Bragg School Newsletter

All grade levels are off to a strong start, and students are actively engaged in learning across the content areas. Over the next couple of weeks, we are focusing on building culture and community within Bragg School. On Friday, September 25, we will hold our first Pack /Rally/Meeting. During this time, students will play a game and discover what they have in common with one another. We will also discuss our roles in school and the importance of following our Code of Conduct:

1. Respect people and property

2. Keep hands, feet, and objects to yourself

3. Use appropriate language

4. Be courteous; speak kindly

This year, we will also be teaching our students to be proactive in taking responsibility. One strategy they are learning is how to use I Messages to express their feelings, along with TAG:

• Tell someone they are bothering you

• Ask them to stop

• Get an adult if they don’t

Since positive actions and behavior should be recognized, we are also launching our PAWS initiative, Positive Actions Will Succeed. Students will receive PAWS tickets when they demonstrate acts of leadership such as kindness, respect, responsibility, honesty, caring for others, and being a role model. Each month, tickets will be entered into a raffle, and 10 students will be selected to receive a small prize, such as a coin for our book vending machine. This is one way we are working to encourage and celebrate the positive choices our students make each day.

This year, we will be holding Parent Forum Meetings once a month at Bragg School. The goal of these meetings is to provide an opportunity for us to communicate and share information about school events, happenings, programs, and important initiatives taking place throughout the year.

Each meeting will also include time for questions and answers so parents have an opportunity to ask questions, share thoughts, and gain a better understanding of what is happening at Bragg School.

I would love to invite parents to attend these meetings. They are a great opportunity to learn more about Bragg School, our ongoing expectations and initiatives, and ways that parents can partner with us and support our efforts to provide the best possible experience for our students.

Our first Parent Forum Meeting will be held on Tuesday, September 22, at 9:00 a.m. in the Bragg School Cafeteria.

Please make note of the following dates:

Parent Forum Meetings – 9:00 a.m. in the Bragg School Cafeteria

• September 22, 2026 (Our First Meeting will deal with a variety of back to school topics.)
• October 27, 2026
• November 24, 2026
• December 22, 2026
• January 26, 2027
• February 23, 2027
• March 23, 2027
• April 27, 2027
• May 25, 2027

I hope you will consider joining us throughout the year. Your partnership and involvement are an important part of building a strong school community, and I look forward to having the opportunity to connect with you.

Thank you for your continued support of Bragg School!

We are excited to continue our implementation of the Leader in Me. Our goal is to equip our students with the skills needed to practice leadership and positive decision-making. Students will take part in whole-school meetings, school job-related activities, classroom lessons, development of a school-wide mission statement, goal setting, learning the 7 Habits, and participating in student-led conferences.

As you may know, the Leader in Me program uses Steven Covey's 7 Habits of Highly Effective People, which are: 1. Be Proactive (You're in charge), 2. Begin With the End in Mind (Have a plan), 3. Put First Things First (Work first, then play), 4. Think Win-Win (Everyone can win), 5. Seek First to Understand, Then to Be Understood (Listen before you talk), 6. Synergize (Together is better), and 7. Sharpen the Saw (Balance feels best). These habits help individuals develop leadership skills, character, and effectiveness.

• 9/8 - 9/11/2026 - Patriots Week and the 25th Anniversary of 9/11 (Assembly for all grades on 9/10/2026) Thank you First Responders!

• Back to School Night: 9/16/2026

• Bragg & Dickerson PTO - Ice Cream Social @ Dickerson School: 9/18/2026 at 4:00

• Yom Kippur - 9/21/2026 - No School

• Parent Forum Meeting in the Bragg School Cafeteria - 9:00 on 9/22/2026.

• Bragg School Picture Day is on 9/24/2026

• October 5 - 9 - Week of Respect

We are proud to recognize Melissa Hernandez and Brittany Velecela, two Mendham High School seniors, for their outstanding commitment to giving back to our community. Throughout the school year, Melissa and Brittany organized and participated in various fundraisers at school to raise money to purchase much-needed school supplies for children in need within the Chester School District. This was done through their IB Program focusing on Community Engagement. Their efforts demonstrate the true spirit of compassion, generosity, and community service. Rather than simply volunteering their time, they took the initiative to identify a need, organize fundraising efforts, and make a meaningful difference in the lives of younger students in our community. We are incredibly proud of Melissa and Brittany for their dedication and kindness. Their actions are a wonderful example of how students can use their time, talents, and creativity to positively impact others. Please join us in congratulating Melissa Hernandez and Brittany Velecela and thanking them for their generous efforts to support children in need. Thank you, Melissa and Brittany, for making a difference!