Welcome Welcome O’Bryant FamiliesO’Bryant Families

Parent/Guardian Information Session Parent/Guardian Information Session August 29, 2013August 29, 2013

“Character, Knowledge, Power”

“Character, Knowledge, Power”

Mission StatementMission Statement

The John D. O’Bryant School of The John D. O’Bryant School of Mathematics and Science is a diverse, Mathematics and Science is a diverse, supportive community of learners that supportive community of learners that engages in a rigorous and comprehensive engages in a rigorous and comprehensive Science, Technology, Engineering, and Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics program integrated with Mathematics program integrated with Humanities. Our college-preparatory exam Humanities. Our college-preparatory exam school enables our students to reach their school enables our students to reach their full potential and become leaders who will full potential and become leaders who will shape the direction of society.shape the direction of society.

Mr. Steven SullivanMr. Steven SullivanHeadmasterHeadmaster

Welcome and Welcome and

Opening RemarksOpening Remarks

““O’Bryant PRIDE”O’Bryant PRIDE”

Mr. David S. MacLeodMr. David S. MacLeodAssistant Headmaster Assistant Headmaster

O’Bryant PRIDEO’Bryant PRIDEPPerseveranceerseverance

RRespectespect

IIntegrityntegrity

DDisciplineiscipline

EExcellencexcellence

““PP”” stands forstands for

PPerseveranceerseverance

PPerseverance…erseverance…

O’Bryant students will O’Bryant students will keep going in spite of keep going in spite of difficulties, asking for difficulties, asking for help if they need it.help if they need it.

““RR” ” stands forstands for

RRespectespect

RRespect…espect…O’Bryant students will O’Bryant students will demonstrate respect demonstrate respect for themselves and for themselves and others.others.

““II” ” stands forstands for

IIntegrityntegrity

IIntegrity…ntegrity…

O’Bryant students will O’Bryant students will be young men and be young men and women of character women of character adhering to a high adhering to a high code of values.code of values.

““DD”” stands forstands for

DDisciplineiscipline

DDiscipline…iscipline…O’Bryant students will O’Bryant students will be self-disciplined and be self-disciplined and accept personal accept personal responsibility for their responsibility for their words and actions.words and actions.

““EE”” stands forstands for

EExcellencexcellence

EExcellence…xcellence…O’Bryant students will O’Bryant students will pursue excellence in pursue excellence in all of their endeavors.all of their endeavors.

FAMILY INVOLVEMENTFAMILY INVOLVEMENT

What can you do around Family What can you do around Family Involvement?Involvement?

Ask questions about the schoolAsk questions about the school Make sure your child does his/her Make sure your child does his/her

homeworkhomework Communicate with the teachers Communicate with the teachers Attend School Parent Council, School Attend School Parent Council, School

Site Council, and Parent/Teacher Site Council, and Parent/Teacher ConferencesConferences

Translate or InterpretTranslate or Interpret

School Parent CouncilSchool Parent Council

All parents/guardiansAll parents/guardians are automatically are automatically voting members of the School Parent voting members of the School Parent CouncilCouncil

All familiesAll families are encouraged to become are encouraged to become active membersactive members

School Site CouncilSchool Site Council

Parents/Guardians are Parents/Guardians are electedelected to these to these voting member positions as voting member positions as part of the part of the governing bodygoverning body of the school of the school

All families are All families are invitedinvited to attend to attend

What should you expect of What should you expect of teachers? teachers?

Clear expectations for classwork and Clear expectations for classwork and homeworkhomework

Timely responses to phone calls, Timely responses to phone calls, notes and emailsnotes and emails

Specific and clear ideas for how you Specific and clear ideas for how you can help your child at homecan help your child at home

How to Find Out About What is Happening at School

Mr. Michael Sullivan Chief Academic Officer and Program Director – Science and

Technology

How to Find Out About What is Happening at School

ASPEN –Student Information System

sis.mybps.org

If you need a Security Code or are having trouble logging into the ASPEN system, please contact Mr. M.Sullivan at

msullivan4@boston.k12.ma.us

How to Find Out About What is Happening at School

John D. O’Bryant School website

obryant.us

School Main Office: 617-635-9932

Student Transportation Student Transportation and Safetyand Safety

Mr. David S. MacLeodMr. David S. MacLeodAssistant HeadmasterAssistant Headmaster

School BusSchool Bus Middle schoolMiddle school students students

who live who live more than 1½more than 1½ milesmiles from school are from school are eligible for free school eligible for free school bus transportation to & bus transportation to & from school. from school.

Notices were recently Notices were recently sent out with the bus sent out with the bus stop location, time of stop location, time of pick-up and drop-off, and pick-up and drop-off, and bus number.bus number.

““OneCards”OneCards”

During the first week of the school year, all students will receive “OneCards” (MBTA, library, lunch, photo ID, and community center cards all printed on a Student Charlie Card) in homeroom.

Public TransportationPublic Transportation High School students High School students

who live who live more than more than 2 miles2 miles from school from school are eligible for are eligible for OneCards that allow OneCards that allow them to ride the them to ride the MBTA to & from MBTA to & from school school for freefor free

Public TransportationPublic Transportation Students who do not qualify

for free MBTA service (i.e., high school students who live less than two (2) miles from the school or middle school students regardless of their school bus status) will receive OneCards that allow them to ride the MBTA for 1/2 fare.

Student Transportation Student Transportation - Behavior- Behavior

The school bus and MBTA are considered “an extension of the classroom,” meaning that the same standards of behavior apply on the school bus or MBTA (going to and from school) as they do in school. Students who misbehave on the bus/MBTA may be disciplined, referred to the Bus Safety Program at the BPS Counseling & Intervention Center, and/or denied transportation.

Student SafetyStudent SafetyThe O’Bryant is a safe school.The O’Bryant is a safe school.

We also want students to be safe We also want students to be safe as they travel to and from as they travel to and from school. Students should be school. Students should be aware of their surroundings and aware of their surroundings and use the “buddy-system” when use the “buddy-system” when possible.possible.

Student SafetyStudent SafetyO’Bryant has a O’Bryant has a zero tolerancezero tolerance policy policy towards fighting, harassment, and towards fighting, harassment, and bullying.bullying.

If a student has a problem with another If a student has a problem with another student, or feels unsafe in school or on student, or feels unsafe in school or on the way to/from school, they should tell the way to/from school, they should tell an adult (e.g., parent, teacher, an adult (e.g., parent, teacher, guidance counselor, administrator) as guidance counselor, administrator) as soon as possible.soon as possible.

Getting Started at the O’BryantGetting Started at the O’Bryant

Ms. Patricia CarrMs. Patricia Carr Program Director – Mathematics Program Director – Mathematics

Homeroom/Schedules Homeroom/Schedules

On the first day of On the first day of school, all students school, all students will will report to the report to the their homeroomstheir homerooms where they will where they will receive their receive their schedules.schedules.

Student LockersStudent LockersStudents will be Students will be assigned lockers on assigned lockers on the first or second the first or second day of school. day of school.

Students Students mustmust pay a pay a $15.00 fee that will $15.00 fee that will cover the cost of cover the cost of locks and agenda locks and agenda booksbooks

Student LockersStudent Lockers

Students must Students must notnot share their lockers, share their lockers, nor share their nor share their combinations.combinations.

Student LockersStudent LockersLockers are school Lockers are school property. Staff have property. Staff have the right to search the right to search lockers as well as lockers as well as personal items in personal items in lockers. lockers.

Students are Students are responsible for the responsible for the contents of their contents of their lockerslockers

TextbooksTextbooks

Students must Students must return their return their signedsigned Textbook Textbook Agreements Agreements on on the 1the 1stst day of day of school.school.

TextbooksTextbooksWhen a student When a student receives a textbook, receives a textbook, s/he s/he mustmust write (in ink) write (in ink) his/her name, his/her his/her name, his/her teacher’s name, his/her teacher’s name, his/her homeroom #, and the homeroom #, and the academic year on the academic year on the inside cover of the inside cover of the textbook.textbook.

TextbooksTextbooksStudents Students mustmust cover their cover their textbooks.textbooks.

If a student loses a textbook, If a student loses a textbook, s/he must pay a $10.00 s/he must pay a $10.00 deposit in order to receive a deposit in order to receive a replacement textbook.replacement textbook.

If the textbook is not found by If the textbook is not found by the end of the school year, the the end of the school year, the student must pay for the book.student must pay for the book.

