The ABC’s of Brookwood Forest

 

 

A – Attendance & Apps

 

Attendance: Please email any absences to bwfabsences@mtnbrook.k12.al.us. Only absences due to religious holidays, health,death in the immediate family, or other school-related activities will be excused. Please consult the handbook for an outline of the policy regarding unexcused absences.

 

Apps: A variety of apps and tools are used for both communication and administration purposes by MBS, BWF, and Ranger PTO. These include Circool, Classlink, Membership Toolkit, ParentSquare, PowerSchool, and Seesaw. See descriptions for each app in alphabetical sections.

 

B – Books

Brookwood Forest’s Library Media Center gives students the opportunity to not only grow in their reading and enjoyment of literature but also to learn library and research skills as well as information retrieval. Parents also have the opportunity to volunteer in the library through Ranger PTO!

 

Book Fair: Ranger PTO also sponsors an annual book fair which is a great way to fill your home’s library shelves and support BWF through your purchases.

 

C – Communications, Circool, & Classlink

Ranger PTO provides various forms of communications to be sure you’re up to date on all the happenings at BWF. Be sure to follow us on Instagram (@bwf_ranger_pto and @bwfelementary), join us on Facebook at www.facebook.com/bwfrangerpto and check out our website at https://rangerpto.membershiptoolkit.com. During the school year, weekly newsletters are sent on Mondays via email.

 

Circool helps ensure safe entry into our school for family and guests. After creating an account with Circool, guests will check in and out of the building using a QR code on their phone. Invitations for school events will be sent through Circool.  You can also use these invitations to register family and guests.

 

Classlink is a district-wide portal that can be accessed by students and parents. It will be used to access the apps for the eDay assignments given by each grade as well as in the case of missed work due to absences.

 

D – Drop off & Pick up

Students should arrive no earlier than 7:15 a.m. with school beginning at 7:50 a.m. During the first week of school, kindergarteners will dismiss earlier to give them a chance to get used to carpool before all other grades are dismissed.Starting the second week, kindergarteners will dismiss at the end of school at 2:50 p.m.

 

If you live on any of the streets off of Overton Road, you will use “Back Carpool” to drop off and pick up your child each day. Back carpool is the first right turn once you turn onto South Brookwood Road from Overton Road. All other areas in Brookwood Forest will use “Front Carpool,” which is located at the entrance to the school. At Meet theTeacher, your teacher will have a sign up for you to let them know which pick-up location your family will use.

 

E – Expressions & Extended Day Program (EDP)

Expressions is an MBS district-wide creative arts competition that allows students an opportunity to create, and showcase works of art. The five categories are Creative Writing, Photography, Video, Instrumental/Voice Performance, and Visual Arts. Winners are chosen from each school to move on and compete district wide. This event takes place in the spring.

 

The Extended Day Program (EDP) is helpful for working parents.  The children will be dismissed from school and go straight to EDP.  EDP ends at 6pm.  You will receive an email from MBS on how to sign up, which days you will need EDP, and a payment link.

 

 

F – Forest Fling

 

This is a great day in May when the school is turned into a carnival! There are bounce houses, cake walks, games, snow cones, cotton candy, face paint, etc. The 2027 Forest Fling will be on Friday, May 14, and we hope to see each of our newest Rangers there! More information to follow.

 

G – Grand Day

Grand Day is a great opportunity to have our special guests and grandparents visit our school. They can see your child’s classroom, meet the teacher, and tour special areas of our amazing school.

 

H – History

BWF was established in 1964 as the third elementary school in Mountain Brook. We have been recognized both locally and nationally including the distinction of being named a Blue Ribbon School.  We celebrated 60 years in 2024 and were also recognized as National Blue Ribbon School by the U.S. Department of Education.

 

I – iLearn

iLearn is a program in which Mountain Brook High School students intern with our classroom teachers and work with Rangers. iLearn is a special program to BWF led by MBHS students.

 

J – Join PTO

You can become involved at BWF by volunteering for events, supporting fundraising opportunities, and enjoying the many perks of being a member of Ranger PTO! We hope you will join Ranger PTO with either a base family membership or a membership at one of our Ranger Club levels which includes extra benefits including entry fees for your child to BWF events, reserved seats at various programs, and even reserved parking at certain events! Either way, 100% of your donation benefits BWF!

 

Details about joining for the 2026-2027 school year will be forthcoming in July. Our 2026-2027 goal is 100% participation!

 

K – Kindness

At Brookwood Forest, we pride ourselves on being a family environment which is why the first word we use to describe BWF is “family.” We are all on the same team! Kindness is part of being a Ranger and what makes BWF such a warm, welcoming place!

 

L – Lunch/Lost and Found

Lunch: Please feel free to come have lunch with your child during his/her class lunch time. The lunch manager asks that you call ahead if you plan to purchase a lunch in the cafeteria (205-414-3703). The cost of an adult lunch is $4.50 (includes (1) Entrée, (2) vegetable sides (1/2 cup each), (1) fruit, (1) 8oz. Beverage (water or juice); extra items or snacks are not included on the lunch plate) and a child’s lunch is $4.00. You are always welcome to bring a special lunch for your child.

