Youth Leadership Forum (YLF) is a unique opportunity hosted by McKinsey & Company where students learn about strategic thinking, problem-solving, consulting, and business careers while assisting a Boston non-profit with a complex, real-world problem. YLF is a free, two-day workshop offered by Boston area consultants on April 5 and April 6 (Friday/Saturday) for members of Class I-III. Both days require attendance, and students’ absence will be excused on April 5. Apply at theyouthleadershipforum.com. Send questions to ylf_boston@mckinsey.com. Click HERE for the 2024 YLF flyer. The application deadline is this Wednesday, Feb 28, 11:59 pm.

drive.google.com/file/d/1PkmlLIYkkk2JMCvI6B0VxT8tV52l0hpk/view?usp=sharing

Eastern Bank is looking to hire students as seasonal bank tellers for summer jobs. An information session will be held in the Memorabilia Room on January 28th at 2:30 PM. Check out the flyer below for more information.

drive.google.com/file/d/11-WmO9RIy–e0wywnetUhO685UpvrOMS/view?usp=sharing

If you are part of a Boston Latin School club and would like your club’s picture in the yearbook, please email a clear photo of the club’s officers and seniors to mstiven@bostonpublicschools.org.

The cost of a club photo in the yearbook is $60. We are accepting cash, checks, and Venmo (@blsyearbook1653). Please make your check payable to Boston Latin School and bring it to Ms. Stiven in room 014. Please reach out if you have any questions, comments, or concerns. The now extended deadline to submit both the photo and payment is Friday, March 1st, 2024. If payment is a concern for your organization, please reach out to me via email.

If you have sent an email in the past and I didn’t respond, make sure you sent it to mstiven@bostonpublicschools.org. It was brought to my attention that my email was wrong in previous announcements.

Welcome back, students! As we re-enter school after February break, and shift from a “break” mindset to a “school” mindset, there are a few executive functioning tricks we can do to help with the transition.

1. Revisit and re-establish your school routines! Our brains thrive on stable and consistent routines and expectations. Write down your schedule and a to-do list to help visualize your tasks. Think about important dates and deadlines to prioritize what order the tasks need to be completed based on the level of importance.

2. Slowly incorporate your responsibilities! For most, not only is school resuming but other activities such as sports, arts, work, etc. To help the transition not feel too overwhelming, use a visual timer and block schedule to manage your time. Don’t forget to create time for self-care tasks and preferred activities during this time too.

3. Be gentle with yourself! Transitions are hard and things are not going to feel the same as they did before break. It may take a minute for the academic momentum to return so be patient with yourself.

We are so happy to see you back at BLS!

BLS BLACK is partnering with ZaZ Restaurant on Friday, March 1 for the Black History Month Showcase. Their food truck will be parked in front of the school from 2:30 – 4:30 PM to provide delicious Caribbean, Latin, and Asian fusion dishes for the BLS community.

If you’d like to preorder your food and have it ready for pick up at 2:30 PM, please complete this form and submit your payment via Venmo @Black-Atbls OR Cash App $Blackatbls by Friday, March 1, 2024 @ noon. You may also purchase food directly from the truck as well. Accepted payments include cash, Cash App, and Venmo.

Before you enjoy the best student showcase of the year, come taste the best Caribbean fusion food in Boston. If you have any questions, email blackatbls@gmail.com.

forms.gle/gkQKNgLYB5y3YdkX6

Tickets are now on sale for the upcoming BLS BLACK Annual Black History Month Showcase on Friday, March 1 at 6:00 PM in the Auditorium. Tickets are $7 in advance and will increase to $10 at the door. We encourage you to buy your tickets early from any BLS BLACK Officer or stop by Rooms 014 or 114. This year’s theme is Afrofuturism and will show will feature performances from the BLS Gospel Choir, BLS Step Squad, student spoken word artists, singers, and models, and special guests OrigiNations. This show will be out of this world! Get your tickets now!

Celebrate Black History Month with style!! BLS B.L.A.C.K. (Black Leaders Aspiring for Change and Knowledge) is setting aside the last week in February to continue the celebration of Black History Month with Spirit Week. Our theme for this year’s showcase is “Afro-Futurism”. We want to jump-start the week leading up to the most amazing and out-of-this-world show!

Each day, from Monday, February 26 – Friday, March 1, everyone will be allowed 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 (02/26/24): – “Rep Your Roots! (Cultural Attire Day)”; The African diaspora is the worldwide collection of communities descended from people from Africa. Dress in cultural or heritage traditional attire.

