Welcome to a new year of learning!
This is the most exciting time of year! We can hardly wait to welcome our students and their families to the 2019-2020 school year. With the back-to-school season upon us, our hallways are filling up with welcoming messages and eager staff as they prepare for another year of inspirational learning with our students. From the additional of one-to-one device access for our fourth and fifth graders to enhanced training around Kagan Cooperative Learning strategies, as well as the the introduction of flexible seating in all of our Y5-5th grade classrooms, our school's mission to Inspire. Innovate. Achieve. has never been more on point. This certainly promises to be the best school year yet!
Our school-wide theme for our year together is "Superheroes of Learning”. We will be celebrating your child’s super learning potential, along with all of the
Let's get ready to let our superpowers shine!
Kristen Bawks, Principal
2019-2020 Attendance Times
8:25 a.m. Students Enter Building
8:30 a.m. Tardy Bell Rings
3:50 p.m. Dismissal
Students enter at 9:25 a.m. on Late Starts
Half Days Dismissal is at 12:06 p.m.
Please join us for. . .New Family Self-Guided Building Tour (1st - 5th graders) - August 27th from 5:00 - 5:30 p.m.
Y5 & Kindergarten Orientation & Ice Cream Social - August 27th from 5:30 - 7:15 p.m.
Ice Cream Social for 1st-5th Graders - August 28th @ 6:00
p.m.
First Day of School - September 3rd - FULL DAY Y5-5th
Ice Cream Social for 1st-5th Graders - August 28th @ 6:00
First Day of School - September 3rd - FULL DAY Y5-5th
September 16th Back to School Night (1st - 5th grades)
Please bring the following important forms to the Ice Cream Social:
Emergency Contact Information
Please take a moment to update and sign your child's green emergency information form that was mailed to you in your Back-to-School packet. Please note that address changes require a proof of residency. See Sara Codde in the school office if you have recently moved.
Attention Families New to Brown School:
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. Your child cannot attend school until the record is complete.
School Supplies
St. Joseph Public Schools will provide your child with all necessary materials for school. If you would like to provide additional supplies, we would suggest the items listed by grade level below.
Transportation Arrangements for Dismissal
Don’t forget to complete the First Week Transportation Form that was mailed home in your child's packet. This can be given to your child's teacher at the Ice Cream Social event.
We would love volunteers to help with arrival and dismissal the first week of school. Please let the office know if we can count on you!
Crosswalks for Safety
For everyone's safety, please use extra caution as you approach the crosswalks in the school parking lot. In effort to keep the traffic flowing, DO NOT park along the grass next to the parking lot where marked.
Bus Routes
Don’t forget to turn in your yellow bus ridership card the night of the Ice Cream Social!
Bus Routes will be posted on the district website on August 21st. Stay tuned!
You will need to determine the stop closest to your home for pick-up and drop-off for all students in Young 5s through 5th grade. Members of our transportation staff will be at Ice Cream Socials to answer your with transportation questions. Stop by the transportation table to turn in your card and say hello. If you are unable to attend or have additional transportation needs, please contact Sandy Kroening, SJPS Transportation Director, at skroening@sjschools.org or 269-926-3900.
Your child’s safety is a top priority for us! Please be patient the first few days of school as our drivers work to welcome new riders, establish routines, and double check student names. Often, routes tend to run a little longer the first few weeks.
National School Breakfast and Lunch Program
Our breakfast and lunch calendars can be found on our website linked here.
Breakfast
Breakfast will be offered daily from 8:00-8:25 a.m. in the cafeteria. Meal prices are $2.00 for elementary students and $2.50 for adults.
Lunch
Student lunches are $2.50 for elementary and $3.85 for adults per day. This includes the entrée (or alternate choice), vegetable, fruit, bread, and milk. Additional milk may be purchased for 60 cents. Students need to bring lunch money with them on the first day of school unless they have funds left from last year. Any food service debts from last year should be settled as soon as possible. Please visit www.sendmoneytoschool.com to pay or to sign up to view your student’s balance. You may pay online with a credit/debit card. Please note that there is a $1.75 processing fee to pay online.
Free/Reduced Meals Applications for free and reduced price breakfast/lunch were included with your child's welcome back mailing or can be filled out online at www.lunchapp.com (one application per household). Breakfast/Lunch must be purchased until applications have been received and qualification has been determined. Families will be notified when their application has been processed. If there are any questions regarding your application or if assistance is needed filling out the form, please call Demrhy Youngquist at 926-3127.
Our PTO Welcomes You
Hello Brown School Families! We are honored to welcome you to the 2019-2020 school year. There are many amazing opportunities for you and your family here at Brown Elementary School. One is the opportunity to be a part of the school’s Parent Teacher Organization. The PTO is committed to bringing the home and school together. Many of the fun events the school has is thanks to the committees of our PTO at school. Our goal is to be able to provide our students and their families with fun enjoyments to enrich their lives and allow families and school to be united. This would not be made possible without parent volunteers like you.
We would love to hear your ideas and would personally like to invite you to be part of our growing Parent Teacher Organization. Everyone is welcome and every Brown School parent has a voice.
We look forward to working with you throughout the year. Please contact any PTO leader with questions you may have or learn how you can enrich in your student’s school experience throughout the year.
Kindest Regards,
Marylin Bishop
PTO President
PTO Executive Board
Marylin Bishop - President
m.bishop407@yahoo.com
Sheri Baker - Vice President
sheribk@gmail.com
Matthew & April Soyk - Co-Treasurers
soykmw@gmail.com
Jessa Calderwood - Secretary
jessamyn.margoni@gmail.com
Your partnership and volunteerism is the key to our school's success. Please consider offering your time and talents to our staff and students. Click on the link below to learn more.
PTO Meeting Dates & Times
September 17th 7pm
October 15th 12pm
November 19th 8:30am
January 21st 4pm
February 18th 7pm
March 17th 12pm
April 21st 8:30am
May 19th 4pm
We have enjoyed seeing MANY posts of our summer learning champions hard at work on our Brown Elementary Facebook page throughout the summer. It's not too late to get started. Click here to access the learning menu. Go for the gold!
 |
| If you or another adult plans to pick your child up from school at least once per week, click on the link below to register for a rearview mirror tag. Tags will be required for pick-up in our parking lots this year, Pick-Up Mirror Tag Form |
We are in need of lunch monitors and substitute lunch monitors!
If you are interested in either of these employment opportunities, please contact the school office for application details.
Contacting Our School Office
Our school phone number is 269-926-3500.
When calling school to report your child's absence, please press 1. Calls related to attendance are required prior to 8:30 a.m..
The school office is open daily from 8:00 a.m. – 4:30 p.m. during the school year. Summer hours are 8:00 a.m. - 3:00 p.m.. Please leave a message if calling after hours. You may also reach office staff via email:
Kristen Bawks, Principal kbawks@sjschools.org
Sara Codde, Secretary scodde@sjschools.org
Looking for fall activities to enroll your child in?
Check out local offerings by visiting our Community Corkboard.
Check out local offerings by visiting our Community Corkboard.
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.
