DEARBORN STEM ACADEMY NEWS & NOTES
April 29, 2019 Vol. 1, No. 32
The Dearborn STEM Academy is a grades 6-12 Boston Public School supported by the Boston Plan for Excellence.
Ask your child about their report card! They are out! You can also check in ASPEN.
Grades 6-8 start MCAS this week!
This week begins a series of weeks whereby our students will be taking state assessments (MCAS).
This week our grade 6,7, and 8 students will be taking MCAS English Language Arts. These assessments will take place on Tuesday and Wednesday.
IT'S IMPORTANT THAT YOUR CHILD ARRIVE AT SCHOOL BEFORE 7:30 AM, READY TO GO!
- Students need rest and should go to bed early the night before the assessments.
- Students should eat breakfast. School breakfast starts at 7:00 am.
- Students do not have access to cell phones during testing. Please do not try to text or call your child on assessment days.
The fourth quarter will move quickly; it's time to stay focused or get back on track:
- Come to school every day and on time.
- Attend all classes.
- Pass in all assignments and on time.
- Ask for extra support if you need it; you can get support after school or during WIN Time.
Ninth grade team to take on staff in student-faculty basketball game! It will be LIT!
Exciting news about our students!
- Several seniors have made decisions about college for September; at this point some of our 2019 graduates will be attending:
- Boston College
- Benjamin Franklin Institute of Technology
- University of Massachusetts at Boston
- University of Massachusetts at Lowell
- Year Up
- Bunker Hill Community College
- Wentworth Institute of Technology
Over $1.5 million in scholarship money has been offered.
- 7 9th graders will be interviewing Saturday May 4th for the MIT Minds Matter Program.
- 6 sophomores are ready to travel to Maine and Minnesota with the Summer Search Program.
- 15-20 grade 10-12 students will be interning this summer at Brigham and Women's Hospital, Children's Hospital and Mass General Hospital.
- ESL students wishing to continue to improve their Reading and Writing skills over the summer can attend programs through Sociedad Latina and/or the UMass Boston TAG program; see Mr. Likosky or Ms. Depina for details.
- Term 3 grades are in and report cards will be mailed home this week; please contact Mr Likosky or Ms Depina with any questions about grades and/or summer school.
English Language Learner Field Trip
MICROSOFT BAM: MINORITY STUDENT DAY
Blacks and Africans at Microsoft (BAM) New England are hosting an event where students will interact with Microsoft employees to gain exposure to careers in business and technology and to get an inside look at what it's like to work at Microsoft specifically, and in tech generally.
This exciting event provides minority students with career planning assistance, information about technology and business roles, thought-provoking workshops and exercises, interesting Microsoft product demonstrations, and invaluable knowledge and experience to take home. By participating in the BAM Minority Student Day, students can find out about the variety of opportunities available in the high-tech industry and can explore future career paths.
This past Friday some of our students attended. DSA students represented themselves and the school with maturity and class! Thank you Ms. Bailey, Ms. DePina and Mr. Keith for supporting the trip.
Want a summer job?
Here is another link to the Success Link for city of Boston summer jobs. At the bottom, students can search for jobs in areas they desire and then create a profile. Students should use the bostonk12 email and same password to keep it simple.
There are many jobs out there and some of our students who have been working hard are already being called for interviews...
Here is link,,
https://successlink-boston.icims.com/jobs/intro?hashed=-435683065--
Drone Camp comes to the Dearborn...
July 8-12 or July 15-19. Please contact Mr. Likosky or Principal Brown for more information.
The program is FREE.
Students will receive:
- All of the materials and supplies needed to build a drone. See a picture of the prototype above.
- Students will receive expert instruction that will allow each student to successfully build the drone.
- Students will receive expert instruction on how to program the drone.
- Students will fly the drone inside our beautiful atrium!
- Students will also learn about FAA regulations about registering drones and rules preventing drones from flying within 5 miles of airports.
Students will keep the drone!
Consider joining the Dearborn Industry Advisory Council!
Friends and Colleagues,
We are writing to invite you to join the Dearborn Industry Advisory Council, a body that will support the school as we continue to develop and test our STEM program model.
