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MB Parent Letter - August 20, 2021

August 20, 2021

Dear Parents and Guardians,

Welcome back to our Middlebrook families! Hopefully, this letter finds you in good health, relaxed from family vacations, and ready to gear up for a new school year. If you are a family new to Middlebrook, you can expect a Friday letter throughout the school year. This weekly letter is just one way we hope to engage families as partners in meeting the academic and social-emotional needs of students, and a way to keep you up-to-date on the latest news from “The Brook.” It is our collective hope that you find these letters informative and helpful. Typically, we will email the letter at 5 PM on Fridays.

The Powerschool Parent Portal opened today at noon for Middlebrook families. After some initial technical difficulty, the system appears to be working properly. If you have not done so already, please access the PowerSchool Parent Portal to see your child’s team assignment and class schedule.

Dean Kawulicz, Dean Querzé, Dean Whelan, and I are genuinely excited to welcome our students for the start of school on August 30! We are incredibly grateful to our Middlebrook School PTA President, Mrs. Michelle Haggerty, for her assistance and support as we ensure that we are responsive to student, staff, parent, and community ideas.

This week’s topics:

  • Update from the August 19, 2021 BOE Meeting

  • Introduction of staff new to Middlebrook School

  • Walkthrough/Meet the Teachers - August 26, 2021

  • A Snapshot of a Day in the Life of a MB Student

  • Note from Our Health Office

  • School Supply Lists

  • Lockers

  • Lunch Procedure

  • Please Join the PTA

  • Resources for Parents/Guardians

Update from the August 19, 2021 BOE Meeting

At the BOE meeting last night, it was agreed that the school year will start with all members of the school community wearing masks while indoors. Details are outlined in the Governor’s August 5, 2021 Executive-Orders and reaffirms the CT Commissioner of Public Health's right to identify the facilities in which masks are required regardless of a person's vaccination status. Fully vaccinated teachers will be permitted to remove their masks during active instruction at the front of the classroom while students are seated at their desks. (Masks will be worn at all other times indoors.)


Additionally, the BOE agreed to adjust our school day to end five minutes later. Middlebrook School will now dismiss at 2:55 PM. Please adjust your plans accordingly.


Staff New to Middlebrook School

We are happy to add several new faces to our teaching staff. Please join us in welcoming the following new teachers for 2021-2022:


Danielle Bottinger will teach Reading Workshop on 7 Green

Sasha Cordero will be teaching French in grades seven and eight

Sara Marr will be working with our English language learners

Jillian Pandolfino will be teaching mathematics on 7 Green

Niall Reynolds will be teaching music at WHS and Middlebrook

Alyssa Sharpe will be teaching Writing Workshop on 6 Red

Avery Starr will be joining us as a special education teacher

Shabiroon Vereen will be joining us to teach art

(You might recognize Ms. Vereen since she is coming to us from Cider Mill.)


Walkthrough/Meet the Teachers Masks Are Required

Middlebrook will host a Parent/Student Walkthrough on Thursday, August 26, 2021 for families who wish to attend. Students, accompanied by their parents, are invited to visit to meet their new teachers. All family members must wear a mask to enter the building.


Please understand that attendance is not required, and families may rightfully choose to avoid being part of a large crowd. Your children will receive plenty of orientation from teachers during the first days of school, so if they miss the walkthrough, your child will not be disadvantaged.

  • Grades 7 and 8 walkthrough will be from 12:00 -1:00 PM (Organized by last name)

  • 12:00 - 12:25 Last names starting with A through H

  • 12:35 - 1:00 Last names starting with I through Z


  • Grade 6 walkthrough will be from 2:00 -3:00 PM (Organized by last name)

  • 2:00 - 2:25 Last name starting with A through H

  • 2:35 - 3:00 Last name starting with I through Z


While it is not required, I recommend that you print a copy of your child’s schedule from the PowerSchool Parent Portal, and bring it with you to the walkthrough. Whenever possible, only the student and his/her parents or guardians should attend the walkthrough to reduce the volume of people in the building at one time. We also encourage you to please be mindful of your time to allow for a steady flow of visitors.