Thank you for teaming up with your child's classroom teacher and our school staff everyday. Our partnership is the key to your child's success. Please consider joining us on Tuesday afternoon for our January PTO meeting in the media center at 4:00. Children are welcome! We'd love to share the many ways we are enriching your child's educational experience, as well as work together to build connections with other families in our school community, and gain your insight and hear your ideas. This Week at Brown School
1/20 NO SCHOOL TODAY in observance of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.
1/21 Miss Grimm's class to Calling All Colors 9:30-11:00 a.m.
PTO Meeting in the Media Center @ 4:00 p.m. - please join us! Children welcome!
1/22 NOT A LATE START DAY!
1/22 NOT A LATE START DAY!
3rd graders to Sarett 9-11:30 a.m.
1/24 1/2 day of school - dismissal @ 12:05 p.m.
Coming Up...
1/27 Kindness Week begins (more details to be shared in next week's post)
Release Time Bible Class 1:05 p.m.
1/28 Ms. Zelenock's class to Calling All Colors 9:30-11:00 a.m.
5th graders to SJHS for Performing Arts Recruitment Concert 12:45-2:30 p.m.
1/29 Late Start Day
1/30 Vocal / Instrument Petting Zoo for 5th graders (a.m.)
1/29 Late Start Day
1/30 Vocal / Instrument Petting Zoo for 5th graders (a.m.)
Brown School Spelling Bee @ 4p.m. in the school gym
Mark your calendars for these fun school sponsored events:
2/14 School-wide Ice Skating Celebration @ Howard Ice Area in SJ - get your volunteer form in now! You won't want to miss this fun day!
2/21 Ice Skating "Rain" Date
2/21 Ice Skating "Rain" Date
2/27 LEGO Night in the Brown School gym 6:00-7:30 p.m.
PTO Corner
Thank You!
Thank you popcorn makers - our students love popcorn Fridays!
Announcements
Variety Show
Information for the 2020 Variety Show, “Dreams,” came home Friday with students. Permission slips must be returned by Friday, January 24th. Tryouts will be Tuesday, February 4th with opening act practice on February 18th and Dress Rehearsal the evening of March 2nd.
The variety show will be at the high school on March 3rd. There will be a daytime performances for fellow Brown School students and an evening performance for families.
SJ Bears Blankets
LAST CALL FOR SJ BEARS BLANKETS!!!!!
We have only a few blankets remaining...if you would like one (or another!), please email Rachelle Galsterer at rmbaker1976@yahoo.com or message her. Blankets will be sold for $50 on a first come, first served basis until they are gone.
Reminders
Please download the Box Tops for Education app by visiting https://www.boxtops4education.com/.
Yearbook Candids
Our yearbook staff is working hard to compile the 2019-20 yearbook. Please upload and pictures you have taken to our PTO Facebook page in the albums. Feel free to email them to sheribk@gmail.com as well. Thanks for your help!
Upcoming Volunteer Needs
Let us know events you are interested in by filling out the form at http://bit.ly/VolunteerAtBrown. You will be contacted by the committee with specific needs at the appropriate time.
- Ice Skating: The annual ice skating date is Friday, February 14th. Please fill out the form in the link above if you are interested in helping. You MUST have a background check on file with the school to volunteer with students! Please contact Sarah Codde in the office for a background check form.
- Media Center: Help in the Media Center is a continuing need. If you are interested in assisting with book returns, check-out, re-shelving 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. The signup has been updated with 3rd - 5th grade spots through Spring Break. Please note: the dates are subject to change. https://signup.com/go/gAFMxHJ
- Book Fair: The Scholastic Book Fair will be in the Media Center on March 23 - 27th. A volunteer signup will be made available soon.
GIRLS ON THE RUN
Register Now!
Brown Elementary School will again be hosting a Girls on the Run team in Spring 2020! 3rd, 4th and 5th grade girls can join our team that will meet for ten weeks starting February 24th.
