All candidates must attend mandatory spring sports in the auditorium (2:30, Auditorium). The meeting will last approximately 30 minutes. After that meeting, candidates will meet with their individual teams and coaches. Please email AD Owens if you have a legitimate reason not to attend (winter sports practice, etc).

The winner of the German Exchange Bulletin Board -Guess what city and country competition- is Kathrine Nguyen from Class V. Glückwunsch!/Congratulations!

The answers were: Munich/Germany; Salzburg/Austria and Berlin/Germany

Learning and developing executive function (EF) skills and strategies for students here at BLS is the key to helping scholars reach their academic success goals. Executive function strategies – goal setting, cognitive flexibility, organizing and prioritizing, memorizing, self-checking and monitoring – particularly in our current educational environment are all skills that students can begin to learn and practice.

BLS has now worked with the research-based company SMARTS to develop an EF team trained in the research-based curriculum. Our new and improved program is launching in March 2022!

Students who are having a tough time keeping their school materials organized, turning in work on time, and effectively preparing for tests will now have an interactive program to help them learn and practice these skills.

Program Details: 1. The program will run for 5 weeks.

2. Students will be assigned to a small group that will run once a week with a SMARTS EF BLS Team Member.

3. Groups will run 2:30 – 3:30 pm

4. There will be 4 follow-up one on one coaching check-ins

5. There will be 3 required parent sessions filled with resources!

Topics: These are only a few and we will always have extension activities.

1. Organization

2. Study skills

3. Homework routines

4. Time management

5. Note-taking

6. Purposeful Highlighting

At our workshops, the instructors will teach scholars about the different executive functioning skills and then be given time to practice concrete strategies with their current school materials. Not to mention, these workshops are a lot of fun!

Sign Up: forms.gle/9aaMLedbbwwCisiv6

If you have any other questions please contact Ms.Delorme-Metayer: rdelormemetayer@bostonpublicschools.org

As a reminder, homework is not to be assigned during the February vacation (February 21-25) as delineated in the Student Handbook (page 15). Any homework that is assigned and due on Tuesday, March 1 should not exceed the usual 30-minute expectation (45 minutes for AP courses). We wish the entire BLS community a relaxing and restorative break.

VSS will be hosting our annual Tết Festival on February 18th in the dining hall, which will consist of fun games and an exciting show full of performers! The games will be open at 5:00 PM and our show will begin at 6:00 PM. You’ll also have various opportunities to win prizes over the course of our event and don’t forget about dinner at 7:00 PM! Reach out to any VSS officer to purchase a ticket for $8 or buy one at the door for $9. Hope to see you there!

Boston is rich with Black culture, heritage, and history and it shows in our restaurants, boutiques, events, and bookstores. In lieu of a traditional talent show style showcase, BLS B.L.A.C.K. is showcasing black-owned businesses in Boston instead. Check out this list below and let us know which businesses/events you plan to support during February break by completing this form. When you attend, take pictures, capture the moment, and send them to blackatbls@gmail.com so that we can feature you on our social media. We are supporting these businesses throughout Black History Month and beyond because they are examples of Black excellence.

Please note, you may be able to attend some of these events or support a business on other dates and times. These are just recommendations for the BLS community that may want to attend these events together.

Saturday, February 19 – support Black fashion Attend the Aura: Black History Month Fashion Show @Wentworth Institute of Technology – Watson Auditorium 6-9 PM

Sunday, February 20 – support Black faith Attend a house of worship of your choice

Monday, February 21 – support Black businesses

Soleil Restaurant – Nubian Square

Dudley Cafe- Nubian Square

Frugal Bookstore – Nubian Square

Final Touch Boutique – Nubian Square

Bred Gourmet – Dorchester

ZaZ Restaurant – Hyde Park

Jamaica Me Hungry – Jackson Square

Cafe Juice Up – Mattapan

Flames – 6 locations in Boston

Tuesday, February 22 – support Black art Visit Helina Metaferia: Generations Exhibit at the MFA

Wednesday, February 23 – support Black authors Attend “The Bluest Eye” at the Huntington Theater @ 2:00 PM or 7:00 PM

Thursday, February 24 – support Black health Attend Afro Flow Yoga: “Unwind: Rest is Revolutionary” Online event @ 6:00 PM

Friday, February 25 – support Black films Watch “Colin in Black and White” on Netflix

Saturday, February 26 – support Black excellence Attend the Afro-Caribbean The Afro Caribbean Black History Gala & Awards at Florian Hall in Boston from 6-10PM

The new BLS B.L.A.C.K. t-shirt was designed by Luke Joseph, Class III. Members of the BLS community can order a t-shirt, a long-sleeve t-shirt, or a hoodie with this same design. If you’d like to place an order, complete this form and submit your payment via Venmo @Black-Atbls by Friday, February 18, 2022. The estimated delivery date is 3 weeks, once we received at least 48 orders. If you have any questions, email blackatbls@gmail.com.

