The Digital Dragon
Student, Family & Community
*Scholarship and Career Opportunities found further down in the Newsletter*
BLA Jobs and Internships Website
We now have a Jobs and Internship website which is a great additional resource. This website is run by our PIC Counselor here at BLA. Questions? Email cupchurch@bostonpublicschools.org.
Comic Con is coming up on March 9th and 10th! Teachers from each grade level will be bringing their classes to the library throughout the day to take part in the activities. There will also be a Cosplay Fashion Show at 2:00 on Friday, March 10th in the library. Students may enter the fashion show by filling out this form by Monday, March 8th. There will be guest judges, and prizes for the first, second, and third place winners!
Boston Parks is hosting free golf lessons next week if any of your students are interested! And hosting free ultimate frisbee, softball and baseball clinics:
https://www.boston.gov/departments/parks-and-recreation/parks-sports-and-activities
ABCD Summer Works & Work SMART Youth Employment
In Youth Services, we provide opportunities for career exposure for youth between the ages of 14 - 24 years old by providing a meaningful work experience through our partners. *Note, youth wages are paid by ABCD.
Our in-school program, WorkSMART, youth are between the ages of 14 - 21 years old who reside in Boston and Medford. Youth are provided an 8 week paid internship (1 week of workshops for soft skills development followed by a 7 week internship at a worksite placement for 8 hours per week). In addition, youth are able to participate in mentoring and tutoring sessions.
During SummerWorks, youth take part in career skills and job readiness workshops, receive mentoring and social support, and be placed in a job that gives back to the community, all while earning a paycheck.
SummerWorks is open to income eligible Boston and medford residents age 14 to 21
United States District Court for the District of Massachusetts’ Nelson Fellowship, which is an educational program designed to expose high school students to the judicial system and legal profession. I am reaching out to share that the 2023 Nelson Fellowship application is now available at: https://www.mad.uscourts.gov/outreach/nelson.htm under the “When & where do I apply?” section. Please feel free to spread the word about the Nelson Fellowship to any students you think might be interested.
Program Timeline:
The Nelson Fellowship will run six weeks from July—August. The six weeks will begin on July 5, 2023, and will end on August 11, 2023, with a virtual orientation tentatively scheduled for June 29, 2023. The program is intended for students who are available to participate in the full schedule: Monday through Friday from 9:00 AM to 5:00 PM. A weekly educational stipend is provided, and travel to and from the Fellowship is paid for. While most students will travel to the Moakley Courthouse in Boston, a couple students will be placed at the Donohue Courthouse in Worcester. We plan to hold the 2023 Fellowship in person, with the potential for some virtual days. A final decision will be made closer to the start of the program.
The application deadline is Monday, March 27, 2023, with interviews taking place in late April.
Judge Kelley and Judge Dein continue to sponsor the Nelson Fellowship, and many of last year’s instructors are set to return for the 2023 program.
Looking for Career Development Support? Attend a personalizeed one-on-one session! SuccessLink participants are highly encouraged to join a session to take advantage of their work experience at their organizations.
Sessions include:
Personalized career exploration
Mock interviews
Resume and cover letter workshops
College readiness support
Drop in hours:
Monday: 11 am - 5 pm
Tuesday: 2 pm - 5 pm
Wednesday: 11 am - 5 pm
Thursday: 2 pm - 5 pm
Friday: 11 am - 5 pm
Participants may make an appointment here.
City of Boston paid internships operate across many City departments for an inclusive, fun, rewarding professional development experience.
Deadline to submit application for the Mayor's Office Summer Internship Program is: Friday March 31, 2023, due by 11:59 p.m. (EST). Internship runs June 5 - August 31, 2023. Learn more here.
The Fine Arts Work Center has partnered with the Mayor’s Office of Arts and Culture and the Poet Laureate for the City of Boston to offer full scholarships to six emerging writers. Scholarship awardees will spend one week in Provincetown, Massachusetts writing and studying under a poet of their choice in Summer 2023. Writers must be between the ages of 18 and 35 or have published no more than one book.
