Congratulations to Ruth Shiferaw (Class I) for winning First Public Declamation. Graciela Berman Reinhardt (Class I) and Julianna Zhao (Class I) tied for second. Mirabelle Berman Reinhardt (Class III) earned third place. Great performances had by all participants.

Looking for films to enjoy over break? The Keefe Library movie praefects have some great suggestions to screen on your own or with family and friends. Check out THIS infographic for lots of great ideas.

create.piktochart.com/output/51648070-keefe-library-praefects-recommend

We look forward to a most welcome winter break from Thursday, December 24 through Monday, January 4. Our schedule for Wednesday, December 23 will run as usual. When we return to school on Tuesday, January 5, it will be a “Week 1” for specials, minus our typical anchor day on Monday.

As a reminder, no homework will be assigned over the holiday break, nor will any assignments be due or assessments given on Tuesday, January 5, although some students may be working on college applications or submissions for our MLK celebration.

On behalf of the faculty and staff, we wish all students a healthy and joyous winter break with opportunity for rest and rejuvenation.

Winter Sports Meeting for prospective student-athletes for Basketball, Fencing, Hockey, and Swimming Tonight 12/21/20 7pm.  Registered student-athletes and families will be emailed Zoom link prior to meeting

bls.org/apps/pages/index.jsp?uREC_ID=203689&type=d&termREC_ID=&pREC_ID=405715

Get into the Christmas spirit with BLS PRIMA right before break! Join us Tuesday evening for a free streaming of Elf. We will be streaming from 6:00 pm to 8:00 pm. Bring your popcorn, hot chocolate, and enjoy the movie!

zoom.us/j/4591265675?pwd=WHJESURPZ0F5d0ZDbUdkemhTbmFRdz09

FemInSTEM is hosting guest speakers Chloe Baron and Alicia McConnell, postdoctoral biologists from the Zon Laboratory of Children’s Hospital, on Tuesday, December 22 from 2:30-3:30pm. Join us to learn more about their experiences working in labs, their journeys as women in STEM, and discover various career paths available for those interested in the field!

Please fill out this form if you are interested: forms.gle/dvaXktyDvuYyf3WE9

Greetings Myth Enthusiast!

Transformation is the theme this year for the National Myth Exams.

This year, students will take only one exam.

DEADLINE FOR SIGN UP AND PAYMENT IS Wednesday, JAN 13th!!!

Submit the following Google Form to Register: Registration for Myth Exam 2021

Grades 7-8 will take the Pegasus Myth Exam. Theme: TRANSFORMATIONS TITHONUS/EOS, PHAETHON/HELIADES, ECHO/NARCISSUS

Grades 9-12 will take the Medusa Myth Exam. Theme: MONSTROUS MUTATIONS

When: Friday Flex Block February 26th Cost: $4

Once you submit the Google Form to register, you will receive information on how to pay.

How: Virtually – you will receive an email with a Zoom link from Ms. Foley with username and password for a website

**Also, if you took a Myth Exam last year and did not receive your results, please email Ms Foley at cfoley@bostonpublicschools.org

Find community service opportunities in the Boston area by visiting opportunities on InnerView when you click here.

The winter 2020 issue of The Register is here!

The Gender-Sexuality Alliance will be holding their annual Holigays celebration after school on Tuesday, December 22nd, from 2:00-3:30 PM. All students are invited to join us for fun activities like rhyme writing, holiday trivia, pictionary, a creative scavenger hunt, and more! To get the invite, email us at bostonlatinschool.gsa@gmail.com or DM us on Instagram @bls.gsa.

To date more than 300+ members of Class III have completed the Sophomore Resume Lab (SRL) – thank you. SRL is an annual, one-time workshop required of all sophomores in which they build their resume in real time. A final batch of workshops will be offered this week, plus one next Tuesday. Students who have yet to sign up will be sent an email reminder and sign-up form. Email questions to jlevesque@bostonpublicschools.org.

