Community Update: May 7, 2021
Welcome to this week’s community update. The communication below provides important information from the Public Schools of Brookline. Translated versions are available at the following links:
- Arabic: الرجاء الضغط هنا للترجمة العربية.
- Chinese: 点击这里查看中文翻译.
- Haitian Creole: Klike la a pou tradiksyon kreyòl ayisyen an.
- Hebrew: אנא לחץ כאן לצפייה במסמך בעברית.
- Japanese: ここをクリックして日本語の翻訳にアクセスしてください.
- Korean: 한국어 번역을 보시려면 여기를 클릭하십시오.
- Portuguese: Clique aqui para a tradução em português.
- Russian: Нажмите здесь, чтобы получить доступ к русскому переводу.
- Spanish: Haga clic aquí para acceder a la traducción al español.
- Vietnamese: Nhấn vào đây để truy cập bản dịch tiếng Việt.
Registration and Enrollment
Registration for the 2021-22 school year is in full swing! If you know of any prospective Brookline families who are interested in joining our school community, or know of any neighbors who are looking to return to PSB, please have them visit our registration website (www.brookline.k12.ma.us/enroll) to learn more about the process.
Families who are registering a kindergarten student for September 2021 can find specific information about that process on our website. The kindergarten link includes a very helpful video recording with a terrific, step-by-step overview, as well as a link to the handy On The Road to Kindergarten booklet.
If your student(s) will not be attending the PSB during the 2021-22 school year, you must complete an online withdrawal form at www.brookline.k12.ma.us/withdrawal before the last day of school (June 22). The withdrawal process not only applies to students moving out of Brookline, but also to those who will be transferring to private schools and/or homeschooling.
Commencement Guidance
Last week, the MA Department of Elementary and Secondary Education (DESE) released additional planning guidance for high school graduation and other commencement ceremonies. These guidelines, set by the Massachusetts Department of Labor in collaboration with DESE, are minimum safety standards that schools must follow if they opt to have in-person ceremonies. Each of our school leaders are fully aware of these guidelines, and will plan commencement ceremonies appropriately. You will receive more information directly from your school leader with the event details related to your child’s specific school.
School Committee Elections
Following the town election on Tuesday, May 4, the School Committee is excited to welcome newly elected member Steven Eherenberg and re-elected members Jennifer Monopoli, David Pearlman, and Dimitry Anselme. Ms. Monopoli and Mr. Pearlman first joined the School Committee in 2018, while Mr. Anselme joined last September.
Dr. Eherenberg is a former BEEP and current Lawrence parent and has led educational programs for vulnerable youth in Afghanistan and Myanmar through his work with FHI 360 and RTI International. Most recently, he served on the PSB Educational Equity Parents Advisory Committee and on Expert Advisory Panel #3 to support educators’ use of technology during the pandemic. Dr. Eherenberg received a doctorate in international education policy from the Teachers College at Columbia University.
At their meeting on April 29, the School Committee also bid farewell to outgoing member Babara Scotto, who has served on the committee since 2009. Ms. Scotto first joined PSB as a librarian in the Brookline Early Education Program in 1976 before teaching at Driscoll School from 1981 through 2006. Earning the Brookline Education Foundation’s Caverly Award in 2002, Ms. Scotto’s contributions continued through the School Committee serving as Vice Chair, chair of the Curriculum Subcommittee, and as a liaison to several groups including, METCO, the BHS China Exchange Program, the Brookline Education Foundation, and the Council on Aging/Senior Center. We thank Ms. Scotto for her tremendous service and insight she has provided for our community.
Thank you, PSB Staff!
As we said last week, Brookline is fortunate to have an excellent teaching staff whose professionalism, skills and empathy are unmatched. We hope our teachers enjoyed their designated week of appreciation and know that our gratitude and thanks goes well beyond this single week!
Our celebration for all PSB staff continued with the 8th Annual School Lunch Hero Day, where each school honors and recognizes the impact our school nutrition professionals make everyday in the cafeterias. Check out a short video here, courtesy of our food service team! We are so grateful for our food service staff who make such a difference every day in the lives of our students.
Finally, we invite all of you to thank and appreciate your school nurses for National School Nurse Day next Wednesday, May 12. PSB nurses play a critical role in our school community, and this year that was especially true. Our excellent nursing staff worked tirelessly to help us manage the COVID-19 pandemic, answering questions, educating our staff and families, managing the pooled testing program, and more. Thank you!
Please join me in appreciation and thanks to PSB educators and staff for the important role they play in supporting the health and well-being of our students.
May is Asian-American Pacific Islander (AAPI) Heritage Month!
This week, PSB students wrote, created, and shared biographies of famous Asian and Pacific Islander Americans (and PSB staff!) in celebration of AAPI month. Schools also welcomed AAPI families to discuss their experiences living here in Brookline. Finally, incoming superintendent Dr. Linus Guillory joined the Brookline Asian-American Family Network (BAAFN) in celebration of their annual student essay contest, where five BHS students read essays they had written about themselves and honored the teachers who inspired them. Take a look at some of the bulletin boards that were created here and here, as well as a special morning announcement made at the Pierce School!
School Highlights:
- Runkle: Runkle had its first PAAR (Performing Arts at Runkle) event this week! On Monday, May 3, the school hosted Chris Poulos, a world champion cyclist and inspirational speaker. Mr. Poulos performed a variety of tricks and stunts for the 5th grade class, culminating in a jump over Ms. Kavanagh! Check out some photos and video of the event here!