Titan Chronicle Volume 3 Issue 1

Welcome to the 2022 Titan Chronicle! Also, congratulations on completing the first month of the school year successfully. I can see that students have begun to settle into their classrooms, and our staff are continuing to maintain high expectations and providing that warm support in their classrooms. In this year at New Mission, I'm reminded that consistency, relationships, and fairness will always drive great results. Let's continue having a great school year!

William Thomas Head of School

MA 02136

Table of Contents

Visual Arts Arrives at New Mission (pg. 2)

Who we are: New Mission Cluster Leaders (pg. 3)

Early College & Career Pathways: Paving the way for a Successful Future (pg. 4)

PIC Student Spotlight ~ Alani Rose (pg. 5)

In the Classroom: Ethnic Studies at New Mission (pg. 6)

Titan Athletics: Fall Season in Action (pg. 7)

Creating School Culture from the Ground up: Cutler's Culture Club (pg. 8)

School Parent Council Reflections: Becky Mokos (pg. 8)

Ms K's Classroom Board, where students take Health Sciences

Visual Arts Arrives at New Mission

Teacher: Brandon Powers Favorite Medium: Paper and pencil

New Mission has excitingly welcomed Visual Arts to the curriculum this year. Students across grade levels and in our ABA program are taking class with Mr. Powers, working on practicing the creative process and self expression.

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Who we are: NM Cluster Leaders

New Mission uses a Grade Level Cluster model to promote Democratic Leadership and student support. As a reminder, all Staff at New Mission can be reached on our website Staff Directory.

7th Grade Omega Roberts

Subject: 7th Grade ELA | Years at New Mission: 4 years

If you could have 24-hours with a famous person from any time period, who would it be and what would you do?

Nelson Mandela. I was 5 years old when the entire world was protesting for him to be released from prison. In Jamaica, we all had on our "Free Nelson Mandela" pins. The year that he was released, he came to Jamaica. I remember feeling so proud. When you grow up in a third world country, you become so aware of the world issues, and I felt so proud to see people all over the world put pressure on the South African government to make this change. I wanted to meet him before he passed. He stood up for what he believed in no matter the cost.

8th Grade Thomas Hanno

Subject: 8th Grade Math Pre Algebra and Algebra Years at NM: 6

How did you become a math teacher? While I studied engineering in college, I did internship that made me realize I want to work with people. Also, I have always liked math as a subject.

9th Grade René Reyes

Subject: World History I | Years at New Mission: 9 years

If you could have 24-hours with a famous person from any time period, who would it be and what would you do? Tom Brady We would hang out on a Sunday, and I would help him with his pregame routine, watch him throw 3 touchdown passes in a win, and have avocado ice cream with him on a Florida beach to wrap up the day.

12th Grade Jessica Bencosme

Subject: Spanish 1 & 2 | Years at NM: 11

What is your favorite part about being a Cluster Leader at New Mission? Being able to support my colleagues and students.

What is a topic you'd like to learn more about this year?

Is HBO going to have a spin-off of Game of Thrones in which John Snow will be the main character?

10th Grade - Chris Kelly

Subject: 10th Grade English | Years at New Mission: 14 years

Favorite part about being a Cluster Leader at New Mission: Getting to know all of the great teachers Our staff has grown so it is important to know who is on your team and how we can all help each other

What is your superpower? Tranquility. It takes a lot to get me angry or upset.

11th Grade Sam Northridge

Subject:WorldHistory2|YearsatNewMission:6years

Whatisatopicyou'dliketolearnmoreaboutthisyear?I'dliketo learnmoreaboutlocalpoliticsandhowitaffectsourstudent population.Decisionsaroundtransportation,standardized testing,andhousingforexampleareusuallyinthenewstoolate forourcommunitytoeffectivelyreactandhaveourvoiceheard.

(617) 635 6437

EARLY COLLEGE AND CAREER PATHWAYS

We are so excited that we have our first group of Titan Early College Scholars! We have over 60 Scholars who are enrolled in the program and taking college courses being taught at New Mission.