Deadline to apply is March 6, 2023! Learn more here. For questions, email polayiw2@gmail.com.
Bridge to Calculus through Northeastern
At the free online Question Center, students can get extra help generally for Calculus (but can ask questions in other branches of Math too) and for college prep.. We pair students with mentors to ensure that they get individual attention. We require them to fill in a consent form which can be found at the link mentioned in the flyer (QR code also provided). Once we receive the consent forms, I will send them the zoom link for the meeting. But if any of them have trouble filling in the forms, they can email me, and we can help them with the same.
Please feel free to contact me if you have any questions regarding the program.
Here is a link to our website: https://bridgetocalculus.sites.northeastern.edu/
Big Picture Art House photo program, located in Roxbury with pick up and drop off in Jamaica Plain, is offering a 3-day Travel Photography class over April Break for 11-15 year olds. Digital Cameras are supplied and field trips take place daily around the city and surrounding areas. Class is Tues, Wed, Th April 18-20from 10-2pm. Please email Jenny with questions at bigpicturearthouse@gmail.com or got to the website www.bigpicturearthouse.com.
Family Workshops for 7th & 8th Grade Families:
In partnership with the BPS Office of Technology & Digital Learning, we will be hosting two virtual workshops for BLA Middle School Families around the topics of Google Classroom, and Social Media & Online Safety. If you are interested in attending, please fill out this form: Family Workshop RSVP
Information about the workshops can be found below:
1. March 8: Google Classroom (5:30-6:30PM)
In this session, families will learn the basics of how to use Google Classroom from the parent/family and student view including how to register for updates, review assignments, and monitor progress. This session will be led by members of the BPSTechnology Digital Learning Team.
2. March 15: Social Media and Online Safety (5:30-6:30PM)
In this session, families will learn about the meaning and importance of a digital footprint, responsible social media use, and tips and resources for keeping their middle school students safe online. This session will be led by members of the BPSTechnology Digital Learning Team.
SuSHI
SuSHI is an after-school program for greater Boston high schoolers who are Asian/Asian American and are interested in learning more about health, wellness, identity, resilience, and other important topics and participating in group discussions in a supportive space. Please use this link to register: (https://tinyurl.com/sushispring).
Applications Open for Youth Advisory Board at Brigham and Women’s Hospital & Harvard Medical School
Our research team is currently accepting applications from Chinese heritage high school students (age 14-18) to serve as Youth Advisory Board members from June to November 2023 for the BOBA Project. The BOBA Project is our new-NIH funded research study about how Chinese American teens have conversations with their family and friends about important issues that affect Asian Americans (e.g., recent rise in anti-Asian discrimination) and subsequent impacts on mental health. Prior research indicates that Asian American youth are significantly less likely than other racial/ethnic groups to use mental health services while also being more than twice as likely to have unmet mental health needs. Our project is aimed at addressing these concerns.
Teen Central!
This is Chris Jacobs, your Teen Central Team Lead, back with some exciting event opportunities coming your way in our Copley Square location. Our upcoming offerings are focused on building confidence, skills, and self-reliance in 2023, and we would love it if you could spread the word to your students and teen organizations!
Beginning January 19, BPL’s recently appointed Entrepreneur-in-Residence, Dr. Allana Da Graca, graces the Teen Central Main Space for a series of workshops designed to help teens envision and achieve a variety of goals via high-quality crafts. We will be running these workshops again on Feb 16. Teens can drop in to any day in the series, but can also register for the whole shebang at bit.ly/bpldreambelieve4teens.
· Calling all performers! Teen Central Turns Art Café on Thursday, February 9, and we need rising stars and artists for our first of many Open Mic Nights! This teen-led evening of performance, live music, poetry, and more will feature a de-winterizing array of café-style snacks and ambience to support the warm glow of teen creativity! Please share with your teens! Teen performers must register by Friday, February 3 by emailing teencentral@bpl.org.
