BLSA Bulletin Spring 2021

BOSTON LATIN SCHOOL ASSOCIATION

BULLETIN WINTER 2021

Challenging Times, Creative Solutions

A New Twist on an Old Tradition

Aware of Covid-19 restrictions, Head of School Rachel Skerritt ’95 devised a creative way to deliver the Class of 2020’s graduation diplomas.

A Message from BLS and the BLSA Dear BLS Friends: Boston Latin School has endured and thrived through every major challenge in this country’s history. This past year has been like no other in our memories; however, the school community of students, faculty, and families has affirmed that resilience and perseverance are hard wired into our shared humanity. Our young people and their commitment to their own growth, to one another, and to a better society serve as reminders of hope and promise through times of difficulty.

Since last March, our community has endured the upheaval of a global pandemic as well as the trauma and awakening brought on by ongoing racial injustice. Students have contended with these dual realities and the costs they’ve brought to their families. As a community, we have rallied beside them in affirming that Black lives matter and continue to commit ourselves to providing resources to ensure their success amidst all challenges.

The year has also been unusual because of a one-year modification to the admissions process to Boston’s exam schools prompted by the inability to administer large, in-person testing due to the pandemic. A BPS task force, co-chaired by Headmaster Emeritus Michael Contompasis ’57, has been convened to examine this issue more deeply as the city considers longer-term recommendations. We will keep you informed of developments knowing that all of us are keenly interested in ensuring that BLS prospers as a beacon of opportunity for Boston’s promising students. Thank you for allying with us in this pursuit and all of our efforts on behalf of the school’s inspiring young people.

Sincerely,

Rachel Skerritt ’95 BLS Head of School

Peter G. Kelly ’83 BLSA President

Winter Bulletin 2021

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F E AT U R E

Finding New Pathways to Learning The Covid-19 pandemic has not derailed meaningful teaching and learning at BLS. Dedicated teachers have found countless ways to deliver quality education through new approaches that are engaging and effective. The stories presented here are a resounding tribute to the ingenuity and creativity of the teachers and students of our exceptional school.

Maintaining Rigor in Science Education

Meeting the Challenges of Virtual Theater

During this remote learning period, the science department meets weekly to share information and coordinate efforts.

“We need to be on the same page,” says physics teacher Jesse Southwick ’94. “We share best ideas and find new ways to deal with an unfamiliar and sometimes difficult approach to science education. We had to re-imagine formats, while staying true to our core goal. Our team approach makes sure all students are getting the same information and ensures we are constantly learning from each other. It makes us better remote teachers.”

Science at BLS is not generally taught in a lecture format.

Rather, it is an interactive, group problem-solving process that involves cooperation and conversation among students.

“This is harder to achieve in a remote format,” Southwick explains.“Interactivity is not lost entirely, but it certainly takes a different form. Thankfully, we have made some very real progress.”

Teachers are using an interactive presentation tool, Pear Deck, which engages students in remote individual and social learning. “This tool allows students to share information in many different ways,” Southwick says. “Students also use video-analysis software to film and analyze projectile motion, much as they would in an actual classroom. With other remote learning apps, students conduct various physics experiments from home. We are finding creative work-arounds for what we normally do in the classroom together. These are excellent and resilient students. They adapt quickly to challenges and new ways of learning. As a result, we’ve been able to keep science education at a high and demanding level.”

Joseph Gels ’05 teaches theater arts and runs the afterschool theater program. With remote learning, his teaching is altered in many ways. How do you use a computer to replace a stage, interactions with cast members, and a live audience? He and his students are discovering ingenious ways to express themselves and build their creative skills.

“Some playwrights are producing works intended for Zoom-based presentations,” Gels explains.“We’re doing similar adaptations of our own. Students are able to exercise their acting and design skills, use software to build virtual sets, create lighting effects, and do other ‘tech’ tasks. It’s not always ideal, but we are making it work.”

A recent production,“She Kills Monsters,” involved 12 student actors and a supporting behind-the-scenes crew of more than 25. With four live performances on Zoom, it drew an audience of more than 300 attendees. More productions like this are scheduled.

