Mason School

Report of December 13th, 2006
Jennifer O’Neil told the membership that Principal Janet Palmer Owens had a bad fall in November and broke her foot. She has been resting at home since then, although impatiently awaiting her doctor’s okay to return.

Report of October 11th, 2006
Chuck Levin, the committee chair, introduced Jennifer O’Neil who is the new Director of Partnerships at the school.

Jennifer indicated to the membership that the Mason is looking at the possibility of expanding. It is currently K – Grade 5, and is looking to become K – Grade 8. Some students from Northeastern & Harvard are researching the possibilities.

There continues to be some safety issues at the school, primarily revolving around car break-ins.

Report of June 14th, 2006
The Masontenial 100 year anniversary gala was a great success with over 400 people in attendance. The school raised over $25,000. and many Newmarket members were important supporters of the event. The assistance of Middlesex Truck & Coach, R & R Sales, Jacobson Flowers and the Hampton Suites was vital as were the efforts of many of our other members.

Alan Michael showed our members a DVD video of the event and any members who would like to purchase a copy of the video can do so by contacting the school.

Report of February 8th, 2006
The teachers are preparing the students for the MCAS exams. Faculty and parents are planning a gala to celebrate the 100^th anniversary of the Mason School. Save the date on April 25, 2006. There will be a silent auction, so please call Principal Janet Palmer Owens and let her know what you can donate. Thank you.

MARCH 9th report 2005
Chairman Joe Cefalo spoke for the Mason school update. The logistics for the “Tot Lot” are being worked out. Expansion of the existing facility is needed.

Feb 9th report 2005
Mason School Update: Is continuing to do well and getting good reviews, said Tony Ashton, who is a new teacher at the school.

Jan 12th report 2005
The Mason School Principal, Janet Palmer-Owens, met with the Issues Committee to discuss issues the school is facing. The Boston School Department has decided that the programs should be kindergarten through eighth grade rather than kindergarten through fifth grade. In order to offer three additional grades, the Mason School will require more space for classrooms. The Issues Committee discussed several possible options for gaining this additional space, including building more stories onto the existing school structure and creating classrooms on nearby land parcels. This issue will require further input, guidance and support from the Boston School Department. The Mason School will be distributing copies of the “wish list” of supply items needed by the school such as maps and books for classrooms, reams of paper, pencils, etc. Janet Palmer-Owens explained that she spends her limited funds on trying to retain the staff and there is nothing left for school supplies. In the past, Newmarket Business Association members have donated virtually everything on the school’s wish list. The City of Boston has not provided a much-requested traffic signal for students to cross Norfolk Street safely to get to the playground. Newmarket members will follow up with the City officials to try to expedite this traffic signal. For the youngest children, Principal Janet Palmer-Owens would like to create a safe, small play area on the grounds of the school. There was some discussion of earmarking the March fundraiser to assist the Mason School as it prepares to celebrate its 100^th birthday.

Thank you very much to many volunteers from Slade Gorton company for the Santa and holiday party for the Mason students. The swimming pool is completed and reopened. Newmarket Business Association members are always welcome to visit the Mason School.

Two Newmarket Business Association members have offered a challenge to match contributions to the School up to $500. Donate now and double your money!

Oct 13th report 2004
Hilary from the Mason school gave a Mason school report. The Mason school received an award form Harvard Business School for the Mason after school program. The swimming pool is almost complete and is due to open soon. The students scored very high in MCAS and especially within Mathematics.

June 23rd report 2004
The Mason School’s “wish list” of supply items needed by the school will be posted on the school’s new website, www.masonpilotschool.org. Please take a moment to check out the information about the school. Principal Janet Palmer-Owens announced that the school is being repainted. She thanked Jay Hajj, the owner of the Victoria Diner, for hosting the fifth grade class luncheon. This special event, also attended by Nick and Charlie Georgenes, celebrates the Mason School’s graduating class and gives them an opportunity to learn proper etiquette for eating at a fancy restaurant. Newmarket Business Association members are invited to visit the Mason School in September when the school year begins.

