Brown MS Weekly Update
May 6, 2022
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Dear Brown MS Community,
This past week we celebrated Teacher Appreciation and today was National School Lunch Heroes Day. We are lucky at Brown to have fantastic teachers and a wonderful lunch staff. I want to thank the PTO on behalf of all of us for the amazing and yummy dessert spread that they provided on Wednesday (see pictures below). Thank you to PTO Presidents, IJ Anyanwu, Denise Dandrea and Sarah Housman for setting up a gorgeous display!
This coming Wednesday is National School Nurse Appreciation Day. We are blessed to have Lucy Boyer as Brown's school nurse. She has been a constant source of support and calm to students, parents and teachers throughout the pandemic. It doesn't hurt that she has a great sense of humor, an amazing "bedside manner" and is incredibly positive and confident. I know she has helped me countless times in my two years as principal. Be sure to reach out and tell her how great she is!
This Sunday is Mother's Day and I wish all mothers out there a wonderful day. I hope you all get spoiled a little bit! I am lucky because my mother and mother-in-law both live nearby and I am able to see them regularly. (Yes, I get along with my mother-in-law! The joke is that she likes me best of all her children...) Also, my children are both at home and can spoil me all day! (We shall see how that works out.) I do know that we will all celebrate Sunday with dinner out, and hopefully I will get some time to do a little gardening if the weather holds out. Enjoy your weekend!
Best,
Kim Lysaght, Principal
After School Enrichment End Date
All after school enrichment activities and athletic programs will conclude the week of May 31- June 3. Due to Memorial Day, Monday, May 23 will be the last day for Monday enrichment activities. Friday, June 3 will be the final ending date for all activities. We thank all students, staff and coaches for participating and making these programs a success.
Presentation for Parents on Social Media and a Tour of Brown MS!
Schedule of events for Wednesday, May 11:
6:30 - Meet and greet time with refreshments (cafeteria)
6:45 - Student guides from each grade level lead tours of the building
7:30 - Social Media workshop (auditorium)
There will be opportunities to have some refreshments, socialize and purchase some Brown swag from the PTO in the cafeteria prior to the presentation. If you plan to attend, please RSVP here so we have an idea of how many people to expect. (RSVP is not required to attend, so please come - even at the last minute!)
Workshop Description
This workshop reviews the challenges and dangerous situations that may arise through use of the internet, social media, and smartphones. It is important for school staff and parents to be aware of the popular apps, social media sites, and programs used by youth online. This workshop explains the issues and possible consequences of cyberbullying, sexting, and revealing identifying information to strangers.
Biography
Cory Mashburn, M.Ed. has over 20 years’ experience working with youth and people with disabilities, as well as over 10 years expertise in the field of prevention services. As the father of two young children he understands the importance of equipping youth, their parents, and their communities with the knowledge and skills to enable young people to become the best version of themselves.
Lost and Found to be cleared out soon!
Our Lost and Found is overflowing. We have put a sign up asking students to check it this week. At the end of this coming week (May 13) we will be donating the items to Goodwill. The lost and found is in the lobby area between the cafeteria and the gym. Please encourage your child to check it this week.
5th Grade Parent Coffees!
We are pleased to share that we will be holding parent coffees at each of the four elementary feeder schools in May. The dates are listed below. At these informal session parents will be able to meet with the principal and a school counselor as well as a Brown PTO representative to ask questions and hear more about Brown MS.
- Countryside: May 18, 8:30AM
- Mason Rice: May 19, 8:15AM
- Angier: May 25, 8:20AM
- Williams: May 26, 8:30AM
Additional 5th grade information:
PTO information: click here for their website
5th grade parent night: click here for the slide deck
World language selection: click here (The form also gives you an opportunity to sign your child up for our optional band, orchestra or chorus electives.)
Brown MS Music Department - Spring Concerts!
Brown Middle School Music Department is proud to present our spring concert dates! All ensemble members are expected to attend their concert. Details (call times, dress code etc.) to follow.
Wednesday June 1, 2022, 7:00pm
6th 7th & 8th grade Orchestra
7th & 8th grade Chorus
6th grade Chorus
Brown Middle School, John Jordan Auditorium
Thursday June 2, 2022, 7:00pm
7th & 8th grade Band & 6th grade Band
Brown Middle School, John Jordan Auditorium
Step Up Day - June 10
Step Up Day will be Friday, June 10th this year. On this day our 8th and 5th graders will have an opportunity to tour their new schools and learn about what to expect in the fall.
All 6th and 7th graders will be dismissed at 12:50 that day.
5th graders will arrive at Brown from each of the 4 feeder schools at 12:50 and will see a short presentation in the auditorium. They will then be put into groups and met by our 6th grade teachers who will share more about what they can expect in 6th grade and give them a tour of the building. At 2:20, 5th graders will be transported back to their elementary schools for regular dismissal time.
8th graders will have lunch at 11:15 and then walk over to Newton South at 12:00 for a presentation and tour. They will return to Brown in time for our 2:50 dismissal.
8th Grade Year End Events
Step Up Day to NSHS - Friday, June 10
8th Grade Party - June 21 - 3:00PM
Canobie Lake Park Trip - Thursday, June 23
Graduation - Friday, June 24 at 10:00AM
Look for more information in future BBR's from the PTO.
Covid Update
This week we have seen an increase in our numbers. This makes it even more essential that we all continue to follow the daily health assessment each morning. There were 20 individuals that reported testing positive for Covid since last Friday. Please have your child continue to follow the daily health assessment guidelines above each morning. Students will receive their next Covid test kits either today or Monday and they should all take their tests on Tuesday morning.
To “opt-in” to the testing program.
