Everyone certainly deserves a well earned break next week! Children are bubbling with excitement as they share with us their travel plans, grandparent visits, time with friends or books they want to read. Some are even boasting about themed sleepovers. However you chose to spend your time away from Middlebrook, we wish you the best and we look forward to seeing your children return on April 21!

Ms. Debbie Ponte, Principal

Ms. Molloy, Assistant Principal

April

Limb Loss and Limb Difference Awareness Month
Autism Awareness Month

Arab American Heritage Month

Poetry Month

School Library Month

Saturday, April 12th

Passover begins at sunset

Monday, April 14th - Friday, April 18th
Spring Break - NO SCHOOL

Sunday, April 20th
Easter

Monday, April 21st
PTA Meeting; 7:00pm

Thursday, April 24th
NEW Kindergarten Parent Orientation
5th grade Parent Orientation at Hillcrest and Madison Schools

Friday, April 25th
Arbor Day
School Store (including Kindergarten)
International Festival 6-8:30pm (see flyer below)

Trumbull Public Schools invite you to take part in our 2024-2025 School Climate Survey. Your insights are crucial in our ongoing efforts to enhance our schools and foster a vibrant school community. Together, we can work towards creating a positive and inclusive atmosphere where every voice is heard and valued. To take the, use the link: https://forms.gle/3J4K1zncSS422dc39

Thank you for your time and input.

Please keep in mind, smartphones and watches, with the capacity to call, text, take pictures or use a calculator are not permitted in school.

In two weeks we will begin to administer the Smarter Balanced Assessments to our students in

grades 3-5. The SBA assessments will expose students to Common Core English/Language Arts

questions and Mathematics problems. In addition to the SBA assessments, our students in grade

5 will be taking the NGSS Science Field Test. We hope students will not be absent during the

testing period, except for illness, and that they will strive to do their very best.

Here are some ways you can help us from home:

• Make sure your child arrives to school on time. If he or she is late, your child will not be able to enter the classroom until testing is done for the day. A make-up test will be given at another time by one of the specialists so your child will miss classroom instruction.
• Make sure your child has a nutritious breakfast. Even toast and a piece of fruit will provide the body and brain energy.
• Make sure your child gets plenty of sleep. Most children need at least 10 hours of sleep each night. Children cannot do their best work when they are tired.
• Let your child know that you expect him or her to try their very best. Some children can become so worried about taking a test that they cannot demonstrate what they know. It will not be effective to just tell your child not to worry. Instead, share these tips:
• Tell your child to remember past tests where he or she did well and remind your child that he or she can do well again!
• Reassure your child. Let your child know that all you expect is his or her best effort.

If you would like to learn more about the Smarter Balanced assessments, you can log onto:

www.smarterbalanced.org

In addition to the SBA assessments, we will be administering our district iReady assessments and Trimester 3 DIBELS during the end of April through May.

This week we had two authors visit Middlebrook. Josh Funk visited with all students on Tuesday discussing where to get ideas for books, how to create characters, and sharing his soon-to-be-released book in the Lady Pancake series. Students had a chance to create a character of their own and start a story.

Rob Buyea visited with the 4th and 5th graders on Thursday. Rob also discussed where he gets ideas from, how he creates his characters, what qualities are important to have as a writer. Rob also discussed how wrestling taught him the importance of having goals, making a commitment, perseverance, and repetition; all traits needed to be successful in writing.

Thank you again to the PTA for making this possible!

Mrs. Cynthia Miranda joins Middlebrook as our school Safety Officer. Mrs. Miranda comes to us after serving 22 years with the judicial martial services; retiring in 2021. She has also spent time working at Trumbull High School. At home, Mrs. Miranda spends time with her two boys and her husband. When asking Mrs. Miranda about her favorite parts of Middlebrook, she was able to answer quickly and without hesitation ----- "the people". Please join us in welcoming her into our tight knit community.

Congratulations to our students who exemplify positive behaviors on the bus each and every day. Your bus drivers and fellow riders appreciate you acting as role models.

