Superintendent's Update

Translations and accessibility options are available at the top of the page.

• Amharic: የትርጉም አማራጮችን ለማግኘት እዚህ ጠቅ ያድርጉ

• Arabic: الرجاء الضغط هنا للترجمة العربية.

• Simplified Chinese: 点击这里查看中文翻译.
  
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• French: Cliquez ici pour accéder aux options de traduction
• Haitian Creole: Klike la a pou tradiksyon kreyòl ayisyen an.
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• Vietnamese: Nhấn vào đây để truy cập bản dịch tiếng Việt.

On most Fridays during the school year, the Office of the Superintendent will send an update to the community highlighting some of the excellent work being done by our students, educators and school leaders. The update will also include important announcements from the district’s central office.

These newsletters will also be posted on the PSB website.

Greetings PSB Community,

At the Public Schools of Brookline, we are deeply committed to our core values:

• Joy in Learning
• Excellence in Teaching
• Culture of Collaboration
• Celebration of Difference
• Commitment to Equity
• Ethic of Wellness

We strongly believe in celebrating differences and fostering a culture rooted in equity and inclusivity. Our work is grounded in ensuring that every student feels safe, welcomed, and supported in their school community and our diverse district.

Each day, as students engage in their schools, our mission is to create spaces where they can focus entirely on learning, demonstrate their musical/choral abilities through performance, show their athletic skills on the competition field/court, engage in academic discourse, and/or share a project of passion. Every student deserves, and is entitled to, the opportunity to thrive in a safe, nurturing environment—an environment that is free from fear and hatred.

As educators, we must ensure that every student has access to a high-quality education and educational experiences, irrespective of race, ethnicity, gender identity, language, socioeconomic background, or immigration status. I want to take a moment to reassure our school community of our unwavering commitment to upholding the rights and dignity of all students and families.

As an international community, we are aligned in our commitment to the protection of all students and staff. We adhere to the following practices as it relates to our student’s privacy/protections:

• Every student who resides in Brookline is legally entitled to a public education.
• PSB does not require, ask for, or store student and caregiver information related to immigration status or citizenship.
• In accordance with the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA), no employee in PSB will share personally identifiable student information with law enforcement or federal immigration enforcement agencies without a court order or lawfully issued subpoena. FERPA permits only the release of directory information, consistent with PSB policy, unless parents have opted out in writing.
• Please be assured that if PSB receives ANY request for student information from an agency enforcing civil immigration law, PSB will consult with the Office of Town Counsel to determine an appropriate response.
• Consistent with PSB policy, unauthorized individuals are not allowed into any school building.
• Students are released from school only to individuals authorized in writing by their parents, guardians, or caregivers.

We also want to reaffirm our commitment to our LGBTQ+ community. We believe deeply in the full inclusion, protection, and celebration of transgender and non-binary youth, including access to extracurricular activities such as athletics and to school facilities, safe and inclusive school environments, accurate and inclusive curriculum, and gender-affirming school health services.

Our schools prioritize the safety and well-being of all students. As part of this commitment, we continuously review and strengthen our visitor and school safety guidelines. At the beginning of each school year, our staff receive training and resources to understand their legal obligations regarding privacy and safeguards for our students and families. The Office of Student Services remains available to support students and families, offering guidance and answering questions.

Thank you for your partnership.

Sincerely,

Linus J. Guillory Jr., PhD

Superintendent

Upholding the Rights of Immigrant Students to Enroll in Schools: Guidance for School Committees and Districts

Available in English, Chinese, Haitian Creole, Portuguese, Spanish and Vietnamese.

This document provides guidance on upholding state and federal laws that require all school-aged children to enroll in school, regardless of immigration status. It includes reminders about ensuring that district enrollment policies and practices, including documentation requirements, do not prohibit or discourage families from enrolling in school.

Information for schools on ICE requests for access or information

This page on the State’s website outlines the rights and obligations of teachers and administrators in public K-12 schools in Massachusetts with respect to requests for access or information by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE).

The Massachusetts Immigrant & Refugee Advocacy (MIRA) Coalition offers extensive resources, including Know Your Rights presentations, handouts, and other materials (available in English, Haitian Creole, Portuguese, and Spanish).

Immigration Advocate Legal Helpline for Massachusetts-based providers.

