The Mustang Minute

Greetings Mustang Families!

We hope that this issue of the Mustang Minute finds you all excited to enjoy some down time with friends and family for the Thanksgiving holiday. This time of year, like many of you, we find ourselves reflecting on all that we are grateful for. Among the many things is the fabulous school community in which we work. We are thankful for getting the privilege to work everyday with a steadfast and dedicated staff who will stop at nothing to do what is best for kids. We are thankful for our students, and that we get to spend our working day in support of their social, emotional, and academic growth. And, we are thankful for our parents and community members who partner with us in support of our students.

On behalf of the entire Brookwood staff, we wish you all a fun and relaxing Thanksgiving Break!

Mr. Braden and Mrs. Franz

• 12/1 - BFO Meeting, 6:30pm-7:30pm @ BES
• 12/2 - School Board Community Listening Session #2 - 6:30pm @ BMS
• 12/7 - 4k/5k Concert @ BES
• 12/10 - NO SCHOOL
• 12/8 & 12/9 - BFO Holiday Shop, 5-8pm @BMS
• 12/9 - Grades 5-8 Band & Choir Winter Concert @ BMS, 7pm
• 12/14 - Grades 1-3 Winter Concert @BMS, 6:30pm
• 12/23 - 12/31 - NO SCHOOL, Winter Break

Be Brookwood: Ava Thimmesch Nominated by Mrs. Erickson, Ava is an awesome student and friend. She participates on the Dance Squad and is a true leader of the group. She does a wonderful job when she is in school and has done a fabulous job while she has been learning virtually, attending every meet, participating, and keeping up on class work! Keep up the great work, Ava!!

Dear Parents/Guardians,

We are sure many of you were as shocked and saddened as I was when hearing about the

Waukesha Christmas Parade incident Sunday evening. Traumatic events like this can be

difficult for adults to process, but even harder for children to process. As we start in on

“holiday parade season”, you might notice fears, anxieties or questions from children as a result of what they have seen or heard about the last few days. Below we have provided you with some information and resources that you may find helpful. And, as always, please reach out to us if you have additional concerns about your child, we’d be happy to help connect you to school or community services or resources.

Wishing you a happy and safe Thanksgiving.

Mrs. April Fitzsimmons

School Counselor

(262)279-6496

April.fitzsimmons@gcj2.k12.wi.us

Mrs. Kayln Obry

School Counselor

(262) 279-1053

kayln.obry@gcj2.k12.wi.us

Helping Children Cope with Crisis

https://www.hopkinsallchildrens.org/ACH-News/General-News/Helping-Children-Cope-with-

Crisis

How to support your child’s resilience in a time of crisis

https://www.healthychildren.org/English/healthy-living/emotional-wellness/Building-

Resilience/Pages/How-to-Support-Your-Childs-Resilience-in-a-Time-of-Crisis.aspx

How to help children cope with tragic events

https://newsroom.ocde.us/five-things-to-keep-in-mind-when-helping-kids-cope-with-crisis/

What to say when the news is scary https://www.npr.org/2019/04/24/716704917/when-the-

news-is-scary-what-to-say-to-kids

DPI resources – children trauma and grief

https://dpi.wi.gov/sites/default/files/imce/sspw/pdf/Talking_with_Children_about_Grief_and_

Traumatic_Events.pdf

Helping young children heal

https://www.nctsn.org/sites/default/files/resources/after_a_crisis_helping_young_children_he

al.pdf

Ongoing parental/family Supports:

Dial 211 - 24-hour mental health crisis intervention, information, referral and listening support.

English and Spanish speaking counselors available. Call, text, chat with your local 211 to speak

with a community resource specialist in your area who will help you find services and resources

that are available to you including: Supplemental food and nutrition programs, shelter/housing

options, utilities assistance, emergency information, disaster relief, employment and education

resources, health care, vaccination, and health epidemic information, addiction prevention and

rehabilitation programs, mental health or special needs support groups, domestic abuse victim

assistance

Crisis Text Line - Text HOME to 741741 from anywhere in the United States, anytime, about any

type of crisis. Crisis Text Line is free, 24/7 support for those in crisis. Text 741741 from

anywhere in the US to text with a trained volunteer to support people in crisis and bring texters

from a hot moment to a cool calm through active listening and collaborative problem solving.

Text from anywhere in the USA to text with a trained Crisis Counselor.

Congratulations to the girls basketball team - we made the playoffs! We will play Yorkville @ Yorkville on Tuesday, November 30th. Our game starts at 5pm. We'd love for you to spread the word, and come cheer on your Brookwood Mustangs!

Boys in 6th through 8th grade - mark your calendars! Basketball tryouts will take place Wednesday, December 8th, and Thursday, December 9th, from 2:45 - 4:30pm. There is a late bus available to take students home at 4:30pm.

Remember to sign up for Friday Morning Basketball in the office! Friday Morning Basketball runs from 6am - 730am. Please drop your students off at Door 5.

Come one, come all to the BFO Holiday Shop at BMS!

• December 8, 5-8pm
• December 9, 5-8pm
• December 11, 8am -11am, in collaboration with the Lion's Club Pancake Breakfast with Santa!

Hope to see you all there!

Students in Ms. Mohr's 7th Grade ELA classes engaged in a virtual Escape Room! Working in pairs, students identified various codes to "unlock" each area of the "Figurative Language Escape Room", one for each of the elements of focus: alliteration, metaphors, similes, and personification. What a cool way to put our ELA skills to FUN use!