“Despite limitations imposed by the pandemic,” Gels notes, “students continue to learn—and they seem to enjoy it.”

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Boston Latin School Association

Pictured left to right are: Jesse Southwick ’94, Joseph Gels ’05, Caroline Callum, Thuy LeDang, and Andrea Encarnacao

Language Arts Adapt to Changes

Latin Goes Online

Caroline Callum teaches Class VI English literature and language arts. “Remote learning has changed many things,” she says,“but with technology and dedicated teachers, students still learn.

“For example, we use Zoom to hold public declamation tryouts. Judges use Google forms and the chosen contestants pre-record their performances. We then compile all the recordings and stream them as an assembly to the student body. It’s all done online—keeping a BLS tradition alive.

“Remote learning changes the educational dynamic,” she explains. “You don't get to see how students are responding to instruction. Also, students don't have the same opportunity to build comfort levels with their teachers and friends. There are still hurdles to overcome, but we are making progress.”

Students with the best understanding of technology have an advantage, and they help bridge the gap by providing technical support to less experienced users. “In general, students with the most difficult adjustment are those who are new to the school,” Callum notes. “However, we continue to find ways of enhancing the online connection for all and acclimating the sixies to BLS.”

Thuy LeDang teaches Latin at the Class V and AP levels.

She describes remote learning as a combination of challenges and opportunities. “When you have 28 students on a Zoom screen, it can sometimes be difficult to respond to their questions in a timely manner.

“Also, I don’t always see the same enthusiasm that is apparent when you are working with students in an actual classroom. On the positive side, I am seeing students gain more familiarity with the online dynamic, and they are becoming more willing to participate.”

An unexpected benefit of online learning is that it allows teachers to expand their office hours to 55 minutes twice a week. The extra time available for one-to-one engagement makes a difference for students and teachers alike.

“We’ve all had to make adjustments,” she acknowledges, “everything from how we motivate students, to how we conduct instruction, to how we evaluate the work. But it’s working and getting better.”

Building Counseling Relationships Remotely “Counselors at BLS help students with postsecondary planning,” explains school counselor Andrea Encarnacao.

“We also identify students who may be struggling academically and offer resources, such as tutoring and executive functioning workshops, in addition to social-emotional and career counseling. Our role requires us to build trust with students.

With in-person meetings off the table, we now connect and build our relationships remotely. Students who are new to BLS have to learn to trust and work with adults they have never met. The challenge is even greater when building relationships

with their peers,” she notes. “We want new students to feel part of our community with social connections, and we work with useful apps designed for that purpose.”

On a positive note, she observes that working remotely allows her more time for preparation in between Zoom sessions.“Also, it is easier to connect with parents in the remote space,” she says.“No worry about parking, weather delays, or other challenges. Meeting parents virtually may be here to stay as an option in the future.”

Winter Bulletin 2021

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Senior Class Officers Reflect on a Year of Challenge Before the pandemic, Gian Martinez ’21 used to allocate three hours a day for homework. He now needs four. His schedule of AP classes and responsibilities as class president are a challenge. “In addition to academics,” he notes, “we have to write college essays and fill out college application forms. All of us are disappointed to be missing out on some of the best parts of our senior year. But we are still getting a great education.

I feel well prepared for my upcoming college experience.”

Gian Martinez ’21

Mia Merullo ’21 is vice president of her class, a singer, an improv comedian, and a motivated student. “One of the most obvious differences with remote learning is that we can’t work in groups,” she observes. “I miss that. I also miss seeing my teachers in person when I need help. That makes learning much more difficult. Still, I feel we are able to learn. We continue to have a lot of homework, we are tested regularly, and are very challenged. It is getting easier as we become more familiar with remote learning.”

Mia Merullo ’21

Xiangan He ’21, treasurer of his class, is committed to a rigorous academic program that will move him toward a career in social entrepreneurship. He is determined that remote learning will not hold him back. “I take four AP classes as well as business courses at Bunker Hill Community College, and I’m learning to use Frontier technology, like Blockchain, in business competitions,” he says. “Remote learning adds to my workload. But my teachers are great, I’m still learning, and I’m on track to realize my dreams of serving my community.”

