| Mark your Calendar |
Nov 10:
Respect for Human Diffferences Meeting
Nov 11:
No School -
Veteran's Day
Nov 25:
School out at noon
Nov 26-27:
Thanksgiving Recess |
Volunteer
Opportunities |
|
|
|
|
Co-Presidents' Letter
|
|
Dear Burr families,
Every time we sit down to write our update, we are amazed by how much PTO "stuff" has happened since our last communication with you. The school year is most definitely in full swing and our vast array of PTO activities reflects that!
Once again, we are most grateful to all the families who have already contributed to the Gift For Burr campaign. Please don't delay in making your donations--the sooner we meet our fundraising goals, the sooner the PTO will be able to shift its full attention back to our programs and support of our teachers, staff and students at Burr School.
We'd like to take a moment for a few volunteer "thanks" over the past few weeks...
--To our newest member of our Hospitality Committee, Andrea Flint. Andrea joins Tracy Carter and Amanda Loftus to bring us coffee, tea, and goodies at our PTO meetings and morning coffees.
--To Eric Bobby and 5th grade teacher Liz Moran for a thoughtful and informative presentation on the Burr Green Team Committee at our October PTO meeting. Many thanks to all the parents and teachers who attended and helped us generate ideas for future Green initiatives at Burr.
--To Ward 4 School Committee Member Jonathan Yeo and challenger Dan Proskauer for visiting Burr parents at an informal coffee to discuss their positions and views prior to the election. Election Day is tomorrow, November 3. Burr parents, be sure to get out there and vote!
--To all who assisted in the plight to bring a replacement refrigerator to the Burr Teachers Lounge. Let's just say it took a village! Thanks to Sandy Hamilton for arranging the donation from her employer and thanks to the following parents for their physical assistance and/or moral support to get the job done: Yigal Agam, Bob Bombara, Brian Burba, Steve DeJesus, Kyle Erlandsen, Guang Feng, Billy McDonald, Scott Roth and Martha Sweet.
--To our BOO Crew and all the parents who gave us another spOOktaular Halloween Family Fun Night. We are so fortunate to have a terrific committee for this event: Lizette Eastman, Hope Kellman, Stephanie Mamis, Pam McVey, Carey Ranta and Ellen Regan.
It's always a joy to work with all of you. Thanks for everyone's support of the PTO.
See you around school,
Steve & Dana
|
Have You Made Your Gift for Burr?
|
|
Just four weeks left in the Gift for Burr campaign!
Help us reach our goal of $35,000 and 100% participation. Sen d a check in your child's backpack, or click here to make your Gift for Burr online today.
Questions? Please feel free to email GiftforBurr@gmail.com. Thank you to the many who have donated so far!! |
Donate Your Extra Treats!
|
|
 The Social Action Committee and BOOYA will be collecting leftover Halloween candy to donate to the Pine Street Inn (serving New England's homeless men and women). You or your child can deposit extra candy in the collection barrel in the main lobby at Burr School. We will accept candy in its original (unopened) wrapper. We will take donations on Monday, November 2, Tuesday November 3, and Wednesday, November 4. Questions/comments/want to help with Social Action Committee or BOOYA events? Contact Jeff Zabel at jeff.zabel@tufts.edu. |
Superintendent Search
|
|
Dear Parents, The Superintendent Search Committee has begun its endeavor to find the best person to be our City's new superintendent. As part of the process, the committee is interested in getting as much input from residents as possible. There will be many opportunities for community members to be part of the process... there will be focus groups, community forums, etc. Your first chance to voice an opinion is the online survey found here. The survey was drafted by the search firm hired by the School Committee. Please take a moment to fill out the survey by Wednesday, Nov. 4th. Thanks in advance for your participation. Best, Laura Holt Co-Chair Newton PTO Council Member of Superintendent Search Committee |
| Respect for Human Differences Committee
First Meeting of the year - Tues 11/10 |
|
 The Burr Respect for Human Differences (RHD) Committee is a group of parents and teachers who work on our school community's growth toward respect for human differences, one of the core values of our Newton Public Schools. Last year, we met four times to work with chairs and facilitators of existing RHD programs such as World Cultures/International Potluck Dinner, Burr METCO Buddies / Friendtrips, and ran a book group for "The Trouble With Boys". We also purchased and painted a world map on the black-top area of the playground. Additional initiatives this year include promoting anti-bullying education at Burr, a book group on various topics pertaining to RHD issues, and facilitating Burr in participating in Inclusive Schools Week.
