Merry Christmas
Happy Hanukkah
Happy Kwanza
Happy New Year
Happy Hanukkah
Happy Kwanza
Happy New Year
to you and your family!
Your ELT Parent Committee
Club listing?
With the start of the 2nd Trimester of Kids Club, we received the following question:
Thanks and have a great holiday!
Your ELT Parent Committee
Is there any way the clubs can be listed here w/ a brief description of them. Since we signed up the kids so long ago some of us have forgotten what each club is!Copies of the kids club brochures (in PDF format) can be found on the ELT Parent's Committee Document website. You can navigate there by going to the blog and clicking the link that says "ELT Parent Committee Document website". Once you are at the website, you can find the grade specific club brochures. Please let us know if you have any problems reading the files. You need (at a minimum) Adobe 7.0.
Thank You!
Thanks and have a great holiday!
Your ELT Parent Committee
ELT Newsletter -- October 2008
The October ELT Newsletter is here!
You should be getting one home from school, but in case your student 'misplaced' it,
you can read it here. Just click on the link below and enjoy!
ELT Newsletter for October 2008 (click here for the translation)
You should be getting one home from school, but in case your student 'misplaced' it,
you can read it here. Just click on the link below and enjoy!
ELT Newsletter for October 2008 (click here for the translation)
ELT Informational Session
Mark your calendars!
There will be an ELT Informational Session held in the Brophy Cafeteria on November 20th.
Come see an Expo on the '8th hour' from 6:00pm-7:30pm followed by a question and answer session from 7:30pm to 8:00pm.
Hope to see you there!
There will be an ELT Informational Session held in the Brophy Cafeteria on November 20th.
Come see an Expo on the '8th hour' from 6:00pm-7:30pm followed by a question and answer session from 7:30pm to 8:00pm.
Hope to see you there!
Science Fair
Hello Brophy Community,
By now you have seen the school flyers - and the PTO weekly email - regarding this year's Science Fair. This year's fair will be held on March 27th 2009. For more information, or to sign up to volunteer, please email the Brophy Science Committee brophysciencefair@yahoo.com.
We received a question about the science fair:
And the answer, from Margaret, is:
Looking forward to all the great experiments.
By now you have seen the school flyers - and the PTO weekly email - regarding this year's Science Fair. This year's fair will be held on March 27th 2009. For more information, or to sign up to volunteer, please email the Brophy Science Committee brophysciencefair@yahoo.com.
We received a question about the science fair:
Now that we have the extended day with ELT, will there still be a Science Fair? And if so, will we still be able to have our meetings in the school if we want to? And how can I sign up to be a coach?
And the answer, from Margaret, is:
"We just need to determine days/times in order to determine space. As you know, we have a bit of a space crunch this year, but certainly want to support teams and coaches."
Looking forward to all the great experiments.
Wednesday Kids Clubs "Open House" --Part II
Hello Brophy Community,
You are cordially invited to catch a glimpse into the Wednesday Kid's Club! Scheduled for Nov 12th, please come and visit if your schedule permits. Check in at the office prior to 3PM.
Enjoy your day at school,
Your ELT Parent Committee
Wednesday Kids Clubs "open house"
Were you at the last PTO Meeting (10/27/2008)? If so, you heard Margaret advertise the upcoming Brophy Kids Clubs "open house". Tentatively set for November 12th, 2008, the Brophy Kids Clubs will open their doors to parents and guardians, providing a glimpse into this 8th hour activity. Parent's will need to RSVP for this event. Please check back here or please read the upcoming ELT Newsletter for more details.
The Brophy School Recorder Club is Up and Playing!!
Hello Brophy Community,
For all your Recorder Club fans, this entry is for you, compliments of our own Ms Page:
Until next time, we hope you and your ghost and goblins are all ready for Halloween!
For all your Recorder Club fans, this entry is for you, compliments of our own Ms Page:
The Brophy School Recorder Club has begun rehearsing and planning their performances for the year! We are meeting every Friday in the Cafetorium during the 8th hour! Thanks to ELT, we have doubled our size this year, with 53 fourth and fifth graders participating! It is being directed by Ms Page and assisted by Mr Wisneski! We will be performing in early December for the Holiday Jamboree at the Framingham Performing Arts Center, and are scheduling concerts at the Memorial House, the Callahan Senior Center, as well as our traditional concerts at ASM, our Pizza Supper and a few more! Stay "TUNED!!!"
