April 25, 2013

BCCS Executive Director Shannah Varon Featured in Education Week

In a guest post on Rick Hess's Education Week blog, BCCS Executive Director Shannah Varon writes about leadership and how, without great teachers, nothing else matters. Click the link below to read the full article.

March 18, 2013

Opinion Piece on School Safety by BCCS Lower School Reading Teacher Peter Sipe Printed in USA Today

BCCS Lower School Reading Teacher Peter Sipe's opinion piece on school safety was printed in USA Today over the weekend. Click the link below to read the full article.

March 18, 2013

Congratulations to Caitlin Cooper and Parker Traphagen, BCCS Class of 2019 and Winners of the Max Warburg "Courage in My Life" Essay Contest

BCCS sixth graders Caitlin Cooper and Parker Traphagen were named winners of the 2013 Max Warburg "Courage in My Life" Essay Contest. The Max Warburg Courage Curriculum’s “Courage in My Life” sixth grade program is a language arts and character development curriculum used in Boston Public Schools and in local parochial, charter, and private schools and religious academies.

March 14, 2013

Lottery Selects Class of 2021

BCCS received over 1,000 applications for the 2013-14 school year, more than eighteen times more applications than the number of available seats. New students are chosen by random public lottery; there are no exams to be admitted to BCCS. We thank the many families who applied for their interest in and support of our school, and we look forward to meeting all of our new students very soon. 

Click here for results of the 5th grade lottery.

Click here for results of the 6th grade lottery.

Click here for results of the 7th grade lottery.

Click here for results of the 8th grade lottery.

February 26, 2013

Support the BCCS Lower School Farm School Trip!

The BCCS Lower School is fundraising for its annual trip to the Farm School. Approximately 30 fifth and sixth graders will head to Athol, MA in May to learn about working together to reach a desired goal - while getting a little dirty in the process! Our goal is for all of the students to attend the trip at no cost. You can help by purchasing Tupperware through our online fundraiser. An amazing 40% of every purchase is donated directly to the trip - that's $10 out of every $25 order! Please contact Katie Jenks if you have any questions.

January 17, 2013

2013-14 Student Application, Information Session Dates, and Boston City-Wide Charter School Showcase

Are you interested in enrolling your child in a tuition-free, public school with an exceptional college preparatory program?  BCCS is now receiving applications for the 2013-14 school year to be entered into our random, public lottery.  Applications must be received by 5 PM on Friday, March 1, 2013. Our lottery will take place on Wednesday, March 13, 2013 at our 215 Sydney Street campus.

Click the link below to download the 2013-14 application in the following languages: 

Cape Verdean Creole

Chinese

English

Haitian Creole

Somali

Spanish

Vietnamese

Click below to find out more information.

Two INFORMATION SESSIONS remain to learn more about the school before submitting an application:

Thursday, January 17, 2013 from 6:00PM—7:00PM

Boston Collegiate Charter School, 215 Sydney St., Dorchester, MA

***

Tuesday, February 5, 2013 from 6:00PM—7:00PM

Boston Collegiate Charter School, 215 Sydney St., Dorchester, MA

For more information, please call (617) 282-6710.

The BOSTON CITY-WIDE CHARTER SCHOOL SHOWCASE is a great opportunity for families interested in enrolling their children in public charter schools to learn about and meet representatives from many local charter schools.

Saturday, January 26, 2013

9 AM - 12 PM

Watson Auditorium at Wentworth Institute of Technology

550 Huntington Avenue, Boston, MA 02115

December 6, 2012

City of Boston Awarded Gates Foundation Grant

We are excited to share the news that yesterday the City of Boston was selected as one of seven cities nationwide to receive a grant from the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation to support collaboration between charter, district, and Catholic schools. BCCS has always had a deep commitment to partnering and collaborating with other schools to fulfill our charge as a charter school and to have an impact beyond our four walls. In all of the local press on the Gates Foundation grant, including The Boston Globe and Boston Business Journal, BCCS’s One Dorchester partnership with two other Dorchester high schools is held up as an example of our city’s commitment to collaboration. We feel fortunate to be a  pioneer in this work, and we look forward to continuing to do our part to strengthen all of our city’s schools while continuing to learn and grow ourselves as we strive to put every student on the path to college.

November 15, 2012

Application for 2013-14 School Year Now Available

Are you interested in enrolling your child in a tuition-free, public school with an exceptional college preparatory program?  BCCS is now receiving applications for the 2013-14 school year to be entered into our random, public lottery.  Applications must be received by 5 PM on Friday, March 1, 2013. Our lottery will take place on Wednesday, March 13, 2013 at our 215 Sydney Street campus.

Click the link below to download the 2013-14 application in the following languages: 

Cape Verdean Creole

Chinese

English

Haitian Creole

Somali

Spanish

Vietnamese

Click below to find out more information.

November 15, 2012

BCCS Performs The Wiz - Purchase Tickets Now!

Please join us for BCCS's 7th annual musical, The Wiz, featuring 42 students in grades 5 through 12. Support the performing arts at BCCS and purchase your tickets now before they sell out!

Thursday, December 6th
Friday, December 6th
7:00pm
The Strand Theatre
543 Columbia Road
Dorchester, MA

Tickets are $12 in advance and $15 at the door. To purchase tickets online, make an online donation to the school here. Be sure to write "The Wiz" in the comments section. You can also purchase tickets by emailing Jaime Montesano or stopping by the High School Office at 11 Mayhew Street.

October 3, 2012

BCCS Named Recipient of Exemplary Charter School Collaboration Grant by US DOE

We are excited to announce that BCCS has been selected as one of only seven charter schools nationwide to receive an Exemplary Charter School Collaboration Grant from the United States Department of Education. This two year, $203,800 grant will support our ongoing work in partnership with the Jeremiah E. Burke High School, a Boston Public School in turnaround status. Moreover, it will enable us to step back now, after 15 years of serving students, and catalogue the little things we do as a school that we know work: our 100 1% solutions. Click below to read the BCCS press release and the US DOE press release.

