FENWAY HIGH SCHOOL

Fenway High School, located on Mission Hill, serves 360+ students in grades 9-12. Its exhortation to “WORK HARD, BE YOURSELF, DO THE RIGHT THING” greets visitors at the front door and is displayed in classrooms throughout the school. I love that almost every classroom entrance includes an illustrated mini-poster featuring a book the teacher is currently reading!

A pilot school since 1983, Fenway uses its autonomies in a variety of ways: e,g, adjusting the length of day to provide time for regular staff meetings, creating curriculum to meet student needs, and giving juniors and seniors opportunities for off-campus “Early College” classes at Wentworth and UMass Boston. Over-age students with autism in “Fenway Fusion House” have paid work and run several online businesses with support from lead teacher Allison Doherty.

Tenth graders are outside during first period, testing rockets they’ve designed in Keith Magni’s physics class. Marcus Walker’s Humanities students are exploring the language used in mission statements — that of the school, various organizations, and well-known people — with a focus on identity and values. An engaging way to approach a study of our government!

Seniors in Ana Ferko’s statistics class have been introduced to their first project of the school year: to develop, launch, and manage a business based on their interests, skills and goals. When I visit they are working with partners to brainstorm business ideas. Project Week at the end of the school year allows student groups to design projects of their own to pursue and huge murals celebrating some of them line the hallways.

Project-based learning connected to the “real world” is part of everyday learning at Fenway, as are performative assessments. All juniors are expected to do an intensive review of their high school experience — reflecting on learning, strengths, challenges, and goals — culminating in a portfolio and presentation to teachers, family and others invited by the student. Advisory periods are used to support students through this year-long process.

Keeping an open mind to what’s possible, developing close relationships with families, and focusing on students’ needs are some of the practices at Fenway HS that CFC Byron Winder recommends. He has a unique perspective, having been a student at Fenway when it first opened twenty one years ago!

Please invite me to visit YOUR school this year!

 

Amika Kemmler-Ernst, Ed.D.
amika45@gmail.com

We were outside testing rockets built in science class to learn about Newton’s 3rd Law of Motion. We added water to the rocket and used a tire pump to increase air pressure until it was forced up into the air. Robi timed each rocket’s flight, from 2.5 – 6 seconds. I’ve learned the success of each rocket depends on its design, and noticed that smaller wings helped!

~ Uniya Briant, Grade 10

I was writing an essay about who I am in our Humanities class. Ms. Kabongo was helping me find words to best express myself. This year we’re learning how to govern ourselves — I’ve learned to see and appreciate myself and what I can bring to others. We’re also discovering what we can learn from history.

~ Veronica DeCarvalho, Grade 10

We are in Statistics class with Ms. Ferko, who’s helping us brainstorm ideas for a business that will customize and refurbish sneakers. We’re learning about probability and how to read a Venn diagram.

~ Gabriella Ortiz & Jovani Cole, Grade 12

We are in Chemistry II and Mr. Cheung is helping us understand scientific notation. We’ve learned what makes a substance an element, a compound, or a mixture. An element is the simplest form of matter, such as oxygen or copper, while a compound (like salt) is made of two or more elements.

~ Daniella Santana & Jayleen Melo, Grade 12

I was talking with Ishmael about Dry, by Neal & Jarrod Shusterman, our school-wide summer reading book. In our ELA class with Ms. Severson this year, we are learning about the Vietnam War and reading The Things They Carried, by Tim O’Brien.

~ Dayvianna (Muffin) Mays, Grade 11

I am working with Ms. Ruth on setting goals for what I want to do in the future. I want to work with computers. We are learning transitional skills by working at Wentworth Institute and Goodwill Industries, as well as by running online businesses like a coffee shop and car detailing.

~ Brian Cole, with Allison Doherty, Fenway Fusion House teacher

We are creating a product for a particular client in our entrepreneurship class at TPZ, starting with the client’s needs. In this picture we’re analyzing resumés and recording what we know, what we want to know, and what we’ve learned. We are also learning teamwork skills.

~ Students in The Possible Zone (TPZ), Grade 12