BESi uus logo! BEK kooliaastase lõpupidu kahe lõpetajaga / BES' new logo! BEK end of school picnic & two graduates

Bostoni Eesti Seltsi uus logo ühendab 90 aastat ajalugu ja tulevikku 

Bostoni Eesti Selts tähistab tänavu oma 90. tegevusaastat uue logoga, mis ühendab väärika ajaloo ja pilgu tulevikku. Logo loodi spetsiaalselt juubeliaastaks, mille keskseks sündmuseks saab 24. oktoobril toimuv pidulik tähistamine ning näitus, mis tutvustab Bostoni Eesti Seltsi rikkalikku ajalugu läbi fotode, dokumentide ja mälestuste. 

Bostoni Eesti Selts loodi juba 1936. aastal, Ameerikasse vabatahtlikult rännanud eestlaste poolt, kes soovisid hoida elus eesti keelt, kultuuri ja rahvuslikku ühtekuuluvustunnet. Seltsi sünni juures mängis olulist rolli juba Eestis tunnustatud kontrabassivirtuoos Ludvig Juht, kelle eestvedamisel kujunes Seltsi algusaastatel muusika ja kultuur kogukonna ühendavaks jõuks. Esimene asutamiskoosolek toimus kontserdi raames, kus Ludvig Juht ja tema abikaasa, sopran Amanda Juht, esinesid Eesti heliloojate loominguga, pannes aluse traditsioonidele, mis on kandnud Seltsi läbi üheksa aastakümne. Juubeliaasta puhul otsustas Bostoni Eesti Selts luua ka uue visuaalse identiteedi. Logo sündis koostöös graafilise disaineri Erik Kuniholmi ning Bostoni Eesti Seltsi juhatuse liikmete Karina Branzetti, Nele Kapsi ja Paul Attemanniga. Ühiselt töötati läbi lahendusi, et luua sümbol, mis ühendaks Eesti juured ja Bostoni ning New Englandi kogukonna. 

Erik Kuniholm kirjeldab logo loomise mõtet järgmiselt: 

The Boston Estonian Society was established 90 years ago to bring together Estonians living in the greater Boston area. From the initial brief I knew that this logo would be different, not a commercially-oriented mark, but one that functions to celebrate “togetherness.” Early creative explorations and presentations included a variety of ways to achieve this relevance. In Estonian culture there is a very joyous tradition of dance and the colorful dress, vibrant fiber arts practice, and a steadfast connection to the natural world. Ancient Estonian belief held that all things in nature—including the inanimate like trees, stones, and rivers—had spirits.

The BES logo is an encapsulation of these ideas, spirits and symbols come and go from a central origin. The mark includes barn swallows, the national bird; the wolf, another national symbol; oak leaves, representing the strong foundations of Estonian culture; human forms, both contemporary and more abstract; the lobster, a symbol of Boston and New England; herring, a native fish; mayflowers, a symbol of spring and rebirth; and birch leaves, a common woodland presence.

These elements dance in a circular, radial formation. A circle represents wholeness and unity. The flame and spark motif suggest Jaanituli (bonfire) a sacred, purifying ritual that acts as the focal point for national identity, ancient pagan folklore, and seasonal transitions. Fire is embraced as a tool for spiritual cleansing, community bonding, and ancestral connection. Jumping over the fire brings health to individuals and strengthens relationships between those that jump together. Circumambulation ensures good health, success and prosperity.

When the logo is viewed wholistically, from a distance or at smaller sizes, an overall impression of a cornflower becomes evident. The cornflower is a symbol of enduring national pride (during the Soviet era the cornflower was banned by Soviet occupiers and Estonians wore it as a symbol of their defiance), resilience, and the country's agricultural heritage. Further, the cornflower blue reminds us of the freedom and resistance emphasized throughout Estonian history. In essence, the logo says “we’ve done it together and we will continue to do it together.”

Bostoni Eesti Seltsi 90. sünnipäeva tähistamise üheks olulisemaks osaks saab ajaloonäitus, mis annab ülevaate Seltsi kujunemisest, inimestest ja sündmustest, mis on kujundanud Eesti kogukonna elu Bostonis pea sajandi jooksul. 

