Ms. Layla Hijab Cable’s K2 class went on Saturday, June 2nd to the Olympics for Alpha Robotics competitions. The event was held at Wentworth Institute of Technology and was sponsored by IBM.

The K2 children have been building with legos most of the year. In January, they started building lego vehicles with motors and computer components. They used remote-control technology to control their vehicles. They then started programming, racing them and measuring the distance covered. They repeated the process by increasing the number of seconds and reprogramming, racing and measuring. They were able to read the distance and record each trial. They did all of these steps with a partner.

For the Olympics, they built cars to go down a ramp using gravity rather than motors. The cars were built by each team, tested, and continuously modified to stand the trip down a ramp traveling 10-40 feet.

On June 2nd, Ms. Hijab Cable led 13 children and 14 parents and grandparents in the field trip to Wentworth. The children were excited, but serious and when the ramp failed due to a technical mistake, they were disappointed. However, they showed maturity and continued racing despite the error that cost the cars to slow down due to a bump. The error was corrected but children could not retry their cars.

They all raced and measured the distance with the judge. They kept track of their scores and compared the different measurements from the trials. After watching other activities, eating lunch, and talking to Superintendent Carol Johnson, they were energized to listen to the IBM Engineer explain about Watson the Computer.

The results of the day were announced and our own Curley Team earned two awards for the 2nd and 3rd places in Junior K2 Alpha Robotics Olympics.

Sammy Waxman and Zoe Williams won for their teams, but Ms. Hijab Cable considers all the teams, winners. Hooray for the Curley K2!

– Layla Hijab Cable

The photographs below were taken by Layla Hijab-Cable, Alexandra Golby, Ann Greaney-Williams, and Zoe Williams.

This Friday is Curley Pride Day! Students and staff (and parents!) are encouraged to show their school spirit by wearing green and yellow or Curley logo gear!

We will be celebrating our Curley sports teams on Friday afternoon. Around 1:30 on Friday, all members of Curley sports teams will gather with their coaches in front of the lower school building. We will hold a small parade through the lower school K through 2nd grade hallways and into the upper school 3rd, 4th and 5th grade hallways, ending in the upper school auditorium for a grades 6-8 pep rally. Teachers in grades K-5 are encouraged to have their students line the hallways during the parade to show their support for the teams! We plan to have a few surprises along the way!

Our volleyball and baseball teams both will be participating in Championship Games on Friday afternoon!

• The baseball team will play at English High School at 3:30 pm
• The volleyball team will be playing at the Lila Frederick School at 5:00 pm. [PLEASE NOTE – this is an updated venue. The original story had the venue as Orchard Gardens]

Finally, we’ll also be celebrating the Curley staff softball team on Friday as well… they’ve made the playoffs!

We strongly encourage everyone to come out and support our Curley teams!

Congratulations to our Curley Boys and Girls track team who competed in yesterday’s City Championships at White Stadium. We had a valiant effort from all of our students who are primarily 6th and 7th graders! Eighth grader Gifty Brisbane was awarded the 1st place prize in the 100 meter sprint out of more than twenty students citywide.

The following students participated in today’s meet and should be given accolades for their efforts:

Grade 6
Jeddie Nyei
Jeffrey Osayande
Mohammed Umair

Grade 7
Gabriel Clarke
Raven Riggs
Rachel Brooks

Grade 8
Gifty Brisbane
Jehry Euceda

We will be having a small end of the year pizza party after school next Wednesday at 2:30 p.m. in Mr. Bertoni’s classroom.

– Mr. Bertoni

Members of the Curley After-School Program (CASP) Chess Club visited the Manning School last Friday. Below is a short travelogue by Curley parent, CASP board member and resident chess coach Dominic Burdick, accompanied by some great photos taken by Curley parent Celia Kirwan.

