Driscoll Bulletin 11/28/16

Have news or events to share? Email us at driscollbulletin@gmail.com by Thursday at 5pm to submit.

Important This Week:

LAST DAY FOR FAMILY GIVING CAMPAIGN: Tomorrow, #GivingTuesday, is the last day for this year's PTO fundraiser, the Family Giving Campaign. During this fundraising campaign, we've raised $43,513 from 265 families. Our goal is 100% participation from Driscoll Families. Please give now at http://bit.ly/2fnl9zV (or via the link at the right of this bulletin) or by sending a check into the main office in any amount.

PTO WEBSITE NOT WORKING: over the last week, and during a critical time of fundraising, our website hasn't been working. We are sorry to those who have experienced this, and we share in your frustration. We are working hard to resolve the problem. In the meantime, if you have questions, please email driscollpto@gmail.com.

HOLIDAY HOUSE DECORATING PARTY: Join the PTO for peppermint, frosting, gumdrops, gingerbread fun and much more! Saturday, December 10, 2016. 10am - 1pm in the Driscoll Cafeteria. $20 per Gingerbread House. 2 for $5 Sugar Cookies. Sign up and payment in the Main Office. Cash or check payable to Driscoll PTO. Questions? Email: Kelly Chung: kchung2006@gmail.com.

Driscoll News:

THE BOOK FAIR IS NEXT WEEK: December 5th-9th, Monday - Friday, in the Amy Neale Library. Come and shop for holiday gifts, a good read, or just to support the school. All proceeds go to the library!
We still need LOTS of volunteers -- especially for the before school peak time (7:15-8:15am) -- to help make the Book Fair a success. If you could spare an hour (or more) with library set-up, helping on the sales floor, working the cash registers, restocking shelves or packing up at the end of the week, please sign up here: http://www.signupgenius.com/go/10c0f4fa8a82ea0ff2-driscoll5 The Book Fair will be open before and after school, and you can even come when your child's class visits the library. Please contact Amy, acrgrayson@gmail.com, Grace, gfjohnston71@gmail.com or Meg, mbrackley88@hotmail.com, with any questions.

SCIENCE SOLSTICE DAY-OF VOLUNTEERS: Science Solstice is on Friday, December 16th and we need a few parent helpers to lend some extra hands. Tasks are as simple as picking up coffee for presenters to actually assisting a scientist in your child's classroom. Be a part of all the fun and watch your child's face light up! Take a look at the opportunities here http://www.signupgenius.com/go/9040c4aaaa92aa13-science
If you have any questions, please email Shannon Hedrick and Sara Stoutland at driscollsciencesolstice@gmail.com

BROOKLINE TALKS PRESENTS Family Dinners: 'How Mealtime Can Make Your Kids Happier, Calmer and More Connected to You" Dr. Anne Fishel - Family Psychologist, Author, Speaker Monday, December 12th at 7 pm in the Lincoln School Auditorium. To register, go to brooklinetalks.eventbrite.com

UPDATE ON KIM LONGMORE: Kim is now at the Life Care Center of the South Shore in Scituate. She is there while she heals and learns more about her knee and how they'll need to proceed. I think she hears about next steps with her knee in about a week. She might have another surgery, or she might have to just let things heal depending the findings after the next set of X-Rays. Her femur is broken, which is the complicating factor because of her recent knee replacement.

She is still waiting to get some replacement glasses--we are hoping that our parent elves who have been helping her with this will have that all sorted out this week. She will be THRILLED to be able to see better!

She is so happy to see all of the kind notes and messages she has received. She said the mornings are tough because those are the times when she is in the most pain, and she reads the notes and messages to keep her spirits up.

Community News:

SCHOOL COMMITTEE MEETING on Thursday, December 1, 2016 at 6:00 PM in the Walsh School Committee Room, 5th Floor, Town Hall.

Runkle 8th Grade Players presents... John Lennon and Me Thursday December 1 @ 7 pm, Saturday, December 3 @ 7 pm, Sunday, December 4 @ 2 pm. Tickets on sale before and after school the week of the play as well as at the door. $10 for Adults, $7 for students. The uproarious award-winning play about life, death and boyfriends. Come meet ultimate Beatles fan and terminally ill teen Star who confronts fate with imagination. Since the play contains these mature themes, parent discretion is advised.

MUSEUM PASSES: The Brookline Library Foundation supports the library's Museum Pass program, which offers Brookline residents discounted museum entry. Traditionally, these passes have only been available to pick up at the Brookline Village location. As of January 1, 2017, the Brookline Library Foundation will fund some additional passes to be picked up at the library's Coolidge Corner and Putterham locations: Boston Children's Museum, Museum of Science, New England Aquarium, and Zoo New England. In addition, the Larz Anderson Auto Museum's pick-up location will be moved to Putterham. The Museum Pass program is generously funded by the Brookline Library Foundation, made up entirely of Brookline residents and volunteers.