May 12th report 2004
The Mason School distributed copies of the “wish list” of supply items needed by the school. Principal Janet Palmer-Owens explained that she spends her limited funds on trying to retain the staff and there is nothing left for school supplies. In the past, Newmarket Business Association members have donated virtually everything on the school’s wish list. The Junior Achievement program has begun with many volunteers from Slade Gorton company working with the students. Interested members can still volunteer to be a part of this wonderful program. Work on the swimming pool is underway with completion expected in July. The students take the MCAS examinations next week. Newmarket Business Association members are always welcome to visit the Mason School.

April 14th report 2004
The Mason School students provided wonderful entertainment and inspiration at the March gala! The Mason School “wish list” of materials and supplies is posted on the Newmarket website. Please check if there is anything that you can provide to help out. Special thanks go to Brian Maloney who supplied a camcorder to the Mason School to replace the one that was stolen. Thefts continue to be a problem; the pocketbooks of two Mason schoolteachers were stolen on April 13^th. Repair work is in progress on the swimming pool; they anticipate the pool will be back in service in July. Newmarket Business Association members are always welcome to visit the Mason School.

Two Newmarket Business Association members have offered a challenge to match contributions to the School up to $500. Donate now and double your money!

February 15th report 2004
There was a meeting held to address the problems with the swimming pool used by the Mason School and the community. The City of Boston has allocated the money for substantial repairs; they anticipate the pool will be back in service in July. The faculty is currently preparing the students for their MCAS exams. There is a “wish list” of office supply items needed by the school. Please try to donate such items as glue sticks, pens, paper, manila folders, tape, magic markers, crayons, etc. If you are willing to volunteer your time, there are still openings in the Junior Achievement program starting up at the Mason School. . Please sign up to volunteer in the Junior Achievement program being developed for the Mason School. You will be paired with another volunteer for one classroom. Junior Achievement will be a five week program and the time commitment is one hour per week. The school is in need of a bargain priced camcorder and digital camera to replace items that were stolen. Newmarket Business Association members are always welcome to visit the Mason School.

Two Newmarket Business Association members have offered a challenge to match contributions to the School up to $500. Donate now and double your money!

January 15th report 2004
Annika Moran will be serving as an intern at the Mason School. She is studying at Harvard and learning life-lessons from Janet Palmer Owens, the principal of the Mason School. Special Thanks to Tim Riedy who arranged to have the parking lot plowed this winter. Safety issues are improving. Please send letters to the Mayor’s office requesting that the neighborhood swimming pool be repaired and put back in service. The pool has been non-functional since September of 2003. Please sign up to volunteer in the Junior Achievement program being developed for the Mason School. You will be paired with another volunteer for one classroom. Junior Achievement will be a five week program and the time commitment is one hour per week.

December 10th report 2003
Two extremely generous Newmarket Business Association members have issued a challenge to the rest of the membership: They will match up to $1,000 in donations to the Mason School Fund of the Newmarket Business Association.

All are invited to attend the sing-a-long at the Mason School on December 23^rd. Thank you to R&R Sales for generously donating 350 T-shirts; the students can be seen wearing this gift in the article in the South End News. During the recent snowstorm, the City of Boston only plowed half the area necessary. The Mason School is seeking a local business to assist by plowing the other half. The Mason School and Junior Achievement are having a training session today to be held at Slade Gorton. Twelve to fifteen volunteers are needed to teach business and enterprise to students. Newmarket Business Association members are always welcome to visit the Mason school.

November 12th report 2003
The Mason School has been named the winner of a national award for student achievement for African-American children! This prestigious award will be presented by the National Association of Black School Educators to Principal Janet Palmer-Owens in Reno before three thousand people. Special thanks to Newmarket Business Association Vice President John Marston who brought 130 people from Citizens Bank to spend the day at the Mason School to celebrate Halloween with the students. Special thanks to Bob Raimondi, from R&R Sales, who donated $1,000 to the Mason School fund of the Newmarket Business Association. Principal Janet Palmer-Owens also thanked Captain Cunningham and the Boston Police Department for their help with the security and theft issues plaguing the school. She is putting together a “wish list” of items that the school needs. First on the list is a camcorder to replace the one that was stolen recently. Newmarket Business Association members are always welcome to visit the Mason school.

October 8th report 2003
The Mason School is a semi-finalist for a national award for student achievement for African-American children! The recent spate of break-ins have ceased. Principal Janet Palmer-Owens met with the Police Captains and Newmarket Business Association representatives and came up with a plan to deal with the recent vandalism and theft problems. Paul Revere assisted the school with a bus for the students’ apple picking excursion. Thank you to everyone for your generous donations.