Join the Islamic Society of Boston Latin for a screening of the movie Bilal: A New Breed of Hero. The movie is on 12/18 from 6:00-8:00 PM. See the flyer below for more information. drive.google.com/file/d/1Mi4SxFDKkcYxsBdm3KWn0B6gNHqC9oeZ/view?usp=sharing

Our Mental Health
Saturday, December 19, 2020
10:00 AM – 12 Noon

This year’s topic is Our Mental Health.

A student led panel will discuss their eight-month experiences during the pandemic. Topics will include difficulty sleeping, social connections, remote learning, overwhelm, taking time for yourself, time management, and adjusting to mandated Covid-19 rules. A parent panel will discuss similar topics, such as working from home, creating study spaces for their children, overwhelm, social connections, and adjusting to the COVID–19 restrictions. Dr. Vanessa Prosper, BLS Clinical Coordinator, will facilitate portions of the panel, but most of the Fair will be open dialogue between BLS community members.
Click below for student and parent registration.

Health and Wellness Registration for BLS Families

Yearbook Staff Interest Meeting, Friday, 12/18 for Class I

The Class of 2021 yearbook is underway! Anyone interested in joining our staff, please attend an informational meeting during Friday Flex on December 18. You may join by clicking this link: k12-bostonpublicschools.zoom.us/j/84112233966. Details about being photographed by Chestnut Hill Studios for your senior portrait will be coming soon!

Are you on InnerView? Create your account and start finding, serving, and being recognized for your service. Here is information on how to create your account.

bls.org/ourpages/auto/2013/5/22/52218129/Innerview-GettingStarted_HS.pdf

Like solving mysteries and science? Come join Sciteam this Friday, December 18th from 2:00-3:30 pm for a crime mystery event! As an individual or with a team of up to 4, examine the clues and figure out who stole the Sciteam mascot. $15 gift cards will be given to the team with the most evidence and the right culprit. Register at bit.ly/blsscimystery, and email us at blsscienceteam@gmail.com if you have any questions!

bit.ly/blsscimystery

Looking for some film fanatics to talk with about your movie passion? Want to interact with the BLS community in a virtual setting? The Keefe Library is hosting a movie discussion this Friday (12/18) during Flex block. Anyone is free to bring movie recommendations for everyone to watch over winter break. Join us for some in-depth movie discussions, trailer previews, or if you just want to relax during Friday Flex. Don’t forget to bring a snack and we’ll see you there! Please submit your name/email with THIS FORM and we’ll email you a Zoom link.

The official Facebook page for the Harry V. Keefe library is up! For updates on student-led clubs, book blogs, and engaging events at school or at your local library, Follow us @Harry V. Keefe or click on the link www.facebook.com/keefestudent. Managed by our social media praefect team!

www.facebook.com/keefestudent

Maya Nelson earned Finalist honors in Congressional Debate competing at The Paradigm, an online tournament hosted by Dowling Catholic High School in West Des Moines, IA. Her final round included students from eight different states. Maya also reached Semifinals (top 56 students) at the Princeton Classic, hosted virtually by Princeton University. Michelle Zhang advanced to Semifinals in Original Oratory at the Princeton Classic. She placed ninth overall out of more than 100 competitors, earning a bid to the Tournament of Champions in Lexington, KY. It was her first ever tournament and first national tournament competing in speech. Mira Yu advanced to Semifinals in Program Oral Interpretation at the Princeton Classic. She placed 11th overall. It was her second tournament and first national tournament competing in speech. Samuel Chen and Neil Jin advanced to Octofinals (the Round of 16) in Public Forum Debate at the Princeton Classic, distinguishing themselves in a field featuring more than 100 teams! They won five out of six preliminary debates and entered the elimination bracket as the 14th seed. They earned a bye in the first elimination round and defeated Bethesda Chevy Chase (MD) in the Round of 32 before falling to Regis (NY).

“A.S.I.A. is hosting our annual Sing Off on Friday, December 18th at 7 pm. The event is free and will be a series of singing performances by various talented students across different grades. With that being said we invite you to watch “ASIA Sing Off 2020: Home with You” at bit.ly/singoff2020!”

