Community Notes

Our North Star

“When children and teachers feel engaged, safe, and supported we have room to grow and learn through collaboration and risk-taking with our peers.”

Previous "Community Notes" can be found here: https://www.brookline.k12.ma.us/domain/718

Each year, all public school students in the Commonwealth, beginning in Grade 3, participate in the Massachusetts Comprehensive Assessment System (MCAS) test. Last year's MCAS student performance data has been released. MCAS reports for students currently in grades 4-8 will go out via snail mail on October 5th. Expect them to arrive in your mailbox soon thereafter.

When data is released, the school team begins to dig into the data sets to discover our areas of pedagogical strengths and areas of necessary continued improvement. Historically, MCAS data demonstrates that our school has done very well by most students. In that same vein, we have disproportionately underserved particular sets of students; our continued hyper-focus remains on the performance of our Black students, students who are eligible for free and reduced lunch, and students with special rights (such as those with disabilities and/or are emerging bilingual).

Here is an interactive link that will allow you to scroll through some big picture MCAS data sets: https://profiles.doe.mass.edu/mcas/achievement_level.aspx?orgcode=00460025

Of note: our school was identified by the State as a school in need of "in need of focused/targeted support." Some of you may have seen this designation in a recent Boston Globe article. This designation was due to not meeting - across all grade levels - the expected rate of participation. Some families have come to understand that they can opt their children out of MCAS. While it is true that we cannot force a child to participate, the impact of low participation rates is this kind of unfortunate spotlighting. Our school typically outperforms the State by MCAS measures (see link to data above); to see us listed amongst school who actually need the support (and should get that support!) was a disappointment. Should YOU have questions about the test and this process, please just reach out to me or Mr. Patel; we will be happy to unpack the "opt-out" option and what is really means.

3rd Grade: Monday, October 2; 8:15-9:00/Classroom

Mr. Picard (Grade 5) - Rescheduled: Thursday, October 5; 8:15-9:00/Classroom

During Open House visits you will have a chance to meet your child's teacher, but you won't be able to meet the many teachers in your child's life. This presentation should help you acclimate to the many folks who work directly and indirectly with our students each and every day.

https://docs.google.com/presentation/d/1OhEzh5hgITaKNAolmt5dXp8L6OZHjX8nHTJSKPKVMmY/edit?usp=sharing

PTO Community Meeting

Join the PTO on Tuesday, October 3 at 6pm on Zoom for a community meeting. All in the Heath community are invited to attend. The Zoom link is available on the PTO website (https://heathpto.org/meetings). Come to hear updates about the school and the PTO's efforts to build connections in our school community.

International Walk, Bike, & Roll to School Day (iWalk)

On the morning of Wednesday, October 4, join schools across the Commonwealth to celebrate students’ active commutes to school. It’s easy to participate: Walk, Bike, or Roll from home or a designated meeting spot to school in the morning! Organized by Safe Routes to School (https://www.mass.gov/info-details/safe-routes-to-school-flagship-events).

This past Wednesday we (David Gacioch, parent of 4 currently enrolled students in PSB and co-petitioner on the Warrant Article, and I) presented to the Schools Subcommittee of the Advisory Committee on Article 13: Rename the Heath School. For me, it was another fantastic opportunity to participate in local government, connect with folks in Town about our school renaming process, and hear myriad perspectives from distinct voices.

Check out these resources for more information:

• The slides I presented are here: link (This Wednesday night's slide presentation was BRIEF, but the conversation was deep! A much longer presentation from early summer is here: link)
• The copy of our Warrant Article is here: link

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Each week, we report updates on the renaming process here. Past "Community Notes" newsletters can be found here:

https://www.brookline.k12.ma.us/domain/718

The "School Name: History & Resources" website page is also updated regularly:

https://www.brookline.k12.ma.us/renameheath

Of Particular Note:

• You will regularly see the meeting announcements for our Affinity Groups listed in this section. These sessions take place during the school day and are just for kids, but we share them so you can remind your children that they are coming up and/or ask, "How was ______ today? Tell me all about it!"

• Monday, October 2nd: Grade 3 Open House, 8:15-9:00am
• Monday, October 2nd: Rainbow Club - 4th Graders, MPR, 11:20-11:50am
• Tuesday, October 3rd: Field Day!
• Tuesday, October 3rd: PTO Community Meeting (via ZOOM), 6:00-7:00pm
• Wednesday, October 4th: Rain Date: Field Day
• Wednesday, October 4th: Grades 6-8 GSA, 10:50-11:20am
• Thursday, October 5th: Grade 5 (Just for Mr. Picard) Open House
• Monday, October 9th: School Closed: Indigenous Peoples' Day
• Tuesday, October 10th: AAPI Affinity Group, 10:50-11:20am
• Wednesday, October 11th: METCO Connections Breakfast, 7:30-8:00am
• Wednesday, October 11th: Grades 6-8 GSA, 10:50-11:20am
• Thursday, October 12th: RISE Parent Coffee, 8:15-9:30am
• Friday, October 13th: PEP: Kindness, 8:05-8:30am

The weather for Tuesday is looking good for Field Day! Be sure to ask your child what color team they are on and get them pumped for a great day ahead!

Thank you for all you do to support our school community. The work here is important and together we can make it a joy.

Remember to take care of yourself, and to take care of others.

~ Asa

Dr. Asa Sevelius, Ed.D. | Principal

Email: asa_sevelius@psbma.org

Pronouns: he/him

Mr. Kirtan Patel | Vice Principal

Email: kirtan_patel@psbma.org

Pronouns: he/him

Previous "Community Notes" can be found here: https://www.brookline.k12.ma.us/domain/718

Website: https://www.brookline.k12.ma.us/Page/17
Location: 100 Eliot Street, Chestnut Hill, MA, 02467
Phone: 617-879-4570

Heath School

The Public Schools Of Brookline | A METCO Partnership School

Dr. Asa Sevelius, Principal & Mr. Kirtan Patel, Vice Principal