Monthly Archives: March 2024
BLS March Book Madness Thompson (on behalf of Mr. Beyer) Class I
Please join the BLS March Book Madness
docs.google.com/document/d/1TNwDl_1xnq1SIEUphSyxzWWDzUh4zq-h/edit
Global Learning Summer Opportunity (Kennelly) All Classes
Are you a future leader with an interest in making a difference? Are you interested in developing their skills and broadening their understanding of global issues? The United Nations Association of Greater Boston’s Summer Institute in Global Leadership may be the ideal setting for them to do just that (and more)!
mailchi.mp/unagb/registration-is-open-for-summer-785964?e=89ab2ca1dc
Harvard Certamen Success! (Howard) All Classes
Congratulations to the BLS Certamen Teams that competed in the Harvard National Invitational Tournament on Sat. 3/23! All four teams made finals at their respective levels. The results were as follows: Novice A (1st Place): Silas Rosenberger (V) – MVP, Lana Nguyen (V), Ellie Fung (V), Brian Xu (V) Novice B (3rd Place): Meilin Sha (V), Harry Dinh (V), Michael Bui (V), Kanav Vashishth (VI), Theo Neri (VI) Intermediate (3rd Place): Sophia Kowalczyk (IV), Weian Xue (IV), Audrey Kollett (IV), Jason Zhang (IV), Brynn Bennett (IV) Advanced (3rd Place): Biya Brook (I), Aidan Ormsby (I), Alex Xu (I), Andy Yu (III), Joseph Hemr (III)
PIC application deadline (Laverty) Class III, II, & I
Please note the PIC application deadline is March 31st. All applications must be in by midnight on 3/31/24. As a reminder this application should be completed if you are over the age of 16! We are currently recruiting students who are 16 years and older at this time.
application.bostonpic.org/Account
If you have any questions please reach out to me at erin.laverty@bostonpic.org
For those that have applied already- Great! Our team is working through all of the applications at this time, please be patient as we work on this.
Congratulations to the BLS Academic World Quest team on winning the State Championship (Zou) All Classes
Congratulations to BLS Team 1 Niamh Govender (II), Maya Koreth (II), Laura Nguyen (II), and Aliana Kowalczyk (III) for winning the state Academic World Quest with 83 points beating the next closest team by 20. BLS Team 2 Michelle Chen (II), Mirlynda Chen (II), and Salem Chen (II) had a strong performance coming in third place with 62 points. Up next, they will represent Massachusetts at the national championship in Washington D.C.!
SEL Tip of the Week – Navigating Finals (Wang) All Classes
The end of a school term can be incredibly stressful! While it is important to take care of ourselves year-round, here are some tips + tricks to help navigate the stress that arises before a big exam:
- Create a homework or study schedule and hold yourself to it.
- Incorporate breaks into your study schedule. Our brains and our bodies need breaks!
- Doing exercises like walking, going to the gym, or doing yoga can make your body release feel-good chemicals called endorphins. These can make you happy, help you focus better, and reduce stress.
- Research shows that what you eat can impact your academic performance. Better nutrition is associated with improvements in staying on task and exam performance.
The Tech Department is Moving (Hourigan) All Classes
The Tech office is moving to room 012, at the foot of the Main Office stairwell. We will complete the move before the April Break. Please continue to see us in the Tech area of the Library until the move is complete and we will give updates on the move’s progress.
Thursday, March 28, 2024 Day 2
Capstone POH-Kets Showcase (Sample) All Classes
My name is Maura Hatala and I’m doing my Senior Capstone Project on how the patriarchy influences women’s fashion. I created 12 runway garments that correlate to 12 research questions, and I will be showcasing my work on Thursday, March 29, at 7 pm in the Black Box (416). There will be a gallery walk, a runway show, and a Q&A! Fill out the form below to secure your seat!
Wednesday, March 27, 2024 Day W2
Student Council Pre-Finals Tutoring Support (Levesque) All Classes
Student Council will once again offer peer-to-peer tutoring support before finals. On Monday, March 25 in Seevak and Tuesday, March 26 in the Dining Hall from 2:30-3:30 pm, volunteer BLS student tutors will be available to tutor fellow students in a variety of subjects. Show up if you want assistance. Popcorn and Jolly Ranchers will be provided.
Tuesday, March 26, 2024 Day 6
BLS LAB Neuroscience Mini Lecture Series (3/25 & 4/8) (Jacobson-Peregrino) All Classes
Join BLS LAB in room 329 at 2:30 pm on Monday 3/25 and Monday 4/8 for a two-part mini-lecture series with Boston University PhD students! These virtual sessions aim to provide a glimpse into the diverse research areas within neuroscience, emphasizing the distinction and overlap between systems and cognitive neuroscience. Whether you’re interested in the biochemical basis of behavior or mathematical modeling of neural data, these brief mini-talks will offer valuable perspectives and information on pursuing a career in neuroscience. Presentations will be followed by a Q&A session, offering insights into related academic paths and research opportunities–particularly in undergraduate. All are welcome to attend, feel free to bring a friend and questions!
