS: Independent Learning Support program matches interested 3rd through 12th grade BPS students with volunteer academic mentors. Students meet virtually with mentors once a week outside of school time to improve their academic performance and receive any needed help.


BPS DAILY HOME HEALTH CHECKLIST

Please use the BPS daily checklist everyday. The checklist is available in many languages and found HERE

POOL COVID TESTING

Covid-19 Pool testing will take place every Wednesday at BLA from 6:30am to 2pm in the Medical Waiting Room (Rm 142).

After School Clubs and Activities are a great way to meet other students and interact around a common interest. A few clubs have already started, and more will start soon. Last year we had over 45 clubs. A current list, along with meeting times, can be found HERE

Complete the form here to submit your club request.

Social Media for Families

Please see this important information about Social Media for families by clicking HERE

Student Support

COLLEGE ESSAY WRITING

Need help with writing your college essay? Free tutoring sessions for juniors and seniors.

Register today! Email roxburyhycc@gmail.com or call 617-427-0613

Starts Tuesdays October 12- November 16 from 4pm-6pm

Location: 9 Fulda Street, Roxbury MA 02119

Snacks provided. Attend one or more sessions.

COLLEGE PLANNING

Stay up-to-date with college admissions information, scholarships, P/SAT/ACT testing and more college planning resources: https://www.collegevigorbla.com/


SCHOOL BASED HEALTH CENTER


BLA is fortunate to have a school-based health center located in our building. The Health Center is staffed by a Nurse Practitioner, a Clinical Social Worker, a Health Educator and an administrative assistant. They work together to provide wrap around care within the school building. Their services are designed to supplement a student's primary care and make it easier for students to access care when they need it without adding extra time or transportation to their busy lives. The ability for students to receive to physical or mental health treatment that they need within the school day ensures that students receive consistent care and facilitates student attending school and classes regularly. All of the care student receive is free, however, families do need to fill out an application to consent for care in order to receive treatment.


Applications for the Health Center can be found in the school counseling office in Room 150 or for more information on the staff of the Health Center and the application please click here.

Upcoming Events

MONDAY

Indigenous People's Day (No School)

  • 10:00a Boys Varsity Soccer @ Revere High

WEDNESDAY

  • MAP Testing for Grade 7-9 and PSAT Testing for Grades 10-11 and SAT Testing for Grade 12

  • 1:50p NHS Info Meeting

  • 4:00p Girls Varsity Soccer vs East Boston High

BUSM STEP and BPIE will be recruiting in the Cafeteria from 10:20am to 11:45am for their afterschool programs.

THURSDAY

  • 1:50p NHS Info Meeting

  • 4:00p Boys Varsity Soccer vs CASH

  • 4:00p Girls Varsity Soccer @ CASH


FRIDAY

  • 4:00p Girls Varsity Soccer vs Marblehead High

  • 6:00p Football vs. East Boston @ East Boston High


SATURDAY


Are you (or your family) behind on your mortgage or rent? You may be eligible for financial assistance to help pay for rent or mortgage arrears, utilities arrears, upfront moving costs.

Attend a Free Workshop for help in completing the application for Financial Assistance. Sponsored by the Greater Boston Real Estate Board and Metro Housing of Boston.


Saturday, October 16, 2021

Time: 10:00 AM - Noon

Where: The Community Room at 1411 Tremont Street


Open to property owners and tenants. Masks will be required for all those attending.

Alana Laforest is an 8th grader at BLA and is the 8th Grade President in the Student Council. She is also involved in the Instrumental Ensemble and Mock Trial.

Here's what Alana has to say when asked these questions:

The best part of being a BLA student: is being a part of the diverse community along with all the amazing people it has to offer.

College Aspirations: Personally, my goals and aspirations change almost daily. At the moment, I think I want to be a Civil Rights Lawyer or a Business Lawyer.

Something a lot of people know now: I'm actually really good at roller skating. I've been rollerskating for at least 5 years now!


Here's a photo (below) of her performance at the public memorial service for Bob Moses. Keep shining Alana!

BLA Student & Club Spotlights

Several members of the BLACC (Classics Club) marched in the Roslindale Parade. Shout out to their advisors, Ms. Lindeborg, Ms. Greene and Mr. Freed. Thanks for representing BLA well!

