September 13, 2022

Thursday is Back to School Night at Brooks! There will be three - 30 minute repeated sessions from 6pm to 7:30pm.

Naomi L. Brooks Book Fair, in partnership with Hooray for Books

• Tuesday through Friday, 9/19 - 9/23 from 2:00 p.m. - 3:30 p.m. in the Brooks Library
• Saturday, 9/24 from 10 a.m. - 2:00 p.m. in the Brooks Library (open during the Brooks County Fair)

Shop from a specially curated selection of titles for all the children in your life!

Purchase books off teachers' wish lists for use in their classrooms.

Stock up now for holiday gifts!

We are looking for volunteers to assist! Interested? Please sign up if you can help.

Girl Scout Troops are forming at

Naomi L. Brooks!

Interested in learning more?

Contact Carrie Zager,

clhami78@gmail.com or 703-598-8569

Interested in learning more about joining Cub Scouts?

There will be a Join Scouting Meeting TONIGHT, Tues., Sept. 13 at 6:30pm in the Brooks Cafeteria.

 Contact Carlisle Campbell for more information.

Advocacy - The PTAC EC recently wrote a letter to the School Board advocating for solutions to the many challenges facing us at the start of the year, including teacher and staff shortfalls, school violence, and reengaging parents who have been physically distanced from their school communities. In addition, we have reached out to City Council to show our support for: 1) the sidewalk continuation project on Polk Avenue; 2) passing a recommendation that the City Manager reduce speed limits on North Beauregard Street, Braddock Road, and Seminary Road; and, 3) the adoption of an ordinance to authorize the use of speed cameras in school zones. Letters attached. 

TAG Advisory Committee - The ACPS Talented and Gifted Advisory Committee (TAGAC) is looking for new community, parent, and student volunteers to help guide ACPS TAG programs for the 2022-2023 school year. This school board-sponsored committee meets 7-8 times during the school year and members choose one sub-committee focus area to collaborate on. If you are interested in helping to shape ACPS policy for this program, please reach out to D. Ohlandt, PTAC VP of Outreach, at profohlandt@gmail.com. 

Budget Advisory Committee - The Alexandria School Board Budget Advisory Committee (BAC) is seeking new members to serve. BAC members have the opportunity to engage regularly with its School Board liaison, ACPS budget and finance staff, and other ACPS leaders. BAC also meets annually with the City Council's Budget and Fiscal Affairs Advisory Committee (BFAAC). Interested individuals are encouraged to review past BAC meeting materials, available at https://www.acps.k12.va.us/school-board/school-board-committees/budget-advisory-committee-bac. Applications may be submitted at https://www.acps.k12.va.us/school-board/school-board-committees. 

Call for Entries! Do you have the cutest pet at Brooks?

All furry friends are welcome to enter the CUTEST PETS OF BROOKS PHOTO CONTEST, as part of the Brooks County Fair Fall Festival.

Photos will be judged by a panel of parents and Brooks teachers. There will be 1st, 2nd and 3rd place winners. In addition, winning pets will have their photos featured at the Brooks County Fair AND in an upcoming school calendar. 1st place winner will win pizza lunch with Ms. Hess & Ms. Carrico!

RULES:

1. Pet must belong to a Brooks Family
2. Photos must be emailed to pets@brookspta.org with the pet’s name and the student’s name in the subject line: (Example: Rascal – Ollie Smith’s Family)
3. Photos must be received no later than September 20.
4. All top entrants agree to let Brooks PTA use photos in printed school calendar.

ALL ENTRIES ARE DUE BY SEPT. 20 – 5PM!

Calling all junior bakers! Bring your best dessert to the Brooks County Fair on September 24 at Naomi L. Brooks Elementary. Junior Bakers of all grade levels are welcome to enter their tastiest dessert creation.

Rules for Entry:

• Dessert must have a fall theme.
• All bakers must complete an entry form at the fair. Entry forms will be available at the judge’s table at the festival.
• If bringing a special cake plate or pie dish, make sure your name is placed somewhere so it doesn’t get lost.
• After judging, desserts will be sold to benefit the Brooks PTA. Cakes and pies will be sold by the slice ($2 each) / Cookies, brownies, individual desserts ($1 each).

Parents are welcome to assist their bakers but the junior bakers are the big baker bosses. There will be a 1st, 2nd, and 3rd place winner. Desserts will be judged on taste, appearance, adherance to theme and presentation. 1st Place winner will win pizza lunch at Brooks with Ms. Hess and Ms. Carrico!

Brooks County Fair Items currently needed:

Old dishes - clean out your cupboard of old glass or ceramic plates, dishes, cups, and bowls. 

Socks - as part of one of our Guinness Kids Events we need a lot of unneeded (and clean) socks!

Gently used Books - Donate your gently used books for our event!

Gently used games - From board games to card games - games of any kind, please donate your gently used games

Donations can be dropped off at 27 E Walnut Street

As always, we can't host amazing events for our kids without amazing parent volunteers like you. Interested in volunteering? Contact us!

This special event is a time for all of us to come together to share our cultural backgrounds and experiences with other members of the Brooks Community. We are so excited to welcome you back in person. This year, the event will be held outside on the playground.

Anyone can participate! You may want to represent the country your family is from, a country where you've lived, or one that you have a special interest in. Each country will be asked to set up a table and/or tent. We encourage families to work together. Some suggestions for displays and activities are: traditional food, dress, games, artifacts, pictures, stories, and/or music.

If you are not able to host a table, but would like to contribute materials or supplies, please let us know. We are in need of tables and tents. If you need additional information or have questions, please feel free to contact Katie Knowles at kathleen.knowles@acps.k12.va.us

Please fill out the online form BY FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 23 if you are interested in participating:

https://forms.gle/bxKSTAoP4yJmerbYA

We want you to BEE involved this year! We need your help to bring back your favorite PTA programs and ensure we are able to continue investing in our students and teachers as the PTA has done for many years.

There are many different ways to help -- including by writing grant applications, sign-up geniuses, helping setup evening or weekend events, emailing ACPS and the city, or simply ordering supplies. We will need help coordinating programs and events for students and teachers.

If you are interested in learning more about how you can give back to the school next year, please see our volunteer opportunities page or contact Armita Cohen, PTA President for 2022-2023, or Maya Mahoney, President Elect (PTA President for 2023-2024). 

• September 15: Back to School Night
• September 24: Brooks County Fair (Fall Festival)
• September 26: Rosh Hashanah Observed (NO SCHOOL)
• October 5: Yom Kippur Observed (NO SCHOOL)
• October 13: Multicultural Festival



STAY CONNECTED

• Make sure you’ve subscribed to Ms. Hess' weekly emails and ACPS updates.
• Get PTA announcements on your phone via GroupMe (New for 2022-2023)
• Email brooks-bees+subscribe@googlegroups.com to receive emails. Like our Facebook page and follow Brooks PTA on Twitter.
• Miss an email? Looking for PTA meeting minutes? Catch up on our website at brookspta.org
• Need internet access? Submit an Internet Access request.
• Need to add school closings to your calendar? Import the Brooks PTA calendar!