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With Thanksgiving fast approaching (!), it is the season to affirm the many things for which we can be thankful. At the Academy, this includes our wonderful students, fine faculty, and unique opportunities as a high school embedded in a major research university (really the “best of both worlds”). It is also, ironically, the season to handle budget planning for the next fiscal year, which starts in July 2010. The Academy – like all units of the University – will defend its budget at an upcoming hearing with several University officers from the Provost and the Budget Offices.

As I reflect on our hybrid ties to the University and the budget process, I’d like to clarify some common myths about the Academy’s budget. First, there is an assumption that the Academy transfers some of your donations for our community to the University. Just the opposite is true. The University covers the overhead costs associated with our building (i.e. utilities, roof repairs, and the maintenance of our exterior) as well as the benefits to our faculty and staff, while your Annual Fund support stays within the Academy. Such funds are critical to our success as they help to defray the costs for student activities and the discretionary requests by faculty and staff for professional development.

Second, there are indeed University costs that our tuition income helps to cover, the most important of which is University courses. As is the case for other divisions within the University (the College of Engineering or the College of Arts & Sciences, for example), whenever an Academy student takes a course with another University division, we are “charged” internally for that course credit. Fortunately for our families, that “charge” translates into college credits at a high school tuition rate.

It is important that the Academy maintain the fiscal strength to cover its own expenses; therefore, tuition and contributions to the Annual Fund are vital to show the University that we are responsible for our own programs and staff. With your help, we can continue to access the best the University has to offer, while maintaining a responsible and prudent budget.

Have a very happy Thanksgiving break!

James S. Berkman
Head of School

Throughout the month of November, Meghan will be collecting gently used prescription eye-wear. A collection box is available in the lobby of the Academy until December 9, 2009.

For more information on the OneSight Foundation, please visit their official website  at www.onesight.org.

Elizabeth has been participating  in similar competitions since age eleven. She recently attended the 2009 China Girls Mathematical Olympiad (CGMO) where she earned a silver medal. The CGMO, like the Advantage Testing Foundation’ Math Prize for Girls, provides an opportunity to encourage young women to study mathematics and to work with others who are enthusiastic about developing their mathematical skills.

The list below shows all the members that were selected for this honor.

Calendar changes can be challenging (how’s that for alliteration!), since “ghosts” sometimes linger to confuse or mis-inform months later.  So while we make such changes with caution, when we do revise a date, we want to be sure to trumpet it to you to help avoid future uncertainties. Heaven forbid someone shows up a night early or late for an event…!

Here are a number of important revisions to our year’s Master Calendar that I urge you to register on your home calendar immediately.  I want to assure you that each one was made with thoughtful deliberation, as is explained in more detail below:

January 4:  Academy will be closed for a Faculty In-service meeting. No Academy classes will meet on this day.

April 9:  Parent-Advisor Conferences (this is correctly shown as April 9th on most calendars, but was mistakenly shown as April 2nd on our photo calendar).

May 13:  Senior Night (this is correctly shown as Thursday on most calendars, but was mistakenly shown as Friday on our photo calendar).

May 15:  Senior Prom at the Metcalf Ballroom (this change from Friday to Saturday was to allow us to use a favorite BU venue).

May 27:  Reading Day. The Academy will be open for students to meet with teachers, yet classes will not meet.

May 28, June 1, June 2, June 3, June 4:  Final Exams.

Please let us know if you have any questions about these “updates.”

Warm regards,

James S. Berkman
Head of School

http://www.bu.edu/index/

Dear Academy Families,

The H1N1 virus continues to make its way not only through our country, but through our community.  Last week, we saw an uncommonly high number of students out sick in one day, and while not all of the absentees had been diagnosed with H1N1, many students reported fevers and flulike symptoms. Thankfully, we returned to a more normal absence profile this week, although a handful of students were still out with high fevers. Some grades and classes seem to be hit a bit harder by the absences than others, also making any umbrella solution or response to the situation less obvious.

Rest assured that we continue to monitor the health of our community, internally and with outside assessment. Last week we consulted with University officials as well as with staff from the Boston Public Health Commission.  The current advice is to remain open as long as our primary functions can be carried out; closing school to stop the contagion no longer seems to be a recommendation. Still, the cyclical nature of the prolonged absences and the wear-and-tear of playing catch-up with missed work have taken a toll on mental health of our students and faculty. Teachers have discussed finding ways to support individual students, with an eye to relieving stress while helping to make up work—a balancing act that is by definition imperfect, but should be of real value.

The practical precautions remain the same:

1.       Wash hands frequently.

2.       Cough or sneeze into one’s sleeve.

3.       Stay home at any symptoms of the flu.

4.       Don’t return until 24 hours after symptoms – especially a fever – have passed.

I appreciate the patience and support of families, teachers, and staff in observing these safety protocols, especially in staying home prudently (even if it means having to miss work). We will keep a close eye on this evolving situation, and update you as new plans emerge.

Warm regards,

James S. Berkman
Head of School

If you would like to submit Pictures for the Yearbook the deadline is November 28.

Interested in Placing a Recognition Ad in the Yearbook?  Orders are due by December 25. Please visit www.JostensAdService.com to place your order.

The 2010 Yearbook Sale Announcement and order form are now available. You can also visit www.jostensyearbooks.com to place your order.

BUA Performing Arts faculty, Brett Abigaña, was commissioned by the United States Naval Academy to write his first symphony which will be performed on Saturday, October 28, 2009 in Annapolis, MD. The piece was written for the restoration and reopening of the Navy Chapel in Annapolis.