We look forward to a most welcome winter break starting on Friday, December 24 and returning on Tuesday, January 4 (Day 1)

As a reminder, no homework will be assigned over the holiday break, nor will any assignments be due or assessments given on Tuesday, January 4.

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

There will be no after school tutoring on Thursday, 12/23/21. Tutoring will resume at the usual time and place when we return from break.

Although we are restricted from opening our doors to families, we are delighted that this year Boston Neighborhood Network News (BNN) has “picked up” our shows and will be broadcasting the performances. We invite you to enjoy the performances by tuning into the BNN News and Information Channel (Xfinity 9, RCN 23 or Fios 2161) or to watch streamed on www.bnnmedia.org. The shows will be available on YouTube at a later date.

Bands: 12/27 10:00 a.m. and 6: 00 p.m.

Orchestras: 12/28 10:00 a.m. and 6:00 p.m.

Chorus: 12/29 10:00 a.m. and 6:00 p.m.

Classes V and VI: 12/30 10:00 a.m. and 6:00 p.m.

Covid testing kits were distributed during W block today. If you missed this opportunity, you can come to 016 immediately after school to pick up on Wednesday 12/22. There will be another opportunity to pick up these testing kits in the main lobby during lunch period on Thursday 12/23.

Each student gets one testing kit. There are two tests in each box and please make sure you save one of the tests to take 24 hours prior to returning to school after the holiday break.

Please do not lose them as we do not have any extra kits.

The school store will be open on Wednesday, December 22nd for last minute shopping and to pick up on line orders. We will be closing after lunch for the remainder of the year and will reopen on January 7th.
Happy Holidays!

NHS decision letters were delivered to senior homerooms today (Friday, 12/17). If you applied but did not receive a letter, please reach out to Mr. Finnigan & Ms. LeDang ASAP (pfinnigan2@bostonpublicschools.org, tledang@bostonpublicschools.org). The letters contain important information about induction and reasons for non-selection, so please read them carefully. Junior decisions will be out next week.

Hi everyone! BLS Recycling Committee would like your help collecting bottle caps for a service activity/art project we’re planning for the upcoming MLK Day of Service. If you have any bottle caps to contribute, please leave them in the boxes below the RC bulletin board, which is near Room 312. Thanks for your help!

The BLS Science Team is looking for 7th-12th graders interested in science to compete in our Middle school and High school divisions.

Science Olympiad is a competition consisting of 23 events that cover various scientific fields (Physics, Chemistry, Biology, Earth Science, Engineering) where members participate in teams of two or three in each category. We will be holding tryouts virtually over discord December 27th-30th, 1pm-4pm. Feel free to pop in at any time, and tryout! We look forward to seeing what you’ve got!

If interested, please join our discord and come by: discord.gg/2xMNqHWD

More information can be found on each event here: www.soinc.org/events/2022-event-table

Feel free to email us at blsscienceteam@gmail.com for more information!

Sign up to visit the library during your study hall on Thursday, Dec. 23 to enjoy board games and craft projects! We’re planning to be cell-phone and laptop free in the main part of the library so that everyone can enjoy the fun. Feel free to bring your own games or supplies or use ours.

Before disappearing to the Island of Misfit Toys, check out 2021’s final episode as the crew preps for 2022 (2020 too? ugh.) Link is live Wednesday at 8:00 AM.

youtu.be/g3nFWY1JxwA

The BLSJCL in partnership with the MassJCL is hosting a virtual food drive for Rosie’s place. Rosie’s Place is the first women’s shelter in the United States and help feed more than 250 women and their families across Boston. If you would like to donate you can use the link below until the end of December. Happy Holidays!

Rosie’s Place Virtual Drive

yougivegoods.com/massjcl2021

Congratulations to the top performers in our 2nd BLS Public Declamation!

First Place: Alex Chou ~ Class I

Second Place: Manasvi Chilakapati ~

Class I Third Place: Selina Tang ~ Class II

Thank you to everyone who participated and to the members of Class IV, who were a considerate and appreciative audience.

Calling ALL Clubs!

