PTO Newsletter 
125 Meadowbrook Rd., Newton, MA 02459 Vol. IV, No. 1 - September 12, 2003
Telephone 617-552-7409, Call Back: 617-552-7524 http://www.newton.mec.edu/brown/

Tuesday 16 Primary Election Day
Wednesday 17 Pollution Prevention Day in Newton, Free Library, 1:00 - 8:00 p.m.
Thursday 25 Brown Back to School Night, 7:00 - 9:15 p.m.
Thursday 25 Early Release Day - 11:30 a.m. dismissal
Wed-Fri 1-3 Parent Visiting Days, 8:30 to 10:30 a.m.
Saturday 18 Building Brown, 9:00 a.m. - 3:00 p.m.


Archives


Voice Mail

PDF Version
Triple "E"

From the Principal

Welcome back to the new school year and thank you for a wonderful school opening!

We are into the second week of school and I have been most impressed by how quickly our 778 students have settled into the daily routines of middle school, focused on learning. As I visit classes, I am delighted and inspired by the hard work and efforts of both students and teachers engaged in exciting and meaningful learning experiences.

It was great to see so many of you at our Back-to-School Picnic. For me, that evening provided an opportunity to meet many of you and to strengthen our sense of connectedness as a school community. I want to thank Steve Hamilton and Julie Sall, Brown PTO co-presidents for the work they have already done to help welcome everyone back to school. Additionally, I would like to thank Carol Laibson, Nina Levin, Liz Richardson, and our PTO committees for the delicious luncheon provided to welcome back teachers and staff on September 3, as well as, their extraordinary efforts to make the Brown Bookstore Presale a success.

The four Newton middle school principals along with assistant superintendents Carol Daynard and Judy Malone-Neville will leave on Thursday, September 11 for a ten-day trip to China. The trip is sponsored by the Newton China Exchange Program directed by Charlotte Mason and Carolyn Henderson. We will be attending an International Conference at the Jingshan School in Beijing, visit an elementary and middle school in Xiuning, Anhui Province and then visit Shanghai. This is a very exciting opportunity for all of us. We will return to Newton on Sunday, September 21.

Please plan to join us for "Brown Back-to-School Night" on Thursday, September 25 from 7:00 – 9:15 p.m. We look forward to sharing with you the many and varied opportunities that your children) experience here at school. On that evening, teachers will share with you their goals, information on their program and an overview of the curriculum. Please note that the schedule for the evening does not provide time to discuss the progress of individual students. It is our hope that all parents will plan to attend this important evening event and become better acquainted with the teachers and programs at Brown Middle School.

Also, please note that Thursday, September 25 is an “Early Release Day” and students will be dismissed at 11:30 a.m. Additionally, all parents are invited to visit Brown Middle School in session any morning from Wednesday, October 1 through Friday, October 3 between 8:30 - 10:30 a.m. Please come to the conference room where you will meet a student guide who will take you to visit classes in session. Your guide (a present 7th or 8th grade student) will answer all your questions about Brown and give you a student’s perspective about middle school. We hope you will be able to join us.

Your active support and involvement are a vital part of Brown Middle School!

John Jordan
John_Jordan@newton.mec.edu
From the PTO
To our Fellow Brown Community Members:

Welcome back everyone! We hope you all had a fantastic summer. We're happy to see the returning familiar 7th and 8th graders and their families and glad to meet the new 6th graders and their families. An exciting new year is quickly unfolding.

These biweekly newsletters are filled with Parent Teacher Organization information and a calendar of events. We welcome submissions, due the Friday before publication, from all members of the Brown community, but the PTO reserves the right to withhold publication of any submission. Please send any submissions to brownpto@brownpto.org.

Each year the PTO tries to reduce the number of printed and mailed copies of the newsletter, thereby saving significant costs. So, if you are not already receiving the newsletter by email, we encourage you to send us your email address to brownpto@brownpto.org and we'll add you to the email list.

