Curley K-8 School

Jeffrey Slater, Principal
493 Centre Street, Jamaica Plain, MA 02130
Phone: 617-635-8239
Directions via Google Maps
Access via MBTA Public Transit
BPS Report on Teaching & Learning for Curley K-8 School

Partner University: Northeastern University
Family Community Outreach Coordinator:
Denise Washington
Number of Students: 776

Step UP Activities

  • To support teachers, Northeastern funded two math coaches from MathPOWER, a nonprofit organization housed at Northeastern with a long history of collaboration with Boston Public Schools. Coaches worked on site with Curley teachers one to two days a week for the entire school year.
     
  • All Curley faculty participated in professional development that supported the implementation of First Steps in Mathematics. Staff attended several days of training in the summer and additional sessions during the school year. All staff were scaffolded with a Blackboard support site that provided a forum for discussion on classroom implementation. Some teachers also chose to take the First Steps course for college credit from Northeastern for a nominal fee.
     
  • In collaboration with Northeastern, ExxonMobilís Dream Tour brought Dr. Bernard Harris, the first African-American to walk in space, to the Curley for an all-day visit. Students had the opportunity to meet Dr. Harris and to hear his inspiring story of the role education has played in his life.
     
  • Students in two education classes at Northeastern spent 30 hours each, per semester, working with a host teacher. They worked in the classroom, in after-school sessions, and in the Saturday Academy.
     
  • Northeastern forged a collaboration with Machine Science, a new approach to robotics and hands-on engineering education, providing students an opportunity to participate in extended technology sessions. The sessions were held during the schoolís Period of Discovery time on Wednesday afternoons for several weeks.
     
  • On a field trip to Northeastern, a group of fourth-grade students visited engineering laboratories and took part in related hands-on design challenges.
     
  • The Robotics Team at NU visited the Curley to talk about the practical aspects of engineering and to get students excited about their potential future involvement in competitions.
     
  • Northeastern provided lunch and supported the Curley School with multiple field trips to Spontaneous Celebrations in Jamaica Plain.
     
  • Through Northeasternís Cooperative Education Program (COOP), an NU student (also a BPS alum) worked full time for six months assisting the Family Community Outreach Coordinator (FCOC) with translation services and support for parents. The COOP produced a directory of organizational partners working with the Curley Consortium, in addition to planning a summer resource fair that was attended by all Curley students.
     
  • Northeastern provided support for the Curley Consortium in developing an electronic group page and producing a brochure for parents and consortium members. Center for STEM Education staff have also begun to expand their relationship with the Curley by introducing new faculty to the school.
     
  • The Tufts University School of Dental Medicine (TUSDM) expanded its services to the Curley Middle School to provide all preventive treatment, including oral screenings, fluoride varnish, and dental sealants. Dental referrals were made for children whose cases required off-site treatment. TUSDM continued to provide dental services to the Curley Lower School.
     
  • In February, National Childrenís Dental Health Month, Tufts promoted dental care through an in-school poster campaign, and two TUSDM faculty members gave a PowerPoint presentation on oral health and disease prevention to the sixth, seventh, and eighth grades.