The CASP Chess Club had its first outing on Friday 1st June when it visited The Manning School to play a team from the Manning Before and After School Program (MBASP). The MBASP team had children from 1st to 5th grade while CASP covers 1st to 6th grades. The tournament was intended to be all fun and it sure was. Our kids have been preparing for this for several weeks now spending time developing good sporting practices, reviewing openings and strategies and of course the all important techniques to checkmate.

We set off in great weather travelling from the Curley in a small flotilla of cars with chaperones Dominic Burdick, Kalamu Kieta, BJ Ray along with the CASP program director Torri Canada. The kids were excited and suitably noisy as we wound though the slow Friday afternoon traffic finally arriving at The Manning where the children were greeted with a wonderful play area. Of course that had to be explored with more shrieks and hollering. Match time came at 5 p.m. and we all went inside to play. The cafeteria had been laid out splendidly with 12 sets setup on long tables. The grown-ups had to quickly work out the procedure as it was a first for them. We would try to match up kids by grade, they would play without clocks, and we would see how it worked out.

L to R - Manning chess tutor Christine Young, MBASP Program Director Vavisa Brown, CASP chess tutor and Curley parent Dominic Burdick, CASP Program Director Torri Canada, and Manning Principal Ethan D’Ablemont-Burnes

After a brief introduction to the proceedings the children set about finding suitable competitors and introduced themselves. Then the games started and an intense hush descended over the cafeteria as 24 players actively figured out what their next move was. You could have heard a pin drop if it was not for the grownups and their whispered discussions. It was amazing. Then suddenly there was a call of “check”, followed shortly by another, and then another. Some matches were fun to watch as the game see-sawed from one side dominating to another. No game was certain. Some games also meandered as it can be hard to figure out how to checkmate when you do not have the all powerful queen to hand. All played so well and with such a wonderful decorum. Break time finally came and pizza and drinks were offered to everyone attending. Some of the kids went back outside to the play area; others wanted to have another chess game.

For those of you interested in any score – none was taken. The spirit behind this trip was to have fun and that was what happened. Of course both sides had their wins and losses, but happily there were no tears. Some were eager to talk about their games afterwards and one or two learnt never to give up.

Thanks to The Real Deal, Bertucci’s, Checkmate cafe, A & N pizza for donating well enjoyed food. Also, thanks to MBASP program director Vavisa Brown, chess tutor Christine Young, and Principal Ethan D’Ablemont-Burnes for being such great hosts.

— Dominic Burdick

The last month of the school calendar is filled with events of all kinds. Below are a list of some that are already on the calendar.

Please note that an earlier version of the story had the incorrect date for both Field Day and the 5th Grade Awards Ceremony. The correct date for both is Friday, June 15.

UPDATED NEWS –
An earlier version of this story had reported the baseball Championship Game was to be held today.

Due to what BPS describes as “unforeseen circumstances,” today’s baseball Championship Game has been postponed until Friday, June 8 at 5 p.m. The field is to be determined. The Edwards Middle School is already in the final and will play either the Curley or the Timilty.

Last week’s playoff game between the Curley and Timity we initially believed had been decided in the Curley’s favor. This morning however, the BPS Athletics Department decided the game had ended prematurely. Therefore the Curley and Timilty will resume the game at the bottom of the fifth inning on Wednesday, June 6 at 3:45 p.m. at Ross Field in Roslindale. The Curley was leading 5 – 4 when they were initially declared winners by the three umpires present. Come cheer our Curley Lions on again!

Salad Bar Launch / “Preview” at the Curley School
Upper School Cafeteria
First lunch is at 11:40 a.m.

Please join us for the Salad Bar Launch / “Preview” at the Curley School Tuesday June 5th.  The salad bar will be served in the Upper School Cafeteria and will be for Grades 6-8. First lunch starts at 11:40 a.m.

This will be Boston Public School’s first salad bar in a middle school, and is part of the Whole Foods “Let’s Move Salad Bars to Schools” initiative.

