Superintendent's Update
March 3, 2023
The communication below provides important information from the Public Schools of Brookline.
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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).
Spotlight on Excellence: Brookline High School Squash Teams!
This week’s spotlight is shined on some of our athletes at Brookline High School! Led by coaches Steve Lantos and Ron Rubin, both the boys’ and girls’ squash teams garnered impressive performances, culminating the season by competing in the National High School Squash Championship over February Vacation.
The boys' team edged out nail biting 4-3 wins to win the Division VI title, while the girls’ team rallied with three consecutive wins to secure a top spot at their consolation ladder. Because squash is one of the few unique sports at BHS where boys and girls are integrated, both teams were present during the tournament in Philadelphia to cheer on and support one another as they competed. Coach Lantos noted that this camaraderie was best exemplified by the girls team livestreaming the boys team games as they both competed their respective matches at the same time!
Members of both teams and their coaches joined the school committee meeting on Thursday, March 2 to share some of their highlights of the year. Coach Lantos and coach Rubin also spoke a little about the team’s history, and the journey they took to transform their personal passions into a centerpiece of the Warriors Athletics program. Both coaches took a moment to congratulate and praise the players for their uncanny ability to bounce back from deficits during matches - a testament to their resilience and performance in the clutch! We celebrate the squash program for representing Brookline High School and the Town of Brookline with honor and distinction! You can watch the spotlight in its entirety here.
Caregivers of LGBTQ+ Kids Information Session: Wednesday, March 8!
The PSB LGBTQ+ Task Force invites you to learn, find community, and help expand resources, services, and support to the young members of the LGBTQ+ community in Brookline schools.
Join fellow parents, caregivers, and staff on Wednesday, March 8, from 6:00 - 8:00 p.m. at the Public Library of Brookline at Brookline Village (361 Washington Street) to learn what supports are available for LGBTQ+ identifying or questioning children of all ages within PSB - and in the broader community. You can RSVP for the event here!
Inside the Art Room: 3D Pop-Up Boxes with Ruffin Ridley School
This week's Inside the Art Room features 2nd grade students at Ruffin Ridley School!
Your imagination is an amazing thing that can transform the ordinary into the extraordinary! After reading the book Not-a-Box, by Antoinette Portis, FRR 2nd grade students learned how to create a three-dimensional pop-up box at Ms. Em's class and were then challenged to transform it using various papers and collage techniques. Students used their imaginations to come up with unique solutions, "thinking outside the box" to solve an array of building and design challenges. Using paper construction techniques like rolling, folding, and making tabs the final sculptures they created included houses, a volcano, a campsite, rocketships, soccer fields, and more!
See more artwork from Ruffin Ridley School through Ms. Manning-Mingle's Instagram page on @artwithmsem.
Join GreenZine Brookline!
GreenZine Brookline offers students and other PSB community members a forum for news, opinion and creative expression about climate change, outdoor education and the environment.
The editorial staff (led by PSB students, staff, and community members) are currently looking for content for their winter issue from our community’s K-12 students (and adults), including news about classroom projects, gardening, poetry, stories to inspire others, artwork and more. Visit the GreenZine website or contact greenzinebrookline@gmail.com for ideas or contact us for suggestions.
PSB School Counseling Presents: Parent/Guardian Workshop on Screen Time
Parents, guardians, and caregivers are invited to the next PSB School Counseling Parent/Guardian Workshop Series event on Monday, March 6, from 5:30 - 6:30 p.m.
This virtual presentation will focus on cultivating a healthy balance in screen time for our students. Increasingly, data suggests that exposing youth to large amounts of time in front of screens (TV, computer, tablet, or smartphone) can negatively effect physical and mental development, including issues with memory, attention, and language skills. Geared towards an adult audience, this workship will provide the tools and vocabulary needed for children and adolescents to make wise choices about balancing daily screen use while focusing more attention on exercise and nutrition.
