Brown MS Weekly Update

To translate this newsletter, click on the word translate at the top if the screen and select your language.

Dear Brown MS Community,

This Sunday is the start of the Lunar New Year. We wish luck and prosperity to all who are celebrating! Lunar New Year is one of the most important celebrations of the year among East and Southeast Asian cultures. The new year begins with the first new moon and runs for fifteen days. This year is the Year of the Rabbit. According to ChineseZodiac.org, "the rabbit represents peaceful and patient energy. The Rabbit is a gentle creature known for thinking things through before acting." Being more thoughtful and patient sounds like something we can all aspire to this year! Our front lobby is decorated with beautiful red hangings and artwork created by our students from our Chinese classes. I want to extend a big thank you to Ms. Mao for her direction and hard work to make this special display.

Our Choruses, Bands and Orchestra put on two terrific performances this past Tuesday and Thursday. The recent couple of years have been a challenge for musicians as they were isolated from one another for so long. It was truly remarkable to hear the beautiful sound from our ensembles and heart warming to again be able to have audience and performers together in celebration of their hard work. Our music teachers, Matt Bailey-Adams and Devon Nelson, did a wonderful job preparing the students and deserve a good rest this weekend!

This coming week there will be opportunities to learn more about the Newton Public School budget and the override vote coming in March. On Monday night the Newton School Committee meets on zoom to discuss the implications an override will have on our budget. On Friday morning we will have the Interim Superintendent and School Committee members here to answer questions. (See below for more information on both meetings.) The results of the override vote have significant implications for our students. I encourage you to become informed.

Enjoy the weekend,

Kim Lysaght, Principal

International Holocaust Remembrance Day commemorates the victims of the Nazi regime and to promotes Holocaust education throughout the world, rejecting any form of Holocaust denial. Each year the UN designates a theme for the annual commemorations; the theme of 2023 is “Home and Belonging”

"The theme "Home and Belonging" highlights the humanity of the Holocaust victims and survivors, who had their home and sense of belonging ripped from them by the perpetrators of the Holocaust. The violence of exclusion began with disinformation and hate speech that lent support to systemic injustice and discrimination, and marginalization and ended with genocidal killing. The theme reminds us of our responsibility to respond with humanity to the victims of atrocity crimes, to counter hate speech, antisemitism, Holocaust distortion and denial, and prejudice – to do all we can to prevent genocide."

Adopted from the United States Holocaust Memorial Museum and the United Nations website UN.org.

Monday, January 23, : School Committee Meeting (on zoom) regarding the NPS budget and override (details below)

Friday, January 27, 8:45AM - Superintendent and School Committee meeting - Brown Library

Feb. 2 will be a full day of school (8:20 - 2:50). The middle school early release day is cancelled.

February 14 & 15 (evening)- Brown MS Musical - Honk, Jr.

February 18-26 - School Vacation Week

On Monday, January 23, 2023 at the Newton School Committee meeting, the district will provide information on the 2023-24 school year budget. The presentation will include specific information on the proposed override and its impact on the district budget. The superintendent will describe how override funding will be utilized if approved, as well as the impact to students if the override is not approved and funding is not available. Please consider attending the School Committee Meeting on Monday to learn more. Details for logging in and listening virtually are below:

Newton School Committee Meeting

6:30 p.m.

Zoom meeting link: https://zoom.us/j/390017072

Call-in information: 1-646-558-8656

Call-in meeting ID: 390 017 072

Thank you in advance for your participation in this important budget discussion.

There are a lot of opportunities for students to get involved in after school activities. This is a great way for them to explore new interests and expand their friendship groups. Click here to view the schedule of after school activities.

Please note! There has been a change to the calendar for NPS middle school students. There is NO early release for middle school grades 6-8 on February 2, 2022. It will be a full day of school. (February 2, 2023 is still an early release for grades PreK-5 and 9-12.)

Brown will have a regular school day from 8:20 - 2:50 on February 2.

We are lucky to once again welcome Urban Improv to Brown MS this year. Last year our students participated in their interactive improvisational workshop which teaches students skills for self-reflection and positive decision making. Students learn what microaggressions are and how they impact individuals as well as explore how to respond in difficult situations. All of our 6th graders will participate in these workshops at the end of January and beginning of February.

Please join (virtually) the Newton SEPAC and Georgetown professor and disabilities studies scholar Jennifer Natalya Fink, author of All Our Families: Disability Lineage and the Future of Kinship, for a presentation about her book and work, with Q&A to follow. In All Our Families, Professor Fink examines why disability is often described as "a tragedy, a crisis, or an aberration" rather than an ordinary -- 1 in 5 people have a disability -- and necessary feature of a healthy, vibrant society. All Our Families explores the roots of ableism ingrained in society, including efforts to eradicate disability and systemic inequities at the heart of our care economy, and advocates for "a reclamation of disability as a history, a culture, and an identity." All Our Families urges all of us to embrace our disability lineage and build more genuinely inclusive communities in the process.

We hope you'll join us on January 22nd. Please note that those interested in purchasing a copy of All Our Families can do so using the links and discount code provided below.

