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I wish to congratulate our senior class on their outstanding work throughout their college admission process. They worked hard to complete applications, visit colleges, uphold their grades, and represent our School as a talented and ethical group of young people. They achieved amazing personal results not only in their admission but also in their ability to receive outstanding merit awards.
As our students leave Brimmer this spring to attend college, Brimmer's educators have worked hard to empower each student to succeed. Eventually, they will enter our workplace, and our hope is for them to fulfill their aspirations and dreams. The U.S. Census Bureau offers us data on where college graduates end up in the workplace. This most recent census offers information on the STEM disciplines: "Where Do College Graduates Work? A Special Focus on Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math" United States Census Bureau, July 10, 2014
Why is this census information important to a Pre-K-12 School? In order for our students to compete in the myriad career sectors, we must provide early exposure and training in the various disciplines since this predicts what path a student takes in college. It is important to keep options open to our students and not narrow their possibilities, so their future work can bring life-long enjoyment. In Mark Twain's words, "Find a job you enjoy doing, and you will never have to work a day in your life."
Judith Guild
Head of School
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Annual Fund March Madness
Thank you, PARENTS, for making a SLAM DUNK with 25 NEW GIFTS by March 31, and helping get us even closer to our parent participation goal. If you haven't yet had a chance to make your donation, you can click here to make your donation now! Be on the lookout for our APRIL'S SEASON OPENER Challenge.
Sharin Russell
Director of the Brimmer and May Annual Fund
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New Video!
We are proud to share our new Middle/Upper School overview video with you, and we would love you to share it! Next week we will publish the Lower School overview video--so stay tuned!
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 Brimmer Teachers Visit Schools in China
Brimmer teachers Elizabeth Hickey, Sara Murray, Molly Serventi-Gleason, Gemma Kevaney, Yuhong Jia, and Kelly Neely were invited to visit two elementary schools in Beijing to offer professional development training to Chinese teachers from March 12 to 22. They visited the Experimental Elementary School attached to Haidian Teachers College and Chaoyang Experimental School attached to People's University High School. Brimmer teachers observed the Chinese teachers' classes, shared ideas and teaching methodology with the Chinese teachers, taught the students using our own methods, and then gave presentations to the Chinese teachers and administrators. Chinese teachers were impressed by the teaching, care, and professionalism Brimmer teachers demonstrated. They were inspired by our STEAM program and would like to explore how they might integrate the STEAM concept into their own curriculum.
On the last three days of the trip, our faculty did some sightseeing around Beijing and visited the Great Wall of China, Tiananmen Square, the Forbidden City, the Summer Palace, and the Yonghe Temple.
Yuhong Jia
Mandarin Teacher |
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Literacy Gator Spring Edition
Read the Newsletter for Brimmer's Libraries-- The Literacy Gator Spring edition!
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Alex Pan '16 receives National Silver Medal
The Art Department would like to congratulate Alex Pan '16 for receiving a National Silver Medal at this year's Scholastic Art and Writing Awards for his photograph!
We are so proud of his AMAZING accomplishment!
Bravo, Alex!
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Field Hockey Clinic
Our very own Coach Goldberger is hosting a series of field hockey clinics for any student (boys and girls) in grades 4 - 8 on April 9, 16, 23, and 30 from 11:00 a.m. - 12:30 p.m. in the Brimmer gym, or weather permitting, on the Brimmer field. All students are welcome and will have an opportunity to either try the sport or develop their skills. We will have extra sticks and goggles for those interested!
Abbey Nyland
Middle School Athletic Director, Lower School PE Teacher
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"Oh, The Places You'll Go" Spring Auction Donations 
The "Oh, The Places You'll Go" Auction has some amazing donations thus far. . .here is a sneak peek:
Items will include beautiful handcrafted classroom creations from the Lower School; a catered cocktail party for 10 featuring musical entertainment by Mr. Van Atta; Head of School for a Day;vacation homes; a private evening event at the Mandarin Oriental including poker with Ben Mezrich; Brimmer and May "Graduation Package"; amazing sports packages and tickets; a variety of Camp sessions; spa packages; and cooking lessons and dinner with our own Chef Michael Sonce!!!
Also, this year's "Wall of Wine" will again feature 100 bottles of wine!! Amazing! If you haven't signed up yet, or if you have an item(s) that you would like to donate, go to our website and get them in today!
Amanda Spooner Frank '88
Director of Alumni Affairs and Special Events
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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,
Courtney and I hope everyone enjoyed the break. Unlike last year, we did not return to snow on the playground!
On Wednesday, we had a very successful Accepted Parents Reception, and several Lower School students did an outstanding job of sharing with our visitors what they are learning in the classroom!
Please come enjoy next week's (Thursday 4/7 at 5:30 p.m.) Community Diversity Dinner that is being sponsored by the Lower School Diversity Committee. Take part in a great meal and an exciting version of "Family Jeopardy."
