Happy Friday!

Dear Community,

Alas, it's beginning to look like spring again. This makes me happy.   Other things that make me happy:

1. Graduation!   Yesterday evening we celebrated the accomplishments of the 182 students  comprising the class of 2015.   They will be sorely missed! Two things set them apart from previous classes:
1. They are so tight-knit.   This class seems to be together in a way that we have not seen in recent years.
2.  College-bound: the class of 2015   has more college-bound members than in recent memory.
2. The BHS Drama club's adaptation of Shakespeare's  A Midsummer's Night Dream.  Our  budding actors/actresses created a cozy performance space and delivered beautifully. I'm so proud. Pictures below.
3. The BHS  faculty. They seem to come up with the most wonderful and beneficial ideas. One of which  is to host a Junior Parent Coffee. This is happening next Friday, June 12 at 8:00am at BHS.   Please come and learn more about preparing for senior year and the college application process.

There are more things that make me happy, but these are fresh on my mind.   Looking ahead to next week, in addition to the junior parent coffee, our 9th graders will take on the science MCAS on Monday and Tuesday (6/8 and6/9).   They've been working hard and we have been working hard with them. They're ready! How can you help?   Please have your 9th grader go to bed at a reasonable hour wake early and arrive to school on time.  We'll take care of the rest.  

Lastly, as we round the final corner of the school year, students should be checking in with teachers to make sure that they are up-to-date on assignments and ready for final exams.   The final exam schedule is on the calendar on the school website.

That's all for now.

Have a great weekend!

Best,

Pat

Happy Friday!

Dear community,

What a week! It was short, yes, but packed full of activity. Here's a brief rundown:

• Monday, the BHS softball team fought a good fight vs Boston Latin Academy for the city championship. We are proud of our runner-up status. Onto the state tournament!
• Our seniors officially signed out on Tuesday. I must say, they did us proud. This was an extraordinarily smooth and uneventful process.
• Wednesday, we were visited by the new superintendent, Dr.Tommy Chang. He was joined by the members of his transition team.  this is part visiting schools and getting a sense of what's happening across the district.   Later that afternoon, our outdoor girls track team was busy taking home the conference championship title (did I mention that they did the same during the winter track season?)
• Prom was last night. The amount of energy our young scholars display never ceases to amaze me. The prom goers went strong until midnight (and probably beyond). Needless to say, I am a little bit weary today.
• Lastly, this afternoon, our drama club experts will be putting on and adapt a shin of Shakespeare's a Mid Summer Nights Dream.

As I said, it was a busy week. Next week is more of the same. We shall celebrate the accomplishments of our senior leaders their scholarship awards at the senior awards ceremony. That is Tuesday at 5:30pm in the BHS auditorium. Thursday, we will wish our seniors farewell at the 2015 graduation ceremony. The ceremony begins at 6 p.m. at Conte Forum, Boston College.

I will leave you with that for now. More next week. Have a great weekend!

Best,
Dr. T

A view from inside the BHS Prom

Happy Memorial Day!

Dear Community,

Happy Friday!  I hope this message finds you in good spirits as we prepare for a relaxing holiday weekend.  I think we could all stand to take a deep breath and relax a bit.  The classes of 2017 and 2016 certainly deserve a moment or two of reprieve.  They did us proud this week with the MCAS Math exam and PARCC respectively. Many thanks to you for getting them here on time and in the right frame of mind to strut their mathematical stuff.  Today also marked the last for seniors! In short, week was quite busy, but great nonetheless.

Parents of seniors,  Please note that all seniors are due on campus by 8AM on Tuesday for the sign-up process. A letter was mailed home outlining the details.   Seniors must  satisfy all obligations and properly sign out in order to walk at graduation.   Sign out on Tuesday,  dance party (prom) on Thursday. Good things to come!

 Progress reports for the fourth and final quarter of the school year will be on their way home or accessible on SIS on Tuesday.   A number of students need to perform well this quarter in order to successfully pass courses. Please take a look and if you have any questions, don't hesitate to contact your child's teacher or guidance counselor (617-635-9873).

