Save the Date:

12/4 - 11:15am Early Dismissal for Conferences
12/7 - Free Movie Night
12/11 - 11:15am Early Dismissal for Conferences
12/18 - Early Release at 12PM (Lunch will be served)
12/21 - Early Release at 12 PM (Lunch will NOT be served)
12/24- 1/2/ 2019 - Winter Break (no school)
1/2/2019 - School Resumes

Brackett School Savings Bank is turning 33!

To celebrate the bank’s 33rd year in operation at Brackett Elementary, there will be a school assembly on Friday, November 30, at 9:00 am in the school gym. Our sponsor, Cambridge Savings Bank, will be speaking to students about banking and the value of learning how to save. Also, fifth grade students who volunteer at the bank and parent volunteers will be recognized for their service. At the end of the ceremony, there will be a penny guess contest where the penny jar will be visiting classes. Students will have the opportunity take a guess of the amount of pennies in the jar with one winner receiving a special gift from Cambridge Savings Bank.

Please note that Brackett Bank’s normal operation will be closed on November 30 due to the assembly.

If you have any questions about bank, please contact the Brackett School Savings Bank team at brackettbank@gmail.com.

3rd, 4th and 5th Grade Math Mornings

Attention all 3rd, 4th and 5th graders! Join us Friday mornings at 7:30 am for some math fun.

3rd grade meets in the cafe
4th grade meets in the library
5th grade meets in Ms. Pires' classroom

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 a topic, followed by worksheets with fun exercises. Parents are invited to stay and assist their child with the worksheets.

*made possible by Brackett's PTO STEM Committee*

Holiday Helper Program is Nearly Over!

But there are LOTS more gifts to buy! Please help fulfill the wishlists of 21 Arlington kids in need! Consider picking a gift or gift card off any of the wishlists and deliver to your child's classroom by MONDAY!

Wishlists can be found here: Brackett Wishlists

Don't have time to shop? No problem.... let us do it for you! Just send a donation via PayPal or check to Catherine Fenollosa (cfenollosa@gmail.com). Checks and gift cards can be left in the school office.

PLEASE bring some joy to these local kids. We can do this if we all chip in. Questions? email Catherine Fenollosa (cfenollosa@gmail.com) or your grade parent rep.

We can't do this without you!!!

Thanks

Brackett PTO's November Drive ~ Let's Reach Our Goal!

Thank you to the 34 Brackett families that have already donated to the PTO's November Annual Appeal Drive! Help us reach our goal of 150 family donations in November!

A donation of any amount will help us reach our target. You can donate by Paypal at www.brackettelementary.org or send in a check payable to "Brackett School PTO" with your child.

And make sure your dollars go even further! Please check if your employer participates in a matching gift program as this is an awesome way to double your contribution!

Do you know everything your PTO does???

THANK YOU!

Brackett Movie Night

Join the PTO for a FREE Movie Night, Friday, December 7th in the gym. Doors open at 6pm. Movie starts at 6:30pm.

The movie is free but we will be selling pizza and snacks. So come in your cozy pjs, bring pillows and blankets, and enjoy a FREE movie with your family and friends.

Call for Donations to the Brackett Winter Auction

Last year the Brackett Elementary School Winter Auction raised over $14,000 for our school! Once again, we hope to harness the energy of the Brackett community to create a fun and diverse list of auction items.

We’re seeking items big and small, tangible objects, professional services, and especially some unique (priceless!) experiences. Would you (or your family or friends) consider donating any of the following?

*Professional services (landscape, architecture/design, painting, contractor, organizer, fitness class, photography, web design, graphic design)

*Food and beverage (restaurant gift certificates, private food/beverage tours or tastings, personal chef, baker, cooking classes, wine, chef’s table dining experience)

*Gift certificates to local businesses

*Sports (signed memorabilia, tickets to the Patriots, Red Sox, Bruins, or Celtics, or any other sporting events)

*Tickets (Boston Ballet, Boston Symphony Orchestra, concerts, plays, shows)

*Vacation homes (Spring Break, a long weekend, a summer week, timeshares)

*Artwork

*Teach a class to children or adults (art, cooking, sewing, gardening, bike maintenance)

To donate an item or suggest a donation idea, please submit the form at the following link:

Brackett Online Auction Items

The auction will go live at the end of January so please contact us with all donation ideas by December 31st. The value of your donation is tax deductible.

