DEARBORN STEM ACADEMY NEWS & NOTES
January 14, Vol. 1, No. 19
The Dearborn STEM Academy is a grades 6-12 Boston Public School supported by the Boston Plan for Excellence.
DETERMINED
SELF-CONFIDENT
ACCEPTING
Looking forward to another great week at the Dearborn STEM Academy!
Good day!
Three weeks remaining in the second quarter!
Here are some things that will help you get on track or stay on track:
- Come to school every day and on time.
- Focus in every classroom on your own work.
- Complete in-class class and at home assignments.
- Use WIN time and after school time to make up missed work or get extra help.
- Be determined, self-confident and accepting.
- Ask for help if you need it.
- We will always help you.
After a very successful week of ACCESS testing for our high school students we continue this week with testing our middle school students.
The next School Council meeting is Thursday, January 17th at 5:30 pm. All are welcome.
Parents-Guardians-Students; After School activities at DSA:
- Monday, Tuesday, Dance with Urbanity (Monday-high school, Tuesday-middle school)
- Tuesday, Thursday, Wrestling with Boston Youth Wrestling
- Wednesday, Friday, Theater for students in grades 8-12
National Honor Society students...
Determined, Self-Confident, Accepting
Congratulations!
National Honor Society Induction Ceremony
Tuesday, Jan 22, 2019, 05:00 PM
36 Winthrop Street, Boston, MA, USA
Guidance support the Dearborn STEM Academy
- Dearborn Stem Academy After school programs consist of theater, tutoring, wrestling, and starting this week, dance. Encourage your child to get involved.
- Guidance Counselors Ms. DePina and Mr. Likosky are excellent resources for getting extra help in school, youth employment questions, summer programs, specialized programs, counseling referrals and more.
WHAT WE ARE MEASURED BY…
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)
Science Fair at DSA!
The Dearborn STEM Academy is hosting its annual school-wide science fair on Thursday, January 24th between 8am and 11am.
Our students have been hard at work on their projects, many since early in the school year. Approximately 75 of our student projects will be selected and featured. We hope you can join us and see what our students can do! All are welcome.
Student Artist Reception
Famatta Dulleh, an 8th grader; star art student has been working hard to complete her series of drawings and paintings of abstract figures. Her work is deep and insightful; dealing with themes of identity, race, and gender.
Our first reception for Rain Logan was a huge success and we'd love to have all your support for Famatta and the DSA Artists Club again.
Please share the the attached flyers with your networks, and we look forward to seeing you January 24th.
Parent-Guardian Teacher Conferences
Thursday, Feb 7, 2019, 05:30 PM
DEARBORN STEM ACADEMY-36 Winthrop Street, Roxbury MA
February 19-22
Acceleration Academy
All grades!
February Acceleration Academy at the Dearborn STEM Academy, February 19-22
Acceleration Academies are designed to provide extra time to support struggling students in ELA, Math and Science.
If you believe your child could benefit from extra support please contact the school. David Moreno is the contact. dmoreno@bostonpublicschools.org.
BPE FAMILY ENGAGEMENT UPDATES, December 2018-January 2019
Pam Bailey, MSW, Director of Community & Family Engagement
GOALS:
Creating & Maintaining Parent Leadership Opportunities
Linking Parents to Student’s Learning
Building & Maintaining Trusting Relationships
Strengthening Home/School Communication
Strengthening Community/ School Partnerships
UPCOMING DSA School Pathways Schools Collaborative for:
5th & 6th Teachers, “ Meet & Greet” is scheduled for Monday, January 14th from 3:30 p.m. to 5:00 p.m. @ DSA. (SNOW DATE - Monday, January 28th, 3:30 to 5:00)
Principals “Meet & Greet” is scheduled for Tuesday, January 15th from 5:00 to 6:30 @ 224 Restaurant, Boston Street, Dorchester. (SNOW DATE - Tuesday, January 29th)
“Shout Out” to to Parent Reps. for participating in the ” Turnaround Stakeholders” meeting on Thursday, December 6th. Many thanks to April Alston, Samantha Prescott, Crystal Alston, Antonia Diaz and Tara Register.
