Belmont’s King Breakfast Focus on Cost of Non-Engagement on Race

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Belmont’s 21th annual Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Community Breakfast will take place on the King Holiday, Monday, Jan. 19, at Belmont High School, beginning at 8:45 a.m.

WGBH Senior Investigative Reporter Phillip Martin will present the keynote address, “What If We Do Nothing?:  Ferguson and the Cost of Non-Engagement.”

“The Human Rights Commission is very pleased to work with the Belmont Schools, Belmont Against Racism, the Belmont Religious Council, the Belmont METCO Program, Belmont High’s Belmontian Club and its many other partners in presenting the 21st annual MLK Community Breakfast,” said Barbara Watson, chair of the Belmont Human Rights Commission.

The annual breakfast draws anywhere from 250 to 400 attendees.

The breakfast serves as a critical fundraising event for the Belmont Schools’ METCO Support Fund, a fund established by Belmont Against Racism and managed by the Belmont School Department, providing financial support to many Belmont METCO related activities, including late-day transportation for high school students from Boston who participate in extracurricular activities at the High School.

The breakfast is a very special event in Belmont, said Watson.  It brings together people of all ages, Belmont residents, Boston residents who participate in, or are associated with, Belmont’s METCO program, town officials and administrators, town agencies, including the Police and Fire Departments, businesses, community leaders and volunteers and representatives of church groups, as well as others in surrounding communities, who are interested in gathering to celebrate and promote the values of Dr. King.

In addition to the Belmont Human Rights Commission and Belmont Against Racism, sponsors and conveners include, among others, the Belmont Religious Council, the Belmont School Department, Belmont High School, Belmont High School PTO, Belmont High School Belmontian service club, Belmont METCO program, Belmont Disability Commission, Vision 21, Chenery Middle School PTO, League of Women Voters, Belmont Gay Straight Alliance Committee and Belmont Special Education Advisory Commission.

The event receives support from many local businesses and individuals, including Quebrada Bakery.

Businesses and individuals who are not able to attend the Breakfast but would like to contribute to the Fund are asked to send their checks to:

BAR

PO Box 649

Belmont, MA 02478

Belmont Girls’ Basketball ‘Niks’ Stoneham with Smothering ‘D’ in Win

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Photo: Belmont’s sophomore guard Irini Nikolaidis drives to the basket in the Marauders’ 55-42 victory over Stoneham, Dec. 23, 2014. 

If one player on the Belmont High School Girls’ Basketball team epitomizes the style of defensive intensity that is becoming the team’s identity, it is an off-the-bench, in-your-face 10th grader.

“I just love playing defense,” said sophomore guard Irini Nikolaidis after being a spark-plug in the Marauders’ 55-42 victory over Stoneham at the Wenner Field House on Tuesday, Dec. 23.

The second-year varsity player is fast becoming a game-day headache to opposition point guards who challenge the Marauders. With a doggedness and athletic Esprit on the court, Nikolaidis faces up to opponents with long arms threatening to poke the ball or deflect a pass as she uses her quickness to stay in front of them.

“I tell the girls on the bench if they want to know how to play defense, they should watch [Nikolaidis],” said Belmont Head Coach Melissa Hart, as the Marauders now stands at 2-1 with a match away with Reading High School on Friday, Jan. 2 next on the schedule.

Belmont took control of the game early as the team’s big front line of senior center Linda Herlihy, junior Sarah Stewart and senior Elena Bragg dominated the boards and transitioned nicely on offense as Stewart (6 points) and Herlihy (a double-double with 10 points and numerous rebounds) benefited from assists from freshman point guard Carly Christofori (6 points) who attacked the Spartan defense from inside and from the wings.

Up 16-11 after the first, Belmont spread the scoring around in the second with Nikolaidis hitting four of her 9 points, freshman Jenny Call (3 points) hitting a three for consecutive games and junior Samari Winklaar – who sang a wonderful rendition of the “National Anthem” before the game – buried a jumper for her 2 points to give Belmont a 32-21 lead at the half.

The Marauders’ team defensive pressure forced Stoneham to take outside shots and not able to utilize its best player, senior center Olivia Gaughan, who was held to 12 points.

The Marauders quickly upped its advantage to 17 points (38-21) in the first three minutes of the third quarter, led by forward Bragg who scored from inside, on the outside and via a great pass from fellow senior Sophia Eschenbach-Smith (2 points) to score six of her team-high 13 points in the third quarter, building Belmont’s lead to 45-28 at the end of the eight minutes.

