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The Parents' Association sponsored a great event Thursday morning with families in attendance from all three divisions of the School. The theme of the morning was learning how to help our students manage their digital future, and Ms. Avirth guided us through many complex issues with both skill and knowledge. After the morning program, Ms. Avrith worked throughout the day with Middle and Upper School students on topics such as online safety, ways to have a positive social presence, and how privacy settings give a false sense of privacy in a medium that is rarely private. This is the School's second year working with members of the EdTechTeacher group out of Cambridge, MA., and we find their philosophy and instruction to be well aligned with our own. The theme of managing our digital footprint, legacy, and behavior is a year-long theme under the School's annual theme of Design for Excellence.
At some point on Friday every family should have received an AlertNow voice message and email from me. This was a test of our emergency broadcast system. Please follow the email instructions if you need to make any changes to our database. If you did not receive the messages, please email Mary Gates at mgates@brimmer.org and give her your emergency contact information. This is the database we use in the case of an emergency or weather-related School closing.
Sincerely,
Judy Guild
Head of School
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 Open House
Our Open House takes place on Sunday, October 19.
Lower School: 1 p.m.
Middle/Upper Schools: 2 p.m.
Please help us spread the word!
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 Spirit Day and Homecoming
We're holidng an all-school Spirit Day on Friday, October 17, in anticipation of Homecoming on Saturday, October 18!
Join us at our Dedham Street Field!
Noon - Girls' Varsity vs. The Master's School
2:30 p.m. - Boys' Varsity vs. Hoosac School
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News from Lower School
Dear Lower School Families,
Boy, did we have a blast apple picking last week (no, we were not bent on purchasing the latest iPhone), and there were a lot of apple-related math activities going on this week (yes, on iPads)! Concerning a related matter, teachers at Brimmer and May are focusing this year on helping our students with the etiquette of using their technology tools.
Speaking of technology, Courtney and I hope some of you were able to attend yesterday's Ed. Tech. presentation sponsored by the Parents' Association. The topic was "Managing Your Digital Footprint." (See the PA article at the bottom of the Bulletin.) We are in an era in which information spreads quickly over the Internet and cannot be removed, so it is critical for all of us (especially our children) to be careful what we post on the Internet.
If you are looking for something to do after school next week, stop by the field across from McCoy Hall on Wednesday, 10/8, at 4:00 p.m. to see the JV Boys' Soccer team play Chapel Hill-Chauncy Hall. It should be a great game!
Pre-K and Kindergarten parents: Friday morning, October 17, is full of opportunities for you! At 7:55 a.m. join your children and their teachers in the classroom; at 8:30 a.m. come to the library for coffee, tea, orange juice, and assorted Danishes and croissants while you chat with Judy Guild, Head of School; Dr. Beth Meister, Director of Counseling Services; Ms. McGillicuddy; and me. At 9:00 a.m., feel free to join us if you'd like for our Spirit Day Share!
Best wishes,
Thomas Fuller Courtney P. McGillicuddy
Head of Lower School Assistant Head of Lower School
Early Childhood Coordinator
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 Buddy Apple Trip Video The Lower School community enjoyed a beautiful day of apple picking with their Buddy Groups at Honey Pot Hill Orchards in September. Watch the video of the trip! |
Lower School Mandarin Club
Brimmer and May School is offering a Mandarin Club to Lower School students in grades 2 to 5. The goal of the club is to cultivate students' interests in learning Chinese language and culture. Students will learn some basic Mandarin such as greetings, numbers, families, animals, food and fruits. Students will also learn songs, rhymes, and stories in Chinese. In addition, we will do some cultural activities such as using chopsticks, practicing calligraphy, making and painting face masks, making paper cut and origami, studying martial arts, and more. Some of these activities could be presented at the annual Chinese New Year celebration. The Mandarin club will meet every Wednesday from 3:00 to 4:00 p.m. Please contact Matt Vaughan, Director of Extended Day, if you have any questions at MVaughan@Brimmer.org.
Click here to read about the other Extended Day offerings!
Matt Vaughan
Extended Day Director
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 First Graders Study Maps & Bees
First graders used their new active board during their study of maps in social studies. The class talked about how people are not the only ones to use maps-honeybees use a map of sorts to show the other bees in the hive the distance and direction to a particularly excellent food source. Students viewed a short video explaining the honeybee "waggle dance," and then the children took turns moving the food source (flowers donated by parents and part of the class's flower--arranging routine) and then doing their own little waggle dances to show the "other bees" where the food source was located.
