November already?! Our school calendar is filling up as we head into a season of celebrations, special events, and activities. Thank you for reading along each week to stay connected and informed. We appreciate your partnership!
This Week at Brown School
11/4 2nd Grade Performance @ 6 p.m.
Stuff-a-Truck Collection begins
Last day for Walk-a-Thon donations in order to be in drawing for the Kindle Fire!
11/5 Hassenger to Calling All Colors 9:05 a.m. -11:30 a.m.
11/6 Late Start Day
11/7 1/2 Day - Dismissal at 12:06 p.m.
11/8 1/2 Day - Dismissal at 12:06 p.m.
Pajama Day!
Walk-A-Thon Drawing and Celebration
Coming Up...
11/11 Stuff-a-Truck collection ends11/12 Access in Media Center @ 8:10 a.m.
Thanksgiving Luncheon 11:40 and 12:30
11/13 Late start
11/14 Beauty & the Beast Musical Preview @ the HS ECDD-5th grade leave at 1:15 p.m. and return to school at 2:30 p.m.
11/15 1/2 Day - records day dismissal at 12:06 p.m.
Mrs. Hooker's last day in 3rd grade!
11/18 Welcome back, Mrs. Nowicki!
11/19 PTO Meeting @ 8:30 a.m. - please join us!
Student Council meeting @ 12:10 p.m.
11/20 Late start day
11/21 Parents as Teachers Playgroup 9:30-10:30 a.m.
11/25 Mrs. Nowicki's Class to Calling All Colors 9 -11 a.m.
11/27 1/2 Day- dismissal at 12:06 p.m. - the office will close right after dismissal, please make arrangements in advance
11/28-11/29 Thanksgiving Break - No School
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| Second grade reading conference in action. |
Stuff a Truck Food Drive
Student Council is proud to help connect our school community with the larger Berrien County community by collecting non-perishable (canned goods, boxed dinner/pasta) food items now through Monday, November 11. If you are able, simply pick up an item (or more) at the grocery store, and send it to school with your student to be donated. We collect now because there is a greater need for food around the holidays. In addition to the positive feelings that occur with giving to those in need, there is a classroom incentive (prize) for the class that donates the most perishable food items.
This event is sponsored by 97.5 Y Country and Rogers. Items are donated to the Southwest Michigan Action Agency.
Toys for Tots Opportunity
We are a family here at our school and we want to make sure all the members of our family have what they need. The Marine Corps Reserve Toys for Tots has a chapter in our community that will provide assistance to families in need
around the holiday season by providing gifts for children. If this is a resource that your family might benefit from, please either apply in person at the Salvation Army (233 Michigan Street Benton Harbor, MI 49022) November 4th - November 8th, 2019 or you can apply on-line beginning now through November 8th. Here is a link to the application https://berrien-mi.toysfortots.org You will receive confirmation between November 16-November 23 and the gift distribution process will occur, December 17th and 18th. Further information is available: www.facebook.com/toysfortots and www.twitter.com/ToysForTots_USA.
24 Hour Fever & Vomit Free Rule
When reporting your child’s illness to the school, we need to know what specific illness is affecting your child, including symptoms. This allows us to accurately complete our weekly report for the Berrien County Health Department. Please help us prevent the spread of illness here at school by remembering that your child has to be fever free (without medication) and vomit free for 24 hours before returning to class. Thank you!
When reporting your child’s illness to the school, we need to know what specific illness is affecting your child, including symptoms. This allows us to accurately complete our weekly report for the Berrien County Health Department. Please help us prevent the spread of illness here at school by remembering that your child has to be fever free (without medication) and vomit free for 24 hours before returning to class. Thank you!
PTO Corner
Thank You!
Thank you everyone who has turned in your Walk-A-Thon donations. If you haven’t turned yours in, you can still do so!
Announcements
Walk-A-Thon
Thank you to all our families that have turned in your donations!! We are close to meeting our goal so if you still have yours at home please send them in as soon as possible!!
Donations need to be turned in on Monday, November 4th to qualify to be entered into the Grand Prize drawing for a Kindle Fire! One entry will be given to any student that donates $30, with additional entries for every $10 over that. The drawing will take place during our awards celebration on November 8th.
If you would like to donate online please visit http://Bit.ly/WalkathonDonations. If you wish to sponsor a student you may do this online by using ‘sponsor student’ in the student name section.
Thanksgiving Luncheon
November 12th is the Thanksgiving Luncheon. Kindergarten classes will be singing for their fellow students at this lunch. In the past, parents have only been allowed to attend if they were volunteering at the luncheon. We have reviewed our space constraints and will be allowing Kindergarten parents to attend in standing-room only capacity to watch their children perform two short songs. Parents will be asked to attend a performance based on their child’s class: Mrs. DeLapa and Miss Kodis' classes @ 11:40 and Miss Barkovich's @ 12:30. Also, due to the limited space, we ask that only those volunteering to serve lunch remain for the entire lunch period. If you would like to sign up to serve, you can do so at this link: https://signup.com/go/QznndWP
Reminders
Please download the Box Tops for Education app by visiting https://www.boxtops4education.com/.
Turn in your Walk-a-Thon donations as soon as you have collected them! Please indicate online payments on the donation form.
Upcoming Volunteer Needs
Let us know events you are interested in by filling out the form at http://bit.ly/VolunteerAtBrown. This is not a firm commitment! You will be contacted by the committee with specific needs at the appropriate time.
- Committee Chair Position: Do you like to plan and organize? We are looking for someone to chair the Spring Picnic committee. We have a binder of information to get committee chairs started, you won’t be in this alone! Please let any PTO board member or Kristen Bawks know if you are interested.
- Media Center: 3rd-5th grade classes have been added to the MC schedule through December. If you are interested in assisting with book returns, check-out, reshelving books and class activity centers, please fill out a volunteer form and we will contact you. You choose which shifts (45 minutes per shift) you would like to sign up for - the teachers for each shift are listed so you can coordinate with your student’s time in the Media Center. https://signup.com/go/gAFMxHJ
- Book Fair: The Brown Media Center staff host a Scholastic Book fair a few times a year. Helpers are needed to run the check-out and tidy up stock. Shifts are 1 hour and primarily occur during the school day, though a few evening slots may be available.
- Holiday Shop: The Holiday Shop is quickly approaching. We would love volunteers for December 3rd, 4th, and 5th in the afternoon. During this volunteer opportunity, you would help students shop and bag their gifts. Look for more information soon.
Operation Coats
Please consider donating new or gently worn coats to Operation Coats, sponsored by the Women's Service League. The donation box is located in our office vestibule. Thank you for helping to keep our community members warm this winter! 
Community Corkboard
Looking for fall activities to enroll your child in?
Check out local offerings by visiting our Community Corkboard.
Looking for fall activities to enroll your child in?
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.
