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

Teacher Appreciation Week

May 5-9

Next week is Teacher Appreciation Week!

From the bottom of my heart, I send my own appreciation. I am ceaselessly amazed by the care, compassion, and quality that each teacher here brings to their work with children.

I know you feel the same! I hope you'll reach out to your child's teacher next week with an offering of thanks.

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Spotlight on Excellence Presentation

Community Engagement in Second Grade - Watch Video

In this video, I share the incredible journey our second graders took while learning about community wants and needs. We collaborated with local officials and organized field trips to deepen their understanding of how our town operates. The students even initiated a food drive and a craft sale, raising over $340 for the Brookline Food Pantry. I encourage everyone to continue supporting our students and their efforts in making a positive impact in our community.

A recent visit by Brookline Police Officer Katie McCabe and Bear delighted our BEEP crew! The kids got to pet Bear, hear all about the amazing work Bear does as a comfort dog, and hear about the connection between him and his handler, Officer McCabe. The kids also got to see his official patches, learn all about Bear's favorite snacks (pizza), and hear about the rigorous training they underwent together to become the K9 team that they are today.

Officer McCabe is a long-time friend of the school, providing so many vital services to us. Having Bear on the crew is such a welcome addition!

On April 9th, several of our young scholars - including Kareem, Kody, and Jude (i to r, below) attended the METCO Young Men's Conference. Jude reports, " I liked how the conference organizers incorporated a lot of different perspectives into the day so that I could hear about how other's think and feel about issues in their communities."

A crew of our Grade 8 students have been accepted into BHS's African American and Latino Scholars (AALSP) Program. Our admitted students include: Emma, Mateo, Jude, Mason, Bryce, Kareem, Kenzie, and Soraya --- congratulations! We are proud of your accomplishments here at Hayes and can't wait to hear about your contributions to the BHS community!

Learn more about the transformative program here: https://bhs.brookline.k12.ma.us/aalsp.html

Now that Spring is here, we have an uptick in kids cycling and riding scooters.

We are BEGGING you to make sure your kids wear a properly sized helmet. So often we see kids flying around campus without a helmet and it makes the blood in our veins run cold.

So, please, make sure that your kids are wearing a helmet when riding bikes and scooters.

This year, we have tightened up our practices regarding personal electronic device (PED) use in schools (as is noted in our Family Handbook).

The School Committee just affirmed our practices and solidified personal electronic device (PED) use in the new and approved policy, here:

https://www.brookline.k12.ma.us/site/handlers/filedownload.ashx?moduleinstanceid=6573&dataid=11410&FileName=Personal%20Electronic%20Device%20Policy_Voted_4.10.25.pdf

When students are in the care of the school (from arrival until dismissal) all PED devices are off and away. This includes the period between 7:30 and 8:00am when many students are in the cafeteria.

We have messages the policy to all students, with a particular emphasis on communicating clearly and often with our middle school crew.

We thank you for reiterating this message at home, as well.

How do Roland Hayes School 575 students arrive and depart school? To improve safety for all, the Hayes School would like to better understand our student transportation choices. Please complete this two-minute MA Safe Routes to School Family Travel Survey and if half of our families participate, we will be awarded a safety incentive package from the state!

Survey Date: Friday, May 2 to Saturday, May 17

Access the portal with the QR code or via the link - MA Safe Routes to School Survey

Choose your language and school then complete the short survey.

Curtains up! Light the lights!

Please come and support our Hayes Drama Department and their production of Guys and Dolls!

Featuring our middle school students (both backstage and onstage) and the work of our co-directors Elyse Terry, Sara O’Shea, Kyssandra Perkowski, Hannah Weiss and Alexandra Delgado.

Please email Dave Chaet, Alissa Ovadia if you would like any financial assistance.

In April, our attendance was up (97.8%) and chronic absenteeism was down (to 8.1%). Our Grades 7 and 8 had the strongest overall attendance, while Grade 2 experienced a dip.

