Brewster Weekly
1.9.21
We are here to do good things for our students, our coworkers, and our community.
We represent qualities such as caring, sharing, connection, integrity, and excellence.
Our culture mirrors those attributes. Let’s continue to make our school the best place to work and learn where everyone is inspired to be the best they can be. What we do, we do well.
Let’s keep the courage to shape a better future for our students.
Happy January Birthday Wishes!!
Calendar Updates
Dates to Plan For:
Jan. 18 Martin Luther King Jr. Day-No School
Jan. 19 No School
Jan. 29: PTA VIRTUAL BINGO NIGHT
Assessment Window Update
Dear Brewster Families,
Happy New Year! We hope you had time to relax over the winter break. Teachers and staff are excited to welcome students back to remote and virtual learning. Thank you for your continued support and partnership this year. The return from break is a time where teachers assess students to be able to best plan for instruction. We wanted to take this opportunity to update you on our assessment schedule.
i-Ready
Students will be completing a math and reading diagnostic this winter. Teachers will determine a schedule that utilizes Wednesday mornings through January to complete the assessments. Additional days/times may be added as needed per classroom.
Additional Assessments
Some of our assessments require an individual opportunity. These assessments are extremely helpful for teachers to gather information about students as learners to plan for instruction. Over the next several weeks, teachers may be using 2 afternoons to assess students. Teachers will notify you of assessment afternoons in advance and asynchronous learning opportunities will be available for all students. Please know not all students will be assessed during these two afternoons, but teachers will be working to assess all students in the coming weeks.
Thank you for your understanding and cooperation!
Sincerely,
Mrs. Kelly Dessy
Brewster Elementary Principal
Resources For Families
Updates From the Media Center!
Mrs. Dessy's Kitchen Table Tips
Please consider the following videos to support at home learning! These are two areas where I receive requests for help or further understanding.
The Value of Productive Struggle
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OrHkmDYLkhk
The Silver Lining of Executive Functioning and Organization Skills with At Home Learning
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UQSGEMr3akk
Finally, the link below gives a wealth of resources to help parents specifically with supporting literacy at home. Peruse and consider at your own pace and know that all efforts to inspire the joy and appreciation of reading and writing at home and school is celebrated!
With love,
Mrs. Dessy
Brewster Elementary School
PTA News
Brewster PTA Updates
Upcoming PTA Dates
January 8 – Enter your child’s reading for Brewster Reads in Membership Toolkit and print the January Brewster Reads Calendar
January 12 – PTA meeting @ 7:00 (Zoom link will be emailed on Monday)
January 24 – Final day to submit recipes for the Brewster Family Cookbook
January 29 – Virtual Bingo Night and Pajama Party!
Questions about the PTA?
Email Jessica Westness at brewsterptapresident@gmail.com or go to the Brewster PTA Website.
MLK Day Celebration
On January 18, 2021, Rochester Community Schools welcomes all students, staff, families, caregivers and community members to honor Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.’s legacy through a variety of virtual learning opportunities.
You are invited to participate in any or all of the following events on Jan. 18.
10 a.m. Keynote presentation. This presentation and question/answer opportunity features Dr. Eddie Moore Jr. who specializes in diversity education, research and training. Link here: https://youtu.be/REl2NJ2shRU
12-12:45 p.m. MLK community read-aloud. Various community members share family-friendly stories that celebrate Dr. King and his ideals. Link here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uvZUFA5dGmI&feature=youtu.be.
1-2 p.m. Essay contest finalists. Celebrate our RCS students who have earned recognition as essay contest finalists. Congratulations to Leslie Bahk, James Kim, Kaia Lam, Xavier Prieto, Rahi Shah and Aimee Zhao. Link here: https://youtu.be/XT_Y8tbTX-w.
2:15-2:25 p.m. Voices video tribute. Don’t miss this inspiring compilation by RCS students, staff and community members, featuring “Lift Every Voice and Sing,” the cherished song which has become recognized as the Black national anthem. Link here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Z2Y6yn8p5Rk&feature=youtu.be.
5-6 p.m. Community Twitter chat. Join this real-time discussion regarding Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.'s message, "The time is always right to do what is right." Use the hashtag #RCSMLK. Link here for directions: https://mrsgolidaylc.weebly.com/twitter-chat.html.
All day. Crown the king. Share photos of yourself in a homemade crown to represent the values of Dr. King, including dignity, honor, justice, leadership and equality. Take a photo in your crown. Share it on social media and tag Rochester Community Schools on Facebook, Twitter or Instagram, using the hashtag: #RCSMLK. Make your own or reserve a crown kit using this link: https://www.signupgenius.com/go/10c0544a5ae2fa13-mlkcraft.
We also invite you to participate in the following events honoring MLK through our community partners.
- Rochester Hills Public Library: https://rhpl.org/localhop-calendar#/events/vIECnZGmgN/instances/COaeTJ9teh/
- The Detroit Historical Museum: https://detroithistorical.org/
- The Charles H. Wright Museum of African American History: https://www.thewright.org/
For more information about these events, please contact Tiffany Goliday, interim director of equity, inclusion and belonging, at tgoliday@rochester.k12.mi.us.
Click here for a printable flyer containing a summary of these links and information: MLK Day Celebration 2021.
Our Deepest Condolences to Dr. Shaner and Family
Memorial contributions to the Children's Foundation are welcome. Community members are free to share memories with the Shaner family at: https://guestbook.wujekcalcaterra.com/obituaries/Ryan-Shaner/.
Stay Connected!
Email: kdessy@rochester.k12.mi.us
Website: https://www.rochester.k12.mi.us/pages/319/brewster
Location: 1535 Brewster Road, Rochester Hills, MI, USA
Phone: 248-726-3300
Twitter: @BrewsterRCS