Bostoni Eesti Kool pidas lõpupidu ja soovis head lendu kahele kooli lõpetajale 

Bostoni Eesti Kool, mis on tegutsenud 2009. aastast, tähistas oma järjekordset edukat lõppenud kooliaastat ühiselt aiapeoga 13. juunil perekond Branzetti ilusas aias Walpole’is. Lõpupeole kogunesid paljud praegused kooli õpetajad ja õpilased, lisaks ka endised kooli õpetajad ja kooli toetajad. Lõppenud kooliaasta oli eriline selle poolest, et kooli lõpetas kaks õpilast: Enrik Attemann ja Allena Kelly. Õnnitlused neile mõlemale ja suur tänu Nele Kapsile, kes oli nende mõlema õpetaja. Toreda päikeselise pärastlõuna jooksul söödi-joodi head ja paremat, vaadati jalgpalli MM-i mängu ja karastatumad peolised said ka basseinis ujumas käia. Nagu ikka oli hea koos olla ja eesti keelt rääkida!

Õppeaastal 2025/2026 toimus Bostoni Eesti Koolil 17 õppepäeva – kohtuti kaks korda kuus pühapäeviti Chelmsfordi Trinity luteri kirikus. Koolis käis eelmisel aastal kokku 24 õpilast, kes olid jagatud viide erinevasse gruppi. Kõige nooremate õpilaste grupiga tegutsevad õpetajad Janet Kaps ja Merilin Metsmägi McKeon. 7-9-aastaste grupi tunde viib läbi õpetaja Triin Iglesias. Õpetaja Karina Branzetti tunnis õpivad eesti keelt 11-13-aastased õpilased. 16-18-aastaste keelegrupis õpib neli õpilast ja nende õppetööd juhib õpetaja Nele Kaps. Meie kooli täiskasvanute keelegruppi juhendab Jeffers Engelhardt. Koolipäevade juurde kuuluvad alati ka laulutunnid, mida viib läbi Triin Vallaste.

Terve õppeaasta jooksul esinesid Eesti Kooli õpilased laulude ja luuletustega ka kõigil Bostoni Eesti Seltsi üritustel Scandinavian Living Center-is Newtonis. Iga-aastast jõulupeo traditsiooni oli hea ka sel aastal jätkata–6. detsembril toimunud peol söödi verivorsti ja hapukapsast ja külas käis muidugi ka jõuluvana. Samamoodi andsid Bostoni Eesti Kooli õpilased oma osa ka 22. veebruaril toimunud vabariigi aastapäeva tähistamisele. 

Suur tänu kõigile Bostoni Eesti kooli peredele ja soovime kõigile ilusa suve jätku! Kohtume taas sügisel Chelmsfordis! Kõik endised, praegused ja uued õpilased ja huvilised on alati kooli oodatud!

Triin Vallaste, Bostoni Eesti Kooli juhataja

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The Boston Estonian Society’s new logo brings together 90 years of history and the future 

The Boston Estonian Society is celebrating its 90th year of operation this year with a new logo that combines its distinguished history with a look toward the future. The logo was created specifically for this anniversary year, the highlight of which will be a festive celebration on October 24 and an exhibition showcasing the Boston Estonian Society’s rich history through photographs, documents, and memories. 

The Boston Estonian Society was founded as early as 1936 by Estonians who had voluntarily emigrated to America and wished to keep the Estonian language, culture, and sense of national unity alive. Ludvig Juht, a double bass virtuoso already renowned in Estonia, played a key role in the Society’s founding; under his leadership, music and culture became the unifying force of the community during the Society’s early years. The first founding meeting took place during a concert in which Ludvig Juht and his wife, soprano Amanda Juht, performed works by Estonian composers, laying the foundation for traditions that have sustained the Society through nine decades. To mark its anniversary year, the Boston Estonian Society decided to create a new visual identity. The logo was created in collaboration with graphic designer Erik Kuniholm and Boston Estonian Society board members Karina Branzetti, Nele Kapsi, and Paul Attemann. Together, they developed solutions to create a symbol that would unite Estonian roots with the communities of Boston and New England. 

