NewBrook Families,
I hope that all of our NewBrook families were able to enjoy the holidays with their friends and families! It is exciting to be back at school, and we have a lot to be thankful for. It is quite icy right now, and I hope that we get a fresh coat of snow as soon as possible!
Thanks to our staff, our students, and their families for working together to make our first Winter Activities day a great success. Thanks to families for preparing the children, thanks to our staff for supporting them, and thanks to West River Transportation for their prompt and safe bus travel. Nice!
January is a busy month for our teachers here at school. We complete our Winter Benchmark Assessments during our “window,” which is from January 5 to January 23. Our students in grades two through five take these assessments independently on their chromebooks, but our kindergarten and first grade teachers need to test with their students 1:1, which takes a substantial amount of time. We are also preparing our report cards, which we plan to send home with our students on Friday, January 30. You can expect to receive the results of our Benchmark ELA and Mathematics testing on report card day as well.
Thanks to Derek Bliss, one of the members of our WCSU Information and Technology department, for creating our new school website. You can find it here ( https://nbes.windhamcentral.org).
It is my intention to communicate the information that NewBrook families need to know in this newsletter. Please offer me your suggestions about our methods of family communication. And do not hesitate to call or email me to set up an appointment if you have any questions or concerns. Please let us know when difficulties arise. We would love to help and we all have time for you!
Scotty Tabachnick, School Principal
We are a community of kind, responsible learners.
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Jan 5-23 - Benchmark Assessment Window
Jan 7 - First Day of Winter Activities
Jan 14 - Second Day of Winter Activities
Jan 19 - Martin Luther King Holiday no school
Jan 20 - Teacher Report Card Day no school
Jan 21 - Third Day of Winter Activities
Feb 2 - All School Sing 8:30 AM
Feb 2 - Family Input Group meeting 9:30 AM
Feb 9 - 13 - Spirit Week!
Feb 10 - Spelling Bee Fundraiser TBD
Feb 12 - Estimated 100th Day of School
Feb 23 - Mar 2 - Winter Break no school
Mar 4 - Winter Activities Day #6
Mar 9 - All School Sing 8:30 AM
Mar 9 - FIG Meeting (AKA PAC) 9:15 AM
Mar 18 - Winter Activities Day #7
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Trout in the Classroom - Using local enrichment funding, and the generosity of our Parent Teacher Organization, we recently purchased a replacement chiller essential to our annual, grade four Trout in the Classroom project. Thanks to Jason Gragen for his work to ensure that we are able to continue offering our grade four students this unique, place-based experience. The roe (trout eggs) were delivered last Thursday, January 8.
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Health Reminder - If your child has a fever of 100.4 or greater, they need to remain home from school. They may return to school only after being fever free (without the use of fever reducing medications) for 24 hours. If your child has been vomiting or having diarrhea, they need to remain home until they have been 24 hrs with no vomiting or diarrhea. For further information on the schools health policy please visit our website at https://nbes.windhamcentral.org
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All School Sing Scheduling - We had to re-schedule the balance of our All School Sings for the 2025-26 school year. So, we will be assembling on February 2, March 9, April 6, and May 4. Thank you.
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Positive Behavior Intervention and Supports (PBIS) Update: This month, we are focused upon earning pennies with our “sharing,” hoping to earn a school-wide celebration: Winter Wonderland Recess with Hot Cocoa. Thanks to our generous and hardworking PTO for collaborating with staff to create this incentive event! When we meet the goal, earning 24 "falcon bucks,” our generous PTO will then donate real money to the Windham County Humane Society. Nice!
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After School Planning - Please be sure to communicate your after school plans to your child’s classroom teacher and Priscilla Halvey, our Administrative Assistant (phalvey@windhamcentral.org). We need documentation (either email, phone call, or a written note) for any changes to your regular plan prior to 2:00 PM daily. We will follow the regular plan unless we have received notification directly from the family.
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Recess-Ready Reminder - Here at NewBrook, we spend time outside almost every day! Please send your children to school with clothing and outerwear that is appropriate for the weather. This time of year, the temperature varies widely throughout the day, so please keep that in mind! Thank you! If your child comes home with clothing that is not yours, please launder it and send it back to school so we have clothing and outerwear to lend. Please try to label your child’s clothing…our lost and found is getting bigger and bigger!
