Schools

Government Schools

Michlewitz Votes In Favor of House Education Legislation

From the office of State Representative Aaron Michlewitz:

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE                                            
Contact: Blake Webber 617-722-2488

January 8, 2010                                                                                                  

House Passes Landmark Education Legislation

Targets achievement gap; strengthens Commonwealth’s application for Race to the Top Funds

(BOSTON) – Third Suffolk State Representative Aaron Michlewitz joined his colleagues in the Massachusetts House of Representatives in passing crucial legislation focused on eliminating the achievement gap in schools across the Commonwealth. The bill – entitled An Act Relative to the Achievement Gap – strengthens the state’s application for $250 million in federal “Race to the Top” funding, allows stronger intervention authority for the state in underperforming districts, lifts the cap on charter schools in the lowest performing school districts and helps to facilitate innovation and excellence in schools throughout Massachusetts.

 “We are one step closer to providing every child with a real opportunity for a well-rounded and positive educational experience in the City of Boston.” said State Representative Michlewitz. “This bill should place the Commonwealth and the City at the front of the line with the $250 million in the Race To The Top funding by the Obama Administration.”

Arts & Culture Business Schools

Concord Museum Exhibits Work From North Bennet Street School Alumni

In a historic collaboration, the Concord Museum and the North End’s North Bennet Street School are celebrating the renowned school’s 125th anniversary with a juried exhibition of the work of fifty-nine distinguished alumni from ten states across the country. Included in the special exhibition are over sixty examples of furniture, jewelry, musical instruments and bookbindings, as well as illustrations of the work of the preservation carpentry, carpentry and locksmithing programs.

North Bennet Street School President, Miguel Gómez-Ibáñez, also an alumnus of the school, said of the collaboration, “We are very pleased to be partnering with the Concord Museum for this exhibition, which will be the opening event and the most public celebration of our 125th anniversary. Some of the objects on view draw their inspiration from craft techniques of the past; others bring a fresh look to classic pieces using today’s innovative technology.  “The Concord Museum has a deep respect for the work of the North Bennet Street School, their students and alumni,” said Désirée Caldwell, Executive Director of the Concord Museum. “This special exhibition creates an exciting visual dialogue between craft traditions of the past and present. Working with contemporary craftspeople brings a welcome new perspective to the historical pieces in our collection and others.”

A Dedication to Craft is on view at the Concord Museum through March 21, 2010 from 11 a.m.-4 p.m. $10, $8 seniors and students, $5 ages 6-18. Concord Museum, Cambridge Turnpike at Lexington Road, Concord. 978-369-9763. More information at www.concordmuseum.org.

Schools

Eliot School Box Tops Campaign

To boost fundraising efforts, the Eliot Family Council has initiated a Box Tops collection campaign. You can help the Eliot community by clipping the Box Tops coupons from hundreds of products, including  General Mills,  Betty Crocker, Yoplait, Ziploc,  Pillsbury, and Nature Valley.  For a complete list of products, please check the website at  www.boxtops4education.com. You Read More…

Schools

Boston Public School Registration Starts January 4th

Boston Public Schools registration for the 2010-2011 school year starts on Monday, January 4

Students entering Kindergarten, Grade 6 or Grade 9 may register during the month of January

BOSTON – Boston Public Schools (BPS) announces the start of the registration process for the 2010-2011 school year. The first round of registration runs from January 4 – February 5, 2010 and is open to students entering Kindergarten, Grade 6 or Grade 9.

How to Register

·          Parents/guardians of new-to-BPS students must visit one of BPS Family Resource Centers (FRC) to register their child(ren) for school.  To save time, parents may begin the process online using the district’s pre-registration site, BPSExpress; however, the registration process must be completed in person at an FRC. The FRCs have extended hours during the next four weeks of registration, including new Saturday hours at the East Zone FRC. A complete list of locations and hours is below.
Arts & Culture Community Schools

NEMPAC Winter Course Registration Underway

The North End Music and Performing Arts Center Winter Session Begins January 4, 2010! Winter Course Registration is underway! Sign up today at nempacboston.org for any of our exciting courses or for the NEMPAC Private Music Instruction program. New Children’s Courses -Kids Rock Band -Theater Production Returning Children’s Courses -Family Music Makers: Little Music Makers Read More…

Event Notices Schools

Pirandello Italian Language Center Christmas Program

From Dr. Tino Valdesolo, Ed.D., Director of the Pirandello Italian
Language Center (aka “St. John’s Saturday Italian School”)

The traditional Christmas presentation of the PILC will be held
Saturday, December 19th,  starting at 10:30 a.m. at Sacred Heart
Church (North Square, in Boston’s North End).  Students in the Italian
Program ages 3 + will present Italian Christmas songs and poems, and
will participate in a special Christmas service in Italian.  All
members of the community are invited to be a part of this unique
holiday event.

