From Ms. Johal's Desk

Dear Families,

What a sneaky April Fool's trick nature played on us last Friday! I was on the verge of packing away my scarves and gloves thinking we were done with the snow. After 25 years of living in New England you'd think I'd know better. Oh well... forever the optimist!

As you can imagine, there were several other tricksters at work on Friday trying to fool their teachers and friends. As a classroom teacher I was always secretly relieved when April 1st fell on a weekend. You never know what you would sit on that day! At Burr there were fake mice popping up all over the place and a group of students decided to come into school in pajamas to surprise their teacher. There were many 'teachable moments' during the day as teachers laughed along with students and also reminded them that good jokes are never at another person's expense.

Our fifth graders took the last of the ELA MCAS tests on Friday. We will use Monday to make up any missed tests and then send the completed tests off to the Department of Education on Tuesday. Our third, fourth, and fifth graders worked hard and put forth their best efforts. Our next testing block, in May, will be for math and science. Third and fourth graders will have two math sessions, and fifth graders will have two math and two science sessions. The testing dates are:

Grade 3:~ May 16, May 18
Grade 4:~ May 16, May 18
Grade 5:~ May 11, May 13, May 20, May 23

Last week, I had the pleasure of visiting the Kindergarten classrooms for their Family Breakfasts. I loved looking through the pictures and graphs they had done representing their families and reading the wonderful stories that they had written. It is amazing how much they have grown in so many areas. Not only are they sounding out words to write, but they can read back their own stories. The teachers have done a wonderful job of weaving concepts and skills into a unit that is important to the children. This thematic approach allows children to learn in a way that is most natural and meaningful to them. They were all so proud to share their accomplishments. I was unable to join Ms. Fitch's class for their breakfast, so they kindly invited me in for a private performance of "We're Building a Better World." I must say that was a real highlight of my year!

Burr students raised over $5,000 to donate to the Japanese Association of Greater Boston. Our fifth grade BOOYA group dedicated three days to collecting donations before and after school. Many students made plans, with the help of their families, to hold bake sales and do chores around the community to raise money. Their dedication to make a difference is commendable. Clearly, the adults in their lives are setting great examples of being caring and contributing citizens. They are 'building a better world.'

School Repairs/Improvements:
You may have noticed that the flagpole outside the building is no longer there. It was removed on Wednesday because the base had been damaged and the flagpole was unstable. It will be replaced within the next few weeks.

This week the children were asked to stay off the wooden play structure because a wooden plank fell from the area at the top of the slide. The heavy snowfall this year may be to blame. We have put in a request to have the structure inspected. Hopefully, this will be done next week.

Almost half of the classrooms in the building now have new windows. What a difference! The rooms are brighter with natural light and the windows open easily for ventilation. The contractors are doing a very nice job of cleaning up each day so there are no disruption to the school day and no safety hazards with the equipment that is left on the school grounds.

Looking Towards Next Year:
It may seem early to be thinking about next year, but we have already completed our kindergarten screening and have started having transition meetings for graduating our fifth graders.  It is a busy and exciting time of year. As we plan ahead, we need an accurate account of the students who will be in each grade. If your children are currently in grades K-4, please let us know if your children will NOT be returning to Burr School next year. Please call our office or write a brief note letting us know of your plans.

When we return from April vacation, we will be in the last segment of our school year; we look forward to this period of sustained learning time for students. We will also be working on class placement of our K-4 students. I would like to share with you the placement process that we will follow. Teachers at each grade level will meet together with special subject teachers, support staff and me to make specific recommendations for each student's placement. This team already has a wealth of information about each child's learning style, interests and needs, yet we welcome any new information you have regarding your child's exceptional strengths or needs, peers with whom your child performs well or poorly, or family issues that impact learning.

If you have information you would like the team to consider, please write it on the "Optional Parent Information Sheet Regarding Placement" that we will send home on Monday, April 25.~ Please return the form to the office by Monday, May 2. This will give you a full week to fill out this form and return it to school; please note that if you return the form after May 2, it will be too late for us to include your information in our process. We begin our placement meetings in early May; when we receive information after the process has begun, it is very disruptive, so please adhere to the May 2 deadline.

The forms you receive are given to the students' current teachers to use during the placement process. Please do not feel that you need to fill out a sheet to insure that your child receives careful consideration. On the other hand, please do not assume that the teachers and I know about all of the peers with whom your child works well or poorly.~ Please remember that the spring parent-teacher conference is a time to talk about your child's progress and learning this year; it is not a time to talk about next year's placement. Please use the "Parent Information Sheet" only, to communicate any information you want us to have.