Youth Leadership Forum (YLF) is a unique opportunity hosted by McKinsey & Company for students to learn about strategic thinking and problem-solving, raise students’ awareness of consulting and business careers, and build their college resumes. The YLF is a free, two-day workshop run by Boston area consultants on April 1-2 (Fri/Sat) for members of Class I-III. Students will be marked “constructively present” on April 1. Apply at ylfboston.com. The deadline is Sunday, Feb 27. An info session with Mr. Levesque and McKinsey consultant will occur this Friday, Feb 18 at 2:30 pm. Complete the form below to receive a Zoom link. All are welcome.

forms.gle/yTF27v2u8eN6MCAQ9

AI4ALL is a three-week summer program focused on Artificial Intelligence (AI) for young women who are currently sophomores or juniors in high school. Participants will explore topics in AI such as robotics, computer vision, and natural language processing through online lectures, team projects, and presentations from guest speakers. The program will conclude with a small group research project and an online presentation. Dates: July 25th – August 12, 2022 (M-F from 9:30 am to 3:30 pm). Young women are currently sophomores or juniors who reside in MA and are enrolled in a MA high school. ​Deadline for applications: May 1, 2022. For more information and to apply, please visit www.bu.edu/lernet/AI4ALL

The Artemis Project is a program at Boston University (BU) dedicated to promoting computing and technology to rising 8th and 9th-grade girls who live and attend school in Massachusetts.

The Artemis Project is a five-week summer program that introduces girls to the creative thinking and problem-solving skills that are at the core of computer science. Artemis will be offered from July 5th to August 5th, 2022 weekdays from 9:30 AM -3:30 PM on the BU campus. The program makes fundamental topics in computer science fun and engaging by incorporating both hands-on activities as well as real-world applications. Participants will learn how to code in Python, design their own websites, build robots, and program micro bits. Lunch is provided each day.

Additional program information can be found on the website: www.bu.edu/lernet/artemis Please send an email to: cab@bu.edu if you have any further questions.

Although positive COVID cases have decreased significantly, we want to continue to ensure that our community remains healthy. As was done prior to the winter break, the district is again providing free COVID rapid test kits for students to use before they return to school after the February vacation. During the W block today, BLS students in Class I-V and staff received kits that included two Antigen rapid tests. Class VI students will receive their test kits on Thursday. Students are asked to use one test on February 27, 24 hours before they return to school on February 28. As a refresher on how to administer the test, please see www.youtube.com/watch?v=_juFqYt25iI. Please lookout for an email from the district as well as our Friday update for further information on COVID testing and protocols.

Students who were absent or were otherwise unable to pick up their test kit should come to the Main Office during regular school hours.

The Keefe Library will close at 2:15 p.m. on Friday 2/18 for February vacation.

Take home a book to read over February break! Browse our displays: right now we’ve got new books, books by Black authors, books by Asian and Asian-American authors, and books celebrating the Wordle craze. Don’t be stuck at home without a book — come down to the Keefe today!

UNAGB 2022 SUMMER INSTITUTE IN GLOBAL LEADERSHIP Learn about global issues, build skills for life and leadership, and collaborate with students from across the world during our week-long Model UN programs!

Summer Institute in Global Leadership

Have a story to tell? The Topol Fellows will be holding auditions for the annual Moth Day. During Moth Day, students and faculty share personal stories with other members of the BLS community. If you’re worried about content, there have been stories ranging from exploring one’s identity to a seagull stealing the speaker’s cookies! To audition, fill out this form by March 4th.

Auditions will be held on March 7th, 8th, and 9th. Moth day will be held on March 31 in the Black Box.

Can’t wait to hear all your stories!

