Brandywine Community Schools -

This Week in Photos!

Last night, our students at Brandywine Innovation Academy graduated with their high school diplomas! Alternative education isn't about fitting into a traditional box; it’s about resilience, flexibility, and finding a unique path to success. These students balanced life, overcame unique challenges, and took ownership of their futures to cross that graduation stage. Congratulations to the Class of 2026!

Learn more about our alternative education program on Cat Chat:
https://sites.libsyn.com/497938/season-3-episode-15-brandywine-innovation-academy-and-alternative-education

Merritt Elementary celebrated their four retirees! Congratulations to Margo Miller, Merv Zaleski, Kathy Wieger, and Julie Hartman on their retirement! You all will be missed around the halls!

Congratulations to our middle schoolers who received achievement awards yesterday, including honor roll, department awards, NWEA testing awards, and character growth awards. A special congratulations to Rylee Yatch, who was named Bobcat of the Year!

You're invited!

Groundbreaking on the new Career & Technical Education Center addition will take place on June 1 at 4 p.m. at the back of the MSHS, near the soccer fields. We invite the community to come out and celebrate this huge step forward for our district. See you there!

What is Jeopardy?

Students at Merritt Elementary played Jeopardy with Mr. G to test their knowledge last week!

Brandywine Middle/Senior High School staff celebrated Ms. Debbie Carew today! Ms. Carew will be retiring this year after teaching at the district for 30 years. What a career! She is also a proud Brandywine alum. We will miss you!

It was a beautiful day for Field Day at Merritt Elementary! Our kiddos had a blast running relay races, playing in foam, and eating popsicles. Field Day is such a busy, but fun day for everyone!

Mrs. Ramos' kindergarten class celebrated finishing their unit of Presidents and American symbols by making Statue of Liberty glitter globes!

The Class of 1976 is celebrating their 50th class reunion!

Saturday, July 25, 2026
5:30 p.m. - 9:30 p.m.
Embers at Signal Point
1475 West River Rd Niles, MI
Cost: $30.00 per person

RSVP by June 15, to:
Steve Wade at stephenwade0825@gmail.com
Donna McClane Thompson at djmt0523@gmail.com

Share this with other classmates you may be in contact with!

Yesterday was "T" is for Twin With Your Teacher Day at Merritt! The ABC Countdown is winding down... only one week left of school!

Brandywine Elementary staff celebrated their retirees yesterday! These four ladies will be retiring from Brandywine after long careers at the district. They leave big shoes to fill.

Congratulations to Siobhan Bruegman, Kim Hechtl, LeAnn Clark, and Lynn Mickiewicz! Enjoy retirement!

It's the last Cat Chat episode of this school year! Join us as we visit Fifth Grade Camp and talk to teachers and campers alike.
https://sites.libsyn.com/497938/season-3-episode-15-fifth-grade-camp

We are hiring! Our Great Start Readiness Program (GSRP) is looking for an Associate Teacher. View the entire job posting here: https://jobs.redroverk12.com/org/brandywinecs/opening/159369

On Friday, our second graders took a field trip over to the "big elementary school" as they prepare to enter third grade! The third graders stepped up to the plate and showed the second graders how things work at Brandywine Elementary. They buddied up and spent some time doing scavenger hunts, eating lunch, and playing at recess.

Third grade, here they come!

The fourth grade class recently completed their year-long project involving the incubation and rearing of Chinook salmon within the classroom! On May 10, they released 126 salmon into the Dowagiac River.

The Salmon in the Classroom Program, administered by the Michigan Department of Natural Resources, allows teachers to raise approximately 200 Chinook salmon eggs from fall through spring. This provides students with the opportunity to observe the salmon’s life cycle in real time, from egg incubation to the stages of fry and smolt development.

Brandywine 8th Grade and High School Bands combined to make an almost 100 member marching band for the Niles Memorial Day Parade yesterday! We are so proud of the professionalism of our students. They gave up a portion of their holiday to participate in an event that is at the heart of what Memorial Day is all about.

Reminder: Wednesday, May 27 is a 2 hour late start.

Brandywine is still accepting applications for preschool for the 2026-2027 school year! If your child will be 4 by September 1, 2026, you are eligible to apply! Pick up applications at Merritt Elementary or email Preschool Teacher Maddi High at mhigh@brandywinebobcats.org.

Learn more about enrolling in kindergarten and preschool programs here: https://www.brandywinebobcats.org/o/mes/page/kindergarten-registration

Yesterday was Read and Feed at Merritt Elementary for the ABC Countdown, which means our students cozied up with snacks and good books!