Newmarket Business Association members are always welcome to visit the Mason school.

September 10th report 2003
The Mason School several troubling vandalism incidents including the theft of five computers and the camcorder with the film of the students’ trip to the farm in Vermont. Drug needles have been found on the school grounds. The situation is worsened by the budget cuts which mean that there is now no custodian for the Mason School. No cleaning is in the budget. The Mason School will be presenting a list of needs to the Issues Committee and thanks the Newmarket Business Association for helping out at this difficult time.

August 13th report 2003
The Mason School has been designated a pilot school as of September 2004 and plans are proceeding to organize the conversion. The Mason School has gotten grant money from the Boston Foundation to assist in the conversion. The Mason School will have a Board of Advisors and will set up a foundation to help with future costs.

Newmarket Business Association members are always welcome to visit the Mason school.

July 16th report 2003
The Mason School has been designated a pilot school. During the next year, the Mason School will be receiving a grant from the Boston Foundation to assist in making the transition to a pilot school. Once again, Charles and Evelyn Georgenes treated the graduating 5^th grade class from the Mason School to a lovely graduation dinner at the Victoria Restaurant. Principal Janet Palmer Owens arranged for the 5^th grade class from the Mason School to participate in a special program for a week at Spring Brook Farm in Vermont. This program was begun by James Hagedon, the CEO of the Scotts Company (maker of lawn and garden products), and is called “Farms for City Kids”. Janet Palmer Owens heard about the program and arranged for the Mason students to participate. The Boston Globe published an article about their experience. Janet Palmer Owens thanks the members of the Newmarket Business Association, and especially Charlie and Evelyn Georgenes for their generosity!
Newmarket Business Association members are always welcome to visit the Mason school.

June 11th report 2003
The Mason School has received the Vanguard Award for math achievement given by Mass Insight. The Mason was cited as a model school, with a visionary approach to whole school reform marked by peer collaboration in a challenged school population. The Mason School is featured on Boston’s channel 22 with a program on teacher apprenticeship, which offers “hands on” experience for one year. The School thanks Newmarket for its past support and is actively seeking new donations from Newmarket members, especially books and craft supplies (pens, erasers, paper, stickers, etc.) to the Mason School. Due to budget cuts, the summer program serving 200 children will not take place. The school would like to send books and craft supplies home with the students for the summer.
Newmarket Business Association members are always welcome to visit the Mason school.

May 14th report 2003
The Mason School thanks Newmarket for its past support and is actively seeking new donations from Newmarket members. Please donate books and craft supplies to the Mason School. Due to budget cuts, the summer program serving 200 children will not take place. The school would like to send books and craft supplies home with the students for the summer. The students are taking the MCAS exams. 85% of the faculty has voted to apply for Pilot School status. The Newmarket Business Association sent a letter of support for the Mason School’s application for Pilot School status. The Mason School is being presented the Vanguard Award for excellence in the Mathematics MCAS. On Thursday, May 15^th, there is a press conference scheduled at the Mason School to introduce a special teacher preparation program. Watch for the Mason School in the news and please recommend the program to anyone interested in a career as a teacher or principal.

A special thank you to Joe Cefalo’s wife who donated tickets to the Big Apple Circus. Also, thank you for the tickets to the Dorchester Bay “Reach for the Stars” event which was attended by six Mason School students and their parents.

All Newmarket Business Association members are welcome to visit the Mason school.

April 9th report 2003
The Mason School thanks Newmarket for its past support and is actively seeking new donations from Newmarket members. Due to budget cuts, the school has no materials budget and has had to send layoff notices to 50% of the staff. If you have supplies like pens, pencils, paper, tape, etc. that your business can donate, it will be very much appreciated. Thank you very much for the cookies from the fund-raising event. They really lifted the spirits of the children and teachers at a difficult time for the school! The South End News will be featuring the Mason School students’ essays about the Iraq War in tomorrow’s newspaper. All Newmarket Business Association members are invited to visit the school.