This year for our MLK Day observations, we are putting together a video with the theme “Lift Every Voice.” Some examples might be BLS students engaging in community service projects, attending protests and demonstrations, or other acts of lifting others. Do you have any photographs or videos of members of the BLS community lifting voices for themselves, their friends, or the broader community? Please share them via the linked Google Form or e-mail Mr. Chen at schen2@bostonpublicschools.org.

docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSdinJ05LYPihx7FWxxRMmy6zBoaJlHM3eMIzv5pT_z3wEdq_A/viewform

Come audition for BLS Theatre’s War of the Worlds, the sci fi classic from 1938 will be brought live and fresh to BLS audiences. Auditions are over zoom December 15 and 16 after school. All information is on google classroom. Code rhdu4k5 reach to Mr. Gels jgels@Bostonpublicschools.org for more details

In anticipation of the upcoming snowstorm, we are moving Thursday’s Chromebook and Staples card pick up date to WEDNESDAY, Dec. 16 from 3 – 6pm to avoid any inconvenience. Please come to the front of campus with your one card to expedite the pick up process. No appointment is necessary: one Chromebook and one Staples gift card per student.

Additionally, the Super Food Site located at BLS will be distributing free meals this Wednesday (12/16) from 10:00 am – 6:00 pm instead of Thursday (12/17) this week.

Congratulations to the winners of the Keefe Library’s first trivia match! Members of Class VI and new members of Class IV faced off to see who knew the most about BLS. The winning team (with a perfect 15/15), the Functioners, represented the Franklin cluster and included Joseph Hemr, Simon Hay-Sutton, and Caitlyn Liu. Thanks to the Keefe Library trivia praefects, who are looking forward to hosting another event in early 2021.

Thank you to those who came to our culture club coalition’s Town Hall event on race & equity issues at BLS last month, and especially to Ms. Skerritt, Ms. Murray, and Mr. Chen for their gracious support and participation. We’ve created a recap of highlights from our conversation in a Padlet available at bit.ly/blstownhallpadlet. Feel free to peruse our notes and contact any of us if you have any questions or suggestions! —BLS A.S.I.A., BLACK, YMOC, YWOC, TAG, ASA, & Desi

After her sister’s death, Agnes finds a Dungeons and Dragons campaign her sister wrotes and decides to play! Alternatingly hilarious, thrilling and heartbreaking. She Kills Monsters is not to be missed. Thursday December 10 at 7pm Friday December 11 at 3pm and 7pm and Saturday December 12 at 7pm. All Tickets are Pay-What-You-Can and are available at bostonlatin.ticketleap.com/monsters/

$50 Staples Cards Deadline Extended to December 31.

Recently, we have seen a sharp uptick of device/laptop/Chromebook malfunction. While many students rely on their own personal devices, when computer failures occur during the middle of the school day, and there is not a backup device readily available, it can be extremely disruptive to learning and instruction. Every BPS student is eligible to have their own individual Chromebook. If you haven’t done so already, we STRONGLY ENCOURAGE you to pick up your own BPS-issued Chromebook before it becomes a last minute challenge.

If you absolutely do NOT want a BPS Chromebook or foresee any future use for one, please fill out this form for record keeping.

Here is a list of dates and times for BPS Chromebook and Staples gift card pick up on campus, please come to the front of the school:

Wednesday, December 9 : 2 pm – 5 pm

Thursday, December 17: 4 pm – 6 pm

For any additional questions regarding:

Chromebooks: please email Ms. Payne, kpaynehall@bostonpublicschools.org
Staples Gift Cards: please email Ms. Kwan, wkwan@bostonpublicschools.org

docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSclZSTXRYjJ-k7qVJrAEuebcm0YLE7AnidNCb5KsIj1YDimSQ/viewform

This holiday season, we hope you will consider helping BLSJCL’s effort to support the outstanding work of Rosie’s Place, the oldest women’s shelter in the country, by helping to stock their food pantry. With your help, Rosie’s Place can continue to provide nourishment to 250 women each day to help feed the more than 500 members of their households. You can contribute directly to the virtual food drive by clicking here, or by sharing that link with family and friends. Thanks so much for your support and happy holidays!