City Championship this Tuesday for Curley Track and Field
Tuesday, June 5, 3:00 p.m.
White Stadium in Franklin Park

Our Curley Boys & Girls Track Team is competing in the City Championships on Tuesday, June 5, 3:00 p.m. at White Stadium in Franklin Park. We have a number of students who will be competing in the different events so come cheer them on. 8th grader Gifty Brisbane is one of the top 100 meter sprinters in the city. Let’s go Gifty!

Parent Council Meeting
Wednesday, June 6, 6:00 p.m. – 8:00 p.m.
Upper School Library

Please join us for the last SPC meeting of the year on Wednesday, June 6 in the Upper School Library from 6 – 8 p.m. There will be a full agenda that includes updates on the SPC Budget, next year’s school budget, transition of SPC leadership roles, SSC update, a library update, and school cafeteria needs in June, and much, much more!

Dinner, childcare, and Spanish interpretation will be provided.

K2 Moving Up Ceremony & Display of Work
Thursday, June 7, 1:00 p.m. – 2:20 p.m.
K2 Classrooms

“All That Jazz” Dance Performance
Friday, June 8, 9:00 a.m. – 10:00 a.m.
Upper School Audtorium

On June 8^th at 9 a.m. the 1^st, 2^nd, 3^rd (SEI), Ms. Taylor-Knight’s Curley Ambassadors of Dance and two groups of 5^th graders will perform dances for “All That Jazz” a history of jazz through movement. The program will include our own music teacher and musician Mike Flanagan.  The program will be about an hour in length.

For the day of performance students should dress comfortably and appropriately to move.  Ms. Taylor-Knight suggests plain T-shirts and pants or shorts that are not too sloppy or loose or pants that are too long. Skinny jeans or leggings are fine or skirts for girls that are not too dressy.

If you have any questions, feel free to contact Ms. Taylor-Knight at storyinabox@gmail.com or leave a message at the school.

______

Queridos Padres y Comunidad,

El 8 de Junio a las 9 de la manana el ler. 2 do. 3r. (SEI) 4 to. Grado, y algunos estudiantes del 5 to grado (vér lista ádjunta) éstaran llevando a cabo danzas sobre “Todo lo del Jazz”, una historia del Jazz a traves del movimiento.  El programa incluirá nuestro propio maestro de música Mike Flanagan y tendrá 1 hora de duración.

El dia de la actuación los estudiantes vestiran ropa comoda y apropiada.  Yo sugiero camisetas de un solo color, y pantalones largos o cortos que no sean muy flojos.  Las niñas pueden vestir pantalones ajustados o leggings y faldas informales.

Si tienen alguna pregunta, pueden contactarme a storyinabox@gmail.com o dejarme mensaje en la escuela.

— Ms. Taylor-Knight

Play date for new and returning kindergarten families
Sunday, June 10, 10:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m.
Curley School Playground, Pershing Road

8th Grade Moving on Ceremony
Wednesday, June 13, 9:30 a.m. – 11:00 a.m.
Upper School Auditorium

K0/K1 End of Year Potluck Breakfast
Thursday, June 14, 8:30 a.m. – 9:30 a.m.
K0/K1 Classrooms/Front Schoolyard

Please come join us to celebrate the end of a wonderful K1 year!

Who: All K1 families, students, and teachers
Where: Classrooms, out to front yard at 9:00
Why: To celebrate the completion of K1

It will be a potluck breakfast, so feel free to bring in something to share with all our friends. We will spend some time in our classroom looking at all we have learned. Then we will go outside for a potluck and outdoor centers. We look forward to seeing everyone together again before summer begins. Thank you!

2nd Grade Annual Publishing Party & Brunch
Thursday, June 14, 10:45 a.m. – 11:45 a.m.
Redden/Burke Classrooms

Enjoy some tasty treats and listen to the writing your children have worked on this year. Feel free to bring a dish to share.

Bunker Hill Day
Monday, June 18

No school this day.

