| Mark your Calendar |
December 5 - 9
Inclusive Schools Week
December 7 - 9
BOOYA Toy Drive
December 8
Shop at Just Next Door to benefit Burr
December 9
Author Lucinda Landon
December 12
Author Barbara O'Connor
December 15
GUYS READ |
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 Dear Families,
It is hard to believe that we only have three more weeks of school before the December break. So much is going on at school as parents and staff work side-by-side to implement core academic and enrichment programs for our students. It is wonderful to be part of such a vibrant and dedicated community. I can not possibly write about everything but allow me to share a few highlights.
Inclusive Schools Week (December 5-9): Our Respect for Human Differences Committee (RHD) has planned some great classroom activities for Inclusive Schools Week. This year's them is "From Awareness to Action."
Some things planned are:
- Each classroom teacher will be reading books with themes of inclusion and discussing the messages within them with students. This year we have expanded our collection of books with funds provided by the RHD Committee.
- Each student at Burr will be asked to complete two sentences - "I feel included when..." and "I am a good friend when..." Their responses will be posted around the school.
- Each classroom teacher will assign an activity for students to complete at home with their families. This will be a great way for families to see what we are doing at school and to support this important work at home.
- Parents will be leading lunch time 'mixers' which are activities designed to mix up the seating arrangements to encourage students to eat lunch with different children in their grade level. The fifth graders will be introducing this to the school during our All School Meeting today.
This work is done daily in the classrooms at Burr School, and Inclusive School Week is a time for us to celebrate what is already done, to try out some new strategies, and most importantly, to reflect and focus on continued improvements. I do believe the most valuable lessons we can give our children are those that teach them to live alongside others with empathy and compassion.
Community Service: Our third grade classes are successfully conducting a holiday food drive for the Newton Food Pantry. Third graders are collecting the donations from each of our classes, organizing and categorizing the food, reporting on progress, and packing up the food for delivery. Please continue sending in donations this week to support the third graders' efforts. As you know, there are many families in need who turn to food pantries for daily necessities. We are very grateful to our grade 3 organizers and to everyone who is making contributions.
The BOOYA Litter Patrol continues to have excellent participation. Thanks to their efforts every Monday morning, the school grounds look fabulous. BOOYA is currently organizing a Toys for Tots drive starting December 7, visits to the Brighton Rehabilitation Center to sing to the residents, and setting up a snow shoveling club to help local community members who may need assistance. These activities are led by dedicated teachers and parents who work hard year round to enrich the whole school experience for our children and teach them the value of contributing to the community. Go BOOYA!
PTO Presentations and Events: Many thanks to Dana Hanson, Nancy Caulfield, and the TEAM of parents that helped pull off a fabulous three day book fair. Children were excited about looking through the selection and choosing books to buy at the fair and/or choosing some that they want to read, buy, or borrow from the library in the future. A great effort was made by book fair organizers and teachers to ensure that each child felt included in this event.
The guest speaker at Tuesday's PTO meeting was Jill Graboski, the Children's Room Supervisor at the Newton Free Library. Jill did a wonderful job of sharing her expertise on children's literacy and the technology trends and developments that are influencing it. She encouraged parents to visit the Children's Room with their youngsters to explore what they have to offer. One of our most important goals at Burr is to make sure that every child not only learns to read, but loves to read. Regular trips to the library and/or book store help to foster excitement and develop life-long reading habits. The wealth of audio and visual media available today can heighten children's appreciation of literature and ignite their curiosity to learn about the world around them. So, stop by the library and see what new and wonderful things are available for free! You can capitalize on the interest in new books generated by the book fair.
Holiday Time: As we continue in the holiday season, please remember the School Committee Policy: "No teacher in the performance of regular duties shall receive presents from the pupils under his or her direction." In addition, this year, there are new Massachusetts Ethics Reform laws stating that "Municipal employees may not accept gifts and gratuities valued at $50 or more" (per year). This includes a group gift for a teacher to which individuals contribute smaller amounts but the value of the gift exceeds $50. Classroom supplies/contributions do not pertain to this policy. In terms of PTO gift cards to staff (e.g. a gift certificate to New England Mobile Book Fair from the Literature Fund), if a letter accompanies the gift stating the purpose is to purchase books/supplies for the classroom, there is not an ethics violation.