An early heads up for third grade parents: Students will be performing their two French Plays on Friday, April 15--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.
Sincerely,
Thomas A. Fuller
Head of Lower School
Courtney P. McGillicuddy
Assistant Head of Lower School
Early Childhood Coordinator
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Lower School Students Perform in Massachusetts All-State Treble Honor Choir
Four students from our fifth grade were chosen to participate in the Massachusetts All-State Treble Honor Choir with performances on March 12, 2016, at the Seaport Hotel in Boston. Diego Davila-Gil, Kaylee Little, Daniel Murray, and Edan Zinn were privileged to work with a
world-renowned conductor, Dr. Rollo Dilworth. They prepared six pieces in multiple languages (Mandarin, French, Latin, and English) and presented two concerts. We are extremely proud of their hard work and musicality. They represented our vibrant Brimmer Creative Arts Department beautifully.
Elizabeth Wooster and the Lower School Creative Arts Department
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Princess Whatsername Photos and Video 
The 4th and 5th grades debuted their very entertaining musical, Princess Whatsername, in March. Click here for video highlights and to view or order professional photos.
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Middle School News
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Dear Parents and Guardians,
Quarter 3 Grades
Grades for students in grades 6-8 have been posted to the Grades Portal on the Brimmer website. Honor Roll will be announced next week.
Parent--Teacher Conference Information
Prior to the vacation, parents and guardians were sent instructions, via postal mail, for signing up for conferences. Families with multiple children in the Middle and Upper Schools were instructed to contact Mrs. Robinson for assistance. Conferences are scheduled for Thursday, April 7, 3:30 - 5:30 p.m. and Friday, April 8, 8:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m. Parents and guardians should be prepared to move around the Chase Building for these conferences.
The Sound of Music -- Cultural Arts Evening
The students are very excited about tonight's Cultural Arts Evening trip to see The Sound of Music at the Boston Opera House. Dinner will be served at 6:00 p.m., and we will then take buses to the theater. The show is at 8:00 p.m., and we plan to be back at Brimmer around 11:15 p.m. We are extending AP until 6:00 p.m. so the students who are staying through will be able to go from AP to dinner.
Sincerely,
Carl Rapisarda-Vallely
Middle School Head
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Exploration Week
This year 6th and 8th graders enjoyed a scavenger hunt in Boston and volunteered at Cradles to Crayons and for Birthday Wishes during Exploration Week. Click here for photos.
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Upper School News
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From the Upper School 
Interim II Grades
Grades for students in grades 9 - 12 have been posted to the Grades Portal on the Brimmer 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.
Incompletes
A grade of Incomplete (Inc) on a student's grade report indicates that a student has either course work to submit or an assessment to complete in that course to determine a final grade for the marking period. It is the School's policy that a student who receives an "Inc" must finish the course work within one week's time of the conclusion of the grading period. If at the end of a grading period, it was determined that a student has earned a grade of "Inc" in any course(s), the student must complete and submit all course work by the date determined by the School. After this date, the overall grade for the course will be determined, and incomplete work may be assessed with unsatisfactory or possibly failing grades. (Please note, as needed and appropriate, the School will consider medical or health concerns for individuals in the grading process.) We encourage students and parents to seek information from the course teacher about the work that needs to be completed and to consult with the student's advisor to help design a plan for the completion of the course work.
For Interim II, all work for grades of "Incomplete" must be submitted by Wednesday, April 6.
Academic Warning Period 4 for Seniors
Seniors will not have Academic Warnings posted for Period 4 as there are four weeks of classes remaining for seniors prior to the beginning of Senior Project and because parents have an opportunity to attend Parent-Teacher Conferences at the end of next week. The grades posted at this time will serve this function. As they approach Senior Project, most seniors have more than 4 weeks to conclude their graded work in their classes; those in AP classes will continue to meet prior to the exams and may have additional grading opportunities. Parents of seniors are encouraged to attend Parent-Teacher Conferences next week and to contact teachers or advisors as needed for grading information.
Parent-Teacher Conference Information
Prior to the vacation, parents and guardians were sent instructions, via postal mail, for signing up for conferences. Families with multiple children in the Middle and Upper Schools were instructed to contact Mrs. Robinson for assistance. Conferences are scheduled for Thursday, April 7, 3:30 - 5:30 p.m. and Friday, April 8, 8:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m. Parents and guardians should be prepared to move around the Chase Building for these conferences.
Joseph Iuliano
Upper School Head
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In the Heights 
In the Heights, directed by Bill Jacob, was a fantastic Upper School production! Click here
to watch a video of photos.
Click here to view/order professional photos.
