I had the pleasure of watching students in grade 6 "think outside the box" in science class this week. Instructed to connect a sequence of dots using four lines that collected all points was a mind bending puzzle that the students worked in groups to solve. My presence in the classroom did not disrupt this engaged group of students all of whom were intent on solving this challenge. The solution involved going outside the box of dots in order to meet the teacher's criteria and solve the problem. This science lesson instilled in our students the need to be critical thinkers and go beyond the obvious into an obscure domain.
This week marked the first of three Back-to-School nights at Brimmer. Our Middle Schoolers are off to a great start and will be challenged throughout the term to think "outside the box" and stretch themselves to be the best they can be. I look forward to seeing our parents and guardians from the other divisions in the weeks to come.
Judith Guild
Head of School
|
|
Chase Construction Update
|
|
Week of September 19, 2016
Preparation of the parking lot site will begin, including removal of trees.
|
 Chase Ground Breaking Ceremony Over 500 students, faculty, staff, parents, and VIPs gathered on the Brimmer field for a Ground Breaking Ceremony for the new Chase Building addition on Monday, September 12. Read more and see photos and video of this very special event in Brimmer's history! |
|
From the Assistant Head of Academic Affairs
|
Homework - Which Side of the Debate are You On?
It is presidential debate season, but Hillary Clinton's and Donald Trump's security or economic policy positions are not the only hot-button issues on the national agenda these days. The homework debate has resurfaced at the start of the 2016-17 school year campaign and is one that all members of a school's constituencies across the nation--students, parents, teachers, administrators, board members, etc.--can weigh in on: should students be assigned homework or not?
Note that this question bears qualification, for it concerns only students in elementary and early middle school, not those in high school. Most educational researchers/experts agree that high school students need homework to help them. Therefore, parents of high school students, you can weigh in, but your children need and are still going to get homework. In fact, I have assigned the students in Introduction to International Relations class reading and questions on this topic.
Yet, from Texas to Essex, Massachusetts, we have teachers saying they will not be assigning homework this year. Here is The Washington Post headline from an online article posted on August 23 (they start school earlier in Texas) about a second grade teacher who implemented a no homework policy for the school year: "A Texas teacher stopped assigning homework. The Internet gave her an A+." And The Boston Globe carried a front page article on September 13 with this statement, ". . . Essex Elementary School, in a bold move sure to delight students and many parents, has stopped assigning homework." Is this another populist movement, a sort of "educational Brexit" vote or is this reasonable and effective educational practice? But that's another debate . . . .
While it's not my purpose here to offer the answer to the questions posed above, I will offer a modicum of information about homework provided on the National Education Association website (Research Spotlight on Homework: NEA Reviews of the Research on Best Practices in Education) "In the last 20 years, homework has increased only in the lower grade levels, and this increase is associated with neutral (and sometimes negative) effects on student achievement."
"At the elementary school level, homework can help students develop study skills and habits and can keep families informed about their child's learning. At the secondary school level, student homework is associated with greater academic achievement. (Review of Educational Research, 2006)"
This information, while not deciding the homework debate, does help clarify our understanding of a good debate topic, there are valid points to be made on either side. Perhaps some research and reading done in class or at home, whichever environment one finds most suitable and effective, will help us reach a determination in this debate?
Joseph Iuliano
Assistant Head for Academic Affairs
|
All-School News 
|
|
Have You Filled in Required Forms?
Please make sure you have filled in all required School forms (i.e. field trip permission form etc.) Log into www.brimmer.org; Select the Resource Board; Select Forms.
Thank you!
|
After School Music: Open to ALL Brimmer Students from Pre-K through 12th Grade
Just a reminder: Registration for the After School Music Program is open until today, Friday, September 16. Lessons begin the week of October 13. If you would like to register your child for a weekly half hour lesson on campus, at Brimmer, please register here. You will need to create an account if you do not already have one. Please contact Thomas Bergeron at tbergeron@brimmer.org with questions.
Cassie Abodeely
Director of Summer and Auxiliary Programs
|
From the Kitchen The kitchen staff works to provide meals for all students. We offer daily vegetarian and vegan options to the hot meals, as well as a gluten free option! Udi's gluten-free bread is also available upon request. These alternative meals are listed on the online menu. If your child has special dietary needs, please speak with the school nurse, who can help them find a nutritious lunch from our many offerings.
