Thanksgiving Schedule & Vacation Transportation
On Nov. 19, classes will begin at 8 a.m. and conclude by 10:55 a.m. so students can make their way on vacation. Students should share their travel plans using REACH. Students can sign up for the school transportation to Logan Airport or New York City using REACH. Please review the 2022-2023 Transportation Options available for our students for vacation.
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Planning Ahead: Dec. 15 Schedule
To celebrate the end of the first semester and upcoming holidays, on Dec. 15 students and faculty will attend a formal dinner with their advisor followed by the Lessons and Carols Chapel. Formal, special occasion dress is expected.
Schedule for Dec. 15
Exhibitions of Learning for G and H Block classes — 8:30 a.m. and 12:45 p.m.
Afternoon activities for teams participating in holiday tournaments — 4-6 p.m.
Dormitory cleaning and packing — 4-5 p.m.
Advisory dinner (required for all students) — 6 p.m.
Lessons and Carols Chapel (required for all students) — 7 p.m.
Student dance (optional) — 8-10 p.m.
Check-in/day-student departure: 10 p.m.
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Dean of Diversity, Equity & Inclusion Terri Ofori welcomed her husband (second from left), Dr. David Ofori, Jr. (the chief Ahenenanahene of Apedwa in the Akyem Kingdom in the Eastern Region of Ghana) to campus recently. In his role of chief, he met and talked with students whose parents are from West Africa. |
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Hosting a Student for Breaks
The Brooks community is a special one and it is strengthened by the diversity of the student body. The presence of students from around the country and the globe enhances the many opportunities offered at the school. Some of our students travel a long distance to be here and have faced numerous challenges with travel as a result of the pandemic.
We are trying to identify any student who may not be able to travel home and who may need help in finding a safe place to be during any of our major breaks.
In addition, we are also trying to identify any families who may be able to host a student during part or all of one of these breaks. If you are interested in hosting a student during either Winter or March Break, please be in touch with Associate Head for Student Affairs Andrea Heinze.
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Final Details for Thanksgiving Break Departure
Be sure to review the overview from the deans about Thanksgiving Break travel. Prior to break, dorms will be thoroughly cleaned by our students and spaces will be reviewed for a fire inspection occurring over break. The schedule for cleaning is:
- Nov. 18 from 9 to 10 p.m. — formal dorm clean with an emphasis on packing and removing all trash/food from the dorm
- Nov. 19 after classes — final sweep and student check out with dorm parent
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Students who participated in the Chipotle Challenge enjoyed their Chipotle dinner this week! |
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Community Service Clothing Drive
Brooks School's community service program will be hosting a clothing drive for the Community Giving Tree. The Community Giving Tree provides low-income families with basic necessities including clothing, diapers and baby supplies. Every year the organization distributes basic necessities to more than 12,000 children in northeastern Massachusetts.
This year, Brooks will help by hosting a clothing donation drive from Nov. 14 through Nov.19 and after Thanksgiving Break from Nov. 28 through Nov. 30.
Items requested: baby wipes, diapers (6,5,4) pajamas, winter clothing and coats (sizes infant to teen). New items, please. If you have any questions please feel free to contact Director of Community Service Ashley Johnston.
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Endowed Faculty Chair Announcements
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Chair of the English Department Tim Benson, Prince Family Teaching Chair
- History Teacher, Director of the Archives Lance Latham, Independence Foundation Faculty Chair
- Chair of the Arts Department, Director of the Robert Lehman Art Center Babs Wheelden, Waldo and Ruth Holcombe Faculty Chair
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Peek Inside a Calculus and Spanish Class
Associate Head of School for Academic Affairs Susanna Waters popped into AP AB Calculus and AP Spanish Literature classes this week for her latest Deans' Den Blog post. Check it out to learn more about what students are learning at Brooks!
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December Exhibitions of Learning (EOLs)
Exhibitions of Learning (EOLs) make up the last week of classes before we depart for Winter Break. An EOL is a debate, discourse, presentation, portfolio, test, exam or other class experience that occurs in special, extended A-H blocks from Dec. 10 through Dec. 15. Every major course has an EOL.