yougivegoods.com/blsjcl

Do you love graphic novels and read them nonstop? Or perhaps you’ve never read one and want to take the plunge? Meet up virtually every 2 weeks with Ms. Magner (the Keefe Library’s student teacher) and Joshua Dam (Class I) to hang out with other fans and talk about books. We’ll be reading graphic novels available through the BPL or Open eBooks — no need to purchase anything. Fill out this form forms.gle/aA2bU94dVKJLxCg96 or email Ms. Magner today to join (dmagner@bostonpublicschools.org.)

forms.gle/aA2bU94dVKJLxCg96

Here is a list of all of the organizations that attended the BLS Community Service Fair with their contact info. Feel free to reach out to them to learn more about volunteer opportunities.
docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/10u3Zi2RGdz-nSzlJ5xc0Nw9XlQO3UeYGJsiSRfYuGPM/edit?usp=sharing

Interested in making art that promotes human rights and social issues? BLS Topol Fellows are looking for artists from all grades to submit a design that will be printed on masks for Human Rights Day! The masks should feature a design that displays the importance and theme of human rights and emulates the mission towards non-violence and unity. Students may enter their submissions by December 28th. Please email topolfellowsbls@gmail.com for specific details and requirements! Questions are welcomed!
drive.google.com/file/d/1-JuzBpEqEZRGrKhKCJ0Mk8LHvxj8-_dR/view?usp=sharing

ART CONTEST
Theme: “Lift Every Voice”

Black and white or color drawing, painting, sketch, charcoal, digital media, or other appropriate media capturing the theme of this year’s MLK celebration.
Submit the image via email to blsmlkcelebration@gmail.com
Due Monday, January 5, 2020 at 2:30 pm

Selected artwork will be featured in the MLK virtual program and event, with a monetary prize of $100 to the first place winner.

ESSAY CONTEST
Topic: What voice(s) need to be lifted in our local, national, or global community? How can we work to ensure they are heard and valued?

Format: Times New Roman, 12 pt, double spaced, 300-400 words (name and homeroom at top)
Essays should respond to the prompt, but there is flexibility to approach these questions in myriad ways. Strong essays educate, inspire, and capture your authentic voice.

Submit to blsmlkcelebration@gmail.com as a Google Doc by Monday, January 5 at 2:30 pm.

…and the winner of the program cover contest for the Winter Virtual Arts Showcase is Olivia Huynh (Class V). The first runner up is Nancy Nguyen (Class II); the second runner up is Rachel Weng (Class I). Congratulations to all who participated. There were some very impressive entries!

We are excited to announce that BLS will be offering two Virtual Winter Arts Showcases this season. Part 1 will take place Wednesday, December 23rd at 6:30 PM and will feature performances by concert bands and choirs. Part 2, which will be held Friday January 22nd, will feature the orchestras and other select ensembles. Artwork from visual arts courses will also be displayed at each showcase session. The event will be hosted by Kasaan Kirby ’23 and Ash Albert ’23. Admission to the showcase is free but we respectfully request that guests consider making a donation to Friends of the Arts in support of our brilliant student actors, artists, and musicians. Please click here to RSVP.

While we are still waiting for definitive guidance on winter sports. Prospective student-athletes for the Basketball, Fencing, Hockey, and Swimming must complete the following:

1. All prospective student athletes must register on the BLS Athletics Website as is normal protocol

2. Clearances – The typical clearance form process cannot be completed as it normally would. The process now is for ALL prospective student-athletes to book a virtual appointment with one of our four nurses. They can sign up starting on Wednesday for appointments beginning on M 12/14. Student-athletes must email a copy of their most recent Physical Exam prior to appointment.
sites.google.com/bostonpublicschools.org/blsvirtualnurseoffice/home

