Superintendent's Update

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On most Fridays during the school year, the Office of the Superintendent will send an update to the community highlighting some of the excellent work being done by our students, educators and school leaders. The update will also include important announcements from the district’s central office.

These newsletters will also be posted on the PSB website.

On Friday October 18, over 300 runners and excited spectators gathered at the Larz Anderson Park for the Annual 5th-8th Grade Cross Country Meet, a PSB tradition for over three decades.

All athletes ran a 1-mile course with their grade level. Athletes competed as a team representing their schools. Each race had individual winners for girls, boys, and open divisions, as well as an overall team winner. Team scoring was done by adding the combined score of the top 3 runners from each team.

Congratulations to the team winners:

• Grade 5: Lincoln
• Grade 6: Runkle
• Grade 7: Lawrence
• Grade 8: Lincoln

Grade-wise individual results can be found here:

• Grade 5
• Grade 6
• Grade 7
• Grade 8

The inclusive philosophy of our intramural programming, as well as the grit and perseverance of the runners were showcased that afternoon, as they competed for their schools and challenged themselves to stride up the Larz hills. This is a metaphor for life and the foundation for lifelong wellness.

Earlier that morning, while measuring out and walking the course, the race directors met a Brookline resident walking her dog, who reminisced about her own children running in the meet and the fun they had through the years. This is what the event is all about – community, connection and having fun.

This meet would not have been possible without the hard work of all the coaches, building coordinators, administrators and others that support middle school sports at PSB. A special shout out to Carlyn Uyenoyama, our K-12 Coordinator for Wellness Education, and our two districtwide Co-Coordinators for Intramural and Extramural sports – Jen Mathis (FRR) and Mike Miceli (Pierce).

We were fortunate to have world championship USATF officials run our meet. A big thank you to Justin Kuo, a world-renowned USATF official and a longtime Brookline resident and supporter, for bringing world-class technology to our meet. His wife Carol joined him and was pivotal at the finish line for spotting and marking.

Lastly, thank you to Steve Vaitones, Head of USATF New England who marks his calendar every year for our event. He often helps Brookline runners in other events/competitions, and invites them to participate in other fun events throughout New England and beyond.

Congratulations to all runners, and much gratitude to the families/caregivers that supported them.

A colorful, new archway leading to the Edith C. Baker School and Hoar Sanctuary was unveiled earlier this week, as part of an overall entrance renovation project developed by Chestnut Hill Realty.

The arch, which has been repurposed from an artistic structure that stood within the Cancer Garden of Hope at Boston City Hall, was donated to Chestnut Hill Realty from the Conquer Cancer Coalition, a charity that raises funds for cancer research and patients.

Created by sculptor Jim DiSilvestro of Athol, the floral themed steel artwork was originally a monochrome installation at the Garden. Prior to placement in its new home atop two brick piers in the entranceway, the art was colorfully repainted as a cheerful, inspirational pathway to education, exploration and fitness beyond the arch.

Pictured under the arch leading from Hancock Village apartment community to the Baker School and Hoar Sanctuary are, from left, Lauren Zuker Siff, Baker School Interim Principal Saaed Ola, Chestnut Hill Realty Founder and CEO Ed Zuker and Zuker family member Chris Rodgers.

The Brookline Early Education Program (BEEP) will conduct preschool screenings on Tuesday, November 19, 2024. This is a free and optional service for preschool-aged Brookline residents (aged 2.6 to 5 years), who are not currently attending BEEP.

Screenings will take place by appointment only at 194 Grove Street, Chestnut Hill.

To schedule a screening appointment time, please fill out the survey below no later than November 12, 2024. If you have any questions or need more information, please contact Sarah Moynihan at (617)-713-5473 or sarah_moynihan@psbma.org.

The Brookline Department of Public Health & Human Services and the Massachusetts Department of Public Health are hosting a free flu and COVID-19 vaccine clinic on Wednesday, November 6 from 4:30 to 7:30pm, at the Brookline Town Hall (333 Washington St, Room 103).

The clinic is open to Brookline residents aged 6 months or older, regardless of their insurance status. Moderna COVID-19 vaccine and Fluarix Trivalent flu vaccine will be offered.

While the vaccines will be provided at no cost, individuals with insurance are respectfully requested to present their plan information. Identification is NOT required for vaccinations. No one will be turned away.

You can register using the link below. Walk ins are welcome too.

