Bulldog Bits-n-Bytes
August 2023
Please contact the office if you need this information provided in another language.
WELCOME TO THE BROOKLYN FAMILY
Our Vision
"Brooklyn STEM Academy students and staff believe in being positive, working hard, and learning in an environment that is rich in Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math so that everyone is prepared to meet the challenges of the world around them."
********************************************
A Note from the Principal
We are very excited to welcome our students into a new school year! We hope you enjoyed your summer.
The staff is busy getting everything ready for the Open House on August 8th from 5-6 pm!
If you have any questions, please email or call me at anytime!
Mrs. Teare
********************************************
You've Got Mail!
As we get closer to school starting, we will mail your child a backpack band. Each band is color-coded to represent a classroom. It will also have your child's first name on it. This will help our staff get students to the right classroom until the students are pros at finding their room. If your child is attending Kindergarten Camp, they will receive it during that time.
Place this band on your child's backpack loop for the first few weeks of school. If you do not receive one in the mail, be sure we have your correct address by calling the office. We have extra bands that can be given by your student's teacher.
Thank you for helping your child successfully start the school year!
*****************************************
UPCOMING EVENTS
August 4th: Class Lists Posted in Skyward by 4:00 pm
August 8th: Open House/Title I Meeting from 5:00-6:00 pmAugust 10th: First day of School for Students
August 16th: 1st WELL Wednesday of the year--Doors open at 10:25 and School begins at 10:40 (This will be for EVERY Wednesday for this school year.)
August 24th: PTO Fundraiser Begins
September 4th: Labor Day (No School)
September 7th: Puppies at the Playground (more info to come)
September 13th: Midterms Posted
September 14th: Picture Day
September 29th: Art to Remember
Week of October 9th: Parent/Teacher Conferences (more info to come)
October 11th: Report Cards go home
October 13th: Elearning Day, No In-Person School
October 16-20th: Fall Break (No School)
Week of October 23rd: Book Fair
October 26th: Grandparent's Night
******************************************
Open House/Title I Annual Meeting
- Find your child's class and meet the teacher
- Drop off school supplies
- Tour the school
- Get information about Title I services
- Stop by the PTO table for a small gift if you are in Pre-k/K (in the gym)
- Purchase student spirit wear (in the gym)
- Pick up your car tag if your child is a car rider (in the gym)
- Sign up for before and after school care through the YMCA (in the gym)
- Bring any needed paperwork to the office (birth certificate, shot records, custody paperwork, etc)
- Fill out the background check information, if you would like to volunteer or attend field trips
- Gather information on Scouts and Chess Club
WELL Wednesday Schedule

WELL Wednesday Information
The MSD of Martinsville will follow the same WELL Wednesday schedule as last year.
CHILDCARE:
Morgan County’s YMCA and the Martinsville School District will continue to partner to provide before and after school programs. These programs provide adult supervision, homework help, activities, and snacks. Again this year, the YMCA is extending its services on Wednesday mornings from 6:30 A.M., to the delayed start of the school day.
The regular weekly schedule for before and after school care will not change. It will still be starting at 6:30 A.M., each day. For families who will utilize this program all week, the fee is $70 each week per student and includes the extended WELL Wednesday hours.
For families who are interested in utilizing the YMCA’s before school program ONLY on WELL Wednesdays, the fee will be $35 per student.
For all YMCA before and after school programs, families can apply for financial assistance. For questions about qualifying for financial assistance or program features, please contact Robin McDaniel at robin@bbjymca.org.
To register for the YMCA before and after school program, please visit the following website: www.ymcamorgancounty.org.
FREE SUPERVISION FROM 8:25-10:40 A.M., AT ELEMENTARY SCHOOLS:
If your family needs free supervision before school on WELL Wednesdays, please contact the school principal or secretary now, so your child can be included.

Updated Food Service Information, including Free and Reduced Application
Lunch: $2.75 per student
Our Free & Reduced Application will be called Curricular Materials & Meal Assistance Application. This application is needed for families to receive a possible discount on lunch and curricular fees. It is used by multiple agencies to award additional funding to the district and students. Check out the video to learn how the application supports the students in our district. https://vimeo.com/349528477?scrlybrkr=2e72af6b
Meal Application Information: https://artiescafe.org/index.php?sid=2309140234403588&page=lunchapps
The August Elementary Menu is posted at the following link, https://www.artiescafe.org/index.php?sid=2309140234403588&page=menus&sm=8&sy=2023#clicktoscroll, and then used the arrows to scroll to August.
RSVP in Skyward Family AccessEvery legal guardian is assigned a specific Skyward Family Access Login. This login will remain active throughout your student's enrollment at MSD of Martinsville. You will find this account very helpful in checking attendance, grades, and student lunch accounts. Please be sure to contact the office, if you need assistance. Please complete the RSVP for your student's Skyward Family Access if your student has been in our school before. Check your address, phone number, and emergency contacts to ensure that all contact information is up-to-date. | Lunch SchedulePrek- 10:50-11:20 K- 11:15-11:45 1st grade- 12:00-12:30 2nd grade- 11:40-12:10 3rd grade- 12:35-1:05 4th grade-12:15-12:45 | Before /After School Care The Martinsville YMCA provides before and after school care here at our building. For pricing and further details, please contact the YMCA directly at (765) 342-6688 or visit their website: https://bbjymca.org/programs/school-age-child-care/ |
RSVP in Skyward Family Access
Every legal guardian is assigned a specific Skyward Family Access Login. This login will remain active throughout your student's enrollment at MSD of Martinsville. You will find this account very helpful in checking attendance, grades, and student lunch accounts. Please be sure to contact the office, if you need assistance.
Please complete the RSVP for your student's Skyward Family Access if your student has been in our school before. Check your address, phone number, and emergency contacts to ensure that all contact information is up-to-date.
Lunch Schedule
Prek- 10:50-11:20
K- 11:15-11:45
1st grade- 12:00-12:30
2nd grade- 11:40-12:10
3rd grade- 12:35-1:05
4th grade-12:15-12:45
Before /After School Care

