Though things have been pretty sleepy around school, we'd like to thank folks who have been working on PTO projects over the summer:

Garden Club & General Landscape: Many thanks to Jessica Avery and the talented crew of garden helpers for tending to our Burr classroom garden over the summer months.  The following folks are responsible for bringing you flowers, tomatoes, and even one giant pumpkin in the classroom garden beds: Allison Sharma, Karin Van Oyen, Vicky Gifford, Eric Bobby, Rose Dieffenbach, Maeve Bartlett, Youngok Lim, Rachel Freed, Kelly Brown, Margaret Crook, Billy & Toni McDonald, and Judy Hogan & John Donovan.  Finally, in a special category all her own...many thanks to gardener-of-all-trades, Stephanie Mamis for doing everything else landscape-wise at Burr!

World Map Painters: Wait till you see it!  The Respect for Human Differences committee painted a world map on the school blacktop.  They may tell you that they did it freehand, but indeed, a very large stencil with a simple color-by-number diagram was the technique of choice.  The artistic crew consisted of: Ellen Chu, Allison Sharma, Ann Langenfeld, Steve DeJesus, Dana Hanson, Tracy Carter, Jackie Gelb, Michelle Blauner, and a gaggle of children.

Envelope Stuffers: Thanks to folks who came to school last week to help stuff envelopes for the summer principal/PTO mailing: Heidi Bankmann, Sheilarae Lau, Weiqun Shi, Pam McVey, Tricia Bombara, Jenny McKee-Heinstein, and Dana Hanson.  

Tracy Carter and Kelly Brown have organized some casual get-togethers on the Burr playground for incoming kindergarteners and their families.  Here are some dates for the rest of the summer:

Tuesday Aug 25, 6-7 pm: All incoming kindergarteners

(class assignments mailed Friday Aug 28)

Monday Aug 31, 6-7 pm: Ms. Frail's class
Tuesday Sept 1, 6-7 pm: Ms. Fitch/Kelly's class
Wednesday Sept 2, 6-7 pm: Ms. McMahon's class

On Thursday, September 3, all incoming kindergarten families are invited to a bring-your-own picnic dinner on the Burr playground from 5:30-7:00 pm.

Please contact Tracy Carter if you have questions about these upcoming gatherings.  We look forward to meeting all of the new tots soon!

Mark your calendars for this popular annual event--Monday, September 14 from 5-7 pm on the Burr playground.  We'll provide more details as the date approaches, but for the moment, we're looking for some volunteers.

This year we plan to have a few simple field games to occupy the kids, so we're looking for some extra parental helpers.  You can be a brand new incoming Burr parent and still help out--new faces are great!

Some ways YOU can help make this event a success:

Set-up crew: 4-5 pm
Clean-up: 7-7:30 pm
Class greeters (2 per class year, grades K-5)
Field game assistance (you'll be given instructions...very low-tech, easy games!)

Please contact Vicky Gifford if you can help out, noting your time availability and your preference for certain tasks.  Thanks!

Just a quick reminder to keep Burr in mind as you shop for groceries at Star Market and/or place online orders with just about anyone.  PLEASE take a moment to register yourself with these reward programs because you'll earn money for Burr without even thinking about it...

Here are some quick links to get you started, but if you'd like all the details on how to sign up, please contact Nancy Caulfield and she can send you more information. 

Star Market/Shaw's Rewards Program: Get your weekly food bills working for Burr!

One Cause: Shopping online with vendors like Amazon, Lands End, LL Bean and hundreds more stores through One Cause results in a percentage of each of your purchases being automatically donated to Burr School.  WOW!

Target Red Card: Attention Target shoppers...if you have a Target REDcard, a percentage of every purchase can automatically benefit Burr School.

Are you good with a camera and available sometime on Wednesday, September 2 between 1:00 to 3:00 pm and/or Thursday, September 3 between 9:30-11:30 am?  We need good photos of groups of teachers and aides for our staff bulletin board.  If you are interested, please contact Diana Fisher Gomberg. 

Are you a friendly person willing to write a welcoming note to a new family who has a student in your child's grade?  If so, please participate in our small buddy program to welcome families who are new to Burr.  We especially need families with new kindergarteners but we need families with children in all grades.  If you are interested, please contact Diana Fisher Gomberg. 

This is the time of year when we say farewell to families of last spring's graduated 5th grade class.  <Sniff> 

If your child has graduated from Burr and you no longer wish to receive Burr PTO emails, please click the "SafeUnsubscribe" link at the bottom of this email.  No hard feelings...we know you will always reflect fondly on your days of membership in the Burr PTO.  We will miss YOU, as well. 

Naturally, if you would like to stay on our email list, we would love to have you!

The Auburndale Community Library (ACL) invites members of the Burr community to a Day of Recognition and Thanks.  Come by and check us out if you haven't yet visited since we reopened our doors in June. 

Community Gathering at the Auburndale Community Library
375 Auburn Street, Auburndale
Saturday, September 12
1:30-3:00 pm
Cookies and lemonade for all!

The ACL is open to everyone in Newton and beyond.  We have added hundreds of brand NEW titles over the summer--our shelves are bulging with fantastic reads!  Come by and visit or find out more online.