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Heath Brook School...
Information and news from and to the school community
August - Back to School Edition
We are excited to welcome and welcome back our students for the new school year! This letter has LOTS of information for families; please keep it handy.
Lots of Water
On Tuesday, August 8th, many Tewksbury neighborhoods, streets, and homes were damaged because of the incredibly large amount of heavy rain that fell in a very short amount of time. Drainage systems across town (and state) weren’t built or equipped to handle that amount of water. The Heath Brook School received its share of water - in rooms, under doors, into classrooms, hallways, offices and more.
During the storm itself and as the water made its way through the external barriers and into the school, staff conducting various summer programs responded immediately by getting students into dry, safe areas and by picking up as much as possible off the floors. Our custodial crew, facilities and maintenance staff, and our district leaders responded immediately to first, take care of the children and second, to ameliorate the potential damage to the building. No one was hurt, and damage was mitigated as much as possible.
Since the 8th we have been working with our cleaning and restoration vendors, insurance and storage companies, classroom furniture, flooring and fixtures vendors, town utility departments and more. We are pleased that we will be able to open school on time Wednesday, August 30th.
Due to the length of time that it will take some classroom fixtures to make their way through the supply chain, we have re-arranged our classroom utilization for the first 2-3 months of the school year. This will in no way negatively impact our educational program - though some of our specialist and support professionals may be a bit creative in their lesson delivery.
So, while we may look a little different these first weeks of school, we are in a safe space and ready to welcome our faculty, staff, and students to a fun, full educational experience at the Heath Brook School.
Read on to learn more about important Heath Brook news for the start of a new school year.
Terry Gerrish, Heath Brook Principal
Calendar of Upcoming Events
There are lots of exciting events in the coming weeks! Add these important dates to your calendar. If you are unable to attend any of these events, and want the information shared, please contact the school office or email jcunningham@tewksbury.k12.ma.us and we will get your request to the person who can provide answers to you.
Monday, August 28 Kindergarten Orientation/Open House 4:00 - 5:30 p.m
PAC Welcome to School Play Date 5:30 p.m.
Tuesday, August 29 Preschool Orientation/Open House 3:15 - 4:15 p.m.
Wednesday,August 30 First Day of School
Tuesday, September 19 Grade 1 Open House
Staffing Updates
We are so pleased to introduce our newest Heath Brook staff members to you. It takes a village to form strong partnerships to help our young learners. We’re thrilled that each one of these talented professionals is joining our staff, as they bring a combined wealth of knowledge and great passion for working with children.
New to Tewksbury Public Schools:
Mrs. Sarah Buhler - Secretary - Preschool and Special Education
Mr. Vance Winchell - Digital Literacy Specialist
To be hired - Principal Support (building substitute and general duties)
Names of new Education Support Personnel (ESP)/aides
Ms. Erin Sullivan - Preschool DLC ESP with Ms. Casey
Mrs. Jessica Dibia - Integrated Preschool ESP with Mrs. Hines
To be hired - Grade 1 ESP - Academic Support
Ms. Liv Sullivan - Preschool DLC ESP with Mrs. Costa
New to the Heath Brook
Ms. Molly Riordan - Nurse. Nurse Molly has worked in the district as an associate nurse, and now comes full-time to HB.
Rachel Casey - Preschool DLC Teacher. Previously at the Dewing School, Ms. Casey joins our newly organized preschool program at HB.
Mrs. Lisa Costa - Preschool DLC Teacher. Previously at the Dewing School, Mrs. Costa joins our newly organized preschool program at HB.
Mrs. Marie Hines - Integrated Preschool Teacher. Previously at the Dewing School, Mrs. Hines joins our newly organized preschool program at HB.
Former Heath Brook staff who have transferred to new positions at the Heath Brook
Mrs. Chloe Callahan - HB Kindergarten Teacher. Mrs. Callahan has served the district for almost 20 years as a reading specialist, and most recently, as a district literacy coach.