Tuesday (02/27/24): “Dress Your Type Day!” – This day is an opportunity to dress as you’d look for in terms of style and fashion sense in a partner.

Wednesday (02/28/24): “Black Artist Day!” – Dress up as your favorite artists or wear clothes featuring your favorite artists, musicians, dancers, poets, painters, singers, stylists, etc.

Thursday (02/29/24): “Cookout Day!” – The Cookout is a metaphorical gathering of the black community. To receive an invite to the cookout, one must prove some sort of interest, love, and concern for the black community. On this day, dress in school-appropriate cookout attire or wear the same color as your favorite item to bring to the cookout. Ex. Wear all yellow for mac and cheese, wear all red for red soda, wear all blue for cool ranch Doritos. All are welcome to bring your favorite item with you to the BLS BLACK Club meeting on this day.

Friday (03/01/24): “Dress as Your Future Self Day!” – Dress up in a way that expresses you in the future.

We will meet at the alma mater statue at 2:25 each day for group photos to be posted on the Gram!

The Gilder Lehrman Institute is now accepting submissions for the 2024 David McCullough Essay Prizes. The contest has been recently overhauled and will recognize fourteen outstanding high school student research and interpretive essays with cash prizes of up to $5,000.

www.gilderlehrman.org/programs-and-events/student-opportunities/david-mccullough-essay-prizes

The annual mandatory Spring Sports Preseason Meeting will be held on Thursday, February 29. Students will attend the athletic director’s presentation from 2:30 – 3 in the auditorium and then attend sport-specific meetings from 3 – 3:30. All candidates for a spring sport must attend this meeting. This is a requirement for all candidates, only exceptions are for student-athletes who will still be participating in a winter sport or prior exception granted by the athletic director.

Correction to a previous communication regarding middle school basketball tryouts. Tryouts will be on Wednesday 2/28 and Thursday 2/29 in the Upper gym. All members of Class V and VI who were not on the Varsity or JV roster this past season are welcome to try out.

Wednesday: Boys 2:30, Girls 4:00

Thursday: Girls 2:30, Boys 4:00

PLEASE LEAVE (a message) is an experimental theatre that uses a multimedia presentation of live camera recording, karaoke, and sound media to explore the nature of messages and the ones we leave behind for future generations. Thursday, February 29 at 3 pm and 7 pm Friday, March 1 at 3 pm $3 for students and $8 for adults In the Black Box

We will be at Framingham High School at 11:15 am on March 2 for the Massachusetts High School Drama Festival. Tickets are $10 for the entire day of the festival. Wish us luck in this competition.

NHS decision letters for Class I (juniors) were distributed to homerooms on Wednesday, 2/14. Students should check with their HR teachers if they applied but did not hear back. Applicants should be sure to read their decision letters carefully, as they contain important next steps for inductees and feedback in the case of non-selection. Questions? See Mr. Finnigan (office 169B) before school or email pfinnigan2@bostonpublicschools.org. Class II (junior) decisions were distributed last week.

Congratulations to the finalists of the Third Public Declamation:

First Place: Tiaraoluwa Adesoro (I)

Second Place: Creighton Bannitt (I) & Mark Snekvic (II)

Third Place: Jessie Wang (I)

Ladies Collective has a period products drive! We’ve been putting boxes of pads and tampons in bathrooms because no one should have to worry about finding a pad or tampon at school and period products are expensive. Unfortunately, we do not have an infinite supply of pads and tampons so we’re enlisting your help! We especially need tampons. If you’d like to donate a package of period products for our school bathrooms or a pair of pants, please drop them off in the box labeled “Period Products Drive” in front of the main office. 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!

Are you interested in joining the Capstone course next year? This course for highly motivated seniors enables students to develop advanced research, writing, and presentation skills while grappling with essential questions in the STEM and Humanities fields. It will pull together and further refine the skills that students have developed and advanced in all courses during their Boston Latin School education. Students will self-select their topic, and produce a 7-10 page research paper, as well as a Capstone project and presentation over the year. Please submit the Capstone application linked here and choose the course during your selection process. If you have questions feel free to contact Ms. Bateman or Ms. Bowles!

docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSfyW936XvzNXXE2ecZ1gtBajZuG7Tisoh4iskDiSbEbFG8BCQ/viewform?usp=sf_link

Got a story to tell? The Topol Fellows are hosting their annual MOTH day on April 12th, where members of the BLS community tell meaningful personal stories. They can be funny, poignant, or somewhere in between, but they tell the story of who we are! Auditions will be held March 11th-13th after school (Mon-Wed). Come prepared with a 10-minute story (does not need to be memorized)! Sign up with this link:

bit.ly/2024mothauditions

The Jane Street Academy of Math and Programming is a five-week summer program for graduating high school seniors who have experienced barriers to advanced STEM education and are excited to further their studies within math and computer science.

