The Digital Dragon




Student, Family & Community

During this wonderful month of March, we celebrate the contributions women have made to the United States and recognize the specific achievements women have made over the course of American history.


ACCELERATION APRIL ACADEMY (AAA) for 7th-10th graders

Interested in attending April Break's Acceleration academy? Sign up HERE. Group picture of February's Acceleration Academy (below)

Important Dates:

Junior Prom- Friday April 8 at Venezia in Dorchester at 6:30pm. $60 due on March 25.

Senior Prom- Thursday, May 26 at 6pm at Lombardo's in Randolph Ma.

Graduation- Sunday, June 12

BLA Operations

BPS DAILY HOME HEALTH CHECKLIST

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


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.

HAPGOOD MONTHLY LIBRARY NEWSLETTER

Please check out this month's library newsletter

COVID Protocol

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

Google Form for reporting positive COVID case: HERE

Student Support

Academic Supports Available to Students:

The third academic quarter ends April 19. Please see below for a list of academic supports available to all students.

  • Math Center: Sign up for the math center during Support Block or go after school on Tuesdays and Thursdays in room 108 from 1:50-2:30.

  • 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.

  • April Acceleration Academy Registration Form 7-10 GRADE

Upcoming Events

TUESDAY

WEDNSEDAY

  • Covid Pool Testing

FRIDAY

  • LAST DAY TO BUY JUNIOR PROM TICKETS!! $80 per ticket

STUDENT OPPORTUNITIES


GROW (Greater Boston Research Opportunities for Young Women)


• Dates: June 29-30 (orientation) and July 5– August 12, 2022 M-F from 9:30-4:30

• Grade Level: Young women who attend greater Boston high schools and will be entering their senior year in fall 2022

• Must be 16 years old by July 1, 2022

• Must live within 30 miles of Boston and be able to commute to BU every day

• Deadline for Applications: April 15, 2022


GROW is a six-week paid research internship for young women who are seriously interested in STEM careers. Participants can earn a stipend of up to $1500 for completion of all program requirements. Accepted students will be placed in a biology, chemistry, physics, neuroscience or engineering lab where they will participate in cutting edge research in a collaborative group session. Participants will be part of a cohort that meets several times a week with a Program Manager who will coach them on how to reach their research goals and help prepare them to present their research at a summer symposium. Participants will also hear from guest speakers and learn about careers in STEM fields. Please note: Accepted Students must be able to attend all program dates. For more information and to apply, go to: www.bu.edu/lernet/grow.



Rockland Trust Scholarship

We are thrilled to announce that our 2022 Scholarship Program starts accepting applications. Sixteen $3,000 renewable scholarships will be awarded to students enrolling into a part-time or full-time secondary education program for the 2022-2023 academic year.


Through the process of students submitting their applications, they will receive communications from rocklandtrust@scholarshipamerica.org, which is our online application system, Scholarship America.


The Scholarship portal will close on Tuesday, March 29, 2022, or before, once 1,500 applications are fully submitted. For more information on the program and eligibility requirements, please click below.

Click Here to Learn More


This is My Brave

We have a show planned for Boston on Saturday May 21st, but we NEED more storytellers! This show is focusing on young adults (high school to early 20's), so if you or anyone you know in Boston is in that age range and interested in being a part of the show, please let us know as soon as possible. We need to decide by March 31st whether or not we can proceed with the show.


Contact katiegrana@thisismybrave.org for more information.


Learn all about Documentary Filmmaking from the experts at Roku!


Every Thursday from 4 - 6:30pm, teens will learn all the ins and outs of documentary filmmaking as they create their own short doc about a change maker who is making a difference within their community.


Thanks to our partners at Roku, teens will get to learn about documentary filmmaking from the pro’s that work for the streaming service AND if Roku likes their documentary, they will stream it on their platform!


Thursdays @ Boys and Girls Club of Dorchester | 4 - 6:30pm

Join to Learn:

video styles • unscripted formats • film skills • editing • audio • lighting • VFX

Application Deadline: APPLY TODAY!!!

Start Date: Join us March 24th

Learn More and Apply Here: freshfilms.org/weeklyfilmmaking

We will be in touch in the future about how your youth can join us for our other amazing programs throughout the year!



City Opportunity for BIPOC (Black, Indigenous & and People of Color) Boston youth

The Boston Planning & Development is keen to help create a “pipeline” of opportunities for BIPOC (Black, Indigenous & and People of Color) Boston youth to become future planners and leaders in the City.


As one step in this direction, in April 2022, the BPDA staff will be holding an event to bring together BIPOC high schoolers (primarily 9th and 10th graders) to interact directly with professional planners from the BPDA to learn about the work that they do, including neighborhood planning, transportation planning, urban design, climate change planning, and public engagement. In this highly interactive event, students will be able to talk to planners, ask questions, participate in activities, and otherwise have fun learning about city planning and design.