BLS will be holding the MLK Day of Service all day and in-person on Friday, January 14. If your student club would like to participate by sponsoring a volunteer activity, complete this short form.

docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLScu64xg_y5RSqXXxJcqAfGu2zrc-u1xdTC4rtl6q9uSJ_hMTg/viewform

Kwanzaa is a weeklong celebration held in the United States that honors African heritage in African-American culture. The name Kwanzaa is derived from the phrase mutanda ya kwanza which means first fruits, or harvest, in Swahili. Celebrations often include singing and dancing, storytelling, poetry reading, African drumming, and feasting and are observed from December 26th to January 1. Kwanzaa is not a religious or a political holiday. Kwanzaa is a reflective holiday.

The holiday is relatively new, compared to other holidays celebrated during the month of December in the U.S. Kwanzaa was created in 1966 by Dr. Maulana Karenga, professor and chairman of Africana Studies at California State University in response to the Watts Riots in Los Angeles in 1965 as a way to bring African-Americans together as a community. Several different cultural celebrations, such as those of the Ashanti and those of the Zulu, are combined to form the foundation of Kwanzaa.

BLS B.L.A.C.K. is hosting a Kwanzaa celebration on Wednesday, December 22 during W Block. We are looking for student entrepreneurs and business owners to join our celebration to honor the 4th principle of Kwanzaa “Ujimaa”. Student leaders are invited to set up a display table during the event to showcase their business. All current and future entrepreneurs are welcome. If you would like to reserve a table for your business at our Kwanzaa event, please complete this form (forms.gle/UBp5igrTX1QAu2vR9) by Monday, December 20, 2021. If you have any questions, please email blackatbls@gmail.com or stop by Room 114.

forms.gle/UBp5igrTX1QAu2vR9

If you are interested in joining a W Block meeting to talk about names/pronouns and gender identity and expression, fill out the attached form to join us or email Ms. Murray with questions.

forms.gle/686AZ3mc9hmo863Q6

Period Products Drive!

Ladies Collective is starting a period products drive! Recently, we put boxes of pads and tampons in bathrooms because no one should have to worry about finding a pad or tampon at school. Unfortunately, we do not have an infinite supply of pads and tampons so we’re enlisting your help! If you’d like to donate a package of period products for our school bathrooms, please drop them off in the box labeled “Period Products Drive” in front of the main office. The box will be there from now until 12/23. You can post a photo of yourself dropping the period products on Innerview under the opportunity “Period Products Drive” for 1 community service hour. Thanks for your help!

Students and families interested in learning more about the CIEE Global Navigator program should consider attending the CIEE family night Monday evening at 8:00. More information can be found here.

start.ciee.org/index.php/email/emailWebview?md_id=87169

Do you like thrifting or want to learn how to upcycle old clothes? In BLS Sustainable Fashion Club we do that and more; you will learn how to recycle, thrift, sell and donate clothes as well as other things related to up-cycling. We will meet every Wednesday in room 216 at 2:35 starting the 12th of January. If you have any questions email us at blssustainablefashion@gmail.com, more information is on our website,

sites.google.com/view/magnoliathrift/home and if you want to sign up please fill out this form! docs.google.com/forms/d/1h_CxNi39rjikQDRNL_2FqCtIBC5Jyz5Qpibg9rDGutY/edit

sites.google.com/view/magnoliathrift/home

Thanks to everyone who participated in our 1st ever Hero’s Journey movie contest! Our library praefect judges have carefully screened the entries and rendered their judgments, taking into consideration storytelling, technical, and filmmaking skills. We are pleased to announce our winner and runners-up: First place: Cleo Barowsky; Runners-up: Alexis Dakin, Risa Goldfeld, Vienne Marquis, and Angela Wells. Please watch for their entries on the library monitor shortly!

The ancient Roman festival of Saturnalia that inspires many Christmas /holiday traditions today (gift-giving, feasting, games, etc.) starts this Friday! To celebrate, wear your favorite (or ugliest) holiday sweater to school this Friday, December 17th. Tag any pictures you post with @bls_jcl or DM @bls_jcl a photo of your snazzy attire. You can learn more about Saturnalia here.

