The Digital Dragon

Student, Family & Community

*Scholarship and Career Opportunities found further down in the Newsletter*

Spirit Week has Begun!

Elections for Open Positions: School Parent Council - Dec. 14, at 6:30p

Please consider running for one of our open, elected positions for SPC:

1 or 2 DELAC (District English Learners Advisory Council) Parent Reps: act as a liaison between citywide DELAC and BLA School Parent Council (SPC).

and for School Site Council (SSC):

SSC Alternate Parent Reps - 1 Asian and 1 Latinx: participate meetings, have voice in Council deliberations, serve as voting members only when their presence is necessary to have a quorum.

Position Details: https://docs.google.com/document/d/1T_i5BJ0qHyZUpb4TCy54DzlTRyrzEhBhqYJS3OCAQe8/edit?usp=sharing

Questions? Email SPC via blafamilies@gmail.com today!

Spirit Day Photographers Needed!

• The BLA Dragon Tales Newspaper is seeking student photographers for Spirit Day. Photographers will have their work featured in our first print edition of the year (as well as our digital publication), be credited as contributors to the paper and receive community service hours. If interested, please reach out ASAP to Amishai (agoodmangolds@bostonk12.org) or Mr. Mueller (emueller@bostonpublicschools.org).

High School Musical Auditions!

The spring musical auditions for High School Musical will take place Tuesday, November 30th and Wednesday, December 1st in Carroll Hall from 1:50 - 3:30 each day.

Please prepare a song from the show. Practice with a karaoke track and bring the track with you to the audition. You may not sing acapella or with the vocals.

*You Must know the lyrics to the song - you will not be allowed to hold them as you perform.

The more prepared you are the better your audition will go!!

Any questions please email or see Mrs. Berinato in Carroll Hall.

Ms. Upchurch's Resume Writing Workshops

• Come join us after school on Monday's in room 110 to work on resume creation and editing! They will take place right after school from around 1:45pm - 2:30pm. This is a great way for students grades 9-12 to create their first resume, learn helpful resume tips and hear a bit more about the Boston PIC and our services. In addition, working with the PIC on your resume now makes it easier for you to get connected to various internship opportunities once the Private Sector Internship application opens up closer to March!

• Sign up for one of the next two workshops if you are interested:

• 11/14/22 - https://classroom.google.com/c/NTUyMTQyMjMwMTA4?cjc=5aqwlty

• 11/21/22 - https://classroom.google.com/c/NTUyMTM5OTYxNjg3?cjc=p7pxenx

*Have you already attended a PIC resume workshop in the past? Just want someone to look over your resume and give suggestions? Share a copy of your resume to Ms. Upchurch today cupchurch@bostonpublicschools.org , in order to work with the PIC we have to have an updated copy of your resume in our system!*

School Parent Council

• Join us on Zoom to: get updates / Q&A with Head of School Gavin Smith; hear plans for the School Store; give feedback on Back to School Night and Coffee Hours; participate in course offerings discussion; hear the latest from our subcommittees: Accessibility & Inclusion; Appreciation for Fac & Students; Arts; Communications; Programming / Workshops; Wellness; and more!

• If you've already RSVP'd for past meetings you will get the Zoom link automatically for this one. If you haven't yet, RSVP today! https://forms.gle/TZGTUd1hp4eB1MR57

Monday After-School Math Club for Grade-7 & Grade-8 Math Enthusiasts

• Join Seniors Kenny Mai & Symone Armstead on Mondays at 1:40 to 2:40 in Room 326 for fun & interesting math activities. Students will work on group problem solving, hands-on explorations, team competitions, and maybe create a Math Video or Animation Video for the MathCounts Video Challenge annual contest.

• The MathCounts Club will begin on November 7th. Email Ms. Linda Coffey at blamathcounts@gmail, if you would like to join the group. Reach out to amacisaac@bostonpublicschools with any questions.

• We have a packed day of sessions for Asian High School and College students, including a panel, networking session, and workshops on how to dress professionally, organization/time management, and negotiation. It's completely free and food and drinks will be included! Flyer attached at the bottom of the page! There's a QR code with the signup, or access the link here.

• Fruta With Ms. Medina

  • Fruta with Ms. Medina the BLA Family Liaison. This will be a workshop that will take place twice a month in different neighborhoods. We hope to see families when we come to your neighborhoods and will be providing a wealth of resources for those who may need them. Please complete registration form.