The two-digit advantage allowed Hart to play the entire bench with scrappy junior guard Meghan Ferraro (1 point) scoring for the second of three games while the third freshman on the team, Gretta Propp (3 points), got on the scoring sheet with a basket and a made free throw.

As for Nikolaidis, the game comes down to going all out so not wanting to let down her teammates.

“I say to myself, ‘I have to get that ball,'” she said.

Wait ’til Next Year: State, Once Again, Skips Over Belmont High Renovation Plan

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Despite several hints that this could have been the year, Belmont will need to wait yet another year for just the possibility of being selected to receive state funds to help pay for a new and approved high school.
In a letter dated Monday, Dec. 15 and announced at Tuesday’s Belmont School Committee meet, the Massachusetts School Building Authority once again denied the committee’s statement of interest calling for the complete renovation of Belmont High School and the construction of a new science wing with a price tag of between $90 and $100 million.
“Through the MSBA’s due diligence process and review of the 108 [fiscal year] 2014 [Statement of Interests] that were received, the MSBA has determined that the Belmont High School SOI will not be invited into the MSBA’s Eligibility Period at this time,” stated the letter signed by John K. McCarthy, the Authority’s executive director.
Stating the Authority was proud to have collaborated in the building of the Wellington Elementary School which opened in September 2011, McCarthy said the MSBA “remains committed to collaborating and partnering with [Belmont] to better understand any other school facility issues in [Belmont].”
There have been a number of hints over the fall that Belmont’s application had been placed on the short list of projects to be accepted. In October, the MSBA came for a “senior study” of the high school, one of 25 the Authority made this fall. According to a school official on the Cape, a MSBA officials said “a substantial percentage of districts [that received a senior study] will be recommended to move forward with an invitation into the MSBA eligibility period.” In addition, districts that have submitted SOIs for more than a decade are traditionally placed higher on the approval scale.
Belmont can reapply for what will be the 11th consecutive year for the school’s addition and renovation by April 10, 2015.
See the MSBA letter to Belmont below:
Belmont_2014_SOI_Status_Letter

Banding Together to Make Wonderful Music in Belmont

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Belmont High School’s Wenner Field House was transformed Monday night, Dec. 8, from an athletics center into a concert venue for the 43rd annual Bandarama Concert.

Ensembles of winds, brass and percussions from elementary-school youngsters just starting out on Saturday mornings to the highly-skilled High School Jazz Band performed for parents and friends.

Lougee Will Not Seek Re-election to School Committee

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After three-and-a-half years, Anne Lougee has decided to end her service on the Belmont School Committee by not seeking a second term at Town Election in April 2015.

Lougee’s announcement will create a second open seat on the Committee in the coming election. Also on the ballot will be incumbent Lisa Fiore, who is seeking her first full three-year term after serving the unexpired time of Pascha Griffiths, who resigned in 2013.

Lougee decided not to pursue re-election after the evaluation and selection process in November to replace School Committee member Kevin Cunningham, who resigned in September.

“It’s hard to walk away from a group of wonderful colleagues but I was encouraged by the number of well-qualified candidates who came before the committee and selectmen last month for the position,” Lougee told the Belmontonian.

Thomas Caputo was selected from eight residents to replace Cunningham. His term ends at Town Election. Caputo can file to run for the remaining two years of Cunningham’s term, challenge Fiore for her seat or decide not to run.

At his appointment, Caputo said he would seek election to the board.

Fiore, a Lesley University faculty dean with children in district schools, was elected in 2014 to fill the one-year remaining on Griffiths’ term. She told the Belmontonian in September she would likely run for re-election in 2015.

Nomination papers are currently available at the Belmont Town Clerk’s office; the deadline for their return is 5 p.m., Tuesday, Feb. 17, 2015.

Lougee, whose daughter is a 2011 Belmont High School graduate, was appointed to the committee in October 2011 to fill the remainder of the term held by Karen Parmett, who resigned. She won a full stint in the 2012 Town Election.

Lougee said the selection of Belmont Schools Superintendent John Phelan and promoted social/emotional learning throughout the district was two of her accomplishments serving on the committee.

In addition, Lougee emphasized from the time she was on PTOs that parents and officials must not take a myopic view of the town’s schools.

