Brown MS Weekly Update
May 13, 2022
Translations
To translate this news letter, click on the newsletter and select the word "translate" at the top right hand side under Accessibility. Select the language from the drop down menu.
Dear Brown MS Community,
This month is Asian American Pacific Islander Heritage Month and Jewish American Heritage Month. We have a wonderfully diverse population here at Brown and continue to celebrate all members of our community - there is so much we can learn from each other. Below in this newsletter is a write up of a project done by two friends at Newton North High School. For their leadership project, they created a website on Jewish and AAPI identities and their intersecting histories. I recommend clicking on the link to their site and doing some exploring with your families - it is quite impressive!
It is hard to believe we are entering the last 6 weeks of school! Our last official school day is June 24 which will be a half day (dismissal at 11:20). Between now and then there are many events and special projects in store for our students. Our 6th graders are actively working on their Global Goals and 8th graders are engaged in their Action Civics Project. The last month of school can feel frantic, but is also a fun time of year. Baseball, softball, lacrosse, ultimate frisbee and track are all going strong. MCAS is wrapping up and students and teachers will be engage in culminating activities/projects in all curricular areas. The transition to summer is long awaited, but also bittersweet. I always have a mixture of excitement and melancholy when the the last day of school approaches.
Speaking of summer, what a gorgeous day today was! Outdoor lunch was truly a pleasure. The sun and some natural vitamin D felt so great. This weekend promises to be beautiful. I plan to get outside as much as possible and also cheer on the Celtics and Bruins! Enjoy your weekend!
Best,
Kim Lysaght, Principal
After School Enrichment End Date
All after school enrichment activities and athletic programs will conclude the week of May 31- June 3. Due to Memorial Day, Monday, May 23 will be the last day for Monday enrichment activities. Friday, June 3 will be the final ending date for all activities. We thank all students, staff and coaches for participating and making these programs a success.
Presentation for Parents on Social Media and a Tour of Brown MS!
After the tour parents were able to purchase Brown MS swag and grab a cup of coffee. Finally, we heard a presentation by Cory Mashburn, EdM from Middlesex Partnership for Youth on social media and middle schoolers. He discussed safety, privacy settings, apps and making sure you are involved in your child's online presence. We recently surveyed our students regarding their use of social media. Here is a presentation of the results. While we were not permitted to record the presentation, I will have resources from Cory in next week's update.
Newton North Jewish X AAPI Leadership Project
Rachel Kimball & Yurika Tarui, NNHS seniors and members of the Leadership Class, created an intersectional website on Jewish and AAPI identities for their Leadership project.
Their goal was to amplify Jewish and AAPI voices at North and raise awareness about the model minority myth, scapegoating, antisemitism, and AAPI hate. Through exploring the two communities’ intersecting histories, they hope to highlight the importance of coalition-building in social justice movements. The website contains classroom resources for lessons on Jewish and AAPI identity, including the histories of both communities, notable figures, books/movies, and more.
In honor of both Jewish American Heritage Month and Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage Month this May, please consider exploring their website: https://sites.google.com/view/jewish-aapi-alliance
5th Grade Parent Coffees!
We are pleased to share that we will be holding parent coffees at each of the four elementary feeder schools in May. The dates are listed below. At these informal session parents will be able to meet with the principal and a school counselor as well as a Brown PTO representative to ask questions and hear more about Brown MS.
- Countryside: May 18, 8:30AM
- Mason Rice: May 19, 8:15AM
- Angier: May 25, 8:20AM
- Williams: May 26, 8:30AM
Additional 5th grade information:
PTO information: click here for their website
5th grade parent night: click here for the slide deck
World language selection: click here (The form also gives you an opportunity to sign your child up for our optional band, orchestra or chorus electives.)
Brown MS Music Department - Spring Concerts!
Brown Middle School Music Department is proud to present our spring concert dates! All ensemble members are expected to attend their concert. Details (call times, dress code etc.) to follow.
Wednesday June 1, 2022, 7:00pm
6th 7th & 8th grade Orchestra
7th & 8th grade Chorus
6th grade Chorus
Brown Middle School, John Jordan Auditorium
Thursday June 2, 2022, 7:00pm
7th & 8th grade Band & 6th grade Band
Brown Middle School, John Jordan Auditorium
Step Up Day - June 10
Step Up Day will be Friday, June 10th this year. On this day our 8th and 5th graders will have an opportunity to tour their new schools and learn about what to expect in the fall.
All 6th and 7th graders will be dismissed at 12:50 that day.
5th graders will arrive at Brown from each of the 4 feeder schools at 12:50 and will see a short presentation in the auditorium. They will then be put into groups and met by our 6th grade teachers who will share more about what they can expect in 6th grade and give them a tour of the building. At 2:20, 5th graders will be transported back to their elementary schools for regular dismissal time.
8th graders will have lunch at 11:15 and then walk over to Newton South at 12:00 for a presentation and tour. They will return to Brown in time for our 2:50 dismissal.
8th Grade Year End Events
Step Up Day to NSHS - Friday, June 10
8th Grade Party - June 21 - 3:00PM
Canobie Lake Park Trip - Thursday, June 23
Graduation - Friday, June 24 at 10:00AM
Look for more information in the BBR's from the PTO.
Covid Update
This week there were 15 individuals that reported testing positive for Covid this week. Given the increase in cases in our community, the Newton Public Schools STRONGLY recommends students and staff wear a mask. A well-fitting mask is very effective in reducing the transmission of COVID.