BLACC was also featured in this news article on Universal Hub. Check out these cool pics and their creative banner below.

Student Opportunities


The Boston Public Schools (BPS) Teacher Cadet Program develops strategic partnerships to identify, cultivate, and support middle school and high school, students. These high school students reflect the cultural, linguistic, and racial diversity of BPS to successfully navigate high school, graduate from college, and return as teachers in BPS. If you're interested in making a change in your community, working with children as a career, and/or have a passion for education, fill out the Teacher Cadet Application. BLA teachers and staff: If you'd like to nominate students into the Teacher Cadet program, please fill out Nominate form.


The Boston Branch of the NAACP will be awarding a new HP laptops to two high school students that attend a Metro Boston High school or reside in the Metro Boston area. Applicants are asked to submit an essay (750 words or less) on the importance of racial justice. Submit a completed application and essay by November 1, 2021. Application Link HERE


The BLA CHAPTER OF THE NATIONAL HONOR SOCIETY is starting its fall invitation process for seniors. Mrs. MacIsaac, the advisor, will be holding 4 informational sessions in the next few weeks after school in 231. Meetings will start at 1:50 and end before 2:30. The dates are:

Tuesday, October 5

Wednesday, October 13

Thursday, October 14

Monday, October 18

Please email Mrs. MacIsaac (amacisaac@bostonpublicschools.org) or stop by Room 231 for any questions.


BUSM STEP is an annual FREE INTRO TO MEDICINE MENTORING program open to all high school sophomores at Boston Latin Academy, O’Bryant, and City on a Hill. This year we're keeping the spirit but going virtual! The interactive program has 7 Friday sessions at 3-5pm which run from October to January and attendance to most/all sessions is highly encouraged!


Sessions will range from:

- watching a surgery

- The Sims public health city planning

- learning about research and designing a 3D printed model to keep

- getting to ask RL healthcare professionals (doctors/nurses/etc) questions about their work

- learning how to listen to your heart

- to talking about college


Sophomores are also paired with medical student mentors from Boston University School of Medicine. The mentor goes through the program's sessions with you and is available to answer any questions you have about going into medicine as a career. If you are interested in applying, submit registration form HERE


OPPORTUNITY FOR 7th GRADE GIRLS: LITTLE SISTER WORKPLACE MENTORING

Big Sister Boston will be offering our free Workplace Mentoring Program to incoming 7th graders at BLA again. Girls in 7th grade enroll as Little Sisters and are matched with Big Sisters from Fidelity Investments for two academic years. The Workplace Mentoring program occurs on Thursdays, twice a month virtually, with the potential to transition to in-person visits at the Fidelity workplace depending on CDC guidelines. This program offers a mentoring and enrichment experience for the girls of Greater Boston.

Program Dates: October/November 2021- May 2023

For more information and to express interest, click here HERE. Spots are limited!

BIG SISTER COMMUNITY SERVICE OPPORTUNITY AT THE TROTTER ELEMENTARY SCHOOL

Big Sister Boston will be offering our High School Mentoring Program at BLA again this year as a community service learning opportunity! Girls in grades 9th-12th are matched with "Littles" from the Trotter Elementary School around the corner and serve as their mentor. High School Bigs also participate in the Girls Leadership Program, a space dedicated to developing leadership skills, providing peer-to-peer support, and making new friends!

​Program Commitment: Once a week after school from 2 - 4.30 pm. Students choose Monday, Wednesday, OR Thursday.

Program Dates: October/November 2021- May 2023

To sign up, go to Big Sister sign up.



ANNOUNCEMENTS

  • To post to the Digital Dragon, please fill out this form here. Submissions are due every Thursday for Sunday posts.

  • If you would like to be featured or would like to have a student, student group, teacher, or staff member featured in the next Digital Dragon, please email Ms. White (mwhite8@bostonpublicschools.org) by Thursday of the week.

  • Janet Fillion's Retirement Celebration (Brunch) will be on Saturday, October 30th from 11 AM - 2 PM at Venezia's Restaurant. Location is 20 Ericsson St., Boston, MA 02122. Cost is $50 per ticket. Please fill out Link to RSVP