Ms. Maria Socci - Integrated Preschool Teacher. Previously at HB in the Community Services Preschool Program, Ms. Socci joins our newly organize preschool program at HB.
Mrs. Lynn Iannacci - Extended Day Preschool Class. Previously at HB in the Community Services Preschool Program, Mrs. Iannacci joins our newly organized preschool program at HB.
Mrs. Stephanie Mulvaney - Extended Day Preschool Class. Previously at HB in the Community Services Preschool Program, Mrs. Mulvaney joins our newly organized preschool program at HB.
Mrs. Kristi Rodgers - Grade 1 Teacher. Mrs. Rodgers transferred from teaching kindergarten to become the newest member of the 1st grade team.
Mrs. Ashley Spatola - Grade 1 Teacher. Mrs. Spatola transferred from teaching kindergarten to become the newest member of the 1st grade team.
Mrs. Danielle Bresnahan - Library ESP. Well-known for wearing many hats while traveling the halls of the Heath Brook School (she is also the Chair of the HB PAC), Mrs. Bresnahan will now be working with Mrs. Smallidge in the library.
Ms. Meaghan Rivera - Grade 1 ESP - Academic Support. Ms. Rivera has moved from kindergarten and will be working to support some of our first grade classrooms.
Notes from the Nurse
Welcome Back! I hope you all had a wonderful summer and enjoyed time with your family. Just a few reminders as we start the school year.
Make sure you complete an Accident Illness Form and ALL contact information is correct.
New signed medical orders are needed at the beginning of each school year. An adult must bring in any medications!
● Please make arrangements to drop off any medications such as inhalers or Epi-pens to the school nurse in their original containers, with the physician's orders.
● Make certain you also filled out a parent permission medication form.
Please send any updated physicals with immunization information via fax at 978-640-7868 or you may send it in a PDF format via email at mriordan@tewksbury.k12.ma.us
Please send something in writing if you chose to opt your child out from using hand sanitizer.
If your child has any changes in their health please do not hesitate to call the nurse at school.
Home-School Communication
In order to strengthen our home-school communication, the Heath Brook is always looking for better ways to stay connected to our students and their families. Below are some of the tools the Tewksbury School District implements to make communication easier and more efficient:
Tewksbury Public School Website: TPS Website Heath Brook Page
Follow us on FACEBOOK – @heathbrooktewksbury
Heath Brook PAC Facebook Page: Please visit PAC Facebook link to stay up to date on the latest information sent out by the Heath Book PAC community.
Critical Information Forms & Links
TPS Accident/Illness Form: In the case of an accident, illness, or other emergency, school principals must be able to locate the parent or some other person who will care for the child. We must have on file the names and phone numbers of two other persons who may be called to pick up the child if the parents cannot be reached. We have provided the form below for you to print and complete for the first day of school. Paper forms may also be available after the first day of school through the office if you are unable to print them in advance. Thank you for your cooperation!
Please click here: Heath Brook Accident/Illness Form
Reporting Absences, Drop off and Pick up information via PICKUP PATROL:
We use a system called PickUp Patrol to help track dismissals for our K-1 students. PickUp Patrol (PUP) saves us a great deal of time here in the office and reduces interruptions in our classroom. It also provides parents/guardians with a convenient way to make changes to your children’s dismissal plans.
Most importantly, helps us ensure that our students are safely dismissed to their correct after-school destinations.
Use the PUP web app for:
ATTENDANCE: Notify the school office when your child will be absent, arriving late or leaving early. You no longer need to call the office phone if you use this system.
DISMISSAL CHANGES: Submit changes to your child’s regular dismissal plans. For example:
A student normally rides the bus, but is getting picked up today.
A student usually goes to aftercare, but is leaving early for an appointment.
How it works:
Your child will be assigned a dismissal plan based on dismissal information in ASPEN. This is the plan they regularly follow on normal days. We call this the Default Plan.
Whenever you have a change to the Default Plan, you’ll submit a change through the PUP website. When the plan is submitted, the school and your child’s teacher will be notified and PUP will relay the change to them. You will also receive a change notification.
