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Science Fair | |||||||
Science Fairs Highlight Science, Technology SkillsDuring the winter, Boston students participated in school science fairs. Student science fair projects highlighted skills in using the experimental method, problem solving, and creating presentations, as well as science, engineering and technology. On March 6th, representatives from each school came together for the citywide science fair, held at Northeastern University's Cabot Gymnasium. Monument High School
On February 27th, over 200 students from Monument High School came together for the second annual MHS Science Fair. Last year was the first Monument High School Science Fair, and it was a great success - nearly all students participated, with projects ranging from "Lead levels in Boston Soil Samples" to "What is the Effect of Sleep Deprivation on School Performance?" This year our students continued to exercise their higher order thinking skills, and the application of the scientific method, the main component covered on the MCAS Science Exam. Students began working on their individual projects in November which culminated in the day-long fair. Students first had to develop an experimental question that they were interested in pursuing. Then they were responsible for completing their own experiments and collecting data. All successful science fair projects were comprised of three main parts: a research paper, a log book with recorded observations, and a display board. These three components reflected the work that was done in the experiment, and were a large part of the student's third quarter science grade. Students in all grade levels participated, and the projects covered a wide range of topics. The three-person science faculty at MHS planned and coordinated the entire event which was a massive undertaking with so many students, projects, and logistics to manage. The projects that students completed were rooted in biology, chemistry and physics, and covered a huge array of topics. Examples included:
Over 20 adult judges from a wide range of professions had the opportunity to witness first hand the high level of quality work students at MHS are capable of. Many of Monument's primary community and business partners were present including lawyers from Robinson and Cole, faculty from UMass Boston, and several scientists from local universities. Burke Science FairScience and MOS students worked together to make the Burke's Annual Science Fair a success. Students from the technology pathway made banners and signs advertising the fair, certificates for each student who participated and photographed the participants. The Science Fair was held in the Burke's cafeteria where students presented their projects to an audience of their peers, staff members and parents. Members of the Burke's faculty and outside representatives judged projects, nine of which represented the Burke in the Citywide Science Fair. | |||||||
Job Shadow Day | |||||||
Boston students participate in Job Shadow 2004On February 1, 2004, 832 students from 23 Boston schools participated in the Job Shadow 2004. Madison Park High School
 
Thanks to the enormous efforts of the Madison Park students, staff and our fabulous PIC Career Specialists, Jillian Smith and Cameron Dominick, Madison Park Technical Vocational High School had 125 participants in Job Shadow 2004. Because of the generosity of the Boston Business Community, many of the students were placed in shadowships related to their technical/vocational areas. In addition, our VIPs came through once again for our kids! Elected officials, Congressman Michael Capuano and State Senator Jarrett Barrios showed our students the workings of government while Citizen's Bank Vice President for Community Relations, Melodie Jackson provided a bird's eye view of the many facets of the banking world. Preparation for Job Shadow was extensive. Besides the required application process, students attended a series of workshops prepared exclusively for Madison Park students by Jillian and Cameron. The Career Specialists met with students individually as well to insure everyone was good to go on Groundhog Day! With the Library as command central, thanks to Jim O'Brien, all 125 students left for the world of work without a hitch. East Boston High School
 
East Boston High School reports that teamwork was the key to their successful Job Shadow Day. Dan Cuddy, Shawn Brown, the two PIC Lead Career Specialists along with Mary Shea, School to Career Coordinator sent out 80 students successfully to several hotels and hospitals. Some of the hotels included the Hyatt Harborside, Hyatt Regency Boston, the Marriott Hotel / Long Wharf, Wyndham Hotel, Sheraton / Boston, Embassy Suites / Logan Airport, Copley Fairmont Hotel, Seaport Hotel, Omni Parker House, Colonnade Hotel and the Lenox Hotel. About twenty students went to our lead business partner, Mass General Hospital and ten went to the Jewish Memorial Hospital. Prior to going, students attended workshops on Dress for Success, Communication Skills and Appropriate Behavior at the Workplace. and after the event, students participated in workshops on Writing a Thank You. At this last workshop, students reflected and shared their experiences, which were all very positive. English High School
