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I would like to offer a special thank you to our many student leaders on campus. Our recycling efforts are strong because of our Lower and Middle School students' work, our student tour guides are getting high praise from the many visitors to campus, our contribution to UNICEF is impressive and will have world-wide impact, our fall athletic teams were led with spirit and determination, the student Senates have sponsored many great events and direct daily activities effectively, and the stage productions and choral groups have been orderly and run with purpose as the student leaders guide them. Both the Middle School peer leaders and the Upper School peer tutors have had positive individual impact on the work of others. Without a doubt, our students are empowered to lead. I appreciate their daily contributions to our School.
I wish you all a happy and peaceful Thanksgiving. Your children have worked hard this fall, and I hope they will return from break rested and ready to learn. I look forward to seeing you at the upcoming Thanksgiving assemblies when I will take a few minutes to share my thoughts on the The Road Less Traveled within the Brimmer community.
Sincerely,
Judith Guild
Head of School
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Library News
Students can get extra credit for books they can check out at the library?! Second graders went completely wild?! What was the librarian doing in an Algebra 2 class?! Read about these topics and more in the latest library newsletter.
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Attention 5th and 8th Grade Families
Looking to learn more about the Middle or Upper School? Call Myra Korin in Admissions at 617-738-8695 to schedule a personal tour with a member of the Admissions staff during the months December. We look forward to helping you understand everything there is to know about the next division!
Brian C. Beale
Director of Enrollment
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Buy Your Yearbook Today!
Ordering your yearbook is quick and easy! Simply go to www.coffeepond.com; click "Order Yearbooks"; and enter the password "gators." You will be directed to the Brimmer order form to complete your 2015-2016 yearbook order.
Congratulate an individual or class! Promote your business!
Buy a Special Message in the 2015 Yearbook! Forms are due by Monday, January 4, 2016. Please click here for the form.
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Tickets for the Middle School's production of Charlotte's Web are now available for reservation! Please click here to reserve your tickets. Performances take place on Thursday, December 3, at 7 p.m. and Friday, December 4, at 5:30 p.m. |
Universal Language Photos
The Upper School production of Universal Language and Other Comedies
was fabulous! The performance was directed by Bill Jacob, Creative Arts Department Chair.
Click here for a video of photos from the show. To order/view professional photos by David Barron of Oxygen Group click here.
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Holiday Concert Tickets
Grade 6-12 Holiday Concert This concert features performers from Grade 6-12 only.
Wednesday, December 9 @ 7 p.m.
Grade 4-12 Holiday Concert Thursday, December 10 @ 7 p.m.
Ticket buyers please note:
* Reserved seats must be claimed at least 15 minutes prior to the performance or they will be released to the public.
* The front doors are open until 7:45 on performance night.
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Connect with Brimmer and May!
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Join the Conversation!
Follow Brimmer on social media for lots of news, photos, & video!
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Lower School News 
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 Dear Lower School Families,
We have a short but exciting week ahead of us. On Tuesday, we look forward to hosting our Grandparents' and Special Friends'. Please note the following information regarding registration; Pre-K-1 families will register in McCoy Hall, and grades 2-5 families will register in the Chase Building. Please remember that Tuesday is a dress day for the students. Dismissal is at 11:00 a.m., and the Boston Bus will leave at 11:15 a.m.
Grade 2 parents will have an opportunity to join me, along with Ms. Wareham, to hear about our math program on Friday, December 4. We will meet in the Lower School Library at 8:15 a.m. (light breakfast fare will be served).
Ms. McGillicuddy and I want to wish you all a very happy Thanksgiving--we all have much for which we should be thankful. Enjoy the time with your families!
Thomas A. Fuller
Head of Lower School
Courtney P. McGillicuddy
Assistant Head of Lower School
Early Childhood Coordinator
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Lower School Grandparents' and Special Friends' Day
You are cordially invited to Lower School Grandparents' & Special Friends' Day Tuesday, November 24, 2015, 8:00-11:00 a.m.
Please join Head of School Judith Guild for an opportunity to visit classes and enjoy a Thanksgiving Assembly.
8:00 a.m.