August 31, 2012

BCCS Featured as a Top Charter High School in Boston Magazine

BCCS is one of the top five highest-ranked charter high schools in this month's Boston Magazine!

August 27, 2012

Back to School Night on September 6th

We are excited to welcome back our families to the new school year on September 6th. Click this link for a flyer with more information!

August 23, 2012

BCCS Featured on Fox 25 News

BCCS sixth grade students and Lower School Principal Courtney Smith were featured this morning on Fox 25 News as part of Back to School Week. Click the link to view the segments!

August 21, 2012

Welcome to the 2012-2013 School Year!

Today is the first day of the 2012-2013 school year. 5th and 9th grade students are on campus today, and tomorrow they will be joined by students in grades 6, 7, 8, 10, 11, and 12. We are all looking forward to another very successful school year!

June 13, 2012

Congratulations to Brooke Niedzwiecki, BCCS Class of 2012 Valedictorian

Congratulations to Brooke Niedzwiecki, BCCS Class of 2012 Valedictorian and a rising freshman at Northeastern University, who was featured in this piece on Boston's valedictorians.

June 8, 2012

Class of 2012 Commencement Ceremony

Congratulations to our seniors for their many accomplishments. For the ninth consecutive year, 100% of our graduates have been accepted into college. Please wish our senior class continued success!

May 31, 2012

Congratulations to Anthony Jimenez, BCCS Class of 2013 and Recipient of the Christian A. Herter Memorial Scholarship

Anthony Jimenez, a current BCCS junior, was honored at the State House today for receiving, along with 24 other students across the state, the Christian A. Herter Memorial Scholarship. The Christian A. Herter Memorial Scholarship is a state-supported program whose mission includes providing educational opportunities to Commonwealth students who demonstrate academic promise and desire to attend post-secondary institutions. It was established in 1972 by the Massachusetts State Legislature as an early identification program to recruit students in the 10th and 11th grades whose socio-economic backgrounds and environmental conditions may inhibit their ability to persevere and attain educational goals. Each year, 25 students in the 10th and 11th grades are selected to receive awards of up to 50 percent of their calculated need at the college of their choice. To learn more about the scholarship, click here. Congratulations, Anthony!

May 31, 2012

BCCS Director of Alumni Programming and College Counselor Jon Clark Presenting at the NEACAC Conference

BCCS Director of Alumni Programming and College Counselor Jon Clark is presenting today with two other charter school colleagues at the New England Association for College Admission Counseling conference. Their presentation is entited “Creating a Consortium: How to Collaborate across Schools to Better Support First-Generation Students.”

May 9, 2012

BCCS Middle School Visited by Author Mitali Perkins

Mitali Perkins, author of great young adult fiction such as The Bamboo People, visited BCCS 7th grade reading and writing classes this week. Read more about Ms. Perkins' work here.

May 7, 2012

BCCS High School Math Teacher, Coach, and Department Chair Darren Burris Featured in Huffington Post

BCCS High School Math Teacher, Coach, and Department Chair Darren Burris was featured in a Huffington Post article on in celebration of Teacher Appreciation Week. Click the link below to read the full article.

May 4, 2012

Thank You to the Lynch Foundation

The Lynch Foundation has endorsed a three-way collaboration between BCCS, the Jeremiah E. Burke High School, and Cristo Rey Boston High School through a recent generous donation that will support this partnership for three years. We are very excited to begin formally partnering with the Burke and Cristo Rey, and we are grateful for the Lynch Foundation's support.

April 12, 2012

Collaborative Artwork by 8th Graders Displayed at Wheelock College

BCCS 8th graders contributed artwork to "Being Ubuntu: The Youth Speak," an exhibition of collaborative youth art at Wheelock College. The program pairs college art students with younger students. The college artists mentor their younger students, helping them express themselves collaboratively in a form that they can share and that will last forever. Below is a picture of the group at the opening at Wheelock's Towne Art Gallery.

March 15, 2012

Lottery Selects Class of 2020

BCCS received almost 1,200 applications for the 2012-13 school year, the highest number of applications we have ever received for any of our lotteries and more than eighteen times more applications than the number of available seats. New students are chosen by random public lottery; there are no exams to be admitted to BCCS. We thank the many families who applied for their interest in and support of our school, and we look forward to meeting all of our new students very soon.

March 15, 2012

Congratulations to Maeve Collins and Kori Oyenuga, BCCS Class of 2018 and Winners of the Max Warburg "Courage in My Life" Essay Contest

BCCS sixth graders Maeve Collins and Kori Oyenuga were named winners of the 2012 Max Warburg "Courage in My Life" Essay Contest. The Max Warburg Courage Curriculum’s “Courage in My Life” sixth grade program is a language arts and character development curriculum used in Boston Public Schools and in local parochial, charter, and private schools and religious academies.

March 15, 2012

Congratulations to Brooke Niedzwiecki, BCCS Class of 2012 and South Boston Boys and Girls Club Youth of the Year

BCCS senior Brooke Niedzwiecki was named the South Boston Boys and Girls Club Youth of the Year and was featured in this article in Boston.com:

March 8, 2012

BCCS Awarded EPIC Silver-Gain Award for 2011 Student Achievement Results

We are proud to announce that BCCS received the EPIC Silver-Gain Award for the fourth time in five years for our high gains in student achievement in 2011. We are so proud of our students and our teachers! BCCS was one of only 14 charter schools from around the country selected as an award-winning school in the New Leaders for New Schools Effective Practice Incentive Community (EPIC). This honor allows us to identify best practices contributing to our high student achievement gains and to document those practices on the EPIC Knowledge System, a powerful web-based professional development resource documenting the real-life practices of urban schools driving significant achievement gains. Learn more about EPIC here.