February 12th report 2003
The Mason School thanks Newmarket for its past support and is actively seeking new donations from Newmarket members. Due to budget cuts, the school has no materials budget and has lost three teachers and five para-professionals. If you have supplies like pens, pencils, paper, tape, etc. that your business can donate, it will be very much appreciated. The school has been accepted as a potential pilot school - that is a professional development school. They are working on writing a grant due in June. The safety issues have improved, except that the school has requested a crossing light for the kids crossing Norfolk to get to school and the playground.

January 15th report 2003
The Mason School has submitted an application to be designated a pilot school - that is a professional development school. Due to budget pressure, the Mason School will be forced to lose three teachers and four paraprofessionals. In conjunction with the announcement of the Federal “No Child Left Behind” legislation, the Associated Press cited the Mason School as an exemplary school and took pictures for an article in the Boston Herald and a segment on WBUR.

December 18th report 2002
The Mason School is going to submit a proposal to be recognized as a pilot school. The application will be submitted on Friday, December 20^th. Becoming a pilot school will enable the Mason School to attract additional outside grants. The Mason School is already the pilot location where teachers are trained in literacy and math. Newmarket Business Association’s Issues Committee held their meeting at the Mason School to discuss the pilot school and other strategic issues of the Mason’s future as well as serious safety issues that are current challenges for the school. The Mason School has been facing problems in its vicinity including crime, drugs, prostitution, and car thefts. An immediate outcome of the Issues Committee meeting was that Sue Sullivan was able to get the Mason’s photocopier repaired in record time! The Mason School is facing a competitive situation as the Orchard Gardens School (a brand new K-8 school) nears completion. Principal Janet Palmer Owens again thanked all the members of the Newmarket Business Association for so much generosity to the School throughout the year! Wally Stevens of Slade Gorton has arranged for Santa Claus to visit the school on Friday, December 20^th. The Mason School’s MCAS results were excellent: of the 75 K-5 elementary schools in Boston, the Mason School scored #1 in math and #9 in English.

November 13th report 2002
The Mason School is facing a competitive situation as the Orchard Gardens School nears completion. The Orchard Gardens School will be a brand new facility and will offer K-8 instruction. The Mason School is an old facility and offers only K-5. Last year, the Mason lost ten 5^th graders to charter schools. Mason Principal Janet Palmer-Owens met with the Chuck Levin and the Newmarket Business Association Issues Committee in order to bring this situation to our attention and ask for our assistance. Principal Owens is planning to try to get the Mason School approved as a K-8 school. In order to do this, the Mason will need to acquire the rights to use land adjacent to the Mason Building and install portable classrooms. The Mason School has also been facing problems in its vicinity including crime, drugs, prostitution, and car thefts. The next issues committee meeting will take place at the Mason School to review the situation on site.

October 9th report 2002
The Mason School has re-opened for the new school year. The Newmarket Business Association paid approximately $1,200 for the cost of buses to take the children to Boston area museums during the past summer. If you or your business can help the Mason School this year, please contact Chuck Levin or Susan Sullivan.

August 14th report 2002
The Mason School is getting ready to open for back to school. A new school for Kindergarten through 8^th grade is now under construction and after it opens may adjust enrollment at the Mason school. If you or your business can help the Mason School this year, please contact Chuck Levin or Susan Sullivan.

June 12th report 2002
Principal Janet Palmer-Owens reported that the Mason School was celebrating its kindergarten graduation today and its last day of school and fifth grade graduation on next Friday. The Mason School was the only school in the city of Boston to have no failure of the math MCAS exam. The Mason School was honored by City Council member Chuck Turner last week. They received citations for student achievement. Ms. Palmer-Owens thanked the Newmarket Business Association again for all of its support and generosity. She especially thanked Charlie Georgenes of the Victoria Restaurant for once again hosting the entire fifth grade plus faculty for a lovely dinner. The dinner was also attended by many Newmarket Business Association representatives and was an enjoyable learning experience. During the summer, the Mason School applies for numerous grants to obtain funding. If you or your business can help the Mason School, please contact Chuck Levin or Susan Sullivan.

May 8th report 2002
Crystal English reported that the Mason School is one of five finalists for a $500,000 college scholarship program for urban schools. Over one hundred schools competing for this scholarship award was winnowed down to five finalists. Mason School was hosting the visit of the judges at the same time as our meeting, so Ms. English passed along the Principal’s gratitude for all of Newmarket Business Association’s continuing support and especially the efforts of Wally Stevens and Slade Gorton company. They recently hosted the Mason School students on a tour and are developing a new science curriculum.