Access the Opt-in form through Aspen parent/guardian account: Aspen
Follow these instructions (link) once you are logged into Aspen
Only positive results need to be reported by completing this Form - Positive Result from At-Home Rapid Antigen Test - State Program. Nurses will provide follow up information to families, including the date for return to school, following a positive test.
Health and Safety Plan - Updated April 2022 (click to read the full report)
- The CDC and MA DPH recommend that individuals exposed to a positive COVID case should mask for 10 days following exposure, REGARDLESS OF VACCINATION STATUS. A rapid antigen or PCR test on Day 5 is recommended.
- Athletes and performers returning from a COVID infection and participating in school-based extracurriculars, should follow the current guidance for masking, which includes wearing a mask at all times unless eating, drinking, or outside, on days 6-10 following a COVID infection. Athletes and performers should have a negative antigen test in order to participate on days 6-10 following their five day isolation requirement. Athletes should consult with their physician prior to resuming physical activity following a COVID infection.
The data dashboard can be found here: COVID Testing Data Dashboard and on our website here: COVID Testing Webpage. For information on COVID cases and vaccination rates in the Newton Public Schools, please visit this page on the City of Newton Website: Newton HHS COVID Data.
Upcoming FORJ Newton May Citywide Meeting
In Search of Belonging: A Discussion with Palestinian-American Newtonians
When: Tuesday May 10th, at 7pm
On May 10th, FORJ Newton will host its May Citywide meeting called “In Search of Belonging: A Discussion with Palestinian-American-Newtonians”
This event will offer attendees a valuable opportunity to meet and learn from members of the Newton community who are often invisible or misunderstood.
Attendees will hear Palestinian-American-Newtonians talk about their experiences in Newton, which are varied and complex, and hear their responses to questions raised by the audience.
If you are interested in joining this conversation, please register here!
Newton Neighbors just launched a city-wide diaper drive with diaper collection running from April 30-May 13. We will be distributing diapers directly to families in need on May 14th at FamilyACCESS and at Post 440 in Nonantum.
Jingshan School Exchange
"Are you curious about Newton's long-standing exchange program with the Jingshan School in Beijing? Have you (or if you're a parent, has your child) considered participating in this exchange? While the pandemic has nixed traveling for the past few years, our connection is still strong.
Anyone who would like to learn more about this 35-year old sister school relationship is warmly invited to the Newton / Jingshan Exchange Annual Meeting in the Newton South Library beginning at 4 PM on May 19. Join us as we gather to celebrate Enduring Connections: Students, Hosts and Teachers. A variety of exchange students (both Chinese and American), exchange teachers and host families will share their experiences in a lively presentation.
For questions about the event, please contact Star Yixing Lew, the Jingshan Exchange Program Specialist: lewy@newton.k12.ma.us
NSF’s Honor Thy Teacher program.
Honor Thy Teacher was created to help our school community show their appreciation for Newton Public School teachers and staff while adhering to the Newton Public Schools gift policies.
Teachers honored by the program receive a personalized email informing them of the honor, school principals receive notification of the teachers and staff honored from their schools, the names of all honored staff are listed on the NSF website and, new last year, all honored staff receive a Certificate of Honor and a commemorative magnet that they can proudly display.
Donations received by NSF through the Honor Thy Teacher program are an important source of funding for NSF’s programs to enhance excellence and equity in the Newton Public Schools by funding new approaches in the classroom, professional development, and programs that address inequities. Some of those programs include Authorfest at the elementary school level, the Calculus Project at the middle and high school levels, and a National Educator Anti-Racist Conference. For more information on the programs funded by NSF, visit the Impact page on the NSF website.
We kick off our Honor Thy Teacher campaign during Teacher Appreciation Week (May 2-6) and continue until the end of the school year. Middle school students will be receiving postcards in the mail, with information about the program and how to contribute.
Parenting and Fostering Resilience - recording of webinar
On March 30, the Student Services office in collaboration with SEPAC held a webinar with Newton-Wellesley's Resilience Project on "Parenting and Fostering Resilience". Please click here to access a recording of the webinar through the month of May.
How to report an instance of harassment, discrimination or retaliation.
NPS has recently updated their non-discrimination protocol and reporting process. Here is a link to a document that gives an overview of the process and how to report incidents. If you experience an incident that you feel needs to be reported, you can contact the school directly or you can fill out this Online reporting form.
Discrimination includes, but is not limited to, excluding from participation, denying the benefits of, or otherwise discriminating against individuals on the basis of a Protected Class, or any other category protected by state or federal law.
Harassment includes, but is not limited to, unwelcome, inappropriate, or illegal physical, verbal, written, graphic, or electronic conduct that relates to an individual’s actual or perceived Protected Class, that has the purpose or effect of creating a hostile education or work environment. Examples of harassment include, but are not limited to, conduct that denigrates, demeans, or stereotypes a person and/or group based upon disability, gender identity, national origin, ethnic background, ancestry, race, color, religion, or sexual orientation. Sexual harassment is also included in this category.
Retaliation includes, but is not limited to, coercion, intimidation, interference, punishment, discrimination, or harassment against any member of the school community in response to that member’s oral, written, formal or informal reporting or filing a complaint, cooperating in an investigation, aiding or encouraging another member to report or file a complaint.
Need to update your information in Aspen?
The Annual Student Information Update is available on Aspen. Please update your information. Directions for families can be found here.
Calendar and School Hours
School Hours:
8:20AM - 2:50PM - Mon., Tues., Thurs., Fri.
8:20 AM - 2:05PM - Wed.
Click here for the NPS 2021-2022 school calendar.
Click here for the NPS 2022-2023 school calendar.
Click here for the Brown Middle School 6-day rotation calendar with early release days and days of the cycle.
Absentee Line:
To report a student absence call: 617-559-6980
Brown Middle School
125 Meadowbrook Road
Newton, MA 02459
617-559-6900