Embedded Files
Volume 12, Issue 5
December 8, 2020
BLS Appreciation Board
BLS Appreciation Board
It’s easy to take for granted all the work the BLS teachers and staff are doing to keep learning moving and life as normal as possible, especially as they face challenges during the pandemic. Has your child been part of an engaging project online? Have they received some encouragement from a teacher? Has an administrator or staff person been especially helpful during this time?
Since we don't have opportunities to tell people in person, let's capture these moments and share them with the BLS teachers, administrators and staff on the 2020-2021 BLS Appreciation Board.
The parent-created virtual bulletin board (powered by Padlet) allows you to write a short note of appreciation and add it to the board, as well as to read the other notes to see just some of what makes BLS a wonderful place. The Appreciation Board will be shared with BLS teachers, administrators, and staff as it fills up.
School Site Council
School Site Council
December Meeting
December Meeting
The School Site Council (SSC) will hold its next meeting on Tuesday, December 8, at 6:00 pm. SSC meetings are being held virtually this year; all families are welcome to attend, and a Zoom link will be shared with families through regular BLS updates.
Topics for discussion will include:
Approval of the Minutes from November 10, 2020
Head of School Update
Race and Equity Fall and Winter Programming
Proposed meeting for Thursday, January 7, 2021 (in addition to our regular meeting on Tuesday, January 12, 2021)
All SSC meetings are open to all members of the BLS community. Minutes from previous meetings can be found on the BLS website under the Families > Organizations tab. Please contact Kelly Chase with any questions or suggestions for future SSC meetings.
School Parent Council
School Parent Council
December Meeting
December Meeting
Please join us on Wednesday, December 9, at 7:00 pm for a presentation and Q&A with Ms. Michelle Cannon from the Schawbel College Resource Center.
Michelle Cannon, interim director of the Schawbel College Resource Center, will provide an overview of the college process at BLS. Parents in all grades are welcome to attend. Her presentation will include a timeline of the college process, the resources at BLS with the guidance counselors and Schawbel Center, and how the process had been impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic. She will be available for questions families may have to help them understand how to best support their students in this process.
Wednesday, December 9, at 7:00 pm Zoom Link
Meeting ID: 889 2934 4566 / Passcode: 163456
Please use this link to share your questions with Ms. Cannon regarding the college admissions process at BLS in advance of the meeting.
November Meeting
November Meeting
On November 19, SPC hosted Dr. Vanessa Prosper, BLS Clinical Coordinator & Dr. Amy Kaye, Children’s Hospital Psychologist at BLS, as they presented strategies and resources for supporting students and helping families navigate the academic, emotional, and social challenges of the pandemic. If you missed the November SPC meeting, check out the slide deck of the presentation for more information.
Monthly SPC meetings are open to all parents and caregivers, and focus on a topic of interest to the BLS parent community. We get our best topic ideas from you! Please email us with your ideas for future topics. Also see the Contacts tab for email address.
BLSA Parents' Committee
BLSA Parents' Committee
In addition to all the support that the Boston Latin School Association (BLSA) has been providing to the faculty, students and administration to make sure they are prepared with the resources for virtual schooling, the BLSA Parents’ Committee has also run two successful events this fall to bring our community together. The New Parent Meet-and-Greet welcomed new parents to the community and the Wolfpack 5K - which is still open for registration through Sunday, December 20 - is a fun way to show school spirit through this virtual competition.
End of year giving
As we head toward the end of the calendar year, the BLSA Parents’ Committee hopes you will join us in supporting our school through the BLSA Annual Fund. Currently, we rely heavily on BLS alumni and friends’ contributions, but going forward we are hoping to have higher participation from the parent community whose children are benefiting from this funding today. Last year, about 20% of BLS parents made some monetary donation to the BLSA, compared to 58% average for comparable US public schools. Every dollar contributed counts, as does the message of support from as many parents as possible. Whether it is $5 or $5,000, if you can make a gift in any amount to support the students, faculty, programs, and opportunities, you will help our community thrive.
If you would like to also show support by donating some of your time, there are many opportunities to do so through the BLSA Parents’ Committee. Please contact Marybeth Oskowski for more information.
Keefe Library
Keefe Library
JOIN HISTORY: My Quarantine Story 2020
JOIN HISTORY: My Quarantine Story 2020
Your story will live with the stories of other Bostonians who have lived through historic events.
