Roland Hayes School

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

The "Community Notes" is sent every other week. Thanks for reading!

Learn more about Roland Hayes here, from our own Young Scholars!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2MyhdW04fd4

Please join us in seeing old friends and meeting new ones from the Hayes community at our annual Back-to-School Social. We can still use some volunteers/food contributions - please consider4 signing up here.

Thank you to our generous sponsors: Hayes PTO, Beacon Orthodontic Associates, Rise Signature Homes, Wegman’s and Brookline Music School!

Open House Events Begin September 15

We are excited to have you in the school and see where your kids spend so much of their lives!

1. Please see the schedule below for when your child's Open House Event is occurring.
2. Come to the front of school and enter through the front entrance; at 8:15 families will be able to walk to their child's classroom.
3. Each classroom hosts their own Open House session

Because of scheduling, we are not able to have you meet our many, many Specialists at these events. We encourage you to learn more about some important members of our team here: Meet the Specialists!

Field Day 2025 Wishlist! We need your help getting some supplies for the big day. The link is here. Field Day is Thursday Sept 25th (Rain date Friday Sept 26th). An amazing day when students Pre-K-8 and staff come together to celebrate our amazing school! A day filled with laughter, movement, joy, teambuilding, and community. Please bring items in by Monday Sept 22nd rather than on Field Day. This helps us know if we have what we need before the big day.

If you purchase an item please label it "Field Day" and drop it off at the drop off table (located when you walk in the main entrance of the school). If the link to the item is no longer available something similar works great! Thank you for your help! It is so appreciated!

Hayes Teachers and Staff are gearing up for the upcoming school year! Please support them by contributing to their Back to School Luncheon which will be held on Wednesday, September 10th. Whether you would like to cook, bake, purchase or donate, we invite you to drop off something delicious. Please check out the link below and sign up!!

https://www.signupgenius.com/go/10C0F4CA4A62FA0FECE9-58240203-back

Food should be delivered to the Hayes Cafeteria between 8 and 10am on Wednesday, September 10th. Please add a label with ingredients if needed for allergies. Also, write your name on the bottom of the dish if you would like to claim it after the luncheon. Clean platters and bowls will be available for pick up in the front lobby later that afternoon.

If you would like to to donate funds to support the supplemental food we will buy, please submit through PayPal or Venmo to one of us:

PayPal: anabelle.desangles@gmail.com
Venmo: @Robin-Gilula or @Anabelle-Skalleberg

Thank you!

Robin Gilula and Anabelle Skalleberg (Parents in 7th and 8th, 1st and 4th Grades)

We love celebrating our students at Hayes. On their birthdays we make an announcement over the intercom announcing that today is their day! They will then get a special birthday pencil in the Main Office. If you DO NOT want your child's birthday announced, please send me an email at asa_sevelius@psbma.org.

From our handbook:

Birthdays are an exciting day in a child’s life. We do not have in-school parties, but do acknowledge each child’s birthday in special ways. At school, we do not celebrate birthdays with food.

INVITATIONS TO ANY PARTIES CANNOT BE DISTRIBUTED AT SCHOOL OR EXTENDED DAY UNLESS ALL THE CHILDREN IN THE CLASS ARE INVITED.

Attendance Matters

When students are absent, they miss out on both classroom learning and valuable social interactions. In middle school especially, grades can drop quickly if work isn’t made up. Missed assignments are often marked as zero, and while each teacher has their own policy, it is the student’s responsibility to communicate and arrange for any make-up work.

We understand that illness can play a major factor in student attendance. Please let us know when your child is sick. Absences due to illness, with communication, are excused. Keeping us informed helps us maintain accurate records and offer any needed support.

When Your Child is Absent—We Notice

We miss your child when they’re not at school—and they miss out, too. School is where students grow academically and socially. Missing school means missing instruction and falling behind in peer relationships, which can be hard to rebuild.

A Few Important Reminders

• Family vacations are considered unexcused absences. These count toward chronic absenteeism and can negatively impact grades in Grades 6–8.

• Unexcused absences contribute to learning loss and social disconnection across all grades, affecting skills like self-regulation and sense of belonging.

• Tardiness matters. If your child arrives after 8:00 a.m., they are marked tardy. Chronic tardiness is recorded on a student’s permanent record and may affect future opportunities, including private school applications.
  For example: being just 5 minutes late every day adds up to 15 hours of missed school over the year.

What Counts as an Excused Absence

• Death in the family

• Verified doctor visit

• Documented illness or injury

• Nurse dismissal

• Religious holiday

• Court or legal matters

• Extenuating circumstances (approved by school administration)

All other absences are considered unexcused.

