The Badger Bulletin
Brandywine Elementary Monthly Newsletter
Message from Dr. Castleberry
Hello Brandywine Families,
It is with immense pride that I write this letter to you as the Acting Principal of Brandywine Elementary School. I am honored to have the opportunity to serve as acting principal while Mrs. Tremps is on leave. Brandywine Elementary School has lived up to its reputation of being warm and welcoming. The staff and students are outstanding. It is an honor to be a Brandywine Badger!
The Brandywine Community has special connection to my heart. This is my HOME! I spent my childhood on Strickland Road and have such fond memories of the people and places around Brandywine School. The neighborhoods have certainly expanded from the farming community that I grew up in, but the heart and kindness of the people is still here. As a child, I spent hours riding my bike around the loop from my home on Strickland Road, down Tidwell Road, and up Martin Road. My mother would not allow my sisters and me to ride on Highway 9 so we would turn around and repeat the path in reverse. If we were adventurous, we would travel around James Road and then to Union Hill Road. At that time most of the roads were made of dirt or gravel. I attended Midway Elementary and was even a cheerleader for the Mustangs.
I retired from Forsyth County Schools last May after 38 years where I served as a classroom teacher, an assistant principal, and an elementary school principal. I am proud of our school district and the emphasis it places on educating the whole child. Forsyth County School’s vision is “A Safe, Connected, and Thriving community for all”. At Brandywine, we support this vision and students live out the 3 B’s: Be Safe, Be Responsible, and Be Respectful.
Please feel free to contact me if you need anything.
Congratulations to Ms. Jenniifer Smith, our 23-24 Brandywine Teacher of the Year! Ms. Smith teaches Kindergarten DLI. This is Ms. Smith's 8th year at Brandywine and 6th year as the DLI (English) Kindergarten teacher. She is a graduate of the University of Georgia with a Masters from Georgia State University in Early Childhood Education with a concentration in Dual Language Immersion. Ms. Smith is a proud mother of three with a passion for education. When she is not in the classroom, Ms. Smith can be found cheering on her favorite football teams, enjoying live music, or reading by the pool.
Hello! I am so excited to be starting off the 23-24 school year as your new Brandywine School Nurse. Last year I was a full time School Nurse Substitute for Forsyth County, and I really fell in love with School Nursing. Last year I spent almost every school day at whichever school in the county needed me that day. I had the chance to work as a substitute nurse at 34 of our 42 schools in the county. While there were many schools I loved, Brandywine always felt like home. At the end of last year, I decided it was time to settle into a permanent position as a School Nurse. My favorite part about being the School Nurse at Brandywine is getting to see and interact with the students and their teachers every day. I have a passion caring for others, and I love being able to make a difference.
When I am not at work, I love to paint and cook in my free time. On school holidays and breaks, my husband and our friends like to travel and explore new places. My husband and I have also recently started enjoying camping and any other way to spend time outdoors.
From the PTO
JOIN the PTO!!!
The PTO works with the school and parents to host fun events such as International Night, Father/Daughter Dance and Mother/Son Night. Your membership dues allows us to create an awesome environment!!! Go to https://brandywinepto.membershiptoolkit.com/ to learn more!!
Hello Brandywine Families!
We are so excited to serve as your counseling team this year, and we wanted to share a little bit about us. We look forward to working with you and your students this year.
Jessica Lundy is the 3-5 School Counselor. She has been a School Counselor for ten years and this is her fourth year as a Brandywine Badger. She received her Master's in Education and Education Specialist degrees in Professional School Counseling from Georgia State University. She received her bachelor’s degree in Psychology & Child & Family Development from The University of Georgia. GO DAWGS! She is a Nationally Certified Counselor (NCC) and a Licensed Professional Counselor (LPC). She has a passion for Play-Based Counseling and is am a Registered Play Therapist (RPT).
Lizzie McDevitt is the K-2 School Counselor. She has been a counselor for two years and this is her second year at Brandywine. She received her Master’s in Education degree in Professional School Counseling from Georgia State University. She received her bachelor’s degree in Exercise Science & Psychology from Wingate University, while competing on the women’s swim team. She is passionate about incorporating movement, expressive arts, and other play-based instruction in her counseling interventions. She also has a passion for trauma-informed best practices and trauma-informed interior design.
- Verify your bus transportation by completing this form for students K-2 or students 3-5
- Would you like to celebrate a child's birthday at school? Let the cafeteria do that with you! Fill out this form to order treats for your child's class
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Coffee + Conversations with Counselors
Thursday, September 14 at 9:00 AM
BWES Media Center
Topic: Mindfulness & PBIS