Community Notes
Heath School ~ June 9, 2023
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Community Notes – August 24, 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
Welcome!
We welcome you all to a new school year, the most emotion-filled time of the year. The emotions certainly run the gamut, from joy to misery and everything in between as the mythical summer comes to a close and we all come back into the fold and routine of the school year. Here at our school we are working so hard to make sure that every child is known and cared for and pushed in ways that create the conditions for deep learning, solid friendships, and lots of support. We hope that every child feels known and loved, can get help when help is needed, and feel safe enough to try something new everyday.
We think this is the space and we are the people who can support your child as they grow in their many joyous and complex ways.
As a school principal, I am responsible for many things to ensure our school can support every learner. I have really been thinking about what that means and have time and time again returned to "The Ten Rules For Being Human" when I think about my efforts. Those Ten Rules, based on The Upanishads and crafted in this form by Dr. Chérie Carter-Scott are:
- You will receive a body
- You will be presented with lessons
- There are no mistakes, only lessons
- Lessons are repeated until learned
- Learning does not end
- "There" is no better than "here"
- Others are only mirrors of you
- What you make of your life is up to you
Creating the kind of space where children can authentically show up with the body and mind they have been gifted with, to then create a space where both success and failure are possible, while also tapping into each person's natural empathy and capacity to love feels like the perfect job for me right now and, again, this feels like the place!
I know that I am glad to be here and hope very much that you are glad to be here, too. We are all looking forward to a great year ahead!
Launching the Year: Nuts & Bolts
When does school start?
The 2023-2024 school year starts on Tuesday, September 5th for students in grades 1-8. All students should plan to arrive no earlier than 7:45 a.m., with the exception of those arriving by bus and those who partake of the school’s breakfast service.
Kindergarten families, please note:
Kindergarten has a split start:
students with last names that start with A-K come to school on Tuesday, September 5
students with last names L-Z come to school on Wednesday, September 6
all students will be in class on Thursday, September 7
On September 5 and 6, Kindergarten has a noon dismissal and no lunch is served. We will have a “grab-and-go” lunch option for Kindergarten students on these days.
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Arrival and Dismissal
Arrival and dismissal take place outside of the school building, in all weather. Here is a map of where to gather each morning and pick up your student each afternoon: MAP
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Our Professional Team: Staff Lists & Introducing New Staff
Want to know who is on the our professional team? Check out our Staff List (please note that the Classroom pages on our website are currently being updated , so they may not accurately reflect our current staffing patterns)
- Each year we welcome new staff to our school and this year is no different. While we miss those professionals who have moved on to retirement or are taking on new professional challenges, we are excited by our new colleagues! Please click here to learn a bit about our new team members: link
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Homework Club, Grades 4-8
The purpose of our Homework Club is to provide a supportive, focused, and quiet setting in which a student can complete homework assignments, discuss homework with an adult, and plan ahead for upcoming assignments and projects. Homework Club is available Monday and Wednesday afternoons, from 2:30 – 3:30pm, beginning September 27, 2023 and is offered to children in grades 4-8.
Information and the application can be found here: https://www.brookline.k12.ma.us/Page/2202
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School Supply Lists
By now, teachers have connected and sent their classroom supply lists. You can also find those lists here: https://www.brookline.k12.ma.us/domain/805
If you need help with purchasing these supplies, please do not hesitate to reach out to David Chaet (david_chaet@psbma.org) or Alissa Ovadia (alissa_ovadia@psbma.org) – they can help!
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This Year's School Calendar lives here:
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Volunteering!
There are almost infinite ways to contribute your time, treasure, and talent to our school. Indeed, it is because we have so many family members contributing in so, so, so many ways that we are the safe, connected, thriving community we are today. If you are interested in volunteering in the school, please find out how here: Heath School PTO - Volunteer
Next Steps in Our School Naming Process
Between Dec. 2021 and June 2023, the Heath School engaged in the process of selecting a new name for our school. Explore the "School Name" section of our website to learn about how we selected Roland Hayes as our next school name!
This summer, we have presented our process and our recommendation to rename the school The Roland Hayes School to the Brookline Naming Committee and the Town's Preservation Commission on the Naming Committee. It was a pleasure and honor to share our process and recommendation to these folks and hear such warm responses from the community members/committee members.
The next step in the process will be to submit and present a Warrant Article at Town Meeting this fall with our formal recommendation to remove the Heath School name and replace it with the name of Roland Hayes.
Meals & Transportation
Breakfast and Lunch
Earlier this summer you heard from the Food Services team regarding accessing breakfast and lunch this school year. Here is the message you received : link
Our amazing Cafeteria team, led by Ms. Marie Leamey, offer so many delicious meal choices each day, and Massachusetts has affirmed that each child has a right to free school meals. Our cafeteria is open at 7:30 for breakfast and we hope your child will try our lunches (and save families time and money).
Transportation
Mr. Evan Schwartz manages all things buses for the District and can be reached here: link
Many of our students take the bus to and from school each day. If your bus plans change (ie, your child won't be taking the bus on a certain day, you MUST contact the Main Office to report the change in schedule by 1pm!)
"Where Can I Find Out Even More ?" you ask ...
Where can I read the Handbook and Code of Conduct? For Parents / Heath Handbook & PSB Code of Conduct
What kind of social and emotional support is on offer at the school? https://sites.google.com/psbma.org/heath-student-wellness/home?authuser=0
How can I support learning at home? For Parents / Supporting Learning at Home
- Where can I find out about almost everything that goes on here? Heath School / Homepage
In Closing
The start of the new year can be really exciting! This annual milestone can spark some anxiety, as well. Here is a resource that might help your family navigate the unexpected feeling that come up as summer ends and the school year begins: link
For now, we hope you will have a moment or two to make some good memories, soak up the final days of summer, and lay out that first-day-of-school outfit.
As always, be good to yourself, and to others!
~ Asa
Contact
Dr. Asa Sevelius, Ed.D. | Heath School Principal
Pronouns: he/him
Previous "Community Notes" can be found here: https://www.brookline.k12.ma.us/domain/718
Email: asa_sevelius@psbma.org
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