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Superintendent's Update April 11, 2025
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The communication below provides important information from the Public Schools of Brookline.
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Greetings Brookline,
At the April 10th School Committee meeting, additional modifications to the FY26 budget proposal were approved that places the budget gap at approximately $1.7M. The Town-School Partnership has scheduled a meeting on Monday, April 13th to review the current status of the school department budget.
Reductions/modifications approved:
- A reduction to the building department schools repair and maintenance allocation
- Reduced positions from student services (attrition/open position based, 3.2 FTE)
- BHS reduced 3.6 positions (associate Dean, MCAS coordinator, two para positions)
- Modified/adjusted prior reductions previously taken to realize more savings (retirements, IT adjustment, custodial adjustment)
The committee also voted to remove the following option from consideration:
- K-8 Curriculum Coordinators
The Committee also committed to maintaining BA&CE through the conclusion of the summer 2025 programs.
We will continue to provide updates as the budget process moves forward and welcome your feedback. Thank you for your ongoing support and partnership in our shared commitment to excellence in education.
Sincerely,
Linus J. Guillory Jr., PhD
Superintendent
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I write to inform you of two incidents that took place yesterday afternoon in our community. Four Brookline elementary students had uncomfortable interactions with an unknown adult male.
The first incident took place when two students were followed by the individual while walking to their destination. A separate interaction, involving the same individual but a different group of students, occurred a short time later at the Brookline Village Public Library. The individual was not known to any of the students.
Each of these students and their parent(s) met with the Brookline Police, and an arrest has been made. We are grateful for the quick actions of the students to contact their parents and other safe adults. Our school personnel are aware and are supporting the students and families appropriately.
These incidents remind us of the importance of taking the time to remind our children of safe behaviors and how to react in uncomfortable situations. We want to partner with you in reinforcing essential safety skills for when children are unsupervised outdoors. Whether walking to a friend’s house, playing at a local park, or heading to or from sports practices, it's important that all students feel empowered to make safe choices and stay aware of their surroundings.
- Situational Awareness: Encourage children to stay alert and aware of their surroundings. This means looking around regularly, noticing who and what is nearby, and being cautious in unfamiliar areas.
- Earbuds and Phones: Remind students to remove earbuds and avoid looking at their phones while walking — especially when crossing streets. Eyes up and ears open help them stay safe and aware of traffic and people around them.
- Trusting their Gut: If something doesn’t feel right, it probably isn’t. Teach your child to trust their instincts. If a person, situation, or place makes them uncomfortable, they should leave the area and seek help right away.
- Identifying Safe Adults: In a situation that feels unsafe, students should know how to find a trusted adult for help. A "safe person" might include a crossing guard or police officer, a store employee, a teacher or coach, or an adult with other children. Remind them it’s okay to speak up and ask for help if they feel uncertain or unsafe.
- Using their Voice: If you see something, say something. In an uncomfortable situation, use your voice to get the attention of others to assist. It is perfectly acceptable to use your voice to let a person know that they are doing something you do not like.
These skills are essential not only for the spring and summer months, but for lifelong independence and confidence. If you need support in teaching or reinforcing these skills to your children, please reach out to your child’s counselor or any safe adult at school. School staff are always available to provide wrap-around support to help children build the skills they need to be safe and healthy.
Thank you for reinforcing these strategies at home as we continue to support your child’s safety and well-being.
Please don’t hesitate to reach out if you have questions or would like additional resources.
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Whether you decide to continue enrollment at PSB or relocate outside of Brookline, our staff is here to help.
The Public Schools of Brookline is committed to ensuring that we support any family throughout their student(s) education tenure. As we transition from one school year to the next, we understand that your family’s circumstances may have changed or will change in the future.
We request that you please notify us of your preliminary considerations for the upcoming 2025-26 School Year by filling out a very brief online survey on the Aspen Parent Portal by Tuesday, April 29. Directions on how to access and complete the survey can be found below.
Please complete a survey for each PSB student in your family. Completing this survey will help facilitate your student(s) class placement for the upcoming school year. If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to contact our enrollment team at enroll@psbma.org or by telephone at (617) 264-6492.
Only active PSB students in grades Kindergarten through 11th grade are required to complete this survey.
Graduating seniors at BHS and rising Kindergarten students do not need to fill this form out. Rising 9th grade students (Class of 2029) should complete the verification form sent earlier on March 21.
For more information and resources to help complete the enrollment survey, please visit here.
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The results of the 'I Voted' Sticker Contest are out. Congratulations to all the winners!
A big thank you to the Town Clerk's Office for organizing this contest, and giving our students a platform to express their artistic creativity.
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Members of Brookline High School's Climate & Food Justice Club invite you to a School Committee Candidates Forum on Thursday, April 17, from 4pm to 5:30pm, at the MLK Room on 115 Greenough Street.
This is an opportunity to get to know the School Committee candidates ahead of the May 6 election, and to ask them questions. Please join this important conversation!
