News for the Week of May 17, 2021

 

Our first graders reflected on the power of their curiosity this past week while engaging in Positivity Project (P2) lessons.  

Stay curious, learners!

This Week at Brown School

M-STEP testing continues this week!

5/17   P2 Character Strength: Teamwork

         Last week for book checkout

5/18   Virtual PTO Meeting @ 12 p.m. - please join us by clicking here

5/19   Late Start Day - arrival at 9:45 a.m. 

Coming Up...

5/24   P2 Character Strength: Open-Mindedness

5/26   Late Start Day - arrival @ 9:45 a.m.

5/28   All books to be returned to the M.C. by today, please!

5/31    No School - Memorial Day (ECDD - 12th grade)

      

6/1     P2 Character Strength: Outro Week

6/2     Late Start Day - arrival @ 9:45 a.m.

6/4     Popcorn Friday!

6/9     Hot Dog Picnic Lunch (outside by cohort group)

6/10  1/2 day of school - dismissal @ 12:34 p.m.

         Fifth Grade Farewell Breakfast (students & staff only)

6/11   Last day of school! 

          1/2 day of school - dismissal @ 12:34 p.m.

          Fifth grade awards assembly (5th graders & staff only)

          Fifth grade walkaway 

Spring Book Fair 

Our SJPS Media Department partnered with Forever Books to 

hold our first ever local virtual book fair!  The event opened on Friday, May 7th and will run through Friday, May 21st. Please click here to learn more about this event. 

Thank you for your ongoing support of our schools and local businesses, as well as your commitment to engaging children in literature.  

Daily Health Screening

Thank you for your continued adherence to our daily screening guide posted on our district website before sending your child to school. If he/she is exhibiting any symptoms consistent with COVID-19, they must stay home. It is imperative that we work together to safe safe so that we can stay together.  

If someone in your home is awaiting results of a COVID-19 test, all students need to stay home from school until the results are in. Thank you for your attention to this. 

 

Local Summer Reading Opportunities

Great News!

At Monday evening's meeting, the Board of Education approved the  Brown School playground rebuild using Building & Site funds, in conjunction with our PTO's support. Our students are going to be overjoyed to see the brand new walking track, beautiful new play equipment, shade canopies, and resurfaced pavement. It is going to be amazing! Construction is slated to begin right after the school year ends. 

PTO Corner

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Announcements 

Bucks for Brown

Thank you again to our Bucks for Brown sponsors. This banner is displayed proudly by the front entrance. We appreciate everyone’s support! 

Yearbooks

Our yearbooks have arrived! If you would like to purchase a yearbook, we have extra copies in the office available for $15. 

 

Book Fair

St. Joseph Public Schools is thrilled to partner with our local bookstore, Forever Books, for this year’s spring book fair, which will take place May 7 - May 21. This event will give you the opportunity to stock up for summer reading while supporting your school and a local business.You will be able to shop in-store and online. Twenty percent of the sales will come back to our schools. Forever Books is located at 312 State Street in Downtown St. Joseph.

For a list of the books available for purchase online, see our Digital Flier.

 

5th Grade Farewell

Attention 5th Grade parents! One of the Fifth Grade Farewell traditions is to have a display of baby pictures and guess who is who. Our goal is to include all of our fifth graders by presenting their baby picture and a recent picture. You can upload pictures here: Fifth Grade Farewell Baby Pics

                       

We are also putting together a slideshow of our student’s pictures from elementary school. We are collecting pictures from all their years at school. (Photos do not have to be from Brown School if your child previously attended another school) If you have photos from past parties, field trips, Science Fairs, school plays, variety shows, track meets, etc.. that are of multiple students, we would like those as well. You can add them here: Fifth Grade Slideshow. Please contact Burke Lokey at BLokey@sjschools.org with any questions about the slideshow. 

 

PTO Vote - Teacher Grant

We will be voting on a request to grant funds for a classroom need at our next PTO meeting.  The request is for a new rug and kitchen playset in one of our kindergarten classrooms.  Details for this grant request can be viewed prior to the vote on May 18th: K Grant Request*.  If you have any input, please join us for the PTO Meeting or contact any board member or Kristen Bawks in advance of the meeting.  

*The water bottle holders are no longer part of this request as the board voted to pilot this in the requesting classroom with the potential of school-wide implementation next school year.      

Reminders

Attention all virtual students!! We love seeing what you have been learning in your virtual classrooms! 

Please continue to share your pictures with us on our Facebook page in the Brown Bears Virtual Learning album. 

Please download the Box Tops for Education app by visiting https://www.boxtops4education.com/.  

 

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Save the date for these upcoming virtual PTO meetings:

May 18 @12pm

Schools of Choice

Schools of Choice applications will be accepted May 3-21.  The packet will be available on our website beginning on May 3rd, both on the district home page and all enrollment pages.  Those wishing to apply may download, print and complete the forms and return by US mail, email, fax, or they may drop off the packet to the central office (2580 S. Cleveland Avenue, St. Joseph, MI 49085).  

Families who resided in the district but moved out during this school year, or are attending our schools via a letter of release, only have to fill out the two-page SOC form.  New applicants should complete the SOC form along with the discipline form (and have it signed by the child's current principal).  

If we receive more applications than we have openings for, acceptance will be determined by a lottery drawing.  We may give preference to current students and siblings of current students.  

Families will be instructed to fill out the other enrollment forms online once notified of acceptance.  Applicants should not use the online enrollment process for the initial SOC application. Please call our central office at 926-3101 with any questions. 

Classroom Blogs

Our Brown School classroom teachers have important information to share with families. Please click on your child's class below to view weekly updates.

ECDD

Mrs. Rank and Mrs. LeClear's Class

Young Fives 

Mrs. Schueneman's Class

Kindergarten

Mrs. Hooker's Class 

Miss Barkovich's Class

First Grade 

Ms. Harmening's Class

Mrs. Brown's Class

Mrs. Dilley's Class 

Second Grade

 

Miss Grimm's Class

Ms. Zelenock's Class

Third Grade  

Mrs. DeVore's Class 

Mrs. Lear's Class 

Mrs. Nowicki's Class

Fourth Grade

Mrs. Hassenger's Class 

Mr. Hernandez's Class                

Fifth Grade

Mr. Lignell's Class

Mrs. Lokey's Class

SJVS BLOG LINK Click HERE	DISTRICT TECHNOLOGY WEBSITE Click HERE to access our fantastic resource site put together FOR YOU to help navigate district technology! Having trouble with your district device, email - support@sjschools.org	MENTAL HEALTH RESOURCES Click HERE to access a wealth of resources put together by our SJ counselors and social workers!

St. Joseph Public Schools Foundation News

Check out the positive messages and celebration of our community on the St. Joseph Public Schools Foundation blog.

Be sure to see the information related to the first ever student art contest! Entries are due May 20th by 3:00 p.m.

 Click here to learn more!

Looking for spring 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.