This accomplishment was featured on Boston.com; click the link below to read the full article.

January 26, 2012

BCCS High School Math Teacher, Coach, and Department Chair Darren Burris Quoted in Huffington Post

BCCS High School Math Teacher, Coach, and Department Chair Darren Burris was quoted in a Huffington Post article on the Common Core. Click the link below to read the full article.

January 24, 2012

Local "Big Cheeses" Read to BCCS 6th Grade Students

BCCS partnered with Boston Partners in Education to bring the Big Cheese Reads program to the Lower School this morning. The program brings local business and community leaders to schools to read passages from their favorite books to students as well as answer questions from students about their careers and experiences. The event was featured on Boston.com; click the link below to read the full article.

January 24, 2012

2012-13 Student Application, Information Session Dates, and Boston City-Wide Charter School Showcase

Are you interested in enrolling your child in a tuition-free, public school with an exceptional college preparatory program?  BCCS is now receiving applications for the 2012-13 school year to be entered into our random, public lottery.  Applications must be received by 5 PM on Friday, March 2, 2012. Our lottery will take place on Wednesday, March 14, 2012 at our 215 Sydney Street campus.

Click the link below to download the 2012-13 APPLICATION in the following languages: 

Cape Verdean Creole

Chinese

English

Haitian Creole

Somali

Spanish

Vietnamese

Click below to find out more information.

Two INFORMATION SESSIONS remain to learn more about the school before submitting an application:

Thursday, January 26, 2012 from 6:00PM—7:00PM

Ray and Joan Kroc Corps Community Center, 650 Dudley St., Boston, MA

***

Wednesday, February 15, 2012 from 6:00PM—7:00PM

Boston Collegiate Charter School, 215 Sydney St., Dorchester, MA

For more information, please call (617) 282-6710.

The BOSTON CITY-WIDE CHARTER SCHOOL SHOWCASE is a great opportunity for families interested in enrolling their children in public charter schools to learn about and meet representatives from many local charter schools.

Saturday, February 4, 2012

9 AM - 12 PM

Boston University Fitness and Recreation Center, Basketball Court #1

915 Commonwealth Avenue, Boston, MA 02215

For more information, click below to download a flyer.

January 24, 2012

Somerville Arts Council Awards Fellowship Grant to BCCS High School English Teacher Joelle Renstrom

BCCS High School English teacher Joelle Renstrom received a fellowship grant from the Somerville Arts Council for her blog. Fellowship grants were awarded to local artists working on exciting projects. Congratulations, Ms. Renstrom!

January 19, 2012

Join Us for the BCCS Art Auction and Dinner Around the World

Thursday, February 9th

5:30pm-7:30pm

BCCS Lower School Campus

Celebrate the many cultures represented at BCCS and around the world. Bid on student artwork; auction proceeds to fund the ceramics program in the Art Department. Enjoy food from many different cultures, as well as a performance by the Lower School chorus. We are looking for donations of food items for the Dinner Around the World - please contact Aimee Castonguay if you are interested in donating.

January 10, 2012

Applications for 2012-13 School Year Still Available

Are you interested in enrolling your child in a tuition-free, public school with an exceptional college preparatory program?  BCCS is now receiving applications for the 2012-13 school year to be entered into our random, public lottery.  Applications must be received by 5 PM on Friday, March 2, 2012. Our lottery will take place on Wednesday, March 14, 2012 at our 215 Sydney Street campus.

Click the link below to download the 2012-13 application in the following languages (more to be added soon): 

Cape Verdean Creole

Chinese

English

Haitian Creole

Somali

Spanish

Vietnamese

Click below to find out more information.

January 10, 2012

Boston City-Wide Charter School Showcase Information

The Boston City-Wide Charter School Showcase is a great opportunity for families interested in enrolling their children in public charter schools to learn about and meet representatives from many local charter schools.

Saturday, February 4, 2012

9 AM - 12 PM

Boston University Fitness and Recreation Center, Basketball Court #1

915 Commonwealth Avenue, Boston, MA 02215

For more information, click below to download a flyer.

December 7, 2011

Information Sessions for Prospective Students and Families

Learn more about Boston Collegiate Charter School by attending one of the following Information Sessions:

Thursday, January 12, 2012 from 6:00PM—7:00PM

Orchard Gardens Community Center, 2 Dearborn St., Roxbury, MA

***

Tuesday, January 17, 2012 from 6:00PM—7:00PM

Fields Corner Branch Library, 1520 Dorchester Ave., Dorchester, MA

***

Thursday, January 19, 2012 from 6:00PM—7:00PM

Viet AID, 42 Charles St., Dorchester, MA

***

Thursday, January 26, 2012 from 6:00PM—7:00PM

Ray and Joan Kroc Corps Community Center, 650 Dudley St., Boston, MA

***

Wednesday, February 15, 2012 from 6:00PM—7:00PM

Boston Collegiate Charter School, 215 Sydney St., Dorchester, MA

For more information, please call (617) 282-6710.

December 5, 2011

BCCS High School English Teacher Joelle Renstrom Featured in BU Today

Ms. Renstrom's Evolution of Science Fiction class at Boston University was featured in the BU's daily paper. Click the link below to read the full article.

November 30, 2011

Tickets Still Available for BCCS Musical, Featured on Boston.com!

Once on This Island, BCCS's 6th annual musical was featured on Boston.com - click the link below to read the full article.

Please join us!

Thursday, December 1st
Friday, December 2nd
7:00pm
The Strand Theatre
543 Columbia Road
Dorchester, MA

Tickets are $12 in advance and $15 at the door. To purchase tickets online, make an online donation to the school here. Be sure to write "Once on this Island" in the comments section. You can also purchase tickets by emailing Jaime Montesano or stopping by the High School Office at 11 Mayhew Street

October 28, 2011

Application for 2012-13 School Year Now Available

Are you interested in enrolling your child in a tuition-free, public school with an exceptional college preparatory program?  BCCS is now receiving applications for the 2012-13 school year to be entered into our random, public lottery.  Applications must be received by 5 PM on Friday, March 2, 2012. Our lottery will take place on Wednesday, March 14, 2012 at our 215 Sydney Street campus.

