High School Renewal Newsletter

October 2003

Welcome to the October 2003 High School Renewal Newsletter! The feature story this month is the opening of four new small high schools in Boston. This September, the Academy of Public Service, the Economics and Business Academy and the TechBoston Academy opened at the Dorchester Education Complex and Boston International High School opened in Jamaica Plain. Each of these schools offers students a small, supportive learning environment, challenging, innovative teaching, a clear school identity and mission, and creative partnerships with community and business partners. Read More...

New look! This year, the School to Career newsletter joins with the High School Renewal and Boston Small Schools Network to create a newsletter that provides news about outstanding work in Boston's high schools, as well as resources and opportunities for creating outstanding learning environments for Boston students.

Teachers, students, parents and community and business partners are invited to email Linda Younis at lyounis@boston.k12.ma.us with news stories and ideas.

News Stories

 Resource Shelf
 Small Schools Network
    Opening Day Bright at DEC Small Schools
    Boston International High School Prepares Students for College, Work and Citizenship
 Charlestown High: Charlestown High Claims Many Winners
 Collaborative Coaching and Learning: Collaborative Coaching and Learning
 East Boston High: Summer Highlights at Mass General Hospital
 Economics and Business Academy (DEC): September Orientation
 Health Education and Careers Network: Summer of Work and Learning 2003 - From Here to There - An Intergenerational Reminiscing Project for the Twenty-First Century
 Home, Inc.: Media Literacy Project with Lewis Middle School, English High School, Brighton High, TechBoston Academy and Cleveland Middle School.
 Hyde Park High School: GEAR UP at Hyde Park High School
 Madison Park Vocational Technical High School: Skanska Provides Summer Opportunities
 Odyssey High School: Integrating GIS Across the Curriculum
 TEACHBoston: TEACHBoston Lecture Series
 TechBoston: TechBoston Update
 West Roxbury High School: Summer NFTE Forum
 West Roxbury High School: Learning about Photography during the Summer
 Workshops, Conferences and Opportunities for Teachers
    IMPACT II: STC TeachNet Learn & Serve: Boston Women's Memorial
    ASCD Conference: Leading and Learning in a Changing World
 Introducing the High School Renewal Staff
 Index of Past Articles - School to Career Newsletter

Resource Shelf

Have you developed something new that you would like to share with other teachers? Have you discovered community resources that other schools would enjoy using? In each newsletter, the Resource Shelf features free resources developed by Boston Public Schools and our community partners. This month we review some of the web-based resources of interest to teachers.

Learn more about High School Renewal
The High School Renewal website provides an overview of the work of High School Renewal and Boston Small Schools Network.
Website: http://www.highschoolrenewal.org
Click on About High School Renewal for an overview of the initiatiave, partners, and readings. Click on News and Activities for this newsletter.

Develop course guides and view examples of Signature Courses
The High School Renewal website provides a database of course guides, including course descriptions, key questions, learning activities, task lists and learning standards, and more. Teachers interested in using the online template to develop a course description may contact Linda Younis at lyounis@boston.k12.ma.us.
Visit Signature Courses at http://www.highschoolrenewal.org/courses/courselist.asp

Develop a list of BPS citywide learning standards
Developing a course guide or project description? Use the Online Checklist of BPS Learning Standards to create a list of the citywide learning standards addressed in your course or project.

Engage students in community service learning
Explore the Boston TeachNet / Learn and Serve website and http://bostonteachnet.org/main.htm for creative ideas for developing signature projects that address School to Career Competencies & Service Learning Priorities.

Engage students in exploring careers
In the Career Outlook Project students can interview professionals about their careers and can browse the interviews contributed by others.

Small Schools Network

Opening Day Bright at DEC Small Schools

The new Dorchester Education Complex (DEC) opened on September 3rd with great excitement and anticipation among all three new schools: Academy of Public Service, Economics and Business Academy, and Tech Boston Academy. All three schools spent many hours over the summer preparing for this opening day.

Teachers met with administrators on numerous occasions to hammer out student handbooks and write the new code of discipline, to plan orientations (see related story), and to create student schedules. The hard work really paid off, as students and staff returned to schools that were confident, orderly, and creatively different.

