

September 14 update
September 14 update

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Updates | November 1, 2023
Table of Contents
Dear Families,
Please see below for the announcements for this week’s family newsletter!
Attendance Policy Reminder
Veterans Day - No School
Q1 Family Conferences
MBTA Resources
BPS Exam School Application Process
Athletics Corner
Nurses Corner
Middle School Corner
High School Corner
CCO (College Counseling Office) Corner
Sincerely,
Madelyn Ruizdeporras
Family Operations Manager
1. Attendance Policy Reminder
Our Team would like to take this opportunity to highlight a few key points about maintaining steady and consistent attendance at Boston Prep. It is crucial that our students are in school/on-time each day. Under the state law, a school-aged child who is not excused from attendance and who “willfully” fails to attend school for more than 8 school days in a quarter is considered habitually truant. (Department of Elementary and Secondary Education Attendance Policy Handbook) As a community, we must uphold our commitments and mission, part of which requires a consistent presence to enhance the academic experience.
Our school opens the doors at 7:15 AM, and all students are expected to be Swiped in by 7:45 AM. If they Swipe after 7:45 AM, they will be marked Tardy with no exceptions. We have provided timely and manageable systems of support to ensure all students have plenty of time to be seated in their Home Room at the 7:45 AM Bell, so we will uphold these expectations and record accurately to promote consistent habits. If you need further support with this matter please contact Assistant Principal Brian Heshion (HS) at bheshion@bostonprep.org, or 857-378-4631, or Madelyn Ruizdeporras at mruizdeporras@bostonprep.org or 617-910-5333.
A reminder: 3 Tardy days are equivalent to 1 Absence.
Early Dismissals: Students who are leaving school early without a parent must have a written note or email from a parent or guardian explaining when and why they must leave. A phone call will not be accepted as a means of dismissing a student early from school. If a student does not have a note, a parent/guardian will have to come pick up the student. Early dismissals will be excused for the same reasons outlined above for excused absences.
A student who is 18 years of age or older must submit a written notice to the Principal to request an early dismissal. The Principal must verify this written request or his/her designee before the student will be dismissed from school. In order for these early dismissals to be excused, the student’s parents/guardians must also sign the early dismissal note.
Thank you for your continued support of our community!
2. Veteran's Day - No School
3. Q1 Family Conferences
Middle and High School Quarter 1 Family Conferences will be on Monday, November 13th from 3:30 – 6:30pm. Families will be able to discuss Spring SY23 MCAS scores, current grades, attendance, strengths, and areas for growth. Your child’s advisor will reach out to you directly to schedule a time slot.
Students are encouraged to attend their conference with their family.
4. MBTA Resources
Below you will find resources to support families and students with MBTA transportation needs.
Looking to find out which bus to take and what time it leaves to ensure your child arrives at school on time? Click here: https://www.mbta.com/trip-planner
Email National Center for Safe Routes to School for support on safest routes: info@saferoutesinfo.org
Here you will find Safe Student Travel tips!
Students should reach out to Ms. Ross at the front desk for questions about M7 cards or if they need a replacement.
Hope this information helps your students and families!
5. BPS Exam School Application Process
Is your child currently in grade 6, 8, or 9 and you are interested in applying to the BPS Exam Schools for the 2024-2025 school year? If so, there are 2 steps below that must be completed between October 10 and November 9, 2023. Families may visit this website for additional information.
Complete the residency verification process at a BPS Welcome Center
Sign up for the December 9th test (online registration form)
Students are given two opportunities to take the MAP Growth admissions test: June 2023 and December 2023. If a student takes the test twice, they will use the higher score for the application. If the student tested this past June and the parent is satisfied with the scores, it is not required that they test again in December; however, residency verification is required.
Here is a flier with details: flyers.
6. Athletics Corner
Winter Sports Information
The fall season of athletics is officially over and the winter season of athletics is right around the corner!
Winter Season Sports:
High School Boys Varsity Basketball
High School Boys JV Basketball
High School Girls Varsity Basketball
High School Cheer
High School Step
Middle School Boys Basketball
Middle School Girls Basketball
If any students are interested in participating in athletics for this winter season, families must create a family ID account on arbiter sports. Families that have students that participated in fall athletics MUST log on to their family ID account and re-submit an application for any winter sports students are interested in playing.
Questions regarding winter sports or any athletics? Reach out to Mr. Henry at: athletics@bostonprep.org
7. Nurses' Corner
Please remember to submit an up-to-date physical exam/immunization record for your student. It is a yearly requirement that must be completed for every student!
Take some time to complete the Medical Information Packet prior to the start of the school year. Click here for: Medical Information Packet
8. Middle School Annoucements
Scholastics Books Fair: October 30th - November 3rd, 2023
Get Ready! The Scholastic Book Fair is coming our way (YAY!)
Students will have the opportunity to visit the fair before school, during lunch and after school next week.
Visit our Book Fair homepage to learn more and get started with eWallet and online shopping: https://www.scholastic.com/bf/bostonprep
Students can purchase using cash or electronic payment
The countdown to more Bookjoy is on! Catch you at the Fair!