TO APPLY AND LEARN MORE, VISIT www.janestreet.com/AMP

APPLICATION DEADLINE: March 13, 2024

WHO: AMP is for 2024 high school graduates who are interested in math and computer science, and have experienced barriers in accessing advanced STEM educational opportunities

Participants must be authorized to be employed in the U.S. without a visa sponsorship.

WHEN: Late June – Early August 2024

WHERE: New York City

COST: No-cost program; Jane Street will cover all tuition and fees, travel, housing, and meals $5000 SCHOLARSHIP: Every AMP attendee will receive this award to support future educational opportunities

Questions about AMP? Email us at academy@janestreet.com.

www.janestreet.com/join-jane-street/programs-and-events/amp/

This essay contest is a tribute to Israel “Izzy” Arbeiter z”l, who survived the Holocaust against all odds and lost most of his family, who were murdered by Nazis. He was a past president of the American Association of Jewish Holocaust Survivors of Greater Boston. Izzy Arbeiter passed away in October of 2021. His essay contest will continue to be a part of his incredible legacy. Students in grades 6-12 are invited to write a 400-800 word essay on the attached topics Essays will be judged on originality, knowledge, style, and depth.

Luke Joseph, Co-President and member of Class I designed the newest BLS B.L.A.C.K. t-shirt. Members of the BLS community can order a t-shirt, a long-sleeved t-shirt, or a hoodie with this same design. If you would like to place an order, complete this form and submit your payment via Venmo @Black-Atbls OR Cash App $Blackatbls by Friday, February 16, 2024. The estimated delivery date is 2 weeks, once we receive at least 48 orders, just in time to wear at the Black History Month Showcase. If you have any questions, email blackatbls@gmail.com.

forms.gle/MjeDcJKyRoUWCD7H7

There will be no Latin drop-in tutoring on Wednesday 2/14 and Thursday 2/15. Tutoring will resume after the February break.

PLEASE SHARE WITH YOUR GUARDIAN IF APPLICABLE: Orientation Workshop for Foreign-Trained Professionals The African Bridge Network (ABN) will be conducting orientation workshops designed for non-US trained professionals in Massachusetts who want to connect with a supportive network and gain valuable insights into successfully integrating into the US workforce.

These workshops, held in and around Boston throughout 2024, are tailored to introduce participants to professional mentors and provide invaluable resources for career development.

Workshop Topics
· Legal immigrant status and visa compliance
· Job search strategies and workplace culture in the US
· Building a successful career in the American professional landscape
· Accessing healthcare, education, and social services
· Finding suitable housing and understanding lease agreements
· Managing personal finances, including financial literacy and budgeting

For a comprehensive list of 2024 workshop dates, locations, and registration information, please visit ABN’s Orientation Workshop webpage here: africanbn.org/ow/

As a reminder, homework is not to be assigned during the February vacation (February 19-23) as delineated in the Student Handbook (page 15). Any homework that is assigned and due on Tuesday, February 27, should not exceed the usual 30-minute expectation (45 minutes for AP courses). We wish the entire BLS community a relaxing and restorative break.

Evan Ding (Class III) was selected as a National STEM Champion in the 2023-2024 National STEM Challenge Last week, Evan Ding (Class III) was selected as a National STEM Champion in the 2023-2024 National STEM Challenge. As a winner, Evan has won an all-expense-paid trip to the National STEM Festival in Washington, D.C., co-presented by the U.S. Department of Education. A special announcement was made in a live interview on CBS News Boston on Feb 06.

www.cbsnews.com/boston/video/local-students-and-national-stem-champs-show-off-award-winning-experiment/

The City Spotlights Leadership Program is a summer youth employment program that will hire up to 30 Teen Leaders, ages 14-18, specializing in an area of the performing arts (dance, music, or acting) to use the arts for social change in their communities. Teen Leaders work collaboratively to create original performance and arts-based community engagement opportunities connected to social change. Teen Leaders deepen their facilitation and job readiness skills; engage Boston residents in meaningful dialogue about social change, and operate as agents of change in their communities.