Monday, March 25,2024 Day 5
City of Boston’s 2024 Youth Jobs and Resource Fair (Vasquez) Class IV, III, II, I
The City of Boston’s 2024 Youth Jobs and Resource Fair happens this Saturday, March 23 from 11:00 am to 3:00 pm at the Reggie Lewis Track and Athletic Complex, 1350 Tremont Street, Boston, MA 02120.
Youth can register for this free event which has been arranged to connect them to onsite summer workforce development opportunities through engaging with employers, onsite job placement, career development workshops, youth and family resources, free food, giveaways, and more.
4th Public Declamation: Monday, March 25 R1/R2 (Harari & Kerpan) Class V
A reminder for Class V students: 4th public declamation will be held on Monday, March 25 during the R1/R2 period. Please follow your teachers’ directions once you reach the auditorium so that we can get started quickly. Thanks in advance for supporting this time-honored BLS tradition!
Henna Week! (Murray) All Classes
Looking to get henna done? Join BLS Desi for Henna Week from Wednesday 3/20 to Friday 3/22! Doors will open at 2:30 in room 307. You can pick from a selection of designs, and prices will range from $5-$10 depending on size. We will also be collaborating with ISBL to educate everyone on Ramadan on Thursday! Students and faculty are welcome!
Big Band Wins a Gold Medal at State Festival (Pitts) All Classes
The BLS Big Band won a Gold Medal at the MAJE State Finals on Saturday, and Justin Gao, their trombonist, was recognized as an Outstanding Musician.
SEL Tip of the Week – Feeling Sad? (Wang) All Classes-Updated
It is okay to feel sad. Our feelings always change, no matter how old we are or what support systems we have. Everyone feels sad sometimes. We may use different words to talk about feeling sad such as depressed, distressed, feeling blue, hurt, down, meh, unhappy, unmotivated, etc. We may also feel sad for various reasons such as having trouble with friendships, fighting with a family member, grief, doing poorly on an exam, being sick, etc.
Some ways to manage feeling sad:
- – Get active and move your body. Movement can help you manage any negative emotions that build up throughout the day.
- – Pair something you enjoy with the task you are lacking motivation for
- – Connect with your friends and family. Sometimes just talking through your emotions with a trusted friend can help relieve some negative feelings.
Check out our Mental Health Toolkit to learn more about emotions related to sadness and ways to manage it.
sites.google.com/bostonpublicschools.org/bls-mental-health-toolkit/i-feel-sad
Friday, March 22, 2024 Day 4
Wolfpack Service N’ Stuff Event (Sylvester) All Classes
Wolfpack Volunteers is having a fun event where we will be making some DIY stickers! And you will get an hour of community service! You will get an electronic pass for W-block on March 20 only if you fill out the form If you are interested please fill out this by Tuesday
link:docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSdB2xoI8Vjw2RrUWY1_suwAebgzO89wg05fIPTvV0crSE36wA/viewform
Audition for Mean Girls: The Musical
Come audition for BLS Theatre Company’s production of Mean Girls: The Musical. Auditions are March 26 and 27 after school. Sign up for a specific audition time on the Bulletin Board across from the Black Box (416) Ask Mr. Gels jgels@bostonpublicschools.org if you have any questions at all.
Come Write for The Veracium! (Pierce) All Classes
Attention all aspiring writers! The Veracium, our school’s political news source, is looking for new talent to join our team. If you’re interested in politics and journalism, this is a great opportunity to get involved. Join us and help shape the conversation on school grounds. Apply now to be a part of The Veracium!” Contact vote.bls@gmail.com for more information.
Lunch Rotation Changes on Monday, March 18 (Gallagher) All Classes
Please note that the lunch schedule will rotate on Monday, March 18. Effective Monday and through the rest of the school year, the schedule will be:
- First Lunch: English, Modern Language, Arts and Music
- Second Lunch: Classics, History, Humanities, Senior Seminar
- Third Lunch: Math, Science
We want to remind young people of the importance of clearing tables completely at the conclusion of lunch.
Thursday, March 21, 2024 Day 3
When is the PIC application due!! (Laverty) All Classes
Deadline: March 31st
Interviews will start in mid-April for summer positions. After March 31st there will be VERY limited companies that are still accepting applications.
