Roland Hayes School

Our North Star

“When children and teachers feel engaged, safe, and supported we have room to grow and learn through collaboration and risk-taking with our peers.”

Previous "Community Notes" can be found here: https://www.brookline.k12.ma.us/domain/718

"The Community Notes" is sent every other week. Thanks for reading!

This past week we relaunched our Variety Show, showcasing students in grades K-3 and their many talents! MC's Anna and Magnus introduced each act, and once kids hit the stage each was incredible. What really resonated was the tremendous applause each received once their performance was complete. Every kid felt the love! I am thankful we are a community in which so, so many young people feel safe and courageous enough to get onto a stage and perform. We are also thankful for our parent volunteers, Anabelle and Ana Maria, and others, who came forward to bring this great tradition back to our school.

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Tomorrow is International Holocaust Remembrance Day, and February is Black History Month. There are so many ways to learn, connect, and reflect in protected and elevated moments such as these, and countless guides in the world who have brought forth the invaluable narratives of life, love, loss, and ultimately resilient joy.

In school we make space to hear these voices and understand our collective history and shared responsibilities to create just and equitable spaces for all.

We have 3 "Just Announced: New School Name" sweatshirts up for grabs. These were made for the members of the school renaming committee, and we have three that were just too small. These sweatshirts are a Youth M (best suited for kids in grades K-3). See picture below. We'd love to see these amazing sweatshirts in a great home.

Join the lottery here: https://forms.gle/zfhUo7y4qCtpq6Y48

Soon we will offer families a chance to buy Roland Hayes spirit wear, so please look for that opportunity as we move closer to springtime.

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Change is happening and change is coming! Did you notice that our website is rebranded? And that the Parent Portal has our new school name, as does the district website? Paperwork to change our name at the State level has been submitted. Our digital footprint is indeed becoming more representative of who we are now.

We have also had contractors in and we are poised for complete the physical changes to the building, like our front of school name plates and a refurbishing/rebranding of the school gym. It is going to look amazing!

Our PTO's Website is here: https://www.heathpto.org/ We hope you will check it out for upcoming events, ways to support out school, and much more!

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The 2023-24 Hawk Fund is open and the PTO is has a goal of $72,000 to raise this year to support the wonderful programs and additions for our school that help all our students and staff. Please consider donating to this extremely worthy cause today! We all would be so grateful. Donate here, and thank you for any amount you can contribute!

If you would like to see last year's dollars raised at work already, check out what Nurse Corcoran and Ms. Ouellette have to say about their grants received here: Hawk Fund 2023-2024 - Gail Corcoran, Hayes School Nurse

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PTO Community Meeting on Tues. 2/6 at 6pm on Zoom
https://heathpto.org/meetings
Join us for updates and conversation about what's currently happening at our school. Meeting link: https://us06web.zoom.us/j/81678775020?pwd=B3Pv6SyILTae8vQaB9yqAxLQMPaU0O.1

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SRTS Winter Walk & Roll to School Day on Wed 2/7
https://heathpto.org/calendar/event/31552495

Come together with schools across the Commonwealth to celebrate students’ active commutes to school (or even during school recess or lunch). It’s easy to participate: Walk, bike, or roll to school from home or a designated meeting spot, and take pictures!

SRTS Yard Sign Design Contest Open Now

https://heathpto.org/calendar/event/31552820

Have your students express their creativity while helping to promote safe roads for cyclists and pedestrians in our community. Submissions are due on Fri 2/23. Find out more details on our website about how to submit a design.