Teen Leaders will be $15 for up to 25 hours per week. Teen Leaders will meet on Mondays-Thursdays from 9:30 am-4:30 pm and Fridays from 9:30 am-1:30 pm (schedule is subject to change) for up to 25 hours. per week. They will receive arts and leadership training in preparation for a Final Showcase performance and community engagement efforts. We anticipate rehearsals will start on July 8, 2024 through August 16, 2024.

There will be a workshop audition on Friday, February 23rd @12pm. Teens do not have to prepare anything, just sign up and participate! Register below:

www.surveymonkey.com/r/cslp_app2024

The College Counseling Team asks ALL Class I students to please fill out this brief form to help us identify students in need of assistance completing the FAFSA and those who have completed it. For students seeking help with the FAFSA, we encourage you to visit the Class of 2024 Official Website where you will find resources and help including FAFSA support during February vacation (2/20, 2/21, and 2/22 from 9 am-4 pm at BPS Central Office).

docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSfuHiGwX-U7KLI1ebD0vZ7nzb_wfsGH2YgtpUsJi80LCUzv_g/viewform?usp=sf_link

Dear Classes VI and V:

Interested in being a Spelling Bee participant? If so, please complete the BLS Spelling Bee Registration Form by 2:30 p.m. Friday, February 16, 2024.

Ms. Thompson

English Dept Program Director

docs.google.com/forms/d/1m-I6LDnpFMKYOdRTVl4f96xKQkHmJjVbtKsNIOufqN8/edit

Starting Monday 2/26, sign up using Oculus (just like you would use the library). You will scan in with your ID.

The Keefe Library will be closed after school on Tues. 2/13 for teacher professional development and Fri. 2/16 for February vacation.

Come to the Keefe Library to see our displays for Black History Month, Lunar New Year, and Valentine’s Day. Or visit our Wolfpack Reads! display to see what the library praefects have enjoyed; click on the link below to browse their blog for mysteries, cookbooks, horror, fantasy, and all your other favorites. Make sure you have a great book to read over February break!

libguides.bls.org/c.php?g=809833&p=8038206

RISE is a paid summer internship for Boston Public students- topics include, research, mentorship, and field trips- See the file below for more information!

drive.google.com/file/d/1gLCY8SZtdIhq8jp2F16MWXnsVDZ0eBH5/view?usp=sharing

BACKGROUND:

The Red Sox Scholars is a college success program that awards a $10,000 college scholarship to 12 Boston Public School 7th graders each year. The Foundation then provides academic, professional, and social support to students for at least the next nine years to ensure they graduate from college with as little debt as possible and are prepared to enter the workforce – as well as feeling part of a family of resources for years to come!

ELIGIBILITY TO APPLY:

• Legally enrolled as a full-time 7th-grade student in the Boston Public School District or at a Boston Public Charter School for School Year 2023-24
• Demonstrate strong academic potential
• Demonstrate strong financial need
• Must be able to attend an in-person interview on Saturday, May 4, 2024, at Fenway Park

APPLICATION SUBMISSION:

The 2024 Red Sox Scholars Application is attached.  It can also be downloaded from our website.  As you’ll see, to simplify the process the application is a fillable PDF document.  Students must save the document to their computer first, which will give them the ability to type directly into the application.  Completed applications must be emailed to RedSoxScholars@redsox.com no later than Thursday, February 29, 2024.

Love is in the air, show that you care! Purchase some delicious valentine’s cookies from Cookies for a Cause, a student-made and led non-profit organization selling cookies for charity. All proceeds from our homemade baked goods go directly to the Greater Boston Food Bank.

Please fill out the form below if you would like to order our cookies as a gift for Valentine’s Day. All of our Valentine’s Day Cookies will be sold for $1 each. We currently only accept payments in the form of cash, so please fill out this form and then drop off a cash payment to Room 212 (Mr. Zou) by Monday, February 13. There you will receive slips and write a message to your Valentine.

Our selection is as follows:

Chocolate Chip Cookies ($1)

Double Chocolate Chip Cookies ($1)

Red Velvet Cookies ($1) Peanut Butter Cookies ($1)

Valentine’s M&M’s Cookies ($1)

Frosted Sugar Cookies ($1)

Roses are red, violets are blue, and we recycle passion into flowers just for you! Join BLS Recycling in celebrating a sustainable Valentine’s Day <3! We are selling paper flowers and crochet lavenders, which will all be handcrafted and available to purchase through this link: forms.gle/csnPbmwApQjiZqYE7. If you have any questions, please check out the FAQ doc linked on the Google form and email us with additional inquiries.

forms.gle/csnPbmwApQjiZqYE7

What is a Hackathon?

