BROWN SCHOOLE L E T T E R F E B R U A R Y 1 4 , 2 0 1 5

From Laps to Text Messages ~ I Love Youby Patti Vitale

Have you ever read something that pulled on your heart, really stuck with you? We all have favorite quotes from song lyrics, poetry or books. I have many- however, one line, in a novel by Alice McDermott, had a significant impact on me. It was many years ago, and truth be told, I cannot remember much about the story except for this one small moment. The mother was trying to remember the last time she held her child, now much older, on her lap. She hoped that she did not rush him off her lap to answer the phone or start dinner. That’s it. That small, seemingly insignificant moment in a story made me stop and think about the lost moments with my own children. How many times did I try to rock them to sleep till my arms ached? What about the times they climbed on my lap to tell me about their day or showed me something they made? And let’s not leave out the jokes they tried to tell or made up; you know the joke with no punch line, but you laugh anyway.

Valentine’s Day brings back wonderful memories of construction paper hearts and tissue paper flowers, hand made gifts from my children. There is nothing as special as a gift made by your child. Some of you will be receiving these handmade treasures of love for the first time this Valentine’s Day. Some parents will be entering the stage when their child buys them a gift with their own money, maybe a small box of chocolates or a flower. Some parents may be at the stage when their child is looking to impress or win the affections of another. This can be a tough stage for a parent.

In a blink of an eye, I went from receiving tissue paper flowers to text messages that read, “Going to the movies with my friends, love u.” I don’t want to get overly sentimental, although the song Cat’s in the Cradle is now playing in my head. I want to wish you more than a Happy Valentine’s Day. I want to wish you the gift of cherishing all the moments, big and small, of raising and loving your children. Enjoy the time spent singing songs together, as well as, the silent car rides while your child listens to music through earphones. The love of a parent only grows more deeply. Now your patience, well I’ll leave that for another eletter!

Valentine’s Day activities included crafts, cards for buddy classes, the annual Heart Walk, and Valentine’s Day parties

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Please visit the Events page on our website for a full calendar of events.

Upcoming DatesFebruary 16-20• Presidents’ Week Recess• PLUS Closed February 16• PLUS Open February 17-20

Thursday, February 26• PALS Meeting - 6:00 p.m.

Friday, February 27• Family Talent Show - 6:30 p.m.• End of 2nd Marking Period

Saturday, March 7• Science Bowl• Open House - 1:00 p.m.

Friday, March 20• No School/PLUS Open - Professional Day

for Faculty

Wednesday, March 25• Little Folks Musical (Grades N-4)

Friday, April 3• No School/PLUS Open - Good Friday

Around the WorldWhile studying the country of Algeria, third graders used their knowledge of landforms and map reading as they participated in small group projects. One project involved students using search engines and websites to identify and collect facts on the many landforms in Algeria. They researched and presented to their classmates what they learned about the many landforms in Algeria. Some of the landforms included the Sahara Desert, Atlas Mountains, Ziz River, Chott Ech Chergui (river), Hoggar Mountains, Chelif River, and the Medjerda river.

Fourth Graders show off their published NaNoWriMo novels!

PALS (Parents Actively Lending Support)

The next PALS meeting will be held on Thursday, February 26th at

6:00pm. The meeting will be held in the Smart Room (next to Mrs.

Frame's classroom). We will discuss the upcoming activities for the

remainder of the school year. Please join us, everyone is welcome!!

Family Talent Show at the Art and Music Café

February 27, beginning at 6:30If you would like to participate please

email Mrs. Salvatore at msalvatore@brownschool.org ﾊfor details.

Above and right: Over, Under, Around

and ThroughSide: 1st and 2nd

Grades practice with the maypole.

Thank you to our event Sponsors for their continued support of Brown School

Gold Level SponsorsShane J. Mahieu, Merrill Lynch

Silver Level SponsorsBallamy Construction

Ed Lewi Associates

Bronze Level SponsorsBuzz Media

Mirkovic Teal GroupProactive Chiropractic

February's Assembly was fantastic thanks to Jester Jim! We laughed and and were amazed by his songs, juggling, and balancing abilities. Jester Jim is a gem, and we are so happy he performed for our assembly.