Until next time, we hope you and your ghost and goblins are all ready for Halloween!
Out of School Time Documents
Are you looking for information about the Out of School time program for Brophy School? Visit the ELT Parent Committee Document website and select OST Documents Related to Brophy School. Direct links to the OST Information and Rates document and the registration form are provided for your convenience.
ELT Parent Website upgrades
The ELT Parent Document Website has undergone an upgrade so check it out. Please let us know if you have any problems with the documents.
Field Use During School Hours
We have a question regarding the permitting process for field usage at Brophy. Specifically, will the hours of use be changed to coincide with the new ELT hours and how/by whom are the permits handled?
Margaret's response:
That field (in front of Brophy) is used during the fall and maybe the spring by the Learning Center for the Deaf. They have played games there before and due to their daily schedule, those games were played when we were in session in previous years as well. We can contact the Parks and Rec and get a schedule for the fall so we can anticipate when students will be using the field. Because the field is overseen by Parks and Rec., I don't specifically have any control over its use. Because of the way we do dismissal, with adults walking all students to buses and the buses between the field and our students, we don't anticipate any problems.
Margaret's response:
That field (in front of Brophy) is used during the fall and maybe the spring by the Learning Center for the Deaf. They have played games there before and due to their daily schedule, those games were played when we were in session in previous years as well. We can contact the Parks and Rec and get a schedule for the fall so we can anticipate when students will be using the field. Because the field is overseen by Parks and Rec., I don't specifically have any control over its use. Because of the way we do dismissal, with adults walking all students to buses and the buses between the field and our students, we don't anticipate any problems.
ELT Expo at Curriculum Night!
Thursday, September 25th is Brophy's Curriculum Night! Along with visiting your childs' room and learning about this years academic curriculum, you can also get a peak into all things ELT, including 'Club Day'!
There will be two sessions in the classrooms, the first starting at 7pm, the second at 7:45pm.
Come before or after to the cafeteria to check out the ELT Expo including descriptions, student work and some photos from the 'Club Day' celebration! We'll also have the results from the student ELT Survey!
We'll also be adding some photos of the Expo posters here, so check back soon!
There will be two sessions in the classrooms, the first starting at 7pm, the second at 7:45pm.
Come before or after to the cafeteria to check out the ELT Expo including descriptions, student work and some photos from the 'Club Day' celebration! We'll also have the results from the student ELT Survey!
We'll also be adding some photos of the Expo posters here, so check back soon!
Professional Development Day - Nov 4th 2008
Question: The Framingham Public School Calendar states that school is closed November 4 for Professional Development. Since Brophy has PD every Thursday are we still closed that day?
Margaret's reply is below:
ELT beyond the 2008-2009 school year
We received a question from a parent who says she loves ELT but was wondering if it was possible that we could lose ELT next year?
Margaret replied that if the legislature maintains the current level of funding next fiscal year, the 25 schools with ELT this year will maintain an ELT schedule for the 2009-2010 school year.
Margaret replied that if the legislature maintains the current level of funding next fiscal year, the 25 schools with ELT this year will maintain an ELT schedule for the 2009-2010 school year.
Official Brophy ELT Facilitator
Please join the ELT Parent Committee in congratulating Mrs. Kath Reilly, who has accepted the role of Brophy ELT Facilitator.
Mrs. Kath Reilly has been teaching at Brophy for 18 years in Kindergarten and Third Grade. This year she has changed her role and has accepted the position of fulltime ELT Facilitator. As ELT Facilitator, it is her job to coordinate and implement the Expanded Learning Time Grant at Brophy School. She works closely with (Principal) Margaret (Doyle) and the entire Brophy staff to oversee the 8th hour activities, organize professional development and develop community partnerships. In addition to those "official" activities you will find Mrs. Reilly visiting classrooms, supervising the bus lines and generally giving a helping hand anywhere at Brophy!
Hip-hip-hooray for Kath Reilly!!!!
Parent Volunteers
Question: I would like to volunteer at the Brophy School from 3:00 to 4:00 PM during the 8th hour. Do you have any need for parents to come in and lend a pair of hands?