In addition, staff and students found a new building with color-coded lockers and trim for each school and newly finished floors, entrances, signs, and traffic patterns. The careful preparation was evident everywhere.

Switching to three schools after living in Dorchester High School has not been easy. It's easy to wander into another school or forget that another school may be using the library or auditorium - but, all in all, we are enjoying the changes and appreciate the fresh ideas that come from having other great schools for neighbors.

The Academy of Public Service (APS) introduces students to public and community service careers and provides opportunities for personal and academic achievement. Dionne McLaughlin is the Headmaster.

The Economics and Business Academy (EBA) encourages each student to develop an understanding of what it takes to be successful in business through coursework that engages students. Jack Leonard is the Headmaster.

TechBoston Academy (TBA) is a Boston Public Schools pilot high school that opened in September 2002 in Brighton and is now located at the Dorchester Education Complex. Mary Skipper is the Headmaster.

Robert Belle oversees operations in the Dorchester Education Complex as Chief Administrative Officer.

Boston International High School Prepares Students for College, Work and Citizenship

In September 2003, the Boston International High School (BIHS) opened at the site of the former Margaret Fuller Elementary School in Jamaica Plain. BIHS is part of a larger comprehensive strategy within the Boston Public Schools to provide high quality academic programs for English language learners, particularly those that are entering the country for the first time.

Much of the school's overall design has been modeled on various successful high schools in New York City that serve immigrant student populations (La Guardia International High School, Bronx International High School, and Brooklyn International High School). BIHS is a four-to-five-year diploma granting institution which offers all of its students a rigorous preparation for college, work, and citizenship. Because students speak a wide range of native languages, instruction is primarily in English with as much native language support as possible. The goal is for students to meet high academic standards in the various content areas while at the same time developing English proficiency.

Esther Adames-Jimenez, former principal of the East Boston EEC, has been appointed as Headmaster for BIHS. Mrs. Adames brings a wealth of experience as a school leader at levels pre-K to 12 and has worked extensively with English language learners and their families.

Charlestown High

Charlestown High Claims Many Winners

An ESL class at Charlestown High School took on a different face and a different focus in School Year 2002-2003. Two School to Career programs, Health Careers Education Network (HECN) and Impact II, combined with ESL to drive the instruction in this class.

This novel and innovative concept was constructed around the need to build literacy while striving for a career path for students in ESL training. The in-school classroom curriculum was based on a health careers theme, while after-school found students engaged in health-related components including Recreation Therapy, Medical Assistant, and Health Exploratory.

The HECN staff came to Charlestown once a week to conduct workshops and support classroom instruction. The teacher, Valerie Wong, in turn supported HECN by being the bridge - offering support with language/communication issues.

Ms. Wong enhanced the class further with a community service grant from Impact II. During the year the students worked on a Learn and Serve component - giving back to their peers some of the information and knowledge they were receiving. Working in groups the students researched teen-related, everyday health concerns including skin care, vision problems, sleep problems, eating habits, and hearing issues. They participated in informational health sessions from available community resources, such as the South Cove Community Health Center and the Liberty Mutual Group Employee Health Center. The project culminated in a health fair for the larger CHS student-body on these important issues.

Who were the winners in this project? Some would argue that the real winners were the ESL students. As they gained English skills, they learned about many aspects of the health career industry. They were enrolled in a college class, worked in internships and made valuable connections and contributions. Still others would say the winners were the senior citizens at the Hebrew Rehab Center who loved the students in the Recreation Therapy component. While others are convinced that the Charlestown High School students who left the health fair more informed about everyday teen health issues were the ultimate winners.

Collaborative Coaching and Learning

As Boston's teachers work to turn classrooms into more successful learning sites for students, the district and its partners have provided regular coaching in the high schools.

Since 2001-2002, coaches have been engaged in a new form of coaching called Collaborative Coaching and Learning (CCL). This type of coaching is built on structured collaboration among teachers and the analysis of classrooms practice.

This approach to staff development - CCL - is aligned with Boston's theory that helping teachers learn together leads to improved teaching and learning. What began as a pilot program has now spread to all district schools and this year CCL is alive and well in Boston's high schools.

