Brookwood School - News & Events

eNewsletter

Brookwood eNewsletter - November, 2008
Posted on: November 21, 2008

FROM THE HEADMASTER...

With the holidays quickly approaching I cannot help but wonder where the first 62 days of the school year have gone.

I know you have heard me say numerous times over the past three years that we are very fortunate at Brookwood School. Our tradition is one that other schools envy, our faculty and staff are as good of a collective group as you will ever find in a school and community of our size, we have a dedicated Board that allows me to do my job without interference, and they continue to look to the future for the needs of the school and maintain a secure financial base. Our constituents, especially our parents, are proud of the education their children receive, and support the school not only financially but as positive ambassadors in the community. Your positive support in this regard is immeasurable.

We have been fortunate over recent years that our enrollment has been on a steady increase. This is something that very few of my colleagues in Georgia and the surrounding states can boast. I would credit that to the attributes mentioned in the previous paragraph. I repeat; we must be doing something right.

For the first time in the history of the school we will recognize the Thanksgiving holiday by enjoying a full week with our families. This is something that I experienced with the school I came from and I am hearing from other headmasters their schools are doing the same thing. I would like your input before we begin to create next year's calendar. If you have any strong feelings one way or the other regarding the current year Thanksgiving schedule vs. the traditional schedule of Wednesday through Friday off, please feel free to email me after the break.

All being said, I write you today as we approach this time of giving thanks to say thank you. Brookwood School has been more enjoyable than I could have ever imagined and our future continues to look bright because of you. I extend my very sincere thanks to each faculty member, Board member, parent, and student for making Brookwood a very thankful place to be. I have been honored and blessed and I am truly grateful.

Please enjoy the upcoming holiday, and sharing the meaning that it provides...;thankfulness and love of family.

Blessings,

Mike Notaro

Upper School News (David Grooms)

Exams

We only have two weeks after Thanksgiving before we move into exam week. Teachers have emailed exam preparation information home to students and parents. Please encourage students to get an early start on preparation. The most productive way to prepare for the majority of students is to start early and work a few minutes each night rather than waiting until the night before the exam. College students often have only three or four tests in a semester. Preparing for semester exams is a good way to prepare for that transition. Please remember that semester exams count 25% of semester grades in regular classes and 33% in AP classes. I have seen many students, especially freshmen, fail to prepare adequately and drop from a C to an F because of exams.

The exam schedule is posted on the website. There is a link under the announcements section. http://www.brookwoodschool.org/page/brookwood_today

Upcoming events include the Buddy Christmas Assembly on December 4^th at 8:05 a.m. and the Senior Christmas Ornament Assembly on December 8^th at 8:05 a.m. Both events will in the Commons Area of Crozer Hall.

Drama Guild - Brigadoon

Car Magnets

You now have until December 5^th to order your Brigadoon Car Magnets. Please visit http://www.brookwoodschool.org/page/1849 to view the magnets and print out an order form. You may hand it in at the Lower, Middle or Upper School Offices.

Help to promote this year's Brigadoon Play by placing a magnet on your car today!

Tickets

Tickets for Brigadoon will go on sale January 7,2009. A ticket order form is available on the Drama Guild page. http://www.brookwoodschool.org/page/1849

Rehearsals continue for Middle and Upper School students. Please check the Drama Guild page for the latest rehearsal information. http://www.brookwoodschool.org/page/1849

David Grooms, Upper School Director

MIDDLE SCHOOL (Ashley Harper)

Exam Schedule: At the end of each semester, the Middle School Nine Weeks Test schedule is the same as the Upper School exam schedule. Students will not have exams in P.E., art, computer, or study skills. A grade level specific exam schedule will be posted on the website and handed out to Middle School students following the Thanksgiving holidays.

Eighth grade exams: In our effort to prepare our eighth grade students for Upper School, eighth grade students do take semester exams in academic classes. Like Nine Weeks Tests, these exams count 25% of the students quarter grade, but they cover the semester's worth of material. Eighth grade students should have received, via email, exam review information from each teacher. Thank you for your support. Please contact the eighth grade teachers or Mrs. Harper with any questions.

Eighth grade field trip: The eighth grade will be traveling to FSU's Reservation for a team building field trip on Tuesday, December 2^nd. We look forward to a day of high adventure as we work together to face the challenges put before us.

Ashley Harper, Middle School Director

LOWER SCHOOL (Ashley Harper)

Thanksgiving Dinner: Thank you to the Lower School families who joined us for our traditional Thanksgiving Dinner in the Stoddard Gymnasium today. This is always a special time to celebrate our students and their families. We appreciate the extra efforts of Mr. Otis , Ms. Gloria, Ms. Sharon, Mr. Casper, and Mr. Jimmy on this day. The love and care they put into each of us is appreciated more than they know. Additionally, the trust and encouragement our parents provide Brookwood School in support of our educational objectives is a true blessing. Your children are a very special gift and we are thankful to you for sharing them with us.

I wish each of you a blessed and happy Thanksgiving holiday.

Brigadoon: Parents of Lower School students participating in this year's drama production, please take note that there may be practices for the younger actors on the early release days prior to Christmas Break. Details will follow after the holiday. Mrs. Emmons thanks you for your support.

Coat Drive: As the holidays approach, please consider donating new or gently used coats to our school coat drive. In conjunction with the local Rotary and Brookwood's Interact Club, the school community is working hard to provide for the children of our area by contributing coats to keep them warm this winter. Please send any clean new or gently used coats to school with your child. We will be collecting warm apparel through the first week of December. Thank you for your support of this worthy cause.

Christmas Program: Please plan to join us in the Stoddard Gymnasium on Friday, December 19^th at 8:30 am for the Lower School Christmas Program.

Ashley Harper, Lower School Director

Detailed school-wide calendar and athletic event information can be found simply clicking the following link: http://www.brookwoodschool.org/page/brookwood_today

Want to know a game score? Check out http://www.brookwoodschool.org/page/athletics