5th-8th AUG LTR

Welcome to our new and returning students! In addition to the main letter to the parents, we would like to elaborate on special programs only enjoyed by the 5^th – 8^th grade students. PLEASE NOTE NEW START TIMES! We look forward to seeing the 6^th, 7^th, and 8^th grade students at 8 a.m. daily and 3^rd, 4^th, and 5^th grade students at 8:30 a.m. daily.

Textbooks will be available on the first day of school. Please cover any books that you take home as soon as possible. Your name and the date should be printed in ink on the inside cover of the book itself. Any lost or damaged books during the school year will be identified and you will be notified of the cost. You will be issued a locker at this time as well. Class schedules and planners are provided the first day of school. Student planners will be provided by the school. The first planner is free, but replacement planners will be charged to your parents account.

Mr. Haufler, Mrs. McKernan, Mrs. Groh, Miss Redlin and Mrs. Jones are the heart of our Middle School teaching the core subjects. Our science teacher, Mr. Haufler, has a Masters in Biology and 18 years experience in private schools, grades K-12. Mr. Haufler will expand the biology and hands-on-science programs. Programs offered are 5^th & 6th grade students - Earth Science, 7^th grade - Life Science, and 8^th grade - Physical Science, with experiments weekly on Fridays. Mr. Haufler will also organize the Regional Science Fair competition. At the regional Science Fair, top experiments will be selected to represent Brookfield School. All Sixth through Eighth grade students will be able to choose between “Reading Comprehension” and Latin for their 8 a.m. class. We are glad to welcome a new teacher to our Brookfield family, Mrs. Groh. She will be our 5th and 6th grade students’ teacher and will be teaching some of the 7^th and 8^th grade classes. She has a BA in Education, and a California teaching credential. She has previous experience working with all ages of students. Mrs. Groh and her family have recently relocated from Southern California and are happy to be here.

Our upper grades team of returning teachers rounds out with Mrs. Keppleman and Miss Redlin for Spanish. Miss Redlin will also teach weekly art. Our Librarian this year will be Mrs. Fyda. Please use the Accelerated Reader (AR) program, it is on line - 11,000 tests are now available. Stop by the library to check out a book and ask Mrs. Fyda about AR! Mrs. Labella, who teaches Computers, Photoshop and Digital Photography, would like to offer a weekly after school class to get all “Photo” students more skilled on the computers and more prepared to help assemble the yearbook. Mrs. Jones will be teaching 8^th grade English, 8^th grade Literature and 7^th grade American History. Upper Grades will have a Friday elective rotation and the teachers will be surveying your areas of interest the first week of school. Based on student interest and feasibility the electives will be decided.

We will have our annual “FALL RETREAT” at Project Discovery at Sky Tavern on Thursday and Friday, September 25th and 26^th. This will facilitate Leadership and Team Building and includes a Ropes course. We look forward to the overnight Teepee camp out. Information about what to bring and permission slips are included in this package. We expect everyone to participate, including teachers, and encourage you to stay for the overnight program, which will include a night zip line activity. There are two Teepees, one for the girls and one for the boys. Ms. Bettingen and one or two other adults will be spending the night. Parents are welcome. The cost will be $150 for the 2 days, plus $60 for the overnight (for dinner, breakfast, and night zip line activity). You will need to bring two lunches and plenty of water. Please see the enclosed details and call the office with any questions. The retreat will be added to your parent’s bill.

Students will have an opportunity to participate in “Marine Biology Camp” on Catalina Island in southern California again this year. Details on this camp and participation will depend on grades and attitude. Mr. Haufler will be leading the Catalina Island 5 days Science Camp again for 15 students October 27^th through October 31^st. The cost will be $750 per student and this includes transportation, lodging, meals, instruction and all equipment usage.

We are very pleased to continue our association with Lakeridge Tennis Club for a more extensive P.E. Program for the Seventh and Eighth Grades. Each student can purchase a student or family membership; students must be a member of the Lakeridge facility to participate in this optional P.E. program. Please sign up prior to the start of school. We will have Lakeridge forms and prices available on campus and we recommend you tour the Lakeridge Facility (775-827-3300 or www.ltcreno.com). We are very excited about the opportunity to include a rigorous fitness program including tennis, swimming, racket ball, weights, and exercise machines. You will be escorted to and from Lakeridge where a Lakeridge trainer will be your coach. If you do not participate at Lakeridge, you will have P.E. on the main campus. Respect towards each other, adults & property is an essential requirement for the Lakeridge privilege. The coach, aide, or administration may suspend the privilege for any misbehavior. You will begin Tuesday, September 2nd with Tennis if you choose the Lakeridge option. Please bring your own tennis racket daily, starting the first day of school.

Young women have two uniform options for Wednesday dress: either a gray skirt and wine colored polo or Wilson plaid skirt and white polo, both from Dennis Uniform. Your skirts/shorts must cover the lower torso with no skin showing between top and skirt. Skirts/shorts must be at least mid-thigh in length. No short skirts or exposed undergarments are allowed. All sweatshirts or sweaters worn on campus must be red or navy. Heavy coats worn outside can vary in color. Young men’s uniform dress is navy pants and white collared polo shirt. The rest of the days are navy or khaki pants and red, white or navy blue collared shirts for both sexes. No tees or baggy or saggy pants allowed. The Lakeridge P.E. uniform is a red t-shirt (logo optional) with navy shorts. Brookfield collared shirts are acceptable P.E. clothes. We ask that closer attention be given to appropriate dress this year, so you can earn more free dress days.

When you earn free dress, no tattered clothing or writing on shirts is permitted. Free dress must have a neat and tidy appearance. Any student with either hair or clothing that cause a disturbance or impedes learning (determined by administration/teacher) will be required to change into our clothing or be sent home to change.

Please be prepared for a full day of classes on the first day of school, including P.E. and tennis at Lakeridge. Drop off/pickup is the back parking lot by the basketball court. Fifth grade starts at 8:30 a.m., being tardy at 8:30 a.m., 6/7/8 grade starts at 8:00 a.m., and you are tardy at 8:00 a.m. Pick up is at the rear west basketball gate at 3:45 p.m. Please wait near the back yard basketball court, where the school has supervision. Students waiting in the front parking lot will be escorted to the back for pick-up.

Brookfield students and parents are encouraged to talk with your teachers weekly and through email. We will provide planners for nightly communications home. Each teacher has an assigned office day for parent communication. Parents are invited to a formal conference with teachers at least twice per school year. Parents are welcome and encouraged to observe classes at anytime. Your teachers will have times available before and after class to offer extra help for you. Please write down these times in your planner as some teachers are here part-time.

Hot lunch will be available the first day of school (see the enclosed monthly schedule @ $4.75 per meal). Often parents can order you two hot lunches for the extra hungry, growing teens. Milk is available on the first day. Send in the “options & menu” form before August 25^th to purchase both milk and hot lunch.
Please feel free to contact me at (775) 825-0257 or cbbrookfield@yahoo.com should you have any questions or concerns.

Sincerely,
Ms. Bettingen