Important Dates |
- 12/8 Early Dismissal K-12
- 12/23 Noon Dismissal
- 12/24 Winter Break Begins
- 1/3 School Resumes
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Dear BHS Parents, Guardians, and Caregivers,
Happy Sunday. I hope you all are finding time to slow down and enjoy the little daylight we can experience in December.
We have two more full weeks of school then a three and a half day week before we head into Winter Break. Second quarter is in full swing, so students ought to be working hard and managing both their time and their business. Winter Athletics began last week, and we head quickly into holiday busy-ness.
In this week’s Blast, I highlight Performing and Visual Arts. We are fortunate to have incredibly strong arts programs at BHS - both curricular and extracurricular. Nearly every week the Performing Arts department offers our community a production or show. And every weekday a group of Visual Arts and Career and Technology Education students and teachers toil in our Unified Arts Building (UAB) and new STEM and restaurant wing.
Revisions: Student Variety Show
Heading to Revisions in Tappan Dance Studio One yesterday afternoon made my weekend. I felt more hurried than I generally like to on a Saturday afternoon and was a little grumpy as I shifted out of yard work and into driving to Brookline High School. (If you were on Beacon Street between Hammond and Tappan around 3:15, I apologize for my impatience…)
When I entered Dance Studio One just after 3:30 to see two dancers beginning the show, any middle-aged and vehicular grumpiness disappeared. Revisions positively transfixed me. I spent the next couple hours gawking at students - full of guts and grace - perform for peers, friends, family, and staff: singing, dancing, playing instruments, doing improv. The music choices and arrangements were beautiful as were the dancers; it was clear throughout Revisions how hard our students had worked to prepare for yesterday’s performances.
No joke I had to remove my mask four distinct times to mop up tears that threatened to moisten my KN-95. The kids offered those of us in attendance a beautiful catharsis. I couldn’t stop talking about Revisions long into Saturday night. To be fair, it is close to dangerous for adults like us to tell students how proud we are of them. As adolescents, they easily sniff out empty words, disingenuous compliments, and the like. But the darn kids were so wonderful on Saturday. I will write a slightly different version of this in my weekly email to students later today. More careful admiration, pride, and gratitude will be present in my prose.
Revisions is one of many, many opportunities BHS students have to find and foster community in various forms. I am deeply grateful to the students and to the faculty advisors and supporters: dance teacher Mayra Hernandez, librarian Bridget Knightly, and drama teacher Mark VanDerzee. They encouraged, supported, and made space for the students to offer our community a wonderful afternoon and evening of song, dance, and comedy.
A Glimpse into BHS Visual Arts
Almost a decade ago, visual arts teacher Donna Sartanowicz and biology teacher Jill Sifantus pitched an interdisciplinary class called Drawing for Understanding in Field Science to the BHS Innovation Fund. The Fund supported the class for three years, and then the district picked it up. Donna is now our Interim Curriculum Coordinator for Visual Arts, a K-12 position, and supports Bryce Davidson as he teaches Drawing for Understanding.
This fall, Bryce developed a unit called "Hidden Worlds." In this project he had students using microscopes recently donated to the art department from the science department. (Thank you, BHS renovation and expansion project.) The students collected specimens from nature and observed them both with and without the aid of the microscope. Magnification reveals aspects of the natural world that we cannot see with the naked eye - a small leaf becomes a whole landscape under the lens. The students painted what they saw with watercolor and then added a Haiku describing this hidden world now revealed.
   
In Drawing for Understanding, students of all levels of experience and interest work together to express their connection to the world around them. Hidden Worlds is not just a cross-disciplinary project between art and science; it also includes a poetry element. Art, like poetry, is a distillation of ideas to their essential most descriptive and moving elements.
As we head into course selection later this year, it is important to remind ourselves and our students of the myriad courses available in our electives departments. Our graduation requirements include at least a full credit in CTE, Performing Arts, and Visual Arts. The truth is that many students spend as much time as they can in our elective worlds. That’s a beautiful thing.
Take care,
Anthony
Anthony Meyer
Head of School
Brookline High School
Pronouns: He/Him/His |
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New WARRIOR WISH FUND!
