Brown MS Weekly Update
Friday, Dec. 10, 2021
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Dear Brown MS Community,
You may be aware of some concerning issues that have arisen lately for some of my fellow principals in Newton. An article in the Boston Globe (linked here) today shares the story and the responses from Superintendent Fleishman and Mayor Fuller.
It is distressing to me that my colleagues are experiencing this level of hatred and racism, and I put my full support behind them. We also have affinity groups here at Brown MS. Our students have asked for these groups and find them to be supportive and special places where they can truly be themselves. The Monday after the Rittenhouse verdict we also provided places for students who wanted to process the verdict. Some students met with a counselor and discussed the verdict and were able to ask questions. This is what education is all about - responding to what is happening and giving students a place to process, ask questions and support one another.
Please know that we continue to be committed to being antiracist educators in Newton. As a school system we have our NPS Statement of Values and Commitment to Equity as a foundation for the work we do each day. We appreciate the support so many have shown. Our Families Organized for Racial Justice (FORJ) in conjunction with the FORJ groups at Oak Hill, Day and Bigelow shared this message with me earlier today and asked that I share it with you.
We are committed to working tirelessly to ensure that we propel our community forward into an antiracist future.
Wishing you a peaceful weekend,
Kim Lysaght, Principal
Counseling Department Focused on Stress Management
Workshop for Students
School-wide Focus
Techniques for Managing Stress
During the workshop students learned techniques to help themselves when they become overly stressed.
Parent Teacher Conferences - Sign ups are now open
We began Parent-Teacher Conferences this week. Conferences continue to run at various times from now until the end of January. All of the conferences are on Zoom until January 1st, 2022. After January 1st, we will be using Google Meet.
We ask that you only schedule one conference with one pair of team teachers per student to ensure that every family is able to meet a pair of team teachers. We also encourage you to explore conferences with world language teachers, physical education teachers, and FAA teachers (music, art, drama).
If you have not signed up, there may still be some spaces available. Click on the website link below and follow the prompts to sign up for a conference. Please direct questions to Assistant Principal, Julian Turner at turnerj@newton.k12.ma.us
https://www.signupgenius.com/go/10c0f4caaab2caafe3-parentteacher
ELPAC Parent Meeting
COVID Communication
This week we had 3 covid cases for which we did contact tracing. All close contacts were directly contacted by our school nurse. Information on districtwide COVID cases and vaccination rates can be found on the Newton Health and Human Services website here: NPS COVID Case Count and Vaccination Rates.
This Monday we will again be testing 6th graders whose families have consented into our weekly Covid testing program. If you have not done so already, please log into Aspen to sign the consent form. (Aspen Login Link) and follow these instructions .
The NPS Medical Advisory Group met on Tuesday, November 9, 2021 to evaluate current data and provide recommendations on current health and safety protocols. Below you will find links to their most recent recommendation, as well as the updated health and safety plan.
Medical Advisory Group Recommendation - November 9, 2021 (presented December 6, 2021) (link)
Presentation to the School Committee is here: School Committee Health and Safety Update - December 2021 (link)
Updated health and safety plan is here: Back to School Health and Safety Plan - Updated December 2021 (link)
School Council
Members are:
Kim Lysaght, Principal
Xiaoguang Zhen, Parent
Chip Franklin, Parent
Joelle Tomb Zakak, Parent
Michele Shin, Parent and School Counselor
Jackie Ehrhardt, Speech Language Pathologist
Gillian VanDelft, METCO counselor
Maddie Adler, 6th grader
Emma Song, 6th grader
London Edwards, 7th grader
James Garrett, 7th grader
Riya Raghavan, 8th grader
Thomas Connelly, 8th grader
Winter Weather and Snow Day Notifications
School closings or delays will be communicated via phone call, text message, email, social media (Facebook, Twitter, Instagram), website, and local television and radio stations.
To receive text messages, you must opt-in. To opt-in, please login to Aspen, navigate to the contact information section, and select “yes” for SMS messages in the drop-down box below your cell phone number.
Following a storm, many of our students will continue to walk to school. We have collaborated with Newton DPW to create maps showing sidewalks that will be plowed, ensuring safe routes to school. Please access the maps here.
School Calendar for the 2022-23 School Year
At their meeting on Monday, December 6, 2021, the Newton School Committee approved the calendar for the 2022-23 school year. You can find it here: NPS School Calendar 2022-23 (Link to PDF Document)
Planning to Apply to Private School?
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.