Bronco Bulletin

The weekly widely read Bronco Bulletin is your source for all the goings-on at Brownell Middle School. It is distributed digitally every Friday throughout the school year. We're most fortunate to have a spectacular team of educators, supportive and loving families, as well as, the best adolescent learners around. Thank you for taking the time to read this newsletter. We appreciate your feedback, thoughts, and of course, letting us know if there's a mistake.

On behalf of the Brownell Staff I'd like to wish everyone a safe, relaxing, dry, and memorable Labor Day weekend.

Welcome (back) to Brownell Everyone. We're excited to start the 2026-27 School Year.

The first day of school is Tuesday, September 8th. First Hour begins at 8:15am and the doors open 10-minutes each day before school starts, at 8:05am.

ALL STUDENTS SHOULD REPORT TO FIRST HOUR AT THE START OF THE SCHOOL DAY. This includes 5th-graders who start with their A-Day Elective Class.

In first hour, on the first day of school, all students will receive a new paper schedule. For the majority of students this will be the same as what was received at registration in August. For some students (primarily in grades 6-8) there could be minor changes due to the GPPSS adding a couple additional sections of core classes to reduce class sizes.

Nervousness is Normal -- all of us (staff, students, parents, and guardians) will experience some jitters on the first day of school --together we will all get through these butterflies. Here's a few facts to help us get acclimated.

• First bell to enter the building is at 8:05am
• Entry into the building is through the Breezeway (Chalfonte Road) Doors
• 5/6th-grade students enter on the left or North entry doors
• 7/8th-grade students enter on the right or South entry doors
• WEB Leaders (8th-grade mentors) are available to assist students in the hallways and with locker entry
• Locker Entry takes practice -- all students will be provided time to practice
• All students will receive a copy of their schedule in first hour
• Healthy Snacks can be brought to school and eaten during 2nd Hour every day throughout the school year (please avoid bringing allergenic snacks i.e. nuts)
• Lunch is available every day for all students or you may bring lunch and/or obtain À la carte items
• Students eat and have recess as grade level cohorts -- seating at lunch is open and/or students choose where to sit but are expected to cleanup after themselves
• An intricate orientation program is in place for the first week of school (and throughout the month of September to assist all students) including all school assemblies; tours of the school; cafeteria and recess Q&A; and much, much more
• ALL STUDENTS, including 5th-graders, should report to their FIRST HOUR CLASS >> Staff and 8th-grade WEB Leader Mentors will be in the hallways to assist everyone with lockers, combinations, and getting everyone to their correct location.

We're excited once again to announce that the 5th-grade students will be attending Camp in October.

The GPPSS is continuing its partnership with Bair Lake Bible Camp (BLBC) to provide our students with a camp experience. Camp helps to support a team atmosphere among students and staff and helps students to build skills that extend beyond the classroom. At BLBC students participate in a variety of activities including ziplining, rock climbing, lip-sync contest, square dancing, disc-golf, and a variety of team building challenges.

GPPSS has been partnering with BLBC (Bair Lake Bible Camp) for many years and once again is fortunate to partner with them for another great experience. The dates for Brownell's Fall 5th-grade Camp experience is Tuesday, September 29 to Thursday, October 1.

On June 22nd an email/letter was sent to all parents outlining the cost ($50 deposit due on August 28th and the $250 balance due on September 11th) and chaperone opportunities.

During the first week of school, prior to BTSN (Back-to-School Night) on Wednesday, September 9th at 5:30pm in the MPR (Multi-Purpose Room), I'll conduct an informational meeting for parents. Copies of the 5th-Grade Camp Packet will be passed out that includes permission slips, medication forms, liability waivers, etc.

BTSN (Back-to-School Night) at Brownell will be held on Wednesday, September 9th. Please click on the button below to access the schedule for the evening.

Please note that there will be a Informational 5th-grade Camp Meeting at 5:30pm in the MPR (Multi-Purpose Room) followed by the Kick-off Assembly for ALL parents at 6:15pm.

In the MPR from 6-6:15pm parents will be able to obtain a copy of their child(ren)'s schedule and a

MAP of the school. Beginning at6:45pm parents will follow their child(ren)'s schedule. Staff will provide an overview of the class during each of the 10-minute sessions.

Parking is at a premium -- so please use streets behind the school if needed OR better yet car pool with another person (or couple/s) and maybe make it a date night in GP?

