Scholarships, floor hockey, and jazz - there's something for everyone!

Daniel Marr, Jr. Catholic Schools Scholarship Program

The Boys and Girls Club is pleased to announce that the 20th year of the Daniel Marr, Jr. Catholic Schools Scholarship Program is complete with 76 Club members selected to participate representing 21 schools in the greater Boston area. The Daniel Marr, Jr. Scholarship Program was founded in 1992 in the name of the late Daniel Marr, Jr. upon his bequest to the Archdiocese of Boston. In turn, the Archdiocese created the scholarship fund to recognize the work Mr. Marr had done in the community, and as a means to assist Club members and their families with tuition assistance at Catholic Elementary and High Schools located in the area. To date over $700,000 has been awarded through this very successful collaboration between the Archdiocese and the Boys and Girls Club to deserving Boys and Girls Club members. We congratulate all of the members selected.

Jazz Boston Riffs & Raps Program Begins

Riffs & Raps is an innovative after-school program that engages young people in exploring the life of their community, and their own creativity, through the medium of Jazz. The program launched on 10/12 with an opening performance that featured Jazz Masters, Arni Cheatham and Bill Lowe of Jazz Boston as well as Rick Agglar of the Blue Hill Boys and Girls Club and our very own Music Clubhouse Director, Ayeisha Mathis. The program provides participants with a growth experience that changes their perception of themselves, their community and the learning process. The 7-session program, which will begin on 10/24, will conclude with a live performance on 12/12 at 7:00 p.m. We are also pleased to announce that our popular Music Lesson program will begin this month. Please note that pre-registration is required. In addition, the Music Clubhouse also offers drop-in time, our Friday Night Live series, and a recording studio for members ages 10 & older. For more information please contact Ayeisha Mathis at ext. 1410.

All-Star Floor Hockey Program

The two All-Star Floor Hockey teams at the Club kick off their respective 2011 seasons this month. The Girls 14 & under All-Stars opened their season with a well-played 9-1 win over the John M. Barry Boys and Girls Club of Newton. Scoring for the Lady Colonels were Khalilah Evora (5 goals), Michelle Beazley (2 goals), Jasmine Castro (1 goal), and Jamila Barros (1 goal). The next game on the schedule will see the team traveling to the Billerica Boys and Girls Club. The 13 & under Boys team will open up the defense of their 2010 championship season at home, hosting the South Boston Boys and Girls Club on 10/26. Both teams will continue home and away games against Clubs from the region through the end of November followed by the play-off tournament. For information on the All-Star Floor Hockey program please contact Athletic Director, Bruce Seals at ext. 2210.

Education Program

The Education program at the Club is open to members ages 6 to 18 and offers a variety of programs to enhance academic achievement. Homework Help is offered four afternoons a week for members ages 5 to 12 in the Education Center from 2:00 – 7:00 p.m. (Monday to Thursday) while our teen members can complete after-school assignments right in the Teen Center from 3:00 – 6:00 p.m. Staff are on hand to provide assistance at both sites. For those needing more focused assistance, our Tutoring program, which began in early October, matches members with volunteers for weekly sessions in One-to-One and small group formats. Please note that pre-registration is required and spots are limited. For our teen members, our College Bound activities include Wilson Daily Prep, an on-line S.A.T. program, and an upcoming opportunity to participate in the Boston College Splash Campus Experience on 11/3. At our Denney Center Site we offer Scholar Search, a program to help H.S. Seniors locate potential scholarship opportunities. We also offer One-to-One sessions by appointment with the Education Director where College selection and admissions assistance are covered. Teen members also have three upcoming opportunities with volunteers from the State Street Corporation which include a Mock Interview session (10/27), a Financial Literacy Event (11/2) and a Job Shadow Day experience (11/10). Lastly, we also offer small group activities such as: Scratch Animation, which teaches members how to design computer based video and games; Kidzlit, a Literacy program for members ages 5 to 12; Kids College, an on-line education program that delivers a standards-based curriculum in math and literacy; and Theme Days, which take place on Fridays and will cover such topics as ancient Egypt, dinosaurs and more. For information on our Education programs please contact Emily Capurso at 617-288-7120, ext. 2320.