Brought to you by the Public Schools of Brookline School Counseling and Clinical Services Department in collaboration with the Massachusetts Partnerships for Youth, this event is open to all parents, guardians, and staff of the Public Schools of Brookline as well as neighboring community members. Click on the link here to register. Also, please don't forget to regularly check the PSB School Counseling Department's website for information and resources.
BEF Trivia Bee: Back in Person!
The Brookline Education Foundation (BEF) is excited to bring its Trivia Bee back in person this year on Friday, March 31 from 6:30 - 9:30 p.m.!
An annual tradition, this event will be the organization’s 42nd year in supporting and raising funds for PSB educators! Don't miss this fun opportunity to gather with friends and neighbors - this year in Brookline High School's brand new 22 Tappan building) - and support our staff! Register yourself (or your team) through this link here!
BHS Global Leadership Class Fundraiser for Turkey and Syria Earthquake Relief
The Global Leadership class at BHS has organized a fundraiser as part of a Humanitarian Intervention unit to provide aid to people in Syria and Turkey after the horrific earthquake that devastated millions of people.
he class intends to raise $10,000 for UNICEF and collect in-kind donations by Friday, March 10th. Donations can be made at the class GoFundMe site. 100% of donations go directly to UNICEF's Earthquake relief.
Students are collecting in-kind donations (winter clothes, blankets, sleeping bags, tents, and hand warmers) to be delivered to Turkey. Collection bins are located in the BHS atrium at 115 Greenough Street. To learn more at the Global Leadership class Earthquake Relief, you can visit the Global Leadership class earthquake relief website. All donors are automatically registered for raffle prizes from local businesses, organized by the BHS Friends 4 Friends student group.
Changes to MassHealth Program
PSB has received notification that the coverage protections put in place by the federal government due to the COVID-19 pandemic public health emergency will now end and that MassHealth will soon return to standard annual eligibility renewal processes.
In the coming year, all current MassHealth members must renew their health coverage to ensure they qualify for their current benefits.
Please make sure you have verified your information (e.g., address, phone number, email, etc.) with MassHealth to stay up-to-date on any important information and notices. You can review your information or report changes using your MA Login Account at http://www.mahix.org/individual. If you have questions, need help with your MassHealth coverage, or if have lost coverage, please contact MassHealth Customer Service at (800) 841-2900. Translated materials are available here.
Nominations for SRTS Crossing Guard of the Year Now Open!
The Massachusetts Safe Routes to School (SRTS) program is now accepting nominations for Crossing Guard of the Year!
Communities around the Commonwealth are invited to recognize the individuals who keep our students safe during school arrival and dismissal. The winner(s) of our Crossing Guard of the Year Award(s) will be announced in late April and will also be recognized at our annual Safe Routes to School Award Ceremony in June.
The deadline to submit a nomination is during Crossing Guard Appreciation Day on Wednesday, March 22. Schools can print out our Thank You card and have students fill them out to give to their Crossing Guard(s). For more information can be found on the SRTS website. We can’t wait to read all about what makes our Crossing Guards special!
ICYMI: Check out this year's Lunar New Year Performances at BHS!
Mark Your Calendars!
Women's History Month: Wednesday, March 1 to Friday, March 31
Women's History Month originated to celebrate women's contributions to the United States and recognize the specific achievements women have made throughout American history in various fields.
- Purim (Judaism): Monday, March 6 to Tuesday, March 7
The holiday of Purim, which occurs on the 14th day of the Hebrew month of Adar, is a joyful celebration of Jewish survival. A festive meal (seudah) is eaten during the day, typically with family and friends. This year Purim begins at sundown on Monday, the 6th of March, and continues until sunset on Tuesday, the 7th of March.
