Brown School Buzz

With parent-teacher conferences in the books, and Thanksgiving on the horizon, we have approached the busiest time of the year for many families. Soccer, basketball, theater, scouts, hockey, football, and lacrosse practices, meetings, and games have been in full swing. Some are winding down, and others are just gearing up. And when we add the holidays to this already challenging time, it can create stress for both parents and kids.

Whether your family celebrates Thanksgiving, Hanukkah, Christmas, Kwanzaa, the Winter Solstice, something else, all or none of the above, there is no doubt the season of busy schedules is upon us. As difficult as it can be, we would ask you to make a special effort to help keep kids in their homework routines, bedtime schedules and reading routines whenever possible to make their day at school as successful as possible.

We know kids feel better and do better when they are well rested and have a semi-predictable schedule. At school, we will also have a few scheduled interruptions (holiday shop, community meeting, enrichment activities). These are all great experiences we wouldn't want to do without, but they will throw us off our schedule a bit. So, whenever possible, we will continue to provide regular and high quality instruction on schedule up until the holiday break on Dec. 23.

Wishing you all a wonderful upcoming Thanksgiving holiday!

I am grateful for your partnership.

Mary

On November 10th, our educators participated in specialized trainings. Special Educators were trained on new software for improving goals and objectives for Individual Education Plans while Classroom Teachers and Specialists will engaged in a full day Responsive Classroom Training to support our Social Emotional Learning goals. All of our teachers employ some, or most of the Responsive Classroom techniques as part of our Tier 1 instruction for Social Emotional Learning. This is not a curriculum, but rather an approach that requires training, understanding and practice to support our kids and hold them to a high standard. The three sessions included: Introduction to Responsive Classroom, Improving Teacher and Student Language, and Connecting Morning Meeting to Academics.

Principal Colston was the winner of the friends of MPS Principal for a Day Raffle and he was a rockstar! Read on to hear from Colston about his day.

I started my day as principal taking pictures outside with Ms. Maxfield, my mom, and Mrs. Ferriera and Ms. Coppola from Friends. I did the morning announcements and welcomed everyone to school. I walked through all of the classrooms to see how everyone was doing. The kids were doing well. The preschoolers were playing with blocks and practicing letters and numbers. The kindergarteners were in their morning meeting. Some of the first graders were doing a movement break and some other kids were doing Fundations. In second grade the kids were all working on their Math. I saw third graders in Music class. I went to Widger Road to meet some of Ms. Max's bosses. I helped Mrs. Ferreira pay a bill. I invited four friends to have lunch in my office. I also did some teacher observations. I had a good day.

At the Brown School, we are very grateful to our veterans for their commitment and dedication to our country, At our assembly on November 7, we gathered around our flagpole in front of the school to horo those who served. Some of our third grade students led the assembly and began by explaining the significance and importance of the holiday. THis was followed by the singing of You're a gland ole Flag and America. A poem was read and the students were all encouraged to thank a veteran on Veterans Day!

The PTO Holiday Shop is a favorite event for our students. The PTO is currently accepting donations for this annual shopping extravaganza! Please consider cleaning out a closet and sharing those things you'd like to pass on. Drop off at school Monday through Friday!

We have just one more week of collecting for our annual food drive to help restock the food pantry shelves. If you are able, please consider donating to this cause. The most needed items have been divided by grade level, but of course all donations are appreciated:

PK and K-Cereals (hot and cold)

Grade 1-Spaghetti Sauce and White RIce

Grade 2-Canned Tuna and Canned Chicken

Grade 3-Granola Bars and Ensure/Boost drinks

Special thanks to Mrs. Johnson and her class for all their help with this effort!

As of today, we have 125 followers on our facebook page. As a reminder, our page is an attempt to over communicate whenever possible. All critical dates and events will still occur in the newsletter, on the website, and via email.

For resources and news from community organizations, click on our District's Digital Backpack.

November 26-NOON DISMISSAL for the holiday

November 27-28-No School Thanksgiving Break

Thursday, December 12-PTO Holiday Shop

Friday, December 12-Report Cards available for Parents to view

December 23-NOON DISMISSAL

December 22-January 4-Holiday Break

Monday, January 5-Return to School

Email: maxfield.mary@marbleheadschools.org
Website: https://www.marbleheadschools.org
Location: 40-42 Baldwin Road, Marblehead, MA, USA
Phone: 7816393112