Kindergarten – 5th Grade Field Day at Jamaica Pond
Friday, June 15, 9:00 a.m. – 11:30 a.m.
Sugar Bowl at Jamaica Pond
(Raindate: Tuesday, 6/19)

5th Grade Catered Lunch and Awards Ceremony
Friday, June 15, 12:00 p.m. – 1:30 p.m.
Curley School Orchard, Centre Street
(Upper School Auditorium in case of rain)

Early release for students (12:45 p.m.)
Wednesday, June 20, 12:45 p.m.

Last day of school: Early release for students (12:45pm)
Thursday, June 21, 12:45 p.m.

This is the official 180th day of school, if no days are lost due to cancellations.

Curley Baseball Team Heading to Final this Monday

Congratulations to our Curley Lions Baseball Team and coaches! After a thrilling game against the Timity, which they won on the very last play of the game, the Lions are off to the Championship Game! According to a player in Ms. Ferro’s homeroom, it was the most exciting game in which he’s ever played.

Please come support the team during the Championship Final at Ross Field in Roslindale on Monday, June 4 at 5 p.m.! The bus will leave the Curley with the team at 4 p.m. There should be room on the bus if you want to catch a ride. The Boston Globe and several TV crews will be there to cover the game as well.

*****
UPDATE:
Due to what BPS describes as “unforeseen circumstances,” today’s baseball Championship Game has been postponed until Friday, June 8 at 5 p.m. The field is to be determined. The Edwards Middle School is already in the final and will play either the Curley or the Timilty.

Last week’s playoff game between the Curley and Timity we initially believed had been decided in the Curley’s favor. This morning however, the BPS Athletics Department decided the game had ended prematurely. Therefore the Curley and Timilty will resume the game at the bottom of the fifth inning on Wednesday, June 6 at 3:45 p.m. at Ross Field in Roslindale. The Curley was leading 5 – 4 when they were initially declared winners by the three umpires present. Come cheer our Curley Lions on again!

– Heshan, 05/04/12
******

The Curley Lions Baseball Team are:
Aref Elbek, 6th grade
John Appel, 7th grade
Heri Martinez, 8th grade
Brandon DeSilva, 7th grade
Edwin Baez, 8th grade
Christopher Louis, 7th grade
Nikos Baez, 6th grade
Marvin Mendoza, 8th grade
Wesley Melo, 8th grade

Coaches:
Mr. Pearl and Ms. Mercado

Scroll down for a slideshow of their game against the Timilty. Thanks to Ms. Ferro for the excellent photos!

Curley Volleyball Team Wins First Playoff Round

Congratulations to our Curley Lions Volleyball Team and coaches for winning the first round in the playoffs!

City Championship this Tuesday for Curley Track and Field

Our Curley Boys & Girls Track Team is competing in the City Championships on Tuesday, June 5, 3:00 p.m. at White Stadium in Franklin Park.

We have a number of students who will be competing in the different events. 8th grader Gifty Brisbane is one of the top 100 meter sprinters in the city. Let’s go Gifty!

An exciting week ahead for all of our Curley sports teams!

Civil rights icon Dr. Terrence Roberts, one of nine African-American students known as the Little Rock Nine, recently spoke at the Curley. In 1957, he and the other eight students were denied entrance to the all-white Little Rock Central High School in defiance of the 1954 U.S. Supreme Court ruling ordering integration of public schools. The ensuing standoff between the then Governor of Arkansas and President Dwight D. Eisenhower over their fate was a pivotal moment in the civil rights struggle.

Dr. Roberts was joined by Curley students and teachers who also spoke and performed during the evening. The event was organized by Facing History and Ourselves, an organization that helps facilitate a year-long race relations curriculum in school systems across the country, including the Boston Public Schools. One of the members of the organization is Curley parent Jeremy Nesoff.

A thoughtful piece on the event was written by Laura Plummer for the Jamaica Plain Gazette. Read it here.