Some Reminders:

• Family trips are unexcused absences, contribute to our chronic absenteeism data, and that all missed work must be made up or there will be a negative impact on grades (in 6-8).
• In every grade, unexcused absenteeism contributes to learning loss which becomes knowledge gaps. Unexcused, chronic absenteeism also contributes to the loss of social connection and gaps in social skills (like, self-regulation, a feeling of belonging, and more).
• Please be mindful when deciding whether or not to miss a school day or days.
• A huge daily impact is our tardies. If a student is not in class by the second bell (8:00am), they are tardy. This will be reflected on their permanent record and influences opportunities big and small.
• Walking into class when it has already started is awkward and difficult for kids.
• If your child applies to private school and their record shows a significant record of tardiness, the chance of acceptance into that school is diminished.
• Let's say that your child is 5 minutes late to school every day; that is 15 hours of missed school per year.

Dear Hayes families,

Our next teacher and staff appreciation luncheon will be given on Tuesday, May 6th. Please sign up to donate funds, bring in an item or volunteer your time. You can cook, bake, purchase or donate. You can also support your favorite local restaurant by ordering a dish to contribute. Please sign up using link below:

https://www.signupgenius.com/go/10C0F4CA4A62FA0FECE9-56099027-mayappreciation

All items should be delivered to the Hayes Lobby 8-10am on Tuesday, May 6th. 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 lobby at dismissal.

If you would like to donate funds to help us buy food and supplies for this luncheon, please submit through Pay Pal or Venmo to one of us:

Venmo: @anabelle-skalleberg Venmo: @Robin-Gilula or @Anabelle-Skalleberg

Pay Pal: anabelle.desangles@gmail.com

Thank you!

Anabelle Skalleberg (K and 3rd) and Robin Gilula (6th and 7th)

May 13, 2025 07:00 PM

The Brain on Social Media

Dive into the world of neuroscience and psychology as this workshop offers a deep dive into how the brain reacts to social media. Explore the relationship between the brain on social media and peer feedback, peer influence, human connection, sleep, and evolutionary psychology. Learn to identify certain signs of addiction in children and adolescents and analyze fMRI scans to see how the neurochemistry of the young and developing mind is changing because of digital overload. How can we replace the dopamine we receive from social media with other forms of dopamine? Is social media a drug? How does social media addiction compare to other forms of addiction such as alcohol and substance abuse? These are just some of the topics to be explored by this presentation by Keegan Lee, a psychology and neuroscience researcher at The University of North Carolina.

About the speaker

Keegan Lee is a second-year honors student and the James R. Copland & Lillian G. Copland Scholar at The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill studying Psychology (B.S.) and English (B.A.) with a concentration in medicine, science, and literature. An aspiring clinical psychologist and professor, she is the author of “60 Days of Disconnect” with Dr. Bilal Ghandour, Ph.D., and award-winning mental health activist. Keegan is the instructor and creator of a digital wellness program for parents and educators, and teaches innovation and entrepreneurship at The Leysin American School in Switzerland. She is currently serving on the youth boards at Mental Health America and The American Academy of Pediatrics. She has received grant funding and mentorship from Netflix’s “The Social Dilemma” and Tik-Toks's department of data security and safety by design to travel the world teaching the youth about how to build a more humane digital world. She has been featured in News Outlets such as National Public Radio and Discovery Education.

Keegan hopes to eventually receive a Ph.D. In Clinical Psychology and plans to focus her

career on teaching, psychological medicine, and advancing scientific knowledge through research.

Registration

https://us02web.zoom.us/meeting/register/tZ0of-CtpzgpEtT2-kHaRtEZfN2--92N_jMR

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

At Roland Hayes, our students do amazing things each and every day. Here you will find a showcase of student work in various forms, as a way to share a piece of our Hayes community with all of you.

