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While the weather feels more like early autumn, the events and upcoming exam week remind us we are at the beginning the winter! This week's spectacular Holiday Concert, the excitement around the upcoming traditional Ring Ceremony for our juniors, and the serious commitment to the Food Drive among our Lower School students represent the spirit of the season. The exam period marks the final month of the first semester and delineates a point in time when learning and hard work take a relatively quantifiable structure.
Learning also took place this semester far beyond the School walls. Last week two faculty members and two Upper School students traveled to the National Association of Independent Schools People of Color Conference in Tampa, Florida. The group returned to School ready to share what they learned about equity and inclusion and how their experience was life changing for them. This NAIS program created a buzz on social media, and as I followed their experience remotely through the NAIS Twitter feeds, the thought-provoking headlines and articles prompted many questions. I am eager to explore my questions with the team who represented our School. In particular, I hope in January I will learn more about the "10 Guideposts on the Path to Equity and Inclusion." If you are curious about their work, please read about it on Twitter at #NAISPoCC.
Judith Guild Head of School
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INCREDIBLE MOMENTS of the ANNUAL FUND at work!
Thank you for your participation in giving!
If you have not yet had a chance to join the effort, you can DONATE by clicking here. Thanks very much,
Sharin A. Russell
Director of Annual Giving
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 Bissell Grogan Humanities Symposium Please join us at the 11th Annual Kenyon Bissell Grogan Humanities Symposium. Innovation and Disruption January 19, 2016. Featuring keynote speaker Ben Mezrich P '28. |
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"Oh, The Places You'll Go" Auction
Current parents, new parents, come on and hear,
About our Spring '16 Auction which needs volunteers!
The theme this year is "Oh, The Places You'll Go,"
click on this link and you'll be in the know!
Will you be going away for the Holiday Break? Travelling outside the state or country? Think Worldly about donations for our Dr. Seuss themed Auction! Gather spices, music, wine or spirits, handmade crafts, or traditional items, and bring them back to Brimmer in the New Year. The Auction Volunteers will help gather the items and make beautiful baskets filled with treasures from your travels!
Amanda Spooner Frank '88
Director of Alumni Affairs and Special Events
617-264-1424
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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,
Since this is the last full Bulletin of the year, Ms. McGillicuddy and I want to take this opportunity to wish you the best during the holidays and also to wish you a happy New Year. We have an exciting week coming up--actually, we have had a lot of exciting weeks recently! The students are starting to collect food for the Boston Food Bank, and this drive will culminate with a large gathering in the gym. We hope to see a member from each student's family join us Friday morning. Click here for information regarding the food drive. School will dismiss at 11:30 a.m. for winter break; there will be no Extended Day.
Thomas A. Fuller
Head of Lower School
Courtney P. McGillicuddy
Assistant Head of Lower School
Early Childhood Coordinator
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Boston Bus on December 18
The Boston Bus will leave Brimmer and May at 11:45 a.m. on Friday, December 18 for the return trip to Boston.
The stops are as follows:
Huntington and West Newton - 12:10 p.m.
Columbus and West Canton -12:15 p.m.
Beacon and Charles - 12:25 p.m.
Beacon and Fairfield - 12:35 p.m.
Holiday Inn - 12:40 p.m.
Happy Holidays!
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Attention 5th Grade Families
Please save the date for a Middle School Information Session.
January 28, 6:30 p.m.
Join us for an information session to learn more about the Middle School Program. Engage in a conversation with administrators and faculty about the academic program, athletics, and extracurricular offerings.
Light dinner fare will be served.
Brian C. Beale
Director of Enrollment
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Save the Date!
Pre-Kindergarten and Kindergarten families are invited to a Creative Arts Informance on Friday, January 29, from 8:00-9:15 a.m. in the Ruth Corkin Theatre.
Elizabeth Wooster
Lower School Music Educator
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After School Programs
REGISTRATION is OPEN for After School Clubs that begin in January 2016! After school clubs are open to any Lower School student. Click here to register.
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.orgLaura Foley Extended Day Director
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Middle School News
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 Dear Parents and Guardians,It is hard to believe that we are just one week away from the Winter break. It has been a busy, exciting fall in the Middle School. Last week's performances of Charlotte's Web and the Holiday Concerts were the culmination of months of hard work and an excellent display of the talented students that walk our halls.
Upcoming Important Dates and Events
Monday, December 14
Grade 6 Global Connections Exhibition - 8:00 a.m.
Tuesday, December 15
Grade 8 Global Connections Exhibition - 8:00 a.m.
Wednesday, December 16
Grade 7 Global Connections Exhibition - 8:00 a.m.