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Winter Gear & Clothing Swap: Need gear? Got gear to pass along? Join the PTO's private Facebook group to swap winter clothing and gear. If you’re not on Facebook, email newbrookpto@gmail.com with items you have or need. Join the group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/nbesclothinggearswap
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Behind the Scenes: Did you know that the PTO provides extra enrichment funds for teachers? These can be used on school supplies or bigger expenses. The PTO is committed to supporting our school community, especially through challenging times.
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Next Meeting: Join us this Thursday, January 15 at 8:30 AM - bring your coffee cup and your ideas! (This is a change from our usual 2nd Thursday of the month.)
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2025 Youth Ally Award Winner - Congratulations to Karren Meyer! West River Valley Thrives is thrilled to honor Karren Meyer, Driver’s Education Instructor at Leland & Gray, as the recipient of the 2025 Youth Ally Award. Karren is one of the many caring adults in our community who consistently shows up for young people, supports them, and helps amplify their voices. This annual award was created to celebrate individuals like Karren who make a meaningful difference in the lives of youth. Please join us in celebrating Karren Meyer and congratulating her on this well-deserved recognition! We also want to extend heartfelt thanks to Kim Robinson and Marie Siez, who were also nominated for this award. Your dedication and commitment to our local youth do not go unnoticed, thank you for all that you do!
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Save the Date: FREE Community Clothing Day: Join us for the 2nd Annual Community Clothing Day: Saturday, Jan. 24, 9AM-12PM at the NewBrook Firehouse. Come pick out new-to-you clothing — everything is free! Got clothes to share? We’re accepting clean, gently used clothing and shoes until Jan. 22 at the following drop-off locations: Jamaica Library (during open library hours), Moore Free Library (on the porch), The Thrives Office, 74 Grafton Rd, Townshend (next to L&G, and on the side porch), and Timson Hill Preschool (inside the front entryway). Hosted by West River Valley Thrives and Community Hope and Action. Questions? Contact wrvtengaged@gmail.com, 802-365-4700.
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West River Parent Newsletter - The WRVT Newsletter is written for, and by, parents in the West River Valley and surrounding areas. Discover local resources, free family events, parenting and wellness tips, and more. Check out the January edition now!
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THANK YOU to the NEWBROOK PTO! - Again, a HUGE thank you to our PTO for all that they have done for our programming and our students! The NewBrook PTO are truly incredible in their organization, their diligence and their efforts to make our school a great place to learn and to work.
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Calendaring - You can find our Google Calendar on our website. If you would like to add it to your Google calendar, so you can overlay it with calendars you use, go to the bottom righthand corner of the calendar, and click the Google button. If you need a hand, please send me an email, or give me a call.
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After School Planning - Please be sure to communicate your child(ren)’s after school plans with us either by sending a note in the morning, or by emailing your child’s classroom teacher and cc’ing Priscilla Halvey, our administrative assistant. Email is preferable to phone calls. If you need to change your plans, please call or email before 2:00 PM so we have time to communicate. Thank you!
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Family Support - We know that, at times, things get tough for our families. I encourage you to call or email us, if you or your family are in crisis. Our understanding of the assets available in the community make us a wonderful resource for families who need a hand. We are here to serve you. Please reach out to Carrie Towle, our School Counselor at ctowle@windhamcentral.org, Bre Madison, our School Social Worker, at bmadison@windhamcentral.org, or Scotty Tabachnick, our School Principal, at stabachnick@windhamcentral.org
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Curriculum and Instruction - Our Curriculum and Instruction web page outlines the curriculum we employ, and the standards that we teach. All of our programming is intended to create cohesion among schools in the WCSU, while respecting and enhancing the professionalism and creativity of our instructors.
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Volunteering Opportunities @ NewBrook - Our school community is enriched by the volunteer efforts from our families. Please consider offering your time. Our PTO meets once a month (remote/ in-person). Contact Sara Webb for more information. Our Family Input Group (FIG) meets monthly (after our All School Sing!) to discuss issues important to NewBrook students, staff and families. Contact Scotty Tabachnick for more information. Our Farm to School team meets several times throughout the year to plan educational and social events that revolve around sustainability, local procurement, and place-based and environmental education. Contact Amy Duffy to learn more. If you enjoy books, our Librarian, Monica Sullivan, is looking for help shelving books and organizing our library collection. If you are interested, please contact Monica Sullivan.
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School Meals - NewBrook offers universal free meals for all students. Lunch Menus are available online at our school website, and will also be sent home in physical form prior to the beginning of each month. Please send your children with water bottles; we have a bottle filling station here at school.
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