The Sunflower April 18, 2019
A Newsletter from Braeburn Elementary School
Letter from the Principal
Dear Braeburn Families and Friends,
It finally feels like spring! I hope that you enjoyed a wonderful vacation week with your family. I would like to officially thank the PTB for organizing and hosting the successful Braeburn Bash. Year after year, I am very impressed with the generosity of our school community and I am extremely grateful and humble to lead. Three “principals for the day” will soon be taking over the school, Fergus Shannon, Maya Ginsburg and Emma Hoffman. They will be engaged in maintaining a safe school environment, both inside and outside of the physical building, classroom observations, student interviews, meetings with the head custodian, school nurse, teachers, security officer, and curriculum specialist as well as so much more.
As we move into the month of May, planning for the 2019-20 school year will be underway inclusive of the class placement process. Classes are created through in depth discussion and collaboration among the grade level teams as well as our special area and special education teachers, with valuable input from our clinical team. Our collective goal is to construct well-balanced classes across all grades, maximizing success levels for each individual student. The criteria considered includes: gender, student learning styles and interests, academic levels, social and emotional needs, and other related factors. Your input is very valuable in this dynamic process and we welcome the information you would like to share about your child, including which type of learning environment you feel will be most beneficial to his/her success in school. I implore you to trust the process and have faith that, with all of the appropriate information obtained from the most important adults in your child’s life, the best possible decision will be made. In August, you will be informed of your child’s class placement. As always, I’d like to conclude by saying thank you for your support of our school and our continuous efforts to do what is best for kids, each and every day. It is a true pleasure to work with you.
Thank you,
Jeffrey F. Sousa
Principal
Important reminders for safety
Drop off and pick up are to be made at curbside.
Do not drop off children in the middle of the parking lot. Parking is not permitted in posted “student drop off” areas during drop off.
Parking is only permitted in marked parking spaces.
All pedestrians are to utilize the available sidewalks on school grounds.
Curriculum Corner
Welcome back from what I hope was a relaxing April break for your families. Below is a listing of dates and times for the state assessments in English Language Arts and Mathematics that are administered to children in grades 3-5. Please make every effort to schedule appointments for your child around these dates if possible. To find out more about these assessments and what they look like please feel free to visit:
https://ct.portal.airast.org/get-started/students-and-families.stml
We will be exposing children to the test format and will teach them how to navigate through the test and how to access and utilize the embedded tools prior to testing. If you would like your child to complete the practice test online, you are welcome to do so. Please feel free to contact me with any questions.
Click here for dates and times.
Ellen Cercone
Curriculum Specialist
Braeburn Calendar
KEY DATES APRIL 22 - MAY 3
Monday, April 22
- 7:40-8:30 am Grade 4 Band Rehearsal
- 12:15-12:45 pm Orchestra Rehearsal- Grade 4
Tuesday, April 23
- 7:45-8:30 am Grade 4&5 Choir Rehearsal
Wednesday, April 24
- 7:40-8:30 am Advanced Orchestra Rehearsal
Thursday, April 25
- 7:40-8:30 am Advanced Band Rehearsal
- 6:30-7:45 pm Kindergarten Orientation
Friday, April 26
- 7:45-8:30 am Grade 4&5 Choir Rehearsal
- 7:40-8:30 pm Grade 4 Orchestra Rehearsal
- 12:15-12:45 pm Band Rehearsal- Grade 4
Tuesday, April 30
- 7:45-8:30 am Grade 4&5 Choir Rehearsal
Wednesday, May 1
- Family Fun Night- No Homework/Electronics
- 7:40-8:30 am Advanced Orchestra Rehearsal
Thursday May 2
- 7:40-8:30 am Advanced Band Rehearsal
Friday May 3
- 7:45-8:30 am Choir Rehearsal - Grade 4&5