Brewster Weekly

We are here to do good things for our students, our coworkers, and our community.

We represent qualities such as love, hope, kindness, respect, and responsibility.

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 bright future for our students.

PARKING LOT REMINDERS!

Please use the sidewalks in the car loop lane to drop off your children. Let the children out all along the U shape of the car loop drop off-not only at entry door/ cafeteria door. ALL of our Bulldogs know where to line up and can access all entry points from the safe sidewalk routes. If you are dropping off from 7:55-8:05, students should go to their assigned door please. Let's build independence and help the car loop move efficiently by having students ready to exit quickly.

We are a school community that wants the best for our kids.

We all would be devastated with any injury or accident.

Please always model safety, respect, responsibility, and kindness each day.

THANK YOU TO ALL THAT POSITIVELY PROMOTE AND PRACTICE SAFE PROCEDURES!!

News from Mrs. McCue!

This year, in addition to our K-12 District Art Show, the RCS Art Department has the opportunity to display our amazing students’ art work at a small show at Oakland Schools. Invitations were passed out Thursday if your child’s artwork was submitted to the show. Everyone is welcome to attend and visit the show to see the incredible talents of our RCS artists. Your support is always appreciated!

Media Update by Mrs. O'Rourke March 2023

Media Update by Mrs. O'Rourke

Battle of the Books! So very proud of our 5th graders who will participate in the Battle of the Books, organized by the Rochester Hills Public Library, this Saturday. We had fun at our ‘Mock Battle’ this week. Big thanks to the coaches who have prepped the kids, read the books & came to help (& shared questions!)

Best of the Luck to the:

Book Bunnies; Sadie, Samantha, and Breslin

The Booktroverts!; Caleigh, Anna, Nada, and Brinn

The Cookie Crumble Girls; Madison, Charlotte, Abby, & Audrey

Book Bears; Victoria, Lena and Olivia

Book Blitzers; Mark, Christopher, Eli & Griffin

Seasonal Spirits; Victoria L, Amelia W, Amelia W & Mila

The Book Bees; Swara, Tari, Gwen & Max

Books & Bundts is Back!

Please continue to encourage your child(ren) to read every day! And make sure they complete the Brewster Reads calendar through the PTA toolkit. This month they will also get a certificate for a bundlet cake from Nothing Bundt Cakes!

Authors in April is coming soon! Please see the attached files & encourage your children to participate in the bookmark contest or the speech contest. They can win a free book & get to meet the Author(s) one on one!

Thank you for your support of Adopt A book!

In case you aren’t aware, students may ‘adopt-a-book’ for a birthday, remembrance or recognition. It is a $15.00 donation made out to Brewster PTA. The student will pick a book from a collection of books in the media center. Their picture and a small dedication is added, the book is presented to them, they get to check out the book first and then it is added to the library and their friends can check it out. This program is managed by two wonderful volunteers who come to school about every other week. If you would like to adopt a book please keep in mind that it may take 2-3 weeks to get the book ready. Thank you!

The form is available in the Brewster PTA Toolkit

The Specials Team is on Facebook! Please follow us at https://www.facebook.com/people/Brewster-Elementary-Specials-Art-Library-Music-Phys-Ed/100063552367921/

Brewster Reads Celebrates Reading Month!

For March Reading Month, those who participate in Brewster Reads will earn a special prize! In partnership with the United Shores Professional Baseball League, participants will receive a free ticket to attend a 2023 baseball game at Jimmy John’s Field! Participating Bulldogs still read 500+ minutes during March and report on the Membership Toolkit App. Ticket redemption information will be sent home to participants in April! If you have any questions, contact Kellie Newman (kellie.nemwan@mac.com) or Katie Baron (katie.baron@icloud.com).

Brewster PTA

Committee Chairs Needed

We have a great group of families at Brewster and we need your help! We have the following committee chairs open or in need of a co-chair. Please reach out to BrewsterPTAPresident@gmail.com if you are interested in helping or learning more!

· Founders Day - Help decide what teachers, staff, and volunteers in our schools get rewarded for all their hard work.

· Nominating co-chair – Help in finding new parents to fulfill the roles of the board, explain the roles, and help with voting process

· PAC Rep co-chair – Represent families that have IEPs and 504Bs. Must have a child with one of these in order to be the chair.

Bingo Night!

BREWSTER BINGO NIGHT IS BACK!!