For the second year in a row, the students from The English School TV/Film Production class were invited to FOX SPORTS.NET - a cable sports talk show in Burlington as part of Job Shadow Day arranged by Junior Achievement. The JA students and teachers (Mortensen & Jones) toured the FOX television station and learned first hand how a sports broadcast program is designed and produced. Students were invited to compose an ad campaign for the upcoming Celtics games that are aired on Fox. On Feb 1, 2004, Kinesha French, a Junior Achievement student and member of Ms. Mortensen's TV class spent Job Shadow Day with Lieutenant Governor Healey and attended a news conference at the Transportation Building. Also this month, Kinesha's Public Service Announcement about a teen issue will be shown to the Governor's Commission on domestic violence. | |||||||
Celebrating History | |||||||
Boston High School Teachers and Students "Remember the Ladies"
Teachers from a variety of disciplines:
Does all this make a difference? You bet! Student reflections on the Adams National Historical Park experience testify that infusing women's history into the curriculum makes for thoughtful girls and boys. Look for further proof as BWM Grant Awardees post their products on http://www.bostonteachnet.org. Learn how Madison Park Tech Voc students in Charlotte McCullough's Networking course identify Women in Information Technology; and how English High students in Sue Mortensen's Media class design commemorative stamps honoring women journalists. As Women's History Month, March is the logical time for school-wide expos and assemblies about women committed to social change and public service. On March 26, West Roxbury High's Service Learning Festival features more on the Boston Women. Visiting elementary students will interact with Mary Ellen Bower's TEACHBoston students sharing information on "Learning Lucy's Legacy;" Grace Diggs's Leadership students reviewing readings from their "Go Girls Book Club;" Maggie Hoyt's TV Production students producing a special on "Women of Substance;" and Demetra Stavrianides' English Language Learners telling about "Immigrant Women in the Promised Land." Summing up how Boston students remember the ladies is the following excerpted review of the Boston Women's Memorial by West Roxbury High Junior Jacquelyn Coffin: Boston Women's Memorial is a solid representation of three remarkable women. They blaze the Commonwealth Avenue trail as they take their rightful place alongside their useful pedestals. When women were not acknowledged for their ideas, Lucy Stone, Abigail Adams and Phillis Wheatley were bold enough to speak for what they believed. Though the three women didn't know each other, they stand together as role models for women of today.
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Burke High School Celebrates Black History Month | |||||||
Black History Celebration
Daily morning readings about African-American inventors continued throughout the month. Other special events included two forums and a guest performance by our middle school friends. The Men's Forum included guest speakers: Mr. Floyd Williams, Floyd Williams Funeral Home; Mr. Humbre, Correctional Officer; Mr. Fisher, The Timothy Elementary School; and our own Mr. Warren and Mr. Goncalves. The performance by students from the New Pilot Middle School was delightful and moving. The Women's Forum introduced the students to such great speakers as: The Honorable Mary Ann Driscoll, West Roxbury District Court; Representative Shirley Owens-Hicks; Professor Aminah Fernandes Pilgrim; Pamela Hull, Social Worker; and Daharia Williams. | |||||||
Adult Education | |||||||
  | The Family Literacy Program at the Adult Learning CenterThe Family Literacy Program at the Adult Learning Center is an adult education program for parents who want to improve their academic skills. It is located in the Grover Cleveland Middle School in Fields Corner. Students attend English for Speakers of Second Language, Adult Basic Education, or High School Equivalency Diploma (GED) preparation classes. The curriculum also includes parenting skills, computer literacy, and ways to be involved in their children's schools. The Family Literacy Program also provides parents and children the opportunity to learn together through monthly on-site activities. These Together, Now! events are scheduled on holidays, weekends or school vacations so that children can attend activities with their parents. This year students have learned about the MCAS exam, played teacher-created bingo, listened to a professional storyteller, enjoyed some creative indoor activities for cold weather days, and heard an opera singer perform. One Common ThingMy name is Truong Phong and I am Vietnamese. I'm learning in Boston Public School where they teach everybody who has some under 18-children. My teacher's name is Barbara. Her age is as old as my mom. She's very nice, and I like her so much. There are just a few people in my class, but it's very fun and friendly. My classmates come from everywhere in the world: Vietnam, Haiti, Bangladesh... Although we have different languages, we have one common thing, that's the life in U.S. So that we're learning English in this school, and we've been taught how to live, how to work...like a natural American. Yes, all I want to say is just to thank Boston Public Schools and all teachers in it. They gave us a chance to have a better life. | ||||||
