Brookside School Lighthouse Log

February is STEM time!

February is the shortest month and we made the most of it. We kicked off the month spotlighting Black History topics for students to explore, celebrated Carnival with a cultural assembly “Ginga Brasileira,” learned about the importance of therapy dogs from a sweet labrador named Sunday, and had the privilege of hosting Sam Sarelli, a highschooler that travels to local elementary schools with a message about anti-bullying; and that’s not all! On the last day of this month we welcomed district leaders to judge our STEM Fair. Teachers and students had been working rigorously on their projects and two winners will go on to represent Brookside at the district’s STEM Fair in March.

Congrats to our 2019 STEM Fair winners, Mrs. Merati (1st Grade) and Mrs. Maloney (4th Grade).They will represent Brookside School at the dirstrict STEM fair on March 16!

I am beaming with pride on this last day of the month. We have made February a robust little month!


Kindergarten Kindergarten celebrates the 100th Day of School! This is a photo of Miss Malizia's class. The A wing celebrated with streamers, balloons, and lots of activities to practice counting to 100! The students also worked hard on 100th Day projects with their families that have been displayed in the hallway! They did a great job!	1st Grade First Graders dressed up as 100 year olds in honor of the 100th Day of School! Congrats, first graders, on being 100 days smarter!	2nd Grade 2nd Graders researched and wrote about Punxatawny Phil while learning about Groundhog's Day. Here comes Spring!

Kindergarten

Kindergarten celebrates the 100th Day of School! This is a photo of Miss Malizia's class. The A wing celebrated with streamers, balloons, and lots of activities to practice counting to 100! The students also worked hard on 100th Day projects with their families that have been displayed in the hallway! They did a great job!

1st Grade

First Graders dressed up as 100 year olds in honor of the 100th Day of School! Congrats, first graders, on being 100 days smarter!

2nd Grade

2nd Graders researched and wrote about Punxatawny Phil while learning about Groundhog's Day. Here comes Spring!


3rd Grade Miss Shannon, from Child Guidance Center of Mid-Fairfield County, comes in biweekly to work with our 3rd grade students about various topics to support academic success, emotional stability, and strategies to help lead happy and productive lives. Here she is working with a third grade class about being responsible.	4th Grade Mrs. Maloney (Grade 4) arranged for her sister, Jessica Bunting to return to Brookside for a visit with Sunday, the most beautiful therapy dog ever! She visited Kindergarten and fourth grade students! The students watched a video "A Day in the Life of Fraser: A Pet Therapy Dog in order to prepare for the visit. They learned some interesting facts about therapy dogs and they all had a chance to pet Sunday.	5th Grade The fifth graders would like to thank Samantha S. for being so brave and caring as she shared her disheartening experiences about being bullied. The students were very receptive and shared some of their own experiences. She also gave them tips on what to do if they are being bullied, and to be extra cautious while using the internet. Thank you Samantha!

3rd Grade

Miss Shannon, from Child Guidance Center of Mid-Fairfield County, comes in biweekly to work with our 3rd grade students about various topics to support academic success, emotional stability, and strategies to help lead happy and productive lives. Here she is working with a third grade class about being responsible.

4th Grade

Mrs. Maloney (Grade 4) arranged for her sister, Jessica Bunting to return to Brookside for a visit with Sunday, the most beautiful therapy dog ever! She visited Kindergarten and fourth grade students! The students watched a video "A Day in the Life of Fraser: A Pet Therapy Dog in order to prepare for the visit. They learned some interesting facts about therapy dogs and they all had a chance to pet Sunday.

5th Grade

The fifth graders would like to thank Samantha S. for being so brave and caring as she shared her disheartening experiences about being bullied. The students were very receptive and shared some of their own experiences. She also gave them tips on what to do if they are being bullied, and to be extra cautious while using the internet. Thank you Samantha!


Pre-K Hey big bad wolf...don't even think about it. Preschool has been learning all about The 3 Little Pigs. They have been learning about how to build houses along with other structures. Looks like we have some future architects and engineers!	Therapy Dog WHO LET THE DOG OUT? This is a photo of fourth graders from Mrs. Maloney's class petting Sunday!	Tooth EGG-speriment February is National Children's Dental Health month. Did you know that an egg shell is similar to the outside of a tooth??? After 24 hours of soaking in water, grape juice and coca cola; check out what happened to the egg shells. Kindergartners learned: It's important to brush your teeth Water is a healthier choice Sugary drinks stay on our teeth and leads to cavities!

Pre-K

Hey big bad wolf...don't even think about it. Preschool has been learning all about The 3 Little Pigs.

They have been learning about how to build houses along with other structures. Looks like we have some future architects and engineers!

Therapy Dog

WHO LET THE DOG OUT? This is a photo of fourth graders from Mrs. Maloney's class petting Sunday!

Tooth EGG-speriment

February is National Children's Dental Health month. Did you know that an egg shell is similar to the outside of a tooth??? After 24 hours of soaking in water, grape juice and coca cola; check out what happened to the egg shells.