Click the link below to download the 2012-13 application in the following languages (more to be added soon): 

Cape Verdean Creole

Chinese

English

Haitian Creole

Somali

Spanish

Vietnamese

Click below to find out more information.

October 21, 2011

Congratulations to the BCCS Class of 2012 on their Adams Scholarships!

Congratulations to the BCCS Class of 2012, 54% of whom have been awarded the John and Abigail Adams Scholarship, which provides a tuition waiver for four full years of undergraduate education at a Massachusetts state college or university. Students are eligible for the scholarship when they

• score at the Advanced and Proficient levels on grade 10 MCAS tests in English Language Arts (ELA) and Math (a student must earn a score of Advanced on the ELA or Math test and a score of Proficient or higher on the second test); and
• have combined scores from the MCAS ELA and Math tests that place them in the top 25% of students in the graduating class in their district.

BCCS Performs Once on this Island - Purchase Tickets Now!

Please join us for BCCS's 6th annual musical, Once on this Island, featuring 36 students in grades 5 through 12. Support the performing arts at BCCS and purchase your tickets now before they sell out!

Thursday, December 1st
Friday, December 2nd
7:00pm
The Strand Theatre
543 Columbia Road
Dorchester, MA

Tickets are $12 in advance and $15 at the door. To purchase tickets online, make an online donation to the school here. Be sure to write "Once on this Island" in the comments section. You can also purchase tickets by emailing Jaime Montesano or stopping by the High School Office at 11 Mayhew Street.

September 29, 2011

4th Annual Collegiate Cup Trivia Challenge - Just Two Weeks Away!

BCCS is thrilled to invite its friends and supporters to the 4^th Annual Collegiate Cup Trivia Challenge! This is a fun and dynamic event that showcases BCCS and supports the programs that help students gain acceptance to, persist in, and graduate from college. The event will take place on Thursday, October 13^th at 6:00pm at 11 Mayhew Street in Dorchester. Click here for more information and to purchase tickets.

September 29, 2011

BCCS Featured in the Dorchester Reporter for 2011 MCAS Scores

BCCS was featured in the Dorchester Reporter for its strong performance on the 2011 MCAS. Read the full article by clicking the link below.

September 20, 2011

BCCS Posts Highest 10th Grade MCAS Scores in the Commonwealth of Massachusetts

100% of BCCS's 10th grade students scored Advanced or Proficient on both the Math and the ELA MCAS in 2011, placing us as #1 in Massachusetts on both exams, and making us the only district in the Commonwealth to achieve this honor. Additionally, BCCS is the only public, non-exam school in the state in which 100% of students have passed the 10th grade Math MCAS for the past nine years. Overall, BCCS students scored higher on the 2011 MCAS exams than ever before. Click here for the rankings and results. Read the full press release by clicking the link below.

September 20, 2011

BCCS Students Attend the Signing of the Boston Charter Compact

This morning, BCCS students watched while Mayor Menino, Superintendent Johnson, and school leaders from Boston signed the Boston Charter Compact, a formal collaboration agreement between Boston Public Schools and Boston charter schools funded by the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation.

September 14, 2011

American Repertory Theater Leads Workshops on Porgy and Bess at BCCS

This week, members of the American Repertory Theater conducted workshops for BCCS 10th grade students on Porgy and Bess, the A.R.T.'s current production. Students will attend a showing of Porgy and Bess next week! Learn more about the A.R.T. here. Read the full article in the Harvard Gazette by clicking on the link below.

September 7, 2011

BCCS Welcomes Families to the 2011-2012 School Year

On Thursday, September 8th, BCCS will hold a back-to-school Open House at the Mayhew Street campus. A similar Open House will take place at the Sydney Street campus, followed by a Family Library Night, on Thursday, September 22nd. Both events start at 5:30pm. Welcome, Families!

August 25, 2011

BCCS Begins the School Year with New Leadership

When BCCS opened its doors earlier this week to its newest class of fifth grade students, the graduating class of 2019, it did so with new leadership at the helm. BCCS is pleased to announce the appointment of Shannah Varón as the new Executive Director, who will take the school into its next phase. Read the full press release by clicking the link below.

August 23, 2011

Welcome to the 2011-2012 School Year!

Today is the first day of the 2011-2012 school year. 5th and 9th grade students are on campus today, and tomorrow they will be joined by students in grades 6, 7, 8, 10, 11, and 12. We are all looking forward to another very successful school year!

August 19, 2011

BCCS Chief Academic Officer Featured by EPIC

BCCS Chief Academic Officer Eileen Callahan was featured in EPIC's latest newsletter for her presentation at the National Charter Schools Conference in June. In March, BCCS received the EPIC Silver-Gain Award for the third time in four years for our high gains in student achievement in 2010. BCCS was one of only 18 charter schools from around the country selected as an award-winning school in the New Leaders for New Schools Effective Practice Incentive Community (EPIC). Read the newsletter and watch a video of Eileen's presentation by clicking on the link below.

August 16, 2011

BCCS Represented at White House and Department of Education Event

BCCS Executive Director Shannah Varon was one of just 150 Teach For America alumni invited to participate in a Teach For America and Leadership for Educational Equity event at the White House and the Department of Education. The event included a tour of the White House, a networking session, and a meeting with Secretary of Education Arne Duncan and senior staff. Ms. Varon was the only school leader from Greater Boston in attendance at the event.

