| Mark your Calendar |
Sept. 14, 5-7pm:
Back to School picnic
Sept. 17, 7pm:
PTO Meeting
Sept. 23:
Curriculum Night |
Volunteer
Opportunities |
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The Hospitality Committee wants to spread the word!
Burr teachers and staff enjoyed both the end of year luncheon and the back to school luncheon sponsored by the Burr parents! We were able to purchase and make lots of delicious food thanks to many monetary contributions last June. Meals were supplemented by your handmade desserts, music, and flowers. Plenty of helpers made the event run smoothly. Thank you for making both these events such a success. The teachers and staff felt the love and support- and voiced their heartfelt appreciation! If you want to join the PTO's hospitality team- let us know! We help organize food and drink for the parent - principal coffee hours, PTO meetings, teacher appreciation week breakfast, and the luncheons mentioned, and we welcome newcomers.
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From Ms. Bencal's Desk
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 Dear Families,
Welcome back to school! We had a very successful opening of school this year thanks to the teachers, custodians, support staff, parents and students who all contributed hard work, cooperation, flexibility and enthusiasm throughout the summer and into the first few days of school. As you could see, teachers had worked in their classrooms for many days this summer in order to create welcoming and challenging learning environments for their students. When school opened on September 8, we welcomed 378 students (ten more students than we had last year), including our 69 Kindergarten students and 21 students (in grades 1-5) new to Burr. All of the children looked well rested, happy to be back, and eager to begin the school year.
It was great to see many of you at the "welcome back" coffee, and I am looking forward to seeing you at the family picnic. These events are ways for parents to feel both reconnected to the Burr community and involved in the important work of the school. I want to thank the PTO and the many parents for the work that they have already done to help welcome everyone back to school: sending out a mailing with me in late August; organizing a Kindergarten picnic and several summer group play dates at school; sponsoring the "welcome back" coffee; watering, weeding and sprucing up the Classroom Garden and other areas around the school; providing a delicious, multi-course, homemade luncheon for teachers on their second day back (yum!); and planning a grilled food-option family picnic.
Getting to know...us! We have several new staff members, both teachers and assistants. The next issue of the Burr Bulletin will have the staff listing, and this year's directory will contain a complete, updated staff listing as well. Also, I will introduce all of the staff members to you on Curriculum Night.
I am very pleased by the exceptional quality of our staff this year. New and veteran teachers and support staff are working very well together already so that even our youngest and newest students are settling into the routines of a new school and school year.
I have scheduled Parent-Principal coffees for this year. They are October 16, November 24, January 22, March 9, and May 7, and they run from 8:35-9:15. We will meet in the cafeteria. These are times that parents can meet with me to ask questions, raise concerns, and discuss items of interest. In addition, I will be setting some general topics for the coffees as well. I hope to see you at one or more of these coffees.
Reminders: Please remember that Newton's Life Threatening Food Allergies policy calls for reducing/eliminating food in schools for birthday and holiday celebrations. For the past five years, the teachers and parents have thought of creative alternative ways to acknowledge and celebrate students' birthdays in class.
Please remember to return the yellow Student Contact Information sheets to school, if you haven't already done so. As you know, it is crucial that the school has correct and updated student/parent contact information all throughout the year. If you change your address or phone number(s) during the year, please let us know!
If your child will be tardy or absent on a given day, please call the "call back" number to leave a message: 617-559-9380. Please do not call the main number.
Please do NOT call the office to have us give messages to your child unless it is an emergency. With 378 students in the building, taking and delivering messages overwhels the office and disrupts classrooms. Please make after school arrangements and tell your child what these are before sending your child to school. We appreciate your cooperation in this matter.
I hope that many of you are able to join us at our first PTO meeting of the year, Thursday, September 17 and at our Curriculum Night on Wednesday, September 23.
Sincerely,
Cindy Bencal |
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Back to School Picnic - Tonight!
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 Come make new friends and meet old ones at the Burr Back to School picnic TONIGHT from 5-7 pm! The picnic will be on the Burr fields behind school, and is open to all Burr families and staff. Bring your own picnic dinner, or purchase food from local vendor, Pushcarts Unlimited. Note that we have now added veggie burgers to the menu!!! This year, we've also planned some games for the kiddies. The picnic is Rain or Shine. We'll see you there!