April 10th report 2002
Chuck Levin reported that the Mason School is under severe budgetary pressure, yet continues to deliver outstanding service to its students and their families. The assistance of Newmarket Business Association members, and especially the classroom volunteers from Slade Gorton Company, is very much appreciated.

December 12th report
The Mason School continues to surpass its peers. Thank you to all the Newmarket Business Association members who have helped the Mason School during 2001! Special thanks to the Slade Gorton company for its generosity. Slade Gorton employees have adopted each of the Mason School’s classrooms and work with the kids constantly throughout the year!

November 14th report
Boston has the second highest graduation rate of any urban school system in the country. The Mason School MCAS results were announced: out of 80 4^th grades in Boston, the Mason came in first in math and eighth in English. No Mason School students failed math and only one student failed English. Thank you to all members of the NBA for all our your assistance. Special thanks to Wally Stevens and the many employees of Slade Gorton who have adopted individual classrooms at the Mason School.

The Mason School was featured in the September South End News. The Newmarket Business Association sent flowers to all of the teachers for Back to School Night. Thank You to Jacobsen Floral Supply for their donation for the disaster fun, and to Dancing Deer Bakery for donating cookies for Back To School Night. There is a tour planned for the schoolchildren of the Slade Gorton facility. Slade Gorton continues to be an angel to the entire school with 49 employees working in eleven classrooms. The Mason School is now recognized as a Leadership School; at the most recent state conference, the Mason School was named as one of two schools in Boston that has achieved high MCAS scores. The Mason School will be included in the Newmarket Business Association website. Our website has met with excellent response and has logged 3500-4000 visitors.

July 19th report
Following the awards presentations, a dance troupe of students from the Mason School entertained members and guests.

May 9th report
Mason School: Principal Janet Palmer-Owens announced that the school had been featured on television on channels 56, 4 and 5. The woman from Kenya who won the Boston Marathon met with the schoolchildren. The Clifford Park dedication will be a special event for the schoolchildren. It will take place on Tuesday, May 15^th and the Mayor will be speaking at 2:00 pm. The MCAS exams will be the focus of the school for the next month.

April 11, 2001 report
Mason School: Brenda Holloway, an assistant principal intern learning from Janet Palmer-Owens, gave the report from the Mason School. Janet Palmer-Owens sent her apologies for missing the meeting, but it was the first day of the MCAS exams. Both Governor Cellucci and Lt. Governor Swift were at the Mason School for the “bully-proofing” program. The Mason School is one of two nominees for “Exemplary School” citation being selected by a team from the Department of Education. Thank you to the Victoria and Charles Georgenes for donating a delicious luncheon served to the evaluation team. One of the teachers of the K-zero class has been nominated for Teacher of the Year. Planning is underway for the “Mason Summer Stars” summer school program. Thanks to Wally Stevens and all the volunteers from Slade Gorton the Adopt-a-Class program is wonderful!

The Mason School hosted the November membership meeting. Superintendent Payzant of the Boston Public Schools was the speaker. Thank you for the warm welcome and hospitality. Wally Stevens and the staff of Slade Gorton have adopted classrooms at the Mason School. Charles Georgenes’ years of effort on Clifford Park have paid off with a tot-lot playground for the Mason School. Chuck Levin and Joe Cefalo have compiled a “wish list” of items to be donated to assist the Mason School.

September 13th report

An event is scheduled for November 8^th. More details to follow.

Thirty percent of the students at the Mason School are special needs students. The Mason School was one of seven finalists in the national competition for the Disney Spotlight award. The Mason School ranked seventh out of sixty-two Boston schools on the MCAS exams. The Mason School has a community learning center. Thanks to NBA member Bob Patcha of WebmastersBoston.com, the Mason School has a web site. The Mason School subcommittee is collating a “wish list” of in-kind contributions from Newmarket members, culled from teachers’ requests. The School may ultimately need its own development director to attract grant money, since the City of Boston does not fully support the costs of operating the school.

A subcommittee meeting is scheduled for April 27 at the Flower Exchange at 8:00 a.m.

The Mason School is a finalist for the Walt Disney Company spotlight award. Contributions: