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BUA is the rare school where the classroom experience is really, truly valued above all else, by students, faculty, and parents alike. |
| Parents FAQs Back to School Fall 08 | Attendance | Medical | Academic | General Q: When is the first day of class and what is the schedule the first week of school? A: University classes (for juniors and seniors) begin at 8 a.m. on Tuesday, September 2. The Academy's All School Orientation (required for all students) is at 8 a.m. on Wednesday, September 3. The first day of Academy classes is Thursday, September 4. Friday is a regular day of classes, concluding with an Ice Cream Social for students and families at 3 p.m. Q. What does my child need to bring to the first week of school? A. Students will need their class schedule, notebooks, writing implements, and schoolbooks during the first week of school. University classes begin on Tuesday, September 2 and Academy classes begin on Thursday, September 4. Students do not need to bring their books for the Academy's All School Orientation on Wednesday, September 3. Students should also plan to bring lunch or lunch money until their Dining Points card is initialized. Q: What paperwork do students need to have turned in by the first day of class? A: Families should submit the following paperwork by the first day of class: Data Verification Form, Emergency Contact Card, All Year Field Trip Permission Slip, Dining Points Form, MBTA Pass Form, and Hometown News Questionnaire as well as their Health and Immunization Forms. Please be advised that, by law, a student will not be allowed to attend class until the school has their up-to-date health and immunization records on file. Q. When will students receive their schedules? A. Schedules will be mailed home to students in mid-August along with important information about All School Orientation and Camp Wing as well as an updated copy of the School Directory. Students should bring their schedules with them to the first day of classes. Q. How do students receive MBTA passes? A. Students must submit an MBTA Pass form [link to the pdf] and payment to Ny Martin at the Academy. Student passes are $20 per month, and will be available for pickup the month following the month the forms are turned in.
Q. What is Camp Wing? A. Camp Wing is a residential field experience program for all ninth and tenth graders that is designed to build confidence, improve communication, and strengthen our community. This year's trip will run September 24-26 in Duxbury, Mass. More information will be mailed home in mid-August and parents will have the opportunity to learn more about the program at Back to School Night on September 18. Q. What do the abbreviations on the University schedules mean? A.The letters used to represent the days of the week are, respectively, M, T, W, R, F. Class locations are represented by a three-letter building abbreviation followed by a room number. A complete list of abbreviations and explanations is available on the Office of the University's Registrar's website [www.bu.edu/reg/registration/abbrevreg.html]. Q: How do I notify the school if my child will be absent because of illness or late for school? A: A parent or guardian, not the student, must notify the Academy by telephone call before 8:00a.m. All planned absences must be pre-approved by the Director of Governance. Q: What do I do if my child has to be dismissed early? A: A parent or guardian must provide the Director of Governance, with a written request at least five class days in advance for approval. Students must sign out at the front desk before leaving the building. Q: How can I locate my child during the school day? A: The school receptionist has a copy of students’ daily schedules at the front desk. Q: How do I know if the Academy is closed due to inclement weather? The Academy will be closed whenever the University closes too. University closings and delayed openings will be made between 6-9 a.m. on the following radio and television stations: WBUR 90.0FM, WBZ 1030AM, WRKO 680AM, WBZ-CBS Channel 4, WCVB-ABC Channel 5, WHDH-NBC Channel 7. To check on the University status, you can also call 617-353-SNOW (617-353-7669). To check on the Academy status, if the University stays open, Student safety is the Academy’s primary concern. As weather conditions can vary across Greater Boston, it is not always possible to make decisions that work for all families. Please take into account your own family’s circumstances, and feel comfortable keeping your student home if hazardous conditions so warrant.
Q: What should my child do if he/she feels sick? A: Academy students who require minor medical care during school hours are treated by University Student Health Services at 881 Commonwealth Avenue. Students with medical emergencies are transported by ambulance to the hospital. Students who are not able to participate in class due to illness must call a parent or guardian to arrange for an early dismissal from school. Q: What if my child requires medication? A: Students are responsible for the storage of their own medication. Faculty and staff will not store or dispense student medications and a student cannot store more than one day’s supply at the Academy. Q: When can I expect to see grades and comments? A: Students receive interim grades and teacher comments in early November and mid-April. Families will also receive final grades and comments from your son or daughter’s advisor at the end of each semester. Q: What happens if my child needs extra support with academic work? A: When students feel they need extra support in a course, the first resource is the classroom teacher. Normally, a teacher can provide the student extra help sessions after school. If a student needs more general support or experiences academic difficulties in more than one class, they should arrange a meeting with their advisor. Parents or guardians wishing to secure an outside tutor for their child may contact the Director of Studies, who will work with the family to assess a student’s needs and suggest appropriate resources. Peer tutors are also available to assist students who would like help with a particular assignment or subject. Peer tutoring requests can be made through FirstClass or by completing a Peer Tutor Request Form. Q: When is the calendar for the next school year available? A: A tentative calendar is set in late winter for the following school year. Q: Who do I notify with address or phone changes? A: You may submit changes to the school receptionist at 617-353-9000. |
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