January 23, 2025 update

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Dear Boston Prep Families,

Our family newsletter has tons of important information for our families. It is our main source of communication with families for critical announcements & recent updates. Please take some time to carefully read our weekly Family Newsletter.

1. Snow Closures

2. School Calendar Update

3. Open Enrollment for 2024-2025 and 2025-2026

4. Student Privacy Policy

5. The Toast - Save the Date

6. Attendance Policy

7. School Breakfast and Lunch Menu

8. Middle School Specific Announcements

9. High School Specific Announcements

10. Support Services Corner

11. Athletics Corner

12. Enrichment Corner

13. Nurses Corner

14. CCO (College Counseling Office) Corner

15. Hyde Park Neighborhood Community Events

16. Family Resources

Sincerely,

Madelyn Ruizdeporras
Family Operations Manager

Boston Prep snow cancellations are announced on television and on the Internet –www.boston.com or Boston Public School website. If “Boston Public Schools” is listed, that means Boston Prep is canceled. If not, that means school is open. Here is a list of reliable news sources for information on school closings, cancellations, and delays.

https://www.wcvb.com/weather/closings#mid=17993890

https://whdh.com/storm-closings-delays/

https://www.cbsnews.com/boston/school-closings/

No school on Friday, March 7 and March 21: Boston Prep will not have classes on Friday, March 7th and March 21st so our educators can attend professional development training. Please note that the 3/21 is an addition to our school calendar. Again, students will not have class on 3/7 and 3/21. All clubs, sports and extracurriculars will not be in session on either date.

SY24-25: Boston Prep has re-opened their application and now enrolling for New Students for the Current School Year (2024-2025): Accepting applications for grades 6, 7, 9, and 10! Submit yours by January 29, 2025. Apply here: www.bostonprep.org/enroll SPREAD THE WORD!

SY25-26: Boston Prep’s application for enrollment for the 2025-2026 school year is now open! We accept applications for students entering grades 6-10!

To apply:

• Applications must be submitted through the Boston Charter Public Schools Application System.

• We encourage families to review our website to learn more about our school, visit our student enrollment page, email enrollment@bostonprep.org with questions or call our Family Operations Manager, Ms. Ruizdeporras at 617-910-5333.

All students in Boston Public Schools —including English language learners, limited English proficient students, and students with special education are welcome to apply! There are no admissions tests or interviews, and there is no tuition fee. Boston Prep Charter School is a tuition-free, charter public schools providing an academically rigorous education to students from the Boston area. Admission is based on a random lottery.

Information for Current Students:

• Existing students do not need to reapply.

• Siblings of existing students do need to apply. Siblings receive preference, but are not automatically guaranteed a spot in our admissions lottery (cousins DO NOT receive preference).

• Please submit sibling verification to Boston Prep by February 28th, 2025. You can apply today: https://bostoncharterschools.schoolmint.net.

2025-2026 enrollment dates

2025-2026 Application Opens: Tuesday, 10/1

Application close date: Friday, 2/28

SY25-26 Application Lottery Date: Thursday, 3/6

Snow Date: Friday, 3/7

Google is changing their student privacy policy and is now asking that parents grant permission to Boston Prep to allow students full access to Google apps. If you did not sign the permission form at Quarter 1 conferences, please read details and complete this form so that your student does not lose access to certain Google applications.

If you have any questions or concerns, please email stephen.swiech@student.bostonprep.org

Join us for Boston Prep’s Annual Toast!

Boston Prep’s Annual Toast is a cherished tradition where the Phoenix community gathers to celebrate and support Boston Prep. Featuring student performances, inspiring keynote speakers, and a night filled with joy, laughter, and dancing, it’s a true statement to our shared commitment to education.

Take advantage of our early bird ticket price! Visit TheToast2025.givesmart.com to secure your ticket today!

Doors open for breakfast: 7:15am

Class Starts promptly at: 7:45am

Please ensure that your student in one time each day!

For any attendance related matters, please email us at: attendance@bostonprep.org

Click here to view the breakfast and lunch menus.

Keeping warm during recess: Even when it is chilly outside, we take our students outside for recess. Fresh air does us good! Please send your student to school with a coat or a jacket. Only when it is raining, extremely cold or there are other poor weather conditions will we be inside for recess. All students must bring their coats or jackets with them to recess.

• There is No recess when the temperature is at 15 degrees or below or snowing out/inclement weather.
• When there is recess, students MUST wear a coat

(SEPAC) Special Education Parent Advisory Committee meeting

The Second SEPAC (Special Education Parent Advisory Council) Meeting will be on:

Date: Tuesday February 25

Time: 6PM-7PM via Zoom.

Topic: State Testing for Students in Support Services.

Zoom Link to join: https://bostonprep-org.zoom.us/my/vlamp

If you are interested in joining our SEPAC, please reach out to Danielle Buskey, dbuskey@bostonprep.org, or Victoria Lamp vlamp@bostonprep.org.

(ELPAC) English Learner Parent Advisory Council meeting: ELPAC is open to family members of current and former English learners. We will meet regularly to improve educational opportunities for our multilingual students.

Please contact Ms Kranick jkranick@bostonprep.org 617-391-9597 or Ms Hernandez jhernandez@bostonprep.org 617-910-5645 with any questions

Upcoming meetings for ELPAC and SEPAC will be shared soon!

