From The Principal's Desk:

Dear Brown School Families, The first trimester of the 2009-2010 school year has been a very busy time here at Brown School. We started in August with a great turn out for our annual Back to School Open House. It was wonderful to have so many students come in to meet his/her new teacher and feel more relaxed about the First Day of School. A few days later we welcomed the largest Kindergarten class that we’ve had here in many years. Sixty-two eager Kindergarten students started on September 10, 2009. They are settling in and enjoying being part of the great Brown School Community. Also in September we hosted the annual Academic Open House this gave teachers an opportunity to share information about curriculum, assessment and instruction for each grade level.

During the month of October our 3rd, 4th, and 5th grade students took part in the New England Comprehensive Assessment Program. This assessment replaces the Maine Educational Assessment which used to be given in March. We will receive the results of these assessments in January. Once we receive those results we will share the information with parents. Also in October we had our Community Building Fall Field Day. This event was a great opportunity for older students and younger students to work and play together in art, music and physical activities. Many new friendships were formed that morning. We hope to do some follow up activities in the winter and spring.

Later in October the PTA hosted our annual Ice Cream Social which was another opportunity for families to meet, have a delicious sundae and make new Brown School friends. Goal setting Conferences were held at the end of October. Parents, students and teachers had an opportunity to sit together and develop goals for the trimester. I had the chance to sit in on several of these conferences. The collaboration between the students, parents and teachers was very exciting. Those goals will be reviewed and updated at conferences in January and February.

I couldn’t do a recap of the past few months without mentioning our FLU SHOT CLINICS. Thanks to the great organization by our new nurse Michelle Arpin, the Visiting Nurse Association and the always helpful Brown School Parent Volunteers two thirds of our students have received seasonal flu shots and H1N1 flu mist. Hopefully this will make a big difference during flu season.

Two fundraising events that promote reading were held in October. The PTA event at Nonesuch Books was well attended and profitable. Our Scholastic Book Fair held during conferences was also very well attended and profitable. The money from this event helps us pay for author visits.

Included in this newsletter is information from our new Librarian, Mrs. Cummings; we are very excited about our Three Cups of Tea project and the connections to Pennies for Peace.

A few weeks ago we sent out the revised Brown School Family Handbook. I hope that you have had an opportunity to read through it. If you have any questions about any of the information in the Handbook please feel free to contact me.

November is following the pattern of September and October, busy, busy, busy! I hope to see many of you at the PTA Harvest Dinner on Friday night. As we approach the end of the month and Thanksgiving I’d like to take this opportunity to share with you a few of the things that I am really thankful for…a great staff at Brown School, terrific students and supportive, helpful parents. The Brown School Community is a very special place for all of us. Thank you for the part that each of you contributes to making it what it is.

And, finally, this is our first attempt at an electronic newsletter. We hope that you find it useful to receive this through your email. If however, this is not the address you want us to use please reply and we will make the necessary changes.

Sincerely,

Margaret Hawkins

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