Superintendent's Update

February 18, 2022

The communication below provides important information from the Public Schools of Brookline. Translated versions are available on the right-hand side of the page.


Monday, February 14 marked our 100th day of school this year - what a remarkable first half of the school year it has been! In the past six months, we have opened two new buildings at Brookline High School for our students, hosted ten COVID-19 vaccine clinics for our community, launched new initiatives in social-emotional learning and educational equity - and so much more! Embedded each week in this community update, of course, are the countless moments of learning and growth, shared in classrooms, hallways, and playgrounds. We look forward to continuing to support you and your students for the next half of the school year.


I hope you take some time to enjoy your February vacation, and I look forward to seeing all of you on the 28th feeling refreshed!

PSB's COVID-19 page

UPDATE: At-Home COVID-19 Testing Program

Since February vacation begins next week, we ask that students and staff participating in the Home Testing Program test themselves on Sunday, February 27 prior to returning to school. As a reminder, negative results do not need to be reported; you will only need to complete the reporting form if you or your student tests positive for COVID-19. We will resume our weekly Tuesday testing schedule when students return to school on Monday.



In addition, you can find these links, along with our current COVID-19 protocols, resources, and other important information at www.brookline.k12.ma.us/covid-19.


Finally, we’d like to remind you that everyone is still required to wear a mask in all town and school buildings. The Schoo Committee plans to discuss and review the mask mandate recommendation at their next meeting on Thursday, March 3.

PSB's COVID-19 page

Spotlight on Excellence: Lincoln School 3D Printing and Design

PSB Spotlight on Excellence - February 17, 2022
We shine the spotlight on excellence this week on our teachers and students at Lincoln School! Thanks to a generous grant from the Brookline Education Foundation (BEF), students have been able to use a 3D printer in Ms. Mazzocchi’s technology class to create word blocks and other accessible objects for hands-on learning. 3D printing has also been a valuable resource in other curriculum areas as well; for example, Ms. Waldesbuhl uses 3D printed objects to reinforce her students’ grammatical structure and vocabulary skills. We also want to acknowledge Lincoln Middle School students for their enthusiasm, curiosity, and persistent desire to find new ways to learn! Thank you so much to Ms. Mazzochi, Ms. Wadlesbuhl, and their students for supporting this creative collaboration. Check out the full presentation of the Spotlight on Excellence here.

Celebrating Black History Month

We have been taking time in February to honor the achievements and history of African-Americans, and remind ourselves to integrate this history into our instruction throughout the year.
Ms. Kerr teaches a French lesson to 8th grade students at Heath (Photo Credit: T. Alvarado)

Grade 5 World Language Course Verification

The 2022-2023 6-8 World Language placements for current grade 5 students can now be verified in the Parent Portal using the same steps as the course selection. These instructions can be found at the Grade 5 World Language Selection Site. Grade 5 students who didn't make a selection by the January 24 deadline were placed into courses by the K-8 World Language Coordinator. Any student participating in a lottery will be contacted by their school administrator. We look forward to supporting grade 5 students as they continue their language learning journey into middle school.

Ms. Kerr teaches a French lesson to 8th grade students at Heath (Photo Credit: T. Alvarado)
Laura Richardson, a first-grade teacher at Baker School, has been recognized by President Joe Biden as one of two Massachusetts recipients of the Presidential Awards for Excellence in Mathematics and Science Teaching. (Photo Credit: PAEMST)

Baker Teacher awarded the Presidential Award in Excellence in Mathematics and Science Teaching

We are excited to share that Laura Richardson, a first-grade teacher at Baker School, has been recognized by President Biden as one of two Massachusetts recipients for the Presidential Award for Excellence in Mathematics and Science Teaching. This year's awardees were selected based on their “distinction in the classroom and dedication to improving STEM education”. This award is considered to be one of the most prestigious that teachers can receive from the U.S. government. Congratulations to Mrs. Richardson! We are grateful for the dedication, hard work, and support she has provided to our students! You can learn more about the award at the Baker School website.

Laura Richardson, a first-grade teacher at Baker School, has been recognized by President Joe Biden as one of two Massachusetts recipients of the Presidential Awards for Excellence in Mathematics and Science Teaching. (Photo Credit: PAEMST)
Picture of the Pierce School. (Photo Credit: M. Chan)

Pierce School Principal Search

In January, PSB announced the launch of the search process for a permanent principal for Pierce School. Working with the Pierce community, the Superintendent has created an Interview Committee comprised of school educators, parents/guardians, and district education leaders. The Committee is reviewing applications and is scheduled to conduct first-round interviews during the week of February 28. We expect to announce finalists to the community by mid-March. More details about this search process can be found here.
Picture of the Pierce School. (Photo Credit: M. Chan)

BHS Athletic Highlights

Winter Sports is slowly wrapping up, and many Brookline Warriors have enjoyed their fair share of a championship season!
Design a banner for the upcoming U.S. Open Golf Tournament, to be hosted at Brookline in June! (Photo Credit: Brookline Arts Commission)

Community Updates

  • PSB Food Service hosting Massachusetts Farm to School Workshop: Join Sasha Palmer, PSB Director of Food Services, for a virtual cooking demo on Thursday, March 10! Led by Project Bread’s Chef Educators, participants will learn how to create easy, cost-effective breakfast recipes that feature local ingredients and can be served in a variety of meal service settings, including cafeteria service, grab and go, and breakfast in the classroom. These creative, kid-friendly recipes are flexible enough to change with produce that is seasonally available and have been tested and approved by K-12 students across Massachusetts. Register for the workshop here.

  • Town of Brookline Invites Community Members and PSB Students to Submit Designs for U.S. Open Banner Competition: In anticipation of Brookline hosting the U.S. Open Tournament in June 2022, the Brookline Commission for the Arts and the Brookline Community Partnerships Committee invites community members to submit designs for the U.S. Open Banner Competition. The winning banner will be featured on light poles throughout the town in the weeks leading up to and during the U.S. Open. All Brookline students and residents are eligible to submit a design. All designs must be submitted by Tuesday, March 15. Click on this link for more information on the contest.
Design a banner for the upcoming U.S. Open Golf Tournament, to be hosted at Brookline in June! (Photo Credit: Brookline Arts Commission)

ICYMI: The 2022 Lunar New Year Ceremony at BHS!

BHS Lunar New Year Performances 2022
Public Schools of Brookline

Public Schools of Brookline

Public Schools of Brookline


(Background Photo Credit: P. English-Sand)

333 Washington Street, Brookline, MA, USA (617)-730-2401 brookline.k12.ma.us