Virtual Teaching & Learning - Week 10
Summer!
Can you believe we are here already?! This has been such a unique year - full of high emotions and opportunities. Thank you for all that you have done and continue to do to keep learning engaging and alive during these months apart. You are such a gift to our students, their families, and each other! We are looking forward to celebrating with our students and their families (albeit at a distance) this week.
💙💛💙Kelly and Christa💛💙💛
What amazing, special educators you both are! We are so grateful that we were able to "honk" in your honor. Boy, will you both be missed! You will always be a very special part of Brown School. We wish you all the best and know that great things will come your way! Enjoy!
As a reminder, the school has been sectioned off into four zones. Staff members are asked to schedule themselves for one half day visit to school between Tuesday, May 26 - Tuesday, June 2 for the purpose of packing up any remaining student materials, taking down and storing items typically stored for summer, and performing other “shutdown” in classrooms. If you need additional time, you will have an opportunity to sign up for a second spot after all staff has been in once.
While at school, you must wear a mask in all common areas and are asked to be extra mindful about using hand sanitizers / washing your hands frequently. Please use only the staff bathrooms.
A table with supplies and “turn in” areas is available in the hall outside the office. You are asked to return the following items:
- F & P Folders with Winter 2020 data included. Alphabetize by existing class, please. Attach any discipline rubric folders for frequent offenders too, please.
- Supply closet items that are no longer needed (place in designated area on table - not in the supply closet)
- Media Center Materials
- Curriculum Department materials / returns
- Second Trimester Report Cards (if available)
Please prioritize packing up any remaining individual student belongings on this first visit. Bags will be available at the supply table, along with student name labels. All common / shared school supplies may be kept for use next year or discarded. Any items that you are unsure of ownership for should be bagged up together and marked as “lost and found - teacher name”. If you are able to take photos of the items in advance, please plan to do so. These could be shared with families before the pick up time to ensure traffic flow. Please be sure your class's bags are in the office vestibule by the end of the day on June 2nd.
Material Pick-Up/Drop-Off Day!
June 3rd is the big day! Please see the schedule and the map below. Please come a few minutes early to help set up for your class. A HUGE shoutout to Sara for her organization and Shellie Aust for our maps!
Summer Farewell Beach Ball Video
Don't forget to pick up your beach ball when you are at school cleaning up your work space. They will be on the pick-up table near the office. Videos should be submitted to Natalie via Google Drive sharing, if possible, by June 3rd. We are passing the balls from left hand to right. Our students will LOVE it!
Farewell Parade
We are so excited to wave farewell to our learners and wish them a happy summer next Thursday (6/4) evening from 4-6 p.m.! We will park in the main office lot and walk to the bus lot along Garden Lane where we will line up to bid farewell to our students and their families for another summer. You might consider creating a sign - perhaps a special one for our fifth graders on the back. Please bring a face mask to ensure safety and comfort for all.
Mark Your Calendars...
6/3 Family pick-up/drop-off of materials throughout the day
6/4 Farewell Parade
4:00-4:30 p.m. Fifth grade Families Only
4:30-6:00 p.m. ECDD - Fourth Grade Families
6/5 Last day of school (12:05 p.m.)
Awards Assembly & Summer Farewell videos sent to families via SchoolMessenger by the office and posted on FB (a.m.)
Second Trimester Report Cards
If you happen to have a copy of your students' second trimester report cards, please turn them on the tray outside of the office (on the table) for placement in CA-60s. If you do not, no worries, we can print a copy. Thank you!
Summer Learning Challenge 2020
Thank you to all of you who helped to develop the 2020 Summer Learning Challenge! Like last year, we are challenging all of our current Y5 - 4th grade students to "go for gold" by keeping learning and discovery alive all summer long! Thank you for "talking this up" with your students and families during your final connections. I plan to officially kick it off next week with a video sent to families, but please include it in your communication as soon as you are able. 
Thank you, Brown Staff, for contributing to our special virtual PTO meeting where we shared our collective gratitude to April & Matthew Soyk and Marylin Bishop for their many years of dedication and service to our school. They were so deeply touched by your kind words. The video that we shared during the meeting is linked here.
Our new board was voted in that same evening. We are confident that the high level of support we are so lucky to have will continue. Please join me in welcoming the following officers to our 2020-2021 PTO Board:
Sheri Baker, President
Brandi Johnson, Vice President
Jessamyn Calderwood, Secretary
Robin Lawrence, Treasurer
PTO Classroom Funds
If you have yet to spend your classroom funds for this school year, please either e-mail () or snail mail receipts to Matthew & April Soyk (3660 Symphony Ln. St. Joseph, MI 49085) as soon as possible. They must be received by June 15th as our books need to be ready by June 30 for the business office audit. Please include your home address in the correspondence so that reimbursement checks can be sent directly to you. Thank you!
Please be sure to check your school email throughout the summer in order to stay in tune to news about the fall. Details will be shared as soon as they become available.
WOOHOO! WE DID IT! This is definitely an unforgettable year and one for the record books, for sure. You are all AMAZING!! My wish for you is to have a rejuvenating, relaxing summer. Kick up your feet, enjoy every minute with the ones you love.