Sarah Olliges
Director of Food Services
|
Lower School News
|
Dear Lower School Families, 
We are counting down the days to our apple-picking trip and speaking of that trip--if you have not completed the online the field trip permission slip or transportation form, please do so. Log into www.brimmer.org; Select the Resource Board; Select Forms.
We look forward to seeing you next week at Back-to-School Night. Please see attached information--one for Grades 1-5 and one for Pre-K & K.
Thomas Fuller
Lower School Head
Courtney McGillicuddy '89
Assistant Head of Lower School, Lower School Admissions Associate
|
|
Website/ eBackpack Orientation for New Parents
New parents, do you have questions on the website or eBackpack? If so, there will be opportunities to receive some answers at the Lower School Back-to-School night on 9/22. A table will be set up in the Dining Room. Parents are welcome to check in with questions and for information between 6:00 - 6:30 p.m.
|
|
After School Clubs for Lower School Students
Registration is OPEN! Sign your child up online now. This fall we are offering Yoga with Elizabeth Heller, a certified instructor, and mother of Jared in the Upper School. Elizabeth was a huge hit with our campers this summer, and we are thrilled she is back with us this fall. Mr. Stattel is running Got Science? Club after it's raging success during the summer; Ms. Pappas and Ms. S-G are firing up the presses for Newspaper Club; and Ms. Abrams will be making books in her Journaling and Bookmaking Club. From Graphic Novels to personal journals, she is creating unique, handmade books with your child. Dr. Reese, Co-Chair of the Upper School Humanities Department, is taking over Chess Club! For specific information about each club, please see our website.
Register Today!
Cassie Abodeely
Director of Summer and Auxiliary Programs
|
|
Dear Parents and Guardians,
What a great beginning to the school year it has been! The hallways are buzzing with excitement as the students continue to figure out the routine of the Middle School.
It was wonderful seeing you all at Back-to-School Night last evening. I hope you found the evening to be informative. If you were not able to make it, teachers have posted their course syllabi on eBackpack, and you can access them there. Feel free to reach out to the teacher or me with any questions.
A few reminders about the policies and procedures for the end of the day:
- The school day ends at 3:10 p.m. on Mondays, which is the day Middle School does not participate in athletics. On Tuesday through Friday, the academic day ends at 2:30 p.m., at which point after school sports begin. The ONLY exception to this is for those Middle School students who are playing on varsity teams. At 2:30 p.m. they are to attend study hall in the Almy Wing until 3:10 p.m., at which point they should then head off to sports. They are not allowed to leave campus. If they have an early release for a game on a particular day, they should then abide by the early release time.
- Students who are not picked up from School after sports or who are waiting to be picked up from School after 3:10 p.m. on any day of the week, must go and sign into AP, which is held in room 139. Students do not need to let the proctor know that they plan to attend AP prior to showing up. AP ends at 5:30 p.m.
Carl Rapisarda Vallely
Head of Middle School
|
|
Meet our Fall Coaches
Read all about our fall coaches here!