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Middle School News
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Middle School Notes
Dear Parents/Guardians
A few reminders:
* The 6th Grade Parent's Breakfast is Wednesday, October 8 in the Wright Conference Room starting at 8:10 a.m.
* The Middle School Outdoor Ed Day is Friday, October 10. Please make sure that if your son/daughter is in the 6th or 7th grade that he/she returns the waiver and permission forms by Monday, October 6.
Looking Ahead:
There is no school on Monday, October 13 due to Columbus Day.
7th Grade Parent's Breakfast - Wednesday, October 15
8th Grade Parent's Breakfast - Wednesday, October 22
Peter Gordon
Middle School Head
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Fall Outdoor Education Day
Fall colors are starting to come out so it is time to get outside and enjoy nature's beauty. On Friday October 10, the Middle Schoolers will head outside for the Fall Outdoor Education Day. Sixth graders will hike Mt.Watatic in Fitchburg, MA; the 7th grade will bike on the Minuteman Bikeway; and the 8th grade will canoe on the Charles River. Your Middle Schooler should have brought home an information sheet with the packing list. All students should come to School that day dressed for the weather with a packed lunch (no peanuts) and a full water bottle. If you have any questions about the trip please email Bethany Shannon at bshannon@brimmer.org.
Bethany Shannon
Science Department
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Upper School News
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 Upper School News
Upcoming Events
Tuesday, October 7: Issuing of Academic Warnings for Period 1, 2014-2015 (Academic Warnings will be posted in the Grades portal of the School's web site and mailed home as well.)
Thursday, October 9: Senior Parents Dinner
Saturday, October 11: SAT I & II
Monday, October 13: Columbus Day -- No School
Alumni Office Lunch for Members of the Class of 2015
Brimmer and May's Alumni Office will sponsor its annual Chinese food lunch for the Senior Class on Friday, October 3, in the Student Lounge during the Upper School lunch period. This annual event is the first in a series honoring the members of the Senior Class. It is a time for the seniors to share a good meal and to begin to plan fundraising events and goals for their Senior Class gift.
School Rings for Juniors
The deadline for ordering rings for the Ring Ceremony is Saturday, October 18, 2014. Please note, while attendance at the Ring Ceremony is required, no student is required to purchase a ring in order to take part in this School tradition in December.
Please read the ring information and ordering details.
Class of 2014 Athletes Playing in College
Several members of last year's graduating class are playing intercollegiate sports in their freshmen year for their respective colleges:
Alison Mariano, Elmira College, Varsity Field Hockey
Sammy Mojica, Drexel University, Varsity Basketball
Ruth Wooster, Indiana Wesleyan University, Varsity Soccer
 Harvard Prize Book Award Breakfast
On Wednesday, October 1, Kino Shen, '15 accompanied by Mr. Iuliano, attended the twenty-third annual Prize Book Award Breakfast sponsored by the Harvard Club of Boston. Kino was the recipient of the Harvard Book Prize at Brimmer and May's Honors Convocation last June. The Harvard Prize Book is awarded to the outstanding student in the junior class who displays excellence in scholarship and high character, combined with achievement in other fields. It is offered annually to 1,900 schools around the world. Kino is a member of Brimmer and May's Scholars Society, having earned high honors during each of his first two years in the Upper School, and he is a member of the STEAM diploma program. He plays Varsity Basketball and Tennis and has appeared on stage in the recent Upper School productions of Beauty and the Beast and Treasure Island.
*Photo: Mr. Iuliano, Dr. Barbara D. Pulaski, Chair Harvard Club Prize Book Committee, Kino Shen, '15
Gently Used Kids Clothing Collection, Week of October 6 - 10
Nate Cappuccino '15 is organizing a clothing collection in support of Rare Kids, a not-for-profit corporation established to support children afflicted with rare diseases. The organization collects gently used kids' clothing for resale. Suitable donations include clothing that has been gently used, is free of tears and stains, and has been circulated within the last five years. Rare Kids most popular items include dancewear, occasion dresses, jackets, Halloween costumes, snow boots and skates, hats and mittens, and swimwear. Clothing donations should be put into plastic bags and can be brought to the gym during the week of October 6-10. Donations are tax deductible; provide your contact information including name, address, phone and email and a written acknowledgement of your donation will be sent to you. Contact Nate Cappuccino at nacappuccino@brimmer.org for more information.
