Public schools have long had a commitment to educating the whole child, and a focus on the social curriculum as well as the academic curriculum. In recent months and in light of the COVID-19 pandemic, there has been a renewed focus on social emotional learning for all students across the nation, and BPS is no exception.
This week was the first week that therapy dog Bam Bam visited our school. Many classes were introduced to Bam Bam, a 14 month old English Mastiff who weighs over 200 lbs and eats 11 cups of kibble per day. He was exhausted by 2:15! We look forward to his weekly visits with our students.
Students in both third and fourth grade had epic ski days at Trapps this week, thanks to the fresh powder and excellent conditions! Please enjoy some candid photos from Thursday's trip with grade 3.
We were able to add twelve "persona dolls" to our enrollment this week. Persona dolls are handmade dolls which cover a variety of ethnic, religious, and socioeconomic backgrounds, family structures and lived experiences to support the growth of social-emotional skills in children. The dolls provide both mirrors and windows for each child's lived experience. Each doll’s story is created with input from members of the community that doll represents. Empathy is observed in children from the time they are infants, and we know that empathy needs to be supported and nurtured in order to help it develop and grow. Persona Dolls help children learn the concrete skills they need to use their innate empathy effectively. By interacting with the dolls, children learn social skills, conflict resolution, and problem-solving. Each PK and Kindergarten classroom has a doll and there are six others in the library. Students will have various opportunities to engage with them during their tenure at BPS.
Next week, there is no school for students on Friday 2/3 due to teacher inservice. Teachers from across the district will be engaging in collaborative curriculum work at Harwood.
Thank you to the many volunteers and staff who have supported the ski program thus far. We are so grateful!
In partnership,
Chris & Sarah
PE next week: we will do an indoor week with balance feathers, hula hoops and wands. We will get back to snowboarding again soon! Mrs. Baitz
The Calendar Raffle is Back!
This week, your child received the necessary materials for the Calendar Raffle! The Brookside PTO has decided to collaborate with Crossett Brook this year for an exciting and "gift" focused "Calendar Raffle" fundraiser. This is our first fundraiser since COVID and we really hope it will be a huge success! We are asking students to please SELL! SELL! tickets (there are 10 tickets in the packet, they can always sell more than 10- ask your teacher for more copies if you need them). Tickets can also be purchased online (link is in the student packet) and there are student instructions on the front of the packets. Tickets need to be back to school by Feb 24th. This fundraiser allows Crossett Brook and Brookside Primary to offer a variety of programs that enrich students' lives. Please feel free to help your child sell tickets too! Questions can be directed to trost@huusd.org Thank you so much for your help! Tammy Rost/ Brookside Primary PTO
BPS T-Shirts!
A limited quantity of child small, child medium and child large t-shirts are available on a first-come, first-served basis. $12 each.
Please send cash or check payable to Brookside Primary School with the student's name and size indicated, to the main office.
Thanks!
COMMUNITY POSTINGS
Please note that the opportunities/events listed below are not specifically endorsed or screened by school staff. As always, families should use their own standards and review processes to determine appropriate activities
Got Soap?
Harwood has sent a cohort of students and chaperones over to Rwanda for the last 15 years as a cultural immersion. While we are in Rwanda, students practice ethnography by interviewing community members who work with local nonprofits. In return, we bring supplies that our partner organizations have requested. This year, A Friend Indeed is looking for SOAP. A Friend Indeed works to improve living conditions for single mothers, who are typically stigmatized in Rwandan society. We are looking to collect around 1,250 bars of unused soap for A Friend Indeed by Friday, February 10th.
Please drop off any donations at Brookside Primary, Crossett Brook Middle School, Moretown Elementary, Fayston Elementary, Harwood Union MS/HS, or Waterbury Public Library in the designated collection boxes. If you have any questions, please contact Tara Cariano at tcariano@huusd.org.
Eco Fest!
Friends of Eco at Moretown School is excited to announce the return of ECO Fest - a school wide celebration to raise awareness and funds for the outdoor education program at Moretown Elementary School. ECO Fest will take place on Sunday, February 19th from 1pm - 4p and will host activities such as sledding, herbal tea tastings, a slideshow, donut making, and indigenous drumming. Students and families from fellow HUUSD elementary schools are invited to participate and thereby learn about ECO's goals, benefits, and progress to date.
Waterbury Winterfest and Wanderlust are Back! Enjoy winter adventures and win prizes by joining the Wanderlust Challenge running through February 4, 2023. This photo scavenger hunt is open to kids, families and individuals of all ages and includes 70 different challenges for contestants to pursue during three weeks of mid-winter fun. See attached PDF for more information. Individuals or household teams can register for free at https://waterburywinterfest.com/wanderlust/#scorecard and choose among nine different categories of winter adventure. Contestants upload photos of themselves or their mascots participating in the challenge of their choice by Saturday to qualify for weekly hree Weekly Prize Drawings. Enter your completed activities by Saturday each week in order to be eligible for weekly random drawings from our sponsors! Teams with the highest points during Wanderlust will win Grand prizes and awarded after the final day of Winterfest Sunday, February 5th. Waterbury Winterfest in-person events will take place from an opening ceremony on Friday, January 27th, through Sunday, February 5th. Proceeds support improving access to recreation in the Waterbury area. See the full schedule at Waterbury Winterfest .
Girls on the Run Coach Volunteers Needed
Volunteer to be a Girls on the Run coach for Brookside Elementary this spring! The impact of a Girls on the Run volunteer coach is as boundless as it is beautiful. The Girls on the Run program is an after school program that uses a research based curriculum to empower, increase self-worth and spark joy in its participants. Our 10-week season begins the week of March 27. Our team will meet twice weekly for 90 minutes each session to connect, move, learn and have FUN! Not a runner? Haven’t coached before? No problem! Girls on the Run VT (GOTRVT) provides training, easy to follow lesson plans, supplies and support from GOTRVT for a transformational season. Visit gotrvt.org/coach to learn more or sign up to volunteer. Questions? Contact GOTRVT at Info@girlsontherunvermont.org or 802-871-5664.
Registration is now open for Harwood Youth Lacrosse (HYL)!
There are limited spots so be sure to sign up early!
HYL offers teams at the following levels:
U11 - for players in 3rd and 4th grades (2nd grade by permission);
U13 - for players in 5th and 6th grades;
U15 - for players in 7th and 8th grades.
Indoor practices begin late March. On average, teams practice two days per week and have games with other NVTYLL (Northern Vermont Youth Lacrosse League) teams on the weekends. Typically, games begin late April and run through early June.
No experience necessary! Financial aid is available.
To register or learn more, go to www.harwoodyouthlacrosse.org or email Michaela O'Brien at michaelatobrien5@gmail.com.