Boston Evening Academy | |||||||
Boston Evening Academy Students as EntrepreneursBEA students had a unique opportunity to travel to New York City's wholesale district to buy merchandise for their newly formed businesses. The trip was part of the National Foundation for Entrepreneurs (NFTE) program that is run by Mr. Eugene Carney, BEA's School-to-Career Coordinator. NFTE students bought a variety of items in bulk at well below their retails prices and then returned to Boston to sell their wares. The purpose of the trip was to give NFTE students first-hand experience of how business works. NFTE at BEA is still in its youth but it has been an eye opening experience. Last year, BEA undergraduate, Desiree Athill, won second place in the citywide NFTE competition sponsored by Babson College. She received a $750 scholarship and a laptop computer for her award-winning business plan. She went on to participate in the National NFTE competition in New York City last summer. I thought I knew a lot about business already, but this class has proven me wrong. Before I joined NFTE, when I heard someone say that businesses make this or that much, it was in terms of gross profit and I was amazed at how much money it was. In actuality, businesses earn less than the gross profit. There are operating costs such as employees, rent, supplies, insurance, etc. Gross profit is only one of the many things we've learned in class so far. According to Mr. Carney, "What you learn in NFTE can be applied to life even if you don't open up a business because you can use the knowledge you've learned throughout this course to plan ahead. This will give you a better chance of succeeding in any career." At the end of the year we will present our business plans. The neat thing about this is that the first three runners up will get $100 and the winner can enter a city wide final competition and hopefully go to the NFTE national competition as Desiree did last year. The founder of NFTE, Steve Mariotti, gave up his $70,000 a year job to teach math to urban kids. In class he noticed that his students paid more attention to him when he talked about business and that's what inspired him to start NFTE. Its sole purpose is to help students enrolled in the program to get interested in business no matter whether they live in urban or rural areas. This year, All NFTE students were given $62 (including $12 for lunch) for the New York buying to spend on goods. We were required to spend at least $48 or pay back the remaining amount. Naturally, everyone spent more than $50. When we returned to Boston we had to set the right price for our merchandise in order to sell the items at a profit. In the end, we were allowed to keep our profit and the $50. I interviewed my friends and teachers about NFTE and everyone seemed enthusiastic. " had a great time in New York," said my classmate, Winston. "And I believe everyone had a great time." "I used the money to enrolled my niece into a day care center," said Anthony, a recent NFTE graduate who went on the trip last year. BEA Science teacher, Jennifer Mills said, "I went last year and had a lot of fun. I love shopping and that's why I was a chaperon for the trip again this year." "I liked the experience, and I want know how much the sellers earn," said Math teacher, Ray Dimagiba. Since the trip, Winston has earned $260 dollars from an initial start-up of $90. He sold ski masks at $5 dollars each. Each mask cost him only one dollar. He sold watches at $20 each and but paid only $5. I have made $106 from selling watches and magnetic phone books. We both have four watches left. I should have shopped with him. My plan for the future is to open up a business that I would like to be in such as a Lan Party business. It's like an Internet café but it's more intense in term of computer gaming. This would fuel my two needs, games and caffeine. Above that, I want to expand my business, whatever business I may be in. I will treat my employees fairly because I am currently one myself. I found out that by being paid fairly and getting praised for my work, I work harder the next day. Because my pay depends on tips, I work even harder, and I am always nice to customers. I will apply this knowledge to my business and hopefully my employees will work hard for me. As a businessman, I want to be a decent man. And that's what I believe is the key to success in any business, or anything else in life.
