PTO Newsletter  125 Meadowbrook Rd., Newton, MA 02459 Vol. III, No. 2 - September 28, 2002 Telephone 617-552-7409, Call Back: 617-552-7524 http://www.newton.mec.edu/brown/ Tuesday 8 Back to school night - 7 pm Tuesday 9 10 11 Parent Visiting Days at Brown, 8:30-10:30 am Monday 14 Columbus Day Wednesday 16 Coffee and desert with John Jordan - 7:30 pm, Brown Library Wednesday 23 Internet Safety Program at Day Middle School Auditorium - Jointly Sponsored by PTOs of Brown, Day, Bigelow, and Oak Hill - Adults Only Wednesday 30 Early release day - 11:30 am Monday 1 6th Grade Parent-Teacher Coffee, 7:45-8:30 am Monday 11 Veteran's Day Monday 14 7th Grade Parent-Teacher Coffee, 7:45-8:30 am Monday 19 8th Grade Parent-Teacher Coffee, 7:45-8:30 am Saturday 23 Building Brown Wednesday 27 Thanksgiving,school closes at 11:30 am (time change from Blue Book) Monday 2 No School, City Wide Professional Development Tuesday 3 School reopens

Archives Voice Mail PDF Version Triple "E"

Dear Parents and Guardians,

We look forward to seeing you at Brown Back-to-School Night on Tuesday, October 8 from 7:00 – 9:15 p.m. On that evening, please join us in the auditorium at 7:00 p.m. Additionally, please remember to bring the room number and name of your child’s “community classroom” teacher. Community classroom will be the first class you report to during the evening.

Additionally, all parents are invited to visit Brown Middle School in session any morning from Wednesday, October 9 through Friday, October 1 between 8:30 - 10:30 a.m. We look forward to sharing with you the many and varied opportunities that your child(ren) experience here at school. This is also an excellent opportunity to become better acquainted with the teachers and programs of Brown Middle School.

John Jordan

To our Fellow Brown Community Members:

We are through the first full class schedule rotation and hopefully things are smoothing out and anxieties calming down as the routine grows more familiar. With this second newsletter of the year, we are well on our way in the construction of a new data base for email and directory information compilation and communication. Not much will be visible on the outside but internal improvements are many. Thanks to Michael Corbridge, Eric Bender, Barbara Snow and Marilyn Broyles for pushing this along.

Thank you to the 51% of the families who have sent back their completed email, directory and volunteer forms and dues payments. We are hoping for a 100% response, so please take a moment to dig through that mail pile and send them along. Remember, choosing to receive the newsletter by email saves the PTO postage costs which can otherwise go towards more educational programs. We are still looking for volunteers to sign up to help, especially for the position of Chief of Fundraising who oversees those parents who chair the individual fundraisers (magazine sales, pretzel sales and Faculty Foul-Ups) and reviews other fundraising opportunities.

We are all looking forward to Back to School Night, Tuesday, October 8, 2002 from 7:00 - 9:30. After some initial remarks by the PTO, Principal John Jordan will make a presentation, and the parents will have the opportunity to visit their children's classrooms and meet their teachers.

We have 5 candidates for the Brown School Council election. Ballots (attached to this newsletter) are due October 11. The two elected candidates will serve two year terms. Ballots will also be available at Back to School Night.

Other important upcoming events are:

• Wednesday, October 16 from 7:30-9:00 in the Library, parents are invited to talk with John Jordan about families' perceptions of Brown, and what changes might be made for our school. Dessert and coffee will be served. 
• Wednesday, October 23 from 7:30 - 9:00 at Day Middle School, Internet Safety and Our Kids, a presentation by Newton parent Ajith Dissanayake and Police Officer George Claflin. 
• Saturday, November 23, second annual Building Brown work day for parents and kids to participate in helping to spruce up the school with painting, cleaning and small carpentry and repair jobs. More info. on this in later newsletters. Save the date.