An exciting quick development and problem-solving event that brings all different backgrounds together to collaborate and engineer innovations and solve today’s problems.

Hackathon Break Down: Hacking

– A creative solution to a problem. Think of life hacks, a solution to an everyday life problem. Same thing here! Marathon – A “long” (in our case 9 hours) competition. Hacking + Marathon = Hackathon!

Date and Time: March 9th, 9 am – 6 pm

Location: BU Photonics Center

Eligibility: Students in grades 9-12. No prior experience is required; the event will consist of 10 workshops for participants of all levels

Prizes: Over $3,000+ in prizes available

Deadline: The registration deadline is February 11

docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSenqLGpk8BVdaGJ_I502gbY_xp03zqqkbCjao6Nm4WERGdQWw/viewform

All lost and found items from January 1 – February 3, 2024 are located outside of the main office on the first floor. Please come and look for your water bottles, jackets, lunch boxes, etc. Items not claimed will be donated by this Monday, Feb 12, 2024.

If you are part of a Boston Latin School club and would like your club’s picture in the yearbook, please email a clear photo of the club’s officers and seniors to mstiven@bostonpublicschools.org.

The cost of a club photo in the yearbook is $60. We are accepting cash, checks, and Venmo (@blsyearbook1653). Please make your check payable to Boston Latin School and bring it to Ms. Stiven in room 014. Please reach out if you have any questions, comments, or concerns. The now extended deadline to submit both the photo and payment is Friday, March 1st, 2024.

If you have sent an email in the past and I didn’t respond, make sure you sent it to mstiven@bostonpublicschools.org. It was brought to my attention that my email was wrong in previous announcements.

NHS decision letters for Class II (juniors) were distributed to homerooms on Friday, 2/9. Students should check with their HR teachers if they applied but did not hear back. Applicants should read their decision letters carefully, as they contain important next steps for inductees and feedback in the case of non-selection. Questions? See Mr. Finnigan (office 169B) before school or email pfinnigan2@bostonpublicschools.org. Class I (senior) decisions will be distributed during HR early next week.

There are two days left to buy carnations from the Argo! Prices are 1 for $1 or 12 for $10.

Stop by the front lobby before and after school and during all lunches, go to 207, or find any Argo editor to purchase. Completed slips can returned at the same places, and must be in by February 13th.

Hello students! Since this Wednesday is Valentine’s Day, we thought it would be the perfect time to start a discussion about relationships of all kinds and how healthy connections can help us to learn new things and make us feel good about ourselves. Everyone deserves a loving, safe, healthy relationship.

To evaluate the health of your relationships, see how well you agree with these statements: “Both my partner and I are…”

– Communicative

– Respective

– Trusting

– Honest

– Making mutual choices with equal control or responsibility – Autonomy to choose how and when you engage in an activity – Equally enjoying time together and time away from each other

And remember, anyone can be your Valentine (friend, classmate, family member, etc)! All types of relationships are worthy of celebrating!

BPS (Boston Public Schools) Teen Health, an Instagram account from the BPS Office of Health and Wellness, is dedicated to supporting our middle and high school students in building knowledge on a variety of health topics including mental health, substance use, relationships, sexual health, navigating healthcare, physical activity, and more!

Each post shares information on a different health topic and highlights school-based, Boston-based, and national health centers and resources to access care and support.

Upcoming Posts 1) Activities for People Who Don’t Like Sports

2) Sexuality and Gender Identity

3) Addiction and the Brain

4) How to Help Someone who is Depressed

Check out @BPSTeenHealth Instagram

Join BLS Theatre, which is going to London this April!

Come for a trip full of theatre old and new. History, culture, and even some Ancient Roman baths! The trip is 3000 and is all-inclusive: flight, food, accommodations, theatre, tours, etc.

Please email Mr. Gels immediately if you are interested, there are only 2 spots that just became available. jgels@bostonpublicschools.org

Hey everyone! We are Cookies for a Cause, a student-made and led nonprofit organization selling cookies for charity. All proceeds from our homemade baked goods will go directly to the Greater Boston Food Bank.