Talented writers and artists of BLS–all grades. Enter the annual Scholastic Writing and Art Awards Competition. The deadline is coming right up, so check out the rules for submission at artandwriting.org and send in a great piece of work! Let’s make this another year when BLS is proudly represented.
www.artandwriting.org/regions/MA001A

Have extra new winter clothes from last year’s gift exchange? In need of volunteer hours? Wolfpack Volunteers is holding a winter clothing drive throughout the month of December! Donate unused socks, scarves, and other winter garments to Friends of Boston’s Homeless (112 Southampton Street, Boston, MA 02118) to earn community service hours! Check out our Instagram (@wolfpackvolunteers) for a few affordable options to buy if you are not currently in possession of new clothes. To maintain social distancing, all donors should sign up for a time slot to donate clothes at bit.ly/wolfpackwinterdrive.
All donations will be given 1.5 hours! We want to show our appreciation for your efforts to help those in need while also compensating for the time you spent purchasing clothes, packing your donations, and getting to the center 🙂 To receive your hours, please email a picture of you with your donation in front of the building to wolfpackvolunteersbls@gmail.com AND fill out this form (bit.ly/clothingdrivehours). This drive is open to all grades—please email us with any questions or concerns!

December 10, 2:30-6:30pm. Come to our virtual classroom to get help on personal essays, applications, supplements. The Schawbel Center team will be online for your quick questions or to provide a virtual space for you to work and GET YOUR APPLICATIONS DONE!!! Come for one hour or as long as you need. This time can help you complete your applications before winter break. Register here

Friday Flex: Work on your Common Application Join us in the Virtual Schawbel Center to work on your Common Application during Friday Flex Block on December 11, 18. We will share tips and tricks on how to complete various sections of the Common App as well as give you a dedicated time to work on your app, essays, and supplements. Email Ms. Cannon with any questions (mcannon4@bostonpublicschools.org) Register here

There will be no after school tutoring on Tuesday, 12/8 due to faculty professional development. Tutoring will resume at the normal time on Wednesday, 12/9.

Interested in learning about exam schools and their admission processes? Thinking about race and equity within our school? Join the Topol Fellows on December 9th at 2:30 to learn the history of BLS admissions and hear Head of School, Ms. Skerritt, talk about the admission plans for the 2021-2022 school year. You will all have a chance to voice your opinions.

This event is open to all BLS students and faculty/staff, although we are limited to 300 people on the Zoom. Register here to receive the Zoom link: forms.gle/BtH51358y8szTuN77 Hope to see you there and hear your thoughts! forms.gle/BtH51358y8szTuN77

This year’s topic is Our Mental Health. A student led panel will discuss their eight-month experiences during the pandemic. Topics will include difficulty sleeping, social connections, remote learning, overwhelm, taking time for yourself, time management, and adjusting to mandated Covid-19 rules. A parent panel will discuss similar topics, such as working from home, creating study spaces for their children, overwhelm, social connections, and adjusting to Covid restrictions. Dr. Vanessa Prosper, BLS Clinical Coordinator, will facilitate portions of the panel, but the majority of the Fair will be open dialogue between BLS community members.

Join ISBL (The Islamic Society of Boston) on 12/21 for a viewing of Bilal: A New Breed of Hero, from 6:00- 8:00 PM.
drive.google.com/file/d/16pTOVM82NSbCSdus9BSBRNDXP3cBgNEq/view?usp=sharing

December 10, 2:30-6:30pm. Come to our virtual classroom to get help on personal essays, applications, supplements. The Schawbel Center team will be online for your quick questions or to provide a virtual space for you to work and GET YOUR APPLICATIONS DONE!!! Come for one hour or as long as you need. This time can help you complete your applications before winter break.

Register here: forms.gle/4GdKJ1KGVBEYpZQo9

MEFA is hosting a College Admissions Webinar in Spanish on December 8 at 4pm. Andrea Keenan from Excel Academy will cover current trends in admissions, building a balanced list of colleges, and the different components of the college application, all in Spanish. She’ll also answer questions from attendees.