· Time to get testy…! Did you know that Teen Central has a full range of 2023 test prep materials for use ONLY by teen visitors…? These non-circulating materials are FREELY available to Teen Central visitors to be used immediately! We even have a FREE Princeton Review SAT course here at Central with open spots: learn more information and register 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.
BLA Operations
*If students are staying after school, please be sure that they scan the After School QR code*
Report Card Night/ Parent Teacher Conference
We will hold our report card night this year on February 15th, this will be in person and for a total of two hours.
New Grading Policy Key Highlights
Last year the School Site Council voted on the Grading and Assessment Policy. This policy was created with input from many stakeholders and will continue to be highlighted in our weekly memo’s. As part of the feedback there are a few really important shifts to be shared.
Under the new grading the following is the expectation:
Homework over school vacation periods will be limited to two subjects and homework should be designed to take 30 minutes or less. There will be no long-term project or large assignments will be assigned over school vacation weeks. *AP courses and summer reading assignments are an exception to this rule:
February break: Science and ELA
April break: Latin and Modern Foreign Language
Upon our return we will begin preparing for Midterms and completing MAP Assessments. Here is what was decided in regards to Midterms and Finals:
Mid-Year and Final Exams
Final and Mid-Year exams will contribute to the final course grade. Each exam will count as a summative assessment grade in either term 2 or term 4.
Mid-Year shall be a cumulative summative assessment that assesses what students have learned over the course of the first semester. Mid-year shall be aligned to the standards or course outcomes.
After reviewing the mid-year exam, teachers shall review the data and create appropriate action plans
D’s and F’s
Student Receiving Ds or Failing Grades
For students who have failing grades at the progress report period, teachers shall call home and communicate feedback to caregivers that outlines why the student is not demonstrating mastery and comment on the progress report
For students receiving Ds at progress report period, the teacher shall input a comment on the progress report that explains why the student is receiving.
That communication shall be logged in SIS.
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.
Library Updates
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.
The library's current Donors Choose project is to purchase a new, updated 3D printer and 3D doodle pens! The project can be found here.
Book Club meets every Wednesday in the lower library, from 1:50-2:30. Contact Ms. Sweeney for details.
Comic Con is coming up, on March 9th and 10th! If you are interested in donating supplies for Comic Con, our Amazon wishlist can be found here. Donations purchased from our wishlist can be sent to: Boston Latin Academy c/o Marina Sweeney, 205 Townsend St., Boston, MA 02121. Thank you for your support!
If staff or students are traveling internationally and need to access their BPS email, call the Service Desk at 617-635-9200 to keep their access turned on
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
Boston Partners in Education
Boston Partners in Education will match academic mentors with your students to support them 1:1 or in small groups. Our mentors come directly to your classroom for 1 hour each week, for the duration of the school year. Students that may benefit from working with a mentor might: need additional time to understand concepts, lack confidence or motivation in certain subjects, need help following through to complete work, or need stronger organizational and study skills. If you have students that would benefit from an academic mentor, you can nominate them for support at https://bostonpartners.org/educators/. Teachers can also request online after-school tutoring for their students here: https://bostonpartners.org/ils-nomination/.
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.
Academic Mentoring Program is now available for grades 6-12, where students are able to request a mentor for help and guidance with school (more information below)
Boston Public School District has partnered with Paper to provide ALL students with free, 1-on-1 tutoring and writing support. You can explore this incredible resource with your students right now! Tutoring and writing support in 4 different languages — English, Spanish, French and Mandarin. Interested in speaking to a member of the Paper team? You can reach them at parents@paper.co.