“You have to look at the whole system. It’s K through 12; you can’t separate it by school building or class,” said Lougee, a native midwesterner who came to Belmont in the 1980s and lives on Warwick Road with her husband, Roger Colton.

“You must know how it all works together for your child because they will be a graduate one day,” said Lougee.

In addition to the collegiality of the committee members, Lougee said she’ll also miss witnessing the growth of students in the classroom, in athletics and the arts.

“I love watching the kids test themselves and build their confidence,” she said.

Pep Rally Peps Up Pupils Before Belmont’s Gridiron Tussle with H2O-Town

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How can you have a Thanksgiving Day football game without a Pep Rally?

And while not on the level of the near gladiatorial rallies seen in West Texas or other football hotbeds, Belmont High’s allowed for a great deal of school and class spirit to shine on a rainy, dreary day before the annual Belmont/Watertown game on Thursday, Nov. 27.

The Marching Band played, the cheerleaders cheered, the fall sports teams were honored and there were a series of races and challenges with musical chairs and tug of war (which literally became a clash of entire classes) being the most popular.

This year, the school honored its first group of Model Marauders, students who excel in areas of education at the High School.

Kolya Illarionov (scholarship) for outstanding commitment to his academics and the creative flair he has with projects and presentations.

Anna Handte-Reinecker (art) for excellence in photography and the machining of her own dolly system for time-lapse camera shots.

Devan O’Toole and Tess Hayner (citizenship). O’Toole created, advertised, planned and ran a haunted house fundraiser for BHS students and the Belmont community, raising $1,100 for the Make a Wish Foundation. Hayner created, planned and ran the first “Speed Dating Career Night,” where seniors and juniors were able to interact with young career professionals.

Teacher Dan Moresco (staff) for his creative teaching, involvement, and caring approach to students and facility at Belmont High School.

Around the World on a Friday Evening at Burbank’s Multicultural Fair

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Photo: Three Burbank 2nd-grade students sing a Chinese song at the recent Burbank Multicultural Fair. (All photos by Glenn Wong.)

With passports in their hands, students from the Mary Lee Burbank Elementary School took a whirlwind journey around the world … all on a Friday evening without having the leave their School Street building.

On Friday, Nov. 21, the school hosted the Burbank Multicultural Fair, organized by the Burbank PTA and supported by a grant from the Belmont Cultural Council to allow the community to learn about the several cultures and countries that makes up the population who attend the school. 

Children and parents visited more than 16 countries and many cultures on display in the cafeteria. A series of colorful exhibits included pictures, maps, crafts, language, literature, and foods presented by participating Burbank families.

Then came the parade of students dressed in the traditional clothing of their ancestral culture. There were performances of Chinese song by second grade students, a Nepali folk dance, a classical Indian dance by the Aakriti School of Indian Dance as well as songs from Finland and Switzerland curtesy of a Burbank family.

Wellesley College’s Yanvalou Drum and Dance Ensemble gave an energetic performance of native music from Haiti and Ghana, complete with a variety of authentic drums and other instruments.  Yanvalou’s Director Kera Washington led the audience in singing and clapping, while children played instruments to the dance beat.

Burbank Principal Tricia Clifford thanked all the participants and applauded the learning and community building inspired by celebrating the school’s different cultures.

 

Belmont High Musicians Score Record Number at District Auditions

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A record 66 Belmont High School student musicians – from singers to those who play the Euphonium (that’s a tenor tuba) – were accepted into the Massachusetts Music Educators Association’s Northeastern Senior District Honor Ensembles for band, orchestra, chorus and jazz ensemble after a day of auditions on Saturday, Nov. 15 at North Andover High School.

Those musicians will perform at the MMEA Northeastern District Festival on Saturday, Jan. 10, 2015 at Lowell High School. 

In addition, just under half, 32, of the musicians had audition scored high enough to earn an All-State recommendation, which gives them the opportunity to audition for the state-wide festival later this winter.

A total of 158 students from Belmont High School auditioned for the district festival. What the results do not show was the dozens of students who auditioned and missed the cutoff for acceptance by just a few points. Thirty-four missed the cutoff score by less than five points, and 10 of those by a single point.

“This illustrates the fact that all of the students who auditioned on Nov. 15 are ‘senior district caliber’ musicians who deserve to be honored for their work and their level of musicianship,” said Arto Asadoorian, director of Fine & Performing Arts for the Belmont Public Schools.

