Brown MS Weekly Update
April 29, 2022
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Dear Brown MS Community,
There are so many things to commemorate this season. This weekend marks the end of Ramadan. I would like to wish "Eid Mubarak" to all that are observing Eid al-Fitr and hope that you have a joyous celebration.
Additionally, yesterday was National Holocaust Remembrance Day where we remember the millions of Jews and others killed by the Nazi's in WWII. To all with ancestors or loved ones impacted by the Holocaust, we will not forget and we will continue to teach our students about this history so they are able to speak out against antisemitism.
We are also entering the month of May where we celebrate Asian American and Pacific Islander (AAPI) Heritage Month. All of our advisories will engage in lessons about AAPI cultures and traditions and our 7th grade advisees will create posters of influential AAPI individuals to share with the entire school. Brown MS is a diverse community and we are all smarter and stronger when we understand our differences and celebrate each other.
Speaking of celebrations, this coming week is Teacher Appreciation Week! There are not enough words to describe how indebted I am to the amazing faculty here at Brown. Their spirit, their effort and their humor have been a blessing. This year has been a long one and our teachers are still bringing their best game each day. Thank you, faculty!!! The PTO has planned to provide yummy treats for all of our teachers this Wednesday at the end of the school day prior to their teacher meetings. Thank you ahead of time to all that help with this!
On a personal note, my son comes home tonight from college and I am both excited to see him and frantic because it has been a busy week and the refrigerator is fairly empty đŹ. Knowing his school year is complete makes me realize how quickly the end of the year is coming! There is information below regarding end-of-year events, so please read through to see what's ahead.
Best,
Kim Lysaght, Principal
Spring Play Provides Lots of Laughter!
This year's spring play production, "For Your Entertainment" was held this past Wednesday night. I would like to thank Directors Robin Miller and Rebecca Cohen, Set Designer Peter Tordo, and Publicity Coordinator Elizabeth Messina for all of their hard work to make this production such a success. The cast and crew of 31 hardworking students did an outstanding job and should be proud of their accomplishment! The sets were terrific, the acting was truly entertaining and the students really learned how to project their voices so everyone could hear them! Bravo!
Presentation for Parents on Social Media and a Tour of Brown MS!
This idea was generated by the Brown MS Council where we have been discussing how to help kids and parents navigate social media as well as ways to help parents connect to Brown and each other.
We will provide some meet and greet time with refreshments in the cafeteria starting at 6:30PM. At 6:45 we will have volunteer student guides available to take parents on a tour of the building. Finally at 7:30 we will have everyone assemble in the auditorium for a presentation from Middlesex Partnership for Youth regarding middle schoolers and social media. Parents of students in grades 5-8 are welcome to attend.
NSFâs Honor Thy Teacher program.
Honor Thy Teacher was created to help our school community show their appreciation for Newton Public School teachers and staff while adhering to the Newton Public Schools gift policies.
Teachers honored by the program receive a personalized email informing them of the honor, school principals receive notification of the teachers and staff honored from their schools, the names of all honored staff are listed on the NSF website and, new last year, all honored staff receive a Certificate of Honor and a commemorative magnet that they can proudly display.
Donations received by NSF through the Honor Thy Teacher program are an important source of funding for NSFâs programs to enhance excellence and equity in the Newton Public Schools by funding new approaches in the classroom, professional development, and programs that address inequities. Some of those programs include Authorfest at the elementary school level, the Calculus Project at the middle and high school levels, and a National Educator Anti-Racist Conference. For more information on the programs funded by NSF, visit the Impact page on the NSF website.
We kick off our Honor Thy Teacher campaign during Teacher Appreciation Week (May 2-6) and continue until the end of the school year. Middle school students will be receiving postcards in the mail, with information about the program and how to contribute.
Supporting and Affirming Transgender and Gender Expansive Students
The Department of DEI, in partnership with the LGBTQ+ NPS Employeesâ Affinity Group, is very excited to invite you to this upcoming NPS community forum:
This event is open to all NPS students, parents and staff to hear from trained facilitators, along with a panel of LGBTQ+ members of our community.
This conversation is intended to help us better understand the experiences of our transgender and gender expansive student community and to learn more about the ways we can support and affirm the dignity, safety and inclusion of all of our students.
*To register, please RSVP in advance in order to receive a zoom link prior to the event.
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 individualâs 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 memberâs 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.
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:
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 concerts! date(s). All ensemble members are expected to attend their concert. Details (call times, dress code etc.) to follow. Please email us with any questions!
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 (during the school day) - Friday, June 10
Canobie Lake Park Trip - Thursday, June 23
Graduation - Friday, June 24 at 10:00AM
Our 8th grade parent planning committee is also working on an 8th grade after school party sometime early in the last week of school. More details to follow!
Covid Update
This week we had 5 individuals that tested positive for Covid. Please have your child continue to follow the daily health assessment guidelines above each morning.
Our Covid testing program continues next each Tuesday morning.
To âopt-inâ 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.
Collaborative for Healthy Families out of Mass General Brigham, Newton Wellesley Hospital
Drug Use Is On The Rise: How To Identify The Signs In Your Child Or Loved One:
This event will highlight the types of drugs that are circulating in our communities, ways to recognize the signs of drug use in your child or loved one and how to talk with your kids about drug use before it starts. Hosted by the NWH Substance Use Services Council
Wednesday, May 4, 2022
7 â 8:30 p.m.
https://partners.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_LhV8dBxVRZ-nzo3mISytjQ
Hello HKRS Newton Families and Friends!
We are looking forward to seeing you at the starting line!
Race Location: Newton Centre Playground
Race Dates: May 1, 8, 15, 22, June 5
Race Time: 4:00PM
Healthy Kids Running Series Website
Pre-Race Number and T-Shirt Pick-Up Info:
Friday, April 29, 2022 from 4:00-5:00 PM
Location: 106 Deborah Rd., Newton, Ma 02459
Volunteer and sponsor opportunities are available.
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