Our North Star

“When children and teachers feel engaged, safe, and supported we have room to grow and learn through collaboration and risk-taking with our peers.”

Black History Month is now! A time for celebration, joy, and connection ... and an opportunity to re- commit to uplift and center the Black American experience in our school each and every day. A quick google search will offer up literally thousands of ways to celebrate and observe the month ahead; I hope you'll find something just right for your family. For me, I am really excited about celebrating by enjoying two things (both with mature content):

• Master musician Chuck D's new docu-series Fight the Power (https://www.pbs.org/show/fight-power-how-hip-hop-changed-world/)
• KEXP's 50 Years of Hip Hop podcast: https://www.kexp.org/podcasts/50-years-of-hip-hop/2023/1/24/50-years-of-hip-hop-coming-february-1/

All around the school, students have been decorating to celebrate the month. Bright paper murals are filling the school. Check out a few below!

MONDAY, FEBRUARY 13 AT 7:30PM

Want to learn how to unpack microaggressions in schools? Have people said that something is racist, but you didn’t know why? Do you want to be an ally for racial justice but aren’t sure how to start? Join other Brookline school parents for an engaging, informative workshop on some of the common conversational pitfalls that happen in classrooms and other diverse groups. School adjustment counselor Daniel Arroyo (formerly with Steps to Success, now Newton Public Schools METCO Counselor) leads this free, interactive one-hour presentation that will give you insights and tools you can use right away to build awareness and address microaggressions in schools and at home. Brought to you by Coalition for Anti-Racist Education (CARE), a group of parents from all Brookline Public Schools working with the district to promote equitable policies and strengthen our diverse community. REGISTRATION REQUIRED - CLICK HERE

Each week, we report updates on the renaming process here. Past "Community Notes" newsletters can be found here:

https://www.brookline.k12.ma.us/domain/718

The "School Name: History & Resources" website page is also updated regularly:

https://www.brookline.k12.ma.us/renameheath

No update today, other than these reminders:

• Our original timeline was to present the remove-the-name and replace-the-name warrant article for a vote in March. Instead we will present our recommendations in the early fall. We are so excited about the process and recognize the need to take our time and get it right.
• On February 9th, we are scheduled to present our work to date at School Committee; I hope you'll all tune in at about 8:00pm to hear more! Meetings are broadcast here: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCtl_u3j2UDQMXK-G6QD5g_w

This past Wednesday, Grade 4 teachers participated in a math lesson study, a time in which the professional team took a deep dive into one math lesson (in this case: symmetry and congruency), observed students grapple with the content in real time, and then debriefed the learning that was observed. The observed lesson, which occurred in Ms. Borns-Weil's class, was intense – it was impossible for kids to ignore the many, many adults who were there to watch, but they were champions and the mathematical grappling was wonderful to observe!

Tanya Alvarado, World Language Coordinator, has sent a message you all Grade 5 families about how to select your child's World Language choice in Middle School – French or Spanish.

Here message is here:

https://docs.google.com/document/d/15alYFD7m1eP-Xh7dXVSwPcJjry5-t3AHMncKAo9le3E/edit?usp=sharing

Instructions on accessing the Parent Portal and making a selection are here:

https://drive.google.com/file/d/1c5ffvlit7SsWh9i5vaCJeWlVOx2HVIhU/view?usp=sharing

Thank you for getting this done before the February 17 deadline.

Donate to the Hawk Fund Annual Appeal today! https://www.heathpto.org/packet/27891026

We hosted the CAP Parent/Guardian Info Meeting last Friday here at the school. In case interested parents were unable to attend, here’s a link to a recording of the presentation:

https://us02web.zoom.us/rec/play/GpoHlO3bMPkLN0qWuV7CmQqWW5khQaSYURzT_8KyQxVU5d79fEvmqEn2B5WtXg1E2TSNN3aUZENXG98.2A9lpAvVJohtQVd9?startTime=1674844304000

Students in Grades 1, 3, and 5 participate in the CAP Program.

From the International Night Commitee:

Planning for International Night (Friday, March 24th, 5:30-8:30PM) is underway!

We are looking for Nation Guides! Please sign up and make sure your culture is represented:

• Click here to sign up Nation Guide Volunteer docs.google.com

For those of you who are new to International Night (and for those of you who just want to relive the fun memories), here are some photos from 2022:

• Click here to view Heath International Night 2022 (email blast) app.goo.gl

Thanks again for supporting one of Heath’s most favorite events!

