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The upcoming week has two important events in the Middle and Upper Schools. On Tuesday, the annual Bissell Grogan Symposium will launch the second semester for our Middle and Upper School students and teachers. The full program can be viewed below. All parents are welcome to attend the keynote address by Mr. John D. Spooner who will speak on Your Brilliant Future: Street Smart Solutions for the Problems You'll Have. The program begins at 10:45 a.m. in the theatre.
In recognition of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.'s Day and in response to recent national events, our Middle and Upper School students will have an interactive program during Wednesday's assembly period on race, discrimination, and difference. The students will listen to NPRs podcast on race "Six Words: 'With Kids, I'm Dad. Alone, Thug,'" which will be followed by faculty-guided discussions. The Middle School will work within their age groups and also view a short video focusing on the civil rights movement and the major figures of that time. The purpose of these discussions and activities is to inform students about current news and the history that has fueled recent events and to help students learn to think critically about race, discrimination, and difference. Our Lower School will be spending time on this topic during Black History Month in February.
Sincerely,
Judy Guild
Head of School
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Last week we learned Nicole Stone will not return to Brimmer and May for the second semester. She had been on maternity leave since September. Fortunately, Cheryl Hirshman has agreed to teach the second semester. We are delighted she can make this work with her personal schedule.
Please welcome Libby Meyers Pingpank to our Lower School. She will be working with Courtney McGillicuddy as the reading teacher while Mrs. Sammeta is out on maternity leave. Ms. Pingpank previously worked at Shady Hill School in Cambridge for the past four years as a first and second grade teacher. Prior to that she taught at Buckley in New York and Eliot-Pearson School. With eight years of teaching experience and a Master's degree from Bank Street in New York, we are delighted to have her join our community until March break.
Judy Guild
Head of School
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 Kenyon Bissell Grogan Humanities Symposium
Our Economic Times
January 20, 2015
Ruth Corkin Theatre, Chase Building
Featuring panel workshops that focus on topics covering different aspects of the economy today. Workshop topics will include world currency, fair trade, commodities, the economics of sports, bitcoins, the economy of China, and more.
Keynote Speaker John D. Spooner P '88, GP '22, will present Your Brilliant Future: Street Smart Solutions for the Problems You'll Have.
Learn more about the Symposium workshops.
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 Passport to the World Auction-Calling All Parents!!It's not too early to start thinking about donations for our April 25 Auction. Items from your family, local businesses, corporate gifts, and holiday travels are all appreciated!
We are also continuing to seek out volunteers to assist with event planning and execution. Our next volunteer meeting will be Wednesday, January 21, 2015 at 8:15, in the Wright Conference Room, Chase Building.
See our updated Auction page on the School's website and find donation forms, volunteer forms, and a list of suggested items to help jump-start your thoughts.
For additional ideas, try surfing through Bidding For Good's website, www.biddingforgood.com, to get ideas (and maybe pick up something for yourself too)!
Amanda Frank '88, P '22
Director of Alumni Relations and Special Events
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While we all know that practice makes perfect, did you know that the Athletics Welcome Page of the Brimmer and May website lists local camp/clinics in various sports and age ranges for your son or daughter to participate in?
Do you know of a great camp or clinic you want to share? Submit any recommendations to anyland@brimmer.org.
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Tuition Information Sessions
Please join us at one of the following information sessions with the Head of School and members of the Board of Trustees to learn more about the new tuition model for the 2015-2016 school year.
January 20 at 5:30 p.m. - Dining Room
February 19 at 6:30 p.m. - Dining Room
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Family Skating Night!
Please join the Alumni Office and members of the Alumni Association for our Annual Family Skating Night!
When: Friday, February 20, 2015
Time: 5:30-7:30 p.m.
Where: Larz Anderson Skating Rink in Brookline
This event is free to the Brimmer and May Community.
The Snack Bar and Skate Shop will be open for food and rentals. Please remember to bring cash.
Amanda Spooner Frank '88
Director of Alumni Affairs and Special Events
afrank@brimmer.org
617-264-1424
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2015-2016 School Important Dates
Please click here for the School's 2015-2016 Important Date Calendar. Please note that School will begin the week prior to Labor Day and will be closed on Friday, September 4, 2015, the Friday before Labor Day. A detailed calendar will be published in the spring.
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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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News from Lower School
Dear Lower School Families,
We hope you all can take advantage of the long weekend. We had an outstanding group of prospective students join us for our admissions assessment today. After the testing, the faculty reviewed the new report card schedule and had an opportunity to share the different ways they are using iPads in their classrooms.
A message to all Lower School families: Please make sure you check in with Ms. Beech if you arrive late in the morning. Thank you.
Best wishes,
Thomas Fuller Courtney P. McGillicuddy
Head of Lower School Assistant Head of Lower School
Early Childhood Coordinator
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Enroll your child now for any of our exciting After-School offerings: the Innate Mathematician, Cooking with Erin, Mandarin Club, Imagine and Move, Young Scientists with an MIT Scientist, Inventorium, Strategy Games, and Diversity Club. Click here to read more. There are still spots available. Clubs run one day per week from 3:15 - 4:15 p.m. through the semester. To register, click here. (That will take you to the ULTRACAMP registration website--the same site for our Summer Programs registration.) Please call Cassie Abodeely, Auxialiary Program Director, with questions or assistance: 617-278-2350.
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Middle School News
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 From the Middle School
Congratulations to all Middle Schoolers on their outstanding Global Connections performances this week! Enjoy the long weekend
Peter Gordon
Middle School Head
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 M.S. Basketball Special Games
Come watch our Middle School teams!
3rd Boys' will be playing during the halftime of Harvard v. Cornell on Saturday, February 14, at 6:00 p.m.
