BROWNIE BITES

🍀MARCH🌸

2-19th STAR Benchmarking

8- Day Light Savings

10- Ariels Baby Shower

18- Family Fun Night - Wild Robot

19- STAR Benchmark closes

20- No School- EID

30- SPRING BREAK

Happy Birthday 🎂

16- Misty

23- Kaytlin

30- Sarah H.

📚 Books and reading logs going home TODAY, FRIDAY

📖Please consider reading a chapter.. Also if you signed please record and submit 😃

🎉Below is the online access to (Kahoots, activities, connections, etc.)

🎉 Family Fun Night – March 18th

Here is access to all the online resources!

Portal HERE

Your Client Portal credentials:

User ID: 390470102746

Passcode: efesen23!

The Wild Robot by Peter Brown

This is such a beautiful story that follows Roz, a robot who unexpectedly finds herself stranded on a wild island. As she learns to survive in nature, she also learns what it means to belong, to care for others, and to grow beyond the way she was originally programmed.

Themes we’ll explore:

• Belonging and community

• Growth and adaptability

• Empathy, compassion and resilience

• Nature, technology, and STE(A)M

It's that time of year...AGAIN! But this time, we are so excited to see how much YOU have helped guide and change your students FOR GOOD!

The STAR BENCHMARK window is OPEN! YES, this is a benchmark which means ALL students need to take both STAR Reading/Early Lit AND Math! This window ends on Thursday, March 19th.

If students work in a small group for reading, Amanda, Courtney, and I will be giving them their STAR Reading. If you need us to help with students with a 504, we can pull them on Tuesday, March 10 for reading and Thursday, March 12 for math. Please reach out to us to schedule times during those days.

Grades K-2, we know this is super early for your kids to show end of the year growth so please know that the PM window opens on April 20-May 29 and ANY student can take it again during this window. Especially ones who haven't hit that end of year scaled score.

Also, ready or not...SPRING AIR TESTING IS COMING!! Below is the schedule. If you are a classroom teacher, grades 3-5, who already knows you will be missing one or more of these testing days, PLEASE let me know ASAP.

Here's a link to the Canvas Page where students can click on either Wild Robot or March Book Madness.

https://hilliard.instructure.com/courses/49025

Here is a link for your class to submit their votes

https://sites.google.com/view/marchbookmadness25?usp=sharing

Voting Information

First Round: Starts at 7:00 pm, Wednesday, March 11 / Ends at 7:00 pm, Tuesday, March 17

Second Round: Starts at 7:00 pm, Wednesday, March 18 / Ends at 7:00 pm, Tuesday, March 24

Third Round: Starts at 7:00 pm, Wednesday, March 25 / Ends at 7:00 pm, Tuesday, March 31

Championship Round: Starts at 7:00 pm, Wednesday, April 1 / Ends at 7:00 pm, Tuesday, April 7

The 2026 champions will be announced on Thursday, April 9!!

It's that exciting time of year again! We’re gearing up for another amazing session of Curious Cubs!!!

As you know, this is such an incredible opportunity for our students to explore new passions, learn from YOU, and dive into enriching activities. Our kiddos always love these classes, and it’s a chance for you to share something you're passionate about, talented at, or simply interested in.

SPRING Session Details:

Dates: Week of April 6th - May 15th

Keep in mind, depending on your schedule your session may wrap up at a different time. (As long as you have 6 contact hrs)

Action Steps:

1. Please review: the NEXT Program Procedures form (attached).

2. Submit Your Class Proposal: As with last year, all proposals can be made through the Insider under the ‘NEXT’ button. Please submit these by March 19th

   
   

3. Class Descriptions: Please add a "1-pager" to the shared Google doc with details about your class. If you’re repeating a class, feel free to copy and paste last year’s info (Here's the google folder to past classes). Families will use these to decide which clubs they want to sign their kids up for, so the more details, the better!

I look forward to seeing the amazing ideas you all come up with again! I'm excited to continue to build a FOUNDATION of enrichment, connection and Curiosity that our Curious Cubs Clubs and give our students

Some Ideas -

• Make It- Take It

• Yard Games

• Line Dance Classes

  
  

Reminders

1. You can run more than 1 class.
2. Class can be held before school.

3. You can structure the class however you’d like, as long as you meet the minimum 6-hour contact hour requirement:

• Once a week for 1 hour for 6 weeks
• Twice a week for 1 hour for 3 weeks
• Once a week for 2 hours for 3 weeks
• Twice a week for 3 hours for 2 weeks, etc.

