Roland Hayes School

Our North Star

“When children and teachers feel engaged, safe, and supported we have room to grow and learn through collaboration and risk-taking with our peers.”

Previous "Community Notes" can be found here: https://www.brookline.k12.ma.us/domain/718

The "Community Notes" is sent every other week. Thanks for reading!

This Community Notes is a short one, for sure. With the presidential election, the wild weather, and parent-teacher conferences all this week, I bet we can use a little less to read or do this Friday night.

I also want to recognize that Monday is Veterans Day. Many of us have ties to the US Armed Forces and/or know those who have served. I certainly do: my dad, who served multiple tours in Vietnam and retired from the Army. I am very proud of him. Here is President Biden's 2024 Veterans Day Proclamation: link

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Hayes School Rocks!

During our Roland Hayes Day celebration in June, we did many special projects. One such project was rock painting – our youngest students painted pocks to celebrate our new school name. Now we'd like to get those rocks out into the wider world around us. Our K-2 students will get one random painted rock to take with them and place anywhere in Brookline, spreading the joy to many, many others in our Town.

Perhaps you are headed to Coolidge Corner for a movie? Consider placing your rock by the theatre or bookstore! Taking a walk around the neighborhood? Think about tucking the rock into a neighbor's garden for a splash of color!

Have fun spreading some joy!

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For more PTO news and events, please visit our website:

https://www.hayespto.org/

Did you know we are also on Facebook?

https://www.facebook.com/groups/hayesschoolpto

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Child Psychologist Talk on Kids & Smart Devices, Nov. 15th 12 pm on Zoom

Join us for a Zoom conversation with clinical psychologist Dr. Jacqueline Sperling, Ph.D., on the impacts of smart devices and social media on children.

In her presentation and Q&A session, "Managing Screen Time and Social Media Use for Children", Dr. Sperling will share observations from her clinical work with children, and offer practical tools to navigate the complexities of smart devices and social media exposure for youth. All caregivers welcome!

To register and learn more about Dr. Sperling, see here: https://www.hayespto.org/kids-devices

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Hayes Family Movie Night: Nov. 15th 6 pm at the School Auditorium

Hayes Auditorium will be rolling out the red carpet for our first PTO Family Movie Night of the school year showing ‘The Wild Robot’ on Friday, November 15th from 6-8 pm. Doors will open at 6 pm for a 6:15 pm showtime!

Suggested donation will be $5 per student/$10 per family and additional concessions will be available for sale to support the PTO. Bring a friend and your appetite for popcorn! Please come out to support the PTO for this can’t-miss family-friendly event!

Roland Hayes is fortunate to have a highly skilled Education Technology Specialist (ETS), Matt Durant. Matt directly teaches our students and collaborates with classroom teachers to thoughtfully integrate technology into our curriculum. His role includes the following:

• Matt spends over 80% of his time in classrooms teaching students to thoughtfully integrate technology to improve their learning. Matt takes the teaching lead to introduce new skills and co-teaches students as they reinforce or build-on technology and STEAM skills.

• Matt spends about 20% of his time collaborating with our teachers so that our teaching of students is even better. He helps teachers plan to effectively integrate technology into the curriculum and cheers on student successes and reflects with teachers to calibrate and improve their teaching and our students’ learning.

• A small portion of Matt’s time is spent making sure that technology in the school is running smoothly so students can do their best learning while working on lessons, projects, and Massachusetts Assessments.

Check out a few of the projects that Matt has taught to thoughtfully integrate technology .

From our Librarian, Mrs. Anderson:

I wanted to take another moment to thank our parent volunteers for giving their time and effort to the Book Fair. It really could not run without the support of parents and our phenomenal PTO!

Here are some facts and figures about this year's Book Fair:

• Total number of cash register transactions: 667
• Amount donated by the community to support students in need: ~$856
• Students whose entire purchase was paid for with these donations: 34
• Students and staff whose purchase was partially funded by these donations: dozens, no idea how many! Dozens and dozens of people needed an extra buck or two.
• Number of Books purchased directly from the fair for the library using remaining donated amount and Scholastic Points: 18
• Most popular item: Diary of a Wimpy Kid Hot Mess
• Profit: After a donation to the PTO, around $2,100 will go back to buying books and supplies for the library.