The JFK Library Profiles in Courage essay contest is now accepting entries. $20,000 in prizes will be awarded. More information is provided here.

www.jfklibrary.org/learn/education/profile-in-courage-essay-contest/recognition-and-awards

BLS has been asked to select one student ambassador to attend the Massachusetts Hugh O’Brien Youth Leadership Seminar. The MA HOBY seminar provides an opportunity for sophomores in high school to develop leadership skills through dynamic leadership programs, keynote speakers, and service-driven activities. The 2022 MA HOBY Seminar will be held in person at Bentley University on June 10-12, 2022. Any 10th grader who is interested should email Ms. Encarnacao (aencarnacao@bostonpublicschools.org) by Friday, December 17th, 2021. In your email please include a 200-word description of why you would like to represent BLS at the seminar and what you hope to gain from the experience. For more information about the seminar go to: www.hoby.org/

In connection with the ongoing curriculum in the Facing History classes, oversized broadsheets that were created in 2019 as part of the New York Times’ 1619 Project are on view. They constitute an exhibition commemorating the 402nd anniversary of the first enslaved peoples in what became the United States. These will be viewable through Friday, December 17th. If you have a moment–with a class or on your own–please come and take a look!

Interested in pursuing STEM in college? Want to learn more about the experiences of young women in STEM after high school? Join BLS FemInSTEM for our post-secondary panel via Zoom on Friday, December 17th at 2:30 pm! The guest speakers we will be featuring include:

Juliana Abramson: Freshman at MIT, Biology Major, and Math Minor Reyna Han: Junior at Wellesley College, Biochemistry Major (Pre-Med) Ruth Schiferaw: Freshman at MIT, Mechanical Engineering Major Thea Chhim: Working as a Community Manager and Developer and Doing Research

Please fill out the Google Form linked below by Thursday, December 16th, to receive the Zoom link: forms.gle/zDRW2SMdVBryYy4x8

People of all gender identities and pronouns are welcome to attend. Please email blsfeminstem@gmail.com with any questions. Hope to see you there!

Calling all sixies! Prizes! Amazon gift cards! Submit your Hero’s Journey movie to the Keefe Library’s contest by Friday, December 10. Our praefects will be screening entries to choose the top 5 films from across all three clusters. 5 lucky filmmakers will receive a $10 Amazon gift card and get to see their films run on the library TV screen to share with the whole school. The grand prize winner will also receive a copy of Rick Riordan’s latest book, the short story collection: The Cursed Carnival and Other Calamities: New Stories About Mythic Heroes. Click on the LINK BELOW to fill out an entry form and submit your film for consideration.

docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSenAP1uxU2sZhSY10IZl6HOxZkSy6PiaPHfAayzqb2vrCLhmw/viewform

Come audition for A Clown Show About Rain (don’t worry! No creepy clown makeup! these aren’t circus clowns at all!). This show uses traditional clowning techniques (and mostly physicality, very few words in the whole show) to explore mental health and how we cope when our mental defenses begin to break down.

Auditions on Tuesday, December 14, and Wednesday, December 15 after school in the black box. Sign up for a specific audition time and grab an audition prompt from the bulletin board across the hall from the black box (416)

The structure of the Winter Concerts looks different this year. We excitedly return to in-person performing arts once more, but we are not able to welcome families back to campus yet. The in-person school community is invited to attend the after school concerts in the auditorium:

Monday, 12/20: Band

Tuesday, 12/21: Orchestra

Wednesday, 12/22: Chorus

Concerts will begin at 2:45, and should be over by 4:15pm. Wear your favorite festive winter mask and come support our student musicians!

