| Mark your Calendar |
May 11-23
MCAS
May 15
Newton Serves at Burr, 12-3:30pm
May 20
Burr Mom's Night Out June 10
Parents' Night Out
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| PTO Co-Presidents' Letter | | Dear Friends,
The arrival of Spring, at least by the calendar if not by the actual weather, has seen a flurry of activities at the Burr, so we have many thanks to give for all of the hard work that has made these events a reality.
This week was Teacher Appreciation week and the teacher's received many bunches of flowers from the children, as well as a beautiful breakfast buffet from the PTO Hospitality committee. Many thanks to the room parents, led by Pam McVey, who organized the flower donations, to the parents who cooked delicious treats for the buffet and for the great organization provided by committee chairs Andrea Flint and Johane Campbell. The teachers enjoyed and appreciated all of your efforts.
The Spring weather was absent from our PTO-sponsored Red Sox night, but hearty Burr familys persevered and enjoyed the game anyway, though I don't know how many lasted through rain delays to the 2 am conclusion! Thanks to Joanmarie Lee and the Baronowski's for their efforts in obtaining and selling the tickets to this popular event.
Wednesday was Walk to School day. Congratulations to those who took the opportunity to try this alternative way of getting to school. What a great way to get some exercise, reduce Blue Zone traffic, and reduce pollution at the same time. We hope more Burr students will consider this alternative. Thanks to Tricia Bombara for organizing.
The Library Book Sale went on all week, allowing families to pay for and dedicate recently purchased library books. Special thanks to Gretchen Becker for leading this effort.
And, last but not least, we held our annual MayFair on Saturday. Finally, a bit of spring like weather showed up and gave us a very good turn out for games, snacks, crafts, cakes and lots of fun. The weather turned rainy midway through, but the party quickly moved inside and continued with very little interruption. Special thanks to organizers Maren Oslund and Valerie Wastcoat and to their army of volunteers. Many hands made for light work and everyone had a great time!
On a more serious note, we are still waiting for some decision from the School Committee regarding possible actions to ease the space crunch at Burr for next school year. As you may know, the growing Burr population will require a third 5th grade class to be added next year, but we have no space for such an addition. The school committee is trying to decide between an add on modular classroom adjacent to the school, or the creation of a classroom by carving space out of the cafetorium. The burr community would strongly prefer the added modular over the loss of cafetorium space and we are awaiting this decision.
Enjoy the spring weather, and see you around the Burr
Tracy Carter and Steve DeJesus
Burr PTO Co-Presidents
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| Important Information for all Burr Parents | |
Tonight at 7:30 the School Committee (SC) will again be meeting to discuss space needs in the Newton Public Schools. As you know, Burr parents have been quite vocal in recent weeks expressing their strong preference for a modular classroom to address our looming space crisis. In addition to the modular, the SC is also considering the construction of a "carve-out" classroom within our existing cafetorium. This option would greatly reduce the square footage of the cafetorium, create an art classroom with no natural light and excessive noise, and negatively impact lunch scheduling, all-school gatherings and productions, break-out space for specialists, and the BCAP program. At tonight's meeting, architects will be presenting possible plans for this "carve-out." No decisions will be made at this time - all options are simply being weighed. However, it is important that the SC continues to know how committed we are as a parent body to achieving the absolute best decision for Burr School. The PTO Board encourages parents, who are able, to attend the meeting tonight at the Education Center at 100 Walnut Street at 7:30. If you are unable to attend, please consider emailing the SC directly at schoolcommittee@newton.k12.ma.us to voice your opinion on this important issue.
Thank you. The PTO Board
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School Store
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 Made a HUGE mistake??? Erase it with a HUGE eraser - get yours for just $2.00 at the Burr School Store on Tuesday morning. Open 8:20 - 8:35.
There are just a few more weeks left to do your shopping before the store closes for the school year on May 24th. Thank you to all of our generous shoppers! The 5th grade Fund raising Committee appreciates your support! All proceeds will be used for 5th Grade end of the year activities.
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May Fair Thank Yous
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The May Fair Committee wants to send out a HUGE thank you to the awesome kids, parents & especially volunteers that made Saturday's May Fair a success! We all beat the rain & worked together as a community to bring the ENTIRE fair inside, bounce houses & all. We have never seen so many hands (big & small!) willing to help out so quickly! Thank you especially to all of the volunteers who helped set up, run activities, ticket sales, bake sale & clean up. Special thanks also to the Regan family (Daddies on the Grill), Stephanie Mamis (plant sale/music), Dana Hanson (face painting/legos) Pam McVey (bake sale) and all her fellow bakers & Jay Schneider (volunteers). So many people came up to us & said "I wasn't signed up to help, but what can I do?" It made us all so proud to be Burr parents. And most importantly, I think we all had a TON of fun. Can't wait for next year!
-The May Fair Committee (Valerie Wastcoat, Sloane Goldhagen, Deanna Salemme, Kelly Brown, Jenny McKee-Heinstein & Maren Oslund)
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Teacher Appreciation Week Thank You
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Thank you Room Parents, families and students for making Teacher Appreciation Week a success! The Burr School staff loved receiving all their flowers! Thanks for all your time and effort!
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Burr Parents Rock Out!