Monday, September 7th - No School - Labor Day - Building Closed

Tuesday, September 8th to Friday, September 11th

• 8:15am Start - 8:05am Entry Bell
• Tues-Friday Bell schedule
• ALL STUDENTS report to 1st Hour at start of the day
• All School Assembly 3rd Hour (Tues. - Thurs)

Monday, September 14th

• 9am Start - 8:50am Entry Bell
• LATE START MONDAY ASSEMBLY SCHEDULE

Hello Brownell Families,

We're looking forward to the 2026-2027 school year. Our PTO Board is excited to see you all at Back-to-School-Night on Wednesday, September 9th. We'd love to have you join our great group of parents who are already planning for the upcoming year -- we're always looking for more parent participation.

Please feel free to email me a juliegvanmarcke@gmail.com if you are interested in getting involved. We are a great team of parents and we would be happy to have you!

Thank you

-Julie Van Marcke

8 First Student Day, full day, 8:15 am-3:13 pm

9 5th Grade Camp meeting, 5:30 pm @ MPR

Back-to-School Night, 6:30 pm @ Multi-Purpose Room

(MPR: brief meeting, student schedules, and map)

18 Movie Night in back parking lot, 7:30pm

21 PTO Meeting 6PM, Library

25 5th-grade Camp Parent Chaperone Meeting in MPR, 6pm

25 5th-grade Camp Parent Meeting in MPR, 6:30pm

25 Grade 8 Washington, D.C. Informational Meeting @ Multi-Purpose Room, 7:30 pm

25 Color Run, during 5&6th Hours

25 Distribute School Photos during 6th hour

29-October 1 >> 5th-grade Camp

29-October 1 >> 5th Grade Camp

2 North Homecoming

5 Picture Retake Day @ Library, 9:00-11:00 am

6 PSAT Test - Grade 8

7 Student Count Day

7-9 8th-grade Washington DC Trip

9 South Homecoming

13 National Junior Honor Society Induction @ Multi-Purpose Room, 7:30 pm

14 Principals’ Roundtable Meeting @ Cafeteria, 2:00 pm

14 Full Day School - P/T Conferences Virtual, 4:30-7:00pm via PTC Wizard Sign-up

15 Half day of school, dismissal at 11:28 AM

15 P/T Conferences Open In-person in Gymnasiums, 12:30-3:00pm

15 P/T Conferences Virtual, 4:30-7:00pm via PTC Wizard Sign-up

19 PTO Meeting 6PM, Library

23 Jersey Day (North vs. South) for Students and Staff

23 GP North/South Tailgate @ North

30 Clash Day for Students and Staff

30 ½ day for Students, dismissal at 11:28 am

Up-to-date goings on of clubs, activities, and/or sports are provided during the school year on the daily announcements and on the website. Typically most after school clubs begin around the end of September. As information gets announced it will be posted here on the weekly widely the Bronco Bulletin.

Brownell has many activities, clubs, and sports. As the school year progresses we'll post and announce the dates when they begin. Students should check the daily school announcements on the school website for meeting updates on all clubs, activities, and sports. Participation in a club is a one time fee of $52 and an interscholastic sports is a one time fee of $125. Please use the participation "button" below to get started.

Please take some time to review the GPPSS Student Code of Conduct and the GPPSS Student Dress Code. Students who are in violation of our student code of conduct will be referred to administration. Our main goal with student discipline is restorative and what can be done to repair the harm. In addition, we use lunch detentions, after-school detentions, school service hours, in-school separations, and out-of-school separations depending on the individual's actions. We encourage students to always let an adult know of any violations so that they can be addressed immediately.

Guidelines for safe attendance at GPPSS athletic events:

• Students no outside food or drinks/ Adults no outside food or drinks that are contained in a metal or plastic container (including tumblers, Yeti’s, coolers etc.)

• Alcoholic beverages are not permitted on campus.

• No athletic balls, frisbees, etc. If found in the stadium they will be confiscated.

• No student bags or backpacks. Adult bags may be subject to a search.

• No bikes or non-assistive wheeled vehicles.

• No re-entry.

• All students may be asked to provide valid school ID from GPPSS schools and should carry it with them to the stadium. Students without ID when requested will only be permitted with Administration approval after identification is confirmed. Administration reserves the right to require ID from all students from competing schools to enter the stadium.

• Non-high school students will NOT be permitted entry without an adult who will be present for the duration of the event. The adult must confirm students are guests of theirs (limit 4) and are responsible for their conduct. Administration may refuse entry if students appear to not have adequate supervision.

• Fans who engage in inappropriate behavior may be asked to leave.

Please note the arrivals times to school each day and ensure our students are here on time with time to prepare for their day. Tardies/absences are tracked and followed up by administration.

• 4-5 tardies = notice home
• 8 tardies = after school detention/create plan to arrive on time
• 12 tardies = parent meeting

Excessive absences will be communicated by administration once 10 absences occur.

Parents will receive a Robo-call near the conclusion of the school day (starting on Monday, September 15th), if their student was tardy to one or more classes that day. If you have any questions with regards to the tardy (what hour), please access the Parent Portal. Attendance data can be viewed anytime in the Parent Portal.