All plan changes will now be entered in PickUp Patrol. We will no longer accept handwritten notes with dismissal changes or phone calls to the office, unless it is a true emergency.
Cut off time to make any changes to dismissal is 1:00 PM daily and 10 am on early dismissal days. You will not be able to make changes after that time.
Getting started with PUP:
REGISTER: You will receive a registration email from PickUp Patrol with a link to set up your account.The PUP web app is free to parents and you can use it from your smartphone or computer. PUP is not accessed through the app stores. Instead, for easy access, follow the instructions in your registration email for how to add it to your phone’s home screen.
Review DEFAULT PLANS: Once you register, log into your PickUp Patrol account to confirm your child’s default dismissal plan. If the information is incorrect, you may change the default plan directly on your child’s page.
Thank you for using PUP to make safety a priority and to ensure our dismissal process is efficient for all our students.
If you have any questions, please first check the https://www.pickuppatrol.net/faq page. If you still need help, please contact Mrs. Cunningham-Allard in the school office or PickUp Patrol at support@pickuppatrol.net.
Student Handbook:
Please make sure that both you and your student take the time to review the online student handbook. We make changes to the handbook each year and it is helpful for families to be familiar with the handbook and its contents. All parents must verify they have reviewed the handbook by completing the on-line Elementary Handbook Sign Off by Friday, Sept. 15, 2023.
Please click here: PreK-Gr.4 Elementary Handbook
Please click here: Elementary Handbook Sign Off Form
Aspen Accounts: Please click here to learn more about Aspen, which is our secure, web-based school information management system that organizes all facets of student data – from attendance to conduct, grades to schedules, transcripts to activities. Tewksbury has been using Aspen for many years with great success. The Student Portal has been implemented and is available to all K-12th grade students.
Arrival & Dismissal Procedures
Each year, we reflect on our drop-off and pick-up procedures to make sure that we have systems in place that allow students to get to school safely and efficiently. We are also pleased that Tewksbury Public Schools provides such reliable, free bus transportation to all students. We encourage families to utilize this resource, as it is an exciting part of our students’ school experience.
However, if you choose to drive your child to school in the mornings and afternoons, we kindly ask that you review the following procedures.
*If your child is late to school, please park in the marked spots and walk your child to the front door/ring the bell and a staff member will assist.
We will be using Pickup Patrol this year to organize attendance and dismissals. See introductory information in this letter.
Bus students: Students taking the bus will be accompanied to the gym and bus dismissal locations where they will wait in their bus lines until the buses have arrived.
Parent Pickup:
Parents are responsible for ensuring their child is buckled safely before driving away.
Parents: Please be considerate of other parents and complete all pickup routines as quickly as possible.
Breakfast & Lunch
Did you know that the Massachusetts Legislature has extended funding so that ALL children can get FREE breakfast and lunch? Please take advantage of this opportunity and encourage your child to order and enjoy school meals everyday! Breakfast will be served in the cafeteria beginning at 8:30 am each morning. For more information on our food service program, please click TPS Food Services.
Opportunities to Get Involved
We actively encourage our families to get involved in their child’s school experience! Keep an eye out for upcoming information on ways to participate as a volunteer or as a member of a council. Consider joining the Heath Brook Community by:
Serving on the Heath Brook School Council - focus this year will be decided by the members of the Council. Meetings are once a month from October - May
Becoming a member of our PAC (Parent Advisory Council) See their Facebook Page, or contact Chair Danielle Bresnahan via email heathbrook.trahan.pac@gmail.com
Lending a hand at a PAC organized event
Volunteering to support your child’s classroom
The World According to Mister Rogers - Important Things to Remember
Understanding Love
Heath Brook School
Email: tgerrish@tewksbury.k12.ma.us
Website: www.tewksbury.k12.ma.us/heath-brook
Location: 165 Shawsheen Street, Tewksbury, MA, USA
Phone: 978-640-7865
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/heathbrooktewksbury