Save the date - Friday, April 14th 6-7:30pm in the Brewster Gym! This is a FAMILY event, all students must be chaperoned.

$5/person - payments made in advance on Membership Toolkit

PRIZE DONATIONS NEEDED - gift cards, new toys and games for the Bingo winners!

BINGO COMMITTEE VOLUNTEERS NEEDED - 2-3 people needed to assist with pre-event organization, as well as helping on the night itself.

Contact: skye.thietten@gmail.com

Shake Shack Night

Need a night out to not cook dinner? Join other Brewster families on Wednesday, March 22 11am-9pm for a 25% donation to our PTA from every purchase. Please see the attached flyer and tell everyone you know!

Author’s in April Events

Join us for the AIA Pajama Party! On Thursday, April 6 from 6:30p-8p join your friends for crafts, games, snacks, and activities. If you are interested please RSVP on Membership Toolkit and check out the attached flyer.

Nominating Committee

We are nearing the time of year when we seek out Nominations for the PTA board for the next school year. For the 2023-2024 school year we are looking for the following:

· President

· VP of Fundraising

If you are interested or you know someone that would be great, please send your nominations to Jessica Westness at Jessica.Westness@gmail.com

Yearbook

The yearbook committee needs your help collecting pictures of your kiddos from the first day of school through now! When sending pictures be sure to include the following:

1. High resolution photos (the higher the better)

2. First and last name of child(ren)

3. Teacher’s name and grade

4. Event – i.e. the first day of school

Please send all photos to BrewsterYearbook@gmail.com

Adopt-a-Book

Our Adopt-a-Book program is up and running for the year! If you are interested in adopting a book for your child please fill out the form in the Membership Toolkit Store.

Buddy the Bulldog

Have you seen Buddy the Bulldog at school events or in a neighbor’s yard? Would you like to have him visit your yard? Buddy can be rented by filling out a form in Membership Toolkit. He loves to visit so please fill out a form so he can come and visit you.

Membership Toolkit

Membership Toolkit is a website and app used by the Brewster PTA. On Membership Toolkit you can find a Brewster directory, calendar of events, and make secure purchases. You do not need to be a PTA member to use most of the features on Membership Toolkit. To create an account, you need to go the website first. Once you create your account on the website, you can download the app on your mobile device. If you already use Membership Toolkit, please log in to update your student’s information for the new school year. Use this link to create or update your account https://rhillsbrewsterpta.membershiptoolkit.com/

Brewster Facebook Group

The Brewster Facebook group is a great way to connect with Brewster families and learn about upcoming events. If you are a member of the Brewster Facebook group, please send an invite to Brewster families that are not yet members. For the safety of our students, the Brewster Facebook group is private. To join, you need to be a current Brewster family and answer the questions to join the group.

Join the PTA

You can join the PTA by going to the store on the Membership Toolkit app or clicking this link Join the Brewster PTA. By joining the PTA you will have access to the Brewster directory on the Membership Toolkit website and app.

Annual Fundraiser

The Brewster PTA has launched its Annual Fundraiser and a yellow flyer came home with your oldest child at Brewster. Our hope is to pivot from ongoing fundraising activities throughout the year that support Brewster students, teachers and staff, to a one-time donation made by each family at the beginning of the year. To make a donation use this link General PTA Donation or go to the store on Membership Toolkit. While there is no set amount that we are requesting, as we are sensitive to every family’s financial capacity, we hope and suggest the following amounts: $60 per family with one Brewster student or $85 per family with two or more Brewster students.

PTA Board Names and Contact Information

President – Jackie Bieber BrewsterPTAPresident@gmail.com

VP of Fundraising –

VP of Membership – Michelle Endres

Treasurer – Susanna Brennan

Secretary – Grant Kosch

District Opportunities

The Diversity, Equity, Inclusion Parent Network (DEIPN) is excited to continue our work together this year!

Please mark these future meeting dates on your calendar:

Monday, March 20

Tuesday, April 18

Monday, May 15

MISSION STATEMENT OF DEIPN

Parents who support, encourage, celebrate diversity, and human connections across all boundaries of difference within Rochester Community Schools. We are purposed to make RCS an environment where diversity is authentically included and equally respected in all aspects of the student’s experience. Where all students, especially those who have been historically marginalized, can fairly and equally achieve their full potential to build meaningful productive lives in a global society.