Good Morning! We’d like to reiterate that we are aware our weekly eBulletins still have not been reaching our usual mailing lists, and are we are actively trying to resolve this issue with our IT support. We apologize for the inconvenience. In the meantime, please find our past eBulletins posted on our website. We encourage you to check your spam or “promotions” folders, sign-up to our subscription list again, and/or share this sign-up link with your colleagues. We are also asking Building Reps to print and post physical copies of the weekly bulletin on your BTU board and/or your teacher/staff lounges.
Our next membership meeting is TOMORROW, Wednesday December 13, at the BTU Hall from 4:30 to 6:30pm. We will be hearing an important update on the Green New Deal facilities rubric that BPS is planning to use to guide its long-term capital spending for the foreseeable future. This decision-making rubric could have significant impacts on your school community. We will also be giving updates on the SEI/MLL changes and collecting questions for the Office of Multilingual and Multicultural Education (OMME) coaches to address. OMME coaches will be coming to our next membership meeting in January. You can see the full agenda for the meeting. Please register for childcare services if you need them.
As a reminder, our Women’s Rights Committee is holding a Holiday Drive benefit for the women’s shelter Rosie’s Place. They’ll be accepting donations including winter clothes, coats, gift cards and toiletries at this membership meeting. Check out this list for more gift ideas or to send your donations directly to Rosie’s Place.
As we all look forward to the period of rest coming at the end of the year, we’d like to wish everyone a safe and restorative holiday season. Happy Hanukkah to all those who celebrate and we hope you experience a moment of light with friends and family during a difficult time. We have a number of holiday celebrations scheduled for the coming weeks. The BTU is hosting a Kwanzaa celebration next Monday on December 18. Come join us to support Black-owned businesses, hear student music performances and celebrate the spirit of Ujima by contributing to the St. Mary’s Center for Women and Children. The BTU is also hosting a Holiday Children’s Party for BTU members and their dependents at our hall on December 28. See more details below.
As we mentioned last week, each school’s inclusion plans had to be submitted to the district on December 5. School inclusion plans are being reviewed in two rounds by central office teams over the next two weeks. Schools will be notified by January 5th of their approvals and may collaborate with BPS throughout January to make adjustments based on the feedback provided. We have developed a “How to Understand your School Inclusion Plan” document that explains the review process in more detail, provides guidance for looking through your school’s plan, and shares an example of a plan. If you would like to review your school’s submission, please talk to a member of your IPT.
We continue to talk with teams and individual educators about changes in positions proposed in these plans which is most concerning if educators have not been informed and provided the opportunity to provide feedback throughout the process. This is why it is important to see your school plan and support fellow educators in this first year of implementation because as we know, every grade level will be impacted over the next three years. Please continue to let us know if the plan for next year in your school is going to change your position so we can continue to gather district-wide data. Please email Katie DeLaRosa, the BTU Inclusive Education Liaison, to discuss this in more detail.
Finally, last week our partners at the MTA submitted more than 135,000 signatures to the attorney general’s office in support of a ballot initiative that would remove MCAS scores as a graduation requirement for our students. That’s the most signatures collected of any other initiative that would appear before voters next year! Removing MCAS as a graduation requirement is also a key component of the Thrive Act, one of our major legislative priorities for the next session on Beacon Hill. In addition to the MCAS component, that bill would remove schools from receivership and end the state’s ability to take over entire school districts that they deem underperforming. You can read more details here. Once those signatures are certified, we’ll come together for community action to educate voters.
Please Note: The Children’s Party is for BTU members and their dependents and has limited capacity. It is not open to the public, and BTU members must register and pick up tickets in advance to attend!
BTU Events and Announcements
BPS Paraprofessionals Technology PD Series: DATE CHANGE to January 22
Join this session to develop a basic understanding of BPS technology systems to be effective in the classroom and in schools with students. This tech training session aims to familiarize beginners with the fundamentals of basic navigation and the Google suite, and for those with more experience, a higher level look at these systems. The session runs from 5-7 p.m.
Artifact Lounge Informational Session (In Person): December 12 & 13
Do you want to put your best foot forward with powerful artifacts for your upcoming formative and summative evaluations? The Educator Supports Program’s Consulting Teachers cordially invite you to the Artifact Lounge! These sessions are where educators can receive direct support and guidance for all aspects of the artifact process. Join us from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m.
NEW-Ethnic Studies Now Committee Meeting: December 14
Are you interested in learning more about the state of Ethnic Studies in Boston Public Schools? At this meeting, you can learn about the work the Committee has done and its plans for future teach-ins, organizing opportunities and upcoming public events. Register here to attend on Thursday from 5:30 to 7:30.
School Site Council Budget training: December 18
This session focuses on the important role of the SSC in developing and approving the school’s budget. Participants will learn about the BPS weighted student funding budget process with a member of the BPS Budget Office as Facilitator of the workshop. Folks will also gain experience with building consensus. Register here and check out the flyer.
Unafraid Educators Winter Social: DATE CHANGE to December 20
Please join us on December 20th from 4:30-6:30 p.m. for our winter social at Long Live Brewery in Roxbury. Learn more about the Unafraid Educators and support the Unafraid Scholarship (a fund for undocumented students in BPS). We’ll provide dinner. Invite your friends and colleagues! Register here!
