News

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 National Merit Scholarship Program. They will have the opportunity to continue in the competition for some 7,600 National Merit Scholarships worth more than $30 million that will be offered next spring.” National Merit Scholar finalists will be announced on February 8, 2021. 

Congratulations to all of BUA’s honorees on this well-deserved recognition!

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 were hungry, as did baby Charlie. The dog let us know that she wanted to go for a walk -- no matter the temperature. At school, our classrooms today will be full and engaging. We will connect during advisories to be together. And I’m sure that there will be as many conversations about ideas, friendships, and GSU lunch choices as there will be about the election.

The uncertainty will pass. I have faith in our institutions across this country; we will count votes fairly, reach an outcome, and move forward together. As a nation, we have been through much harder moments than this. It will take some time and there will be arguments. But we will have clarity.

In the meantime, keep doing those things that make this community so special: listen to one another with curiosity, engage in productive dialogue, and, most importantly, be kind to one another. I know you will."

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. And they delivered. They found and pinpointed areas of agreement (imagine that!) and offered thoughtful arguments on areas where they disagreed -- at times sharply, but civilly and sometimes with good humor. They painted a nuanced picture of an issue that has been caricatured in the media as an all-or-nothing choice between militarization and anarchy. They entertained 200 of their classmates and teachers in the process. And it was a reminder to me, and all of us, of what can happen when we unleash these amazing young people on issues that matter. I left the session feeling better about our collective future and invite you to watch part of the exchange. 

To frame the meeting, I offered some thoughts repeating themes that I’ve shared with all of you before. As a long-time American history teacher, I know that this is by no means the first time in our nation’s history where partisan division feels extreme; where the political discourse feels less civil and more personal; where racial and other biases are leveraged for political gain; where there are questions about electoral outcomes and processes. That said, I also shared with these students that, at least in my lifetime, this election cycle feels different; debates feel less substantive, division more extreme, compromise more vilified, and bias more out in the open. And while there is good news that we have a more engaged electorate than we have in a century, that silver lining feels less reassuring than it might. 

When it comes to taking care of our BUA family, I am focused on three things. First, there is a danger that this generation misses out on models of productive civil discourse and gets a false sense of what political debate looks like. The debate between our seniors went a long way to reassuring me that not only do these students recognize good discourse, but are more than capable of engaging in it -- like they do in their classrooms every day. Second, I worry that our community could fall into the trap of becoming an echo chamber of one set of ideas, chilling voices that disagree, particularly in a state with a significant majority and minority political split. BUA stands for many things, and a free exchange of ideas is one of them; we will reenforce that commitment, particularly in the next few weeks when outcomes might be uncertain, even after election day. Third, and superficially in tension with the previous point, we cannot compromise on our other values. There is language in the political discourse now that runs afoul of our mission’s commitment to inclusion and community. Issues that may be purely intellectual for some are deeply personal for others. We are not a partisan organization, but we do stand for certain principles; the hate we see in some dark corners of the political arena has no place at BUA.

The coming days will be exciting, contentious, and historic. I feel privileged to be living this experience with this group of students. My wish for them is that they lean into the exchange of ideas, stand up for what they believe in, and, as always, continue being good to one another.

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! 

Dr. James Davis Receives Outstanding Educator Award

Dr. James Davis, long-time BUA history and philosophy teacher beloved by generations of BUA students, has been selected as a recipient of this year's University of Chicago Outstanding Educator Award.

This distinguished award has existed for more than three decades. Students accepted into the University of Chicago Class of 2024 were asked to nominate an educator whose guidance has helped them along the path toward intellectual growth. Responses were received from thousands of students in recognition of educators who have positively impacted their lives.

An Outstanding Educator shapes young minds in meaningful ways—thoughtfully approaching instruction, sharing an infectious love for learning, and caring for students both inside and outside of the classroom. Each year, newly admitted UChicago students have the opportunity to reflect on their time in school and nominate an educator who played a significant role in their education, made a positive impact in their lives, and whose influence has brought them to where they are today.