CCL courses of study are tailored to the needs and interests of teachers in each high school. This year, there are over 160 high school teachers and staff participating. Some of the courses of study are looking at:

• Why Workshop?
• Getting started with Workshop.
• How can we help students to become deeper, more strategic and inferential readers?
• Comprehension strategies that lead to inferential thinking.
• Comprehension strategies for Social Studies students.
• Application of RW/WW in content areas as it relates to students needs and abilities.
• Deepening students' questioning of text.
• Writers Workshop: Writers' notebooks.
• Readers Workshop: Conferring.
• Independent reading.
• Book clubs.
• Interpreting literature.
• Teachers and Administrators: Changing School Culture.

Read more about CCL on the High School Renewal website at http://www.highschoolrenewal.org/tl.htm.

East Boston High

Summer Highlights at Mass General Hospital

Mass General Hospital (MGH) had a terrific summer with students from East Boston High School. Some highlights of Summer 2003 include:

Summer Jobs for Youth (J4Y):
MGH is pleased to report that it responded to the Mayor's appeal for summer jobs with the hiring of 139 young people, 78 of which were East Boston High School students. This makes MGH the third largest summer employer of Boston youth in the city and the largest within the health care industry. At this time, 4 East Boston High School students have been retained as MGH employees by their J4Y departments.

Classroom at the Workplace:
MGH hosted two Classroom at the Workplace programs for 19 East Boston High School students. Classroom at the Workplace is a PIC and BPS sponsored program that assisted students with math MCAS remediation. Class of 2004 enrolled 9 students and class of 2003 enrolled 10 students. MCAS retests took place in June (Class of 2003) and August (Class of 2004).

WBUR ran a story about Classroom at the Workplace at the MGH in early July. A reporter interviewed students, program staff and supervisors about the program and its impact on the students working to pass MCAS.

ProTech:
In August 2003, 10 East Boston High School ProTech seniors successfully graduated from the ProTech program. Five of the 10 graduates are enrolling in health careers programs in their respective post secondary institutions. Five of the 10 interns have been retained as part-time MGH employees by their ProTech worksites.

On August 13, the office of School Partnerships of the MGH Community Benefit Program hosted its first MGH and EBHS ProTech Graduation. President of MGH, Dr. Peter L. Slavin addressed the students and Deborah Washington, RN, Director of Diversity, MGH, gave the keynote address. Nancy Ventura and Marie LeBlanc were the student and supervisor team who also addressed the graduates. The event was well attended by supervisors, family and staff. Two internal MGH publications, Hotline and Caring Headlines wrote about the event.

Economics and Business Academy (DEC)

September Orientation

Economics and Business Academy (EBA) faculty are proud of the September orientation activities for new EBA students. Teen Empowerment facilitated a student assembly which included student skits and pointed messages from students, staff, and the Headmaster. A team of ten EBA students worked with Teen Empowerment staff for two weeks to design and practice skits, arrange music, and create an engaging agenda of activities. One feature was an end-of-assembly greeting from the student body which was videotaped and sent to Ed Noonan at Brigham and Women's Hospital. Ed, the much-loved founder of EBA, is in the hospital. The assembly was followed by in-class break-out groups where teachers facilitated ongoing discussions of the challenges that students face in school each year.

Health Education and Careers Network

Summer of Work and Learning 2003
From Here to There
An Intergenerational Reminiscing Project for the Twenty-First Century

This past summer five Health Education & Careers Network (H.E.C.N.) students participated in a group reminiscing project as part of their paid internship at the Hebrew Rehabilitation Center. This was not just another intergenerational group talking about the past. This team, both youth and elder, used new technology to research the past, collected artifacts and assembled the final project timeline.

All the students are recent immigrants to the United States and Boston. They spent this year exploring health careers and building their English literacy skills through involvement in various components of H.E.C.N. They come from Russia, China, Puerto Rico and the Dominican Republic. The students represent two of our comprehensive high schools. They formed teams with elder residents at the center who were from Russia, Estonia, Israel and China.

It was such an eye-opening experience for two of our young people from China as they interviewed a ninety-year old resident. They discovered that she was born in Russia but spent most of her life in China, just a few miles away from the town they left about a year ago.