Upcoming Events
MONDAY
Academic: Science Tutoring ( Mr. Egbunike) UPPER LIBRARY
Academic/Enrichment: Resume Clinic & Job Readiness Application Support with PIC Counselor (Starting on Oct. 24)
Enrichment: Boston Debate League with Mr. Grannum and Ms. Walia (Room 317)
Enrichment: BLA Band with Mr. Smothers
Athletic: Fitness Session with Kev V (Gym)
TUESDAY
Enrichment: Singer/Songwriting (Room 145)
Enrichment: American Sign Language (ASL) classes with DEAFinitely (Room 222)
WEDNESDAY
Academic: Math Tutoring (Mr. Cao) (Room 108)
Academic: Latin Tutoring (Ms. Francois) UPPER LIBRARY
Enrichment: CPR/First Aid Health Mentorship (Room 222)
Enrichment: Chorus w/Mr. Drisdom for 7th - 9th Graders
Athletic: Fitness Session with Kev V (Gym)
THURSDAY
Academic/Enrichment: STEM Igniters (Exploring STEM careers with students of color) (Room 220)
Enrichment: Chorus w/Mr. Drisdon for 10th -12th Graders
Enrichment: BLA Band with Mr. Smothers
SCHOLARSHIP, COLLEGE, & CAREER OPPORTUNITIES FOR STUDENTS
SuccessLink School Year Job Applications are NOW OPEN!
Looking for a job this school year? Between the ages of 14 to 18?
The application for the SuccessLink Youth Jobs program is now open! Click here for more information!
Artists for Humanity program:
Available to all currently enrolled 14+ students in BPS, the program does not require previous art experience, they are simply looking for individuals who have a passion for, and commitment to, art and design. The program has paid opportunities and built-in mentorship. The program does require a significant commitment and if students are interested in the paid opportunities they must meet the following prerequisites:
A high school attendee or at least 14 years of age and must be registered within the Boston Public Schools.
Able to attend every week during the program's regular hours (Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday from 3:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m. during the school year; Monday through Friday from 12 noon to 5:30 p.m. during the summer.
Able to complete an unpaid apprenticeship period of 36 hours, which doubles as community service hours, before becoming a paid employee
The link for the application is included, as well as a link that demonstrates some of the work they do.
Scholarship Opportunities
The Red Pine Scholars Program is seeking its next class of students from low- to middle-income families in Massachusetts who have demonstrated academic excellence and are planning to attend competitive colleges as freshmen in the fall of 2023. This program is designed to support undergraduate students through tuition assistance, mentoring, and other flexible financial supports. The Red Pine Scholars Program is dedicated to making college affordable for Massachusetts families and helping students reach their full potential. The program is funded by an anonymous donor and administered by The Philanthropic Initiative (TPI).
We invite you to share the Red Pine Scholars Program guidelines with students who will be entering college in fall 2023 and who meet this program’s criteria.
Information about the program, including guidelines and application instructions, can be found here.
While many students are deserving of this type of support during college, to be eligible for this program students must:
Come from low- to middle-income families
Live and attend high school in Massachusetts
Have a strong academic record or demonstrate significant academic improvement over time
Be planning to enroll as a freshman at a competitive four-year college in fall 2023
Applications must be submitted online – hard copies will not be accepted.
Applications must be completed online by February 15, 2023 at 5:00 PM EST.
The Red Pine Scholars Program is administered by The Philanthropic Initiative (TPI). Please direct any questions to Ellie Galer at redpine@tpi.org or 617.338.5885.
Thank you in advance for your help ensuring as many students as possible learn about this important program.
Barmakian Scholarship
We are pleased to announce the 2023 availability of the Barmakian Scholarship. At his passing, Stephen H. Barmakian, created a very generous scholarship that is primarily for students who are Armenian and living in the greater Boston area; it’s called the Scholarship Fund of the Stephen H. Barmakian Family Foundation in Loving Care and Memorial Tribute to Armenhoohi H. Barmakian, Mother (1903-2002), Haroutune Kevork “Harry” Barmakian, Father (1891-1949), Haig George “Haigy” Barmakian, Brother (1922-1945) – or the Barmakian Scholarship!