Applications for Costello Scholarship Open for Student Athletes (Owens) Class I
All varsity athletes in Class I are welcome to apply for the Paul Costello (Former BLS Athletic Director and Football Coach) Athletic Director’s Scholarship given out by the Dual County League. Applications are available in Coach Owens’ office. Monetary value is determined by the number of recipients in the league. Deadline is 4/1
Wednesday, March 20, 2024 Day 2
Junior Prom Fundraising (Sarkis/Encarnacao) Class II
If you are interested in helping fundraise for the junior prom, there will be a meeting in room 208 after school on Thursday 3/21. All juniors are welcome to attend! Bring your ideas and enthusiasm.
SEL Tip of the Week – Declamation Jitters (Wang) All Classes
Declamation has a long and rich history here at Boston Latin School. It is also very natural to feel nervous about Declamation. Most students feel at least a few jitters, some feel more, and some feel lots of jitters. How nervous you feel could be related to your past experiences with presentations, how often you have practiced, whether you experience anxiety in other situations, or many other factors.
Our minds often trick us with excessive worries that aren’t quite true, although our mind takes them to be true. We call these “Declamation Distortions. Some examples are: “I did awful”, “I kept stumbling over all of my words”, “Everyone thinks I’m stupid and boring”, “If I mess up, no one will want to be my friend”, “I’m going to forget my lines”, “I shouldn’t make any mistakes”.
Check out our Mental Health Toolkit to learn more about these Declamation Distortions and ways to tackle them
sites.google.com/bostonpublicschools.org/bls-mental-health-toolkit/declamation-jitters
Tuesday, March 19, 2024 Day 1
Guest Speaker Monday 3/18: BLS LAB (Learning About Biochemistry) (Jacobson-Peregrino) All Classes
Join BLS LAB on Monday, March 18th in room 329 at 2:30 pm to hear from a Boston University biology professor! Kale Hartmann has researched DNA and is currently a lecturer in genetics, introductory biology, and cell biology! Come by and learn about her work and feel free to bring any questions! All are welcome, we hope to see you there!
Monday, March 18, 2024 Day 6
Congratulations to DECA National Qualifiers (Levesque) Class IV, III, II
Congratulations to 33 BLS students who competed hard at the DECA State Competition on March 8, testing their business acumen against 2,000 students from across MA. The following students qualified for the national competition in April in Anaheim, CA – Sophia Fortuin (IV), Rahul Bansal (III), Mary Deng (III), and Roan Wilcox (II).
Faculty Talent Show (Sarkis/Encarnacao) All Classes
Attention all students and faculty! Get ready to witness the talents of our amazing faculty members at our upcoming Faculty Talent Show on Friday, March 15th from 2:30 – 4:00 pm in the auditorium.
This is your chance to see your favorite teachers and staff members showcase their skills and entertain us all. With an impressive lineup of acts, ranging from singing to stepping to a faculty fashion show, this talent show promises to be an event to remember.
Tickets are available at $5 in advance and $7 at the door. Be sure to grab your tickets from your senior class officers, Ms. Encarnacao (108) or Ms. Sarkis (208) early. This is an event you don’t want to miss out on!
So, come out and support your faculty, have fun with your peers, and enjoy an afternoon of laughter and entertainment. We hope to see you all there!
BLS Irish Culture Club (Burke) All Classes
Greetings from the BLS Irish Culture Club! Join us for our much-anticipated annual St. Patrick’s Day gathering this Friday, held in room 215. We’re serving up an array of delights including pizza, drinks, and desserts. Plus, don’t miss out on our festive costume contest—showcase your best green attire for a chance to win! Prizes include a $25 Amazon gift card for the first-place winner. Please note: you must be present to claim the first-place prize. For second and third place, simply DM us on the day at @blsirishcultureclub with a photo in your most vibrant green outfit. Bring your friends and make this an event to remember!
Keefe Library – Modified hours (Harari & Ellis) All Classes
The Keefe Library will be closed after school on Tuesday, March 12th, for teacher professional development and Fri. 3/15 for the annual Student-Faculty Talent Show.
LAST CALL! Belle of the Ball – Prom Dress Assistance (Luu) Class II & I
Belle of the Ball in partnership with Anton’s Cleaners cleans and distributes prom dresses and provides related accessories at no charge to high school juniors and seniors who would otherwise not have the opportunity to attend their school’s prom.
If you are interested in learning more, please reach out to your school counselor to inquire about this opportunity. DEADLINE: Friday March 15.
Here’s a video description of the program:
Massachusetts Poetry Out Loud (Thompson) All Classes
Congratulations, Ailin Sha
docs.google.com/document/d/1OekVn0kiLNsYMSOdh6buG80kuJ4n70zq/edit
Ramadan Mubarak! (Murray) All Classes
Ramadan Mubarak!
In consultation with the Boston Public Schools Office of Equity and our state guidance, we must support our students to observe their faith while doing our best to ensure they will not miss any instruction.
