Oratory students shared their talks in Chapel last week.

Schedule Alerts

• May 14, 15 and 16: Spring musical, "Newsies" (at 7:30 p.m.)
  
• May 17: Private Music Lessons Recital (at 2 p.m.)
  
• May 20: International Zooms with John Packard. Families from Korea (at 7 p.m.). Families from China (at 8 p.m.)
  
• May 21: Spring concert (at 7 p.m.)
  

Academics

Purchase the All Community Read

With last week’s announcement that the English department is sponsoring our 2026-2027 All Community Read (ACR), "Call Us What We Carry" by Amanda Gorman, we are ready for students to begin purchasing the book through our online bookstore. Read more about the selection and ACR program. We look forward to the many ways we will engage with this book next year! 

The Brooks School bookstore through MBS Direct opens today for ACR purchases:

• Click the “Let’s Get Started” button to begin.
• Click “View Materials” beneath the Parent/Guardian heading.
• You will be prompted for a Student ID, which is the number on the back of students’ physical student ID cards. Parents can also find it in OnBrooks.
• Click your student's name at the top left.
• Choose "Contact Card" and you will find the student ID under "General Information."
• Enter your Student ID and click View Materials to find a link to purchase the ACR book.

Note: MBS has notified us that ACR orders will initially show as “backordered.” They are finalizing inventory and will ship orders as soon as they are ready.

Student Life

Class of 2026 "Senior Week" Activities

Parents and guardians have two forms to complete for “senior week” activities. Please contact Associate Director of Student Affairs Cora MacKenzie for more information about the events. 

These forms are due by May 20.

1) On May 28, the class of 2026 will go on their annual rafting trip. We need all parents and guardians to complete the waiver in order for their student to participate:

• Log in to OnBrooks and go to Resources > Magnus.
• See the list of forms to complete on the landing page in Magnus.
• Scroll to the bottom for the waiver and release form (You should see a little red "to do" tag on the left).

2) On May 29, the class of 2026 is going to Block Party Social in Hookset, NH, for an afternoon of fun together. All families must sign the facility's RSVP/waiver for that event.

End-of-Year Attendance

All attendance policies remain in effect through the last day of school programming, regardless of form. Students who hit an attendance threshold will be issued the appropriate accountability measure. For sixth formers, that may mean bounds extending until graduation. For students in the other forms, that may mean extending into the following academic year. Students on bounds nearing the end of the year may have an opportunity to work off their bounds via service to the community.

Student Activities This Weekend

After students support their friends by watching "Newsies" in the Center for the Arts on Saturday, they can make their way over to the Head of School's home for the final open house of the school year. The following day offers opportunities to hit the beach and enjoy a cookout on campus. See the full schedule in the Weekend Bulletin.

Housing Process for Next Year

All returning boarding students will soon engage in the housing selection process. This phase of the process (submitting their housing preference forms) is supervised by your student's advisor. Housing decisions will be communicated to students in August. Any questions regarding the process should be directed to the advisor.

Weekend Leave Requests

We will not have classes on Monday, May 25.

Boarding students will be required to submit a “May Weekend” REACH request by May 20 at 12 p.m.

Third-, fourth- and fifth-form students are expected to return to campus on May 25 by 9 p.m. 

Sixth formers do not need to return to campus until May 26 by 5:30 p.m., ahead of their first "Senior Week" event that evening. 

Details of third-, fourth- and fifth-form students'
May 30 - June 1 Commencement Weekend expectations

Dorm Room Movers

The time is now to begin signing up for packing services! Students are not permitted to store items on campus during the summer months, so be sure to reserve your spot for full-service summer storage from Dorm Room Movers.

Dorm Room Movers also provides a "Store & Ship" option for graduating students, as well as a general shipping option if your student would like boxes shipped anywhere domestically. To learn more, text (856) 369-3676 or call (888) 769-3676.

Athletics

Congrats to girls lacrosse players Ella Phillips '26 and Cait Driscoll '28 on recently accomplishing these milestone tallies!

Arts

"Newsies" Opens Tonight

Firetrail Theatre is bringing bold energy and inventive storytelling to the Brooks stage this spring with the Broadway hit musical, "Newsies." 