The Barmakian Scholarship has more than $120,000 scholarships available, and has previously offered multiple awards up to $20,000, depending on the financial need of the applicant. It is for candidates who meet the below eligibility criteria.
Candidates must be pursuing or plan to pursue a four-year college degree program or its equivalent from a highly-recognized, well-established, nonprofit college or university in the U.S.
Candidates must have a minimum 3.25 grade point average (GPA).
Candidates must be U.S. Citizens or Resident Alien (U.S. National with Permanent Residency).
Very strong preference for students who are of Armenian descent.
Strong preference for students who are from the towns and cities in the greater Boston area centering around Watertown, to specifically include but not be limited to Watertown, Belmont, Waltham, Cambridge, Arlington, and Brighton.
The application for the scholarship is online, and we are looking for help in sharing this information with eligible candidates! https://cfprograms.smapply.io/prog/barmakian
The deadline for the scholarship application is April 1, 2023 at 5:00 p.m. EST.
For additional reference, you are welcome to contact Alison Ekizian, Executive Director, Holy Trinity Armenian Church of Greater Boston at office@htaac.org or 617/354-0632; or check out the Barmakian Scholarship on our website.
Rockland Trust Scholarship
As a community-oriented bank, Rockland Trust is committed to strengthening the neighborhoods we live in and serve. One of the ways we have proudly upheld this commitment is through our annual scholarship program.
Starting January 23, 2023, our online application portal will begin accepting applications at
Scholarship details:
Deadline to apply is March 6, 2023 or once 1,500 applications have been submitted.
Up to sixteen renewable awards will be given for $3,000 each.
Scholarships are available to students planning to attend an accredited two or four-year college/university or vocational program, either on a full or part-time basis.
Applications will be considered based on financial need, academic performance, participation in school and community activities, work experience, a statement of career and educational goals and objectives, and unusual personal or family circumstances.
SENIOR CORNER
In-Person College Info Sessions
Please reserve your spot through Naviance.
Virtual College Info Sessions
There are many scheduled virtual college info sessions. Please make sure to reserve your spot on Naviance.
College Visit Sign Up Steps (In-person and virtual)
Log in to Naviance Student.
Navigate to Colleges > Research Colleges > College Visits or go to Colleges Home and find the College Visits card.
Click Sign Up to sign up.
Click the Sign Me Up button
Need help with this? Contact your Guidance Counselor.
SCHOLARSHIP OPPORTUNITIES
Eligibility:Easy scholarship open to all US-based high school, college, and graduate students
Amount: $10,000
Deadline: June 30, 2023
$10,000 CollegeXpress Scholarship
Eligibility: Open to all high school students
Amount: $10,000
Deadline: May 1, 2023
Eligibility: Open to college graduates who are paying back student loan debt. Parents who took out student loans for their children who have graduated are also eligible!
Amount: $2,000
Deadline: End of each month
Eligibility: Current high school freshman, sophomore, or junior interested in attending a Protestant university or college.
Amount: $1,500
Deadline: May 31, 2023
Eligibility: Current high school freshman, sophomore, or juniors interested in attending a Catholic university or college.
Amount: $1,500
Deadline: May 31, 2023
Eligibility: Students in grades 3 up through age 25 who submit films of 3 to 8 minutes about our earth and sustainability
Amount: $200 to $2,000
Deadline: June 25, 2023
STUDENT OPPORTUNITIES
*Flyers with more opportunities found below*
The Jabberwock
"Calling all artists and writers! The Jabberwock will host a creative writing competition, known as “JabberWrites”, now through February 22nd. To enter, you will need to submit your work to one of the following departments through a QR code located on various posters throughout the school or on Instagram:
Visual and Multimedia Arts
Creative Nonfiction
Arts Criticism
Fiction
Poetry
Submissions will also be accepted at this link. The deadline for submissions is February 22nd. If you have any questions, please email cwu3@bostonpublicschools.org. Have fun, and make something great!"