To the many of you who have already returned the PTO Membership Dues Form located in the Blue Book with your dues and information, thank you. We urge those who have not yet responded to send us your completed forms and dues payments. We're hoping for 100% participation. Anyone with financial need may speak in confidence with Mr. Jordan. As a benefit of membership, PTO Members receive the Brown Student Directory.

Many PTO volunteers have been working hard already to start the year. Thanks to Liz Richardson, Nina Levin, Carol Laibson and their team of "cashiers " who provided the School Store Pre-Sale. It was an overwhelming success. Thanks also to the Brown community shoppers who purchased their school supplies here rather than at the big box office supply houses. Next year we will get the supply lists out sooner and extend the store hours to accommodate day working parents/guardians. As many of you know, our prices are extremely competitive!

Thanks to Nina Levin who organized the Teacher/Staff Appreciation lunch on Wednesday before school started. The sumptuous spread was well received. And, thanks to Cathy Fulton for again organizing the school pictures along with Margie Dulberg and Kim Faso.

Thank you all who braved the cool evening and attended the Back to School Picnic. It was fun to catch up and exchange summer experiences with new and returning families.

As mentioned in the Blue Book, the Brown School Council has open positions for four (4) parent representatives for two-year terms. If you are interested in running for these elected positions, please submit a short letter of 100 words by email or letter to the PTO mail box in the school office by Friday, September 19, 2003. The two returning parent representatives, Ellis Waingrow (617-969-8044) and Liane Hartnett (617-964-7001) would be happy to tell you more about the role of the School Council. School Council meetings are scheduled once a month. The schedule and agenda for the monthly meetings (open to the entire Brown community) will be included in upcoming newsletters. Ballots will be in the next newsletter and should be returned to the school office by Friday, October 10.

Remember to put the dates of these events on your calendars:

There are numerous opportunities to join in and help the PTO. Send us an email to sign up to volunteer for: We appreciate your active support of the PTO. Please feel free to call or email us with your concerns or questions. We hope to see you at the many school events throughout the year. Thank you.
Steve Hamilton (617-527-2954) Julie Sall (617-965-3972)
PTO Co-Presidents, brownpto@brownpto.org
At the School
Technology: Attention all parents/guardians; this is a reminder that the Internet, E-Mail, and Computer Network Internet Safety Policy forms are due by Wednesday October 1, 2003. These forms must be returned before your child will be able to use any computer at Brown Middle School. Your child will be receiving a full copy of the policy and orange signature form in the Students' Rights and Responsibility Handbook on Monday September 15th. All forms should be turned into their contact teacher. Ms DeFonseca will also be available on Back to School Night, September 25, 2003 to collect the forms. A copy of the policy is available to download from the Brown website at www.newton.mec.edu:16080/Brown/ITS/its.html.
Robyn DeFonseca, Instructional Technology Specialist
Community News
Primary Election Day: Tuesday is Primary Day in Newton. There are two important city wide votes involved in the primary. They are, Ward 6 School Committee and Ward 3 Alderman At Large. Remember that ALL can vote in these races, and voter turnout is important!

Pollution Prevention Day: On Wednesday, September 17, the City of Newton is co-sponsoring Pollution Prevention Day events at the Newton Free Library from 1 - 8pm. There will be musical entertainment, an environmental summit, and informational handouts on topics from recycling to household hazardous waste to conservation. Please stop by the library to learn more about this vital cause.

Community Walk for Hope: The AIDS Orphans Education Project, organized by Newton students, raises funds to help African AIDS orphans attend school in their own countries. Please join us for a 3.5-mile walk on Sunday, September 21, from 1 - 5pm. The walk begins and ends at Newton North High School, 360 Lowell Ave. Information, registration and pledge forms are available at http://necsi.org/aoep, or call Jake at (617) 332-4804.

Music Lesson Extension Program: The Fine Arts Department is currently signing up students in grades 5 - 12 for music lessons under the Music Lesson Extension Program. The program matches students with professional instrumental music teachers. For more information, or an application, call (617) 559-6151.