June 22, 2011

Congratulations to Marissa Solberg, BCCS Class of 2011 Valedictorian

Congratulations to Marissa Solberg, BCCS Class of 2011 Valedictorian and a rising freshman at the College of the Holy Cross, who was featured in this piece on Boston's valedictorians.

June 3, 2011

Class of 2011 Commencement Ceremony

Congratulations to our seniors for their many accomplishments. For the eighth consecutive year, 100% of our graduates have been accepted into college. The class of 2011 was awarded over $1.5 million in merit scholarships. Please wish our senior class continued success!

June 3, 2011

Congratulations to Ms. Renstrom

Congratulations to Ms. Renstrom for her acceptance and scholarship to this year's Wesleyan University Writers Conference, a prestigious annual event for writers that includes seminars, workshops, readings, and manuscript consultations.

May 5, 2011

BCCS Recognized in Dorchester Reporter for EPIC Win

Along with Neighborhood House Charter School, also located in Dorchester and also a winner of an EPIC award, BCCS was recognized this week for high gains in student achievement in 2010.

April 25, 2011

BCCS Students and Faculty to Perform in Historic Opera Treemonisha

Several BCCS students led by BCCS faculty member Sam Martinborough will perform in Scott Joplin's historic opera Treemonisha at the Roxbury Center for Arts at Hibernian Hall the last weekend in April. Click the link below for more information.

March 10, 2011

BCCS Among Massachusetts Charter Schools Recognized for Winning EPIC Award

BCCS was among the six charter schools in Massachusetts, four of which are located in Boston, to receive an EPIC Award for high gains in student achievement in 2010. The schools are recognized in this article.

March 10, 2011

BCCS Awarded EPIC Silver-Gain Award for 2010 Student Achievement Results

We are proud to announce that BCCS received the EPIC Silver-Gain Award for the third time in four years for our high gains in student achievement in 2010. We are so proud of our students and our teachers! BCCS was one of only 18 charter schools from around the country selected as an award-winning school in the New Leaders for New Schools Effective Practice Incentive Community (EPIC). This honor allows us to identify best practices contributing to our high student achievement gains and to document those practices on the EPIC Knowledge System, a powerful web-based professional development resource documenting the real-life practices of urban schools driving significant achievement gains. Learn more about EPIC here.

March 10, 2011

Lottery Selects Class of 2019

BCCS received almost 1,200 applications for the 2011-12 school year, the highest number of applications we have ever received for any of our lotteries and more than eighteen times more applications than the number of available seats. New students are chosen by random public lottery; there are no exams to be admitted to BCCS. We thank the many families who applied for their interest in and support of our school, and we look forward to meeting all of our new students very soon.

March 3, 2011

Parking Information for Sydney Street Ribbon Cutting Ceremony

Sydney Street Ribbon Cutting Ceremony

Thursday, March 3, 2011

6:00pm-7:30pm

• Street parking can be found anywhere on Sydney Street and adjacent streets near the school.
• Limited parking is available at the MBTA lot located on Sydney Street under the JFK/UMass terminal. To locate the lot, turn onto Crescent Avenue off of Dorchester Avenue, and then turn left onto Moseley Street before taking a right onto Sydney Street.
• Limited parking is also available in the school parking lot directly across the street from the school building.

For directions to our Sydney Street campus, please click here.

Boston City-Wide Charter School Showcase

For the 11th straight year, Boston Collegiate will spearhead the Annual Boston Charter School Showcase of Schools.  Meet representatives from many Boston-area charter schools.  Over 500 families are expected to attend to learn more about public charter schools in Boston, Cambridge, and Somerville as well as charter schools in general. 

Saturday, February 12, 2011

9 AM - 12 PM

Boston University Fitness and Recreation Center, Basketball Court #1

915 Commonwealth Avenue, Boston, MA 02215

For more information, click below to download a flyer.

January 13, 2011; January 27, 2011; February 17, 2011

Information Sessions for Prospective Students and Families

Learn more about Boston Collegiate Charter School by attending one of the following Information Sessions:

Thursday, January 13, 2011 from 4:30PM—5:30PM

Mattapan Branch Library, 1350 Blue Hill Ave., Mattapan, MA

***

Thursday, January 27, 2011 from 6:00PM—7:00PM

Wang YMCA, 8 Oak St. West, Boston, MA

***

Thursday, February 17, 2011 from 6:00PM—7:00PM

Boston Collegiate Charter School, 215 Sydney St., Dorchester, MA

For more information, please call (617) 282-6710.

December 14, 2010

Applications for 2011-12 School Year Now Available

Are you interested in enrolling your child in a tuition-free, public school with an exceptional college preparatory program?  BCCS is now receiving applications for the 2011-12 school year to be entered into our random, public lottery.  Applications must be received by 5 PM on Friday, March 4, 2011. Our lottery will take place on Wednesday, March 9, 2011 at 6 PM at our 215 Sydney Street campus.

Click the links below to download the 2011-12 application in the following languages: 

English

Cape Verdean

Haitian Creole

Mandarin

Somali

Spanish

Vietnamese

Click below to find out more information.

December 2-3, 2010

BCCS Performs Alice in Wonderland

Please join us for BCCS's 5th annual musical, Alice in Wonderland, featuring 40 students in grades 5-12. Support the performing arts at BCCS and purchase your tickets now before they sell out!

Thursday, December 2

Friday, December 3

7:00pm

Performance Location:

St. Brendan Parish

589 Gallivan Boulevard

Dorchester, MA

Tickets are $12 in advance and $15 at the door. To reserve tickets, please email Jaime Montesano or stop by the High School Office at 11 Mayhew Street.

October 1, 2010

Third Annual Collegiate Cup Trivia Challenge a Success

Thank you to everyone who helped make our Third Annual Collegiate Cup Trivia Challenge a fun, memorable, and successful event! Visit our Collegiate Cup website to see photos from the evening, and check back soon for details on next year's event!