COVID Infection Levels:
According to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) website, Middlesex County, along with most of Massachusetts, is now in the “high” community level for COVID-19. You can access current Newton-specific COVID data on the Newton HHS website:
City of Newton COVID Case Data
Newton Public Schools COVID Case Data
For reference, when a community level is “high,” the CDC recommends the following:
Wear a well-fitting mask indoors in public, regardless of vaccination status (including in K-12 schools and other indoor community settings).
Stay up to date with COVID-19 vaccines and boosters.
Follow CDC recommendations for isolation and quarantine, including getting tested if you are exposed to COVID-19 or have symptoms of COVID-19.
Maintain improved ventilation throughout indoor spaces when possible.
If you are at high risk for severe illness, consider taking additional precautions.
Please have your child continue to follow the daily health assessment guidelines above each morning. Students enrolled in our testing program should all take their tests on Tuesday morning as usual.
To “opt-in” to the testing program.
Access the Opt-in form through Aspen parent/guardian account: Aspen
Follow these instructions (link) once you are logged into Aspen
Only positive results need to be reported by completing this Form - Positive Result from At-Home Rapid Antigen Test - State Program. Nurses will provide follow up information to families, including the date for return to school, following a positive test.
The data dashboard can be found here: COVID Testing Data Dashboard and on our website here: COVID Testing Webpage. For information on COVID cases and vaccination rates in the Newton Public Schools, please visit this page on the City of Newton Website: Newton HHS COVID Data.
SPACE Camp for Summer 2022!
S.P.A.C.E. Camp is a four-week summer enrichment program run by the Newton Public Schools from July 5th through 28th. Students entering kindergarten through 9th grade in the Fall of 2022 are eligible to attend. We offer two programs - an upper camp (entering grade 5-entering grade 9 in the Fall of 2022) and a lower camp (entering kindergarten-entering grade 4). Check out the S.P.A.C.E.website for more information or REGISTER NOW! Questions? SPACE@newton.k12.ma.us
Newton Community Education (NCE) Summer Theater
Join the ensemble of Annie Jr., and get ready for a summer full of music, dance, acting, and even breaks for swim time! Together we’ll build sets, play theater games, learn choreography, and sing our hearts out. We have added a few more spots to our summer theater camp and we hope to see you onstage! This 5-week program begins June 27th and students entering grades 3-9 are eligible to register. Click here to register today! Want to see all the summer programs for kids of all ages? Check out our summer at-a-glance to find the camp that’s perfect for you.
Bus registration 2022-2023
Bus registration for the 2022-23 school year will open the week of May 23rd. Please watch your email for instructions on how to register your student(s) for the bus. NPS strong recommends that you complete your registration prior to the end of this school year. As always, please visit the NPS Transportation website for more information.
Food Services for 2022-2023
The Newton Public Schools Food Services website has been revised for easier use and with updated information. Please check out the new format and to learn about upcoming changes for the 2022/23 school year.
The current free meal service program that has been operating the past two years is ending on 6/30/22, which will require a return to paid meals for those students not eligible for free or reduced-price meals. In addition, all meals will need to be served only in the cafeteria and students will need to have their meal counted or to pay for their meal or a la carte items.
Recommendations for paid-meal pricing will be shared with the School Committee as part of their 5/23/22 agenda.
Jingshan School Exchange
"Are you curious about Newton's long-standing exchange program with the Jingshan School in Beijing? Have you (or if you're a parent, has your child) considered participating in this exchange? While the pandemic has nixed traveling for the past few years, our connection is still strong.
Anyone who would like to learn more about this 35-year old sister school relationship is warmly invited to the Newton / Jingshan Exchange Annual Meeting in the Newton South Library beginning at 4 PM on May 19. Join us as we gather to celebrate Enduring Connections: Students, Hosts and Teachers. A variety of exchange students (both Chinese and American), exchange teachers and host families will share their experiences in a lively presentation.
For questions about the event, please contact Star Yixing Lew, the Jingshan Exchange Program Specialist: lewy@newton.k12.ma.us
How to report an instance of harassment, discrimination or retaliation.
NPS has recently updated their non-discrimination protocol and reporting process. Here is a link to a document that gives an overview of the process and how to report incidents. If you experience an incident that you feel needs to be reported, you can contact the school directly or you can fill out this Online reporting form.
Discrimination includes, but is not limited to, excluding from participation, denying the benefits of, or otherwise discriminating against individuals on the basis of a Protected Class, or any other category protected by state or federal law.
Harassment includes, but is not limited to, unwelcome, inappropriate, or illegal physical, verbal, written, graphic, or electronic conduct that relates to an individual’s actual or perceived Protected Class, that has the purpose or effect of creating a hostile education or work environment. Examples of harassment include, but are not limited to, conduct that denigrates, demeans, or stereotypes a person and/or group based upon disability, gender identity, national origin, ethnic background, ancestry, race, color, religion, or sexual orientation. Sexual harassment is also included in this category.
Retaliation includes, but is not limited to, coercion, intimidation, interference, punishment, discrimination, or harassment against any member of the school community in response to that member’s oral, written, formal or informal reporting or filing a complaint, cooperating in an investigation, aiding or encouraging another member to report or file a complaint.
Need to update your information in Aspen?
The Annual Student Information Update is available on Aspen. Please update your information. Directions for families can be found here.
Calendar and School Hours
School Hours:
8:20AM - 2:50PM - Mon., Tues., Thurs., Fri.
8:20 AM - 2:05PM - Wed.
Click here for the NPS 2021-2022 school calendar.
Click here for the NPS 2022-2023 school calendar.
Click here for the Brown Middle School 6-day rotation calendar with early release days and days of the cycle.
Absentee Line:
To report a student absence call: 617-559-6980
Brown Middle School
125 Meadowbrook Road
Newton, MA 02459
617-559-6900