Kwanzaa Celebration at the BTU: December 18
Join us at our union hall at 180 Mt. Vernon Street to celebrate Kwanzaa, support black-owned businesses and hear a music performance from BPS students! The celebration runs from 5:00 to 7:00 p.m. In the spirit of Ujima (Collective Responsibility) donations for the St. Mary’s Center for Women and Children will be collected.
NEW- SY23-24 Mid Year Climate Survey Has Launched!
The Mid Year Climate Survey is open now until December, 22. Please note that the Mid Year survey includes students and classroom teachers (not other school staff). The Spring 2024 Climate Survey will include students, families, classroom teachers, and other school staff. As a friendly reminder, students can access their surveys by clicking on the Panorama logo in Clever. Visit the BPS Climate Surveys Resource Hub for materials, and reach out to surveys@bostonpublicschools.org for questions.
Children’s Holiday Party: December 28
It’s that time of year again! This year, our Children’s Holiday Party–for BTU members and their dependents–will be at the BTU on Thursday, December 28th from 12pm-2pm. We need volunteers to make this event just as spectacular as previous years. Sign up today!
Targeted Strategies of Successful Inclusion for Children with Disabilities
The Pyramid Model Consortium is presenting a four part series for teachers, paras and UPK educators. Each session will have a different presenter; Session 1 on Tuesday, January 9, 2024 is “Power of Peers”. You can find more information here
Bruins Tickets: January 15
The BTU has Bruins tickets available for the game against the New Jersey Devils at 1:00 P.M. on Martin Luther King Jr. Day. The seats are in Balcony 320 section and are $120 per seat. You can email our admin assistant Michelle Frank for more information and direct your payment through our Paypal.
Fund for Teachers: Plan Your Dream Summer Learning Experience
It’s not too early to dream of summer! Fund for Teachers awards grants of $5000 for individuals and $10,000 for teams to design your own professional learning experience for Summer ’24 anywhere in the world. Designing your fellowship and writing the application requires time and planning, and the BTU is happy to offer you support, mentoring, and feedback to put your best foot forward! Learn more and begin your application today! Deadline is January 18th. Please contact Paul to be connected to a mentor.
The BTU hosted a holiday party bringing together for the very first time all 6 of the MA AFL-CIO constituency and allied groups to build, connect and celebrate. Learn more about them and join!
Professional Learning & Development Updates
Each week, we have many new and exciting Professional Learning & Development opportunities to share with you.
You can find a full description of each listing on our Professional Learning & Development Updates Page.
- AFT Member Benefit Virtual Workshops
- Secondary Open Up Math Unit Virtual Previews
- Degree Completion
- National Board Certification Leader Team Seeks Leaders and Readers
- Secondary Leadership Certificate in Critical & Equitable Literacy
- Artifact Lounge: Multiple in-person and virtual sessions in Dec.
- Fund for Teachers: Plan Your Dream Summer Learning Experience
- Integrating SEL in Academics Learning Site on 12/14
- Connect & Share on “Foundational Literacy”: January 18, 5:30-7:00 pm on Zoom
Community News & Events
NEW- Citizens for Public Schools 2023 Annual Meeting, Honoring Unsung Heroes of Public Education: December 14
Help us celebrate and honor these Unsung Heroes of Public Education: the New Bedford Coalition to Save Our Schools, the Concerned Educators of Color, and three extraordinary bloggers and podcasters – Jack Schneider, Jennifer Berkshire and Maurice Cunningham. Register here for this event, which begins at 7:00 p.m.
NEW- Summer Job for School Nurses
The Brant Lake Summer Camp in the Adirondack Mountains is looking to hire nurses for the upcoming summer. Nurses with experiences in school settings are encouraged to apply. Find out more here.
NEW- Job Opening at Arnold Arboretum
The Family Nature Educator will develop and implement nature-based programming for families with children in preschool and elementary school, who reside in two nearby Boston Public Housing communities: Archdale Village in Roslindale and South Street Development in Jamaica Plain. Details on the application process are here.
NEW- Integrating SEL in Academics Learning Site: December 14
The Telescope Network and BPS Office of Health & Wellness are hosting a Learning Site on 12/14 at Greenwood K-8. Topic is: “How do we integrate SEL practices into academic settings?” Learn more about this Professional Learning Opportunity.
NEW- Scholarship Opportunity for HS Students: DEADLINE December 22
The Massachusetts AFL-CIO and affiliated unions are proud to award financial resources to high school students pursuing trade union programs or college/university study. The Massachusetts AFL-CIO administers half a million dollars of scholarship awards on behalf of unions and labor councils throughout the state. Individual awards range from $500 to $16,000. Applicants must take a Labor History Exam. You can find study materials, eligibility and test dates here.
NEW– Scholarship Opportunity for Graduating Students
The Fidelity Scholars Program provides access to education and ongoing support to historically underserved and underrepresented students who want to attend four-year, two-year and certificate academic programs. The deadline to apply is January 11th.