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Community Notes
Heath School ~ June 9, 2023
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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 Community – June 9, 2023
Our School Name Vote is Complete! The Winner is ...
Roland Hayes!
Roland Hayes was born in 1887 to farmers in Curryville, GA. He first learned how to sing by attending church as a child. Hayes' voice impressed many people. With only five years of schooling, he was admitted to Fisk University where he joined the famous Fisk Jubilee Singers.
Hayes believed in himself and his ability. When the Fisk singers performed in Boston, Hayes chose to remain here for further voice training, becoming renowned for his vocal talents. At the beginning some orchestras and concert halls would not let him perform, because he was Black. By the 1920’s, he had become one of the best classical tenors in the world. In his sold-out concerts, he sang different kinds of music; audiences were amazed when he sang songs from Italy, Germany, and France. Hayes was proud of being Black, so he always included African-American folk songs and spirituals in his programs.
Hayes believed that music was crucial to understanding and expressing yourself. During his tours, he would also try to find time to visit local schools and meet with musical students. Hayes encouraged them to incorporate their cultures and histories into their singing. He performed his last concert at 85 in Cambridge, MA.
He and his family lived in Brookline for many years.
Did You Know? Hayes was the first African-American soloist to appear with the Boston Symphony Orchestra in 1923.
Quote: "The beauty of what could be done with the voice just overwhelmed me.” - Roland Hayes
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Some Statistics
How many people voted?
In total, 733 people cast a vote for our new school name. That is extraordinary!
How did the percentages break down of who participated?
- 57.4% (421 people) of voters were students
- 29.3% (215 people) of voters are family members
- 13.2% (97 people) of voters are current staff
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On June 15th, I will present the results of this vote to School Committee for their consideration. There are a few steps left to take, including this important vote from School Committee members and a vote at Town Meeting this fall. But, in my humble opinion, the work we have done up to this point is transformative and extraordinary.
- The School Committee meeting is THURSDAY, JUNE 15, 2023, 6:00 PM – 10:05 PM and is live streamed at https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCtl_u3j2UDQMXK-G6QD5g_w
10,000 Thanks to the Student Renaming Committee!
Many folks have helped in this process, but above all these students have given so much time and thought and passion – Marin, Bruno, Elisa, Madison, Francesca, Sofi ... we thank you! We were fueled by donuts and the excitement of making a real and lasting change in our school.
The work is not complete, so stay tuned for more from these young leaders!
Sections and Staffing for Next School Year
In last week's Community Notes, I shared the staff who will be departing that the end of this school year. Before school starts in September, I will share the new team members with you all!
We will be collapsing some sections through the school, as well, next year. The grade level teaching assignments will look like this, as of June 2023:
- Kindergarten – 2 sections taught by Sarah Conroy and Becky Koocher
- Grade 1 – 2 sections taught by Emily Redburn and Kim Sontag
- Grade 2 – 3 sections taught by Alyson Arsenault, Karen Shashoua, and Amy Truschel
- Grade 3 – 2 sections taught by Vicky Ferstler and Lizette Lamson
- Grade 4 – 3 sections taught by Tatiana Beckwith, Alex Borns-Weil, and Vanessa Ouellette
- Grade 5 – 3 sections taught by Jennifer Harty, Matt Picard, and Kyssandra Perkowski
In middle school, we have a team who teach across the grade levels. Our plan next year:
- Grade 6 – 3 sections
- Grade 7 – 2 sections
- Grade 8 – 3 sections
Project 351: End of Year Review
This year, we had four Grade 8 Project 351 student representatives from our school: Meredith Richardson, Sofi Ugalde, Molly Schroder, and Jeffrey Dong.
One of these representatives, Jeffrey, was asked to speak at the State House to advocate for the program. Jeffrey shares: I was told about the event at the State House about a week in advance; the CEO of Project 351 reached out to me personally! She asked me to speak at the State House! The day of the event was nice. There was a buffet and many officials were there to meet and talk with - lots of fancy people in suits. There is a bill coming before the State House to secure more funding for the Project 351 initiative. In my speech reflected on the values and virtues of Project 351 and why the process is so transformative.
Molly reports: Whenever I volunteer for anything, I always feel so good. On Launch Day (the first day I joined Project 351), I remember looking around the room and I saw so many kids smiling and laughing and I realized this is what I want to see in the world. Sometimes you just don't see the joy of people coming together to create something bigger than themselves in service of other people. It was really cool. This Saturday is a big reunion of all the representatives from across Massachusetts - an annual tradition at Gillette! Its going to be a day of service!