• Saturday School

  • Saturday school serves as a space where our students engage in activities they may not get to experience during the school day or week, and often features members of the community. Last year some of the highlights were DJing, poetry, etc. This month's Saturday school will be specific to 8th grade only. Please contact Ms. Manchester if you would like more information.

• We, Team PAH (Patientis Aerovate Honori translated to Aerovate Honors Patients) are working in partnership with Team PHenomenal Hope and Aerovate Therapeutics to raise awareness of a rare and debilitating medical condition known as Pulmonary Arterial Hypertension or PAH. PAH is a progressive illness with no known cure. People living with PAH have trouble breathing and frequently find themselves unable to do the everyday tasks that most people take for granted. To honor these patients, we believe that a locally based fundraiser in the Boston area focused on running and walking can help build community and raise funds needed to support global research projects and patient-centered programs.

  • Our team’s mission is rooted in both growing awareness of patients with PAH and the symbolic representation of running/walking for these patients who may be experiencing decreased mobility. With many ways to participate and no action being too small, anyone and everyone is welcome on Team PAH regardless of background and physical ability.

• Get Connected via School Parent Council (SPC). For more info, contact SPC via blafamilies@gmail.com.

  • SPC helps build community among BLA families! Hear from guest speakers - Get answers to your questions from Head of School Gavin Smith - Join our General and/or our Grade-level family listservs to stay connected with fellow parents / caregivers.

  • Listserv Sign up form: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSf-QvSqhBUuw-pc-CLGGseXCe4NQOZDGEFB9YtZCX5B_l010A/viewform

  • Next meeting is Wed., Nov. 9. Save the date!

  • RSVP in advance to receive the monthly SPC Meeting Zoom link: https://forms.gle/TZGTUd1hp4eB1MR57

BLA Operations

BPS DAILY HOME HEALTH CHECKLIST

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

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.

Library Updates

• The library currently has 2 ongoing Donors Choose projects! One is for purchasing e-readers to support literacy skills, and the other is for purchasing board games to support classroom projects and club activities. The links can be found here: e-readers and board games. In addition, the library also has an Amazon wishlist, which can be found here. Thank you for your support!

• We are starting a BLA Book Club! Book Club will meet every Wednesday afterschool from 1:50 - 2:30 in the library. Book Club will have a monthly theme, and students can read any book of their choice that connects to the theme. The first meeting of each month will be dedicated to discussing the theme and choosing books. Ms. Sweeney will have plenty of suggestions each month! The first Book Club meeting is on Wed., November 2nd. We can't wait to see you there!

• Library Newsletter

• Library Hours:

Mon-Thur: 6:30am - 3:30pm

Fri: 6:30am - 1:40pm

The after-school teacher in charge is Ms. Medina. If you have any questions, contact the librarians.

• BLA's Hapgood Library is a place for students to visit during their study halls to complete work individually or in small groups. Research shows that listening to music while working or studying has many benefits, including boosting productivity, reducing stress, and improving focus. The library has a combination radio, CD, and record player, and we're looking to expand our music collection to play calm study music throughout the day! If you have any classical or easy listening music on CD or vinyl that you would like to donate to the library, please bring them in to Ms. Sweeney or Ms. Estrada.

• November Middle School Behavioral Health Digest

• BLA Be-Well Office Hours

Nursing/COVID Protocol

If you are hoping to participate in a winter sports team, please be sure you have signed up on aspen ( directions included), talked with the coach and have submitted a valid in person Physical exam dated within 13 months. ASPEN directions provided down below.

If you test positive for COVID, fill out the google form (below) so we can correctly excuse this absence and record this illness. Please follow the directions for quarantine on the form, if you need further assistance, feel free to reach out to Nurse Conlin and Price. You may also visit this website for additional information.

• If your student requires any medication during the school year ie: inhaler, epipen , please be sure to fill out the authorization for prescription medication paperwork and have it signed by both parent and MD. See nurse website for more information. If your student may require Ibuprofin/acetominophen/benedryl/ cetrizine, please fill out the OTC form also found on the nurses page. If your student had a Physical exam over the summer or during this school year, please be sure to forward a copy to our school nurses. Please visit our school nurses webpage for any information/paperwork you may require: https://www.latinacademy.org/families/nurses office

Google Form for reporting positive COVID case: HERE

CATIE'S CLOSET

• We have partnered with Catie's Closet to end clothing insecurity. We are running a clothing drive starting Friday, October 7. 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? Contact Ms. Medina at mmedina5@bostonpublicschools.org