The Boston City Archives is collecting stories from students about life during quarantine in 2020. Submissions can be video, art, a photograph, poetry, or narrative. From Boston City Archivist Marta Crilly:
"We want the project to empower students to see their stories as valuable primary sources and as an essential part of Boston's history. We'd like this project to work for a variety of subject areas - English, History, Art, etc. Our guidelines are very flexible."
For more information go directly to the Boston City Archives page for more information.
Community Service
Community Service
Community Service Fair
Community Service Fair
Like most other events this year, the BLS Community Service Fair was held virtually on Zoom. Sixteen local service organizations gathered December 1, along with over 200 Latin School students, to discuss volunteering during the current pandemic. Each organization had its own break out room and students moved freely from one to another, just as they do at the in person community service fair, which is held in the BLS Dining Hall every fall and spring.
Students learned that there are plenty of virtual volunteer opportunities available at this time, as well as a limited number of outdoor / socially distanced activities like food pantries that have moved their operations outdoors during the pandemic. Many BLS students have continued to volunteer virtually during the pandemic, and the community service fair provided additional opportunities for students to become responsible and engaged citizens and fulfill their community service graduation requirement.
For those that were not able to attend the fair, here is a link to the organizations in attendance with their contact information.
Clough Center
Clough Center
International Education Week
International Education Week
The BLS Clough Center for Global Understanding participated in International Education Week from November 16-20 with a full slate of virtual programming that involved BLS students, faculty, and global partner organizations.
The week kicked off on Monday with Brice Kapel’s return to BLS. Mr. Kapel engaged and entertained French language and music students with his unique Afro-Franco music. He presented and performed in both French and English for close to 500 students and staff members during all seven class periods.
On Tuesday BLS partners presented their programming to dozens of students at the Global Partners Fair. Students learned about study abroad and travel programs, global extra curricular activities, and volunteer opportunities that are taking place virtually this year.
Wednesday was the BLS Travelers Panel Discussion. Six students who have participated in BLS travel and exchange programs presented and then answered questions about the programs and their experiences. It was a great opportunity for those students in attendance to learn more about the numerous travel and exchange programs at Latin School.
Students from a half dozen cultural organizations presented activities, song, and dance at the Global Cultural Performances event on Thursday. Students and teachers demonstrated calligraphy, performed traditional Mexican dance, showcased contemporary Chinese dance, and discussed and participated in traditional LatinX dances.
During Friday Flex BLS students had the opportunity to learn more about the CIEE Global Navigator program from both CIEE representatives and Latin School Global Navigator alumni. The program, which provides month long summer language immersion, entrepreneurship, and service experiences around the world, offers over $40,000 in financial support to qualifying BLS students each year.
CIEE Annual Conference
CIEE Annual Conference
In addition to the programming at BLS, Program Director Thomas Kennelly, Danielle Augustin ‘20, and Xiangan He ‘21 participated in the CIEE Global Student Travelers panel at the CIEE Annual Conference, which was held virtually this year. The BLS team presented along with Stuyvesant High School in NYC and the York School in Malibu, CA. The schools shared their global missions and resources and students talked in depth about the impact that global learning and travel has had on their lives.
Event History and Support
Event History and Support
Boston Latin School has been partnering in International Education Week since 2015. Programming has included Chinese-American documentaries, guest speakers from Germany and France, musicians from West Africa and China, student visitors from Singapore and Korea, international film showings, and a host of other programs that support the global understanding and awareness of BLS students and staff, all made possible with the support of the Boston Latin School Association and the Clough Center for Global Understanding.
Families for Equity and Diversity
Families for Equity and Diversity
Next Meeting
Next Meeting
We hope you will join us for Family for Equity and Diversity (FEqD) next virtual meeting, Thursday, January 28, from 7:00 - 8:00 pm. All parents and caretakers are welcome to attend at any time.
We share our meeting Zoom links, along with other updates, via the FEqD google group.
To join the group, fill out this quick form or go to our website and click “subscribe”. You do not need a Gmail account to join.
Virtual Multicultural Potluck
Virtual Multicultural Potluck
Mark your calendars for Saturday, December 19, from 6:30 - 8:00 pm for an evening of sharing cultural experiences through food and recipes. We will all dine together (over Zoom) as we share the dishes we prepared - inspired by a collection of recipes gathered from the BLS FEqD community. Parents, caregivers, students, and staff are all welcome!
Recipe submission request: For the virtual feast we are hoping the BLS community will share their favorite family/cultural recipe. Please email your recipe to Stephanie Shapiro-Berkson by Friday, December 11.