We look forward to our work this year and hope that new folks will join our committee!
First Meeting of the Year -- All Welcome
Respect for Human Differences Committee
Tuesday, November 10
7:00 to 8:15 pm in the library
|
Pretzels Are Back!
|
|
 The Fifth Grade will be selling pretzels after school on Fridays starting this Friday, Nov. 6.
Same as last year, the pretzels will cost $1 and be sold near the flagpole. Pretzels will be available to bus riders and BCAPers as well.
To help selling go smoothly, Blue Zoners should park legally while your riders make their purchase. Or, please consider coming to school five or ten minutes after 3 to give your kids a chance to get their pretzels and be ready and waiting for you. Ms. Bencal stays outside until 3:15, so no one will be left outside alone.
If you are a Fifth Grade parent or student who would like to help, please contact Sara DeSimone Scott at gsna@comcast.net or 617-795-2207.
|
The Return of the Burr "Guys Read" Book Group. Calling Burr Dads/Uncles/ Grandpas/ Guys and their boys in grades K-5
|
|
 Mr. Gaita and Ms. Guttman are looking for big guys and young guys for our "Guys Read" book group. We are a group of adults and boys in grades K through 5 who will meet periodically to discuss books.
First Meeting: Monday, November 16th
6 - 6:45 pm in Mr. Gaita's room
Book
Selection: Arthur and His Knights retold by Howard Pyle; Sterling
Publishing Co. (Amazon.com has the book starting at $0.01!)
Please read through page 70 (the end of Part III) for our first meeting. If the book is a "just right" selection for your boy, he can read it himself; otherwise, the adult can read it to him! We'll do an icebreaker and have questions about the book, no pressure, just fun!
Please contact Mr. Gaita if you have any questions about the book group.
|
| Oct 21 PTO Meeting Minutes |
|
Click herefor the minutes from the Oct. 21 PTO meeting. Thank you to ALL that attended this meeting and a special thanks to Eric Bobby and Ms. Moran for providing us with an update on Green happenings at Burr. This was an amazing presentation all greened up with the Green Power Ranger and Kermit the Frog! If you were not at the meeting you may not know that our recording secretary, Kelly Brown, made a motion to distribute agendas for future meetings and minutes of past meetings electronically. Agendas and minutes are posted to the Burr Web site www.burrpto.org for all to see. This green effort to reduce paper waste was seconded and unanimously approved by all present at the meeting. Please note that Kelly will strive to have minutes posted online within one week of the meeting and agendas out a week prior to the meeting. If you would like hard copies please contact Kelly at kellyebrown@verizon.net. Any motions and votes that are made will be noted in the minutes and posted in the bulletin in the interest of full disclosure. Eric Bobby and Liz Moran provided a Green Team briefing about current "green" projects and initiatives as well as ideas for future projects. If you missed the meeting and would like to see more please see the attached minutes and the handouts from the meeting. Or feel free to contact Eric at ericpbobby@hotmail.com or Liz at elizabeth_moran@newton.k12.ma.us, or talk to any one of the folks that signed in that evening (the list of attendees is on the top of the minutes). As part of the meeting, we were pleased to hear from Julie Goodman from Newton Eco-Teams.org. She let us know how you and your family can get on board and reduce your carbon footprint. Mike Gevelber is going to start Burr's very first Eco-Team. Please contact Mike at gevelber@bu.edu if you would like to learn more or join the team you can also go to http://www.newtonecoteams.org/ Next PTO MeetingThe Nov/Dec PTO meeting traditionally coincides with our annual Book Fair. We are working on scheduling both at the moment. The plan is to have a speaker about literacy, an update on reading buddies, as well as some book shopping time. We'll let everyone know about the schedule as soon as things are solidified. |
Winter Vacation Soccer Clinic
|
|
|
The women's soccer at Boston College staff invites girls aged 6-14 to join them for a soccer clinic, Dec. 28-31 from 12 p.m. - 5 p.m. The focus is on fun and development. For information on programs and registration visit www.bceagles.com/camps, call 617-552-0982 or e-mail soccer.clinic@bc.edu |