“These outstanding district results once again place Belmont High School among elite company statewide when we look at student achievement in music. It is a testament to the dedication, work-ethic and level of artistry our students have achieved with the help of the excellent music educators who work with them each day,” said Asadoorian.

“Belmont prides itself on the quality of education it provides to their children, and music and art education have always played a central role in our curriculum. These results are a reflection of our community’s unwavering support of arts education in our schools,” he said.

The following students for their acceptance into the 2015 MMEA Northeastern Senior District Festival: (*Denotes an All-State recommendation.)

Ben Ackerson, trumpet; Kate Amrein, chorus*; Yilei Bai, alto saxophone*; Sam Bastille, chorus; Sami Belkadi, trumpet*; Erin Cantor, viola; Eleanor Carlile, French horn*; Devon Carter, chorus*; Jessica Chen, viola; Lucas Cmok-Kehoe, chorus*; Ben Crocker, chorus; Olivia Cronin, bassoon; Jocelyn Cubstead, chorus; Eli Dearden, chorus*; Jack Decoulos, violin; Chloe Derba, clarinet; David Dignan, chorus*; Ammu Dinesh, bassoon*; Andrew Eurdolian, oboe*; Julia Fontana, cello*; Mary Galstian, chorus; Riley Grant, trumpet*; Tenny Gregorian, chorus; Sa-Sa Gutterman, trombone*; Eva Hill, chorus; Kiara Holm, clarinet; Haig Hovsepian, alto saxophone; David Johnson, chorus*; Noah Johnston, chorus; Eliza Jones, French horn; Ryan Keeth, snare drum; Helena Kim, euphonium*; Elizabeth Knight, string bass; David Korn, chorus*; Daniel Lay, violin*; Eunice Lee, flute*; Oliver Leeb, chorus; Stephen Lucas, clarinet; Anna Makar-Limanov, chorus*; Solomon Mankin, viola; Eli Martin, trombone; Hannah Messenger, French horn*; Noah Miller-Medzon, chorus; Zoe Miner, chorus*; Sarah Montoya, string bass; Neal Mulani, chorus; Nicholas Osborn, French horn*; Yeonjae Park, cello; Guy Parsons, chorus; Calvin Perkins, trumpet; Connor Quinn, chorus*; Hannah Read, flute/piccolo*; Michael Rodriguez, chorus; Bryan Scordino, chorus; Ned Searls, trumpet*; Edward Stafford, chorus; Jack Stone, bass trombone*; Dongmin Sung, cello; Rafi Wagner, trombone*; Tina Wang, Euphonium; Jasper Wolf, jazz trumpet*; Rowan Wolf, jazz tenor saxophone*; Mary Yeh, string bass*; Thomas Zembowicz, chorus*; Andy Zhang, clarinet and Stephanie Zhang, violin*.

Cityside Subaru ‘Shares the Love’ with Foundation for Belmont Education

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Belmont’s Cityside Subaru has selected the Foundation for Belmont Education as its first local non-profit organization to benefit from the Subaru “Share the Love” fundraiser, a national initiative by the car manufacturer that has donated more than $25 million to local charities across the U.S. during the past four years.

Under the program, consumers who purchase or lease a new vehicle can select the Foundation as their charity of choice, and Subaru will donate $250 to the foundation, which supports educational excellence and enrichment in the Belmont public schools. The “Share the Love” event began Friday, Nov. 20 and runs through Friday, Jan. 2, 2015.

The FBE is one of five charities that area residents can choose to give to and the only local option; the remaining four are national charities selected by the car manufacturer.

Subaru is aiming to raise $10 million this year for charities across the U.S., double last year’s donation. Over the past four years, the Share the Love program has raised $25 million. Cityside Subaru has contributed approximately $260,000 to that effort.

“We are excited to be able to provide local residents with an opportunity to directly give back to their community through Subaru’s Share the Love program,” said Rick White, Cityside’s general manager and co-owner. “We are proud to be part of the Belmont community, and are pleased that through this innovative fundraising initiative we can show our support of its fantastic school system.”

In partnership with the Belmont Public School system, the Foundation for Belmont Education supports the community’s interest in ensuring that educators and students alike are given the best tools, technology and training that foster innovation and love of learning. The FBE’s partnership with Cityside Subaru is reflective of how the Belmont community is coming together to support innovative curriculum enrichment across the school system.