Our goal throughout the placement process is to build balanced classes in which all children can succeed academically, emotionally, and socially. Please remember that requests for a specific teacher, whether named or described, will not be accommodated, as this would make it impossible to create balanced classes. Teachers will create balanced classes first and then teacher assignments to each class will be made.

The process of placing students is a long and complex one. The time and effort we spend weighing all of the factors reflect the importance we place on creating an optimal learning environment for each student. We ask that you respect the staff's professional judgment about the best class for your child next year. We will let you know of your child's placement in mid-late August. The class lists will be emailed unless you request a paper copy~be mailed to you. If your email address changes between now and August, please let us know.

I look forward to seeing many of you at Newton North High School for "Race to Nowhere" on Friday, April 8th and at the next PTO Meeting/Boston Pool Party on April 9th.

Have a wonderful week.

Mindy  

Burr News  

Ruby Bridges Comes to Burr 

Ruby Bridges

Burr School Raffle 

Burr PTO hosts "Race to Nowhere" April 8 7pm

Mark Your Calendars!  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 and will be sold online only.  More details on ticket sales to come next week.

"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.

Hope to see you there!
Pam McVey, Tracy Carter and Dana Hanson
Questions? Contact Pam at s.richard@verizon.net

www.racetonowhere.com 

Race to Nowhere on YouTube 

Green Team Update 

April Showers certainly started on time and April 22nd, Earth Day, is just around the corner.  We have been very busy over the winter with green initiatives, most notably, the outstanding work being done by our 5th Grade Leadership teams. Building off of the success that these students had as 4th graders in producing "The Recycling Olympics" and a great idea by Ms. Moran, the teams formed in the Fall and crafted their own cool projects, some leading up to Earth Day... 

• Classroom Educators:  All-School Meeting Recycling Game Show - the entire school loved it!  Currently planning Zero Trash Day II for April 13th - stay tuned for details!
• Energy Team:  Daily monitoring of energy usage at Burr.  Graphing and correlating the data.  Discussions on long-term ways to improve efficiency and save energy at Burr.
• Green Artists:  Conceived and built "Landfill" and "Trash Island" pieces that will be on display at the Green Art Contest at Newton City Hall.  Currently planning a Spring Green Fashion Show.
• Classroom Detectives:  Designed their own checklists for greening the classrooms. These leaders have completed interviews with each teacher and the classroom assessments. They will present fun facts to each class in April, giving positive feedback and suggestions, and deliver a small plant.

AWESOME WORK 5TH GRADERS!!!  Nice job selling T-Shirts, too!

Of course, this work is being supported by a very dedicated parent and teacher crew - thank you! Educators: Stephanie Mamis, Diana Fisher-Gomberg, Ms. Lawton, and Mr. Tobin. Detectives: Jessica Avery, Margaret Crooke, Eric Bobby, and Ms. Espinal. Energy: Tracy Carter, Jay Baronowski, Mark Lewis, Gail Larson and Ms. Moran. Art:  Kelly Brown, Dana Hanson, Pam McVey, and Ms. J. Other green projects and volunteers to thank... Recycling Olympics Video: Dave Condon and John Donovan. Terracycle Program: Scott Roth. Food Pantry Deliveries:  Billy McDonald and Gretchen Becker. Bike to Burr:  Maureen Vahey, Tricia Bombara and Ms. Johal. Contact any of us if you too would like to get involved.

Have a wonderful Spring!

Community News

Two Summer Camps at The Park School~in Brookline For Kids~Ages~4-15:

"Creative Arts at Park" is a multi-arts camp for ages 7-15.~ A full year of arts education in one summer session June 27-July 29.~Choose your own schedule from over 130 courses including video, visual arts, photography, theatre, dance, music, creative writing and sports including fencing, karate, gymnastics, swimming, soccer, tennis and basketball.

"Summer at~Park"- General camps and specialty sessions for ages 4-15.~ One and two week sessions~June 13-August 12: art, cooking, golf, fishing, field trips, lacrosse, leadership training, nature, science, soccer,~swimming, tennis and~more.~ We are located across from Larz Anderson. Extended day available.
For more info, visit www.parkschool.org/mainsummer, or call Pam Swift @ 617-274-6065.

This Summer ASA Hoops and Nike basketball are teaming up to offer 7 different basketball camps in Newton.  These camps are for boys and girls ages 7-17. For more information please visit www.asahoops.com or contact Coach Smith at 617-909-5990 or Coachb@asahoops.com 

What is "Social Thinking"?

