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Welcome Brackett Families. If you have news to share with the community, please email your update to Brackettnews@gmail.com.
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IN THIS ISSUE:
Save the Dates
Pick up Your Online Auction Winnings
Brackett Bank is Open This Friday
One School, One Book Collection
Art Squad Event for Valentine's Day
Food Drive
Parent Diversity and Inclusion Group Field Trip & Meeting
PTO Parent Meeting
Early Morning Reading
Upcoming STEM Activities
Box Tops
PTO Annual Appeal Tax Forms
Community News:
SEPAC Meeting and Social Hour
Old Schwamb Mill Event
Donations Needed for Robbins Library Book Sale
ACT Presents Annie
AYBSA Registration is Open
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Save the Date:
2/12 - Early Release at 1PM (Lunch will be served)
2/18th - 22nd February Break
2/26 - Early Release at 1PM (Lunch will be served)
3/5 - Early Release at 1PM (Lunch will be served)
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The Brackett Elementary School Winter Online is A Huge Success! Time to pick up your winnings!
Thanks to everyone who bid on items and those who generously donated to the auction. We raised $16,000! The money will go towards audio/visual equipment at school to benefit school assemblies, clubs, enrichment programs, library and PTO events. Thank you!
If you won a physical item in the Brackett auction, like a gift certificate, please pick it up in the Brackett Elementary School lobby between 7:50 AM and 8:15 AM, or between 2:20 PM and 2:45 PM on Thursday, February 6th and Friday, February 7th.
A member of the Auction Committee will contact you if you won beer or wine.
If you won an experience or a custom item, the Action Committee will send you an email that puts you in touch with the donor.
You must pay your invoice on the 32Auctions website before receiving items. 32Auctions sent automated emails to winners with a link to the invoice. You can also navigate to the invoice page by clicking “Account” in the upper right hand corner of the screen, then “My Items Won”, and selecting the 2019 Bracket Auction.
Contact the Auction Committee at brackettauction@gmail.com if you are unsure of the type of item you won or cannot attend these pickup times.
Many thanks for making this year’s auction a success!
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 Brackett Bank News
The Brackett School Savings Bank will be open this Friday!
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. This is a great opportunity for our children to learn about saving their money!
If you are interested in opening an account or have questions about Brackett Bank, please contact brackettbank@gmail.com.
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One School, One Book Collection
 
We have reached the conclusion of our One School, One Book project! On Monday, author Victoria Coe visited Brackett for workshops with each grade level, and a special lunch with winners of our 4th and 5th grade essay contest.
We hope that you and your students enjoyed reading the book! In accordance with our grant from AEF, we are planning to pass the books and materials along to the Thompson school to use next year.
As such, we would like to collect ALL books from classrooms this Friday afternoon (2/8). Please have your children bring the books in to their classroom (not the library) sometime this week. Classrooms that return ALL their books will receive a small prize. These will be distributed the following week.
Please email any questions to carriefinison@mac.com.
Thank you all for your help, and for your enthusiasm for this project!
Whitney Scharer
Carrie Finison
Megan Uy
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Valentine's Art Project, February 8th 
The Art Squad will be holding an themed Valentine's Day collaborative art program this Friday, Feb 8th from 2:30-4pm in the art room. All students are encouraged to participate. The completed art work will be on display in the lower lobby.
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Please join us in helping to meet the demand of our community and teach our kids what service is all about.
Please donate regular sized boxes (larger ones are hard to distribute!) Collection bins will be in the lobby.
Kindergarten - Toilet paper
1st Grade - Toilet paper
2nd - Cereals and Oatmeal
3rd - Cereals and Oatmeal
4th - Canned Protein ( tuna, salmon, chicken)
5th - Canned soup, stew and chowder
Donated items are due Tuesday, February 12th. Thanks!
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DIG News: Field Trip & Upcoming Meeting
THIS SATURDAY! DIG “Ragtime” Wheelock Musical Field Trip
Join DIG at Wheelock’s “Ragtime” musical play this Sat. 2/9 at 2pm. Ragtime tells the story of three New York immigrant families, at the turn of the 20th century. (recommended ages 10+ (more mature youngsters might enjoy), 2hr 45mins show running time, some PG content, see show details here: www.wheelockfamilytheatre.org/show/ragtime/). Email brackettdig@gmail.com to inquire as to ticket pricing and availability!