One of our highest numbers of tardies are Monday morning. Please help us decrease these numbers and classroom interruptions.

The attendance office needs to receive a phone call whenever your child misses a class. Otherwise, the absence remains unexcused. When teachers, counselors, administrators, and the attendance secretary review these unexcused absences, we are concerned about the student(s) and we will follow-up -- we truly appreciate you communicating with us.

PLEASE call the attendance line at 313-432-3901 ANY day or time. Please make it a ”Favorite” or a “Contact” on your phone.

• Make the call once,

• go into your phone recent and hit the “i” (info) icon,

• Create a new contact,

• type in BMS Attendance

If your child needs support from his/her counselor, please reach out by emailing Mrs. Corinne Oderfer (last names A-K) or Ms. Beth Nixon (last names L-Z). If your student is experiencing technology issues, please report it to both the attendance line and have your child email their teacher immediately, if able to do so.

Absences are recorded as excused, unexcused, and "exempt" excused. Please know that we want to work with you to properly record absences. If you want an "exempt" excused absence recorded it is the responsibility of the parent/guardian to obtain the proper documentation and to submit it with one week of the student(s) return to school (per GPPSS BOE Policy pg. 130).

It is a privilege to participate in school field trips. Students are expected to conduct themselves in such a manner that exhibits the responsible behavior and respect that occurs during the school day at Brownell. A student will NOT be eligible for any field trip(s) for the current or following quarter when he/she accumulates an ISS (In School Suspension), OSS (Out of School Suspension), or more than 4 hours of detention/snap suspension assigned for any reason.

If a student accumulates an ISS (In School Suspension), OSS (Out of School Suspension), or more than 4 hours of detention/snap suspension assigned for any reason, yet still wants to participate in an educational field trip experience he/she must:

Complete a community service project that is approved by the principal and write a one-page summary explaining his/her participation at the completion of the project AND Obtain administrative recommendation for attendance and participation in field trip, activity, or competition AND Upon discretion of the administration be accompanied on the trip by his/her parent or other designated adult/legal guardian who is responsible for ALL costs related to their own trip.

*Please note: End-of-the-year field trips such as the 8th-grade trip to Cedar Point in June each year is NOT an educational trip.

Help us to keep all students safe during Drop-off and Pick-up time. Please do not use the rear or front parking lot, driveway, or church lot/s for drop-off and pick-up as the signs indicate.

Also we’d ask you to reinforce with your child(ren) to cross at the traffic light on Chalfonte Avenue and use the designated crosswalk on Williams Road. Take a few minutes to review the brief video on our vehicle Drop-off and Pick-up procedures. These parameters help provide for a safe process for our students before and after school.

In B-Hall near the cafeteria entrance/exit Brownell has a "Lost & Found" Table.

Please feel free to go through the items if your child(ren) is missing anything. At the conclusion of each card marking all the items will be donated to charity.

Please be reminded to fully charge your school Chromebook or laptop each evening so you're prepared for school. Setting up a routine each night and charging your device would be very helpful.

If your child brings in a new device throughout the year, please access these helpful tips when setting up and using parental access codes.

Students may bring backpacks to and from school. However, backpacks are to be stored in the student's locker throughout the school day. During the school day students may utilize a protective technology device carrier, pencil case, drawstring bag, and/or other mini tote bag.

All students are to have access to a technology learning device. The GPPSS Bring-You-Own-Device Policy supports the districts strategic plan for student learning and growth. During the 2026/27 School Year the 5th-grade is piloting Chromebooks on a Cart. Therefore, 5th-grade students need not purchase a Chromebook as it will be provided in school.

Students use their technology learning device to access Schoology -- the GPPSS's Learning Management System. If you need help or assistance with a BYOD device download the handout below.

For families who have indicated a financial hardship, the district will provide a device to the student. If you would like your student to receive a device for the school year due to financial need, please fill out the linked form.

Additionally, just a reminder that our school policy is that cell phones and other electronic devices (not Chromebooks and/or technology learning device) are OFF AND OUT OF SIGHT. If students need to be reached during the school day, please continue to contact our main office.

Please be reminded that we go outside for recess whenever possible. We use the Weatherbug Grosse Pointe Country Club of Detroit Location for our temperature reading. We will be outside for recess if wind chill temperatures are Zero Degrees and above. We advocate that students dress accordingly and be prepared -- a little drizzle doesn’t stop us.

Brownell hosts free breakfast for students in the cafeteria. Any student seeking this opportunity will need to enter the building using the rear door/s near the cafeteria (or entrance "P" on the building map). The breakfast is from 8:30-8:45am on Mondays and 7:45-8:00am Tuesday through Friday. It is supervised by a Brownell Staff member. Students who attend will need to stay in the cafeteria until the breakfast time concludes.