Basic Info About this Event

Date: Tuesday, April 12 (or Wednesday, April 13)

Time: 9:00 - 11:30 am

Where: This will be a virtual event: {Zoom link)

What to bring: Curiosity!


Why This Will Be Valuable for BPS Students

  • This event directly supports the high school curriculum in that it will:

  • Acquaint students with aspects of local government whereby city planners work with local citizens and residents to improve their lives and neighborhoods

  • Show how specific public participation strategies can engage residents in democratic policy and decision making

  • Reveal practical applications for public speaking, writing, math, graphic art, and design skills.

  • Educate students about future careers in City planning and design

BPDA is very fortunate to have the following local partners on this project and they are as follows:

  • Boston Society of Architects (BSA): One of the oldest and largest chapters of the American Institute of Architects, the BSA is the Boston is a Boston based nonprofit organization committed to architecture, design and the built environment. The BSA runs the Architecture and Design Bootcamp in partnership with the Sasaki Foundation.

  • Boston Architectural College (BAC): Founded originally in 1889 as a professional club, in 1971 BAC became the first accredited architecture program with a work component in the US. Since then, BAC has introduced programs in interior architecture, landscape architecture, and design studies. The BAC runs the Mobile Maker and Summer Academy programs for Boston youth.

  • Urban Land Institute (ULI): ULI claims to be the oldest and largest network of cross-disciplinary real estate and land use experts in the world. Through its members and their shared expertise, ULI sets standards of excellence in real estate development practice. The ULI runs the UrbanPlan program for Boston youth.

  • Sasaki Foundation: A nonprofit corporation established in 2000 by Sasaki, a multidisciplinary design firm, the Sasaki Foundation works at the intersection of research, practice, and community to advance the value of design, inviting diverse partners to co-create change. Sasaki Foundation runs the SEEDs summer program for Boston youth.

  • ACE Mentors: Founded in 1994, the ACE Mentor Program of America (ACE) is a free, award-winning, after school program active in 38 states designed to attract high school students into pursuing careers in architecture, construction and engineering, including skilled trades. In Boston, ACE Mentors will be offering ______

  • Digital Ready: Digital Ready activates the creative potential of high school students, especially underrepresented young people, to build tangible pathways to economic opportunities in Boston’s innovation economy. Digital Ready wants its students to become artificial organ designers, ethical hackers, 3D printed building designers, biomimicry engineers, quantum computer programmers, bio fabricators and more.

  • Boston Planning & Development Agency: The Boston Planning & Development Agency (BPDA) is the planning and economic development agency for the City of Boston. With over 200 professionals serving the City in a variety of ways—from urban planners, transportation planners, urban designers, architects to housing specialists and projects managers who review new development proposals–the BPDA plays a far reaching role in shaping the future of Boston. This BPDA is spearheading and leading the Pilot Speaker Program for BIPOC Youth event in April 2022.

For more information contact: 267-632-1234.


Free COVID-19 Home Test Kits Available for City of Boston residents

Boston residents can now pick up free rapid at-home test kits at designated sites around the City, while supplies last. Each person will be able to pick up a kit for each member of their immediate household per visit. There are two tests in each kit. 


Please help us get the word out about these kits along with guidance on how to use them:

  • BPHC’s fact sheet provides guidance on how to use these home test kits, including what to do if you test positive. These are currently available in English and Spanish.

  • Mass DPH provides detailed instructions for using a home test kit, as well as graphic instructions available in several languages.

  • More detailed guidance on using the kits is available directly from the vendors, currently iHealth or QuickVue.

Jack Kent Cooke Scholarship: The Cooke Young Scholars Program is a selective five-year, pre-college scholarship for high-performing 7th grade students with financial need. Educational advisers help Cooke Young Scholars maximize the high school experience and prepare to thrive at the nation’s top-performing colleges. For more information click here. Deadline May 9th


STUDENT GROUP SPOTLIGHT OF THE WEEK:

COMIC CON Has come to BLA! The library hosted this years COMIC CON and after a year without it it's safe to say that it's come back bigger and better. This year COMIC CON had pin making, karaoke, 3D printers, large connect four, Henna, Virtual Reality, Video Games, Dungeons and Dragons and so much more. Our senior class really took charge of making sure everyone had an enjoyable time and stayed safe. We can't wait to see what else they are up too!


