11.21.25 - Community Newsletter

(There will not be a Community Newsletter Next Week, 11/28/25)

School will be closed from Wednesday, November 26th through Friday, November 28th for the Thanksgiving Break.

School will dismiss early on Wednesday, December 5th. The dismissal times are below:

KFS: 12:30 PM

HBS: 12:15 PM

BJHS: 11:30 AM

BHS: 11:15 AM

During this time, our staff will be engaged in professional development activities. These sessions are essential for enhancing our instructional strategies and ensuring we provide the best educational experience for your children. See below for how we used the time in September and October!

This time, Phil sits down with Scott Smith, Food Service Director of the Brunswick School Department, for an inside look at what's really happening in our school cafeterias.

What You'll Discover:

• Information about the nutritious meals being served to our students daily
• How we balance healthy eating with environmental responsibility
• The impressive scale of our meal service operations
• Behind-the-scenes insights into how our dedicated team delivers quality food with care
  
  

From farm-to-table initiatives to managing thousands of meals, Scott shares the challenges and successes of feeding our Brunswick students well.

Listen now on the BrunswickBuzz — where we highlight the voices and stories that make Brunswick Schools extraordinary!

As you prepare for the change of seasons, changing over your closets and "out with the old, in with the new", it is a great time to rid your home of expired, unused medications.

• The Brunswick Police Department in Brunswick, Maine, has a 24/7 medication drop box in its lobby at 85 Pleasant Street for safe disposal of unwanted medications.
• Residents can also take medications to other locations like the Town Office, West Bath Fire Department, or Hannaford pharmacies.
• When dropping off medication, scratch out or black out personal information on the labels, put pills/capsules in a plastic bag, and do not deposit syringes or liquid medications.

1. Keep Firearms Unloaded When Stored

• Only load a gun when you’re ready to use it.

• Always double-check the chamber, magazine, and barrel.

2. Use a Secure Locking Device

Choose one or combine several:

• Gun safe — Best option for overall security; protects against theft and fire.

• Locking gun cabinet — More affordable and still secure.

• Trigger lock or cable lock — Adds an extra layer of safety inside a safe or cabinet.

3. Store Ammunition Separately

• Keep ammo locked in a different container and away from the firearm.

4. Control Access

• Keep keys/codes out of reach of children and unauthorized adults.

• Don’t share safe combinations unless necessary.

• For biometric safes, register only trusted adults.

5. Consider Quick-Access Solutions (if needed)

If you keep a firearm for home defense:

• Use a quick-access lockbox that balances security with fast entry.

• Still keep the gun unloaded or use devices that block the chamber until unlocked.

6. Educate Everyone in the Household

• Teach children not to touch firearms and to tell an adult immediately if they find one.

• Practice safe handling yourself—kids imitate what they see.

7. Regularly Check Your Storage System

• Ensure safes and locks function properly.

• Verify that firearms remain unloaded and secured.

8. Follow Local Laws

Storage rules vary by state and city. Requirements may include:

• Mandatory locking devices

• Safe storage rules with minors in the home

• Penalties for negligent storage

(If you’d like, I can look up your local rules—just tell me your state.)

⚠️ Golden Rule

Treat every firearm as if it’s loaded, even when you believe it isn’t.

Alisha Dufour

Fourth Grade Teacher

HBS

Alisha is from Palm Bay, Florida where she graduated from Palm Bay High School. Alisha has an English Springer Spaniel named Cody. She attended Elon University in North Carolina as well as SUNY in Buffalo.

What makes you proud to work in Brunswick? #BSDProud

I am excited to be back In Brunswick after leaving as a child and proud to join the BSD team.

What do you like to do outside of work for fun?

I like being on or near the water doing anything, swimming, walking, tubing, boating, camping or just sitting on a beach chair.

Favorite line from a movie?

"We are only as strong as we are united, as weak as we are divided." - Albus Dumbledore, Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire.

If you could meet anyone, living or dead, who would you meet?
Representative John Lewis

What is something you learned in the last week?

I listened to several NPR Throughline podcasts on a road trip this week so... Massachusetts has the highest money spent on lottery tickets per capita in the U.S, an average of around $800 a year per adult.

Open Employment Positions:

• Coaching Positions have been posted!
• Softball, Baseball, Tennis, Lacrosse, Track, Unified Basketball - Check them all out!
• Winter Sports Announcer - Brunswick High School
• Long Term Sub Admin Assistant Office - Brunswick Junior High School
• Substitute Nurses, Teachers, Ed Techs, Tutors
• Resource Educational Technician - Kate Furbish School
• School Bus Drivers!!
• Apprentice/Ed Tech I & Bus Aides
• Substitute Bus Drivers, Van Drivers, & Custodians
• ...And MORE!

We're hiring for multiple positions. Visit our website to view

all current employment opportunities!

You can view previous newsletters on our website!

If you are currently not receiving the Community Newsletter and would like to, or if you would like to unsubscribe from the newsletter email Billie Jo Wallace at bwallace@brunswicksd.org