 

We offer LINQ Connect for your convenience. You simply go to LINQ Connect Account and create an account. Once you deposit money into the account, your child can purchase lunches or extras during lunch using a lunch card. You will receive an email from LINQ Connect when your account is getting low and needs to be replenished. You can also view your child’s lunchroom purchases through the website. This information will be provided closer to the start of school. Lunch menus can be found on the MBS App or on the Ranger PTO website.

 

Lost and Found: Every now and then, our Rangers may misplace an item or two! Lost and Found is located to the left on the way to the lunchroom. The Lost & Found area can be easily accessed by our Rangers to check for any lost items. Items are occasionally donated throughout the year after notice is given.  Please join the BWF Lost & Found Facebook page for more information.

 

M – Many Trees, One Forest & Membership Toolkit

Many Trees, One Forest: This is one of our very favorite sayings at BWF. We realize that everyone is unique with their own strengths, but we are all united by our support for our family in the forest.

 

Membership Toolkit is the online platform used by Ranger PTO for all communications, signup, and directory access. Download the app, or access the website here: https://rangerpto.membershiptoolkit.com/

 

N – Night for the Forest

“A Night for the Forest” is an event that gives the Brookwood Forest Family a chance to get together for an eveningto celebrate and raise money for our wonderful school. This event is for adults only and includes an auction format. This event is typically held in February or March.

 

O – Official Spirit Store

Official Brookwood Forest apparel is sold twice a year on a digital platform and at in person events. This is a great way for your Ranger to wear BWF/Ranger or Spartan apparel with pride!  More details and information to come at the beginning of the school year.

 

P – Park Meet & Greet, ParentSquare, & PowerSchool

The new incoming Kindergarteners will be invited to meet new friends before the start of school. Once the teacher assignment email has been posted, your Ranger will be invited to this Kindergarten Playdate (date & time coming soon). Each teacher will have an assigned color and each Ranger will wear that color to meet up with new classmates.

 

ParentSquare is the primary communication tool used by the school and district for announcements and information. Teachers also use Parent Square for class wide announcements/updates as well as to communicate with individual parents. Parents can elect to receive communications through phone notifications, texts, or emails.

 

PowerSchool provides access to both parents and students to view attendance, progress reports, and report cards.

 

Q – Questions

If you have any questions about BWF, please call BWF at (205) 414-3700. Mrs. Margie Seeger is the Office Manager, and her email address is seegerm@mtnbrook.k12.al.us.  For Ranger PTO questions, please contact 2026-2027 PTO President, Elizabeth Humphreys at elizabeth.m.humphreys@gmail.com. Other BWF parents or the grade Facebook pages are great resources too and are more than happy to answer your questions.

 

R – Ranger Run

Ranger Run is a school-wide activity in the fall. Each classroom is showcased by a chosen theme. Students will participate in a special fun run/obstacle course to celebrate being a Ranger and the success of our Ranger Club fundraising campaign. By joining Ranger PTO at certain levels, your child’s admission can be covered.

 

S – Seesaw

Have you ever wanted to be a fly on the wall at your child’s school? Well, Seesaw is a wonderful app that can help you do just that. Many teachers at BWF use this as a form of communication. It is an app that you can download on your phone or computer. Your child and teacher can record their learning experiences and send them to you. Be on the lookout for more information from your child’s teacher during the first few weeks of school.

 

T – eTalent Show/Trip Through The Forest

BWF’s Got eTalent in the spring showcases the many talents of our students in K-6th Grade. It’s a great opportunity for our Rangers to showcase all their unique talents.

 

Trip Through the Forest: Mrs. Crossno will send a short video highlighting all the amazing happenings around Brookwood Forest.  These will be sent through the Parent Square app.

 

U – “Up”

Your Ranger will learn to be Ranger Ready, every day and in every way. The three “Up” principles are SpeakUp, Stand Up, Show Up! To celebrate being a Ranger, we will have special guest speakers during the first month of school to celebrate Ranger Up Week!

 

V – Very Special

At BWF we have some VERY SPECIAL activities! Our music department works with our Rangers for various grade-level performances including music class “informances” for our Kindergarteners and 1st graders, winter program for our 2nd and 3rd graders, a ukulele concert for our 4th graders, Veterans Day program to honor our veterans for 5th graders, a musical performed by our 6th graders and much more! We also have a school wide “Halloween in the Forest” as well as class parties for winter holiday and Valentine’s Day. There is a lot to look forward to each year!

 

W – Welcoming New Rangers

There are several structures in place to welcome new Rangers and make them a part of our family. Every newcomer in 1st through 6th grades is assigned a “buddy” in their homeroom and meets with our counselor to be sure they have as much support as possible in getting started in a new place.

 

X – Extracurricular Activities

BWF offers a great variety of extracurricular activities, including chess, dance, martial arts, and art after school. Information for these after-school activities will be provided after school starts with activities typically beginning in September. You will receive a flier in your child’s backpack from the various activities and an email from MBS.

 

Summer camps are also available through Mountain Brook Schools Community Education, and several take place at BWF. More information for these camps and after school opportunities can be found on the Mountain Brook Schools Community Education website.

 

Y – You

We need YOU to volunteer your time and talents to help BWF! Volunteer opportunities will be available starting in May 2026 on Ranger PTO’s website. Room parents will also have ways you can help.

 

Z – Zoom

It seems every year goes by faster than the year before! We hope this list helps you make the very most of this year at BWF.