The second Public Declamation will take place on Thursday, December 16th (Day 1) during R1 and part of R2 in the auditorium. All members of Class IV will attend the assembly. We request that teachers take attendance and promptly arrive, to start the program as early as possible. We look forward to the performances of the invited student declaimers. Please see the list of participants. Thank you. (Callum & Harari)

docs.google.com/document/d/1gkD0qr_BsaVD2jyzIPBuPNB_qeyK5h2l7AUfbtsWUuM/edit?usp=sharing

All BLS students and families interested in learning more about BLS Crew and the fun of rowing on the Charles River are encouraged to attend an info session with current rowers, parents, and coaches on Wednesday, December 15, 7:30 p.m. at this zoom link. Details and registration materials for the Winter/Spring season are also available on the BLS Crew website, or email info@blscrew.org with questions.

BLS TV has all the advice you need to successfully navigate the waning days of 2021. Click the link any time after 8:00 AM Wednesday.

youtu.be/36NmCH4HIYU

Earn 50 community service hours and develop leadership skills through participation in the virtual United Planet Global Service Leadership program. Attend this info session Wednesday after school for more information.

drive.google.com/file/d/1riJuEMW__Ow0pu8SRziGrefPus1QX4jC/view?usp=sharing

The 2021-2022 Canned Food Drive has started! Every homeroom will have a box by the end of the week where you can donate canned, cereal, and pre-packaged foods to support many Boston families this winter. In the past, we’ve worked together as an entire school to gather 1500+ pounds of canned food (in just a few months!) and we’re super excited to continue to alleviate food security in Boston! The homeroom with the most food will get a pizza party!

The food drive will end after Winter Break, giving you all a lot of time to donate. You can fill out this form to earn community service if you donate. You can earn 1 hour of community service regardless of how much food you donate. Don’t forget to email us at wolfpackvolunteersbls@gmail.com a picture of you and your donation to earn your hour!

docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLScwbCD7NhLOkfei0T_kphU_ISdG5XUcjIGd3PP2XBFTiBcogQ/viewform?usp=sf_link

Reminder that Wednesday is pool testing day at BLS. Please come to the Alma Mater statue on the first floor to pool test anytime between 7:30 am – 3:00 pm. You can come before school, during W block, study, lunch or after school until 3 pm.

During the school day: Students may sign up to visit the Keefe Library during study hall through Oculus on the SIS homepage. Once students have signed in, they must sign out at the circulation desk to leave the library and sign in upon return. After school: To come after school, visit SIS and click on the link for Keefe After School hours. We have room for 100 students! If you didn’t sign up beforehand; visit the center desk upon arrival to sign up and check-in.

Are you thinking about applying to the CIEE Global Navigator summer program? The Clough Center and Global Navigator alumni are holding an application workshop Wed Dec. 15 during W in the electronic classroom. BLS Global Navigators will be available to help you with your application and answer questions. All welcome. Contact Mr. Kennelly with questions

www.ciee.org/go-abroad/high-school-study-abroad/summer

We are pleased to launch the art and essay contests for our MLK programming which will take place on Friday, January 14.

ART CONTEST Theme:

“Lift As We Climb” (from the Angela Davis quote in our “T” core value)

Black and white or color drawing, painting, sketch, charcoal, digital media, or other appropriate media capturing the theme of young people making an impact on the future of our world. Electronic submissions to blsmlkcelebration@gmail.com (take a quality photo of the hard copy if needed) Due Tuesday, January 4, 2022, at 2:30 pm.

Selected artwork will be featured in the MLK virtual program and event. Prize: $100 to first place winner

ESSAY CONTEST Topic:

What does it mean to “honor our history, speak truth to the present, and lead into the future?” (the “H” in our THRIVE core values)

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 this question in myriad ways. Strong essays educate, inspire, and capture your authentic voice.

Submit to blsmlkcelebration@gmail.com as a Google Doc by Tuesday, January 4 at 2:30 pm.

An excerpt of the winning essay will be shared at the MLK virtual event in January. Prize: $100

BLS Theatre presents Peter and the Starcatcher. This funny, energetic, and powerful play shows the origin of Peter Pan, Captain Hook, and other classic characters and is directed by Sam Ringrose(I) and Cam Elwell(I). Students and staff are welcome to attend in person in the Black Box $5 for students and $8 for adults. Parents and others have to watch our live stream, tickets available at bostonlatin.ticketleap.com/fallplay. Show on Thursday, December 9 at 3 pm Friday, December 10 at 3 pm and 7 pm, and Saturday, December 11 at 7 pm.