Incident Last Week: Last week was a very challenging week for our athletes and community as a whole. I want to remind you that last week's incident does not reflect our community. To support our student-athletes, we have added some additional safety measures:

• There will be NO FANS

• We are working closely with E18 (Police)

• They have our sports schedules and plan on coming to the games.

If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to reach out to Mr. Tabb at: athletics@bostonprep.org

Stay tuned for more details regarding our Spring Sports Season!

Try-Outs begin week of March 17th.

• Baseball

• Softball

• Flag Football

• Track

• Boys Volleyball

Use this link to register for sports: https://students.arbitersports.com/boston-prep-athletics.

An updated physical MUST be submitted to the school nurses to participate in sports. Please make sure we have an updated one on file.

For upcoming games please click here and visit our website for the schedule.

Apply Now: 2025 Red Sox Scholars Program for 7th Graders

The 2025 Red Sox Scholars Application is now open to eligible 7th grade students in the Boston Public School District and Boston Public Charter Schools! The Red Sox Scholars is a college success program that awards a $10,000 college scholarship to 12 Boston Public School 7th graders each year. The Foundation then provides academic, professional, and social support to students for at least the next nine years to ensure they graduate from college with as little debt as possible and prepared to enter the workforce – as well as feeling part of a family of resources for years to come!

ELIGIBILITY TO APPLY:

• Legally enrolled as a full-time 7th grade student in the Boston Public School District or at a Boston Public Charter School for School Year 2024-25

• Demonstrate strong academic potential

• Demonstrate strong financial need

• Must be able to attend an in-person interview on Saturday, May 10, 2025, at Fenway Park

APPLICATION SUBMISSION:

The 2025 Red Sox Scholars Application can be downloaded from the website. Students must save the document to their computer first, which will give them the ability to type directly into the application. Completed applications must be emailed to RedSoxScholars@redsox.com by Monday, March 3, 2025.

If you have any questions about the Red Sox Scholars program, please don’t hesitate to contact Emily McGrail at emcgrail@redsox.com.

Plan Ahead for Summer 2025 Enrichment Opportunities!

Summer Enrichment programs offer students the opportunities to:

• Explore their interests and passions

• Build valuable skills

• Connect with inspiring people

• Fulfill a Boston Prep high school graduation requirement

Graduation Reminder

All students need three summer enrichment credits to graduate from Boston Prep (one after each year of 9th, 10th, and 11th grade). Credits can be earned through precollege programs, internships, paid jobs, or 40+ hours of community service.

Learn about amazing summer enrichment opportunities (linked here). Below is a sneak peek at a few options with upcoming deadlines:

1. BU RISE Internship: STEM research for Grade 11 (Deadline: Feb 14)

2. Generation Teach: Teaching and leadership roles for Grade 11-12 (Deadlines: Feb - May)

3. Becoming Entrepreneurial: Business-focused program for Grades 9-11 (Deadline: Mar 14)

4. Emmanuel College Nursing Academy: Healthcare skills for Grades 10-11 (Rolling admissions)

5. WPI Launch: Coding and engineering focus for Grades 9-10 (Deadline: Apr 30)

Scholarship Opportunity

Boston Prep’s Summer Enrichment Scholarship Application can help cover costs for precollege programs on college campuses. Funds are limited, so apply early! Please note: students must be accepted to a precollege program before applying for funding.

For more details about summer enrichment opportunities, visit this site or contact Fina Fontes at ffontes@bostonprep.org with questions.

Out Sick? A doctor’s note should be given to the school within 10 school days of a student’s absence. The school will not go back more than 10 school days to excuse any absences unless it is deemed a unique and unforeseeable situation by Nurses, Social Worker, and/or Principal or Principal Designee.

Updated physical and Immunization Record: An up-to-date physical exam and immunization record for your student must be submitted to the school. It is a yearly requirement that must be completed for every student! Students will not be able to participate in a fall sport if their physical is not up-to-date.

Please submit documents to: our front office or email nurses@bostonprep.org or fax to 857-520-0836.

Beyond the practical benefits, such as boosting morale or networking, community events are important for many other reasons. Firstly, community events help to bring communities together. When people join in celebration or even just talk about common interests, it helps create bonds and foster a sense of belonging.

Keep in mind that these events are not led by Boston Prep. They are held by different organizations throughout Hyde Park and surrounding areas. We hope you enjoy!

• A Bunch of Dads Meet Up: Join a fun gathering of dads at the Hyde Park Branch of the Boston Public Library. This is a great opportunity to meet other dads in the community, share stories, and maybe even pick up some parenting tips along the way.

Whether you're a seasoned dad or a newbie, all are welcome to attend. Bond over shared

experiences and enjoy some quality time together. Don't miss out on this chance to connect with

other dads in the area!

Date: January 25, 2025

Time: 12-2pm

Location: Hyde Park Branch of the Boston Public Library

Reserve a Spot here: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/a-bunch-of-dads-meet-up-tickets-1139238626399?aff=ebdssbdestsearch

Monday, January 20: Martin Luther King Day - No School

Friday, January 24: End of Q2

Wednesday, February 12: Q2 Conferences

Monday, February 17 - Friday, February 21: February Break - No School

Friday, March 7: One Team PD Day (No School for Students)

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.

• To check out our School Calendar click here
• To check out our Student and Family Handbook click here
• 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