• Monday, January 29th: Rainbow Club! Grade 3, 11:20-11:50am

• Wednesday, January 31st: Grades 6-8 GSA, 10:50-11:20am

• Wednesday, January 31st: Model UN, 11:20am-12:05pm

• Thursday, February 1st: Young Scholars, 2:30-3:30pm

• Friday, February 2nd: Cycle 1: K-5 Progress Report Publish

• Friday, February 2nd: Term 2: Report Cards Published for Grades 6-8

• Friday, February 2nd: Yearbook Club, 8:00-8:30am

• Friday, February 2nd: 2nd Grade West African Drumming Workshop, Cafeteria, 8:00-9:15am

• Tuesday, February 6th: AAPI Affinity Group, 10:50-11:20am

• Tuesday, February 6th: PTO Community Meeting (via Zoom), 6:00-7:00pm

• Wednesday, February 7th: METCO Connections Breakfast/Game, 7:30-8:00am

• Wednesday, February 7th: Grades 6-8 GSA, 10:50-11:20am

• Wednesday, February 7th: Model UN, 11:20am-12:05pm

• Wednesday, February 7th: Family Game Night, 6:00-7:30pm

• Wednesday, February 7th: All Town Concert @ BHS, 7:00-9:00pm

• Thursday, February 8th: Young Scholars, 2:30-3:30pm

• Friday, February 9th: PEP - Respect Book, 8:05-8:30am

• Monday, February 12th: Rainbow Club!, 11:20-11:50am

• Wednesday, February 14th: Grades 6-8 GSA, 10:50-11:20am

• Wednesday, February 14th: Model UN, 11:20am-12:05pm

• Wednesday, February 14th: Roland Hayes Grades 6-8 Band Concert @ Driscoll School Auditorium , 6:30-8:00pm

• Thursday, February 15th: 8th Grade Elective Visit to BHS, 8:30-10:30am

• Thursday, February 15th: Young Scholars, 2:30-3:30pm

• Friday, February 16th: Yearbook Club, 8:00-8:30am

• Monday, February 19th - Friday, February 23rd: School Closed: February Vacation

Field Trips:

• Friday, January, 26th: Ski and Snowboard Club, 1:50-10:00pm

• Friday, February 2nd: Ski and Snowboard Club, 1:50-10:00pm

• Friday, February 9th: Ski and Snowboard Club, 1:50-10:00pm

The Hayes 8th graders recently completed a Climate Data Art Project - which you can see in the Teen Room of the Main Branch of the Brookline Public Library (through the month of February), or at this website.

Small groups of 8th grade students were given a data set related to one aspect of climate change. They spent time interpreting graphical data and learning about their particular topic. Inspired by the scientist/artist Jill Pelto, each group designed and created their own piece of art. The purpose of their artistic efforts was to communicate to others about the urgency of climate change through the lens of their particular topic and to inspire action.

On the project website, you'll see the students' artwork, along with screencasts that each group made communicating about their topic and the process they went through to create their artwork. Feel free to share this work with others, as the intention was to use art as a way to share with others about the effects of climate change and what data shows is happening to our planet.

We think this was a powerful learning experience for the 8th graders, and it is a testament to how much young people care about the climate crisis and are eager to use their creativity to discuss and deal with their emotions surrounding it.

The LGBTQ+ Task Force and PTOs are hosting a training for parents who have LGBTQ+ Youth in Brookline Schools on February 5th at 7pm. This Zoom event will be led by Emily Lunardi, with additional local resources shared by staff and parents from the Task Force.

Here is the Zoom link:
https://psbma-org.zoom.us/j/99888637185

SCIENCE FAIR is coming up in 37 days - still plenty of time to get started and join us on March 2nd!

Let fellow students tell you why you should participate (link: https://vimeo.com/manage/videos/905659920/4c89610ba0).

Attend this Saturday's 9a Zoom workshop for Q&A's and support - join using this link: https://us06web.zoom.us/j/84655725454?pwd=JOWWeObueBIO1zC17e2t4fAtSsCB92.1)

Consider ordering an official Hayes SF t-shirt to get in the Fair spirit here (link: https://hayessciencefair2024.itemorder.com/shop/home/) (Store closes Thur. Feb 8th).