It is very natural for children and their families to want to acknowledge and thank their teachers at holiday time. What are the alternatives to giving personal gifts? There are several ways to acknowledge teachers by giving either to the classroom, the school community or the bigger school system community:
- Take part in our library gift program (buy a book for the library in the teacher's name)
- Help to fulfill classroom wish lists
- Contribute to the Newton Schools Foundation in a teacher's name.
As we approach the December vacation, the staff and I wish all Burr families a very special holiday season. We wish you a restful, rejuvenating vacation and a happy, healthy New Year.
Sincerely,
Mindy |
| Shop at Just Next Door THIS Thursday! | | |
 Plan to check off loads of items from your holiday list at Just Next Door on 327 Auburn St. this Thursday, December 8th. Just tell the cashier "I'm shopping today for Burr School" and 20% of your total purchase value will go to Burr! This offer is good all day, 9am to 7pm, so let's take advantage of a great deal and spread the word to family and friends! They need only remember to mention Burr and we're on our way. Contact Jessica Avery with any questions.
Thank you and hope to see you there!
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| Gift For Burr: There's still time to donate! |
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 We are very thankful to the 1 34 (3 9%) Burr families that have donated to the Gift for Burr. There's still time to make a tax-deductible donation before the end of the year. Does your company have a matching gift program? If so, you can double your gift! Get your matching gift forms in before December 31. Our Tax ID # is 043574938. Please send in your check today or click here to donate by credit card online.
Not a good time of year to make a donation? Please consider making a "pledge" instead and send in your check in the new year. Please email our committee at giftforburr@gmail.com with any questions.
Remember: This is the school year's only big fundraiser. Every child benefits from all that the Gift for Burr makes possible. We need every family to contribute to make this campaign a success.
Thank you,
Dana Hanson and Beth Viveiros
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Burr Book Fair is still open online! | |
 Thank you for a great Book Fair week! We hit our target sales amount which, in addition to extra funds for Burr, means we can purchase over $600 in new books for our library. Ms. Mayer is overjoyed!
This year, we've been given the chance to keep the fair open an extraweek online. All purchases will continue to benefit our school, so if you missed the fair, or a book you were looking for was not available, just visit this Burr Book Fair Web page and have a look! The online fair ends this Friday.
Thanks again and Happy Reading! |
| Art at Burr! | |
 Burr School artists have been creative all fall in ourtemporary art space in the cafetorium.
For more news about our art program, please read the Burr Art News.
Diane Jaquith
Visual Art Teacher |
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BOOYA Toy Drive
December 7th - 9th | | |
BOOYA is hosting a toy drive this week. Starting on Wednesday, students can bring in new, unwrapped toys and drop them in the box in the lobby. BOOYA AMBASSADORS will pack the toys up on Friday. The toys will go to the Waltham Toys for Tots program. This program provides toys for kids and families in need. Can you imagine what it would be like getting no presents this year? With your help, kids in Waltham can have a happy holiday season. Remember, it starts Wednesday and goes until Friday. You can drop off the toys in the lobby in the big box that is wrapped up like a present. Thanks for making a difference. GO BOOYA!!!
David Gaita
First Grade |
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Creative Arts and Sciences
Author Lucinda Landon - Friday, December 9th | |
 Lucinda Landon, Author, will be visiting the 3rd Graders this Friday, December 9th at 9:00 am in the Cafetorium.
Ms. Landon, like her heroine Meg Mackintosh, loves mysteries. Her enthusiasm is apparent and contagious in her presentations. Ms. Landon presents the art and rules of writing a good mystery, how to create a plot, plant clues, and create a character that is a detective. A power point presentation shows the stages of her books' design and production. Ms. Landon will end with a Meg Macintosh drawing lesson and then take questions from the kids.
Please join us for this wonderful presentation. |
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Creative Arts and Sciences
Author Barbara O'Connor Monday, December 12th, for 4th graders | |
Award winning author, Barbara O'Connor, uses the "show, don't tell" method of writing and will share her technique and love of writing with the 4th graders. She will show examples from her work
and brainstorm with students on effective ways to incorporate details and description into their writing.
Ms. O'Connor is a beloved presenter at Burr School and some of her many award winning titles include, How to Steal a Dog, Moonpie and Ivy, Fame and Glory in Freedom Georgia and Greetings from Nowhere.
