Fifth Grade Celebration of Learning

The Brackett 5th Grade Celebration of Learning (formerly 5th Grade Graduation) is on Monday, June 16, 1:00-2:00 p.m. in the Brackett Schoolyard (Rain Location: Brackett Gymnasium).

Please do not arrive before 12:30 p.m.

If you have any questions, feel free to email fifthgradecommittee@brackettpto.org.

Brackett 5th Grade Bowling Social

The Brackett 5th Grade Bowling Social is on Tuesday, June 17 (the day after the “Celebration of Learning”).  We will be going to Leo’s Metro Bowl in Peabody, MA.  This event will happen during the school day — students will arrive to school and take Arlington School bus to Metro Bowl.

5th Graders will celebrate with fun music, cosmic bowling (glow in the dark), and lunch at the bowling alley.

Please wear your Brackett Bulls t-shirt and BRING SOCKS!

Teachers will be organizing the bowling lane groups/assignments.

If you have any questions or concerns, feel free to email fifthgradecommittee@brackettpto.org.

Can’t wait to celebrate!

Last Day of School and 5th Grade Clap Out

Traditionally, on the last day of school (Monday, June 23), the whole school (teachers, staff, and 1st-4th graders) line up and stand against both sides of the hallways outside of their classrooms. The fifth graders walk from the 3rd floor of Brackett down each hallway and each floor as the lower grades clap and cheer them on. They end their walk by exiting the front doors of Brackett for the last time as Brackett students and are met with cheering and clapping from Brackett families.

We would like to invite families to come at 11:00 a.m. on Monday, June 23 and wait outside the rainbow doorway — the Clap Out starts at 11:15 a.m.

Please have your child wear their Brackett Bulls T-Shirt.

If you have any questions, feel free to email fifthgradecommittee@brackettpto.org.

Gaining Ground

Help with farm tasks at Gaining Ground on Saturday, June 14 from 1:15-2:45 p.m.

The farm is located at 341 Virginia Road in Concord, MA 01742. This nonprofit organic farm donates all the fresh vegetables and fruit it grows to area meal programs and food pantries.

Please wear your Brackett Bulls T-shirt to show your 5th grade pride!

When you arrive, you will walk out through the fields to the farm pavilion. You will be welcomed and introduced to Gaining Ground and their hunger-relief role. The farmers will explain what’s going on at the farm and the tasks they’ve lined up for our group. Then, you will work alongside their staff—planting, mulching, cultivating, harvesting, washing, etc. At the end of our visit, the farm staff returns with us to the pavilion to share observations and experiences.

This project has a limit of 20 volunteers. We are suggesting each adult can bring up to 3 fifth graders they know (you are responsible for them on site and coordinating their transportation to/from the site; please make sure you have their guardians contact info in case of emergency). Please note this is not a drop-off volunteer opportunity. It is outside of school time, so there are no formal chaperones. Unfortunately, we do not have space to accommodate siblings.

Farm work is in the dirt. Wear clothes and shoes or boots that you don’t mind getting dirty. Bring gloves if you like, your own small towel and a change of clothing, especially on hot or wet days. It is rain or shine, so dress accordingly and bring a water bottle.

Important: Please read the full release, preparation, safety & directions document before the event.

Please note: All volunteers must sign the Release & Waiver of Liability which acknowledges the inherent risks posed by volunteering on a working farm.

Sign up here!

June Fair

June Fair is Back!

Help the PTO bring this Brackett tradition to life by volunteering to help run one of the many activities, sell concessions, or set-up/clean-up.

This year, activities include:

• Sand Art
• Build a Photo Frame
• Make Bead Bracelets
• Spin Art
• Lollipop Tree
• Temporary Tattoo Art
• And More!!

Come join the fun and be a leader in the Brackett community by helping younger students with activities!

Sign Up Here!

Arlington 5th Grade Social

The Arlington-wide 5th Grade Social is coming to Ed Burns Arena on Friday, June 6, 6:00-8:00 p.m.! The event of the season for all graduating 5th graders — an exciting occasion for up-and-coming middle-schoolers!

For some children, it’s their first independent event. We want the kids to have fun and celebrate while being safe. Please review Arlington Recreation’s Code of Conduct and remind your child what is expected from the Recreation Department Staff.

Online tickets close at 3:00 pm on Thursday, June 5. TICKETS FOR ADMISSION ONLY AVAILABLE AT THE DOOR FOR $20. Combo tickets are not available at the door.

Come rock the night with your friends and a DJ! Friend groups and super casual dress encouraged!

Additional money will be needed for concession stand items.

Please note: Only Arlington 5th Graders are permitted to attend!

Cradles to Crayons

Help check, sort, and package clothing and other essential items for kids in need at Cradles to Crayons’ Giving Factory on Saturday, May 31 from 10:00 a.m.-12:00 p.m.

The building is located at 281 Newtonville Avenue, Newton, MA 02460, with parking available on site.

Please wear your Brackett Bulls T-shirt to show your 5th grade pride!

This project has a limit of 40 volunteers (adults & kids). Each adult can bring up to 3 fifth graders they know (you are responsible for them on site and coordinating their transportation to/from the site; please make sure you have their guardians contact info in case of emergency). Please note this is not a drop-off volunteer opportunity. It is outside of school time, so there are no formal chaperones. Priority is for fifth graders; we may be able to accommodate siblings if there are still spaces available two days before the event.

Please note: liability waivers are required for all participants. Please register in their volunteer portal and fill out this waiver at least two days before the event.

Cradles to Crayons kindly asks that all volunteers help contribute to their mission by bringing in donations or shopping their Amazon Wish List.

Please take a moment to look over their student group expectations before volunteering.

They request you arrive 15 minutes prior to the session to check-in and encourage you to bring your own reusable water bottle.