| Day Magazine Drive |
|
Looking for a magazine subscription to give for the holidays? Is one of your own magazines in need of renewal? The Day Middle School Magazine Drive is ready to help! This one of the school's most successful (and easy) fundraisers and provides financial support for technology purchases and funding of the Creative Arts and Sciences programs, which benefit all middle school students! Day Middle School gets 40% of every new or renewed subscription. To start or renew a magazine subscriptions, go to www.qsp.com. Please use code 425024646 for Day Middle School. When filling out the form, there's no need to specify an individual middle school student unless you know one. Any questions? Give Susan Cassidy a shout at srcassidy@gmail.com. And, thanks in advance for helping out your friends in middle school (you'll be there before you know it!) |
| Special Ed PAC |
|
The Newton Parent Advisory Council (PAC) for Special Education invites you to find out how to advocate more effectively for your child's educational needs. Come to the Education Center, 100 Walnut St., Newton, on Thursday, Nov. 5 at 7:30 p.m. to hear Daniel Ahearn, Esq., an expert on special education law and parent rights. Dan practices disability, special education, education, and children's law and is on the faculty at Suffolk University Law School. He is the assistant head of Landmark School, which specializes in teaching students with language-based learning disabilities. He was the director of the Massachusetts Bureau of Special Education Appeals and has written many articles on special education law. For more information or to join the online discussion group, e-mail info@newtonpac.org or visit www.newtonpac.org |
| Understanding Our Differences |
|
A 30th anniversary celebration of Understanding Our Differences will be held Nov. 10 from 7- 9 p.m. at the Brae Burn Country Club in Newton.
The guest speaker is Governor Deval Patrick. Leadership Awards will be presented to Carol Kanin, past president of the board of directors, and Ming Tsai, chef owner of Blue Ginger Restaurant for his work with State Senator Cynthia Creem in promoting food allergy awareness. The UOD curriculum team members will be honored for their dedication to updating the curriculum and developing the new Autism Spectrum Disorder unit.
For more information or tickets, visit UnderstandingOurDifferences.org or call 617-559-6075. |
| Borromeo String Quartet |
|
The award-winning Borromeo String Quartet will perform on Sunday, Nov. 8 at 3 p.m. at the Wilson Chapel, Andover Newton Theological School, 210 Herrick Road, Newton Centre. Tickets are $16 for adults, $10 for seniors and students, and $50 for families (2 adults and up to 5 children). Tickets can be purchased by calling the Suzuki School at 617-964-4522. For more information, visit www.borromeoquartet.org or www.suzukinewton.org. |
| Sam Glaser Concert |
|
|
Jewish recording artist Sam Glaser will perform at Temple Reyim in Newton on Sunday, Nov. 8 at 1:30 p.m. He has recorded 20 CDs of original music and classics, and was named one of the top 10 Jewish artists in the U.S. by Moment magazine. Tickets are $18, $14 for seniors. Group rates and sponsorships are available. Contact the Temple Reyim office at 617-527-2410 for tickets.
|
| Jackson Homestead Events |
|
Thursday, November 12, 7-8:30 p.m., the Jackson Homestead will host a workshop called "The Play's The Thing," exploring how to support childhood development through play. Hands-on activities and clips from "Consuming Kids" will be used to demonstrate points. Facilitator Sarae Pacetta is an adjunct faculty member in BU's Early Childhood department and a member of T.R.U.C.E., a local advocacy group that works to support families and teachers in raising children in today's media-saturated culture. "Family Play with Ellen Jackson: Games of the 1800s" will be held on Sunday, November 15 at 2 p.m. Find out what kids did for fun before TV, video games, and the Internet. Learn about ninepins, solve riddles, try your hand at rolling the hoop and make your own cats cradle. Each event costs $10 ($5 for members); prepaid registration is suggested. Call 617.796.1450 or e-mail historicnewtonrsvp@gmail.com for more information. | |
|
|
|
