Brown School Buzz
October 26, 2022
Dear Families,
I trust this newsletter finds you well and hopeful as your children's school year and learning experiences become more challenging. While teaching and learning are always our primary areas of focus, the time we spend on instruction can be impacted by any number of variables. From holidays and Professional Development days to transitions, fire drills, and ever-expanding curriculum requirements, we are charged with using the instructional time we have as intentionally as possible. Indeed, as a staff we have begun the discussion about how we use all of our time here at school, and how we can get the very most out of every block of time we have with our students. And from the family perspective, we appreciate all you are doing to do have your children arrive at school on time, and be in school when they are well.
And speaking of the impact of holidays.... questions about Halloween at school have come my way for consideration. Halloween is handled a little differently in all schools (Marblehead and beyond). Some schools have costumes, some have social time, and other schools choose to keep it a home and town event. In my experience, the same is true for families. Some do it up big, while others do not celebrate at all, and many others are somewhere in between. Of course as the new principal, I have been approached by both teachers and parents about my stance on Halloween activities, costumes, parades, etc..., so here you go:
I have asked that the Halloween celebrations be kept to 30ish minutes in the classrooms, preferably at the end of the day. For a variety of reasons, I am not a huge fan of kids wearing costumes to school, though I understand this is traditional for some. That said, if students do choose to wear a costume to school, please be sure they are nonviolent in nature and do not include any type of weapon, facemask, or makeup. In terms of classroom activities, crafts and fall/Halloween themed learning activities, and packaged snacks approved by the nurse are all fine.
Our youngest students will be planning a quick hallway parade. If you are a PK or K parent, those teachers can answer your questions about that activity. In asking the school historians, this appears to be similar with what has been done in the past. I thank you for your understanding as we navigate these decisions to assure minimal impact on instruction and yet preserve opportunities for students to experience community and childhood traditions.
October '22 Brown School Community Meeting
Our First Brown School Community Meeting!
THANK YOU Friends of Marblehead!!!
Principal for a Day Raffle
MONSTER MASH! What a Night!
The Dunk Tank was a hot spot! (And a cold splash!)
Brown School Staff Greeters!
Awesome Robb the Magician was on hand to wow the kids!
School Committee Public Forum regarding Budget and Finance will be TONIGHT, Tuesday, October 25th at 7:00 PM via ZOOM
L & J Brown School
Email: maxfield.mary@marbleheadschools.org
Website: https://www.marbleheadschools.org
Location: 40-42 Baldwin Road, Marblehead, MA, USA
Phone: 7816393112