Monthly Newsletter
February|2024
NEWS
Black History Month Celebration A Success!
Ifé Franklin brings her Indigo Project to Revere
On Wednesday, Feb. 28, Revere Public Schools hosted a special Black History Month event with local artist Ifé Franklin at Revere High School’s Learning Common and celebrated this year’s Black History Month theme, African Americans and the Arts.
During the event, Ifé showed her powerful film, The Slave Narrative of Willie Mae, a fictional account of Willie Mae Lenox’s escape from slavery to freedom. The work was adapted into a short film in 2021.
The Slave Narrative of Willie Mae is the story of Willie Mae Lenox, a 20-year-old black woman enslaved in Virginia in the mid 1800’s, who sets upon her journey to freedom, assisted by family, abolitionists, African traditions, love, courage, and determination. The short film invites audiences into Willie Mae’s environment, creating connection and intimacy for those who lived their lives in chattel slavery. This story represents the transformation of the enslaved into freedom seekers on the path to liberation.
Following the film, Ifé, Dr. Garcia, and Revere High School students Francoise Kodjo and Alexandra Gracias discussed the film, its impacts, and the struggles that continue today for the BIPOC communities across the country.
Ifé closed out the event by inviting attendees to participate in a ring-shout dance. The Ring Shout was practiced by slaves as a religious activity, with Christianity augmenting the African elements. Participants moved in a circle, providing rhythm by clapping their hands and patting their feet.
Beachmont Picks Up National ESEA “Distinguished School” Honor in Oregon
Principal Freisen (right), Staff, Dr. Gallucci Accept Award During Conference in Oregon
In the fall, it was announced that Beachmont Elementary School was named a National “ESEA Distinguished School” by the National Association of Elementary and Secondary Education. Beachmont was one of two schools in Massachusetts to receive the honor.
In February, Beachmont Principal Chris Freisen and Revere Public Schools Assistant Superintendent Dr. Richard Gallucci traveled to Portland, Oregon, to pick up the school’s award during the four-day 2024 National ESEA Conference.
“Attending the National ESEA Conference in Portland was a tremendous honor for our school community,” said Freisen. “The Beachmont Veterans Memorial School was recognized as a Nationally Distinguished School, and there were special events that we participated in throughout the four-day conference.”
Freisen said the conference offered a variety of engaging sessions for educators from across the country.
“Our Beachmont team attended these sessions with plans to share what we learned with our Beachmont and Revere colleagues,” he said. “This conference gave us an opportunity to reflect on systems that we currently have in place and also identify areas of practice we can do better. It was great to meet educators and experts from across the country.”
RevereTV, Revere Public Schools Kick Off Ambassadors Cooking Series
Series will Feature RPS Family Liaisons Preparing Dishes From Their Homeland
A partnership between RevereTV and Revere Public Schools has resulted in a new cooking series that will feature RPS family liaisons from across the school district making recipes from their native countries.
The first episode of the RPS Ambassadors Cooking Series kicked off last week with host Estaphany Rodriguez, RPS Family and Community Coordinator, and Sujeiris Ryan, Hill Elementary School Family Liaison.
The duo, along with Ryan’s two children, Jesse and Juliana, made several dishes from the Dominican Republic in honor of Dominican Independence Day, which is celebrated on February 27th. You can watch the full episode of Ryan and company making a delicious meal of shrimp sauteed in garlic, avocado salad, and fried plantains here.
The new series, part of RevereTV’s popular What's Cooking Revere, was the brainchild of RPS Assistant Superintendent of Equity and Inclusion Dr. Lourenço P. Garcia and RevereTV Executive Director Bob Dunbar. Dunbar said Dr. Garcia approached him with the idea as part of the ongoing collaboration between RevereTV and RPS.
Revere High School’s Model UN Club Compete in BOSMUN XXIII Conference
RHS students Carlos Umanzor, Adam Oulgzenagui, Raihan Ahmed, Erta Ismahili, Safaa Laroussi, Leah Zuniga, Matthew Terrell, Isha Hassan, Salsabil Mendoza, and Kathy Nguyen attended BOSMUN XXIII
Last month, ten members of Revere High School’s Model UN club participated with nearly 2,000 students from across the continent (including Canada and Puerto Rico) in the BOSMUN XXIII Conference. Held at the Copley Marriott in Boston, the conference is organized by the Boston University International Affairs Association each year.