Lastly, for planning purposes, the last day of school is June 29th.  School will be in session on June 17th.

My best to you all for a wonderful Memorial Day Weekend!


Best,
Dr. T

2015 City Softball Championship*- The Fens (Clemente/Cobe Field)

Saturday, May 23, 2015 (spectator parking at Latin School)

Semifinal #1: East Boston (North Champion) v. Brighton (Wildcard #1), 11:00am

BHS Volunteers at the Massachusetts Special Olympics Dinner Dance

Happy Thursday?

Dear Community,

I normally reserve my weekly communication for Friday to sum up the week's events and preview the upcoming week.   I feel duty bound to reach out today as there are a few things happening tomorrow about which I would like to remind you.   First and foremost, allow me to share that this week was a really good one. As I visited classrooms and observed our young scholars in and around the school community, I could not be more proud of the way that they are continuing to work hard.   What is more, we celebrated all of the accomplishments of those who participated in extracurricular activities at the extracurricular banquet on Monday. What a wonderful event!

 I have so much to share that I think the easiest way is for me to approach this in small chunks. Here  it goes:

• Parents of incoming 9th graders (thanks for signing up for the blog),  just a reminder that we are holding a welcome session tonight at 5 PM in the Brighton high school library.   We look forward to meeting you!
• Tomorrow afternoon, we will hold our spring potluck/talent show.   Last year this was a major success, rich with talent and delicious food. All are welcome. The festivities begin at 3:30 in the auditorium.
•  Also happening tomorrow is a really neat and unique event for Brighton High. 22 students will have their artwork exhibited at Athan's Bakery in Brighton (407 Washington Street in Brighton Center).   There will be a reception catered by the bakery celebrating the art exhibit from 4 to 6 PM. All are welcome.  A description is pasted below.
• Next Tuesday and Wednesday are Math MCAS administration days.  Our 10th graders are ready! As is the case each and every day, students should arrive on time and ready to go next Tuesday and Wednesday.   Attendance is absolutely critical.   Your help is appreciated.
• Seniors are wrapping up! A letter is being sent to the homes of seniors outlining specifics around senior events, including graduation. Keep an eye out. If you have any questions, don't hesitate to call us, 617-635-9873.

One final note. A special congratulations to De'Anthony Robinson. He was recognized as the Change Maker of the year! He delivered a speech at the Statehouse last Friday. See the video below.

Best,

Dr. T

De'Anthony Robinson - "Generation Citizen's Change Maker of the Year"  Speech at the Statehouse, May 8, 2015

URBAN LANDSCAPE:
A group exhibition featuring the artwork of Brighton High School Juniors and Seniors
Urban Landscape is a group exhibition featuring the Advanced Portfolio Art class at Brighton High School. The theme, “Inside the Urban Landscape,” is meant to offer the viewer a glimpse of real Boston youth, their journeys, accomplishments, and perspectives. This exhibition represents the wide spectrum of individual story lines and narratives from within the Boston landscape. Using images that were sketched or photographed outside of school, Students took this project head-on as they explored identity and place in community. As the project evolved, so did their work and individual ideas. Each piece tells a story close to the heart of the artist. The diversity of this show reflects not only that of the student population at Brighton High, but also that of today’s youth in the City of Boston.

Happy Friday!

Dear Community,

We are in the midst of TESTING MANIA!   Those of you who have students in advanced placement classes know full well that they have had their hands full this week and will again next week as well.  What is more, we are gearing up for the final administration of the PARCC pilot.  Juniors will engage with this  assessment on Friday, May 15 and May 22.   Sophomores have been preparing for the math MCAS.  That will happen on May 19th and 20th.   Although the warmer temperatures and increase in hours of daylight  signify that summer is near, we have much to do before that much deserved break.   You can help us by ensuring that your student continues to arrive to school each and every day on time and ready to go.  We'll take care of the rest.

 While we expect students to work hard, we will play hard as well. This is happening on the fields and track right now as spring sports is in full swing.   We will also have our spring potluck/talent show next Friday, May 15.   All are welcome to this event!

