Brown MS Weekly Update
Friday, Sept. 24, 2021
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Welcome Fall!
While I love the summer, I must admit am a big fan of fall in New England. I am looking forward to apple picking, less humidity and colorful trees in the weeks to come. My husband got us a pair kayaks for my birthday and I hope to get out on the Charles River this Sunday. I hope you all are able to get out and about during the season and enjoy what nature provides!
Our first full 5-day week is now in the books. Students have become adept at navigating the building and are getting into the rhythm of our schedule. While we continue to work on expectations at school, I would ask that you help us to reinforce a couple of things at home. First, students should be keeping their phones off and away during the school day. This is important for their engagement both academically and socially. Second, remind students to be sure to charge their Chromebooks each night so they will be able to use them each day.
One of our biggest goals at Brown is making sure every student feels a sense of belonging. Middle school can be difficult for students to navigate socially, so we provide opportunities for team building at school as well as fun activities after school. I encourage you to help your child choose an activity or two to "try on". They will meet new friends with similar interests and have some fun at the same time! Enrichment activities towards the end of this update.
I wish you all a good weekend. Stay safe and stay well.
Kim Lysaght, Principal
Back to School Night - Wednesday, Sept. 29
The schedule for the night is as follows:
- 6:00 - 6:20 - PTO and Administration Welcome - zoom link will be sent out in an email to all families.
- 6:30 - 7:15 - 6th Grade Team Zooms (links emailed by teams)
- 7:15 - 8:00 - 7th Grade Team Zooms (links emailed by teams)
- 8:00 - 8:45 - 8th Grade Team Zooms (links emailed by teams)
- 7:00 - 7:15 - METCO meet & greet 7th gr.
- 7:15 - 7:30 - METCO meet & greet 6th gr.
Teams will be sending links to their specific zoom meetings directly to families via email early next week. Multi-team teachers (Physical Education, Fine and Applied Arts and World Language) will be sharing videos to introduce themselves, share information about curriculum and classroom expectations and provide contact information. These will be emailed to you next week as well.
Back to School Night is an opportunity for you to hear about the curriculum and get to meet our teachers. They will be sharing information regarding classroom routines and expectations, curriculum, technology use, how you can support your child and what to expect for the year. The evening is not for discussing individual students. If you feel you need to discuss your child, please reach out to the teacher via email to schedule an opportunity to do this.
School pictures - Still time to order them!!
Chromebooks
1.) Brown Technology Orientation Course on Schoology - every student has been added to this course. If they are having technical issues, please have them log into schoology and consult this for help.
2.) Consult the Student and Family Technology Resources page.
3.). Broken equipment will be turned in at the office. Please have students let their teacher know that their Chromebook is broken. Teachers will inform the office and then students will be called down to the office once a temporary loaner is assigned to them.
Please note, we do not have loaners for students who forget their computers at home or forget to charge them. Please help them to be responsible for their technology each day.
Finally, you can enroll in the optional Chromebook Repair Fund. Click here for more information.
Brown MS Music Ensembles Sign Up
There's still time to for students to sign up for Band, Orchestra and Chorus this year! If your child is interested in joining, please reach out to:
Mr. Bailey-Adams at baileyadamsm@newton.k12.ma.us for Chorus
or
Ms. Nelson at nelsond@newton.k12.ma.us for Band and Orchestra.
Covid Testing Program
We did our first Covid Testing trial yesterday with our 6th graders whose families have consented to testing. The testing went smoothly and the students were wonderful. All test results were negative.
CIC Health, our vendor for testing, is working to increase staffing and supplies so that we can expand the testing to the entire school in future weeks. I will update you with more information on that next week.
I would ask you and your family to strongly consider opting into the testing program if you have not already. You ARE REQUIRED to provide consent for your student to be tested. Please log into Aspen to sign the consent form. Here is the Aspen Login Link. Please follow these instructions for accessing and signing the consent form.
Another important part of providing consent is that students will be able to participate in our Test and Stay Program.
Test and Stay means unvaccinated asymptomatic close contacts exposed at school can participate in a COVID rapid test rather than quarantining. The rapid test would be conducted for at least five days following exposure. If the test is negative and the student has no symptoms, the student stays in school and avoids quarantine.
If you would like to learn more about the Covid testing program, please click here for our NPS webpage on Covid testing.
Having trouble logging into Aspen? Email: aspen@newton.k12.ma.us
COVID Communication Protocols
Many families have asked how and when they will be notified of COVID infection in schools. Please review the document linked below for information on our communications process for COVID notification: Communications Protocol for COVID Notification
Late Bus
Brown Middle School Enrichment Opportunities
A variety of after school enrichment clubs will be offered after school on Mondays, Tuesdays, Thursdays and Fridays 3:00 – 4:05 PM (exceptions in some clubs). Students can sign up by emailing the advisor of the club. Once signed up, information will be given (where to meet, etc…). Club offerings change throughout the school year and from year to year depending on student interest and staffing. Some clubs will run throughout the entire school year while others will be offered during a specific time frame. A listing of clubs offered (link below)will be updated monthly on the Brown website (Student Activities tab). At times a club may be canceled for the day and this will be communicated to the students via email by the advisor of the club.
Safety protocols will be put in place and students must follow all guidelines. Guidelines are as follows:
Students sign in with enrichment advisor
Number of participants is limited (in some cases)
Students can take the 4:15 bus if they regularly take a bus, ride or walk home, or a parent must pick up the child at the designated times
Students meet enrichment advisor in designated location
Student stays with that advisor/activity the entire time
Student must wear a mask if indoors
Student must use hand sanitizer upon arrival (hand sanitizer will be provided)
Middle School Activities Fee and Form
The middle school student activity fee covers all school sponsored extracurricular activities within the middle schools not including athletics. The fee is set at $60.00 per student per year. The annual fee allows a student to participate in an unlimited number of after school enrichment activities.
Please click here to read about fee payments and financial assistance.
Please click here to make a fee payment of $60.
If you have any questions, please contact the enrichment advisor directly or our after school athletic/enrichment director Katrina Antonellis via email at antonellisk@newton.k12.ma.us
KIDS SHOES NEEDED!
Indigenous Peoples Day Celebration!
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.
COVID-19 Vaccine Clinic!
Newton North High School
Location: Cafeteria
Saturday October 2, 8am - 12pm
North Sign Up Link:
https://tinyurl.com/NEWTONNORTHVAX
Newton South High School
Location: Gymnasium
Saturday October 2, 8am - 12pm
South Sign Up Link:
https://tinyurl.com/NEWTONSOUTHVAX
Clinics are open to anyone over age 12.
Anyone under the age of 18 needs to be accompanied by an adult or have the state's consent form filled out which is available here.