PTO Co-President's Letter

Dear Friends,

Has there been a budget cut for warm weather?  Seems like we should be enjoying spring already! 

Well, there may be nothing we can do about the weather, but you can make your voice heard regarding the impending budget cuts in the Newton Public School system that will directly effect Burr School.  Your next opportunity to be heard in person is tonight, Monday, March 28 at 7:30 pm at the  School Committee meeting at the F. A. Day Middle School.  Please attend this public commentary session and make your representatives aware of your opinions!  Or you can contact the school committee directly by email at schoolcommittee@newton.k12.ma.us  Proposed budget cuts will strongly effect arts and music instruction at Burr. Why are these always the first items to get the ax?  Ask your school committee and tell them what you think!

Just a reminder:  Joe Russo, Assistant Superintendent for Elementary Education Newton Public Schools, is planning to visit Burr school to hear from Burr parents regarding Mindy Johal's performance as Principal at Burr. He will be at Burr on Friday, April 29, 2011 from 8 AM to 10:30 AM. He prefers to meet with people individually or in small groups for about ten minutes of confidential conversation. Please contact Maura Albano, Executive Assistant for Burr, to sign up for the time you would like to come by Friday, April 1.

3 pieces of PTO business: 

May Fair Committee - We are currently seeking volunteers to participate on the May Fair committee.  This spring carnival in the field at Burr is one of the most anticipated and fun activities on the PTO calendar, with many different levels of volunteers needed.  For more information or to volunteer please contact Valerie Wastcoat or Maren Oslund.

Burr Bulletin - Ever been at a cocktail party and wanted to tell people, "Me? Oh, I'm an editor." Well here's your chance! For only a few hours a month, you could be in-the-know about all things Burr. It's interesting work, and all the content is provided. Think about it - if we get enough staff, we could start having mixers! For more information, e-mail Ellen Chu or Jeffrey Yerkes.

Board Members - Positions will be open on next year's PTO board for a Co-President, Secretary, Treasurer, and Fundraising Leader.  Serving on the PTO board is not as demanding as you might think and gives a real inside view of the workings of the school, and its various levels of administration.  If you think that you or someone you know might be interested in learning more about any of these positions, please contact Steve DeJesus or Tracy Carter as soon as possible.

Special thanks to the amazing members of BOOYA and other student volunteers for their fundraising efforts last week toward helping the earthquake and tsunami ravaged people of Japan.  Several thousand dollars were raised which will be given to the Japanese Association of Greater Boston who will channel the funds to appropriate organizations, based on the guidance from the General Consulate of Japan in Boston. Good job, guys.  Go BOOYA!

Special, if belated, thanks also go out to several dedicated members of our community for their tireless efforts on some of our most enjoyable events - Jean Giglio for the recent, well-attended, and much enjoyed ice skating party, Jackie Gelb, Dana Hanson, and Ann Langenfeld for the wonderful International Potluck Supper, and Lin Themelis for her coordination of the massively successful book swap.  Thank you all for making our community the great place it is!

Keep an eye out for an upcoming survey to be circulated by the PTO to learn more about your preferences for receiving PTO and other school communications.  PTO emails typically are only read by 25 - 40% of recipients.  Is this the best way to communicate with you?  Are papers in children's take-home folders more effective or less?  Please share your opinions with us in the upcoming survey so that we can serve you better!

Please look for detailed info elsewhere in this Bulletin regarding our upcoming showing of the movie Race to Nowhere on Friday April 8, the PTO meeting/Pool Party on Saturday April 9, and the Burr Night at the Chateau Restaurant on Wednesday April 13.

Thanks and see you around Burr,
Steve DeJesus and Tracy Carter
Co-presidents, Burr PTO

Creative Arts and Sciences

The Time Has Finally Arrived . . . . .

The Creative Arts and Sciences Committee and the Burr School PTO proudly present

Ruby Bridges

                                 
Tuesday, April 5th
Grades K-1 8:45-9:45 in the Cafetorium
Grades 2-5 10:15-12:15 in the Cafetorium

Ms. Bridges devotes herself to teaching civil rights and tolerance to children across the country.  As a recognized and revered public figure, she is deeply protective of her privacy, and specifies clearly in her contract that her presentation is FOR STUDENTS ONLY, and no publicity or photography of the event is allowed. We appreciate your understanding and respect for this requirement.

