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Updates | January 24, 2024

Table of Contents

Dear Families,


Please see below for the announcements for this week’s family newsletter!


  1. Semester Final Exams

  2. Enrollment Lawn/Yard Sign Support

  3. Reminders About Snow Days

  4. SY24 Updated Calendar

  5. Input on Academic Calendar for SY25

  6. Yellow Bus Safety Policy

  7. Application for SY23_24 and SY24_25 now open

  8. Enrollment Canvassing Support

  9. Athletics Corner

  10. Nurses Corner

  11. Middle School Corner

  12. High School Corner

  13. CCO (College Counseling Office) Corner

  14. Family Resources



Sincerely,


Madelyn Ruizdeporras
Family Operations Manager

1. Semester Final Exams

As unbelievable as it is, we are less than 1 week from the end of the first semester. We are currently preparing for Semester Final Exams, beginning January 22nd.


  • Middle School students will take exams in ELA, Math, Science, History, and ELD. Students will receive study guides from their teachers and are encouraged to attend office hours. Note: Friday January 26 will be a normal school day for Middle School students.

  • High School students will take assessments in all core content areas. We will have modified schedules on those days and students will have breaks during the day. Note: HS students will be dismissed after their exams, meaning some students may be done after their AM exam at 11:30 a.m. Lunch will be provided.

2. Boston Prep Enrollment/Yard Signs

Boston Prep is currently in the process of accepting applications for SY24_25. We would love your support with passing out the word.


We have ordered some lawn/yard signs with details on how families can enroll. If you are interested in helping in this way, please let us know. Basically, you would pick up a lawn/yard sign from Boston Prep at: 885 River Street, Hyde Park, MA on Thursday, January 25th or one can be sent home with your child. Then, you just add them to your lawn! That's it! This support, although voluntary and not mandatory, will go a long way! Help us recruit more families to Boston Prep.


If you have any questions, please reach out to Ms. Ruizdeporras (Family Operations Manager) at: mruizdeporras@bostonprep.org or 617-910-5333.


Please take a few minutes to sign up to pick some signs up below: https://forms.gle/J88PycgdmpxBvkzx7



We appreciate all your support!

3. Reminder About Snow Days

Boston Prep follows Boston Public Schools (BPS) in terms of school cancellations for inclement weather. When school is canceled, all after-school programs/clubs, Boston Prep athletic events, evening classes, and events are also canceled.


In the event of school cancellations due to weather, Boston Prep will directly notify families and students as soon as the decision by BPS has been made.


Check out cancellations here: https://www.boston25news.com/weather/school-closings/

4. SY24 Updated Calendar

Please take some time to review our updated calendar for this school year.


Note: Q2 conference has been rescheduled to Monday, February 12, 2024

5. Input on Academic Calendar for SY25

We are seeking your input on the academic calendar for SY25. This form is anonymous.

We are gathering feedback from multiple stakeholders (One Team, families, students) and will take it into account when finalizing our calendar.


Please take some time to fill this survey out:https://forms.gle/bdowtVjMQfaZz8Lv9

6. Yellow Bus Safety Policy

Please take some time to read this important information sent to families re: our yellow bus safety policy here.

7. Application for SY23_24 and SY24_25 now open

Our application for Grades 6-10 for the next school year 2024_2025 is now open. If you have a child (entering Grades 6-10) for this upcoming school year or know someone interested in applying, please do so here: www.applybostoncharters.org. Make sure you choose 2024_2025. If a child is offered a seat during our lottery in March 2024, they will start classes late August 2024.


  • Lottery will be in March 2024.

8. Enrollment Canvassing

Boston Prep enrollment department could use your support! If you would like to help out this is how you can:

  • Request fliers from our enrollment department

  • Pass out fliers at (church, work, clinic, your community etc.)

  • Tell a family or friend that Boston Prep’s application for enrollment for 2024_2025 year is now open!


This will hopefully generate more families and our community to find out about Boston Prep and apply for student enrollment for this upcoming year. Currently we are accepting applications for students entering grades 6-10 for the school year 24-25.