Fourth grade students in Ms. Schaefer’s class engaged in a hands-on activity to practice measuring angles using protractors.

If you have any questions about the club, please email your Co-Presidents at middlebrookfathersclub@gmail.com

Ryan Mones & Max Palmer

Co-Presidents, Middlebrook Fathers Club

Calling all fifth grade families! Join us on 5/3 At 5 PM at Twin Brooks Park for an informal park play date. Bring a picnic dinner, a blanket and something to add to the fun! Let’s play with frisbees and soccer balls and kick it old school! This is not a drop off event.

Rain date: 5/4 at 5 PM

Let’s celebrate our fifth graders with our newly designed yard signs! Hop on Membership Toolkit to order yours now and proudly display it in your yard!

Signs are $15 dollars each.

https://middlebrookelementarypta.membershiptoolkit.com/packet/25889

Soon your student will also get an alert in their fifth grade google classroom to fill out a form so we can collect their Stepping Up T-shirt size and food order for the pool party at Camp Teepee (these two items are included in your 5th grade fee). Please fill this out in a timely manner!

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Additionally, the PTAs from Madison and Hillcrest provided us with these spirit wear links in case families want to purchase gear for their kiddos.

Madison Spirit Wear Store: Madison Panthers - Trumbull, Connecticut - Sideline Store - BSN Sports Ships directly to you.

Hillcrest Spirit Wear Store: https://hillcrest-middle-school-spirit-wear-store-spring-2025.itemorder.com/

Please select your child's current school (Middlebrook) as the delivery grade during checkout. HMS volunteers will then deliver your gear to the 5G committee chair at your child's school. Place your order by midnight, April 21st, for delivery the week of May 19th.

Thank you,

5th Grade Activities Committee

The time has come to start marking your calendars for the events leading up to Middle School.

Parent Orientations:

• Parent Orientation - Madison Middle School : April 24th @ 7:00 pm
• Parent Orientation - Hillcrest Middle School: April 24th @ 6:30 pm
• Spring Concert (All bands and strings) May 14th
• Talent Show - May 29th @6:00 pm in the school gym
• Promotion Ceremony: Tentatively June 11th @ 9:00 am

This is an election year for the PTA Executive Committee, and all positions are open:

• President
• Vice President
• Treasurer
• Treasurer Assistant
• Secretary

If you are interested in running for any of these positions, please email us at middlebrookpta@gmail.com. Nominations will take place during our April meeting, and voting will occur in May.

We encourage all interested members to participate!

Thanks,

Stacey, PTA President

MIDDLEBROOK SCHOOL parents, we've all been there! Back-to-school sneaks up on us, and suddenly we're running from store to store trying to find supplies. But what if you could check it off your list today? Order Here: http://1stdayschoolsupplies.com/gs/20613

1st Day School Supplies makes it easy. In just a few clicks, you can order the exact supplies your teacher requested, packaged in a beautiful new box and delivered on time, stress-free!

Join Middlebrook at Quassy to kick off Summer!

Valid Friday June 13th from 9am-3pm. TICKET INCLUDES ALL RIDES, WATERPARK, ALL YOU CAN EAT LUNCH and PARKING.

Purchase your tickets thru Toolkit:
No refunds. Rain or Shine. Ticket distribution will occur in late May.
** You are in charge of your own transportation** TICKET SALES END MAY 20th

*** EVERYONE is welcome-- families, siblings & friends-
Buy as many tickets as you wish, the more the merrier!!***

"It's time to purchase your yearbook! Please visit the membership toolkit to buy one. If you have already made a purchase, check your messages in the toolkit; you should find your receipt there.
We have limited extra copies available for sale, and sales will continue until we run out. Don't miss your chance to get one!
https://middlebrookelementarypta.membershiptoolkit.com/home"

We appreciate your support,
Middlebrook Yearbook Committee

Use the link: https://students.trumbullconted.org/CourseCatalog/catalogView.asp?id=78

Kindergarten registration has begun for the 2025-2026 school year, please click here for all the information you need.

Registration link
https://www.trumbullps.org/general/student-registration

Thursday, April 24th from 9-10:30am