Beginning this Monday, March 12th, we will have space available in the library for those who want to pray either during their assigned lunch time or immediately after school at 2:15. All students will be expected to be present in their classes so they do not miss any instruction time.
In addition, for students who will be fasting, starting March 12, the library has been reserved for you as an alternative space to spend the lunch period for the duration of Ramadan.
As always, please reach out to your guidance counselor with any questions or concerns. We wish a safe, happy, and generous Ramadan to all members of our community who observe the holiday.
Play Ultimate Frisbee! (Luu) All Classes
Play Ultimate! Play for a Boston club ultimate (frisbee) team this spring, organized by the Boston Ultimate Disc Alliance (BUDA). No experience is required! Ultimate is a team sport with a lot of action and no referees. Experienced coaches will teach players the skills and the rules, and the high school team will play against other area high schools. For more information, go to www.buda.org/en_us/e/boston-grades-9-12-early-spring-ultimate-2024.
Friday, March 15, 2024 Day 5
From The School Store (De’Angelo) All Classes-New
GO WOLFPACK!
Learn to play Spades! (Pinchem/Metayer) All Classes
Have you always wanted to learn how to play spades? Do you already know how to play, but want to learn some tips, such as how to talk across the table without getting caught, then come to the next BLS BLACK club meeting on Thursday, March 14 at 2:30 PM in Room 114. If you want to learn the meaning of a “Boston”, and we’re not talking about the city, then WE WANT YOU! All students are welcome to come by after school this week. If you have any questions, suggestions, or concerns, please reach out to Ms. Pinchem (cpinchem@bostonpublicschools.org) or Mrs. Metayer (rdelormemetayer@bostonpublicschools.org)
Catie’s Closet is Collecting Now! (Murray) All Classes-Updated
Catie’s Closet is looking for new and gently used clothing in youth sizes 4-16 and teen sizes XS-2XL. All donations will be distributed to nearby schools and community centers to bring confidence to local underprivileged students. One hour of community service will be rewarded for donations if a photo is submitted to Inner View. If you have any questions feel free to email akriscenski@bostonk12.org.
The collection area is at the big yellow box in front of the main office with Catie’s Closet flyer taped above it.
Teacher Cadet Summer Academy – Paid Opportunity this Summer! (Encarnacao) Class V, IV, III, II. I
The Teacher Cadet Summer Academy is a paid summer development program for rising 9th-grade through 2024 high school graduates. Students will participate in 2 classes per day focused on arts & music, civic engagement, graphic design, and political speech. These courses, taught by our college intern cohort, are designed to educate students and inspire a natural passion for education. Pedagogical practices employed by our facilitators are far from the norm in public secondary education, taking a more discussion and independent research-based method of personal exploration and developing criticality.
See the attached flyer for more information. Apply here: docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSe9o1iduycZouxDkG-91XasXpy8FXrZ06XBLugaMYYwNsmXag/viewform
Free SAT Prep Classes (Ellis) Class II
Boston Public Library is offering a free 5-week SAT prep course starting on March 18th. The class has a limit of 30 students. For more information click here.
drive.google.com/file/d/1Xb5xmAdthuviKZt6RGGLWKoHAO4bkMoM/view?usp=drive
Stem & Healthcare jobs for UNDOCUMMENTED students!!! (Laverty) Class III & II
We are now accepting applications for our High School Medical Academy Program (formerly known as STEM & Science Pathways Program)
This program is designed to empower and support immigrant students passionate about STEM and health sciences. Participants will gain valuable hands-on experience, enhance their resumes, and prepare for future academic and career pursuits in STEM and health sciences. Program Highlights: Start date: March 25th Duration: 10 weeks Curriculum: Comprehensive hybrid learning experience Final Project: Research project presentation Stipend: $15 per hour for 10 hours per week Application form: forms.gle/Si4FcfAMmWreLFxz7 Important note: students will be selected on a rolling basis, so we strongly encourage students to apply as soon as possible to increase their chances of being accepted. Eligibility Criteria: To be eligible for our program, students must:
Be currently enrolled in 10th or 11th grade at a local high school. Be immigrant students living in the City of Boston. Exhibit a demonstrated interest in STEM and health sciences. Have a desire to pursue higher education and careers in STEM and health science fields. Important Dates:
Application Deadline: March 10th Program Schedule: Monday through Thursday, 3:30 pm to 5:30 pm Please let me know if you have any questions or if there are any additional details or materials you may need from us.
Dining Hall Must Be Vacated at 7:25 – Monday, March 11th – Friday, March 15th (Lewis-da Ponte) All Classes
Students must vacate the dining hall at 7:25 each morning to prepare for the National Latin Exam each morning, beginning Monday, March 11th through Friday, March 15th.