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Burke High School | |
Math Class Uses PLATO System, UMass TutorsStudents in Mr. Gonfa's Math class are engaged in reviewing math concepts and reinforcing math skills using the Plato Pathway System. This program is designed to help students increase their success in the math section of the MCAS by providing instruction in all the computation skills - from counting through beginning geometry. Through the generosity of the University of Massachusetts, our education partner, two graduate student tutors provide the individual attention Burke students need to benefit from the self-paced program in the computer lab. | |
East Boston High School | |
Marketing Blitz Brings the Classroom to the Real WorldOn Tuesday, February 24, 2004, twelve juniors in the Academy of Management participated in a "Marketing Blitz" with the Embassy Suites Hotel at Logan Airport. Peter D'Angelo, Assistant General Manager and our new Academy of Management Board Chair invited several juniors to go out in teams of two with a Hotel Manager to distribute marketing materials from the Embassy Suites Hotel to various Boston Law offices with the hope of establishing new customers for the hotel. Attorneys often book meeting space for large and small groups, hotel rooms for depositions, and accommodations for clients. The students were introduced to Embassy Suites Hotel's marketing strategies along with tips of how to dress for success and how to sell yourself and the company in a training workshop given by Peter D'Angelo the day before at East Boston High School. The students were picked up at 8:00 am by an Embassy Suites shuttle bus. They began the day with a lovely breakfast and a briefing on what to expect. The students looked like true business professionals in their Academy Blazers, and dress for success clothing. When the students returned at 1:00 pm, they were all extremely excited. The teams competed for prizes. Those with the most business cards and call-backs were eligible for prizes that included a one- night stay at the Embassy Suites, a portable color television set and a CD player. Students in this Academy study a combination of Travel and Tourism, which focuses on this exciting industry and Entrepreneurship, which focuses on starting your own business and marketing it. | |
Economics and Business Academy | |
EBA Students Go Behind the SceneOn Friday, February 27, 2004 the students of the Economics and Business Academy attended a field trip to the TJX Corporation Distribution Center in Woburn, Massachusetts. Thirty-six freshman business students had the opportunity to experience some of the behind the scene processes that are necessary to support all the TJX stores. The students learned how TJX vendors search the globe looking for goods, how the goods are received, sorted, and priced at the Distribution Center and then are shipped to the individual stores. The students toured the facility and were able to experience life as a worker at the Distribution Center when they assisted some of the employees. The students were able to learn a great deal about the world of retail and had a great time doing so. |
Fenway High School | ||
Fenway High School PoetsThis year, the Roxbury Literary Annual is publishing a special Youth Edition. Writings by 36 students from the Boston Public Schools were selected for publication. Three of those students are Fenway sophomores. They all wrote poems, which they read (by special invitation) at a reception hosted by ACT, the Roxbury Arts-Cultural-Trade Consortium, on February 26. None of the three expected anyone besides their teacher - let alone the editors of a literary magazine - to respond to their poetry. "I was just writing," Shanita Williams said. "It was a class assignment, where we had to use rhyme schemes and figures of speech." For Shanita, Joe Hartford and Denise Wilkins, the poetry assignment gave form to experiences, thoughts and feelings in surprising ways.
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Health Education and Careers Network | ||
Spotlight on Benita St. Fleur
In her own words, "HECN has changed my life! This program kept me in high school and has also prepared me for college. It has been preparing me both academically and professionally. I've been in the program for two years: first in Nursing Assistant training and now in the E.M.T. training. I'm in my last year of high school and have been working as a C.N.A. since the Summer of 2003. I discovered the potential I didn't know I had." "I realize that the demands of life are real - it's serious out there! But I believe that if I work hard now it will pay off in the end. I am eager to learn different things that feed my desire to care for others. I want a career that I'll be successful in and still make a decent living. My goal is to become a Registered Nurse on my way to becoming a Psychologist."