|
Camp Trips 
See photos from the Middle and Upper School camp trips! |
Upper School News
|
Dear Parents and Guardians, 
I was talking with a friend last weekend, and he was a bit surprised to hear that we start the school year off at Camp. He jokingly asked, "Didn't they just get back from camp?" After admitting that students did just return from summer break, I had the opportunity to talk about the value experiential learning has in education. During Upper School Camp "Embrace the Discomfort" was a running theme. At the beginning of Camp, we discussed that every student and adult was going to be exposed to something that was not in their natural comfort zone and that created an opportunity to have a new experience. The discomfort may have included things such as overcoming a fear of heights on a Zipline, sleeping in a shared bunk, eating a meal with people you do not know well, or leading an activity for the entire School. The camp experience serves as a way for students to develop resiliency and to take risks by embracing the discomfort. Collaboration. Communication. Critical Thinking. Empathy. Problem Solving. These skills were an essential part of the activities students participated in throughout the week. Whether it was finding a creative solution to the ropes course, working as a team during evening activities, or helping classmates overcome fear, students were immersed in real opportunities to develop further the skills that will help them be successful in their academic classes this year. Camp served as a living laboratory for Brimmer's Core Values, Guiding Principles, and leadership development. This was evident during our grade level meetings where students shared their experiences at Brimmer, goals for the year, and ways to strengthen our community. During these discussions, it was clear that our students are living the values of Kindness, Responsibility, Respect, and Honesty. It was inspiring to hear our students talk so passionately about Brimmer and how they were going to explore new ideas, lead the School with compassion, and set new learning goals for themselves. I also want to thank the student leadership that emerged through Camp during the evening activity programming. Students worked with Ms. Cassie Abodeely during the summer and gave up free time during Camp to create fun community-building activities. It is not easy to lead 140 of your classmates, but Sarah Smith '17, Julia Whalen '17, Stone McLaren '18, Jack Donnelly '18, Geo Echebiri '18, Emma Hastings '19, and Alvin Zhao '20 did an incredible job developing and leading evening activities during both nights of Camp. Click here to see pictures of Upper School Camp. Click here to visit Mr. Neudel's blog. Upcoming Events September 24-25 Two Mountains in Two Days (Outdoor Ed) September 29 Upper School Back-to-School Night Evening October 2 - October 4 Rosh Hashanah October 6 Senior Parents Dinner Joshua Neudel Head of Upper School |
|
Website/eBackpack Orientation for New Parents
New parents, do you have questions on the website or eBackpack? If so, there will be an opportunity to receive some answers at the Upper School Back-to-School night on 9/29. A session will run from 6:00 - 6:30 p.m. in the Wright Conference Room.
|
College Counseling
|
College Visitors to Brimmer
Each fall many colleges send admissions counselors to Brimmer to meet with the College Counseling team and students who are interested in their institutions. This is a wonderful way for students to learn more about the colleges, make contact with a member of the admissions staff, and show their interest in that institution. All seniors are encouraged to attend as many of these meetings as possible and are allowed to do so during a free period or with the permission of their classroom teacher. Juniors are allowed to attend these sessions if they have a study hall. We now have over 40 colleges scheduled to visit and more are being added daily. All visits will be announced during morning meetings. Seniors and their parents can access the list on Naviance. The list will be updated periodically. Since new colleges are scheduled on a daily basis, students should listen carefully to announcements at morning meetings. The schedule for next week is as follows:
Monday, Sep. 19
8:00 a.m. Roanoke College
10:30 a.m. Bryant University
11:30 a.m. Colby College
2:00 p.m Lasell College
Tuesday, Sep. 20
1:45 p.m. Connecticut College
Wednesday, Sep. 21
11:00 a.m. Boston University
Thursday, Sep. 22
11:00 a.m. Emmanuel College
Friday, Sep. 23
1:00 p.m. Simmons College
The PSAT
All students in grades 10 and 11 will take the PSAT on Wednesday, October 19. (Not grades 9 and 10, as written last week). The PSAT will be given at Brimmer during the school day. Registration will be completed at School, and parents will be billed for the cost of the test ($15.00). A booklet published by The College Board containing complete information about the PSAT format as well as practice materials has been placed in the Brimmer mailbox of each student in grades 10 and 11. Please urge your student to prepare for the PSAT by carefully reviewing these materials. Further information for parents will be sent at a later date.
Fall College Night--Required for Class of 2018
Mark your calendar for the Brimmer Fall College Night program that will take place on Thursday, October 20, at 7:00 p.m. This evening event is open to all students and parents in the Brimmer community and is especially recommended for Upper School families. A panel of three college admission professionals will present information about their institutions as well as general information about the application process, the admission selection process, and financial planning. This year we are pleased to announce that admissions professionals from The College of the Holy Cross, Dickinson College, and Bentley University will be our panelists. This is a year of big changes in the college world with the roll out of "PPY" (Prior-Prior Year) and the new Coalition Application. Learn about these changes as well as other aspects of the college admissions process. There will be ample time for questions. This is a required event for the Class of 2018.