Hello! My name is An Tran and I’m directing a short film indie adaptation of Virginia Woolf’s “The New Dress” for my Capstone project. This project is a murderous coming-of-age film, that follows a young woman throughout a party and how she escapes insecurities by committing a heinous act. I’m currently seeking a range of actors to act over Christmas break: (1) female lead, (1) female supporting character, (2) male supporting characters, and background actors. If interested, please look through the project brief and fill out the audition form by Monday 12/13. Hope to see you at auditions and break a leg!

forms.gle/EC6reMdJ7FnS4PSm9

As your official school photographer, Chestnut Hill Studios is pleased to offer you the opportunity to schedule an appointment at a reduced fee to be photographed for your senior portrait. Please call the studio (508-336-4777) during business hours to schedule a convenient time if you wish to be photographed on-site at Boston Latin School. The dates currently available are December 20th, 21st & 22nd. There are many appointments available but they are issued on a first-call basis. Please keep in mind that, as the yearbook deadline approaches, these appointments will fill rapidly. The photographer’s time will be reserved for you and will require prepayment of a $40.00 sitting fee when you schedule your appointment. We accept Visa, MasterCard, Discover, and American Express. This is a reduced sitting fee again this year made possible through the cooperation of the administration and the studio. We would like every member of the class represented in Liber Actorum 2022! Please call today!

Submit your Senior Profile and your pictures for the Through the Years section of the yearbook to blsyearbook1635@gmail. Click on this link for information about how to submit your profiles and pictures. Each picture and profile must be sent as a separate attachment. Pictures that are sent in multiples will be returned to the sender. Let’s make Liber Actorum 2022 a great book!

docs.google.com/presentation/d/1EJ0jGwxKWqBzo0QXjD4fuz_QihYHMjGGt-hS10CsgEg/edit#slide=id.gb0fd57c101_1_0

Photo Make-Up

Day Any student who is requesting to retake the picture for the package they purchased, or who missed the opportunity to be photographed for picture packages on October 6, and any student who has not been photographed for identification cards, will be photographed during periods 5, 6, and 7 on Tuesday, December 14 in the Seevak Room on the third floor. To allow for planning, please see Mrs. Craven in room 105 before school or during a W period by December 10 for a picture package order envelope, a camera card for identification pictures, or for a pass to be excused from class during periods 5, 6, or 7 for ten minutes to be photographed. Please email her at acraven@bostonpublicschools.org if you have any questions.

BLS Friends of the Arts (FotA) have announced the winners of the 2021 Winter Program Cover contest as:

Cover Design: Zoe Price, I

Inside Program Design: Olivia Huyhn, IV and Charlotte Wall, IV

Friends of the Arts thanks all the BLS artists who took the time to create and submit artwork, giving the committee a wealth of beautiful work from which to choose.

Hello, music fans! I’m Alanna Quirk-Aboujaoude and this year for my Senior Capstone project I am studying music. Join me after school on Wednesday, December 8 in room 202 at 2:30 for a brief workshop where we will take a look at some popular music in order to better understand its cultural impact. Take-home snacks will be provided. Please fill out this google form if you are interested in attending.

forms.gle/Lj4XcPCVjpaa8YTJ8

Junior Forum begins on December 8.

Junior Forum is a required course for Class II students which provides a comprehensive overview of the college search and application process. Students learn how to search for colleges that best suit them, how to construct their college lists, as well as how college admissions officers review applications. Important trends in college admissions and overview of the financial aid process and scholarship search will also be provided. A syllabus for this year’s class can be found here.

Class II students will attend Junior Forum during one study or student leadership period per six day cycle. Students will receive their Junior Forum class assignments and passes in tomorrow or Monday. The course will run from December 8 – April 5, with possible adjustments for snow days.

