Save the Date:

12/18 - Early Release at 1PM (Lunch will be served)
12/21 - Early Release at 12 PM (Lunch will NOT be served)
12/24- 1/1/ 2019 - Winter Break (no school)
1/2/2019 - School Resumes

Library Book Sponsorship Table

We are once again hosting a Brackett Library Book Sponsor table during parent/ teacher conferences this year to grow the Brackett Library's book collection. Ms. Schumacher has carefully chosen books from her wish list for the library.

Please visit our table in the school's entryway during conferences and sponsor a book for the library. Books are $20 each and cash or checks are welcome. Sponsors are invited to put their names in the book or dedicate the book to someone by filling out a book plate and placing it in the book.

The table will be available during teacher conferences on Thursday, December 13th 6-8pm.

If you would like to sponsor a book, but can't make it to the table, please email Anne Chen at anne241618@gmail.com and we can find a book for you!

Thank you for your support!

One School, One Book Volunteer Info Session: Tuesday, December 18th at 8:15am

Let's get everyone reading! One School, One Book is a new all-school book club that will run in January.

Want to help out? We're holding an info session on Tuesday, December 18th at 8:15am in the library, and are looking for parents to help with planning, promotion, and execution of this fun program.

Volunteer time commitment is minimal and the reward is huge! This is a great community-building program that facilitates a love of reading schoolwide. Can't come to the info session but want to be a part of it? Email Whitney Scharer at wscharer@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*

Early Morning Reading

Our final Early Morning Reading session will be held on December 20th at 7:30am in the library. Come and enjoy some early morning quiet time with your child!

There's Still Time to Make Your Contribution to the PTO Before The End of The Tax Year!

Have your children told you about the two awesome events that took place last week? Students were serenaded during an all school assembly by the fantastically talented Beelzebubs. And Friday night, Brackett families packed the gym for a free screening of Incredibles 2. Or maybe you've noticed the beautiful new curtain on the cafeteria stage?

All of these were funded by the PTO and it was only possible because of the generous contributions your fellow Brackett families made to the PTO's Annual Appeal!

The PTO funds field trips, online curriculum, gym equipment, social/emotional workshops and much, much more! Please support the important work the PTO does by donating online HERE: Annual Appeal

Or by leaving a check made out to the Brackett PTO in the office.

If you have already donated, please check to see if your employer has a matching donation policy. This is an easy and incredible way to DOUBLE your contribution!

Thank you for your support!

Meal Train for Brackett Cafeteria's Amy

Please consider signing up to take a meal to Brackett cafeteria worker Amy Mills and her family as she goes through cancer treatments and manages life as a single mom:

https://www.mealtrain.com/trains/k784z0

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

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

Volunteer Spotlights:

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

* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *

Brackett E-News Coordinator

Looking for a way to volunteer at school but want to do it all from home? Volunteer as our E-News Coordinator!

Duties include a weekly email to solicit items from PTO committees and writing e-news in Mailchimp. It's roughly a 90 min a week committment.

It's a great way to be involved and know what's happening at school if your life doesn't permit you to volunteer during school hours. Interested? Contact Catherine Fenollosa cfenollosa@gmail.com.

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!!!

Musical In-School Assembly

The Cultural Enrichment Committee sponsored an all school assembly performance by the Tufts University Beelzebubs on Friday, December 7.

This award winning men's a cappella group sang a great set of popular tunes including Sweet Caroline, Cecilia, and Super Trouper (and more contemporary hits that I am too old and out of it to know). They taught the kids how a cappella singing works, how to beatbox, and got great audience participation during a hilarious "repeat after me song," which the 5th graders especially loved. Ms. LaRocca was volunteered (voluntold?) to participate in one song and was extremely entertaining for both the our guests from Tufts and the audience.

Thank you to the PTO for funding this event. It was a great start to a Friday morning in December!

Holiday Helper Gifts Delivered!

A final and heartfelt thank you to everyone who donated to the Holiday Helper Program! We delivered all of the gifts this week. With your generosity, the Brackett community fulfilled the wishlists of 23 children ranging in ages of 1-17 years. And we provided $100 in grocery gift cards to each of the 12 families!

Thank you for shopping and donating money! And special thanks to the parents who helped collect, organize and deliver the gifts: Amanda Deforest, Jenn Waldrop, Hilary Richard, Mary Tibbetts Wu, Monica Hariparsad, Leslie Helmuth, Ashley Oser, Naoka Carey, Monica Gormley, Kari Noble, Liz Lehtonen and Amy Reese.

Happy Holidays!
Catherine Fenollosa

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

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

Show Thanks to Your Teachers by Telling Them They Are Stars!

The Arlington Education Foundation Stars program is a way to tell teachers and school staff, “Thank you for all you do!”

For a donation of $20 or more, the teacher or school staff member of your choice will receive a certificate that honors him or her with a gift to the Arlington Education Foundation in his or her name . You will receive a receipt for your tax-deductible donation.

Stars donations go back into our schools as funding for AEF grants both large and small, including Continuing Scholar Awards and Innovations in Education grants that go directly to teachers. Read more about AEF grants here: http://www.arlingtoneducationfoundationma.org/wp/grants/grant-profiles

Give your Star Online: https://www.tfaforms.com/393046

If you prefer, you can also print the form below and mail in your donation.

https://gallery.mailchimp.com/66ba363944d44c401939d8080/files/e6281874-8cd9-4609-8161-f5d6527dbbb0/Fall_STARS_K_5_AHS_Fall2018.pdf

Arlington High School Student Government Event

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