Understanding your rights is essential for ensuring your safety and protecting yourself in interactions with law enforcement and immigration authorities. The Town of Brookline's Office of Diversity, Equity, Inclusion and Community Relations has developed a Know Your Rights and Resources Pamphlet, offers important information about your legal protections, what to do if approached by Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), and where to find free or low-cost immigration legal services.

Please find the pamphlets in English and Spanish attached below. Physical copies in Portuguese, Haitian Creole, and Arabic will be made available at various Town location and front-line Office spaces by next week.

We are currently in the process of revising our student civil rights and bullying policies, protocols, and reporting forms.

Massachusetts law requires schools to actively prevent and respond to any bullying, and to review and update our Bullying Prevention and Intervention Plan every other year. PSB’s Plan was first developed in 2011 in consultation with parents/guardians, students, teachers, professional support personnel, administrators, community representatives, and local law enforcement.

In addition, state and federal laws require school districts to prevent and address bias-based conduct and sexual misconduct, and ensure full access to education for students with disabilities. PSB’s new civil rights guidance aims to provide clear information about students’ and employees’ rights and responsibilities, and detailed procedures to follow when incidents occur.

The draft Bullying Plan and student civil rights documents are available below. We welcome any feedback on them through this online survey.

• Bullying Prevention and Intervention Plan
• Student Civil Rights & Bullying Incident Response Protocol
• Student Civil Rights Policy
• Community Incident Reporting Form
• Civil Rights and Bullying Incident Response Documentation Form

We highly value your feedback and hope you will share your thoughts. The link will be open through January 31, 2025.

The Massachusetts Department of Elementary and Secondary Education (DESE) is currently in the process of designing and producing a series of high-quality e-learning modules for paraeducators in the state.

We're happy to share that Laura LeMay, a paraeducator at the Brookline Early Education Program (BEEP) on Beacon, is being featured on video and quoted in three of the upcoming e-learning modules — Managing Big Emotions and Behaviors, Child Development: 4 Things All Paraeducators Should Know, and Empowering Multilingual Learners.

These modules will serve as a valuable resource to schools and districts across the state. We want to take a moment and celebrate Laura's contributions to this project, as well as her work with students at BEEP every day.

On January 11th, the Brookline Special Education Parent Advisory Council (SEPAC) hosted its first ever Summer Camp Fair at the Florida Ruffin Ridley School. It was a resounding success, drawing a great turnout from families and vendors.

The fair featured programs that specialize in supporting children with special needs. With 15 summer programs in attendance, the event showcased a diverse range of opportunities designed to cater to various ages and support needs. The programs highlighted everything from academic enrichment to social skills development and therapeutic recreation.

Families had the chance to speak directly with program representatives, ask questions, and find the perfect fit for their child’s unique needs. The event created a welcoming environment for connection and resource-sharing, helping attendees feel supported and informed. The enthusiasm and energy from both participants and program providers made the fair an invaluable resource for the special education community.

The Brookline Asian American Family Network (BAAFN) is hosting an essay contest to commemorate its 10th anniversary.

This year's essay topic is, "Being an Asian American, what is your superpower?". Submissions are due by Friday, March 7 at 11pm.

The award ceremony for the essay contest will be held on Wednesday, May 14 from 6pm to 8pm at the Coolidge Corner Theater. National bestselling author James Rhee, of Red Helicopter fame, will be the keynote speaker.

The BEF generously supports educators with funding for new projects through their Idea Lab Grants. This year, art educator Gwen Vitti was able to secure funding for materials to create Circuit Greeting Cards with her sixth-grade students. Ms. Vitti collaborated with science teacher Lucy McNeil and technology specialist, Sandra Sicard to create this exciting STEAM (science, technology, engineering, art, and math) project with students.

Ms. McNeil and Ms. Sicard introduced how circuits work, and students practiced creating them with modular electronics called Littlebits. In their art class, Ms. Vitti asked students to design a special greeting card for someone important to them. The cards needed to incorporate an element of light or motion to surprise and delight the receiver of the card. They began by creating a circuit diagram to conceptualize their card's action and drawing out the path of the circuit. They completed their drawings using high-quality markers and pens and then built the circuits using copper tape and other materials all provided for in the grant from the BEF.

STEAM opportunities such as this one allow students to merge concepts learned in different classes and create something that connects that learning to their lives and experiences of the world. This project will not be soon forgotten by the artists or by the lucky receivers of these delightful greeting cards!

