News
BUA Hosts Model UN Conference for Middle Schoolers Worldwide
Last weekend, BUA hosted the 9th annual Boston University Academy Model United Nations (BUAMUN) conference for more than 225 middle schoolers around Boston, across the US, and worldwide. While this conference is traditionally held on the BU campus, the pandemic prompted organizers to move the conference entirely online. Delegates debated on topics including the Cuban Missile Crisis, reunification of the Korean Peninsula, and the 1812 French invasion of Russia. Congratulations to the BUAMUN Secretariat - John '21, Jonas '21, Kieran '21, Sudarshan'21, and Claudia '22 - on another highly successful conference!
Op-Ed: A Playbook for Getting Kids Back in School
This op-ed was originally published in the Boston Herald on January 15, 2021 By Chris Kolovos, Mark Poznansky, John Quackenbush, and Nidhi Lal Evidence is mounting that primary and secondary schools do not contribute significantly to the spread of COVID-19, particularly where appropriate safety protocols are in place. Teachers, parents, and researchers continue to raise concerns about the mounting negative mental health impact and learning outcomes associated with prolonged distance learning, prompting calls by Governor Baker and education leaders to get the children of Massachusetts back into the classroom, despite record-high COVID rates. At Boston University Academy—an independent, 200-student high school integrated with Boston University—we have just finished a semester of in-person learning open to all students four days per week with no reported positive cases among students and teachers, and only one case of a temporary staff member, which did not lead to any in-school transmission. Our experience offers lessons that may... More
HOS Blog: Celebration of BUA
Last night was a special one for BUA. Over 200 members of the extended BUA family — current and past parents, current and former teachers and staff, students, alumni, and friends of BUA — gathered together virtually to celebrate the remarkable success of this bold step in education that began 28 years ago. We heard live from long-time teachers Nick Dent and Dave Stone, from current students Tanay Nambiar ’22 and Saoirse Killian ’21, and from alumna Abby Walsh ’04. We heard from many more voices, past and present, like beloved retired teacher Phil Gambone, in a heartwarming video that set the tone for the evening. Despite the virtual format, it felt like a living room. It felt like family. I’m delighted that so many of you could join us. For those who could not, please enjoy this video of the evening. Our speakers shared what they loved most about BUA. The... More
Head of School Chris Kolovos On Yesterday’s Events in Washington
Dear BUA Family, The images from the assault on the Capitol yesterday have stayed with me, and I imagine the same is true for many of you. There is something particularly upsetting about seeing rioters breaking Capitol windows, parading through the Statuary Hall unchecked, waving a Confederate flag near the entrance to the Senate, vandalizing Congressional offices, and posing for pictures on the dais of the Senate floor. The Capitol is as close as we come to a national sacred space. Generations of American middle schoolers, including students now at BUA, have made the annual pilgrimage to Washington, DC to visit the Capitol, the Supreme Court, and the monuments on the National Mall. Even as an adult and student of history -- familiar with both the beautiful, groundbreaking steps forward our country has taken in those halls and the ugliness of some of the policies and rhetoric that has come from those... More
Parenting in a Pandemic: Free Virtual Workshop with Dr. Rob Evans and Dr. Michael Thompson
The Covid-19 pandemic has hit families hard. Many families are dealing with disruption to routine, threats to employment, and the loss of social supports. Many parents are worried that their children will emerge traumatized from this long disruption. In this talk, Dr. Evans and Dr. Thompson will address the issues and fears affecting families and will offer psychologically sound suggestions for steadying their children and themselves in this difficult time. This virtual workshop is free and open to the public. Robert Evans, Ed.D., is a psychologist and school consultant. A former high school and preschool teacher and a former child and family therapist, he has consulted to more than 1,700 schools. He has also served for nearly 40 years as executive director of the Human Relations Service, a nonprofit mental health agency in Wellesley, MA. Dr. Evans’s interests are in leadership, helping schools manage change, improving adult relationships within schools, and crisis intervention. He is... More
BUA Music Instructor Composes for US Air Force Band
Two commissioned compositions by BUA Music Instructor Dr. Brett Abigaña’s were released on the latest album by the United States Air Force Band of the Golden West, "American Tapestry." The first piece, entitled Through the Kármán Line, is about crossing the line between Earth’s atmosphere and space, and is dedicated to Col. Guion Bluford, the first African American in space. The piece attempts to place the listener inside the astronaut’s helmet as they cross the line and look back to see Earth in all its glorious imperfection for the first time. The piece is also written so that it can be played backwards, so that one can experience leaving the International Space Station and crossing through the line again, returning to the reality that is life “down below.” The second composition, Locrian Riffs, is written about and dedicated to the women collectively referred to and represented by “Rosie the Riveter.” The piece uses a... More
43% of BUA Senior Class Receives College Board Recognition
Twenty-three members of the Boston University Class of 2021 -- 43% of the senior class -- were commended by national recognition programs for their high school academic achievements. Four BUA students were honored through the College Board National Recognition Program (NRP) by scoring in the top 2.5% of PSAT/NMSQT test takers who identify as African American, Hispanic American or Latinx, or Indigenous. Nineteen BUA seniors were named National Merit Commended Scholars in the 2021 National Merit Scholarship Program. According to the National Merit Scholarship Corporation (NMSC), “commended scholars place among the top 50,000 scorers of more than 1.5 million students who entered the 2021 competition by taking the 2019 Preliminary SAT/National Merit Scholarship Qualifying Test (PSAT/NMSQT).” Out of BUA’s 19 commended National Merit scholars, five BUA seniors were named National Merit Semifinalists. In a press release, the NMSC announced: “Approximately 16,000 academically talented high school seniors have been named as Semifinalists in the... More
Reflection on the Election from Head of School Chris Kolovos
Reflecting on this week's uncertainty following the election, Head of School Chris Kolovos shared the following message with BUA students, parents, faculty, and staff on the morning of November 4: "I imagine that many of you stayed up late to watch election results come in; I was right there with you, and the morning came too early. We all find ourselves now in the unusual, but not unprecedented, position of a November 4 without clarity about who won the presidential election. We are all sitting in uncertainty, and I know that can be uncomfortable. Research shows what we know intuitively: sitting in uncertainty can lead to stress and anxiety, hampering focus and attention. If you find yourself a little distracted or tense today, you are not alone. At times like this, I take comfort in routine. At our house, like at yours, the sun came up. The cats let us know they... More
Preparing Students for the 2020 Election
Head of School Chris Kolovos shares how BUA is preparing its students -- and the broader school community -- for the 2020 election. On Wednesday, we held a virtual All School Meeting. Even though we could only see one other through individual boxes on a Zoom screen, it felt good to be together as a community -- something we have not done since our opening day. Our focus was preparing for the upcoming election, and the highlight was a debate on police funding at the state and local level between two of our seniors; the debate was moderated by alumna Abby Walsh ‘04, who works at the Council on Criminal Justice in Washington, DC. It was one of the most beautiful moments of the school year. Knowing that there are precious few examples of productive civil discourse in the political arena right now, we turned to our students to provide a model. More
A Day in the Life at BUA
Curious to know what it looks and feels like at BUA these days? Take a peek inside a day in the life at BUA, courtesy of our resident student videographer Rohan Biju '23. Enjoy!