JV Boys' Basketball vs. Rashi @3:30 p.m. in the Thompson Gym
JV Girls' Basketball vs. Rashi @4:30 p.m. in the Thompson Gym
Thursday, December 17
Middle School Girls' Basketball vs. Rashi @3:30 p.m. at Rashi
Middle School Boys' Basketball vs. Rashi @4:30 p.m. at Rashi
Friday, December 18
Early Dismissal - 10:45 a.m. Winter Break Begins
Monday, January 4
School Resumes
Happy Holidays!
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DVD's and Blu-Ray Discs of Brimmer's fall production of Charlotte's Web are available for purchase for $30 (DVD) or $35 (Blu-Ray). If you are interested, please bring in cash or a check made out to Brimmer and May and deliver to Mr. Jacob. The discs should be available before we leave for Winter Break. If you have any questions, please email Mrs. Gleason at dgleason@brimmer.org.
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Middle School Instrumental Ensembles 
The Brimmer and May Creative Arts Department proudly presents:
Middle School Instrumental Ensembles Band Concert
Thursday, January 7, 2016, at 10:45 a.m. in the Ruth Corkin Theatre.
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Middle/Upper School News
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Attention 8th and 9th Grade Families!
8th and 9th grade families, please save the date for an information session to learn more about Winterim and other Signature Programs in the Upper School. Engage in a conversation with administrators and faculty about the various options available to students at Brimmer.
January 26, 6:30 p.m.
Light dinner fare will be provided.
Kindly R.S.V.P. to Myra Korin Brian C. Beale Director of Enrollment
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 Brimmer and May presents: Circles Twelve A Coffee House Wednesday, January 6, 2016 Food and Drinks - 6 p.m. Performances - 7 p.m. Free Admission
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Upper School News
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 From the Upper School
Mid-Year Exam General Schedule and Information, Week of December 14 - 18
Mid-year exams will be given to students in grades 9-12 during the week of December 14. Upper School classes will not meet that week as exams will be given during two periods each day, 8:00 a.m. - 10:00/11:00 a.m. and 12:00 noon - 2:00/3:00 p.m. Students will be provided with individual schedules for the exam week; these schedules detail the time and room location of each exam. Standard time testing is two hours; extended time testing is three hours. With the submission of completed permission forms, students may go off campus between exams for lunch. (All seniors and any juniors with off-campus forms already completed do not need to fill out any permission forms.) Click here for the form. Lunch is available at School between exams and students may use available classroom or the library between exams or during unscheduled exam periods.
Elective and conflict exams are scheduled for Tuesday - Thursday afternoon or as needed. Students are required to sit for exams when scheduled. No changes can be made to the exam schedule.
Monday 8:00 a.m.: *World Languages
Monday 12:00 noon:*Science
Tuesday 8:00 a.m.: *History
Tuesday 12:00 noon: Conflict and Elective Exams
Wednesday 8:00a.m.: English
Wednesday 12:00 noon: Conflict and Elective Exams
Thursday 8:00 a.m.:*Math
Thursday 12:00 noon: Conflict and Elective Exams
*Disciplines with conflicts for students; most conflict exams will be scheduled during Tuesday or Wednesday afternoon. Students should consult their individual schedules for information about their exams.
Click here for exam guidelines for students. Click here for the complete Mid-Year Exam information.
Upcoming Events
Saturday, December 12:
ACT Testing
Wednesday, December 16:
Ring Ceremony Rehearsal for Seniors, 2:45 p.m., Corkin Theatre
Thursday, December 17:
Global Studies Program Film Screening, Time TBA
Holiday Reception for Seniors, Alumni, and Trustees, Brae Burn CC, 6:00 p.m.
Friday, December 18:
Jr.-Sr. Breakfast, 8:00 a.m.; Ring Ceremony, 9:00 a.m.
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 10:30-45 a.m.). Lunch is not served on this day.
Monday, January 4:
School Resumes
Wednesday, January 6:
Coffee House, 6:00 p.m./Performances begin at 7:00 p.m.
Tuesday, January 12:
Advanced Theatre Studies Exhibition, 8:00 - 9:00 a.m. , Corkin Theatre
Wednesday, January 13:
Upper School Band Concert, 10:45 - 11:35 a.m., Corkin Theatre
Thursday, January 14:
Grade 9 Chaucer Exhibition, 3:15 - 4:45 p.m., Rooms TBA
Community Diversity Night, 5:00 p.m., Chase Dining Room
CAP Singers Night, following Community Diversity Night
in the Corkin Theatre
Friday, January 15:
No School - Upper School Faculty Professional Development Day
End Semester I
Joseph Iuliano
Upper School Head
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 U.S. Instrumental Ensembles The Brimmer and May Creative Arts Department proudly presents the Upper School Instrumental Ensembles Concert Wednesday, January 13, 2015 at 10:45 a.m. in the Ruth Corkin Theatre |
College Counseling
SAT/ACT Evening Program
Tuesday evening a group of approximately 35 parents and several students attended an excellent presentation delivered by Joshua White from Summit Educational. Joshua began the presentation with a brief history of the SAT to give a perspective of the changes that have occurred over the years since it was created in 1926. He then worked through a PowerPoint that described, in detail, the new SAT that will debut on March 5 and how it compares to the ACT. He distributed copies of the College Admissions Testing Guide that Summit published every year. This is a very comprehensive publication that covers just about anything you need to know about the testing programs, test content, and the testing calendar for 2015-2016. Copies of this publication will be distributed to families at Junior College Night.
