Good things are taking place
this fall in Boston schools
By Mayor Thomas M. Menino
Friday, September
17, 2004
It's
time once again to sharpen those pencils and to break out those books
for another exciting and challenging year at the Boston Public Schools.
This year, our schools are better than ever with more opportunities and
great facilities for students throughout our city.
On
what will be the 370th first day of school in Boston, every student -
from our oldest to our youngest - can look forward to enhanced opportunities.
Over the summer, 10 design teams have been hard at work creating plans
for seven small high schools in the West Roxbury and Hyde Park neighborhoods.
This is the most recent step in our high school renewal effort, which
will break down larger high schools into smaller, theme-based schools
where students can receive more individualized support.
In
addition to breaking high schools down into smaller schools, the school
department is also reorganizing all of its district high schools into small
learning communities. This type of reorganization is currently taking place
at the Burke High School in Dorchester and Charlestown High School. These
schools will offer specialized pathways to learning in addition to the core
curriculum.
In
the high school classroom, we are partnering with the College Board to help
prepare students for college and all of our 10th- and 11th-graders will
take the PSATs this fall.
Families
of our youngest students can look ahead to more early education seats and
added opportunities for three, four, and five year olds. A Reading First
grant to 12 schools will help our students become proficient readers by
third grade.
This
year, families will also have the opportunity to become more involved in
their children's academic success than ever in the Family Engagement: Link
to Learning program. By the end of the school year, every school will have
initiatives in place to support teaching and learning through increased
parent and community involvement, a new parent handbook and our BPS Ambassadors
program.
We
are actively adding additional options and seats for students outside of
our traditional schools. Our 9th Grade Academy will complement the Boston
Evening Academy, while seats will be increased at the Boston Adult Technical
Academy, Another Course to College, Boston International High School, Community
Academy and at the Middle School Academy.
Crucial
to our school system is leadership in the schools. Therefore, a number of
new principals, many of whom attended the one-year extensive, hands-on Boston
Principal Fellows program will bring new energy to facilities throughout
our city. For example, Kyle Dodson, the new principal at the Lee Academy
Pilot School in Dorchester, is a member of the first graduating class of
the Boston Principal Fellows program.
Finally,
we are beefing up police presence in schools and local T stops so each child
can access a quality education in a safe environment. Boston Police have
teamed up with the MBTA and Boston School Police officers to provide high
police visibility and to ensure safety in and around schools and targeted
MBTA stations.
By
working hard and working together and we can ensure a stellar year in all
of our schools. I want to wish students from all of our neighborhoods good
luck in the upcoming year. Study hard! |
