| Mark your Calendar |
Nov 24:
Parent-Principal Coffee, 8:35-9:15am
Nov 25:
School out at noon
Nov 26-27:
Thanksgiving Recess
Nov 30:
Burr Buddies planning meeting
6:30pm, pizza
7pm, meeting
Dec 2, 4 & 7:
Book Fair
Dec 2:
PTO Meeting, 7pm Dec 5:
Burr Buddies
Family Ice Skating Frog Pond, 1pm
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Volunteer
Opportunities |
Juice Pouch Recycling
Science & Engineering Discovery Week
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Letter from the PTO Co-Presidents
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With Thanksgiving just around the bend, it is a fitting time to remember that we are most fortunate to have such an extraordinarily dedicated, hard working, talented and caring staff at Burr. Our teachers and extended staff are the foundation of the educational experience at Burr. THANK YOU to all of the adults at Burr who care for our children each and every day!
In addition to the school staff, there are many parents who support the inner-workings of Burr School. Our co-president letter is always focused around giving thanks to particular PTO volunteers and this edition is no different. Many thanks to:
Sara DeSimone Scott and Diana Londono for spearheading the 5th grade class pretzel sales and the Burr School Store. All the kiddos look forward to Tuesdays and Fridays now!
Carey Ranta and Stephanie Mamis for bringing us our first Understanding Our Differences presentation of the year. Helpers Pam McVey, Brenda Baker, Diana Gomberg, Dana Hanson, Sara DeSimone, and Amanda Loftus assisted by running activities to teach the 4th graders about Learning Disabilities.
Johanne Campbell and Nancy Caulfield for helping with the School Pictures make-up day.
Erika Drezner and Nancy Caulfield for the election Day Bake Sale. Thanks to all of the parents who bought and/or baked goodies for our sale! Also thanks to the following parents for staffing the bake sale table: Diana Fisher Gomberg, Pam McVey, Beth Tierney, Jennifer Harris, Felicia Falchuk, Junko Shibuya, Dana Hanson, Deb Horowitz, and Christine Gallivan.
Su-Mei Yen and Jeff Yerkes for joining on as new Burr Bulletin Editors. Welcome aboard!!! We also thank Allison Sharma and Beth Viveiros for their contributions to the Bulletin over the past years as they cycle off our team. And, of course, thanks to Lynne Urquiola and Ellen Chu for continuing on as trusty Bulletin eds.
And, finally, we'd like to offer an interim pat-on-the-back to our Gift For Burr fundraising team. The campaign to raise funds for all of this year's PTO work is still underway, but we'd like to take a moment to thank our tireless Co-Chairs Nancy Caulfield and Margaret Crook and the rest of their campaign committee: Eric Bobby, Tricia Bombara, Melinda Brown, Erika Drezner, Lena Gorelick, Bill Hoch, Joanmarie Lee, Anne-Maire Regan, and Weiqun Shi. And, of course, a most heartfelt thanks to those Burr families who have already made their contribution!
Donations for Gift for Burr are still being accepted in student folders and online at our Gift for Burr website. Please give what you can. We really hope to have every family at Burr make a monetary donation to the PTO by December 1. We are so thankful for each and every donation we receive!
Have a terrific Thanksgiving break, everyone!
Steve & Dana |
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School Council Update
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In the first meeting of the year School Council members got acquainted with each other and also with basic procedures and duties and responsibilities of School Councils. Diana Fisher-Gomberg will serve as co-chair with Principal Cindy Bencal. Hope Kellman will be the liason to the PTO. Two items were proposed for the agenda for School Council this year: 1) space concerns 2)The School Improvement Plan for 2009-2011. In addition, members discussed the new Vision 2020 Strategic Plan. Cindy will propose additional items for the next meeting.
