Dear Families,
Please see below for this week’s announcements.
Preparing for the New School Year: Health & Safety
Preparing for the New School Year: Our Family Resource Center
August Family Town Hall: Date Change
Summer Assignments
Athletics Registration
Community Events/Announcements
Stay safe and be well!
Sincerely,
Sharon Liszanckie
Executive Director
I. Preparing for the New School Year: Health & Safety
We are so excited to welcome all Boston Prep students and teachers back to school, fully in-person, five days per week, in just a few short weeks! (As a reminder, the state of MA is not allowing schools to offer at-home remote learning options this year.) While health and safety guidance continues to evolve, sometimes by the day, you can be confident that we continue to prioritize the physical, mental, and emotional health of our community above all. Given our team’s tremendous efforts since the beginning of this pandemic, we are well positioned to continue the safety measures that we know keep our community safe. For example, as your child prepares to return to school this fall, you can know that:
Masks: All Boston Prep students and faculty will wear masks over their noses and mouths at all times.
COVID Testing: We will continue to offer free weekly PCR COVID testing to all of our students and faculty.
Ventilation: We will continue to ensure top-rated ventilation, including MERV-13 and HEPA filters.
Social Distancing: We will maintain a distance of three feet between individuals.
Nursing: We will continue to include a second school nurse on our team.
Hand Sanitizing: We will ensure students have time to sanitize their hands throughout the day.
Dining: We will eat outdoors, weather permitting, to limit time when individuals are unmasked indoors.
Zones: We will have separate middle school and high school zones, and students will enter and exit through specific doors.
Staying home when we are sick: We will continue to encourage students and faculty to stay home if they are experiencing symptoms of COVID-19, and we will continue to emphasize our shared commitments to keeping each other, our families, and our community safe.
We will continue to monitor all recommendations from the Boston Public Health Commission, the CDC, the Department of Elementary and Secondary Education, and other experts in the field. We will continue to transparently and proactively share updates as they are available. We look forward to a healthy and productive school year for all!
II. Preparing for the New School Year: Our Family Resource Center
If you haven’t yet, we encourage you to bookmark our Family Resource Center website. Our Family Resource Center is designed to be a one-stop shop, helping families find all of the information they need. Looking for the dress code? The calendar? The daily schedule? Slides from past Family Town Halls? You can find it all on our Family Resource Center!
III. August Family Town Hall: Date Change
Our August Family Town Hall will now be held on Thursday, August 26 at 6:00PM. Families are invited to join us to discuss plans for the new school year!
IV. Summer Assignments
All Boston Prep students have summer assignments to complete to continue growing their skills over the summer months. Assignments are available on our Family Resources website throughout the summer. Students have different assignments, based on their grade level.
Rising 6th graders: Summer reading
Rising 7th graders: Summer reading & math
Rising 8th - 12th graders: Summer reading, math, & history
Note that “rising” indicates the grade the student will be entering in the Fall. For example, rising 6th graders are students who just completed 5th grade and will enter 6th grade in the fall.
V. Athletics Registration
We are excited to announce the return of the Boston Prep athletics program for the upcoming school year! (Please note that we continue to monitor the safety of athletics, and our plans will adapt, as needed, in accordance with the most current health and safety guidelines.)
With 19 sports programs offered in both the middle school and high school, our student-athletes will have the opportunity to choose from a wide array of sports. Our sport offerings are as follows:
This year we are introducing an online sports registration platform called Family ID. To register for a Fall sport, please click on the link below, follow the instructions, and fill out the required information on the online registration form. Please note that a copy of a most recent physical (within 13 months of the beginning of the season) is required to participate.
If you have any questions or concerns, contact Mr. Alves at nalves@bostonprep.org or 617-506-9085.
VI. Community Events/Announcements
Rep. Pressley Office Hours: Congresswoman Ayanna Pressley and her team are excited to invite you to an Open House at their new District Office in Hyde Park on Saturday, August 14th from 2:00 – 4:00PM. Come meet their dedicated team and learn about the services they can provide. Please follow this link to RSVP for the event. All attendees must RSVP in advance. All guests are asked to please wear masks for the safety of everyone involved.
Mayor Kim Janey’s Regional Coffee Hours: Acting Mayor Kim Janey is traveling the city, hosting coffee hours to give residents the chance to speak with her and staff from City departments about issues that matter to them. Attendees will enjoy iced coffee, munchkins, fresh fruit, and a free flowering plant, while supplies last.
August 25, 10:30 - 11:30: Roxbury/Mission Hill (Howes Playground, Roxbury)
August 27, 10:30 - 11:30: Mattapan/Hyde Park (Almont Playground, Mattapan)
Where We Stand: Boston Women of Color Mayoral Candidate Forum: Hosted by We, Ceremony and Beya Jimenez, this virtual forum will highlight the women of color mayoral candidates and their visions for a just City of Boston. On Wednesday, August 18 from 6:30 - 8:00 PM, young women of color voters are invited to hear from the candidates on issues of importance to their communities such as racial justice, economic justice, environmental justice, immigration, transportation, education, and housing. Register now!
APPENDIX: FAMILY QUICK REFERENCE GUIDE
Upcoming Dates
Thursday, August 26, 6:00 PM - Family Town Hall (Register here)
Monday, August 30 - First day of school for the 2021-2022 school year