Here's what we have in mind:
Purpose
We seek to run an industry informed middle and high school that prepares students for their chosen profession. We need to have regular conversations with industry to ensure that our students have the skills, knowledge, and experiences necessary to succeed in Boston’s tech-driven labor market. The Industry Advisory Council will work with BPE and Dearborn leaders:
· To connect the school with ideas, trends, and possibilities from the broader (STEM) world around us
· To help us develop a comprehensive set of STEM opportunities for students in grades 6-12, with a concentration in high school
· To build our understanding of industry talent pipeline needs
· To inform our STEM career pathways and curriculum
· To inspire teachers, keep them apprised of the latest developments in their fields, and provide professional collaborators to serve as resources
This is particularly important work at Dearborn STEM Academy, where we are developing and launching three career pathways: Computer Science, Health and Life Sciences, and Engineering.
Commitment
We are asking members to join us for a one-year commitment, which will include two convenings and the potential for a handful of small group meetings or consults in your area of expertise.
If you are interested in joining the Council, please respond to this email. Our first meeting will be on May 6 from 3:00 to 5:00 at the Dearborn. We will hear a report-out from Aimee Sprung of Microsoft, Erik Miller of Wentworth Institute of Technology and the Dearborn teachers who comprise our Computer Science pathway leadership.
Thank you for the ways in which you've already contributed to our school. And thanks for considering our invitation.
We hope you will join us,
Kristen Almquist-Cevallos
Director of Early College and Career Pathways
Mardi Fuller
Director of External Relations
Junior-Senior Prom
This year's Junior-Senior Prom will be at Lombardo's, 6 Billings Street in Randolph MA,
Check out the digs at: https://www.lombardos.com/ on:
Friday, May 31st from 8:00pm- 12:00am!!!!
Friday, May 31, 2019, 08:00 PM
LOMBARDO'S 6 Billings Street in Randolph MA,
DEARBORN STEM ACADEMY GRADUATION
Wednesday, Jun 12, 2019, 06:00 PM
36 Winthrop Street, Boston, MA, USA
OTHER IMPORTANT CALENDAR ITEMS...
Grade 6,7,8 ELA MCAS; April 30 and May 1
MSV Observation Day; Monday May 6
Grade 6,7,8 Math MCAS; May 14 and May 15
Grade 8 Science MCAS; May 21 and May 22
Grade 10 Math MCAS; May 21 and May 22
Grade 9 Science MCAS; June 4, 5
Here are the early-release (11:30 am) days for the remainder of the year!
Wednesday, May 8, Regular Professional Development for Staff
Wednesday, June 12, Regular Professional Development for Staff
Additionally, in the Boston Public Schools the last two days of the school year are half-days for all students. On June 18th and June 19th all DSA students will be dismissed at 11:30 am.
What we are measured by as a school!
Here are the accountability areas of focus for schools in Massachusetts. As a turnaround school we are acutely aware of our status and are determined to make progress in the areas below.
If you have any questions about how the Dearborn is addressing these issues please do not hesitate to contact us.
Achievement
- MCAS scores in English language arts, math, and science
Student Growth
- Student growth percentiles in English language arts and math
High School Completion
- Four-year cohort graduation rate
- Extended engagement rate (five-year cohort graduation rate plus the percentage of students from the cohort who are still enrolled)
- Annual dropout rate
Progress Towards English Proficiency
- Percentage of English learners meeting annual targets in order to be English proficient in six years
Chronic Absenteeism
- Percentage of students missing 10 percent or more of the days they were enrolled at a given school during a school year
Advanced Coursework Completion
- Percentage of 11th and 12th graders completing advanced coursework (Advanced Placement, International Baccalaureate, dual enrollment courses, and other selected rigorous courses)
In partnership with the Boston Plan for Excellence the Dearborn STEM Academy will host a Summer Learning Academy!
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; High School Principal Dana F. Brown, dbrown8@bostonpublicschools.org or Middle School Principal Shelley Olsen, solsen@bostonpublicschools.org
Stories, pictures, calendar reminders, club, activity, and classroom notes are all welcome.
School Site Council Meeting Minutes
DETERMINED
I set and meet challenging goals. I hold high expectations for myself and my future. I never give up.
SELF-C0NFIDENT
ACCEPTING
Dana Brown
Shelley Olsen
Visit us!
Call, visit, message
Dana Brown, Principal, Grades 9-12, dbrown8@bostonpublicschools.org
Website: www.dearbornstemacademy.org
Location: 36 Winthrop Street, Roxbury MA 02119
Phone: 617-635-8412
Twitter: @brownprincipal