Please fill out this form if you would like to order our cookies as a gift for Valentine’s Day. All of our Valentine’s Day Cookies will be sold for $1 each. We accept payments in the form of cash dropped off in Room 212 (Mr. Zou) or a direct donation to our Greater Boston Food Bank fundraiser page by Friday, February 9, 2024. All cookies will be delivered to homerooms.

Our Valentine’s Day Cookie Selection:

Chocolate Chip Cookies ($1)

Red Velvet Cookies ($1)

Frosted Heart Sugar Cookies ($1)

docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSdOwG2Hq5u0YIpMRVRmTMbHF_qDk-joJxBj_wjdLAHynKIovg/viewform

THIS SUNDAY, 2/11, at 8:30 am, please come join the Students Advocating for Solutions for Mass & Cass (SASMC) Club in the 8th Annual Winter Walk!

Please join our team by signing up for the walk at: secure.qgiv.com/event/winterwalk2024-boston/register/form/classification Access the “General Fundraising” link Then, select–Join a Team And, register for the walk through our: Boston Latin School -Students Advocating Solutions for Mass and Cass Club page

If you are not able to participate on Sunday but want to support efforts for our unhoused community: secure.qgiv.com/event/account/1677495/edit/

Thank you so much – we hope to see you there! Come also join our SASMC meeting this month on Wednesday, 2/7, at 2:30 pm in ROOM 307. –The SASMC Club

BLS Asian Students In Action (A.S.I.A.) will be hosting the Kwong Kow Chinese School to celebrate the Lunar New Year on Friday, February 9th at 2:45 PM in the Dining Hall, where they will be performing the lion dance! Admission is free and refreshments will be provided. If you have traditional clothing, please wear it on Friday. All are welcome to join!

The deadline to submit your Modern Language choice form is Friday, February 9. Please submit your form so we can schedule your classes for next year. If you do not submit anything, you will be placed where we have space. You will not be able to change that class and will study that language for four years. The link to the form is here and on the bulletin board outside 256. Thank you to everyone who has already submitted their form! If you have any questions, contact Mrs. Kelley at ckelley2@bostonpublicschools.org or stop by her office (256, across from 219 and next door to Ms. Moses).

docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSewwHnI0IyW2CK7q7tlupRtzO81OuvOa6O75bbiT8QihOob_w/viewform?usp=sf_link

This weekend, the Bridge Building Club sent three teams to the 33rd Annual BSECS Model Bridge Contest at Wentworth Institute of Technology. Bridges are tested with increasing amounts of weight until they can no longer support the load. Trophies are awarded for Bridge Efficiency (total weight it can hold divided by the weight of the bridge) and Bridge Aesthetics (how visually pleasing the bridge is). The teams were:

Team Soh-Cah-Toa (Xintong Guo & Susie Chahwan)

Team Curly Fry (Alex Jaffe & Quyen Vo)

Team My Spine (Tim Nguyen & Phineas Scovel)

These teams worked hard over the past couple of months planning and then building their bridges (this year’s designated material was cardboard.) All of the teams performed well, and Team My Spine came away with 2nd Place for Bridge Efficiency AND 2nd Place for Bridge Aesthetics!

BLS Bakes is selling two flavors of Cake Pops this Valentine’s Day. These desserts are handmade, delicious, and filled with love. Show your friends and special someone that you care by bringing the joy of baking straight to their homeroom!

The dessert options are as follows: Mocha Cinnamon: Mocha cake pop coated in dark chocolate and dusted with cinnamon — $3 each

Very Berry Chocolate: Raspberry chocolate cake pop coated in dark chocolate and topped with crushed dried strawberries — $3 each

Friday, February 9th, is the last day to order, or until supplies last!

Order with the following online form or on a physical one, which you can find from any BLS Bakes officer or in Rm 225.

forms.gle/DQrRk4CpcALKCYUm7

FLIPS is a 2-day conference (April 13-14) on Harvard’s campus in Cambridge, Massachusetts for high schoolers who aspire to be our nation’s future leaders in fields of public service, which encompass government, education, justice reform, and the nonprofit sector: www.servicewithaname.org/conference

High school students are placed in small groups, each led by a current Harvard College student, providing a unique opportunity for mentorship and leadership development. Attendees hone personal goals, experience a glimpse of college life at a top university, hear from public service professionals, and are taught public service leadership skills to bring back to their communities and to utilize in their current and future roles as leaders focused on the public good.