Kindergartners learned:

It's important to brush your teeth
Water is a healthier choice
Sugary drinks stay on our teeth and leads to cavities!


Ginga Brasileira Ginga Brasileira visited Brookside to perform a colorful, crowd-pleasing repertoire of Afro-Brazilian dances with rhythmic music, high-energy gymnastics and martial arts! The ensemble performed Capoeira, a martial art dance form, the maculele and the samba!	Ginga Brasileira Ginga Brasileira visited Brookside to perform a colorful, crowd-pleasing repertoire of Afro-Brazilian dances with rhythmic music, high-energy gymnastics and martial arts! The ensemble performed Capoeira, a martial art dance form, the maculele and the samba!	Celebrating Friendship on Valentine's Day First graders drop hand-written notes into their classmate's Valentine bags. The day was filled with kindness and friendship at Brookside!

Ginga Brasileira

Ginga Brasileira visited Brookside to perform a colorful, crowd-pleasing repertoire of Afro-Brazilian dances with rhythmic music, high-energy gymnastics and martial arts! The ensemble performed Capoeira, a martial art dance form, the maculele and the samba!

Ginga Brasileira

Celebrating Friendship on Valentine's Day

First graders drop hand-written notes into their classmate's Valentine bags. The day was filled with kindness and friendship at Brookside!


Gym First Graders created a scooter track and obstacle course in Gym. Watch out for these drivers!	Carver Program 5th graders who attend the Carver After School Program had a great time in MAD SCIENCE. They learned about "Chem in a Flash," which included learning that a reaction is called a stimulus; and how mixing two chemicals together can cause a chemical reaction!	Twin Day "Two of a Kind" Mrs. Lewis (Kindergarten) & Mrs. Henneghan (Grade 3) show off their school spirit by dressing alike for twin day!

Gym

First Graders created a scooter track and obstacle course in Gym. Watch out for these drivers!

Carver Program

5th graders who attend the Carver After School Program had a great time in MAD SCIENCE. They learned about "Chem in a Flash," which included learning that a reaction is called a stimulus; and how mixing two chemicals together can cause a chemical reaction!

Twin Day

"Two of a Kind"

Mrs. Lewis (Kindergarten) & Mrs. Henneghan (Grade 3) show off their school spirit by dressing alike for twin day!


A Slice of Science What goes well with Science? Pizza! Staff enjoys lunch provided by Mrs. Faioes during Brookside's STEM Fair! Great job everyone!!!	K-2 STEM Winner!!! Miss. Merati's (first grade) Room B-7 "Communicating using light and sand to check on a neighbor during a power outage."	3-5 STEM Winner!!! Mrs. Maloney's Class (fourth grade) Room C-2 "Project Puddles- An Erosion Problem"

A Slice of Science

What goes well with Science? Pizza! Staff enjoys lunch provided by Mrs. Faioes during Brookside's STEM Fair! Great job everyone!!!

K-2 STEM Winner!!!

Miss. Merati's (first grade) Room B-7

"Communicating using light and sand to check on a neighbor during a power outage."

3-5 STEM Winner!!!

Mrs. Maloney's Class (fourth grade) Room C-2

"Project Puddles- An Erosion Problem"

Celebrating Black History Month

We celebrated Black History Month this month in many ways. When we talk about black history we remind our Brookside students that when Civil Rights leaders fought for desegregation they fought for a school like Brookside to exist, a special place where we cherish our diversity and multiculturalism.

Mrs. Lewis wrote a poem for Black History Month when she was a young girl that we are honored to share with you.

African Queen

Am I not the African Queen of the motherland

Forming the truth in the palm of my hand

Rinsing away the hate with my painful tears

I will absorb and understand mankind I shall not fear

Called the beast of the fields hurt me inside

Acknowledging others were jealous of my pride

Needing to know that they were Miss, Mrs. and Ma’am

Queen of Africa’s mother land is who I am

Ultimately sitting high on my throne

Earning my respect that for years was unknown

Ever so clear is the truth by all means

Need I say more about this African Queen

ONE BOOK FOR BROOKSIDE AND READ ACROSS AMERICA ARE COMING MARCH 1!

Get excited to read Brookside! Our Read Across America assembly and One Book for Brookside kickoff are happening March 1

Upcoming Dates

Friday, March 1st Read Across America
Friday, March 1st Magic with Mazz Drama Club fundraiser
Thursday March 7th, PTO Meeting, 7pm
Thursday, March 7 Bertucci's Night to support K
March 11th through 15th, Book Fair, daytime hours
Thursday March 14th, Conference Night, Early Dismissal, 1:55pm
Friday, March 15th Spirit Day - Wear Green for St. Patty's Day!
Thursday March 14th, Book Fair, evening hours 6pm - 8pm and Drama Club Bake Sale
Saturday March 16th, City Wide STEM Expo