Keeping You Up to Date

Scientists-in-Waiting Present at Science & Technology Symposium

This January, Dr. Leah Cataldo’s Current Topics & Research in Science and Technology class held its annual symposium in the Upper School Theater. The forum, now in its third year, featured the work of five BB&N seniors who had spent the previous month carefully researching current “hot button” topics in the scientific community.

Each student presented their findings in slide show and poster formats to a fascinated audience of parents, peers, and faculty before opening the floor to questions. This year’s symposium featured the following students:

Adam Brudnick: Sunny Days — Solar Power and its Promise;
Susan Langer: Using Polymers for Detection, Sensing, and Biomimicry;
Linda Li: Nuclear Power — The Future of Nuclear Fusion;
Greg Michels: Wormholes—Science Fact or Science Fiction;
Hannah Semigran: Brain Computer Interfaces and Neuroprosthetics.

Click Here to read Dr. Cataldo’s letter about her students’ work in the CTR class. Top

Key Dates Set for 2009-10 Year

The key dates have been set for the 2009-10 school calendar. Click Here to see the calendar. Top

Student Artists Take the Floor at Upper School Gallery Talk

On January 15, the Upper School arts faculty hosted their annual student gallery talk, allowing students to showcase and discuss their works being displayed at the School. “It’s always interesting to hear students talk about the process of making their art, where their ideas come from, and what technical issues were involved in crafting their work,” said Upper School drawing/painting teacher John Norton.

Kathleen Oshima ’10 talked about her piece “Gecko Tray”, a tray made of ash wood with an inset of walnut wood shaped liked a gecko, and Sam Wallis ’10 (pictured above) discussed a painting he created with seven overlapping stencils and spray paint. Also speaking at the gallery talk were Morgan Dove ’10, Diana Enriquez ’12, Deby Guzman-Buchness ’11, Rosie Johnson ’09, Charles Northrup ’10, and Emma Sagan ’10. Top

All-School "Have-a-Heart" Food Drive Takes Place This Month

Hunger is on the rise in our state. More families than ever before are choosing between heating their homes and feeding their families. We can help. The All-School “Have-a-Heart” Food Drive for the Preventive Food Pantry at Boston Medical Center will be held this year; from Wednesday, February 18 to Friday, February 27. Specific grade assignments and drop-off information will be sent out to parents and students in February. Click Here for a list of needed items. Please plan to participate, as it is more important than ever this year! Top

Upper School Students Embark on Interdisciplinary Project

Using funding he received from an In-School ART Grant award, Upper School woodworking teacher Paul Ruhlmann teamed up with science teacher Rachel Riemer this fall to pioneer an interdisciplinary project for BB&N students. Under Ruhlmann’s guidance, students constructed rhombic dodecahedrons, dynamic three-dimensional geometric objects which Riemer explored in geometric terms with students throughout the project. Riemer and Ruhlmann set out to demonstrate the often hidden overlaps that exist between two seemingly different subjects, in this case woodworking and science. The hope is that this will be a jumping-off point for future interdisciplinary projects and a glimpse into the hidden synergies that exist throughout the School and the curriculum. Top

Dr. King Honored at Community Breakfast

On this historic Martin Luther King Jr. Day, the BB&N community honored the civil rights hero with poignant presentations and inspirational music at the annual MLK breakfast. Director of Multicultural Services Lewis Bryant welcomed the community as the Monday Night Jazz band rocked the crowd. De’na Johnson ’09 and Abeselome Belete ’09 discussed the work of Dr. King and his dream of a vibrant, multiracial nation united in justice and peace, while their Middle School peers gave a moving presentation entitled, “Seeds of Change and Non Violence.” There were also several Lower School presentations by Dominique Norgaisse’15, Sophia Applbaum ’15, and Emma Applbaum ’15, followed by Babi Mitra’s (P’10) speech which tied together the legacies of Dr. King and Mahatma Gandhi.

In closing, the BB&N community was asked to “think about this – what is YOUR dream for: Yourself? Your family? Your community? Your country? Your world?” Top

Fourth Graders Save 55 Trees!

Forty-two fourth graders joined forces with their counterparts at the Park School (which started the initiative) and the Shady Hill School for the Tree-O Catalog Canceling Challenge. Their challenge was to cancel as many catalogs as possible by calling catalog companies or going online. When the month-long challenge wrapped up, the BB&N 4th graders had canceled an astounding 1,391 catalogs! (The “tree-o” of schools canceled 4,323 catalogs altogether.) That’s equivalent to saving 55.4 trees, conserving 51,876 gallons of water, and preventing 6,225 pounds of carbon dioxide from entering the atmosphere.

