Family Activities in Boston This Weekend (June 27-29)

Still in Boston this weekend? There’s plenty to do! Check out these great events for some family-friendly fun and head to Boston.com for even more calendar listings!

Friday, July 27

“PhotoWalks Waterfront Tour”

Bring your camera to explore the Boston waterfront and learn what it takes to take a great photo of our beautiful city! This tour kicks off at 10 a.m. Friday and runs through 11:30 a.m.

The tour costs $40 for adults and $20 for teens and children. Meet on the front steps of the Old State House Gift Shop to start the tour, located on the corner of State and Washington Streets.

“MIT Museum: Free Fun Friday”

The MIT Museum is kicking off summer vacation with Free Fun Friday, sponsored by the Highland Street Foundation. Enjoy free admission all day plus indoor and outdoor activities for the whole family.

There will be drop-in activities for all ages on the first floor of the Museum, and visitors can tap into their inner engineer while learning to build skyscrapers out of paper or towers from paper cups. Out on Mass. Ave, MIT’s “Science on the Street” van will be parked near the Museum with educators helping fans better understand the core concepts of the ‘Science of Baseball’.

Rock-Climbing at Brooklyn Boulders Somerville

Visit Brooklyn Boulders Somerville for a day of free climbing and team building on Friday, June 27.

Brooklyn Boulders offers indoor rock climbing walls perfect for climbers of all abilities and experience levels.

And on Friday, the new Somerville facility will open its doors to students from the British School of Boston, offering free climbing sessions for students and parents from 1:30 p.m. to 4:30 p.m

to celebrate the start of summer break!

Interested students can try bouldering and top rope climbing with help from Brooklyn Boulders staff. The site also offers team-building activities, including a cargo net available for climbing.

Families can simply visit Brooklyn Boulders Somerville between 1:30 p.m. and 4:30 p.m. Tell the front desk you’re from the British School of Boston, and you’ll get climbing time and gear to use! Parents can also enter free of charge.

Saturday, July 28

“Boston By Little Feet Walking Tour”

This child’s eye view of the Freedom Trail’s architecture and history is specially designed for young walkers of six to twelve years old.

Meet your guide in front of Faneuil Hall at the statue of Samuel Adams on Congress Street. Children must be accompanied by an adult.

Purchase tickets online, or from your tour guide.

“Big Dipper: All You Can Eat Ice Cream Festival”

Head to another nearby city, Worcester, MA, for an all-you-can-eat ice cream extravaganza!

The 2014 Big Dipper All-You-Can-Eat Ice Cream Festival offers a wide variety of family fun at beautiful Elm Park. In addition to delicious all-you-can-eat ice cream, there will be games, face painting, a food tent, a large raffle, all-day entertainment and much more. Rain or shine!

All proceeds from The Big Dipper benefit the programs of Children’s Friend. Founded in 1849, we are celebrating 165 years in the community. Our mission is to improve the lives of children and those who love them.

“Storming the Fort: Kids’ Tour of Fort Warren”

Explore Fort Warren on Georges Island, one of Boston’s premiere sites for Civil War history! Learn what it was like to be a soldier training at the fort, or a confederate prisoner trapped behind the Fort’s granite walls. This special tour for kids & families leaves every Saturday and Sunday morning at 10:30 a.m. in the summer season.

Georges Island is a relaxing, 45-minute ferry ride from downtown Boston. Catch the Ferry at Long Wharf North, close to Faneuil Hall and Christopher Columbus Park. The tour is free!

Know of other great events in the Boston area? Let us know so we can share with other families!

 

British School of Boston Student Heads to National History Bee in Atlanta

For Year 8 student Ilya Rudyak, a plane to Atlanta, GA this weekend will feature not an in-flight movie or a flip through Skymall, but a quick review of World War I, World War II and other major historical events.

“I think I know World War II the best,” he said Tuesday, discussing his study plans as he prepares to compete in the middle school National History Bee this Saturday.

Ilya and Year 9 student Tomas Navarro both qualified to complete in the National History Bee at a regional competition on April 16. 

They and BSB students Michael Gankin and Sebastian Eklund completed at Melrose Middle school against nearly 70 other students from across Massachusetts.

Tomas elected not to attend the National History Bee in Atlanta this weekend, but Ilya will be there to represent BSB.

And while he said he does not plan on spending hours preparing for the competition- having done well in the regional competition with little preparation outside of classroom learning- he is looking forward to the experience.

“I’m excited to go to Atlanta,” he said. “I think it will be fun.”

The competition will focus on U.S. history and world history from the last 5,000 years.

Ilya will compete against students from around the U.S. to win a $5,000 scholarship. In addition to the competition, students who qualify for the finals are invited to take part in “The Great History Hunt,” part-scavenger hunt and part-social gathering that gives participants the opportunity to win prizes and meet other history-lovers from all over the country!

Congratulations to Tomas and Ilya, and good luck to Ilya in the competition!

BSB students (from left) Tomas Navarro, Michael Gankin, Ilya Rudyak and Sebastian Eklund pose at the regional finals of the National History Bee on April 16.