The forum is organized by students in the BHS Climate & Food Justice Club, Climate Action Brookline, and the School Committee’s Climate and Sustainability Task Force.
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The 2025 Congressional Art Competition, sponsored by the Congressional Institute and the Congressional Arts Caucus to promote artistry and creative thought in students around the country, invites high school students (grades 9-12) who reside in the Massachusetts 4th District to submit one piece of original artwork, which will be judged by a panel of local artists.
The categories for artwork include paintings, drawings, collages, prints, mixed media pieces, computer-generated art, and photography. All works must be two-dimensional and no larger than 26 inches high, 26 inches wide, and 4 inches deep, including a frame. Please see the Rules for Students and Teachers form for more detailed information.
Submission Guidelines
- Deadline: Friday, April 18 at 5pm.
- Drop Off at the Congressman’s District Locations: Students, parents, or teachers can drop off the artwork at any of our district locations:
- Newton Office (29 Crafts Street, Suite 375, Newton, MA 02458)
- Attleboro Office (8 N Main Street, Suite 200, Attleboro, MA 02703)
- Fall River Satellite Location, open on Wednesdays from 10 am - 4 pm or by appointment (1 Government Ctr, Office 237B, Fall River, MA 02722)
- Pick Up at Schools: If needed, schools may reach out to Catarina Pereira (catarina.pereira@mail.house.gov) to arrange for a staff member from the Congressman’s office to pick up all their students’ submissions at the school directly. Please contact Catarina by April 9th if you would like to make these arrangements.
- Students must complete this online form, in addition to this Student Release Form, if they are submitting artwork for the competition.
Judging and Reception
A panel of local artists will judge all the works submitted. The winner will be announced at Congressman Jake Auchincloss’ Art Competition Reception. The reception is being held on Saturday, May 17 from 3pm to 4pm at the Attleboro Arts Museum (86 Park Street, Attleboro, MA 02703). A formal invitation will follow. The winning student will then be invited to an annual Awards Ceremony in Washington, D.C. this summer, and their artwork will be displayed in the Capitol for a year.
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Calling all LGBTQ+ students and caregivers in Brookline — come to our district-wide meet-up to find community and support, on Tuesday, April 29 from 6:15pm to 7:30pm at the Brookline Village Public Library — Hunneman Hall.
For Caregivers of LGBTQ+ Youth: These are hard times for many LGBTQ+ youth, and we want to offer a space where the parents and caregivers of LGBTQ+ students can come together to talk, find community, and offer support to one another. There will be a discussion of resources that exist in Brookline for LGBTQ+ students, and staff members who lead LGBTQ+ programming in Brookline Public Schools will be present to answer questions.
For LGBTQ+ Youth: While adults connect, LGBTQ+ youth from around Brookline are invited to attend a peer space of their own, led by Brookline educators and high school students. This is a great opportunity for LGBTQ+ young people to connect across the district.
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Preserving the hopes and concerns of youth facing the climate crisis
On Friday, May 9, Brookline High School seniors will dedicate a time capsule containing objects that represent experiences and places that they cherish, and hope will withstand the next 25 years of climate disruption. A sign will mark what lies below with a QR code inviting the public to read about the buried objects and the stories of the young people who selected them.
The event, which takes place from 1pm at the Cypress Playground, across the street from the BHS 22 Tappan building, is open to the public, and will include remarks from Massachusetts State Representative Tommy Vitolo, Alexandra Vecchio, Director of Sustainability and Natural Resources for the Town of Brookline (and a collaborator on the project), Felina Silver, a local poet and community activist, BHS climate educator Roger Grande and several students who will share their Time Capsule stories.
Support for the Time Capsule comes from the Brookline Education Foundation, the Brookline High School PTO and Brookline Rotary.
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A big congratulations to PSB Food Services for winning the Terrific Trays Competition for April 2025. Each month, Massachusetts Farm to School and the Massachusetts Department of Elementary and Secondary Education (DESE) host this competition to showcase outstanding meals featuring locally-sourced ingredients.
PSB’s award-winning all-vegan meal, served at Brookline High School, features kelp meatballs, cilantro-lime rice, and rainbow carrots sourced from Joe Czajkowski Farm. It also includes a fresh salad made with lettuce from Little Leaf Farms and orange wedges. The cilantro and thyme used in the dish were harvested from BHS indoor terraponic garden.
We now need your support to help PSB secure the Terrific Tray of the Year title. Please be sure to cast your vote before Friday, May 9.
VOTE NOW
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May 2025 marks one year since PSB signed the Forward Food Pledge — a pledge to make 50% of all menu items served in the National School Lunch Program plant-based by 2027. In year one, we have achieved 86% of our target goal.
On Tuesday, May 20, we will celebrate our progress, sample menu items, and discuss this achievement in creating one of the most sustainable school lunch programs.
PSB Food Services invites the community to join us at Brookline High School's Tappan Cafeteria. We will talk about how we've achieved this, the lessons learnt, and how our collaboration with our partners from the Humane Society of America and Warriors for Animal Rights student partners have been instrumental in our success. Community members will have the opportunity to sample some of the amazing recipes that we serve daily, as well as enjoy recipe demos with students.
