Monday, May 20, 2013
Boston University hosted its 140th graduation at Nickerson Field on Sunday.
At Boston University's commencement ceremony on Sunday, the university honored two students who died this year, just a few months before their graduation. Graduate student Lu Lingzi, who was killed in the Boston Marathon bombing and Binland Lee, who died in an off-campus apartment fire, were both posthumously honored at Sunday’s graduation ceremony. Boston University also honored Zhou Danling, who was friends with Lu Lingzi and was injured in the marathon bombing. Nearly 6,700 graduates and almost 20,000 guests attended the university's 140th commencement at Nickerson Field. Boston Mayor Thomas Menino was awarded a Boston University Medallion and actor Morgan Freeman was presented an honorary degree. Wendy Kopp, founder of Teach for …
Thursday, April 25, 2013
Carol Johnson has been the superintendent of Boston Schools for six years.
Carol Johnson, superintendent of the Boston Public Schools system, will step down after this year. Johnson wrote a letter to the school community and published a video on YouTube Wednesday on how she came to the decision following the recent death of her husband. “This has been a difficult decision but, as you are aware, the loss of my husband and best friend Matthew has been life-altering for me and my entire family,” she said in the video. “After a long and rewarding career that I am truly proud of, I believe it’s time for me to take time to focus more on family, which, of course, always comes first.” In 2012, Johnson was awarded the nation’s highest honor for urban educational leadership, the Richard R. Green Award, presented by the …
Tuesday, April 16, 2013
Superintendent Carol R. Johnson sent out a letter to staff and student families on Tuesday.
In the aftermath of Monday’s Boston Marathon bombing, Boston Public Schools Superintendent Carol R. Johnson sent a letter to staff and families of students titled, “Talking with Children about Tragedies,” that was shared via the Warren-Prescott School newsletter on Tuesday morning. In the newsletter, Warren-Prescott Principal Michele Davis wrote: “Our sincere thoughts and prayers go out to all of those affected by yesterday’s events. Our own Melissa Shea ran the Boston Marathon yesterday and her family was among the spectators. I am relieved to report that Melissa and her family are safe.” Davis asked that anyone with information about other Warren-Prescott families that may have been affected by the bombing to contact her at mdavis@boston…
Wednesday, March 27, 2013
The Catholic college threatened to crack down on condom-dispensing students. Is the school right to defend its beliefs or is it stifling student rights?
Some Boston College students are in hot water with the university this week. The Jesuit school sent the students letters threatening them with disciplinary action for handing out condoms on campus. The students, who are part of the group Boston College Students for Sexual Health, were giving away condoms from their dorm rooms, according to boston.com. The rooms were called “Safe sites.” But the school has a policy against the distribution of contraceptives on school grounds. Representatives for the health group said the move comes as a surprise. The university has known about the program for years but did not act until now, according to organization chair Lizzie Jekanowski. Boston College, meanwhile, said the move was made to help …
Saturday, March 23, 2013
One nearby school district thinks so.
Ipswich school officials have decided to fold the district's Middle School Honors Night into a wider school assembly this year, saying it made students who weren't honored feel left out, the Salem News reported this week. The Ipswich Middle School principal reportedly sent parents a letter explaining the decision, saying having an exclusive honors night can be emotionally damaging and can impact a student's academic growth. "The honors night, which can be a great sense of pride for the recipients’ families, can also be devastating to a child who has worked extremely hard in a difficult class but who, despite growth, has not been able to maintain a high grade point average,” the principal's letter read, according to the Salem News. Instead…
Monday, March 18, 2013
The early-morning snow will make for a tough commute, prompting the school department decision.
Spring arrives later this week, but one last winter storm has forced Boston schools closed on Tuesday. "The latest forecasts show Boston could see 8 inches of snowfall with the expectation for freezing rain, ice, and sleet throughout the morning’s commute. Residents and commuters should expect very slow traffic as the City’s plowing operations continue throughout Tuesday morning. For commuters coming into Boston tomorrow, public transportation will be the best route," wrote the Mayor's office in a Monday night press release. While schools are closed, Boston's Youth and Families Centers will be open from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m.. A parent or guardian of kids 12 and under must sign a short form before dropping their child off. "Residents with …
Thursday, March 14, 2013
The new program will use a computer-generated list of six schools for parents to choose from based on a variety of factors.
The Boston School Committee adopted a new assignment policy that does away with a decades-old system at a landmark Wednesday night vote. The new policy will use a computer-generated algorithm to produce a list of six schools for parents to choose from based on distance to school, capacity and MCAS test scores, according to Boston.com. Four of the six schools listed will be of “medium to high quality,” Boston.com reports. The system will be implemented beginning September 2014. “Tonight’s historic vote marks a new day for every child in the City of Boston,” said Mayor Thomas M. Menino. “A more predictable and equitable student assignment system that emphasizes quality and keeps our children close to home has been a long time coming for our …
Monday, February 11, 2013
Boston crews are working around the clock to make all Boston streets passable, forcing public schools to be closed again on Tuesday.
Boston Public Schools will be closed on Tuesday due to the continued cleanup of the blizzard of 2013 that dropped more than 20 inches on Boston's neighborhoods. Mayor Thomas Menino made the announcement over his official twitter account around 5 p.m. on Monday night. “The safety of our students comes first, and schools will remain closed as our snow removal crews work through the night and tomorrow to clear side streets and widen bus routes,” Mayor Menino said in a statement. Boston Public Schools are also closed next week for February break. All BCYF community centers will open tomorrow to offer a place for youth age six and older while their parents work, the city announced, with the exception of the BCYF Archdale Community Center and…
Sunday, February 10, 2013
Due to continued cleanup up of the fifth worst storm to hit Boston, public schools are closed on Monday, February 11, 2013.
Boston Public Schools will be closed on Monday, February 11, 2013, as crews continue to cleanup from one of the worst storms to hit Beantown. Boston Mayor Thomas Menino tweeted on Sunday: "Boston Public Schools will be closed tomorrow, Monday, February 11." The snow emergency parking ban remains in effect. Menino also tweeted: "Our #1 priority today is getting to side streets. Thank you for patience as we recover from 5th largest storm to ever hit Boston." Boston Centers for Youth & Families (BCYF) will have four community centers open Monday for parents who need a safe place for their child to spend the day. Children must be over age 6 and any child under 12 needs to be dropped off with a parent to fill out a short form before they leave …
Tuesday, January 29, 2013
The public can comment on the latest school choice options at the the External Advisory Committee meeting on Mon., Feb. 4 at 6 p.m. at Orchard Gardens K-8 School.
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Tuesday, January 29
The following was submitted by Boston Mayor Thomas Menino. With your support, in the coming weeks we will achieve meaningful education reforms that will benefit an entire generation of students and the broader community. Today I am asking for your help so we can move forward together. For nearly 25 years we have split the city into three sprawling student assignment zones - North, East and West. Families today are faced with a bewildering set of options with no assurance they'll get what they asked for. Our schools are better than ever and we do our best to match families with their choices, but too often, children are sent to schools far from home because we couldn't give them what they wanted. Many families avoid the process altogether. …
John D
4:55 pm on Wednesday, March 27, 2013
if they find the rules offensive they should find a college more suited to their opinions.private institutions should not, and do not have to cater to the permanently offended. more ›