On April 28, BCDS welcomed former BU president and former Democratic gubernatorial candidate, John Silber who discussed his recently published book, Architecture of the Absurd: How "Genius" Disfigured a Practical Art. Dr. Silber met with two of BCDS teacher Ramon Williams’ classes. Mr. Williams said, “Several months ago, I heard Dr. Silber discussing his book on NPR. I immediately thought he would be a fascinating person to have come to the school.”

Each term Middle School students can choose one of the following afternoon activities:  team sports or fitness, drama, art and jazz band.

Sports:  Pickup time is 3:40 p.m. unless there is a game. Please consult the BCDS website for game schedules. Check the sports line at (617) 738-2737 for daily updates of games and return times.

Drama:  Pickup time is 3:40 p.m. unless there are extra rehearsals.

For all other activities:  Pickup time is 3:40 p.m.

All ninth and tenth grade students are expected to participate in the afternoon program all three seasons. At least one season must be an interscholastic sport.

All eleventh and twelfth grade students are expected to participate in at least two seasons per year. At least one season must be an interscholastic sport or fitness option.

NOTE: A student may apply to the Dean of Students and Director of Athletics for a waiver from interscholastic sport/fitness activity requirements in the following cases:

• medical exigency

• if a student has a regular outside-of-school commitment involving vigorous physical activity that does not parallel Beaver’s offerings

Sports:  Upper School sports teams practice Monday through Friday, 3:45-5:15 p.m. in the fall and spring.  In the winter practices are run between 3:45 to 7:00 p.m.  Please consult the parent portal for the team practice schedules.

Games are generally on Wednesdays and Fridays with some Saturday commitments. Please consult the BCDS website for game schedules. Check the Sports Line (617) 738-2737 for daily updates.

Fall Sports Choices:
Boys and Girls Soccer - both Varsity and JV
Field Hockey - Varsity and JV
Varsity Cross Country
Varsity Golf
Fitness Option

Winter Sports Choices:
Boys and Girls Basketball - both Varsity and JV
Varsity Wrestling
Volleyball - both Varsity and JV
Fencing
Fitness Option

Spring Sports Choices:
Varsity Baseball
Varsity Softball
Varsity Girls Lacrosse
Varsity Boys Lacrosse
Boys and Girls Tennis - both Varsity and JV
Ultimate Frisbee
Fitness Option


Community Service:  The Community Service Program offers students the opportunity to participate in either Beaver sponsored or individually designed placements in community service. Students complete 25 hours per Term, meet as a group bi-monthly, and are supervised by the community service coordinator. Popular placements have included working in after school programs in several Boys and Girls Clubs and Boston Schools, visiting elderly people in nursing homes and serving meals at various homeless shelters in the Boston area.

Drama:  Rehearsals for the play take place Monday through Friday from the end of classes until 5:15. There are usually several Saturday rehearsals, and students are expected to stay late the week before and the week of the production.

The fall play is a full-scale production performed in Bradley Hall or in the Arts Center. The winter play is a smaller production with 12-20 students.
The spring musical is a full-scale production performed in Bradley Hall.

Drama Tech and Costuming:  Each term there are a variety of technical positions in both Middle and Upper School plays, Concerts and Performing Arts events. Students will be involved in all aspects of production from stage managing, assistant directing, and costuming to building sets, and lights and sound. Tech crew usually meets three to five days each week and several Saturdays during the season. The tech crew is required to be available for extra work the two weeks prior to the production, and they run the actual show for the three evenings.

Photography (Fall and Winter):  In After School Photography, students meet in the darkroom to learn the basics of black and white photography. The students are expected to work on one conceptually driven, long term project throughout the term. This project is shared with the group and assessed by critique. Students should be self-motivated, demonstrate serious dedication to the creative process and meet attendance requirements in order to get full credit for their participation. Photographers meet after school from 3:45-5:00on Monday through Thursday.

Class open to 10^th, 11 ^th, and 12 ^th grade students.

Visual Art in the Community (Spring):  During Visual Art in the Community, students will collaborate with their peers to plan and implement community arts projects. Collaborations may include a studio art critique co-operative, a group mural, or art-based learning activities with children at the Haley School. The Boston arts community is used as a resource as students visit galleries, museums, artist’s studios and community centers. Student artists are also actively involved with events in the Nancy Lincoln Gallery. Students should be self-motivated, demonstrate serious dedication to the creative, collaborative process and meet attendance requirements in order to get full credit for their participation. Community artists meet after school Monday through Thursday 3:45-5:00.

Visual Art (Fall): During visual art studio time, students explore their own interests as visual artists, and further develop their artistic style by experimenting with a variety of media including but not limited to printmaking, ceramics, painting, and/or computer arts. Students are expected to work independently and demonstrate dedication to the creative process. Students also have the opportunity to receive feedback from their teacher and peers as they collaborate during critiques and on group art projects. This co-curricular is strongly recommended for students putting together a visual art portfolio for college. The Boston arts community is used as a resource as students visit galleries, museums and/or artist’s studios. Student artists are also actively involved with events in the Nancy Lincoln Gallery. Students should be self-motivated, demonstrate serious dedication to the creative process and meet attendance requirements in order to get full credit for their participation. Studio artists meet after school Monday through Thursday 3:45-5:00.

Writers Studio (Fall and Spring): This group meets four days per week, 3:45-5:00. Students are coached as they work on writing projects, often submitted to "The Heliconian", our student literary magazine.