Tips for Teens to Find a Summer Job

Staying in Boston this summer and looking to earn some money? We know that finding a summer job can be easier said than done!

And what if you want something more than a gig scooping ice cream cones or running the cash register at the local grocery store or retail chain? Well, finding that perfect summer job can get even harder.

Luckily for our students, national organization Get Schooled has compiled a great list of tips for finding a summer job perfect for you!

1. Figure Out What You Want to Do 

This first step is, of course, key. You may not know what you want to study in college, or the kind of job you want after graduating from college, but it’s likely you at least have some idea of your interests.

And finding a summer job can be a great way to try out some career paths you think you may enjoy, earning money and experience at the same time.

Get Schooled suggests treating the summer job search as a shopping period, finding a job that enables you to learn about yourself and what you may enjoy (or not enjoy!) about a particular field.

Think you’d like to study medicine? Talk to family, friends and neighbors to see if any know a doctor, dentist or other medical professional you could shadow this summer. Even a receptionist job in your desired field can give you a taste for the work environment.

2. Be Passionate 

Once you’ve done the hard work of deciding the type of job or internship you’d like to work at this summer, don’t stop there.

Research local opportunities in your area, and read up on the type of skills a worker in that field should have. The more you know, the more prepared you’ll be if you do land an interview for the perfect summer job.

When you reach out to an employer about job opportunities, let your passion show! Tell them why you’re interested in the position, and be specific- let that knowledge gained through your research show! If you’re looking for experience more than money, make that known as well.

More than anything, professionals want summer workers who will care about their role in their company or organization and work their hardest every day.

3. Be Professional 

This isn’t an excuse to head to the local mall and buy out Banana Republic, but you should be prepared to dress professionally when you head to an interview. Make sure you have a few business outfits in your closet, and make sure you look awake, put together and organized when you meet a potential employer face to face.

Check your social media presence, too. Set privacy settings on Facebook and Twitter, when possible, and be careful about what you post. If you don’t have one already, start a LinkedIn account and get ready to network with professionals in your field of interest. Rethink your email address, too. Would you want to look at a resume that comes from bostoncutie343@gmail.com?

2. Be Kind, Be Courteous 

Being kind and courteous is important in all areas of life. But when it comes to looking for a job or internship it’s especially important. While confidence is important, be careful not to let an ego get in the way of learning from professionals with far more training and experience than you.

Be open to criticism and suggestions- both are important learning experiences when starting a job search!

Good luck to our students looking for work experience! Find something extraordinary, or learn an important lesson during your search? Let us know!

BSB Students Featured in ‘OneWorld Classrooms’ Art Exhibit

Year 9 student Stephanie Luiz and Year 8 student Yasmeen Moukaddem had their artwork featured at a Boston exhibit last month, part of the OneWorld Classrooms celebration of Boston Arts Week.

The exhibition ran from April 28 through May 3 at 1 International Place and featured 120 pieces of art created by elementary, middle and high school students from Greater Boston and 38 countries around the world, part of the annual OneWorld Classrooms programs.

OneWorld Classrooms’ mission is to foster global awareness and cross-cultural understanding to prepare young people for local and global citizenship in culturally diverse settings.

The organization works to connect young people through arts and technology, offering programs and services through which young people share, collaborate and explore with their peers from different cultures.

Stephanie and Yasmeen submitted art to the program last year, and received word this month that their pieces were selected to appear in the exhibit.

Congratulations to both of our students!

Year 5 Heads to Camp Burgess

From s’mores and campfires to scavenger hunts and canoeing, this school week is looking a little different for our Year 5 students and teachers.

Year 5 left Tuesday morning to head to Camp Burgess, located on Cape Cod here in Massachusetts. Through Friday, students will be participating in a variety of outdoor and hands-on learning opportunities, and learning how to work together as a team.

They wasted no time getting to the fun! By Tuesday mid-day the students had an introduction with camp staff, eaten a delicious lunch and were already playing games on the camp grounds. The evening brought a yummy dinner, campfire and time for stories and journals before heading to bed.

Wednesday morning brought more fun for the students, as they donned climbing gear and ropes and practiced climbing up some very tall walls. They took to the water later, canoeing together and learning some important communication and teamwork skills.

Looks like they are having a great time at camp so far! Please check back to the school Facebook page, Twitter account and this blog for additional updates!

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How to Get Kids to Exercise More

It’s a common scenario for today’s families: the sun in shining, the air is warm…and your children are sitting inside on their tablet or computer.

Tell them to head outdoors, and you risk seeing them bring their technology with them.

So how can we help our children exercise more? In honor of National Physical Fitness Month, we’ll be sharing tips on the blog throughout May. This week, some ideas for easy games (that you can play, too!) that will get your kids moving!

For Young Children:

Children from toddlers through early elementary school are already get pretenders. So take their imaginations outdoors and use them to get them running around with these great activities from Parents.com!

Play “Animal Kingdom,” and take turns with your children to act like a wild animal, trying to get your fellow players to guess which member of the animal kingdom you are pretending to be. Run and jump like a gazelle, hop like a frog, even gallop like a horse. Anything that will get your children up and moving!

