The following is a letter from The Brewster Superintendent of Schools, Valerie Hennings-Piedmonte, to parents regarding the new initiatives and logo for the district.
July 14, 2017
Dear Brewster Parents and Community,
As you know, in the 2015-16 school year a committee of nineteen members consisting of educators,
administrators and parents worked to develop a Strategic Coherence Plan (SCP). It outlines the
academic and social emotional skills that students will need to succeed in life, work and future learning.
This SCP was adopted by the Board of Education in March 2016. This committee of nineteen grew into
a larger committee to include other educators in the District and two high school students. In addition,
another group of educators who serve in the role of Liaisons also met to help define the eight academic
and social emotional skills, which include critical thinking, problem solving, communication,
collaboration, perseverance, resilience, adaptability/flexibility and civic and ethical responsibility.
Throughout this year, these two committees worked to define and streamline these skills. After meeting
once per month this school year, we decided that the eight skills would be combined into five skills
which are critical thinking, communication/collaboration, perseverance, adaptability and civic
responsibility. These definitions were shared with all of our educators so that we can start the new
school year planning on how to integrate these skills into the curriculum, instruction, assessment, the
learning environment and professional learning.
In addition to defining the skills, we thought about how else we should promote or establish our brand
and vision of student learning described in the SCP. This led to conversations about what images exist
skills needed to succeed in life, work and future learning. After considering a number of possible
logos, the SCP team of educators, parents, Board of Education members and two high school students
submitted a logo and slogan to the Board of Education for consideration. The Board of Education will
discuss the slogan and logo at the August 22 Board of Education Meeting.
Our intention is that the logo and slogan represent the 21st century vision described in our SCP. We
believe that the logo and slogan are representations of our beliefs about how we should prepare
children to succeed in the 21st century. So, what happens to the Brewster Bear? Nothing. The
Brewster Bear is an important part of our traditions and history. However, alone it doesn’t convey the
academic and social emotional skills needed for the 21st century. The proposed slogan “Success for a
Changing World” and logo is intended to convey our District’s dedication to preparing all children
for a future filled with happiness, hope and possibilities.
Once adopted, the new SCP logo and slogan will eventually appear on our calendar, webpage,
letterhead and other publications along with the Brewster Bear mascot.
I want to thank all of the educators, administrators, parents, student representatives and the Board of
Education for moving the district forward to fully implement our Strategic Coherence Plan and
promoting a hopeful image of the future.
Again, the Board of Education will be discussing the slogan and logo at the August 22 Board of
Education Meeting.
Warm regards,
Valerie Henning-Piedmonte, Ed.D.
Superintendent of Schools