| Mark your Calendar |
November 8
Election Day/Bake Sale
November 9
NurtureShock Book Discussion November 11 Veteran's Day - No School November 15 RHD Committee Meeting
5 p.m. November 29 PTO Meeting November 29, 30, December 2 Burr Book Fair |
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| Important Traffic Safety Update! | | |
Burr's population increase has led not only to a space-crunch inside the building, but also to a severe traffic-crunch outside. Unfortunately, this has led to an increase in the number of drivers who are choosing to ignore traffic regulations in an effort to get through the drop-off and pick-up process more quickly. This is unsafe, illegal, and it is putting all our children at risk. Winter will bring a significant increase in the number of people driving to school every day, leading to even longer lines for drivers waiting to use the Blue Zones and more competition for legal parking spaces. As a community, we need to accept that driving to school will require more time, more patience, and an even stronger commitment to following the rules for the greater good. This is the only way to ensure a safe trip to and from school for everyone (and to lessen the likelihood of increased police enforcement and traffic tickets!) Please remember that everyone you encounter during drop-off and pick-up is a member of the Burr community, whether they are a teacher, a fellow parent, a grandparent, a babysitter, or a neighbor. Everyone waiting in the Blue Zone line is there for the same reason as you - to drop off or pick up a child. Follow the rules, be patient, and be courteous, and everyone will get through safely.
The following issues have become critical and need to stop:
Blocking traffic while waiting to enter the small Blue Zone - If the small Blue Zone is full you cannot wait. You must continue east on Pine Street and join the end of the line for the large Blue Zone. We encourage everyone to use the large Blue Zone directly in front of the school, and strongly recommend that those with younger children do so.
Spending excessive amounts of time in the Blue Zone - By City Ordinance (Sec. TPR-179.School drop off zones) cars may only remain in the Blue Zone for one minute - the time it takes for your children to exit. Parents should not be getting out to hand kids backpacks, lunches, musical instruments, or to impart last minute instructions. If the Blue Zone feels too rushed for you, or if your child needs more assistance, then you must park legally and walk your child to the school.
Parking in "No Parking" areas - If the sign says "No Parking", you can't park there. If the curb is yellow, you can't park there. If you can't park there, you also can't wait there. Use a designated Blue Zone or park legally. These areas are "No Parking" for a reason - to keep traffic moving safely.
Parking or Turning in the School Lots or Private Property - The school parking lots are for staff only - do not enter or turn in the driveways. Do not enter the Gazebo property (the condo complex across the street) for any reason; it is private property. Do not turn in or block any neighbors' driveway; do not attempt a 3-point turn in the street. Go around the block after dropping off or picking up, instead of trying to turn around. It only adds another minute or two to your trip, but it will prevent a traffic tie-up and frustration for many other people. It might even save a child's life.
For more information on Blue Zones and traffic safety please visit: Burr Safe Routes
Are you concerned about traffic safety at Burr School? We will be working with the city to improve traffic safety around Burr and we need your help. If you'd like to get involved please email us at BurrSafeRoutes@gmail.com. |
| Mark Your Calendars for the Burr Book Fair! | |
 A beloved Burr School tradition--we'll be setting up a top-notch bookstore in our very own cafeteria for the BURR BOOK FAIR at the end of this month. This is a festive event at the Burr--a winning combination of literacy promotion, community building, and couldn't-be-easier holiday shopping right under our own roof! Mark those calendars now! The fair will begin right after Thanksgiving break:
Tuesday, November 29th:
8-11:30am - open for students
5-7pm - open for parents before PTO meeting
Wednesday, November 30th:
8-11:30am - open for students
Friday, December 2nd:
8-11:30am - open for students
We are looking for parents to volunteer for one or more of these shifts. We are e specially looking for parent helpers to set up the fair on Monday, November 2 8th from 3:15 to 5:30 pm. If you think you can help, please contact Nancy Caulfield at caulfieldn@aol.com. |
| Burr's Witty Winter WingDing in February | | |
Q: Why did a hot Burr tomato go out with a prune?
