PHA Family Newsletter
Your Source for PreK-12 School Updates
November 21, 2023
Dear Families,
I am grateful for each of you during this season of gratitude and giving. We each bring our own unique cultural and lived experiences to our richly diverse and inclusive community. Our holiday festivities and traditional/cultural feasts may vary from culture to culture. For many of us, Thanksgiving is a time to gather with friends and family and be thankful for all the goodness in our lives -- especially the people. During this holiday season, I encourage you to give the gift of a warm hug, a sincere smile, or a kind word of encouragement to your little ones, tweeners, teenagers, young adults, and/or even the seniors in your life -- may this simple little gesture extend peace & love to your loved ones.
I also extend my deepest gratitude for entrusting us with your beautiful, curious, and deserving children. This fall, we’ve been diligently developing solid roots and sowing the fall seeds, and we highly anticipate spring fruit that comes to bear for all of our PreK-12 scholars.
With gratitude,
Angela
Angela F. Allen Ph.D.
Head of School / CEO
Important Dates
- 11/22/2023: Early Release ALL Schools
- 11/23/2023 and 11/24/2023: ALL Schools Closed: Thanksgiving Break
- 11/28/2023: Thrive Market 3:00-4:00 PM (Franklin)
- 12/5/2023: PK-6 Family Hour of Code Night 4:00-5:00 PM (Webster)
- 12/14/2023: Thrive Thursday Dinner 5:30-7:00 PM (Webster)
- 12/15/2023: Grades 4-6 Talent Show and Winter Formal 6:00-9:00 PM (Franklin)
- 12/20/2023: PK-3 Pajama Night- Reading Extravaganza (Webster)
- 12/22/2023: Early Release ALL Schools
- 12/25/2023-01/02/2024: ALL Schools Closed: School Vacation
- 01/02/2024: NO School: Professional Development Day
Honors and Achievements
Fall Debate Season
The Fall Debate season hosted by the Boston Debate League is underway!
The first tournament of the season was held on October 20th and 21st at English High School where our debaters won 4th place JV speaker (Alex R.), 7th place JV speaker (Nathan B.) and 9th place novice speaker (Jayden G.).
Last week, the team sent sixteen PHA students to Suffolk University to compete in the second debate tournament of the season on November 17th and 18th. Our debaters won awards in all three divisions: 8th place varsity team (Presley S. and Bivan P.), 10th place varsity team (Sybille D. and Taygen R.), 6th place JV team (Chesney C. and Simone A.), 2nd place novice speaker (Adrine P.), and 2nd place novice team (Sambodhan B.and Adrine P.).
Congratulations to the team and their coaches, Alison and Kelsi!
Highlights From The First 60 Days of School
Thrive School Market
Check out scenes from our monthly THRIVE school market in collaboration with Food For Free. Fruits, vegetables, and pantry items are provided free of cost to our PreK-12 families and community members. See future market dates under "Family Announcements."
9th Grade ELA Visits the Consulate of Japan
Following a deep exploration of Japanese culture through manga and anime, and the mythology, folklore, and religious history that informs the genre, our 9th Grade ELA students recently had the opportunity to expand their learning with a visit to the Consulate of Japan in Boston.
During their visit, they learned about international relationships and the function of a consulate, what high school is like in Japan, and had the chance to ask their own questions. Ultimately, the trip allowed students to learn more about Japanese culture from Japanese Americans who work to support positive cultural exchanges in Boston and abroad
Through a generous individual donation, all students at the Upper Elementary campus were gifted a pair of PUMA sneakers and a group of 6th graders who were working on their small machines unit subsequently visited the Puma offices in Somerville to learn more about the sneaker production process. Thank you to Russell Paulding of Unlimited Lenz and PUMA for your generosity.
Recently we asked our 7th graders, "what is your favorite class at PHA and why?"
Check out what LitConnect/Media club members had to say!
