The Mustang Minute

Greetings Mustang Families!

I cannot believe we are already in December!!! With that brings the colder weather, winter concerts, and the excitement for winter break, as well as the Holiday Season. As we make that push to break I would like to ask a few things. Please make sure your children are coming to school in appropriate clothing for the weather. If getting winter coats, hats, boots and gloves are a hardship, know you can reach out to your schools' principal or school counselor for assistance.

We are looking forward to our concerts. As we prepare for the grade level concerts, please note the "doors open" times. It does take time for that final set up and the gymnasium will not be ready for guests until this time. This will eliminate you and your loved ones from standing at the door in the cold.

Thank you for your ongoing support and we hope you have a great week.

Mr. Braden and Mrs. Franz

• 12/7 - 4k/5k Concert @ BES (doors open at 5:30)
• 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 (doors open at 6:30)
• 12/14 - Grades 1-3 Winter Concert @BMS, 6:30pm (doors open at 6:00)
• 12/23 - 12/31 - NO SCHOOL, Winter Break

Ho Ho Holy cow...it's December! And, we are officially in the holiday spirit at Brookwood! We invite all students and staff to join us in some fun dress up days and activities throughout the month of December. See the flyer below for details. Ho ho ho!

Student Council will be holding its annual toy drive from now until December 17th. Please help us out by bringing in a new unwrapped toy to your homeroom teacher. Student council will then donate the items to the community. No toy is too big or too small! Thanks for your support!

As we are coming off of Thanksgiving and looking ahead to Christmas, it’s a great time to revisit the importance of gratitude. A sense of gratitude can benefit children (and adults) in a variety of ways. It has emotional benefits such as increasing mood and decreasing stress. A person who is grateful tends to spend less time comparing him or herself with others and feeling jealous. It also helps people, especially children, step into someone else’s shoes and realize that another person did something nice for them even though he or she didn’t have to. Gratitude is something that our school counselors also work on with our students as part of their classroom guidance curriculum.

For more helpful tips to help teach your child about gratitude https://ncyi.org/2021/11/17/7-ways-to-teach-your-kids-about-gratitude/

Guth Games are BACK!!! For those not in the "know", Guth Games are fun exercise activities, sports, and games hosted by Personal Wellness teacher, Mr. Guth, in the gym during the colder months of the school year. This is a GREAT way to get students moving right away in the morning to kickstart their day!

WHEN: (Tuesdays, Wednesdays, and Thursdays, NOW until March 24th, 7:00 - 7:30am

WHERE: BMS GYM (enter building in FRONT doors)

WHO:

• Tuesdays: 4th & 5th Graders
• Wednesdays: 6th, 7th & 8th Graders
• Thursdays: 4th & 5th Graders

Questions? Contact Mr. Guth at: matt.guth@gcj2.k12.wi.us. Looking forward to seeing our BMS students there!

Forensics is an extracurricular activity offered to students in 6th- 8th grade. The purpose of middle school forensics is to build self-confidence and oral competency by developing and practicing fundamental public speaking skills. We are currently in need of a Forensics coach at BMS. Meets are typically Saturday mornings in February. This is a paid position. If you are interested in learning more, please contact Mrs. Franz at: tori.franz@gcj2.k12.wi.us.

Students observed going above and beyond being kind, being safe, and/or being responsible are issued “BE BROOKWOOD” tickets throughout their school week. Each week we randomly select students from this group and acknowledge them in our morning announcements and in the weekly MUSTANG MINUTE. This week’s drawing winners are:

Kindergarten: Ollie, Landon, Beckham, Eian, Lilah, Rosie, Cody, Johnathon, Darling

1st: Sawyer, Maven, Declan, Gage, Emileigh, Kylie, Lucy, Raie

2nd: Eve, Everett, Cody, Colton, Alan, Talia

3rd: Liam, Stella, Finnegan, Olivia, Kara, Colt

Congratulations to all of our BE BROOKWOOD ticket earners and keep up the great work!

Girls basketball players - please return your uniforms to Coach Metcalf ASAP as the boys’ season begins next week.

Boys in 6th through 8th grade - mark your calendars! Basketball tryouts will take place Wednesday, December 8th, and Thursday, December 9th, from 2:45pm - 4:30pm. If you have any questions, please see Coach Metcalf. You must have a concussion form on file to participate. Meet in the gym. There is a late bus available to take students home at 4:30pm.

Cheerleading tryouts will take place Wednesday, December 8th, from 2:40 - 4:30pm and Thursday, December 9th, from 2:40 - 3:30pm. If you have any questions, please see Coach Cottrell. You must have a concussion form on file to participate. 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.

Go Mustangs!

Coach Metcalf

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!

Susan Flood is the lucky recipient of the Golden Horseshoe! Every year she brings so much joy to staff and families by sharing the Thanksgiving cookbook she creates with her students. Although the recipes may not quite be Food Network ready (or up to FDA regulations) they sure do make readers laugh! Thanks for always finding a way to make others smile!

Mrs. Bullock's class is excited to welcome Mr. Aulds to her music classrooms! Mr. Aulds is a student teacher from UW-Stevens Point, majoring in General and Instrumental Music Education with a certificate in Choral Education. He will be in Mrs. Bullock's classrooms until the end of the semester in January. Students are excited to have a student teacher to help make music with them. Mr. Aulds is currently introducing new instruments, styles of music, and is giving the students an opportunity to improvise and compose in the classrooms! Students are excited to make music with Mr. Aulds!

Ms. Skalecki's class is excited to welcome Ms. Nixon to the classroom. Ms. Nixon is a student at UW-Whitewater, majoring in Early Childhood Education. She will be in Ms. Skalecki's class until the end of the semester in January. Students are so excited to have another student teacher to learn from and grow with. Ms. Nixon is currently taking the students around the world to learn about different winter sports and their history in different cultures! Students can't wait to learn more from Ms. Nixon!