Thank you again for your time and help!

@lindsayteaches

November is National Native American Heritage Month, American Diabetes Month, and Epilepsy Awareness Month.

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• Monday, November 11th: School Closed: Veterans Day Holiday

• Tuesday, November 12th: GSA, 10:50-11:20am

• Wednesday, November 13th: Model UN, 11:20am-12:05pm

• Wednesday, November 13th: PreK-8 Early Dismissal @ 12:40pm

• Thursday, November 14th: Picture Retake Day

• Friday, November 15th: Hayes Movie Night, 6:00-8:00pm

• Monday, November 18th: Rainbow Club! Grade 3

• Monday, November 18th: Term 1: Grades 6-8 Report Cards Published

• Tuesday, November 19th: GSA, 10:50-11:20am

• Wednesday, November 20th: Model UN, 11:20am-12:05pm

• Thursday, November 21st: AAPI Group, 10:50-11:20am

• Thursday, November 21st: PreK-8 Early Dismissal @ 12:40pm

• Thursday, November 21st: Evening Conferences, 12:40-6:00pm

• Friday, November 22nd: PEP, 8:05-8:30am

• Friday, November 22nd: PTO Community Meeting, 8:15-9:30am

• Friday, November 22nd: Variety Show Auditions, 1:40-3:00pm

• Monday, November 25th: Rainbow Club, Grade 5, 11:20-11:50am

• Tuesday, November 26th: GSA, 10:50-11:20am

• Wednesday, November 27th: Balloons Over Broadway Parade @ Hayes School, 8:00-8:30am

• Wednesday, November 27th: BEEP Early Dismissal @ 11:30am

• Wednesday, November 27th: Model UN, 11:20am-12:00pm

• Wednesday, November 27th: K-8 Early Dismissal @ 12:00pm

• Thursday, November 28th - Friday, November 29th: School Closed: Thanksgiving Break

Field Trips:

• Monday, November 18th: 4th grade Trip to the Harvard Museum, 8:05am-1:30pm

• Monday, November 18th: AAPI Trip to Kung Fu Tea, 10:50am-12:05pm

Nothing this week; keep watching this space for upcoming events and updates.

Nothing this week; keep watching this space for upcoming events and updates.

We are now entering the season of Thanksgiving. But perhaps right now is the right time to take stock of all of the goodness in our lives. Consider: What brings you joy? What do you hold dear? Who brings the light into your life? How do you give light to others? What are quiet parts of you taking comfort in right now? What can you do to bring more comfort into your being?

These very personal reflections may bring a measure of peace during this time of change.

And, as always, take care of yourself and take care of others.

~ Asa

This parcel of land that our school sits upon is a special and sacred place.

Before this place was a Town, before our school was here, before this neighborhood was called “The Settlement” or “Chestnut Hill,” and before this land was a farm, this land was held by the Massachusett, the people Indigenous to this place. The Massachusett were the caretakers of this site, living full lives, raising families, and burying their dead right here. We recognize and honor this history, and seek to create thoughtful land stewards and citizens for generations to come.

As a public school, our primary objective is to ensure access, membership, and participation of all community members in our care; with this land acknowledgment we state our willingness to work towards that vision where all feel a true and abiding sense of belonging.

Roland Hayes School

The Public Schools Of Brookline | A METCO Partnership School

Dr. Asa Sevelius, Ed.D. | Principal

Email: asa_sevelius@psbma.org

Pronouns: he/him

Mr. Kirtan Patel | Vice Principal

Email: kirtan_patel@psbma.org

Pronouns: he/him

Website: https://www.brookline.k12.ma.us/Page/17
Location: 100 Eliot Street, Chestnut Hill, MA, 02467
Phone: 617-879-4570