Brown MS Weekly Update
Sept. 23, 2022
Dear Brown MS Community,
As we approach this holiday weekend, I would like to wish all of our community members that are celebrating Rosh Hashanah (The Jewish New Year) a happy holiday. Rosh Hashanah begins on Sunday night and there is no school on Monday to honor this holiday. To all who are celebrating, I wish
"L'shana tovah u’metukah" which means "for a good and sweet year".
This morning we held our safety drills (evacuation, shelter-in-place and lockdown) for the whole school. Representatives from the Newton Fire Department and our School Resource Officer, Zoe Lazarakis, were here to assist and support. They were impressed with how quickly students evacuated the building and how well the students followed directions. I was truly proud of our students. We will continue to practice these drills occasionally throughout the school year.
My big plan for this weekend is to get my flu shot and the newest Covid vaccine. Not an exciting weekend, but rest and relaxation is on my "to do" list. I encourage you and your family to receive these vaccines as well so we can continue to stay healthy as the days grow colder.
Finally, we look forward to welcoming you all to Brown for our in person Back To School Night this coming Wednesday from 6:30 - 9:00. Details are below. Enjoy the long weekend!
Best,
Kim Lysaght, Principal
PTO - Get Involved!
During the picnic there were sign ups available to get involved in the PTO.
We still have a number of openings for parents to take on a role (big or small) with the PTO. Please consider helping out this year. This is a year where we would like to rebuild community after two difficult years of Covid restrictions. Getting involved is a way to get to know other parents in the community. Please click on the link below for more information about how to get involved.
Brown PTO Committees - Click Here to Learn More
Questions? Please contact Denise Dandrea at brownpto@brownpto.org
Our Community Thrives on Teamwork
We Need Your Help to Continue Our Vibrant PTO
Hispanic Heritage Month! Sept. 15 - Oct. 15
This month in advisory our students will be learning more about great Hispanic individuals and their impact on the world. Our 8th grade advisories will be creating posters of some of these individuals that will be displayed in the hallway on the way to the cafeteria for all of us to enjoy. Here is a link to a video our 6th grade advisories will be watching to learn more about HHM.
After School Extra-Curricular Activities and Athletics
After school Enrichment:
Some of our enrichment activities are set to begin the week of the 19th.
There are late buses available if your child takes a bus in the morning. Note: If your child is staying for after school clubs or athletics and they plan to take a late bus, please be sure they know which bus they should take. You can go to this link to find the Brown MS bus schedule.
All Enrichment activities require a $60 one time fee to be paid which covers all enrichment activities for the entire school year.
Fees can be paid through Myschoolbucks. Here is the myschoolbucks link
Other fee information can be found using This Link
Athletics
Varsity sports have begun! Games/meets begin next week!
Girls on the Run at Brown MS
Girls on the Run inspires girls to be joyful, healthy and confident using a fun, experience-based curriculum which creatively integrates running. The season began Monday, 9/19 and will commence with a celebratory 5K, Sunday, November 20th.
The team will meet at Brown on Mondays and Thursdays 3-4:30. You can register and select our location (Brown Middle School) directly HERE on a lottery basis. If needed we will run the lottery on 9/14, at which time you will be notified by email of your registration status and any program fees ($225) will be due at that time.
If you have any questions, please email Rachel Heep (heepr@newton.k12.ma.us).
SEPAC at Brown MS - 2 Events
1. Brown MS SEPAC event
From Kim Galluagher, SEPAC Liaison- "As the SEPAC Liaison for Brown Middle School, I will be hosting a Zoom session to give parents whose children are receiving special education services the opportunity to connect with one another and to share their experiences. In the meantime, you can always contact me directly with any questions or concerns about your child: Kim Gallaugher - momofiggy@hotmail.com - cell 857-800-3644"
- When: Thursday October 6 7:30 - 8:30
- Meeting ID: 796 742 0402
- https://us02web.zoom.us/j/7967420402
2. SEPAC Presentation for parents October 18 from 7-9 on Zoom
"Basic Rights: Evaluation and Eligibility for Special Education Services" - (link to flyer)
Chromebooks
All students are issued a Chromebook from NPS. However, families must complete the Chromebook Loan Agreement prior to students receiving the Chromebook. Printable and translated copies are also available. Please be sure you have completed this form. You may also consider the Optional Chromebook Repair Fund. For $25 per year, all accidental damage to the device, including screen cracks, liquid spills, damages from dropping, etc. will be covered. Sign-up and payment for the Chromebook Repair Fund is done through the MySchoolBucks Portal.
Save the Date! Helping Students Safely Navigate their Phones
The joint PTOs from all four middle schools are sponsoring a talk by Catherine Pearlman, author of First Phone. Click here for more information about this book that is written for tweens and teens about how to be safe and appropriate with their first phones.
This talk will be on zoom the evening of October 26 at 7:00PM. It will be a helpful presentation on how to support teens and tweens as they begin to navigate the ins and outs of having a smart phone.
Catherine Pearlman is the author of First Phone which is a book written for kids to keep them safe and teach them what is acceptable and what is not.
Details and zoom links to follow.