Another young women acted as an interpreter for two of the elder Russian residents. This was not a skill that she had ever been asked to use prior to this experience.

The tangible evidence of this team's work is an historical time line of world events and personal journeys of all involved. But, the really lasting proof of all the hard work is in the renewed confidence of the elders as they continue their lives at the center; as well as the amazing pride the students expressed at having had the opportunity to share their stories with people who really listened.

Home, Inc. / Boston Public Schools Media Literacy Project

Media Literacy Project with Lewis Middle School, English High School, Brighton High, TechBoston Academy and Cleveland Middle School.

The Home, Inc. / Boston Public Schools collaboration on the Media Literacy and Health Project, funded by the U.S. Department of Education and the National Endowment for the Arts, is now starting its third year. Five schools are involved, including the Lewis Middle School, English High School, Brighton High School, and two new schools this Fall, The TechBoston Academy, and the Cleveland Middle School. Kim Slack, Home, Inc.'s Education Project Developer has been working with teachers this past spring and summer to create new Media Literacy project based curricula that will be tested this Fall at English High School in Jamaica Plain, Brighton High School in Brighton, and Lewis Middle School in Roxbury.

English High School was the first school to complete the training and planning for their Media Literacy projects. Toby Romer, Assistant Headmaster at English, has embraced the Media Literacy themes in building his curriculum for the new Media and Arts Small Learning Community. Sue Mortensen and Colonel Jones from English High School have teamed up to develop a production class that use the surveys, scripts, and the message of the media Literacy project to introduce pre-production concepts that teachers in the Media and Arts Small learning community at English can reinforce in their other classes. Three of Sue's students will present their videos and demonstrate their comprehension of deconstructing the media, at the YWCA Boston Youth Voice Collaborative 1st Annual Media Conference on October 23rd at Northeastern University.

At Lewis Middle School, a team of teachers including Paulette Squires, David Stamper, Walter Fitzgerald, Larry Roland and Principal, Brenda Jones completed their curriculum and will test it with their classes this fall. Students will work with health teacher Larry Roland and school nurse Paulette Squires to deconstruct media images that glamorize sex, drugs and disrespect. SPED teacher Walter Fitzgerald will then teach the class how advertisers and TV Executives use surveys to conduct research about their target audience. Once completed, Principal Brenda Jones will continue the curriculum with lessons on the initial stages of producing a video. Finally, teacher David Stamper will guide the students in shooting and editing their own PSA.

For more information, please contact Kimberly Drooker, Media Producer and Outreach Coordinator or Alan Michel, Director or Kim Slack, Education Project Developer at (617) 266-1386. Nancy Strunk, at Student Support Services is coordinating the project at the School Department. Check out the project on HOME's website at http://www.homeinc.org.

Hyde Park High School

GEAR UP at Hyde Park High School

The Curry College/Hyde Park High School GEAR UP Program offered a 4-week summer enrichment program during the month of July. Eighteen 10th and 11th graders participated in the activities, which included college tours, classroom work, a ride on Duck Tours, and a luncheon etiquette cruise on the Spirit of Boston. During the first two weeks of the program, the students toured 12 area colleges including Boston College, Harvard University, Franklin Institute, College of the Holy Cross, Roxbury Community College, and Wentworth Institute. During the second two weeks, MCAS prep classes and SAT prep classes were held on Curry College's campus for the tenth and eleventh graders, respectively. Students were paid a stipend of $25 per day for each day of participation.

Madison Park Vocational Technical High School

Skanska Provides Summer Opportunities

This past summer was an exciting time for three students from the Carpentry Department at Madison Park High School. Skanska USA Construction Company provided three young men with a great summer employment opportunity. Julio Pagon, Jean Antoine, and Eric Cuff interned for Skanska on three construction sites throughout greater Boston. The sites were located at Logan Airport, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, and Massachusetts Biological Laboratories in Mattapan. This opportunity was a great learning experience and one that the students continue to talk about. Mr. David Lopes, superintendent of the Skanska construction site in Mattapan, developed the program with the help of the Boston Private Industry Council and Madison Park's carpentry instructors, Vincent Fanuelle and Jim Costello.

