A Note from Sudarshan Ramanan '21

This note is excerpted from the welcome speech Sudarshan delivered at Sunday's Admission Open House.

Good Afternoon,

My name is Sudarshan Ramanan, and I am a freshman at Boston University Academy. I would like to thank all of you for visiting BUA on a Sunday afternoon. When I think back to this time last year, I recall being really excited to figure out where I would spend the next four years. Today, I am proud and so happy that I made the right decision. During my first visit to BUA, I was excited by the school’s lively atmosphere and friendly students and teachers. And of course, I was also attracted by the school’s academic strengths. For example, I was impressed to learn that I would have the opportunity to take college-level courses as a junior and senior. Apart from the academics, I was also thrilled about the variety of extracurricular activities this school offers, such as Model UN, Robotics, and Student Council.

A few weeks ago, the ninth and tenth grade classes spent three days at Camp Burgess in Cape Cod. While we were there, we went zip lining, did a high ropes course, and paddle boarded. This trip also gave me the opportunity to interact with many students and teachers outside of school. The high ropes course was something I was reluctant to go on at first, but my friends encouraged me to continue to push myself to do it. I am really happy I did!

Here at BUA, I am now taking sailing -- which is another thing I have never tried in the past. The great thing about BUA is that it encourages you to both follow your interests AND to try new things. I am sure that I will have many great stories to share by the time I graduate from BUA.

Sudarshan Ramanan '21

Announcements and Accolades

• Congratulations to Michaela McCormack '19, who was selected as a 2017-2018 Girl Leader with Boston GLOW.  Boston GLOW is a non-profit organization based in Dorchester with the mission of fostering opportunities for women of all ages to become empowered community leaders and active world citizens.  Girl Leaders will spend time in leadership training that focuses on civic engagement, public speaking, and creating tangible community change.  The girls will be meeting with international delegations hosted by the US Department of State, committing to 20 hours of community service, and working to design an innovative community change project.  Boston GLOW Girl Leaders also receive a financial scholarship upon completion.


• BUA's Community Service Club and Social Justice Alliance are jointly sponsoring a collection drive for, a nonprofit that’s helping Puerto Ricans relocate to Boston in the wake of Hurricane Maria. Sociedad Latina is seeking donations of canned foods, school supplies, gift cards, winter jackets for children and adults. They will leave a box out in the BUA lobby every day starting Friday, November 2 and ending in late November, and welcome donations from students, parents, and faculty. Please leave gift card donations with Mrs. Barr at the front desk. Thank you!


• Retired BUA teacher Mr. Phil Gambone will make his debut with Harvard's Bach Society Orchestra as the narrator to Prokofiev's "Peter and the Wolf," directed by BUA alumnus Reuben Stern '16.  This concert will take place on Sunday, Nov 12 at 3:00 PM at Paine Hall. Tickets are free but limited! Reserve yours here.


• Join the Community Service Club on their November outing to Room to Grow in Boston, MA this Saturday, November 11 from 12:00-2:00 p.m. to help organize donations provided for children born into poverty and their families. Please follow this link and sign in with your Kerberos log-in to fill out the permission slip for this event. The form should be filled out and approved by a parent by Wednesday, November 8 in order to attend. Contact Ms. Perrone or Jessica Brown with any questions. 


• BUA alumna Anna Winestein '00, Executive Director of the Ballets Russes Arts Initiative (BRAI), is organizing two events in conjunction with her exhibit, "Migration + Memory," at the Museum of Russian Icons in Clinton, MA.  They are:
  • November 11: Rostropovich+ Soviet Jewish Composers - Cellist Yosif Feigelson in Concert. 
  • December 1: Young Russian-Jewish Creatives in the US 


• BUA will conduct a test of the school’s emergency notification systems in the coming week as a part of its continuing effort to provide timely communication in the event of an emergency. The test is designed to ensure that the systems are working properly and that we have accurate information on file for your family. Students should expect to receive a text message, phone call, and email through the BU Alert system, while parents will be sent separate communication via text message and email. Please be aware that the school will only send text message notifications to parents/guardians in response to an emergency involving members of the BUA community or to notify your family of a school closure due to inclement weather.


