News for the Week of February 14, 2022

 

We have all been faced with an abundance of adversity over the past two years. Time and time again you've shown that you are in fact "coffee beans". You've taken the pressure of unrelenting change and have been present for your students and their families. The lack of control we have all felt due to this pandemic has caused us to shift our sails, but has never stopped our purpose and progress. For that, you are all heroes of mine.

This Week at Brown School 

2/14    P2 Character Strength: Love

Valentine's Day Classroom Celebrations

           Hot chocolate sale $1 (last recess) 

2/15     PTO Meeting @ 7 p.m. - Rank & Lokey 

in-person or via Google Meet by clicking here

    

Spelling Bee practice (final 4) in media center @ 12:00 p.m.  

2/16    Late Start Day (team time)

Lockdown drill 10 a.m. (exterior threat)

T3 Meeting @ 4pm (Google Meet)

2/17 Hot chocolate sale $1 (last recess)

2/18 No school ECDD - 12th grade

Coming Up...

2/21    No school ECDD  - 12th grade 

2/22    P2 Character Strength: Cheering Others' Successes

Young Fives & Kindergarten Round-Up 7:00 - 8:00 p.m. *Please share with anyone you know with an incoming five year old (5 by Sept. 1)

2/22 LEGO creating in M.C. at lunch recess - 3rd, 4th & 5th grades (see PTO information below)

2/23 LEGO creating in M.C. at lunch recess - Y5 - 2nd grades (see PTO information below)

Lory's Place group meets @ 9:30 a.m.

After school art class 4 p.m. in art room

2/24 Virtual LEGO Night - see details below

2/25 Brown Bear Credit Union @ 8:20 a.m.

The 100th day of school was magical for our Y5 and K students thanks to all of your planning and special touches, Beth, Alyssa and Linda. Our families were so delighted to come into school to volunteer for this event. Thank you! 

We look forward to welcoming families on Monday for our Valentine's Day celebrations. Thank you for providing your volunteer lists to the office in advance so that Sara and Kelly could work on ensuring background checks were completed in time. A HUGE thank you to Sara & Kelly for their hand work on this! 

Lego “Night” - Hybrid Format

Lego Night will not be held in person this year for families.  Instead, we are offering a virtual option like last year AND we will be offering build time during lunch recesses on February 22nd and 23rd for any interested students.  We will still be giving away some fun prizes, so be sure to check out our Lego Night website!  Students who choose to participate during their lunch hour do not need to fill out an online form for the prize drawings.

Recess Schedule:

Tuesday (22nd) - 3rd, 4th, and 5th grades

Wednesday (23rd) - Y5/K, 1st, and 2nd grades

Our fifth graders has a blast cross country skiing at Sarett. Thank you for providing such enriching opportunities that make long-lasting memories for our students and their families, teachers! 

As "field trip season" kicks off, please remember to notify Sue & Melissa if your class will be away from school during lunch time as this affects ordering.

Additionally, please get transportation slips in as soon as your dates are set (at least two weeks before the trip) and add your trip with times to the Brown School calendar.

Thank you!

Principal Hiring Update The posting for elementary principal(s) is live on multiple sites and is open through February 20th. We have every faith that we will have passionate, student-centered, skillful applicants as both Brown and Lincoln are top schools in the county and throughout the state.  We will begin the thorough multi-step hiring process at the end of the month and into March. As the incoming Assistant Superintendent I will have an active role in this process and will continue to keep you updated as the process progresses.   Why Teachers Matter Your students come into your classroom with all of the difficulties they are experiencing outside. Thank you for looking at students and their families with an open mind and an open heart. You make a difference.

Reason #78: A teacher’s impact can reach beyond the student to the whole family.

Daniella remembers Mr. Avery:   "The day after my 16th birthday, my father was diagnosed with cancer. It was aggressively moving into his bones, and he had to begin intense treatment right away. My family never had much in the way of financial resources, but we got by. When my father had to stop working, it was devastating. I managed to pick up two after school jobs. I babysat until dinner time. After that, I went straight to my waitressing job. I got home around midnight and then tried to catch up on my homework and studying. I had always been a good student, but I was finding it hard to keep my grades up.  I loved Mr. Avery’s history class. He made the subject come alive and his teaching was engaging. So, I was mortified to find myself suddenly awakened by the bell at the end of class one day. Before I could pull myself together and collect my things, all of the other students had left. I had to face Mr. Avery. I was afraid he would think I didn’t care about his class. Or worse, he might think I was partying or abusing alcohol or drugs.  As I walked up to Mr. Avery’s desk, he said he had noticed a change in me, that I wasn’t my usual energetic self in his class. He asked what had happened to cause such a change. I told him about my father. I told him about needing to help support my family. I apologized for falling asleep. He just listened and reassured me that he wasn’t disappointed. When I got home from my waitressing job that night, my mother was waiting up. She said Mr. Avery had called. He wanted to refer our family to an organization that could assist us. Because of Mr. Avery’s support, we received food and help with medical bills. I was able to work less hours, and my parents were able to feel a sense of peace. I will never forget his caring and willingness to go above and beyond his teaching responsibility to help a tired kid and a family in need." Keep going. You may not be able to see the impact you have, but for one student, it might just last a lifetime. For even more inspiration, check out Safe, Seen, and Stretched in the Classroom, available now. Copyright © 2022 Chalk & Chances Want to change how you receive these emails? You can update your preferences or unsubscribe from this list.