Brown Bears

Dear Families,

This past week, I was sitting in my office, when I heard the sound of a violin. At first I thought it was, perhaps, someone's ring tone on their phone. Then I realized it was a real, live instrument in our front lobby. Our orchestra program has begun. Thank you to Craig Chisholm and all of his staff for making this a reality. We look forward to hearing our youngest orchestra students perform.

Best,

Aidan McCann, Principal

1 - A LOAF OF BREAD AND A GALLON OF MILK

Sometimes the simplest ways of talking about reading and math are the most effective. Does your child need practice with writing or spelling? Have you thought about having them make the grocery list, or part of it, in order to work on their letter formation or spelling skills? This is an incredibly simple way of getting them involved in your daily activities that also allows them to engage with these skills.

2 - FOOD DRIVE

Our PTO will be coordinating a food drive to support the Natick Service Council from Monday, October 17th to Friday, October 28th. All canned or boxed donations can be brought to school and classes will tally how much has been brought in. The focus of this effort is to help our community and educate students around the topic of food insecurity. A large percentage of our community qualifies for free and reduced lunch. This combined with the fact that food prices continue to rise make the topic all the more relevant, timely and important. Our Literacy Specialist, Susan Kennedy, along with our Library Para, Sarah Eastham, are working on putting together titles of books that address the issue of food insecurity as well as "helping your community." Here are a few titles students may read here at school:

Saturday at the Food Pantry

Maddi's Fridge

LuLu and the Hunger Monster

Tight Times

Our Little Kitchen

One Hen

Can We Help?

Be Kind ( think this was a MM book)

I Walk with Vanessa

If You Plant a Seed

Try a Little Kindness

3 - PICTURE DAY was on October 4th

Picture RETAKES will be on November 21st. Please mark your calendar if your child was absent on October 4th!

4 - NOTES FROM THE NURSE

Please see these notes here for information from the Health Office, as well as the link under community notices at the bottom of this page.

5 - HALLOWEEN

Many families have already asked if we will be continuing with our typical traditions on 10/31. While we have started many conversations here at Brown about this particular day, and we will continue these conversations, we will be having our typical traditions here this year. There are no changes this Fall. This means that students may dress up and there will be a short parade on 10/31. Costumes must follow these guidelines: no masks (we need to be able to see and recognize students), no inflatables, no pretend weapons or blood, no clown costumes, and students must maintain full mobility in case of an emergency.

All the best to our families,

Aidan McCann, Principal

The Parent Teacher Organization (PTO) is a volunteer organization made up of parents, teachers and staff with the goal of enriching the educational experience of our children at Brown School. We strive to build community in our school and support our children's personal and educational lives through a wide variety of events and activities. Contact us anytime at brownptonatick@gmail.com, sign up for our weekly email updates at http://eepurl.com/gCRzwH and follow us at facebook.com/BrownSchoolPto.

Natick Public Schools does not discriminate in employment nor its educational programs, services, and activities based on race, creed, color, age, sex, gender identity, religion, nationality, sexual orientation, disability, pregnancy and pregnancy-related conditions, physical and intellectual differences, immigration status, homeless status, or any other basis prohibited by law. Please be aware all electronic communication to and from Natick Public Schools is public record and subject to public disclosure per Massachusetts General Law Chapter 66, Section 10.

• Title I: Title I of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) of 1990Title II
• Title II of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) of 1990Title VI
• Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964Title IX
• Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972
• MGL, Ch.76, Section 5: Massachusetts General Laws, Chapter 76, Section 5