Xiangan He ’21

Mandy Sun ’21

Mandy Sun ’21, secretary of her class, is surprised that she likes many aspects of remote learning. “It’s a better schedule for me,” she says. “Instead of 45-minute classes, we now have an hour. That’s a nice change. Also, we now have 30 minutes for lunch, instead of 20. It’s not a huge difference, but with the workload I carry, it helps. Sun feels that she has more time to devote to her Senior Capstone project focusing on aspects of elementary education that can affect racial attitudes. “It’s a topic I care about deeply,” she notes.

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Boston Latin School Association

Brevia Adeoye Owolewa ’08 Elected D.C. Representative

Annie Tomasini ’98 Named to White House Senior Staff Annie Tomasini ’98 has been named a White House senior staff member

by President Joseph Biden. Working directly with the president, she serves as the new administration’s director of Oval Office operations. A crucial behind-the scenes job, her new role includes helping to prioritize and manage the president’s time and schedule.

During the campaign she served as traveling chief of staff for then-candidate Biden. Previously, she had been Biden’s press secretary during his tenure as vice president during the Obama administration. Earlier she served in the Chicago headquarters of the Obama presidential campaign.

At Boston Latin,Tomasini was a basketball standout. She continued to be an excellent athlete at Boston University where she earned a B.A. According to a recent Boston Globe profile, “she still runs in her spare time,” and rarely takes time off from her responsibilities. A co-worker noted that her stamina was abundantly apparent during the hectic closing months of the campaign and will certainly be tested in the early days of the administration.

Dr. Adeoye Owolewa ’08 has been elected a “shadow” U.S. representative from the District of Columbia. “Shadow representatives do not have voting rights and cannot sit on committees,” he explains, “but the position does provide an important voice for the D.C. constituency, which would otherwise have no voice because of its subnational status.” Owolewa, who holds a doctorate in pharmacy, previously served as an elected D. C. advisory neighborhood commissioner. “One of my main duties will be lobbying Congress to have the District recognized as a state.”

Wolfpack Teams go 4 for 4 in DCL Finals

B

oys oys Basketball, Basketball,Girls Girls Basketball, Basketball,Boys Boys Hockey, Hockey, and Girls Hockey all claimed Dual County League titles winning championship games in February over the course of just 24 hours! Boys and Girls Basketball also claimed their league regular season titles. In the fall, Girls Cross Country also won its DCL Championship. This success follows an abbreviated and limited fall season when athletes from the Girls and Boys Cross Country teams as well as the Golf team were recognized as DCL All-stars "All of our teams persevered through the late starts, stringent safety protocols, and changes in the way games were played to come out on top. I could not be prouder of the patience, resiliency, and toughness that is nothing new to Latin School students,” proudly states Leven ’55 Director of Athletics Jack Owens ’03.

Winter Bulletin 2021

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Prince Charles Alexander ’75 named 2020 Distinguished Graduate

C

harles Alexander came to Boston Latin as an 11-year-old sixie. Having never played an instrument before, he chose to play clarinet. It was the beginning of a lifelong love and an amazing career as a performer, sound engineer, producer, and college professor. He earned a degree in African and African American Studies at Brandeis University and continued to perform in local venues to hone his craft.

“BLS empowered me to follow my dreams,” he says. “It gave me the confidence to know that with hard work, perseverance, and a personal vision, I could succeed.” Taking the stage name of “Prince Charles” he

became a headliner at major venues around the world.

“I was doing well, but I realized music was changing. New instruments and changing tastes in music motivated me to learn sound engineering—which led to producing albums for other artists.”

Over the years, the results were three Grammy Awards, more than 40 gold and platinum records, and international recognition as a sought-after innovator.

“As I began to think about my next step,” he comments, “teaching seemed a natural decision. My good fortune was to wind up at Berklee College of Music.” He continues to touch

lives of music lovers everywhere.

Mentor, generous benefactor to youth at BLS and beyond, Prince Charles Alexander inspires an abiding belief in the ability of music to express the human condition and to speak to profound cultural and societal issues.