The photos below of the event were taken by Amika Kemmler-Ernst. Thanks Amika!

If you are still looking for Summer Programs for your kids, here are six Curley, BPS and Jamaica Plain related ones to consider.

Curley Great Outdoors Summer Enrichment Program

Up and about in Jamaica Plain with the Great Outdoors Summer Program last summer

Now in it’s second year, this popular program will again be run at the Curley by our very own art teacher Anna Youman and Phys. Ed. teacher Mark Righini.

The week long summer enrichment program for students aged 4-8 lasts from August 13 – 17 from 9 a.m. – 2 p.m., and will be housed in the Curley Lower School.

The program is described below:
Come explore art, sports and good summer fun through the “Great Outdoors” right here in our schoolyard and Jamaica Plain neighborhood! We will make art in our beautiful schoolyard and outdoor classroom, play sports outside, and take field trips to some of the beautiful natural spaces right here in Jamaica Plain! Let’s go outside, have fun and learn!

• 2012 Curley Summer Enrichment Program
• Contact Anna Youman at azyouman@gmail.com.

A portion of the funds will be donated to the Curley School’s Arts and Physical Education programs.

CASP Summer Creative Arts Program

A brand new program organized by our own Curley After School Program (CASP) is slated to run from July 9 – August 17 and is open to students aged 6-12.

The 6 week Summer Creative Arts Program at the Curley will run from 8:30 a.m. – 4 p.m. There will be daily classes in theater, dance, art, music, and sports. There will also be weekly specials that include stilt walking, cooking, sailing, home economics, chess, photography, and drumming. Fridays will be Community Days and will consist of field trips to Boston sites.

• Contact Torri Canada for more information at 617-777-9330 or email her at torricanada7@gmail.com
• CASP Summer Brochure

KidsArt! Summer Day Program

A staple of Jamaica Plain and popular with many Curley parents, KidsArts! this year offers their  summer program from July 2 through August 24, and lasts from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. Due to the many field trips, campers must be 6 years old and have completed K2.

Each of the 8 weeks has a different themed set of programs, and includes “Food and the Environment,” “Circus Arts Around the World,” and “Travelling Through Time and Space.”

• For more information and application materials, visit KidsArts! Summer Program website
• You may also contact the program with any specific questions at director@jpkidsarts.org.

Big Picture Summer Camp

Open to 6th – 10th graders (and mature 5th graders), this photography and film-centric summer program runs from July 9th through August 3rd. The program lasts each day from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m., and an extended day option is offered until 5 p.m. for an additional charge. The camp is run by Curley parent and professional photographer Jennifer Connolly.

A fun way to learn something new and explore Boston, in each session there will also be a guest artist in the field. Camp will include fun summertime activities too, like going to the beach and other excursions. Cameras will be available for those interested in shooting stills for all four sessions. However, the emphasis on photo tools and technique is during week one only. If a student is mainly interested in still photography, and can only come weeks 2-4, Jenny will work with him or her individually. Areas to be explored are screenplay writing, story development, location scouting, cinematography, editing, and by default, acting.

• Visit the Big Picture Summer Camp website
• Contact Jennifer Connolly at 781-696-1138 or email her at bigpicturearthouse@gmail.com.

Boston Explorers – An Urban Camp for Kids

Boston Explorers is a day camp for girls and boys ages 9-13 that combines the best of summer camp—creative, spontaneous play and hands-on activities—with the sights and sounds of the city. Campers are on the move visiting historic sites, natural spaces, buildings and waterways. A skilled staff leads the way, but kids take command of the expeditions with their enthusiasm and imagination. Wherever they come from, by the end of the week kids will feel that Boston is their city.

The camp runs for three weeks in August – week 1 is from August 6-10, week 2 is August 13-17, and week 3 is August 20-24.

• For more information and application materials, visit the Boston Explorers website.

Thanks to Curley teacher and parent Kate Davis for passing this along!