Registration in the Chase Building- Grades 2-5
Registration in the Lower School Library- Grades Pre-K-1
Visitors for Pre-K-Grade 1
8:30 a.m. Classroom Visits
9:45 a.m. Assembly- Ruth Corkin Theatre
Visitors for Grades 2-5
8:30 a.m. Assembly- Ruth Corkin Theatre
9:30 a.m. Classroom Visits
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Bus Service on November 24
On Tuesday, November 24, which is Grandparents' and Special Friends' Day, the Boston bus will depart campus at 11:15 a.m. The bus will arrive at the following stops at these times:
11:40 - Huntington/West Newton
11:45 - Columbus and West Canton
11:55 - Beacon and Charles
12:05 - Beacon and Fairfield
12:10 - Holiday Inn
Would you kindly email Courtney McGillicuddy at cmcgillicuddy@brimmer.org or call her at 617-278-2313 if your child/children will be taking the bus home that day.
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After School Programs
REGISTRATION for After School Clubs, that begin in January 2016, will begin on Monday, November 23.
Beginning the week of January 19, 2016, we will offer Chess Club, Newspaper Club with Ms. Pappas and Ms. S-G, Design Squad with Mr. Stattel, Kung Fu, Imagine and Move, and Cultural Connections.
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Extended Day Programs
REGISTRATION for Extended Day Block II, which begins on January 4, 2016, is OPEN.
Extended Day enrollment for BLOCK II is now open for any Lower School student. Parents can find the form attached here.
Enrollment Forms are due back by December 18 to Extended Day Director Laura Foley. If you have any questions: contact Laura at lafoley@brimmer.org
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Lower School Music News
Open Band Rehearsal
Parents of band students in Grade 3 are invited to attend an Open Rehearsal on Friday morning, December 4. Please join Mrs. Wooster in the Lower School Music Room (Room #53 in the Chase Building) at 8:05 a.m. for a brief overview of our instrumental program. Students will arrive at 8:15 to showcase their beginning ensemble sounds. The event will conclude at 8:45. Plan to leave with your toe a-tapping and a smile on your face!
Grades Four and Five Chorus
All students in grades four and five will present several selections at our Holiday Concert on December 10 at 7:00 p.m. Students should arrive at 6:30 to warm-up. Concert dress is required (black pants or skirt, white shirt or blouse, dress shoes and black socks). Please reserve tickets now. It promises to be a glorious evening of song.
Choruses in Share Assembly
The Second/Third Grade Chorus and the Fourth/Fifth Grade Chorus will present several songs at our Share Assembly on Friday, December 11, at 9:00 a.m. Students are asked to wear typical school clothing with a solid color shirt. Please make sure that your child has a healthy breakfast. Parents are welcome to attend.
Elizabeth Wooster
Lower School Music Educator
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Middle School News
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From the Middle School
Dear Parents and Guardians,
It is hard to believe that next week is Thanksgiving! It has been a wonderful, busy fall in the Middle School. I want to share a few classroom highlights that I observed over the last couple weeks. I witnessed students in May Chorale 8 learning Let it Snow! for the Holiday Concert and History 7 students exploring the Articles of Confederation and why they failed. I also observed students in Science 6 performing a lab on erosion using a stream table and students in Drama 8 exploring the partition of India in preparation for their monologue work that will be presented at the Global Connections Exhibition. It is always inspiring to see what happens in our classrooms every week.
I would like to remind everyone that AP is our after-school study hall that runs Monday through Friday from 3:30-5:30 p.m. Students are able to go to AP for as little as 5 minutes or as long as two hours. Students are expected to sign in with the proctor when they arrive. This program is free of charge, and we expect students to be there when they are at School after hours and not in sports practice or a play rehearsal.
Although it is only November, I wanted to give everyone a sense of what the end of the year schedule will look like so you can make plans. The last day of School for the Middle and Upper Schools is Friday, June 10. After a half-day of classes, we will move right into the Honors Convocation. After the Convocation, students will be dismissed for summer vacation. The Eighth Grade Dinner will be held on Thursday, June 9, at 5:00 pm. More information on these events will be sent out in the spring.
The Grandparents' and Special Friends' Day/Thanksgiving Assembly will take place on Monday, November 23. This is a dress day for Middle School students, and there is a special schedule for the day. Students will be dismissed for Thanksgiving Vacation after the Assembly. No lunch will be available, and there is no AP.
I wish you all a very happy Thanksgiving!
