February 25, 2022

Yesterday’s skating event was just what we needed: togetherness, conversation, fun, and fresh air under a beautiful night sky. Seeing students from each division enjoy themselves without the weight of homework made it even more special, and the snow day was an extra boost for them! Seeing young people enjoy being kids was juxtaposed to the frightening news of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. It is hard for me to imagine the fear the Ukrainian people must be feeling as they face the destruction a war will leave. Tragically, our worries often sit side by side with our efforts to live life each day.

I fully understand the worries associated with our mask optional stage as we enter cautiously into this next phase of the pandemic. We will move slowly, deliberately, and with our eye on every detail. I have learned along with many of my independent school colleagues that we rarely have had full clarity throughout the various phases of this pandemic. We rely on our doctors and experts in the area, and we move forward knowing the risk associated with every decision. However, we must move forward. After we return from break, and we PCR test our entire community, we will have information that may require us to adjust accordingly. While we are living with uncertainty, we will try to be predictable. Please be sure to read the CRT notes that follow.

Next week we will be treated to the Upper School musical. I hope you will reserve a ticket and come to the performance of Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat. I am delighted we can be at a live theater performance once again!

As you are now aware, the School, after consulting with our physicians and peer schools in the area, has decided to go mask optional beginning Monday, February 28. We based this decision on our continued low case count, projected decreases in cases throughout the Commonwealth, our high community vaccination rate, and a collective understanding of how to keep ourselves safe. We fully support anyone who prefers to continue to mask, and we will expect our community to uphold our Core Values. Respecting individual and family choice is important as we move from public health mandates around daily masking to personal control over masking decisions. We want to bring a few specific things to your attention regarding this decision. 

Heather Cox Richardson is a history professor right up the hill at Boston College. For the past few years, she has written daily “letters,” providing historical context for and summarizing, explaining, analyzing, and opining on the events of the day in our growing national history. She is astute, knowledgeable, level-headed, and very readable. But her February 21 letter caught me up at the very end when she concluded with the following quote: “With Putin’s attack on the international rule of law today, challenging western nations to stop him, Edward Luce of the Financial Times identified the larger picture: ‘Cannot be stated strongly enough,” he wrote. “If the west—chiefly America, but also Britain—doesn't burn its financial ties to Russia's oligarchy then Putin will prevail. This means taking on Wall Street, the City, law firms, realtors, the prep schools and western laundering outfits.’ (Letters from an American, February 21, 2022). It was the inclusion of prep schools—independent schools in the US—with “Wall Street, the City (London’s financial district), law firms, realtors…and western laundering outfits” that took me aback. That is quite a group to be mixed in with—and one that, surprisingly, doesn’t include the usual suspects, such as multi-national corporations, oil and gas companies, or big pharma; nor did it include international organizations or cartels. It didn’t even mention colleges and universities. Just “prep schools.” So, do we actually have a direct role in taking on Putin and thwarting his ambitions? [Read more on Mr. Iuliano's blog.]

The “unsung hero” trope can often seem like just that: a trope, performative and often steeped in superficiality. This always concerns me as we move into months of celebrating marginalized populations. Looking ahead to March, Women’s History Month, I found myself having the same concern. But as I reflect back on my 20 years in the workforce, I realized that we are still experiencing a lot of “firsts:” Halle Berry, the first Black woman to win an Academy Award (2001); Nancy Pelosi, the first woman House Minority Leader (2006) and first woman Speaker of the House (2007); Sonia Sotomayor, the first woman of color to serve on the US Supreme Court (2009); Sarah Palin, the first woman nominated for Vice President of the Republican Party (2008); Kamala Harris, the first woman (and woman of color) Vice President of the United States (2020). There are countless others in just the last twenty years. Perhaps we, as women, are still scratching at the proverbial glass ceiling, still waiting for it to shatter.

I have worked in three independent schools in my career, two, including Brimmer, headed by strong, fiercely intelligent women. Still, despite their accomplishments and mine, we see that the majority of women are still fighting for equal pay and equal treatment, among other gender-based battles. I find that I am still inspired by women of all ages who are breaking the mold and accomplishing things that only men had accomplished before.