4. You can team up with another teacher and have a larger number of students.

Please let me know if you have any questions.

Last week, Brown News featured a segment on our free trees from Neighborhood Forest. Here is more information for you and to send out to your families. You can copy and paste the letter below, send the PDF (attached) or Google doc. I've also included an image to post on your Parent Square page. Last day to register is March 15.

https://docs.google.com/document/d/19vjvyh2qe19Bf1bh7KZdMagCiULCSXW1nn6tUNO3phA/edit?tab=t.0

A cute 2:37 min video you can share with your class, too.

https://youtu.be/ta359qUBsJs?si=9loxWqaGfGskpMT3

Dear Parents and Guardians at Brown,

This spring, we are thrilled to announce again our participation in Neighborhood Forest’s 17th annual Free Tree Program as part of our Earth Week celebrations this April! Neighborhood Forest is a nonprofit organization that has helped more than 310,000 children across North America plant their very own trees since 2010, inspiring environmental stewardship through the joy of planting and growing trees. In 2025, Brown received 115 trees to plant throughout our community. Let’s see if we can add to that amount this year!!

Please fill out the following online registration form by March 15th and receive a free tree/seedling (6-12 inches in size) sent home with your child around Earth Day. Exact species will be revealed in early April. In order to receive your free tree, click on the link below. Fill out your child’s name, grade, and teacher’s name only and scroll all the way to the bottom to the yellow NEXT button. If you wish to donate or purchase additional trees, check the boxes of the items that you wish to purchase. Once trees are delivered to us, we will notify you when they will be sent home.

Planting and care instructions, as well as species information, will be emailed a few days prior to the trees arriving and will be available in the “Resources” section of the Neighborhood Forest website.

Register to receive a free tree for Earth Day to plant with your child:

https://www.neighborhoodforest.org/registration-services/?school=567

Please note: This is not a fundraiser. If you choose to make any donation, it goes straight to Neighborhood Forest’s non-profit to help fund trees for others.

If you have received a tree in years past, we would love to see its progress! Please send a photo of your tree (your child can make an appearance or not) and we will feature it on Brown IDC News! Thank you for your support and participation. If you have any questions or need to send pics, please contact Ms. Kirkland (kelly_kirkland@hboe.org).

Alora will be doing the Child Abuse lessons the week of 3/16 at your allotted classroom lesson time. As a reminder, I do need you to send the grade level letter from this folder to your parents on or before 3/2. Parents have until 3/9 to opt out and any opt out names need to be added to this spreadsheet under the Brown tab on the bottom. Additionally, I will need the classroom teacher to stay in the room during this lesson. Please let me know if you have any questions! If for some reason your classroom lesson time is missed, we will make up the next week. Thank you for your help in completing this health curriculum lesson! 🙂

It’s that time of year again! It’s time to order your classroom supplies. Below is the budget for your classroom. The Deadline to get your order to me is: March 13, 2026.

We will be making some changes to our ordering for the future. I know we usually order supplies in the second half of the year for the next school year. Starting in the 26/27 school year, Kate and I are hoping to transition to ordering supplies at the beginning of the year for that year’s learning. So, for right now, we will order now for what we need for the rest of this year. In September, we will set orders for the 26/27 school year. Please let me know if you have any questions.

Please note: Please avoid using Amazon to purchase regular office supplies. The district has a contract with Office Depot, Staples and Friends for office supplies. We have been instructed we need to use these vendors first for any supplies we need. You may still use Amazon to order other items you would like for your classroom. Some other stores I’ve been asked to order from in the past are Lakeshore Learning, Really Good Stuff and the Teacher Store. Please let me know if you have any questions about orders.

This video/article about the benefits of writing down new understandings during learning reminded me of something we touched on during one of my last principals meeting. Jackie shared how the use of response journals for literacy can provide students with a way to capture their thinking. This can be applied in any content area and I wonder if you agree that this is an underutilized strategy in your classrooms. Love to be a thinking partner if you want to chat more.

Chuck wanted to share this presentation of Canva ideas, but this is one of my favorites. When in presentation mode there are keys on your keyboard that can make your presentation more engaging.

