Community Notes

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.”

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

To begin, Town elections are Tuesday. The items on the ballot are very important and the decisions made through these votes have tremendous potential to impact schools. I am hopeful that you'll take the time you need to learn about what is at stake and VOTE! We are a polling place, so we hope to see you here Tuesday casting your ballot.

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Also, we have another reason to celebrate our awesome teachers: The Brookline Education Foundation names our 6-8 Spanish teacher Victoria Ridge as the recipient of this year's David E. Pradell Award! Congratulations! The award goes to a middle school teacher whose work stimulates students’ imagination and curiosity; helps students develop self-assurance and self-esteem; encourages student collaboration and/or instills an abiding sense of social responsibility.

This May we will have our big push as we move towards making our final choice for new school name. In mid-June we hope to cast the community-wide vote and will be using ranked choice voting to decide. I hope you'''ll take time to watch these videos so you will understand ranked choice voting when the time comes to activate!

• https://protect-us.mimecast.com/s/rCNrC82BEAuLw1mjfnLGHu?domain=fairvote.org/
• https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gq7N2hmX9FI&t=7s
• https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=P10PFuBFVL8
• https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8Z2fRPRkWvY
• https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5ZoFjaTSvQY

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Repeating this BIG Announcement! Our Four Finalists!

After careful deliberation, significant time doing research, and lots of introspection, the Student School Naming Committee is excited to announce our four finalists for our new school name! The finalists are (in alphabetical order):

• Ruth Batson
• Ellen & William Craft
• Roland Hayes
• John Woodrow Wilson

✨✨✨ Resources on each candidate are on our website, here:

https://docs.google.com/document/d/1437-iyXEnXpflu66e2Kj_NA_5lnrLdNcF_P8Cw0q8yw/edit?usp=sharing ✨✨✨

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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

PowerPoint from Feb 9 School Committee Meeting

https://docs.google.com/presentation/d/18xY-JTcM5vrkOM0lZWPBqJDBfvIRUcXpCD6_Rci_56o/edit?usp=sharing

This week we are spotlighting the innovative work of the kids in 5S! In groups, they designed Rube Goldberg machines that can do both simple (make a noise) and complex (turn off a computer) tasks. Sure ... the room got a little messy, but that's what it takes to make big ideas leap off the page!

Watch their successes here:

https://photos.google.com/direct/AF1QipMDbpNqhndxsL8SLrzYKND_Q1Bu02sKmJ6GadIpDR7gnAEE8yjikvaZOTyLYG1OKQ?pli=1

Brookline's Hidden History of Slavery and Freedom: A Walking Tour NEW!

This lively 90-minute tour visits three sites to tell the history and stories of slavery and freedom. We begin at Town Hall where participants look for evidence of slavery that is hidden, but in plain sight. The walk continues to an Underground Railroad house to hear the story of a person sheltered here after a daring escape to freedom. Justice seekers Black & white are highlighted. The walk ends with a story of restorative justice at the Old Burying Ground on Walnut St. While the walk isn’t strenuous, participants can easily drive the distances from Town Hall to the 2 sites on Walnut Street. Young people ages 12 up are most welcome.

Register here: https://www.campusce.net/brookline/course/course.aspx?C=2250&pc=58&mc=72&sc=0

Afghan immigrant families in our community are seeking rental apartments in the Brookline or Greater Boston area. These outgoing and reliable families with very young children can use all hands on deck to secure housing. They are seeking:

• 2 or 3 BR apartment
• NBARC* will sign lease as guarantor, and will assist with rent funding
• Can pay up to $3000 per month
• July, August or Sept 1 start date

*NBARC (https://www.nb-arc.com/) is an interfaith coalition that supports asylum seekers in the Newton/Brookline area.

Have any leads on housing? Please reach out to:

bsproat@pensfield.fm

jennydrossser@gmail.com

asa_sevelius@psbma.org

alissa_ovadia@psbma.org

Hello 5th Grade Parents and Guardians,

Based on feedback from families, the Introduction to Adolescence Unit Opt Out deadline has been extended to Wednesday, May 3rd. This will provide parents and guardians more time to view the recorded webinar (link below) or view the curriculum (contact your child's teacher).

Full details are always available on the School Counseling website for your convenience.

Did you miss the webinar earlier this week?
Webinar Recording

Passcode: VDy2!WeY

Webinar Slides

The Heath PTO is now accepting grant proposals for the 2023 Spring Grant Cycle. We invite members of the community to submit proposals that benefit our school community. The proposal submission link is available at:

https://heathpto.org/grants

Proposal submissions are due by Wednesday, May 17, 2023.

Any questions about the process? Feedback? Or would you like to volunteer to be a part of the grants committee? Please email the Heath PTO (contact@heathpto.org) to let us know.

National Teacher Appreciation Week is the first week of May! Let's honor our teachers and staff with a luncheon on Monday, May 1st. Please sign up to donate funds, bring in an item or volunteer your time. You can cook, bake, purchase or donate. You can also support your favorite local restaurant by ordering a dish to contribute.

https://www.signupgenius.com/go/20F0B49AEAE28A13-spring

All items should be delivered to the Heath Lobby 8-10am on Monday, May 1st. Please add a label with ingredients if needed for allergies. Also, write your name on the bottom of the dish if you would like to claim it after the luncheon. Clean platters and bowls will be available for pick up in the lobby at dismissal.