Answer from Kath Reilly below:
Yes, we definitely could use volunteers on Wednesday our KidsClub day. Right now we are looking for volunteers to supervise small groups of 6 students in the Lego Club from 3 to 4PM every Wednesday. We would love for people to volunteer for the first trimester (12 weeks). Other clubs will also be needing volunteers. If you are interested or able to help please email Kath Reilly at kreilly@framingham.k12.ma.us
Answer from Kath Reilly below:
Yes, we definitely could use volunteers on Wednesday our KidsClub day. Right now we are looking for volunteers to supervise small groups of 6 students in the Lego Club from 3 to 4PM every Wednesday. We would love for people to volunteer for the first trimester (12 weeks). Other clubs will also be needing volunteers. If you are interested or able to help please email Kath Reilly at kreilly@framingham.k12.ma.us
Confused about the 8th hour schedule?
Question: HELLO I WAS WONDERING IF YOU CAN TELL US MORE WHAT DO THE KIDS DO ON THE MON.&TUESDAYS I AM NOT SURE I UNDERSTAND ALONG WITH OTHER MOMS AND DADS. DO THEY LEAVE THEIR CLASS, ARE THEY WITH THEIR OWN CLASS IN THE EIGHTH HOUR OR DO THEY GET BROKEN UP, ALSO IS WHAT THEY ARE DOING NOW IS THAT FOR THE WHOLE YEAR. I GET THE WED,THUR,FRI. I JUST DON'T UNDERSTAND THE MON AND TUESDAY. [....]
Your answer is below:
What is your child doing between 3:00 PM and 4:00PM? A Brophy FAQ!
The final hour of the day is called the 8th Hour of ELT. Each day brings an activity connected to the curriculum and MA Frameworks. Most activities are designed to be hands on and interactive. This is a snapshot of our 8th Hour week at Brophy.
Monday & Tuesday: On these days the children remain in their grade level. They spend six weeks (2 days each week) in one of six core rotation activities. Although they stay within grade level the children are on the move! The classes are mixed and the child may have a different teacher from that grade level, a specialist or another staff member. This chart will give you an idea of the topics the children are studying at each rotation during the year.
Wednesday: This is our Brophy School KidsClub day. The children from K/1, 2/3 and 4/5 move throughout the school to chosen clubs. The KidsClubs are designed to be fun and interactive as well as support our curriculum goals. For an up-close look at the Trimester Kids Clubs see the list of Clubs, staff and locations as well as the Club brochures. (For the grade level club brochures, please go to: ELT Parent Committee Documents). The children will remain in these clubs for 12 weeks.
Thursday: Every Thursday is an early release day. During this time the staff has professional development. Our professional development topics have been carefully chosen to reflect our ELT goals. Teachers also have collaboration time to work together as grade level teams or 8th Hour teams. Although your child is not in school during this time, they still benefit from the work that the Brophy staff accomplishes while they are at play!
Friday: Reading Buddies is a Brophy favorite! At 3:00 classrooms with the older children join with classrooms of the younger children to read previously prepared books. Both the younger and older children have a chance to share and read out loud. Teachers plan activities that the "buddies" can do together to support the reading. The Kindergarten and 3rd graders read together, as well as the first and fourth and second and fifth graders. Recorder Club is also held during this time for children who chose to participate. It was not an easy choice for our fourth and fifth graders!
Are you confused yet? Your child might help you to remember the schedule by singing "This is Sunday" , our ELT song. It helps everyone to remember what is happening each day at Brophy during the 8th Hour.
A different question about homework (or lack thereof)
We have another homework question!
Question: Why is there so little homework and will the lack of it leave my child at a disadvantage when he/she goes to middle school?
Margaret's reply is below:
A: We hope that with the extra time spent on core subjects and enrichment programs our students will be better prepared for middle school than ever before. Our current thinking was to reduce the amount of homework given as the children adjust to the new schedule. We will look for parent feedback in terms of how students are managing and will adjust for individual students or grade levels as necessary as the year progresses. Teachers will also address this issue at Curriculum Night on September 25th.
Question: Why is there so little homework and will the lack of it leave my child at a disadvantage when he/she goes to middle school?
Margaret's reply is below:
A: We hope that with the extra time spent on core subjects and enrichment programs our students will be better prepared for middle school than ever before. Our current thinking was to reduce the amount of homework given as the children adjust to the new schedule. We will look for parent feedback in terms of how students are managing and will adjust for individual students or grade levels as necessary as the year progresses. Teachers will also address this issue at Curriculum Night on September 25th.
