The annual Hillandale, Brogden, Riverside Winter Chorus Concert will take place Tuesday, Dec. 15th at 7:00 p.m. This year the concert will be held at Riverside. Admission is $3.00.

Progress Reports will go home with students on Thursday, Dec. 17th.Brogden’s Habitat Crew is asking all Dragons to participate in Habi-Hat Day next Friday. Donate ONE DOLLAR to Habitat and you will be allowed to wear a hat in school on Friday, December 18th. Give all donations to your homeroom teacher. We are challenging homerooms to strive for 100% participation!! Be a part of the dream and help us get closer to making a family’s dream of owning a home come true – right here in Durham!The Jack Kent Cooke Foundation Young Scholars Program – through Duke TIP – is a unique opportunity for exceptionally promising, high-achieving students with financial need. If chosen, Young Scholars receive comprehensive support from the Jack Kent Cooke Foundation throughout high school and typically through college, including but not limited to:• Advice about and financial assistance for enrichment programs, such as Duke TIP’s Summer Studies Programs or Independent Learning courses.• Assistance in obtaining computers, software, or other learning technology• Financial assistance for music, art, or other talent lessons• Mentoring opportunities and leadership programs• College admissions advisingFor more information about the Young Scholars Program call (919) 668-0248.Applications will be available January, 2010, and are due April 26, 2010Riverside has one remaining Showcase of Schools event on 12/17, from 9:00-10:30.Please mark your calendars for another 8th Grade Parent Night which will be held on the 27th of January here at Brogden. This evening will give parents and students information about high school options available in Durham Public Schools. Look for more information when we return from the winter break.The next weekly Sunday message will be sent January 3rd, 2010. On behalf of faculty and staff, I wish you a wonderful Winter Break. Our last day before break is Friday, Dec. 18th and students return on Monday, January 4, 2010.

Good Evening Brogden Families. This is Mrs. Trapp with the Weekly Sunday message for the week of December 7^th-December 11^th.

Wednesday, Dec. 9^th is a PLC Early Release Day. Students will be dismissed at 12:20 p.m.

SGA is sponsoring Spirit Week this week. Students will receive a free lunch pass daily when they participate in Spirit Week. Monday is Hat Day. Tuesday is Twin Day. Wednesday is Favorite Team Day. Thursday is Tie Day. Friday is Green & White Day.

The Winter Instrumental Concert will be held Tuesday, Dec. 8^th at 7:30 p.m. Band and Strings students will perform that evening.

The annual Hillandale, Brogden, Riverside Winter Concert will take place Tuesday, Dec. 15^th at 7:30 p.m. This year the concert will be held at Riverside. Admission is $3.00.

The holidays are about giving and not receiving. Each year the Student Government Association sponsors an Angel Tree to provide gifts for some of our Brogden students. If you are interested in participating, select an angel from the tree. The directions are on each angel.  

The Durham County Health Department is offering free H1N1 Vaccination Clinics on Tuesdays and Thursdays at the Health Department, 414 E. Main St.  Please note that you must make an appointment by calling 560-7882.  Also, please note that these clinics are for those who are six months to 24 years old; for pregnant women; for people who provide care for infants less than 6 months old; for people 25 to 64 years old with certain medical conditions; and for health care and emergency medical services personnel.  A parent or legal guardian must accompany children to the clinic.  Please visit www.durhamcountync.gov/flu for more information. 

The Jack Kent Cooke Foundation Young Scholars Program – through Duke TIP – is a unique opportunity for exceptionally promising, high-achieving students with financial need. If chosen, Young Scholars receive comprehensive support from the Jack Kent Cooke Foundation throughout high school and typically through college, including but not limited to:

• Advice about and financial assistance for enrichment programs, such as Duke TIP’s Summer Studies Programs or Independent Learning courses
• Assistance in obtaining computers, software, or other learning technology
• Financial assistance for music, art, or other talent lessons
• Mentoring opportunities and leadership programs
• College admissions advising

For more information about the Young Scholars Program call (919) 668-0248.
Applications will be available January, 2010, and are due April 26, 2010

There will be a “Rising 9th Grade Curriculum Fair” on December 10th from 6:30-8:00 at Riverside, and Showcase of Schools on the following dates: 12/3, 12/10,and 12/17, from 9:00-10:30. 

