PTO Newsletter 
125 Meadowbrook Rd., Newton, MA 02459 Vol. IV, No. 7 - December 21, 2003
Telephone 617-552-7409, Call Back: 617-552-7524 http://www.newton.mec.edu/brown/

Tuesday 23 December recess begins at 2:30 p.m.
Monday 5 School reopens
Wednesday 14 Early Release Day, 11:30 a.m. dismissal


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Triple "E"

From the Principal
School will close at the end of the day on Tuesday, December 23 and will reopen the morning of Monday, January 5. Also, please note that Wednesday, January 14 is an early release day (professional development) and students will be dismissed from school at 11:30 a.m.

As I reflect upon the past three months, I continue to be most impressed with the efforts of students and teachers engaged in extraordinary teaching and learning experiences. Additionally, I want you to know how much all of us at Brown appreciate the feedback and support we have received from you. Please remember that Newton School Committee Policy does not permit teachers to accept personal gifts from parents or students. If you would like to recognize or thank your teachers, a card or note is suggested as an appropriate gesture. Additionally, a donation may be made to the Brown PTO for the Library Book Fund.

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

The first term has ended and everybody is anxiously awaiting the holidays and vacation. School ends on Tuesday at 2:30, not 3:00 as previously listed in the newsletter calendar.

The directories were sent home in students' backpacks to those families who have paid their PTO dues. If you have still not paid your dues, send in your $30.00 and you will be sent a directory as long as supplies last. If any dues-paying family wants a second copy, they are $5.00. Send in requests and checks to the PTO at the school.

The PTO sends a sincere apology to the several students who were inadvertently left out of the directory. If your child was not included and you want them to be listed, please send the name, address, phone, parents'/guardians' names and grade/team to the PTO brownpto@brownpto.org. (Those who have already called or emailed us don't need to do it again.) We will issue an addendum in January with the missing information.

The Printer Recyling Program has produced our first reward check for $166. Thanks to all of you who have dropped off used toner cartridges to the green bin by the school office. Remember, this is an ongoing program that benefits the Brown school community. Keep bringing in those cartridges.

The PTO recently purchased three digital cameras, memory cards and rechargeable batteries for use by the Yearbook team. These will help the students document for the yearbook pictures of their friends, teachers, staff and school.

The Winter Concert on December 3rd was a gala performance! Thanks to Tom Sheppard, Carlton Doctor, Pat Freysinger, Caleb Cutler and Matt Rosenthal for leading the Concert Band, Melody Makers, Jazz Band, Brown-Oak Hill String Orchestra, Wind Ensemble and the Redwood Singers. We are proud of all the performers who put in many long hours to produce this night.

We wish all the Brown students, teachers and staff, and their families Happy Holidays and a warm, safe and restful vacation.

Steve Hamilton (617-527-2954) Julie Sall (617-965-3972)
PTO Co-Presidents, brownpto@brownpto.org
At the School

Note from the Nurse:

6th grade parents - Thanks to all who have responded so quickly to my letter. Please read the letter carefully-these items are required by the end of the year and I sent letters also as warning of what will be needed at the next check-up (such as tetanus booster-which many 6th graders still need). Thanks for your continued help in this.

Also, with so many questions about the flu, I wanted to share a couple of helpful web sites-first for basic information about the flu- www.cdc.gov/flu/about/disease.htm and the second is about children and the vaccine shortage- www.aap.org/new/decimmunization.htm

Maureen Bisaga, R.N.

Political Action Update

1. High School Renovation Project: 2. Budget Review: The Council will provide updates as they occur in the School Committee meetings. For more detailed School Committee minutes, go to: www.newtonpublicschools.com.
The PTO Political Action representatives
Community News
ANGLE (Association of Newton Gay and Lesbian Educators) is sponsoring a potluck dinner for gay and lesbian parents who have children in the Newton Public Schools. Please come to meet gay, lesbian, and bisexual teachers and allies on January 29th at 6:00 pm in the Newton South High School Cafeteria. Please contact Michael Kozuch at Newton South High School at 617-552-7530 or email at Michael_Kozuch@newton. mec.edu to sign up to bring a dish or if you have any questions.

