Good Evening, Boston Arts Academy Families,

Congratulations to the community on a successful start to semester two! I am looking forward to the student performances this week, and I’d like to thank the Family Council for their support. It’s going to be a great last week before February Break.

On Thursday of this week, each student and staff member will be provided one rapid test. Students and staff should take this test 24 hours before returning to school on Monday, February 28. In other words, students and staff should take this rapid test on Sunday, February 27. Thank you for helping us keep our community safe.

Happy Black History Month and have a great week!

Shoutout to our 11th grader, Ahnesti Abraham was accepted for an internship at the State House with State Rep, Liz Miranda!

COVID PROTOCOLS

Students who test positive & are ABLE TO MASK

Duration: Self-isolation for COVID-19 positive cases is a minimum of 7 days after the start of symptoms or the first positive test, if asymptomatic and able to mask. Return on Day 8.

Return to school: After 7 days, and once they have:

• Isolated for at least the first 7 days

• Symptom improvement or never had symptoms, may resume most usual activities (except those that do not allow mask-wearing) on day 8*

• Wear a mask around others for 10 days (including in the household)

Notes:

• This only applies to individuals whose symptoms have substantially improved, including being without fever for 24 hours, AND those who can strictly adhere to wearing a well-fitting mask for 10 days after their first positive test date or the start of symptoms.

  • If both of these criteria aren’t met, continue to isolate for the remaining 10 days after the first positive test or start of symptoms

• Return to school should be based on time and symptom resolution.

• Testing on or after Day 5 with a rapid antigen test is recommended.

  • If the test result is negative, continue to isolate and return to school on day 8

  • If the test result is positive, continue to isolate and return to school on day 11

https://www.bostonpublicschools.org/Page/8876

Free at-home COVID-19 tests: Available starting January 19th, 4 per household, no shipping charge, no credit card needed: https://www.covidtests.gov/

Family Information for COVID 19 pool testing:

• In your email inbox in which you provided to have on record in ASPEN, please search for an email sent to you by the Boston Public Schools titled Permission Click. Please complete this form to give permission for your student to access COVID-19 Pool Testing at school as soon as possible.

• Pool Testing is every Tuesday morning at school; please inform your student that you signed them up.

• Students are reminded every Tuesday morning by loudspeaker announcement that they are to report to the pool testing location in school at that time.

• Students who have tested positive for COVID-19 in the last 90 days (from October on) should not participate in pool testing, as the molecular RNA from the virus is still present and will create a false positive.

• Vocalists and wind/brass instrument students must complete the permission slip and must participate in weekly pool testing to continue in their respective activities.

If your child is absent for Covid symptoms, please email attendance@bostonartsacademy.org

Students, when you are absent…

• Please log onto google classroom for each class. Make-up work is available there for you to complete and to submit.

• For guidance or questions about which assignments to complete or to clarify assignments, please reach out to your teacher(s) and advisor via email.

• For live tutoring, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, use the “Paper App:”

1. Go to https://paper.co and click login

2. At the login screen, type "Boston Arts Academy"

3. Login via Clever

4. Create an account.

5. You will see your classes and the opportunity to "find a tutor" for each subject.

• When you return, meet with each of your teachers to discuss a make-up work plan and timeline.

• Students who return the week of Jan 31 can attend academic support 12:45 - 2:45 pm each day after their intersession morning program.

• If your child received a positive COVID PCR test please email the nurse as soon as possible jaboujaoude@bostonartsacademy.org

BPS Student At Home Health Checklist - BPS families must monitor their children for symptoms of COVID-19 every day before school. Some symptoms of COVID-19 are the same as the flu or a bad cold; please do not assume it is another condition. When in doubt, stay home and call your primary care provider. YOUR CHILD MUST STAY HOME if your child or anyone in the home has any of the symptoms listed here.

Updated School Calendar: Please note that June 27th is the new last day of school because of school building closures from inclement weather. Check out the most up-to-date school calendar at bostonpublicschools.org/calendar

Tuesday, Feb. 15 - Thursday, Feb.17: Theatre Freshman Review
Wednesday, Feb.16: Callback Auditions
Monday Feb.21 - Friday, Feb.25: NO SCHOOL - FEBRUARY RECESS

....

Please note that our Term 2 honor roll assembly will be delayed to allow students who were absent for extended time in January to complete incomplete Term 2 work.

Any class with an I (Incomplete) for Term 2 on the report card can be completed. Students should check in with specific teachers if they are unsure of how to complete their assignments.

ACADEMIC SUPPORT and Academic Teacher’s Office Hours: Students who would like additional support from their academic teachers can meet them during their Academic Office Hours.

🔔**REMINDER** Every BAA student is expected to bring their assigned BPS Chromebook and charger to school every day. If a student’s Chromebook is not working please email tech@bostonartsacademy.org with the computer bar code number explaining the issue.

ACADEMIC MENTORING for BPS Students: The BPS Academic Mentoring Program is accepting applications and nominations for interested BPS students in grades 6 to 12. Please see the website for details. For more information, email: Brian Marques, bmarques@bostonpublicschools.org

Weekly 1:1 or Group Tutoring: Students who are interested in meeting with an academic tutor for one hour per week to help with their homework should reach out to Ms. Marz (rmarz@bostonartsacademy.org) and their advisor! This can be in person or over zoom, during school hours or at home. Students who would like additional support from their academic teachers can meet them during their Academic Office Hours

BPS also has a new partner: Paper, a 24 hour free tutoring service. We have had a number of students using Paper for online tutoring, and almost across the board students have reported back to us that it has been a really useful resource.
To login, students should follow these steps:
1. Go to https://paper.co and click login
2. At the login screen, type "Boston Arts Academy" and login via Clever
3. For their first time, they'll have to create an account and personalize it a little bit
4. After creating an account, they'll see their classes and the opportunity to "find a tutor" for that subject.

