On behalf of the Agassiz School community, I would like to thank all the folks in JP who helped to make our students’ last full day of school at the Louis B. Agassiz Elementary School a celebration of joy and fun. A field day was planned for June 24 many months ago and rainy weather almost put a damper on the festivities. The weather rallied and so did the JP community for the students at the Agassiz School.
Harry Smith of the Regan League organized a baseball clinic with Brian Wilbanks of the JP Community Centers and RBI coach. Michael Frank put on a spectacular show for the Early Childhood and K1 students. Reggie Jean of the Hyde Park YMCA ran an awesome football clinic. Justin Goonan of PlayRugby ran a great rugby clinic. Tenacity had tennis activities all day. Jess Rodrigues of City Feed provided a feast of fruit and chocolate with the support of Equal Exchange and Jullieanne Doherty of Mayor Menino’s Office of Neighborhood Services. Councilor Matt O’Malley supplied a slush machine. Stop & Shop of Jackson Square donated a gift certificate that provided the water for the day. BPS Welcome Services provided support and books. Local volunteers came in to paint faces. The Boston Fire Department sent a fire truck. Susi and Yasmeen from Tony Williams Dance Center/BalletRox ran dance classes. The New England Aquarium brought in some tidepools. ReadBoston presented storyhours with crafts and Nancy Sableski, long time friend of the Agassiz School, represented the Arnold Arboretum with a nature activity. Thanks also to Harvest Co-op and Fiore’s Bakery for their generous support of the many events at the Agassiz School over the years.
Many children were quoted throughout the day as saying, “This was the best day of my life.” One child wished she “had three faces so she could get a butterfly, star and a heart at face-painting.” In recent weeks other organizations have also reached out to the children of the Agassiz School, including the Franklin Park Zoo and Christine Poff and the Franklin Park Coalition. As part of their legacy at the Agassiz School, the children recently raised close to $1,000 for the Jimmy Fund via The Scooper Bowl.
As our children move on to many different schools within BPS they will treasure their Agassiz memories and the generosity of so many within the community where they once attended grammar school. Thank you to all who made this possible.
Mrs. Mary O’Brien, Grade 2 teacher
Agassiz Elementary School, Jamaica Plain