Ellie Nelson (617-527-5225) Steve Hamilton (617-527-2954)
PTO Co-Presidents, brown.pto@nxp.com

Ballot for Brown School Council

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Brown Middle School Council. One ballot for each adult.  Vote for up to 2 candidates:

   ___ Liane Hartnett

   ___ Diane Jaquith

   ___ Toby Richard
   
   ___ Laurie Striar

   ___ Ellis Waingrow


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Liane Hartnett

My son Michael is in 7^th grade. My daughter Annie went to Brown and is now at North. My son Jake went to Day and North and is now at Hamilton College. I would like to become more involved with Brown through the School Council. My main area of interest is the science curriculum. I graduated from Wellesley College with a degree in Biology, did a few years of research, and then went to Boston University for a Ph.D. in Anatomy and Physiology. I did a few more years of research in Immunology and then began teaching college Biology part time, which I have been doing for the past ten years. I have been active in both the schools and youth sports. I was active in the PTO at Mason Rice, chairing the yard sale, serving on the Nominating Committee, being Head Room parent for many years and helping with 5^th grade graduations and yearbook. While my daughter was at Brown I distributed the Brown Newsletter. My husband and I have been co-commissioners for Farm League in Newton East Little League baseball for six years. I coached Girls Softball for two years and helped organize a summer league for Girls Softball.

My family has lived in Newton for fifteen years. We have a son Luke in 6^th grade at Brown and a daughter, Lia, is a Junior at Newton North. As a Newton Teacher (Burr) and former middle school teacher, I offer the perspective of a parent/educator. As a returning Brown parent I am familiar with concerns regarding communication, curriculum, assessment and homework. Along with Newton’s city-wide goals, these issues should be reviewed by the School Council to ensure the best education for all students at Brown.

My son Marcus is a 6^th grader at Brown. I have been an active participant in the PTOs of both Mason-Rice and Day Middle School, where I have Secretary for thee past three years. I have been a member of the Day School Council for the past year. I am a lawyer and volunteer for the local hospice. I would like to work to improve the quality of education at Brown as a member of the School Council.

I am the mother three children, two of whom currently attend Brown in the 6^th and 8^th grades. I have spent the last three years on the School Council for Mason Rice, so I have a good idea of what the position entails. I look forward to working with other members of the Brown parent population, teachers and our new principal on all matters concerning the education and well being of all of our students.

My son Adam is in 8^th grade at Brown, and my daughter Sarah is in 6^th grade at Coolidge. I am a clinical social worker with a strong interest in social activism and the importance of respect for human difference. As a Countryside parent I served on, and chaired, the Social Responsibility Committee for 8 years. I was also on the human differences Committee during the four years I served on the School Council there. I would like to see community service more integrated with curriculum, and I worked toward doing that at Countryside. I want to serve on the Brown School Council because I believe that young adolescents in particular benefit from expanding awareness of human differences and the importance of giving to the community. I am interested in helping further those goals.

At the School

*BROWN'S SAFE BUSING CHECKLIST*

Students eligible for transportation are expected to take the same bus to and from school using the stop closest to their house.  Because of limited capacity, the buses cannot accommodate changes in ridership. Please share the following with your children: 

TIME FOR SCHOOL

• Don't miss the bus! Give yourself plenty of time to reach the bus stop.  Walk, don't run.
• Walk safely!  Stay on the sidewalks or, if there are none, walk on the left side of the road facing oncoming traffic.  Cross streets only at intersections or crosswalks.

WAITING

•  No horseplay! Running around and playing may be okay for the playground, but not the bus stop. Stay out of the street while you wait for the bus. Traffic often is heavy in the morning, and you could be hit by a car or cause an accident if a car is forced to stop quickly for you.

• Respect property! Don’t run across people’s yards, climb their trees, or go into their garages. Stay at the bus stop.

• Sshhh! People in the area may still be sleeping when you leave for school, so keep down the noise in consideration of your neighbors.

• Wait! Make sure the bus has come to a complete stop before stepping off the curb.

• Never in back! Never cross in back of the bus because children cannot be seen.

• Never in front! Never cross in front of the bus when the door is closed unless the driver instructs you to do so. The bus has a blind spot and children cannot be seen.

• Never underneath! Never reach under the bus for paper, clothing, toys etc. Wait until the bus has moved and it is safe to do so. Ask an adult for help if necessary.

BOARDING THE BUS

• Form a line! Don’t push or shove; you’ll get on the bus eventually. If you have to cross the street while the bus is stopped, cross carefully (even though motorists are supposed  to stop for a school bus, they often don’t and you could be hurt).

• Move along! Step quickly and use the handrail when you are entering or leaving the bus. Watch your step.

