Brown MS Weekly Update
Friday, Sept. 17, 2021
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.
Off to a Great Start!
It has been truly healing, comforting and special to have all of our students back in the building with us. The noise of students throughout the building has been music to our ears! Many faculty members have shared how happy they are to have all the students back, "The building feels so alive!" Our students are beginning to navigate both the building and the schedule better each day and the year is officially well underway.
Last Monday our PTO kicked off the year with a wonderful community picnic. We enjoyed delicious burritos from Tango Mango and were able to reconnect with our school community. Families were able to purchase Brown Wear and enjoy the festive music. The weather could not have been better to spend some quality time together. A big thank you to IJ Anyanwu, Sarah Housman, Denise Dandrea and Will Harris for all the planning that went into this. The pictures below show some of the fun.
Updates are below. I wish you all a good weekend. Stay safe and stay well.
Kim Lysaght, Principal
School Picture Day - Monday, Sept. 20
ONLINE ORDERS ARE PREFERRED AND STRONGLY RECOMMENDED. No forms need to be returned by parents.
Click on this link www.haywardphotography.com
and use this code to place your order: BROWN21
The preorder option will be available until 9/23/21. If parents do not order by 9/23/21, they will receive a NO BUY of their child with instructions to go online to order.
Hispanic Heritage Month - Sept. 15 - Oct. 15
Advisory Exploration
Sharing the Learning
Our SEL Goal for these projects
Masks
Water Bottles
Drop off and Pick Up - Let's Keep Everyone Safe
Back to School Night - Wednesday, Sept. 29
Please save the date: Wednesday, Sept. 29 from 6:00-9:00. More details with specific times for zoom meetings to follow.
Covid Testing Program - Register here!
One of the many layers of safety we have put in place in schools this year is COVID testing. I would ask you and your family to strongly consider opting into the testing program.
In addition to helping to keep our school community healthy, one of the most important reasons to opt into testing is so that your student can stay in school, even if they are identified as a close contact. This new program is called Test and Stay. Test and Stay means unvaccinated asymptomatic close contacts exposed at school can participate in a COVID rapid test rather than quarantining. The rapid test would be conducted for at least five days following exposure. If the test is negative and the student has no symptoms, the student stays in school and avoids quarantine. With no remote learning options this year, this Test and Stay program is even more critical to helping us keep students in school learning.
We are still working to finalize the date for weekly testing implementation with the state contractor, CIC Health. Testing options (such as Test and Stay and symptomatic testing) will be implemented as soon as this Monday, September 20. In the meantime, we strongly encourage you to opt in so you are ready to test when the weekly programs launch.
If you would like to learn more about the Covid testing program, please click here for our NPS webpage on Covid testing.
Having trouble logging into Aspen? Email: aspen@newton.k12.ma.us
COVID Communication Protocols
Many families have asked how and when they will be notified of COVID infection in schools. Please review the document linked below for information on our communications process for COVID notification: Communications Protocol for COVID Notification
Brown Middle School Enrichment Opportunities
A variety of after school enrichment clubs will be offered after school on Mondays, Tuesdays, Thursdays and Fridays 3:00 – 4:05 PM (exceptions in some clubs). Students can sign up by emailing the advisor of the club. Once signed up, information will be given (where to meet, etc…). Club offerings change throughout the school year and from year to year depending on student interest and staffing. Some clubs will run throughout the entire school year while others will be offered during a specific time frame. A listing of clubs offered (link below)will be updated monthly on the Brown website (Student Activities tab). At times a club may be canceled for the day and this will be communicated to the students via email by the advisor of the club.
Safety protocols will be put in place and students must follow all guidelines. Guidelines are as follows:
Students sign in with enrichment advisor
Number of participants is limited (in some cases)
Students can take the 4:15 bus if they regularly take a bus, ride or walk home, or a parent must pick up the child at the designated times
Students meet enrichment advisor in designated location
Student stays with that advisor/activity the entire time
Student must wear a mask if indoors
Student must use hand sanitizer upon arrival (hand sanitizer will be provided)
Middle School Activities Fee and Form
The middle school student activity fee covers all school sponsored extracurricular activities within the middle schools not including athletics. The fee is set at $60.00 per student per year. The annual fee allows a student to participate in an unlimited number of after school enrichment activities.
Please click here to read about fee payments and financial assistance.
Please click here to make a fee payment of $60.
If you have any questions, please contact the enrichment advisor directly or our after school athletic/enrichment director Katrina Antonellis via email at antonellisk@newton.k12.ma.us
Opportunities for Artists!
Art Extension + After School Enrichment Opportunities:
This Fall there will be art opportunities for students both during the school day (at Extension) and afterschool. Ms. Rosen will be offering two during school Extension groups this Fall. Mr. Goldberg will be offering two afterschool art Enrichment groups.
If you are interested in joining either please sign up by clicking the link of the specific activity below. (If you have already emailed Mr. Goldberg via our Enrichment announcement above, you do not need to sign up again.).
We can't wait to see what our artists create!
During School:
Day 3 Extension 6th Grade Art Club- Ms. Rosen
Day 5 Extension 7th and 8th Grade Drawing Focus Group - Ms. Rosen
After School:
Monday After School Advanced Art - Mr. Goldberg
Tuesday After School Painting Club - Mr. Goldberg
Indigenous Peoples Day Celebration!
COVID-19 Vaccine Clinic!
Newton North High School
Location: Cafeteria
Saturday October 2, 8am - 12pm
North Sign Up Link:
https://tinyurl.com/NEWTONNORTHVAX
Newton South High School
Location: Gymnasium
Saturday October 2, 8am - 12pm
South Sign Up Link:
https://tinyurl.com/NEWTONSOUTHVAX
Clinics are open to anyone over age 12.
Anyone under the age of 18 needs to be accompanied by an adult or have the state's consent form filled out which is available here.
Chromebooks!
Chromebooks were distributed this past week during school. We will be helping students to troubleshoot this coming week if there is an issue with their Chromebook.
If you have not already, please do the following:
- Complete the Chromebook Loan Agreement form available in the Aspen Family Portal. Printable and translated versions of the Chromebook Loan Agreement are also available.
- Families are responsible for accidental damages to devices. We are offering an optional Repair Fund ($25) that will cover the cost of any accidental damages incurred throughout the year. This takes the place of the third party insurance model available to high school families in the past. Those that still have active policies with Worth Avenue insurance will continue through the end of the policy term.
- Make sure your child gets in the habit of charging the Chromebook each night.
- In order for Chromebooks to work, they do need access to the internet. The devices do have web filtering in place when signed in with an NPS account.
Newton Special Education Parent Advisory Council (SEPAC)
Reminder:
First Brown Parent Zoom meeting: Thursday September 23 at 7:30pm
Time: Sep 23, 2021 07:30 PM Eastern Time (US and Canada)
Join Zoom Meeting: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/7967420402
Questions regarding SEPAC at Brown?
Contact Kim Gallaugher - momofiggy@hotmail.com or cell 857-800-3644
Reporting Absences
To report a student absence call: 617-559-6980
Website: https://www.newton.k12.ma.us/Page/43
Location: 125 Meadowbrook Road, Newton, MA, USA
Phone: 617-559-6900
Need to Update your Information in Aspen?
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 school calendar.
Click here for the Brown Middle School 6-day rotation calendar with early release days and days of the cycle.