Save the Date:

3/19 - Early Release at 1PM (Lunch will be served)
3/22 - Brackett STEM & Science Fair Night
3/26 - Early Release at 1PM (Lunch will be served)
4/2 - Early Release at 1PM (Lunch will be served)

Lost & Found: Last Day To Pick Up Items is Friday!

Wondering where your child's snow boots are? How about his or her nearly new jacket? Our wonderful Lost and Found committee has organized tons of coats, pants, shirts, gloves... you name it... items looking for its owner! All clothing will be in the cafeteria or in front of school at pick up.

Friday (ie, TOMORROW) is your last day to reclaim your goods. After Friday, all items will be donated. So please hurry!

Read-A-Thon Ends This Sunday!

The last day of the Read-a-Thon is coming up on Sunday, March 17th. We have a school-wide goal of 400,000 minutes, and we need to do a lot more reading to meet our goal! Please make sure that you are logging in all the minutes read at home. Also, please remind your students of the different goals and prizes:

If the entire school reaches its 400,000 minutes goal, then everyone will get extra recess time and a popsicle day!

Each class has a reading goal. If the class reaches its goal, the students will earn a new book for their classroom library.

The class with the most minutes read will earn a celebration day.

The class with the most money earned will earn a celebration day.

If you have any questions or concerns, please contact Brackettreadathon@gmail.com.

Thanks,

The Brackett Read-a-Thon Team

Newbery-honor winning author Kathryn Lasky visits Brackett 4th & 5th grades on 3/19

On March 19th, Brackett will host Newbery-honor winning author Kathryn Lasky, who will present about the inspiration and research behind her newest book series, Tangled in Time. She also plans to speak about her animal fiction and the polar bear series Bears of the Ice, and how writing about natural history differs from writing about human history. Ms. Lasky is a prolific author with over 50 books on the shelves in the Brackett library. Find out more about her online at www.kathrynlasky.com.

In preparation for the visit, our librarian, Judy Schumacher, has pulled together a special shelf of Kathryn Lasky’s books. Ask your students if they’ve had a chance to read a book by her yet! This visit is funded by the publisher and organized through Belmont Books. For those interested in pre-ordering, books will be delivered to Brackett on 3/19, and students may have them signed by the author after the presentation.

Direct ordering links - order by 3/17 for delivery to Brackett
Tangled in Time: https://www.belmontbooks.com/book/9780062693259
Quest of the Cubs (Bears of the Ice #1): https://www.belmontbooks.com/book/9780545683067
Den of Forever Frost (Bears of the Ice #2): https://www.belmontbooks.com/book/9780545836883

When ordering, select Pick Up In Store as the delivery option. Then include Brackett School and the Teacher’s Name in the Order Comments section.

Early Morning Reading on 3/21!

Welcome Spring with a calming visit to the library on March 21st, 7:30-8:00am. Relax, read, check out books, and start your day off right! As always, siblings welcome.

Brackett STEM Night & Science Fair: March 22nd 6-8pm

Come celebrate STEM night with hands-on activities, view our 4th and 5th graders science projects and grab dinner! Brackett will be full of scientifically creative activities for all ages. Presented by the Brackett STEM Committee

Come make your own LED nightlights, test your math skills, touch a brain, and enjoy lot of other exciting STEM activities! Don't miss it!

We need volunteers! There are lots of ways to help out. Run an activity, sell pizza, help set up... sign up here:

STEM VOLUNTEER

To volunteer in the STEM Night Cafe, sign up here;
Stem Night Cafe Sign Up

Thank you,
Scott Uebelhart, Dave Koelle and Garret Van Dyke

Upcoming DIG Events

March events for parents engaged in Diversity and Inclusion Groups (DIGs) at Arlington Public Schools

NEXT WEEK! Tuesday 3/19 Brackett's DIG monthly meeting
6:30-8:30PM, Brackett Elementary School Library
Parent resource: http://www.pbs.org/parents/education/learning-disabilities/supporting-your-child/talk-to-your-child/
Review this with your kid(s) and have a conversation about disability etiquette: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=S0fs9650Vz8
Guest participant: Inae Hwang, Chair, Arlington Special Education Parent Advisory Council (SEPAC) member

Wednesday 3/20 Math Transitions from Fifth to Seventh Grade
7:00-8:30PM, Gibbs School
Mathematics often poses equity issues in education. Show up, learn about AHS policies for math transition from 5th to 7th grade and advocate for making sure that K-5 mathematics education enables all children to have authentic access to rigorous mathematics in middle and high school.