Benita is well on her way to reaching her goals. She is currently employed at the Hebrew Rehabilitation Center while she finishes her studies at ABCD University High School. Benita has also made it over the MCAS hurdle. In addition, she attends EMT classes three evenings a week and is maintaining the highest GPA in the class. And she is already certified as a Health Care Provider for CPR/AED. As Benita said, it is not easy. But if you have the desire to become a health care professional and you are willing to work hard, the Health Education & Careers Network is the place for you. Let us help you make your dreams a reality. | ||
Madison Park | ||
 | Alexandro Gomes Makes an A+Earlier this month, WCVB TV, Channel 5 chose Madison Park's Alexandro Gomes as a featured student in their A+ segment, which runs regularly on Channel Five's Six O'clock News. Originally produced by media legend and Channel Five reporter, the late Kirby Perkins, A+ features some of Massachusetts's high schools' rising stars and showcases what makes these young adults so special to their schools and communities. Alexandro, a senior in the High Tech Academy's Vocational Computer Technology Program has been an outstanding student at Madison Park in both his academic and vocational programs. He shared with Channel Five's Ed Harding that he would like to study architecture at Connecticut College or Cornell University. When Harding asked him what the connection was between his vocational program and architecture Alexandro was quick to make the creative connection. "Designing and maintaining web pages is really all about making something yourself. I've looked at other aspects of design and think that architecture is very similar; you create something from nothing and it's a useful thing for people. I like that." Outside of school, Alexandro is involved with the Boston Food Bank and is part of the reason why their web page is so attractive and user friendly! Being chosen as an A+ student will give Alexandro an opportunity to compete with other Massachusetts high school seniors for scholarship money earmarked by Channel Five to help students finance their post secondary education. We are all proud of Alexandro Gomes for being recognized by WCVB TV in Boston for his character, academic success and volunteerism. He is a true example of what we call MP Pride! | |
Madison Park | ||
 | Thalana, South Africa Cultural ExchangeThirteen educators from Madison Park Technical Vocational High School and the Boston Public Schools Office of Instructional Technology recently visited Dundee, South Africa as part of a cultural exchange with Madison Park's Sister School, Thalana High School and other nearby schools. The educators from Boston presented the Thalana staff with $1,500, books for distribution to the nearby elementary school, Endumeni; school supplies; a clock, "So that learners and educators will not report late for classes," said Agapito Feliciano, the Assistant Headmaster at Madison; and School to Career T-Shirts, worn in the photo by delighted Thalana teachers, as they broke into song and dance. The Boston teachers also conducted workshops for Dundee and nearby faculty, using many of the materials donated by Boston teachers, students, families, and business partners. Thank you note!! [PDF] Dr Sikhakhane, the principal of Thalana High School told learners and teachers that the friendship with Boston was started some years ago when he studied for his Doctorate in the Boston area. At that time the Madison Park Technical Vocational High School community welcomed him warmly. The local newspaper in Dundee noted that, "The visitors enjoyed a melody of cultural music presented by Thalana High students. They described Dundee as a good town where the people treat their visitors with respect. Thalana High is certainly the ideal Ambassador for Dundee in Boston." Our thirteen BPS educators certainly agree! View student letter [PDF] | |
TEACHBoston | ||
  
| The TEACHBoston Program's 3rd Annual Wheelock College Senior Visitation DayTEACHBoston Seniors "Enroll" in the College Experience 45 seniors from the three TEACHBoston high schools - Brighton High School, East Boston High School and West Roxbury High School attended the 3rd Annual Wheelock College Senior Visitation Day on Thursday February 5, 2004. Faculty, students and staff from the college welcomed students. The most anticipated part of the day was the class visits. This was an opportunity for students to get an authentic, hands-on experience of being a college student. Prior to attending the day, students were required to pre-register for a class or professor led workshops based on their area of interest. They had an opportunity to visit classes/workshops such as:
They also participated in an intensive admissions and financial aid session, and met students from the Boston area who are attending Wheelock College. As a result of the day, a third of the seniors who attended have applied to Wheelock College. Eight students submitted completed application before leaving campus and 6 additional students scheduled interviews and plan to mail their completed applications. As of March 1, 2004 two students have been accepted. Postsecondary connections are an integral part of the TEACHBoston program and core curriculum. In addition to exposing students to the profession and to the foundation of teaching and learning, these learning experiences provide excellent college preparation and opportunities for students to develop and practice leadership skills. Students had a lot to say about their day at Wheelock: "I was excited about our senior trip to Wheelock and was eager to visit the school and attend a class. I found the class to be very interesting. My professor was very friendly and gave us a lot of information about reading and skills." "I thought the trip was really good. It was really fun to sit in a class and the classes they offer seem very interesting to me. I liked that it was a small school because I feel that you can really get into your studies with that size. I also liked seeing the dorms and the library." "We enjoyed feeling like adults sitting in a college classroom listening to the professor. That made us feel like we were in college already….I like the fact we had a chance to experience college life and it was not a gimmick." "The Wheelock experience was awesome. I loved it! My desire to go to Wheelock has only increased. …I had a college interview with Aleta Estrada [Assistant Dean of Admissions]…all my questions were answered. I hope to be receiving an acceptance letter from Wheelock within the next month or two." The staff, teachers and students of the TEACHBoston Program would like to thank the faculty, students and staff at Wheelock College for providing them with such a valuable experience. Special thanks to Aleta Estrada, Assistant Dean of Admissions for her support organizing the entire event. | |
Tech Prep - TEACHBoston | ||
 | TEACHBoston Program and Roxbury Community College Sign a Tech Prep Articulation AgreementRoxbury Community College (RCC) has awarded the TEACHBoston program a Tech Prep Stage 2 articulation agreement. The college hosted a signing ceremony to commemorate the event on Friday December 19, 2003 at 2:00 pm. This event at Roxbury Community College celebrates the cooperation between the College and the Boston Public Schools TEACHBoston program in three high schools: Brighton High School, East Boston High School and West Roxbury High School. The agreement will enable all TEACHBoston seniors who graduate from any of the three high schools with a C+ or better in their English 12 class and a B or higher in the TEACHBoston I and TEACHBoston II classes to receive 6 credits in early childhood development free of charge. The single most important element for securing the agreement was the integrity of the newly redesigned TEACHBoston core curriculum. The curriculum is a sequence of academically rigorous, literacy-based courses designed to acquaint students with concepts, philosophy, and theories of education as well as practical application to ensure that knowledge gained can be put to use. The courses encourage students to consider the whole spectrum of opportunities within the field of education. Students investigate learning styles, multiple intelligences, and instructional strategies through a combination of reading, research, observation, and activities. TEACHBoston would like to commend the TEACHBoston teachers and staff for their thoughtful work last year in redesigning the TEACHBoston core curriculum. Over the next couple of months, the Staff at RCC and the TEACHBoston program will work with school leaders and teachers to ensure that every eligible senior who graduates from a TEACHBoston program will have a guaranteed opportunity to pursue a college degree. | |
Tech Prep - Burke High School | ||
Tech Prep at the BurkeTech Prep sponsored guest speakers for Mrs. Joan Lee-Nieves class on February 26, at the Burke High School. The speakers' professional lives include distinguished careers in health care. Dean Judith Burnett, a Roxbury native and Dean of Bunker Hill Community College Chelsea campus was formerly a medical radiographer; and Dean Beryl Davis also from Roxbury and Bunker Hill's Dean of Nurse Education and Health Professions was formerly a hospital administrator and critical care nurse. Both Deans spoke of their family and educational backgrounds and rise through the profession including the obstacles that they overcame. They discussed the variety of careers in health care, earning potential and education required. The students asked questions and talked about the careers that matched their interests and strengths. | ||
Tech Prep | ||
What is Tech Prep?Tech Prep is a federally funded (Carl D. Perkins Act) program that links the high school curriculum to the curriculum of a community college or technical school. Typically, the last two years of high school curriculum are aligned with the first two years of college curriculum. Agreements, called articulations, between the high school and the college allow students to earn college credits for specific high school courses. Students can apply these credits towards Associate's Degree programs and certificate programs offered at colleges and technical schools. Students who graduate from a two-year college may apply the credits earned through Tech Prep to four-year state colleges that participate in the Massachusetts Joint Admission Program. Boston Public High Schools currently have twenty credit granting articulation agreements with seven public and private colleges in the Greater Boston area. Student Requirements to obtain college credit.