Free lunch is conducted every day through the food service company. It is obtained in the lunch-line along with any al-a-carte items for purchase. Please look over the Michigan Meals Letter from the GPPSS linked HERE.

We ask that a parent/guardian call the 24 hour attendance line at (313) 432-3901 and leave a message as early as possible regarding an early dismissal. The office will email the classroom teacher, write the student’s name and dismissal time on the notice (dry erase) board, the student will proceed to their locker and then wait in the office for the parent to arrive. We ask parents to park in the Chalfonte visitor lot only and use the door buzzer by the main office when picking up their child early. We refrain from calling classrooms unless it’s an emergency in an effort to not disrupt learning.

When a parent is dropping off an item for their child, please park in the Chalfonte visitor lot and drop off the item labeled with their child’s name and grade in the purple bin near the office door, then ring the door buzzer and let the office staff know. Then, the item will be retrieved by the office staff and your child’s name will be written on the notice board. Students will then come to the main office to obtain their item(s). All lunches are brought to the cafeteria 20 minutes before lunch begins. Once again, we refrain from calling classrooms unless it’s an emergency in an effort to not disrupt the learning process.

Thank you in advance for your continued effort to respect the sanctity of the learning environment in each and every classroom.

A quality and joyful lunchroom experience is a priority at Brownell Middle School. All students have access to a free lunch every day. For students and/or families that prefer to bring their lunch(es) please know that two microwaves are available for use in the cafeteria. Students may also purchase À la carte items from the school via their Taher school account.

For the safety, cleanliness, and wellness of everyone we ask that:

• NO GLASS PRODUCTS are brought to school
• Students are seated when they eat
• Appropriate and polite behavior is the norm
• Students clean up after themselves and dispose of their refuse accordingly
• Lunch choices are healthy and caffeine free

Many families have had a "tradition" of sorts using the Dr. Seuss book titled "Oh, the Places You'll Go" as a school memory book at the elementary level. At Brownell Middle School you may purchase a school yearbook via Parent Portal. Students are provided the opportunity to sign one another's yearbook the second from last day of the school year.

Please know I'm not, as the school principal, "outlawing" the Dr. Seuss Memory Book Tradition -- I'm simply asking that if you want to continue this tradition we ask that you facilitate it in this way. The Dr. Seuss Book will need to be carried class-to-class by your child(ren) on the day(s) designated to sign yearbooks. The Brownell Staff are not responsible for handing school memory books (or similar items) from person-to-person and checking off who has completed the task.

Thank you in advance for working with us by honoring this request.

If you'd like to purchase a yearbook (and haven't already done so back in August during registration) here's your opportunity to do so. On Wednesday, June 10th (half day of school) students will receive their yearbook and have the day to exchange and sign each others books.

Yearbooks are created by the Yearbook Club through Jostens. The cost of a yearbook is $50.00. To purchase a yearbook go to the Jostens website.

If you should have any questions regarding yearbooks please contact Mrs. Camille Price, the Brownell Yearbook Club Staff Advisor, by email at pricec@gpschools.org.

Eligibility for the NJHS (National Junior Honors Society) in the GPPSS (Grosse Pointe Public School System) is as follows:

• Must be a student in good standing in the 7th or 8th grade to be a member of the Grosse Pointe Public Schools Middle School NJHS

• 3.5 GPA or higher and 1’s or 2’s in Conduct/Work Habits for two consecutive card marking periods (not cumulative GPA)

• For Example:

• 6th/7th-grade year GPA & Conduct/Work Habits for 3rd & 4th quarters to be eligible for the public Fall Induction Ceremony

• 7th/8th-grade year GPA & Conduct/Work Habits for 1st & 2nd quarters to be eligible for the Spring Induction Ceremony

• One public Fall Induction Ceremony for parents, families, and the community to be held in October or November of each year

• One private Winter Induction (no ceremony) to be held in February or March (after the conclusion of the second card marking) for eligible 8th-grade students

Please know that we want to make sure every student has everything they need for learning and to eat for lunch -- BUT Safety is our first priority. Please avoid deliveries from a third party of any kind.

Here's OUR why -- If your child(ren) forgets their lunch we can provide a meal here from the cafeteria. We’d ask for your continued support in avoiding having lunch(es) brought to school by outside delivery organizations i.e. Jimmy Johns, Panera, UberEats, etc. This request is to protect students and staff alike, as it’s a precautionary measure to maintain everyone's safety at school by keeping strangers from our doorstep/s.

Thank you in advance for helping us to provide the safest possible environment here at Brownell.