Addendum to Runkle News

September 28, 2011

Dear Parents and Guardians:

Last spring, as part of the Public Schools of Brookline (PSB) efforts to implement a new bullying prevention plan, students in grades 3, 5, 7, and 9 were invited to participate in a survey about school climate and peer relationships, with particular focus on the extent to which students perceive bullying to be occurring in our schools. I am writing today to give you a brief review of our major findings and to describe the next steps for the schools around bullying and student safety.

We were very fortunate to be able to work with Dr. Jennifer Green in the School of Education at Boston University to field this survey and analyze the results. Dr. Green and her staff worked closely with the PSB Leadership Team to create a survey for us that was based on well-established research instruments widely used for this purpose, but that also reflected the needs and experiences of students in our district. Parents/guardians received a letter describing the survey in advance, and students were invited to complete the survey during the first week of May, 2011. Every survey, available in English or any of 7 other languages spoken by our students was completed anonymously, and students could choose not to answer any questions if they preferred not to.

We have now reviewed Dr. Green’s reports outlining survey results. [Click here to view the system report; results from individual schools are posted on the individual PSB school sites.] Consistent with state and national data suggesting that many students experience some difficulty with peers, the Brookline data confirm that some students are involved in bullying (our students primarily reported teasing or being called names). We were reassured to learn as well that students in general feel safe, respected, and welcomed in our schools. Most important to our efforts going forward, however, Dr. Green’s report has allowed us to look past these general impressions and begin to understand the different ways in which students may experience bullying behavior in and outside of the classroom. The survey results give us a crucial handle on the different ways in which the schools can respond to the challenges students face.

For example, while the highest percentage of bullying behaviors were reported as happening in less supervised areas such as the cafeteria or the playground, a significant percentage of incidents were also reported happening in classrooms. This result was both surprising and helpful because it challenges assumptions about where “most” bullying happens and allows us to focus our efforts in different ways. Some of our principals have already begun discussions with teachers about the data from classrooms; others have begun discussing ways to improve adult supervision and monitoring of common areas and unstructured time in order to give students more options for creating or finding environments that feel safe.

In short, these reports offer us critical detail and information to support and guide the implementation of our comprehensive, system-wide Social Emotional Learning and Bullying Prevention and Intervention plan. These plans and curricula, to be implemented over the course of the next two years, will touch every student and every teacher in the Public Schools of Brookline, and we are committed to continuing use of these sorts of surveys to monitor our progress over time.

I invite you to read about Brookline’s Prevention & Intervention Plan. Please note that implementation of the plan calls for a system-wide Coordinating Team, comprised of representatives across all stakeholder groups, including parents, administrators, teachers, students, and school staff. Members of the team will be selected in order to reflect the diversity of our system and to represent our various schools, grade levels, general education and special education, and demographics. If you are interested in participating on this committee, please contact Dr. Jennifer Fischer-Mueller in the Office of Teaching and Learning (617.730.2432).

While creating and maintaining a safe, respectful, and welcoming environment in our schools remains a top priority for me and for everyone in this school system, Dr. Green’s survey reminded us that students more often talk to you, the adults at home, than to the adults at school when they have trouble with peers. Successfully implementing these new plans, therefore, depends on continuing a strong partnership with parents and other members of the Brookline community. I look forward to continuing our communication and collaboration with you as we work together to address these important issues.

Thank you for your continued support.

Sincerely,

William H. Lupini, Ed.D. Superintendent of Schools

Reminders

The weather has been more and more inviting as we settle into Spring, which makes it a great time to walk to school or ride your bike if you live close enough to our school.  With the threat of more snow safely behind us for the season, the buses have continued to report to the school in plenty of time to deliver your children to school before 8:00 allowing for timely arrival.  Remember, too, that there are “safe drop off” zones at the corner of Cypress and Walnut.  Please refrain from dropping off students in the middle of the crosswalk on Walnut Street. There is a crossing guard on Walnut Street to help your child walk safely across the street as well.

This Week’s Happenings

Druce Street…Later this week, I will be doing another walk through of the building and will, hopefully, be able to upload a quick iMovie showing the progress on Druce Street over the vacation week!

Living History Museum…On Wednesday, April 13^th, our Sixth Graders will be assuming the role of the person they have been researching under the careful tutelage of Ms. Belle.  A special “Thank you” to all of the parents and teachers who mentored and advised these students for the past few weeks. During the day, the entire school will have an opportunity to wander through the Living History Museum in the Library and ask there remarkable people of history questions about their lives.  That same evening, Sixth Grade parents will have that opportunity as well.  The Sixth Graders have done a remarkable job with this tremendous project and are sure to amaze us all!