 Lastly, next Thursday, we will welcome the new Brighton Bengal families.   The event is at 5 PM in the library.   If you are reading this and are, in fact, a parent of an eighth grader, we hope to see you next Thursday and welcome aboard!

 Wishing all the moms in the audience a wonderful Mother's Day!  We appreciate you!

Best,
Dr. T



BHS at the Walk for Hunger...

Bengals Travel!  Ms. Baumgarten (9th gr. ELA) in Hong Kong.

Happy Friday!

Dear Community!

 Welcome back! And I must say we came back with gusto.  What a week!  Here's the week in review:

• Two students returned from the Black College Tour.  Photo of them at the Martin Luther King burial site in Atlanta, GA is below.
• Two educators returned from China.  We're planning to take students next year! Picture below.
• In celebration of National Poetry Month, we held our very poetry open mic session and art shot on Tuesday.  Photos below.
• To get our 9th graders in the right frame of mind for the physics MCAS in June, we held a PREP Rally on Wednesday and a practice test on Thursday and today. 
•  As we do after the close of each quarter, we celebrated the efforts and accomplishments of our young scholars at honors assemblies.
• Finally,  as a rather large number of juniors are preparing to take the SAT tomorrow, we held a rally at the close of the day today.

Now that's what I call a school week!

Over the past week, I'm certain that you received phone calls about the science MCAS prep sessions offered after school.   This is for all ninth graders who are preparing for the physics MCAS in June and all upperclassman who have yet to pass a science MCAS.   Our data on those who participate in the prep sessions is really compelling.  Bottom line - if a student participates, the likelihood that he/she will pass goes up significantly.  Please contact Sara Bouvier (sbouvier@bostonpublicschools; 617-635-9873) with any questions.

Enjoy your weekend!  The warm up is coming!

Best,

Dr. T

From the April Vacation Black College Tour (MLK Burial Site)

BHS Poetry Open Mic and Art Show

Ms. Montgomery and Ms. McDaniels on the Great Wall in China.

Happy Vacation!

Dear Community,

Vacation is upon us!  I must say that I am truly proud of the way our young scholars have performed leading up to the break.  They have worked hard and thus deserve the nine-day hiatus.  For your information, we finished strong today and will start strong again for the fourth and final quarter of the school year on Monday, April 27th.  9th graders can start strong by attending the PULSE Physics Boot Camp which kicks off on the 27th, right after school in room 112.

Parents of seniors, you should have received a phone message from me on Wednesday night.  You will also receive a letter.  By way of brief reminder, students who do not currently meet the tardy criterion may earn their way back to participation at graduation by arriving on-time, having no unexcused absences and no class cuts for the remainder of the school year (which for seniors ends on May 22nd).  We see this as a fair approach to allow a final opportunity for our senior leaders to engage in one of the most important educational rites of passage.   Please call or email me with questions.

Lastly, as I mentioned last week, your child should have brought a survey home for you to weigh in on your impression of their experience here at Brighton High.   I would be greatly appreciated if you would complete this survey and pop it in the mail. They are really, really important to us.   You can also complete one online here.

My best to you and your family for a wonderful spring vacation!

Best,
Dr. T

P.S.  A small group of young scholars visited Harvard University's Innovation Lab yesterday.  The focus: entrepreneurship.  Great time had by all..


BHS at the Harvard University Innovation Lab

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The Allston Brighton Substance Abuse Task Force is hosting a community forum

The Unbiased Truth: Facts about Marijuana, Alcohol & Opioids

Wednesday, April 29, 2015

6-8pm

Charlesview Community Center

123 Antwerp Street, Allston

Light dinner will be served and interpretation services available.

Please visit our website to register www.abdrugfree.org

Registration must be received by April 24 if interpretation services are required.

Our guest presenter is Dr. Kevin Hill who will address current drug trends, consequences of use and most importantly, how to talk with youth.

Please help spread the word by forwarding the attached flyer, posting the event on your websites and around workplaces.

Please contact us with questions.

Thank You,

Helen Connolly and Liz Parsons