Important Dates |
- 11/8 - No School, Professional Day
- 11/11 - No School, Veterans Day
- 11/23 - Early Dismissal, 12:15pm
- 11/24-25 - No School, Thanksgiving
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Hi, Parents, Guardians, and Caregivers,
BHS Community: Havens for Students and Even Older People Too
I observed so much joy and effort at various Brookline High School events over the last couple weeks. I caught several Warrior games, including some Senior Nights, and a few contests this weekend. As I wrote to students earlier, seeing them on posters makes me happy. Seeing them gathering as and in support of seniors makes me even happier. And I pretty much always enjoy students working and playing hard on teams, casts, crews….
More broadly, the high school has myriad smaller communities - havens, really - where students can feel seen, known, and supported. I saw a similar, if more dramatic, haven on Thursday night when I went to see the ninth grade play which more than sold out our lovely new 22 Tappan Theater. Seeing the crowd gather in our lovely cafeteria and common space in anticipation of Oz was another (hu)manifestation of community. This week, we have our fall play, Puffs, to offer a view of students working hard together and doing something they love. And next week, on Wednesday 11/9, we have our fall concert featuring the Camerata choir and Advanced Chamber Orchestra.
Just as our kids have myriad choices for exploring, creating and supporting community, we parents have options too. PTO, Friends of Performing Arts, Various Warrior Teams, BEF, BHS Innovation Fund, School Council… Rather than become overwhelmed by the choices, choose to check out what’s happening in and around old Brookline High School
Girls Flag Football
We are letting students know that we are resurrecting the girls flag football game after two years without this tradition. Brookline High School faculty, staff, and administrators will be working hard and intentionally with students around expectations for the game and the event more largely. In the past, there have been instances of substance use, poor behavior, and a general under-cutting of both the game and the larger school environment.
The game will occur on Tuesday 11/22 after a full day of school. We will share strict rules around game entrance, including attending all classes on the day of the event. BHS deans and I will reach out via the Weekly Blast and class liaisons with further details.
We are trying to return to a tradition that students enjoy and care about while also reimagining it some so that it better aligns with the climate and culture we want and need in our school. A former high school principal once told our faculty that he saw his role as partly trying to find ways to say yes to students. After multiple years of COVID restrictions and impacts, we are trying to find ways to say yes in support of our students.
BHS Innovation Fund Gala-Rama: Thursday 11/3 7-10
I offer a final reminder that the Brookline High School Innovation Fund hosts its Gala-Rama on Thursday evening (11/3) at Cheeky Monkey in the Fenway area. It is a terrific opportunity to gather in community - educators, parents, guardians, community members, leaders, and lovers of public education. The Fund helps our faculty create curricula, courses, programs, and supports for our 2100 Brookline High School students.
Thanks and take care,
Anthony
Anthony Meyer
Head of School
Brookline High School
Pronouns: He/Him/His
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PARENT REP - BHS SCHOOL COUNCIL
Would you like to take an active part in developing BHS's School Improvement Plan? We invite you to run as a parent representative to BHS School Council, a state-mandated board that assists the Head of School in developing and implementing the annual School Improvement Plan. Click HERE for more detailed information about School Council. The group meets Nov-June from 7:30 -8:30am on the second Tuesday of each month (except in November when the meeting is Nov. 15).
This year we will elect two parent representatives to 2-year terms. Any parent/guardian of a BHS student is eligible to serve; representatives get elected by the full parent/guardian community.
If you are interested in serving as a parent representative to School Council, please prepare a short statement (no more than 150 words) addressing your interest in the position and what you bring to School Council. Please email your statement to copresidents.bhs.pto@gmail.com by Monday, Oct. 31 at 5pm. All BHS parents/guardians will be emailed the candidate statements and a link to online voting, which will close Monday, Nov. 7 at 11pm.
FOPA (FRIENDS OF PERFORMING ARTS)
Don’t miss the Drama Society’s Fall Play: PUFFS
Puffs, or 'Seven Increasingly Eventful Years at a Certain School of Magic & Magic’ is a Potter-inspired comedy for anyone who has ever felt like a secondary character in someone else’s story. The play gives you a fresh look at a familiar adventure from the perspective of three new heroes just trying to make it through magic school.