Summer Opportunity Fair: FREE and OPEN to all, the Summer Opportunity Fair, which will be held on Sunday, January 11th from 1-4 pm at Milton Academy, hosts 85 camp and trip directors. It's a wonderful way to spend the afternoon learning about all types of potential opportunities for your children next summer. This event is sponsored by Milton Academy Parents' Association and Student Trip and Camp Advisors (SCATA). Please contact Susan Gershenfeld at 617-965-9725 or SCATA at 617-558-7005 for more information. For directions visit www.Milton.edu.

A Step Ahead Basketball Holiday Clinics: When: December 26–28th; Time: 8:30am – 1:00pm; Who: Boys & girls ages 7 - 13; Where: Brown Middle School. For more information log onto our website at www.asahoops.com or call director Brendan Smith at 617-909-5990 or e-mail him at asabasketball@yahoo.com.

Classified

Buckowsky's At-Home Tutoring Services: We are Boston College Educated tutors with transportation who provide on-site one-to-one hour-long session tutoring in almost all disciplines. The goal of this service is to offer affordable at-home tutoring in a comfortable learning environment. Our competitive advantage lies in our flexibility, as a family can choose a time that is convenient to a typically busy weekly schedule. $30 for an hour long session. Our qualified tutors begin sessions January 20th, 2004 and go well into spring, with the possibility of extending in summertime.  We look forward to hearing from you!  Contact Derek Buckowsky, Boston College, '02, Finance, at derekbuckowsky@hotmail.com or: 617-921-0413.

PLUGGED IN: The winter session of PLUGGED IN, the teen jam band program in Needham, will begin the week of January 18th. Registration deadline is Monday, January 5th. To register, or for more information, please call 781-956-4281. PLUGGED IN teaches students (ages 11-18) how to put together a band and how to choose music and arrange it for different instruments. Students will also perform in a live benefit concert. Staff includes Berklee trained musicians. Students must have a basic knowledge of chosen instrument. The goal of PLUGGED IN is to provide a nurturing environment in which each student can grow artistically and gain self-confidence.

Tutoring: Are you looking for an experienced tutor for your child? We will deliver the perfect tutor to your home to match your child's specific needs! Teachers To Go, Inc., Newton, MA - a private in-home tutoring service, experienced teachers, all grades, all subjects. Call (617) 964-6401.

TECHNOLOGY CONCIERGE SERVICES: Do you nedd help with selecting or setting up a new PC? Do you want to set up a network to share the Internet or printers? Is your existing computer acting up? Are you concerned about what your children are doing on the Internet all the time? Do you need help using your PC? Convenient appointments available - any time, any day 24X7!!! GIFT CERTIFICATES AVAILABLE - 10% will be donated to your PTO. SPECIAL CHRISTMAS EVE COMPUTER SET UP APPOINTMENTS AVAILABLE! Your Technology Concierge - Paul Bloom - can help. Please call (617-835-3411) or email TechnologyConcierge@comcast.net for details.

HIGH TECH HELP: Tech help for your home PC; will pick up and deliver; Computer maintenance, cable/DSL routers, data transfers, upgrades, training, virus detection and removal. CALL SEAN:617-244-5157.

Tiny Tots in Newton (daycare): Has one-, two- or three day spots available for children ages 1-3. Choose from full- or half-day openings. Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday. For more information, call Kathy: 617-244-5157.

HANDYMAN AL: Licensed electrician and handyman can help you with all your needs CALL: 617-244-5157.

Burr Cooperative Nursery School is now offering tours and accepting applications for the 2004-05 school year. BCNS is a small parent cooperative preschool in Auburndale with a strong emphasis on fostering the developmental growth of each individual child through learning, playing and interacting as a group, and empowering children to feel increasingly confident in their ever-widening world. For information, please contact Anne Douglass, Ed. M., Director, at (617) 332-0886.

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