Refreshments will be served in the St. John’s School cafeteria
(Suncourt Street) following the Christmas program.
Buon Natale!

Parents of students in the program – we’ll meet at the school at 10
a.m. and then head over to the church as a group.  Tino has asked that
we contribute baked goods (cakes, cookies, bisconti, panettoni, etc,)
to the party after the program.  Please drop these off at 10 a.m. in
the St. John’s cafeteria.  Thanks to all the hard-working parents who
have been busy planning the event and making sure it will be a
wonderful time for all.  All families and friends are invited to this
joyous event.

Attached below are the words to the songs/poems the youngest students
(3-6 years) will be doing.  Anna Maria di Camillo’s class (7-9 years)
will be reciting some of these with us.

Arts & Culture Schools

Friends of NE Library Sends Thanks For Holiday Party

Dear North End Neighbors:

The Friends of the North End Branch Library would like to sincerely thank our neighbors for their generous donations of food and raffle prizes for our recent Annual Holiday Party.  The party was well attended and a good time was enjoyed by all.

We’d like to thank the following organizations and individuals for their continued support:

Community Event Notices Schools

North End Branch Library Fundraiser – Save the Date!

*SAVE THE DATE – WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 24, 2010*** *What: Fundraiser to support our own North End Branch Library *** *Where:    Fairmont Battery Wharf Hotel*** *When :    Wednesday, February 24, 2010 * *                 7:00-9:00 pm*** *Why:       To enjoy cocktails and appetizers and the Read More…
Event Notices Schools

Attention – All Graduating Classes of Columbus High School

Arthur A. Lauretano, Class of 1957, was kind enough to send in the following information about the upcoming 65th year commemoration of the Christopher Columbus Central Catholic High School. The year “2010” will mark the 65th anniversary of the founding of Christopher Columbus Central Catholic High School (CCCCHS). The first graduating class was June 1949 Read More…

Community Event Notices Health & Environment Police & Fire Schools

Plethora of City of Boston Programs

Here is a subset of various City of Boston programs that folks may be interested in:

“Toys for Tickets”: *In keeping with a successful holiday tradition in
Boston, Mayor Thomas M. Menino announced that any driver issued a
non-public safety parking ticket on Boston’s streets on specific dates
in December, has the option of resolving their ticket by providing a toy
of equal or greater value than the fine on the ticket. For exact dates,
617-635-4811

*Mayor’s Holiday Special: *Take advantage of the City of Boston’s one
stop holiday planning website and enjoy great discounts this Holiday
season. Over 8,000 half-price show tickets, great parking rates, store
discounts and more.  www.mayorsholidayspecial.com

*Boston Offers Two Hours of Free Metered Parking This Holiday Season:
*In keeping with a popular tradition, the City of Boston is offering two
hours of free metered parking at each of the city’s parking meters on
Saturdays through Dec 27.

*Special State Election for the US Senate: *Do not forget to vote on Dec
8 in the Special Election Primary to fill Senator Kennedy’s seat. To
vote in any election, you must send in your voter application form and
have it postmarked 20 days prior to the election. Remember that you must
be 18 years old by Election Day and a U.S. Citizen. To be eligible to
vote in the Special Election Final on Jan 19, you must register to vote
by Dec 30! Obtain a national mail voter registration form at
www.cityofboston.gov/elections/voter_reg.asp
Our Vote Matters!: *Find the answers to questions asked by young voters.
www.bostonyouthzone.com/myc/pdfs/youth_voting_guide.pdf

*Harry Potter at Boston’s Museum of Science: *Check out the Harry Potter
exhibit at the museum! It will offer fans a glimpse of costumes, props,
and more than 200 other authentic artifacts from the film sets—including
the Great Hall, Hagrid’s hut, and the Gryffindor common room.  Through
Feb 25. Adult tickets $26 and children tickets $23. www.mos.com
<http://www.mos.com>

*First Night 2010: *Bring in the New Year celebrating art and community
at this day long citywide festival. Perfect for Families! Get a first
night button as your ticket to entertainment! Dec 31, 1pm-12am.
www.firstnight.org <http://www.firstnight.org>