BLS Topol Fellows

docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSdAmpljV_HttB1Xzu8JbN4sRBLIfB_J4xdDkakY-FkjbAAdUw/viewform

Calling great spellers in Classes V and VI: BEE a star in our annual Scripps Spelling Bee! Our event is scheduled for Thursday, March 3 at 2:30 pm (location TBA.) Our school winner advances to the citywide bee, and that winner goes to the state competition. BLS has a record of great success, so we’re hoping for a great turnout. Don’t BEE left out! Registration forms are available right outside of Ms. Moran’s office, room 519. The deadline for registration is Monday, February 28 at 2:30 pm. Questions? See Ms. Moran

Congratulations to the BLS History Bowl team (Chris Dech I, Hanson Huynh I, Andy Huynh I, Khugan Chan II, Kevin Wang IV, and William Liyuan IV) for their 3rd place finish in the Massachusetts State Championships! All competitors and their invaluable efforts did a great job! If you are interested in joining the BLS History Bowl team please contact blshistoryclub@gmail.com

MassJCL is partnering with Rosie’s Place for a virtual teach-in and write-in event on February 17th from 3 pm to 4 pm. We are excited to have the Director of Public Policy from Rosie’s Place joining us to lead a “teach-in” about their public policy work. We will follow this talk with a write-in during which students can learn how to write to their local, state, and federal representatives to advocate on these issues. You can RSVP for this event here (or at bit.ly/virtualservice217). The Zoom link will be sent to all registrants shortly before the event. Attendees will receive 1 hour of community service. We hope to see you there!

docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSdAKiMeh5TzVlyUzWgsqQ2Mxn3ohpkCb_fNOisO2dRD372Udg/viewform

Share feedback around your interests for potential mental health workshops that will be offered at school in the upcoming months. We hope to hear from as many students as possible!

forms.gle/7TSCQsRaEtcWptP99

Congratulations to the BLS Mock Trial Team. BLS won their Regional Championship after defeating Lexington, 104-100. Over 110 teams started out and now BLS will compete in the Sweet Sixteen. Team members include Captains Rachel Roncka (I) and Gabriela Vasquez Rosado (I), Deputy Captains Mirabelle Berman Reinhardt (II) and Mira Yu (II), as well as Naomi Knight (I), Katie Rouse (I), Sophia Russo (II) Gabe Feinberg (III), Amirah Redwing (III) Michelle Chen (IV), Emily Yu (IV), Khaya Dryden-Peterson(IV), Jolie Nguyen (IV), Ryah Zemler Wu (IV), Caroline Song (IV), Gabby Coleman (IV), and Ryan Murphy (VI).

The third Public Declamation will take place on Thursday, February 17th (Day 2) during R1 and part of R2 in the auditorium. Members of Class V 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.

docs.google.com/document/d/1yGvo31L74QYuNGu0y18iPI4nlk-Xh_X9mr2J00HLIJc/edit?usp=sharing

Do you have clothes that you promised to donate or sell, but they ended up in a pile in your room? Well, now the chance to get rid of it! BLSZine is hosting a thrift store event, but in order for that to take place, we need as many donations as possible. Donations can be put in boxes being held outside of the Main Office, in Room 004 (Blackler), Room 114 (Pinchem), Room 230 (Sullivan), and Room 307 (Freeman). We are only accepting CLEAN tops and bottoms. All proceeds from the thrift store will be donated to a charity (TBD).

www.canva.com/design/DAE3RXFBMpA/Vxl8UAiE6SUFNkdttreNTA/view?utm_content=DAE3RXFBMpA&utm_campaign=designshare&utm_medium=link&utm_source=homepage_design_menu

Looking forward to traveling again? Check out some interesting future destinations on the German Exchange bulletin board, where you can also enter to win a Starbucks gift card — you just have to identify the pictured locations.

Hint, hint…the bulletin board is just outside of room 164!

The winner will be drawn on February 17th!

Annual Spelling Bee: Have you heard the buzz? Students in Class V and VI are cordially invited to enroll in this year’s Scripps Spelling Bee. We have a strong reputation to uphold, so we look forward to a great hive of participants this year! The BLS bee will be held on Tuesday, February 25 in the Seevak Room at 2:30. Registration forms with complete information will be available outside room 519 starting Thursday, January 30. Questions? See Ms. Moran. MN

The English Department is pleased to announce the results of the annual Scripps Spelling Bee for students in Classes V and VI. Our first place winner will represent BLS in the city-wide bee, whose winner goes on to the state finals in advance of the national bee later this spring. Our BLS winners are: First place: Cole McKittrick, V; Second place: Josephine LoRosso, VI; Third place: Jack Lambrecht, VI.