If your child has a Ruby Bridges book at home that he or she would like signed during the autograph session on April 5th, please send the book to school with your child no later than Thursday, March 31st.  Please attach a sticky note, indicating your child's name, grade and teacher and how you want the book to be addressed.  For example, she can sign using just your child's first name or first and last name.  For those families with more than one child at Burr, she can dedicate one book to the "The Smith Family" or "Bobby and Susie Smith."   All books purchased during the recent book sale will be distributed after her visit. 

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

Race to Nowhere Screening

April 8, 7:00pm, Newton North

Need a Friday night out?
 
Well then come see the film,"Race to Nowhere."

Not in theaters, not at Redbox, not sold on TV, but we have it!

The Burr School PTO will be hosting a showing of the film, Race to Nowhere on Friday, April 8th, 7pm at Newton North High School Auditorium

Tickets will be $10 (plus $1.54 service charge) and will be sold online ONLY! Tickets will go on sale Wednesday, March 30th
To buy tickets, go to http://www.racetonowhere.com/state-screenings/MA. A percentage of ticket sales will go to the PTO.

Race to Nowhere is a documentary which has been taking the country by storm. The film takes a look at the pressures on today's students. It shows intimate stories of young people across the country who have been pushed to the brink, whose lives are packed with activities, leaving little to no room for downtime, family time.

The film shows parents under pressure to raise high-achieving children who are good at everything - academics, sports, the arts, community service.

It offers a look at educators who feel overburdened, stressed and worried that students are not learning anything, and a look at college professors/business leaders who feel young people arrive at college and the workplace unprepared and uninspired.
 
Race to Nowhere is a call to families, educators and policy makers to galvanize change before it is too late.
 
This film is intended for mature audiences and may contain content disturbing to children. This film is not recommended for elementary school-aged children. The film is rated PG-13.
 
Mark your calendars- April 8th, 7pm!

Hope to see you there!

Pam McVey, Tracy Carter and Dana Hanson
Questions? Contact Pam at s.richard@verizon.net

Burr Friendtrips Pool Party/PTO Meeting

Saturday, April 9, 1:45-4:00pm

We invite ALL members of the Burr community to join us for two favorite annual events all wrapped up in one!

Burr Newton/Boston FriendTrips BU Pool Party

*AND*

April PTO Meeting!

Boston University Fitness & Recreation Center
915 Commonwealth Avenue, Boston
1:45 to 4:00 pm

(change into suits, kids swim/adults have meeting, then potluck snacking party!)
$10 per swimming child

RSVP today because the kids LOVE this event and we are limited to 25 kiddie swimmers. (Parents, if you wish to swim with your children, that's swell...though usually most parents opt not to.)  Click here to get a feel for the scene in the aquatic center--kids love the lazy river, water basketball, and tons of "noodles" and other floating toys on site.  Cost per child swimmer is $10, which we will collect on site at the event.

If you would like to join us, RSVP to Dana Hanson to reserve your spot--again space is limited, so you must pre-register. 

Burr School Raffle - Watch for Tickets Coming Home in Your Child's Folder...

Support the 5th grade and buy raffle tickets for a chance to WIN one of these fabulous baskets! Drawing April 11th at the All School Meeting.

Take me out to the ball game!

Basket includes: 2 Red Sox tickets to weeknight game ~ $50 Extra Innings gift certificate ~ $25 Gift card to Modell's~2 Red Sox T-shirts (blue and red)~Children's book, "Pitching with the Papelbons" ~ small Red Sox backpack ~ Red Sox photo & memory album ~ Baseball card game ~ Baseball scorekeeper ~ Soft bat & ball ~ Red Sox Mr. Potato Head ~ Wally floor puzzle ~ Red Sox trivia card game. Estimated value $300.

Fun & Games!

Basket includes: $50 gift card to AMC movie theaters ~ $30 gift certificate to Monster Mini Golf ~ Creativity for Kids Create Your Own Book ~ modeling clay ~ card games ~ Justice League comic and action figures ~ 1000 piece puzzle ~ paint set ~ Constructibles building set ~ Spot It game ~ Pickle game ~ Bakugan card game ~ GI Joe Monopoly ~ Art Set ~ Solar Car book ~ Castle Keep game ~ Air Hogs Build Your Own Custom RC plane ~ pocket games. Estimated value $300.

Baskets are on display in the school lobby!