The Support Team

Who can you reach out to if your child is in need of specific, targeted support to access school:

• David Chaet, School Counselor (3rd-8th), david_chaet@psbma.org
• Alissa Ovadia, School Counselor, K-2, alissa_ovadia@psbma.org
• Carolyn Magnanti, School Adjustment Counselor K-8, carolyn_magnanti@psbma.org
• Gail Corcoran, School Nurse, gail_corcoran@psbma.org

All absences, regardless of reason, must be reported daily to the Main Office Team at 617-879-4570.

Please help us support your child’s growth and success by prioritizing regular, on-time attendance. We’re here to help—if you have any questions or need support, don’t hesitate to reach out.

For more PTO news and events, please visit: https://www.hayespto.org/newsletters/22351

We are once again partnering with Olivia's Organics, who donate free coats for those who need them in our community. Please email Alissa Ovadia K-2nd (alissa_ovadia@psbma.org) or David Chaet 3rd-8th (david_chaet@psbma.org) with the size and homeroom of your student(s). The size charts are below for reference of what is available.

As the year progresses, we will use this space to highlight work happening in our classrooms. Stay tuned!

September is:

Hispanic Heritage Month (Sept. 15-Oct 15)

Rosh Hashanah is September 22nd-24th - Shanah Tovah!

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Upcoming Events:

• Tuesday, September 9th: GSA, 10:35-11:12am

• Tuesday, September 9th: Faculty Meeting, 2:45-3:45pm

• Wednesday, September 10th: Back to School Staff Appreciation Luncheon, 10:00am-1:00pm

• Monday, September 15th: Grade 2 Open House, 8:15-9:15am

• Monday, September 15th: Model UN, 11:15am-12:00pm

• Tuesday, September 16th: Grade 3 Open House, 8:15-9:15am

• Tuesday, September 16th: GSA, 10:35-11:12am

• Wednesday, September 17th: Kindergarten Open House, 8:15-9:15am

• Thursday, September 18th: Grade 1 Open House, 8:15-9:15am

• Thursday, September 18th: Young Scholars, 2:30-3:30

• Friday, September 19th: Grade 4 Open House, 8:15-9:15am

• Monday, September 22nd: Grade 5 Open House, 8:15-9:15am

• Monday, September 22nd: Model UN, 11:15am-12:00pm

• Tuesday, September 23rd: School Closed: Rosh Hashanah (Category 1 Holiday)

• Thursday, September 25th: Field Day!, 8:00am-2:30pm

• Friday, September 26th: Field Day! (RAIN DATE)

• Friday, September 26th: PTO Community Meeting, 8:05am-9:35am

Do you have a girl in grades 3-5? Then check out GOTR! This has been a super popular program here and we are hopeful for a great crop of new and returning runners. Give it a shot!

Brookline Recreations Fall Programming

The registration for Brookline Recreations Fall Programming is open and we’re looking for assistance in getting the word out to as many people as possible.

We successfully launched our new registration software and all information on programming and account creation can be found through this direct link: www.register.brooklinerec.com

Fall programs are now open for registration online at our new site, any assistance you can lend in spreading the word would be greatly appreciated. Specifically Fall Soccer registration closes next week and we don’t want anyone to get locked out.

I would also like to highlight how to find access to Financial Aid through our Department. It can be found under the “Programs” tab on brooklinerec.com and here is another direct link: BREC Financial Aid

Our mission is to enhance the quality of life through enriching experiences that support the Brookline community in developing and maintaining healthy lifestyles and it cannot be done without the support of everyone.

Thank you,

Jake Aldrich

Recreation Leader

Town of Brookline

Walking up to the school on Tuesday was like stepping into a dream. And I wasn't the only one who felt that way! Kindergarten teacher Ms. Conroy shared, "I don’t know who thought up the 'chalk party,' but I can’t tell you how amazing it was to see all the drawings when I was walking in this morning. It really brightened my day and the space around school."

I feel so lucky to be a part of a community that really and truly and deeply cares about the school. 10,000 thanks for all that you do to make Roland Hayes School such a special place to grow.

"Chalk The Walk" Back to School Video

Cheers to a great year ahead!

~ Asa

This parcel of land that our school sits upon is a special and sacred place.

Before this place was a Town, before our school was here, before this neighborhood was called “The Settlement” or “Chestnut Hill,” and before this land was a farm, this land was held by the Massachusett, the people Indigenous to this place. The Massachusett were the caretakers of this site, living full lives, raising families, and burying their dead right here. We recognize and honor this history, and seek to create thoughtful land stewards and citizens for generations to come.

As a public school, our primary objective is to ensure access, membership, and participation of all community members in our care; with this land acknowledgment we state our willingness to work towards that vision where all feel a true and abiding sense of belonging.

Roland Hayes School

The Public Schools Of Brookline | A METCO Partnership School

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

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