Congratulations to our winners and to all participants who competed so well and cheered each other on.

Special thanks to BLS parent volunteers Vali Tamm, Alicia Zipp, and Valerie Uber for their time and expertise in running our bee again this year; to Ms. Kelley, Program Director of Modern Languages, for serving as the BLS administrator and hosting our Zoom meeting; and to Ms. Skerritt for her enthusiastic attendance. Great work by one and all! We extend our confidence and best wishes to Cole in the next round.

Students of Class V and VI: Have you heard the buzz? It’s time to get ready for the BLS level competition in the annual Scripps Spelling Bee. Our school winner will advance to the city bee, and from there winners proceed to the state and national levels. The BLS bee will take place on Thursday, March 3 at 2:30 PM, either in person or via Zoom (TBA). Registration forms are available outside Ms. Moran’s office, room 519, which is in the art wing, or online at docs.google.com/document/d/1xAZnc05HCM5IiX8IAE16LTBSB-ZX9ZHR/edit. Please make a copy of this digital document before submitting it. The deadline for registration is Monday, February 28 at 2:30 PM. Questions? See Ms. Moran in 519.

docs.google.com/document/d/1xAZnc05HCM5IiX8IAE16LTBSB-ZX9ZHR/edit

Did you know that 21.4% of families with children face food insecurity today? Join Wolfpack Volunteers to donate canned, cereal, and pre-packaged foods to support many Boston families. In the past, we’ve worked together as an entire school to gather 1,500+ pounds of canned food (in just a few months!) and we’re super excited to continue to support Boston families! The homeroom with the most food will get a pizza party! The last day to donate is this Wednesday, February 16th.

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!

Have you ever wondered how the Romans celebrated Valentine’s Day? Then come to Lupercalia! Lupercalia was a festival celebrating health and fertility and included feasting, goat sacrifices, and matchmaking. There will be street certamen (a buzzer-based game about pop culture), a themed scavenger hunt, games, origami heart making for BLS nurses, and goodie bags to take! This event will take place on Tuesday, February 15th, from 2:30 to 4:00 PM in the Dining Hall (side facing Louis Pasteur).

Volunteer over February break at the Boston Children’s Winter Festival

innerview.org/opportunity/19013

DLI will partner with Junior Achievement to once again offer an interactive program introducing students to the stock market, titled Take Stock in Your Future. Using JA’s curriculum, Mr. Levesque will teach 4, 60-minute workshops virtually about stock fundamentals such as buying/selling, IPOs, dividends, and risk/return. Classes will occur Feb 15, Feb 18, March 1, and March 4, 3:30-4:30 pm over Zoom. Students will then be invited to participate in the Stock Market Challenge in which they will manage an investment portfolio over two weeks. Sign up HERE. Email jlevesque@bostonpublicschools.org with questions.

forms.gle/5M9N4tyHMpzWVgN8A

Covid testing for student-athletes will be delayed until Tuesday 2/15 as we await an update from BPS before our next round of testing in the event there is a change to the protocol.

Parents/guardians are warmly invited to attend the Tuesday, February 15 meeting of the SPC in which eight teachers will discuss their elective course offerings. Although the courses previewed are for juniors and seniors, families of younger students may enjoy hearing what’s in store. Students in Classes III and II may also wish to join their parents/guardians. Please use this Zoom link to join the February 15th meeting, from 6:30-8:00 p.m.: us02web.zoom.us/j/87169386485

For those Class V students who received a notification letter for the National Assessment of Educational Progress testing, please be reminded that it will take place in the library on Tuesday, February 15, 2022. Students will receive passes from their homeroom teacher in advance of the test and should report to the library at the designated time. If students are testing during the second session (R5 – R7) and normally have Third Lunch, they should go to 2nd Lunch that day, and then report to the library immediately afterward. For questions or concerns, please email Ms. Lewis-da Ponte at slewis2@bostonpublicschools.org.

The Keefe Library will be closed on Tues. 2/15 for study hall sign up because of NAEP testing. We WILL be open after school.