Named Subaru Dealer of the Year in 2010 by DealerRater.com, Cityside Subaru is located at 790 Pleasant St. (Rt 60). www.citysidesubaru.com.

A New Belmont High Around the Corner? A ‘Senior Study’ Suggests Good Odds

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Is a “new” Belmont High School just around the corner?

While a decision by the state authority which supplies critical funding which assists municipalities in the construction of school buildings is about a month away, a hint of heightened interest in Belmont’s plan to revamp the increasingly threadbare building on the banks of Clay Pit Pond is an indication, the state is taking a hard look at the Belmont School District’s 2014 Statement of Interest application for a new high school.

And if a letter from a Cape Cod educator is correct, Belmont’s odds of receiving a favorable nod from the state has increased considerably to begin the long process of constructing a 21st century school.

Two days before Halloween, on Oct. 29, a team of architects and engineers associated with the Massachusetts School Building Authority conducted a “senior study” of the 44-year-old brick and concrete structure, asking a lot of questions of school and town officials while poking around the building.

Belmont is one of about two dozen locations around the state where senior studies have been conducted since September, according to the Building Authority’s Facebook account.

“The Building Authority selects applications from within the Statement of Interest ‘bucket’ and choose some for a [senior] study,” Belmont’s superintendent of schools John Phelan told the Belmontonian after the meeting of the Belmont School Committee on Tuesday, Nov. 18.

“We want to review every SOI as part of the review process,” said Massachusetts School Building Authority spokesman Dan Collins. 

While the Authority and District are remaining quiet on the reason Belmont was selected for the study, a letter from the head of another school district seeking the same MSBA funding was more forthcoming.

In a letter to a Brewster town official dated Oct. 27, 2014, Robert Sanborn, the superintendent/director of the Cape Cod Regional Technical High School, said the MSBA conducted a senior study at the Harwich-based school earlier in the month.

“At the meeting, we were informed [by the MSBA] that out of one hundred and eight SIOs submitted, Cape Cod Tech was one of twenty-five (25) schools designated for a senior study,”

“From the 25, a substantial percentage of districts will be recommended to move forward with an invitation into the MSBA eligibility period,” wrote Sanborn.

If the same number of districts, 13, are accepted for reimbursement funding by the MSBA as was in 2013, the odds of Belmont’s SOI being selected has increased considerably.

For more than a decade, the Belmont School District has faithfully submitted a SOI to the MSBA appealing for state funds to begin the renovation of Belmont High School and the construction of a new 35,000 sq.-ft. science wing.

The projected cost of a “new” Belmont High School building is estimated by the district at between $90 and $100 million. For a comparison, the cost for the renovation of and new structures at Winchester High School is $101 million in construction costs (the entire project is pegged at $130 million) with the state providing a grant of $44.5 million.

Each year since the early 2000s, Belmont has received only the yearly, “Thanks, try again next year” response from the authority.

But for the first time, the MSBA decided to conduct a more extensive review of not only the SOI but of the existing school building.

A “senior study“ is requested by the MSBA for “some of the district identified priority schools for which a Statement of Interest has been submitted,” according to the authority’s website.

The study allows the authority to perform several types of assessments depending on the school building deficiencies noted in the district’s SOI. The study also includes reviewing the SOI and all supporting documents as well as dig into historical enrollment trends and the educational programs provided at the school.

The visit (which is not a mandatory part of the senior study) includes a tour of the school by experienced architects and engineers who examine both the condition of the building as well as programmatic issues – such as evidence of overcrowding in classrooms and design features – that affect the delivery of the district’s educational program.

Before touring the school, the MSBA team interviews the superintendent, principal, facilities manager and other school personnel on areas such as confirming information about school building deficiencies as stated in the SOI and obtain a close-hand look at the current campus and see how that adversely impacts a student’s education.

“The MSBA’s goal is to collaborate with the district to find the right-sized, most fiscally responsible and educationally appropriate solution to the facility’s problems,” said the website.

“The information acquired during the study will help the MSBA determine the next steps in the process,” said Collins.

Despite dispensing hopeful answers, Collins made clear being selected for a study “certainly doesn’t signal that your SOI will be accepted this cycle.”

With a cap of $250 million per year over the next five years, only one-in-eight SOI’s targeting extensive renovations or a new school are accepted each year, said Collins.