Congratulations to Dr. Davis on this well-deserved honor!

BUA Reopens for In-Person Teaching and Learning

On September 2, Boston University Academy officially kicked off the 2020-2021 academic year with a Virtual All-School Meeting for all students and faculty. In his opening remarks, Head of School Chris Kolovos reflected on the “chance that we all have collectively to be the national model that this country needs right now.” Mr. Kolovos challenged students and faculty to "be an upstander in this moment,” noting that “the hard part is actually not taking care of yourself, it's taking care of one another. That's what's going to keep us all safe, and that's the model this country needs right now." 

Boston University Academy is one of the only schools in the nation where all students and faculty will receive routine weekly asymptomatic COVID screening tests. Before the start of the school year, all members of the school community were asked to commit to a set of shared norms and expectations that will allow BUA to maintain a safe and healthy campus environment for its students, faculty, and staff. 

In the opening All-School Meeting, Student Council President Phevos Paschalidis ‘21 reiterated this message of community and shared responsibility: “Though I have always believed in community, its true power was only revealed in its absence. The spring was a hard time for us all...I am grateful that we, unlike many of our peer schools, will reopen this semester. Our in-person and hybrid interactions will strengthen this community, and thus strengthen each of us in turn. We therefore owe it to the others who have given us so much to remain diligent in following the guidelines BUA and BU have put forth so that we can protect each other and remain open.”

In the 2020-2021 academic year, BUA will hold in-person classes four days a week, with all BUA classes held remotely on Wednesdays. All students have the option to learn from home full- or part-time, joining in-person classes synchronously. Learn more about BUA’s reentry planning and health and safety protocols on our online Guide to Reentry.

Art Instructor Elizabeth Cellucci Announces Retirement after 20 Years at BUA

Visual Arts Instructor Elizabeth Cellucci announced her retirement from Boston University Academy last month, after a 20-year career at the school. Beloved by generations of BUA students, Ms. Cellucci is known for her calm presence, encouraging guidance, and sharp eye for form and detail. Her many advisees and students over the years loved and respected Liz for her nurturing support, her kindness, and her empathy. 

Ms. Cellucci is also the mother of two BUA graduates: Mia ‘06 and Stephen ‘03.

Assistant Head of School Dr. Rosemary White shared:

“Liz is as artistically talented as she is kind. Her students and advisees rely on her for her patience and support. Her students produce amazing work under her guidance, year after year.” 

We are grateful for Liz’s two decades of service to Boston University Academy, and will miss her deeply. More information on Ms. Cellucci’s replacement (big shoes to fill, indeed!) will be shared with the BUA community later this summer.

View a slideshow of 25+ years of incredible BUA student artwork under the guidance of Ms. Cellucci here. 

BUA Welcomes New Head of School

BUA officially welcomed Mr. Chris Kolovos as our new head of school on July 1. We are thrilled to officially welcome Mr. Kolovos to the BUA family, and are excited about the energy, vision, and leadership he brings to our school. Mr. Kolovos shared the following message with families on July 10. 

Dear BUA Families,

As I wrap up my first full week at BUA, I wanted to reach out to say hello. My wife, Tracey, and I are settling into our new home outside of Boston. We are both Boston-area natives and are excited to return home. We have also just welcomed our first child, Charlie, to our family; our dog, Circe, is very excited to be a big sister!

One of the great things about being appointed a full year before my start date has been the chance to get to know this community and hit the ground running. I am especially grateful for that time now, as we face a global health crisis with major implications for what school will look like in the fall, alongside arguably the most significant civil rights movement in our nation since the 1960s. While I have been working closely with Dr. White and her team all year long, that collaboration intensified this spring in light of COVID-19 and in preparation for the upcoming school year. I could not have asked for better partners or a smoother transition.