Interested in learning graphic design? Looking for an opportunity to apply your graphic design skills? Become an associate layout editor for Catapulta! From Monday, February 14th to Thursday, February 17th, we will be designing the layout of our winter issue magazine. All meetings will run after school from 2:30 – 3:30 in room 330. You do not need to attend every day to get credit, and you may work remotely on assignments if you cannot join us in person. Feel free to view past magazines at bit.ly/catapultasciencebls.org to get a sense of our design style, and email catapultasciencebls@gmail.com with questions. See you soon!

Interested in a free Electrical Engineering Degree? Benjamin Franklin Institute of Technology is actively recruiting Boston students for this program. See the link for more info and to follow up. Requires at least a 2.7 GPA. Can even apply after (May 7) you get your financial aid letters from other colleges.

www.bfit.edu/wp-content/uploads/2021/11/S-STEM-Scholarship-Info-Sheet_FINAL.pdf

Celebrate Black History Month with style!!

BLS B.L.A.C.K. (Black Leaders Aspiring for Change and Knowledge) is celebrating Black History Month with Spirit Week. Our theme for this year is “Black is Beautiful: Make Black Inescapable.” With this theme, we wanted to emphasize the beauty and brilliance of Black people and Black culture.

Each day, from February 7-11, will be an opportunity for everyone to dress up according to a celebratory theme. We aspire to create a fun way to highlight what it means to be part of the African diaspora, thus illustrating our pride, how far we’ve come, and how far we strive to go.

These are the designated themes for each day: Monday (02/07/22): Dress for Success Day! – “Fashion is instant language”; Dress how you want to be addressed.

Tuesday (02/08/22): Heroic Day! – “The greatest power on earth is knowledge”; Dress as your favorite hero or superhero.

Wednesday (02/09/22): Black is Beautiful Day! – “Black is always in fashion”; Dress in all black

Thursday (02/10/22): Hip Hop Icon Day! – “The 2022 Super Bowl halftime show will be iconic”; Dress as your favorite hip hop artist.

Friday (02/11/22): Diaspora Day! – “The African diaspora is the worldwide collection of communities descended from people from Africa”; Dress in YOUR country, culture, or heritage traditional attire.

To capture everyone’s participation each day, we are asking those that dress up to meet at the alma mater statue at 7:30 AM and/or 2:30 PM for a group photo. Photos will be posted on the BLS BLACK Instagram page throughout the week.

Celebrate Black History Month with style!! BLS B.L.A.C.K. (Black Leaders Aspiring for Change and Knowledge) is celebrating Black History Month with Spirit Week. Our theme for this year is “Black is Beautiful: Make Black Inescapable.” With this theme, we wanted to emphasize the beauty and brilliance of Black people and Black culture.

Each day, from February 7-11, will be an opportunity for everyone to dress up according to a celebratory theme. We aspire to create a fun way to highlight what it means to be part of the African diaspora, thus illustrating our pride, how far we’ve come, and how far we strive to go. These are the designated themes for each day:

Monday (02/07/22): Dress for Success Day! – “Fashion is an instant language.” Success, to many, is an ultimate goal. Use today to express yourself through your clothing. Think about what makes you feel successful, what highlights your aspirations, or simply what makes you feel like you

Tuesday (02/08/22): Black Hero Day! – “The greatest power on earth is knowledge.” Dress as your favorite Black hero/role model, real or fiction

Wednesday (02/09/22): Black is Beautiful Day! – “Black is always in fashion.” Dress in all black!

Thursday (02/10/22): Black Artist Day! – Dress as your favorite black music artist, past or present. Represent all genres of black music and the impact they have had.

Friday (02/11/22): Diaspora Day! – “The African diaspora is a worldwide collection of people of African descent.” – Dress in YOUR country, culture, or heritage traditional attire or flag colors.

To capture everyone’s participation each day, we are asking those that dress up to meet at the alma mater statue at 7:30 AM and/or 2:30 PM for a group photo. Photos will be posted on the BLS BLACK Instagram page throughout the week.

Do you have any old magazines or books you want to get rid of?