“Having Courageous Conversations about Race with Our Children” was a GREAT success! Presenter interview available online.
Last week, the parent-led Thompson Diversity and Inclusion Group (DIG) hosted “Having Courageous Conversations about Race with Our Children” to over 160 parents from all elementary schools across the APS district. The workshop was engagingly led
by Dr. Liza Talusan, and Assistant Superintendent MacNeal gave opening remarks. Given the high level of interest among APS parents in engaging our children on the topic of race, next steps are being planned.
Attendants are encouraged to complete CourageousConversationsSurvey. We will use your feedback as we plan for future events like this one. All are welcomed to see CourageousConversationsResources, which includes an interview Dr. Talusan had with the Arlington Community Media, Inc. (ACMI).
A parent-led DIG has formed at each school at each APS elementary school and for Gibbs-Ottoson. The overall mission of these DIGs is to reinforce diversity, equity and inclusion in the APS. If you are interested in getting involved or staying connected with Brackett DIG activities, please email us at brackettdig@gmail.com.
Join DIG Monthly Meeting: Tues 2/26 featuring learning and discussion on Gender Non-conforming/ Non-Binary
February’s featured DIG mini-topic is Non-Binary and Gender Non-conforming. Family discussions are key to helping children better understand individuals who are Non-Binary or Gender Non-confirming (meaning they may not always identify as male/female or as the sex assigned at birth), and how to respect and honor individuals, and why the correct use of Pronouns is so important! Each monthly meeting begins with discussion on our feature topic (and pre-provided readings & videos), a "guest” participant from our school/community, and time for open DIG discussion at the end. Join us for rich discussion and to learn about and support the rich tapestry of Brackett! Please email brackettdig@gmail.com to let us know you'll be coming.
- When: Tues 2/26, 6:30-8:30pm, Brackett Library.
- February Guest Participant: AnitaCristina Calcaterra, Co-chair of Brackett's Rainbow Alliance
- Topic for mini-discussion: Talking about Gender Non-Conforming or Non-Binary Kids
- Recommended for parents: Article: Why Pronouns are Important
- Recommended for kid(s): Watch HiHoKids video, Kids Meet a Gender Non-Conforming Person with your kids and then have a conversation about it.
To find out more about DIG, our meeting schedule and ways you can help a little or a LOT, please join out mailing list: brackettdig@gmail.com
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PTO Meeting February 12th at 7pm
Please join us for our next PTO meeting, February 12th at 7pm in the Brackett Cafeteria. Come meet fellow parents and learn about upcoming events at school and small and big ways you can make a difference in your child's day!
This is a parent-only event. We hope to see you there!
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Come to Early Morning Reading at the Brackett Library on February 14th!
Start Valentine's Day with a book or two! Swing by the library on February 14th, 7:30-8:00am.
Read books! Check out books! Look at books! Write a book!
Siblings welcome, no drop-offs please.
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Upcoming STEM Activities 
Most students got the opportunity to participate in the Hour of Code last week.
To see what your students did, you can see the activities here: Hour of Code
In addition, there are lots of other possibilities on
https://hourofcode.com/us/learn and https://studio.code.org/courses of varying length and complexity. Feel free to contact Chris Chiappa at chris@chiappa.net with any questions.
Thank you Chris and all those who helped out with the Hour of Code.
And thank you to everyone who showed up for STEM Night 2019 planning meeting (held on Mon 1/21/19)! We had a wonderful turnout despite the arctic temperatures. And if you weren't able to make it, there are still plenty of opportunities to participate, either leading activities or volunteering to support the night.
To summarize some points made at the meeting:
- STEM Night will be held March 22
- Science Fair needs to get kicked off - Karen O'Hagan will lead, with Chris Chiappa and Ayce Yesilaltay supporting
- Strong interest in getting more collaboration with AHS - Karen O'Hagan will lead AHS outreach
- Dave Koelle agreed to be co-coordinator for STEM Night
The next critical step is getting people to sign up to lead activities and to help organize food, publicity, etc. Scott has created a Google document(link HERE) that lays out possible activities and roles to fill. (He has attached names of people who volunteered or were volunteered to help. Please confirm by Friday, Feb 8) Please review this and let us know how you want to help!
