Brimmer and May Weekly Bulletin

April 3,  2015   
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The last of the college acceptances are in! The Class of 2015 has outdone themselves and will be going to outstanding colleges this fall. While a few students are pursuing a waitlist or two, the list of acceptances once again this year is quite impressive. Acceptance rates that hit all time lows of 2.8 % made it on our list this year. Our seniors have completed a demanding high school academic program while also pursuing their passions and interests, and they are prepared to launch into their next adventure. Our seniors will face new challenges and may even pursue a profession that we have not yet imagined, and they are leaving us well equipped to face those challenges. I know our seniors to be critical thinkers, outstanding problem solvers, collaborative workers, good decision makers, and amazingly creative. They know how to own failure, rebound from disappointment, embrace difference, and have an understanding of our world and other cultures.

 

I am proud of our seniors and their accomplishments. I hope you will take a moment to read this list of college acceptances. We will announce where they will matriculate in May, but I thought this would be a good time to pause and congratulate the Class of 2015 as they enter into their final stretch as our student leaders at Brimmer and May.

 

 

 

Sincerely,

 

Judy Guild

Head of School 

 

All-School News
Brimmer and May Tech Expo 
The Brimmer and May annual Tech Expo is right around the corner! Save the date:
Saturday, April 11, 2015, from 12 p.m. - 3 p.m. Grades 5 -12 are invited to attend. This event is open to the public as well as to the Brimmer and May community. Our focus this year will be Coding. Also featured will be Vex, Legos, Sphero, 3D Printing, Anki Drive, and MORE! There will be student-led demonstrations, challenges, and fun for all levels! For more information contact Jason Bock at jbock@brimmer.org.
McCoy Hall Greeter

Please welcome Anne Bison as the McCoy Hall greeter as of Monday this week. Anne worked previously at Newton Wellesley Hospital, and she is excited to be part of a school community. We will miss seeing Bridget each morning as she and her husband were relocated to Atlanta over spring break. I hope you will introduce yourself to Anne and help her get to know you and your children quickly.

 

Singers Represent Brimmer at 
All-State Choir

On March 21, Lower School students Helen Krakoff '23, Daniel Murray '23, and Julia Vekiarides '22, and Middle School student Benjamin Jaffer '21 represented Brimmer and May in the 2015 All-State Honor Choir. This ensemble, sponsored by the Massachusetts Music Educator's Association, highlights exceptional singers from across the state in two performances at the Seaport World Trade Center. A special thanks to the students and parents for their dedication and commitment in representing the Brimmer community so wonderfully.

 

Frank J. Van Atta

Director of Middle and Upper School Music

Bus Service TODAY  

Today, April 3, we will have an early dismissal. The Boston Bus will leave campus at 11:40 a.m. It will arrive at the stops as listed below:

 

Colonnade:12:05 p.m.

Beacon and Charles:12:15 p.m.

Beacon and Fairfield:12:25 p.m.

Holiday Inn: 12:35 p.m.

Winterfest  

The Winterfest carnival was a wonderful way to end a long winter! Watch the video.

Important Dates for 2015-2016 Updated
Please click here for an updated list of important 2015-2016 dates.
Passport to the World Auction:
Sneak Peek!  


Top items will include  

* All of the beautiful handcrafted classroom items from the Lower School grades  

* A Catered Cocktail Party for 10 featuring musical entertainment by Mr. Van Atta

* Head of School for a Day

* Vacation homes

* Brimmer and May "Graduation Package"

* Amazing Sports packages and tickets

* A pair of gold and diamond earrings made by  

   Heloisa Fitzgerald, P ' 22, '25   

* A Reed Krakoff original bag

And much more!!!  

 

Also this year's "Wall of Wine" will feature 100 bottles!! Amazing! If you have an item(s) that you would like to donate, we are STILL ACCEPTING DONATIONS. We would still love to have more sporting and event tickets! Go to our site where you can download a donation form and also buy tickets.  