The month of March is dedicated to celebrating the accomplishments of women. In the two weeks that we are in school during that month, I look forward to conversations, books, and visuals that remind us that women are powerful and capable of amazing things. This inspires not only our female students but all of our students.

I encourage you to read about women with your child, regardless of their gender. Teach them about Misty Copeland, Sandra Day O’Connor, and Sally Ride. Explain the struggles and celebrate the successes. Together, we will continue to move forward.

Jessica Christian

March 2, 1:40 p.m.

The art of rhyme is heard in poems, songs, and raps. It can be found in greeting cards and other forms of expression. The ability to speak thoughts and emotions not easily defined in laymen's terms gives poetry the aura of power, its writer a liberation, and the reader or listener a witnessing. Poetry's storytelling journey of human experiences allows for the human spirit's resiliency to be celebrated in non-fictional yet mythical tales, allowing the writer to honor their courage, achievements, and muses. Its outlet releases love, healing, and even laughter. Spoken word poet Liza Zayas hopes to encourage students to delve into their inner writer and appreciate the creativity and honesty unlocked when they do. We are thrilled to be able to offer this Bissell Grogan Symposium keynote presentation in person for our Upper School students in the Corkin Theatre. We invite families and friends to join us via livestream.

The Lawn at Brimmer Auction is set for Saturday, April 23, 2022 under a tent on the Middlesex Road Field! Food trucks, DJ, photo booth, Wall of Wine, and more! Tickets are $75 each. Please consider donating to our Silent & Live auctions. Click here to RSVP, browse donation ideas, or volunteer.

Tickets are $5 online or at the door.

Winterfest had to be cancelled this year but we’ve taken lemons and made lemonade - Spring Carnival! Please join us in welcoming Spring with a BBQ, festive games, raffle and Camp Fair. Orr Field will be decked out with a bounce house, carnival, field games, and so much more.

Dear Upper School Families,

We cannot wait to bring the Upper School Musical back to the stage in the Ruth Corkin Theatre next week! Singing, dancing, storytelling--there is always something special about musical theater. Our students have been working hard to prepare for the show, from rehearsing lines and practicing songs to building the set. I hope you will reserve your ticket so you can put the complexities of life to the side for a little while and enjoy the magic that is created through live performances.

While our Varsity I Boys Basketball team awaits news on the NEPSAC postseason tournament, our Curlers completed their season this week. Congratulations to Daniel Murray '23 (Skip), Nico Jaffer '23 (Vice), Grace Kandiah '23 (Second), and Conno Wagner '25 (Lead) on winning the A Division at Wednesday’s Bonspiel and completing an undefeated season. Our Upper School Winter Sports Assembly has been rescheduled for Wednesday, March 9 at 2:35 p.m. due to the snow day today.

Congratulations to all our students who earned high marks during the first semester. Semester I Honor Roll and High Honor Roll information can be found in the US Information section of the Resource page in the Parent Portal.

I also want to congratulate the ten Upper Schoolers (pictured above)--David Kaplansky '22, Sophia Bruno '23, Kieran Cross '23, Thomas Gheewalla '23, Sevak Glorikian '23, Talia Hammer '23, Kate Hirschen '23, Natalie Kozhemiakin '23, Lilianna Palmer '23, and Edan Zinn '23--selected to participate in the UPenn and Schoolyard Ventures Social Innovators Program. These students will learn about entrepreneurship and develop ideas that can be turned into non-profits and products throughout the spring. We cannot wait to see what they create and hear about what they learn.

At lunch on Thursday, 25 students joined Mr. Cutler, Ms. Neely, and Mr. Barker-Hook to learn more about the day's news and the history of Ukraine and Russia. It was an engaging and important conversation, and I am grateful we are able to make space for our students to have these discussions.

Next week students will learn about the different field trips and workshop options for March 9 and 10. They will have the opportunity to rank their preferences. The week is being structured as follows, and a detailed schedule to be shared in next week’s Bulletin:

Monday, 3/7: Regular Classes

Tuesday, 3/8: Regular Classes

Wednesday, 3/9: Field Trips, US Band Concert, and Community Gathering

Thursday, 3/10: Workshops, Bissell Grogan Symposium Speaker, and Ice Cream Social

Friday, 3/11: Student Survey and trip to Level 99

*These are required school days, and all students are expected to be in attendance.