Thank you for helping to make the Brackett Winter Auction fundraiser a success!

Questions? Please contact us at Brackettauction@gmail.com

Sincerely,

The Brackett Auction Committee
Christina Ahmad - mom to Alexander (2nd) and George (preschool)
Lauren Arcoma - mom to Will (1st), Reid (preschool) and Luke (preschool)
Beth Rapoza - Luke (2nd), Kelly (1st), Nick (PreK), and Mark (2yr)
Erica Raab - mom to Evan (3rd) and Alex (1st)

Former Chairs
Karianne Noble - mom to Will (5th) and Owen (2st)
Seville Meli - mom to Nolan (5th) and Lucas (3rd)
Caitlin Sweeney – mom to Sonia (3rd) and William (K)

STEM Committee

Please join the STEM Committee at our next meeting on Wednesday, December 12th at 7pm in the Robins Library Community Room.

STEM Members and interested Parties are invited. (This is an administration meeting - there will be no student activities.)

HOUR OF CODE

We are starting to plan for Hour of Code which will be held in January. We are seeking one more volunteer to help with planning and coordination. If you're interested in volunteering, please contact Garret Van Dyke (gvandyke@gmail.com) or Joanna Wood (jokrypel@yahoo.com)

What is Hour of Code?

The Hour of Code started as a one-hour introduction to computer science, designed to demystify "code", to show that anybody can learn the basics, and to broaden participation in the field of computer science. It has since become a worldwide effort to celebrate computer science, starting with 1-hour coding activities but expanding to all sorts of community efforts. Check out the tutorials and activities. This grassroots campaign is supported by over 400 partners and 200,000 educators worldwide.

More informaton is located here: https://hourofcode.com/us

Thank you,

Garret Van Dyke
STEM Committee

Happy Shopping from Maxima!

Shopping locally this holiday season?

Maxima Gift center in Arlington will donate 15% of every sale to the Brackett PTO on December 14th!

Check out all their great offerings here: https://www.maximacenter.com

Volunteer Spotlight: STEM Committee Co-Chair

Interested in STEM? Want to encourage and excite our students about science, math, technology and engineering?

We're looking for a co-chair to join our wonderful STEM committee. Help facilitate activities for our students as they explore their curiosities. We have an amazing program and just need some extra hands to bring it to life.

Interested? Please contact Garret Van Dyke gvandyke@gmail.com

Thanks!

Coats for Kids Drive!

The 24th annual coat drive has begun! Cold weather is on its way: lets help needy families stay warm!

Between now and January 8, please donate your too-small or unused coats by placing them in the bins in the Brackett lobby. All sizes: baby to adult are needed. We'll deliver them to Anton's Cleaners, which cleans them free of charge and coordinates the distribution to needy local families.

*Please, donate coats that you would give a friend to wear! No sweatshirts, vests, spring coats, rips or broken zippers! Contact maya.vayner@gmail.com with questions. Thank you!!!

Thank You ~ Culture & Creativity Night

Thank you to everyone who volunteered for the second annual Culture and Creativity Night and to the PTO for helping to sponsor the event. You all helped to make this event such a success. Without your participation this event could not have happened.

Thank you also to those who attended. It was so wonderful to see everyone celebrating the diversity of the the Brackett Community.

I'm looking forward to next year's event!

Best,
Nicole Schwartz
Teacher

Brackett has a Facebook Page!

Please "like" our FaceBook page and stay up-to-date on school events and news. You can find us here: https://www.facebook.com/groups/227346734350605/

COMMUNITY NEWS

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