Principal's Message

Dear Betsy Ross Families,

I am so excited to join the Betsy Ross Family as your new Principal for the 2022-2023 school year! After spending the last nine years in the classroom, I am eager to share my passion for learning and leading with the Betsy Ross Community. Through an atmosphere of open collaboration and mutual respect, I look forward to elevating the experience for all students here at Betsy Ross! 

What I know already about this school that makes it so special are all of the students, teachers, and staff that fill the hallways each day. In addition to the array of learning opportunities students experience in the classroom, true engagement in learning becomes accessible under the guidance of our wonderful teachers. Using Readers’ and Writers’ Workshop, teachers instill a genuine excitement for students to explore new worlds through books and to become authors of their own unique stories, and I cannot wait to be a part of that! Real-world learning comes to life through the use of our Everyday Math program. In our STEAM lab, students can think critically to create and innovate as they learn about their own passion and enthusiasm for learning. By allowing students to truly interact with and have a voice and choice in their learning, their motivation and experience in the classroom will also be enhanced. Through this type of exploratory learning, students can build on their integrity, grit, creativity, collaboration, adaptability, and perseverance. Together, we will bring learning to life this school year!

In any classroom, at any age, students should feel welcomed, encouraged, and comfortable so they can learn and thrive. It is my goal to create a welcoming climate that allows us all the opportunity to get to know our students beyond academics. This goal connects with our school-wide theme for this year: inspire. We will work together to inspire a strong, supportive community as we challenge ourselves to think about what inspires us, what inspires others, and how we can harness our own inspirations to create amazing opportunities for everyone at our school. I am so very excited for what is to come for our school community - together.

As we embark on this journey forward, please do not hesitate to contact me with any questions, comments, or concerns. I am a strong believer in home-school connection and know that, by working together, we can ultimately make the biggest difference in student learning.

Sincerely,

Melissa P. Brause
Principal, Betsy Ross Elementary School
mbrause@mahwah.k12.nj.us 
201-762-2250

“Tell me and I forget. Teach me and I remember. Involve me and I learn.”