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Spring Testing for Juniors
All juniors MUST take the SAT or the ACT or both this spring. The following test dates remain:
SAT
May 7 (Registration deadline is April 8)
June 4 (Registration deadline is May 5)
ACT
June 11 (Registration deadline is May 6)
Open House Programs for Juniors
Many colleges hold open house programs on their campuses during the spring months for juniors. Students should check the College News board in Almy for notices or check their email from colleges frequently. These programs provide a great opportunity to meet professors and students and see the campus in full swing. In addition, a number of colleges will have receptions in Boston.
BISCCA College Fair
When: Sunday, April 24
Time: 12:30 to 2:30 p.m.
Where: Milton Academy
Admissions officers from colleges throughout the United States and abroad (excluding New England) as well as Gap Year Programs will be represented at this college fair program that is open exclusively to students attending Boston area independent schools. Institutions in attendance are invited by the counselors in BISCCA because they are consistently the schools most popular with our students. This is a unique opportunity for families to meet the admissions officers and learn more about the colleges and universities. This is a required event for juniors. Students have been given the list of participating institutions so that they can do some research in advance of the day and create a plan of which colleges they would most like to meet with. An email with the invitation and list of colleges will be sent to parents.
College Essay Workshop
On Monday, April 25, the juniors will participate in a college essay workshop from 10:30 to 12:30 p.m. The presenter will be Chris Teare, Senior Associate Director of Admissions at Drew University in New Jersey. Mr. Teare is a veteran educator and college admissions officer who has worked at institutions in both the U.S. and abroad. He is a regular to the online Forbes Magazine and last fall published an article entitled "College Application Essays Must Have The Student's Voice."
Boston College Visit
Friday, April 8, is a "no school" day for students as the faculty will be conferencing with parents and guardians. Members of the College Counseling team will take a group of interested students to Boston College to attend an information session and a campus tour. Any interested student in the Upper School is welcome to join the group. We think this is a good way to introduce students to the college and campus visit process. Interested students should email a member of the College Counseling team or stop by the College Counseling Office to sign up.
College Decisions
Congratulations to our seniors! They have done an outstanding job in their college acceptances! In a year when many colleges are reporting record numbers of applications, our seniors have fared remarkably well, and we are very proud of them!
As this newsletter is emailed out, we await the last college notifications that will be sent via email or snail mail in the next few days. It has been a year of surprises, to say the least. The College Counseling team, with many years of experience between us, are seeing decisions that defy logic based on academic credentials and the overall strength of the applications. What we can surmise, however, is that financial aid and "expression of interest" weighed heavily in some of the decisions. In addition, it is evident that students who applied by the priority deadline of state universities or Early Action (at those institutions that offer it), seemed to have better outcomes in general. We will publish a complete list of acceptances in the next edition of the Bulletin.
The Hunger Games
On March 28, in The Washington Post, Valerie Strauss published an article written by Brennan Barnard, Director of College Counseling at The Derryfield School in New Hampshire. He writes on a subject those of us in the field constantly discuss at conferences and during our college travels together--how out of control and harmful to our children the college process has become. He compares the college process to " The Hunger Games, where students battle to survive in application pools seeming to demand perfection." This is a sobering article and worth the read. Click here for the link.
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From the Parents' Association
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Parents' Association Meeting Next Week
All parents and guardians are invited to attend our next PA meeting.
Date: Thursday, April 7, at 8:15 a.m.  Location: Wright Conference Room, Chase Building Lower Level
Speaker: Judy Guild, Head of School
"Conversations with the Head: Strategic Planning Update"
Please join us for an update on Brimmer's latest achievements of key strategic priority goals.
Parent Walking Group Resumes Friday, April 8
Our weekly Friday walking group is back! All parents and guardians are invited to join us at 8:15 a.m. in front of the Chase Building for a 40-60 minute walk around the Reservoir (weather permitting). Babies, strollers, and leashed pets are also welcome.
Support the PA When You Shop Amazon
Give back to the PA every time you shop Amazon.com! Our PA receives a portion of every purchase when you shop on Amazon. Go to the PA website page under the "Discover Brimmer and May" tab on the Brimmer website. Thank you!
Sincerely,
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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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4/1
MS Trip
The Sound of Music
6:00 - 11:15 p.m.
4/7
Parents' Association Meeting
8:15 a.m.
Parent Teacher Conferences (Gr. 6-12)
Community Diversity Night
5:30 p.m.
4/8
No School (Gr. 6-12)
Parent Teacher Conferences
4/15
Grade 3 French Play
8:00 a.m.
Middle School Dance
7:00 p.m.
4/18
No School - Patriots' Day
4/20
AP Art and Video Assembly
10:45 a.m.
Early Childhood Music Recital
1:00 p.m.
4/21
Middle/Upper School Spring Choral Concert
7:00 p.m.
4/24
After School Music Recital
4/26
CAPARET
6:00 p.m.
4/27
CAP Senior Exhibition Assembly
10:45 a.m
4/29
Academic Warnings (Gr. 6-12)
4/30
"Oh The Places You'll Go" Spring Auction
6:00 p.m.
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