Brown Bears
Your Weekly Update from Brown Elementary School
Principal's Message
Dear Families,
We have had a wonderful start to the year. We were blessed with sun for our Wednesday launch. Arrival and dismissal ran like a well-oiled machine. There were smiling faces on students and staff as our friends learned about their new rooms and about each other.
The smell of new school supplies was ever present all week.
I look forward to a new year where students are happy learning and we celebrate the joy of small wins on a daily basis.
Best,
Aidan McCann, Principal
Five Things You Need to Know
1 - WE'RE BACK
I have a few helpful reminders for all families as we come back to school that will assist us here in the building with ensuring that things run smoothly.
- If you haven't yet filled out a "default" plan in PUP Patrol, please do so ASAP, as this tells us how your child will be going home each day.
- Powerschool Yearly Forms need to be filled out each year. If you haven't completed these, you should have received an e-mail from Karen Cushing.
- If you pick up your child at the end of the day, please remember that the front door is only for car pick-ups. All "walking" pick-ups are at the back door.
- Please remember to have your child bring a snack and a water bottle each day. Thank you.
2 - ORCHESTRA
This is a particularly exciting year for the Music Department, as Natick is introducing a 3rd-12th grade Orchestra program for the very first time! Students in the 3rd and 4th grade can sign up for violin, viola, or cello, join the lesson program, and play in before-school ensembles just like Band students! We are also adding string ensembles at both Kennedy and Wilson Middle Schools. Beginners are welcome at all grade levels, as well as more experienced players looking for an ensemble experience. Students can sign up for lessons at the music website here or email Sirkka Natti, our new Elementary/Middle School Orchestra teacher, for more information at snatti@natickps.org. She looks forward to hearing from you!
3 - EBT / FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE
Department of Transitional Assistance (DTA) clients have been the target of benefit theft through skimming, in which thieves put a device on a store’s card-swiping machine to copy card information. To protect clients from skimming, DTA is requiring cardholders in locations with a high incidence of skimming (Eastern Massachusetts) to set a new PIN to use their EBT over the next few weeks and is encouraging all clients to change their PIN regularly. Cardholders can change their PIN through automated steps by calling the number on the back of their card, as outlined in this flyer. More information and steps on how to change a PIN are available at Mass.gov/ProtectYourEBT and Mass.gov/ProtejaSuEBT, and outreach materials are available in 11 languages. Please reach out to our School Counselor, Chamonix Adams, if you have questions about financial assistance or EBT.
4 - CORIs
Reminder - If you want to volunteer in schools, you must have a CORI check conducted and you must go into the building with identification (drivers license or passport) to do this. Click here for description of what a CORI check is and does. Without a CORI check, you cannot volunteer in the school. Here is the form to fill out for a CORI.
5 - KIDS ARE TIRED AFTER THE FIRST WEEK
You'll probably notice that your child/children are fairly tired on Friday. This is typical.
Coming back after the summer, meeting new friends, and learning new routines can be a lot to absorb. Your child will likely benefit from a lot of sleep, good food, and plenty of quality time with you.
All the best to our families,
Aidan McCann, Principal
The Parent Teacher Organization (PTO) is a volunteer organization made up of parents, teachers and staff with the goal of enriching the educational experience of our children at Brown School. We strive to build community in our school and support our children's personal and educational lives through a wide variety of events and activities. Contact us anytime at brownptonatick@gmail.com, sign up for our weekly email updates at http://eepurl.com/gCRzwH and follow us at facebook.com/BrownSchoolPto.
This month: Don’t forget to sign up for the student directory so you can set up playdates and invite classmates to birthday parties. The only way to get a copy of the student directory is to sign up. Visit www.brownPTOnatick.org to sign up. We typically send out the completed directory in the beginning of October.
Quick Links
Speak Up, Natick!
Send us your questions or ideas via Speak Up, Natick!
Bullying Incident Report
Use this form to report a bullying incident.
PowerSchool Support
Technology Support
COVID-19 Updates
View the latest COVID-19 updates from NPS.
- Title I: Title I of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) of 1990Title II
- Title II of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) of 1990Title VI
- Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964Title IX
- Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972
- MGL, Ch.76, Section 5: Massachusetts General Laws, Chapter 76, Section 5
(508) 647-6660 | Absences: Use Pickup Patrol