What is Strengths Based learning?

“It is the antithesis of finding gaps in learning then trying to fill them, which is the sort of deficit-based instruction we have done too often,” Laura DuPre says. “With a strength-based approach we identify what a student does know, or what they can do, and build on it. Success builds success."

Think of your most challenging student(s).

Attempt to ONLY point out strengths of that student for at least one day. Go out of your way to do it, give cues and reminders positively, and keep all interactions positive.

See how that student’s interactions with you change. Notice the different responses and SHARE those with me, your teammates, anyone that will listen

My favorite videos right now:)

Brian Mendler: Non-Negotiables for Tough Students

Brian Mendler: "Catch It & Set It Down" & L.A.A.D. to Defuse the Most Challenging Students

If you want to know more about one of our Brownies here is the link

Please remember to have your students track their STAR scores on these sheets. As you know, this gives them ownership and purpose of the assessment as well as helps them celebrate their growth!

• I have attached the sheets, but there are also hard copies by the copy machine.

Now that we're into October and passed the 1st part of school establishing routines and relationships, please use this google form for documenting behavior concerns so we can lean into this in MTSS and/or if you need assistance from the office.

• Behavior Documentation (I have also placed this in the FOUNDATION Folder)

I wanted to ask everyone to please refamiliarize themselves with our behavior flowchart. Like last year, please try to follow the minor/major concerns and fill out the behavior tracking form (linked) above when needed.

If you're sending a student to the office please CALL the office or WALKIE us. Text is not as reliable, as you know, the building service is spotty, however you can text me this secret word, pumpkin, to try it out.

Please let me know if you have any questions about behavior. Thanks

Last year Kelly, Jessie, Amanda, Chuck and Kathleen shared their knowledge, passion and added to our toolbox!

• Here is the slide show with Amanda, Kelly, Chuck, and Kathleen's info
• Kathleen's- Data Spreadsheet
• Link Eggspert
• Jessie - Here are copies of the checkpoints Jessie shared for Core and Math. Then a template for The Hub to use too if you want to make your own.
• Core 95 Phonics
• Copy of Core 95 Phonics Checkpoints *editable*
• docs.google.com

• Math
• Copy of Math Checkpoints *editable*
• docs.google.com

• The Hub

Let's keep adding to our TOOLBOX!!! FILL OUT THIS SHARE-OUT GOOGLE FORM!

Here is our 25-26 FOUNDATION Google Folder. This will hold info for everyone to access throughout the year.

It is that time of the year again- I know you love us 😉

Social dues are DUE! $20 for part-time and $35 for full-time. We did increase the amount up $5. If you are unable to pay that or have an issue, just pay last years amount. Also, if you need a special circumstance and you are unable to pay, please talk to Kate! Thank you to those who already paid. We have some excited things planned for this year! Have a great weekend!

-Megs & Jessie

Like I mentioned at PD, my goal is to make 1 staff meeting a month where we are learning from each other!!!

As I shared last school year, Gary Brooks compares professional jealousy to peanut butter and jelly, emphasizing that just as PB&J naturally go together, professional jealousy can also be a natural part of work environments. However, he highlights that jealousy doesn’t have to be negative, it can be a motivator for growth. Instead of letting it create "sticky" resentment, we should use it as inspiration to improve, learn from others, and celebrate their successes. The key is shifting our mindset from competition to collaboration, recognizing that someone else’s strengths don’t diminish our own but rather can ignite new ideas!

Please consider sharing an idea, teaching tool, passion, spreadsheet, lesson etc..

• YOU are the MAGIC
• YOU help us BUILD each layer with intention and creativity
• YOU CAUSE LEARNING

🤩. FILL OUT THIS SHARE-OUT GOOGLE FORM! 🥰

THANK YOU for signing up to help keep our FOUNDATION strong.

Here is the Love up the Lounge monthly list.

This is your team’s chance to:

• Celebrate! Bring something to enJOY at a morning staff meeting and/or “love up” the lounge with goodies, supplies, and/or decorations.

• Tidy up! Take a little time to organize and freshen up the lounge. Please discard any old items from the fridge, wipe down the fridge and microwaves, and make the space welcoming for everyone.

Think of it as your month to sprinkle a little Birthday JOY and keep our shared space sparkling.