Interested in learning more about the UN SDGs with peers from around the U.S.? Attend the Envoys virtual summit on December 11 and expand your global awareness. BLS has free tickets for interested students. Contact Mr. Kennelly if you are interested.

home.envoys.com/summit1/changemakers-in-focus-the-people-advancing-the-sdgs

The Register is looking for students who are proficient with InDesign or Canva to help layout the winter issue. Community service hours are available. Contact Mr. Oakes in room 211 or at roakes@bostonpublicschools.org to learn more.

Attention Juniors and Seniors: The Youth Leadership Council at Mass Mentoring Partnership works to bring together youth voices from across the state of Massachusetts in an effort to enable students with greater skills, knowledge, and opportunity to advocate for mentoring resources and critical policy initiatives that affect their schools and communities.

The YLC meets 1.5 hours a week from early January through the end of May. Most of the meetings will take place on Zoom. Each member of the YLC will receive a $750 stipend.

docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSc9QG1IqU0fZUZT91musTfIy9JY5XMqi_f1EtMQ9p_iJn1rqw/viewform

Students are invited to participate in a Talking Circle. This will be a safe space to process your feelings around the pandemic and the return to in person learning. Please complete the google sign up sheet to RSVP and to receive location details. Sign up during a study block during your Day 6 schedule. If you do not have a study on Day 6 and would like to participate please email Ms. Vasquez at gvasquez@bostonpublicschools.org.

docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSdX9JwNzqFVsuU-8V6BlS2cQHidEI4_xNpI3BthikWvJRaPXA/viewform

The Global Citizens Initiative (GCI) is now accepting applications for their summer fellowship in Scotland. BLS typically sends 1-2 students to this program each summer. Financial aid is available. Additional information can be found here. Application deadline January 31, 2022.

www.globalci.org/fellowship2022

The BLS History Club is sending teams to the History Bowl! If you want to participate in this fun competition and win medals, feel free to sign up. We will not be cutting anyone who wants to participate (within reason). The event will be online on December 11-12. It’s pretty chill and a great chance to study up on some history!

If you are interested, sign up here:

forms.gle/juHpmtNfBLkVsQj99

Discord link:

discord.gg/Mqkd7Mdb

BLS P.A.W (People for Animal Welfare) will be having a donation drive for the duration of December. The club is requesting donations of animal food, toys, and treats as well as cleaning supplies for local animal shelters.

The donation box is located behind the first set of doors at the main entrance as well as a poster with a wish list.”

Attention all BLS Smash Brother Players! The BLS Videogame Club will be hosting it’s annual Smash: Ultimate Tournament this Friday, December 3! Come test your skill against the best our school has to offer! The entrance fee will be $4 when registering before 11:59 on Thursday, December 2, and $6 when registering right at the door of HR 031 on Friday. For more information, along with the sign-up form, click this link: bit.ly/blssmash. We hope to see many of you there!

Looking for the perfect gift for friends, family, or teachers this holiday season? Look no further, BLS World Wildlife Fund is selling arctic sloths from Mon, Nov 29 through Fri, Dec 17! Buy one for $3 or three for $7 on any Wednesday in Room 314 after school before winter break! All proceeds go directly to the World Wildlife Fund organization, which works to protect endangered animal species. Plushies will be delivered directly to homerooms on Thurs, Dec 23.

An image of the sloths for reference can be found at this link: docs.google.com/document/d/1ArsjPFFD0ERSWr0tlVAr1pZRjnD_7FwaqAiTcUtsfuI/edit?usp=sharing

If you have any questions, please email bls.wwf@gmail.com!

Reminder to all student-athletes trying out for winter sports: You are not allowed to store items in the locker rooms during the school day until after tryouts have been completed. You may use the lockers after school (during tryouts) but all items and locks must be removed until teams are picked and lockers are assigned, likely at the end of the first week. Please refrain from using lockers earmarked for physical education classes. Locks will be cut immediately. Only current in season athletes are allowed to use athletic lockers at this time

Do you knit? Crochet? Embroider? Bring your current project down to the library during W, meet other crafters, pick up some tips! Maybe you’ve longed to start a new craft and want to get some ideas — this is the place for you. Everyone is welcome! Stop by the library on Monday, Tuesday or Wednesday to get a pass to give to your homeroom teacher.