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We are happy to share the Dec. EOL Period schedule with you here, which also includes some important student reminders. Attendance is required for all students during the EOL period and elective absences or early departures will only be permitted in extremely extenuating circumstances.
- Please note that attendance is also required at the formal dinner and Lessons and Carols on the evening of Dec. 15.
- In early Dec., the deans of students will collect student travel plans for Winter Break.
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You're Invited to our Holiday Concert!
Brooks will be offering a holiday concert featuring student musicians on Dec. 11. You're invited to join us and get in the spirit! The concert will take place in the Center for the Arts theater from 3 to 4:30 p.m. with a reception featuring seasonal fare immediately following.
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Calling All Community Artists
The Brooks community is invited to submit work for consideration to be included in an exhibit in the Robert Lehman Art Center. See a message from Chair of the Arts Department and Director of the Lehman Art Center Babs Wheelden below:
HOPE Collaborative, Lehman Gallery: March 30 - May 1, 2023
"Art is about changing what we see in our everyday lives and representing it in such a way that it gives us hope." — Kehinde Wiley.
HOPE: Faculty and Friends of the Robert Lehman Art Center Gallery, An exhibition of creative works by faculty, staff, family members, and alumni responding to the theme of hope.
Please complete this form for each work you would like consideration for the HOPE Collaborative Exhibition in the Robert Lehman Art Center gallery March 30 - May 1, 2023 (Please submit a response for each work).
Works will be installed the week of March 20. The deadline to submit images of work is Dec. 10. All selected works must be ready to install/hang and delivered to the gallery by March 1.
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NEPSAC Playoff Schedule
In a notable achievement, Brooks is sending four teams — girls 1st soccer, boys 1st soccer, girls 1st field hockey and boys 1st football — to compete in the NEPSAC tournament on Saturday, with three heading into the semifinal round.
Information about watching these games online will be posted on our Livestream page. The latest information on NEPSAC playoffs can be found on the NEPSAC site.
- #3 boys soccer vs. Rivers School at Rivers on Nov. 19 at 2 p.m.
- #4 field hockey vs. Governor's Academy at Governor’s on Nov. 19 at 2 p.m.
- #7 girls soccer vs Lawrence Academy at Lawrence on Nov. 19 at 2 p.m.
- Football vs St. Sebastian’s School in the Dave Coratti Bowl at Brooks on Nov. 19 at 1 p.m.
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Winter Season Overview
The winter season will be in full swing when we return from break. Plan ahead by reviewing these important notes from the athletics department.
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David Jiang '24 was one of the "B Well" wellness program winners of the recent sleep challenge. He picked up his prize in the Health & Wellness Center this week: a weighted blanket! |
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Stress Management Ideas from the Counseling Department
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Starbrooks Is Coming!
For the second year in a row, we are excited to transform Wilder Dining Hall into our own version of Starbucks — Starbrooks! — featuring an expansive hot chocolate bar, decadent donuts, chocolate covered pretzels and more. In order to bring this festive event to our campus on Dec. 13, we are asking for parents to please consider one of the following options:
- Venmo a donation in an amount of your choice to underwrite the cost of the event and the raffles. We hope to have a raffle for each form and the employees. (Please Venmo your donation to @Jessica-Kelleher-3.)
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Save the Date: Sip and Shop for Brooks!
Start your holiday shopping on Main Street in Andover at our inaugural Sip and Shop for the Brooks! Join us at clothing boutique Native Sun, owned by Brooks parent Lisa Darke P'24, for a reception and shopping for the holidays on Dec. 7 from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. Meet fellow Brooks families, get a jump on your holiday shopping and support the Brooks community all at the same time! A portion of the sales proceeds will support the year-end Brooks Employee Appreciation Luncheon.
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Class of 2023 Commencement
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Stay in touch: Follow Brooks for news + photos! |
Not on social media? Visit the Brooks Social page to see what we've shared!
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