Burr Bulletin - June 14, 2010

Dear Families,

Color Day was fun, exhilarating, warm and sunny, and rewarding for all. Ms. Michna's organization of the day was incredible; everything flowed beautifully and the stations offered the students creative and varied activities. Ms. Michna's work to show that cooperation and teamwork make physical activities inclusive and therefore more fun for all, was evident throughout the day. Thank you, Ms. Michna!....and thank you to the many parents who volunteered to help on Color Day. Teachers commented on how wonderful the parent volunteers were at running the activities and at organizing the delicious pizza lunch. Having music outside to dance to and to energize us was fabulous as well. Thank you, parents; we couldn't have done it without you!

Our 4th and 5th graders impressed us with their wonderful singing and instrument playing at our Spring Concert on May 26. Many thanks to Kathryn Denney, Ted DeColo, and Jeff O'Neill for inspiring our students to work hard and perform challenging, varied and riveting selections so well. Our students showed great musicianship, enthusiasm and team spirit at our concert.

Our grade organization and teaching assignments for the 2010-2011 school year are below:

K - Nancy Fitch                      3 - Julie Canning
K - Catalina Frail                   3 - Lynette Lawton
K - Vanessa Mc Mahon          3 - Rhonda Rendulich
1 - Natalia Espinal                4 - Marcia Cohen
1 - David Gaita                     4 - Sonja Robinson
1- Nicole Golden                   4 - Melyssa Taylor
2 - Katie Creeden                  5 - Robin Cooley
2 - Sarah Littlejohn               5 - Elizabeth Moran
2 - Amy Roberts

May and June have been full of activities that bring Burr students, parents, and teachers together as we close our 2009-2010 school year. We thank you for joining us in these celebratory activities and for your vital partnership all throughout the year. Of utmost importance, however, is that which happens in the classroom between teachers and students on a daily basis. I want to give special recognition and say thank you to the Burr teachers for providing an excellent education for our students; our skillful and dedicated teachers have made this a very successful school year.

In these, the final days of school, I would like to acknowledge all of the many parents, relatives and grandparents who have given us so much support, time and assistance throughout the school year. Whether you served as a room parent, coordinated our Creative Arts and Science programs, or took part in our World Cultures Festival --whether you accompanied classes on field trips, worked on our many successful fundraising and community events, or presented to classes during our Science and Engineering Week -- whether you helped in the library, took on one of the "coordinator" positions in the PTO, prepared food for Teacher Appreciation Week, or helped with the Burr Bulletin -- we needed you and we appreciate all that you have done. Your volunteering in both big and small ways not only moves the school forward, but it gives your children the message that school is an important place and that you and the teachers are working together for their benefit. They love to have you at school, and we do too!

I would like to extend special thanks to Steve Dejesus and Dana Hanson for doing a great job as PTO co-presidents this year. Steve and Dana have been a thoughtful, resourceful, creative and fun team who oversaw both big and small projects to help the school and PTO move ahead successfully. I have appreciated their flexibility, their vision for serving students and teachers, and their focus on what is important. Steve and Dana have been a pleasure to work with; thank you! And thank you to Steve for continuing to co-lead the PTO next year with Tracy Carter.

I want you all to know that the afternoon garden retirement party that the PTO held for me on June 4 was just perfect! The garden looked magnificent (thank you, Garden Committee!), and the cookies, punch and jelly beans were delicious, colorful and festive. The song that parents and Ms. Denney performed, Here's to Song, was a lovely touch, and many thanks to David McDade our resident expert DJ for providing music throughout the afternoon.

I loved seeing and talking both with current students and parents and Burr alumnae and parents. I will also truly enjoy looking through the book of "memories" that students wrote and drew for me (so special!) I look forward to marveling at the tiled Burr School sign to which all of the students are contributing. Many thanks to the creative, hard-working party planners: Mary Lewis, Tricia Bombara, Joan Marie Lee, Anne Marie Regan, and Dana Hanson as well as the additional bakers Maria Albanese, Susan Cassidy and Ellen Regan. Thank you to everyone who helped to make the afternoon very special for me.

As I write this, my last Burr Bulletin letter, please know that it has been a true honor and a privilege to serve as the Principal of Burr School for these past 19 years. Burr has been my second home! I am so proud of our school and our school community. You have been a pleasure to work with, and I will miss everyone very much.

We will mail next year's class lists to you in late August. I look forward to seeing many of you during the six remaining days of school this year. Best wishes for a fun, enriching, healthy, safe, glorious summer!

Sincerely,
Cindy Bencal