Our Titan Computer Science and Engineering Pathways Scholars are enrolled in Wentworth Institute of Technology’s COMP1000 Computer Science I. Scholars will receive four college credits for this introductory computer science course. The Wentworth professor teaches at New Mission four days a week with a New Mission co-teacher, Ms. Rebecca Yu. We also have a Wentworth student who is providing tutoring support. Scholars have already completed coding four programs!

Our Titan Health Sciences Scholars are enrolled in UMass Boston’s COMM100 Introduction to Communication. Scholars will receive three college credits for this introductory course. The UMass professor teaches at New Mission three days a week with a New Mission co-teacher, Ms. Dawn Keighley. Scholars just completed their first speech and all scholars received a grade of A or B! We will visit the UMass Boston campus at the beginning of October for a workshop on study skills.

Titan Early College Scholars will continue to visit both the Wentworth and UMass campuses throughout the school year. They will have career speakers and field trips to companies and organizations along with many other activities relevant to their Pathway. Any questions or for additional information, contact Gretchen Lahey, glahey@bostonpublicschools.org.

12th GradeLucien Junior Jura

Making Advancements at MIT Momentun AI Summer Program

New Mission Senior, Junior attended the Massachusetts Institute of Technology's AI Summer Program, where he learned about technological advancements in AI and gained a new dream for his future path. Congratulations Junior! Check out this program video!

Student Spotlight: Alani Rose Summer Internship: Mass General Hospital

Article by PIC Specialist Mikayla Konopka, mkonopka@bostonpublicschools.org

“Alani Rose is a senior at New Mission who is interested in healthcare and the STEM field for her future career. Mikayla Konopka, the Boston PIC Career Specialist, interviewed her to learn more about her experience as an intern at Mass General Hospital which she received through Boston PIC’s partnership with MGH.

Alani stated her experience at MGH was a 6-week internship program where she was working as a Material Services Intern. Alani said that as a Material Services Intern she would clean Biomedical equipment and stock medical equipment. Alani’s schedule over the summer was Monday through Thursdays and Friday she worked remotely with her cohort.

Over the summer, Alani conveyed that she further developed her communication, time management, and organizational skills. Working in a hospital, Alani said she really needed to communicate with her student coworkers and hospital coworkers. Alani said she had an overall excellent experience, and is excited to explore other areas of hospital work, specifically patient facing roles. Alani enjoyed working in a hospital setting and being on various hospital floors. These varying floors allowed her to see what the day-to-day work life looks like in a range of hospital careers. Alani’s favorite location to visit in the hospital during work was the operating room.

The best part of Alani’s experience at MGH was working with her peers, healthcare coworkers, and supervisor. Alani enjoyed meeting her peers and was not expecting to make so many friends in her internship. This upcoming summer Alani is thinking of doing another internship in healthcare or STEM and planning on studying Biotechnology, Nursing, Medicine, or Women’s Studies in college.

Alani’s advice for students is to always be open to trying new activities, advocate for your interests, and always ask questions to peers and professionals to learn more.

Thank you, Alani, for reflecting on your summer experience! We hope her Spotlight gives students and parents an insight of the importance of summer internships for high school students!”

In the Classroom: New Mission welcomes Ethnic Studies

Instructors: Maribel Rosendo Servin and Jeremy Furlow Aponte

Ms. Rosendo-Servin moved to Boston in January from California. Prior to this she taught Ethnic Studies in California, where she attended college and became interested in the subject. Through her undergraduate experience, she learned from her professors how to connect what she was learning to making transformation in her community. This empowered her to unite with her peers around a cause.

This work is very hard to do on one’s own, Ms. Rosendo-Servin shared. For her, finding a community when she moved to Boston was very important to her. The collaboration that comes from community is something that Rosendo-Servin believes the students will greatly benefit from.

Mr. Furlow-Aponte’s family moved to Southwest Arizona when he was very young. He grew up going to school in Arizona Public Schools, and became aware of Ethnic Studies at the time when Tucson Unified School District banned the program from being taught. He left Arizona in 2011 with the intention of finding a way to be a part of the Ethnic Studies community. He moved to Boston to support the Ethnic Studies in the Boston Public Schools. Since then, he has built friendships and community throughout the district, and has been involved in drafting the original Ethnic Studies Curriculum for the District. While he got his start volunteering in a K-2 Elementary Program, in partnership with the non-profit organization, Inquilinos Boricuas en Acción.