To read more about the students’ commitment to the project, Click Here to read 4th grade teacher Jenny Weymouth’s letter about the Challenge. Top

Teachers Matter Garners Award

Kudos to Janet Rosen, BB&N’s director of capital programs, for her award-winning work on Teachers Matter. The booklet, produced in the fall by the External Affairs Office, received an honorable mention in the 2008 CASE District I Communications Awards competition. The publication shared personal reflections on the impact of BB&N teachers from 22 alumni/ae and parents. Click Here to view the online PDF of Teachers Matter. Top

BB&N Celebrates Kwanzaa

Director of Multicultural Services Lewis Bryant welcomed guests to BB&N’s annual Kwanzaa celebration, which included presentations by students from each campus. The December holiday honors African-American heritage, pride, community, family, and culture in a seven-day festival. Pictured above with director of enrollment management Geordie Mitchell are Christopher Cumberbatch ’20, left, and Michael Cumberbatch ’21.

Click Here to view a photo gallery from the event. Top

Grade 6Z Impresses with Winter Play

Berhane Zerom’s sixth grade class tackled a sensitive subject with their winter play, Amazing Grace, which they performed in Middle School Big Room. The inspirational story tells of a girl (Grace) who is held back because of her gender and skin color. Overcoming challenges with aplomb, Grace proves to herself that she can do anything she puts her heart into. Top

BB&N Launches New Inauguration Tradition

In the start of a brand-new patriotic tradition at BB&N, the campus communities gathered together on Tuesday, January 20, to watch Barack Obama get sworn in as the 44th President of the United States. Middle School students were bused over to the Nichols Athletic Center late in the morning to join their Upper School counterparts in watching the historic occasion. Students and faculty covered the Gymnasium floor (and in some cases walls!) to watch the proceedings on a giant screen, culminating in a standing ovation at the conclusion of President Obama’s inauguration address. Meanwhile on the Lower School campus, Brick Building, New Wing, and Morse Building students watched the inauguration on screens in the in the Community Room, LS Gym, and Music Room respectively. Top

TeenLife Boston's Community Service Fair: February 8

Are you looking for ways to engage in community service? Wondering what to do this summer? Get started by attending the second annual TeenLife Boston Community Service Fair on Sunday, February 8th from 1-4pm at the Mall at Chestnut Hill. Over 50 non-profits and sponsors will be present to speak with middle and high school students, parents and teachers about individual volunteer opportunities, group volunteer opportunities, special event help, administrative internships, and assistance with goods drives—both during the school year and the summer. Attendance and parking is free and all pre-registered guests will receive a free gift bag with lots of great information and goodies from our sponsors. To register for the event, please visit www.teenlifeboston.com.

VOLUNTEER OPPORTUNITY: Additionally, TeenLife Boston is looking for 20 students and five adults to volunteer at the fair. All volunteers who work a minimum of a two-hour shift will receive a free gift from TeenLife Boston as well as a letter documenting their community service hours. If you are interested, please email volunteer@teenlifeboston.com. Top

Miles Harrison '13 Repeats Win at MS Geography Bee

For the second year in a row, students gathered in the Middle School Big Room, hooting and hollering as their contestant of choice was announced to the stage. While the scene seemed more like a WWF match, it was actually a favorite new Middle School event—the National Geographic Geography Bee. Clad in sunglasses and bowler hats, History Teachers Bill Rogers, Gabe Mejail, Harold Francis, and Miles Billings took over the stage, with Billings acting as MC. While many students had their chance, eighth grader Miles Harrison (pictured above) once again reigned supreme, earning the chance to take a national test which could qualify him for the National Geography Bee later this year. Top

Lower School Starts New Book Talk Parent Program

A new Lower School parent program hit the ground running this winter as psychologist Dr. Jacqueline Kieff and Director Sue Scarborough began hosting Lower School Book Talks.

Last month, parents crammed into Dr. Kieff’s office on the Lower School to discuss the book So Sexy So Soon, by Diane E. Levin and Jean Kilbourne. The book deals with the topic of childhood sexuality and what parents can do to protect their kids as they face an increasingly sex-oriented culture.

Stay tuned for the next Book Talk this spring, at which Hold On to Your Kids: Why Parents Need to Matter More Than Peers by Gordon Neufeld will be discussed. Top