A: Because she couldn't find a date!
Say, we've got a hot date for you!
February 11th, 2012
Witty Winter WingDing
Burr School's Comedy Night
Mark your calendars now. And you can bring whomever you like*.
*as long as they're at least 21 years old. |
| Nov 8 is our Election Day Bake Sale | | Tuesday, November 8th is Election Day and our annual Election Day Bake Sale! 
Thanks to everyone who has offered to donate baked goods. We are still looking for more donations of baked goods. Just drop your donations off any time the polls are open--that's 7 am to 8 pm--at the bake sale table located in the hall between the cafetorium and the gym.
We could still use more volunteers, especially in the 12:30-1:30 and 2:30-3:30 times. If you can work either shift, please contact Erika Drezner at egdrezne@yahoo.com |
| 5th Grade Election Day Raffle and Craft Sale | |
 5th grader families will run a Restaurant Gift Card Raffle and Craft Sale on election day, November 8th in front of the gym. Buy a raffle ticket for $1. Winners will receive gift certificates to Paddy's in West Newton, Tom's Pizza in Auburndale, and Cabot's Ice Cream and Restaurant in Newtonville. A winning ticket for each card will be drawn by 5th grade teachers in front of 5th graders next day. Winners will be contacted by phone. If you can't come to buy tickets but are interested in buying, please contact shibuya@me.com.
Also enjoy fun crafts made by 5th grade families. Drop by our table as well as the bake sale table on Tuesday.
All proceeds benefit 5th grade graduation activities including a class gift to Burr. |
| Join Burr Parents to discuss NurtureShock | |
Please join other parents to discuss the book, NurtureShock by Po  Bronson and Ashley Merryman on Wednesday, November 9th at 7:00 in the Burr cafetorium. If the prospect of reading a book right now seems daunting, then this is the book for you. Each chapter is its own topic with new and sometimes "shocking" research results. Topics include praise/self-esteem, language development, sleep loss, why kids lie, sibling effect, teen rebellion... So choose a chapter of interest and join fellow parents to talk.
We'd like to use a text protocol to organize the conversation. We'll work in groups of four and take turns with each person sharing a passage from the book. Group members will each have 2 minutes to talk about the identified passage. Then the person who selected the passage will share why they chose that passage. Teachers use this protocol to discuss reading with each other. It may appear restrictive but it gives everyone an opportunity for air time. If this doesn't work for you, your group can choose an unstructured approach. Please come and enjoy some adult talk.
Jody Klein, Director
English Language Learning Program
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| BCAP Meeting with Mindy Johal Nov 9 | | | On Wednesday, November 9th at 5:00pm, the BCAP Board is sponsoring a meeting with Principal Mindy Johal to talk about issues at Burr and how they relate to BCAP. The meeting will take place in the library. This is an opportunity for BCAP parents to meet with Mindy to ask questions and hear about events at the school. |
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Flower Arranging for Kids Class at ACL | |
 Flower Arranging Class for Kids: Tues, November 15 from 3- 5pm
at the Auburndale Community Library, 375 Auburn Street, Auburndale
The class is open to children in 3rd, 4th,and 5th grade.*
Would you like to know how to make a beautiful centerpiece for your Thanksgiving table? If so, this hands-on workshop is for you. By the end of the afternoon you will have learned new skills, and you will have a beautiful flower arrangement to bring home.
The workshop will be taught by Auburndale resident, Joanne Lyons, who has entered arrangements in many flower shows. Joanne is currently a member of the Temple Shalom Garden Club, and she is a studying to become a flower show judge.
Supplies fee - $12. payable at the class
(Scholarships are available, and children will not be denied space in the class as a result of an inability to pay the supplies fee.).
Pre-registration is required! The class will be capped at 15 participants.
