JP Resident Leads Nonprofit Bringing Digital Music Program to Margarita Muñiz Academy

Five days a week this school year Margarita Muñiz Academy students learned how to create music thanks to nonprofit Boston Music Project led by a Jamaica Plain resident. “They’re taking music they like and learning how to produce in the style of Bad Bunny or a bachata,” said Boston Music Project (BMP) Executive Director Chris Schroeder. “The final stage is working in the studio and seeing what that experience is like.”

Through the digital marketing program, all juniors and seniors learn to use Soundtrap, and create music albums similar to their musical preferences. Taking student learning further, BMP partnered with a recording company to understand different roles that exist in the industry. “You don’t need to be a performer on stage.

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There’s A Lot More Fish in Jamaica Pond After Last Week

One of the great benefits of being governor of Massachusetts means you have the option of participating in the annual stocking of Jamaica Pond -- and Governor Maura Healey didn't miss her first opportunity to do so. Healey was joined Boston Parks and Recreation Commissioner Ryan Woods, Massachusetts Energy and Environmental Affairs Secretary Rebecca Tepper, students from John F. Kennedy Elementary and Curley K-8 schools, and MassWildlife staff on April 27. According to Boston Parks and Recreation, more than 1,000 trout were released into Jamaica Pond -- approximately 800 rainbow trout averaging 14 inches long, 25 brook trout and 65 brown trout averaging 18 inches long, and 170 tiger trout, a cross between a female brown trout and a male brook trout, averaging 14 inches long. The fish for the stocking event were raised at state hatcheries.

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Photos: Half Half Half Half Half Marathon at Jamaica Pond

There was more than one very important marathon this month. More than 70 serious and casual runners gathered at the Jamaica Pond Boathouse for this year’s Half Half Half Half Half Marathon, hosted by 826 Boston at Jamaica Pond on April 13. All photos by Deborah Karson Photography

The event raised more than $18,000 for 826 Boston’s writing and tutoring programs, offered free to thousands of Boston students and their families every year. “We’re so grateful to everyone—friends, babies, college students, grandparents, dogs—who joined us for Boston’s greatest shortest race,” said Loni Zelfon, 826 Boston’s Development and Events Manager. “We couldn’t have asked for a more beautiful day to walk, wheel, and run around Jamaica Pond to support 826 Boston’s incredible student authors."

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CPA Funding Approved for New Curley School Playground, Jackson Square Greenway, Churches, and More

Community Preservation Act funds will be used to build a new school playground, support new affordable housing, and historically rehab several churches,

Mayor Michelle announced 56 projects will receive more than $40 million through CPA funds. The Boston City Council approved the funding on April 12. By law, projects must support the creation or preservation of affordable housing, historic sites, or open space and recreation. Since 2018, Boston has awarded more than $157 million to support 293 projects including 112 open space and recreation projects, 46 affordable housing projects, and 135 historic preservation projects, according to a press release. The following are the eight Jamaica Plain projects that are receiving funding:

361 Centre Street

$3,000,000 to partially fund an​ ​adaptive reuse rental proj​ect utilizing the vacant Blessed Sacrament Church in the Hyde Square neighborhood.

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Boston Celebrates First Electric School Buses

Forty-two different schools have been selected to have some of their students ride the first electric schools buses in the Boston Public Schools (BPS) school bus fleet. Mayor Michelle Wu and other city personnel celebrated the arrival of the first two electric school buses on Feb. 6. Eighteen more buses will be coming to Boston in the coming weeks and are expected to be used following the February school vacation, according to a press release. “I’m grateful to the many people who have been instrumental in getting Boston to this point and helping us demonstrate the many overlapping benefits of moving to a green economy and ensuring that our kids and our workforce are at the center of that transition,” said Wu.

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BPS Asks Students and Staff to Please Wear Masks for Eight Days

Boston Public Schools Superintendent Mary Skipper sent a letter to the BPS community asking staff and students to wear masks to limit spreading COVID, RSV, and other illnesses, for the first eight days of school in January. "This is our ask and expectation of students and staff, not a mandate—which will be in effect during the school day on school premises and school buses," wrote Skipper. She emphasized that no one will be disciplined or sent home if they refuse to wear a mask. Skipper said the hope is to "maximize our ability to keep students healthy and minimize staff absences during this high-risk period," and that it's a temporary ask for students from Jan. 4 to Jan.

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English High School Celebrates 200th Birthday!

With a mix of glitz and glory, the 200th celebration marking the English High School of Boston’s 200th anniversary wowed the 300-plus alumni and supporters attending the Gala at the Marriott Boston Copley Place Hotel on October 1. Legendary World War II Tuskegee Airman Enoch ‘Woody’ Woodhouse II (age 95, Class of ’44) was honored with a Lifetime Service Alumni Award. Gov. Charlie Baker recently promoted him to Brigadier General.  

In her guest video address, First Lady Dr. Jill Biden brought greetings, referring to her own lifelong devotion to education, emphasizing the importance of public education, commending EHS as the pioneering first public high school in America and its unbroken history of educating immigrants and their offspring. EHS 2022 alum and co-emcee Blanca Ramirez told the audience, “When I miss the place that gave me hope, determination and the opportunity to breathe again, I will visit our home -- English High School.”

Other EHS alumni luminaries in attendance included former Mass. Attorney General Francis Bellotti, retired Judge Thomas Connors, former MBTA General Manager Bob Prince, and retired Brigadier General Joseph Carter.

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Valedictorians Honored at Fenway Park; Three Jamaica Plain Residents Named Valedictorian

Thirty-three Boston Public School valedictorians were honored at the annual Valedictorians Luncheon at Fenway Park by Mayor Michelle Wu, the Boston School Committee, and Superintendent Brenda Cassellius. Students were accompanied by their headmasters and families on May 31. This was the first in-person luncheon since 2019. This year three Jamaica Plain students were valedictorians:

Ivanna Mercado is the valedictorian for English High School and will attend UMass-Boston

Worknesh Bekele is the valedictorian of Fenway High School and will attend Northeastern University

Hazel McLaughlin is the valedictorian of Muriel S. Snowden International School at Copley and will attend Boston University

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Jamaica Plain Students Receive St. Sebastian’s School Honor Roll

St. Sebastian's School is proud to announce the Honor Roll recipients for the Third Quarter of the 2021-2022 school year. Recipients of these academic awards fall into three categories: High Honors, maintains an A- or above in all subjects; Honors with Distinction, maintains a B or above in all subjects; and Honors, maintains a B- or above in all subjects. The following students are from Jamaica Plain:
Michael J. Kalinichenko, Grade 11, High Honors
Maxim D. Kalinichenko, Grade 9, High Honors
Luis E. Sosa Espinal, Grade 9, Honors with Distinction

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