The Buzz
Hello Florida Ruffin Ridley School Families and Friends,
We are officially in the home stretch of the school year as we enter our last full week of school. There is so much to reflect on, learn from, and celebrate as we mark the close of the 2022 - 2023 school year. I hope that you are able to build in some time with your child(ren) to reflect on this year and set goals for next year as you begin the summer break. A favorite prompt, if you haven't tried it yet at your home, is Thorn, Rose, Bud.
Thorn: a moment/situation that didn't go so well that you want to learn from
Rose: something wonderful/you are proud of from this year
Bud: a goal for growth for next year
You can also try Thorn, Rose, Bud daily or weekly with your child(ren) to help get around the "nothing" response that so many of us get when we ask "What did you do at school today?"
These next 6 and a half days of school are packed with more opportunities to celebrate all the hard work and growth of all of our students. There are work shares, open classes, field trips, and much more so please be sure you are staying on top of your calendar and emails so you don't miss out.
For 10 months your children have been bringing their best selves to school each day. Some days this was easier than others. And through showing up, working hard, being kind, and helping others they have made great growth and progress towards their academic and social emotional goals. Sometimes as caregivers we can forget to pause and share how proud we are of all that our children have accomplished and just how hard they have worked to make positive strides forward. We can get lost in focusing on what can be improved and how to race to the next benchmark and miss the opportunity to slow down and celebrate the wins no matter how big or small. My hope for each of you is that you have time this summer to celebrate all those wins and find joy in those celebrations.
I hope to see you all at our final PTO Coffee and Conversation this Friday right after drop off around 8:00a.
Jen
Grade 8 Graduation
- The field will be closed after school (2:30p) to allow for set up of chairs and our sound equipment
- The playground and basketball courts will close at 4:30p to help clear the area for the ceremony to progress without interruptions
- We anticipate the playground and basketball courts to reopen around 6:00p and the field to reopen around 6:30p
For our 8th graders and their families:
- 8th grade students should arrive and report the FRR main gym no later than 4:45p so we can line everyone up. You can enter through the Playground or Stedman doors.
- Our ceremony is outdoors unless the weather prohibits. Please dress for the weather.
- In the event that we need to relocate inside, we will have limited seating (3 tickets per student) for the multipurpose room and have space in the building to stream the ceremony for all other guests.
- We will have seating outside for all students. We will also have seating set up for families and staff members. We may have more attendees than seats allow so please help us prioritize seating for family members.
- There will be a reception for 8th graders and their families immediately following the ceremony (around 6:00p) in the FRR cafeteria hosted by our Grade 7 class and their families.
- If you haven't already, please send Mr. Ola (saeed_ola@psbma.org) an email with an audio recording of your first and last name.
Juneteenth Celebration
This year's Juneteenth celebration is sure to be a hit! Join us for a day of family-friendly fun, featuring music, food, activities, and more in the form of a block party. This year’s block party will be held on Sunday, June 18th from 12 pm to 4 pm.
A section of Harvard street will be blocked off for vendors and variety of games will be set up for everyone to enjoy, ranging from simple games like double dutch and mancala to more challenging ones like spades and dominioe's. There will be so many fun activities for all to enjoy. For those who prefer a more relaxed approach, there will be a variety of "take a break" areas featuring water and cooling stations and blanketed areas with pillows.Free food will also be on hand to offer tasty treats for everyone, including soul food, tacos, and ice cream. There will also be a dance party with a live DJ.
The block party is a great way to come together and get to know your neighbors. It’s a chance to relax, meet new people, and have a good time. There will be something for everyone, from bounce houses and face painting for the kids, to live music and dancing for the adults. So come on out and join the party - it's sure to be a great time!
Getting Ready for Summer Break
Summer Notification of Class Placement
We are working to finalize class placement for the 2023-2024 school year. We anticipate being able to notify families of class placements in August. At that time you will receive instructions via email (the email we have on file for you through the PSB Family Portal) on how to access any welcome letters and supply lists for the 23-24 school year.
Withdrawal Form
If your child(ren) will not be returning to FRR for the 2023-2024 school year, please be sure to fill out the PSB withdrawal form as soon as possible so we can finalize our class placements.
Brookline Library Summer Reading
As you head off into the summer break be sure to check out the amazing summer reading program at the Brookline Library!
The Florida Ruffin Ridley School
Email: jennifer_buller@psbma.org
Website: https://www.brookline.k12.ma.us/ruffinridley
Location: 345 Harvard Street, Brookline, MA, USA
Phone: 617-879-4400
Twitter: @TheHiveInCC