Sincerely,
Carl Rapisarda-Vallely
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Middle School Students Compete in American Mathematics Competition
Seventeen Middle School students participated in the 31st Annual American Mathematics Competition 8 (AMC 8) on Tuesday, November 17. Last year over 150,000 students worldwide participated in this competition. The problems on the AMC 8 are meant to be more challenging than students routinely encounter in their mathematics courses, but are designed to be within the reach of students.
The participants from Brimmer were: Marlo Frank, Neel Kumar, Isabella Laine, Kelly Rimas, Eli Singer, Peilin Swan, and Julia Vekiarides, all Class of 2022; Tal Breiman, Kitty Huang, and Ben Jaffer, all Class of 2021; and Samil Battenfield, Julia Bednarz, Caroline Champa, Jubin (James) Heo, Ruiyan (Ryan) Jing, Paxton Wong, and Wentian (Alvin) Zhao, all Class of 2020.
Congratulations to all the participants.
Nancy Bradley,
Math Department Chair
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Congratulations to Honor Roll Students
Congratulations to Q1 Middle School Honor Roll students! Click here for the full list. |
Middle/Upper School News
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 Congratulations to our Athletic Award Winners
Click here to see a list of Middle School, Junior Varsity, and Varsity Athletic Award recipients.
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Upper School News
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 From the Upper School
The recent performances of
The Universal Language and Other Comedies featured the acting talents of more than 25 Upper School actors and stagehands.
Congratulations to the cast and crew for their concerted efforts in preparing this production and for providing our community with engaging and thoughtful entertainment once again. Click here for Cast and Crew of The Universal Language and Other Comedies
Monday, November 23
Grandparents' and Special Visitors' Day/Thanksgiving Assembly -- this is a Dress Day for Upper School students, and there is a special schedule for the day. Students will be dismissed for Thanksgiving Vacation after the Assembly. No lunch will be available for Upper School students on this day.
Monday, November 30
School resumes.
Mid-Year Exam General Schedule and Information, Week of December 14 - 18
Elective and conflict exams to be scheduled Tuesday - Thursday afternoon or as needed. Students are required to sit for exams when scheduled. Exams will not be rescheduled for travel or other personal needs. Students in Grades 9 - 11 must complete permission forms to leave campus between exams (excluding those juniors who already have off-campus permission forms submitted when they earned free blocks at Interim I.)
Monday
8:00 a.m.: World Languages
12:00 p.m.: Science
Tuesday
8:00 a.m.: History
12:00 p.m.: Conflict and Elective Exams
Wednesday
8:00 a.m.: English
12:00 p.m.: Conflict and Elective Exams
Thursday
8:00 a.m.: Math
12:00 p.m.: Conflict and Elective Exams
Friday:
8:00 a.m.: Jr.-Sr. Breakfast
*This is a Dress Day and attendance is required for all Upper School students. Dismissal for vacation immediately follows the conclusion of the Ring Ceremony (approximately 10:30 a.m.).
Lunch is not served on this day.
Happy Thanksgiving!
Joseph Iuliano
Upper School Head
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College Counseling
The New SAT and Other Testing Information
The much publicized "New SAT" will be rolled out on March 5. Significant changes have been made to both the content and the format. Eleven students in grades 10 and 11 took the PSAT in October to prepare for this new exam as the PSAT has also been revised to match the form and content of the new SAT. To learn about the new content, the Middle and Upper School faculty participated in a workshop presented by Charlie O'Hearn, founder and CEO of Summit Educational. Mr. O'Hearn gave specific information about how teaching certain concepts can be enhanced/changed to match the expectations on the exam, thus giving our students every advantage possible. We have invited Mr. O'Hearn to come to Brimmer to inform parents about these changes on the SAT and to answer questions about how these changes will impact students. His presentation will include time for questions about the SAT, the ACT, and his recommendations for the testing schedule ahead. We have partnered with Summit for our test preparation classes for several years. We welcome parent input for our test preparation classes going forward; this evening program may provide information to help you think about possible classes we can schedule if interest warrants.
What: The New SAT and other testing information
When: Tuesday, December 8 at 7:00 p.m.
The entire Brimmer parent body is invited.
