New and Noteworthy - November Staff Treats
Calendar of Events
Celebrating What We Do Best - 3rd Grade Bake Sale
Library Corner - New addition! Updates from Ms. Cameron
Around Belmont - The Mackado musical, Children’s Clothing Exchange, Basketball Clinics, Belmont Girls Hockey Night, DESE Commissioner, Vaccine Clinics, Belmont Wellness Coalition Parenting Group, Parenting Solutions Library, BASEC February Break Camp Registration
Volunteer Links and Reminders
Winn Brook PTA
Highlights
New and Noteworthy
Staff Appreciation Treats
With Thanksgiving around the corner, let’s remind our staff that We are so thankful for them! We have heard from staff that they eagerly await these monthly treats and there is an extra pep in their step on treat day.
Please sign up to donate to the November 21 Treat Day here - homemade and store bought treats are welcome!
Calendar of Events
11/15 + 11/18 - 3rd Grade Field Trip - Concord Museum
11/20 - Early Release (11:40) - Parent Teacher Conferences
11/27 - Early Release (11:40) - Thanksgiving Break
11/28-11/29 - No School - Thanksgiving Recess
12/4 - Kindergarten Enrichment - Tanglewood Marionettes (in school)
12/9-12/13 - Winn Brook Holiday Gift Drive
12/20 - Kindergarten Enrichment - Author Sarah Lynne Reul (in school)
12/20 - 1st Grade Enrichment - Tanglewood Marionettes (in school)
12/23 - 1/1 - No School - Winter Recess
Celebrating What We Do Best
Election Day Bake Sale
The bake sale was a great success, having raised a little over $1000 to support the 3rd Grade moving up activities. Thank you to all the volunteers who made it happen. There were lots of delicious treats and little enthusiastic helpers to serve them!
Library Corner
Updates from Ms. Cameron
“Falling for Reading” This Month!
At Winn Brook Library, we’re embracing the season of cozy sweaters, pumpkin spice, and—of course—falling in love with reading. As the crisp autumn air settles in, we’re excited to share some updates that make finding your next favorite book easier than ever.
This month, we're working hard to improve the library's signage, with a special focus on helping students easily navigate our collection. Our goal is to make it simpler for students to discover books that spark curiosity, fuel imagination, and—most importantly—encourage reading.
Check out the brand-new signage in our Fiction section. We have redesigned our signs to hopefully guide students in finding books to enjoy. Thank you to Faith Stevenson for her assistance!
Celebrating Veterans and Honoring Heroes at Winn Brook Library
This week at Winn Brook Library, we’re honoring our nation's veterans with a special story and displays in recognition of Veterans Day. Ms. Cameron had the pleasure of reading Veterans, Heroes in Our Neighborhood by Valerie Pfundstein to our Kindergarten and First Grade classes. The book beautifully introduces young readers to the concept of military service and the heroes in our own communities who have served in the armed forces. It’s a wonderful way to help kids understand the significance of Veterans Day and the people who dedicate their lives to protecting our freedom.
To complement the storytime, our library is displaying books about veterans, the armed forces, and heroes in our neighborhoods.
New Display Case Updates
Thank you to Georgina Lamont, our dedicated Friend of the Library volunteer, who recently gave our display cases a colorful makeover! The new colored backgrounds really make the featured books pop, helping them stand out and catch the eye of our students. It's a small but meaningful update that enhances the library's welcoming atmosphere and ensures that our themed books will be noticed.
Around Belmont
Have an event you’d like to share with the Winn Brook Community? Email us
First Church in Belmont’s Children’s Musical - The Mackado
The First Church in Belmont is having its annual Children's Musical in a couple weeks (11/21-11/24). This fall it's The Mackado - a reinterpretation of Gilbert & Sullivan's Mikado. Come out and see K-8th graders take the stage. They've been working so hard for the past 10 weeks, and the show never disappoints. It's a great show for kids of all ages. Purchase tickets here.
Children’s Clothing Exchange
Free Children's Clothing Exchange, Nov 16 10am-12pm. Donations accepted through the end of the day TODAY (Friday Nov 15). You don't need to donate to participate.
Basketball Clinics
BHS coaches are hosting a youth basketball clinic this month. To sign up visit https://go.teamsnap.com/forms/458738
Cost: $75 including clinic t-shirt
Session 1:
Grades 3-5
11/17 and 11/24
9-10:45a. 11/27 2-3:45p
Session 2:
Grades 6-8:
11/17 and 11/24
10:45a-12:30p. 11/27 3:45-5:30p
Belmont Girls Hockey Night
Belmont Girls Hockey Night will be filled with fun activities, games, and a chance to showcase the amazing community we’re building. Whether your daughter is already a player or simply curious about hockey, this is a great chance for her to experience the joy of the game!
DESE Commissioner
The Department of Elementary and Secondary Education is searching for for the next Commissioner. Opportunities for community feedback on the next Commissioner at this link.
Vaccine Clinics
Belmont's upcoming vaccine clinic is on Monday November 18th, with two more clinics in December. The clinic will run from 10 am to 2 pm at the Beth El Temple Center (2 Concord Ave) in Belmont.
Please call the Health Department with any questions, concerns, or for help registering at 617-993-2720.
Registration Link: https://www.starmarket.com/.../group-clinic/TownofBelmontVAX
Belmont Wellness Coalition Parenting Group
https://belmontwellness.org/parenting-group/
BWC’s Parenting Group meets monthly, usually on the last Wednesday of the month, from 7-8 PM. The Parenting Group allows for discussions and mutual learning and touches upon various topics important to parents of teens and tweens.
The Parenting Group is facilitated by Lisa Gibalerio, with occasional guest facilitators. Join BWC’s Parenting Group by emailing dani_topaz@WaysideYouth.org.
Meetings are always virtual, and all are welcome to join – so please feel free to invite neighbors and friends.
Join us via Zoom: https://us06web.zoom.us/j/81577946616
Upcoming Meetings:
Wed., Nov. 20 – The impact of nutrition and of music on mental health. Our own Kim Raubenheimer will offer guidance on nutrition and explore its impact on youth mental health. Also, Chey Eagle, Music Therapy Director at Powers Music School in Belmont, will be on hand to discuss music and how it can be used to positively impact youth mental health.
Wed., Dec. 18 – Sexual Assault. What to do if your child is sexual assault by a student or other person. How to have the conversation, how to support them, how to determine if/what medical and mental health services to seek, whether to report it (or not) to the police, whether to reach out (or not) to the parents of the accused.
Parenting Solutions Library
Massachusetts Partnerships for Youth (MPY) is continuing to sponsor a free Parenting Solutions Library. MPY is offering this valuable resource in partnership with Peace At Home Parenting Solutions, a non-profit organization located in Mansfield, Connecticut. Through this partnership, MPY is providing proven resources to help students’ families thrive.
Peace At Home Parenting Solutions specializes in empowering parents with evidence-based strategies to foster nurturing connections that safeguard their children's mental well-being. The Parenting Solutions Library is easily accessed using the link on MPY’s home page. No log in or passcode is needed.
See their handout for more information
BASEC February Break Camp Registration
Staying around Belmont for February break and looking to keep your child engaged? BASEC offers a day camp at Chenery for the week! Registration opens 11/16 (tomorrow).
https://belmontbasec.org/vacation-programs/february-program/
Community Calendars
There are many more Belmont events to explore:
Belmont Voice Community Events
Belmont Public School Community Events
Volunteer Links and Reminders
Libby Weintraub & Meenal Bagla & Michal Feldman
Winn Brook PTA Co-Presidents