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Community Notes
September 22, 2023
Our North Star
“When children and teachers feel engaged, safe, and supported we have room to grow and learn through collaboration and risk-taking with our peers.”
Previous "Community Notes" can be found here: https://www.brookline.k12.ma.us/domain/718
Dear Heath/Roland Hayes School Community
Your child may have noticed a few additions to our playground: a buddy bench and our communication board. The buddy bench is brand new (with thanks to Karla, one of our amazing parents!), while the communication board rolled out last year. The intent of both is to increase the possibilities that all children feel included, are actually included, and/or and can communicate a desire to be included while on our playground.
The buddy bench provides a shady space to non-verbally communicate a need to connect. Maybe a student is new to the school and seeking some friends? Perhaps the kids your child usually plays with are absent? The buddy bench can also be a great place to soak in the scene and consider ways to connect with other classmates. Regardless, by sitting on the buddy bench, a child sends the message, "I am excited to play, too!"
The communication board, acquired through a partnership with the Flutie Foundation, presents a series of simple yet critical visual representations of needs so that our non-verbal students, students with Autism, and/or other children with developmental needs can get what they need from the folks around them during play time.
We firmly believe that children learn about the world around them through play and exploration. The playground is the space where so much of that explorative play occurs. Through direct instruction about including others, actively working towards increasing access for all learners in our care, and now these tools on our playground, we hope that the world around us can rise up in a way that feels great for us all.
Student Activities: 7-8 Volleyball and 5-8 Cross Country
Cross Country
How about our Grades 5-8 Cross Country team? This fall students in 5-8 can participate in intramural cross country, “XC”. Students train at practices over the next 6 weeks. The 1 mile race is at Larz Anderson Park on Friday, October 20th after school from 2-6pm. There is no fee for XC, students will need a signed permission slip. There will be no bus transportation. Parents are responsible for getting their child to/from the race. In the Spring, students can try out for track and field.
Mr. Ikonne is our coach. Please reach out to him at chima_ikonne@psbma.org to learn more, sign up, and find out the schedule.
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Volleyball
Volleyball tryouts were this past week. We are so glad to have so many kids go out for the team. It looks like a super-fun season ahead.
Reminder: because our gym does not have seating, we are not able to host spectators at our games. We do have some wiggle room for parents/caregivers in some nooks and crannies; others will be asked to leave, unfortunately.
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Girls On The Run (GOTR)
We are seeking teachers and parents to coach 1-2x week to create the first Heath/Hayes grade 3-5 Girls on the Run Team! This program has an incredibly positive impact on the girls and communities who participate in it, and I am hoping to get this going in our school with your help.
What is Girls on the Run?
A National non-profit organization designing programming that strengthens 3rd-8th grade girls social, emotional, physical and behavioral skills to successfully navigate life experiences. The program’s intentional curriculum places an emphasis on developing competence, confidence, connection, character, caring, and contribution in young girls through lessons that incorporate running and other physical activities. The life skills curriculum is delivered by caring and competent coaches who are trained to teach lessons.
Participation
There is a fee to participate in the program ($225) charged to families upon registration. This fee works on a sliding scale from $225 down to $35 based on self-reported income, and covers program cost, t-shirts, water bottles, and 5k race registration at the end of the season.
Please email Lara Mego @ lara.mego@gmail.com or GOTR contact Theresa Ferguson @ teresa.ferguson@girlsontherun.org to share your interest in the GOTR program.
Upcoming Open House Events
We hope to see many of you here for our Open House events!
4th Grade: Tuesday, September 26; 8:15-9:00/Classroom
6th - 8th Grades: Thursday, September 28; 8:15-9:00/ Families pick up schedules in Main Lobby
Mr. Picard (Grade 5) - Rescheduled: Thursday, October 5; 8:15-9:00/Classroom
3rd Grade: Monday, October 2; 8:15-9:00/Classroom
Meet Our Specialists
During Open House visits you will have a chance to meet your child's teacher, but you won't be able to meet the many teachers in your child's life. This presentation should help you acclimate to the many folks who work directly and indirectly with our students each and every day.
https://docs.google.com/presentation/d/1OhEzh5hgITaKNAolmt5dXp8L6OZHjX8nHTJSKPKVMmY/edit?usp=sharing
School Renaming Efforts: Updates and Information
No major technical updates this week, as we are still awaiting Town Meeting and preparing for that next big step in our school renaming process.