Right now, Ms. Rosendo-Servin and Mr. Aponte-Furlow is working with students to define what Ethnic Studies is. They shared that Ethnic Studies is centered on the experiences of people-of color. This legacy is important, as Rosendo-Servin shared her understanding of Ethnic Studies as a discipline rooted in student movements of the 1960’s, and that it is centered on critical reflection and thinking around what is happening in our communities. From the educational perspective, she shares, it is the ability to understand even one story, and the history of our communities, allowing us to connect where we have been, where we are at, and where we are going.

Now, the goal for New Mission students is that what they learn in Ethnic Studies does not just stay in the classroom. The goal is for students to use their critical reflection to understand themselves and their communities on a deeper level; for them to be able to stand up for their dignity through using their voice to create solutions and make change.

Titan Athletics: Fall Sports are in Action!

Mr. G ~ Boys Soccer Coach

My name is Jose Gonzalez. This is coming up on my 7th year coaching at New Mission. I have been coaching soccer for around 10 years at all different levels; recreation, travel, and club. I played college soccer at Endicott College in Beverly, MA. This is my 10th year teaching special needs at BCLA. I enjoy traveling, Kayaking, camping, and spending time with my family

Originally from Puerto Rico, and a two time Coach of the Year at West Roxbury High, Modesto Gomez has been an outstanding volleyball and baseball coach at a variety of schools in Boston Coach Modesto Gomez, who goes by Moe, has been working in the Special Needs Department for 24 years, and has been coaching for 17. He’s coached both volleyball and baseball at West Roxbury High, Cathedral High School, and Boston International. It's currently his third year being at New Mission High School, as he continues to coach both High School Volleyball and Baseball. Coach Moe strongly believes in holding high expectations for his players, and pushes them to be the best they can be as individuals and as a team, this is apparent as Coach Moe leads the Lady Titans into this year's volleyball season.

Coach Gomez ~ Girls Volleyball

Girls soccer with Coach D at a New England Revolution Game!

Girls Volleyball leading with a win!

Titan Chronicle Closing: School

Culture and Family Partnership

Cutler's School Culture Club

New Mission's Director of School Climate and Operations has launched a School Culture Club! Cutler's School Culture Club meets on Thursday afternoons from 2:30pm-3:30pm in room 002

All students are welcome!

What inspired the start of the School Culture Club?

My role here at New Mission is to enhance and encourage the great culture within the community. I pride myself on bringing joy and helping all feel a great sense of positivity towards being in this building as a student and staff member. I recognized a while back in my career as an educator that most of my time will be spent in the school building, and I said to myself, I want to make it feel less like work and more of an enjoyable space for myself and others. Teaching and learning could include fun and happiness alongside being a hard worker. I want to inspire all to be their best selves around me, smiling like you're with family and friends you are happy to be around.

What are students sharing as ideas to create a positive school culture at New Mission?

During our first club meeting, a few students arrived, and many ideas poured out like wildfire. I gave the students a few whiteboard markers, and we began brainstorming on a blank whiteboard, which is now fully covered with what we would like to do to bring joy to the building. My main idea and the first objective are to update the bulletin boards around the school. The students want to start a podcast, prepare for a pep rally, and provide benefits to their peers within the school. Overall, our mission is to inspire, lead, and bring joy. We hope to achieve great things this year.

What does school culture mean to you?

The School Culture Club means I am doing what I love to do, making people happy. With students by my side, I can expand my efforts and make sure it remains relevant to their experience here at New Mission.

Becky Mokos | P' Class of 2025

Zoom Link:

School Parent Council has allowed me to get to know other parents, and to advocate for issues that we as guardians and parents are concerned about. Over the past two years we have gotten to know the staff and administration, developing a relationship that has proven to be really important in times of difficulty and crisis. I am really looking forward to meeting new parents and seeing what we can achieve this year!