The Massachusetts Department of Public Health is now also offering FREE in-home vaccination for COVID-19 and flu across the Commonwealth. Anyone (aged 6 months and up) who has difficulty getting a community vaccination location is eligible. Appointments will occur within seven days of a vaccination request. More information is available here.

Adoptive Families Together (AFT) is a parent-led support group that focuses on supporting parents who are about to or have adopted children of all ages. The group meets on the first Friday of each month from 6:30 to 8:30pm, at 3313 Washington St. 2nd Floor Jamaica Plain, MA. Each meeting is attended and managed by a parent/leader/facilitator.

All adults with a connection to adoption are welcome to attend the meetings. Free child care is available (with advanced notice) and snacks are provided. It is recommended that email or phone contact be made with the group administrator, Sybil Turk, MSPCC (617-352-8898), to check in and preliminarily get a better sense if the meeting feels like a good fit for anyone interested.

The next two scheduled meetings are on November 1 and December 6.

The Brookline Chinese School (BCS) is a volunteer-based, non-profit organization committed to advocating cultural diversity, and a flourishing multi-ethnic and cultural learning environment in Brookline and other Greater Boston communities.

BCS warmly extends an invitation to anyone interested in learning about Chinese culture and customs, through fun and engaging classes of Chinese language, folk art/dance, martial arts, mathematics, musical instruments and more, in an inclusive community environment. The ultimate goal is to promote cultural diversity for people who have multiple ethnic identities and/or to share diverse regional life experiences.

The world is full of complex and interesting things to look at and draw. Kindergarten students in Ms. Ortiz's art room at the Runkle School embarked on their first drawing assignment. They learned that complex things can be drawn by first breaking them down into simpler shapes. Students practiced drawing circles, rectangles, squares, and trapezoids in their sketchbooks, and then combined those simple shapes to create more complex things like cars and trucks.

On long pieces of paper, students drew a street with different kinds of cars and trucks driving along the road. They imagined people driving those vehicles, and the things they might be doing and carrying. Sitting in traffic has never been so interesting...

November 5: Professional Development Day – no school for students; teachers and paras report

November 11: Veterans Day – schools closed

November 27-28: Thanksgiving Break – schools closed

December 23-January 1: Winter Break – schools closed

January 20: Martin Luther King Jr. Day – schools closed

January 29: Lunar New Year (Category I Holiday) – schools closed

Halloween has roots in the ancient Celtic festival of Samhain, marking the end of harvest and the thinning of the veil between the living and the dead. Today, it blends spooky fun with costumes and trick-or-treating, honoring spirits and embracing the mysterious.

Diwali is the most prominent Hindu festival celebrated worldwide. It commemorates the return of Lord Rama to his kingdom of Ayodhya after defeating the demon king Ravana, symbolizing the triumph of light over darkness. The celebration is characterized by vibrant lighting in the form of lamps (known as diyas) and fireworks.

All Saints Day is a Christian holiday to honor all saints, known and unknown, who have led virtuous lives. It’s a day of remembrance and reverence, highlighting the lives of the holy and their enduring impact on faith and community.

She Kills Monsters tells the story of an average cheerleader from Ohio named Agnes Evans, trying to piece her life together following the death of her younger sister, Tilly. When Agnes finds Tilly’s Dungeons & Dragons notebook, she finds herself catapulted into a journey of discovery and action-packed adventure in the imaginary world that was her sister’s refuge. She discovers who her sister Tilly truly was by immersing herself in her Dungeons and Dragons world. In this high-octane dramatic comedy laden with fighting fairies, a five-headed fire breathing dragon, evil cheerleaders, and 90s pop culture, we discover the warrior within us all.

When:

• Wednesday, October 30 at 3pm
• Friday, November 1 at 7pm
• Saturday, November 2 at 3pm and 7pm.

Where: Roberts/Dubbs Auditorium, Brookline High School

Tickets are $10 for adults, $5 for students, and free for PSB staff and 8th graders.

Get Tickets

Here’s your chance to catch all of Brookline High School’s acclaimed student-run acappella groups in one night. Bass Value, Perfect Pitch, Note-a-fy, and Glee Club join forces for a dynamite evening of song, with material ranging from jazz classics to hit indie tunes. This popular concert tends to pack ‘em in, so get there early!

When: Monday, November 4 at 7pm

Where: Black Box Theater, 115 Greenough St

Tickets are $10 for adults; free for students and PSB staff.