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 educators and school leaders. The update will also include important announcements from the district’s central office. These newsletters will be posted on the PSB website (www.brookline.k12.ma.us/supt-updates).

A reminder that Tuesday, June 18 is the last day of school for the school year. Students will be dismissed at 12 noon on the last day. Cafeteria lunches will not be scheduled on this day, but grab-and-go lunches will be available.

The Pierce School's 8th Grade Robotics Team, the Difference Engines, competed in the Western Edge Invitational Tournament in Long Beach, CA, alongside teams from the United States, Australia, New Zealand, China, Korea, Japan, Brazil and Europe. Amidst this stiff competition, their innovation project (a curriculum to introduce students to 3D design and printing, piloted at Pierce) was incredibly well-received, and was awarded a Breakthrough Award for All-Round Excellence. Congratulations to Cam, Eli, Akash, Adam, and Win!

The team had finished third in the Massachusetts State Championship last December, which qualified them for a national invitational tournament.

You can learn more about their project here.

This spring, a team of PSB students from grades 6-8 participated in Discovering Justice's Mock Appeal Program, alongside 28 other teams across the state.

The students met weekly with volunteer legal mentors to explore the law, the justice system, and the appeals process. After weeks of preparation, these 'student attorneys' argued a First Amendment case before an appellate panel. Our students were well-spoken and confident as they made their appeal.

This week, third grade students at the Roland Hayes School presented their research on significant people in Massachusetts history, in the form of a "living wax museum".

The memorized speeches about the lives of these fascinating individuals are the culmination of weeks of deep biographical research and exploration. Families and guests were invited to meet these historical figures and ask questions.

Congratulations to Ms. Ferstler and Ms. Lamson's classes on their outstanding work!

The Runkle School's 8th graders went to Charlemont, MA, for some whitewater rafting. The annual rafting trip is a proud Runkle tradition, and this was the school's 12th trip.

Students and staff had a great time soaking in the outdoors, and managed to get some stunning pictures (including one of Vice Principal Chad Pelton jumping off a cliff!).

The Baker School just wrapped up an After-School Yoga Program run by school counselors, Jeanette Sergeant and Alexa Cuff. The program ran from March to May, for 2nd and 3rd graders.

Yoga is not only a fantastic way to promote physical health, but also aids in fostering mindfulness and emotional well-being, which are crucial skills for our young learners. This program introduced students to the fundamentals of yoga in a fun and engaging manner. They learned various poses, breathing techniques, and relaxation methods with fun themes like animals, nature, oceans, etc. The students, and adults teaching them, had lots of fun!

Elton Xhoja, our K-12 Music Teacher, has been working on some exciting projects in his fourth-grade Clarinet classes, as well as his middle school Music Exploration and Music Production classes, across all schools. These students have learned how to improvise the blues this year.

Here's a glimpse of their work:

• Fourth Grade Clarinet Class
  
• Music Exploration Class
• Music Production Class

Last week, Steps to Success had the honor of celebrating the achievements of students, families, and supporters at the Steps to Success Recognition Ceremony. It was a joyous occasion filled with pride, gratitude, and inspiration.

As they marked the culmination of another successful year, they celebrated the program completion of college graduates and the graduation of students from Brookline High School and the K-8 Schools. These milestones were a testament to the hard work, determination, and resilience of the students, who continue to strive for excellence in their academic and personal pursuits.

The ceremony was even more special with performances by talented student artists from after-school programs at Lawrence/Pierce and BHS. Their creativity and passion added a vibrant energy to the event.

In addition to honoring the students, they took the opportunity to express appreciation for the support of individuals within the community who have played integral roles in the success of Steps to Success.

They recognized the following individuals for their outstanding contributions:

• Hats Off Recipient: Michael "Mike" Lewis
• Parent Award: V. Cruz
• Alumni Award: Lin Li

As we reflect on the achievements and moments of celebration from the Recognition Ceremony, let us continue to support and uplift one another in our shared journey towards success. Together, we can succeed in anything!

Our school librarians are kicking off Summer Reading 2024 with visits to classrooms to help showcase the wonderful selection books on this year's lists.

Access to the lists and additional resources can be found on the Summer Reading 2024 website.

With summer’s warmer weather and the lack of structure from daily school, teens may be venturing out a lot more on their own or with friends, going to parties, “hanging” out of doors at night, taking the T into town, etc.

It’s a good time to address expectations about substance use and to have a chat about situational awareness and personal safety. Here’s a basic primer from the Brookline Parent Education Network (B-PEN) to get the ball rolling. The B-PEN website’s Transitions and Mental Health pages also offer a wealth of ideas and resources for summer safety.

PSB Food Services, in partnership with the Massachusetts' Department of Education, Project Bread, and local school and community meal providers, is bringing the Summer Eats program back to Brookline this June.

From June 24 to August 16, free breakfast and lunch will be provided on weekdays to all kids and teens, at the Brookline Ave Playground (575 Brookline Ave). No identification or registration is required.

Summer Eats is a federal nutrition program designed to ensure that all youth (18 and under) have access to healthy meals and snacks during the summer, when school is not in session.

Join us for the Summer Eats kickoff event on Thursday, June 20 (rain date June 21) at 11am. The event will feature activities, music, food, games, giveaways and more!

One of the great gifts of being a visual arts teacher in Brookline is that you get to work with your students over many grade levels as they grow into themselves. At our elementary schools, the art teacher works with every single child in the school, often for all nine years of their time there. Once they get to high school, kids elect year-over-year to keep returning to the Unified Arts Building to broaden and deepen their artistic skills in a wide array of visual arts classes — this is where many kids find their "happy place" at the high school. (Instagram: @bhsartspace)

District-wide Brookline's visual arts teachers have supported students as they learn and grow, helped them to develop the social and emotional skills that allow them to feel connected and confident, designed projects that inspire and engage students, and celebrated students' accomplishments in truly fantastic exhibitions at all of our schools. As we offer this, our last Inside the Art Room for the 2023-2024 school year, the Visual Arts educators of Brookline want to thank our students for another great year, wish you all a happy and restful summer, and let you know that we are looking forward to seeing you again next year!

June 14: 8th Grade Graduation – Hayes, Lawrence, Ridley, Runkle

June 17: 8th Grade Graduation – Baker, Driscoll, Lincoln, Pierce

June 18: Last Day of School (noon dismissal)

Eid-al-Adha, also known as the Festival of Sacrifice, is an Islamic holiday that commemmorates Prophet Ibrahim's willingness to sacrifice his son as an act of obedience to God. Muslims worldwide celebrate with special prayers, feasts, and the ritual sacrifice of an animal, with the meat distributed to family, friends, and the less fortunate.

Father's Day, observed on the third Sunday of June, is a day dedicated to showing appreciation and expressing gratitude to fathers and father figures, for their contributions, love, and impact on their families.

Autistic Pride Day is a day dedicated to individuals with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) to embrace their uniqueness and celebrate who they are. The day promotes acceptance, understanding, and pride in neurodiversity.

International Day of Countering Hate Speech was established by the UN in 2019, in response to the rising trends of racism, xenophobia, antisemitism and Islamophobia worldwide. The day encourages individuals, organizations, and governments to take action against hate speech and foster a culture of tolerance, respect, and peace through education and advocacy.

Juneteenth commemorates the emancipation of enslaved African Americans in the United States, marking a pivotal moment in the country's ongoing journey towards equality and justice. It's a day to celebrate freedom, reflect on progress towards racial equality, and recommit to justice for all.

• Previous community updates can be found here.