Alumni Day is Friday, May 3, 2024. Let us welcome back all returning alumni, but most especially those from the 50th class (1974) and the 25th (1999). Sumus Primi!!
Category Archives: Class I
GCI Summer Fellowship(Kennelly)
Global Citizens Initiative (GCI) is thrilled to announce that the applications for the GCI Fellowship for students are now open! Students who want to make a positive difference and connect with peers from around the world are encouraged to apply for the GCI Fellowship 2024, a full year-long program for secondary school students that launches with the GCI Summit at the University of St Andrews in Scotland, from July 20 to 28, 2024. Applications due: January 29, 2024. APPLY NOW!
Human Rights Day T-Shirt Design Contest(Bowles) All Classes
The Topol Fellows are seeking artists to submit their designs for the Human Rights Day orange t-shirts. The winning design will be featured on the shirts. Prizes will be awarded to the top three submissions. Email your submissions to topolfellowsbls@gmail.com
Participate in the Biology Olympiad! (Bateman) Class IV, III, II, I (Updated)
The BLS Biology Olympiad Club is looking for students who are interested in taking the USA Biolympiad (USABO) exam in February – the premiere biology competition for high school students in the United States. The first general meeting will take place on Friday, October 6th. Please email blsbio1635@gmail.com with any questions, and fill out the attached form to sign up. forms.gle/hjyqu4bvaC8bdEZs5
10/6: YouthCAN Trash Dash!(Fogel)
Calling all climate enthusiasts! Are you frustrated with the amount of litter around our school? Come help us clean it up on Friday, October 6th from 2:20-3:30 PM! This is a team competition to pick up as much trash as possible. Winners get treats! No rsvp is required. Just show up outside behind the dining hall by the stone benches in the yard. Community service hours are available. Bring your friends (and enemies)! See you there! Questions? Email youthcanbls@gmail.com
Tour Guides Wanted(Pierce)
Friendly and spirited students in Classes I-III are needed as tour guides for prospective students and families. Tours are offered on select Saturdays, Wednesday evenings, and Friday afternoons, late October-early February. Guides who speak a language other than English are needed and encouraged to sign up. Interested students must attend the Tour Guide Training and Information session during W Block, Wednesday, October 11 in the Black Box. To register as a tour guide and to secure a pass for the training, you must complete this form by Monday, October 9. If you have any questions, please email Ms. Pierce (mpierce5@bostonpublicschools.org) or stop by the Main Office.
Drop-in Homework Tutoring – Starts Monday Oct.2(Delorme-Metayer)
The drop-in homework tutoring room launches on Monday October 2. The room locations and schedules are posted on the website under the McCarthy Institute tab.
BLS High School Quiz Show Team Tryouts!(Zou)
The BLS High School Quiz Show Team is looking for new players for the two-time state championship team. Students in grades 9-12 are eligible, and those with prior quiz-bowl experience are especially encouraged to try out (though all are welcome!). If you’re interested in participating, please attend the first tryout session which will be held after school on Thursday, October 5th, in room 212. Please email blsscientia@gmail.com with any questions or concerns. Hope to see you there!
New BLS Extracurricular Website!(Murray)
Want to start or join a club? Check out the new BLS extracurricular website at blsecevents.com! Explore or promote club opportunities, receive guidance from experienced club leaders, and build your community. You can also display or discover club events on the Upcoming Events calendar. Email Ms. Murray or blsextracurriculars@gmail.com with images of your club to be featured on the website! (Thanks to Teagan Yuen and Hannah Yu!)