Wednesday, Nov. 2 at 3:30 PM
Thursday, Friday and Saturday, Nov. 3, 4, 5 at 7:30 PM
For more information and tickets please visit the FoPA website http://www.brooklinefopa.org/. Please note: Appropriate for audiences 8th grade and older.
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PTO FUNDRAISING CAMPAIGN
Thank to everyone who donated in this first few weeks of our fundraising campaign. Your support allows the PTO to support programs and materials that enrich the curriculum, fund community and cultural events for all students. The PTO supports life at BHS in so many ways; no family goes untouched. It's not too late to donate!
Please click here to DONATE!
BHS INNOVATION FUND GALA-RAMA
You are invited to the Fund's annual GALA-RAMA, on Thursday 11/3/22 from 7-10pm at the Cheeky Monkey Brewing Co. in Boston (Fenway). Festivities will include: Open bar, fun food, ping-pong, billiards, shuffleboard, auction, and more. Help the Innovation Fund raise funds to invest in new academic programs at BHS and celebrate with BHS Faculty. Buy tickets here.
SOPHOMORE PARENT MEETING
The Sophomore PTO joins with B-PEN (Brookline Parent Education Network) for a special presentation on the unique challenges of sophomore year on Nov. 2, 7-8 p.m., MLK Rm. 115 Greenough. BHS social worker Abby Dean will give a bird’s eye view of what the school is seeing in the current sophomore class and Peer Leaders will share a short video talking about what they think parents should know about the year – always enlightening! Facilitated breakout tables will give parents the opportunity to share concerns as well as successful strategies for setting reasonable boundaries for our teens while encouraging growth, independence, exploration, and finding a healthy balance of social and academic life.
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GreenZine CALL FOR SUBMISSIONS - FALL '22
We are excited to launch year two of GreenZine Brookline, a K-12 online magazine that offers students, staff and the Brookline Schools community a forum for news, opinion and creative expression about climate change, outdoor education, the environment, and the natural world. GreenZine Brookline provides students (and adults) a platform to amplify their voices and passion. We publish poetry, short stories, opinion, news and visual arts. We love to highlight class projects, student initiatives and community projects. We also love to work with students to develop their stories, and students love to see their work in published form. We are accepting submissions for our Fall issue until November 16. Please see our submission guidelines here or submit HERE.
GreenZine Brookline is run collectively by PSB faculty, parents/caregivers and students. We publish new content three times a year. Questions or ideas? Write us at: greenzinebrookline@gmail.com.
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CALL FOR COMPOST VOLUNTEERS
Brookline’s Department of Public Works (DPW) has been working closely with dedicated community members to spearhead a composting program at the high school. This year, administration, teachers, students, custodial staff, and food services staff are all working to make this program a success. In the near future, we envision a self-sustaining compost program that is owned, and led by, the school community. However, there is some education and outreach work to do before we get there, which is why we need your help.
We are seeking BHS community volunteers who can help students sort their waste correctly during lunch. This work is critical to ensure we are diverting as much waste as possible away from the trash and to keep our compost receptacles free of contamination. No previous experience with composting or waste sorting necessary! If you are interested in learning more, please contact the Town of Brookline’s Department of Public Works Zero Waste Team at zerowaste@brooklinema.gov. |
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BROOKLINE FOOD PANTRY NEEDS VOLUNTEERS
The Brookline Food Pantry is looking for volunteers to regularly help out at the pantry. With three pantry locations in Brookline, the Brookline Food Pantry feeds 600 families a week. It takes a village to pack and distribute the bags, keep the pantry clean and organized, and set up and break down each day. If you are interested in joining the hard working volunteer team, please visit brooklinefoodpantry.org or email operations manager, Arielle Chernin.
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BROOKLINE THRIVES
Brookline Thrives, is a program of the Brookline Food Pantry that works in partnership with the Public Schools of Brookline to provide free weekend meals to school children to reduce the number of students starting the school week hungry. Learn more and sign up for Brookline Thrives here. Brookline Thrives is always in need of help with packing bags and making school deliveries. Use this easy online signup form to volunteer! Bag packing/Delivery of Food Bags Sign Up. Thank you!
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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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