Newsletter -- Fall 1998

Mentoring Program Can Make a Difference

This year the BHS Alumni Association is hoping to organize a mentoring program for BHS students. Just what is a mentoring program and how can it benefit students (and alums)?

Traditionally, a mentoring program provides an opportunity for an adult to assist a younger person in their career or academic paths. We want to be able to reach out and connect with BHS students by giving alums the chance to share their expertise and act as role models for high school students.

Mentoring can be as simple as a one-time visit to your workplace or a one-on-one discussion about your career field. It can also be more extensive and can involve an internship, more frequent meetings and even tutoring and advice on a longer-term basis.

Whether you are a whiz at grammar or the computer, whether you are an entrepreneur or a stay-at-home parent, whether you are a doctor or an artist, or whether you just have some time to offer a young person, we would love to hear from you! Even if you are not in the Boston area, we can set up "on-line" mentors, too!

Our first step is to get some volunteers from our wonderful and enthusiastic alums! Cynthia Piltch '70, who founded a hugely successful mentoring program at Radcliffe, has offered to give us some initial advice. Whether you can give a few hours or can make a longer commitment, we would love to hear from you!

Just fill out the form enclosed in this Newsletter and check off the "mentoring" section if you'd like to hear more. We will contact you to get more information about your areas of expertise and interest.

You CAN make a difference in a BHS student's life. Don't forget to check off your form and send it back to us!

Alumni Association's Spring Wrap-Up

Once again the BHS Alumni Association was busy in the spring and early summer! We hosted our annual Teacher's Breakfast in May to honor the hard work of these dedicated professionals. We were pleased by the turnout and as always, the positive comments from the teachers about this early-morning event. We also sponsored two scholarships this year to deserving BHS students.Recipients were Peter Cavanaugh '98 and Haesther Libbey '98.

Our annual 50th reunion reception before graduation attracted a small turnout this year but next year we hope to attract more grads by getting the word out early. So all members of the class of 1949: put June 6, 1999 on your calendar.

Maybe These Are the Good Old Days

By Robert Weintraub, Ed.D., Headmaster

The 1998-1999 school year at Brookline High is off to a rather extraordinary start. After a summer of headlines about testing of teachers and students and a rather denigrating portrait of teachers and the public schools, the SAT report for the Class of 1998 has arrived.

At Brookline High, the facts provide a very reassuring picture. The average combined SAT score (verbal plus mathematical) at BHS is 1132, the second highest average score in the history of the school. (The highest score was 1133, earned by the Class of 1997). I displayed a graph of SAT scores from 1963 to 1998 at a recent BHS Alumni Association meeting. One alum remarked, with surprise, "Today's students are scoring higher than we did!"

The scores are particularly compelling since more than 90% of our students now take the test (75% took it in the 1960's) and approximately one-third of our students speak English as their second language.

In addition, we are about to induct over 25% of the Class of 1999 (the highest percentage in the history of the school) into the National Honor Society. These are students who have earned a grade point average of 3.4 during their first three years at BHS and who have demonstrated leadership and performed community service during their high school careers.

Some of you may have seen the October 19th issue of Time magazine which featured a special report on excellent students in America. Time conducted a national search and chose seven young men and women. Two of these students-Stephen George and Sarah Seidman-are members of the Class of 1999 at BrooklineHigh!

Every generation seems to think tthings were better when they were young. BHS has a proud tradition of academic achievement. Judging by the data we have today, this tradition is being maintained, if not enhanced, by our current students.

I encourage all alumni to visit the "newly emerging" Brookline High as we enter our final year of renovation. And please pay attention to the media in early December as Brookline High launches its pioneering "21st Century Fund" with a kick-off in Brookline featuring Mike Wallace '35, Conan O'Brien '81 and Mike Dukakis '51 and Kitty Dukakis '54 as keynoters. Maybe these are the good old days!

Reunion Information

Classes of 1939, 1940 and 1941: Combined "60th Plus or Minus" reunion tentatively scheduled for Oct. 17, 1999 at the Holiday Inn in Brookline. Contact: Mel Wolf, 2 Hammond Pond Parkway, Chestnut Hill, MA 02467; (617) 965-7449.

