Weekly Updates

As we continue our journey of learning and growth, let’s remember that learning doesn’t just add to what we know, it changes how we see the world. Every lesson, every new experience, and every challenge helps our children grow in knowledge, confidence, and understanding.

I believe that every child is a work of art, and it is up to us to help create masterpieces. Each child brings unique gifts, talents, and potential. As parents, educators, and partners in learning, we have the incredible responsibility of nurturing those gifts, encouraging curiosity, celebrating progress, and providing the support our children need to flourish.

Remember, masterpieces are not created overnight. They take patience, care, creativity, and love. Some days, growth may be easy to see, while other days, it happens quietly through small steps, new discoveries, and lessons learned along the way.

Let’s continue working together to inspire our children to dream big, embrace challenges, and believe in their ability to achieve great things. When we nurture their roots and empower their growth, we help them become confident, compassionate, and lifelong learners.

Together, we are not just educating children; we are helping shape the masterpieces of tomorrow!

Warm Regards,

🍏Ms. Wells

Parking Lot Safety Reminder

The Park & Walk area is for families who park and walk their students into the building. It is not a drive-and-drop area. Please use the designated drive-and-drop areas.

For everyone’s safety, please:

• 🐢 Drive slowly through the parking lot.

• 👀 Watch for students and families crossing between vehicles.

• 🛑 Yield to pedestrians and allow them time to cross safely.

• 🚶 Ensure an adult walks students through the parking lot. Never allow students to cross alone.

• 🚗 Do not use the Park & Walk area for drive-and-drop.

• 🅿️ Do not park in staff-designated parking spaces.

• ❤️ Be patient and courteous to help keep everyone safe.

Thank you for helping us maintain a safe parking lot for all Brighten Academy families and staff!

At Brighten Academy, the safety and well-being of our students and staff are always our top priority. We are committed to maintaining a positive, respectful environment where students can learn without unnecessary disruptions.

• In accordance with Georgia law (GA Code § 20-2-1181) and school policy, any behavior that intentionally, knowingly, or recklessly disrupts or interferes with school operations is not permitted. This includes inappropriate or aggressive behavior on campus, at school events, on school transportation, or through electronic and other forms of communication.
• Individuals who engage in threatening, aggressive, or disruptive behavior may be immediately removed from campus and prohibited from returning.

Have you ever wondered how teachers decide what your child should learn each year? It all starts with Georgia’s academic standards.

Georgia’s academic standards outline the knowledge and skills students are expected to develop at each grade level. They guide classroom instruction in reading, writing, mathematics, science, and social studies while giving teachers the flexibility to use different lessons, activities, and strategies to meet students’ learning needs.

📘 Want to Learn More?

The Georgia Department of Education offers resources to help families better understand academic expectations and student assessments.

Explore the Georgia Milestones Parent Resources Guide:

https://lor2.gadoe.org/gadoe/file/65da261d-7393-457b-bd7e-b7721b2f15cf/1/GM_Parent_Resources.pdf

🏡 Try This at Home!

Take a few minutes this week to ask your child:

• “What are you learning in reading or math this week?”

• “Can you show me what you know?”

• “What is something new you learned that you can teach me?”

These simple conversations encourage children to reflect on their learning, build confidence, and share their progress with you.

💡 Family Takeaway: When families understand the learning goals, we can work together to help every child grow, achieve, and reach their full potential!

As a reminder, students must be present at school for the regular school day in order to participate in any after-school or extracurricular activity scheduled that day. This includes club meetings, athletic practices and games, performances, and rehearsals.

Students must also be present at school on Friday to participate in any school-sponsored weekend activity.

This policy applies to all students and activities. Thank you for your cooperation and for helping us maintain consistency with school attendance expectations.

Thanks to the generous support of donors through DonorsChoose, our STEAM classroom recently received a 20-gallon aquarium! This exciting addition provides students with another opportunity to observe aquatic life, explore biodiversity, and investigate the science behind maintaining a healthy ecosystem.

From building miniature habitats to observing our classroom aquarium, our students are discovering that science isn't just something we read about—it's something we can experience, investigate, and bring to life!

Stay tuned for more exciting discoveries from our STEAM scientists! 🔬🌿"

7th Grade: Exploring Ecosystems!

Ms. Colquitt and our 7th Grade STEAM students have been diving into the fascinating world of ecosystems through an exciting hands-on project: Ecosystems in a Bottle! Students created their own miniature aquatic ecosystems using live plants, water, and goldfish to explore how living organisms interact with their environments.

Through this experience, students are learning about the relationships between biotic and abiotic factors, the importance of maintaining balanced ecosystems, and the role that plants and animals play in sustaining life. Students are also observing their ecosystems, tracking changes, and making real-world connections to the concepts explored in Life Science.

As part of our focus on responsible animal care, students were able to take their goldfish home at the end of the week to transition them into larger, more suitable habitats. This reinforced an important lesson about how the needs of living organisms change as they grow and our responsibility to provide environments where they can thrive.

Thank you to everyone who supported Beta Club's Boo-Gram sales! Your contributions have helped us get closer to achieving our goals. Be on the lookout for our next “Gram” opportunity!

Thank you for your continued support!

Thank you to PTO and Mrs. Lenard's minions for delivering a sweet treat on Friday!

The Brighten Athletic Gear Shop is now open! Support our school and show your Brighten pride by purchasing your favorite school and athletic gear.

Whether you’re cheering from the stands, supporting our athletes, or representing Brighten around town, there’s something for everyone!

Shop here: Brighten Academy Gear Shop

Support your school. Show your pride. Wear Brighten!

We want to remind you that our school counseling team is here to support your child’s academic, social, emotional, and personal needs. If you have concerns about your child or feel they may benefit from checking in with the school counselor, you may submit a Parent Counselor Referral Form.

Parents may refer their child for support with concerns such as:

😊 Social or friendship concerns
💭 Emotional or behavioral concerns
📚 Academic or school-related challenges
😟 Anxiety, stress, or coping skills
💔 Grief or significant life changes
🌟 Self-esteem and confidence
🤝 Peer relationships or conflict
Or any other concern you feel may be impacting your child at school.

We appreciate your partnership and are committed to working together to help your child feel supported, successful, and connected at school.

Please complete the referral form using the link below. Once submitted, a member of the counseling team will review the information and follow up as appropriate.

Grades K–5: Students will store their devices in the classroom lock boxes.

Grades 6–8: Students have been assigned lockers and should store their devices securely in their assigned lockers.