Please mark your calendars for another 8th Grade Parent Night which will be held on the 27th of January here at Brogden. Look for more information when we return from the winter break.

Have great week, Dragons!

We hope that all of you had a very relaxing and enjoyable Thanksgiving holiday.

 Students will take End-of-Course Benchmarks this week. Algebra and Geometry students will take their benchmark on Tuesday, December 1^st.  7^th grade  Spanish and French  students will take their benchmark on Wednesday, December 2^nd.

Thanks to all of you who supported our Media Center Book Fair. The book fair was a great success and raised over $4000.  We now have $2600 to spend on materials for the media center which will benefit all students at Brogden. Our media center is well-used by students and staff. Brogden now has the highest circulation #’s from any other middle school in the district.  I’d like to give a special thank you to Ms. Cook and Ms. Rubow, and our parent co-chairs for the Book Fair Connie Thacker and Lori Van Alten for making this event a success.

The Durham County Health Department is offering free H1N1 Vaccination Clinics on Tuesdays and Thursdays at the Health Department, 414 E. Main St.  Please note that you must make an appointment by calling 560-7882.  Also, please note that these clinics are for those who are six months to 24 years old; for pregnant women; for people who provide care for infants less than 6 months old; for people 25 to 64 years old with certain medical conditions; and for health care and emergency medical services personnel.  A parent or legal guardian must accompany children to the clinic.  Please visit www.durhamcountync.gov/flu for more information. 

I am pleased to announce that the North Carolina PTA has awarded Brogden a 2009-10 Parent Involvement Grants for innovative parent involvement programs modeled after the national standards for parent/family involvement to encourage greater parent involvement within their school and directly with their school’s individual children. Brogden received the award based on our PTA’s work with the annual Health and Safety Fair. Many thanks to Linda Demarest who applied for the grant and spent a lot of time putting the proposal together.  

Please join us on Wednesday, December 2^nd at 6:30-8:00 p.m. for our PTA general meeting. There will be a teacher volleyball game, step team performance, and pep rally for the fall and winter athletes.  Remember to bring in your box tops and Campbell’s soup labels with your name written on the back for a prize drawing. Come cheer and join the fun with parents, teachers, and friends.

The Winter Dance will be held on Friday, December 4^th from 7-9. Admission is $5 and concessions will be sold.  Only Brogden students are allowed to attend the dance.

 Have great week, Dragons!

Good Evening Brogden Families. This is Mrs. Trapp with the Weekly Sunday Message for the weeks of November 16-20 and November 23-24.

Our Canned Food Drive has started!  We will be collecting cans for the Salvation Army through November 20^th.  Be sure to bring in your cans and give them to your homeroom teacher!

We will recognize Honor Roll students Tuesday, November 17^th at 7:30 a.m. in the auditorium. Parents should have received a letter of invitation in the mail.

Please join us Tuesday, November 17^th for dinner at Jason’s Deli on 15-501. This is a PTA Dine-out event, and Brogden will receive a portion of the proceeds.

Ident-A-Kid day is Wednesday, November 18^th.  Application forms and information were sent home with students last week. It’s not too late to participate in this child safety program. Simply complete your form and return it with your child. If you haven’t received your form or have misplaced it, extra forms are available in the main office or at www.identakid.com/onlineapp.

Wednesday, November 18^th is also a PLC Early Release Day. School will be dismissed at 12:20 p.m.

Brogden will host our Showcase of Schools Event on Thursday, November 19^th.  We will welcome visitors who are interested in knowing more about Brogden in the morning from 9-11 and in the evening from 7-8 p.m. Students will provide tours to prospective students and their parents and staff members will be available in the evening to answer questions.

Also on Thursday, November 19^th, 8^th grade parents are invited to attend 8^th grade Night sponsored by Brogden’s Career Development Counselor, guidance department, and 8^th grade teachers. Come hear information that will help your 8^th graders get ready for high school.  8^th grade Night will be held from 5:30-6:30 p.m. in the cafeteria.

Have a great week and 2 days, Dragons! Enjoy your Thanksgiving. The next Weekly Sunday Message will go out Sunday, November 29^th.