Class of 2024 Seal of Biliteracy testing and sign up! (Kelley)
Are you a bilingual and/or student studying a world language who wants to obtain a Seal of Biliteracy? The Seal of Biliteracy is an award given by a school district and state in recognition of students who have studied and attained proficiency in two or more languages by high school graduation. BPS invites all graduating seniors to sign up for an assessment (STAMP Assessment, WorldSpeak Assessment or portfolio) to determine your qualification. Sign up with the Google form by the end of the day Wednesday, October 4 and take either the STAMP Assessment, WorldSpeak Assessment or get more information around being assessed with portfolio for languages not included in the testing. Once you sign up, more information will be sent out explaining the assessments. The STAMP test will measure your ability to read, speak, write and understand the language. If you have a 4 or 5 on an AP Language Exam (Chinese, French, German, Italian, Japanese, Latin, Spanish), you have already qualified and do not need to take an additional assessment in that language. If you have any questions, please contact Modern Languages Program Director Mrs. Kelley at ckelley2@bostonpublicschools.org. Testing will take place during the school day on October 16 OR October 17 from R1 to R4 depending on how long you need to complete the test. More details will be sent out once you sign up.
AP Classroom registration and payment(Kennelly)
All students enrolled in AP courses at BLS are required to sign up for their courses in AP Classroom with codes provided by their teachers and take the corresponding AP exam in May. Students must also pay for exams unless they are eligible for the Zero Fee Waiver. All current AP students should be enrolled in AP Classroom at this time. Students can check their College Board account to verify their enrollment in AP Classroom. Students must be enrolled in AP Classroom in order for an exam to be ordered and to test in May. Students that are not eligible for the Zero Fee Waiver must pay for their AP exams either on the BPS AP payment portal or by check or money order made payable to BLS and delivered to Mr. Kennelly. Students eligible for the fee waiver will be notified by email in October. Those eligible last year will probably be eligible again this year. While students must register for AP Classroom in September, payments may be made anytime between September and March 1, 2024.
Tickets for BLS v. Brookline Football – Friday October 5, 6pm @ White Stadium(Owens)
Please get your tickets for Friday night’s Football Game here.
Chill Skills Groups Starting Soon!(Kaye)
Do you feel stressed about school, Declamation, home, friends, or even out of the blue? Consider joining one of two Chill Skills Groups facilitated by Dr. Kaye. A 7th – 9th grade group will meet Tuesdays during R6, and a 10th – 12th grade group will meet Tuesdays during R4. Both groups will run weekly from October 24th – December 5th.
See the flyers and consent form in the linked google drive to learn more, then talk to your guidance counselor or Dr. Kaye (amy.kaye@childrens.harvard.edu) to sign up and/or ask any questions you might have by October 17th.
The Writing Center is BACK!(Dupuis)
Need help with proofreading? Not sure how to structure your thesis? College Essay need more revising? Come visit us! The Writing Center will be open beginning MON 10/2. Sessions are Mon-Thurs, 2:30-3:30 in Room 228. You may sign up on SIS to guarantee a time slot or drop in to see if there are any openings. Email kdupuis@bostonpublicschools.org with any questions.
Public Dec Deadline extension: due Friday, 9/29(Harari & Kerpan)
We have extended the deadline for submitting the Googleform for 1st Public Declamation to Fri., 9/29. Please consider participating in this venerable BLS tradition! Feel free to email Ms. Harari or Mr. Kerpan with questions or stop by to chat. Here’s the link to the form:
Community Service Fair Tuesday(Kennelly)
THE BLS Community Service Fair will be held Tuesday October 3 immediately after school in the dining hall. 20+ local organizations will be in attendance. Find a great place to volunteer!
Picture Day on Wednesday, October 4 for Class VI, IV-B and III Students(Gallagher)
All students in Class VI, IV-B, and III will have their pictures taken for their OneCards on Wednesday, October 4 in the auditorium. Students will be given instructions as to what time they are scheduled to have their photos taken and how and when to proceed to the auditorium. Additionally, students in other grades may choose to have their pictures taken for paid packages during R5 and R6 if they have a study or after school, from 2:15-3:00. Details on how photos packages may be ordered will be provided.
Door Decorating Contest(Jacobson-Peregrino)
TAG would like to announce a door decorating contest. We would love to see all the beautiful and inspirational creations BLS students have to offer, in solidarity with the Latinx community during Hispanic Heritage Month! Be as creative as you’d like with this, as the TAG officers will go around judging and pick the best decorated doors on Friday, September 29th, after school. We can’t wait to see what you all come up with!