Brophy ELT Song
Have you heard the newest song to rock the charts? It was written by our own Mrs Page and is entitled Today is Sunday. Ask your children to sing the song -- it is a great way for them to remember the 8th hour activities. Your children doesn't remember the words??? Click here for the lyrics or select the image.
ELT Student Survey
Did you hear about the ELT Survey given the your children a week (or so) ago? If not, you should ask them. The survey looked like this (image on the right)
Interested in the results? They can be found by navigating to the ELT Brophy Document Website or by clicking here.
Hope you find the results as interesting as we did!
Blue & White Kick off Celebration & 8th Hour Schedule Update
Hello Brophy Community!
Did you get your edition of the PTO Brophy News this week? If so, you read about ASM and the ELT kick-off celebration! From what I hear, a great time was had by all. Just to recap of the 8th hour scheudle (taken from the Brophy News sent Sept 7th 2008)....
Mon & Tues will be grade rotation time in which the kids do projects & activities that will supplement the core grade curriculum, making it more applicable and fun (hopefully :) ). Wed will be club time - the kids will find out what club they're in on Mon or Tues. Every Thurs will be Early Dismissal. Fri will be Reading Buddy time or Recorder club for the 4th and 5th graders who selected that option.
That's all for now -- thank you and have a great evening!
Did you get your edition of the PTO Brophy News this week? If so, you read about ASM and the ELT kick-off celebration! From what I hear, a great time was had by all. Just to recap of the 8th hour scheudle (taken from the Brophy News sent Sept 7th 2008)....
Mon & Tues will be grade rotation time in which the kids do projects & activities that will supplement the core grade curriculum, making it more applicable and fun (hopefully :) ). Wed will be club time - the kids will find out what club they're in on Mon or Tues. Every Thurs will be Early Dismissal. Fri will be Reading Buddy time or Recorder club for the 4th and 5th graders who selected that option.
That's all for now -- thank you and have a great evening!
Kids Club Day Selections
We received a question asking when children would be informed of their Wednesday Kid Club Day choices. Margaret states they hope to let students know their electives on Friday or Monday at the latest. So, stay tuned for details!
8th Hour ELT Kickoff -- Sept 5th 2008
Hopefully you saw the note brought home by your children today about the 8th Hour ELT Kickoff celebration, happening Friday, Sept 5th. The Kickoff festivities will include songs, pictures, decorations and the Brophy Community wearing their finest blue and white Brophy Colors. 
"What time is All-School Meeting" you ask? All-school meeting runs from 2:20 to 3:00 pm, after ASM students will participate in 8th hour of Study Buddies.
So show your Brophy School Spirt ... come dressed in BLUE & WHITE to celebrate!
Bus issues
We received a question about bus issues.
Question: [...] I understand that there are bugs to be worked out with the buses but my main concern is what happens in the snow and rain? We all know how busy the streets of Framingham are on a normal day at 4:00 but add inclement weather ~ I am concerned. Have there been any discussion about it? [...]
Margaret's reply is below.
As with any start to the school year, the drivers are learning their morning and afternoon routes. It takes a little time to refine the timing of these routes based on traffic patterns in town. The arrival of buses improved dramatically each day last week. The buses on Friday left the school at 4:15 pm.
We will continue to work toward the goal of having buses moving at 4:00 pm during this week and will monitor our progress to see if further adjustments to time need to be made.
Please let us kow if you are having similar issues. Thank you and have a great day!
Question: [...] I understand that there are bugs to be worked out with the buses but my main concern is what happens in the snow and rain? We all know how busy the streets of Framingham are on a normal day at 4:00 but add inclement weather ~ I am concerned. Have there been any discussion about it? [...]
Margaret's reply is below.
As with any start to the school year, the drivers are learning their morning and afternoon routes. It takes a little time to refine the timing of these routes based on traffic patterns in town. The arrival of buses improved dramatically each day last week. The buses on Friday left the school at 4:15 pm.
We will continue to work toward the goal of having buses moving at 4:00 pm during this week and will monitor our progress to see if further adjustments to time need to be made.
Please let us kow if you are having similar issues. Thank you and have a great day!
Brophy School Google Calendar Available
Hello,
Did you know that Brophy School has a Google-calendar available for all to view.? For your convience, please go to ELT Website (URL below) and you can scroll through the embedded calendar.
http://sites.google.com/site/brophyeltinfo/Home/elt-dashboard
Thank you and have a great Labor Day weekend!