7th Grade - Ancient Greek Gods

https://sites.google.com/psbma.org/ancient-greek-gods-and-goddess/

4KO Explorers: What Motivated Them?
https://sites.google.com/psbma.org/explorers-what-motivated-them-/home

8th Grade Sun, Earth and Moon Integrated Models

https://read.bookcreator.com/S1tuN4bJftaOTS4aBcLa2Fh5A3m1/hXrFen4xTM-Q2eb6G8rhQQ

Check out our "projects" page, here:

https://sites.google.com/psbma.org/projects/home

Our website keeps a catalog of these great products, which you can find here: https://www.brookline.k12.ma.us/domain/807

• May is Asian American Native Hawaiian and Pacific Islander (AANHPI) Heritage month
• May is Jewish American Heritage month

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MCAS testing for students in Grades 3-8 begins March 31 and goes until June 3. The testing schedule is here: link

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• Monday, May 5th: MCAS: Grade 5 Math Part 1

• Monday, May 5th: Rainbow Club, Grade 3, 11:20-11:50am

• Monday, May 5th: Grades 6-8 Student Council, 11:20am-12:00pm

• Tuesday, May 6th: MCAS: STE Makeups

• Tuesday, May 6th: Town Elections

• Tuesday, May 6th: Student Council (4th-5th), 8:00-8:45am

• Tuesday, May 6th: GSA, 10:50-11:20am

• Wednesday, May 7th: MCAS: Grade 3 Math Part 1

• Wednesday, May 7th: MCAS: Grade 4 Math Part 1

• Wednesday, May 7th: Model UN, 11:20am-12:05pm

• Thursday, May 8th: MCAS: STE Makeups

• Thursday, May 8th: Pineapple Project Performance: KC+KBK, Library, 10:30am-12:00pm

• Thursday, May 8th: AAPI Group, 10:50-11:20am

• Thursday, May 8th: Young Scholars, Rm 209, 2:30-3:30pm

• Friday, May 9th: MCAS: Math Makeups

• Monday, May 12th: MCAS: Grade 3 Math Part 2

• Monday, May 12th: MCAS: Grade 4 Math Part 2

• Monday, May 12th: Grades 6-8 Student Council, 11:20am-12:00pm

• Tuesday, May 13th: MCAS: Grade 5 Math Part 2

• Tuesday, May 13th: Student Council (4th-5th), 8:00-8:45am

• Tuesday, May 13th: GSA, 10:50-11:20am

• Wednesday, May 14th: MCAS: 6th-8th Math Part 1

• Wednesday, May 14th: Model UN, 11:20am-12:05pm

• Thursday, May 15th: MCAS: Math Makeups

• Thursday, May 15th: Young Scholars, Rm 209, 2:30-3:30pm

• Friday, May 16th: MCAS: Math Makeups

• Friday, May 16th: Term 4: Term Closes for Grades 6-8 Interim Progress Reports

• Friday, May 16th: PEP, 8:05-8:30am

• Friday, May 16th: PTO Community Meeting, 8:15-9:30am

Field Trips:

• Thursday, May 8th: 4th Grade Trip to Brookline Public Library, 8:15-11:20am

• Friday, May 9th: 7th Grade Trip to Hammond Pond, 8:00am-2:30pm

This amazing event is back! I hope you'll consider joining!

Brookline's community composting efforts are in full swing, celebrating their 6 month anniversary of the Town’s Food Waste Drop-Off Pilot Programs. So far there are over 950 participants and the efforts have diverted more than 53 tons out of incineration and the landfill.

https://www.facebook.com/search/top?q=town%20of%20brookline%20public%20works

Lily Yu is the Compost Ambassador for the Eliot Bin by the Eliot Recreation Center. Here is the sign-up link if you'd like to join: https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/B77LX8M Please reach out to Lily if you have any question or concerns at compostateliot@gmail.com

Finally, a poem from one of our fourth graders, created during Rainbow Club this week. I hope it delights you, as it has delighted us.

~ 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