Dear Parents:

Renovation Plan Videos

            The videos for the Renovation Plan are now available online. To view the Martha Brown video, click on the following link: Martha Brown video. All of the videos are available on the Facilities Phase III page.

            To view these files you will need the newest version of Apple's Quicktime Player, which will work for both Windows and Mac operating systems. The videos will not run if you have a version of Quicktime older than version 7 so you may need to upgrade. To receive a free download: http://www.apple.com/quicktime/download/

 Thanksgiving Hike

            I would like to invite any Martha Brown families to join my family and me for an early Thanksgiving Day morning hike. For the past seven years, several families have met at 9:30 a.m. at the Crescent Trail off Garnsey Road (about .5 miles east of Route 96). It’s approximately a thirty-minute hike up to the top of the hill where Woodcliffe Lodge is located. The view is great, and the company is even better. It’s a great way to work off the many calories that will no doubt be consumed later in the day. Hope to see you there. This annual hike brings back fond memories that I have of hiking with my father over forty years ago on Thanksgiving Day.

6^th Grade Parents

            Attention Parents of 6th Graders: As part of the K-12 health education program, Mrs. Vicki Cappotelli, elementary health instructor, in collaboration with the classroom teachers, will be providing health instruction to sixth grade students. Beginning in February 2008, Mrs. Cappotelli will be teaching three lessons focusing on HIV-AIDS prevention. We invite you to attend a parent information meeting before we begin these lessons. At the meeting, we will review information being covered. The video, AIDS: FACTS FOR KIDS, will be shown. The information meeting is scheduled for Thursday, November 29 at 7 p.m. at Martha Brown in the auditorium. A letter containing additional information and a permission slip was sent home with your child’s report card on November 16. We are asking that the permission slip be returned to your child’s classroom teacher by Monday, January 7, 2008.

8^th Grade Parents

            Pam Carty, a school counseling intern who is working at both Martha Brown Middle School and Fairport High School, will be conducting a study about adolescent connectedness and cellular phone text messaging at Martha Brown. She will be sending information home to eighth grade parents on Monday, November 26 about the study as well as consent forms for both parents and students. The goal of this research is to provide the Fairport School District with meaningful information about middle school students’ sense of connectedness, their use of cellular phone text messaging, and its impact on their sense of connectedness. If you have questions about this study, you can contact Pam at the school counseling office (421-2068).

 Leaf Raking

            Thank you to the following people who helped rake leaves for veterans on Monday, November 12^th: Sarah Abbott, Joshua Babcock, Lauren Bailey, Lindsey Barden, Aimee Barker, Chloe Barker, Jessica Belcher, Sarah Bronk, Jennifer Bruno, Michael Bruno, Janine Burdette, Phillip Callahan, Adam Clouthier, Aidan Connor, Sara Cook, Holly DeSmitt, Shannon Dowling, Elizabeth Drake, Emma Drake, Jason Ephraim, Rachel Flaro, Erick Flynn, Alex Green, Paige Harman, Ryan Harman, Ellie Heier, Gwen Hoffman, Danny Hurley, Marie Jubert, Melissa Kathan, Olivia Kozody, Kevin Kulawiec, Ashley Large, Siobhan Loughran, Dillion Lucas, Casey Luke, Daniel McAvoy, Emma McLaughlin, Elizabeth Morabito, Lauren Muldoon, Katie Murphy, Emily Papa, Kevin Patterson, Lynn Patterson, Kylie Pennella, Emily Poelma, Kathleen Prevost, Griffin Psaila, Aimee Raponi, Tim Sacheli, Miranda Sambuchi, Alex Schiano, Casey Schmitt, Trevor Sepp, Damon Siple, Rebecca Stumbo, Felisa Sze, Allen Thorogood, Paige Tisa, Ethan Vane, Miles Viniski, Taylor Wallach, Hannah Wenk, Morgan Wihlen, Nashell Wilson, and Shannon Yawman.

            Thank you also to our adult volunteers for this event: Debbie Bruno,  Carolyn Drake, Laura Harman, Ken Kathan, Nancy Loughran, Howard McClinton, Shelley Patterson, Jean Sacheli, Gary Smalter, Susan Smalter, and Nan Stumbo.

Martha Brown Students Chosen for Statewide Honor Band

            Six Martha Brown Middle School students were recently chosen by the New York State Band Directors Association to be included in this year’s Statewide 7^th and 8^th Grade Middle School Honor Band. Begun in 1992, the NYSBDA Middle School Honor Band Program recognizes the best among all of New York’s 7^th and 8^th grade band students.

            Martha Brown students chosen for the “Year 2008” NYSBDA Honor Band are: Holly DeSmitt-flute; Daniel Raycraft-alto saxophone; David Misch-trumpet; Lynn Patterson and Joshua Lackey-french horn; and Michael Cieply-percussion.

            This year’s Middle School Honor Band will convene and rehearse at the NYSBDA Annual Symposium on March 7 and 8, 2008 at the Syracuse Doubletree Hotel in East Syracuse, New York under the direction of Mr. Patrick Burns. A career music educator, Mr. Burns presently holds the position of Associate Professor of Music at Montclair State University in Montclair, New Jersey. Mr. Burns is highly sought after as a guest conductor, clinician, arranger, and adjudicator.