January 29: Lunar New Year (Category I Holiday) – schools closed

February 17-21: February Vacation — schools closed

April 18: Good Friday (Category I Holiday) — schools closed

April 21-25: April Vacation — schools closed

May 26: Memorial Day — district closed

June 8: Brookline High School Graduation

June 19: Juneteenth — district closed

June 20: Last day of school (if no weather cancellations)

June 23-27: Make-up days for weather cancellations

Lunar New Year marks a time of renewal, family gatherings, and cultural celebrations across many Asian communities. 2025 ushers in the Year of the Snake, symbolizing wisdom, transformation, and resilience. Traditions include festive meals, vibrant parades, and honoring ancestors, all to welcome prosperity and good fortune in the year ahead.

The annual Spring Festival Gala hosted by Brookline Chinese School is a community event where everyone comes together to celebrate the Lunar New Year. Bring your family and friends to enjoy spectacular performances, exciting raffles and games, and delicious potluck food.

When: Saturday, January 25 from 2pm to 6pm

Where: Third floor auditorium and first floor cafeteria, 27 Stedman Street

Admission to the event is free, but registration is required.

Register

Based on the hit 2004 film, the musical Mean Girls tells the story of Cady Heron, a teenage girl who finds herself in a suburban Illinois public high school after years of being home-schooled on the African savanna. Confronted with the animalistic social order of American teenagers, Cady devises a plan to topple the school's queen bee Regina George and her cohorts: The Plastics.

Mean Girls contains adult themes, strong language and depictions of mature situations that may not be appropriate for young audiences. It is rated PG-13. While the musical contains mature content, it also provides an opportunity for meaningful dialogue about healthy vs. unhealthy friendships, social media, bullying, name calling, social expectations and other important topics that adolescents face on a daily basis. In the show, Ms. Norbury says, “Calling someone ugly doesn’t make you better looking. Calling someone stupid won’t make you any smarter. And we have to stop beating each other up over every little thing.” I think we can all agree that this applies well beyond the walls of high school. We have engaged in these conversations during the rehearsal process, and hope the show will invite audience members to do the same.

When:

• Wednesday, February 5 at 3pm
• Thursday, February 6 and Friday, February 7 at 7pm
• Saturday, February 8 at 1pm and 7pm

Where: Roberts/Dubbs Auditorium, Brookline High School

Tickets are $15 for adults, $5 for students, and free for PSB staff and 8th graders

Monday, January 27 at the Driscoll Auditorium

• 6pm: Baker 6-8 Orchestra, 5th Grade Orchestra & 4th Grade String Instruments
• 7:15pm: Driscoll & Lincoln 6-8 Orchestra, 5th Grade Orchestra & 4th Grade String Instruments

Tuesday, January 28 at the Florida Ruffin Ridley Multipurpose Room

• 6pm: Florida Ruffin Ridley 6-8 Orchestra, 5th Grade Orchestra & 4th Grade String Instruments
• 7:15pm: Hayes & Runkle 6-8 Orchestra, 5th Grade Orchestra & 4th Grade String Instruments

Wednesday, February 5, 2025 at the Lawrence School Auditorium

• 6pm: Pierce 6-8 Orchestra, 5th Grade Orchestra & 4th Grade String Instruments
• 7:15pm: Lawrence 6-8 Orchestra, 5th Grade Orchestra & 4th Grade String Instruments

Monday, February 3 at the Florida Ruffin Ridley Multipurpose Room

• 6:30pm: Runkle 6-8 Band & 5th Grade Band
• 7:30pm: Baker 6-8 Band & 5th Grade Band

Wednesday, February 5 at the FRR Auditorium

• 6:30pm: Roland Hayes 6-8 Band & 5th Grade Band
• 7:30pm: Florida Ruffin Ridley 6-8 Band & 5th Grade Band

Thursday, February 6 at the Driscoll Multi-Purpose Room

• 6:30pm: Lawrence 6-8 Band & 5th Grade Band
• 7:30pm: Lincoln 6-8 Band & 5th Grade Band

Tuesday, February 11 at the Driscoll Multi-Purpose Room

• 6:30pm: Pierce 6-8 Band & 5th Grade Band
• 7:30pm: Driscoll 6-8 Band & 5th Grade Band