Youth Ensemble Performance Get into the groove with the Apple Pie ensemble, playing Jazz, pop & Rock & Roll. Listen to songs by Chuck Berry, the Beatles, Duke Ellington and many more. The Apple Pie ensemble worked and performed for the past year under the direction of Tal Shalom Kobi. The ensemble includes 5 musicians playing Trumpet, Keyboard, Guitar, Percussion and Drums. The ensemble will be performing at the Hyde Community Center on 9/20 at the yearly ice cream event.

Newton Girls Basketball 2003-2004: Let the games begin! Time to register for the upcoming Newton Girls Basketball season. Join the more than 600 players (Grades 3-12) who play NGBA basketball. This is a recreational league for Newton girls; fun for beginners and experienced players alike! Games are played on Saturdays, starting early December and continuing into early March; practices are for one hour once during the week. Find out more about the league by visiting our website at www.NGBA.net. Registration deadline is early October. We especially encourage new 3rd grade players and will allow an interested volunteer parent coach to help identify and "group" girls from a specific elementary school to play together. For more information about putting together a 3rd grade team from your school, please contact Libby Hohmann lhohmann@ngba.net or Chris Maxwell cmaxwell@ngba.net now!.

Basketball League and Teaching Programs: Newton Community Service Centers, Inc. (NCSC) will run a basketball league for boys and girls, ages 4 - 15, from December 6 through March 28. Registration is Saturday, October 4, from 12-3 at the NCSC gym, 429 Waltham Street, West Newton For more information, call Kevin Burns at (617) 969-5906, ext. 181.

"Step Up and Read" The Second Step is sponsoring an evening with Michele Weldon, author of I Closed my Eyes, on October 9 at 6:30pm. Ms. Weldon will discuss the violence she suffered in her 12-year marriage to a highly successful, well-respected attorney. Tickets are $20, or $50 for a pre-event supper with the author. For more information, contact Leeanna Varga at The Second Step, (617) 965-2026.

TEEN SEWING & KNITTING PROJECT: Teens and nearly teens can bring their own sewing or knitting project to the Brigham Community House, 20 Hartford Street, Newton Highlands, or they can be creative with our donated supply of fabric, yarn and patterns. There is even the opportunity to learn to spin yarn. This program is staffed by experienced adult sewers and knitters and meets from 3 to 5 pm every Tuesday. Contact Christine Micklitsch at 617-969-8367 or Dewduckin@aol.com for more information. Be sure to note Teen Sewing & Knitting project on the message line.

Classified

The Youth Ensemble program: is designed for students who like to play and perform with a steady small group, playing Pop, Jazz, Latin and Rock & Roll. "Each ensemble includes 1-2 horn players (Sax, clarinet, flute, trumpet, or trombone) keyboard player, guitar, Bass and Drums." The ensemble groups meet every other week for an hour and a half, 6:30-8:00 p.m. on Tue/Wed/Thu. The fee is $20 each time. Call Tal for more details: 617-9654071 or go to www.talmusicworld.com.

Piano Lessons: Jane Wanger, a piano teacher with several years of experience teaching students of all ages and levels, offers lessons in her home, 25 Arlington Street, Newton; or through the All-Newton Music School. For information, call her at (617) 965-2305, or email thewangers@prodigy.net.

Violin Lessons: Sophia Chang, a violin teacher in the Newton Fine Arts Department Music Lesson Extension Program, offers private lessons in her studio, which is near Newton South High School. For information, and a free trial lesson, call her at (617) 969-6951.

Children's Theater: Newton Center Stage Children's Theatre, the city's longest running children's theatre program, is now taking registration for its 17th season. Classes in acting, speech, musical theatre, public speaking, story-telling, movement, mime, and manners & etiquette are offered for children of all ages. For more information, call director Colleen Segal at (617) 969-6196.

BROWN PTO NEWSLETTER. The newsletter will publish, at the sole discretion of the PTO, articles and other information of interest to the Brown Middle School Community. SUBMISSIONS: by email to editor@brownpto.org, by US mail to Brown Middle School PTO, Newsletter Editor, 125 Meadowbrook Road, Newton, MA 02459, or by drop off in the Brown Office Mailroom. Deadline Saturday evenings. See the latest newsletter at www.brownpto.org