FLIPS represents a unique opportunity for students to distinguish themselves and to highlight their true commitment to becoming future leaders in public service.

We are inviting students from across the country to apply for the opportunity to attend FLIPS. We want to be as inclusive as possible, and will be providing financial support to students who cannot afford to attend!

If interested, please apply here: www.servicewithaname.org/about-1

Applications are due February 11th, 2024

Do you love to plan? Are you interested in bringing your creative energy, thoughts, and ideas to the junior class prom committee? If so, please join Ms. Sarkis, Ms. Encarnacao, and your class members at 2:30 on Thursday, February 8th in room 208 for a meeting to start brainstorming. We welcome all. If you have any questions, please get in touch with Ms. Sarkis or Ms. Encarnacao.

The Dana-Farber Junior Volunteer Summer Program is looking for high school students ages 16 to 18. This summer, the program will run from Monday, July 8th to Friday, August 16th. Students who are interested in health, wellness, or medicine are welcome to apply!

Junior Volunteers will learn multiple volunteer responsibilities that allow them to engage directly with patients and families at Dana-Farber. They will guide and accompany patients to their appointments, deliver lunches and art supplies to patients receiving chemotherapy, and attend a weekly session where they meet with Dana-Farber staff to learn about careers in healthcare. The flyer is attached. Here’s a job description:

drive.google.com/file/d/1g7aijBgYPNrkc7stL7rsK9DIGnYpgAAD/view?usp=sharing

Junior volunteers must be willing to commit to one consistent six-hour shift (8 am-2 pm) for the full six weeks and be able to attend a weekly hour-long Zoom meeting on Wednesdays at 2 pm. They seek to accept a diverse group of highly motivated students from many backgrounds. Applications will be due by April 1, 2024. The program has limited space, and they can only accept 10 students at this time. Apply below:

www.dana-farber.org/how-you-can-help/get-involved/volunteer/opportunities

Wolfpack Volunteers is happy to announce its annual Valentine’s Day Sale! Buy teddy bears, fuzzy socks, lollipops, popping toys, and a bundle of all four. We also have Squishmallows for $8! (This new item and in limited quantities so you should shop fast!)

You can purchase goodies for yourself or your friends or sell items to others for community service — 1 hour for every $10 you sell 🙂

For more information about how to sell, buy, and what to do you can email wolfpackvolunteersbls@gmail.com or check this doc. The last day to hand in order forms is Monday, February 12th, but please hand in your forms as soon as possible (if you can)!

Please note that ALL sellers will need to print and fill out this physical seller’s form (to hand it to a Wolfpack officer with payment), then fill out this tracking spreadsheet for every sale you make.

Kiara Montes De Oca (I), Quyen Vo (I), Jessie Wang (I), Evelyn Kwan (I), Maggie Drubin (I), Anna Stylianopoulos (I), Alena Tran (II), Brian Huang (II), Jessica Tec-Ciau (II), Alexander Lee (II), Annie Dai (III), Xintong Guo (III), Hajar El-Ayoubi (III)

*Please note that if the Squishmallow form is closed, it means that we are unfortunately out of stock for Squishmallows. (However, you can still purchase our other goodies, including adorable teddy bears!) 😀

Thanks!

Do you love sweets? Do you want to treat someone with a special gift, or even better, yourself? The BLS Powerlifting team is making and selling their own Valentine’s Day cake pops to fundraise for the expenses of their ever-growing team and to compete in this year’s 2024 High School Nationals in Baton Rouge, Louisiana.

The BLSPL board (listed below!) will be selling Valentine slips beginning Monday, February 5th to Friday, February 9th, and students can buy slips in the front lobby during all lunches, from any of the officers throughout the day, or through the attached Google Form. Slips must be returned to Mr. Cordeiro’s room (117) before Friday at 2:15 or to any board member with the desired flavor, to whom you are sending it, and their homeroom for the slip to be accounted for. Thank you!

