Dear Burr parents,
 
The PTO is very excited about our principal finalist, Harminder (Mindy) Johal, and her visit to Burr this coming week.
 
 
 
 
In addition to the excitement of meeting a principal finalist, there are a lot of other things a-brewing around school. The second Sunday of April vacation is our annual Newton Serves event...this is the kickoff for an action-packed schedule at Burr right through June: Art Show, Blue Zone Safety Week, Teacher Appreciation Week, May Fair, Library Book Sale, Red Sox Game, Color Day, Ms. Bencal's Bon Voyage, 5th Grade Graduation festivities...and MORE. 

Add our Burr activities to hectic sports schedules, dance recitals, family commitments, and general spring fever and everyone can feel a little frazzled. It's not your imagination--it's a lot of stuff! As your PTO co-presidents, we want to thank everyone in our Burr community who coordinates, lends a hand, and/or shows up and participates in our spring events.  It's a lot of fun for the kids, and they will all have a great springtime because of your efforts, but we know it's a lot of work for you.
 
We just wanted to take a moment to thank you ALL early on in the season! (Oh, and we want to remind you all about our Adult-Night-Out just for relaxation and fun at the Skellig in Waltham on Saturday, June 19. Mark those calendars now!)
 
And, as always, there are specific folks to thank for recent Burr activities over the past few weeks:

• We thank Diane Jaquith for her presentation on Burr's choice-based art curriculum at Burr at our April PTO meeting in Boston.  Burr parents and teachers who attended this meeting learned about Ms. J's methods and philosophy in her classroom...and everyone will have a chance to see our kids' creations at the Atlantis Art Show later this month.

• Many thanks to Sherri Sonia for coordinating our Box Tops for Education fundraiser.  Every little bit helps, so keep those box tops coming in!

• Thanks to our BOOYA kids for reading to preschoolers and toddlers at the Auburndale Community Library.  We'd also like to thank adult helper Diana Fisher-Gomberg for overseeing the operation.
  

• Thank you to our 5th grade parents who continue to work tirelessly on the school store, the raffle, and 5th grade graduation festivities.  We are sure your kids will have a great graduation and the entire Burr community will benefit from the class gift that the 5th graders dedicate to the school at the end of the year. 

We hope everyone enjoys their April vacation and we look forward to seeing folks at Newton Serves on Sunday April 25(details and RSVP information below).
 
Steve DeJesus & Dana Hanson 
Burr PTO Co-Prezes

 

The Burr School Store sells school supplies and some novelty items. Prices range from $0.25 to $2.00. The store is open before school  Tuesdays 8:20 - 8:35 a.m. 
 
This week we are also selling 5th grade raffle tickets; prices: 1 for $1, 6 for $5, 12 for $10 or $25 for 20. Also the novelty item is Canvas Sneaker Keychain ($2.00).
 
Questions or comments? Contact Diana Londono at susanainny@hotmail.com. Thank you for supporting the Fifth Grade Class! Proceeds from the store will help fund the fifth grade graduation party and class gift to the school. 

 

How Low Can We Go?
An Earth Day Celebration on Wednesday, April 28th
 
To honor Earth Day -- which is on April 22nd during our vacation week - the Burr Green Team will be organizing a "Zero Trash Day" at the school.
 
Can we eliminate ALL the trash coming out of Burr?  Probably not.  But let's see how close we can get - how low can we go?
 
Please stay tuned for more information about this event, which will involve some sort of contest to encourage the kids. For now just mark your calendar, charge your camera, wash that green shirt and figure out how you might pack a ZERO trash lunch and snack.
 
Do you want to be on Green Patrol that day?  Please contact Eric Bobby (ericpbobby@hotmail.com) for more information. We need 4-6 volunteers to help us weigh trash in classrooms, check garbage cans, help at lunch time, and encourage the children. 
 
Remember the 4 R's:
Reduce - Reuse - Repurpose - Recycle 
 

Food and Wine for the Soul -- Technology for the Schools

'Food and Wine for the Soul --- Technology for the Schools' 

 

Join special guests Mayor Setti Warren and Shelley Chamberlain, Newton Public Schools Director of Information Technology for a night of fabulous food and wine pairings and an impressive demonstration of new 21st century technology currently being used in our schools.  

 

At the Charles River Country Club, Friday, April 30th, 7-9pm. 

 

Ticket/donation: $75 per person, 100% tax deductible. 

 

Bring family and friends!  All proceeds support the Newton Schools Foundation's campaign to outfit every NPS classroom with 21st century tools in support of Newton's strategic goal of 21st century teaching and learning.  Click here to purchase ticket.  

 

For more info, contact Tori Filler at tori_filler@newton.k12.ma.us or 617-559-6120.
 

The CPC will hold a public meeting on April 28, 2010 at 7 pm (Tentatively in Newton City Hall Cafeteria, but please confirm final location by calling 617.796.1144 on April 27-28).

 

The agenda includes updates on the current proposed amendment to the Community Preservation Act; program planning (including updating Newton's Open Space & Recreation Plan); and long-term project evaluation. No proposal working sessions or votes are scheduled. For details, contact Alice Ingerson at aingerson@newtonma.gov, 617.796.1144.

Looking for something to do with your kids during April vacation week?  Adoption Journeys, a non-profit organization that supports families who have adopted in Massachusetts, will be hosting a day at the New England Aquarium (including a lunch at Cheers).  Details:

 

When: April 21st  9:00am-3:00pm

 

Who:  Adoptive Families 

 

Cost: $10/ person (includes admission & lunch at Cheers Restaurant)

 

For information or to sign up, please contact Adoption Journeys at (617) 776-8030.  Other upcoming activities include: Big Apple Circus, Franklin Park Zoo & Six Flags.