Good Evening Brogden Families. This is Mrs. Trapp with the Weekly Sunday Message for the week of November 9-13.

Our Canned Food Drive has started!  We will be collecting cans for the Salvation Army through November 20^th.  Be sure to bring in your cans and give them to your homeroom teacher!

To recognize Veterans’ Day, Wednesday, November 11^th is a holiday for students and staff.

Please do your holiday shopping and all of your internet shopping through the Brogden website:Brogden.dpsnc.net then go to the Furtal link F_U_R_T_A_L.  Hundreds of major retailers are on the site and shopping through the Brogden.dpsnc.net website will gain a percentage of all sales for our school.  Remember, shop on line through brogden.dpsnc.net.

On Saturday, November 14, Durham Public Schools will hold its annual Magnet Fair.  This year the fair is just for elementary magnet and year-round schools.  There will be a separate fair the next day, Sunday, November 15, that will feature ALL of the middle and high schools in the district.  So mark your calendars for Saturday, November 14, 9 am until 12 noon for the Elementary Magnet Fair and Sunday, November 15, for the Middle and High School Fair, 1 until 4 pm.  Both events are at Hillside High School, 3727 Fayetteville Street. 

Grandparents who are raising their grandchildren or who are offering support to help raise their grandchildren are invited to attend support and education group meetings the second Thursday of each month from 6:00 until 7:30 pm at the DPS Staff Development Center, 2107 Hillandale Road.  The next session will be Thursday, November 12 and the topic is Communicating for Everyday Life.   The sessions are sponsored by Durham County Cooperative Extension in partnership with Durham Public Schools.  Refreshments will be provided. In December, grandparents will gather on Thursday, December 11.  Mark your calendars now.  To attend, call Peggy Kernodle at 560-0523 or email pkernodle@co.durham.nc.us

Have a successful week, Dragons!

7th and 8th grade students will go on a field trip to see the play High School Musical at Hillside High School on Friday, November 6th. Students need to remember to bring money for lunch.

6th grade will recognize students with Achievement Day activities on Friday, November 6th. Students who have exhibited positive behavior and maintained appropriate grades have been invited to attend.

PTA Spiritwear has arrived. It will be distributed throughout this week. We will start distribution with 8th grade, then 7th, and lastly 6th grade.

Boys & Girls Basketball and Wrestling will hold tryouts starting Monday, November 2 through Thursday, November 5. Any student interested in trying out for the teams must have a current physical.

Please do your holiday shopping and all of your internet shopping through the Brogden website:Brogden.dpsnc.net then go to the Furtal link F_U_R_T_A_L. Hundreds of major retailers are on the site and shopping through the Brogden.dpsnc.net website will gain a percentage of all sales for our school. Remember, shop on line through brogden.dpsnc.net.

There is still space available in our ENCORE! Afterschool Program. The cost is $100 for the entire year. The program runs Monday-Thursday from 2:30-4:30. Bus transportation is provided home. You may pick up applications in the main office. For more information, contact Community Education at 560-3816.

Enjoy your first week of November, Dragons!

Good Evening Brogden Families. This is Mrs. Trapp with the Weekly Sunday Message for the week of October 26-30.

Please remember that Monday, October 26^th is a Teacher Workday. There is no school for students.  We’ll see students back at school on Tuesday.

8^th grade parents:  the deadline for turning in money and permission slips for the November 6^th field trip is Tuesday, October 27^th.  The cost is $15.00 and students need to bring money on the day of the trip to cover lunch.

Wednesday, October 28^th is Picture Day. Order forms and information were sent home with students last week.

Report cards will go home with students Thursday, October 29th.

 There will be a Fall Dance on Friday, October 30^th from 7-9 p.m. in the gym. Admission is $5 and concessions will be sold. Remember that all of Brogden dances are for Brogden students only.

Boys Basketball and Wrestling will hold tryouts starting Monday, November 2 through Thursday, November 5. Any student interested in trying out for the teams must have a current physical. 

There is still space available in our ENCORE! Afterschool Program. The cost is $100 for the entire year.  The program runs Monday-Thursday from 2:30-4:30. Bus transportation is provided home.  You may pick up applications in the main office. For more information, contact Community Education at 560-3816.

Have a great week, Dragons!