4th Boys' will be watching a Brandeis game (with two former Brimmer basketball players!) on Friday, January 30, at 8:00 p.m.
3rd & 4th Girls' will be practicing on the Harvard court followed by a game on Friday, February 6, at 7:00 p.m.
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Upper School News
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Upper School Information
Important Upcoming Events - See sidebar calendar!
Upper School Mid-Year Exam Grades
Mid-Year Exam grades have been published to the grades portal on the Brimmer and May website. In order to see the exam grades available, please do the following:
- Log in to the School website.
- Click on the "Resources" icon.
- Scroll down to and click on the "Grades and Updating Personal Information" tab.
- Click on your child's name and then the "Grades" tab.
- To see the exam grade for any subject click on the triangle next to the course title; this will open up the exam grade which will be shown in white text in the gray bars under the S1 heading.
Several courses did not have standard mid-term exams but had projects or other assessments instead. Information about these will be available in the written reports for the semester. Semester grades and these reports will be available later in January.
Semester I Advisor-Parent Meetings
Following the publication of Semester I grades and teacher comments, parents and guardians have the opportunity to meet with Upper School advisors at their mutual convenience. We have set aside time after School during the week of January 26 for this purpose; however, meetings may be arranged during other times of the day as schedules allow. Advisors will contact parents to set up these meetings.
Upper School Semi-Formal, Saturday, January 31
This year's Upper School Senate sponsored Semi-Formal Dance will once again be held in the Chase Dining Room. This year's theme is James Bond, 007. The cost per student is $5, prior to the event. Upper School students may bring 1 guest each to this event, but this does not include students in Middle School. All Upper School students are encouraged to attend this social event, which is a wonderful annual mid-winter tradition at Brimmer and May.
Upper School Students to Represent at Yale Model UN
More than 20 Upper School students will represent Brimmer and May at the Yale Model UN Conference from January 22 -26. The Brimmer and May delegation will be acting as representatives of Liberia and the Philippines as well as serving as members of several special committees. They depart on Thursday afternoon, January 22, and will return on Sunday afternoon, January 26.
Joseph Iuliano
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Upper School Play Rehearsal Schedule
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Junior College Night
Thursday, January 29
7:00 p.m.
Corkin Theatre
Required for Juniors, and parents and guardians are urged to attend.
PSAT Meetings
Students in grades 10 and 11 are now meeting with members of the college team to review the results of their PSATs. Please remind your students to register. This is a good opportunity for students to learn more about how to use the PSATs to prepare for the SAT, and it is also a good opportunity to begin a relationship with the College Counselors.
Free Practice Tests
On many weekend mornings, Summit Educational Group offers free SAT and ACT practice exams at their Newton office. They administer the exams, score them, and return them to students at no charge. This is a wonderful way to experience both exams before actually taking the real exam. Exams will be offered on Saturday and Sunday mornings in January and February from 9 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. For more information or to register, contact Summit Practice exams at 800-698-8867 or go to mytutor.com.
FAFSA and Profile
Seniors applying for need-based financial aid MUST complete and submit the FAFSA immediately in order to be eligible for any federal funds from colleges. All colleges require this form. The form is accessed online. More information can be found in the Brimmer and May College Planning Guide, found on the College Counseling webpage, or by going directly to the FAFSA website. Many private colleges also require the CSS Profile which is also found online. There is help available for filling out the FAFSA. MEFA (Massachusetts Educational Financing Authority) has centers at the Boston Public Library, in Brockton, and at several other locations with financial aid professionals to provide help. Also, throughout the months of January and February, at various sites around the state on Sundays, special FAFSA Massachusetts days will be held. Be forewarned, however, that many colleges have FAFSA deadlines of February 1 or 15. For questions that cannot be answered on the websites, email Ms. Pendergast.
Summer Opportunities
All students in the Upper School have been receiving informational emails about various summer programs as it comes in to the College Office. There is also a box of print material in the College Office. Students are urged to consider this information if they are seeking ideas for a summer experience.
Cindy Pendergast
Director of College Counseling
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| From the Parents' Association |
PA News and Reminders
Tuition Information Sessions
We encourage parents to attend an Information Session with Head of School Judy Guild and members of the Board of Trustees:
January 20, 5:30 p.m., Chase Building Dining Room
February 19, 6:30 p.m. Chase Building Dining Room
This is a great opportunity to ask questions and find out more about the new tuition structure.
Bissell Grogan Symposium, January 20 - All parents are welcome to attend.
Parents' Association Meeting, Thursday, February 5
All parents and guardians are invited to join us at 8:15 a.m. in the Wright Conference Room for a discussion of Global Studies throughout the grades.
Faculty/Staff Appreciation Lunch, Friday, February 6
Join the Parents' Association in showing our gratitude to Brimmer and May's dedicated faculty and staff! To find out how your family can contribute to this wonderful day, click on the Parent Information Letter.
Upper School Semi-Formal, January 31
Upper School parents can read all about the Upper School Semi-Formal in The Gator, Brimmer and May's online newspaper. U.S. parents can help by donating food and decorations for this event. Further details to come!
Parent Coffee Group
Join us for coffee and casual conversation every Friday at 8:15 a.m. in the Lower School French Library. Parents and guardians from all grades are invited.
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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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1/19
No School - Martin Luther King, Jr. Day
1/20
Bissell Grogan Humanities Symposium,
Gr. 6-12
10:45 a.m.
1/30
Gr 11. and Parents College Counseling Evening
7:00 p.m.
1/30
Pre-K, K Informance
8:00 a.m.
1/31
US Semi-Formal
7:30 p.m.
View the full School calendar
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