Days: Monday and Wednesday
Time: 4:00pm - 5:30pm
They will have lots of fun with games that incorporate social-emotional learning while practicing for a celebration 5K event on May 15th! For more information, go to www.gotrswmi.org/our-programs.
Registration is now open! Please visit www.gotrswmi.org/registernow to register.
We are also looking for coaches! Please visit gotrswmi.org/coach to find out more information.
Questions? Please contact Robin Lawrence at rel3414@gmail.com
PlayIt Safe! Classroom Presentations
Saint Joseph Public Schools is proud to join other school districts across Berrien County in partnering with the Children’s Advocacy Center (CAC) of Southwest Michigan to bring the nationally recognized PlayIt Safe! Program to our schools. Presentations at Brown School will begin the next week.
Play it Safe!® is a child abuse awareness and prevention program that incorporates age-appropriate scripts and movies to teach children how to reduce their risk of sexual and physical abuse, and sexual assault. It teaches them to recognize potentially abusive behavior, provides the tools to respond to threatening situations, and encourages them to report abuse to a trusted adult.
All students in Kindergarten - 5th grade will participate in a lesson designed with content specific to the grade level. Trained professionals from the center will lead the learning to help students in recognizing three kinds of touch how to respond using a 3-part safety rule if they are ever in an uncomfortable situation. This safety rule can be applied to many situations that students may encounter on a daily basis, such as bullying and online situations, peer pressure, or exploitation by friends/family. The safety rule encourages assertive responses, whether it is used with strangers or someone the child knows and loves.
For more information about the program, including previews of the materials, visit the PlayItSafe.org website. If you prefer your child does not participate, please email Mrs. Bawks at kbawks@sjschools.org.
Saint Joseph Public Schools is proud to join other school districts across Berrien County in partnering with the Children’s Advocacy Center (CAC) of Southwest Michigan to bring the nationally recognized PlayIt Safe! Program to our schools. Presentations at Brown School will begin the next week.
Play it Safe!® is a child abuse awareness and prevention program that incorporates age-appropriate scripts and movies to teach children how to reduce their risk of sexual and physical abuse, and sexual assault. It teaches them to recognize potentially abusive behavior, provides the tools to respond to threatening situations, and encourages them to report abuse to a trusted adult.
All students in Kindergarten - 5th grade will participate in a lesson designed with content specific to the grade level. Trained professionals from the center will lead the learning to help students in recognizing three kinds of touch how to respond using a 3-part safety rule if they are ever in an uncomfortable situation. This safety rule can be applied to many situations that students may encounter on a daily basis, such as bullying and online situations, peer pressure, or exploitation by friends/family. The safety rule encourages assertive responses, whether it is used with strangers or someone the child knows and loves.
For more information about the program, including previews of the materials, visit the PlayItSafe.org website. If you prefer your child does not participate, please email Mrs. Bawks at kbawks@sjschools.org.
Volunteering Reminder
We love to welcome volunteers to Brown School! Please note, that if you are planning to volunteer in your child’s classroom at any time during the rest of this school year, and have not filled out a Volunteer Consent Form yet, you must have one on file before you are able to volunteer. Forms are available in the office. Thank you for your cooperation!
We love to welcome volunteers to Brown School! Please note, that if you are planning to volunteer in your child’s classroom at any time during the rest of this school year, and have not filled out a Volunteer Consent Form yet, you must have one on file before you are able to volunteer. Forms are available in the office. Thank you for your cooperation!
Outdoor Gear
Students love enjoying the wintery playground! When the "real feel" temperature is at least ten degrees, we will enjoy the great outdoors for recess. Please help your child enjoy
every minute of it by making sure to send boots, hat/ear muffs, gloves/mittens and snow pants to school every day. If your child is in need of winter gear, please let his/her teacher or the office staff know. We would be happy to help.
Please be sure to label items with your child's name and encourage him/her to search the lost and found for any missing gear - the collection is growing.
Please be sure to label items with your child's name and encourage him/her to search the lost and found for any missing gear - the collection is growing.
Classroom News
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.