“The BOSMUN XXIII Conference this year was truly magical; with an increase in participation from students across the country as well as new personal and innovative topics, the research I committed myself to in representing Ethiopia was so worth it,” said Model UN member Erta Ismahili. “During the event, our World Health Organization Committee focused on mental health initiatives across the world, in which my bloc worked on a resolution that specifically tackled mental health concerns in conflict-stricken, low-income, and agriculturally-based nations.”
Erta earned the “Best Delegate” award by representing Ethiopia in the World Health Organization event during the conference and argued that while many think conversations around solutions for mental health issues must be led by more "developed" nations with stronger healthcare systems, her committee focused on local-level solutions, using education and de-stigmatization campaigns to support those most vulnerable to mental illness.
“As I've competed in Model UN for three years now, I truly believe the mentorship and leadership skills I've formed have allowed me to build immense confidence that I will continue to use throughout my life,” said Erta. “Whether it's with class presentations, job opportunities, or other extracurriculars and projects, the research and focus on international relations have pushed me into politics, my AP Seminar course, and even becoming an international correspondent on a Massachusetts student-run paper, "Diplomacy Decoded.”
Finding Nemo Junior at the Susan B. Anthony
On February 9 students at the Susan B. Anthony School performed the musical adaptation of the beloved 2003 Pixar movie Finding Nemo. Finding Nemo Junior follows an anxious and overprotective clownfish, Marlin, who lives in the Great Barrier Reef with his kid, Nemo.
Nemo Jr. longs to explore the world beyond their anemone home. But when Nemo is captured and taken to Sydney, Marlin faces his fears and sets off on an epic adventure across the ocean. With the help of lovable characters such as optimistic Dory, laid-back sea turtle Crush, and the supportive Tank Gang, Marlin and Nemo both overcome challenges on their journey to find each other and themselves.
FEBRUARY PHOTOS
Black History Month Celebration
Project Misik at RMA
Lincoln School Family Math Night
100th Day of School
RPS Ambassadors Cooking Series
UPCOMING EVENTS
Molly- Youth Works Job/Career Support
Tuesday, Mar 12, 2024, 09:00 AM
Revere High School, School Street, Revere, MA, USA
Free Food Pantry/ Mercado de Comida Gratis
Tuesday, Mar 12, 2024, 02:00 PM
Staff Sergeant James J Hill School, Park Avenue, Revere, MA, USA
Immigration Information Session Via Zoom
Tuesday, Mar 12, 2024, 06:00 PM
Garfield Elementary School, Garfield Avenue, Revere, MA, USA
PI Day
Thursday, Mar 14, 2024, 08:00 AM
Abraham Lincoln School, Tuckerman Street, Revere, MA, USA
Pi Day - Student Showcase
Thursday, Mar 14, 2024, 08:00 AM
Rumney Marsh Academy, American Legion Highway, Revere, MA, USA
School Improvement Meeting
Thursday, Mar 14, 2024, 02:00 PM
Staff Sergeant James J Hill School, Park Avenue, Revere, MA, USA
Soccer Tournament
Thursday, Mar 14, 2024, 04:00 PM
Revere High School, School Street, Revere, MA, USA
RHS JROTC Marksmanship Metro Championship
Saturday, Mar 16, 2024, 07:30 AM
Revere High School, School Street, Revere, MA, USA
Book Fair From the 18th to 22nd of March
Monday, Mar 18, 2024, 08:00 AM
Garfield Elementary School, Garfield Avenue, Revere, MA, USA
School Improvement Council Meeting
Wednesday, Mar 27, 2024, 08:30 AM
Rumney Marsh Academy, American Legion Highway, Revere, MA, USA
Family Coffee Day
Wednesday, Mar 27, 2024, 08:45 AM
A.C Whelan Elementary School, Newhall Street, Revere, MA, USA
IN THE NEWS
Senior Cheer Captain Natalie Rodriguez with Liviana Mendoza During Junior Patriots Cheer Night
- HRC Hears of Plans for Black History Event at RHS on Feb. 28
- RHS Students Learning About Interpretation and Translation Through New Partnership With UMass Amherst
- Revere Public Schools Celebrate Costello Syndrome Awareness Day
- RHS Cheerleaders Host Junior Patriot Cheer Night
- Undefeated Revere Middle School Girls Basketball Wins GBL Championship
- Garfield Middle School Rocks the House at Winter Concert
- Revere Middle Schoolers Named Project 351 Ambassadors
- Revere High School Offers an Abundance of External Learning Opportunities
- Revere Public Schools to Bring the Indigo Project to the Community
- Council Looks to Costs and Funding Options for Building High School
- Two RHS Students Win Awards at Harvard Model Congress
- RMA Students Celebrate Black History