Engages youth across the country for opportunities in the music industry. Last summer, we launched our inaugural Boston internship program for recent high school grads. For 6 weeks, I had the pleasure of overseeing students from various Boston Public Schools as they immersed themselves in the live music industry and learned important career development skills.
We are excited for the second year of this program, and I wanted to share with you information and the application in the hopes you'd be able to disperse among your own students as they begin to explore opportunities beyond high school. The application is rolling, with a closing date of May 31.
Additionally, Music Forward offers a free program for high school juniors and seniors to tour local music venues and learn more about the behind-the-scenes of the live entertainment world. We have several partner venues, including the House of Blues and Citizens Opera House, that will be happy to host BLA students this spring for a site visit. These tours are usually 1-2 hours, Mon-Wed, during school hours (11am-2pm). You can learn more here, and register today for upcoming dates. We can provide assistance for travel accommodations upon request.
TAG | ALERTA, Gastón Institute at UMass Boston.
We are offering two four-day accelerated academies during your BPS vacation weeks for students currently in 5th-8th grade.
February 21-24 (9AM-3PM)
April 18-21 (9AM-3PM)
TAG | ALERTA's goal is to support Latinx and multilingual students through project-based classroom practices and a learning environment that fosters students' cultural pride, civic engagement, and STEM exploration. In each week-long accelerated academy, students will learn about the history of our community, discuss issues we currently face, share their own stories, and go on field trips around Boston. Through music and art, students will learn about self-expression, as well as engage in STEM activities and explore STEM careers. Students are welcomed and invited to participate in both academies (only one application is needed per student) but if they are only interested in enrolling in one academy and not the other, they can indicate that on the application.
To apply, especially for the February that is a month away, families will need to fill out the attached application and email it back to us. If they would like the application sent through DocuSign (the system we used last year), please let us know and we can communicate to send them the application electronically to sign via email. For more information, please review our attached flyer and application or visit our website.
Additionally, as a head up, our 2023 summer program this year will be from July 10-August 11th. We will share applications in the coming months, once it becomes available.
Hello Juniors, and Sophomores!
The National Honors Society is happy to be hosting peer support for Course Selection! If you want to have a senior perspective on what classes are fun, what classes are good for college applications, and other information about senior year courses please fill out the form linked!
Thank you!
-NHS Membership
Interact Boston Club
Want volunteer hours? Join Interact Club and interact with Boston. We will volunteer around Boston and help solve community issues! Questions? mpimentel18@bostonk12.org
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.
SuSHI
SuSHI is an after-school program for greater Boston high schoolers who are Asian/Asian American and are interested in learning more about health, wellness, identity, resilience, and other important topics and participating in group discussions in a supportive space. Please use this link to register: (https://tinyurl.com/sushispring).
Applications Open for Youth Advisory Board at Brigham and Women’s Hospital & Harvard Medical School
The Developmental Risk and Cultural Resilience Laboratory at Brigham and Women's Hospital & Harvard Medical School is currently accepting applications for Chinese heritage high school students who are passionate about issues that affect Asian Americans (e.g., mental health, racism, family dynamics, peer relationships, social media influences). Students will serve on the Youth Advisory Board for The BOBA (Building Our Bonds Authentically) Project, our new NIH-funded research study on the experiences of Chinese heritage youth.
The BOBA Project focuses on how Chinese heritage teenagers have conversations with their family and friends about current issues that affect Asian Americans and subsequent impacts on mental health. We are starting out with Chinese Americans but expect to expand the project to include other Asian American groups in the future. We envision that the BOBA Project will have a positive long-term impact on Asian American youth mental health and encourage teens to engage in important conversations with their loved ones. As such, youth voice is critical to this research having a broader impact on the community. Beyond providing their perspectives to our research, Youth Advisory Board members will meet regularly with our research team, learn directly about the research process, contribute to community outreach, and receive professional developmental opportunities. Youth Advisory Board members will receive a $500 stipend for their participation.