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 That will be the headline in the Tab following our next Parents Night Out! On Friday, June 10, the Burr PTO is happy to sponsor a Parents Night Out at The Skellig pub in Waltham, featuring our own PTO Co-President, Steve DeJesus and his band $3 Shirt. The large back room at the Skellig will open at 8 p.m. for Burr Community and friends only, where you can eat, drink, and be merry while enjoying the rocking tunes provided by the band and a short set by special guests, a band of young Newton Rockers, Levity. Tickets will be $10 at the door and all proceeds will benefit the PTO directly. Come and have some fun and celebrate the end of another successful school year at the Burr. Attendees at last years event raved about the band and its choice of popular rock hits from the 60's to the present. Don't miss this fun, parents only, event!
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Heads Up - It's Allergy Season!
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 The sun is shining, flowers are blooming and birds are singing. But noses are running, eyes are puffy and throats are scratchy. Not only is it Spring, but it is allergy season as well.
Allergens are what cause those uncomfortable symptoms. They are common, usually harmless things, such as pollen, mold spores, animal dander (dead skin flakes and saliva), dust, foods, insect sting poison, and drugs. Allergens are what make people who have allergies sneeze, wheeze, cough or have other symptoms. Allergies are also a common trigger for asthma symptoms.
Allergies are typically genetic. A child whose parents have allergies is more likely to have allergies too. There isn't a cure, but there are ways to control allergies.
First, know what you are allergic to. Your health care provider can help you figure that out. People are allergic to different things. Knowing what makes your symptoms worse can help you avoid those things. Second, get medicine, if you need it. Again, your health care provider can make recommendations of over-the-counter or prescription treatment if that's what is appropriate for your symptoms. And finally, limit the allergens you are around. Here are a few tips for limiting allergens:
- Use mattress and pillow covers that block dust mites
- Wash linens and clothing in hot water
- Use a HEPA (high particulate proficiency air) filter vacuum
- Remove stuffed animals from bedrooms
- Keep bedroom windows closed to avoid pollen
- Shower and rise hair before bedtime to avoid bringing allergens to bed
Information from the American Academy of Allergy, Asthma and Immunology and the American Academy of Pediatrics
http://www.aap.org/healthtopics/asthma.cfm
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| Burr School Needs You on May 15, 12-3:30pm | | |
 Newton Serves at Burr
Meet us in the garden! Please wear old clothes, bring gloves & garden tools. We have tons of yard work and a few painting and fix-up jobs on the list this year. ALL are welcome and encouraged to HELP. Please click here to register or to get more info, contact: Kelly Brown or Bill Hoch. |
NewtonPAC Special Educator Awards
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The Newton Parents Advisory Council for Special Education (NewtonPAC) is thrilled to announce our Second Annual NewtonPAC Special Educator Awards! The awards ceremony will be held on Thursday, June 2 at 7 p.m. at the Ed Center, 100 Walnut St. and will be followed by a casual reception. Once again, we will be honoring a few of the many members of NPS staff who have gone above and beyond the call of duty to have truly made a difference in the lives of our children. Do you have someone you'd like to recognize? Send your nominations to pacnoms@hotmail.com. Please read the following important information regarding nominations: - All nominations must be received by May 15th.
- Nominations 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.
- All nominees will be recognized.
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. Send your nominations directly to Jess at pacnoms@hotmail.com. If you are interested in helping to host the awards, please write to pacnoms@hotmail.com to volunteer. Thank you!!
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| Plant Swap | |  Sunday May 22nd, 9am-3pm. 27 George St.
Bring a Plant/Take a Plant: Ferns creeping out of bounds? Hostas growing like weeds? Lily of the Valley taking over your yard? Now is the time to thin your garden. Don't put those Iris divisions in the compost bin. Trade them in! Use flower pots, milk cartons, coffee cans, yogurt tubs, even plastic bags to pot up your cast-offs. Early drop-offs ok. Exchanges free, but please consider a donation to the box marked "METCO Scholarship Fund" which helps Newton METCO graduates attend college.
For more Info, e-mail bhoward617@aol.com
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| NSHS Book Sale - May 24-26 | | |
 Please donate gently used Classics, Fiction, Non-Fiction, Popular Authors, Sports, Science, Psychology, Cookbooks, and Audio books. We can NOT accept Instruction Manuals, Textbooks, CDs, Movies, Travel Books, or Brochures.
BOOK DROP OFF: April 28 - May 20 at Pod located outside of Wheeler Commons, or, in box in Wheeler Commons
Monday, Wednesday and Thursday Mornings: 7:20 a.m. - 8:30 a.m., Afternoons: 2:30 - 3:30 p.m.
If you would like to volunteer please contact Claire Sokoloff at Clasok@aol.com, Ana Zarina at Anazarina@earthlink.net, or Liz Coleman at colemanfive@verizon.net
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| Hamlet | | |
 Hamlet, by William Shakespeare, directed by SerahRose Roth and produced by South Stage and Theatre Ink. This is the 29th Annual Performing Shakespeare collaboration between Newton North and South High School.
May 12-14, at 7:30 p.m., Seasholes Auditorium, Newton South High School, 140 Brandeis Rd, Newton Centre, MA. Tickets $8 (general admission seating) at www.theatreink.net or www.southstage.org or 617-559-6406.
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| Jazz Dance Classes - Open House May 22 | | |
All That Jazz Dance Studio is now accepting registration for our Summer and 2011-2012 School Year Classes! Please come to our Open House on Sunday, May 22nd from 4 - 5:30 p.m. to see why All That Jazz has been the recent recipient of several Newton Tab Readers Choice Awards. There will be informal demonstrations, free classes and yummy treats to eat! Director Deb Lifson Vogel is a Newton native and the current parent of a Ward School 1st Grader. All That Jazz is located at 232 California St. in Newton, MA 02458. 617-641-0784. missdeb@allthatjazznewton.com. www.allthatjazznewton.com.
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