The full album of professional photography from Family Weekend is in! Check it out to see family portraits, classroom shots and images of all the activities on campus during that beautiful weekend.

Schedule Alert

• Nov. 8 from 6:15 to 8:30 p.m.: Required advisory dinner and All-Community Read speaker

Academics

Meet the Learning Center Leadership Team

Brooks School's Learning Center is proud to introduce this year’s Learning Center student leadership team (see below). Head peer tutors Samson Nwobi '25 and Veronica Seok '25 facilitate the peer tutor program and Learning Center ambassadors Angeline Benjavitvilai '26, Rohan Amin '26 and AnaSofia Rivera '25 help to make the Learning Center feel accessible for all Brooks students. 

Starting next week, students can find peer tutors in the evening outside of the Science Forum during structured study hall from 8 to 9 p.m. Peer tutors are also available to be matched for one-on-one sessions with students in specific subjects. 

While teachers should always be the first source of academic support, peer tutors are a great resource to support student learning. Students interested in using a peer tutor should complete the peer tutor request form located in OnBrooks > Groups > Peer Tutors, or reach out to Learning Center Specialists Shanel Antunes or Amo Weld.

Fall Midterm Progress Reports

Fall Midterm Progress Reports -- including grades and comments for classes, afternoon programs and dorms -- will be available in the Progress > Performance area of OnBrooks for parents and guardians on Oct. 24 after 3:15 p.m. If you need help signing into OnBrooks, please contact Registrar Lisa Saunders.

Exchange Program Student Application Deadline: Oct. 19

The Exchange Program will offer five-week student exchanges to schools in Botswana, Hungary, Peru and Scotland this year. The application for exchange is now open and available in OnBrooks > Groups > Exchange Program Information. Please review this exchange information and the OnBrooks topics online to learn more. Please be in touch with Director of Exchange Lisa Saunders for more information.

The AP Government and Politics and the Civics classes hosted 13 different election drop-in education sessions on Tuesday. "It was great to see students of all grades and faculty of all disciplines engaging in topics ranging from economic policy, climate policy, healthcare policy to issues with voter turnout and more!" said History Teacher Laila McCain. "Since the students completely led the sessions, it was a chance for them to exemplify and lead the community in positive civic engagement and a great way to get the conversations started for our community leading up to November 5."

Visit From an Election Expert

Last week, students took advantage of their opportunity to meet with Washington, D.C.-based Republican former Chairman of the Federal Election Commission Trevor Potter ’74, who spoke in Chapel about election law. The Campaign Legal Center founder visited history classes and fielded questions about the presidential election, his career and politics. Watch his Chapel speech and learn more about his visit in our website story, “Election Perspective from the Expert.”

Student Life

Share Your Feedback on the Cellphone and Smartwatch Policy

We’re collecting thoughts on the new Brooks School Cellphone and Smartwatch Policy. Please share your opinions in this anonymous “Family Feedback” survey. The purpose of the policy is to increase engagement and decrease distractions for students. Your input will help us assess how the policy is being implemented and its impact on our students and families. Thank you for your time and thoughtful feedback.

Weekend Activities

On Saturday night, Main Street will be transformed into the annual Block Party! There will be art, games, food, music, pumpkins and a bounce house — followed by the Alianza Halloween Dance in the student center. Costumes are encouraged throughout the evening! See the full schedule of Saturday and Sunday activities in the Weekend Bulletin.

Health & Wellness

Last Chance!

The final opportunity for students to receive this season’s flu vaccine or COVID booster on campus will be Oct. 28, during dinner hours. If you would like your student to get either or both vaccines, please remind them to check their email for details and stop by the clinic next Monday!

Arts

Berklee College of Music’s award-winning a cappella ensemble Upper Structure offered an a cappella workshop in the black box theater Saturday night followed by an open mic. "It was a cool opportunity to go behind the scenes and learn from the best in the business about how a cappella arrangements and performances are put together," said Director of Music Michael Bruschi.

Athletics

Looking Ahead

Winter Season is one month away! Students will receive information in their email for requests to change their winter afternoon activity and to apply for a Flex or Independent Option for both the winter or spring seasons. The deadline for these applications is Oct. 31.

Winter Season Details

Winter Season will begin on Nov. 14 with 1st team tryouts. All winter season programs will begin on Nov. 18 and meet throughout the week until break. Fall season NEPSAC playoffs and the fall musical will take place Nov. 14 through Nov. 16. Students involved in the musical or fall postseason play will start winter season activities on Nov. 18.

Nearly 12,000 athletes from around the world are set to row in the annual Head of the Charles Regatta in Boston this weekend. Olympic bronze medalist Henry Hollingsworth ’17 will compete with the Brown University Alumni crew (See his Olympic news from the Bulletin this summer). Watch all of the action on the Head of the Charles Livestream. Director of Crew Tote Smith would love to know of any Brooks athletes participating so that he can include them in his tally: As of press time, here’s when to see the 21 Brooksians competing that he’s identified so far.

Nov. 9: NEPSTA DIV. II Cross-Country Championships

Brooks will host the New England Cross Country Championships on Nov. 9. We are expecting 23 schools and approximately 400 runners. Parking and traffic patterns on campus will be very tight on this day. We will share more details as we get closer to race day.

Family Programs

We had a great time in New York at the Brooks reception last night. Thanks to Catharine and Alan Osborne P'26 for hosting. Next up is our Washington, D.C. Reception on Oct. 30 — and save the date for the Boston Reception on Feb. 4!

Ghostly Goodies is Coming on Oct. 31

In the coming weeks, we will be reaching out about the various ways that families can be a part of our annual Ghostly Goodies Halloween event. Whether it's donating donuts, volunteering at the lunchtime event or buying items from our Amazon Wish List, we are grateful for your help with this treat for our students and employees.

Here are the three ways you can participate:

• Visit our Sign Up Genius to pursue our volunteer opportunities as well as to sign up to bring items to campus on Oct. 31.

• Check out our Amazon Wishlist to purchase candy or other Halloween treats for the day.

• Venmo a contribution to Aybike Crott (@Aybike-Crott ) to help underwrite the event and purchase donuts (always a hit!) and other items.

Thank you to co-chairs Aybike Crott P’25, P'28, Jaclyn Olivieri P’26, Elena Foster P'26, P'27 and Adrienne Principe P’26, P’27, P’28 for coordinating this event! Any questions? Please contact one of the co-chairs or Director of Alumni and Family Programs Sara Bird.

It's Not Too Late to Sign Up: Parent and Guardian Dinner with Nina Freeman

Last week we welcomed nearly 30 parents and guardians for the first of our four dinners with Acting Head of School Nina Freeman. While the Nov. 21 dinner is at maximum capacity, we do still have a few spaces available for the Oct. 24 and Dec. 12 dinners. Take advantage of this special opportunity to spend some time with fellow families and participate in a Brooks Q&A with Freeman: Sign up today!

Brooks is Coming to Washington, D.C.

The greater Brooks community is invited to join Acting Head of School Nina Freeman and other administrative faculty at our Washington, D.C., Reception on Oct. 30. You can register online via our D.C., Reception page.