Brown MS Weekly Update

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Dear Brown MS Community,

We are ready! The classrooms are set up, the hallways are shining and Brown's faculty and staff are excited to welcome our students on Tuesday! School starts at 8:20 each morning, so please help your child re-adjust their morning routine to help them arrive on time each day. Students will report to their homebase classroom first. They should bring a writing utensil, some paper and a backpack to carry their belongs. Unfortunately, our classrooms are not air conditioned, so please have them dress accordingly. We suggest students have a reusable water bottle with their name on it to keep hydrated. Students may either bring their own lunch or eat our school lunch (more information below regarding this).

I want to highlight that our custodial staff has done an amazing job of making our beloved building shine, all during this hot and humid summer. Also, thank you to our secretaries for getting us organized and answering every question imaginable! Thanks also to our administrative and counseling teams who have worked hard to help welcome new students by creating schedules and connecting with new families.

As we step into the final weekend of the summer, I am feeling excited and energized for what lies ahead. As I have shared in earlier weekly updates, my family is going through a transition this fall - my husband and I are officially "empty nesters". My son heads off to his internship at RIT in New York tomorrow, and my daughter has transitioned very well into her first year at Elon University in North Carolina. While we certainly miss them both, we are finding some silver linings such as new freedoms (travel!) and fewer meals to prepare. Plus, my daughter is keeping in touch with us through text regularly, which helps!

During our faculty days this past week, you could feel the energy. Teaching is a profession that requires enormous intellect, spirit and empathy. Over the past two days, the Brown MS faculty showed me once again how amazing (and funny) they are. You could see it in their eyes and hear it in their voices - a new year, with so much promise ahead! Let's get to it!

Enjoy the long weekend,

Kim Lysaght

• First Day of School: Tuesday, Sept. 6, 8:20AM - 2:50PM
  
• Brown PTO Family Picnic: Monday, Sept. 19 (Rain date Sept. 20)
• Back to School Night: Wednesday, Sept. 28 (more details to follow)
• School Picture Day: Friday, Sept. 30

For our bus riders, please be sure that:

1.) They have their bus passes. (Click on NPS Transportation website link below for instructions.)

2.) They know the letters of the bus they take in the afternoon. Bus routes are names with 2 letters such as HH or TT. (Note: Sometimes the afternoon route letters are different than their morning bus.)

3.) They know the name of their bus stop.

Please click here for Brown's bus schedule as of Sept. 2, 2022.

Please make sure to remind your child that they should wait safely on the sidewalk for the bus, and to they remain seated and use their indoor voices throughout the ride. We will be conducting safety training for students regarding buses this month.

If you have not yet registered your child for a bus pass, please visit the NPS Transportation website as soon as possible for more information.

This is a reminder to anyone who plans to drive students to and from school, to please be cautious at pick up and drop off times. The picture below outlines expectations regarding the blues zones (see blue lines on Wheeler and Meadowbrook Roads). We need EVERYONE to abide by these safety guidelines. Students should not be dropped off in school driveway or the rotary in front of the school. When using the blue drop off/pick-up zones, remind students to exit the car on the passenger side to avoid cars that may be passing by.

We have plenty of bike racks for students to lock their bikes as well!

Once again this year, Massachusetts will provide free meals in schools. However, the program this year is different from the last two years. Please read to understand the differences and actions you must take.

What is free?

FIRST meals are free for all students. However, SECOND meals and A LA CARTE ITEMS (at middle/high school) must be paid for with cash or or through the MySchool Bucks account.

What is the cost of a SECOND meal?

The student charge for second meals is $5.50 for middle school students.

What do you mean by "all meals must be validated" by student?"

This means that all student meals will be served from the cafeteria and each student must enter their ID number at the Point of Sale register - even though the first meals are free.

How can I pay for SECOND meals and A LA CARTE items?

Please create or check your family MySchoolBucks lunch account to ensure there are funds available if your child purchases a second meal or a la carte items.

Please note that families eligible for free or reduced-price lunch will still receive financial support based upon the federal guidelines. Please check eligibility on the NPS website under the Food Services/How to Pay for Meals/Financial Assistance tab

Please click here to read the Newton Medical Advisory Group Recommendations - August 2022

Based upon the guidance provided, NPS has updated the Health and Safety Plan. You can find it in its entirety here: NPS COVID Health and Safety Plan - August 2022

Here are a few specific important pieces of information for this year:

• Masks are optional in our school buildings except in two specific scenarios outlined below. NPS will continue to support student and staff choice with regard to mask-wearing.

• Masks are required in school health offices. Masks are also required upon return to school on days 6-10 following a COVID infection without a negative test. We recommend you send your student to school with a mask in the event they need to visit the nurse’s office.

• There is no COVID testing program in schools this year. If a student is symptomatic at school, upon evaluation by the nurse, the student may be sent home from school with a recommendation to test. Nurses will no longer conduct COVID testing for symptomatic students.

• Meal service will return to cafeteria spaces in school buildings. Routine maintenance on ventilation systems will continue, as will the use of air purifiers. Windows may also be opened as appropriate.