Arrival and Dismissal Procedures
- The first bell rings at 8:25 AM and the tardy bell rings at 8:40 AM.
- Students will enter door 2 or 11.
- All guardians need to stay in the car at drop-off and pick-up. Staff will be staggered on the sidewalk to help the students get in and out of their vehicles. Cars enter at the north drive, while buses will enter at the south drive. Please wait for all five buses to arrive before pulling behind the buses.
- If you hear the 8:25 AM bell and all five buses have not arrived, go ahead and move towards the front of the building. Please yield to a late bus and allow them to join the car line.
- MOST IMPORTANTLY, DO NOT GO AROUND other cars. This is a safety concern as we have some students who exit from the driver-side of the car. It is much safer if you can have your child exit from the passenger-side of the vehicle.
- Students cannot be dropped off any earlier than 8:25 AM as we don't have supervision prior to that time.
Dismissal:
- Students riding buses will dismiss with the 3:40 bell.
- Cars should pull-in behind the five buses. Please show your car tag to our check-in staff out front. If you need a car tag or additional tags, please contact the office. You will be directed to a cone in the front of the building. Please stay in your car. A staff member will help your student get in the car. MOST IMPORTANTLY, DO NOT GO AROUND other cars. Be patient as it takes some students longer to get in the cars and buckle up. Please arrive no later than 3:45 to pick up your student.
- Walkers are dismissed after the car traffic is gone to ensure their safety.
If you have a dismissal change, call the office by 3:00 PM to make that change. Please do not leave a voice mail with a change. Emails will always be confirmed. If you do not speak to us directly or get a confirmation, we did not receive your change!
Background Checks

JOIN THE PTO FUN! Get involved by joining the PTO. We meet in the staff lounge the first Wednesday of every month. First three meetings: All beginning at 4:30pm August 16th September 6th October 4th PTO Officers: President: Rosaleigh Simpson Co-Vice Presidents: Anna Sichting and Sarah Bigham Secretary: Rachel Burgess Treasurer: Emmylou Spence | DID YOU KNOW???Do you know how the PTO helps our students? Over the last few years, the PTO helps ALL of our students and staff in the following ways.....
We could not do these things without the help of the PTO and their generosity in making sure our students have everything they need and more! | How Can you Help the PTO?We have two easy set it and forget it ways for you to help us earn money for the school! 1. Box Tops-through an app, the guardian is able to scan their receipts to help earn money for the school. 2. Kroger Rewards-set your Kroger Reward's card to earn a % of what you spend (when you scan your card) to be donated to Brooklyn Elementary-PTO. |
JOIN THE PTO FUN!
First three meetings: All beginning at 4:30pm
August 16th
September 6th
October 4th
PTO Officers:
President: Rosaleigh Simpson
Co-Vice Presidents: Anna Sichting and Sarah Bigham
Secretary: Rachel Burgess
Treasurer: Emmylou Spence
DID YOU KNOW???
Do you know how the PTO helps our students? Over the last few years, the PTO helps ALL of our students and staff in the following ways.....
- Paying for field trips
- Purchasing headphones for students (K-4)
- Purchasing a membership to the Children's Museum for all students to attend free with their class
- Helping fund teacher grants for individual classrooms
- Volunteering at events
- Organizing staff meals
- Purchasing recess equipment for students
- Updated gym equipment
We could not do these things without the help of the PTO and their generosity in making sure our students have everything they need and more!
How Can you Help the PTO?
We have two easy set it and forget it ways for you to help us earn money for the school!
1. Box Tops-through an app, the guardian is able to scan their receipts to help earn money for the school.
2. Kroger Rewards-set your Kroger Reward's card to earn a % of what you spend (when you scan your card) to be donated to Brooklyn Elementary-PTO.
School Wide Title 1
Funding has been made available through School Wide Title 1 Services to Brooklyn STEM Academy for the purpose of providing students with extra support in reading/language arts and math. This extra support is available for K-4 students at Brooklyn STEM Academy. Classroom teachers, Title 1 Teachers and instructional aides provide assistance through small group and individualized instruction as children demonstrate a need for support. Please contact your teacher about services your child may receive.