September 30, 2010

BCCS Featured in Bay State Banner Editorial

A Bay State Banner editorial comments on the success of Boston charter schools, including BCCS, on the 2010 MCAS. The 2010 MCAS results were released in mid-September.

September 29, 2010

BCCS Senior Attends City Council Hearing on Education

BCCS senior Mirayah Rivera attended a City Council hearing on Tuesday, September 28th, focused on the Boston Teacher Union's contract negotiations. Mirayah was one of five students who testified, and she was the only student quoted in The Boston Globe's article on the hearing. At the hearing, Mirayah spoke in support of BCCS and the school's dedicated teachers, who have helped her on her path toward college.

July 12, 2010

Congratulations to BCCS Alumnae

Congratulations to Andrea Bruno and Katey MacCormack, both 2010 BCCS graduates, who were recently named AP Scholars in recognition of their exceptional achievement on AP Exams! AP (Advanced Placement) Scholar Awards are granted to students who receive scores of 3 or higher on three or more AP Exams. Only about 18 percent of the more than 1.8 million students worldwide who took AP Exams performed at a sufficiently high level to earn AP Scholar Awards. Andrea is now a freshman at the Massachusetts College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences, and Katey is now a freshman at Northeastern University.

July 12, 2010

Attention 5th and 6th Grade Families - Contacting Lower School Staff

The Lower School has officially moved out of the Elkins Street campus for the summer! If you need to contact a member of the Lower School staff, please call the Mayhew Street campus at 617-265-1172, and ask at the main office for the staff member you are trying to contact. Beginning on August 12th, the new Sydney Street campus will be operational, and staff can be contacted at our new phone number: 617-282-6710.

More information regarding the Sydney Street campus and the start of the 2010-2011 academic year will be sent to families mid-summer. Thank you for your patience during this transition, and we look forward to seeing you all again on August 24th!

June 4, 2010

Class of 2010 Commencement Ceremony

Congratulations to our seniors for their many accomplishments. For the seventh consecutive year, 100% of graduates have been accepted into college. The class of 2010 has received over $1.4 million in merit scholarships. Please wish our senior class continued success!

May 20, 2010

Congratulations to Mr. White

Congratulations to Mr. Jim White for being a recipient of the Massachusetts Maritime Academy 2010 Science, Technology, Engineering and Math (STEM) Teacher Award!  Mr. White was nominated by Angela Esposito and Drew Egan, both 2010 BCCS graduates and current Mass Maritime students, who were influenced by Mr. White to pursue a Bachelor of Science degree at Mass Maritime. 

May 13, 2010

2010-11 BCCS School Calendar

The 2010-11 BCCS School Calendar can be downloaded by clicking on the link below.  

May 12, 2010

Charter Schools Gain Edge from Hours, Study Says

A new study shows that charter school students benefit from longer school days, longer school years.

May 11, 2010

Science Lab Opening Celebration

Thank you for celebrating the opening of Boston Collegiate's renovated science lab, which will better prepare our students for college and for careers in the STEM field.  We give special thanks to our distinguished science panelists, who de-mystified the science field for our student by discussing their careers in science.  

Panel Moderator, Tyrone Porter, Trustee, Boston Collegiate, Prof. of Biomedical Engineering, Boston University

Jeffrey Fredberg, Prof. of Bioengineering & Physiology, Harvard School of Public Health

Donald Jackson, Prof. of Medical Science, Brown University

Peter Mueller, Executive Vice President & Chief Scientific Officer, Vertex Pharmaceuticals

Lydia Villa-Komaroff, Chief Scientific Officer, Cytonome/ST

Susan Windham-Bannister, President & CEO, Massachusetts Life Science Center

May 10, 2010

BCCS Awarded $10,000 Thinkfinity Grant from the Verizon Foundation

BCCS was one of 15 schools from across Massachusetts awarded $10,000 by the Verizon Foundation as part of the 2010 Think Ahead with Thinkfinity Awards. The generous award will fund BCCS's 2010 New Student Orientation by using Thinkfinity.org resources to refine, expand, and strengthen the Math Boot Camp portion of the program.

For Press Release

April 18, 2010

Community Center Inspires Rally

Several BCCS students and families participated in a rally and quoted in this article to keep a neighborhood's community center's doors open. 

April 5, 2010

Sen. Edward M. Kennedy Boston Collegiate Scholarship Fund Applications Available

The Senator Edward Moore Kennedy Boston Collegiate Scholarship Fund will provide small grants to BCCS/SBHA alumni and current seniors.  Requests must be for use in reaching college, succeeding in college or completing college.  Application deadline is Friday, May 28th. 

To access the application 

March 20, 2010

Quiz Kids: Twenty teams will compete in WGBH's new 'High School Quiz Show.' And they're not playing around.

BCCS is one of 20 high schools throughout the state selected to participate in a new WGBH show called 'High School Quiz Show.'  Joe Samir tells his story to the Boston Globe.

BCCS's team will air on WGBH on May 17th at 7:30pm.

March 20, 2010

Sixth Grader Represents BCCS at Boston Spelling Bee

Sixth grader, Declan Harrington, competed in the Boston Spelling Bee on March 20th at Fanueil Hall.  Declan made a valiant effort and finished in fourth place.  Watch Declan spelling on WHDH News (1:15).

March 11, 2010

Sen. Edward M. Kennedy Boston Collegiate Scholarship Fund

7 - 9 p.m., Washington, D.C.

Thank you to Judith and Mark Siegel for hosting this extraordinary event!

You're invited to learn more about what is working in public education.  Please join BCCS's leaders, teachers, and students at a cocktail reception to support the Sen. Edward M. Kennedy Scholarship Fund. 