Thursday, March 14, 2024 Day 4
Mock Trial Team Continues to Impress! (Ruzzo) All Classes
The BLS moot court team competed in an international competition over the weekend. Emily Yu and Michelle Chen won top speaker awards, and the team of Amirah Redwing and Ruth Gelaye finished as quarterfinalists.
Recycling Committee ( Foulis) All Classes
Hello from the BLS Recycling Committee! Nature’s Knitwear is a student-run company under Junior Achievement selling crewneck sweatshirts with different animal designs. A portion of the profits from each sweatshirt is donated to conservation efforts for that animal. For example, some of the profits from the hammerhead shark design sweatshirts go to the Shark Stewards organization. The other sweatshirt designs are currently red panda and elephant. They are available in black, white, and beige. You can buy a sweatshirt at natures-knitwear.square.site/s/shop or learn more about Nature’s Knitwear on their website homepage here: natures-knitwear.square.site Follow them on Instagram (@naturesknitwear) and TikTok (@natures.knitwear)! Email jacp.avanade@gmail.com with any questions.
Citywide Science Fair Winners (Bateman) All Classes
Please join us in congratulating our BLS Citywide STEM Fair winners! Please click the links below to see the Junior and Senior Fairs winners. We will keep you posted on our students’ progress at the Massachusetts State Engineering Fair (MSEF) Senior State Fair at Gillette Stadium on April 5, 2024, and the MSEF Junior Fair at Worcester Technical High School on May 11, 2024. Go Wolfpack!
drive.google.com/file/d/15IPhbeoXN7qR96M1b-Fhs4peNt_Epbf1/view?usp=sharing
drive.google.com/file/d/1qIyC5eN3dIQmDyiDLhBgbzPkFxeID_DB/view?usp=sharing
Wednesday, March 13, 2024 Day W3
Tuesday, March 12, 2024 Day 2
Free Week-Long Summer Journalism Workshop through New England High School Journalism Collaborative (NEHSJC) (Luu) Class IV, III, II, I
The New England High School Journalism Collaborative is excited to announce that we will hold our all-expense-paid summer workshop for students interested in journalism for the 37th year.
The 2024 workshop dates are June 22 – June 29, 2024.
The program is intended for students who are from traditionally underserved populations. Some preference is given to current juniors and seniors in high school.
Students will work out of a newsroom at Simmons University in Boston and learn to report, write, edit a newspaper, and produce multimedia projects for a website. They will be assigned stories, do interviews, and be exposed to working on a deadline to create their newspaper.
Applications are due on April 12 Find more information here: nehsjc.org/summer-workshop/
Catapulta Pi Day (Galego) All Classes
Want to see your math or science teachers get PIED in the face? If so, find a Catapulta officer or Venmo @jessiewang22 from now until 8 AM Thursday, March 14th to cast votes for your teacher of choice! Pi Day tickets include a vote, slice of pie, and admission to the Pi reciting contest and pie-ing, all for $3. Individual votes for teachers alone cost $1. On Pi Day (3/14), the winner of the Pi reciting contest will pick the teacher with the most votes in the dining hall after school.
Votes are available for purchase now. Starting Wednesday, March 6th, tickets will be sold on the 11th, 12th, and 13th in the main lobby during lunch periods and after school or from any Catapulta officer at any time.
Digital purchases of Pi Day tickets can be made here: docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSfbqZvB8GJhPyTLzDC35uFF1sdiCBrSi6nWHhQ8mO-uUTsACg/viewform?usp=sf_link
SEL Tip of the Week: Feeling Anxious (Wang) All Classes
Happy March! Throughout the month, we will be going through different topics found in our Student Mental Health Toolkit. Let’s talk a little about anxiety this week.
Everyone feels anxious, nervous, or scared sometimes. Anxiety is our body’s normal reaction to perceived danger or threat around us. Our body must have an internal alarm system to tell us when we need to prepare for danger and to start to prepare to respond to that danger. It motivates us to practice for our soccer game or to study for our exams.
Our first reaction to anxiety is often to avoid whatever thing we’re feeling anxious about. We feel immediate relief from anxiety when we avoid it, but in the long term, we feel more anxious. You might say, “Next time, I promise I’ll do it!” But next time, your body will remember how good it felt to avoid, and it will be that much more difficult to do the things you are anxious about. You’ll also miss out on the good that can come from things that we might be anxious about at first (like meeting new people, joining a new club, or learning a new skill).
Check out our Student Mental Health Toolkit to learn more about what anxiety is and to learn some strategies to calm your mind and body.
sites.google.com/bostonpublicschools.org/bls-mental-health-toolkit/i-feel-anxious
Monday, March 11, 2024 Day 1
BLS Chess Tournament Winnners (Kerpan) All Classes
Congratulations to Hanley Ensdorf (II) and Max Howard (II) for their top results at Wednesday afternoon’s chess club tournament. Both ended with a 4-0 result after 5 rounds of blitz chess.