DSNCS
Upcoming Family Engagement Opportunities:
Family Council Meetings are scheduled for 5:00 p.m. to 6:30 p.m. on
January 10th
February 13th
March 13th
April 11th
May 9th
Family Engagement Events are scheduled for 5:00 p.m. to 6:30 p.m. on
January 17th Family Math Night
March 7th Summer Camp Fair
April 29th No Screen Week
May 2nd Family Game Night
BPE FAMILY ENGAGEMENT
UPDATES
September - November
Pam Bailey, MSW,
Director of Community & Family Engagement
GOALS:
Creating & Maintaining Parent Leadership Opportunities
Linking Parents to Student’s Learning
Building & Maintaining Trusting Relationships
Strengthening Home/School Communication
Strengthening Community/ School Partnerships
DSA OUTCOMES:
The newly formed “DSA Collaborative for Pathway Schools” will host events for students & their families, Teachers and Principals to Connect, Collaborate and Create meaningful relationships. Participating schools are DSNCS, Ellis, Winthrop and the Mason. The following events have been scheduled for:
Two Interactive FAMILY STEAM Series for students and their families will take place in February & June. Staff from Tufts University will facilitate two 15 hour series. Upon completing the 15 hours, families can purchase a Chromebooks for $50. Two stipend positions to support each series are available for staff members. If you’re interested contact Pam Bailey.
TEACHERS:
Fifth and sixth grade Teachers will have an opportunity to participate in a “Meet & Greet” @ DSA on Monday, January 14, 2019 from 3:30 p.m. to 5:00 p.m. (Snow date Monday, January 28th). Teachers will come together to discuss incoming students academic strengths & challenges, social and emotional needs and effective teaching practices.
PRINCIPALS:
Middle School Principal Shelley Olsen will host a “Principals Meet & Greet Dinner” on Tuesday, January 15, 2019 at 4:00 p.m. to 5:30 p.m. @ a local restaurant. (Snow date Tuesday, January 29, 2019).
On October 4th we held a Parent Election and provided a training for parents to access the “BPS Family SIS Portal”.
We elected the following parents to three of the five Parent Leadership Councils:
School Site Council - April Alston, Samantha Prescott, Leslie Faustin, Crystal Alston
School Parent Council - Antonia Diaz (Co-Chair) Samantha Prescott (Secretary)
City-Wide Parent Council - Tara Register
The “BPS Family SIS Portal” offers families the ability to keep track of their child’s academic progress, engage with the school staff, connect with classroom teachers, monitor daily & classroom attendance and receive email notifications & attendance & grade changes. We have been trained and supported 58 families on creating their family profiles. In addition, a school-wide mailing of parent letters, that includes individual security codes, were mailed during the month of October. Since the mailing over 100 letters were returned. Staff support is needed to encourage parents to update their mailing addresses at the “BPS Welcome Centers”.
Created/Updated modes of home/school communication:
Distributed a family engagement opportunities/ events calendar for the 18/19 school year.
Parent email contact list
Family Informational FACEBOOK Page
Bi-Monthly Principal/Parent Coffee Hour (Nov., Jan., Apr. & June)
Parent Surveys and updated the DSA website.
Staff support is needed to promote and encourage families to connect with one of two of the modes communication created to stay informed.
The implementation of relationship building opportunities/events have been successful. However, the academic family related events & SPC meetings have had very low attendance.
Average attendance for the “Relationship Building Events are 163 families.
Events linked to students learning average 63 families and SPC attendance average 3 to 5 families.
Staff support is needed to distribute fliers monthly. Two weeks before planned family engagement events fliers will be placed in Advisors mailboxes. School staff will receive a reminder email to check their mailboxes.
English Language Learners news...
Family ESL Class Survey
Dearborn STEM Academy will give a free English class in March of 2019. We are collecting information from families who are interested in taking the class. Please complete the google form below.
Nu sta ta ben oferesi klasi di Inglês di grasa pa pais e enkaregadus di edukasôn di alunus. Aula ta kumesa na Marsu di 2019. Si bu kre prendi inglês dipos di skola ku nos, pur favor, prenxi.
DETERMINED
I set and meet challenging goals. I hold high expectations for myself and my future. I never give up.
SELF-C0NFIDENT
ACCEPTING
Dearborn STEM Academy
Dana Brown, High School Principal
Shelley Olsen, Middle School Principal
36 Winthrop St.
Roxbury, MA 02119
(617) 635-8412 (Phone)
(617) 635-8419 (Fax)
Dana Brown
Shelley Olsen
Visit us!
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.
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