March 10, 2010

Lottery Selects Class of 2019

BCCS received over 715 applications for the 2011-12 school year, over seven times the number of applications than available seats. New students are chosen by random public lottery; there are no exams to be admitted to BCCS.  Huge thanks goes to our Distinguished Guest, Mr. Glynn Lloyd, Founder and CEO of City Fresh Foods, Inc. in Roxbury, for picking names of the new students in grades 5 through 8.

February 11, 2010

Art Auction & Dinner Around the World

5:30 - 7:30 p.m.

Thank you for a fun and successful event! 

Celebrate the many cultures represented at BCCS and around the world.  Tour the halls of the BCCS Art Gallery and bid on artwork.  Auction proceeds to fund the ceramics program in the Art Department. 

Free food from around the world, 6th grade BCCS Chorus.  Raffle, silent art auction and live art auction. 

Support our first-ever all school raffle for your chance to win one (or more!) of the incredible raffle baskets.  If you cannot join us but would like to participate in the raffle drawings to support our major trips across the country and around the world, please consider purchasing tickets ahead of time. 

Purchase your raffle tickets ahead of time!  Tickets also available at event. 

To view a sample of the 24 raffle baskets

February 6, 2010

Boston City-Wide Charter School Showcase

For the ninth straight year, Boston Collegiate will spearhead the Annual Boston Charter School Showcase of Schools.  Meet representatives from 19 Boston-area charter schools.  Over 500 families are expected to attend to learn more about charter public schools in Boston, Cambridge, and Somerville as well as charter schools in general. 

Saturday, February 6th

9 AM - 12 PM

UMass - Boston, McCormack Building, Ryan Lounge, 3rd Floor

For more information, click below to download a flyer.

For English

For Spanish

For Cape Verdean Creole

For Haitian Creole

For Vietnamese

January 15, 2010

Lawmakers Approve Education Bill

Thanks to the tremendous advocacy of the thousands of charter school supporters, with strong presence from BCCS parents and supporters, the Legislature approved the Education Reform bill.  In brief, the bill doubles the cap in underperforming districts while not changing the charter school funding formula. 

January 14, 2010

Hope for Haiti Change Drive

BCCS extends our deepest sympathy to the thousands of families devastated by the earthquake in Haiti.  Boston has the third largest Haitian population in the country, so this hits home for our community.  BCCS students are sponsoring a change drive, Hope for Haiti, for the next two weeks.  We encourage students to donate loose change, even if it’s a penny, so that the money goes where it is most needed. Please help bring hope to Haiti and support for our friends and neighbors here in Boston. 

January 14, 2010

School Overhaul Bill Ready to Vote

"A legislative conference committee came to agreement last night on a much-anticipated bill that... would double the number of charter school seats in the state's worst performing districts.."

January 2010

Annual Winter Warmer Fundraiser

The Collegiate Council invites you to join us for trivia at our Annual Winter Warmer. 

Wednesday, January 20th

Trivia starts at 7PM

Joe Sent Me, 2388 Mass. Ave, Cambridge, MA

Tickets: $10 per person

Purchase online by clicking here and choose "Student Activities" from the pull-down menu for where to direct your donation. 

Hurry!  Tickets to this event sold out last year! 

Raffle tickets for the Celtics vs. NJ Nets game on 2/27 and Bruins vs. Toronto Maple Leafs on 3/4 also available. 

All proceeds will directly benefit our student trips. 

January 7, 2010

House Swiftly OKs Sweeping Education Measure, 119 to 35

"The House of Representatives passed a sweeping education reform bill just after midnight that aims to overhaul the state's worst schools and expand charter schools..."

January 6, 2010

Charter School Advocates Rally as Debate Begins on Education Bill

Charter school parents from across Massachusetts gathered at the State House to rally as the House begins debate on the Education Reform Bill.

December 18, 2009

Applications for 2010-11 school year now available

Are you interested in enrolling your child in a tuition-free, public school with an exceptional college preparatory program?  BCCS is now receiving applications for the 2010-11 school year to be entered into our random, public lottery.  Applications must be received by 5 PM, Friday, March 5, 2010. 

Click below to download the 2010-11 application. 

Click below to find out more information.

December 3, 2009

BCCS Competes in WGBH's High School Quiz Show

BCCS is one of 20 high schools throughout the state selected to participate in a new WGBH show called "High School Quiz Show."  The BCCS team is scheduled to compete on February 6th at WGBH's Brighton studios for a live studio audience.  More details to come on how to cheer on the BCCS team. 

December 2009

Squawk in BCCS

Extra!  Extra!  The Lower School presents its first student newspaper, Squawk in BCCS.  Paula Cronin, a volunteer and lifelong writer, tutored 7 fifth grade students after school about how to be a newspaper reporter and helped produce this student-inspired newspaper. The fifth graders have brainstormed many more topics and are eager to offer more issues of Squawk and other writing projects.  Future Squawk in BCCS issues can be found on the For Students page. 

December 3-4, 2009
Schoolhouse Rock Live!

Please join us for BCCS's 4th annual musical.  Forty students in grades 5-12 will perform Schoolhouse Rock Live! after fourteen weeks of rehearsal.  Cast and crew fundraise to meet the costs of putting together this on-stage performance.  Support the performing arts at BCCS and purchase your tickets now before they sell out! 

Thursday, December 3

Friday, December 4

7 PM

Performance Location:

Our Lady Czestochowa Parish

655 Dorchester Avenue

Dorchester, MA 02125

Tickets are $12

To reserve tickets, please email Jaime Montesano or donate online.  (Choose "Student Activities" from the pull-down menu to indicate where your donation should be directed.)

December 3, 2009
Visitors Morning

8-9:30 AM

We hope you can join us for an informal breakfast to see BCCS in action. 

• Join us for a conversation with our student ambassadors
• Learn more about BCCS and its mission
• Meet school leaders, students, and teachers

Please contact Joyce Kim McDonough at 617-265-1172, ext. 291 to RSVP or to schedule another time for a visit.