Creative Arts and Sciences programs are fully funded by the Burr PTO - parents are welcome to attend.
- 9:00-9:50am - Group presentation for all 4th grade classes, cafetorium
- 10:00-10:50am - Mrs. Taylor's classroom
- 11:00-11:50am - Mr. Glode's classroom
- 12:00-12:50pm - Ms. Robinson's classroom
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Inclusive Schools Week
December 5 - 9 2011 | | |
December 5-9th is national Inclusive Schools Week and Burr is proud to be a participant. As we know, the Burr community actively supports inclusion year round during the school day and through our community-building events--Inclusive Schools Week (ISW) is a wonderful opportunity for an annual celebration of this important community value.
This Week highlights and celebrates the progress that schools have made in implementing inclusive practices to ensure a quality education for an increasingly diverse student population. School districts across the country are working to educate their staff, students, and parents about what it means to be inclusive. Inclusion is not about being politically correct. It is about making sure that our country's educational system works for all students including students with culturally and linguistically diverse backgrounds, students of different socio-economic status, and students with disabilities. Research has consistently demonstrated that inclusive teaching practices are not about teaching to the lowest common denominator but rather ensuring that the classroom offers opportunities for ALL children to succeed. Inclusive teaching means presenting information in ways that are relevant and meaningful to each and every student. Discussion, hands-on learning experiences, and inquiry-based projects are all examples of inclusive teaching practices that have, again and again, been shown to improve academic achievement for all students.
This year's national theme is "From Awareness to Action", so here at Burr Inclusive Schools Week will be celebrated by the following actions:
1) Schoolwide activities
- Introduction to ISW at this morning's December All School Meeting. Ask your children about it!
- Lunchtime mixers - three times during the week, led by parents (and introduced by our very own 6th graders)
- Followup at January All School Meeting - discussion/sharing of "I feel included/I am a good friend when" activity (see below)
2) Classroom activities
- Discuss and fill out the annual "I feel included when" strips in grades K-5. In an effort to elicit more in-depth answers from students and to promote action (beyond awareness), grades 2-5 will also complete the statement "I am a good friend when"
- Optional activities/stories led by teachers - an inventory of resources has been provided to teachers
- Classroom accessibility inventories to be completed by 5th grade classes--again promoting a shift from awareness to action
3) Home/school connection
- Students will be given relevant homework assignments taken home for students to complete with parents
- We encourage you to talk with your children about Inclusive Schools week at home...and we encourage parents to get in on the action with their own assignment during Inclusive Schools week!
- Find someone you have never talked to and introduce yourself to them. Find out where they grew up, what they plan to do over Winter break, or ask about their kids. It can be another Burr parent, someone in your office, or someone you meet at the grocery store. Then go home and TALK TO YOUR KIDS about this experience. Remind them of the rewards of pushing past your comfort zone; encourage them to step outside of their own circles.
4) Community-Wide event
- Williams school is showing a screening of the film the film Including Samuel on Wednesday, December 7th, from 7pm to 8:30pm followed by a discussion with school educators. This is open to the community and takes place in the Williams auditorium.
Please join us in celebrating Inclusive Schools Week and recognizing those teachers who are already making their curriculum relevant for each and every child.
-- Hadar Agam & Louise Katz
Burr Respect for Human Differences Committee |
Burr 8th Annual Science & Engineering Week · January 9 - 13, 2012
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 Does your career or hobby involve science, technology, engineering or math? How about the environment or sustainability? Would you be willing to share your excitement about one of these topics with a class of Burr students for 30 minutes?
We're organizing Burr's 8th Annual Science & Engineering Week, which brings parents into the classroom to provide our children with an exciting and accessible view of science and engineering. The kids love these presentations and they're easy and rewarding for the presenter.
We hope you'll participate by giving a 30-minute presentation to one or more class during the week of January 9 - 13. If you're interested, please use the link below to provide us with the necessary information for scheduling by Friday December 9th (that's this Friday!). Email us at BurrScienceWeek with any questions or for more information.
Thanks!