Joseph Iuliano
Upper School Head
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College Counseling
PSATs
All students in grades 10 and 11 will take the PSATs on Wednesday, October 15, at Brimmer and May. Students will pre-register at School, and the cost of $14.00 will be billed home to parents and guardians.
College Night - Thursday, October 16, at 7:00 p.m, Corkin Theatre
Mark your calendar for College Night 2014. Our guest speaker will be nationally renowned Peter Van Buskirk who will present his interactive program "The Admissions Game." The entire Brimmer and May communty is invited to this event.
Cindy Pendergast
Director of College Counseling
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| From the Parents' Association |
PA News and Reminders
Parents' Association Meeting on Digital Citizenship
We had a wonderful turnout for our first PA meeting yesterday! Our guest speaker, Tanya Avrith, gave a lively and thoughtful and presentation on Digital Citizenship. Ms. Avrith discussed ways in which parents can help their children leave a positive digital legacy and act as role models for healthy use of digital devices. Following the PA Meeting, Ms. Avrith met with grade 8 and Upper School students and discussed how to shape a positive digital "resume." She spoke to students about privacy issues and appropriate behavior based on legal definitions and engaged the students in a conversation about their use of social media.
Ms. Avrith recommended It's Complicated, by Danah Boyd and
Thank you to everyone for attending, and for sharing your questions and your experiences on this topic!
Save the date for our future PA Meetings!
Thursday, November 6, 8:15 a.m.
Thursday, February 5, 8:15 a.m.
Thursday, April 2, 8:15 a.m.
Thursday, May 7, 2015, 8:15 a.m.
We welcome your suggestions for meeting topics for our remaining four meetings.
Brimmer and May Apparel
Thank you for supporting our Brimmer Apparel sales. Orders will be ready for pick-up at school on Thursday, October 16. If you have questions about your apparel order, please contact our Brimmer Apparel Co-Chairs, Victor Bellemare P '24 (bellemare_victor@yahoo.com) and Elly Urquhart P '16 (ellyurq@comcast.net). And a tremendous thank-you to Marianne Morrow P '24 for her beautiful custom Brimmer and May green-and-white ribbons!
Spirit Day, October 17, and Homecoming, October 18
Two perfect opportunities to wear your new Brimmer and May apparel! Children (and parents) from all grades are encouraged to wear green and white to School on Spirit Day on Friday, October 17. Then come cheer on our Girls' and Boys' Varsity Soccer teams at Homecoming on Saturday, October 18. Go Gators!
PIN (Parents' Independent School Network) Meeting
All Brimmer parents are invited to attend the first PIN meeting of the year on Wednesday, October 8, at Oak Meadow School. The topic is "Impact Testing and Concussion Management" with keynote speaker Dr. Robert Cantu. For details on the October 8 PIN meeting, click here.
We would like to thank our four PIN Reps, who will represent Brimmer parents at PIN meetings throughout the year:
LS/MS PIN Reps: Kerry Doyle P '24 and Ann O'Keefe P '20 and '21
US PIN Reps: Lucille Rossignol, P '18 and Lisa Ayres P '18
Read more about PIN!
Equal Exchange
Equal Exchange offers terrific organic fair trade coffees and teas, scrumptious chocolates, and unique gifts. Please leave your orders in the Equal Exchange boxes located in Ms. Beech's and Mrs. Gates's offices. On-line ordering is a great option for Brimmer family and friends. If you have any questions, need a catalog, or want to learn more about ingredients, please contact stella_o_lee@yahoo.com. Thank you for all your support.
Parent Walking Group
End the week with a brisk morning walk with fellow parents! Our weekly Parent Walking Group meets every Friday in front of the Chase Building (note location change) at 8:15 for a 45-60 minute walk around the Reservoir (weather permitting).
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Connect with Brimmer and May!
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Brimmer and May news and photos are posted to social media on a regular basis. Stay connected with us!
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| Click here for Brimmer and May School's website. |
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Please note that this email was generated from a "no reply" email box.
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10/13
No School - Columbus Day
10/15
Photo Re-take Day
8:00 a.m. - noon
10/16
Fall College Night
10/17
Spirit Day
10/18
Homecoming,
11:00 a.m.
10/19
Open House
LS - 1 p.m.
MS/US - 2 p.m.
10/23
Board of Visitors' Day (Dress Day)
Community Diversity Night
5:00 p.m.
10/31
Harvestfest
View the full School calendar
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