NewtonPAC Special Educator Awards -
Call for Nominations 

Awards Ceremony will be on June 2, 2011 at 7 PM

Do you have someone you'd like to recognize?
Nominees can be any member of NPS staff. They do NOT have to be special education dedicated if they made a difference to a child receiving special education services.

There is no official limit to the number of staff members nominated per family, but please use your discretion. The awards are meant to recognize truly outstanding efforts!  All nominees will be recognized.
Please read the following important information regarding nominations!
All nominations must be received by May 15th and MUST include:
Your name (will not be made public - nominator's names are known only to award recipients).

Nominee's home school and e-mail address. If s/he is a district-wide employee, please designate as such and note which school your child attends.

A SHORT paragraph on why you believe s/he should be recognized.
Please note that the awards are for the CURRENT SCHOOL YEAR ONLY.

Send your nominations directly to Jess Wilson at pacnoms@hotmail.com.

If you are interested in helping to host the awards, please write to Jess Wilson to volunteer.

Thursday, May 12th, 2011

Start/Finish: Auburndale Cove Park
Kids Fun Run & Games - 5:30 p.m.
Race Start - 6:00 p.m.
Proceeds from the race to benefit the Melanoma Foundation of New England (www.mfne.org).
Race tees to the first 200 registrants 

• Ice Cream Party for all finishers!
• Awards for top finishers in each age division
• Prizes for top fundraisers

Age Divisions: 8 yrs and under, 9 - 10, 11-12, 13-14, 15-19, 20-29, 30-39, 40-49, 50-59, 60-69, 70-79, 80 yrs and over!

Team divisions: Youth sports team & adult team

Mostly flat course through the Auburndale neighborhoods adjacent to Auburndale Cove Park. Parking available at race start. Water stops at miles 1 and 2. Timing provided by Spitler Race Systems.

Race fees: Early registration: $20 (by 5/1/11), $25 (after 5/1/11). Kids Fun Run: $5

Fundraising: Set up your personal fundraising page at www.firstgiving.com!  Donations of $100 or more receive complimentary race registration and t-shirt (while supplies last).

Special youth/sports team registration: $150 (for up to 15 youth runners)

Register online at https://www.active.com/event_detail.cfm?event_id=1948716

Number pick up and registration: 4 p.m. - 7 p.m. on Tues 5/10 & Wed 5/11 at Wally's Wicked Good Ice Cream, 419 Lexington Street, Auburndale, MA 02466, and on race day between 4 p.m. and 5:30 at Auburndale Cove Park.

You can now register for your favorite project for NewtonSERVES 2011. Visit www.newtoncommunitypride.org and click on NewtonSERVES to find the registration form.

This is a great way for you to give back to this community which we call home. We'll only keep it great if we get together and volunteer our time and show that we are committed to this school and our community.
 
Delicious snacks provided throughout the day and then you're invited back to City Hall at 3:30pm for free ice-cream Sundays courtesy of Cabot's Ice Cream and a big Bike Rally with live music at War Memorial Circle sponsored by Bike Newton.

ANY QUESTIONS : email Kelly at kellyebrown@verizon.net, or Bill at bill.hoch@hotmail.com 

Thursday, April 7, 7 pm

Slavery, Freedom, and the Growth of the African-American Population in Newton

Dating back to the 1600s, Newton's vibrant African-American population carved out a space from which they asserted their civil and religious rights. Tracey Graham, Ph.D. candidate at the University of Chicago, will discuss slavery's appearance in Newton, trace its gradual end, and detail the growth of a black community in West Newton. She will also present new information gathered this fall by researchers involved in Historic Newton's project to expand and update its Underground Railroad exhibit.

At Myrtle Baptist Church, 21 Curve Street, West Newton. Free.

The John M. Barry Boys & Girls Club of Newton's Annual Luau will take place on Friday, April 8th at the American Legion Post 440 from 7:30 PM to midnight. The night will include dancing, music from the Reminisants, an affordable cash bar, great raffle prizes, and a Chinese food buffet. Tickets are just $30 and may be purchased at www.newtonbgc.com or in person at the Club. Call 617 630-2066 for more details.

Newton West Little League still has space for kids ages 4 to 7 (age as of 4/30/2011) in our Farm and T-Ball leagues!  If your son or daughter is interested in playing, please visit www.newtonwestll.org and click on the registration link.  Kids who are new to baseball, ages 8 and 9, are also welcome. Registration for these ages will remain open until April 8. If you have questions, please email Eric Moore at emoore2020@yahoo.com