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Platinum Level Donors: ($2,500 and above)Jose and Kirsten Almeida

Gold Level Donors: ($1,000-$2,499)AnonymousJanet and Allen BarnettLara Turney and Frank CoonDavid and Micheline FordKrishna Govindarajan and

Helen HansonHugh Graham and Tina

SciocchettiBeth and Bill MassmannScott PowhidaMichele Susko and Fardin

SanaiSandvik FamilyKelli and Mark SmachloTom and Suzanne SmithMichael and Carolyn SterthousVincent Versaci and Tina

Chericoni VersaciSalvatore and Patti Vitale

Silver Level Donors: ($500-$999)Dr. and Mrs. Michael BurkeJeffrey Corbin and Janette SchueGE Matching Gift FoundationPamela and Doug HoeffnerGreg JabautChris Kelly and Kris LowneySue and James McClymondsPrincipal InvestmentsJill SalvoArt and Joan Storey

Bronze Level Donors: ($250-$499)AnonymousTom and Joan BrooksCarlo CioffiJim and Mary FrawleyRobert GachRobert and Debra GeerMohammed and Rae HaouaouiDawn and Michael PrzekuratKevin Rosenberg and Natalie

LopasicLotfi SayahiWilliam and Karen SmithDr. Arend van der Veen and

Hon. Christine ClarkMaureen VinciquerraLiz and Joe VinciquerraKathryn West and John

Ciovacco

Maroon & White Level Donors: ($100-$249)

AnonymousAnonymousSusan Arnold and Edward

MuhlDr. James and Dr. Lynn BolerJim and Lucy CesareScott and Linda CurtisMyron Dytiuk and Areta

PidwerbetskyMarie and Michael FarielloMary Ann and Tim FrameAnna and Jason GabreeThomas and Cynthia

GoodmanDavid and Sheila GriffinSharon KieltyJim and Emily KlotzErika KoutelisTeri and Carmen LomonocoJoan MahieuDenise MartinCarla MastrianoRob and Betsy MessengerDonna Mitchell and Ronald

TysJames Noviczski and Jonina

WilkinsLisa Perrone-AlmeidaLauren Pine BernsteinThomas and Evelyn ReadChristine RichardsonNancy Sciocchetti

Tom and Sandra SmithWayne P. SmithKaren and John Spinelli

Friend Level Donors: (Up to $99)Patricia AchtylCheryl AcknerAnonymousJason and Nina BenwayPat and Jim BolerTeresa BurkeStephen and Elizabeth

GirolamiEvelyn and Steven

GreensteinJeffrey and Jessica HladikAmanda KeilMichael and Maryellen

KoutelisMelanie McGannPamela and Timothy

McLeronDoulla and Brian MertikLinda and Gerald MosseyKaren MuhlFrank and Mary SalvatoreUnited WayWilliam and Nancy WinklerLei Zhang and Ye Ding

2014-2015 Annual Appeal UpdateWe are very grateful to the following people for their donations. The total pledges to the Brown School Annual Appeal to date are $34,215.

When you support Brown School’s Annual Appeal, you make an investment in the educational quality of the school, enriching the academic curriculum and enhancing student activities. The uniqueness of a Brown School education, with its tradition of academic excellence and musical and artistic richness, is only made possible by the equally strong tradition of giving by the Brown School community.

Gifts to Brown School are tax-deductible to the extent allowed by law. 

150 Corlaer Ave. Schenectady, NY 12304

518.370.0366Website: brownschool.org

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If you have not made your gift this year, there is still time!

Ways To Make A Gift-Check -Credit card -Cash

-Bill your school account 

You may also make your gift in monthly installments with the credit card and school

account options. For more information, please stop by, or call the Brown School main office at

370-0366.

Updated Feb. 12, 2015