Register to participate here (Link: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSdwM4rdtHgmYrmGvOmbRCHHM26kuYYE1XkeyncMDenjyT1cbw/viewform)

Science Fair is a proud Hayes School tradition and a wonderful learning opportunity for all students. Over the past five years, amazing K-8 scientists have studied dogs' music appreciation, calculated the relationship between color and taste, built electric cars and volcanoes, investigated pollution in Brookline, explored molecular gastronomy and energy drinks, and so much more. Please encourage your child(ren) to participate this year - it is:

A great way for your child to practice speaking and explaining

THE perfect alternative to screen time

Set up to inspire exploration and introduce children to how to do analysis through a fun activity

A bonding experience for all participating students and for your whole family

With questions or for support, contact the SF Planning Team members: VP Patel, Theodora Konetsovska (3rd&6th), Eli Silk (8th), Jon Bass (2nd&6th), Saed Amal (3rd&7th), Yen-Lin Chen (3rd&7th), Lisa Kang (4th) and Daryl Donatelli (K)

Perhaps your child received an Apple watch for the holidays? Maybe they already have one?

Help your child avoid distractions by turning on School Time mode. If your child has an Apple Watch, please turn off notifications and limit app access during school hours. Instructions are here.

It's really hard for kids to keep themselves from checking their watches or using apps during school. Students are not allowed to use their personal phones or other devices to communicate during school hours.

If we see them using their watches, we will hold them safely in the office until the end of the day.

If you need to communicate with your child, please call the Main Office and we can deliver any necessary message.

We are still getting outside for recess across all grade levels. Our standard practice is: “Students should come prepared to participate in activities outside with varied weather. Layers, coats, hats, gloves etc.”

Please send your child to school dressed warmly, if possible. We recognize that some kids refuse to wear warmer clothes (see article below about teens wearing shorts all winter); some of us can use some help getting a warm winter coat.

Many middle school students arrive in school wearing shorts or without a coat. We tell our middle schoolers that recess is outside and that the expectation is that they are headed out – even in shorts.

If you need help getting some warm clothes, please let us know. Our Student Support team can and will help! link

This fascinating article from The Atlantic can shed some light on the age old question, "Why is my kid wearing shorts in winter?" Check it out here: link

If you can do one thing this weekend, please make time to label your child's winter coat. Our Lost and Found is already full of coats with no names. If we find items with names on them, we return these items to their owners. No label? Then it sits in a pile of stuff in our Lost and Found.

Since you are getting that sharpie out, will you go ahead and write your child's name on their lunch box, water bottle, and backpack?

We thank you very sincerely.

We look forward the the days ahead (this weekend and into February) in which, I hope, each of us can find rest and some measure of comfort.

In a recent New York Times pieces called "January’s Secret: It’s the Best Month" author Steven Kurutz writes that, "That sense of having nowhere to go and nothing to do is one of the month's defining features. After December’s rush of Amazon eighteen-wheelers and minivans headed to Grandmother’s house, highway traffic falls sharply in January, and the year ahead, just days old, has the clarity of the open road."

Within that calm and clarity lies opportunity and rest. Enjoy that moment when you can.

~ Asa

Dr. Asa Sevelius, Ed.D. | Principal

Email: asa_sevelius@psbma.org

Pronouns: he/him

Mr. Kirtan Patel | Vice Principal

Email: kirtan_patel@psbma.org

Pronouns: he/him

Previous "Community Notes" can be found here: https://www.brookline.k12.ma.us/domain/718

The "School Name: History & Resources" website page is here:

https://www.brookline.k12.ma.us/renameheath

Website: https://www.brookline.k12.ma.us/Page/17
Location: 100 Eliot Street, Chestnut Hill, MA, 02467
Phone: 617-879-4570

Roland Hayes School

The Public Schools Of Brookline | A METCO Partnership School

Dr. Asa Sevelius, Principal & Mr. Kirtan Patel, Vice Principal