Runkle Variety Show… While the actual variety show itself will take place on May 19^th at 7:00 p.m., this week, we will be securing the “acts”.  If your child is interested in participating, please remind them to see one of the following staff members:

Kind.                       Mrs. Paris
Gr. 1                       Ms. Gardner
Gr. 2                       Ms. Kelly
Gr. 3-4                     Mrs. Hahesy
Gr. 5-6                     Dr. Beauchaine
Gr. 7-8                     Mrs. Hollander

I wish each and everyone of you a wonderful Spring Vacation with your family and friends.  May each day be sun-drenched and full of fun!

Sincerely,
Vanessa C. Beauchaine, Ed.D.

This is a huge accomplishment for our school!  And it’s an extra $2,900 in pledge money for our children and teachers. We need only 11 more donations before April 15…  If you haven’t yet donated, please consider doing so in the next 7 days so that we can get all $4,000 of the pledge money!

A big thank you to everyone who has given!
Sharone Jelden and Valerie Godhwani, Co-chairs PTO Annual Fund

There are four easy ways to give:

• Have your child give your donation to Beatrice in the main office.
• Mail a donation to the PTO Annual Fund at Runkle, 194 Boylston St.  Brookline, MA  02445.
• Drop off your donation at the Runkle office front desk.
• Give securely online:
  
  

10:00 to 2:00

Brookline High School

(Drop by before or after going to the Rotary Club Pancake Breakfast)

Come See How Much Fun Science Can Be!

• Museum of Science Live Animal Presentations: Animal Invaders (10:30 and 12:30) and Reptiles (11:30 and 1:30)
• BATV studio: Come play the role of “television reporter” and be recorded reporting the weather or news from outer space.Take home a CD and free t-shirt!
• The Electric Pickle
• Computer Take-Apart
• and much more!

For more information, contact: Janet MacNeil K-8 Science Coordinator Public Schools of Brookline
janet_macneil@brookline.k12.ma.us
617.264.6403

Great work, Everyone!

This week, 2V will be holding an open house as well on March 10, 2011 from 8:00 – 8:30 a.m.

Our 7th and 8th grade Science Teacher Extraordinaire, Chad Pelton, was one of SIX educators to be awarded the National Geographic Grosvenor Teaching Fellowship! Hundreds of teachers apply for this prestigious opportunity-we are all proud that Mr. Pelton has been recognized as a teacher who demonstrates excellence in geographic education.

As a Grosvenor Teaching Fellow, Mr. Pelton will travel on an arctic expedition in June of this year.

Please visit National Geographic to learn more!

This presentation was shared with Eighth Grade families at an earlier meeting this Winter. In this format, there will be a brief presentation of the district’s plan as well as information about Runkle’s implementation of the plan with a Q & A session following.

Upcoming “Coffees”….

• Wednesday, March 23, 2011 5:30 – 6:30 p.m. (K-2 Parents/Guardians)
• Tuesday, March 29, 2011 5:30 – 6:30 p.m. (3-5 Parents/Guardians)
• Thursday, March 31, 2011 5:30 – 6:30 p.m. (6-8 Parents/Guardians)

Reminders will be sent out via ConnectEd.

Rocio Doran, Ron Vish, Sandy Costello, Sara Farrer, Shalini Kasida, Stella Owen, Stephanie & Brian Poon, Sven Schallies, Tami Petler and Trish Blais– who came early to set up, brought desserts, sold food and game cards, and helped clean up — and to families who came,  for making it such a successful event.

All the children went home happily with a prize and we couldn’t have asked for more.

Thanks!!
Bonnie Mosquera and Karla Schallies

All are welcome to attend.

• Tues., Mar. 15 @ 6 p.m. Hunneman Hall, Main Library
• Wed., Mar. 16 @ 8:15 a.m. Devotion School Library
• Tues., Mar. 22 @ 6:30 p.m. Baker School Library

SEPAC-Special Ed. Admin. Monthly Meeting. Thurs. Mar. 10. 8:15 am-9:15am. Brookline Town Hall.

Federation for Children with Special Needs Annual Conference. Sat., Mar. 12. 9am – 5pm. World Trade Center, Boston. More details will follow. Information on the conference can be found at: http://fcsn.org/conferences/voc2011.php.

Supporting Challenging Kids support group
Fridays starting March 4
10-11:30 a.m.
Brookline Public Safety Building, 350 Washington St.
Meetings are free and registration is not required. For more information, contact rachaelelisabeth1@gmail.com

SEPAC is looking for volunteers to gather information and opinions and start to develop a guide to local special education providers. Please contact Rachael Wurtman, SEPAC co-chair at brooklinesepac@gmail.com or go to http://brooklinesepac.org