Schools

Three Finalists Named for School Superintendent; Public Interviews Begin April 22

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The previous Boston Public Schools superintendent resigned in June of last year, and Jamaica Plain's Laura Perille has been the interim superintendent since that time. Starting April 22, the three finalists to be the next superintendent will participate in public interviews. The three candidates will participate in four separate public interviews during the course of one day. Marie Izquierdo's interviews will be on April 22, Dr. Brenda Cassellius' interviews will be on April 23, and Dr. Oscar Santos' interviews will be on April 24. Please see below for full schedule of public interviews.

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Schools

Boston Schools Respect Week Promotes Respectful Student Conduct In-Person and Online

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This week all Boston Public School students from sixth to 12th grade are learning about how to engage in positive interactions with their peers, whether it's in person, via text or online. During BPS' first-ever 24/7 Respect Week all middle and high school students are watching a video called Stay Out of the Box. After watching the video students will participate in classroom discussions about how bias-based behavior and sexually explicit comments and images can be damaging to themselves and their peers. They'll learn about the dangers of posting derogatory and inappropriate messages on social media. The video is co-produced by the Boston Student Advisory Council (BSAC) and the Office of Equity.

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Boston Public Schools

BuildBPS Community Conversation co-sponsored by the Jamaica Plain Neighborhood Council

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Please come to this community meeting co-sponsored by the Jamaica Plain Neighborhood Council to learn more about the BuildBPS proposed plan:

- Understand the educational vision of Boston Public Schools

- Learn about the impacts on the city and your neighborhood

- Ask questions

 

Registration 5:45-6:15pm

Prompt Program Start at 6:30PM

 

Refreshments and childcare will be provided.  

Spanish translation available.  

Preregistration encouraged but not necessary    https://www.eventbrite.com/e/buildbps-community-conversation-jamaica-plain-tickets-53346397511

Schools

English High Students Team with Pepper the Robot to Kickoff Computer Science Week

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English High School students have a new partner who's probably not going to be late to class -- Pepper the Robot. On Monday, students from English's award-winning robotics team showed how the 4-foot tall robot interacts with humans to kickoff Computer Science Education Week for Boston Public Schools (BPS). English High is one of 10 high schools in Boston with computer science programs that have started to use Pepper robots in the classroom. At English, students are learning how to use Pepper to recognize human movements and commands to lead Pepper to respond with a fist-bump, bow its head, open its hand or do a 360-degree spin. Pepper was donated by SoftBank Robotics America, which is donating 100 Peppers in public schools in Boston, San Francisco and British Columbia in Canada.

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Schools

New K-6 School Near Jackson Square a Possibility in BuildBPS; JP Meeting on Jan. 10

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The Boston Public Schools has released a new report about the city's 10-year facilities plan, which includes the possibility of building a new K-6 elementary school building near Jackson Square. The Boston Public School's previously announced the BuildBPS plan, which calls for some old schools to close, new schools to be built, and other schools to expand, including growing the amount of K-6 schools. Jamaica Plain's Manning School wants to be one of the schools to add a sixth grade. There will be a JP BuildBPS community meeting on Jan. 10 to discuss the $1 billion plan. It will be the fourteenth community meeting across the city to discuss the plan, with the first 13 having already taken place before Nov.

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Schools

Manning School Wants to Add 6th Grade in 2019 as Part of BuildBPS Plan

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The Boston Public School's BuildBPS plan calls for some old schools to close, new schools to be built, and other schools to expand, including growing the amount of K-6 schools. Jamaica Plain's Manning School wants to be one of the schools to add a sixth grade. The Manning School submitted a letter to the Boston Public School Interim Superintendent Laura Perille on October 19, proposing the school expand to include a sixth grade for next fall. “Our community has worked diligently over many years to create an environment in which ALL students, including students identified as having emotional impairments, can succeed,” wrote Ethan d’Ablemont Burnes, principal of the Manning School in the letter. “We therefore want to extend our programming to the 6th grade for the fall of 2019.”

Burnes said Manning School representatives will be offering public testimony in support of their proposal at the Nov.

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Boston Public Schools

Annissa Essaibi-George’s Education Town Halls

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This Fall I will be hosting a series of Town Halls across the City of Boston, where I will be speaking on the work that is being done specifically around Education, but the most important part is that they are an opportunity for YOU to provide feedback, share concerns, and ask questions. As the Chair of the Council's Committee on Education, I want to hear from YOU! Join us for our kick-off Town Hall on Tuesday, September 25 from 5:30-7:30pm at the Thelma D. Burns Building in Roxbury (575 Warren Street). Can't make it? Please see list below for other dates and times!

Arboretum

Volunteer Open House at the Arnold Arboretum: Share Nature with Children!

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Share nature with children!  The Arnold Arboretum is recruiting volunteers to lead life science programs for Boston school groups. Fall training starts on August 30. Attend an open house on August 2 to learn more about this exciting opportunity.  Come to the Visitor Center at 125 Arborway, Jamaica Plain 02130 from 10-11am.  If you are friendly, enjoy the outdoors, and have some teaching experience, we want to talk to you!

From the Community

4 JP Public Schools to Benefit from $450K in Arts Expansion Grants

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The Hennigan K-8 School, English High School, JFK Elementary School and Community Academy are four of dozens of schools that are receiving more than $450,000 in grants to provide arts instruction. The grants are part of the Boston Public Schools (BPS) Arts Expansion initiative, which has schools working with more than 30 arts partners to provide long-term direct arts instruction for the 2018-2019 school year. These grants are supported by BPS Arts Expansion funders including the Barr Foundation, the Boston Foundation, Katie and Paul Buttenweiser Foundation, Klarman Family Foundation and Linde Family Foundation. Boston officials, BPS and EdVestors announced the latest round of grants as part of this week’s BPS Citywide Arts Festival on June 14. “We believe that all Boston residents should have the ability to engage in creativity and be part of Boston’s rich arts and culture scene, so it is so exciting to have so many of our BPS students showcasing their talents throughout the Citywide Arts Festival this week,” said Mayor Martin Walsh via press release.

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From the Community

Opinion: Boston Public Schools Make Your Kids Interesting

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Two friends, Kristin and Kieran, were in a coffee shop on Centre Street in Jamaica Plain with two of their friends. Both sets of friends had kids who were two or three years old, and the kids were running around unchecked. Nearby sat an older man, who was rustling his newspaper. My friends were in the midst of a conversation with their friends about whether to stay in JP or move because their kids were getting old enough that they needed to consider schools. They talked on: “Oh my God, BPS, are we going to keep our kids here or are we going to just yank them and move?” As they talked, Kristin noticed the newspaper rustle more and more while the kids ran around.

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