Email us to register - activities@auburndalelibrary.org
*If there is interest we will run future classes for kids in middle school and/or for adults. |
| Transformation of Newton North High School Exhibit at New Art Center | | |
"It's gone ... but you can still see it here" The Transformation of Newton North High School. Photography by Sharon Schindler
Noted Newton Photographer Sharon Schindler has compiled photos of both the old and the new Newton North High Schools for this exhibit and in a coffee table book.
Join us for a opening reception at the New Art Center on December 7 from 6- 8:30 pm.
61 Washington Park, Newtonville
The exhibit will be available for viewing from December 7 - December 14. |
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"A Concert to Remember" Nov 11 | |
Ben Speaks Louder Than Words ( www.benspeaks.org) is holding its 2nd annual fundraiser, "A Concert to Remember" at the First Baptist Church, 848 Beacon St., Newton Centre, on Friday, November 11, 2011 at 7:00 p.m. The purpose of the concert is to use music and the arts to help move people through the various stages of grief. We include a very moving candle lighting ceremony to remember those we have lost tragicaly to accidents, suicide and other tragic means. The mission of Ben Speaks is to help our young people find positive ways to "be the change" they wish to see in our world, and to Create Alternative Resources for Expression (C.A.R.E.) to these kids who are using drugs, alcohol, cutting a nd suicide to escape. |
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Register to join Newton Youth Players' adaptation of Sound of Music | |
 Registration is now open for the Summer, 2012 Newton Youth Players' adaptation of the Sound of Music. Open to students entering Grades 2-6 in the Fall of 2012, rehearsals will run from June 25 - July 18 at the Newton Cultural Center, 225 Nevada St., Newtonville. Performance is on July 17 at 6:00pm. Sponsored by the Mayor's Office for Cultural Affairs, Directed by Melissa Bernstein.
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Maine Arts Camp information session Nov 13 | |
The Maine Arts Camp is running a local information session on Sunday, November 13 from 1 - 4pm. This is for interested families (parents and their children/teens).
Sunday, November 13, 2011
1:00 - 4:00 pm
The Farm Condominiums (the boathouse)
99 Florence St.
Chestnut Hill, MA 02467
Follow the road to the tennis courts and take a left. You will see a pool, fountain, and "boathouse" recreation building on the left. There is a parking lot in front of the boathouse. |
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BC Lady Eagles Soccer School Winter Clinic | |
The BC Lady Eagles Soccer School will be holding their Winter Clinic for girls ages 6-14 during December 27-30, 12:00 noon-5:00pm at the 'Bubble' at Alumni Stadium on the BC main campus. Come join us for soccer fun and development. Registration may be found at: http://www.bceagles.com/camps/bc-w-soccer-camps-winter.html and then click on 'Register Online Here'. |
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Weekly Math Enrichment program | | |
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| Free Parent Management Training | |
Do you feel your kids don't listen to you? Does every request turn into a battle? Do you feel all alone with these issues? Are you ready for a solution?
Join other parents of elementary-aged children and a professional facilitator to explore these issues and learn new strategies using Parent Management Training (PMT), an evidence-based program for parents developed by Alan Kazdin, Ph.D., of Yale University's Parenting Center and Child Conduct Clinic. PMT has been consistently proven to decrease behavioral problems and increase positive behavior in children. It is highly effective in reducing tantrums, fighting, and disruptiveness. If you have tried other methods of changing your child's problem behavior and haven't had any success, then PMT may be the solution for you. This group will be co-led by Rachel Nenner-Payton, LICSW and John Koegh. Rachel is a senior clinician at Riverside Community Care in Newton. She specializes in community-based treatment. She was trained in Alan Kazdin ís Parent Management Training (PMT) in 2007. She is excited to offer this program to parents and caretakers of Newton's school-aged children. Meets for six sessions from 9:30 to 11:00 a.m. on Tuesdays (11/15, 11/22, 11/29, 12/6, 12/13 and 12/20) at Newton Outpatient Center, 64 Eldredge St, 02458. Pre-registration is required. Call Rachel Nenner-Payton at 617-969-4925 x5958. A project of Riverside Community Care and The Newton Partnership. |
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