BPS’ Summer ARTS! Program

The BPS Arts Department offers no less than 17 different summer programs it organizes in partnership with community organizations including the Boston Symphony Orchestra, the MFA, Actors’ Shakespeare Project, and  JP’s own Eliot School. The different programs are for students aged from 4 years old all the way to 18.

Programs, many heavily subsidized, include the following:

• 2012 BPS Summer Music Intensive that provides free musical instruction for students in grades 3 through 12
• SummerMusic, a summer music program offered by the Community Music Center of Boston, a strong Curley partner, for grades 2-5
• Boston Adolescent Renaissance Drama School (BARDS) offered through the Commonwealth Shakespeare Company for teens aged 14-18
• BSO Days in the Arts, a program for Massachusetts public school students that includes a 5 day sleep-away camp at the Tanglewood Music Festival in the Berkshires

For information, visit the Summer ARTS! program website.

Many thanks to Curley teacher Anna Youman for the heads up!

Hello Curley Families-

As we approach the end of the school year, class visits to the Lower Library are winding down. Please help your students locate those wayward titles before June 21st! On their final class visit, each student will receive a book to keep, a Boston Public Library card application, and information about upcoming summer events and programs at the BPL.

Last class visit dates are as follows:

K1

• Nason: Thursday 6/7
• Shea: Thursday 5/31
• Kidd: Thursday 5/31

K2

• Cronin: Thursday 6/7
• Hijab-Cable: Wednesday 6/6
• Minaya: Thursday 5/31
• Chaudhari-Murray: Thursday 5/31

1st Grade

• Gable: Wednesday 5/30
• Ciardi: Thursday 5/31
• Caban: Wednesday 6/6

2nd Grade

• Burke: Thursday 6/7
• Redden: Wednesday 5/30
• Muriel: Wednesday 6/6

3rd Grade

• Burke: Wednesday 5/30
• Signes: Thursday 5/31
• Rivera: Thursday 6/7
• Silverstein: Wednesday 5/30
• Vasile: Wednesday 6/6

5th Grade

• Quatrale: Thursday 6/7
• Daly: Thursday 6/7
• Davis: Wednesday 5/30

Thank you to the handful of wonderful parent volunteers who made the lower school library a viable success this year.

We are in desperate need of more volunteers to keep the library functioning for next year and will establish a library committee in the fall. The time commitment is approximately 1 hour every 2 weeks with a 1 hour group training session after the start of school.

You do not need to have any special skills in order to volunteer. If you are interested, please contact Sara Mallach at mallachs@gmail.com or leave a note with your contact information in the library mailbox in the Curley school office.

If we do not have enough volunteers, the library will close.

Best regards,
Sara Mallach
Parent Library Coordinator

2nd Annual Nuestro Futuro Capstone Event

Thursday, May 24, 1 p.m. – 2:30 p.m.
Upper School Auditorium
This school and community event will feature presentations by Curley 6th-8th grade students on local health topics such as asthma, diabetes, and health equity. The students are very excited to share their work and present all they have learned about science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM). We hope you can attend to see first hand the tremendous benefit a youth-engaged, health sciences enrichment program has for students, the school and the wider community.

The students will present from 1 p.m. – 2:30 p.m. Following that, CASP will have a presentation highlighting activities CASP students have participated in this year.

For more information about the program, and presentation and performance schedules, click here.

Curley After School Program (CASP) Open House

Thursday, May 24, 2:30 p.m. – 7 p.m.
Upper School Cafeteria
CASP will have it’s open house from 4:30 p.m. – 7 p.m. where refreshments will be served in the Upper School Cafeteria. There will be performances conducted in several classrooms. We ask that all CASP students attend CASP on this day. A pizza party is planned at 2:30 p.m. for each student to share and reflect with their classmates on a fun year at CASP. Students will wear regular attire and will wear T-shirts that they hand-crafted themselves.