DEARBORN STEM ACADEMY NEWS & NOTES
Week of May 25, 2020, Volume 2, No. 37
DETERMINED
I set and meet challenging goals. I hold high expectations for myself and my future. I never give up.
SELF-C0NFIDENT
ACCEPTING
Dear Dearborn Community,
Hello!
The grace we offered to each other during the first few weeks of the pandemic has in some instances turned to blame or impatience over the last couple of weeks. That's understandable as the crisis is wearing some of us down. Let's get back to grace. We know parents and families are doing their best under these extremely difficult conditions and we want you to know that at the Dearborn we are committed to seeing this through to the end:
1. Call us, text us, or email us if you need anything. We will do our best to provide you with the resources you need, or connect you to the person or agency best suited to assist you.
2. We are working on summer programs with the District and we are committed to offering programming to any student who wants to be engaged in academics or enrichment this summer.
3. We are thinking about what September could look like, and as we lean more we will share this information with all of our families.
We are here for you. Thank you for being a member of the Dearborn community.
Dana Brown, 781-953-4642, dbrown8@bostonpublicschools.org
Darlene Marcano, 857-205-0223, dmarcano@bostonpublicschools.org
on behalf of the entire DSA Community
JOIN ME IN THE THIRTY DAY SCIENCE CHALLENGE!
Virtual Parent University Leadership Forum-TODAY!! TUESDAY, MAY 26TH
Please Join Us for our Virtual Parent University Leadership Forum:
BPS Learning Expectations for Remote Learning
Tuesday, May 26, 2020
4:00 pm to 5:30 pm
Virtual meeting details will be provided to all confirmed registrants via email.
We will discuss the BPS learning expectations for remote learning and what families can do to keep their children focused and motivated.
To REGISTER, go to the "Quick Links" at the bottom of the Parent University page bostonpublicschools.org/parentuniversity
BAM UPDATE BY MYLES LAYNE, DEARBORN STEM ACADEMY BAM COUNSELOR
I hope all is well with you and your families and that everyone is staying safe. Over the last couple of weeks we have continued to deliver 30 pound boxes of food and last week we also delivered lunches to some families from the local restaurant 50 kitchens. Families have been very appreciative of our efforts and we will continue to do as we can.
This past week Page Ellerson (CNN Producer) was doing a story on BAM and how it has been helping scholars during the quarantine/COVID so we invited her to a virtual BAM session with one scholar representing each of the 10 Schools we are currently in. Farris Omar was the scholar that represented DSA. The session was an extended check in on how they are feeling emotionally and how they have utilized a high level self determination during the pandemic (and how BAM specifically has helped them too). Farris had this to say about the session: "this was awesome experience and i'm glad people really care about how we feel."
We will continue to give our scholars a voice, advocate for them and do what ever we can during this difficult time. I hope you and your families continue to stay safe and healthy.
GRADE 6 TEAM SENDS "HELLO" IN PICTURES TO 6TH GRADE STUDENTS!
Ensuring Food Security
P-EBT CARDS...
P-EBT Cards
Beginning this month, every BPS family will receive financial assistance for food due to the COVID-19 pandemic. These funds are available under a new federal program called Pandemic EBT or P-EBT.
Families will receive $5.70 each eligible child each day for every day school is closed due to the pandemic, which comes to $28.50 a week.
Families that do not have an EBT card will receive a P-EBT card in the mail. Each enrolled BPS child in the household will receive a unique P-EBT card. If a family already has an EBT card, funds will be added to their account. The money can be used to buy food items at stores where SNAP benefits are accepted (look for signs that say, “We accept EBT here”). Email food@boston.gov for questions. The card is valid for one year.
CHECK OUT THE DAILY/WEEKLY SCHEDULE FOR STUDENTS AND STAFF!
https://www.bpe.org/dearborn-stem-academy/
EXPLORE THE SITE!
Citywide virtual graduation ceremony with Mayor Walsh and Superintendent Cassellius
As we close out this school year, we unfortunately will not be able to host graduation ceremonies to celebrate in person with all of you.
As we close out this school year, we want to honor our students and celebrate their remarkable accomplishments. Mayor Walsh and I are thrilled to host a virtual graduation ceremony with WCVB News Center 5. We hope you, as well as your friends and family from near and far, will join us to commemorate this major milestone in your lives.
Boston Public Schools Virtual Graduation Ceremony for the Class of 2020
Featuring
Mayor Martin J. Walsh, Superintendent Brenda Cassellius, Former U.S. Secretary of Education John King, BPS valedictorians, and countless BPS graduating seniors.
Saturday, June 13, 2020
7:30 - 8:00 PM
TV Channel 5 and live streamed on www.WCVB.com
We are incredibly proud of our graduating seniors’ hard work, determination, and motivation that has brought them to this moment. We can’t wait to see all that you accomplish in the future.
Sincerely,
Dr. Brenda Cassellius
Superintendent
This ceremony does not take the place of our own Dearborn graduation. We will celebrate as a school when we can!
Class of 2020 Graduation
Our students want to experience the thrill of walking across a stage and receiving their diploma in front of family members and classmates. We want that for them.
We know It won't happen on June 10, the original graduation date, but we are hoping it can occur sometime in the fall. We will keep the entire Dearborn community informed as we learn more.
In the meantime we are supporting our seniors with their college and work plans for the future!
Ps...we'll recognize the 8th graders "Moving Up" to high school with some type of celebration as well.
OUR ATTENDANCE WILL LOOK DIFFERENT NOW. BE ONLINE. STAY IN TOUCH.
BPS Helpline at 617-635-8873
- For questions and information on resources available to BPS families during the school closure, call the BPS Helpline at 617-635-8873, Monday - Friday, 9am - 5pm. Help is available in Arabic, Cape Verdean Creole, Chinese, French, Haitian Creole, Portuguese, Russian, Somali, Spanish, and Vietnamese.
Let's communicate!
We will communicate by newsletter with you each week. It will be distributed at the beginning of each school week. The purpose of the newsletter is to inform Dearborn STEM Academy students, staff, and families as well as the greater Dearborn community.
If you would like to add something please submit the contents to the appropriate principal; Co-Principal Dana F. Brown, dbrown8@bostonpublicschools.org or Co-Principal Darlene Marcano, dmarcano@bostonpublicschools.org.
Stories, pictures, calendar reminders, club, activity, and classroom notes are all welcome.
Dana Brown
Darlene Marcano
STEM Fun!
Call, visit, message
Dana Brown, Co-Principal, dbrown8@bostonpublicschools.org
Website: www.dearbornstemacademy.org
Location: 36 Winthrop Street, Roxbury MA 02119
Phone: 617-635-8412
Twitter: @brownprincipal