MENTAL HEALTH FIRST AID TRAINING The Brookline Parent Education Network, in conjunction with Wayside Youth and Family Support Networks, is hosting a Mental Health First Aid Training to teach how to follow an action plan to help a young person that may be experiencing a mental health issue or substance abuse problem. The training will take place at the Brookline Public Health Department on December 5th and 7th. Click here for more information or to register for the training.

LET'S TALK! This series focuses on fostering the success and well-being of Asian and Asian-American youth. Topics will cover how to understand the various challenges your child may face in school, social-emotional development, and promoting well-being. This event is free and will be held on Thursday, December 8, 2016 at 361 Washington St, Hunneman Hall, 6:30 pm to 8:30 pm. Please RSVP here. Contact Chris Chanyasulkit for more information. Sponsored by the Brookline Asian American Family Network (BAAFN) and the Office of Diversity, Inclusion, and Community Relations of the Town of Brookline.

A BROOKLINE BOOKSMITH EVENT WITH THE BEF Come hear Brookline teachers read from their personal essays and reflect on the craft of teaching. What Have I Learned? Eighteen Teachers Reflect on Teaching and the Wisdom They’ve Gained Along the Way (A Brookline Education Foundation Book) 279 Harvard Street, Thursday Dec. 8th, 7:30 p.m. Refreshments will be served.

BEF FUNDRAISER on Thursday, December 8, Paris Creperie, across Harvard St. from the Booksmith, will be donating a portion of the day’s sales to support the BEF. Please support this locally-owned business knowing that you are also supporting Brookline teachers.

A new College and Career Center is being developed at Brookline High School by Sara Reese (career counselor) and Development Specialist), Brittany Stevens (Business Teacher) and Darby Neff-Verre (Director of Guidance). They are looking for parents and community members to support career exploration programs. With BHS Career Connections, they hope to leverage the talent and skills of our community members to build meaningful connections between the learning already happening at BHS and the real work going on outside of our schools.

Goals of BHS Career Connections:

Build stronger connections between parents and teachers at BHS
Provide students with exposure to careers across a variety of disciplines
Connect BHS curriculum, projects, and learning experiences to experts in the field
Create opportunities for BHS students to develop a true understanding of career paths through networking with professionals

Please consider taking a moment to complete the brief survey here. Also, please spread the survey to as many Brookline parents and community members as possible.

Classifieds:

Public Speaking Workshop. Lumos Debate is running a 2-day Debate Workshop during December and February vacation breaks. Your child will study public speaking, critical thinking, and leadership with world class instructors. The class will be held for students in Grades 6-9. Registration fee is $65. For more info call 617-901-4564. Register at: camp.lumosdebate.com/workshop/

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Brookline Chamber After Hours Networking pARTy 12/7/16 5:30 - 7:30pm
Grow Your Business with Capital One at the Brookline Arts Center
Make community connections and learn how you can grow your business with Capital One. Ice breaker art project hosted by Brookline Arts Center. Light fare and wine will be served. BAC 86 Monmouth St, Brookline. Space is limited. $10 Chamber Members / $20 General Public. Register: www.tinyurl.com/chamberafterhoursdec7
More info: www.brooklinechamber.com 617-739-1330 elizabeth@brooklinechamber.com

Make Art This December! The Brookline Arts Center is offering a two week "mini-session" from 12/5-12/16. This is the perfect opportunity to try out a class or create unique gifts before the holidays. Learn to draw and paint like a pro, discover holidays around the world, create clay gifts, make artisan cards and more!

To register and view all classes, visit www.brooklineartscenter.com.

Learn to Play with Brookline Youth Hockey! Sign up now for BYH's Learn to Play Ice Hockey program: Ice Mice. Ages 4-8 years old, Nov 26th to March 5th, Sat 915am and Sun 515pm. Cost $325. Our #1 goal is for players to have FUN playing ice hockey. More info online at www.brooklineyouthhockey.org

Questions, contact Richie Sheridan rsher12@hotmail.com (IM/Instructional Coordinator) or Doug Janowski douglasjanowski@yahoo.com (BYH Co-Pres).

Reading Tutor: Experienced certified reading specialist with M.Ed. in Reading Education. Trained in Phono-Graphix, Lindamood, and O.G. I specialize in remediating students who read at or below a 2nd grade level, age 5 to 7. Free assessment. $40.00 per hour. Formerly employed by "The Learning Lab @ Lesley." Creative, child-friendly, supportive. Please contact Christine Mandell at birdsongviolin@gmail.com, 617-323-4709.

WINTER WONDERLAND 2016 offered by Brookline SmartVacations. From December 27-30, choose up to 4 days of fun with arts and crafts, gym time, computer skills, and theater games. Daylong activities for students ages 5-12. Also, Archery (Dec. 27-29) for ages 10-13! Visit the SmartPrograms website.

Writing and Homework assistance: Specializing in motivating challenging middle and high school students.
15 years of college teaching available to you and your child. Extensive experience working with students with ADHD, Executive function issues and organizational issues. $50-$75 per hour. First consultation with you and your child is free. Let me help you motivate your child to be successful in school. If interested, please contact Adam at Profasr@gmail.com or call me at 508-944-1262