Good Evening, Boston Arts Academy Families,

I am excited that we are now fully set up for student engagement in our school community! Congratulations again to our newly elected Student Government! I am already excited by your vision and your plans, and I look forward to working with you. Equity Roundtable has its first meeting this week, and I am excited by the number of students who have told me they will be there to work with parents/caregivers and staff to hold BAA accountable to our statement of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion. And thank you to the Community Service club, gearing up for a day of school beautification Saturday on October 23. I can’t wait to see the improvements you will bring.

BAA’s mission, as I shared last week, is to serve as a laboratory and a beacon for artistic and academic innovation, preparing a diverse community of aspiring artist scholars to be successful in their college or professional careers and to be engaged members of a democratic society. Thank you to our students who are leading the way!

Weekly Bulletin: October 18 - October 22, 2021

We are now in week six of the school year, and students are receiving their first progress reports. These reports are important pieces of communication--but they are not final grades. I encourage students to think of these reports as an indicator of where you are now, your progress to date, but not a statement of where you will definitely end up. The term does not end until November 8. If you are on the right track, keep up the good work. But if you are not where you want to be, you still have time to increase your achievement. Check in with your teachers, check in with your advisors, get the help you need, and make a commitment to improve. The adjustment back to in-person school has been challenging for many students, but we are here to support your success.

There is no school Monday in recognition of Indigenous Peoples Day, a newly designated day in the city of Boston calendar. Three years 

 as part of a Humanities civics project, Boston Arts Academy students 

 that the day be recognized by the Boston Public Schools. BAA's mission is to "prepare a diverse community of aspiring artist-scholars to be successful in their college or professional careers and to be engaged members of a democratic society”; this Humanities project is one of many opportunities we have in our curriculum for students to practice civil engagement. The students who did that work graduated last year, but I hope our current students see this day as an example of how those with a vision can achieve change.

Weekly Bulletin: October 11 - October 15, 2021

This week marks the middle of Latino Heritage Month [September 15 - October 15]. We study Latino history all throughout our curriculum and all throughout the school year at BAA, but we also want to take this specific time to celebrate the histories, cultures, and contributions of Latinx artists. The BPS Office of English Language Learners is sponsoring a number of events that celebrate Latino Heritage. I am proud to point out that this 

 lists one of our graduates as a featured artist: Dominican-American director and actress Paloma Valenzuela.

On Thursday of this coming week, we continue our community building as the 9th Graders go to Hale Reservation. Advisors will be passing out field trip permission slips in advisory on Monday, and students should return them to the main office. Our 9th graders will leave BAA after 1st period on Thursday via bus and return to BAA by 2pm. The staff and the 10th graders had a great experience at Hale, and we look forward to the 9th graders having the opportunity to bond as the class of 2025.

Weekly Bulletin: October 4 - October 8, 2021

Thank you to the many families who joined us at Back-to-School Night. I am hopeful that you received information that will help you support your student and that made you excited about the school year ahead. It’s been a big transition back to in-person learning, but we have a strong community and a lot to look forward to!

I have said many times: There would be no Boston Arts Academy if it were not for our families.  Families advocated for the opening of the school and continue to advocate for our facilities, our budget, and our philosophy of arts-based education. 

Thank you for taking the time to join us Thursday night. Thank you in advance for joining us Monday, September 27 at 6pm for the safety discussion with Assistant Superintendent Roundtree (a zoom link will be sent out Monday morning). And thank you to the many family members who volunteered for leadership positions in our Family Council election.

Weekly Bulletin: September 27 - October 1, 2021

I would like to open my message this week by acknowledging that members of our community have expressed concerns about Covid-19 and safety protocols. There are a number of important updates in this bulletin. We have also asked Assistant Superintendent Eugene Roundtree to join us at an upcoming Family Council meeting to discuss those concerns. We will announce the date and time for that meeting in our next bulletin.

This coming week we focus on supporting the connection of our community. Artists depend on community. Musicians, dancers, and theatre artists create through ensembles, through connections with other artists. Visual artists and fashion designers grow through critique, through opportunities for members of the community to give each other constructive feedback and suggestions. As people, we also all depend on connections to others. Personally, I believe that the last year has taught us the value of a strong, connected, and healthy community.

I am very proud of our 10th graders, who had a virtual/hybrid introduction to BAA and yet have already shown themselves to be leaders and great additions to our community. On Wednesday, all 

 will be going on a field trip to Hale Reservation, a nature preserve in Westwood, Massachusetts. BAA staff and Hale staff will lead students in a number of outdoor community building activities to further build their bond as a class. The BAA staff had a lot of fun going through the same activities before school started this year. Buses will leave from BAA after the 1st period and return before the end of the day; lunch will be provided. Advisors will be passing out permission slips, and we ask 10th graders to bring them back by Tuesday. 

This coming Thursday evening, we will have virtual 

 We will elect family leaders, and families will have the opportunity to learn about arts and academic programming. A detailed agenda and zoom link will be sent out on Wednesday. If you have a suggestion of a topic or a question you would like answered Thursday night, please email me at 

, a day whenwe come together as a BAA community to get to know each other and have a little fun. We will have a modified schedule that ends in some outdoor activities at nearby Town Field park. Students, on Friday wear your BAA gear or your art color (green/music; red/dance; blue/visual arts; gold/fashion; purple/theatre).

Weekly Bulletin: September 20 - September 24, 2021

I would like to congratulate the students and the staff on a very successful opening of school. It’s always challenging to get back into the rhythm of the school year after a summer break. It is especially challenging after 18 months of remote and hybrid learning. I am grateful for the enthusiasm, energy, and joy that our students have brought back to the building.

I also want to make sure that we are remembering our shared value “Community with Social Responsibility.” When we explain to students what that value means, we say it means that we value our community and we commit to supporting the health of our community. 

As we go into the next week, I want to make sure we all committing to the protocols that will keep our school community safe and learning in person:

News

Weekly Bulletin: October 18 - October 22, 2021

Weekly Bulletin: October 11 - October 15, 2021

Weekly Bulletin: October 4 - October 8, 2021

Weekly Bulletin: September 27 - October 1, 2021

Weekly Bulletin: September 20 - September 24, 2021

Weekly Bulletin: September 13 - September 17, 2021

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