Joanne Kotz and Ted Vahey
To fill out the Presenter Questionnaire, visit:
Presenter Questionaire
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Understanding Physical and Intellectual Differences at Burr
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 The Understanding Our Differences Program is looking for parent volunteers to help present two programs in December. The goal of this citywide program is to increase information, understanding, and acceptance of people with disabilities and individual differences in our community.
These programs are brought to Burr by parent volunteers and take place on Thursday afternoons from 12:45 - 3:00. Parents can leave at 2:15 or stay to see the guest speaker. Volunteers do not need to have children in a specific grade, teaching experience, or a medical background.
The dates for the December programs at Burr School are as follows:
Physical Disabilities December 15, 2011 (3rd Grade)
Intellectual Disabilities December 22, 2011 (4th Grade)
Can you help out? Contact Us:
Carey Ranta: branta1@comcast.net
Stephanie Mamis: stephanie.mamis@verizon.net
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After School Video Program by NewTV
for 4th & 5th Graders | |
 Four sessions offered Wednesdays from 3-4:30pm, starting the week of Jan 9, 2012 and ending Feb 3, 2012. Open to 4th and 5th Graders.
Free for all students. Curriculum includes learning to use a video camera, proper shot composition and names, storyboarding, PSA making, Music Video exercise, and editing. All students will receive a DVD of their projects and will be featured on NewTV's Education Channel. This program will be held at the Burr School and parents must pick up their child directly from the designated classroom. Sign up now because enrollment is limited. To sign up or ask questions, please email Melinda Garfield at Melindag@newtv.org. Click here for more information. |
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Earn $$$ Shoveling Snow | |
Sign up on the City's website http://www.ci.newton.ma.us/snowremove.htm to be added to a list of snow shovelers for hire this winter. Or, do a good deed and volunteer to shovel for a low-income neighbor who is physically unable to shovel.
Sign up forms for both paid and volunteer shovelers are in the middle of the page under "Can you help your neighbors shovel snow this winter?"
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| Newton North Freshman Cabaret! | | |
Newton North's current Freshman showcase their amazing talent through a fun-filled evening of songs, sketches and dances in Freshman Cabaret. Performances are on December 15th and 16th at 7:30PM in The Performing Arts Center at Newton North High School.
Tickets are $7 and available at www.theatreink.net or at the door. |
| FREE Parenting Group Series: Navigating the Rocky Road of Adolescence | | |
Join other parents of teens and a professional facilitator to explore the many changes that occur during adolescence, and how they affect relationships at home and school. Discuss relevant topics such as promoting healthy choices, setting realistic limits and appropriate consequences; understanding when and how to negotiate; dealing with changes and crises (e.g., divorce); identifying risk factors for anxiety and depression; handling experimentation with sex, alcohol, drugs, and learning to "let go" while maintaining family connections.
Led by Deborah Weinstock-Savoy, a licensed psychologist with a Ph.D. in Clinical Psychology, and over 20 years of professional experience working with families and educators. She specializes in leading workshops and support groups in both community and corporate settings. She is the mother of three children.
Meeting for four sessions from 7:00 - 8:30 PM Wednesdays (February 8, 15, 29, and March 7).
Location: The Freedman Center, 225 Nevada St., 02460 (Newton Cultural Center in Newtonville)
Pre-registration required: http://freedman.mspp.edu or 617-244-INFO x 250
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Think Spring! Think Softball! | |
 Newton Girls Softball registration is underway for the 2012 spring season. This is a recreational league for over 500 Newton girls in grades 1-10. Players of all skill levels will have a fun and rewarding experience. Visit our website www.NewtonGirlsSoftball.org for more details, access to our on-line registration, and winter indoor clinic information.
Register before January 31, 2012 to avoid a late fee. February 29, 2012 is the last date you can register with guaranteed placement. |
| Alternative Gift Fair at First Unitarian Society in Newton - Sunday December 11 | | |
Save the date of Sunday December 11 for the First Unitarian Society in Newton's Alternative Gift Fair from 11:30 am-1:00 pm at 1325 Washington Street.
With the stress and expense surrounding the holidays, it's no wonder they more often exhaust rather than uplift us. It's not too late to re-think your family routines. How does it work? When you make a donation toward a specific charitable organization, you receive a card detailing your gift to give to your recipient. A perfect opportunity to buy for those folks who have everything. Tax-deductible gifts starting at $10. |
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