Turn some of their favorite stories or nursery rhymes into an active game. Read aloud and ask your child to act out what they are hearing. Not only will this get them moving (think Three Blind Mice‘s “see how they run), but you’ll encourage reading and help them practice their comprehension. Win-win!

For Upper Elementary/Middle School Children:

Older children may not be won over by silly games, but they often love a little competition. If you don’t have enough children (or neighbors) to field a soccer or wiffle ball game, try out a weekend scavenger hunt! Hide clues throughout your yard or neighborhood and send your children on a hunt for a prize (maybe a trip for some frozen yogurt?) or on a search for various animals, plants and other local sights. Make it a race and they’ll be moving as fast as they can!

For High School Children:

For children in high school, additional screen time often means not only less exercise, but less interaction with family, too.

At this age, students want to connect with their friends. So invite your child and a group of their friends for a hike up a nearby mountain or through a local park.

Remind them they can Instagram all those photos they take of nature along the hike, and they’ll be even more eager to join you!

Do any of our readers have tips of their own to get children to exercise more? Please share them in the comment section of this post!

BSB Students Participate in Harvard’s Digitally Connected Symposium

British School of Boston students were special guests at Harvard Law Tuesday afternoon, when they visited the opening of an art exhibition as part of Harvard’s Digitally Connected Symposium.

The Symposium, a conference with participants including policy makers, international aid development agencies and academics, is looking at the issue of technology, access to technology around the world and how this access affects children’s rights.

British School of Boston Year 10 students got involved with the symposium through its MAKE workshops, in which youth from around the world, together with artists and researchers associated with Harvard and MIT, make “art that addresses topics of vital interest to the symposium and young people everywhere.”

BSB students met with a Harvard researcher and artist last week during the school’s STEAM Week celebration, discussing the role of media in their lives and making digital art of their own.

Their work and work by other students around the world is being showcased in several international cities, including Boston, Bogotá, Quito and Abu Dhabi. On Tuesday, a group of Year 10 BSB students went to the opening of the showcase here in Boston, held at Harvard Law.

This was a great opportunity for our students to get involved with a community project that not only celebrates the media they use every day, but also helps them engage with their greater international community.

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BSB Celebrates Art Competition Honors

Seven British School of Boston students were honored this week as part of Celebrating Art, a national art competition.

Art submissions by Elyse Endlich, Holly Chadwick, Katia Rozenberg, Georgia Adamson, Kelly Lee, Robbie Reilly and Beatriz Doblas were selected by the competition judges as part of the top 25 percent of all submissions received. The students’ work will be judged again in the next round of competition to see if they are selected for the top 10 percent of entries.

All of our students in the top 25 percent of entries will have their work published in a book printed by Celebrating Art. Celebrating Art works with teachers to motivate student artists and to create a permanent record of the best entries from the organization’s annual art contest.

Congratulations to our students for their award-winning art! Check out some of their work below:

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BSB Explores Connections Between Science and the Arts

It was a busy week at BSB last week, as students and staff explored the connections between science, technology and the arts with the school’s annual STEAM Week celebration.

More and more schools around the world have placed a growing emphasis on science and technology education in recent years, working to ensure students are prepared to enter the careers of tomorrow. But at BSB, and a growing number of other schools, the arts are added to that mix. STEAM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts and Math) Week explores how these areas of study connect, both in the classroom and in everyday life.

Throughout the year groups, student spent time exploring real-life applications of the intersection between science and the arts, joining with staff members, community members and parents for hands-on learning opportunities.

Students in the middle and high school explored science and the arts in the community, visiting the Body Worlds exhibit at Boston’s Faneuil Hall, a stem-cell lab in the city and a workshop at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology. Year 10 students started work on a media arts project with Harvard University and UNICEF, making their own media and helping to curate work by other students from around the world, which will be displayed at Harvard Law.

Middle school students kicked off new learning units last week with STEAM learning, going geocaching at the Arnold Arboretum and participating in enameling and glass-making workshops.

In the lower school, students heard from parents who work in fields that require both science and the arts and worked with their teachers on science-inspired art projects. Students though about their dreams for the future, and the kind of technology they thought would be developed by the time they are adults, and used their artistic skills to create a representation of their vision.

Students also made their own kites, ice cream and “flubber,” learning about the science behind these artistic- and yummy- creations.

It was a great week of learning throughout the year groups. A big thanks goes out to the school staff, parents and greater community for their help making the week so successful for students!

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BSB French Exchange a Success

The first leg of this year’s inaugural French exchange with our partners from Collège St Charles in Arles, in the south of France, was very successful!

Our 15 exchange partners had a great time staying with host families, who really rose to the occasion, laying on visits to sports games and the theatre as well as dinners, barbecues and picnics.

In addition to their daily visits to see the sights in and around Boston, the French exchange students also enjoyed a day in school that included a walk around Jamaica Pond and a visit to JP Licks with their BSB pen pals as well as an afternoon of bowling on the weekend.

The exchange has been an enriching experience so far both culturally and linguistically. BSB students now have their own trip to the south of France to look forward to in June!

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