If you have any questions about the event, please reach out to (Family Operations Manager) Ms. Ruizdeporras at: enrollment@bostonprep.org

9. Athletics Corner

If any students are interested in participating in athletics, families must create a family ID account on arbiter sports. Families that have students that participated in fall/winter athletics MUST log on to their family ID account and re-submit an application for any upcoming sports students are interested in playing.


Families should register on family ID here:: https://students.arbitersports.com/boston-prep-athletics/sy-2023-2024-winter-athletics-registration

Questions regarding winter sports or any athletics? Reach out to Mr. Henry at: athletics@bostonprep.org

10. Nurses' Corner

REMINDERS FROM THE NURSES

It is that time of year when we start seeing more illness including cold, flu, and covid.

Please remember:

  • FEVER: Keep your child home until his/her fever has been gone WITHOUT fever-reducing medicine for 24 hours. Returning to school too soon may slow recovery and make others sick.


  • Please notify the Nurses of any positive Covid tests as soon as you are aware. They can be reached at 617-910-5364 or 617-910-5310, or by email at nurses@bostonprep.org

  • COLD/COVID/FlU-LIKE symptoms: We recommend that students wear masks if they are experiencing cold/COVID/Flu-like symptoms. Masks are available, for use in school, at the front desk and/or the nurses office. Students are allowed in school as long as they have not tested positive for COVID (stay tuned for updated details at our next newsletter regarding this)

11. Middle School Announcements

  • Upcoming 6th Grade Field Trip:
    • On Tuesday, January 30, 2024, the 6th grade class will be taking a field trip to the Worcester Polytechnic Institute (WPI) located in Worcester, MA. WPI is a leading institution for undergraduate and graduate education in engineering, arts and sciences, business, and global studies. As part of our school’s mission, the purpose of this field trip is to prepare and provide students the opportunity to learn about different colleges and what they have to offer. Students were provided with the permission slip on Wednesday, January 10, and the permission slip is due back by Thursday, January 25. If the permission slip is not received by Thursday, January 25, your child will not be allowed to attend the field trip. If you need a copy of the permission slip or have questions, please contact Fina Fontes at ffontes@bostonprep.org.

  • Learn about the Achieve program for current 6th graders
    • Achieve partners with families from Boston to empower motivated students and close the opportunity gap. They provide transformative academic and enrichment programming from middle school to their first year of college. Achieve fosters enduring confidence and agency in our scholars through a supportive and joyful environment. To qualify for the Achieve program, students must be current 6th graders, attending a public school (BPS, Charter, or METCO), and be a resident of Boston.
    • To learn more about the program, Achieve is hosting a Family Info Session on Saturday, February 10, 2024 from 10:30am – 11:30am at the Mattapan Public Library (1350 Blue Hill Ave, Mattapan). RSVP for session online at this link. If you have questions, contact Achieve at achieve@nobles.edu.


  • Grades 3-8: Enroll in Camp Beyond for an amazing summer experience!
    • We’re excited to announce that enrollment is now open for Camp Beyond—where adventure and fun meet for the summer! Camp Beyond is a 2-week sleepaway summer camp exclusively for students currently in grades 3–8. Camp Beyond provides students with an enjoyable, exciting summer experience that motivates them to approach the future with confidence, curiosity, independence, and responsibility.
    • At Camp Beyond, students have the opportunity to build long-lasting friendships in a safe setting that allows for exploration, learning, and joy! There are two options to attend in summer 2024:
      • Session 1: July 1–July 13, 2024
      • Session 2: July 15–July 27, 2024
    • Learn more about this transformative summer experience:
      • Click here to RSVP for an upcoming Family Information Session
      • Click here to enroll today!
      • Availability is limited, and tuition is discounted for those who enroll by February 29, so don’t wait to reserve your camper’s spot for this summer!