So, why not take some time to get more deeply acquainted with Mr. Roland Hayes?
- This piece spotlights his two performances at The Hollywood Bowl in the 1930s, and includes a Spotify playlist: https://www.laphil.com/about/watch-and-listen/bowl-history-spotlight-roland-hayes
- A PBS documentary (from 1990) on Hayes is here, with lots of interviews with friends and family who knew him well: https://www.pbs.org/video/wpt-archives-1990s-musical-legacy-roland-hayes/
- Here you will find an overview of his life, from "Roland Hayes: The Legacy Of An American Tenor," read aloud:
- https://www.popmatters.com/190283-roland-hayes-the-legacy-of-an-american-tenor-2495563160.html
- An interview with Ms. Afrika Hayes, daughter of Roland Hayes, who resides here in Brookline (and is very proud of our decision) and shares memories of her father: https://youtu.be/7mkCA3LTZ_8?si=aKpi6uiyjgDbHDRB
Enjoy!
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Each week, we report updates on the renaming process here. Past "Community Notes" newsletters can be found here:
https://www.brookline.k12.ma.us/domain/718
The "School Name: History & Resources" website page is also updated regularly:
Upcoming Events
Of Particular Note:
- You will regularly see the meeting announcements for our Affinity Groups listed in this section. These sessions take place during the school day and are just for kids, but we share them so you can remind your children that they are coming up and/or ask, "How was ______ today? Tell me all about it!"
- Picture Day is September 27th!
- MCAS Reports for students currently in grades 4-8 will go out via snail mail on October 5th. Expect them to arrive in your mailbox soon thereafter.
- Monday, September 25th: School Closed: Day of Low Attendance (Yom Kippur)
- Tuesday, September 26th: Grade 4 Open House, 8:15-9:00am
- Tuesday, September 26th: AAPI Affinity Group, 10:50-11:20am
- Wednesday, September 27th: Heath Picture Day
- Wednesday, September 27th: Grades 6-8 GSA, 10:50-11:20am
- Thursday, September 28th: Grades 6-8 Open House, 8:15-9:15am
- Friday, September 29th: PEP!, 8:05-8:30am
- Monday, October 2nd: Grade 3 Open House, 8:15-9:00am
- Monday, October 2nd: Rainbow Club - 4th Graders, MPR, 11:20-11:50am
- Tuesday, October 3rd: Field Day!
- Tuesday, October 3rd: PTO Community Meeting (via ZOOM), 6:00-7:00pm
- Wednesday, October 4th: Rain Date: Field Day
- Wednesday, October 4th: Grades 6-8 GSA, 10:50-11:20am
- Thursday, October 5th: Grade 5 (Picard) Open House
- Friday, October 6th: Term 1 Closes for Grades 6-8 Interim Progress Reports
In Closing
Yom Kippur observances begin this weekend; there is no school Monday to honor the Yom Kippur observances. We wish all of our families who observe a connecting, easy, and meaningful time.
There are kids in our community who are wondering, "Why do we have a day off?" and "What's Yom Kippur all about?" Sesame Street, as usual, has some great teachings on offer that can help us all learn more about our community members and celebrations. This link can get you started: link
There are several major holidays during which students will not be assigned homework and Yom Kippur is one of them. Want to know more about these policies and religious/cultural observances? Find them here: link
Have a wonderful three-day weekend ahead, everyone!
~ Asa
Contact
Dr. Asa Sevelius, Ed.D. | Principal
Email: asa_sevelius@psbma.org
Pronouns: he/him
Mr. Kirtan Patel | Vice Principal
Email: kirtan_patel@psbma.org
Pronouns: he/him
Previous "Community Notes" can be found here: https://www.brookline.k12.ma.us/domain/718
Website: https://www.brookline.k12.ma.us/Page/17
Location: 100 Eliot Street, Chestnut Hill, MA, 02467
Phone: 617-879-4570
Heath School
The Public Schools Of Brookline | A METCO Partnership School
Dr. Asa Sevelius, Principal & Mr. Kirtan Patel, Vice Principal