 

Thank you, and we hope to see you there!

 

Amanda Spooner Frank 

Director of Alumni Affairs and Special Events
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Lower School News
News from Lower School 

Dear Lower School Families,

 

Courtney and I hope everyone enjoyed the break. It was a little tough for us to see that there was still a large amount of snow on the playground when we arrived on Monday morning!

 

On Wednesday, we had a very successful Accepted Parents Reception, and we were thrilled that we changed the format this year. Yes, earlier in the year we decided to have Pre-K/K parents join grade 1-5 parents and not have a playground event. Considering the snow cover, that turned out to be a wise decision.

 

An early heads-up for third-grade parents: Students will be performing their two French Plays on Friday, April 17--do not miss this extraordinary presentation! There will be a reception at 8:00 a.m., and the plays will begin at 8:30 a.m.

 

 

Best wishes,

Thomas Fuller                             Courtney P. McGillicuddy

Head of Lower School          Assistant Head of Lower School

                                              Early Childhood Coordinator   

FourthFest  

Fourth graders recently honored the traditions and history of three unique Asian countries--India, Japan, and Korea--at FourthFest 2015. Read more and see video and photos.

Tiny Thumbelina

It was great fun to watch 4th and 5th graders perform Tiny Thumbelina in March. Watch video and view/order professional photos.

 

Grade 3 French Plays 
The grade 3 plays will be professionally filmed. If you would like to order a DVD of the Grade 3 French plays, please complete and turn in this order form.
Middle School NewsMS

From the Middle School 

Dear Parents/Guardians,

 

We are looking forward to seeing you next Thursday and Friday for Parent-Teacher Conferences. A reminder that there is no school for grades 6-12 on Friday, April 10, due to Parent-Teacher Conferences. You are more then welcome to bring your son/daughter along to your conferences if you would like.

 

Quarter 3 grades for students have been posted to the grades portal on the Brimmer and May website.

 

On Saturday, April 11, Brimmer and May will be hosting a Tech Expo in the gym.

 


Peter Gordon

Middle School Head

Upper School News                                                US
Upper School Information

Interim II Grades

Grades for students in grades 9 - 12 have been posted to the Grades Portal on the Brimmer and May website. These grades are available to students, parents, and guardians, but are not recorded on the student transcript or calculated into the GPA at this time. The Interim II grades are not a matter of permanent record but represent a snapshot in time of the students' current grades.

 

Academic Warning Period 4 for Seniors

Because we are in a Winterim year and have lost several days to the weather during the beginning of the semester, seniors will not have Academic Warnings posted for Period 4. The grades posted at this time will serve this function. As of Friday, April 3, seniors going on Senior Project have three weeks to conclude their graded work in most of their classes. Those in AP classes will continue to meet prior to the exams and may have additional grading opportunities. Those not going on Senior Project will continue in their classes and will be graded through May 22. Parents of seniors are encouraged to attend parent-teacher conferences next week and contact teachers or advisors as needed for grading information.

 

Parent-Teacher Conference Information

Prior to the vacation, parents and guardians should have received instructions for signing up for conferences via postal mail. Families with multiple children in the Middle and Upper Schools were instructed to contact Janeata Robinson for assistance. Conferences are scheduled for Thursday, April 9, 3:30 - 5:30 p.m. and Friday, April 10, 8:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m. Parents and guardians should be prepared to move around the Chase Building for these conferences.

 

Upcoming Events for the Upper School

April 11  Brimmer and May's Tech Expo

                  Greenline participates in Gospelfest at Milton Academy


 

Joseph Iuliano

Upper School Head

Congratulations, Artists!

Michelle Li's '18 drawing Futuristic City was accepted to be published in The Marble Collection: Massachusetts High School Magazine of the Arts! It was also awarded an Honorable Mention in Drawing and Illustration in the Regional Scholastic Art Award Contest

 

Ellen Blazar '18 received a National Gold Medal and Best in Grade Level award for her drawing, Altered Still-life, in both the Regional and National Scholastic Arts Award contest. 