Middle School Fall Festival and Potluck
Boston Prep Middle School will be having a Fall Festival and Potluck on: Saturday, November 4, 2023 from 11-12:30pm. There will be games, food, basketball, arts & crafts, and the book fair will be open.
Please bring a covered dish to share.
Students must be accompanied by a parent or guardian to attend.
Middle School Detention and Referral
We have heard your concerns and would like to provide some details in regards to detention and referrals. Please take some time to read and reach out to our MS Dean of Culture, Mr. Jeremi Taitt at: jtaitt@bostonprep.org if you have any questions and or concerns.
What merits a detention?
A student earned detention if they earn 3 or more demerits in the following categories throughout the day and/or earn a referral:
Consumption of food or drink in class (only water is allowed in class)
Tardy to Class (greater than 5 minutes)
Off Task (Any combination of excessive talking, horseplay or any activity that disrupts the learning community or experience)
Out of Uniform (Students must remain in uniform from 7:15am- 3:15pm)
Being Unprepared (Student are to bring their white binder, writing utensils and homework to each class daily)
What merits a referral?
Building violation - undesignated location
Inappropriate Language
Inappropriate Contact/Horseplay/Safety Violation
Academic Integrity
Electronics
Repeated Disruption to learning environment/defiance
Details:
30 minute detention: all students who earn a 30 minute detention will now serve detention during lunch. Students will go directly to detention and should not go to the cafeteria.
1 hour detention: all students who have a 1 hour detention will serve after school (with exception of 6th grade - they will receive a separate Auto Dialer).
Skipping detention: any students that skips detention will receive an auto dialer home naming that due to student skipping detention they will now have an extended referral the next morning and will have to serve the detention.
If a student skips detention 3 times, a hearing with the culture team will be scheduled.
If a student has 3 referrals in a day this will trigger an extended referral and phone call home to schedule an initial disciplinary hearing.
Teachers will be invited to the hearing
The students will then be placed on ICR “in-class restitution”for 2 weeks.
If a student earns 3 referrals in a week while on ICR, they will have a disciplinary hearing scheduled.
9. High School Annoucements
Student Policy on DoorDash, UberEats and Food Delivery
Students are not permitted to order food to be delivered to the school, including afterschool.
The front desk will not accept any food deliveries for students and drivers are not permitted to leave food at the front desk or outside the building.
Any food that is delivered for students will be returned to the student at dismissal.
Students are not permitted to leave the building the during school hours to pick up food from any food delivery service or neighboring restaurants
NO HOODIES ALLOWED / Uniform Policy
We would like to remind you of our school's dress code policy, which prohibits the wearing of hoodies on school premises. It is essential that we maintain a safe and conducive learning environment for all students, and adhering to the dress code is an integral part of achieving this goal.
The policy against hoodies is in place for various reasons, including safety and security concerns. Hoodies can obscure a student's face and make it challenging to identify individuals in certain situations. By upholding this policy, we can ensure that our school remains a safe and welcoming place for all students.
We kindly request your cooperation in ensuring that your child does not wear hoodies to school. If your child currently owns a hoodie, we recommend they refrain from wearing them while at school. Please help us re-enforce this policy within your family.
We understand that dress code policies can sometimes be a point of contention, but we firmly believe that they contribute to the overall well-being of our school community. Thank you for your understanding and continued support in maintaining a positive and safe school environment.
10. (CCO) College Counseling Office Corner
None at this time.
APPENDIX: FAMILY QUICK REFERENCE GUIDE
Upcoming Dates:
- Friday, November 3: End of Quarter 1
- Saturday, November 4: Middle School Fall Festival - 11AM-12:30PM
- Wednesday, November 8: Family Committee Meeting - 5:30pm-6:30pm (in-person and zoom)
- Friday, November 10: Veterans Day Observed - No School
- Monday, November 13: Q1 Parent/Teacher Conferences 3:30-6:30
- Wednesday, November 22 - Friday, November 24: Thanksgiving Break - No School
- Thursday, November 30: Family Committee Meeting - 5:30pm-6:30pm (in-person and zoom)
- Thursday, December 7: ELPAC Meeting - 5:30PM-6:30PM (in-person)
- Monday, December 11: SEPAC Meeting - 5:30PM-6:30PM (zoom)
- Wednesday, December 13: Family Committee Meeting - 5:30pm-6:30pm (in-person and zoom)
- Friday, December 22, 2023- Tuesday, January 2, 2024: Winter Break - No School
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.
- For questions about buses, MBTA passes, and transportation: transportation@bostonprep.org
- To report an absence or tardiness or any attendance related matters: attendance@bostonprep.org
- To submit a physical exam record or to discuss health-related topics: nurses@bostonprep.org
- For questions or documents related to enrollment: enrollment@bostonprep.org
- For information about resources, please familiarize yourselves with our Boston Prep resource page: https://www.bostonprep.org/resources
- For other questions: info@bostonprep.org