BLCDC is hosting a donation drive for seniors from the Hebrew Rehabilitation Center throughout the month of February where students from all classes can drop off any old picture books, magazines, and/or puzzle books (3 hours per puzzle book, 1 hour per magazine/picture book). Please choose selections with large prints and appropriate content. The boxes will be located near the main office (1st floor) and will have a poster labeled for easy access. Students may label their items with a sticky note with their name, homeroom, and YOG. We will be providing volunteer hours with this and they can also take a picture with their donation for Innerview. For more information on requirements, please email us at bostonlatincdc@gmail.com and check out our Instagram @bostonlatincdc!

Due to the inclement weather on Friday, February 4, BLS B.L.A.C.K. has rescheduled the screening of Black Panther for this Friday, February 11 in the Seevak Room from 3-5 PM. If you have already signed up and still want to attend, there’s no need to sign up again. If you haven’t signed up, there are still 26 seats available. The link to sign up is below.

forms.gle/68ropnepqzmqMQK97

Share feedback and insight around your interests for potential mental health workshops that will be offered at school in the upcoming months!

forms.gle/7TSCQsRaEtcWptP99

In honor of Black History Month, BLS Film and Book Club will be diving deeper into the shocking story and valuable legacy of Henrietta Lacks

Join us this Wednesday, February 9th, after school from 2:30-3:30 in Room 215 (Burke) as we begin the book, The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks by Rebecca Skloot. The book reveals the obscured story of Henrietta, covering themes of family, injustice, and racism with fascinating and digestible scientific and medical aspects.

“If you could pile all HeLa (Henrietta Lacks) cells ever grown onto a scale, they’d weigh more than 50 million metric tons—as much as a hundred Empire State Buildings. HeLa cells were vital for developing the polio vaccine; uncovered secrets of cancer, viruses, and the atom bomb’s effects; helped lead to important advances like in vitro fertilization, cloning, and gene mapping; and have been bought and sold by the billions. Yet Henrietta Lacks remains virtually unknown, buried in an unmarked grave.”

The third Public Declamation will take place on Thursday, February 17th (Day 2) during R1 and part of R2 in the auditorium. Members of Class V will attend the assembly. We request that teachers take attendance and promptly arrive, to start the program as early as possible. Thank you.

The Argo is selling carnations for Valentine’s Day! Buy your carnations from any Argo editor (a full list can be found at bit.ly/argoeditors) before February 11th! Send a message & flower to someone you care about!

Stop by to get a pass from Ms. Harari or Ms. Ellis.

1. Fiber Arts – Come down to knit, crochet, or embroider. Learn from your friends and relax in the new comfy seating areas. The Keefe Library has many different color yarns to choose from and an expert knitting teacher Ms. Harari. We even have needles to get you started! Beginner to an expert – all welcome.

2. D.E.A.R. is back! Drop Everything and Read during the wellness period last spring became a popular haven for students to come and relax with a book. Come with your own book, browse our displays, search our shelves, or ask for a recommendation from your librarians. Come enjoy an hour of reading in your school library!

The Keefe Library is closing at 2:15 p.m. on Tues. 2/8 for professional development.

Have your friends felt cold recently? Buy them something for Valentine’s Day to warm their hearts! Fill out this paper order form (drive.google.com/file/d/1s0QqVNj-5C8pCPEKYBd8rokngdJPHqKE/view) to buy Valentine’s Day themed items. You can also sell items to your friends for community service with 1 hour for every $10 you sell! The order form needs to be completed for every friend you sell to. Your name should go next to “Seller”, your friend’s name goes next to “From”, and the name of the person your friend wants to gift to goes next to “Recipient”. The last day to hand in order forms is Monday, February 7th! Deliver them to one of the officers if they’re in your class or during our Monday meetings from 2:15 – 3:00 pm in Room 212.

Please make sure you’re keeping your Chromebook up to date by installing the latest version of Chrome. The process takes about five minutes, so make sure you have time. Log in to the Chromebook and click on the three dots in the upper right corner. Choose Help -> About Google Chrome. Where it lists the Version information, click the “Chrome OS Settings” link, then click “Check for Updates”.

It’s a good idea to check for updates every couple of weeks, especially if you have an online assessment coming up.

