Community Update: June 4, 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.
We are happy to announce that PSB did not report a single positive COVID-19 case throughout the district this week! In addition, there were no positive cases identified through our pooled testing program for students and staff. This important milestone couldn’t have been met without the help of our school nurses and student health services team. We also want to thank our students, staff, and community members for following safety protocols, practicing healthy habits, and doing their part to keep our community safe!
June is LGBTQ+ Pride Month!
In celebration of Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, and Queer (LGBTQ) Pride Month, we are partnering with the Brookline Office of Diversity, Inclusion, and Community Relations and Brookline Department of Public Works for a community project. Over the next few weeks, students from the Gender Sexuality Alliance (GSA) at our schools will be painting Pride Crosswalks at our schools - a project that initially began in 2019 when the crosswalk was painted at Town Hall. Sidewalks have already been painted at BHS, with more to follow at Ruffin Ridley, Runkle, Lincoln, Lawrence, and Baker Schools. For more information, or to join one of the painting sessions, please contact Caitlin Starr.
Last Day of School: ‘Grab N Go’ Lunch
As you know, the last day of school this year is Tuesday, June 22. Students are dismissed at 12:00 noon on the last day of school and no lunch periods are scheduled on this day. However, a bagged lunch will be prepared by our Food Services staff and distributed to students for them to eat after dismissal. Students can pick-up their lunch on their way out of the building at their school’s ‘Grab N Go’ station.
Student Vaccination Clinics - 2nd Dose
With over 400 students vaccinated at our schools, PSB and Pelmeds Pharmacy are now opening the registration process for students 12 years or older to receive their second dose of the Pfizer COVID vaccine. Registration is also open for students who are receiving their first dose of the vaccine, or are looking to receive their second dose of the vaccine three weeks after getting their first dose outside of PSB. As a reminder, please arrive on time to your scheduled appointment and come prepared with your signed consent form. You can sign up for an appointment here. Clinics will be held at the following dates and locations:
- Thursday, June 10 - Brookline High School, 2:30pm-6:00pm
- Wednesday, June 16 - Baker School, 12:30pm-4:30pm
- Friday, June 18 - Ruffin Ridley School, 2:30pm-6:00pm
REMINDER: Family Survey on SY2021-22 Plans
You should’ve received an email from your school leaders requesting more information on your family’s plans for the new school year in September. We ask that you complete this short survey by Thursday, June 10. If you have not received this email and would like to receive a direct link (or have difficulty completing the form), please contact enroll@psbma.org.
Reopening of Public Libraries and Town Hall
All three public libraries in Brookline (Coolidge Corner, Brookline Village, and Putterham) reopened earlier this week as the Town continues to lift its COVID-19 restrictions. In addition, school offices at Town Hall and at 2 Clark Road will also re-open to the public by Monday, June 21.
School Highlights
- Pierce: Led by Art Teacher Ms. Black and David Leifer of David Leifer Photography, 8th grade students shared their Self-Portrait Exhibition on display in the Pierce Amphitheater. These projects were created as part of a month-long “Contemporary Self-Portrait" workshop and designed to capture student emotions and feelings in a COVID-influenced environment. Check out an article posted by the Brookline Patch detailing this exhibition!
- Remote Learning Academy (RLA): Eleven 7th graders participated in the ten-week long Discovering Justice program over the spring 2021 semester. Students met weekly for two-hour sessions with attorneys from Vertex in Boston and learned about the Bill of Rights and civil trial procedures. These students also participated in a mock trial with activist Mary Beth Tinker based on the 1968 Supreme Court case Tinker v. Des Moines, which explored the rights of students’ free speech in public schools. Congratulations to RLA 7th grade student attorneys on their outstanding work and to advisor Victoria Cavanaugh for supporting and advising her team to such a wonderful conclusion!