Some inspiration to include when submitting recipes: ingredient list, background of the country or culture of the recipe, a description of why it is important to you and your family or culture, a picture of the dish.
On the evening of the potluck, we will share the collected recipes in the hope that families will be inspired to prepare a few of the multicultural recipes collected from our BLS community. We will socialize, dine together (over Zoom), share what we made and ideally learn a bit about the various cultures at the table.
Please RSVP using this FORM to be included on the Zoom link invite list.
Future 2021 FEqD meetings
Future 2021 FEqD meetings
Thursday, January 28, 7:00 - 8:30 pm
Wednesday, February 24, 6:30 - 8:00 pm
Thursday, March 25, 7:00 - 8:30 pm
Wednesday, April 28, 6:30 - 8:00 pm
Thursday, May 27, 7:00 - 8:30 pm
June: TBD
Parent 2 Parent
Parent 2 Parent
P2P met on Wednesday, November 18, and discussed the following topics: grading at the end of Term 1, Zoom policies and digital resources for parents, Challenge Success’s workshop “Balanced approach to College Admissions” and general parent concerns regarding the Homework policy. Meeting notes can be found here.
The next Parent 2 Parent meeting will be Thursday, December 17 at 7:00 pm.
For those new to BLS, Parent 2 Parent is a subcommittee of the Parent Council. The group’s purpose is primarily to provide assistance regarding individual student needs, increase SPC understanding of general parent concerns and act as a liaison with school administrators regarding these issues, and to create a sense of community among parents. The full document describing P2P is here.
If you would like to join the P2P Google Group please begin by filling out this form. The link for the Zoom meeting will only be emailed to the P2P list. Parents’ suggestions for topics to be addressed are welcome. Please send us an email with any questions or suggestions.
Anne and Nancy
Anne Brown P’18 & ‘22 and Nancy Fitzgerald P’18 & ‘23
Friends of Accessibility
Friends of Accessibility
FoAx is a group for parents of students with an IEP or 504 plan, as well as for parents with disability-related concerns. Our monthly meetings are usually the third Wednesday at 7:00 pm. Join our listserv for more information.
November Meeting Recap: College Transition
FoAx’s second meeting of the year, on Wednesday, November 18, focused on College Transition. To learn how to support students with disabilities in the college search and application process, and what accessibility resources students might find in college, FoAx hosted speakers Ms. Michelle Cannon, interim director of the Schawbel College Resource Center, and Ms. Kathy Cahill, a BLS parent who leads the Accessibility and Usability group at MIT.
The informative presentation included an overview of the BLS resources for students with disabilities in their college search; what kind of help is typically available to college students, how it differs from high school support, and how they can access it; and how students and families can make the transition to college. Ms. Cannon encourages anyone with questions to email her or reach out to their students’ guidance counselors. The slides Ms. Cannon and Ms. Cahill shared can be found here.
Additionally, the group discussed potential topics for upcoming meetings, adding accessibility guidance to the BLS Handbook, and physical accessibility improvements needed in the BLS building.
Upcoming December Meeting: Transition Services
To further the discussion from our last meeting, FoAx invited Anita Davis-Thompson from BLS’s transition provider, Work, Inc., to answer questions about transition services. Assistant Head of School Steven Chen (who replaced Mr. Giacobozzi this year) will also attend, to meet FoAx members and provide additional BLS-specific information. Please join us on Wednesday, December 16, 7:00–8:30 pm, via this Google Meet link.
Katrina Norman, co-chair, P’22 & ‘24
Christine Wilder, co-chair, P’22
Friends of the Arts
Friends of the Arts
Upcoming Events and Deadlines
Upcoming Events and Deadlines
Come see She Kill Monsters: Virtual Realms by Qui Nguyen
After her sister's death, Agnes finds a Dungeons and Dragons campaign her sister wrote and decides to play! Alternatingly hilarious, thrilling and heartbreaking. She Kills Monsters is not to be missed.
Thursday, December 10 at 7 pm
Friday, December 11 at 3 pm & 7 pm
Saturday, December 12 at 7 pm
All tickets are pay-what-you-can and are available at bostonlatin.ticketleap.com/
Virtual Winter Arts Showcase
Part 1 ~ Wednesday, December 23 at 6:30 pm
Part 2 ~ Friday, January 22 at 6:30 pm
Register Now!