Encore performances of BLS Theatre’s Award Winning: PLEASE LEAVE (a message) (Gels) All Classes
BLS Theatre is having 2 more encore performances of PLEASE LEAVE A MESSAGE which won at the preliminaries of the Massachusetts High School Drama Festival. All-Star Awards for acting went to
- Z Colimon
- Jude Cannon
- Ofira Lam
All-Star Awards for tech went to The Entire Sound Screw
- Griffin Berry
- Julia Sax
- Jennifer Okwesa
- Brenda Mercado
- Catherine Cox
The Projections Design Crew
- Tegan Trueblood
- Alexa Schmitt
Thursday, March 7, and Friday, March 8 at 3 pm in preparation for the semifinals. In the black box $3 for students and $8 for adults. Tickets at our. show/please leave
The semifinals will be at Weymouth Middle School Chapman at 9:30 am on March 9. Tickets are $15 for the whole day.
Boston PIC application is OPEN! (Laverty) Class III, II, I
The Boston PIC application is now open! Please use the link below to start your application. If you have any questions regarding your application or the application processes, please come see me or email me at erin.laverty@bostonpic.org
Senior Transition Group (Vasquez) Class I
The Senior Transition Group is accepting referrals. This group will be a safe place for graduating students to learn and share strategies. Topics include stress and schedule management, career development plans, and a safe space to share emotions and thoughts about moving on from BLS. Please submit referrals to the attached Google form. Contact Ginnelle Vasquez, LICSW (gvasquez@bostonpublicschools.org) with questions. This group will run during school hours.
docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLScCGgQ6c8Cd79tcEou3CfRTGAPHEw5_eTt80ZUuM7BPz3Ss0w/viewform
Big Band Wins Gold qualifies for the State Finals (Pitts) All Classes
The BLS Big Band received a Gold medal Rating for 23 years in a row at the MAJE Coastal District Festival, Kenny Kotsclilis, Justin Gao and Cynthia Francis received outstanding musicianship awards. The MVP for Division 1 was awarded to Carina Szocik for her outstanding piano playing.
History Club (Stuppard) All Classes
Congratulations to Luc Vulliez (Class II) for winning 3rd place in the varsity division of the New England History Bee Championship and to Kevin Wang (Class II) and Benjamin Leung (Class III) for reaching finals in the varsity and junior varsity divisions of the Bee, respectively.
If you are interested in History Bee or History Bowl, please email blshistoryclub@gmail.com or pop by 018 (near the library) on Fridays after school!
Faculty Talent Show (Sarkis/Encarnacao) All Classes
Who’s someone with a lot of brains and talent? Besides yourself, it’s the faculty! On March 15th, in the auditorium after school, the faculty decided to share their gifts with you in the Annual Faculty Talent Show! Tickets will cost $5 throughout the coming weeks, but at the door on Friday, the 15th, will cost $7. Bring your friends and tell your peers about it because you can’t miss what the faculty has in store this year. We hope to see you there!
The 2024 Red Sox Scholars Application is now open to eligible 7th grade students in the Boston Public School District and Boston Public Charter Schools! (Mr. Murray) Updated
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 and feel 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, the application is a fillable PDF document to simplify the process. 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.
- As in the past, if you’d like a Red Sox Foundation representative to speak to your students, we’d be happy to make arrangements to do so.
If you have any questions, please don’t hesitate to contact Emily McGrail at emcgrail@redsox.com.
Friday, March 8, 2023 Day 6
4th Public Dec submissions DUE Thurs., 3/7 (Harari & Kerpan) All Classes
Submissions due: Thurs., 3/7. Tryouts: Thurs., 3/14 in the auditorium between 2:30-4:00 pm. Declaim a passage or abridged version from a poem, speech, book, essay, or play, not to exceed 2 minutes and 30 seconds. Please complete this GOOGLE FORM. The assembly is scheduled for Monday., 3/25 during R1/R2 and the audience will be Class V.
docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLScQ-E9UJ8DvKgPOOTXl0h-ZuQrh0nxKqg8c5n-m_OaNZrLaWw/viewform
BLS BLACK T-shirts on sale (Pinchem) All Classes-Updated
We still have a few of the new BLS BLACK t-shirts for sale. The cost is $25. Feel free to stop by Room 114 before or after school to pick one up.
Ladies Collective Spirit Week (Brogan-Healy) All Classes
March is Women’s History Month! Celebrate by participating in Ladies Collective’s Spirit Week. All proceeds from selling the teal ribbons ($1) will go towards a domestic violence shelter. Starting Monday (3/4), you can buy them from a Ladies Collective Officer or during lunch (Lilly Butler Class I, Penelope Duff-Wender Class II, Mae Noonan Class II, and Anita Mei Class IV).