WORK PERMITS: to request a work permit, students must email Mr. Vasquez at evasquez@bostonartsacademy.org

ALL SENIORS, please send in your best photos for the yearbook to yourbaayearbook@gmail.com. REMINDER the yearbook committee will be hosting meetings during Wednesday lunches. For more information, see Unique Berry.

The ACTS (Artists Contributing Through Service) Club will meet on Tuesdays at 4:00 in Room A-002. Come join us to plan and participate in service learning Projects.

Do you know a family member, friend, or neighbor that may be interested in applying to BAA for high school?

Questions? admissions@bostonartsacademy.org.

*All applicants must be City of Boston residents in order to apply.

Ms. Naar will be in the library for drop-in college and career counseling on Tuesdays and Thursdays from 3:00-4:30 after school and Friday from 1-2 (new!). Come stop by and ask your college and career questions!

You can email Ms. Naar at inaar@bu.edu, and you can make an appointment with Ms. Naar at https://calendly.com/inaar. Ms. Naar is also sending out weekly “College and Career Tasks and Updates” emails to students and families—they contain more detailed information about the college process, upcoming events, and financial aid.

guidance@bostonartsacademy.org: Seniors and their families are asked to use this email to ask any college and career questions or to request any documents (for example, transcripts).

Seniors should continue to check the “Class of 2022” Google Classroom for updates, resources, and tasks for their college and career planning. Financial Aid applications (FAFSA and CSS) opened October 1st, and guidance is available to help families and students complete their financial aid applications.

SCHOLARSHIPS

Dance

Reminder to students to come to dance classes prepared to dance in dance uniform. To review the BAA Dance uniform requirements, click on this link BAA Dance Attire 2021/22.

Congratulations to grade 9 dance majors on completing their 1st term as dancers at BAA. Here are links to excerpts of their work during their final assessment. GOOD JOB!

Check out the senior dance majors capstone project! Use this link to watch on vimeo and be sure to congratulate the choreographers on their amazing work! Senior Dance Project

Also, check out this clip of the December Dance Share: December Dance Share

Arts and Design: Visual Arts and Fashion Technology

Congratulations to the 9th grade DVC 1 students for successfully completing their superhero supervillain poster project. Check out their work outside room 102!

Confused about H Block?
Are you confused about H Block classes? Maybe this can help. If you still have questions email smendoza@bostonartsacademy.org

• Do I have to go to H Block? Yes, you have to attend H Block class as scheduled

• When is my H Block? Check the schedule below for your assigned day

• Do I get a grade for H Block? Yes, check with your teacher to review the outcomes

• What if I have work during that time? You should not be scheduled to work during school hours when you are required to be in class. If you have questions about job conflicts, talk to Mr. Mendoza

But I never remember when my H block is! Set a reminder on your phone with the day and time to help you and ask for support from your teacher. See you in H Block!

VISUAL ARTS SERVICE COMMITTEE

Are you looking for Community service hours? Come help your department with supplies, organization, and exhibitions! Committee meets on Tuesdays and Thursdays from 4-5PM. Please see Ms. Marsh for details and to sign up.

At Tufts, we created a student-centered virtual mentorship program named The Nutrition Equity Scholars Program (NESP) at Tufts University. We would love to provide your students with an opportunity to apply. We will have continual recruitment until all spots are filled.

Program Goals and Details

The program's goals are to increase nutrition knowledge, positive academic outcomes, and interest in the fields of nutrition and health. An overarching goal is to help improve the proportion of students of color attending Universities in Boston. The program includes

• 2 mentors: a working professional in the field of public health or nutrition and graduate or undergraduate at Tufts

• Programming centered on healthy eating, cooking, and careers in health and nutrition

• Academic support, college application support, and individual goal support

Let me know if you have any additional questions, would like to form a partnership, or discuss further. You may also access our website at https://sites.tufts.edu/nesp/

The Institute of Contemporary Art/Boston offers free membership for kids and teens 18 and under – as +1 Members, these youth can visit the ICA for free and also invite a friend (their +1)!

https://www.icaboston.org/join-give/1-membership-free-ica-membership-program-youth-0-18

Benefits include:

• If you are 18 and under, you can receive free membership to visit the ICA with free admission with a friend (a +1).

• Upon joining, new +1 Members will receive a digital membership card and special welcome gift.

• +1 Members will receive tailored e-communications with information about upcoming ICA events for teens and youth.

• +1 membership grows with you. Participants will retain their membership status until they turn 18.

Youth Activism Project are conducting research and need help reaching as many LGBTQ+ youth and allies as possible.

Youth Activism Project (YAP) is researching what makes LGBTQ+ youth feel safe to express themselves in school and youth programs. YAP are asking LGBTQ+ youth and allies from 6th-12th grade to help them answer their research question.

Youth can contribute to YAP research by completing a short survey and/or by submitting original images/artwork:

The survey link is here: https://forms.gle/cSgdweieSiAQ45TcA

The photovoice project link is here: https://forms.gle/RWfjfqy7YJuk1wqT8

YAP will share the photovoice images and their research insights with our community this coming spring (and you will be invited!), but youth information will always be kept confidential. Please share this opportunity with any youth you know whose voices need to be heard and anyone who could reach even more youth (like other GSA’s!)

Follow along with the YAP youth as they complete their project @youthactivismproject on instagram