Dear Burr Families,

Happy Valentine's Day! The month of February is packed with special events and celebrations. Besides celebrating Valentine's there is the 100th Day of School, Chinese New Year, Black History Month, President's Day, and February vacation all packed into the shortest month of the year! To make things more interesting we have had snow days to work around. Last week was our first full week of school in a while! Let's hope we have seen the last of the really big storms.

The snow mounds around the neighborhood continue to be problematic. As you know, last week one of our first graders was struck by a vehicle on Auburndale Avenue. We are so thankful that his injuries were minor. The incident is a reminder to us all that we must be especially careful during school arrival and dismissal times. The snow banks are high and drivers and pedestrians cannot see each other. I have been working closely with the school department, Department of Public Works and the police department to help improve the problem areas. We have placed temporary "No Parking" signs on both sides of Pine Street leading to Washburn Avenue. Parking in these areas has caused problems for the buses and blocked the stream of traffic.  A few things that you can do to help us are: 

• Encourage your child to buckle up quickly so traffic in the Blue Zone keeps moving.
• If your child is perpetually late getting outside at dismissal, ask him/her to hurry along (I am also asking teachers to help in this matter).
• Walk to school if possible to help reduce the traffic and leave promptly with your children to reduce congestion outside the building.
• Ask children to stay off the snow mounds outside the school.

Thank you for your support. Spring will be here before we know it!

Last week letters were sent home to over 30 parents whose children have a record of excessive school absence or tardiness. Timely and consistent school attendance is an important factor in a student's achievement as well as his/her social integration. When students are able to enter school before 8:30, hang up their coats, unpack their back packs, greet their teacher and classmates and begin their morning routine, they are relaxed and focused, and their day is off to a good start.  Students who rush in at 8:35 often feel hurried, late, and unsettled for the morning. Excessive absences leave a student constantly trying to catch up with classmates and he/she misses important shared experiences. It is a parent's responsibility to get elementary aged children to school regularly and on time. I am available to meet with parents who would like some support in this area.

I hope to see you at the upcoming Art Show, Parent Principal Coffee and International Potluck Dinner in March. Have a wonderful February vacation!

Sincerely,

Mindy

4th Grade

Lyn Littlefield Hoopes, Poet,

Friday, February 18th, in the Classrooms (Note new date!)

Poet and author, Lyn Littlefield Hoopes, will present her very popular two-day poetry writing workshop for the fourth graders. After sharing some of her own poetic works, Ms. Hoopes will lead the students on a journey of creating their own poetry by exploring the power of metaphor, rhythm, voice and pattern. In the process, they will learn about using strategies for creating poetry including imagination, line breaks, similes, the five senses and action and vivid verbs. Ms. Hoopes' beloved program emphasizes the joy of creating. The schedule for both days will be as follows:

9:45 -11:15 Ms. Robinson

11:20 -12:20 and 1:00-1:30 Ms. Cohen

1:30 -3:00 Ms. Taylor

3rd Grade

Lita Judge, Author/Illustrator, Tuesday, March 1st at 10:00 a.m. in the Cafetorium

This program connects students to local news by becoming a part of it. Pennies for Elephants is based on true events that occurred almost 100 years ago. Lita will share how she brought the story to life by searching through old newspapers, hosting costume parties, and even working with a trained elephant. She'll use the book to provide an engaging hands-on introduction for young students to read their local newspaper. Students will be encouraged to take an interest in local news and events in the global community, and become aware of the world beyond their doorstep. The presentation will expand the tools students have for their own writing and illustrating.

Creative Arts and Sciences Programs are fully funded by the Burr PTO and are made possible by your generous donations.  If you have any questions or comments please feel free to contact:

Felicia Falchuk, felicia.falchuk@gmail.com

Beth Tierney, bethtierney@comcast.net

Pam McVey, s.richard@verizon.net  

BOOYA PJ Drive - This Week

Burr International Potluck - Planning Meeting Reminder

Anyone who is interested in helping organize the International Pot Luck event is invited to a planning meeting this Wednesday, 2/16, at 7 pm in the Burr Library. You do NOT have to attend this meeting to join us for the potluck dinner...this is really just if you are extra interested in helping out. (For the potluck event itself, anyone may attend and all you'll have to do is bring some food to share!) 

The entire Burr Community is invited to the International Potluck Dinner will be on Sunday, March 13th from 4:30-7 p.m. at Newton North.  (Watch out for more information to follow.)

For more information about the Burr International Potluck, please contact Dana Hanson danakhanson@gmail.com, Ann Langenfeld annlangenfeld@gmail.com, or Jackie Gelb jackie@jackiegelb.com.

Inclusion Week Wrapup

Burr Friendtrips - Cosmic Bowling Party Feb 25 

Please join Burr Friendtrips for a cosmic bowling party at the Boston Bowl on February 25th at 6:30. It's a great time every year so join us for pizza, candlepin bowling and arcade games. Burr Friendtrips is a group of Burr families from Boston and Newton who get together for various fun activities in the Boston area. Please email Jackie Gelb jackie@jackiegelb.com for a flyer and more information.

Book Swap coming in March

Spending some time cleaning out closets and shelves this February break? Use the opportunity to set aside some gently-used books for the annual Burr Bookswap.  This is a wonderful opportunity for students to exchange books they have read for ones they don't have yet, and gives parents/guardians the chance to trim those dusty bookshelves.