- Monday (3/4): Wear something to honor a favorite female role model
- Tuesday (3/5): Wear a rainbow to promote gender/sexuality inclusivity
- Wednesday (3/6): Wear Pink
- Thursday (3/7): Wear a teal ribbon to support Domestic Violence Awareness
- Friday (3/8): Wear purple, yellow, or white (colors of the National Women’s Party)
INTERNSHIP PREVIEW DAYS!! (Laverty) Class III, II, I
Internship preview days for PIC summer internships!! Attending these will give you priority access to PIC summer internships- register and sign up. They are on ZOOM.
drive.google.com/file/d/1Q5U-NaneRNNf4IQx5V48J2P_Pa-qebgy/view?usp=sharing
AP Lit Field Trip March 7 (Moon) Class I
Please excuse the following seniors on March 7th. They are going to the Calderwood Pavilion to see a play. Students are instructed to see teachers about work missed. Thank you!
docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1tM84_9ZTNZw2bsu9Suy5lUE_sts0vYHl/edit#gid=1769031980
Global Summer Service Programs (Kennelly) All Classes
Are you looking for a Spanish language learning summer service opportunity? Check out Amigos. Several BLS students have had positive experiences with their summer programs in Latin America. More information here.
Thursday, March 7, 2024 Day 5
March Madness (Sarkis/Encarnacao) All Classes
Are you up for some madness? On Friday, March 8th, we will host a 5v5 basketball tournament in the upper gym! Teams of 5 will compete against other teams of 5 in a single elimination tournament. One loss and your team gets eliminated. These games will be half-court games until the final two teams remain and compete in a full-court game. This competition is open to all grades. In addition, teams can consist of students from different grade levels. The prize will be $25 gift cards of your choice for each player involved. The event is free, so invite your friends! Let’s play ball!
Judicial Youth Corps Paid Summer Court Internship for High School Students (Encarnacao) Class III, II, I
The Judicial Youth Corps (JYC), sponsored by the Supreme Judicial Court of Massachusetts, is an educational summer internship that teaches students about the Massachusetts court system and the rule of law. Students work four days a week in one of the Suffolk County courts and spend one full day in law-related educational sessions. Interns are taught and mentored by judges, lawyers, clerks, probation officers, and other court personnel who volunteer their time in educational sessions or as work supervisors. Students also can opt to participate in a mock trial in the Federal Court in August.
Apply using this link: docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSdYYFrfto0yYKygpcachIQIRu7EG59Tt2Qc7llLgiyU4W8jag/viewform
drive.google.com/file/d/1ZJPxejDuVmv0xOxSMXj_X2E2W3ZC5oiw/view?usp=sharing
Questions should be directed to youthcorps2024@gmail.com
Class I Students’ Community Service (Kennelly) Class I
Class I students are reminded to have at least 100 hours of community service entered on Innerview before May 1. Students with 250+ hours can wear the green community service cord at graduation.
Wednesday, March 6, 2024 Day W4
SASMC Guest Speaker on Pallet Housing in Boston (Bowles) All Classes
Students Advocating for Solutions for Mass and Cass (SASMC) is hosting the team that is responsible for building Boston’s first Pallet housing community to help unhoused people in Boston get off of the streets and into their first steps toward drug recovery and permanent housing. Please join us during W-block on 3/6 in room 307 to learn more about how this community was built and how it is sustained! Email Ms. Bowles at powens@bostonpublicschools.org to get a pass to attend for W-block.
Chess Tournament Wednesday, March 6 (Walker) All Classes
Hello to BLS chess players of all abilities! BLS Chess is back from the break and ready to host another tournament! Join us on March 6th for an exciting afternoon of chess playing with a welcoming community in the Seevak room after school (information and sign up on Google form below.)
Thank you!
BLS Chess
Company Pop-Up – Junior Achievement Entrepreneurship Class (Levesque) Class IV, III, II
JA Company Program Pop-Up teaches students practical skills to plan, launch, and operate their own business using experiential learning. Students will collaborate, make crucial business decisions, develop sales/marketing plans, and ultimately launch a pop-up business at BLS. A volunteer from Santander Bank will teach the curriculum, created by Junior Achievement, every Tuesday after school (2:30-3:30) from March 5 to April 23, meeting at BLS. Learn more about the program HERE. Email Mr. Levesque with questions and to sign up (jlevesque@bostonpublicschools.org). Class II-IV.
drive.google.com/file/d/1kXd6jkup75p-gA6pIZ51Jb8f0G5pQoV4/view?usp=sharing
Moth Day Auditions (Bowles) All Classes
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:
The Pathway Initiative (Bateman) Class IV, III, II, I
The Pathway Initiative supports students who wish to pursue a medical career through hands-on experience and mentorship. There are 2 programs.