Free Practice Tests
Several commercial test prep organizations in our area offer free, full-length practice tests for both the SAT and the ACT. Both Summit and Kaplan in Newton Center offer this opportunity on most weekend days. For their full schedules and sign up information, you can go to their websites. Note that some dates offer the option for extended time for those who qualify. Some of the upcoming dates are:
Summit: Sept. 17, 9:00 a.m. - 1:00 p.m.; Sept. 25, 9:00 a.m. - 1:00 p.m.; Oct. 1, 9:00 a.m. - 1:00 p.m.; Oct. 2, 9:00 - 1:00 p.m.; Oct. 8, 9:00 a.m. - 1:00 p.m.
Kaplan: Sept. 18, 4:00 - 7:45 p.m.(Combination SAT/ACT); Sept. 24, 11:00 a.m. - 1:30 p.m.
Cynthia Pendergast
Director of College Counseling
|
Brimmer Apparel Sale at Back-To-School Nights
Show your Brimmer pride and support the Parents' Association. Place your order for Brimmer Apparel at the fall Back-to-School Nights. Apparel will be ready for pickup at School in early October. Thank you for your support!
Volunteer Opportunities
Parent volunteers are making a difference at Brimmer, whether helping on campus with Back-to-School events, Groundbreaking, Athletics, Creative Arts, or behind the scenes. Click here to find a volunteer opportunity fitting your schedule.
CORI
All parent volunteers need to complete a CORI form, which is good for three years. Please email Anne Bisson at abisson@brimmer.org to request an email copy of the CORI form you need.
Fall Parents' Association Meetings
Parents and guardians from all grades are invited to attend.
Thursday, October 6, 8:15 a.m. - 9:30 a.m. in the Wright Conference Room.
The PA, Brimmer, and You! Learn how parents connect to the School and share your story about your family's first days at Brimmer.
Thursday, November 10, 8:15 a.m. - 9:30 a.m. in the Theatre
Writer Lynn Lyons, LICSW will speak on the theme Anxious Kids, Anxious Parents: Strategies to Interrupt the Worry Cycle at Home and School. Click here to read more about Ms. Lyons.
Parent Walking Group Starts Friday, September 16
Catch up with old friends or meet new ones at our weekly Parent Walking Group! Parents and guardians from all grades are welcome. Meet 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. Please feel free to email us with questions, suggestions, or comments anytime:brimmerparents@brimmer.org. Sincerely, Alesia Singer P '26, P '22, P '22 (alesia116@me.com ) Roslyn Pedlar P '18 (roslynpedlar@aol.com) |
|
Connect with Brimmer and May!
|
Join the Conversation and Keep in the Loop!
Follow Brimmer on social media for lots of news, photos, & videos!
|
|
| Click here for Brimmer and May School's website. |
|
Please note that this email was generated from a "no reply" email box.
|
|
|
9/16
Pre-K-K Dismissal
2:00 p.m.
Grades 1-3 Dismissal
2:20 p.m.
Grade 4 and 5 Dismissal
2:35 p.m.
9/22
Lower School Back to School Night
6:30 p.m.
9/29
Upper School Back to School Night
6:30 p.m.
9/30
Lower School Apple Picking Buddy Trip
10/1
SAT I & II
10/3
Rosh Hashannah
Schol Open - No Homework Night
10/4
Class Photo Rain Date
10/6
PA Meeting
8:15 - 9:30 a.m.
Fall Sports BBQ
4:15 - 5: 30 p.m.
Senior Parents' Dinner
7:00 p.m.
10/7
Academic Warnings (Gr. 6-12)
10/10
No School - Columbus Day
10/12
Yom Kippur -
No School/No Homework Night
10/15
Homecoming
10/19
PSAT'S (Gr. 10 & 11) 8:00 a.m.
10/20
Board of Visitors' Day (Dress Day Gr. 6-12)
Community Diversity Night
5:00 p.m.
Fall College Night
7:00 p.m.
10/22
ACT Test
10/23
Lower School Admissions Open House
1:00 p.m.
Middle/Upper School Admissions Open House
2:00 p.m.
10/26
Walk-In-Wednesday
8:00 - 10:00 a.m.
10/28
Mid-Semester 1/ End of Quarter 1
Harvest Fest
9:00 - 9:45 a.m.
|
|
|