Yearbook 2024 – Google Classroom(Stiven)
Hello members of Class I. By now, you should have received an invite to the Yearbook 2024 Google Classroom. Please check your email and make sure to join as that is where we will post updates and where you can submit all of your information and pictures to the yearbook. In case you need it or didn’t receive it or need to share it with a friend, here is the link: classroom.google.com/c/NjI0MjczNDkxNTU5?cjc=6z4hr2u
Apply to be a Peer Mentor(Segal)
The BLS Peer Mentoring Program is looking for Juniors and Seniors to volunteer as mentors sharing your BLS knowledge and advice with our sixies. The program meets once a month during W block and mentors work with a small group of seventh graders. Mentors must commit to being responsible, dedicated, and caring to join us.
Please apply by October 2nd to be considered as a mentor. Thank you!
Final reminder: 1st Public Dec submissions due Thurs., 9/28(Harari & Kerpan)
The deadline for submitting the Goggleform for 1st Public Declamation is Thurs., 9/28. Please consider participating in this venerable BLS tradition! Feel free to email Ms. Harari or Mr. Kerpan with questions or stop by to chat.
Schedules for Open House (Classes V – I)(Lewis-da Ponte)
Students in Classes V – I will receive an Open House Schedule to be filled out in homeroom for Open House, September 28th, from 6:00 – 8:00 pm. Please fill out your Day 1 schedule, which parents/guardians will then follow that evening. If students have a leadership position on Day 1, they should leave the period blank or put “leadership” without a room or office number. Homeroom Teachers will distribute the schedules and collect them before Thursday, September 28th.
American College of Surgeons (ACS) Annual Clinical Congress(Bateman)
The American College of Surgeons (ACS) will host its annual Clinical Congress in Boston on October 25. ACS Division of Education hosts high school students from the local area for ”A Day with the American College of Surgeons” in which they explore the challenges and rewards of a medical career alongside surgeon volunteers. This program is designed as an outreach to historically excluded high school students. For this program, we want to identify students who aim to become surgeons and have strong academic records. We also aim to prioritize applicants who have marginalized identities across race, gender and sexuality. Everyone is welcome to apply! 15 students will be selected. Preference is given to juniors and seniors but some spots are held for freshmen and sophomores. The all day field trip on Wednesday, October 25, 2023 includes: speakers, a tour of the Exhibit Hall in which students can get exposure to the latest technologies in healthcare, and training to help in a bleeding emergency before professional help arrives. If interested you must complete the form (docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSdDeThgz-Xe15dozM4wD6fjCqoE1fAxkyaO27bl9DSWMUOVJQ/viewform?usp=sharing) by Wednesday September 27, 2023.
MOTH 2021, organized by the 20-21 Topol Fellows (Freeman) Class I, II, III, IV
The 4th annual MOTH story day at Boston Latin School, organized by Boston Latin’s Topol Fellows in Peace and Non-Violence, will feature students and faculty presenting 10 to 15 minute stories in a day-long series of sessions (spread over two days due to our current hybrid schedule): Monday, April 12 and Tuesday, April 13.
MOTH stories originated in 1997, first as local live events, then as a radio program and podcast and now as events all over the world. Over 25,000 Moth stories have been recorded to date. All stories are true, as seen from the perspective of the storyteller, and are delivered mostly extemporaneously for approximately ten minutes each.
Given the sensitive and upsetting nature of several of the stories, we have decided that it is prudent to open this event to class I, II, III, and IV students only. This is the first time several of the speakers have told their stories in a public setting, so we ask that students be respectful of the speakers and their topics and show their support. And a note: there are a few presentations spread among the various MOTH sessions that require trigger warnings, due to references to death, depression, drinking and/or drugs, eating disorders, hospitalizations, mental health struggles, physical injury, suicidal thoughts, sexual assault, torture, or violence. A trigger warning will be announced at the start of each session.
Sign ups during class sessions will be done by classroom teachers. If you have a free period, you can sign up for yourself. Please use this SignUp Genius
Thank you! If you have any questions, please contact Ms. Judi Freeman (jfreeman@bostonpublicschools.org).