AcademicsAcademics

Ms. Crystal Coy-GonfaMs. Crystal Coy-Gonfa Program Director – English Language Program Director – English Language

Arts and World Languages Arts and World Languages

Grade 7, 8, and 9 StructureGrade 7, 8, and 9 Structure Grade 7 & 8 classes are centrally located on Grade 7 & 8 classes are centrally located on

the 2the 2ndnd floor and grade 9 classes are primarily floor and grade 9 classes are primarily located on the 3located on the 3rdrd floor floor

Students are clustered by “team”Students are clustered by “team” Students travel with their “team” from class to Students travel with their “team” from class to

classclass ““Team” teachers collaborate Team” teachers collaborate ““Team” teachers regularly meet with Team” teachers regularly meet with

parents/guardiansparents/guardians

Grade 7 CurriculumGrade 7 Curriculum

English Language Arts 7English Language Arts 7 Unified Science 7Unified Science 7 Middle School Algebra Middle School Algebra (double period) (double period) World GeographyWorld Geography Physical Education/MusicPhysical Education/Music

Grade 9 CurriculumGrade 9 Curriculum College English 9College English 9 Biology or EngineeringBiology or Engineering Algebra I or GeometryAlgebra I or Geometry US/World History IUS/World History I World LanguagesWorld Languages Music/Physical Education/ Music/Physical Education/

Health/Technology/NJROTCHealth/Technology/NJROTC

HomeworkHomework

Homework and hard Homework and hard work go “hand-in-work go “hand-in-hand” on the path to hand” on the path to success at O’Bryant.success at O’Bryant.

HomeworkHomework

Students will receive Students will receive homework assignments homework assignments in most of their classes in most of their classes every dayevery day. .

HomeworkHomework

Students should expect Students should expect to spend to spend 2 – 3 hours2 – 3 hours on on homework homework every every night.night.

HomeworkHomework

Students are expected Students are expected to complete to complete allall of their of their homework assignments homework assignments and and turn them inturn them in to to their teachers their teachers on timeon time..

Agenda BooksAgenda BooksStudents should Students should record record all homeworkall homework assignments in their assignments in their agenda books.agenda books.

Parents/Guardians Parents/Guardians should should check the check the agenda bookagenda book each each night in order to night in order to support their child’s support their child’s efforts to complete all efforts to complete all homework homework assignments.assignments.

Academic IntegrityAcademic IntegrityStudents are expected to uphold the Students are expected to uphold the highest standards of honesty in all of their highest standards of honesty in all of their schoolwork.schoolwork.

Teachers have the right to give a student Teachers have the right to give a student a 0 (zero) for any assignment, project, or a 0 (zero) for any assignment, project, or assessment deemed to involve cheating or assessment deemed to involve cheating or forgery.forgery.

Students may also be subject to additional Students may also be subject to additional disciplinary consequencesdisciplinary consequences

Behavioral ExpectationsBehavioral Expectations

Ms. Kathleen DawsonMs. Kathleen Dawson

Assistant HeadmasterAssistant Headmaster

Behavioral ExpectationsBehavioral Expectations

Mr. David S. MacLeodMr. David S. MacLeod

Assistant HeadmasterAssistant Headmaster

AttendanceAttendance Students are expected to attend Students are expected to attend

school school every dayevery day Students who accumulate 12 or more Students who accumulate 12 or more

unexcused absences in a class, yet unexcused absences in a class, yet have a passing average at the end of have a passing average at the end of the year, will need to pass the final the year, will need to pass the final examination in order to receive a examination in order to receive a passing grade for that classpassing grade for that class

Excused AbsencesExcused Absences Students must bring in a note to their

homeroom teachers the day they return to school

The note must include the date absent, the reason for the absence, a phone number for the parent or guardian, and the parent or guardian’s signature.

Students have the right and the responsibility to may make-up work they missed during excused absences.

Unexcused AbsencesUnexcused Absences Students are expected to attend Students are expected to attend

all of their classes every dayall of their classes every day..

Students should expect Students should expect consequences of some sort consequences of some sort everyevery time they “cut” a class. time they “cut” a class.

These consequences include: These consequences include: detention, a call home, loss of detention, a call home, loss of privileges, no credit for cut class, privileges, no credit for cut class, suspension.suspension.

Tardy PolicyTardy PolicyStudents are Students are expected to be in expected to be in school and in their school and in their homerooms/1homerooms/1stst period classes (and period classes (and not at their lockers) not at their lockers) at or beforeat or before 7:25 7:25 AM.AM.

Tardy PolicyTardy PolicyThroughout the Throughout the school dayschool day, , students are students are expected to be in expected to be in all of their classes all of their classes before the late bellbefore the late bell..

Tardy PolicyTardy Policy

There are consequences for There are consequences for arriving to school or class late.arriving to school or class late.

Detention is almost always Detention is almost always oneone of the consequences for arriving of the consequences for arriving to school or class late.to school or class late.

