Superintendent's Update

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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 Families and Staff,

The first snowflakes of the season have arrived! This is an opportune time to share with you the steps that the school district will take to inform you of any weather-related school cancellations or delayed openings.

When a winter storm is forecast, we work closely with Brookline’s public works and public safety officials to determine whether to declare a school cancellation or delay. If the size and strength of the storm are predicted with a high degree of certainty, then we will make the decision to close school on the evening before the storm/snow day. If the weather forecast is less certain, then we wait and make a decision (if there is one) the next morning, no later than 5:30am.

Following the end of a winter storm, the Brookline Department of Public Works (DPW) starts to work immediately to make roads safe and accessible across town. In addition to plowing roads, we rely on the DPW to clear snow from school parking lots and sidewalks around our schools so that teachers can park and students can safely get to school. The Town might also declare a parking ban, which also affects our decision to remain open or to close school.

Once the decision to close or delay school is made, we communicate it to our families and staff via automated phone calls and emails. Additionally, we also post a notification on our website and social media. These sources are listed below:

• PSB Website
• X: @BrooklinePublic
• Facebook
• Instagram: @brooklinepublic

We will also utilize local media outlets for these announcements, including:

Radio

• WBZ (1030 AM)

Television

• WBZ (Channel 4)
• WCVB (Channel 5)
• WHDH (Channel 7)
• WBTS (Channel 10)
• WFXT (Channel 25)
• New England Cable News

Inclement Weather Notifications for Out-of-District Families

When we close school due to weather, PSB transportation will not operate, including transportation for Brookline students to out-of-district schools. While those schools may remain open on a particular day when the PSB is closed, PSB will not provide transportation. On these very rare occasions, parents/caregivers always have the option to drive their student to the out-of-district school if the parent/caregiver deems it safe to do so. We realize that it is challenging for all families to have students at home due to school closures, and we recognize the particular impact on those who depend on our transportation network. We hope this information is helpful as families manage the many logistical challenges involving winter weather.

Delayed Opening

Information about a 2-hour delayed opening will be shared in the same manner as a cancellation. Should the opening of school be delayed, K-8 and BEEP students will be expected to arrive at school, or at their bus stop, two hours later than normal. Our bus company and crossing guards will know of the delay and will rearrange their schedules accordingly. Brookline High School students should refer to this special schedule for a 2-hour delayed school opening.

Town Emergencies

You might also consider signing up for AlertBrookline to receive important notifications from the Town of Brookline regarding emergency situations that could impact Brookline residents.

Sign Up

Please know that a snow day or delayed opening decision is always made in accordance with our top priority: the safety of our students and staff. We will always work to share this information with you in a timely fashion to enable you and your family to best prepare.

Sincerely,

Linus J. Guillory Jr., PhD

Superintendent

Are you looking for a high quality early childhood program that focuses on social emotional development, inclusion, early literacy, math and family engagement?

If yes, consider the Public Schools of Brookline's Early Childhood Program — BEEP! We offer Preschool and Pre-K classes for children aged 2.9 - 4.11 at various locations across Brookline.

BEEP is currently accepting applications for next school year (September 2025-June 2026). The application deadline is January 15, 2025. We are also offering a virtual information session on December 10 and January 7 at 7pm for families that apply. For more information or questions, email us at beep@psbma.org.

Visit BEEP website

Locations and schedules

PSB Food Services invites students and staff to visit their ramen pop-up at the BHS and Tappan Cafeteria, on Wednesday, December 11 during the lunch period. You can create your own miso ramen bowl, and the Craic Sauce team will be there to spice up your ramen!

The LGBTQ+ Task Force is still looking for new members! This group is a collection of family members, students, teachers and administrators who are working to make our schools even more inclusive for LGBTQ+ students and staff.

Their next meeting is on Monday, December 16 from 7pm to 8pm on Zoom. If you'd like to join, please email Kate Leslie or Leah McGowan for the Zoom link.

The Brookline Senior Center provides life affirming services such as hot lunches, food distribution, transportation to medical appointments, caregiving support, fuel assistance, emergency funds, counseling, and learning/community building programs, to Brookline's older residents.

The Brookline Senior Center knows that communication is key, and has thus created 3 digital publications to keep you updated.

• The Brookline Beacon — a monthly program publication
• The Spotlight — a weekly update notice
• The Navigator — an in-depth publication with articles and updates regarding the BSC Foundation; distributed periodically.

It's easy and free to receive all three. Sign up before January 2, 2025 to be entered in a raffle.

Sign Up

To learn more about their publications, programming, services, and how to stay informed, visit brooklineseniorcenter.org or call 617-730-2770.

Did you know that doodling is good for you? Allowing your mind and hand to wander in concert with one another calms your nervous system, helps you to focus, and helps you to stay emotionally regulated. Artist Reggie Laurant begins his exuberantly colorful abstract paintings not with a specific plan but with a kind of doodle of interlocking organic shapes. He sinks deeper and deeper into the work adding color, detail, and "stitching" to link the shapes together into a dense network that positively vibrates with color and detail.

For this project students in Ms. Vitti's seventh-grade classes at Baker created their own colorful abstract paintings using interlocking organic shapes. They began with watercolor the initial shapes, and then built upon those with Posca paint pens and markers to create patterns and details reminiscent of Laurant's work. They didn't stop there – students went on to create collapsable "explosion" books by cutting up their paintings and adhering them to the pages of the book. These books allow the viewer to interact with the paining, and the final results are like holding an explosion of color an pattern in your hands.

December 23-January 1: Winter Break – schools closed

January 20: Martin Luther King Jr. Day – schools closed

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

Bodhi Day marks the moment Siddhartha Gautama attained enlightenment under the Bodhi tree, becoming the Buddha. This day marks a pivotal moment in Buddhist history, celebrating the realization of the path to liberation from suffering.

Experience an unforgettable evening at Brookline High School as the Brookline Performing Arts and Brookline Literacy Partnership proudly present Revisions – our student talent showcase. Prepare to be enchanted by dazzling dance routines, heartwarming voices, vibrant live bands, harmonious a cappella groups, and side-splitting comedy skits.

When: Saturday, December 7 at 3pm and 7pm

Where: 22 Tappan Theater, Brookline High School

Tickets are $10 for adults, $5 for BHS students, and free for K-8 students and PSB staff.

Get Tickets

Brookline High School's annual Winter Concert is a great way to take in the wealth of vocal and instrumental ensembles at BHS. The Winter Concert features performances by Concert Choir, A Cappella Choir, Camerata Choir, Concert Band, Music Collective (Advanced Contemporary Music Ensemble), Concert Orchestra, String Orchestra, and Advanced Chamber Orchestra. Don't miss this rousing musical extravaganza by more than 200 of BHS' finest musicians.

This family-friendly and accessible evening of music offers Brookline elementary students a forward glimpse of musical offerings at BHS.

When: Friday, December 13 at 7pm

Where: Roberts/Dubbs Auditorium and BHS Commons, Brookline High School

Tickets are $10 for adults, $5 for BHS students, free for PSB staff and K-8 students.

Get Tickets

Brookline High School students will present an in-person concert as part of the Back to Bach Project featuring mainly classical instrumental music. The concert is open to all.

When: Saturday, December 21 from 3pm to 4:30pm

Where: Brookline Public Library – Coolidge Corner location