November 25, 2009

College Alumni Panel

Attention BCCS Alumni, we cordially invite you to join us for breakfast to mix and mingle with other alumni and teachers and to share your stories about college life.  Join us for the annual College Alumni Panel so our juniors and seniors can learn from your experiences. 

November 25, 2009

9 - 9:25 AM Greetings and Breakfast

9:25 - 10:20 Alumni Panel

After the panel, feel free to join us for our 11th annual Turkey Bowl. 

To RSVP please call or email Max George at 617-265-1172 x238.

October 25, 2009

High School Garage Sale - Rain Date! 

Thank you for your support.  Our first ever garage sale raised $1,300. 

Support BCCS seniors raise money for their capstone trip to Paris and Rome.  An important component of the BCCS student experience is to travel beyond Boston to see firsthand another culture and part of the world.  Seniors have been studying French since seventh grade.  Please show your support!

Sunday, October 25

10 A.M to 2 P.M.

School parking lot (11 Mayhew Street)

To donate items or for more information, please contact Jenna Ogundipe, High School Principal. 

October 1, 2009

BCCS Named Volunteer Group of the Month

Cradles to Crayons named the BCCS High School Volunteer Group of the Month for September.  The entire high school visited Cradles to Crayons and participated in activities such as sorting clothes and toys and creating individual packages for children in need.  Cradles to Crayons is an organization that provides homeless and at-risk youth with essential supplies that their families are not able to provide. 

September 18, 2009

Hundreds Descend on State House in Support of Charter Schools

BCCS senior, Eddie McGuire, is quoted in this Boston Globe article.  The BCCS Student Government and BCCS parents and administrators joined hundreds of others at the State House to support the Governor's proposal to raise the cap on charter public schools.

September 17, 2009

Attend the Legislative Hearing to Raise the Cap on Charters

Join the MA Charter Public School Association to support the Governor's proposal to raise the cap on charter public schools at the Education Committee's public hearing.

Thursday, September 17

1:00 P.M.

Gardner Auditorium, State House, Boston

Please RSVP by emailing kab1015@charter.net and include:

Your first and last name

Email address

Name of school

September 16, 2009

BCCS Ranks Top in the State on 2009 MCAS Exams

BCCS once again ranked number one in the entire state on the 2009 10th grade Math MCAS.  For the second straight year, 100% of 10th graders scored Advanced or Proficient on the Math MCAS.  BCCS is the only school in the state with a seven-year long record of 100% passing the Math MCAS on the first attempt. 

September 10, 2009

Kids with Courage: Where are They Now?

Class of 2009 graduate, Victoria Conrad, is featured in this look back on a series named "Kids with Courage."  Victoria entered BCCS in fifth grade and is attending Framingham State College this fall despite her challenges living with Cerebral Palsy. 

August 5, 2009

Backers Seek End to Charter School Cap

A ballot question is filed to lift all caps on charter schools in Massachusetts

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August 2009

Golf Tournament to Benefit the Marie J. Conley Scholarship Fund

The Marie J. Conley Memorial Golf Tournament will take place on Monday, August 17th at the William J. Devine Golf Course in Franklin Park.  Marie J. Conley was the mother of a BCCS alum.  She was tragically killed last year while working as a crossing guard.  A scholarship fund has been established in her honor, and BCCS is making a donation to the scholarship fund and sponsoring a hole in the golf tournament. For more information, contact Joe Finn at (781) 727-6728 or email jfinn925@aol.com. Click on the link below to view the registration form. 

July 16, 2009

Education Reform in Massachusetts: A Chance For Charters

"Charters are a tricky subject in Massachusetts even though the few they do have, such as Boston Collegiate, are among the best in the country."

June 2009

What a School Can Be

BCCS volunteer reads with two fifth grade students regularly and is featured in F&C Investments' Staff Newsletter. 

June 2009

Securing College Ambitions

Boston Community Capital helped BCCS finance the new Lower School campus.  BCCS is profiled in Boston Community Capital's Annual Report. 

June 2009
Class of 2009 Commencement

We cordially invite you to come celebrate the accomplishments of our senior class. For the sixth consecutive year, 100% of graduates have been accepted into college. The class of 2009 has received over 102 college acceptances and over $1.1 million in merit scholarships.

All events will take place at Boston Collegiate Charter School, 11 Mayhew Street, Dorchester, MA.

Commencement Ceremony
Monday, June 8th at 6-7:30 P.M.
Reception and light refreshments to follow the ceremony.

Senior Breakfast
Friday, June 5th at 9-10:30 A.M.
This breakfast will be a tribute to our seniors and will include a slideshow.

May 19, 2009
First Annual Health & Community Resource Fair

Students and families, please join us for our first annual Health & Community Resource Fair on Tuesday, May 19th from 5:30 P.M. to 7:00 P.M. The Boston Health Commission will provide health information and conduct blood pressure and body mass index screenings and teach about cholesterol. There will also be jump rope & hula hoop challenges, healthy snacks, summer camp information, and games.

Spring 2009

Turning Data Into Achievement

by Tobey Jackson and John Maycock

Middle School Principal & Founding Science Teacher co-authored this article featured in Perspectives, a publication distributed by the Massachusetts Association for Supervision and Curriculum Development. 

January 9, 2009
Inside Urban Charter Schools

Boston Collegiate Charter School is profiled in a book released by Harvard Education Press. Author Katherine K. Merseth discusses the best practices of high-performing MA urban charter schools.



PDF to download Chapter 3: Boston Collegiate Charter School: Bringing College to Students and Students to College

January 6, 2009
Charter Schools Grade Highest

BCCS participated in this landmark study that shows charter schools grade highest.

September 18, 2008
Charter School Brain Drain

Director, Kathleen Sullivan, and Founder, Brett Peiser, weigh in on the brain drain in an interview with National Public Radio WBUR's Monica Brady-Myerov.