While we will miss gathering in the beautiful newly renovated BLS auditorium, the Visual and Performing Arts Department is giving us a gift by preparing virtual performances from our musical ensembles while displaying artwork from our visual arts classes. To Register for the events click here. Donations to help offset the cost of production are most welcome. Donate if you can but don’t let the cost of donating keep you from coming. Registration is complementary. Be sure to join again on Friday, January 22, for the Winter Virtual Arts Showcase, Part 2.
Scholastic Art and Writing Contest Submission Deadline
Friday, December 11 at 11:59 pm
Still a few days left for students to submit work to the Scholastic Arts and Writing Awards.
Accolades
Accolades
Eastern District Senior Festival Results!
Thirty-three BLS musicians auditioned for the Mass. Music Educators Association Eastern District Senior Festival at the beginning of November. Twenty-one students were accepted into the festival, with ten students also receiving All-State recommendations. Congratulations to all auditioning students for taking the time and effort to learn how to go through the audition process in a virtual setting!!
Accepted students by ensemble:
Band: Andrew Lay (Bassoon), Anya Bergman (Clarinet), John Lin (Clarinet ~ All State Rec), Emma Lu (Clarinet ~ All State Rec), Joanna Lin (French Horn), Jane Kungie (Oboe)
Chorus: Manasvi Chilikapati (Soprano ~ All State Rec), Katie Emery (Soprano), Leah Prizant (Soprano), Anne Wu (Soprano)
Jazz Band: Constantine Kotsikonas (Trombone ~ All State Rec), Stephen Snekvik (Trombone ~ All State Rec), Ross Mikulskis (Trumpet ~ All State Rec), Joseph Pucillo (String Bass ~ All State Rec)
Strings: Hannah Oh (Viola ~ All State Rec), Cecilia Buckley (Violin), Bill Chen (Violin), Samuel Chen (Violin), Irene Papadopoulos (Violin ~ All State Rec), Selina Tang (Violin), Joseph Pucillo (String Bass ~ All State Rec)
Next Monthly Meeting
FotA will meet via Zoom on Wednesday, January 6, at 6:30 pm All welcome!
Click here for more information.
BLS Athletics & Friends of Athletics
BLS Athletics & Friends of Athletics
Please follow BLS Athletics social media accounts for scores and updates.
Message from the Athletic Director
Message from the Athletic Director
The MIAA has made the following decisions for Winter sports:
Indoor Track has been moved to the Fall 2 season (Practice Start Date: 2/22/21)
Wrestling and Winter Cheer have been moved to the Spring Season (Practice Start Date: 4/26/21)
All sports that have been moved to Fall 2 or Spring must still be approved by Boston Public Schools and Boston Public Health Commission
Basketball, Hockey, Fencing (Non-MIAA), and Swim have been approved by the MIAA but not yet by Boston Public Schools.
MIAA Seasonal Athletics Calendar (subject to change)
Winter 12/14/20 - 2/21/21
Fall II 2/22/21 - 4/25/21
Spring 4/26/21 - 7/3/21
IMPORTANT TO NOTE:
BLS participation this winter is still contingent on approval by the Boston Public Health Commission and Boston Public Schools.
As a reminder, athletics are still postponed per Boston Public Schools. There is no out-of- season coaching allowed right now. Additionally, the DCL guidelines prohibit out of season coaching during the two weeks (11/30 -12/13) prior to the start of the winter season.
Captain’s practices are not sanctioned by Boston Latin School or the MIAA.
Virtual BLS Wolfpack 5K
Virtual BLS Wolfpack 5K
This year is unlike any other for so many reasons, and fitness can be an important tool to remain as healthy — in body, mind, and spirit — as we can. While we are disappointed that we cannot host an in-person Wolfpack 5K at Franklin Park this year, we invite you to participate in our 1st virtual Wolfpack 5K!
Run your own 5K route at a time and place choosing or relive the glory of past years’ Wolfpack 5Ks on the Franklin Park 5K cross-country course either on your own or with a family member or friend in a socially distant way.
Register here to run and post your time anytime between now and Sunday, December 20, for BLS bragging rights.
This year’s registration fee is $25 per runner, with 100% of the proceeds to support Boston Latin Athletics and the renovation of the Paul Costello Fitness Center (aka the Weight Room) at BLS. Or if your knees are creaky and you prefer not to run but would still like to make a donation to BLS Athletics, please click here.
We hope you’ll run with the ‘Pack, this year now more than ever…
Go Wolfpack!