Below is the meeting schedule for 2009-10:
- Monday, November 30th at 4:30pm
- January 11th, Monday, 3:30 pm
- February 8th, Monday, 4:30 pm
- March 16th, Tuesday, 3:30 pm
- April 12th, Monday, 4:30 pm
- May 17th, Monday, 3:30 pm
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Finally, the School Store is back!
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The Burr School Store sells fun pens and pencils, unique erasers, other school supplies and some novelty items. Prices range from $0.25 to $2.00. The store is open before school every Tuesday 8:20 - 8:35 a.m.
Please keep visiting the store, OUR MERCHANDISE IS ALWAYS CHANGING. If you did not find the product you were looking for last week maybe it will be there the next. If you are looking for a special school supply and we do not have it, LET US KNOW! Each week we will have two novelty items - this week those products are gloves ($1.50) and homemade hair bands ($2.00).
Questions or comments? Contact Diana Londono at susanainny@hotmail.com. Thank you for supporting the Fifth Grade Class! |
Friday Pretzels - Only a Buck!
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 That's right, $1. Remember - to help selling go smoothly, Blue Zoners should park legally while your riders make their purchase or arrive five or ten minutes after 3:00 to give 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 alone. Pretzels will be available to bus riders and BCAPers as well. |
Burr Buddies Family Ice Skating
Frog Pond, Boston Common
Saturday, December 5, 1:00-3:00 pm |
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Mark your calendars now!
Kick off the holiday season with a terrific Boston tradition! Join us for our annual Boston/Newton Burr Buddies trip to Boston Common's Frog Pond for an afternoon of ice skating. We'll have more details for you closer to the event itself, but here are the basics:
Ice Skating at Frog Pond
Saturday Dec 5, 1:00 - 3:00 pm
Admission: Free for ages 13 and under; $4 for 14 and over.
Ice Skates: Rental is $5 for 13 and under. $8 for 14 and over. Or bring your own skates.
Burr Buddies is a group of Burr families from Boston and Newton who get together for various fun activities throughout the year. All Burr families are welcome to join us! If you think you might join us, please let Dana Hanson know. |
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Newton Parks and Recreation Dept.
2009 December School Vacation Programs |
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Family Trip to Edaville Railroad - December 27
Join us on an exciting trip to Edaville USA in Carver, MA. The Festival of Lights features millions of lights and displays in a spectacular holiday celebration. Visitors can ride the heated train past an explosion of holiday lights and decorations, listen to carols, and enjoy all of the outdoor rides and attractions that make Edaville USA a New England tradition! Bus leaves from the Albemarle Field House. 2:30 - 8:30 PM $30.00
Family Movie Night at West Newton Cinema -
December 29 & 30
Enjoy a movie, popcorn and drink all for only $6.00. Tickets will be sold at the West Newton Cinema on the day of the event. This is a popular event and tickets may sell out.
Fun-tastic Vacation Program - December 28, 29, 30 and 31
For Grades K - 2 at the Newton Centre Hut and For Grades K - 6 at the Lower Falls Community Center
It's like summer camp in the winter. Several different activities to choose from each day including sports, arts and crafts, gym activities, inside games, cooking, outside games, special events and more. Be sure to bring a lunch and snack each day. 8:15AM - 3:30PM with extended day available to 5:30PM. $45.00 per day or $160.00 for all 4 days. Add $12.50 per day for extended day.
Thundercat All Sports Clinic - December 28, 29, 30 and 31
Half Day Program for Ages 5 - 7 Full Day Program for Ages 7 - 12
For the sports enthusiast. Play a variety of games including basketball, floor hockey, soccer, and more - all in a relaxed, fun atmosphere. Located at Pelligrini Park. Be sure to bring a lunch and snack each day.
Half Day Program - 9:00 AM - 12:00 noon
$120.00 res $130.00 non res
Full Day Program - 9:00 AM - 3:00 PM
$160.00 res $170.00 non res
Puddlestompers - December 28, 29 and 30
A drop off program for 3 - 6 year olds. 9:00 am - 12:00 noon. Explore the beauty and quiet of winter in this indoor based program. Learn about how animals survive the winter and why evergreens keep their leaves. Look for animal tracks and other signs of winter activity. Each day will explore a different aspect of nature in winter. Located at Nahanton Park.
