Family Newletter Week of August 21, 2025

Dear Brackett Families,

Welcome to the first Thursday communication of SY25-26! Please look for an email from me every Thursday afternoon. Next week’s email will include arrival information as well as staffing updates.

 

THE FIRST DAY

The first day for Grades 1–5 is Tuesday, September 2. After-school programs begin on the first day.

 

Kindergarten students have been assigned to a first full day on either September 2 or September 3. The second day for all Kindergarteners is Thursday, September 4.

 

SCHOOL HOURS

The school day begins at 8:00 am and ends at 2:30 pm on Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, and Friday. On Wednesdays, school ends at 1:00 pm for district-wide professional learning time for teachers.

 

Students who arrive after 8am are marked tardy and will need to enter through the front doors and pick up a Cricket Ticket from Mrs. Robinson before going to class. This includes kindergarten students.

 

BREAKFAST, LUNCH, and SNACK

We are fortunate that the state of Massachusetts has chosen to maintain the free breakfast and lunch program begun during the pandemic. ALL children are able to get FREE lunch and FREE breakfast in school. Breakfast begins at 7:30 AM in the cafeteria. Students who want to participate in our morning breakfast program should enter through the cafeteria doors located on the side of the building near the playground.

 

Healthy snacks should be brought from home each day. Your teacher can give you guidance on this. Please do not send candy or soda and respect any notice further restricting snack items due to food allergies or other state guidelines.

 

SUPPLIES & THINGS FROM HOME

School supply lists are accessible on the Brackett School website. They were also included in the August mailings. If you have any questions or need help arranging supplies, please reach out to Mrs. Robinson.

 

In addition to individual supplies, each grade level will be sponsoring a specialist to provide supplies such as tissues, wipes, and paper towels from families. These can be dropped off in the office.

 

Kindergarten – music

First Grade – art

Second Grade – pe

Third Grade – library

Fourth Grade – learning center teachers & interventionists

Fifth Grade – additional support services (speech, OT, PT, etc.)

 

Please LABEL all personal items (including lunch boxes, back packs, coats, sweaters, sweatshirts). This allows us to return items to students when they are misplaced.

 

Please note that students will not be allowed to use or wear cellular or Wi-Fi devices brought from home while they are at school, including smart watches. Students will be instructed to put these devices in their backpacks in their locker during the school day. While I understand that contacting your child on their device may seem like the most direct way to inform them of a change in plans, ALL OUTSIDE COMMUNICATION with children should happen through teachers or office personnel.

 

COMMUNICATION & CALENDARS

I will include a list of monthly event dates at the bottom of my Thursday email. These emails are also posted on the District Brackett Website. All school events are also posted to the website calendar. You can subscribe via Google Calendar, iCal or to the Brackett School Events Calendar for latest updates!

 

One update… because of School Committee meetings, we are shifting Back to School Night to TUESDAY, September 30.

 

Happy last days of Summer!

Best,

Dr. Vice