Questions About Accessing Tech Prep?
Even More Questions?
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West Roxbury High School | ||
  | Tools for Tomorrow Career DaySince September, the Communication Arts classes at West Roxbury High School have participated in the Tools For Tomorrow (TFT) a program that began in 1999 with Boston College. Boston College doctoral and master degree students team teach with Ms Grady in the signature class. TFT's purpose is to expose ninth graders to a variety of career opportunities that might be of interest after high school and college. The program focuses on the students' image of themselves, where they see themselves in the future and ways to get there. When looking at the future, the students take a close look at their strengths and weaknesses and ways in which they can capitalize on both. The also look at their future as a roadmap and take a hard look at what barriers might be in the way of reaching their goals. The students problem solve to figure out how those barriers can be dealt with and what skills are needed to overcome them. The commitment of the Boston College students to work with the "Westie" students every week really makes a difference. Westie students have trust in the collaboration because they really get to know the college team. This program helps the students understand how important their high school career is to what happens to them later and they learn what they can do to make the most out of high school! This curriculum gets the students on the right track at a very early age! In January, the program conducted a special career day for all the ninth grade students in the Media Technology Small Learning Community. Twenty-two careers were represented. The students were given the opportunity to meet and talk with many professionals, including: lawyers, engineers, higher education professors, cosmetologists, electricians, plumbers, and professionals from high tech companies. It was interesting to observe the high school students as they rotated to different career showcases asking questions about the careers and what kind of education was needed to enter those careers. One important message that was given at each showcase was that their high school education a very important stepping- stone to any career they chose. One student commented, "What they had to say about careers really sunk in. They really know what they are talking about because these people are already there! The TFT project is really going to help me succeed in high school and its neat that Boston College is helping us learn about what we need to do to succeed." | |
West Roxbury High School | ||
Making Connections to the Business WorldThis month the West Roxbury High School NFTE classes participated in activities that engaged the students and piqued their interest in the world of entrepreneurship. Three executives form Montilios, State Street Bank, and Lords and Ladies salons were guest speakers in the class. Montilios stressed to the students the practical business skills that are necessary to be successful. State Street focused in on the selling component of starting a business and what kind of selling tactics worked. The students learned that different people may run businesses with the same name and that entrepreneurial skills are needed to succeed in each franchise. This information will be valuable for when the students complete their business plans for the citywide competition. In addition to these speakers, an entourage of fifteen business people and educators from Japan visited the NFTE classes. The purpose of the visit was to observe and learn how NFTE classes work. Japan is interested in implementing the program in their schools. The students found the visit interesting especially watching and listening to the interpreter. Mr. Kherymer, the West Roxbury NFTE teacher traveled to New York with other NFTE teachers from across the country to participate in a taping event of model lessons given in the program. These tapes will be compiled and transformed into a video lesson plan book for new teachers who use the curriculum. Mr. Khermeyer's students are eager to see the tape and feel that they can critique the model lessons with their own ideas and creativity.