While in the program, students were exposed to all facets of the construction industry. The program was divided into several focused areas giving the students a wide range of experiences. They shadowed engineers, architects, builders, and superintendents while actually learning how to read blueprints and run construction sites. Assisting the superintendent was a favorite activity of the students, especially Jean Antoine, who one day hopes to be a superintendent, after being exposed to the profession through this program. Skanska plans to build on this summer's success by adding additional spots for next summer.

Odyssey High School

Integrating GIS Across the Curriculum

Odyssey High, in collaboration with the TechBoston Program, was awarded an EdLink grant from Verizon for the school year 2003-04. The grant will support an after school High School Integration Model developed by Geo-Science Technologies aimed at providing students paid internship opportunities and hands on training utilizing GIS applications.

The High School GIS Integration Model (HSGIM) builds a partnership with the Federal Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), Municipal Fire, Police, Planning, and Emergency Response Personnel, and the staff and students of the high school. The model is centered on the Federal law requiring communities to have knowledge of and be prepared to respond to HAZMAT situations including containment and evacuation protocols. The EPA provides a trilogy of GIS software: CAMEO - a chemical database, MARPLOT: - a mapping program (other GIS software may be used), and ALOHA: - a plume dispersion model, as well as all necessary documentation. Participating schools work with municipal officials (fire, police, planning, etc.,) and the Federal EPA to acquire necessary chemical HAZMAT data including location of facilities, evacuation procedures, and traffic patterns. Geo-Science Technologies, Inc. provides necessary GIS expertise and training to aid in the curriculum development.

Throughout the assigned curricula period, students gain technical expertise in the use of the EPA software products. Students populate the CAMEO database with facilities they have either acquired from the fire department records or from their own EPA assisted inquiries. This information is then linked to the MARPLOT mapping software. Once the database is adequately populated the students will engage the ALOHA program to begin scenario development for emergency response to chemical release under a variety environmental conditions.

Tech Boston will provide technical assistance, document the project for the purpose of replication and assist in the development of a training center for professional development in GIS applications and integration into high school curriculum located at Odyssey High. In addition to the paid internship experience for students, the program will offer on-going professional development to teachers by both TechBoston and Geo-Science Technologies. Once trained, teachers will offer a workshop open to other teachers across the school system. The after school project will also serve as a demonstration classroom and will be opened to Boston Public School teachers for observation of progress throughout the implementation.

The culmination of study is for students to run and provide necessary information to the fire and police departments during a live EPA sanctioned HAZMAT simulation. Specifically, students engage the EPA software to determine chemical containment protocols, model chemical plume dispersion, and provide requisite evacuation data.

TEACHBoston

TEACHBoston Lecture Series

This summer, TEACHBoston students participated in the 2nd Annual TEACHBoston Summer Lecture Series hosted by Institute for Learning and Teaching at the Graduate College of Education at UMASS Boston.

The goal of the lecture series is to provide TEACHBoston students with an opportunity to engage in rich dialogue and discussion about issues in education with leading thinkers in the field of education who inspire them to continue pursue their goals of becoming educators.

Prior to each lecture, TEACHBoston Students read an article sent to them by each guest lecturer and prepared a series of questions. On the day of the lecture, students had lunch with each guest lecturer and then attended the address.

Students learned about each speaker's journey as an educator. They heard about some of the emerging issues in the field of education and how these issues impact each lecturer's research or area of interest.

All of the lecturers were inspirational. Dr. Steve Leonard shared very specific advice. "I believe that there are four things one needs to do in order to pursue any career and be successful."

1. Have goal(s) in mind
2. Commit time to working on the goal(s)
3. Share your goal(s)with someone who will encourage you
4. Remember to give something back and bring someone else along

Students enjoyed the lectures:

I liked the lectures….it's good to see people just like me who made mistakes. They were all smart, but made mistakes...

I liked the lectures on Wednesday. I enjoyed them because the guest speakers gave me more reasons to go on and to keep going in school. They have inspired me greatly.

I loved the Summer Lecture Series because we get to meet different wonderful people that went through a lot of different things in their lives. This has great impact in my life, and it gives me the sense that I too can be successful.