This is a great leadership opportunity for Chinese heritage high school students interested in psychology, research, and issues that affect Asian American youth.
All applicants must:
Be 14-18 years old
Identify as ethnically Chinese (biracial/multi-racial individuals must have at least one parent of full Chinese descent)
Live in the Greater Boston area
Be able to meet biweekly on Wednesdays after school from June 7 - November 29, 2023
Two meetings will be held in-person from 4-6 pm at Brigham and Women's Hospital: June 7 and Nov 29.
All other meetings will be held on Zoom from 4-5:30 pm: June 14, July 12, July 26, Aug 9, Sept 13, Sept 27, Oct 11, Oct 25, and Nov 8.
Note: All members MUST travel to Brigham & Women’s Hospital for the two in-person meetings and attend all Zoom meetings. Transportation costs (including parking) up to $30 will be reimbursed. Youth Advisory Board members will be responsible for notifying research staff if they will be absent due to an extenuating circumstance or illness.
Strong applicants will:
Have demonstrated initiative or leadership experience
Have strong interpersonal skills
Be passionate about issues that affect Asian Americans (e.g., mental health, racism, family dynamics, peer relationships, social media influences)
Have a strong interest in learning more about psychology and research on race, mental health, and/or Asian American families
For more information about the Youth Advisory Board, please see the attached flier and visit our website. Click here to apply! Applications close on Monday, February 13th, 2023 at 11:59 PM.
New Club!!: African Carribbean club
I am pleased to announce the new addition to the clubs at BLA; The African Carribbean Club has been established for all students to have a safe space to be themselves and embrace their cultures. Join now!! Questions? Email -Kuukuwa Darkwa (kdarkwa@bostonk12.org ) , Eryssah Joseph ( ejoseph31@bostonk12.org)
Yoga Club Dates Switched
Due to a scheduling conflict, Yoga Club will take place on the second Wednesday of every month. Therefore, the next club meeting will be on Wednesday, December 14th in Room 201 with Ms. Conway. Namaste. Questions? cconway2@bostonpublicschools.org
Knitting Club Startup
Community Service Opportunity here: The Knitting Club is restarting this school year. With this club, students not only get the opportunity knit crafts, but to also send their crafts to underprivileged communities for service hours. It is in room 326 (Mrs. MacIsaac's Room) after school with the first meeting being next Tuesday (11/22). There will be games and music! No experience is needed! To sign up fill out the attached google form: https://forms.gle/n82qSUNmisYXnHsBA
Interact Boston Club
Want volunteer hours? Join Interact Club and interact with Boston. We will volunteer around Boston and help solve community issues! Questions? mpimentel18@bostonk12.org
Knitting Club Startup
Community Service Opportunity here: The Knitting Club is restarting this school year. With this club, students not only get the opportunity knit crafts, but to also send their crafts to underprivileged communities for service hours. It is in room 326 (Mrs. MacIsaac's Room) after school with the first meeting being next Tuesday (11/22). There will be games and music! No experience is needed! To sign up fill out the attached google form: https://forms.gle/n82qSUNmisYXnHsBA
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!
*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!*
Jr. Lifeguard Program offers Volunteer hours during the School and will be a paid job during the summer.
Book Club!
Do you love reading? Do you want to make friends, attend events, and meet authors? Do you not like reading, but want to get better at it? Join Book Club!
Meetings every Wednesday in the library from 1:50-2:30pm. Questions? Email Ms. Sweeney (msweeney5@bostonpublicschools)
Wrestling Team Meetings
All students interested in joining the BLA Wrestling team please come to our first team meeting after school on Wednesday October 19th in Room 234. If you are unable to make the team meeting, please see Mr. Valenzuela for more information. Students of all genders and all grades are welcome to join the wrestling team.
