Community Notes
Heath School ~ June 9, 2023
Community Notes – June 16, 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
Wrapping Up the Year
This is the last Community Notes for the year! With a day and a half left, graduation on Tuesday, and summer break looming, it is (almost) time to put this year to rest.
Last night the School Committee voted unanimously to support Roland Hayes as our new school name. The presentation on the process and the vote can be found here
https://www.youtube.com/live/gC9nEA3N_KI?feature=share&t=7218 I admit that I was extremely moved when the vote was cast; writing today, I am STILL emotional!
I also learned that the family of Roland Hayes were watching the meeting and when the vote was finalized; they shared how emotional the moment was for them. That, for me, feels like icing on the cake.
Next steps: meet with the Town's names Committee and then present our name change at Town Meeting in the fall. Keeping our eyes on this prize!
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JuneteenthMonday is Juneteenth – a day of celebration, reflection, and learning! Want to know more about Juneteenth, then check out these resources to learn more:
- https://www.npr.org/2021/05/25/1000131568/on-juneteenth-historian-examines-the-hope-and-hostility-toward-emancipation
- https://youtu.be/MR3WqYI6wco
- https://nmaahc.si.edu/explore/stories/historical-legacy-juneteenth
The Town of Brookline's Juneteenth celebration is this weekend! Check out the event details, here: https://patch.com/massachusetts/brookline/calendar/event/20230618/3c8a2d3e-09e8-47dc-ade1-4dc5bf7ca10e/juneteenth-a-block-party
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A Few More Staff Departures
- Alison Kerr, 6-8 French, heads to BHS to take on a new challenge. Alison has contributed mightily to the team and I expect she'll continue to add tremendous value at the high school. Great news, kids - you'll see Madame Kerr in a few years when you continue your studies en Français!
- Elizabeth Sullivan, 6/7 Special Educator, leaves for a job closer to home. We know how much the kids will miss her ... and the adults, too.
- Cara Whiting, K-4 Spanish teacher, also leaves after one-year here with us. We wish her all the best in what is next to come for her!
The end of the year is always hard as these professional good-byes are inevitable. I know how valued the members of our team are to you and how trusted they are by our students. In August I will send news regarding our new team members and know that whomever joins us will use their time and talents in service of our collective good.
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Class Placement Announcements
One of the most exciting moments of the summer is finding out who your teacher will be next year. Class placements for all K-5 students will be released on August 14 this summer. When the class placements are released, you will hear from me and from the District with the news and how to access the information.
Remember: for privacy reasons, we do not share class lists.
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School Supply Lists
Teachers will be in touch regarding the classroom supplies needed for the fall. 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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Next Year's School Calendar lives here:
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
Seeking Volunteers for Heath's Girls on the Run Program! Join us!
We are seeking teachers and parents to coach 1-2x week to create the first Heath/Hayes grade 3-5 Girls on the Run Team! This program has an incredibly positive impact on the girls and communities who participate in it, and I am hoping to get this going in our school with your help. Thank you to Dr. Sevelius and Mr. Patel for giving us the green light to get this going!
What is Girls on the Run?
A National non-profit organization designing programming that strengthens 3rd-8th grade girls social, emotional, physical and behavioral skills to successfully navigate life experiences. The program’s intentional curriculum places an emphasis on developing competence, confidence, connection, character, caring, and contribution in young girls through lessons that incorporate running and other physical activities. The life skills curriculum is delivered by caring and competent coaches who are trained to teach lessons. The program has been independently studied and has provided strong evidence that it is effective in meeting these goals.
Hear how teacher volunteers have seen an impact on their students.
"We inspire girls to be joyful, healthy and confident using a fun, experience-based curriculum which creatively integrates running."
"We envision a world where every girl knows and activates her limitless potential and is free to boldly pursue her dreams."
Baker, FRR, Lawrence, Pierce, Lincoln all have a GOTR team and the Runkle Principal is trying to get one going as well.
Important Fall 2023 Dates:
- Site and Coach Application - Open now through August 28th
- Season Starts - Week of September 17th
- End of Season 5K - November 18th
- Season Ends - November 22nd
We need a site liaison/contact at the school and 3-4 coaches (parents, teachers, community members) to get the team going.
What is the commitment for Girls on the Run Coaches?
- Lead small teams (8-20 girls) through powerful and engaging evidence-based lessons
- Not required to be runners or athletes
- Fully prepared and supported by a GOTR staff member
- Ideally available for practice 2x/week for 90-minutes for the 10-week season
- Build confidence, create healthy habits and social-emotional skills
- Attend in-person coach training dates
- Eligible educators can earn DESE approved PDP credits for each practice and training session
Girl Participation
There is a fee to participate in the program ($225) charged to families upon registration. This fee works on a sliding scale from $225 down to $35 based on self-reported income, and covers program cost, t-shirts, water bottles, and 5k race registration at the end of the season.
Please email Mr. Patel, parent Lara Mego @ lara.mego@gmail.com or GOTR contact Theresa Ferguson @ teresa.ferguson@girlsontherun.org
Let's do this!
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!
Upcoming Events
Last day of school is June 21 – NOON DISMISSAL!
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
Tuesday, June 20th: Ilyon Woo at Brookline Booksmith: Master Slave / Husband Wife Reading, 7:00-9:00pm
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
In Closing
From Sesame Street this week:
On our Street, we celebrate inclusion, belonging, and freedom of authentic self-expression. Happy #PrideMonth to all the people in our neighborhoods! ❤️🧡💛💚💙💜💗🤍🤎🖤
We feel the same! We hope that during this year we have all experienced moments of deep joy, true belonging, and pride in ourselves and accomplishments.
Only one and a half days left of school!
~ 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