

January Monthly Update
Brookside Elementary
What's Happening This Week:
The month of December was filled with Holiday Spirit and cheer. In addition, students learned about the diversity of the holiday season, discovering how people from various countries celebrate. It was an enlightening experience for our students, broadening their understanding of different cultures. Furthermore, some of our first graders had the opportunity to participate in a longstanding tradition at Brookside Elementary: decorating gingerbread houses. I must admit, however, that the students seemed more focused on consuming copious amounts of candy rather than decorating the houses. It was quite amusing to see their excitement as they indulged in the sugary treats. Despite their sweet tooth tendencies, it was heartwarming to witness their joy and enthusiasm during this festive activity.
As the year comes to a close and we embark on a new one, it is essential to take a moment to reflect on the holiday season. It is a time of gratitude and appreciation for the people who make Brookside Elementary such an amazing place. Therefore, I want to express my heartfelt thanks to our dedicated teachers, staff members, students, and parents.
As we move forward into the new year, let us carry the lessons learned during the holiday season with us. Let us continue to foster a sense of unity, tolerance, and understanding among our diverse student body. I am confident that with such a strong collective effort from our teachers, staff, students, and parents, Brookside Elementary will continue to thrive.
Students making ginger bread houses
A completed design
Designers busy
๐January Gluten Free Menu
๐ Special Visitor
Meet Kody
For the past seven years, Kody and Kathy have proudly served as a registered volunteer pet therapy team. Kody happens to be my fourth pet therapy dog, and in order to ensure our ongoing suitability, we undergo temperament and predictability assessments every two years. Each day, we take leisurely strolls around our neighborhood, and enjoy bringing smiles to people's faces. Remarkably, there hasn't been a single person, dog, or pet that Kody has encountered and not liked. He is an unwavering companion. He is not only a pet to Kathy and her family but a best friend.
Throughout our journey, we have had the privilege of visiting various establishments including nursing homes, assisted living facilities, colleges, and convention centers. However, one place that holds a special place in our hearts is Brookside Elementary. Both Kody and Kathy thoroughly enjoy their visits every other Tuesday to our school.
Community of Caring
Mrs. Cooke's grade 2 classroom presented the Dracut Fire department with toys collected from the toy drive conducted this month to support local families. Thank you to all the families and students who donated to our Community of Caring Project led by Mrs. Cooke and her class. Happy Holidays!
Kindergarten Field Trip to Dracut Senior Center
Highlight on Art
Mrs. Mullins , our art teacher designs amazing art lesson each week. Here are Second graders continue to differentiate between landscape, still life, and portraiture. In the past few weeks, students learned about contemporary artist, Kehinde Wiley, and how he places his portrait subjects in front of beautiful floral designs. This week, Ms. Anderson's class had the chance to collage their background and portrait drawing together. The end results are stunning!
๐ Coming Up From the PTO
SAVE THE DATE
Brookside's Annual Night at the Rink will be January 14, 6-8 pm at Roller Kingdom! It's free to attend. If you need to rent skates, it's $3/rental. We'll send out rental information when we're back from holiday break!
BES PTO meeting Tue Jan 9, 2024 6:30pm โ 7:30pm virtual
๐ก Reminders
1. IMPORTANT DATES ๐
Jan. 2, 2024 School reopens
Jan. 15, 2024 No School Martin Luther King Day
Jan. 24, 2024 Early Release 11:30 and no preschool
2. Parent Resource
Here is a great educational site to check out. 10 facts about Martin Luther King to learn with your student.
Brookside Information
1560 Lakeview Avenue
Dracut, MA 01826
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/BESdracut/
Website: https://www.dracutps.org/o/bes
Phone: 978-957-0716
Fax: 978-957-9726