Talking with Students about Grades

When you talk to students about their grades, here are some suggestions of questions to ask:

·               Ask student how they feel about their grades, how they think his/her grades represent what's going well or is challenging them in school.

·               Help students to see patterns in their performance - in conjunction with:  tests/quizzes; homework; conduct & attendance; classwork/class participation.

·               Ask students about their relationships with their teachers and how that may be influencing their grades.

·               When discussing goals, have students identify what 'excellence' for them would look like in school - what does their 'personal best' look like?  Be sure students are setting achievable but challenging goals for themselves.

Year Up Paid Internship: Great for High School Graduates

An intensive one-year training program for young adults ages 18-24, who provide Fortune 100 companies like Merrill Lynch, American Express and Bank of America with information technology entry-level talent.

If interested, contact Dan Rosen (danielrosen@citizenschools.org, 617-901-3095) because HE KNOW THE ADMISSIONS DIRECTOR.  http://www.yearup.org

Volunteer with the American Red Cross of Mass Bay

Get involved with the American Red Cross of Mass Bay through your Red Cross High School Club. If you are interested in volunteering with the Red Cross or starting a Red Cross club at your high school, contact Amelia, 617-274-5320, aubourga@usa.redcross.org

Work at Sociedad Latina

Sociedad Latina is hiring youth ages 14-21 for after-school career exploration internships in music, community organizing and health. Hired Youth Leaders will receive a stipend in addition to tutoring and college access support. Nicole, 617-442-4299 x113, Nicole@sociedadlatina.org.

ACCESS Center for College Affordability

ACCESS provides free financial aid advising to Boston students. From advice on filling out the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) to tips on applying for scholarships, you can get answers to all your college affordability questions. Advisors are located at BPS High Schools and at their new St. James Street offices. 617-778-7195, www.accessboston.org

ACCESS Mentors: Connecting College Students with Young Professionals

Attention college students, would you like to...

• Have a young professional in Boston be your mentor?
• Get advice and support from college graduates about how to get through the next few years?
• Have help finding scholarships, looking for a job/internship, and planning ahead?
• Meet other college students in Boston?

ACCESS Mentors match ACCESS college students with young professionals in the Boston area. ACCESS has opened up the ACCESS Mentors program to students who are freshmen, sophomores, or juniors attending a boston-area college. Any student who graduated from BPS and worked with an ACCESS financial aid advisor during high school is encouraged to apply!

Here is the link to sign up (http://app.formassembly.com/forms/view/118767).  Contact Kira Glassman at kirag@accessedu.org or 617-778-7195 x112 for more information.

Homework Help - Contact Eli Gerstenlauer, former 8GA Team Leader

BPL Homework Help: In the Homework Assistance Program, students in grades 3-12 can get free after-school homework help at any library branch. Many branches also have Boston Teacher’s Union tutors. www.bpl.org/homework/.  For more information, contact Eli Gerstenlauer, former 8GA Team Leader (bpl_hap@yahoo.com).

Crimson Summer Academy - a college prep program for 9th graders

If you are a 9th grader with mostly A's and B's, please talk to Dan Rosen to learn how to get nominated and apply to Crimson Summer Academy.  This is a life-changing college prep program.  To learn more read below or visit their website.

Over the course of three consecutive summers, 30 students recruited from public and parochial schools in Boston and Cambridge engage in a stimulating mix of classes, projects, field trips and recreational activities as they prepare for success in college and beyond.

Through small group instruction, sustained support, and close mentor relationships with Harvard students, the Academy seeks to encourage high school students to expand their vision of what's possible as they prepare to become viable candidates for admission to a range of challenging four-year colleges and universities.

Upward Bound Math & Science - a college prep program for 9th and 10th graders

You may apply if you are currently a freshman, or sophomore, and attend Brighton High School, Charlestown High School or Chelsea High School.  Preference will be given to students entering their freshmen or sophomore year.  


All program services are based at Boston University.  During the school year, students come for tutoring and academic instruction after school and for one Saturday a month.  During the summer, students live on the Boston University campus for a six-week academically intensive program.


Download the application here

Upward Bound - a College Prep program for 9th & 10th graders

You may apply if you are a 9th or 10th grader and attend Social Justice Academy, The Engineering School, Community Academy of Health and Science, Brighton, English, or Snowden High.  Download the application here


Students enter the program in either the 9th or 10th grade and remain with the program until their graduation from high school. Program services include an academically intensive six-week summer residential program and an afterschool program of tutoring and academic courses during the school year. Upward Bound services are located on the Boston University campus, which provides students with access to the University's resources. The program is free and, in addition, students are paid a small stipend for their participation.  (http://www.bu.edu/ub)

Summer Search - for HS Sophomores only

Get nominated for Summer Search to travel the world, learn about yourself, and go to college.  Read about Summer Search below and if you want to apply, Dan Rosen wants to NOMINATE you!  Please contact Dan by the end of November if you want to be nominated!


Full scholarships to two summer experiential education programs - Students participate in wilderness expeditions, academic programs, community service projects and home stays all over the U.S. and the world! These life-changing programs are designed to help students develop their leadership skills and learn more about themselves and the world around them.


Individual weekly mentoring sessions with highly trained staff mentors - Mentors support students in preparing for their summer trips, integrating their summer experiences into their lives when they return and gaining insight into their decisions, actions as they can become altruistic leaders.


College and financial aid advising - Summer Search students will receive individual college and financial aid counseling.


http://www.summersearch.org