Huron Valley Education Foundation Grant Winners
Congratulations to several of our Brooks teachers for their extra efforts in receiving grants from the Huron Valley Education Foundation. Ms. Linsday Cotter, HVS Board Member, and Dr. Nancy Coratti, Interim Superintendent, presented these awards on Tuesday morning. Congratulations to Mrs. Even, Ms. Meyers, Mrs. Fouty, Mrs. Miler, Mrs. Farnum, Mrs. Kelly, and Mrs. Powers for receiving grants to enhance programming at Brooks. Our kindergarten and first grade teachers received funding to purchase the Words Their Way word study books for their students. Mrs. Fouty and Ms. Meyers received the first Sherry Stashonsky Literacy Grant to purchase non-fiction books for their classroom. Congratulations all! #Brooksproud
Veteran's Day Assembly and Concert
On November 1, we hosted our Second Annual Veteran's Day Ceremony to honor the men and women from our Brooks Community who have served our country in the Armed Forces. Students invited the veterans in their lives to join us for this special event. We enjoyed welcoming family members and friends to honor for their service. Our fifth graders presented poetry, songs, and information about the reason we honor our Veteran's each year. Thank you to Mrs. LaPratt, Ms. Beach, and Mr. Burke for planning and organizing this event. Thank you to Cub Scout Pack 42 for welcoming our guests as they entered Brooks and for presenting the flag for the ceremony. Thank you Mrs. Marinucci for creating a beautiful refreshment table for our guests. Thank you to our BPTO for honoring our veteran guests with roses presented by our Bobcats. Thanks to Mr. Joe, Mr. Ray, and Mr. Wank for helping set up for this special event. Thank you to our entire Brooks team and our Brooks families for making this such a memorable day for our Bobcats. Finally, we again thank all veterans for serving our country! #Brooksproud
Scouting For Food
Brooks Cub Scout Pack 42 and Girl Scout Troop 71057 collected over 1,700 cans of food for Community Sharing! Way to go Bobcats!
Pack 42 would like to say thank you to the Brooks community for supporting the 2016 Scouting for Food Canned Food Drive! 612 cans of food were collected this year from Brook's classrooms. The overall winner was Ms. Brinkman's class with 103 items. Thank you for your generous donations to Community Sharing.
Pack 42 would like to say thank you to the Brooks community for supporting the 2016 Scouting for Food Canned Food Drive! 612 cans of food were collected this year from Brook's classrooms. The overall winner was Ms. Brinkman's class with 103 items. Thank you for your generous donations to Community Sharing.
Hungry Howie's Pizza Night--November 22
Brooks will continue the dining for dollars at Hungry Howie’s this Tuesday, November 22. Please enjoy pizza from the Highland Hungry Howie's (at Duck Lake Road and M-59) while supporting our school!
Dining for Dollars at the White Lake Inn
The event at the White Lake Inn on November 7th was a success. There were many families at the restaurant and our Bobcats enjoyed an evening of food, friendship and dancing!
District Parent Council Updates
Notes from the District Parent Council: Submitted by Michele Nieset and Angela Willis
The District Parent Council met on Wednesday 11/16/16. This is a condensed summary of what was discussed, we would happily elaborate if anyone would like further information.
The first item discussed was the District's Cost Containment Plan, including what is currently underway as well as the different phases to the plan (http://www.hvs.org/downloads/_news_/full_ccc_plan-10.17.16_1.pdf). Currently, they are restructuring the athletic department to cut costs, adding programming to Milford High School, implementing a staffing formula, determining amount of support staff , reviewing facility usage fees, increasing preschool programs, looking at methods to increase enrollment, and adding Junior Kindergarten classes at elementary buildings to be determined later. The first phase will address determining the location of Harbor High, adding additional preschool classes at Apollo considering there are wait lists already in place, and bus route consolidation for high school level. The second phase includes increasing innovative instructional delivery system, subject to bargaining agreement. The third phase involves relocating central administration office, and pursuing a facility and/or recreational mileage. The obvious elephant in the room was of elementary school closure, which can be proposed during any of the above mentioned phases. While enrollment wise they mentioned that only one elementary school could be closed at this point, it was not ruled out the need that may arise to close a second in a few more years.
The 15/16 audit results as well as 16/17 budget projections were discussed. Based on the audit the following departments/aspects of the district were operating in deficits; Athletics, Food Service Department, Community School (Pools/Fitness, childcare, other offerings), and IA West (tech improvement). It was also noted that the following actions by the school board have contributed to the declining Fund Balance for the district versus the original projections; 4% restoration of salary for instructional staff from when concessions were made in the past, Department of Learning Services restructuring, athletic realignment, deciding not to close an elementary school, opting to provide an 80/20 healthcare option versus putting a hard cap on what the district will contribute and having the staff pick up the rest of the cost of the policy. In short, the deficit they were planning for is significantly larger then they had planned.