- Holi (Hinduism): Wednesday, March 8
Holi is a Hindu festival celebrating the triumph of good over evil, as well as the arrival of Spring. It is also known as the "Festival of Colors" for the ritual throwing of colored water and powder on friends and family. - Deaf History Month: Monday, March 13 to Saturday, April 15
The annual month-long observance spans through mid-March and mid-April because it commemorates several significant milestones in the history of the deaf community. - International Day Against Police Brutality: Wednesday, March 15
In 1997, a joint effort by the Montreal-based Collective Opposed to Police Brutality and the Switzerland-based Black Flag group established March 15 as International Day Against Police Brutality. It is marked by protests worldwide. - St. Patrick's Day: Friday, March 17
Observed annually on March 17, St. Patrick's Day began as a religious holiday and a celebration of Irish culture. Over the next few decades, Irish patriotism among American immigrants eventually culminated in the first New York City St. Patrick’s Day Parade in 1848. St. Patrick's Day is notably recognized in Massachusetts due to its strong Irish influence and roots. - Spring Equinox: Monday, March 20 / Nowruz: Monday, March 20 - Tuesday, March 21
In 2023, the official first day of spring is Monday, March 20. This date marks the “spring equinox” in the Northern Hemisphere, resulting in increasing number of daylight hours, with earlier dawns and later sunsets. Nowruz, or Persian New Year, marks the first day of the Spring Equinox. - World Down Syndrome Day: Tuesday, March 21
This day is dedicated to raising public awareness and advocacy for the rights, inclusion, and well-being of people with Down Syndrome. - World Water Day: Wednesday, March 22
This observance is held annually to highlight water issues and to advocate for universal access to sustainable freshwater resources.
Ramadan (Islam): Wednesday, March 22 - Friday, April 21
Ramadan is a holy month of fasting and prayer in the Islamic faith. It is the 9th month of the 12th-month Islamic calendar and commemorates when Mohammed received the revelations that became the Koran (Quran). Ramadan begins on the evening of Wednesday, March 22 and ends on Friday, April 21 with Eid al-Fitr.
- Cesar Chavez Day: Friday, March 31
This day marks the birthday of Cesar Chavez, an American farmworker, labor leader, and civil rights activist. Chavez co-founded the National Farm Workers Association (later known as United Farm Workers of America), which achieved unprecedented gains for Chicano or Mexican Americans in the labor movement. - International Transgender Day of Visibility: Friday, March 31
International Transgender Day of Visibility, or Trans Day of Visibility, is an annual awareness day celebrated worldwide. The day is dedicated to celebrating the accomplishments of transgender and gender-nonconforming people while raising awareness of the work that still needs to be done to achieve trans justice.
Community Updates
Hidden History of Women in Boston with Dina Vargo
Tuesday, Mar 14, 2023, 06:30 PM
Larz Anderson Auto Museum, Newton Street, Brookline, MA, USA
This event is best suited for a high school audience. Tickets are free for all interested PSB students and families! Contact Abby McBride (Mcbride@larzanderson.org) to RSVP!
REMINDER: Sign Up for Brookline Youth Spring Sports!
- Brookline Youth Baseball/Softball Leagues: Registration Now Open! Brookline Youth Baseball (BYB) offers youth between the ages 6 through 17 the opportunity to learn the great game of baseball - and softball - in a fun and supportive environment. Don’t miss it! Spring 2023 Season Registration is underway. Visit the BYB website (https://www.brooklineyouthbaseball.org/) to learn more and complete your registration.
- Brookline Youth K-8 Lacrosse - Registration Now Open! Calling all Brookline Lacrosse Players! This high energy curriculum introduces children to important fundamentals of lacrosse such as scooping, cradling, and shooting. Age-appropriate equipment is used to provide children with a safe and fun experience in every class! Register at www.brooklinerec.com! For questions, please email Nate Peck (Boys) npeck@kaplanconstructs.com and Jane Kaplan (Girls) jakplanpeck@paplanconstructs.com
(Media credits: D. Lipton, A. Lugo, E. Manning-Mingle, N. Peck, L. Richardson, D. Vargo, Brookline Education Foundation, Brookline PD, Brookline Youth Baseball, MassHealth, PSB LGBTQ+ Task Force )