October Parents Newsletter

Our first month of school has been amazing and busy. This year the district launched our parent communication tool, ParentSquare. This will be the primary tool teachers will be utilizing to share classroom information. If a parent would like to be added please email Mrs. Poitras, mpoitras@dracutps.org.

We will continue with the Sunday calls and emails but we will also be using ParentSquare to post the same information each Sunday.

I highly encourage parents to registered. This will keep you informed of classroom activities, learning and much more. Here is a is the information from our district website to get you started.

https://www.dracutps.org/page/parent-square

School Safety

We understand that fire drills and ALICE drills can sometimes be disruptive to your child's school day. However, these drills are essential components of our school's safety plan. They help prepare our students and staff to respond effectively in the event of an emergency.

Fire Drills

Fire drills are conducted regularly to ensure that everyone in the school community knows what to do in case of a fire. These drills help us:

• Practice evacuation procedures: Students and staff learn the proper escape routes and assembly points.
• Identify potential hazards: We can identify any issues with our fire safety plans and make necessary adjustments.
• Reinforce safety messages: Fire drills serve as a reminder of the importance of fire safety.

ALICE Drills

ALICE stands for Alert, Lockdown, Inform, Counter, Evacuate. These drills prepare our students and staff to respond to an active shooter situation. ALICE drills teach us:

• Awareness: Students and staff learn to be aware of their surroundings and recognize potential threats.
• Lockdown: We practice securing classrooms and other areas to protect ourselves.
• Inform: Students and staff learn to communicate with law enforcement and provide information about the situation.
• Counter: In certain situations, we may be taught to take action to stop the threat.
• Evacuate: We practice evacuating the building safely if it is deemed necessary.

While we hope that these drills will never be needed, they are an essential part of our commitment to the safety and well-being of our students and staff. By practicing these procedures regularly, we are better prepared to respond to emergencies and protect our school community. We perform these drills annually each year.

Our October meeting is October 8th and will be virtual. The link will be sent through ParentSquare post with a reminder. We hope to see many of you there!

Brookside's Annual Trunk or Treat event is coming up on Friday, October 18th from 6:00 - 7:30pm.
We are looking for 24-48 families to host trunks - you can decorate them simply or create an intricate masterpiece, our students enjoy it all!
Please sign up at Brookside's Annual Trunk or Treat event is coming up on Friday, October 18th from 6:00 - 7:30pm.
We are looking for 24-48 families to host trunks - you can decorate them simply or create an intricate masterpiece, our students enjoy it all!
Please sign up at https://forms.gle/3BAVqpT911jiSnmPA.

Download the Boxtops App and just scan your receipts! So simple and easy to earn money for our school!

Look for information later in October about our school fundraiser, Turkey Trot! It is scheduled for November 15th!

Here are the events for October at Brookside:

10/01 Kindergarten Field Trip Parlee Farm

10/09 PTO meeting

10/10 Grade 2 Topsfield Fair Field Trip

10/14 No School

10/16 Early Release 11:30

10/18 Trunk or Treat 6-7:30

10/29 Picture Retake Day

1560 Lakeview Avenue

Dracut, MA 01826

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/BESdracut/
Website: https://www.dracutps.org/o/bes
Phone: 978-957-0716