There is a new after-school schedule. Starting 2/3/21 we will host Strategies for Success Workshops every 1st Thursday of the month. All remaining Thursdays of the month will be dedicated to Latin tutoring for grades 10 and 11 ONLY. This Thursday the workshop will be ” How to take effective History notes”. Workshops and Latin tutoring will be in room 134. If you would like to attend please email Ms.Delorme-Metayer at rdelormemetayer@bostonpublicschools.org

I am very pleased to announce that Phaidon Athanasopoulos, Class II, has been awarded first prize in an essay contest sponsored by the United States District Courts and the Federal Bar Association. Phaidon’s essay on the subject of the 14th Amendment and Birthright Citizenship will be featured on the websites of both organizations, and he has been invited to present his work at a special Bill of Rights event next week. The judges for the competition praised Phaidon’s focus on the topic and his outstanding writing ability. Congratulations to Phaidon for this proud representation of our BLS community!

In Their Own Words is a new essay contest open to all high school students at Gilder Lehrman Affiliate Schools. The contest offers students the opportunity to examine primary sources in the Gilder Lehrman Collection and to demonstrate their skills in historical interpretation and textual analysis.

The Gilder Lehrman Institute is pleased to offer

Ten $500 prizes for high school students in grades 10–12

Ten $250 prizes for each winner’s teacher for history programming or classroom resources

Want to participate? Here are the details:

www.gilderlehrman.org/programs-and-events/collection-programs/their-own-words-primary-source-essay-contest-high-school

All interested students from all grades are encouraged to try out for Third Public Declamation, which will take place Thursday, February 10th in the auditorium after school between 2:30-4:30 pm. Students may declaim a passage or abridged version of an essay, poem, speech, book, or play. The duration of the text may not exceed 2 minutes and 30 seconds. If interested, complete the Google form located here or on bls.org, and provide your contact information, along with the exact text you plan to perform. The submission form is due Tuesday, February 1st. All seniors who want to participate must try out. Only juniors who participated in Prize Declamation for the 2020-2021 year are exempt from tryouts. – The assembly is scheduled for Thursday, February 17th.

forms.gle/SqaZKkx5qhwvYnqn7

Looking forward to traveling again? Check out some interesting future destinations on the German Exchange bulletin board, where you can also enter to win a Starbucks gift card — you just have to identify the pictured locations.

To kick off Black History Month, BLS BLACK will be hosting a screening of Marvel’s Black Panther on February 4, 2022, from 3:00 pm – 5:30 pm in the Seevak Room. Due to COVID regulations, the max capacity will be 50 people, and filling out this form will grant you a spot. If you are unable to attend in person, we will provide a link that will allow you to stream the movie from the comfort of your own home. If you would like to wear any Black Panther-inspired attire on Friday, please feel free. Can’t wait to see you there!

Movie Synopsis: After the death of his father, T’Challa returns home to the African nation of Wakanda to take his rightful place as king. When a powerful enemy suddenly reappears, T’Challa’s mettle as king — and as Black Panther — gets tested when he’s drawn into a conflict that puts the fate of Wakanda and the entire world at risk. Faced with treachery and danger, the young king must rally his allies and release the full power of Black Panther to defeat his foes and secure the safety of his people.

forms.gle/JApQUXL2NPPgddjF7

Google forms to choose your Modern Language for the next four years must be submitted by Friday, February 4! If you do not submit a form by the deadline, you will be placed in a language where there is a room with no option to make changes. The link to the signup form is included here. Don’t forget to check the Modern Languages tab on bls.org for more info to help you make your choice.

Thank you gracias grazie merci danke xie xie to the over 320 sixies who have already submitted their form! Any questions, contact Mrs. Kelley in 256 or email ckelley2@bostonbpublicschools.org.

forms.gle/3MsvqyDMS9UaTtuD6

The scholarship deadline for the CIEE Global Navigator program has been extended to February 16. Submit an application and you could be learning abroad this summer.

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

Gain some in-school Community Service hours by volunteering with the Tech Department. No tech experience (or even interest in technology) is necessary. Email Mr. Hourigan (phourigan@bostonpublicschools.org) if you’re interested.

Roses are red, violets are blue, we recycle passion into flowers just for you! Join BLS Recycling in celebrating a sustainable Valentine’s Day <3! We are selling paper roses, crochet tulips, and crochet lavenders, which will all be hand-crafted by an officer. Please sign up using this link

www.eventbrite.com/e/bls-recycling-flowers-for-you-tickets-257577329727?aff=incompleteregistration&utm_source=eventbrite&utm_medium=email&utm_term=event_title_p1&ref=eemail, and if you have any questions, we also have a FAQ here

docs.google.com/document/d/10B8IhzzurGv3IirXa57Peu1fng5_vojtram8zZbC4Eg/edit. Hoping everyone will have a lovely Valentine’s Day!