This time has also given me the opportunity to meet many of you and see this extraordinary school in action. During my on-campus visits in October and January, I attended All-School Meetings, observed classes, talked with students over lunch and in class meetings, and met with every member of the faculty and staff. It was a pleasure seeing many of you at our parent event during Fall Festival and at the Evening with the Head of School in January. This spring, technology opened even more doors for learning: Zoom calls with two dozen alumni to hear their stories; calls with an equal number of leaders across Boston University, who have been wonderfully helpful as we plan for the fall; remotely judging the finals of an excellent student-organized debate tournament; doing an Instagram Live session hosted by the Student Council; and more. At every turn, this community has been so welcoming. And every interaction has affirmed for me all the things that drew me to BUA a year ago: kind, curious and capable young people; teachers who challenge and care for them; and opportunities for their learning far beyond what nearly any high school in the world can offer. 

Relationships are at the core of BUA. We will be talking a great deal in the coming weeks and months about the big issues that are on all of our minds: what school will look like in the fall; and how BUA will continue our work to ensure that our community is just and equitable for all. We will also talk about the longer-term vision and promise of this exceptional school. But, as the newest member of this community, it feels right to begin by getting to know each of you, hear what is on your minds, and understand how I can best support you and your children. 

Best,

Chris Kolovos
Head of School

In Response to George Floyd

On Monday, June 1, Interim Head of School Dr. Rosemary White sent the following communication to the BUA community:

Families across the country, in our city, and within our very own community are grieving today.

In the last several months, we have witnessed a spate of racially-motivated violence in America: the killings of Breonna Taylor in Kentucky, Ahmaud Arbery in Georgia, and George Floyd in Minneapolis; and the false report made against Christian Cooper in New York City. Over the past few days, protests and riots have broken out in cities across the nation, including right here in Boston -- an eruption of anger, fear, and pain in response to prejudice and mistreatment at the hands of those in power. All this set to the backdrop of a pandemic disproportionately affecting people of color, at a time when tensions are already running high and nerves are frayed.

These events highlight the injustices and often fatal consequences of endemic racism in our society. They affect all of us, especially our Black and African American colleagues, classmates, peers, and friends. It is important to name injustice and racism when we see it, and to stand up peacefully yet courageously for change and what we know is right. As educators, parents, and allies, it is our duty to support our students and children always, but particularly during moments of crisis and uncertainty. It is our responsibility to be open to their questions, and to try to answer them candidly and forthrightly.

Conversations about race, racism, violence, inequality, and inequity are never easy. Nevertheless, I encourage you to discuss and reflect on these issues as a family in the context of recent events. I have listed some articles that may serve as useful resources below.

Boston University’s Howard Thurman Center for Common Ground will host a special edition of their Coffee & Conversations discussion series this afternoon from 3:00 to 5:00 p.m., and BUA students are welcome to join. Participants are encouraged to join to share their reflections, emotions, questions and comments. Additionally, Dr. Jennifer Formichelli will offer a special Conversations@BUA virtual session tomorrow, Tuesday, June 2 at 11:00 a.m. for students seeking a safe space to process emotions and discuss these issues with their peers. The Zoom link for that session is here. As always, School Counselor Stacey Weiskopf is available to support our students and families.

We have also created a Zoom meeting room for BUA's Black-identifying community members open Monday through Thursday of this week from 1:00-2:00 pm. This is a space for self-care and conversation amongst peers.

Although I would of course prefer to lean on each other and support one another in person in times like these, I draw strength from the closeness of our BUA community and the common values we espouse: inclusion, equity, tolerance, and respect.

Best,

Dr. Rosemary White
Interim Head of School

Resources

How to Talk to Your Children About Protests and Racism

Bearing Witness: The Death of George Floyd

The Center for Racial Justice in Education

From Christian Cooper to George Floyd: A Letter to White Parents

Scene on Radio Podcast: Seeing White