Parking tonight--please read carefully
Because this is such a beloved annual Burr event, we expect a large crowd. Please walk or carpool if at all possible. Because this is an after-school event, the Faculty/Staff parking lot is available and we encourage parents to park there. (The small driveway at the BCAP entrance is NOT available.) If you park on the street, please check all parking signs carefully and be sure to park legally and in a way that does not obstruct the flow of traffic or our neighbors' driveways. You MAY park in the Blue Zones and Bus Zones, but please do not park in the "No Parking 8am to 4pm" zones on Washburn Ave and on Pine St. (between the Faculty/Staff parking lot and Pine Meadow Dr.) Even though it is technically legal after 4pm, these stretches are very narrow and when cars line both sides of the street it creates a dangerous and frustrating situation for everyone. Your cooperation will ensure that our neighbors are able to get to and from their homes safely, and that emergency vehicles are able to respond in case of an emergency. These rules are a little confusing at the beginning of the year, but before you know it, everyone will be a vehicular pro at Burr! |
| Thursday Sept. 17th -
First PTO Meeting of the Year! |
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ALL are welcome! ALL are encouraged to come for the whole meeting or just a little while. There will be some Burr alums in the BCAP/Music room to keep an eye on any kids that come along. A small donation to defray the cost of the sitters is requested. If you are new to Burr and want to know more about the PTO in an informal setting please come at 6:30. There will be an informal intro given by our Co-Presidents Dana Hanson and Steve DeJesus. The General Meeting starts at 7:00. Agenda items are: The 2009-2010 Budget which will be presented and voted on at the meeting. If you want a sneak peek or time to study the proposed budget please feel free to go to http://www.burrpto.org/PTO%202010_Budget_summary.pdf. Welcome back and thoughts for the 2009-2010 year presented by Ms. Bencal, Upcoming Events, How to get involved, etc. And of course yummy treats thanks to our lovely hospitality committee. Hope to see you there! |
| Blue Zone Reminder |
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PLEASE READ, ESPECIALLY IF YOU ARE NEW TO THE SCHOOL!
Our two "Blue Zones" are right in front of the school and right across from the school, marked by blue curbstones and blue signs. These zones are for parents to do quick drop-offs and pick-ups of students, before and after school. If you are picking up your child in the Blue Zone at the end of the day, please come five minutes after 3:00 (or 12:30 on Tuesdays). If you arrive before 3:00 (or 12:30) to pick up your child, please do not wait in the Blue Zone. This year, again, the Newton Police Department is prepared to issue tickets to drivers who violate Blue Zone rules and other traffic regulations.
In choosing not to use the Blue Zone, please make sure that you are parking legally. Those of you who are parking on Pine Street across from the staff parking lot, please note that there is no parking there because it narrows the street and busses cannot pass through. The curb is painted yellow and that signifies no parking during school hours (8:00 to 4:00). Please do not park in front of neighbors' driveways. I receive phone calls and visits from frustrated neighbors who complain of parents turning in their driveways or blocking their driveways.
When you cross your child, please always use the crosswalk and follow the directions of the crossing guard. This models safe crossing for all students. Please note that our crossing guard on Pine Street has strict orders from the Newton Police Department to cross students in the morning until 8:35 on the dot. She leaves at 8:35, so if your family is arriving at school at 8:35 or later, please know that you will need to cross your child in order to assure his/her safety. In fact, students should arrive at school BEFORE 8:35 in order to be ready to begin their days at 8:35am.
And lastly...please pass all of this important information on to the babysitters, grandparents, neighbors, and friends who may be picking up your children from school. I often find that parents know and follow the rules, but relatives and babysitters do not; I had to speak to an aunt in one family and an uncle in another this week about not getting out of their cars in the Blue Zone, and these were relatives of families that are great Blue Zone advocates...so please teach your family about Blue Zone procedures. Thank you!
BLUE ZONE BUZZ 
Thank you to all the families who are doing their part to make the trip to and from school safe for everyone, by walking whenever possible and by following the Blue Zone regulations when driving. By now you should have received the Welcome to Safe Routes to Burr School and the Burr School Blue Zone Guide in your child's folder. Be sure to read these documents carefully, and save them for future reference.
Please take a moment right now to click on: www.burrpto.org/Burr_Traffic_Map.pdf to get a copy of the Burr Traffic Map, a color-coded map that shows the locations of the No Parking, Live Parking Only, and Blue Zones, along with an explanation of each. This is a great resource for anyone who drives to Burr, so please print one out for yourself and give a copy to grandparents, babysitters, and friends - anyone who drops off or picks up your child.
If you have any questions or concerns about the Blue Zone, traffic safety, or walking to school - or if you would like to join the Burr Safe Routes Committee to help increase the number of families who walk to school and improve the traffic safety around Burr, please email tricia.bombara@gmail.com. |
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The School Psychologists |
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Dr. Julie Gold is at Burr 2.5 days each week and Dr. Elizabeth Sanderson is at Burr 1 day each week. The school psychologis provides a variety of services including:
- Working in classrooms in small and/or large groups facilitating affective education curriculum (eg. getting along with others, sharing, resolving conflicts, etc.)
- Consulting to teachers and families
- Completing psychological/neuropsychological evaluations
- Working with children outside of the classroom (individually and in groups)
- Short-term counseling
- Assisting in urgent situations
- Participating on the Special Education Team
Dr. Gold can be reached at Burr on Mondays, Thursday and alternate Tuesdays. Dr. Sanderson can be reached at Burr on Wednesdays. |
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Volunteer in the Burr Library |
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 Volunteering in the Burr Library is a wonderful way to participate in the school and in your child's education! It's easy! It's a great opportunity to get to know the children in your child's class and meet some other Burr parents.