Summer Program for Students Interested in Journalism

June 25 – July 2 Apply Now. April 1 deadline

New England High School Journalism Collaborative at Regis College/Simmons University

Sign Up Here

For more information, email Leah Lamson at lamsonleah@gmail.com.

nehsjc.org/summer-workshop/

Are you interested in making art? Do you care about recycling? If so, create an art piece centered around the theme “reuse of materials in a changing world” and submit it to our art contest by March 31st, 2022 for a chance to win up to $200 in prize money. To learn more, please visit our website at earthartcontest.com. Please contact recycledartcomp@gmail.com with any questions.

A single serving of content to keep you coming back for more. Link is live Wednesday at 8:00 AM

youtu.be/XAIdIrnpsdk

Please join BLS A.S.I.A. for a fun game night on Friday, February 4th at 2:30 pm in the Blackbox. We will have several games set up such as Jackbox, card games, and more. Everyone is welcome, but we highly encourage underclassmen to come and hang out with us! We hope to see some new faces!

Thursday, Feb.3 we are hosting a workshop on how to take effective notes for your history courses. Having a strategic note-taking process for courses is critical in student success. Come with current history slides, previous notes, or even homework for an interactive workshop on taking notes for your History courses. The workshop will be held in room 134. If you have any questions please email Ms.Delorme-Metayer.

Members of Class IV, III, and II will attend an e-assembly on course selection for next school year via Zoom in their homerooms during W period on Wednesday, February 2. Students will receive essential information on the course selection process and deadlines. Attendance is mandatory. Accordingly, no other activities will be scheduled during this period for freshmen, sophomores, and juniors who should report immediately to their homerooms at the beginning of the W block.

Additionally, there will be an online meeting for families on the course selection process from 6:00-7:00 p.m., also on Wednesday, February 2. More information, including the Zoom link, will be included in the Friday, January 28 email to students and families.

Please join Ms. Harari and the praefects for an 8th-grade book lover meet-up on Wednesday, February 2 after school in the library’s electronic classroom! Come on your own or bring a friend but bring along a book you’d recommend to another 8th-grade book lover. We’ll get to know each other, share favorites, and play some games. Pick up something new to read, update your library card, or get a new one.

The Keefe Library is offering two programs during the W block that will run each Wednesday starting January 19. Stop by to get a pass from Ms. Harari or Ms. Ellis.

1. Fiber Arts – Come down to knit, crochet, or embroider. Learn from your friends and relax in the new comfy seating areas. The Keefe Library has many different color yarns to choose from and an expert knitting teacher Ms. Harari. We even have needles to get you started! Beginner to an expert – all welcome.

2. D.E.A.R. is back! Drop Everything and Read during the wellness period last spring became a popular haven for students to come and relax with a book. Come with your own book, browse our displays, search our shelves, or ask for a recommendation from your librarians. Come enjoy an hour of reading in your school library!

In recognition of the Lunar New Year, there will be no tests or assessments administered in classes on Tuesday, February 1. The Lunar New Year is celebrated by Asian communities around the world and begins with the first new moon of the lunar calendar. This year, the Lunar New Year celebration begins on February 1 and recognizes the Year of the Tiger. Students who observe the holiday will be marked excused absent upon completion of the student absence form, and allowed full makeup privileges.

SCHEDULE YOUR APPOINTMENT TO BE PHOTOGRAPHED NOW! Dates currently available for our second round are February 10th, 14th, & 15th. Office hours are Monday-Friday 9:30 am-4:30 pm. Please call the studio (508-336-4777)to schedule a time on those dates between 2:30 p.m. and 8:00 p.m. to be photographed on-site at Boston Latin School. Appointments 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. It is important that you arrive on time or we cannot guarantee that we will be able to fit you in to be photographed that day. You may be asked to reschedule and will be charged a $40.00 rescheduling fee. It is our goal to make sure that the yearbook is representative of the entire graduating class.

Over one hundred fifty students have not yet booked an appointment, which means that the last round will fill up quickly! Please do not wait until the last minute to schedule your appointment. Please schedule today! Thank you!