Brookside Blast 1/20/23
At long last, we are getting January snow! Our third graders were able to visit Trapps on Thursdays and the fourth graders had their turn on Friday! It sounds like both trips were a great success - thank you so much to the teachers, staff and parent volunteers who helped to make this happen!
On Monday, all BPS teachers and many staff were fortunate to work with Dyane Carrere, an educational consultant, trainer and author from Massachusetts. Dyane offered a wealth of knowledge and training around trauma informed practices, brain-based science and research to support students' self-regulation and readiness for learning in the classroom. Her delivery was so effective, teachers were implementing components of her work as early as Tuesday of this week! We look forward to future work with Dyane.
Report cards were sent home with all kindergarten - 4th grade students on Thursday of this week. Families, please be sure to check with your children to make sure you get these reports.
The report card communicates progress students have made this year as well as the goals for students looking forward. I ask that you start by looking closely at the written comments that teachers have shared about your child and their progress during the semester; these reflect those strengths and areas for growth. Those make a great conversation point with your child-- what do they see as their strengths and areas for growth in each content area? If you have any questions about what is reported, please reach out to the teacher -- our goal is to build connection with homes and we do truly appreciate when you let us know questions or concerns.
Thank you for sharing your children with us!
Warmly,
Sarah & Chris
School Counseling Updates
I hope 2023 is off to a great start for everyone. I want to take a minute and share this article I came across on parenting and co-regulation from a blog called Helping Families Thrive. So often we forget that we must teach and practice our social emotional skills just as literacy and math skills. Co-regulation teaches and supports your child(ren) in finding their calm and connecting with their brain and body.
Article: Using Co-Regulation to Build Self Regulation in Kids
Other parenting resources
Dr. Becky Kennedy author of Good Inside
Dr. Mona Delahooke author of Brain and Body Parenting
*There are some free resources on these websites, others need to be purchased. Both Dr. Becky Kennedy and Dr. Mona Delahooke have podcasts and social media you can follow for free quick tidbits.
Enjoy the snow this weekend!
Ms. Mosher
Next week in PE
If we continue to receive the forecasted snow, we will be snowboarding in PE next week! Students may bring their own helmets and/or snowboards to use during PE class. Helmets should be brought inside and kept with their backpacks. Snowboards may be left by the PE shed in the visitor parking lot. Fingers crossed!
Thanks, Mrs. Baitz and Ms. Rose
Health Tips from the Nurses' Office
Winter is a great time to get cozy and enjoy the company of family and friends. But it’s also a time when colds and the flu can spread easily. So make sure your family continues to stay healthy this winter with these tips:
Wash your hands often and well. Scrub both hands with soap and water! This is the best way to prevent the spread of germs.
Avoid touching your face. Germs can enter your body through your nose, mouth, and eyes.
Stay warm and dry. Wear warm clothes, and make sure to always wear clean, dry socks. Remove any wet clothes after being outside.
Drink lots of water and fluids each day. Water, healthy juices, and soup are all good choices.
Go to bed early. A good night’s sleep will help your body fight off infection and colds.
Eat healthy, vitamin-rich foods! Vitamin C and D and Zinc are especially important during the winter.
Prevent nosebleeds. Nosebleeds are common in the winter months. Try using a humidifier to increase moisture in the dry home. Limit exposure to smoke from fireplaces, tobacco, natural gas etc.
Stay active, get outside and have fun! Exercise helps your immune system stay healthy and strong.
We hope these tips help us all continue to stay healthy this winter!
PS Please enjoy these photos from the 4th grade trip to cheer on Women's basketball at UVM last week!
COMMUNITY POSTINGS
Please note that the opportunities/events listed below are not specifically endorsed or screened by school staff. As always, families should use their own standards and review processes to determine appropriate activities
Nurturing a Child’s Sense of Wonder Workshop Series: Get ready for winter outdoor play! Facilitated by the Four Winds Nature Institute, these workshops are for adults interested in spending more time outside playing and learning with youngsters. Join this free discussion series to explore topics and best practices in supporting nature-based play and adventure while nurturing a sense of wonder, place and well-being. Two online sessions are followed by in person Nature Explorations with kids:). To register, contact childrensroom@huusd.org.
Online session #1: Monday, February 6th, 7:00-8:30 pm
Online session #2: Monday, February 13th, 7:00-8:30 pm
Nature Explorations: Tuesday, February 21st, 10:00 am to 11:30 am at an area trailhead
Nurturing a Child's Sense of Wonder Workshop Series
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Download PDF • 453KB
Waterbury Winterfest and Wanderlust are Back! Enjoy winter adventures and win prizes by joining the Wanderlust Challenge running through February 4, 2023. This photo scavenger hunt is open to kids, families and individuals of all ages and includes 70 different challenges for contestants to pursue during three weeks of mid-winter fun. See attached PDF for more information. Individuals or household teams can register for free at https://waterburywinterfest.com/wanderlust/#scorecard and choose among nine different categories of winter adventure. Contestants upload photos of themselves or their mascots participating in the challenge of their choice by Saturday to qualify for weekly hree Weekly Prize Drawings. Enter your completed activities by Saturday each week in order to be eligible for weekly random drawings from our sponsors! Teams with the highest points during Wanderlust will win Grand prizes and awarded after the final day of Winterfest Sunday, February 5th. Waterbury Winterfest in-person events will take place from an opening ceremony on Friday, January 27th, through Sunday, February 5th. Proceeds support improving access to recreation in the Waterbury area. See the full schedule at Waterbury Winterfest .
Wanderlust Challenge 2023
.pdf
Download PDF • 437KB
Girls on the Run Coach Volunteers Needed
Volunteer to be a Girls on the Run coach for Brookside Elementary this spring! The impact of a Girls on the Run volunteer coach is as boundless as it is beautiful. The Girls on the Run program is an after school program that uses a research based curriculum to empower, increase self-worth and spark joy in its participants. Our 10-week season begins the week of March 27. Our team will meet twice weekly for 90 minutes each session to connect, move, learn and have FUN! Not a runner? Haven’t coached before? No problem! Girls on the Run VT (GOTRVT) provides training, easy to follow lesson plans, supplies and support from GOTRVT for a transformational season. Visit gotrvt.org/coach to learn more or sign up to volunteer. Questions? Contact GOTRVT at Info@girlsontherunvermont.org or 802-871-5664.
GOTRVT is hosting a virtual Q&A session on Tuesday January 24th at 7pm! Register here.