Dress CodeDress Code

Modesty in attire is required at Modesty in attire is required at all timesall times

Students are not permitted to Students are not permitted to wear suggestive clothing or wear suggestive clothing or clothing with inappropriate clothing with inappropriate slogansslogans

Dress CodeDress CodeSkirts and shorts must not be more Skirts and shorts must not be more than 3” above the knee. Students than 3” above the knee. Students can can notnot circumvent this rule by circumvent this rule by wearing leggings underneath their wearing leggings underneath their shorts/skirtsshorts/skirts

Cutoff shirts that bare midriffs, Cutoff shirts that bare midriffs, spaghetti strap tank tops, bustier, spaghetti strap tank tops, bustier, and halter tops are and halter tops are notnot allowed. allowed.

Dress CodeDress Code

Pants must be worn at the waist; Pants must be worn at the waist; exposed undergarments/shorts are exposed undergarments/shorts are not permitted. not permitted.

Dress CodeDress CodeHeadgear (e.g., Headgear (e.g., hats, doo-rags, hats, doo-rags, scarves, bandanas, scarves, bandanas, and hoodies) is and hoodies) is not not allowed in the allowed in the buildingbuilding and must and must be removed and be removed and put in one’s locker put in one’s locker or book bag or book bag immediatelyimmediately upon upon entering the entering the building.building.

Cell PhonesCell PhonesCell phones must Cell phones must be be completely completely turned offturned off and and not not visiblevisible during during school hours.school hours.

Cell phones will be Cell phones will be confiscated if this confiscated if this policy is violated.policy is violated.

Personal Electronic DevicesPersonal Electronic Devices

We strongly discourage students from We strongly discourage students from bringing IPods, MP3 players, handheld bringing IPods, MP3 players, handheld games, and other personal electronic games, and other personal electronic devices to school.devices to school.

Personal Electronic DevicesPersonal Electronic DevicesIf a student does bring a personal If a student does bring a personal electronic device to school, it electronic device to school, it mustmust be be completely turned offcompletely turned off and and not visiblenot visible during school hours.during school hours.

If a student violates this policy, the If a student violates this policy, the personal electronic device will be personal electronic device will be confiscated.confiscated.

Student Support Student Support ServicesServices

*Guidance Department*Guidance Department

* School Nurse* School Nurse

* Student Support Team* Student Support Team

* Other Counseling Services* Other Counseling Services

Athletic and Athletic and Extra-Curricular Extra-Curricular

OpportunitiesOpportunities

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We excel in the classroom and We excel in the classroom and are champions in athletics…are champions in athletics…

AthleticsAthletics FootballFootball Soccer (Boys & Girls)Soccer (Boys & Girls) Cross CountryCross Country Volleyball (Boys & Volleyball (Boys &

Girls)Girls) Basketball (Boys & Basketball (Boys &

Girls)Girls) HockeyHockey Tennis (Boys & Girls)Tennis (Boys & Girls)

Swimming (Co-Ed)Swimming (Co-Ed) Indoor Track & Field Indoor Track & Field

(Boys & Girls)(Boys & Girls) Outdoor Track & Field Outdoor Track & Field

(Boys & Girls)(Boys & Girls) BaseballBaseball SoftballSoftball Row Boston (Boys & Row Boston (Boys &

Girls)Girls) CheerleadingCheerleading

Extracurricular ActivitiesExtracurricular ActivitiesAmnesty InternationalAmnesty InternationalAnime ClubAnime ClubArt ClubArt ClubAsian Culture ClubAsian Culture ClubBridge Building Club Bridge Building Club BYOPBYOPCape Verdean Culture ClubCape Verdean Culture Club

FIRST Robotics TeamFIRST Robotics TeamHaitian Culture ClubHaitian Culture ClubHip-Hop DanceHip-Hop DanceKey ClubKey ClubLEGO Robotics TeamLEGO Robotics TeamMachine ScienceMachine ScienceMock TrialMock TrialMVPMVP

National Honor SocietyNational Honor SocietyNFTENFTEO’Bryant Edition (newspaper)O’Bryant Edition (newspaper)Paw Prints (literary magazine)Paw Prints (literary magazine)Ski and Snowboard ClubSki and Snowboard ClubStep SquadStep SquadStudent CouncilStudent CouncilStudents without BordersStudents without BordersTalented and Gifted (TAGTalented and Gifted (TAGYearbookYearbook

Questions and AnswersQuestions and Answers

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Have a Great Year !!!Have a Great Year !!!

The John D. O’Bryant School The John D. O’Bryant School of Mathematics and Scienceof Mathematics and Science

““Character, Knowledge, Power”Character, Knowledge, Power”