• Senior parents: Create your Yearbook Recognition Ad for your graduate DEADLINE 12/15/17! Yearbook recognition ads are a great way for parents, families, and friends to commemorate student achievements and important milestones. In addition, revenues from recognition ads help our school to create a better yearbook. To purchase and create your ad, go to www.jostensadservice.com. (Jostens is managing our school's yearbook ad sales, so please do not contact or send materials to the school.) All ad orders must be placed online by 12/15/2017.


• BU Academy will be closed on Friday, November 10 for Veteran's Day. No Academy classes are held on Friday, and the Academy building is closed. BU classes are still in session on Friday, so you must attend your regular BU classes. Therefore, you must take all books, notebooks, or other supplies home with you on Thursday, as you will not be able to enter the Academy building on Friday.

Lock-In

• BUA's annual student Lock-In event will be held on Friday, November 17.  The event starts on Friday at 7:30 p.m. and will go overnight until 7:00 a.m on Saturday.  For details and permission slips, follow this link and sign in with your BU Kerberos password. Permission slips must be submitted and approved by Wednesday November 15. Please direct any questions to Ms. Perrone.
   
• The BUAPN is soliciting donations and volunteers to make this year's Lock-In a success. You can sign up to volunteer time or donate snacks/drinks here. Thank you!

Updates from the BUA Parents' Network

PIN-Hosted Parent Workshop: "Adolescent Psychology: The Parent Version" 

Friday, November 17 at Dana Hall School
Coffee and registration will begin at 9:00 a.m.; speaking program at 9:30 a.m. 

This Week's All School Meeting 

Thursday, November 9

Susan Mizruchi: “Discovering Brando”
Susan Mizruchi is the William Arrowsmith Professor in the Humanities and the director of the BU Center for the Humanities.

Parents and friends are always welcome to attend All-School Meeting.  Unless otherwise announced, All-School Meetings take place every Thursday from 8:00-9:00 a.m. in the Conference Auditorium on the 2nd floor of the GSU.

BU Events

BU Academy is fortunate to have the resources of Boston University at its fingertips.  To help you get connected to all the University has to offer, we suggest a free event happening around campus each week.  (Please note that these events will not be staffed by BUA).  The full calendar of events happening at BU can be accessed HERE.

"Whose Streets?" Film Screening and Conversation

Join us for a screening of the documentary film "Whose Street?" about the killing of Michael Brown and the subsequent unrest in Ferguson, MO.  The screening will be followed by a panel discussion with filmmakers Damon Davis, Phillipe Copeland (School of Social Work), Ashley Farmer (History and African American Studies, CAS), and Pamela Lightsey (School of Theology), moderated by Jessica Simes (Sociology).

When: Wednesday, November 8, 6:00 p.m-8:00 p.m.
Where: Tsai Performance Center, 685 Commonwealth Ave.
Admission is free. View details here.

Dr. Betof's Media Pick of the Week 

Each week in this space, Dr. Betof will recommend an article, book, podcast, or TED Talk to share with the BUA community. Selections come from broad varieties of professional publications, BU Today, articles sent to him by students and parents, and his personal readings. 

This week's media pick is:

What Parents Can Do to Stop Sexual Harassment


(Publication: Harvard Graduate School of Education | Author: Richard Weissbourd, Alison Cashin)

Dr. Betof's Open Office Hours 

Stop by for a chat with Head of School Dr. Ari Betof:

• Tuesday, November 14: 3:00-4:00 p.m.
• Tuesday, November 21: 11:00 a.m.-12:00 p.m.
• Wednesday, December 6: 11:00 a.m.-12:00 p.m.
• Monday, December 11: 3:00-4:00 p.m.
• Monday, December 18: 11:00 a.m.-12:00 p.m.