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Lexington Street Housing Hearing
Tuesday, Nov. 24th, 7:00 pm |
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There will be a hearing before the Newton Zoning Board of Appeals on TUESDAY November 24th @ 7:00 in the large Aldermanic chamber of Newton City Hall to review and possibly vote on the application to build 10 units of housing adjacent to the Burr Field, also referred to as Parkview Homes and the Lexington Street project.
Public comment will be invited at the meeting. It is possible that the ZBA will vote on the zoning appeal application at this meeting so please make every effort to attend to ensure that your comments will be considered. You can also submit comments in writing to Harvey Creem, chairperson to the ZBA, with a copy to Sherri Lougee, the ZBA Board Clerk. The address is:
Newton City Hall
C/O Board of Appeals
1000 Commonwealth Avenue
Newton, MA 02459-1449
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| Used Musical Instrument Drive
December 7 - 12, 2009 |
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The Newton Public Schools Fine Arts Department is teaming up with the Rotary Club of Newton and the Office of the Mayor of Newton to hold a Used Musical Instrument Drive.
The goal is to provide Scholarship Instruments to elementary students who may not be able to participate in the Elementary Instrumental Music Lesson Program because the expense of leasing or purchasing an instrument is cost-prohibitive for their parents or guardians. All instruments collected will remain the property of the Fine Arts Department and will be on loan to students while they remain active in the elementary instrumental music program (grades 4 - 5).
ACCEPTING DONATIONS OF:
BRASS INSTRUMENTS: Baritone Horns, French Horns, Trombones, Trumpets
WIND INSTRUMENTS: Alto Saxophones, Clarinets, Flutes, Oboes
PERCUSSION INSTRUMENTS: Drum Pads, Snare Drums and Xylophones w/stand
STRING INSTRUMENTS: Cellos, String Basses, Violas & Violins (all sizes)
Donations may be dropped off at the:
Newton Community Service Center
492 Washington Street
Monday, Dec. 7th - Friday, Dec. 11th: 8:00 AM - 1:00 PM
Saturday, Dec. 12th, 9:00 AM-1:00 PM
Certificate of Donation for tax purposes will be available upon request.
For more information or questions about this program
Contact: Richard P. King, Fine Arts Coordinator, Newton Public Schools, 100 Walnut Street, Newton, MA 02460, 617-559-9090 |
| Baseball @ BC in the Bubble |
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Three winter camps for kids ages 6 to 12 -
"HOLIDAY SHOPPERS' CLINIC" (12/12 & 12/19) - do some Holiday shopping while your kids play baseball in the Bubble (6 to 9 pm both dates).
"HOLIDAY YOUTH CAMP" (12/27-12/30) - practice fielding, hitting & pitching and play some games during the Holiday vacation week (9 am to 12 pm each day).
"PARENTS' NIGHT OUT CLINICS" (2/6 & 2/13) - get a night out for dinner or Valentine's Day while your kids have a blast playing Bubble-Ball (6 to 9 pm both nights).
For more info go to www.bceagles.com/baseballcamps or call 617-552-1132.
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| NCSC Chestnut Street Teen Center Grand Opening |
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Newton Community Service Center (NCSC) and The Newton Partnership cordially invite the community to the Grand Opening celebration of the new Chestnut Street Teen Center, 1254 Chestnut Street, Newton Upper Falls, on Tuesday, December 1, 2009 at 7:00 - 9:00 pm. Gerry T. Leone, Jr., Middlesex District Attorney, and Dr. V. James Marini, Interim Superintendent of Newton Public Schools, will speak. Special guests include Mayor David Cohen and Mayor-Elect Setti Warren. Teen Center staff and teen members will be on-hand to describe the program and answer questions.
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