12. High School Announcements


  • HS Access Testing:
    • Some high school students will be taking the ACCESS test the last week of January.
    • The purpose of ACCESS testing is to measure the English language development (ELD) skills of all students who are English Language Learners in the state of Massachusetts. Students have been working hard each day in class to practice and improve their English and academic language skills. It is our hope that each student demonstrates growth on the assessment. Students will be excused from classes and assignments during ACCESS testing and will be given as much time as they need to complete each section of the test.
    • If you have any questions, please reach out to Jeannette Kranick (jkranick@bostonprep.org)


  • High School Summer Enrichment Requirement Reminder
It may not feel like it outside, but summer is just around the corner—and it’s never too early to start planning for summer enrichment! Boston Prep's high school graduation policy requires that high school students participate in a summer enrichment opportunity each summer of high school, for a total of 3 summer enrichment credits. Students earn one summer enrichment credit per year, the summer after 9th, 10th, and 11th grade after participating and providing proof of your summer enrichment activity to Ms. Fontes via email.


Examples of summer enrichment opportunities include:

  • Enroll in a pre college program
  • Enroll in leadership training institute
  • Complete an internship program
  • Obtain summer employment through SuccessLink, ABCD, or other organization
  • Volunteer a minimum of 40 hours

Ms. Fontes will provide students with information about summer enrichment opportunities by email. They can also learn about summer enrichment opportunities from the Enrichment Opportunities Sheet (linked here). Please know that students and their family are exclusively responsible for finding and enrolling in a summer enrichment opportunity. Some programs (precollege programs, summer camps) will have an associated cost. Boston Prep does have a scholarship fund for summer enrichment programs that provide students with valuable experiences on a college campus; students may apply for this scholarship to be considered for assistance with these costs.


This scholarship fund is limited so students are encouraged to apply early. Students can access Boston Prep's Summer Enrichment Scholarship Application from the link. For questions about summer enrichment, please email Fina Fontes at fina.fontes@student.bostonprep.org


  • Phoenix Senate Donation Drive
    • January is Social Justice Month at Boston Prep! The Phoenix Senate is running a Donation Drive during the last weeks in January.Phoenix Senate wanted to use this month to give back to the community. Specifically, we are looking for clothes, hygiene products, food and toys to bring to local organizations that work with families who are unhoused and in desperate need of resources.
    • We will be taking donations in the mornings outside the cafeteria. Feel free to send items in with your child if you are interested in supporting The Phoenix Senate. If you would prefer to donate money and have us buy the supplies, please let Ms. French or Mr. Clark know! They will be happy to coordinate that as well.



13. (CCO) College Counseling Office Corner

Families of Seniors (Grade 12): The FAFSA (Free Application for Federal Student Aid) is scheduled to open by December 31. Completing this application is how your student will gain access to financial aid (i.e. free money) for college. The CCO completes the FAFSA for most students, or you're welcome to complete it on your own at home. If you'd like your senior's college counselor to complete it for you, they will need your 2022 tax return (1040) and W2. You can bring a hard copy to Boston Prep or send it via email to your student's college counselor (either Sarah Dewey at sdewey@bostonprep.org or Ariel Perry at aperry@bostonprep.org).

14. Family Resources

For information about resources, please familiarize yourselves with our boston prep resource page: https://www.bostonprep.org/resources


If you need further assistance, please reach out to our Family Operations Manager, Ms. Ruizdeporras @ mruizdeporras@bostonprep.org or call 617-910-5333

APPENDIX: FAMILY QUICK REFERENCE GUIDE

Upcoming Dates:


  • Wednesday 1/24 - Thursday 1/25: MS and HS Semester Final Exams
  • Friday, January 26: Quarter 2 Ends
  • Monday, February 12: Quarter 2 Conferences (UPDATE)
  • Monday, February 19 - Friday, February 23: February Break - No School
  • Wednesday, March 6: Family Town Hall (via zoom)
  • Thursday, March 7: Whole School MLK Potluck





Have questions?

Please don’t ever hesitate to reach out with questions! You can contact your child’s advisor or utilize any of the emails/websites below.


Boston Prep