1. High School Medical Academy: a spring after-school program Deadline: March 10 Duration: March 25 for 10 weeks, Monday through Thursday, 3:30 pm to 5:30 pm Application: forms.gle/Si4FcfAMmWreLFxz7 Stipend: $15 per hour for 10 hours per week Eligibility Criteria: To be eligible for the high school medical academy, students must: Be currently enrolled in 10th or 11th grade at a local high school. Be immigrant students living in the City of Boston. Exhibit a demonstrated interest in STEM and health sciences. Have a desire to pursue higher education and/or careers in STEM and health sciences fields.
2. Summer Internship Program Deadline: March 10 Duration: June 17 – August 30, 2024 Application form: forms.gle/GgK8XuZzAe4Ph3do8 Open to High School students ages 15-18 years Stipend: $15/hr, up to 25 hrs/week Fields: Medicine, Health Sciences, STEM Eligibility Criteria: Boston residents and a limited number of non-Boston residents, focus on underrepresented and socio-economically disadvantaged students, eligibility to work in the USA required
Nelson Fellowship- Summer internship! (Laverty) Class II & I
During this six-week summer program, Fellows also participate in courses that focus on civil rights, writing, and public speaking. In addition, Fellows meet community leaders, take tours of local colleges, and visit organizations that facilitate the college application process.
drive.google.com/file/d/1V2460R_5iisU7YGsw_vAYYUah8wegQ5n/view?usp=sharing
Tuesday, March 5, 2024 Day 3
Teen JUST-US (Luu) Class III, II
Teen JUST-US is a summer social justice program for Jewish teens. They are looking for current 10th and 11th graders. Students work at an internship at a not-for-profit organization (3 days per week) along with a cohort experience (2 days per week) where they learn together and engage in service days. Teens get a $1000 stipend at the end of the summer for completion of the program.
For more information on how to apply, see below:
www.tisrael.org/teen-just-us-Boston
drive.google.com/file/d/1fU33dE9tWdtxHW95OGs3xeuYWk8LXhO3/view?usp=sharing
Monday, March 4, 2024 Day 2
Ticket Info for Hockey Playoffs (Owens) All Classes
If you plan to attend the BLS Hockey Playoff games this weekend, please note that only digital tickets are accepted in the Round of 16. Please go to gofan.co/app/school/MA14517 to purchase tickets.
2024 BLS Spelling Bee Winners & Thank Yours! (Thompson) All Classes
Congratulations & Thank You!
docs.google.com/document/d/1Y9RSATqbzOe-tm6GiKJ-S6gC1ayoaROy/edit
WWII Veterans Tribute Contest: $500 prizes (Kennelly) All Classes
The 2024 World War II: Portraits of Service Awards Submit an original essay, report, eulogy, poem, song, mini-podcast, or mini-documentary profiling the sacrifices, strengths, and legacies of a World War II Veteran who was honorably laid to rest in an NCA national, state, territorial, or tribal Veterans cemetery.
Award Value: $500
Number of Prizes: 10
Eligibility: Students in Grades 6–12
Submission Deadline: 8:00 a.m. ET on Friday, May 3, 2024
More information and the application are here.
www.gilderlehrman.org/veterans-legacy-program/student-contest
Steven Miall, National Fencing Champion! (Pierce) All Classes
Huge congratulations to Steven Miall ‘II who beat out 313 competitors to capture the Gold in Cadet Men’s Foil at the 2024 Junior Olympics last week in Charlotte, North Carolina. You can see Steven’s inspirational interview here. Gratulationes, Steven!
IMPORTANT: Middle School Basketball Tryout Info CHANGES (Owens) Class V & VI
Please note changes to the previously posted Middle School Basketball Tryout Schedule:
Wednesday 2/28
Girls – 2:30 Lower Gym
Boys – 4:30 Upper Gym
Thursday 2/29
Girls – 3:30 Upper Gym
Friday 3/1
Boys – 2:30 Upper Gym
4th Public Declamation Tryouts: Thurs., March 14. 18 (Harari & Kerpan) All Classes
Open to all grades! Tryouts will be held on Thursday, 3/14 in the auditorium between 2:30-4:00 pm. You may declaim a passage or abridged version of a poem, speech, book, essay, or play. The duration of the text may not exceed 2 minutes and 30 seconds. If interested and for more information, please complete this GOOGLE FORM. Submissions are due on Thurs., 3/7. The assembly is scheduled for Monday., 3/25 during R1/R2 and the audience will be Class V.
docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLScQ-E9UJ8DvKgPOOTXl0h-ZuQrh0nxKqg8c5n-m_OaNZrLaWw/viewform