Erik Kuniholm describes the concept behind the logo as follows:

The Boston Estonian Society was established 90 years ago to bring together Estonians living in the greater Boston area. From the initial brief I knew that this logo would be different, not a commercially-oriented mark, but one that functions to celebrate “togetherness.” Early creative explorations and presentations included a variety of ways to achieve this relevance. In Estonian culture there is a very joyous tradition of dance and the colorful dress, vibrant fiber arts practice, and a steadfast connection to the natural world. Ancient Estonian belief held that all things in nature—including the inanimate like trees, stones, and rivers—had spirits.

The BES logo is an encapsulation of these ideas, spirits and symbols come and go from a central origin. The mark includes barn swallows, the national bird; the wolf, another national symbol; oak leaves, representing the strong foundations of Estonian culture; human forms, both contemporary and more abstract; the lobster, a symbol of Boston and New England; herring, a native fish; mayflowers, a symbol of spring and rebirth; and birch leaves, a common woodland presence.

These elements dance in a circular, radial formation. A circle represents wholeness and unity. The flame and spark motif suggest Jaanituli (bonfire) a sacred, purifying ritual that acts as the focal point for national identity, ancient pagan folklore, and seasonal transitions. Fire is embraced as a tool for spiritual cleansing, community bonding, and ancestral connection. Jumping over the fire brings health to individuals and strengthens relationships between those that jump together. Circumambulation ensures good health, success and prosperity.

When the logo is viewed wholistically, from a distance or at smaller sizes, an overall impression of a cornflower becomes evident. The cornflower is a symbol of enduring national pride (during the Soviet era the cornflower was banned by Soviet occupiers and Estonians wore it as a symbol of their defiance), resilience, and the country's agricultural heritage. Further, the cornflower blue reminds us of the freedom and resistance emphasized throughout Estonian history. In essence, the logo says “we’ve done it together and we will continue to do it together.”

One of the highlights of the Boston Estonian Society’s 90th anniversary celebration will be a historical exhibition that provides an overview of the Society’s development, as well as the people and events that have shaped the life of the Estonian community in Boston over the course of nearly a century.

The Boston Estonian School End of Year Picnic and Wished Two Graduates All the Best 

The Boston Estonian School, which has been in operation since 2009, celebrated another successful school year with a garden party on June 13 in the Branzetti family’s beautiful garden in Walpole. The party was attended by many current teachers and students, as well as former teachers and supporters of the school. The past school year was special in that two students, Enrik Attemann and Allena Kelly, graduated from the school. Congratulations to them both and many thanks to Nele Kaps who was the teacher for both of them. During the lovely, sunny afternoon, everyone enjoyed a variety of delicious food and drinks, watched a World Cup soccer match, and the more adventurous partygoers even went for a swim in the pool. As always, it was great to be together and speak Estonian!

During the 2025–2026 school year, the Boston Estonian School held 17 school days—meeting twice a month on Sundays at Trinity Lutheran Church in Chelmsford. A total of 24 students attended the school last year, divided into five different groups. Teachers Janet Kaps and Merilin Metsmägi McKeon work with the youngest group of students. Teacher Triin Iglesias teaches the 7–9-year-old group. In teacher Karina Branzetti’s class, 11–13-year-old students learn Estonian. There are four students in the 16–18-year-old language group, and their classes are led by teacher Nele Kaps. Jeffers Engelhardt leads our school’s adult language group. School days always include singing lessons, which are led by Triin Vallaste.

Throughout the school year, students from the Estonian School also performed songs and recited poems at all of the Boston Estonian Society’s events at the Scandinavian Living Center in Newton. It was wonderful to continue the annual Christmas party tradition this year as well—at the party held on December 6, guests enjoyed blood sausage and sauerkraut, and, of course, Santa Claus paid a visit. Similarly, students from the Boston Estonian School also played their part in the celebration of Independence Day on February 22. 

A big thank you to all the families of the Boston Estonian School, and we wish everyone a wonderful rest of the summer! We’ll see you again in the fall in Chelmsford! All former, current, and new students and interested visitors are always welcome at the school!

Triin Vallaste, Boston Estonian School Director