Ticket prices: 1 for $1, 6 for $5, 12 for $10 or 25 for $20. Raffle drawing will be during the All School Meeting Monday, April 11th at 8:45am (You do not need to be present to win and only 1 winning ticket per person).

Please fill out as many tickets as you would like to purchase and return them to school in an envelope labeled 5th Grade Raffle by Friday, April 8th. Cash or check payable to the Burr PTO Fifth Grade.

Thanks for your support!

Proceeds will support fifth grade special events to celebrate the last year of elementary school, including graduation, yearbook, class party and class gift to Burr School. For more information, please contact Margaret Crook at gmcrook@rcn.com

Burr Needs You! Sunday, May 15

Assistant Superintendent Joe Russo visits Burr, Friday, April 29, 8am-10:30am

Joe Russo, Assistant Superintendent for Elementary Education Newton Public Schools, is planning to visit Burr school to hear from you regarding Mindy Johal's performance as Principal. He will be at Burr on Friday, April 29, 2011 from 8 AM to 10:30 AM. He prefers to meet with people individually or in small groups for about ten minutes of confidential conversation. Please contact Maura Albano, Executive Assistant for Burr, to sign up for the time you would like to come by Friday, April 1.

As part of Mindy's formal written evaluation, he will focus on themes developed by the Educational Leadership Policy Standards set by the Council of Chief State School Officers, which include:

• Shared vision for the school supported by all stakeholders,
• School culture and instructional programs conducive to excellent, innovative student learning and staff professional growth,
• Management of the organization, operation, and resources for a safe, efficient, and effective learning environment,
• Collaboration with the faculty and responsiveness to diversity and different community interests,Professional integrity,
• Communication skills and political savvy that positively influence the political, social, economic, legal, and cultural context so as to encourage respectful and responsible behavior among all members of the school community and,
• Professional growth including critical reflection upon her own practice.

BOOYA Fundraiser

Everyone worked so hard on the fundraiser to help the people of Japan.  There were about 18 different AMBASSADORS help plan, advertise, create, count, cheer, encourage, and make a HUGE difference.  In addition, about 12 different families helped support the AMBASSADORS.   Many students did some work around the house or made a plan with their families to raise money.  As of right now, we have raised  $4,886 to help the people of Japan. GREAT JOB!!  The whole community has really made a difference. GO BOOYA!!  

Friday Pretzels coming soon! Watch your child's folder for the announcement!

Proceeds from the pretzel sales support fifth grade special events to celebrate the last year of elementary school, including graduation, an end of the year party and a class gift to Burr.

Community News

Auburndale Community Library

4th Grade Parent/Child Book Group

Parents of 4th graders - do you and your kids like to read? Come and join the 4th Grade Parent/Child Book Group at the Auburndale Community Library!

Children and parents will read an assigned book and meet once a month on Thursday evening from 6:30-7:30 pm for the discussion. Children will take turns to lead the discussion with a parent or a friend!

The first meeting will be on March 31. The first book will be Lawn Boy by Gary Paulsen.

To register or for more information:
 
Please call the library (617-552-7158) or email
Ellen Chu or Suruchi Kaul with your name, child's name, telephone number and email address! 

Aid for Japan Marathon Concert

Saturday, April 2, 2011 from 9:00am-8:00pm

Brookline Music School will sponsor the fundraising event, "Aid for Japan Marathon Concert" with sponsored performances by faculty, students and friends to show support for the victims of the disaster in Japan. The concert will take place from 9:00am to 8:00pm on Saturday, April 3rd, 2011 in the Brookline Music School's Bakalar Recital Hall.

Brookline Music School faculty, Tomoko Iwamoto and Atsuko Jozaki are coordinating the event, expressing their deepest condolences to those who have lost loved ones, and who are suffering from this tragedy. All proceeds go to the Japanese Association of Greater Boston to benefit the victims of the March 11th earthquake and tsunami in Japan. Donations will be sent to the most appropriate and effective organization, to be determined based on the guidance from the General Consulate of Japan in Boston.

The Aid for Japan Marathon Concert will take place at Brookline Music School's Bakalar Recital Hall, 25 Kennard Road, Brookline, MA 02445 on Saturday, April 3rd, 2011 from 9:00 am to 8:00pm. The Marathon Concert is open to all. For more information about this event please email Tomoko Iwamoto at tiwamoto@verizon.net or contact Brookline Music School at (617) 277-4593.