Middlebrook Lion's Link
Linking Our School To Our Community December 3, 2021
Weekly News
Dear Middlebrook Families,
I hope all of you had a wonderful Thanksgiving and mini break. Now here we are, in the month of December! I can't believe how quickly time is passing by.
With winter upon us, and everyday at Middlebrook we celebrate kindness in some way, it reminds me of one of my favorite quotes, "One kind word can warm three winter months." JP
Important Announcements:
Report Cards: Report Cards will be sent home Thursday, December 9th. Please be sure to review this report card with your child to celebrate all of his/her accomplishments and to set specific goals for improvement for the second trimester. Writing these goals down with your child and reviewing them periodically, will help him/her to be that much more successful and to feel proud for putting forth his/her best effort. If you have any questions regarding your child's report card, please be sure to contact your child’s teacher. A positive parent-teacher partnership contributes to your child’s success at school. Please don't forget to sign and return your child's report card envelope.
Reflections: Please encourage your child to participate in the 2021 PTA Reflections program. This year’s theme is: I Will Change the World By... The deadline for submission is December 20th. When submitting, be sure to complete an entry form (Include your arts category, division and full name on an envelope. No names should appear on the front of artwork.) Submissions will be reviewed by experienced artists for interpretation of theme, creativity and technique. We look forward to celebrating your artistry and achievement in the arts!
Delayed Opening Hours:
1 ½ hour Delay – 10: 05 AM – 3:20 PM
2 hour Delay – 10:35 AM – 3:20 PM
2 ½ hour Delay – 11:05 AM – 3:20 PM
Early Dismissal Hours:
8:35 AM – 1:00 PM
Reminder: Students who leave school, even a few minutes early, often miss important last minute instructions and/or reminders. Interrupting classes to call students to the office for an unplanned dismissal also distracts other students and interrupts the end of the day classroom routines. We ask that unplanned changes in dismissal are called in to the office before 2:30 PM.
Warm Clothing for Recess
Please be sure your child comes to school each day with a warm jacket or coat, hat, and gloves. We do try to get our students outside even in the cold weather so it is important that they are dressed properly so they can keep warm.
Upcoming Events:
December 6th
Hanukkah ends at sunset
December 6th - 17th
5th grade Food Pantry Drive
December 7th
Pearl Harbor
Remembrance Day
December 9th
Report Cards Issued
December 14th
BOE Meeting 7:00pm
December 16th
Winter Concert held at MMS - Grade 3-5 Strings, Grade 4 & 5 Band and Gr. 5 Chorus
December 16th-24th
Las Posadas
December 17th
School Store
December 20th
PTA Meeting 7:00pm
December 21st
First Day of Winter
December 23rd
Early Release 1:00pm dismissal, bagged lunch will be provided
December 24th - January 1st
No School, Holiday Recess
December 26th
Kwanzaa
January 4th
Return back to school
We thank you for your continued support for our work at Middlebrook School! As always, if you have any questions, concerns, or good news to share, please feel free to email me at dponte@trumbullps.org or contact me at school at 203-452-4411.
Warmly,
~Debbie Ponte
Library News from Mrs. Balzano
Trumbull Police Union Coloring Contest Winners!
Snija Sharma - Kindergarten
Lais Hasani - Grade 1
Paul Piro - Grade 2
Parv Desai - Grade 3
Liliana Santora - Grade 4
Congratulations to all of our winners!!
Reminders From Our School Nurse
- Do not send students to school if they are sick
- Symptoms of COVID: Fever, sore throat, fatigue, headache, congestion, body aches, vomiting, diarrhea, sudden onset of cough, shortness of breath, and loss of taste or smell
- PLEASE OBTAIN A COVID TEST WHEN:
- Any one symptom more than 24 hours
- Any two symptoms
- Any one high risk symptom (sudden onset cough, shortness of breath, and loss of taste or smell)
- If you are waiting on COVD test results please keep your child home until results are known
Reminder Kindergarten 5-year-old health physicals and 3rd grade health physicals need to be handed in to the nurse when completed this year.
Thank you!
Middlebrook's KINDNESS Connects Club
Middlebrook's Kindness Connects Club students painted Ben’s Bells Kindness Coins. These will be returned to the Ben’s Bells studio in Bethel to be glazed, fired, and distributed.
WHAT IS A KINDNESS COIN?
Handmade by volunteers in our studios, Kindness Coins are an important tool for practicing kindness. Each one comes with a tag stating, “This is a Ben’s Bells Kindness Coin. Thank you for sharing your kindness. Pass it on.” Givers are encouraged to recognize kind acts around them, and to present a Kindness Coin to those who demonstrate kindness. That person is then encouraged to pass it on to another person, and so on, and so on. Research shows that recognizing kindness in others increases a person’s happiness and satisfaction. Kindness Coins are a great way to acknowledge the kindness around us and practice our kindness skills!
SCIENCE OF KINDNESS COINS
Kindness Coins are a tool to practice connecting with kindness, rather than an expected reward for kindness. The best rewards for kindness are intrinsic. Kindness Coins serve as helpful reminders to slow down, become aware of our emotions, and practice intentional kindness.
5th Grade Food Drive
CONTEST!!! 1 student from each of the 5th grade classes will get a chance to win lunch with Ms. Ponte by guessing the total (or coming the closest) to the number of items.
The pantry is low and in need of the following items:
toothpaste
toothbrushes
tomato sauce
granola bars
can openers
jelly
peanut butter
boxed milk
dried milk
canned milk
ketchup
mayonnaise
barbeque sauce
salt/pepper
pumpkin pie spice
Below is a link to the video made by the director of the food pantry that was shared today in our 5th grade classrooms.
HOLIDAY BOUTIQUE FUN!!
Volunteer Forms
Parents,
We welcome limited volunteering this school year, but you must complete the Volunteer Form, link below. Please make sure every blank is filled in, use N/A where necessary.
https://www.trumbullps.org/Attachments/boe/volunteerforms201920.pdf
Students in ALL grades K-5
Reflections is an arts program run at the national PTA level for about the last 50 years. Trumbull has been participating in this program for a long time. Reflections runs over all grade levels k-12. Students submit their completed works of art in one of the available arts categories: Dance Choreography, Film Production, Literature, Music Composition, Photography, Visual Arts. Submissions are due in December. Please download the guidelines and entry packet below. We hope many of our students participate.
Explore the Arts
Middlebrook School
Email: dponte@trumbullps.org
Website: middlebrookelementary.com
Location: 220 Middlebrooks Avenue, Trumbull, CT, USA
Phone: 203-452-4411