Welcome back to school, Brown School students and families!
Welcome to another amazing year at Brown School! Whether we are reconnecting with our students and their families or forging brand new partnerships with the newest members of our school community, we welcome you to an unforgettable year. Our partnership will be the key to your child's success. We look forward to beginning our 2018-19 collaborative journey.
Welcome New Staff!
Families will be warmly greeted every day by Sara Codde, our Brown School Secretary. Sara joins us from Upton Middle School. Many of you may recognize her as she is also a proud Brown School parent. Please join me in welcoming Carolyn Kodis to our Young Fives team. She recently obtained her Master's degree from the University of Michigan, spending time teaching in the Ann Arbor area prior to her return to St. Joseph. As a former Brown School student herself, she brings SJ passion and an abundance of enthusiasm to return to her roots.
Alyssa Barkovich is the newest member of our Kindergarten team. She joins us from Berrien RESA where she taught in a transitional Kindergarten Autism classroom hosted within the Niles Public Schools. She is overjoyed to join Mrs. DeLapa in Kindergarten.
Faith Balanowski and Mindi Mach may be familiar faces to many, as they have been part of our Brown School family for many years in their roles as parents. We welcome Faith and Mindi to our special education support team.
We are pleased to welcome Brianne Van Hekken as our newest School Social Worker. She and Mrs. Jasiak will serve our students throughout our three elementary buildings, with Bri calling Brown School "home". She can hardly wait to build relationships with our students and their families.
New Family Meet & Greet
8:25 a.m. Students Enter Building
8:30 a.m. Tardy Bell Rings
3:48 p.m. DismissalStudents enter at 9:25 a.m. on Late Starts
Half-Days Dismissal is at 12:05 p.m.
Back-to-School Ice Cream Social EventThe PTO invites you to attend our annual Ice Cream Social Event on Wednesday, August 29th, from 6:00-7:00 p.m. on our school playground. This is the perfect opportunity for students to visit with friends and meet new classmates. School staff members will be there to welcome you back as well. All Brown School families are encouraged to attend. Y5/K and other new families to Brown School will have the opportunity to participate in self-guided tours from 5:30-6:00 that evening.
September 4th First Day of School - FULL DAY (Y5-5th)
September 17th Back to School Night
Early Literacy is a main focus within our district and for schools across the country. Our home-school partnership is vital for your child's success. Please click on the link below to access an article from Scholastic that will support you in setting the stage for reading routines at home.
Four Helpful Habits for Back-to-School Season
Attention New Families
All enrollment/registration materials need to be complete before the school year begins. If you still need to bring in your child’s birth certificate, immunization record, physical, hearing/vision tests, or your proof of residency, please do so as soon as possible. You can bring them with you to turn in at Ice Cream Social or drop them off at the office anytime before then.
Our school phone number is (269) 926-3500. The school office is open Monday- Friday from 8:00 a.m. until 4:30 p.m. Please leave a message if calling after hours. You may also reach office staff via email at:
kbawks@sjschools.org (Kristen Bawks, Principal)
scodde@sjschools.org (Sara Codde, Brown School Secretary)
Emergency Contact Information
Please update and return the brown emergency information form for your child that was sent home in your welcome packet as soon as possible! It is imperative that we have updated contact information for you upon the start of the school year. Thank you!
Please update and return the brown emergency information form for your child that was sent home in your welcome packet as soon as possible! It is imperative that we have updated contact information for you upon the start of the school year. Thank you!
Thank you for reading along! Please check in next week for updates related to food service, drop off and pick up routines, and bus routes.
It is the policy of the St. Joseph Public School District that no person shall, on the basis of race, color, religion, national origin or ancestry, sex, disability, height, weight, or marital status be excluded from participation in, be denied the benefits of, or be subjected to, discrimination during any program, activity, service or in employment.