• NPS will continue to encourage good hand hygiene and a home daily health assessment every day. In partnership with Newton Health and Human Services, we also recommend all students and staff stay up-to-date with COVID vaccinations.

• NPS families may be notified of COVID cases if a cluster of infections emerges at a school. Schools will no longer send notifications of COVID cases in classrooms or teams, nor will principals share the total number of COVID cases in a school at the end of each week. Families may check the Newton HHS COVID Case webpage for information on COVID cases in the city.

Entering 6th graders and new students are provided with a Chromebook they will use for the length of time they are in middle school. Chromebooks will be issued in the first week of school. In order for your child to be issued a Chromebook, families should do the following:

1. Sign the Chromebook Loan Agreement - please read and agree to the Chromebook Loan Agreement available in our Aspen Portal. Printable and translated copies are also available. We will not issue devices to students until the loan agreement is signed. Please also review with your child.

2. Consider Opting-In to the NPS Chromebook Repair Fund - We encourage you to sign up for our 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.
3. In addition, we encourage you to examine some of the resources on Online Safety and Digital Citizenship posted on our website, and engage your children in conversations on these topics on a regular basis.

More information about the 1:1 Device program can be found on the NPS 1:1 Technology Overview Page.

If you have not already checked, team and homebase placement for the 2022-2023 school year are now viewable on Aspen! We are unable to honor requests for changes of team placement due to the many factors we consider as we create the teams. We encourage you to help your child face the new year with an open mind and positive outlook. Strong new friendships form in middle school, and meeting new people is an opportunity to grow.

Please log into the Aspen Parent Portal to view your child’s homebase and team assignment.

Instructions for families on how to review homeroom and team assignments:

• To review Homeroom and Team assignments click on Family tab at the top, and then click the name of your child if prompted. Homeroom and Team will be listed under the Demographics.
• If families are using a mobile device such as an iPhone, to get to the Family tab, click on the Menu icon first , then select your child from the top. Scroll down the details page to see the homeroom and team information.

Your child’s homebase will be shown in Aspen by two letters followed by a room number (example: RE124). This signifies Red team room 124. You can use the table below to find the names of the teachers for each team/homebase.

Please feel free to use the appropriate link below. While our supply lists are not exhaustive, they will be helpful in getting your child ready for this coming school year. Teachers will share any additional information with their students regarding materials in the first days of school.

6th Grade School Supplies List

7th and 8th Grade School Supplies List

We encourage all students at Brown MS to get involved in our after school program. This program begins mid-September. Please click here for information regarding our after school sports and enrichment programs for this coming school year.

If you have not already done so, please be sure to update your student information on Aspen. It is important that we have correct contact information for school to home communication. Click here for Student Information Update instructions.

Hello Rising 6th Grade Families – Welcome to Brown!

Your Community Continues in Middle School – Connect With Us Today!

The Brown PTO is an all-volunteer run group of engaged and supportive parents and

caregivers. Parent involvement is the single most important thing parent groups do.

Schools with involved parents enjoy better morale among teachers, a strong community

and enriching learning environment.

Your help is welcomed and greatly appreciated whether it's a little or a bit more. The goal

is to create a great relationship between the parents and staff at Brown that will benefit

our children!

Even if you:

• Work full time
• Work part time
• Like to do one task and done
• Aren’t a “People Person”
• Haven’t volunteered before

…we have just the right volunteer opportunity for you.

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

Every year, you are required to update student information in Aspen, our student information system. It is very important that families update addresses, emergency contacts, health records, and permissions so that schools have the most accurate and up to date information for students.

This system is also used to determine what student information can be released. Please note that we do have new Opt Out Permissions for the 2022-2023 school year that need your review and preference selections.

Families must update their students’ records by Friday, September 30th. Please use these instructions to access the information and forms in Aspen: Student Information Update Instructions.

Please note that the application for financial assistance and fee waivers is now available through the Aspen Parent Portal. Below is the process and timeline:

1. Log into the Aspen Parent Portal. If you do not remember your Aspen login, please email aspen@newton.k12.ma.us

2. Follow instructions to complete the form: Instruction to Complete Financial Assistance and Fee Waiver form.

3. Complete one form for each student.

4. You will receive a response to your application in 24-28 hours or 1-2 business days.

5. Upon approval, register for the activity or service. Select the assistance/waiver option.

6. The necessary staff will be informed of the approval to facilitate participation in the activity or service. Confidentiality will be maintained.

Once approved, your approval is good for one year. You must reapply each year. Please visit our Financial Assistance and Waiver webpage for more information.

School Hours:

8:20AM - 2:50PM - Mon., Tues., Thurs., Fri.

8:20 AM - 2:05PM - Wed.

Click here for the NPS 2022-2023 school calendar.

Click here for the Brown Middle School 6-day rotation calendar for 2022-2023 with early release days and days of the cycle.

To report a student absence call: 617-559-6980

Brown Middle School

125 Meadowbrook Road

Newton, MA 02459

Absences: 617-559-6980

Main office: 617-559-6900