Lastly, this week students had the opportunity to start with new clubs or continue on with those they joined earlier in the year. We are excited to be able to provide more club meetings this year and provide this additional depth to the Upper School experience.

Sincerely,

Joshua Neudel

Bissell Grogan Symposium Speaker Series

(in person for Upper School students)

US Musical

Upper School Sports Assembly

Bissell Grogan Symposium Speaker Series 1:40 p.m.

The Claw, Grade 4 & 5 Play

The Claw, Grade 4 & 5 Play

for Lower School

Spring Vacation Begins PK-12

After Regular Dismissal

School Resumes

Located in the Northwest part of Washington, DC, American University is a medium sized, federally chartered research university. In addition to the College of Arts and Sciences, students can pursue a variety of academic interests including international service, communication, business, and public affairs. With DC as their backyard, American U students can take part in a wide array of internships and service opportunities. Ranked #11 by US News for the best study abroad programs, American is a truly international university, with over 140 countries represented by the student body. Learn more here.

Trinity College is one of a few liberal arts colleges located in a more urban area, providing a small college experience with the backdrop of Hartford, Connecticut. Trinity is the second oldest college in Connecticut, but it has stayed at the forefront of research and student opportunities. Students can take advantage of 41 majors and 27 minors, including engineering, public policy, and urban studies, and 15% of students pursue a double major. Outside of the classroom, there are over 140 organizations for students to join and a variety of activities in the Hartford area, such as concerts, farmer’s markets, and art exhibits. Learn more here.

“The waiting is driving me crazy!” That sentiment has been conveyed by more than one senior in the last week or two. February — the doldrums of the admission cycle, not to mention the dead of winter — is hard. While a handful of our seniors were admitted via Early Decision binding applications, and most (90%) have at least one college acceptance, the bulk of decisions will be released from March through early April.

If students were deferred in their ED/EA applications, we have encouraged them to write letters of continued interest providing updates on their academic and extracurricular activities, but those should have been submitted by mid-February. At this point the decisions are being made in admissions offices, in meetings, and out of the reach of any of us.

So, we encourage our 12th graders (and their families) to do their best to find zen in this time of waiting. Once the floodgates open, we will be awash in decisions and results and choices to be made, and the spring will rush by. But for now, in February, we wait.

We covered two pretty big topics in our College Counseling classes this week: Holistic Admissions and Affirmative Action. One connects directly to the work that our juniors will be doing this spring to prepare their applications, and the other was a big picture look at how identity and context factor into college admissions.

“Holistic Admissions” is a buzzword that students will get used to hearing. Most selective schools in the United States utilize some form of holistic review, in which they not only weigh academic metrics (grades, curriculum, testing) but also personal qualities. These qualities – leadership, character, talents, interests, background – help flesh out the application and give further information about what type of community member students will be if admitted. The various components of the Common Application, which we will continue to work through during the spring semester, provide information for college admission counselors about students’ personal qualities.

Considering the idea of “background” and biographical information, we then segued into a discussion about various core identities. We asked students to reflect on how they defined themselves in terms of race, gender, religion, culture, etc. and to consider which of their identities were advantaged or disadvantaged in society. Finally, we used this conversation to provide a brief overview of Affirmative Action policies in the United States and did some debunking of myths and misunderstandings about the topic. We hope they walked away with a clearer understanding of how context and identity matter in the application process.

Dear Parents and Guardians,

After spending the first part of the year studying World War II and the Holocaust through the Facing History and Ourselves program, 8th graders began their study of China this week. The unit begins with a brief exploration of the major dynasties and an examination of Chinese religions and philosophies including Buddhism, Daoism, and Confucianism, before diving into the rise of Mao Zedong and the Cultural Revolution.

On Wednesday during the Assembly period at 1:40 p.m., the Middle School community will come together for our Winter Sports Awards ceremony. The event will be live streamed for parents. Zoom information can be found below.

Wednesday, March 2 at 1:40 p.m.

Passcode: 293241

EducaHealth (formerly Partners in Sex Education) will be working with our 6th and 8th grade students during the week of March 7. EducaHealth is a non-profit organization dedicated to improving the lives of Greater Boston youth through comprehensive education about sexuality, sexual health, and relationships. A letter from the teacher and an outline of the curriculum were emailed to families earlier this month. In addition, we will also hold a parent meeting with EducaHealth on Wednesday, March 2 at 6:00 p.m. on Zoom. The Zoom information can be found below. Please let us know if you have any questions.