Beloved Mr. Pitts Takes a Final Bow After 21 years of inspired teaching, Paul Pitts ’73, P’05, ’12, program director for visual and performing arts, takes his enviable talents into a well-earned retirement. Under his direction, countless students have won high honors in musical festivals and competitions throughout New England and beyond.

Reflecting on his own time as a BLS student, Pitts recalls, “It was a demanding education when I was a student, and it still is.” Pitts’ teaching philosophy was to instill a love of music in students. “That way, whether they had careers in music or not,” he says, “their experience at Boston Latin would be meaningful. Some went on to top music schools, some taught music, and some have chosen to perform professionally. My main task was to help students be curious about learning and to take music seriously. My hope is that all find peace and enjoyment from music in later years.”

Pitts has fond memories of enabling students to play difficult music in prestigious venues. “A high point for me,” he comments, “was directing “Prelude, Fugue,

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Boston Latin School Association

and Riffs” by Leonard Bernstein ’35 in Boston’s Symphony Hall, a performance that earned a thrilling, standing ovation.”

Since retiring, he also finds joy in continuing to work with the visual and performing arts department, particularly the BLS Big Band. The BLS community stands in appreciation for our beloved maestro.

Exploring Civic Obligations and Responsibilities Globally

“T

he current pandemic has exposed our society to questions we do not generally think about,” says Judi Freeman, history teacher and Seevak ’46 Chair in History. “I began late last spring by reflecting on the issue of face masks,” she continues. “What obligation do we have to keep ourselves and others from becoming infected by the virus?

“Gradually, that question morphed into others that addressed broader issues: what obligations do we have to do things that benefit not just ourselves but society as a whole? Beyond laws that must be obeyed, we all have choices we can make—voting for example, or being vaccinated against the virus. What we know, however, is that generally Americans share a strong belief in individual rights and freedoms as keys to our democracy. Civic responsibilities are not generally seen as actual obligations.

“These questions led me to reconceive this year’s Facing History classes with these issues providing one of the course’s key throughlines. I sought to engage students on issues of civic obligation. I thought they could learn from the perspectives of other nations and how they understand and embrace societal obligations and notions of the common good—in topics of civic participation (voting, serving on juries, protecting our nation), public health, environmental protection, human rights, and social justice. I reached out to leaders in international NGOs, UNESCO, and other United Nations agencies, university scholars in civics, peace and justice, and global studies fields, and collected ideas and feedback.”

“Inspired in part by John F. Kennedy’s 1961 inaugural address ‘Ask not what your country can do for you— ask what you can do for your country,’ I reached out to educators throughout the world.”

Freeman says. “To my amazement, I received numerous responses.

What emerged clearly was that educators feel these are truly important and urgent issues. They were eager to have their students engage with others on these topics.”

The result? More than 400 students from nearly 50 countries on six continents are communicating with one another weekly on different aspects of civic obligation. These global citizens use Padlets, Instagram, WhatsApp, and Zoom to discover ways to rethink how each of their nations can learn from others what best practices in civic responsibility and obligation are.

Stay tuned. This is the inaugural year in what will undoubtedly continue to be an ongoing network created to address the critical issue of civic obligation and responsibility, not only for the United States but also for nations worldwide.

Recognizing 40 Years of Dedicated Service

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ita Cousens has retired after a stellar career as a BLS guidance counselor. “The students here are bright and capable,” she says, “so it is natural to think they would not face problems at school. But they are teenagers!

They confront the same range of challenges as anyone—physical, emotional, and social issues that can affect the ability to succeed academically. It has been my privilege to work with these exceptional students for so many years.”

Among her proudest accomplishments was establishing a highly successful workshop for parents called “Formula for Success.” She explains, “the goal is to develop strategies for parents to help their children deal with school issues. My job was to provide guidance in support of students, parents, and colleagues. I also trained interns, some of whom have gone on to become guidance counselors themselves.

What began at BLS as a one-person support department years ago has grown over time into a group of highly trained professionals, including nurses, psychologists, and special education teachers.”

Fortunately, BLS has built a culture to eliminate the stigma attached to needing and asking for help. “We get many referrals from the students themselves,” she observes.

“They have benefited from our services and recommend them to their friends.”