- Activities: most important of all, we need people to run activities. If you have a great idea and want to showcase it, let me know! Or review the attached lists or website for ideas. Please let me know by Feb 8 if you're interested.
- We need people to take charge of publicity, food, and outreach.
- Or if you're not sure what you want to do yet, just let us know that you're interested.
Thank you,
Scott Uebelhart, Dave Koelle and Garret Van Dyke
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Clip BOX TOPS to Earn Money for Brackett!
Box tops can be turned into your child's teacher or in the main school office. To make counting easier, please tape or glue in groups of 10 or 25 on a sheet of paper. Don't forget to check the expiration date! Grandparents can clip them, too.
Questions: Christina.mamlouk@gmail.com
www.boxtops4education.com
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PTO Annual Appeal - Tax Forms 
Thank you to everyone who has already contributed to Brackett's PTO Annual Appeal. Your contributions make a difference every single day in our children's school day... from new chick incubators for the 1st grade chick hatching in the spring, a new curtain for the stage, to online math and science curriculum! It wouldn't happen without your generous donations!
If you contributed over $250 to the annual appeal in 2018 and require a letter for tax returns, please email Sarah Murnaghan (sarahmurnaghan@gmail.com).
If you have not already donated, please consider making a contribution by check or paypal (donate online HERE). The PTO relies only on contributions from Brackett families to provide an enriched learning experience for our children.
An easy way to maximize your donation is to apply for a matching contribution if your employer participates in such a scheme – this can DOUBLE the value of your contribution!
Thank you!
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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/
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SEPAC Meeting & Social Hour
Join us for our next meeting on February 12th at 7pm at the Gibbs Media Center, 41 Foster Street.
Following the meeting there will be a social hour!
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The Old Schwamb Mill presents a Funky Teddy Bear Winterfest! 
Saturday, February 23, 1:30 to 3 pm
Workshop for parents and children ages 4 to 7 years
Come with your favorite Teddy Bear (or other stuffed friend) dressed to enjoy an afternoon workshop filled with funky bear rap songs, beat box music rhythms, crafts and refreshments! Enjoy a delightful original story about a bear who ran away from the Bear Necessities store in Boston. Educator Peggy Fenner, an Arlington based storyteller and performer will lead this event at the Mill!
Preregistration is required; email info@oldschwambmill.org or call 781-643-0554. The Old Schwamb Mill is located at 17 Mill Lane in Arlington Heights. Fee: $10/family.
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Donations Needed for the Children and Young Adult Book Sale at Robbins Library 
Book and media donations are needed for the Friends of the Robbins Library’s annual Children and Young Adult Book Sale on Saturday, February 23rd from 9:00 to 2:00 pm in the Robbins Library Community Room. Donations can be dropped off at the Robbins Library beginning February 1st. Look for the big blue bin near the Circulation Desk of the Robbins.
Support Arlington’s libraries by purchasing children’s and teen books, movies, and music at the Sale. There will be craft activities to keep children occupied as parents search for books. Teens interested in sorting books and organizing prior to the Sale as well as helping out on the day of the Sale please contact Amy McElroy (ae65@verizon.net; 781-648-4109); Community Service hours may be earned.
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Come See Some of your fellow Brackett Students and Alumni in Arlington Children's Theatre Production of Annie!
Performances are March 14-16th
Tickets are on sale now: https://www.brownpapertickets.com/event/4047271
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AYBSA Registration is Open for Spring!
Have a child interested in playing baseball or softball this spring? Arlington Youth Baseball and Softball Association (AYBSA) offers programs in softball and baseball for kids ages 5 – 12. Registration is going on now for the spring season, which will kick off in April.
Please visit the AYBSA website: www.aybsaonline.org to register.
www.aybsaonline.org
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For daily updated calendar and event information, please check the Brackett Website at http://brackettelementary.org/
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