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West Roxbury High School | ||
  | TEACHBoston Teacher Panel DayIn January the West Roxbury High School TEACHBoston classes began a signature project that was completed just before February vacation. The students were assigned to interview a teacher of their choice to learn more about a career in education. The students have been learning about careers in teaching since September, now it was time for them to use that information and investigate on their own what teaching meant to different staff members at the school. The first part of the assignment was to write twelve open-ended questions about teaching and have those questions edited by the teacher and a peer. The following week eight teachers and administrators were invited into the media center to participate in a teacher panel. The fifty students in the audience then started firing off questions to the panelists! The students wanted to know what inspired these people to become teachers, what they had to do to become certified, how they liked their job and why, how they planned their lessons, what they thought of charter schools, and what they thought of their pay. The session was extremely informative and fun. Many students were able to view some teachers in a completely different light. The next part of the project was for the TEACHBoston student to set up an appointment with a teacher of their choice and interview that teacher asking the twelve questions about teaching they created. The students were a bit nervous approaching the teachers about the interview and then sitting with them alone and asking questions. However, once the interview was over, the interviewer felt really good about the activity. The student wrote up the answers they received at the interview and compiled a written reflection on what they learned through the assignment. This reflection also included what the student learned at the teacher panel. The final packet for the signature project included the questions about teaching, the answers, a written reflection on the assignment, a picture of the teacher, and a professional looking cover sheet for the project. This packet was then put into the student's portfolio. One student commented on the project with this statement, "I never thought I would be so nervous asking teachers questions about their job but I'm glad I did it because I learned so much. I certainly want to investigate teaching even more because now I really think that it is the career for me. It was great having the opportunity to do this, everyone should, they would understand their teachers better." | |
Resource Shelf | |
Resources to ExploreChildren's Museum Newsletter
Adult Education WebsiteLearn more about Boston Public Schools Adult Education Programs at http://boston.k12.ma.us/stc/adulted. See our feature story on Adult Education in this month's newsletter. Boston Women's Memorial Signature ProjectsView the Boston Women's Memorial Signature Projects ~ Learn & Serve http://www.bostonteachnet.org/bwm.htm at Boston TeachNet, the BPS Service Learning Web Site by and for teachers. See story above. | |
This fall, Barbara Locurto, Director of IMPACT II @ School to Career and Boston Women's Heritage Trail Board Member, focused on the recently dedicated Boston Women's Memorial that celebrates the achievements of Abigail Adams, Phillis Wheatley, and Lucy Stone. She offered high school teachers an exciting curriculum package plus a supplemental grant opportunity with impressive results. Her curriculum package plus a supplemental grant opportunity produced an enthusiastic response: 
Students at the Burke kicked off Black History Month commemorating The Dream of Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. through a celebration of our diversity. The students honored black leaders and inventors through a performance before an audience of staff, students and parents. Students gave presentations based on the theme, "Living The Dream,"' for each subject area. Some of the students' presentations were spoken in their native languages. Students in the technology pathway prepared PowerPoint presentations of the English translation of the students' speeches complete with images depicting Extraordinary People of Color. One Burke student did an excellent job reciting Dr. King's speech "I Have a Dream" while a slide show of Dr. King's activities during the Civil Rights Movement played. The Burke Chorus performed a medley of traditional spirituals.
Shanita's poem-story, 
Joe Hartford glances at the newspaper headlines every day on his way to school on the train and bus. Though he spends more time reading the sports pages than the war news, the gap between the outside show of patriotism and the inside experience of 
Denise Wilkins has written lots of poems, but she was still surprised at the feelings that emerged in 
You might wonder how becoming involved in Health Careers Exploration during your high school years can change your life. One of our current students, Benita St. Fleur, is more than happy to share her feelings about what she has done over the past two years. 
The latest issue of Connecting, the Children's Museum e-newsletter features TEACHBoston students from East Boston High School. Read, "Learning About Boston Harbor with TeachBoston" at