Withdrawing from the Public Schools of Brookline? Please Fill Out This Form
From the Office of Registration & Enrollment:
All families must complete the withdrawal form in order for PSB to complete a transcript request to send to their receiving school, also; the more information we receive early, the better we can support our school administrative support staff in preparing these records at the end of the year for families to not all come at the last minute AND for class placement/scheduling planning!
The link to fill in the form can be found at https://www.brookline.k12.ma.us/withdrawal
Please note that if you will be withdrawing your student at the END of the 2022/23 School Year (i.e. your student will not return for September 2023), please use this form.
Summer Reading
From Our Librarian, Mrs. Anderson
This week and next, students are receiving the much-loved Summer Reading Lists! Students received the list for the grade they are going to next year (e.g. this year's 3rd grade received the 4th grade list). Attached to the flyers is a bookmark with a link to the Heath Summer Reading Website (http://tinyurl.com/heathsummer). There you can find:
- summer reading flyers for all grade levels
- the extended summer reading lists (this was given out in previous years as a big packet — now we're saving some trees and putting it online)
- required reading over the summer for certain grade levels
- lots of fun, engaging ways to track summer reading
- directions on accessing our free ebooks and audiobooks
Please remember that all Heath library books should be returned to the library immediately. If your child has lost or damaged a book beyond repair, please reach out to librarian Lindsay Anderson immediately lindsay_anderson@psbma.org.
Thank you and happy reading!
Climate Action Group: Sustainability Corner!
We are proud to launch our Sustainability Corner, an initiative of our 6-8 Student Climate Action Group.
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Do you worry about climate change? Find hope through action with Brookline Mothers Out Front at a drop-in community coffee. Stop by anytime for casual climate conversation. Mothers Out Front welcomes everyone - mothers, fathers, grandmothers, non-binary parents, non-parents, and allies in Brookline.
Join us! Tuesday, June 13 from 10:00 - 11:30 am at Hemlock Grill, 1281 West Roxbury Parkway, at the Brookline public golf course. RSVP or just stop by! https://bit.ly/MOFCommunityCoffee or RSVP via Facebook
Upcoming Events
Last day of school is June 21 – NOON DISMISSAL!
Upcoming Events:
Monday, June 12th: Grade 5 Rainbow Club, 11:20-11:50am
Monday, June 12th: Rain Date: Grades 5/6 & 7/8 Track and Field, 3:00-5:30pm
Tuesday, June 13th: 5th -->6th Transition Presentation, 8:15-9:30am
Tuesday, June 13th: 8th Grade Field Games at Eliot Park, 9:30-10:30am
Tuesday, June 13th: Grades 6-8 GSA, 10:35-11:15am
Tuesday, June 13th: 8th Grade Scavenger Hunt (front of the school), 12:10-1:10pm
Tuesday, June 13th: 8th Grade Graduation Rehearsal, 1:10-1:40pm
Tuesday, June 13th: 8th Grade Extra Recess and Ice Cream truck (front playground), 1:45 - 2:30pm
Wednesday, June 14th: 2nd Grade Artist Unit Celebrations - 2A, 2S, 2T, 8:00-9:00am
Wednesday, June 14th: 3F Biography Presentation, 8:15-8:45am
Wednesday, June 14th: Grades 6-8 Student Climate Action Group, 10:35-11:05am
Thursday, June 15th: 3L Biography Presentation, 8:15-8:45am
Friday, June 16th: 5th Grade Arcade Games, Cafeteria, 8:00-10:30am
Friday, June 16th: 3H Biography Presentation, 8:15-8:45am
Monday, June 19th: School Closed: Juneteenth Holiday
Tuesday, June 20th: 8th Grade Breakfast Ceremony, Cafeteria, 9:00am
Tuesday, June 20th: Grades 6-8 GSA, 10:35-11:15am
Tuesday, June 20th: 8th Grade Graduation Ceremony, Littlefield Park, 4:00pm
Wednesday, June 21st: Grades 6-8 Student Climate Action Group, 10:35-11:05am
Wednesday, June 21st: Last Day of School, 12:00pm Dismissal
Friday, June 23rd: Cycle 2: K-5 Progress Reports / Publish
Friday, June 23rd: Term 4: Gr. 6-8 Report Cards published
Field Trips:
Wednesday, June 14th: Grade 8 Trip to Six Flags, 8:00am-5:00pm
Thursday, June 15th: Grade 8 Trip to Launch Framingham, 9:30am-2:30pm
Friday, June 16th: Grade 8 Trip to Level 99, 9:00am-1:40pm
In Closing
Monday launches our last full week of the school year. Still so much to do and to celebrate. In this whirlwind of a time, I hope we are all able to offer appreciation to one another for it is truly through these relationships that anything we do becomes possible.
Thank you all,
~ 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