For more info on how to be part of the library or any other events held by them contact:

Ms. Lewis - mlewis4@bostonpublicschools.org

Ms. Estrada - mestrada@bostonpublicschools.org

Middle School Updates and Information

Opportunities for 7th graders:

  • Jack Kent Cooke Scholarship: The Cooke Young Scholars Program is a selective five-year, pre-college scholarship for high-performing 7th grade students with financial need. Educational advisers help Cooke Young Scholars maximize the high school experience and prepare to thrive at the nation’s top-performing colleges. For more information click here.

Academic Supports Available to Students:

The third academic quarter will run from February 3rd - April 19th; please see below for a list of academic supports available to all students:

  • Boston Public Library Homework Assistance Program: The Homework Assistance Program (HAP) is a free after-school service led by Harvard University trained teen mentors that offers homework help, mentorship, and activities for students in grades K–8. Join online for a space to work on homework with peers and extra guidance on assignments in any subject, from sciences to humanities. Bilingual help in English and various languages is available. There will not be any in-person HAP in the branches from January 4 until February 1, 2022. Join Virtual HAP online on Zoom at the following link: https://boston-public-library.zoom.us/my/bplhap - Sessions take place Monday-Thursday from 3:30-5:30. More information can be found here: https://www.bpl.org/homework-help-for-grades-k-8/

  • Acceleration Academy: This academy will be held during April break. Interested in attending April Break's Acceleration academy? Sign up HERE. For more information, please contact Ms. Karen Clark or Ms. White.

  • Saturday School Registration: This spring, BLA will be offering a monthly Saturday School Enrichment Program for students in grades 7-9. The first session will begin on Saturday, April 9th and be open to 7th graders only. (Dates for 8th & 9th grade students will take place in May & June). This program will provide opportunities for students to engage in academic and non-academic activities that will foster a sense of community and provide opportunities for student to gain academic support as well as to participate in enrichment activities. We will focus on the themes of community, academics, service and future outcomes. We intend to collaborate with community partners to bring authentic learning experiences and opportunities to complement the academic enrichment and tutoring in core subjects. If you are interested in signing your 7th grader up please register using the following link: Saturday School Permission Slip: 7th grade

        • DATE: Saturday, April 9th

        • TIME: 10:00 - 2:00

        • LOCATION: BLA

        • **Transportation to and from school will not be provided (no yellow school busses)

        • Questions? Please reach out to Ms. Manchester and/or Ms. Markis

Summer Programs

  • Summer Stuff: The time to make your summer plans is now! BPS Summer Stuff has information on summer schools, camps, programs, activities & jobs! The website will be constantly updated, so check back often!

  • Thompson Island Outward Bound's Summer Learning Expedition: The Thompson Island Outward Bound Summer Learning Expedition is a 3-week overnight summer learning experience (July 3rd to 23rd) to help students grow as individuals, scientific thinkers, and stewards of the environment. Through backpacking, kayaking, camping, and hands-on field activities on the island, students will gain expertise living and learning in an outdoor environment and in community with one another. The program dates are July 3rd to July 23rd, 2022 and the program is FREE to rising 7th and 8th grade BPS students. Registration will open on April 1st with limited spots available! More information available at Summer Learning Expedition

  • Community Boat Building Summer Program: Summer programs feature different building projects, such as a Wooden Rowboat. In addition, participants spend time outside playing games and rowing on Fort Point Channel. For ages 7-18. Some financial aid is available. Programs start in July but fill up fast! Learn more and register here!

  • City Spotlights Summer Leadership Program is a summer youth employment program that will hire up to 30 Teen Leaders. City Spotlights is a 6-week program where Teen Leaders will work collaboratively developing skills to succeed as community leaders through advocacy, college and career readiness, and performing arts in acting, music, and dance. While earning minimum wage for up to 25 hours per week, teens design and facilitate interactive workshops for peers in the Boston community. Teens also work collaboratively to create an original Final Showcase performance to be presented at the end of the summer to the public.

WHEN: Teen Leaders will meet Monday-Friday 9:30 am-4:30 pm The program runs July 5-August 12

WHERE: Boch Center Shubert Theatre 270 Tremont Street, Boston


APPLY HERE AND SELECT YOUR AUDITION DATE


Interested in working in a hospital this summer? Are you in the 9th grade? Please read!


Project T.E.A.C.H (Teen Education About Careers in Health) is a summer program for rising 10th grade students. Students selected for Project T.E.A.C.H spend 6 weeks in July and August in the hospital setting as a paid Brigham and Women’s Hospital employee. While students are being exposed to the many possibilities of health or science related careers, it is our goal to further develop characteristics of responsibility, discipline, maturity, communication and work ethic.


Project TEACH is looking to recruit 9th grade boys from BLA for their summer internship program! If you are interested and would like to apply, please reach out to me ASAP through email (catie.sirois@bostonpic.org).