If you would like to donate funds to help us buy food and supplies for this luncheon, please submit through

PayPal or Venmo to one of us:

PayPal: kplsawatzky@gmail.com

Venmo: @Robin-Gilula or @Katharine-Sawatzky

Thank you!

Robin Gilula and Katie Sawatzky (Parents in 40 and 5P)

Mayfair - May 20 11am-3pm rain or shine!

Mayfair is less than one month away and the students are getting excited. Signs are up throughout the school. The rides, activities and food are all booked. And the Heath community has generously donated over 30 fantastic items for the silent auction. Here are some things you can do now if you haven't already:

• Volunteer to help out (click here)
  
• Purchase armbands in advance so your kids get unlimited rides and games (please send $35 to @Heath-PTO on Venmo with your child's name)
• Sign up to bring a cake (click here)

It is time for us to look ahead and begin planning for the 2023-2024 school year. Parents often ask how class placements are made and what role families may play in the process. This google form is meant to answer those questions, explain the process used at Heath and in the Public Schools of Brookline, and gather feedback from you.

Each spring, teachers, staff, and administrators work to form classes for the following school year. We invite you to join this process at home. While it is not necessary, nor is it expected that parents communicate regarding class placement, if you have information about your child’s social-emotional or learning needs that you think we do not know, please complete this google form by ❗ TODAY ❗ Friday, April 28th.

We are unable to honor requests for specific teachers and letters that name a teacher will not be considered.

This feedback can help us get as much perspective as possible during this process. Additionally, this information can be helpful to next year’s teacher as they work to gather information about their students prior to the start of the school year. If you want to remind us of any past concerns you’ve had, please take a minute to do that in this questionnaire, too.

Here is the questionnaire: https://forms.gle/ALpJfBLugCXu4rPN9

We appreciate your and your child’s input and value your collaboration as we build our learning communities for the 2023-2024 school year.

The Grade 8 Graduation ceremony will be held June 20, 2023 in the early evening, typically 4pm.

Unfortunately, due to the timing of the event, we do not have a rain date. Should rain move the ceremony inside, we will go into our Auditorium where seating is limited.

Details to follow!

Dive In program at Commonwealth School in Bay Bay reached out asking if any Heath families would be interested in their summer program. You can read more about them here. The application is now open until May 15.

Find the MCAS testing calendar, here:

https://docs.google.com/document/d/19K4vDorJ6oKkEwgR0Z9uCvEcB021k_9u7n7kuR0N11I/edit?usp=sharing

• Monday, May 1st: ALL Grades Rainbow Club!, 11:20-11:50am

• Tuesday, May 2nd: MCAS - Grade 5 STE Part 1

• Tuesday, May 2nd: MCAS - Grade 8 STE Part 1

• Tuesday, May 2nd: Grades 6-8 GSA, 10:35-11:15am

• Wednesday, May 3rd: MCAS - Grade 5 STE Part 2

• Wednesday, May 3rd: MCAS - Grade 8 STE Part 2

• Wednesday, May 3rd: METCO Connections Breakfast/Game Morning, 7:30-8:00am

• Wednesday, May 3rd: Grades 6-8 Student Climate Action Group, 10:35-11:05am

• Thursday, May 4th: K-6 Early Dismissal at 12:40pm

• Friday, May 5th: MCAS: STE Makeups

• Monday, May 8th: MCAS: STE Makeups

• Monday, May 8th: Grade 4 AND 5 Rainbow Club!, 11:20-11:50am

• Tuesday, May 9th: MCAS - Grade 5 Math Part 1

• Tuesday, May 9th: Grades 6-8 GSA, 10:35-11:15am

• Tuesday, May 9th: BEF Celebrating Teacher's Event, 3:30-5:00pm

• Wednesday, May 10th: K-6 Early Dismissal at 12:40pm

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

• Wednesday, May 10th: Heath Family Game Night, 6:00-8:00pm

• Thursday, May 11th: MCAS - Grade 3 Math Part 1

• Thursday, May 11th: MCAS - Grade 4 Math Part 1

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

• Thursday, May 11th: Young Scholars, Room 209, 2:30-3:30pm

• Friday, May 12th: MCAS: Makeups

• Friday, May 12th: PEP, 8:05-8:30am

• Friday, May 12th: METCO Connections: After School Workshop - Viking Sports, 1:40-3:00pm

• Monday, May 15th: MCAS - Grade 3 Math Part 2

• Monday, May 15th: MCAS - Grade 4 Math Part 2

• Tuesday, May 16th: MCAS - Grade 5 Math Part 2

• Tuesday, May 16th: Grades 6-8 GSA, 10:35-11:15am

• Wednesday, May 17th: MCAS - Grades 6-8 Math Part 1

• Wednesday, May 17th: Grades 6-8 Student Climate Action Group, 10:35-11:05am

• Thursday, May 18th: MCAS: Makeups

• Thursday, May 18th: Young Scholars, Room 209, 2:30-3:30pm

• Friday, May 19th: MCAS: Makeups

• Friday, May 19th: Model UN Conference at NorthEastern University, 8:00am-4:00pm

• Saturday, May 20th: Heath May Fair, 11:00am-3:00pm

This has been a super long Community Notes this week, so nothing more to add other than that constant reminder to be good to yourself and good to others.

~ 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