Your ELT Parent Committee
------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Okay, so after further review, it isn't as filled out as I would have liked, but it is there for reference once it is completed :)
Did you know that Brophy School has a Google-calendar available for all to view.? For your convience, please go to ELT Website (URL below) and you can scroll through the embedded calendar.
http://sites.google.com/site/brophyeltinfo/Home/elt-dashboard
Thank you and have a great Labor Day weekend!
Your ELT Parent Committee
------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Okay, so after further review, it isn't as filled out as I would have liked, but it is there for reference once it is completed :)
Homework, homework, homework
Question: I remember being told that the only homework that would be assigned would be for long term projects. My son came home from 4th grade on the 1st 2 days with homework. Whats up?
Answer (received from Margaret): Grade levels have adjusted homework for the coming school year. All students will be given a reading log with appropriate reading times to match grade levels. The third grades will have homework on Thursdays and 10 mins each night of math/spelling practice. Fourth and fifth grades will have one sheet per night along with their reading log. Most grade levels will have 1-2 projects during the year.
We will look for parent feedback in terms of how students are managing and will adjust for individual students or grade levels as necessary.
Brophy in the news
Check out the article in the Metrowest Daily News Aug 28th (today) about Brophy’s expanded learning time.
http://www.metrowestdailynews.com/news/x594280165/Early-start-at-Framinghams-Brophy-School
http://www.metrowestdailynews.com/news/x594280165/Early-start-at-Framinghams-Brophy-School
Brochure, FAQs and updated info anyone?
Goto: http://sites.google.com/site/brophyeltinfo/Home to download documents related to ELT at Brophy.
Tune into the Audrey Hall Show!
Along with the start of the 2008/2009 school year next week, two Framingham schools join the ranks of only 25 schools in the state to offer Expanded Learning Time (ELT). Brophy Elementary School and Cameron Middle School will add 300 hours of learning time to their schedules with newly designed curriculums.
Now you can hear the specifics of how the ELT programs are being implemented, directly from the two principals of those schools who were interviewed yesterday, 8/20/08 on the Audrey Hall Show. Margaret Doyle (Brophy) and Judith Kelly (Cameron) provide background information and explain exactly what the changes will be, how the students and staff experiences at those schools will change and what they are hoping to accomplish as a result of the new ELT programs.
Tune into the interview on Framingham's Public Access TV (FPAC-TV) at the following times:
Friday, 8/22/08 1:00pm, 7:00pm
Saturday, 8/23/08 8:00am, 7:00pm
Sunday, 8/24/08 2:00am, 1:00pm, 10:00pm
Monday, 8/25/08 7:00pm
On these channels:
Comcast Channel 9
RCN Channel 3
Verizon Channel 43
Now you can hear the specifics of how the ELT programs are being implemented, directly from the two principals of those schools who were interviewed yesterday, 8/20/08 on the Audrey Hall Show. Margaret Doyle (Brophy) and Judith Kelly (Cameron) provide background information and explain exactly what the changes will be, how the students and staff experiences at those schools will change and what they are hoping to accomplish as a result of the new ELT programs.
Tune into the interview on Framingham's Public Access TV (FPAC-TV) at the following times:
Friday, 8/22/08 1:00pm, 7:00pm
Saturday, 8/23/08 8:00am, 7:00pm
Sunday, 8/24/08 2:00am, 1:00pm, 10:00pm
Monday, 8/25/08 7:00pm
On these channels:
Comcast Channel 9
RCN Channel 3
Verizon Channel 43
Our First Entry
Hello Brophy Community and welcome to the Brophy Expanding Learning Time (ELT) Parent Committee Blog.
Designed by Brophy parents for the Brophy Community, this blog will be your bulletin board. Your questions and/or comments concerning ELT @Brophy can be emailed to brophyeltinfo@gmail.com. Questions and their answers will be posted here for the benefit of all. No question is trivial -- so please, do not hesitate to send us an email. (Note, that unless you specifically give permission for us to do so, your name will NOT be displayed on this blog.)
Finally, we do ask for your patience. The (volunteer) parents monitoring the email and mainitaining this blog hope to respond to all emails within a 72-hour period. Unfortunately, unforseen circumstances may delay the response.
Thank you. We look forward to an exciting 2008-2009 ELT year!
Regards,
Your ELT Parent Committee
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