Register at this link: us02web.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_s-eB5olvTJqtEpKxNXe87g

Crossroads of New England (crossroadsma.org/) is looking for 7th graders (Class VI) who are interested in developing strong leadership skills through their extensive programming. Applicants need not be at the top of the class, but should be enthusiastic and open to exploring new opportunities. For more information about the program, families are invited to join an online information session on Thursday, December 10th and 17th, both @7pm:

us02web.zoom.us/j/2064132366?pwd=SG1MdVpTcjc2WjhTOTBmYXRSRmY1UT09
Meeting ID: 206 413 2366
Passcode: 12345

Friday Flex: Work on your Common Application
Join us in the Virtual Schawbel Center to work on your Common Application during Friday Flex Block on December 4, 11, 18. We will share tips and tricks on how to complete various sections of the Common App as well as give you a dedicated time to work on your app, essays, and supplements. Email Ms. Cannon with any questions (mcannon4@bostonpublicschools.org)

Register here: forms.gle/9esKzJmU3T85aywA9

The Register is still accepting original artwork and writing for the winter issue!

Students in grades 7-12 are invited to send submissions to bls.register@gmail.com by Friday, December 4!

New senior inductees should have received an email from Mr. Finnigan with information about the induction ceremony on Friday, 12/4. If you were accepted but did NOT receive an email with this information, please contact Mr. Finnigan ASAP (pfinnigan2@bostonpublicschools.org).

The BLS school newspaper, The Argo, has posted its November Issue — you can find it at blsargo.org! Happy reading!

Are you a sixie or Bsie? Do you want to meet people in your grade and learn more about the school? Come to the library’s first trivia event of the year! The topic is BLS, so show off your school pride by trying to wear as much purple and white as you can! It will take place on December 4th at 2:30pm. Please register by noon on Friday with this form. See you then!
forms.gle/LaFXvtdYVzd1pmUg6

Thank you to everyone who participated by sharing the competition, liking, and submitting! The entire video is on the google form link where you can also vote for the top 3 people with most school spirit! You will need your school email to access the form. Voting will close this Friday, December 4th!

docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSexYyxji3SkEWa_L-w8NmrKBTgUhWquzsnCMyvGgVIyFb75zw/viewform

BLS Virtual Community Service Fair Tuesday Dec. 1 at 2:30. Click here for the Zoom link.

BLS sophomore Maya Nelson won first place at the Massachusetts Speech and Debate League’s Cranberry Tournament, which took place online on November 14. Maya placed first in the Student Congress division, which features a mock legislative session simulating the workings of the U.S. Congress.

Last weekend, at the Lexington, MA Fall Tournament, BLS teams of Selina Tang and Nadine Han; and Gracie Berman-Reinhart and Alice Wu placed 4th and 8th respectively in the Varsity Public Forum Debate Division, where opposing teams of two debate a topic concerning a current event. Also, at the Lexington tournament, BLS teams of Lem Xu and Michelle Zhang, and Raymond Xu and Ronak Saluja were named State Qualifiers in Varsity Public Forum, while Samuel Chen and Neil Jin were named State Qualifiers in JV Public Forum. As State Qualifiers, the teams are eligible to compete at the State Championship in April.

Have extra new winter clothes from last year’s gift exchange? In need of volunteer hours? Wolfpack Volunteers is holding a winter clothing drive from December 1st-18th! Donate unused socks, scarves, and other winter garments to Friends of Boston’s Homeless (112 Southampton Street, Boston, MA 02118) to earn community service hours! Check out our Instagram (@wolfpackvolunteers) for a few affordable options to buy if you are not currently in possession of new clothes. To maintain social distancing, all donors should sign up for a time slot to donate clothes at bit.ly/wolfpackwinterdrive.

Volunteer hours will be distributed depending on the amount spent divided by five, with a cap of 15 hours or $75. To receive your hours, please email a picture of you with your donation in front of the building to wolfpackvolunteersbls@gmail.com AND fill out this form (bit.ly/clothingdrivehours). For those buying new, you should also submit a picture of your receipt. This drive is open to all grades–please email us with any questions or concerns!