Wednesday, March 2 – 6:00 p.m.

The week of March 7 is also our Exploration Week, which includes various experiential learning experiences and field trips. As mentioned last week, I wanted to specifically point out that we will be doing a scavenger hunt in Boston on the afternoon of Wednesday, March 9. In order to maximize our time, we will be doing a late release that day at 3:30 p.m. If this causes a problem for you or your student, please let me know. That is the only day when there is a change to dismissal times. An overview of the other experiences we have planned for the students can be found below. We look forward to a wonderful week!

7th Grade with Project Adventure – 8:00-11:30 a.m.

Middle School Scavenger Hunt in Boston – 12:00-3:30 p.m. (please note the later dismissal on this day)

Grade 6 – Trip to the Museum of Science

Grade 7 – Trip to the Minuteman Trail

Grade 8 – Trip to the Arnold Arboretum

Carl Vallely

Bissell Grogan Symposium Speaker Series

(in person for Upper School students)

US Musical

Mid Semester II/ End of Quarter III

Bissell Grogan Symposium Speaker Series

Spring Vacation Begins PK-12

After Regular Dismissal

School Resumes

Dear Lower School Families,

Last week was full of love and friendship and boundless excitement as students enjoyed exchanging cards with their buddies, wearing PJ’s on Friday, and meeting with guest author Kaija Langley. In addition to reading her wonderful book When Langston Dances, Kaija shared the inspiration behind the story. She addressed the many questions students had regarding how long it took her to write the book, how many times she had to rewrite it, how many other books she had written, etc. Kaija illuminated for students the process of publishing a children’s book, including the fact that she and illustrator had never met, a common practice in publishing. Students not only loved the story, but they also learned about the importance of perseverance when pursuing your passions.

At the end of last week, the first and second-grade students shared their work in music and drama during their Informances. I hope you were able to join us from home. If not, you can access the recordings below:

• Grade 1 Informance (There were some difficulties with the sound until minute six.)

• Grade 2 Informance

While each student came home with their individual pieces of art, please be sure to visit the grade’s Canvas page so you can enjoy the slideshow of all the students’ artwork. It is an absolute treat!

As you read earlier this week, Brimmer is transitioning to optional masking beginning Monday, February 28. We honor and respect each family’s choice regarding masking, as well as the individual circumstances that inform the decision. We want to help students understand that families are making decisions that are the best, right decisions for them. This is in keeping with our Core Values. You can assist your student with this transition by sharing your masking choice with them, and the homeroom teacher, and by helping them consider that the needs of others may be different from their own. We will discuss this with students at school. Please be in touch with the homeroom teacher to share your masking preference and feel free to be in touch with me if you have further questions.

A few reminders:

I look forward to seeing everyone Monday morning.

Emily Miller

Registration for SPRING CLUBS FOR LOWER SCHOOL STUDENTS begins Saturday, February 25. Registration is online here. Clubs are open to all Lower School students and begin the week of April 4. Check out our website for details. This spring's offerings include: Clay, Creative Movement, Chess, Cooking, Open Gym, Creator's Club, Sewing, and MORE!

Cassie Abodeely

No School (PK - Gr. 5)

Parent Teacher Conference Day

LS Extended Day available

Bissell Grogan Symposium Speaker Series

US Musical

Bissell Grogan Symposium Speaker Series

The Claw, Grade 4 & 5 Play

The Claw, Grade 4 & 5 Play

for Lower School

Spring Vacation Begins PK-12

After Regular Dismissal

School Resumes

Thursday, April 7

Saturday, April 9

11:00 a.m. - 1:00 p.m. on Orr Field

Winterfest had to be cancelled this year but we’ve taken lemons and made lemonade - Spring Carnival! Please join us in welcoming Spring with a BBQ, festive games, raffle and Camp Fair. Orr Field will be decked out with a bounce house, carnival, field games, and so much more.

Charlotte Dixon P ‘25

Stella Rupia P ’26, ‘32

Tenzin Dengkhim P ’27, ‘34