The PTO is coordinating with the BHS social workers to provide holiday gifts for our high school students. This age group does not often qualify for programs that will provide them something special during the holidays. Please join us in making the holidays cheerful for our high school students. Watch for more details about how you can help to be announced this week.
NEW CLIMATE ACTION LIBRARY
In conjunction with the new BHS interdisciplinary course, "Climate Science and Social Change," the BHS library is creating a dedicated "Climate Change and Environmental Justice" corner and book collection. The collection will include non-fiction, climate fiction and board games. The BHS librarians invite BHS community members to help build this collection by purchasing items from the BHS Library Amazon wishlist, making this a collection built by our community. While you're there, please choose the BHS PTO as your charity in the Amazon Smile program and every purchase you make earns money to benefit BHS students and teachers!
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FRIENDS OF PERFORMING ARTS
Give Your Performer a Winter Concert Greeting! (Deadline 12/10)
The annual BHS Winter Concert is returning on December 17th! This event is a phenomenal peek into the incredible teaching and learning that has been happening this fall in choral/band/orchestra classes, and a celebration of music for the season. Place a Greeting for your student in our Program Book and help raise funds for the Performing Arts at BHS! Rates start at $35. Get more info here: www.brooklinefopa.org/place-a-greeting-in-a-program-book.html
Join Us - Next Meeting 12/21 @7pm on Zoom
The FoPA team is growing and we want you! Do you like meeting and catching up with fellow BHS parents? Do you have some financial know-how and are looking to put it to good use? Do you have kids at BHS as well as in the K8s? Please contact us or come to our December 21 Zoom meeting to learn how you can help Thanks!
BHS PTO ANNUAL APPEAL
The PTO annual appeal is underway. PTO relies on donations from families like yours to fund our support of programming, resources, and teacher grants with direct impact on the learning and experiences of BHS students. If you've already donated this year, thank you. If not, please take a minute to donate now at this link or by sending a check to BHS PTO, 115 Greenough Street, 02445.
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MENTAL HEALTH RESOURCES ARE AVAILABLE
B-PEN continues to hear that Brookline families are concerned about mental health these days, especially regarding our youth. In fact, the American Academy of Child & Adolescent Psychiatry, the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP), and the Children’s Hospital Association (CHA) have come together to declare a National State of Emergency in Children’s Mental Health, acknowledging the urgency of widespread challenges facing children and adolescents. While direct services are often limited, information and resources ARE readily available. Check out our Mental Health Care in Adolescents on the B-PEN webpage.
BHS ROWING TEAM OPENINGS
The BHS Rowing Team is looking for new rowers and coxswains. All students are invited to participate in Friends of Brookline Rowing's preseason winter training program. Come workout and learn about rowing as the team prepares for another fun and exciting spring racing season. No experience is necessary. The program is the best way for new athletes to prepare for the upcoming spring tryouts. Participants will learn the basics of rowing and get into great shape for racing in the spring. Practices for the winter preseason will begin on January 3rd and continue through February 25th. For more information and access to registration please go to this link: New Rower Winter Registration
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BROOKLINE THRIVES - VOLUNTEERS NEEDED
Students (or adults) looking for volunteer hours? Brookline Thrives has many volunteer opportunities for adults and students ages 15+. Help pack bags, restock inventory, or deliver Thrives bags to classrooms in the K-8 schools. Learn more and sign up.
BHS-BRANDED MERCHANDISE
Show your school spirit with BHS branded merchandise! A variety of clothing styles are available at this link. Stickers and magnets (perfect for cars!) are available at in-person PTO-sponsored events. Keep your eyes open for future announcements about additional types of BHS merch.
B-PEN PART-TIME JOB - ADMINISTRATOR & OUTREACH COORDINATOR
After 13 dedicated years as the Administrator & Outreach Coordinator of B-SAPP (Brookline Substance Abuse Prevention Program for Youth) and B-PEN (Brookline Parent Education Network), June Harris has announced that she will retire as of January 1, 2022. The Team is hoping to fill her part-time position as soon as possible with someone who is familiar with the Brookline school system and is organized, committed to helping families, and a good team player. Here is a link to the full job description – https://www.brooklinema.gov/1415/Job-Opportunities-NEW (Under Health & Human Services it is PT Administrative & Outreach Coordinator) For more information, contact Mary Minott – 617.713.5155.
