Family Newletter Week of October 9, 2025

Dear Brackett Families,

As the days get cooler, I wanted to remind you that we gather all items left behind in common spaces and in the recess yard in our Lost and Found in the cafeteria. We have quite the collection of sweatshirts and jackets. Students can check the Lost and Found during the day. Families – Please sign-in at the office to check out the array of items.

Here is the October PTO newsletter for a full list of activities and ways to volunteer.

As a reminder, there is no school on Monday, October 13 for Indigenous People’s Day.

Looking forward to seeing everyone in their pajamas for our first Brackett Spirit Day tomorrow.

Best,

Dr. Vice

• November Conference Links

• Brackett Astronomy Night

• Upcoming DESE Review

We are excited to have you join the Brackett teachers for conferences! This is a time to talk about goals for the year and progress over the first two months. As a courtesy to our teachers, please sign up using the links below. Make sure that you are choosing this year’s teacher!:)

Kindergarten

Costello Costello Conferences

Nechtem Nechtem Conferences

Perry Perry Conferences

First Grade

Coelho Coelho Conferences

Kaminski Conference Sign-Up

Macrae Macrae Conferences

Second Grade

Case Case Conferences

Duggan Duggan Conferences

Hammond Hammond Conferences

Third Grade

McHugo McHugo Conferences

Taffel Taffel Conferences

Thompson Thompson Conferences

Megara Megara Conferences

Fourth Grade

Calcaterra Calcaterra Conferences

Hood Hood Conferences

Varallo Varallo Conferences

Fifth Grade

Gorman Gorman Conferences

Lowe Lowe Conferences

Scheschareg Scheschareg Conferences

Specialists

Murray – Music Murray Conferences

Hawes – PE Hawes Conferences

Schiavone – PE Schiavone Conferences

Chisholm – Art Chisholm Conferences

Join the PTO STEM Committee as we gaze at the night sky at Astronomy Night on Saturday, October 18th, starting at 6:45pm. We'll meet up first at the Brackett Elementary main entrance for a quick talk beforehand from Allen Feinstein and then walk over to Robbins Farm Park by the dog statue for viewing (rain/cloud date: Sunday, October 19th, 6:45 p.m.).

We should have good views of Saturn and perhaps even two comets (Lemmon and Swan). If the skies are dark enough with the new moon, we’ll even try to glimpse some brighter deep sky objects (The Ring Nebula, Bode's galaxy, etc).

The STEM Committee will bring the telescopes; you just bring your excitement for the stars!

The Department of Elementary and Secondary Education’s Office of Public School Monitoring (PSM) will conduct an Integrated Monitoring Review of Arlington Public School District during the week of November 3, 2025. Each school district, charter school, vocational school, and virtual school undergoes an Integrated Monitoring Review every three years. The areas addressed during an Integrated Monitoring Review are organized into two groups, known as Group A Universal Standards and Group B Universal Standards.

Arlington Public School District will be undergoing a Group B monitoring review that focuses on special education student identification and special education eligibility timelines; Individualized Education Program (IEP) development; programming and support services; procedural requirements for suspensions and equal opportunity.

The process includes interviews with school staff and administrators, a review of student records, policies and procedures, and a school building visit.

Parents/guardians and other stakeholders may email Dee Wyatt, Monitoring Review Chairperson, at [email protected] to request a telephone interview. If anyone requires an accommodation, such as translation, to participate in an interview, the Department will make the necessary arrangements.

Within approximately 60 business days after the onsite visit, the review chairperson will provide the school with a report that includes information on further actions that may be required. The public can access the report at https://www.doe.mass.edu/psm/tfm/default.html.

Oct 10 – SPIRIT DAY: Pajama Day

Oct 13 – No School for Indigenous People’s Day

Oct 16 – District Safety Forum

Oct 17 – Author Visit for Grades 2-5, see teacher’s email for more information

Oct 20-24 – Chemistry Week

Oct 27 – Math Night Grade 4 & 5 (6-7:30pm)

Nov 4-6 – Parent/Guardian/Teacher Conferences

Please add the Brackett Calendar to your personal calendar system. You can find a link to this on our district website event page.