International Night Committee:

Lisa Yuen Rhoads (5PerkX2), Yen-Lin Chen (2S and 6th grade), Paola Rossi (6th and 8th grade) and Vice Principal Kirtan Patel

Order Your Science Fair Spirit Wear

Our swag is back!! . . . but we must close our store on Wednesday, Feb 8th!! Please check out our new t-shirts supporting The Heath Science Fair:

https://heathsciencefair2023.itemorder.com/shop/home/

It’s features the cool periodic table logo, featured below!

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Looking for Parent Volunteers for a Great Initiative!

What: 5 teams from Heath's Young Scholars program (an after-school academic enrichment program run by Ms. Shashoua and Ms. Beckwith) are participating in the Science Fair, and are looking for volunteer mentors.

Who: If you are a science-loving caretaker with just a bit of free time, your help to these students would be huge!

When / where: Thursday Feb. 9, Feb. 16, and Mar. 2, @ 2:30-4 pm at school

Sign-up: https://www.signupgenius.com/go/30e084eada72ca4fd0-science#/

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Fair Date: Saturday, March 4. It’s not too late to begin planning and join! Find out more on our website: https://www.brookline.k12.ma.us/heath-science-fair

We will set a date for graduation later this winter/early spring. I anticipate the date will be between June 20 and 23, depending on snow days.

Before then, we have much to do. We need all hands of deck from our students for organizing of and fundraising for our end of year events. We are also ISO parent volunteers to help with these end of year events, too.

If you can help, please reach out to our Vice Principal, Kirtan Patel (kirtan_patel@psbma.org).

Upcoming Events:

• Monday, February 6th: Grade 3 Rainbow Club, 11:20-11:50am

• Monday, February 6th: Heath 4th through 8th Grade Strings and Orchestra Concert at Baker School, 6:00-7:00pm

• Tuesday, February 7th: Grades 6-8 GSA, 10:35-11:15am

• Wednesday, February 8th: Grades 6-8 Student Climate Action Group, 10:35-11:05am

• Wednesday, February 8th: All-Town Chorus Concert, BHS, 7:00-8:00pm

• Thursday, February 9th: AAPI Student Affinity Group, 10:35-11:15am

• Thursday, February 9th: Young Scholars, Room 209, 2:30-3:30pm

• Friday, February 10th: 6th Grade Work Showcase, 8:15-8:40am

• Friday, February 10th: METCO Connections: TBD event, 1:45-3:30pm

• Monday, February 13th: Grades 4 & 5 Rainbow Club, 11:20-11:50am

• Monday, February 13th: Heath 5-8 Band Concert, FRR Auditorium, 7:30-8:30pm

• Tuesday, February 14th: Grades 6-8 GSA, 10:35-11:15am

• Wednesday, February 15th: HOLD: BHS Electives Visit for 8th Grade Students, 8:30-10:30am

• Wednesday, February 15th: Grades 6-8 Student Climate Action Group, 10:35-11:05am

• Thursday, February 16th: Young Scholars, Room 209, 2:30-3:30pm

• Friday, February 17th: PEP, 8:05-8:30am

• Monday, February 20th - Friday, February 24th: School Closed: February Vacation

Field Trips:

• Thursday, February 9th: Fifth Grade Field Trip to Museum of Science, 8:15am-2:15pm

• Friday, February 10th: Ski and Snowboard Club, 2:30-10:00pm

Save the Dates: Family Game Night & Mayfair!

• Our Family Game Night will be May 5th, another Friday evening fun fest!
• Mayfair! Please mark your calendars for a fun-filled family festival, community builder and PTO fundraiser. May 20, 2023, 11-3, Rain or Shine. See you at the Fair!

Another great week here in our school! So many great things happening, and so much to look forward to. Enjoy the weekend ahead – be good to yourself and be good to others.

Stay warm out there!

~ Asa

Dr. Asa Sevelius, Ed.D. | Heath School Principal

Pronouns: he/him

Previous "Community Notes" can be found here: https://www.brookline.k12.ma.us/domain/718

Email: asa_sevelius@psbma.org

Website: https://www.brookline.k12.ma.us/Page/17
Location: 100 Eliot Street, Chestnut Hill, MA, 02467
Phone: 617-879-4570

Heath School

The Public Schools Of Brookline | A METCO Partnership School

Dr. Asa Sevelius, Principal & Mr. Kirtan Patel, Vice Principal