In this next phase of her life, she looks forward to serving as CEO of the Cousen Rose Gallery in Oak Bluffs on Martha’s Vineyard, a successful business she founded 40 years ago.

Winter Bulletin 2021

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Solidarity Emphasized at 2020 Graduation Last year’s graduation ceremony, like so many other activities and traditions, required rethinking from top to bottom. With remarkable resilience, everyone in the school stepped up to make the ceremony a true celebration—a momentous occasion marking a milestone achievement for all who worked so hard, for so long, to reach this magnificent goal.

On June 8, 2020, speaking to a “zoomed in” audience from across the world, Head of School Rachel Skerritt ’95 delivered these opening remarks: “We were prepared to meet 4,000 strong at the pavilion today. Instead, we are all in our respective homes.

But these last few months have underscored that we are 4,000 strong always—even though we can’t be all together. We may be 40,000 strong, now that I think about it. when you add in your extended family and friends, every teacher who has influenced you from pre-K through 12, the entire family and staff at Boston Latin School, and our vast alumni community. Don’t forget the entire city of Boston, which extends its love to our BLS graduates.

We may be 400,000 strong now that I think about it.”

Quoting words of wisdom from Ralph Waldo Emerson, BLS Class of 1821, and Joseph Powers, BLS Class of 1896 and headmaster from 1929 to 1948, Skerritt called attention to other times of disruption and uncertainty in our school’s history.

She noted that “there is no class more suited to adapt a deep appreciation of togetherness and apply it to your way of life from this day forward.” Praising the class of 2020 for its united teamwork and solidarity, she called it “a team for the history books. Together you will go far. Sumus primi.”

Class valedictorian Dante Minutillo ’20 added to the gravitas of the day with a thoughtful speech that offered this unique perspective on a BLS diploma: “None of us is going to remember every single thing we

learned at BLS. But even if you forget what tense of the subjunctive to use in a purpose clause, or how to reduce a matrix to row echelon form, or the phases of meiosis, you’ve learned how to think and learn, how to work hard, how to not give up in the face of unfamiliar concepts.”

Mateo Daffin ’20, class president, delivered a heartfelt message of gratitude to the entire BLS community.

“You have bettered our education ... an odyssey full of self-discovery and emotional development...of immense personal and intellectual growth.”

Congratulations to our newest BLS alumni and to all those who made this day not only possible but also memorable.

A virtual chorus of ethereal voices sang “Sogno di Volare” (“The Dream of Flight”) composed by Christopher Tin as the Symphonic Band remotely provided accompaniment for a captivating centerpiece of an unusual yet poignant 2020 graduation.

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Boston Latin School Association

INQUIRY & INSIGHTS

LEARNING FROM LATIN SCHOOL ALUMNI Join the BLS community for a new series of presentations that will deliver insights, spark thoughtful discussion, and answer questions on an array of timely topics.

“SILENT WAR IN CYBER SPACE”

“OCEAN POLLUTION AND HUMAN HEALTH”

“FIGHTING SICKLE CELL DISEASE USING GENE THERAPY”

“BOSTON: THE COMPLICATED CITY ON A HILL”

Wednesday, February 17 at 5:30 p.m. EST

Friday, April 9 at 12 p.m. EST

Wednesday, May 26 at 12 p.m. EST

Tuesday, June 22 at 5:30 p.m. EST

Richard Clarke ’68

Philip Landrigan, M.D., M.Sc. ’59

Biree Andemariam, M.D. ’92

Joseph Nevins, Ph.D. ’82

National Security and Counterterrorism Expert; CEO and Chairman, Good Harbor Security Risk Management

Director, Program for Global Public Health and the Common Good, Boston College

Director, New England Sickle Cell Institute; Associate Professor Department of Medicine University of Connecticut

Associate Professor of Geography, Vassar College

To register, please visit bit.ly/2021BLSASpeakerSeries.

Production: Design Communication Photography: Hawke Commercial Filmmaking Front cover illustration: Elizabeth Walshak

Non-Profit Org. US Postage

PAID Permit #56615 Boston, MA 27 SCHOOL STREET SUITE 300 BOSTON, MA 02108

www.blsa.org

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