Sign up here!

Movie Nights

The fifth graders will be raising for their fifth grade activities, yearbook, and class T-shirts by hosting two fundraiser Movie Nights (in December and March) and holding a bake sale in conjunction at the PTO Community Movie Night in January!

Friday, March 28, 2025

Fifth Grade Fundraiser Movie Night:

Honey, I Shrunk the Kids

The Fifth Grade Committee will be holding a Fundraiser Movie Night on Friday, March 28, 5:30 p.m.

Fifth graders and their families are invited to bake/buy and donate (individually wrapped) tasty treats to sell at the bake sale.  All proceeds benefit the Fifth Grade Fund.  Donations will be accepted before/after school on Friday or at Movie Night.

Fifth grade students also have the opportunity to volunteer to sell concessions and more!

Sign up to donate baked goods or volunteer to staff the sale here!

Thank you for supporting the fifth grade class!

STEM Night Bake Sale

Friday, March 21, 2025, 6:00-8:00 p.m.

Ready, Set, Bake!

Fifth graders and their families are invited to bake/buy and donate tasty treats to sell at the bake sale.  All proceeds benefit the Fifth Grade Fund and supports our class activities, t-shirt, yearbook, and the Celebration of Learning (formerly 5th grade graduation).

Bring your favorite brownies, cookies, bars, muffins, cupcakes — any delicious confection works!

All Baked Goods Should Be:

• Individually wrapped to sell for $1.00.
• Labeled “Contain Nuts” if you have nuts in the recipe. (We will have a note on the day of explaining that the bake goods are homemade and may be packed in a nut, soy, etc.. home).

Volunteer: Food Link

On Wednesday, February 5th from 2:30-4:00 p.m. or Thursday, March 13th from 3:00-4:30 p.m., students can sign up to volunteer at Food Link (108 Summer St, Arlington) with an adult.

Sign up for this activity is full.

Food Link rescues fresh, quality, surplus food from grocery stores and wholesale suppliers and distributes the food to over 90 community organizations serving food-insecure people throughout 40+ Eastern Massachusetts towns and cities.

This is a hands-on experience, activities may include sorting produce and non-perishable food, depackaging and composting expired food, loading/unloading their vehicles, and cleaning tasks inside and/or outside the building.

If you were able to volunteer at Arlington EATS, we ask that you do not sign up for Food Link, to give other students a chance to volunteer. If you are looking for more ways to volunteer on your own, don’t forget the family resource guide. 

Glow Dance Bake Sale

The fifth graders will be fundraising for their fifth grade activities, yearbook, and class T-shirts by holding a bake sale in conjunction with the 2nd Annual Glow Dance on February 7!

Friday, January 24, 2025, 6:30 p.m.

Ready, Set, Bake!

Fifth graders and their families are invited to bake/buy and donate tasty treats to sell at the bake sale.  All proceeds benefit the Fifth Grade Fund and supports our class activities, t-shirt, yearbook, and the Celebration of Learning (formerly 5th grade graduation).

Bring your favorite brownies, cookies, bars, muffins, cupcakes — any delicious confection works!

All Baked Goods Should Be:

• Individually wrapped to sell for $1.00.
• Labeled “Contain Nuts” if you have nuts in the recipe. (We will have a note on the day of explaining that the bake goods are homemade and may be packed in a nut, soy, etc.. home).

Sign up to donate baked goods or volunteer to staff the sale here!

(bake sale donations: scroll down to the bottom of the sign up page)

Volunteer: Martin Luther King, Jr. Day of Service

For January, we won’t have an organized event but encourage students and their families to consider signing up for volunteer events in honor of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. to make Monday, January 20th a day on for service!

Please email the 5th grade committee if you sign up for either, so we can help people find each other.

Lexington is hosting its 12th annual MLK Day of service. Projects include: donating food, toys, clothing, and more to help local nonprofits; delivering toys or food donations; sorting and packaging food (this one is at FoodLink in Arlington); or make appreciation cards for veterans. Learn more and sign up here.

Boston Cares is hosting its annual MLK Day of service at the Boston Latin School. This in-person volunteering event is for ages 5+. You can sign up to make items that will be donated to four nonprofits, including fidget toys for Waltham Partnership for Youth, blankets and more for School on Wheels and Pine Street Inn, and valentines for seniors at Ethos. Learn more and sign up here.

Volunteer: Arlington EATS

Following the Brackett Fall Food Drive, students and their adults volunteered at two activities helping Arlington EATS, a local non-profit that works with the community to help eliminate food insecurity and hunger in Arlington. 

On December 3, students/caregiver volunteers delivered all of the food donations from the Brackett Food Drive to Arlington Eats — two huge carloads!  Then, on December 11, students/caregiver volunteers visited Arlington Eats to learn about their work and help sort and shelve the food drive donations.

Both volunteer opportunities were a huge success!

Movie Night – Ferdinand

Friday, December 6, 2024

In honor of this year’s fifth grade mascot, the Brackett Bulls, the fifth graders showed the movie Ferdinand for their first Movie Night Fundraiser.  Students ran all of the concessions and donation tables and together raised over $1,200 for the Fifth Grade Fund, which will go towards the class t-shirt, yearbook, fifth grade social, and the Celebration of Learning (formerly fifth grade graduation).

Fifth graders, congratulations on a fantastic event!

Election Day Bake Sale

Congratulations Fifth Graders!

Thank you to all of the fifth graders and their families who made our Election Day Bake Sale a success!

We couldn’t have done it without the massive amount of SPECTACULAR baked treats that were contributed by the class and all of the AMAZING fifth graders that volunteered their time to run the sale.

Together we raised: 

$2,016.00

Fantastic job, fifth graders — you should all be very proud of all of your hard work!