- Kim Gallaugher, SEPAC Liaison for Brown - momofiggy@hotmail.com

Join us on Zoom - January 22nd at 7:30 pm: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/82952474787

Meeting ID: 829 5247 4787
One tap mobile
+13126266799,,82952474787# US (Chicago)

+16469313860,,82952474787# US

Zooming to Success: Leveraging Virtual Technology for Career Growth and Development (grades 6 and up)

Tuesday, January 31, 2023, 7:00pm-8:00pm

Free, Virtual Event for All Ages and Career Levels

Presented by Newton Wellesley Hospital, learn tips and strategies to boost your career using modern technology. Topics include virtual networking, leveraging online platforms such as LinkedIn, and mastering the virtual interview to land the job.

Free, Virtual Event for All Ages and Career Levels

Click Here to Register.

Let’s Get to Work (ages 13.5 – 18 years old)

Tuesday, February 21, 2023, 10:30am-12:00pm

Thursday, February 23, 2023, 1:00pm-2:30pm

City Hall, War Memorial, 1000 Commonwealth Ave.

Join Youth Services for two employment-focused workshops in preparation for summer and post high school employment, as well as internship opportunities. Interested young people do not need to register for both dates.

• Tuesday, February 21st

• How to apply for a job
• Cover letter & resume review
• Preparing for an interview

• Thursday, February 23rd

• Offer letters & onboarding documents for employers
• Obtaining a work permit

Click HERE to register.

Career Exploration Event Series (grades 7 – 12)

Upcoming Thursdays, 6:00pm-7:00pm

Dates: February 16, March 23, April 27, & May 18

Newton Free Library, Druker Auditorium

Join Newton Youth services and the Newton Free Library for a four-part series exploring careers through in person discussions with professions working in the industry. Industry exploration includes STEM (February), Medical (March), The Trades (April), and Human Services (May).

Click HERE to register.

MBTA Youth Pass

The MBTA and the City of Newton's Youth Pass program helps provide affordable transit access for young people with low-income. The Youth Pass is a card that can be used by eligible young adults with low incomes to purchase roughly 50% reduced one-way fares for Commuter Rail, Express Bus, and ferry. For additional details CLICK HERE.

The Department of Mental Health has launched a new Behavioral Health Help Line that people can call or text at 833-773-2445. It is available 24 hours a day, seven days a week in more than 200 languages. The help line can help individuals and families navigate the behavioral health system and access treatment, including mobile crisis services. District and school leaders are asked to please share this resource with staff, families, and students, where helpful. For more information, please see the FAQ. Anyone with questions or concerns about the help line can email the help line director at Mio.Tamanaha@mass.gov.

Dates for the administration of the MCAS (Massachusetts Comprehensive Assessment System) have been set as follows:

English Language Arts:

March 28 & 29 - 7th grade

April 10 & 11 - 6th grade

April 12 & 13 - 8th grade

Math:

May 15 & 16 - 8th grade

May 17 & 18 - 7th grade

May 22, &23 - 6th grade

Science & Technology/Engineering:

May 24 - 8th grade only

The decision to close or delay school is made by the superintendent, in consultation with the Police Department and the Department of Public Works. You will be notified of school closing via email, text, phone, website, television news, and social media. Please make sure your contact information is updated in Aspen so that we are able to reach you in a timely manner (Aspen Login Link) If you do not remember your Aspen login information, please email: aspen@newton.k12.ma.us

Please visit this webpage for additional details: School Closings Due to Weather Webpage

As you shop for the holidays, please consider using amazonsmile. This program donates a portion of the proceeds to Brown PTO. Just designate Charles E. Brown Middle School PTO as your charitable recipient. The AmazonSmile Foundation will donate 0.5% of your purchase price for eligible purchases towards our PTO. Click the picture below for a direct link to the site.

For more information about how this works, click this link to the PTO website.

NPS has recently updated their non-discrimination protocol and reporting process. Here is a link to a document that gives an overview of the process and how to report incidents. If you experience an incident that you feel needs to be reported, you can contact the school directly or you can fill out this Online reporting form.

• What is discrimination?

  Discrimination includes, but is not limited to, excluding from participation, denying the benefits of, or otherwise discriminating against individuals on the basis of a Protected Class, or any other category protected by state or federal law.

  
  

• What is harassment?

  Harassment includes, but is not limited to, unwelcome, inappropriate, or illegal physical, verbal, written, graphic, or electronic conduct that relates to an individual’s actual or perceived Protected Class, that has the purpose or effect of creating a hostile education or work environment. Examples of harassment include, but are not limited to, conduct that denigrates, demeans, or stereotypes a person and/or group based upon disability, gender identity, national origin, ethnic background, ancestry, race, color, religion, or sexual orientation. Sexual harassment is also included in this category.

  
  

• What is retaliation?

  Retaliation includes, but is not limited to, coercion, intimidation, interference, punishment, discrimination, or harassment against any member of the school community in response to that member’s oral, written, formal or informal reporting or filing a complaint, cooperating in an investigation, aiding or encouraging another member to report or file a complaint.

If you have not already done so, please be sure to update your student information on Aspen. It is important that we have correct contact information for school to home communication. Click here for Student Information Update instructions.

School Hours:

8:20AM - 2:50PM - Mon., Tues., Thurs., Fri.

8:20 AM - 2:05PM - Wed.

Click here for the NPS 2022-2023 school calendar.

Click here for the Brown Middle School 6-day rotation calendar for 2022-2023 with early release days and days of the cycle.

To report a student absence call: 617-559-6980

Brown Middle School

125 Meadowbrook Road

Newton, MA 02459

Absences: 617-559-6980

Main office: 617-559-6900