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An opportunity for a graduating high school senior in the Greater Boston region.
The Metropolitan Area Planning Council (MAPC) is excited to help support the next generation of planners in the Greater Boston region through their scholarship award, Planning Our Communities: Reimagining the Region.
The application deadline is Friday, April 18.
Base Scholarship Amount: $1,000 (to be used at a college/university of the recipient's choice)
Eligibility
Graduating high school seniors from a secondary school from any of the 101 cities and towns in the Greater Boston region who are committed to advancing a more equitable, sustainable, collaborative, and climate-friendly region through studies in any of the following fields:
- Climate
- Community Engagement
- Community, Housing, and Economic Development
- Environmental Protection
- Geographic Information System (GIS) and Spatial Analysis
- Inclusive Mobility and Transportation
- Municipal Governance
- Planning
- Public Health
- Public Policy
- Sustainable Development and Preservation
For more information or to apply, visit the scholarship webpage.
If you have any questions, or are having trouble accessing the online application, please contact Patrice Faulkner at pfaulkner@mapc.org.
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The BHS Innovation Fund cordially invites parents/caregivers of rising 9th graders to a wine and cheese social on Wednesday, April 16. This is an opportunity to socialize with other rising 9th grade parents/caregivers, current BHS faculty and parents, Head of School Anthony Meyer, and to learn more about the work of this parent-led non-profit at Brookline High School.
This free event is for parents/caregivers of next year's freshman class at BHS, and is adult-only. Wine, beer and light hors d'oeuvres will be served.
When: Wednesday, April 16 from 7pm to 9pm
Where: Hemlock Grill, Robert Lynch Golf Course, Chestnut Hill
REGISTER
Questions? Please contact stacey_zelbow@psbma.org.
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Brookline Adult & Community Education (BACE) is offering a week-long program for kids ages 5–12, from April 22 to 25 at the Roland Hayes School. Choose from full-day or half-day sessions filled with fun and enriching activities. For more info or to register, visit brooklineadulted.org or call 617-730-2700.
Register
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This week's art comes to us from Olivia Reyelt's 7th-grade students at the Driscoll School
Masks are used in cultures across the globe for a variety of ceremonies and celebrations, where they offer an opportunity for both anonymity and symbolic transformation. A mask can both conceal one's public face, or reveal a truth or alternate perspective that is hidden under the surface.
Artist Kimmy Cantrell creates clay mask sculptures that use asymmetry to challenge traditional definitions of beauty. With bold colors, shapes, patterns, and textures, his masks celebrate imperfections and flaws that he finds more interesting than perfection.
Students in Ms. Reyelt's seventh-grade classes at the Driscoll School created their masks using layers of cardboard shapes to describe the features of the face. Saturated colors and additional materials, such as wire and nails, were added to the masks to highlight the eccentric shapes and their asymmetrical relationships. Many of these masks were a part of Driscoll's fabulous Arts Equinox celebrations.
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April 18: Good Friday (Category I Holiday) — schools closed
April 21: Patriots' Day — district closed
April 21-25: April Vacation — schools closed
May 26: Memorial Day — district closed
June 8: Brookline High School Graduation
June 19: Juneteenth — district closed
June 23: Last day of school (if no more weather cancellations)
June 24-27: Make-up days for weather cancellations
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Passover (April 13-20)
Passover, or Pesach, is an eight-day holiday that commemorates the Jewish people's liberation from slavery in Egypt. It is a time to reflect on freedom, resilience, and tradition, and is celebrated with storytelling, symbolic foods, and gatherings around the Seder table.
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Good Friday (April 18)
Good Friday is a solemn day of reflection for Christians around the world, marking the crucifixion of Jesus Christ and his sacrifice for humanity. It is a time for prayer, gratitude, and remembrance in preparation for the hope and renewal of Easter.
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Easter (April 20)
Easter is a celebration of renewal, hope, and new beginnings. For Christians, it marks the resurrection of Jesus Christ and the promise of life renewed. It's a time for reflection, joy, and connection with loved ones.
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The Daily Grind
Theater for Social Change presents The Daily Grind, consisting of seven original scenes centered around the benefits and challenges of community, exploring themes of belonging and toxicity. The performance will be followed by a post-show discussion to invite audience members to reflect on how themes in the show connect to their lived experiences.
When: Tuesday, April 15 at 7pm
Where: Roberts/Dubbs Auditorium, Brookline High School
Tickets are $10 for adults, $5 for students, and free for PSB staff and 8th graders.
Get Tickets
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Brookline Interactive Group's Afterschool Classes
Brookline Interactive Group (BIG) has a range of exciting afterschool classes and workshops for middle schoolers this spring.
Learn More
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Brookline Senior Center's Appreciation Celebration
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Public Schools of Brookline
www.brookline.k12.ma.us |
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