            A final performance by the Honor Band will be presented from the Grand Ballroom of the Syracuse Doubletree Hotel on Saturday, March 8.

Yearbook Sales

            Don't forget to buy your 2007-08 Yearbook! You can purchase them directly on the following website: www.smart-pay.com Yearbooks are NOT sold in school and must be purchased online!

 Martha Brown Clothing

            If you missed the fall clothing order, PTSA is doing it again! Order forms were sent home today with the report cards. We will be at school during lunch on Monday 11/19 and Tuesday 11/20 with samples and to collect forms. Orders will be accepted until 11/28. After Tuesday 11/20, orders should be placed in the clothing order box in the main office. Delivery is scheduled for the week of December 17^th. If you want to give the clothing as a gift, there is a place to mark on the form. Checking that means you will pick the clothing up in the school office instead of delivery to your child. Thank you for supporting the PTSA.

8^th Grade Luau

            The 8th Grade Luau is a very big event for the 8th grade class. It will be in June and I'm one of the Chairpersons in charge of getting Co-Chairpeople for the areas listed below. I need 2 co-chairs per area and those co-chairs will be responsible in getting their volunteers. Please read the descriptions below and call me if you are interested or have any questions.

            Clean-Up Crew-Getting together own volunteers to help with cleaning up during and after the event.

            Food-Getting together volunteers to help with bake goods, pizza, popcorn, snowcones etc.

            Publicity-Making sure that we have enough publicity out to our parents about the event and with Thanking any companies/parents for donations and help with the event.

            Security-We need enough volunteers there at the event that are willing to help with security inside & outside of Martha Brown wherever events are happening.

            Thank you for all your help in making this year's Luau one to remember for our children.

            Please call me at work 388-7737 or home 223-7752.

            MaryBeth Fitzpatrick

Modified Swimming

Attention all 7^th & 8^th Graders:

            Modified Swimming is once again about to start up. Modified Swimming is for any 7^th and 8^th grade girls and boys. This program is an introductory experience in the sport of competitive swimming. Our first practice is on Monday, December 10, 2007. Our practice runs from 3:15 pm – 4:15 pm Monday through Friday at the Minerva DeLand pool. Johanna Perrin students would walk over after sports study hall and the Martha Brown students would ride a bus over to Minerva Deland School. If you have any questions, you can contact via my email below. Thanks and we look forward to working with your children.

steven_hawkinsrusch@fairport.monroe.edu 

SafeHomes Program

            CPAC: The Fairport-Perinton Chemical Prevention Advisory Council  (CPAC) is a working partnership among families, schools, students, community groups, government agencies, and law enforcement. We are committed to promoting wellness and healthy lifestyles while addressing issues surrounding alcohol and other drug use/abuse in our schools and community. CPAC was established in 1988 through a grant from the Drug Free Schools and Community Act.

            MISSION: CPAC’s mission is to reduce the use of alcohol, tobacco, and other drugs by our youth. We work together within the Fairport-Perinton community maximizing resources to educate and empower youth and adults in the pursuit of this mission.

            SAFEHOMES: Eight years ago, CPAC implemented the SafeHomes program, a parent campaign to establish a community network of parents who are committed to providing a safe and drug-free environment for their children at home. When parents join together, they become much more effective than if they acted separately. Currently, we have 390 families in the SafeHomes program. Have you signed up to be included in the SafeHomes Directory? It’s a powerful step that only you can take. Your application is enclosed.

For the Dunn Family we are all heading down to Trenton, NJ for the Northeastern Regional Qualifier for Pop Warner Cheerleading. Vanessa has been teen coaching the Pee Wee’s since August and they, along with two other squads, will be competing for the opportunity to go to Orlando, Florida in two weeks. We are looking forward to a loud bus ride down and back and hopefully some great cheer performances. Most important is to make sure that everyone has fun. Miranda and Vanessa will most likely purchase more tournament clothing that will continue to overload their bedroom dressers. Brandon is finding that our money doesn’t go as far overseas as it does here. He still continues to enjoy his experiences abroad. It will be sad this Thanksgiving without him at our dinner table. He is planning a Thanksgiving Day dinner for his friends with turkey, stuffing, and pumpkin pie (we had to ship the pie stuffing over to him).

Have a great weekend.

Dave Dunn

Perinton Recreation and Parks

Lions Den Teen Center

Saturday Activity Nights 6-9 p.m. Grades 6-9 Code #535503-A (A one time registration per school year is required to become a Teen Center member.) Fee: No Charge It's a great place to enjoy spending time playing Guitar Hero, DDR, PS-2, pool, ping pong, foosball, cards, board games, and doing fun activities with your friends.

Calendar:

11/17 Activity Night

11/24 Closed for Thanksgiving

12/1 Activity Night

12/8 Make Gingerbread Houses

12/15 Holiday Party

12/22 Closed for Christmas

12/29 Closed for New Year's

To join the Teen Advisory Board (TAB), the Teen/Senior Citizen Committee, and/or to receive notification of upcoming Teen Center events, please contact Julie Eble at jeble48@aol.com.