Junior Kindergarten will be introduced for the 2017-18 school year, which is a two year Kindergarten experience for those students whom fit in select criteria (wavier students, and those that may benefit from additional time whether for academic or social needs). It will include full-day programming, play based learning like that in the traditional kindergarten setting, and will be housed in elementary schools as they will have specials just like those that elementary students have (PE, art, music, etc.). There will only be 18 students per class initially, and locations will be decided upon no later than March 31st, 2017.
The meeting concluded with a little information regarding a student safety program called OK2SAY. This program allows students the ability to confidentially report tips (via phone, text message, email, and web page) regarding potential harm or criminal activities aimed at students, school employees and schools. Upon OK2SAY contact, the technicians that receive these confidential tips will field them to the appropriate law enforcement agencies, school officials, community mental health service program, and/or MDH&HS for timely response. Apps for OK2SAY are also available as apps for mobile devices. To find out more please visit the website to learn more about it, www.ok2say.com.
The District Parent Council met on Wednesday 11/16/16. This is a condensed summary of what was discussed, we would happily elaborate if anyone would like further information.
The first item discussed was the District's Cost Containment Plan, including what is currently underway as well as the different phases to the plan (http://www.hvs.org/downloads/_news_/full_ccc_plan-10.17.16_1.pdf). Currently, they are restructuring the athletic department to cut costs, adding programming to Milford High School, implementing a staffing formula, determining amount of support staff , reviewing facility usage fees, increasing preschool programs, looking at methods to increase enrollment, and adding Junior Kindergarten classes at elementary buildings to be determined later. The first phase will address determining the location of Harbor High, adding additional preschool classes at Apollo considering there are wait lists already in place, and bus route consolidation for high school level. The second phase includes increasing innovative instructional delivery system, subject to bargaining agreement. The third phase involves relocating central administration office, and pursuing a facility and/or recreational mileage. The obvious elephant in the room was of elementary school closure, which can be proposed during any of the above mentioned phases. While enrollment wise they mentioned that only one elementary school could be closed at this point, it was not ruled out the need that may arise to close a second in a few more years.
The 15/16 audit results as well as 16/17 budget projections were discussed. Based on the audit the following departments/aspects of the district were operating in deficits; Athletics, Food Service Department, Community School (Pools/Fitness, childcare, other offerings), and IA West (tech improvement). It was also noted that the following actions by the school board have contributed to the declining Fund Balance for the district versus the original projections; 4% restoration of salary for instructional staff from when concessions were made in the past, Department of Learning Services restructuring, athletic realignment, deciding not to close an elementary school, opting to provide an 80/20 healthcare option versus putting a hard cap on what the district will contribute and having the staff pick up the rest of the cost of the policy. In short, the deficit they were planning for is significantly larger then they had planned.
Junior Kindergarten will be introduced for the 2017-18 school year, which is a two year Kindergarten experience for those students whom fit in select criteria (wavier students, and those that may benefit from additional time whether for academic or social needs). It will include full-day programming, play based learning like that in the traditional kindergarten setting, and will be housed in elementary schools as they will have specials just like those that elementary students have (PE, art, music, etc.). There will only be 18 students per class initially, and locations will be decided upon no later than March 31st, 2017.
The meeting concluded with a little information regarding a student safety program called OK2SAY. This program allows students the ability to confidentially report tips (via phone, text message, email, and web page) regarding potential harm or criminal activities aimed at students, school employees and schools. Upon OK2SAY contact, the technicians that receive these confidential tips will field them to the appropriate law enforcement agencies, school officials, community mental health service program, and/or MDH&HS for timely response. Apps for OK2SAY are also available as apps for mobile devices. To find out more please visit the website to learn more about it, www.ok2say.com.
Flexible Seating in First Grade
In first grade this year we are trying out the concept of flexible seating and our students love it! Flexible seating offers different types of seating in our classroom far beyond the hard plastic chair, table, and desk. Some examples are wobbly stools, benches, standing tables, floor tables, and lap desks. Multiple types of seating are available for each child throughout the day depending on the lesson being taught. Flexible seating is the type of and the layout of furniture in our classrooms that promote student choice, collaboration, and physical activity throughout the school day. As teachers, we want our students to be decisive— flexible seating allows our Bobcats to make decisions on where they work and learn and work best.
Thank you BPTO and Families for Dinners for Conferences
Thank you so much to our BPTO and our parent community for providing us with delicious dinners during both of our conference nights this month! We truly appreciate your time and support of our team. Thanks for providing us with such a treat on our long evenings at school. We are so thankful for you all!
Thanksgiving Break
Enjoy a relaxing and restful Thanksgiving with your families and friends. We are so thankful and proud to have you in our Brooks Family! There will be no school on Wednesday, Thursday, or Friday of this week.
Upcoming Events
12-2-16 Popcorn
12-6 —12-8 Holiday Shop
12-9-16 Half-Day--Record’s Day
12-14-15 BPTO Meeting at 9:15 am
12-16-16 Big Show Sign Up
12-23-16 Winter Break (12-23—1-3)
12-6 —12-8 Holiday Shop
12-9-16 Half-Day--Record’s Day
12-14-15 BPTO Meeting at 9:15 am
12-16-16 Big Show Sign Up
12-23-16 Winter Break (12-23—1-3)