Between March 1st and March 15th, we will be collecting gently used K-5 books. Please leave them in a bag outside your student's classroom.  Make sure your student's name and teacher's name are marked clearly on the bag.

Please send only books suitable for K through 5. No preschool, adult, or activity/workbooks.

On Tuesday, March 15th, classes will visit the Book Swap. Students pick out one book for every two they handed in. Every student gets a book, regardless of whether they donated or not. Teachers get their pick too, and leftover books are donated to local charities and schools.

Volunteers are needed after drop-off every morning to help collect and sort books, and also to set up and staff the swap. Whichever way you can help will be greatly appreciated. Please contact Lin Themelis at 617-792-7651 or lint@athemelis.com.

Please join fellow Burr families for the 6th Annual Ice Skating Event.

When:    Sunday, March 6, 2011, 3:00pm - 5:00pm

              (note different & longer time)
Where:   Newton/Brighton Daly Ice Skating Rink
Who:      Everyone is welcome - bring the entire family
Cost:      FREE, FREE, FREE Skate Rentals: $5.00 per person.

Directions and more info to follow. If you have any questions now, please send me an email at jgiglio@mak.com or a message at 617/527-3464

School Store  

NPS News

SPACE Camp is a four-week summer enrichment program for students entering kindergarten through ninth grade. SPACE is a terrific opportunity for students. We offer two programs - an upper school (entering grade 5-entering grade 9) and a lower school (entering kindergarten-entering grade four). During the upper school program, students are given the opportunity to become involved in program courses of their own choosing. During the lower school program, students are assigned to age appropriate groups. They will work with staff members in art, music, science, movement, games, recreation, drama, and other enrichment activities.

The program runs Tuesday, July 5 - Friday, July 29.  Times are listed below:

Full Day Program 9:00 a.m. - 3:45 p.m.

Morning Program 9:00 a.m. - 1:00 p.m.

Extended Day A.M. 8:00 a.m. - 9:00 a.m.
Extended Day P.M. 3:45 p.m. - 6:00 p.m.

Please see our link on the NPS website for additional information and for all of our registration information:
http://www3.newton.k12.ma.us/spacecamp

Curtains: The Musical Comedy Whodunit, directed and choreographed by Kirsten McKinney, produced by Theatre Ink with Musical Direction by Rachel Ziering.

It is the brassy, bright and promising year of 1959.  Boston Colonial Theatre is host to the opening night performance of a new musical. When the leading lady mysteriously dies on stage the entire cast and crew are suspects. Enter a local detective, who just happens to be a musical theatre fan!

March 17th, 18th and 19th at 7:30pm, and March 20th at 2:00pm. Auditorium at NNHS, 457 Walnut St., Newtonville. Tickets $7 at www.theatreink.net or 617-559-6406.

Community News

Looking for something fun to do over February vacation?

The Tanglewood Marionettes' "The Dragon King" is coming to Newton North High School on Sunday, February 20 at 2pm. It is easy to purchase reserved seats online at www.newtoncommunitypride.org. 

Tickets are $8 in advance/$10 at the door. Don't miss this entertaining and beautiful underwater fantasy!

3rd Annual Newton Environmental Art Contest 

The 3rd Annual Newton Environmental Art Contest is open to all students in grades K-5 who live or attend school in Newton

Entries are Due March 2011.  The Awards Progarm is in April 2011.  For more information go to greendecade.org/artcontest.

Newton Unplugged & Connected 2011

March 3 (Thursday) Magic Recycled Box Workshop 4 - 5 pm
What can you make from a box? A fort, a train, a robot? Bring your imagination and your friends and see what you can create from recycled materials. Ages 4 and up. Newton Free Library. Co-sponsored by the Green Decade and the Newton Free Library

March 11 (Friday) Spring in My Backyard Workshop 3:30 -5 pm
Celebrate Spring with us in the Art Room by planting seedlings, making a bird feeder from pinecones, composting with red worms, and meeting our rabbit and chicken friends! Ages 5 and up. Newton Cultural Center, 225 Nevada Street, Newtonville. Co-sponsored by the Green Decade, Newton Community Farm and the Newton Pride Committee

March 26 (Saturday) Get Your Bike Ready for Spring 10 am-2 pm
Bike Newton will help kids and parents learn how to get their bicycles cleaned up and ready to ride into spring! War Memorial Triangle, Newton City Hall. Co-sponsored by Bike Newton and the Green Decade

The 2011 Newton History Series, Women Breaking Boundaries, will focus on the dynamic history of women's activism in Newton. The series is sponsored by Historic Newton.

The first program in this three-part series takes place on Thursday, February 17 at 7 pm at the Newton Free Library, when Laura Fitzmaurice will give an intriguing talk titled "Ann M. Cobb, Architect and Builder: The Woman Who Shaped Newton Highlands."

Annie Cobb was able to create a career for herself in the exclusively male world of architecture and building. Her building and design career survived two economic depressions and "set the tone for the architectural character" of her Newton Highlands neighborhood.

Laura Fitzmaurice will relate the story of Mrs. Cobb, her houses (1875-1903) and Victorian life in Newton. Fitzmaurice was awarded a 2010 research grant from the Boston Society of Architects to record the life and work of Ann Cobb.

For additional information, contact Historic Newton at 617-796-1450 or visit www.historicnewton.org