• Sit down! Go directly to your seat and sit down. Don’t wait for a friend to get on before you take a seat.

THE RIDE

• Stay in your seat! The driver needs your help and he/she may have trouble concentrating if there is a commotion on the bus.

• Be respectful of others! Do not mistreat others: physically, verbally or in any other way.

• Be respectful of the bus itself! Do not mark or vandalize the bus in any way.

• Keep the aisles clear! Nothing…..books, bags, legs, arms or bodies ….should block the aisle. Do not stand in the aisle. If the driver is forced to make a quick stop, you could be thrown around, hurting yourself and others.

• Everything inside! If the driver lets you open a window, keep your hands, arms and head inside.

• No pets allowed! Animals, including pets on leashes, in boxes or in cages are not allowed on the bus.

• Share your seat! Don’t save a spot for a friend, but keep the seat open for anyone who wants to sit down.

• No throwing! Do not throw any objects including small objects such as candy or coins. Don’t throw anything out of the windows.

• Never touch or tamper with the emergency door! This door is for emergencies only.

GETTING OFF

• Be organized! Be ready to leave when you reach your stop. Don’t keep the driver and other bus riders waiting while you gather up your books and other belongings.

• Stay put! Wait until the bus has stopped completely before you get up from your seat. Always let people in the front of the bus get off first.

• Don’t push! You’ll get out faster if no one shoves or pushes. Also, chances are better no one will trip and fall causing delays.

• Leave immediately! After you get off the bus, leave the area quickly so that you are out of the way of other buses bringing more children to or from school.

• Stay clear ! Keep away from the side of the bus. If you must cross the street, cross in front of the bus. Wait for an “ all clear” signal from the driver before you leave the curb. Look both ways before crossing.

IT'S UP TO YOU!

• Stay calm! In case of an emergency, listen to the driver and follow his/her instructions.

Set a good example!  You're getting older...we expect you to show leadership.

   

Community News

Newton Girls Basketball Association - Winter Intramural Program. The Newton Girls Basketball Association (NGBA) runs an intramural basketball program for girls in grades 3 through high school. The season runs from early December to mid March with games played on Saturdays. You can download registration forms from the NGBA website at www.ngba.net. Deadline for registration is October 11th. For more information, e-mail Pam Cross at pcross@ngba.net.

Newton Schools Foundation Sponsors Family Challenge. Join the Newton Schools Foundation on Saturday, October 5 from 2 to 5 PM for its fall fundraiser, “The Great Race” (a family challenge). This event will send teams on treks around the city to our schools to compete in mental and physical challenges, ending with a victory barbecue catered by the Tiger’s Loft of NNHS where winning teams will be awarded big prizes (like an Apple iBook with printer!). NSF is excited to introduce this event as a way to introduce folks to our fabulous schools and to build community spirit. All proceeds will support the NSF grants programs in our schools. Cost per team (4 to 6 people) is $50, which includes the barbecue. For more information, call the NSF office at 617-559-6120

The Newton Parent Advisory Council for Special Education (PAC) serves as a parent resource and a liaison between parents and administration. They provide a forum for parents to meet each other and with school staff to discuss special education concerns, strategies and programs. Monthly meetings are held at the Education Ctr., 100 Walnut St. All with an interest in education are welcome. Next meeting: 10/24, 7:30 pm, Room 210. Contact Leslie Lockhart at 617-527-5046 for more information, or: newtonspedpac@hotmail.com.

Classified

Openings in After-School Program. The Newton Community Service Centers has a few openings in their After-School Program. Children entering K through 6^th participate in a variety of activities, from sports and games to cooking, arts and crafts, and science to drama. Homework assistance is provided. Two large classrooms, a gym, auditorium, field, structured playground and kitchen are available for program use in the NCSC facility at 492 Waltham Street in West Newton. The program is open five days a week, including most school vacations and holidays. Transportation is available from all Newton and Waltham public schools. For more information, call Jennifer Capello at 617-969-5906, ext. 131.

Want to get paid for doing something wonderful? HouseWorks, a local private pay home care agency is looking for drivers and companions to assist elders in the community. This position is perfect for parents of school age children. Flexible hours. Work as much or as little as you can. All positions are per diem, paid hourly and given a fuel allowance. Call for details 617-928-1010 ext 232.