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.
Fabric Arts Club
A fun and calm space to chill, relax, or hang out, no experience needed. Learn how to sew, embroider and customize your own clothes. Shannon MacIsaac - smacisaac@bostonk12.org
High School Band
Open to all students grades 9-12, regardless of musical experience. If they are interested, come by room 130 to speak to Mr. Smothers.
Beginning October 3rd, we will have after-school rehearsals on Mondays and Thursdays from 1:50pm-3:00pm and they are open to anyone who wants to be a part of the band, whether they are enrolled in the class or not.
Band this year will be about bringing us all together through music - regardless of any of the things that may separate us otherwise. We want students to make music and be proud of the culture we are trying to build here at BLA!
Want to become a Big Sister?
The High School Mentoring Program at Boston Latin Academy matches high school students (Big Sisters) from BLA with girls (Little Sisters) from Trotter Elementary in one-to-one mentoring relationships. The purpose of the program is two-fold: 1) to provide elementary school girls with the additional encouragement and caring needed to improve their self-confidence; school performance; and relationships with peers and other adults; and 2) prepare high school girls to become future leaders. Big Sisters spend time with their Little Sisters participating in a range of facilitated mentoring activities together. Girls Leadership Program is a unique experience that supports the development of both our Big and Little Sisters. Through the Girls Leadership Program, Big Sisters build leadership and life skills and develop a community of young women who support and empower each other through building healthy relationships. The weekly groups are conducted by staff members at Big Sister Association. The commitment is one day a week from 2:00-4:30pm during the school year. Want to apply or learn more? Please call/text Elizabeth Gregory at Big Sister Association at 1-617-236-5388 or email at egregory@bigsister.org and ask for an application today!
Greek Club!
Thursdays 1:50-2:30
Food, games, etc.
Join us to learn about amazing Greek culture and meet new people!
If you have any questions contact eapazidou@bostonk12.org
Recycling Club
Officially begins Friday, 9/23 at room 331 after school from 1:40-2:20 pm. Help recycle bins from classrooms and gain community service hours!
If you have any questions contact jjonah@bostonk12.org
Crochet Lunch Bunch!
Thursday 5th Period in the Lower Library
Join us for crocheting and camaraderie. No experience required.
Questions? Email: Eleanor Hendrickson ehendrickson@bostonk12.org
Join BLA Dragon Tales School Newspaper!
Want to learn about an exciting opportunity to write about and for the BLA community? Join BLA Dragon Tales, the longest-running publication and only student-led newspaper of BLA. Our first meeting will be Tuesday, September 27th in room 321 at 1:40 and we’ll determine our regular meeting date soon after. Reach out for to Amishai (agoodmangolds@bostonk12.org) or Mr. Mueller (emueller@bostonpublicschools.org) for more information !
Join The Academy Actors
BLA's Drama Club will hold its first meeting next Thursday, Sept. 29th from 1:50 - 2:30 in Carroll Hall. Anyone and everyone is invited to attend!
Questions? Email: Ms. Berinato - aberinato@bostonpublicschools.org
Join The Christian Club :
We meet in Room 336
Wednesdays 1:40pm - 3pm
If you're intrested, let us know by completed the form below.
Worrying about your past won't change your future, planning for your future will!
First Generation Investors (flyer down below): A nonprofit organization that teaches underserved high school students the power of investing and provides the students with real money to invest. Our mission is to provide underserved young adults the knowledge, skills and tools to thrive in the investment economy
Rock The Street, Wall Street: Looking for individuals that identify as she/her and/or non-binary who want to learn more about savings, investments, budgeting, and more.
Below is an Academic Mentoring Program flyer.
Students can complete this form to REQUEST a mentor.
Staff can coach and support the young people they are matched with in service of their mentees' self-identified goals.
Parent, caregivers, & teachers community partners complete this form to nominate a student.
SPEDPAC
Please review the Special Education Basic Rights (below)