PSAT Update
Although PSAT results are normally mailed to schools in mid-December, this year The College Board has announced that scores will not be mailed until some time in January. It will take longer for them to score and then calibrate the scores because the PSAT is also new this year and was designed to prepare students for the new SAT. We will keep you informed about the arrival of scores.
ACT Prep Class
As was explained in the evening program on December 8, we have decided to offer a test prep class this year for the ACT rather than the SAT as we usually do. We based this decision on the fact that this will be a transitional year for the SAT. According to The College Board, scores from the March SAT will not be returned to students until late May as it will take them that long to complete the new scoring and calibrating for the new exam. Although we are not giving any specific recommendations to students, we believe this might be a good year to focus on the ACT. All of our students in grades 10 and 11 have already essentially taken a "practice" test for the new SAT when they sat for the PSAT in October. Summit Educational is now offering a free diagnostic test for the ACT that will be offered in the first class of the ACT prep course. This diagnostic test will be given on Sunday, January 10, and is the first class of the course. The course consists of a total of 6 classes. Only the first class for the diagnostic test is free.
The ACT class will be offered at Brimmer on the following Sunday mornings: January 10, February 7, February 21, February 28, March 6, and April 3.
Financial assistance is available to students who receive aid from Brimmer. Forms are available from Mrs. Pendergast, and the link to download them will also be emailed to parents.
Early Decision
In the class of 35 seniors, 14 students have submitted Early Decision applications to colleges. Notifications will begin to arrive any day causing anxious waiting and finger crossing in the student lounge. If admitted, the student will attend that college as Early Decision is a first choice, binding decision. We wish them luck!
Financial Aid Forms
Seniors have been reminded that those applying for need-based financial aid MUST all complete the FAFSA and check to see which of their colleges require the CSS Profile. Both forms can be found online and filled out and submitted online. The Profile can be submitted now. The FAFSA can be submitted on January 1. There are many sources of help in filling out these forms. Contact Mrs. Pendergast if you would like further information.
Cynthia Pendergast
Director of College Counseling
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From the Parents' Association
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Important December Dates
Please see the Bulletin for next week's important dates, including LS Community Service Day, US Ring Ceremony (MS/US dress day), and US Midterm Week.
Lower School Food Drive Next Week, December 14-18
Please help support the LS Food Drive and families throughout the greater Boston community! Non-perishable food will be collected in LS homerooms and the Chase Building. Donations will be delivered to the Greater Boston Food Bank following Lower School Community Service Day. Last year, the students collected 2,000 pounds of food, helping to feed 1,500 meals to families across Massachuset ts!
Please contact our LS Community Service Day co-chairs,
David Friedman (dfriedman@redsox.com) and
Lindy Van Kats
Shopping for the Holidays? Consider supporting Brimmer When You Shop Amazon
Give back to Brimmer as you shop Amazon for the holidays! We receive a portion of every purchase when you start your shopping here. Or find the Brimmer Amazon link under the "Discover Brimmer and May" tab on the school website. Thank you!
Friday Parent Walking Group 
Join us next Friday, December 18, for our last walk before Winter Break! We meet at 8:15 a.m. in front of the Chase Building for a 40-60-minute walk around the Reservoir (weather permitting). As the weather turns chilly, look for our Friday Parent Coffee Group in January 2016.
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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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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.
1/4
School Resumes
1/6
Middle School Band Concert at Assembly
Coffee House
6:00 p.m.
1/11- 1/14
Exhibition Week
1/15
Admissions Evaluations ( Pre-K, K)
End of Semester 1/Quarter 2
No School-Professional Development Day
1/18
No School - Martin Luther King, JR. Day
1/19
Semester II, Quarter III Begin
1/20
Martin Luther King Jr. Assembly
1/23
SAT I & II
1/24
Upper School Model U.N. Returns
1/26 - 1/27
Advisor Conferences
1/28
College Counseling Evening (Gr. 11 & Parents) 7:00 p.m.
1/29
Pin Meeting
Pre-K & K Informance 8:00 a.m.
1/30
Upper School
Semi-Formal
7:30 p.m.
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