Alex Lam (I)

Lily Huynh (I)

Emily Polcaro (II)

Eleanor Johnson (II)

Christian Le (II)

Kate Lincecum (III)

forms.gle/jHyZNFWuq4qgWed1A

Senior sign-up opportunity. The Senior Transition Group is accepting referrals. This group will be a safe place for senior students to learn and share strategies. Topics will include stress and schedule management, career development plans, and a safe space to share emotions and thoughts about moving on from BLS. 10-12th graders will meet Mondays during R6 and 7-9th graders will meet Mondays during R7 for 4-6 weeks depending on sign ups. Students will not miss any academic class more than once. Please submit referrals to the attached Google form. Contact Ginnelle Vasquez, LICSW (gvasquez@bostonpublicschools.org) with questions.

docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLScCGgQ6c8Cd79tcEou3CfRTGAPHEw5_eTt80ZUuM7BPz3Ss0w/viewform

Hello students! The SEL tips of January will continue to focus on promoting well-being and a positive mindset. Last week, we explored the concept of Strengths Acknowledgment, emphasizing the importance of recognizing and appreciating your unique abilities and qualities.

This week, we will shift our focus to Optimistic Affirmations, which encourages you to embrace the power of positive self-talk. By challenging yourself to say something positive about yourself each day, you can boost your confidence and optimism. Consider how incorporating optimistic affirmations into your daily routine can enhance your mental well-being and resilience. Here are a few examples of optimistic affirmations you can incorporate into your daily routine:

1. “I am capable of overcoming challenges and achieving my goals.”

2. “I have the strength and resilience to navigate difficult situations.”

3. “I am worthy of love, respect, and kindness.

” 4. “I am constantly growing and learning from life’s experiences

.” 5. “I have the power to create positive change in my life and the lives of others.”

By embracing optimistic affirmations, you can cultivate a positive and resilient mindset, enhance your self-esteem, and foster a sense of well-being.

Are you struggling to write essays for class or want to improve your English? The Founding Fathers’ Non-Profit is a budding student-led nonprofit organization with national outreach to assist anyone with articulating English eloquently on paper. By connecting with students from schools across the country, offering guidance with assignments, and raising students to compete in nationwide competitions, The Founding Fathers aims to make English education enjoyable for everyone.

Please fill out this form if you are interested

forms.gle/jL59L7hq6wyrhHaz5

Email us if you have any questions: blsfoundingfathers@gmail.com

3rd Public Declamation will take place on Thurs., Feb. 8 during R1/R2 in the auditorium. The audience will be members of Class III. Please enter the auditorium quickly and quietly and follow your teachers’ directions to take your seats. We hope you will enjoy this special BLS tradition!

Do you have a loved one who’s had cancer at some point during their lifetime? If so, please consider filling out this brief Google form. This form will be utilized for research in Katie Baide’s HPREP Cancer Research Project which focuses on the development of mental disorders in cancer patients. This project will be presented by Katie at Harvard Medical School to current HMS students, alumni, HPREP’s sponsors, and other HPREP students. Thank you for taking the time to fill this out.

docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSeKDbrS8gx6DP9eRssjGOonNz6Eag9fxt6cLMywXeNLFJtkNw/viewform

Congratulations Parker-Vincent, Boston Youth Poet Laurate!

docs.google.com/document/d/1eeKErxsYL-_rkIf9-IN0XFBsorCH0GPE/edit

Attention Sophomores and Juniors! The Sawyer Business School at Suffolk University is offering summer program opportunities for aspiring entrepreneurs and a brand new option for sports enthusiasts! This July, students can select from one of their day-time three-week summer courses: The Entrepreneurial Mindset or Titletown to Sneaker Town: An Inside Look at Boston’s Sports Industry (see links below). Students will have the chance to experience a college campus firsthand, spending their time in Suffolk’s academic buildings, libraries, and dining halls in downtown Boston. Best of all, this course is at no cost to them, and completion of the course will count for three Suffolk credit hours! Please note that this is an unpaid opportunity. This summer program includes daily lunches, and will cover a subway/bus pass for students’ commute to and from campus (commuter rail and/or parking costs are not included). Though priority will be given to rising high school seniors, rising juniors will also be considered and are welcome to apply. Please note that students may only apply to one program, and both are non-residential (requires commuting to and from campus). Space in these programs is limited, so please apply by April 12. Please reach out to your school counselor or Erik Gullard at erik.gullard@suffolk.edu or calling 617-573-8460.

www.suffolk.edu/business/degrees-programs/management-entrepreneurship/summer-high-school-program#

www.suffolk.edu/business/degrees-programs/sports-management/sports-management-summer-program

The Keefe Library has set up full digital access to the New York Times for grades 8-12 and all staff. To set up your account, follow these instructions. You have unlimited access to articles when at school and remotely. Due to age restrictions in our user agreement we cannot set up accounts for 7th graders. Please email Ms. Ellis at dellis@bostonpublicschools.org with any questions or if you have any difficulty.

Link