 

Winterim

Upper School students traveled on Winterim trips in March. Read about their adventures!

 

College Counseling 

 

Class of 2016

All juniors must register to take at least one SAT and/or ACT exam this spring. Please refer to the Brimmer and May College Guide for test dates and registration deadlines. Guidelines to qualify for fee waivers for these tests can also be found in the College Guide. The College Guide can be found on the School website  in addition to the hard copies that were distributed at Junior College Night.

 

In April, we will also begin work on the college essay. A 2-hour essay workshop presented by a college admissions dean is scheduled. More information to follow.

 

Parents and guardians of juniors are reminded to arrange to meet with one of the college counselors to discuss the college plans for their child.

 

On Sunday, April 26, the annual BISCCA College Fair will be held at Milton Academy from 1:00 to 4:00 p.m. College representatives from around the country and the UK as well as Gap Year programs will be represented. By design, we do not invite colleges from the New England states as space is limited, and it easier for our families to travel to those institutions on their own. Three Breakout Sessions are also scheduled during the Fair as follows: 

 

* Athletic Recruiting

* Art Portfolios and Dance, Music and Theatre Auditions

* College Financing

 

A list of participating colleges and gap programs will be emailed home and posted on the Brimmer and May website. This is a required event for juniors and a valuable program for parents as well.

 

Class of 2015

The 2014-15 college admissions cycle is now winding down. Most decisions have been sent, and students now have until May 1st to make their final choice and submit their deposit. This class worked hard to research colleges and then submit applications to appropriate places for them, and their diligence resulted in a long list of wonderful acceptances. We are all very proud of the Class of 2015 ! CONGRATULATIONS!

 

 

Cindy Pendergast

Director of College Counseling 

From the Parents' Association

PA News and Reminders

 

Parents' Association Meeting-Thank You

We would like to thank Head of School Judy Guild for her presentation on Strategic Planning Priorities at Brimmer. Judy gave an overview of the School's educational trajectory for the future, from Pre-K through grade 12. She discussed the choices made as the School incorporates new trends in education while maintaining Brimmer's foundation of strong writing, reading, and math skills. Parents were able to ask questions throughout the presentation. Minutes will be posted here next week.

 

Please join us for the final PA Meeting of the school year on Thursday, May 7, at 8:15 a.m. in the Wright Conference Room (topic to be announced).


 

April Events at Brimmer

As the long winter melts away, enjoy the signs of spring at Brimmer! Check the calendar for April events such as the Technology Expo, Spring Concert, Community Diversity Night, After-School Music Recital, and the Spring Auction. And come cheer on Brimmer's spring sports athletes as they take the field in baseball, softball, lacrosse, and tennis!

 

Parent Walking Group Resumes in April

Break out the walking shoes and jogging strollers! The Parent Walking group will resume in April. Meet us on Fridays in front of the Chase Building at 8:15 a.m. for a 45-60 minute walk around the Reservoir (weather permitting). Parents and guardians from all grades are welcome to join us for a leisurely lap or a power walk

  
We welcome your questions and comments! Please feel free to email us at brimmerparents@brimmer.org.

 

 

Sincerely,

 

Roslyn Pedlar P'18 (roslynpedlar@aol.com) and 

Lynn Segal P'26 (lynnbrennersegal@gmail.com)

PA Co-Chairs

Click here for Brimmer and May School's website.
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spring-word-flowers.jpg
 
Important Upcoming Dates

4/3
Early dismissal
No Extended Day

4/9-4/10
MS/US Parent conferences

4/10
No School gr. 6-12

4/11
Tech Expo

4/17
Gr. 3 French play

4/22
Earth Day

4/23
Spring Concert

4/25 
Spring Auction

4/26
After-School Music Recital

4/27
Senior Project begin

4/29
CAP Exhibition

4/30
Community Diversity Night



View the full School calendar
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