Inspired by the true story of the 1899 newsboys strike, "Newsies" follows Jack Kelly and a band of young newsboys who rise up against powerful publishers in a fight for fairness and a voice of their own. This electrifying musical celebrates the power of collective action, resilience and the courage it takes to stand up and be heard.

We hope you’ll join us on May 14, 15 and 16 at 7:30 p.m. to celebrate the students and community members whose collaboration, creativity and dedication have brought this production to life for the Brooks community.

Reserve your free tickets!

Private Lessons Recital on Sunday

Our annual private lessons recital will take place this year on May 17 at 2 p.m. on the main stage in the Center for the Arts. Several Brooks students currently enrolled in weekly private music lessons will perform on instruments ranging from voice and piano to guitar and violin. This is their opportunity to show the community what they have been working on all year with their private teachers. Everyone is welcome to attend the recital, including off-campus family and friends. There will be a catered reception directly following the event.

Please join us for the Advanced Studio Art Creative Collaborative Artists Exhibition and Reception, tomorrow, May 15, from 6 to 7 p.m. in the Center for the Arts.

Spring Concert: May 21

This year’s Spring Concert will be held on May 21 at 7 p.m. on the main stage in the Center for the Arts. Four Brooks music ensembles (Chorus, Chamber Orchestra, Jazz Band, Advanced Jazz Band) will give their final performances of the term. Come hear the groups play their full setlists for the last time! This event is open to all members of the Brooks community and their off-campus family and friends.

Family Programs

Sundae Summer Send-Off

The end of the school year is the perfect time for an ice cream social! On May 19, our students, faculty and staff will enjoy Mad Maggie's ice cream, with their choice of toppings and a chance to win a Mad Maggie's gift card. Families, please consider supporting this final parent-sponsored student celebration. Here are some photos from last year’s event.

• Scoopers needed: Visit our event SignUpGenius to see opportunities to volunteer and purchase Mad Maggie’s gift cards to be raffled off at the event.
  
• Purchase toppings off the Amazon wish list for the sundae bar.
  
• Venmo a contribution to Jen Pagliuca P’25, P’29, P’29 (@Jennifer-Pagliuca) to help underwrite the event and purchase of tubs of Mad Maggie’s ice cream.

Brooks Sweater: Pre-Orders Due Now!

The school store is excited to share that they have collected almost enough sweater pre-orders for the Brooks School cotton-knit sweaters to meet the vendor’s minimum purchase quantity. They only need to receive five additional pre-orders to make the order official, so submit your pre-order before the deadline to secure your sweater. Purchased sweaters will be available for pickup at the school store in the fall of 2026.

To place your pre-order, complete this order form and submit it to Store Manager Joey Bova. Order forms must be submitted by May 31.

Please note: The official order with the vendor will only be placed if the school store collects enough pre-orders to meet the vendor's minimum purchase quantity. Questions? Feel free to contact Bova or Director of Alumni and Family Programs Sara Bird.

Business Office

Student Debit Account Balances

• Sixth-form parents: Students' debit account funds should be utilized (purchases in the store or snack bar) or withdrawn (in the Business Office) on or prior to May 29. The Business Office will not be open on Commencement Weekend, May 30-31 and students will be unable to withdraw funds on those dates. Do you have a balance in excess of $200? Contact Director of Financial Operations / Controller Jo-Ann Bevis P'26, P'27 to provide explicit permission for the balance to be withdrawn by your student or to coordinate an alternate method of refund. Balances remaining after May 31 will be converted to a Brooks Fund gift.

• Third-, fourth- and fifth-form parents: Debit account funds are only available for use or withdrawal during the academic year and must be used or withdrawn on or prior to June 5 if you wish to zero-out the account. Debit account funds that are not utilized or withdrawn by June 5 will be carried over to the following school year for use. If your student is not returning, funds must be used or withdrawn prior to June 5. Funds cannot be transferred to another school/account. Non-returning student balances remaining after June 5 will be converted to a Brooks Fund gift.

June/July Billed Charges in Blackbaud Tuition Management

Certain charges are billed in arrears and may appear in your Blackbaud Tuition Management (BBTM) account after the school year has ended. This includes graduating student accounts.

Please be aware that these amounts are due and payable through BBTM when they are billed.

Some of the charges that are billed in arrears include AP exam fees, dry cleaning, music lessons, dorm damage, lost/damaged spring uniforms/equipment, pharmacy charges, etc.