1/27 Kindness Week begins!
Pennies for Patients begins
(runs through 2/14 - se additional information below)
Student Council meeting 12:10 in Mrs. Lokey's room
Pennies for Patients begins
(runs through 2/14 - se additional information below)
Student Council meeting 12:10 in Mrs. Lokey's room
Release Time Bible Class 1:05 p.m.
1/28 Ms. Zelenock's class to Calling All Colors 9:30-11:00
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.)
Brown School Spelling Bee @ 4p.m. in the school gym
Coming Up...
2/3 or 2/5 Performing Arts parent informational meeting for current 5th grade families 7 p.m. @ Upton
2/4 Miss Grimm's class to Calling All Colors 9-11 a.m.
Variety Show tryouts @ 4pm
2/13 First Grade Musical 6 p.m.
2/14 Last day for Pennies for Patients!
Classroom Valentine's Day parties @ 2:30
(unless class is skating or at gym, art, or music - see classroom teacher's communication)
School-wide Ice Skating Celebration (see schedule below)
2/21 Ice Skating "Rain" Date
Classroom Valentine's Day parties @ 2:30
(unless class is skating or at gym, art, or music - see classroom teacher's communication)
School-wide Ice Skating Celebration (see schedule below)
2/21 Ice Skating "Rain" Date
2/27 LEGO Night in the Brown School gym 6:00-7:30 p.m.
3/12 SJPS Young Fives/ Kindergarten Round-Up held @ Brown School 7 - 8 p.m. - spread the word to friends!
3/12 SJPS Young Fives/ Kindergarten Round-Up held @ Brown School 7 - 8 p.m. - spread the word to friends!
Mrs. Lear modeled Bal-A-Vis X with
staff members Friday afternoon.
Learn more about this innovative practice by clicking here.
The school index ratings have been released and we are proud to say that Brown School has A LOT to celebrate! Our school scored 97.51 out of 100, placing us at the top of the list throughout Berrien County and the state of Michigan. Among other things, this score is based on student growth, proficiency, and school quality/student success.We are so proud of our dedicated students, our amazing staff and our incredibly supportive families. Please see mischooldata.org for additional information regarding our school rankings.
Class Colors Day - Jan. 31st
Student Council invites you to participate in January's Fun Friday - Class Colors Day. Grades are invited to wear their assigned class colors to show the SJ Bear Pride. [Y5-K WHITE, 1-2 MAIZE, 3-5 BLUE].
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| Mrs. Hassenger taught others how she differentiates math instruction using NWEA data and Khan Academy. |
Pennies for Patients & Kindness Week
In conjunction with Kindness Week, beginning Monday 1/27 and running through Friday 2/14, Brown School is participating in the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society’s (LLS) Pennies for Patients program; a service-learning program that gives students the unique experience of working together to help raise awareness and funds in honor of thousands of children and adults fighting against blood cancers!
We are asking that everyone (students, faculty, parents, alumni, etc.) at Brown School join in this effort of raising awareness and collecting funds to benefit the mission of LLS: to find cures for blood cancers and to improve the quality of life for patients and their families. WE NEED YOUR HELP!
Click this link for online donations. You will need to create account (I selected “log in with Google” and it was pretty simple and straightforward). In the “Get Involved” box - click on Join Your School Team. Online giving is most efficient. If you set up online giving for your student, you can now share the link through Facebook Fundraisers. Then you can share the link with family and friends near and far, so they can donate too.
You can also contribute by filling the collection box coins/dollars at home. Please send in collection boxes to school either when they are full or at the end of the campaign on Friday 2/14. Your classroom teacher will add your donation to the class collection bag. There are even some fun incentives!
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| Miss Barkovich shared how she uses SeeSaw to communicate student learning with families. |
PTO Corner
Announcements
Variety Show
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.
Box Tops
Box Tops receipts for delivery services, such as Shipt, now work with the digital Box Top collection. For more information, visit https://boxtopsforeducation.knowledgeowl.com/help/electronic-receipts
Committee Chairs
Do you like to plan and organize? We are looking for people to help lead the following committees - they have varying degrees of time required, so please consider what you can do to help our school! If interested in either of these positions, please contact Kristen Bawks or Sheri Baker (sheribk@gmail.com).
- Young Authors - our current chair will no longer have a student at Brown next year. We are looking for someone interested in art/writing to help put our annual Young Authors book together. You will walk alongside our current chair this year to learn the ropes for next year.
- Holiday Shoppe - our current chair will no longer have a student at Brown next year, but is able to meet and discuss the process for organizing this event. Holiday Shoppe occurs once a year, shortly before the winter break. Responsibilities will include purchasing items for the shop (we have a vendor, this is not difficult), setting up the event, and organizing a volunteer schedule (you don’t have to find the volunteers).
- PTO Treasurer
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 do NOT need to know how to skate! We need help putting skates on, tying laces, as well as on the ice (even in your shoes). 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. Shifts will be listed with the classes in attendance at that time so you can be there to watch your child.
- Media Center: Help in the Media Center is a continuing need. 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. 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.
- Board Books: The Media Center is in need of board books for our youngest students. If you have any gently used books that are in need of a new home, please consider sending them in.
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| Mr. Lignell shared how he utilizes tech tools like WeVideo to have students demonstrate their learning. |
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| Ms. Barron and Mrs. Brown teamed up to share the importance of team building exercises to impact positive classroom community and cooperation. |
Classroom News
Ms. Zelenock's Classroom News
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| Mrs. Nowicki shares her class's morning meeting format with her colleagues. |
Community Corkboard
Looking for 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.