Play-Based Learning at PHA
HS Students Shadow and Learn from Medical Staff at Boston Children's Hospital
A few of our high school students had the opportunity to shadow and learn from medical staff at the Boston Children's Hospital. Senior Adrine explains: "My favorite part of this trip to BCH was talking to many different people at many different points in their careers throughout the trip. Some were second and third med students doing their rotations, and others varied from new to very well-experienced medical professionals with various degrees and titles. It was all so informative, getting to know their backgrounds and how they responded to the inevitable failures and setbacks."
PHA Fall Athletics
The cross country team had a strong season, wrapping up with the championships which took place at Franklin Park in Boston. Senior Adrine Pradhan finished 4th overall in the boys race and Junior Nicole DeOliveira finished 5th in the girls final.
The girls soccer team made it to the MCSAO semi-finals and also qualified for the MIAA state tournament. They were led by Senior Peterly Leroy who became the PHA all-time leading goal scorer this season and was chosen as the MCSAO North Division MVP!
The girls volleyball team made it to the MCSAO semi-finals while qualifying for the MIAA state tournament. They were led by Senior captain Lydia Martins and Junior Gianna Marchena who were both All-League selections.
Boys Soccer played a very competitive schedule and narrowly missed the playoffs. The future is bright for this team as they have a good young core that continues to improve. Juniors Alejandro Moreno and Alex Esteban were both All-League selections!.
PHA Announcements
PHA Accepting Applications for 2024-2025 School Year
PHA's student admissions application for the 2024-2025 School Year is open! Learn more and submit your application for PreK - Grade 9 today.
Join us for a Virtual Open House
PHA is holding three virtual Open Houses for families interested in applying for the 2024-2025 school year. Join us on one of the following dates to meet our Head of School & campus principals and learn about our school community:
- December 7, 2023; 5:30pm
- January 10, 2024; 5:30pm
- February 22, 2024; 5:30pm
Enrichment Opportunities
All Aboard! Trains at Science Park
Seasonal exhibit “All Aboard! Trains at Science Park” returns with train-themed favorites in our 4-D and Mugar Omni Theaters!
STEAM Saturday for Grades K-8
Save the date for Winter STEAM Saturday!
Winter STEAM Saturday will take place on:
Saturday, January 20th
Saturday, January 27th
Saturday, February 3rd
Saturday, February 10th
9 AM and 12 PM at our High School campus (54 Essex St).
Registration will open on Friday, January 5th at 6 pm. Details will be sent via email, through Remind, and through Seesaw. For more information, please contact Kim Le at KLe@phacs.org!
Are you a 7th - 10th grade student who is curious and passionate about STEM?
Check out this free learning opportunity with MIT Introduction to Technology, Engineering, and Science (MITES).
The MITES programs provide transformative experiences that bolster confidence, create lifelong community, and build an exciting, challenging foundation in STEM for students from diverse and underrepresented backgrounds. You can learn more about our programs on their website.
Student application due Nov. 30
Teacher recommendations due Dec. 7
If you need help with the application process and navigating teacher recommendations, please pop by to Ms. Le's office hours after school in College Counseling at the High School on Tuesdays and Thursdays. Email KLe@phacs.org with questions!
Family Announcements
PHA Thrive Market
Pick up free grocery items while picking up your students! The markets will be held on the last Tuesday of each month, 3-4pm in the school yard or cafeteria at the Upper Elementary campus.
- November 28, 2023
- December 19, 2023
- January 30, 2024
- February 27, 2024
- March 26, 2024
- April 30, 2024
- May 28, 2024
PHA Thrive Thursday Dinners
PHA held our first THRIVE Thursday dinner of the school year on November 16th. PHA families and community members enjoyed sharing a free, warm, delicious meal together at our Early Childhood campus. We hope that you'll mark your calendars and join us for our next dinner on December 14th! All PHA community members are welcome. Check out the dates on the flyers below.