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SHOVEL OUR SNOW
Know a teen looking to earn some extra money this winter? Join the Shovel Our Snow program through Brookline Recreation! Residents of Brookline in need of shoveling help will contact students directly to set up jobs and work out payment. This is a great way to help out our community while earning money! To sign up visit www.brooklinerec.com or call 617.730.2069.
BROOKLINE ADULT & COMMUNITY EDUCATION - SAT TEST PREP
SmartPrograms, an initiative of Brookline Adult & Community Education running for almost three decades, is excited to announce that registration for WinterWonderland 2021 is open! There is a Winter SAT TEST PREP course for High School students. Programs will take place at UAB and Tappan St, December 27-December 30. Families may enroll by December 20 via the website or by calling BA&CE at 617-730-2700, ext 0. Morning, afternoon, and full day options are available.
BROOKLINE PARENTS ORGANIZATION (BPO) DECEMBER EVENT
Understanding the Reading Brain: Linking Research and Real-world Literacy Instruction
Please join us on Sunday, December 12 from 7:00-8:30 pm for a presentation and conversation with Brookline parents and renowned experts Dr. Ola Ozernov-Palchik (Faculty Director of Harvard Graduate School of Education's Mind, Brain, and Education program) and Miriam Fein (MS, CCC-SLP) as we explore the science of the reading brain's development, and the implications for evidence-based literacy instruction in general education curriculum. Submit your questions in advance or during the event. Q&A will follow the panel discussion. Registration required at: tinyurl.com/bponovember2021. For more information or for questions, please email the BPO at info@brooklineparents.org
10TH ANNUAL COOL SCIENCE ARTWORK COMPETITION
Cool Science is a free and public art competition held each fall for all K-12 artists. Cool Science is a collaboration between the UMass Lowell, UMass Boston, Massachusetts College of Art and Design, University of Kansas, and Kansas City Art Institute. Last year Cool Science received a National Science Foundation grant that helped it expand the project beyond Massachusetts to Kansas, Missouri, and Southern New Hampshire. For further information about the contest, please visit: https://www.coolscience.net/artwork-guidelines-rules. You can also visit the website for further information about the program (www.coolscience.net). The deadine for entries is January 15, 2022.
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COMMISSION ON DIVERSITY, INCLUSION & COMMUNITY RELATIONS - NEW LEADERSHIP POSITION
Brookline’s Commission on Diversity, Inclusion & Community Relations (CDICR) is looking for new leadership! CDICR’s mission is to create and support a town environment of diversity, inclusion and respect for all; and to proactively and vigorously advocate for human and civil rights for all through education, awareness, outreach and advocacy.
This is not easy work, but it is essential to making Brookline live its aspirations. Since these issues cut across all sectors of Brookline, we have embarked on several important initiatives through the work of our committees, including increasing community engagement, immigrant advancement, and revamping our process to review complaints brought before the Commission. In recent months, we have had several new Commissioners join us, representing a diverse range of voices.
However, we need the right leadership, with the vision and energy to maximize the impact of our work. The CDICR Chair is responsible for building and maintaining relationships with town entities, community organizations and the public. The Chair is also responsible for managing the Commission by setting the agenda, identifying relevant Warrant Articles for the CDICR to review, and facilitating the meetings which take place monthly on the third Wednesday of each month. For more information please contact Lloyd Gellineau at lgellineau@brooklinema.gov.
MUTUAL AID BROOKLINE - HOLIDAY GIFT DRIVE
Mutual Aid Brookline and the Brookline Center are helping local families with gifts for their kids. Please click here to participate or visit the MAB website for more information or to volunteer or donate.
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Find more info on Fall sports schedules HERE.
Find more info on the Performing Arts at BHS HERE.
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Support BHS
The Brookline High School Parent Teacher Organization is committed to supporting important communications between school and home. It sponsors a variety of events each year designed to show support of the school and to keep parents informed about how to help their children make the most of the BHS experience.
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