Playing Sports in College
Playing Sports in College
Save the Date: Thursday, January 7, 2021
Please join the BLS Athletics Department and Friends of Athletics on Thursday, January 7, at 7 pm via Zoom for our 5th annual “Playing Sports in College” presentation.
Topics will include eligibility and the NCAA Eligibility Center, recruitment, college search timeline, communication with college coaches, and how COVID-19 impacts collegiate athletics and the recruiting process. The panel discussion will include Brittany Bresley, Associate Director of Compliance at Boston College, and several BLS student-athletes that have played or are currently playing sports at the collegiate level.
Both students and parents are welcome! Zoom link will be sent in advance to registered attendees. Register HERE.
Virtual Friends of Athletics Meeting
Virtual Friends of Athletics Meeting
The next Friends of Athletics meeting is scheduled for Monday, December 14, 5 - 6 pm. The meeting will be held in a virtual format. If you would like to receive a notice link for the meeting, please email David Abdow or Shayne Stump-O’Brien. Also see the Contacts tab for email address.
Friends of Crew
Friends of Crew
BLS Crew Welcomes Everyone!
BLS Crew Welcomes Everyone!
Rowing traditionally has the stereotype of being an elite, non-diverse, private school sport. But BLS Crew is all about breaking that stereotype! All BLS students are welcome to join BLS Crew and discover the fun and camaraderie of rowing on the Charles River. No rowing or other athletic experience is needed - all novice rowers learn to row together. And while BLS Crew's program is generally supported by rower fees, ample financial aid ensures that participation is fully affordable for all students in the BLS community.
While plans for the Spring season are still uncertain due to COVID, this past Fall the team was able to run a socially distanced conditioning and on-water sculling program for returning rowers. In the Spring, we hope that we can also give students new to rowing a chance to learn more about BLS Crew and to get some initial rowing instruction and experience. Any student or parent interested in learning more about BLS Crew should fill out this form, and we'll be in touch regarding our virtual information sessions and speakers series as well as Spring season opportunities.
Movies and Books for Rowing Inspiration
Movies and Books for Rowing Inspiration
In the meantime, while you wait for Spring, we recommend checking out some of these rowing-related movies and books. Also recommended: a recent "Rowing in Color" podcast in which BLS Crew Program Coordinator Jasmine Howard and former Girls Varsity Head Coach Beata Coloyan talk about rowing, coaching, and diversity.
A Most Beautiful Thing: A documentary film and book that chronicle the first all-Black high school rowing team in the US, young men from the West Side of Chicago who come together and overcome differences to row in the same boat.
Dare to Be: A documentary film about “women’s rowing and the human spirit,” following rowers from novice girls to Olympic athletes as they overcome obstacles and seek greatness.
Better Great Than Never: A book by rowing champion Lindsay Shoop, on how she overcame feelings of insecurity and lack of motivation to win a gold medal in the 2008 Beijing Olympics.
The Boys in the Boat: Nine Americans and Their Epic Quest for Gold: The book (and anticipated movie) telling the story of nine working-class students from the University of Washington who won the gold medal in the 1936 Berlin Olympics.
School Store
School Store
The Boston Latin School On-Line Store is open around the clock and is just one click away!
You are sure to find something for everyone on your list. All orders can be shipped to your home via UPS for a small shipping fee. Check out our new arrivals including our alma mater t-shirt, snowflake ornament, BLS decals, custom face masks, pom pom hat and more at www.bls.org/bookstore
To guarantee arrival by December 24, orders must be received by Friday, December 18.
The school store staff wishes you a Happy Holiday Season and a Happy and Healthy New Year.
From the Editor
From the Editor
Thanks to our Contributors
Thanks to our Contributors
Many thanks to BLS faculty, BLS staff, and BLSA staff including Ms. Ilene DeAngelo, Ms. Deeth Ellis, Mr. Jim Goodfield, Mr. Thomas Kennelly, Ms. Marybeth Oskowski, and Mr. Jack Owens, and BLS parents, including David Abdow, Virginia Berman, Cathy Bosch, Anne Brown, Kelly Chase, Suzanne Elsasser, Nancy Fitzgerald, Lisa Green, Ingrid Hoogendoorn, Jing Ma, Katrina Norman, Audrey Richardson, Shayne Stump-O'Brien, Christine Wilder, and Denise Wilson-Joutras (as well as all supporting parents) for their contributions to this issue of News from the Avenue.
Submitting articles
Submitting articles
If representative members of the community would like to submit articles, they are welcome to do so. Please contact editor Suzanne Elsasser P'21 with inquiries.
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