What is involved?
Spend 30-45 minutes in the library (every week or every other week) helping your child's class checking books in and out and putting books back on the shelves. (Training is provided). That's all there is to it!
Your participation allows our librarian to focus on teaching the class and helping our children select books. Many parents alternate weeks with another parent. If your child's class time is inconvenient, you are welcome to volunteer for another class. For more information please contact:
Jan Shoyer, PTO Library Volunteer Coordinator
rickfjans@yahoo.com, 617-969-8332. |
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School Picture Order Forms |
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 Order forms for school picture day are on their way home in student folders. Please return in folders by photo day, Wednesday, September 23. Questions? Please contact Johanne Campbell: johanne.campbell@gmail.com. |
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Kindergarten Literacy Volunteers |
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| We are looking for volunteers to work with Kindergarteners on early literacy. Volunteers would need to commit to 30 minutes once a week, from 8:30-9:00. You would work with the same 5-6 students each week, helping them at the Sound Table, working with sandpaper letters helping students to match sound to symbol. Later in the year you will work with phonics and sight words. This is a very rewarding volunteer job, as you get to see the growth in each student through the school year, and the parents who did it last year said they loved it. We have some Kindergarten parents who have volunteered already, but we need a few more volunteers for each class. You need not be a Kindergarten parent to volunteer. Ms. Gutman, the Literacy Specialist will schedule a training session in the next couple of weeks for all Kindergarten literacy volunteers. Please contact: kalpana_guttman@newton.k12.ma.us. |
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Coming October 1st! |
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NPS Newsletter |
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The Newton School Committee has an email newsletter containing information relevant to all parents of NPS students. If you would like to receive this newsletter, please click on the following link to add your email address to the mailing list:
http://visitor.constantcontact.com/manage/optin?v=001Qo1SzxA2oRTEzu65MIRS3sq2luC8IbGy |
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Preliminary Election - Tuesday, September 15th |
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On TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 15th, Newton will hold its preliminary election. It is imperative that you get out and VOTE on Tuesday. This election will determine the final two candidates for Mayor of Newton, as well as the final two candidates for the Ward 8 School Committee member.
The preliminary candidates for Mayor are:
Ruth Balser, Paul Coletti, Bill Heck, Ken Parker, and Setti Warren.
The preliminary candidates for Ward 8 School Committee member are: Margie Ross Decter, Linda Green, Tom Mountain,
and Thomas White
Regardless of what ward you live in, you may vote in ALL School Committee elections.
Thanks - and again, please VOTE on Tuesday. |
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Drama David at All Newton Music School |
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Imaginative! Artistic! Creative Drama provides an outlet for self-expression. "Drama David's" 16 years of elementary school teaching as Mr. Gaita bring a unique energy and insight into the young child's learning. Activities and exercises involve music, movement, pantomime and role playing culminating in a small performance for family and friends. Full year enrollment required. Classes are as follows: Tuesdays 4:00- 4:45 5-7 yr olds Tuesdays 5:00- 5:45 7- 10yr olds Tuesdays 6:00- 6:45 7-10yr olds You can register on line at www.allnewtonmusicschool.com or go to the school at 321 Chestnut Street. |
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Newton Community Ed classes at Burr |
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Registration is now underway for fall classes with Newton Community Education. Coming up at Burr we have Drama and Chess on Mondays, Painting on Tuesdays, Mad Science on Wednesdays, and Manga (Japanese Cartooning) on Fridays. Check out our family programs this fall (they include two kayak trips, Family Night Under the Stars, the returning favorite Chocolate Connection, Stargazing, and more), and our classes for older elementary schoolers, like Fencing at Bigelow; Robotics, Bio Lab, or Sewing at South; Archery at Day; Babysitting; and lots more. For younger kids as well as for soccer moms we have Saturday soccer, and for middle school siblings we have lots going on after school too. In addition we have a wide variety of classes at schools throughout Newton, and we welcome kids from all schools at all of our classes. For more information or to register, call our office at 617-559-6999 or visit our website at www.newtoncommunityed.org. |
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Upcoming Events at the Auburndale Community Library |
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Is There Value in Your Old and Rare Books? on Thursday, September 24th from 7-8:30 pm This program will include a presentation by Kenneth Gloss, Proprietor, The Brattle Book Shop, one of America's oldest and largest antiquarian book shops. "New England homes are treasure-troves for old and rare books that have increased in value over the years," says Gloss. "We invite the public to bring any volumes they want to know about to the lecture for a free verbal appraisal." Ken has appeared on PBS' Antiques Roadshow numerous times.
Enjoying the Game of Chess for 8-14 year olds on Saturdays begining on September 26th. Pre-registratiion is required by emailing activities@auburndalelibrary.org
Toddler Story Hour from 10:15 to 11:15 on Tuesdays. Everyone is welcome to drop-in for this program.
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