TODAY — Walk-Ins for the Schools our #StudentsDeserve
Please join us at your school today when BTU members will stage walk-ins across the city to push for the settlement of our own contract and in solidarity with educators around the country who are organizing and advocating for the schools our #StudentsDeserve. Wear red in solidarity with the national #RedforEd movement, wear a #StudentsDeserve sticker, take a group picture with a #StudentsDeserve poster and share it with us on social media and by emailing photos@btu.org, post messages and pics on social media by using the hashtags #StudentsDeserve, #BTUproud, #WeAreLA, and #RedforEd. See the BTU Toolkit for all you need!
TODAY — SELWell Committees Meeting
Committees under SELWell include: SEL Committee, Restorative Justice, and School Counselors. We will meet throughout the year on the SECOND Tuesdays of the month from 4:30-6:30 at the BTU. Join us today! We will provide a light dinner. To learn more and to RSVP, please contact Natalia at ncuadrasaez@btu.org.
NEW — BTU Parent2Parent Conference: January 26
The annual Parent2Parent conference brings together parents, teachers, students and community allies to learn more about what’s happening in education organizing, share resources and make a plan to take action in the coming months together. Join us! Invite and share on Facebook. And please RSVP here to confirm and request childcare and interpretation. We will be serving breakfast and lunch.
NEW — Meeting for the Committee on Teachers in SPC Roles: January 30
Please join us at 4:30 at the BTU. Light dinner will be provided. Email Natalia at ncuadrasaez@btu.org to learn more and to RSVP.
NEW — Dual Language Programs Unite!: January 31
Do you work in a dual language program? Are you interested in advocating to strengthen and improve these programs across the district? Join with other dual language educators at the Hurley K-8 (70 Worcester St, Boston, MA 02118) at 4 PM to learn from each other and advocate for the high quality dual language programs our students deserve.
NEW — Black Lives Matter at School Week of Action: February 4-8
The national demands for the Black Lives Matter at School Week of Action are: End Zero Tolerance, Hire Black Teachers, Mandate Black History and Ethnic Studies, and Fund Counselors, Not Cops. Want to get involved? Learn more about how you can participate. Make a commitment to participate in Boston’s Week of Action by filling out this form.
NEW — Arts for All Organizing Meeting: February 5
Do you believe all BPS students deserve access to high quality arts education? Do you want to get involved in making this vision a reality? Join us on Tuesday, February 5 at 4:30 PM at the BTU for our next advocacy planning meeting. There will be an option to call-in if you can’t be there in person. To learn more and RSVP please contact Natalia at ncuadrasaez@btu.org.
REGISTER NOW — BTU Winter Conference: February 9
Calling all BTU members! Register today for our annual BTU Winter Conference, which will take place at the BTU on Saturday, February 9 from 9 AM to 3 PM. This year’s theme is #StudentsDeserve: Building Power in Boston and Beyond to Fund our Future. The goals of the conference are building our power to win a strong contract, strengthening our sense of solidarity at the national and local level, and building our organizing and technical skills to bring back to our school sites and communities. This conference is open to Building Reps and ALL interested members! We’ll send more details this month. Register at btu.org/winter-conference/
Community Events of Interest
NEW — School Site Council Trainings: Harness the Power of the SSC
Tomorrow, January 16 from 5:30-7:30, join us at the BTU for SSC 106: Personnel Subcommittee, a session which will be repeated next Thursday, January 24 at the Title I Center (BLA, 445 Warren Street in Dorchester). SSC 106 focuses on roles and responsibilities of the SSC in selecting a Personnel Subcommittee to hire school staff and provides support to ensure that the subcommittee works effectively. Updated SSC manuals will be given to all participants, and refreshments will be served. Please RSVP with Caren at ccarew@btu.org. See the SSC flyer for additional trainings and descriptions.
NEW — Call for Nominations for AFT MA 2019 Distinguished Service Awards
AFT Massachusetts is accepting nominations for the 2019 Distinguished Service Awards, and the deadline extended to January 25! Help the AFT Massachusetts celebrate the service of an educator, librarian, nurse, or school related-personnel whose leadership has made our union stronger. Nominations are now being accepted for our 2019 distinguished service awards. Who will you nominate to be recognized at the AFT Massachusetts annual convention in May 2019? Read more and nominate.
NEW — Young People Sought for Mattapan Neighborhood Council
The Mattapan Neighborhood Council seeks educators to encourage their students who live in the greater Mattapan area to run for election to the council. One-third of the board is reserved for those who are 16-35 years of age. See this flyer for more information.
NEW — BTU Member and Longtime BPS Volunteer Publish Book
Longtime BAA volunteer Bill Schechter has just published Bringing History Home: A Classroom Teacher’s Quest to Make the Past Matter. A BAA humanities teacher, Dan Sullivan, has a piece in the book as well. There is a 20% discount code available for teachers.
Boston Arts Academy Presents Memphis: January 25-26
Join BAA at The Strand in Dorchester on January 25 at 7:30 PM and January 26 at 2 PM and 7:30 PM! Memphis is set in the places where rock and roll was born in the 1950s. To read more and buy tickets, visit BostonArtsAcademy.org/Memphis.
BPS + Greenovate Boston Youth Leaders Training: January 23
BPS and Greenovate Boston are partnering to host a Greenovate Boston Youth Leaders Training for BPS high school students (BPS teachers are welcome to attend with students) to empower youth leaders with Boston-specific climate change knowledge and resources. The training will be January 23 from 4-6 PM at the Copley Library Teen Center. Food and beverages provided. Register today, and see the Facebook event.
Book Launch Party for Shaping the Teacher Identity: January 26
Join fellow BTU member Kwame Sarfo-Mensah to celebrate the launch of his new bookShaping the Teacher Identity on Saturday, January 26 from 5:30-8:30 PM at Soleil Restaurant (2306 Washington Street in Roxbury). To learn more:kwamesarfomensah@gmail.com.
Summer Travel Opportunity: South Africa
Looking for an amazing opportunity to travel and do professional development this summer? Join BPS educators on this fabulous trip from July 25 to August 4! The trip’s educational focus will be on teaching a diverse nation of learners. Read more or contact Natalie at nrivkin@bostonpublicschools.org