Friday 3/22 Visit our DIG STEM Table!
6:00PM, Brackett Elementary
Come get a free poster of an amazing woman in STEM History and check out a related book from the Brackett library collection. Want more? Free printables for your home available here: https://www.amightygirl.com/blog?p=13914
Have some time to volunteer at our table, please email Brackett DIG co-chair <brackettdig@gmail.com>.

Sunday 3/24 Parent Active Bystander Training Opportunity
7:00-9:00PM, Arlington Senior Center, 27 Maple Str. Arlington, MA 02476.

Limited Space Register Now!!! The APS Diversity & Inclusion Groups are participating in an active bystander training for parents. We hope that parents of elementary & junior-high age children will bring what they learn into their homes and introduce these concepts to their children. Based on feedback from the session, we may next look to bring programming to children at individual schools. The Training Active Bystanders (TAB) program helps participants recognize when they are bystanders, analyze situations, and evaluate the consequences for everyone involved. TAB heightens bystanders’ power. It teaches how bystanders can interrupt harm doing and generate positive actions by others. Active bystandership does not mean aggression against the harm doer. It means taking responsible action to help people in need instead of remaining passive and becoming complicit. Bystanders gain the competencies they need if they decide to take action when they witness something they feel is unfair, or wrong, or troubling.

If interested in participating please register here. Free-will suggested donation of $20. Co-sponsored by the Arlington Diversity Task Group, Human Rights Commission, and Rainbow Commission.

Wednesday 3/27 Sharing Our Stories Parent Education Event, presented by True Story Theater
7:00PM, Stratton Elementary School

Stratton's Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Group (SDEIG) and True Story Theatre present: Sharing Our Stories: An interactive evening for parents and teachers exploring our school community’s experiences with diversity and inclusion. Through dramatization of community suggestions, True Story Theater will help us explore thoughts and feelings about diversity and inclusion in our community. Come share your experience and perspective or simply watch and learn! Light refreshments and diversity and inclusion resources for parents provided. Open to all but preference given to Stratton parents if space becomes an issue. RSVP: bitly.com/strattontruestory

The Brackett PTO Cultural Enrichment Committee is Looking for New Members!

Cultural Enrichment committee members have one of the best jobs in the PTO! We get to work with teachers to select CE assemblies that support their social studies curriculum; we work with amazing educational artists and host their performances at the school; the kids often think we are rock stars because of our involvement with the amazing talent that we bring to Brackett. It is both fun and rewarding.

Here are more details on the committee responsibilities:

· Rotate attendance at PTO meetings to give updates and get input on Cultural Enrichment programming.
· Book 1-4 events per school year
· Attend Young Audiences of Massachusetts Showcase each September to get ideas on artists and programming.
· Manage event logistics including: communicating with teachers, specialists and principal; scheduling and space needs; processing contracts; coordinating payment process with PTO treasurer; setup/AV needs; hosting and introducing artists.
· Publicize events through Brackett PTO E-news and FB page

Please contact Margaret Moore at: m@bostonmoores.com for more information. Thank you!

Registration for Brackett's After School Program is Now Open (BASP)

To register your child for Brackett's After School Program for the 2019-2020 school year, please click here:

https://www.brackettafterschool.org/

Registration is open until March 17th to reserve your child's current day or to request a new schedule. Requested schedules are NOT guaranteed. Questions? Please log onto the site link above.

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

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!

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

Arlington Trivia Bee is Sunday March 17th!

Parents... want to test your trivia knowledge and raise money for education?! The 24th annual Arlington Trivia Bee is Sunday, March 17th from 3 -5pm at Arlington Town Hall. The Event is hosted by the Arlington Education Fund. Come represent a Brackett parent team!!!

If you've never been before, the Arlington Trivia Bee is a fun and free event, where each competing team includes three adults who are game for an afternoon of trivial pursuits; by the end, one team will be crowned Trivia Bee Champ. The competition opens with 5th-grade elementary students who will compete in the first round.

Live music, kids activities from Curious Creatures and the opportunity for audience participation help create the lively, family-friendly atmosphere that defines this annual town-wide event.

Want to get in on the action? There is still time to register your team of three! You have until March 13th to register your team online. Register here today! Registration fee is $25 per person but free for teachers!

For more information visit https://www.aefma.org/ or
https://www.aefma.org/events/trivia-bee/

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

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