LOOKING AHEAD FOR THE CLASS OF 2017
The October College Night is designed to give parents and students of the Upper School good, but general information about the college process and an introduction to the different types of institutions. To this end, our program in October included admissions professionals from Penn State University, Boston University, and Colby College. The next college night program is specifically for the Class of 2017 and their parents. This program will be the "nuts and bolts" of the process, and the content will be quite specific. We will go over the college planning calendar for the upcoming months and explain the Brimmer college team approach. Topics will include, but are not limited to: Naviance, the college search, the Common Application, testing, financial planning, essay and interview preparation, and recommendations. Specific information will follow, but please mark your calendar now.
What: Junior College Night
When: Thursday, January 29 at 7:00 p.m.
As of November 15, nearly three quarters of the senior class have submitted applications to one or more colleges. Many are "early" programs as follows:
- Early Decision, a first choice program with a binding commitment to enroll if accepted
- Early Action, an early application deadline and an early admissions decision, but no commitment to enroll
- Priority Deadline, an early deadline used by many state universities that can often enhance a student's chances for acceptance but is not binding
The seniors have worked hard to meet these early deadlines. They have been in a weekly College Counseling class since second semester of their junior year which will continue through the current semester. During these class times we have discussed the college process, worked extensively with Naviance, worked on the college essay and held an essay writing workshop given by a college admissions officer, and worked to complete the Common Application. Currently, with most students nearing the end of the application process, we are spending class meeting times discussing the transition from high school to college.
Cindy Pendergast
Director of College Counseling
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From the Parents' Association
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Thank You for Your Involvement!
As Thanksgiving approaches, we would like to thank you for all your contributions to the School. Whether hosting parent gatherings, volunteering for Lower School lunch duty, greeting new parents at the Back-to-School coffees, chaperoning field trips, reading in the classrooms, attending PA Meetings, cheering on our student performers and athletes, supporting Equal Exchange and Brimmer apparel, or chairing our committees, your involvement means so much in the lives of our children. We are truly grateful to have such a generous community of parents.
November and December School Events
We look forward to seeing you at the many School events taking place in November and December. Please refer to the Brimmer Bulletin above for details about upcoming events, as well as ticketing policies for the MS Play and the Holiday Concert.
Brimmer Web Express Apparel Store ends November 23, 11:59 p.m!
Our online Brimmer Apparel store is open through November 23. More than 40 items from brands such as Nike, UnderArmor, and more. Youth and adult sizes available. Perfect for MS and US winter and spring sports! Your Brimmer apparel ships directly to your home on December 1, in time for the holidays! Click here to shop! Or go to the link on Brimmer's home page. Contact Victor Bellemare with questions.
Friday Parent Walking Group
Join us Fridays at 8:15 a.m. in front of the Chase Building for a 40-60 minute walk around the Reservoir (weather permitting). All walkers are welcome. As the weather turns chilly, look for our Friday Parent Coffee Group!
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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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11/23
Middle and
Upper School Grandparents' and Special Friends' Day
Thanksgiving Assembly (gr. 6-12), Dress Day
12:00 PM
11/24
No School for Gr. 6-12 (Professional Development)
Lower School Grandparents' and Special Friends' Day
8:30 a.m.
Pre-K-5 - early dismissal, no extended day
11:00 a.m.
11/25
No School
11/26
No School - Thanksgiving
11/27
No School
11/30
School Resumes
12/1
Financial Aid Webinar
7:00 p.m.
12/2
Admissions Walk-In-Wednesday
8:15-10:00 a.m.
12/3
Middle School Play Charlotte's Web
7:00 p.m.
12/4
Academic Warning (Gr. 6-12)
Middle School Play Charlotte's Web
5:30 p.m.
12/5
SAT I & II
12/8
The New SAT & Other Testing Info
7:00 p.m.
12/9
Admissions Walk-In-Wednesday
8:15-10:00 a.m.
Holiday Concert
(Gr. 6-12)
7:00 p.m.
12/10
Holiday Concert
(Gr. 4-12)
7:00 p.m.
12/12
ACT Test
12/14 - 12/17
Semester Exams
12/17
Holiday Reception for Seniors, Alumni, and Trustees
6:00 p.m.
12/18
Holiday Breakfast (Gr. 11-12) 8:00 a.m.
Pre-K - 5
Community Service Day
Upper School Ring Ceremony
9:00 a.m.
Grade 6-12 Early Dismissal
10:45
Pre-K-5
Early Dismissal 11:30 a.m.
1/5
School Resumes
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