Class of 1949: A 50th reunion is scheduled for September 26, 1999, at the Holiday Inn in Brookline. Contact: Jackie Shaps, PO Box 1197, New Seabury, MA 02649-1197; (508) 477-0880.

Class of 1950: A 50th reunion is scheduled for June 24, 2000. Contact: Roz Komins, 11 Miami Ave., West Roxbury, MA 02132 (617)327-3995.

Class of 1958: A 40th reunion is planned for November 14, 1998 at the Holiday Inn in Brookline. Call Beth Blankstein at (617) 244-8123 for more information.

Class of 1959: A 40th reunion is planned for November 6, 1999 at Pier 4 in Boston. Call Tobi Craft Lesse at (617) 527-6833 or write to: 183 Oak St., #102C, Newton MA 02464.

Class of 1964: A 35th reunion is scheduled for November 27, 1999 at the Holiday Inn in Brookline. For more information, call Donalda Morrison Hingston at (617) 566-5224 or Mary Lacy Green (781) 762-8990.

Class of 1968: A 30th reunion is planned for November 28, 1998 at Tam's in Brookline (the former site of Jack & Marion's on Harvard Street). Contact Burt Rosenthal (617) 742-0208 (work), Ed Yee (978) 493-5280 (work) or Louise Grossman (781) 235-4874 (home).

Class of 1973: A 25th reunion has been tentatively scheduled for November 29, 1998 at the Holiday Inn in Brookline. Call Dr. Barbara Fienman at (617) 232-3511.

Class of 1974: A 25th reunion is being planned. For more information or to volunteer to help, contact Marcy Clebnik Kornreich at (781) 235-1754.

Class of 1978: A 20th reunion is being held on November 27, 1998 at the Holiday Inn in Brookline. Call Carole Ann Baer-Evans at (978) 443-6684 or email her at baer@psych.mgh.har-vard.edu

Looking Good: New Items Now Available

If you're feeling nostalgic, consider our new BHS caps or sweatshirts. The caps are blue with red lettering and are made of a durable, washable heavy cotton fabric. The grey sweatshirts are heavy 100% cotton with red and blue lettering and are available in extra large and 2X sizes.

The hats are $10 and the sweatshirts are $26. Just fill out the order form below. What a great gift for yourself or a favorite BHS graduate.

Thanks for helping to support the Alumni Association!

Recognizing Teacher Excellence

Every year since 1993, the Class of '52 has presented a $500 cash award to an outstanding teacher at the high school, who "by deed and example represents the highest professional and leadership qualities of the faculty of BHS to its students."

Recipients have included: 1993: Osna Sens; 1994: Patricia Harrington; 1995: Michael Frantz and Robert Cohen; 1996: Lindsay Murphy; 1997: Ronald A. DiVincenzo; and 1998: Sydra Schnipper.

The award is funded by a fund created by the class of '52 on the occasion of its 40th reunion. If your class is interested in starting an award, contact the Alumni Office and we will be happy to assist you. It's a great way to "give back" to the high school!

Retirement Party Planned

Ronald DiVencenzo has been a teacher and coach at BHS for many years and his friends and co-workers are hosting a retirement party for him next month.

The event will be held November 24, 1998 at the Newton Marriott at 6 p.m. The cost is $35, which includes a group gift which will be purchased.

If you are interested in attending, you must respond immediately. Send your check to: Ron Divencenzo Retirement, 35 Wolcott Road, Chestnut Hill, MA 02167.

Happy Birthday Wishes

On behalf of the Brookline High School Alumni Association, we would like to extend special birthday wishes to two very special people who are 90 years young! Congratulations to Dr. Bertram Holland, former BHS Headmaster and president emeritus of the Alumni Association. Also, best wishes to Margaret Driscoll '25, a BHS grad, former teacher and still active member of the Alumni Association!!

Corrections

Our apologies for two minor errors in our last Newsletter. The date of the last Newsletter was of course, 1998, not 1997. Also, the correct phone number for any inquiries regarding the Brookline High School Alumni Association is: (617) 730-5110.