Happy New Year to all of our friends and family!  

We have put calendar year 2015 to rest, but will reflect on successes and challenges and lessons we learned as we continue into school year 2016. In particular, we want to share with you some of the wonderful work that our students and staff accomplished as December's Project Month rolled into Symposium, holiday break, and right into graduation. In addition to the items below, we are grateful for recent grants awarded to us by Eastern Bank and by PPG Industries Foundation. We rely heavily on grants and donations to provide our students with all programming outside of academic classes (including all of our Enrichments and Post-graduate Planning), and in the case of PPG Industries, inside Jacob Cipro's science class, as well.  The award letter from PPG reads, in part: "The PPG Industries Foundation aims to create brighter, more colorful communities wherever PPG has a presence around the world. We are committed to investing in science, technology, engineering, and math education programs that help communities develop  skilled workforce for today and a generation of innovators for tomorrow."  A series of several grants over the past six months is giving Jacob's classes options they would not otherwise have had including access to online resources, a telescope, and a printer for the classroom.  

Along with all of Boston's public high schools, BDEA is facing deep cuts to our budget, and our entire allocation of funding from BPS still does not cover staffing. At this point, all additional programming and materials are funded through grants and donations, so Eastern Bank's award to start a BDEA graduate support cohort based on the POSSE model is a wonderful opportunity for us to pilot an Early College program with Benjamin Franklin Institute of Technology and give our students interested in a career path a head start on earning credit towards a college certificate or degree.

Thank you, as always, to our steadfast, innovative, and thoughtful partners and funders. We couldn't do this without you.

On January 14th, BDEA held its scond graduation for School Year 2016. A small but powerful class of six recieved awards and listened to speaker Danny Rivera, a senior coach at Match Beyond and BDEA board member, as he inspired students and staff with his message of responsiiblity, equity, respect, and commitment. In the photo above, Elijah, who has already begun an apprenticeship in the building trades, gets a huge hug from his dad. To see photos of our other January 2016 grads, a list of awards and post-graduate plans, click here.

BDEA Accountability and Communications Manager Arpi Karapetyan has been on a mission to help our students get to school. Last year, she began working with Jenny Duquette Norcott at Boston Bikes, a comprehensive program to make the city safer for an increasing number of bicyclists, to get our students safe cycling training--and new bikes! The photo above shows some of this year's BDEA bike recipients; there are another 24 receiving bikes next Frida, for a total of 44 bikes, helmets, locks, and roadmaps. Thank you to Arpi for connecting us to this amazing resource, and to Boston Bikes for increasing cylcing safety and awareness for everyone in Boston.  

Next week, it is all about the Slam.  During this year's Project Month, teachers Ms. Alvarez and Mr. Muhammad worked with guest coaches and special consultant Porsha O (a member of the Boston slam team that won nationals in the fall) to bring Slam to BDEA. The group pictured above  dazzled guests on Symposium night with their amazing verse and confidence, and have been asked to host a monthly "Jr." Slam at Haley Hosue Bakery and Cafe beginning January 28th (and running the third Thursday of every month thereafter). Seriously, you have GOT to see this! See below for location information and for RSVP.

In a student-centered learning environment, student voices need to be heard.  Thanks to our partners at The Huntington Theater, this is the fourth year that a BDEA voice will be represented in the August Wilson Monologue Project (AWMP). Earlier this month, eight BDEA students competed in for a spot in the regional comeptition to be held in February. Reggie Dennis placed third, Austin Tyler is the runner-up, and Mike Jones took the school title for this year.  Please consider joining us at the Regionals and cheer Mike on to a place in the Finals, which will take place in May, on Broadway, in the August Wilson Theater.

Boston Regional Competition:  Monday, February 1 at 7 pm at the Calderwood Pavilion, Boston Center for the Arts (527 Tremont Street). The snow date is Saturday, February 6 at 9 am in the same location. This event is free, and it is important to show up on time. 

The photo below shows the team's coach from the Huntington Theater, teachers Mr. Jones (second from left) and Ms. Kuan (far right) and all 8 of BDEA's incredibly talented young men and women.