Guest Lecturers included Dr. Pedro Noguera, Professor, Harvard Graduate School of Education, Dr. Janet Williams, Deputy Superintendent, Boston Public Schools, Dr. Steve Leonard, President, City on a Hill Charter School, Dr. Janice Jackson, Assistant Professor, Boston College School of Education, and Dr. Sonia Nieto, Professor, UMASS Amherst School of Education.

Read More about TEACHBoston Summer Projects

TechBoston

TechBoston Update

The TechBoston department relocated to the Center for Leadership and Development located in the Madison Park Educational Complex. Visit us on the web at: http://www.techboston.org/

Mike Reilly joined the TechBoston team in August as Curriculum Director. Mike taught Web Design and Entrepreneurship at O'Bryant. Prior to coming to the BPS, Mike worked as a High Tech Consultant for Accenture, taught Math in Virginia and Detroit, and earned his Master's in Education Administration from the University of Michigan. Mike will be sharing Directorship responsibilities for TechBoston with Felicia Vargas.

Mary Skipper continues to focus her energies as Headmaster of TechBoston Academy (TBA). She will still play an advisory role in the direction of TechBoston, but her priority is developing TBA into a national leader in integrating IT with education. TechBoston Academy is now located at the Dorchester Education Complex in Codman Square. Contact info for TBA can be found on the school's web site: http://www.techboston.org/tba.

West Roxbury High School

Summer NFTE Forum

Mike Kehrmeyer attended the National Foundation for Teaching Entrepreneurship Forum at Babson College this past summer as a guest speaker. He spoke to educators who are investigating the program in order to bring NFTE ideas back to their own school districts across the United States and in some foreign countries. Mike thought the forum was very interesting and answered many questions about the program based on his own NFTE experience at West Roxbury High School.

Ray Grandoit, a former student of Mr. Kehrmeyer, participated in the forum as well. Ray has a very successful business selling Tee shirts that he initiated while at Westie in Mr. Kehmeyer's class. In fact, Ray just signed a contract with NFTE. The agreement states that Ray will design and sell all of the Tee shirts that NFTE needs! Not a bad business deal! Congratulations to both Ray and Mr. Kehrmeyer!

Learning about Photography during the Summer

John Murphy, West Roxbury High's photography teacher, taught photography once a week to students attending summer school. The students stayed in school after their mathematics instruction and learned about digital photography. The program was very well received and students were able to apply their mathematical skills to real life products. Mr. Murphy would like to continue the program during the academic year.

Workshops, Conferences and Opportunities

STC TeachNet Learn & Serve

Boston Women's Memorial

Boston Women's Memorial. Artist: Meredith Bergmann. For more info: http://www.cityofboston.gov/women/memorial.asp

Through STC TeachNet Learn & Serve, Boston teachers will be connecting curriculum with the new Boston Women's Memorial. The Boston Women's Memorial (BWM) honors three important contributors to Boston's history: Abigail Adams, Phillis Wheatley and Lucy Stone. Committed to social change and public service, each woman left significant written legacies. Teachers will particpate in workshops to explore this history and develop projects for their classrooms.

The Memorial is opening on SATURDAY, OCTOBER 25, 1:00 - 2:00 PM at the Commonwealth Avenue Mall, between Fairfield and Gloucester Streets.

ASCD Conference: Leading and Learning in a Changing World

The Northeast ASCD Affiliates Leading and Learning in a Changing World Conference will be held Dec. 4-6 at Boston Park Plaza. Information and Registration

Introducing the High School Renewal Staff

Kathleen Mullin
Office of the Superintendent
Special Assistant for High School Renewal
E-Mail contact kmullin@boston.k12.ma.us

Larry Myatt
Office of High School Renewal and Boston Small Schools Network
Small Schools Headmaster Professional Development
E-Mail contact lmyatt@boston.k12.ma.us

Sandra Copman
Office of High School Renewal and Boston Small Schools Network
Program Developer
E-Mail contact scopman@boston.k12.ma.us

Laura Junior
Office of High School Renewal and Boston Small Schools Network
Staff Assistant
E-Mail contact ljunior@boston.k12.ma.us

Sue McCann
Office of High School Renewal and Boston Small Schools Network
Project Manager
E-Mail contact smccann@boston.k12.ma.us