IN THIS ISSUE:

Save the Dates
Brackett Bank
Toy Donations
Math Mornings
DIG Meeting
Box Tops
PTO Meetings
Brackett Facebook Page

Community News:
Arlington Youth Counseling Center Gala
Parent Forum: Supporting LGBTQUI + Youth
AHS Building Project Forum
Solstice @ The Harvard Museums of Science & Culture
SEPAC Meeting
Menotomy Rocks Spooky Walk

SAVE THE DATES:

Brackett Bank

The Brackett School Savings Bank will be opening for the 34th year!
Below is the opening schedule for the 2019-2020 school year.

 
Students in grades 1 through 5 are invited to open an account and make deposits and withdrawals from their account on Friday mornings between 8:30 and 9:30 am during the school year.  Interested 5th grade students may sign up to volunteer at the bank.  More information will be provided through room parents.
 
This is a great opportunity for our children to learn about saving their money!
 
If you have any questions about the bank, please contact the Brackett Bank team at brackettbank@gmail.com.

Dear Brackett Families, 

Every December, my mom and her friends travel to Guatemala to deliver toys to children in the indigenous villages with an organization called Vamos Adelante (https://vamosadelante.org/) Vamos Adelante provides education, water, vaccinations, and medical attention to the neediest villages in this area. My mom and her friends travel from Boston to Guatemala around the holiday season to deliver toys to these villages where the children line up to receive their only holiday gift. The appreciation and gratitude that they demonstrate cannot be described. 

This October, I am reaching out for donations of gently used toys. They can be anything from small cars or trucks, soccer balls, dolls, action figures, plastic animals, etc. They ask that nothing require batteries or be too large in size. We will be collecting toys from Tuesday, October 8th to Friday, October 18th and there will be boxes around the school to put the toys in. Be on the lookout for a handout coming home with your child as well as posters around the school. 

Thank you so much for your generosity and please feel free to reach out to me (hfinn@arlington.k12.ma.us) with any questions! :) 

Best, 

Hayley Finn

On behalf of the STEM Committee, teams of parents will again be running MATH MORNING Friday mornings at 7:30am

Math Morning is an extracurricular, supplemental math program intended to inspire and energize students about interesting math topics. Each session typically includes a brief slide presentation on the topic, followed by worksheets with fun exercises. Parents are invited and encouraged to stay and assist their child with the worksheets, and are very welcome to join the teams.

We need 3rd Grade parent volunteers to run 3rd Grade Math Morning!  If you are interested, please contact Scott Uebelhart (scott.uebelhart@gmail.com) for more details.

4th Grade Math Mornings are FRIDAYS in the Library.  All 4th graders and their parents are welcome!!  Contact Scott Uebelhart (scott.uebelhart@gmail.com) for more details

Tuesday, December 10 at 8:15 am and 6:30 pm
Tuesday, February 4 at 8:15 am and 6:30 pm
Tuesday, April 7 at 8:15 am and 6:30 pm
Tuesday, May 12 at 8:15 am and 6:30 pm

We hope to see you there! 

Sincerely, 
The Brackett PTO

Arlington Youth Counseling Center (AYCC) Gala

Friday, 11/1, 7 PM to 10:30 PM, Arlington Town Hall

Each year, hundreds of Arlington community members come together to support the work of the Arlington Youth Counseling Center (AYCC), promote the value of community mental health, and celebrate the year’s accomplishments. In addition to honoring Carlene Newell, a member of the Board of Youth Services, the gala will feature raffles, a silent auction, live music by the Arlington High School Jazz band, hors d’oeuvres, and a cash bar.  This year we are thrilled to be the first town event to offer a low waste event and will be partnering up with Zero Waste Arlington (formerly the Recycling Committee).  The tickets are $75.00pp which will also include a free drink ticket. We look forward to seeing you and your continued support!!

PARENT /COMMUNITY FORUM

“Building Community To Support LGBTQIA + Youth:  An interactive Discussion for Parents & Guardians”

Wednesday, October 23, 2019            7-8:30 pm   Ottoson Middle School

Do you wonder how to create a home that celebrates clear communication between youth and families about sexuality and gender?  We will create a space to explore these questions and learn about the resources in our community to affirm all of the children in our schools.

Together we’ll explore what gender and sexuality mean today and places to find role models of varied backgrounds for us and those in our care.  We’ll also delve into ways to process our feelings about youth development and the risks they take to be themselves in ways that nurture healthy communication, good boundaries, and trust.

Parents, guardians and support networks are all invited on this journey with us.

Presenters:  Members of the Arlington Rainbow Commission and LexPride.          

AHS Building Project Forum Oct. 30

The AHS Building Project has moved into the Design Development phase and project partners have been busy over the summer. Learn more about the project’s progress at the next Community Forum on October 30th, from 7-8:30pm at Town Hall. 

Topics covered will include:

• Project overview and process going forward, including the next phase of Estimating and Value Engineering

• HMFH Architects design update - facade, interior, athletic fields

• Consigli Construction - timeline, phasing plans, student impact

The forum will answer questions such as: “What updates have been made to the design?”, “What buildings will be completed when my 6th/7th/8th/etc. grader is at AHS?” and “What effect will construction have on students?”

During the Design Development phase (summer 2019 - summer 2020), all aspects of the design for the new school will be finalized. Current plans are to begin construction pre-work in March 2020 and construction in October 2020. The first building is expected to be open to students in January 2022, and the school fully constructed in 2024 (followed by one year of site work).

For more information, visit www.ahsbuilding.org, or follow the project on Facebook and YouTube.

For daily updated calendar and event information, please check the Brackett Website at http://brackettelementary.org/

The Brackett Enews welcomes submissions about upcoming events relevant to Brackett elementary students.  Here are our guidelines:

*Listings should be about pertinent upcoming events/programs/deadlines. 
*We only include school events or town of Arlington events. 
*Submissions should be geared towards Brackett elementary students and their families. 
*Listings should be 125 words or less, if possible.  We will condense as needed.
*Send your listing to brackettnews@gmail.com, and Include:
    --Event Name and Date
    --Brief summary/description, including any deadlines and/or registration links
    --Contact information (email or website)
    --If applicable, a picture that represents the event

The deadline for submissions is TUESDAY at 3 pm for the latest Enews. Items submitted after then may or may not be included in the newsletter.  All listings are run at the discretion of the Brackett Enews editor and PTO Board. If you have questions about these guidelines, or want to run something by us for approval, please email brackettnews@gmail.com