Students will take benchmarks in reading, math, and science on October 20-22. The benchmarks are important because we see what students have learned in the first quarter. The teachers will use the results to help them better plan instruction. Please encourage our students to do their best.

 The end of the first quarter is Friday, October 23rd. Report cards will go home with students Thursday, October 29th.

6th grade students in Band, Chorus, and Strings programs will get to show parents and guests what they have learned in a concert that will be held on October 20th at 7:00 p.m. Students who are performing need to arrive at 6:30 p.m. on that evening.

The first day of our ENCORE! Afterschool program is October 19th and our enrollment is very low. There are plenty of spaces available and the cost is $100 for the entire year. Brogden has 10 scholarship positions for which parents can apply. The program runs Monday-Thursday from 2:30-4:30.Bus transportation is provided home. You may pick up applications in the main office. For more information, contact Community Education at 560-3816.

SHODOR Organization is offering SATURDAY EXPLORATION WORKSHOPS. Fall workshop dates: November 7th – December 12th 2009 and focus on science modeling. Students work with interactive simulations to better understand different science questions. For more information please visit www.shodor.org.

October is Disability Awareness Month. DPS has joined with Durham Parks and Recreation as they celebrate their 4th annual Unity in the Community Day for disability awareness. This is not an event for EC families, but rather it is an event to promote awareness for all families. The event will be held Saturday, October 24, 2009 11 a.m.– 3 p.m. at NCCU’s Leroy T. Walker Complex on 1801 Fayetteville St.

Have a stupendous week, Dragons!

Support our Dine Out Night at Rudino’s on Tuesday October 13^th from 5-9. 

This is a reminder that 6^th graders will be going on the Renaissance Fair field trip on Tuesday, October 13^th.

Wednesday, October 14^th is a PLC Early Release Day. School will be dismissed at 12:20 p.m.

Did you know that we have a Habitat Crew at Brogden and a four-year history of being the MOST active middle school in Durham Public Schools helping Habitat for Humanity build houses in our city!

We will have Habi-Hat Day on Friday, October 16th! Beginning on Monday, students may pay $1 to their homeroom teachers to get to wear a hat on Friday, October 16^th. Your dollar will go to support Habit for Humanity.

6^th grade students in Band, Chorus, and Strings programs will get to show parents and guests what they have learned in a concert that will be held on October 20^th at 7:00 p.m.  Students who are performing need to arrive at 6:30 p.m. on that evening.

Have a wonderful week, Dragons!

Good Evening Brogden Families. This is Mrs. Trapp with the Weekly Sunday Message for the week of October 5-9.

This message will take the place of my normal Sunday weekly message.

Brogden PTA has also been taking orders for Spirit Wear.   The order forms were passed out in homeroom to students and at PTA events. If you need an order form, you may pick one up in the office.  Tomorrow, Friday, October 2^nd is the ABSOLUTE deadline for ordering. Please turn in orders to your child’s homeroom teacher. We cannot accept any orders after tomorrow.

Grandparents who are raising their grandchildren or who are offering support to help raise their grandchildren are invited to attend support and education group meetings the second Thursday of each month from 6:00 until 7:30 pm at the DPS Staff Development Center, 2107 Hillandale Road.  The next session will be Thursday, October 8. 

The sessions are sponsored by Durham County Cooperative Extension in partnership with Durham Public Schools.  Refreshments will be provided.

Future sessions will be held November 12 and December 11.  Mark your calendars now. 

The Cooperativa  Latin Credit Union is showcasing a Photo & Essay Contest for students between 13-14, 15-16, and 17-18.  Prizes will be awarded in EACH age category with $1000.00 going to the 1^st place winner, $500.00 to the 2^nd place winner, and $250.00 going to the 3^rd place winner.  For contest details, visit www.latinoccu.org, or call 919 688-9270.  Deadline for this contest is NOV. 30^th. Come on Dragons we can win this contest!!!

Students, does it seem like you just left the playground?  Believe it or not but you are at the age where you should start thinking about a career.   Would you like to interview someone who is doing what you’d like to do?  THEN plan on attending the CAREER EXPO on the 5^th of November at Northgate Mall.  It will give you the opportunity to meet people from lots of careers and ask all the questions you’ve ever had.

Have a fabulous week, Dragons!